Weekender Alicante South Issue 084 by IMPACT GROUP

Trusted News Read By Over 50,000 People Every Week ISSUE 084 - Friday 8th March 2019 South Alicante & Murcia E E Your Weekend Starts Here! R F

IN THE MONEY Spanish Bank Charges CAPPED by Alex Trelisnki

SPANISH BANKS that have squeezing charges out of customers have been forced by the government to cap current account commissions/ administration charges to just three euros per month, as of Monday March 25th. Some accounts offer commission free banking so long as holders are not overdrawn, but the new law says that the three euro per month maximum charge must now cover credit and debit cards. It means that charges for renewing expired cards must be included, and up to 120 annual withdrawal or payment operations on an account within the entire European Union, not just Spain, to include direct debits, standing orders and transfers. Transferring money between accounts held at different banks will also be changed by the new law, with transfers eased and commissions reduced.

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WHAT WOMEN WANT

2018 protest

UNIONS have called for strikes today (Friday) in support of gender equality as part of the annual International Women´s Day. Feminist strikes took place exactly a year ago for the first time in Spain, with the Federation of Feminist

by Alex Trelinski

Organisations saying that it was “the largest feminist mobilisation ever in living memory in the country”. Unions said that five million people took part in various strikes last year, including

the mayors of Barcelona and Madrid. Today´s action is once again intended to highlight sexual discrimination, domestic violence and the wage gap. One of the main teaching unions, the CC.OO. has also announced a 24-hour walk

out in support of International Women´s Day. Demonstrations are planned across Spain, including Alicante City at 7.00 pm based on Avenida de la Estación, and also at 7.00 pm in Murcia City´s Plaza Fuensanta.

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Finance Feature provided by...

Are you getting the service you were promised from your financial adviser? Providing a high level of service to my This means that not only do they often have prospective client, often neglecting a large clients is the key to good financial advice. a very small choice of funds to choose from client-base that would benefit from ongoing I expect a face-to-face meeting with each – sometimes they only have this commission advice. and every one of my clients at least once a year, in addition to regular phone calls and emails. My clients also know that their portfolio is reviewed by me every month, and if at any point I see an opportunity or something that needs addressing, I contact them immediately. Whilst this will always remain a priority for me, it seems not every financial adviser thinks the same way. At Chorus, more and more clients are walking through our door each day because they’ve either lost contact with their adviser or they are not happy with the level of service they are receiving. I should at this point explain why so many advisers can go ‘AWOL’ after they’ve invested their client’s savings or pensions. Despite it being banned now in the UK, the majority of financial advisory companies in Spain can still take hidden commissions when they recommend investment funds.

agreement in place with one or two fund houses – but they are also effectively paid for as much as 10 year’s work up front. At this point the adviser simply moves onto the next

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Thirteen years for rape of disabled woman A Moroccan man has been found guilty of the rape of a woman in Javea who had a serious mental disability, a crime he has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for. The court in Alicante heard how the victim was pounced on near a bar and then dragged into a garage where the defendant offered her â&#x201A;Ź10 for sex. When she said that she made it clear she did not want to have sex, he raped her. The womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disability - she only has a mental capacity of around 70% - was said to be apparent to anyone who had met her even for the first time, which the court ruled made the crime more severe, believing the defendant took advantage of this to attack her. He claimed he did not realise she was mentally disabled, but the court also heard how he knew her before the attack and did not believe his story. He also claimed the sex was consensual but the prosecution produced witnesses who had seen her crying and clearly very upset shortly after the attack. by Simon Russell

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Warmest February for 70 years by Simon Russell

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FIGURES released this week by the Met Office show that across Valencia February was the fourth driest on record and the warmest since 1950. The average temperature was 13 degrees while rainfall was just 1.1 litres per square metre, 94% lower than the average for the 20 years between 1981 and 2010. The month actually started very cold to due the impact of Storm Helena, but ended warm and dry, conditions which have continued into this month. What little rain there was also fell at the beginning of the month, heralding in an unusually dry February.

February 16 , Playa de Mal Pas, Benidorm (Credit - Colin Coco Brown)

Ill wind remembered THIS week marked the 30th anniversary of one of Valencia’s biggest natural tragedies, hurricane force winds that killed six people and caused billions of euros worth of damage to the city. There are similarities to the 1987 UK hurricane in that the forecasters failed to see it coming and that it impacted on an area that is not used to extremely

by Alex Trelisnki

strong winds. The 117 kmph (72 mph) winds blew in on the afternoon of 25 February, reaching 139 kmph at the airport (86 mph). One man was killed in Plaza Ayuntamiento by a flying plank, another died in the Mislata after masonry fell off a building. In the port area

a young couple were killed instantly when a wall crushed them while the fifth death that afternoon was a woman hit by brickwork in the hospital area. The final casualty was a teenager who died on 27 February, 48 hours after being crushed by a wall. In all over a hundred people were injured, many seriously, and the city landscape was

transformed as trees, cars, power lines and ruined buildings were strewn everywhere. The storm was over as quickly as it began but rebuilding work took years and many poorer residents were never able to properly repair their properties, many of which were of poor quality and never designed for 120 kmph winds.

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Hate message bus, banned

VALENCIA’S town hall have said they will not permit a bus emblazoned with antifeminist slogans to enter the city. The far right group’s HazteOir. org vehicle carries the message “No es violencia de genero, es violencia domestica” (it’s not gender violence it’s domestic violence). This is accompanied by a picture of Adolf

by Simon Russell

Hitler with red lipstick and the hashtag #StopFeminazis. The council see this as a hate message by trying to shift the blame away from men and blaming “radical feminism” for the rise in gender violence. The true story however is that the rise in these crimes is due to women

feeling that they will be listened to when they report the incidents and that the authorities will deal with them accordingly rather then turning a blind eye. Councillor Joan Ribo said that Valencia “is an open city, respectful of diversity and committed to equality” going on to call equality one of the biggest current issues the city has to deal with.

THE BEST OF HEALTH PRESCRIPTIONS can now be used in any pharmacy across Spain, and not just restricted to the region they were issued in, thanks to a new national health computer system. A pilot scheme in the Madrid area proved to be a success, and has now been rolled out across the country, thanks to computer

by Alex Trelinski

technology, with regional systems having been linked together. Medics anywhere in Spain can access a patient’s medical history, and that privilege has also been extending to the patients themselves who can register to check out their notes on-line.

The banned bus showing the hashtag and message

Racist ranter facing charges SPANISH authorities have confirmed that they will prosecute a British man who racially abused an elderly female passenger on a Ryanair flight last year. David Mesher, aged 70, hit the headlines after aiming racial slurs at 77 year old Delsie Gayle after an argument about seating. As the event happened while the plane was at Barcelona airport UK authorities have said it is not in their jurisdiction. Barcelona

Mayor Ada Colau saidthis They have since apologised as has said the tirade left her week “Barcelona City Council has Mr Mesher while Ms Gayle feeling traumatised and upset. has provided the prosecutor with the information regarding the victim and the testimony; he has everything in his hands and has reaffirmed to us today that there is a case and he will go on with it.” The incident went viral after being filmed by a fellow passenger and Ryanair also received criticism for failing to take any action at the time.

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Cycling the Sierra Espuña

The Sierra Espuña regional park is and park outside a lovely little Spanish by far the area in Murcia of the most Tapas bar called Restaurant Ora on the outstanding natural beauty and is outskirts of Alhama de Murcia. Here the first protected natural area in the we have our customary Murcia region. Coffee and Tostada before unloading the bikes and setting off up this great monster of a climb. We start off at a leisurely pace with everyone talking for approx. 1km however we soon start climbing gradually at first but it soon gets steeper and steeper and the speaking fritters out. On the way up we pass many parking/barbeque areas and many trails suitable for walking W e and cycling and there is the family’s travel here three to four times everywhere cycling, per year to cycle the great roads and running, walking, tracks that it has to offer. The Sierra barbequing and Espuña has been part of the Tour of basically just enjoying Valencia and the Tour of Spain on a this vast national park. number of occasions and is a fantastic We carry on regardless hill climb. We normally travel by and after approx. 45 vehicle with bikes loaded on the back mins we pass the

central point with the restaurant and large parking area where we usually stop and regroup on the way back down. Just past here we are still climbing and reach the start of the 26 switchbacks which are fantastic you can look down and see how far ahead you are from the rest of the group or you can look up to see how far everyone is in front of you the average gradient here is 8% - 10%. Up and up we go until eventually, it levels off to about 4% and we eventually arrive at the viewpoint. At the viewpoint there are usually loads of people stopping taking pictures including us, the views are incredible and you can see for miles. After a quick 5min stop we are off again still climbing, this time the grades reach 15%-18% for another 5kms up to the Military observation station which is a controlled zone and is fenced off, we cycle right

about 30mins to get right back down to the Restaurant Ora and the cars where we get a large table in the sun and order beer and Tapas before heading back home. This is a brilliant but tough ride which you can add on many more miles if you want to be coming down a different route or some of the guys come down and cycle the back roads home all the way to Quesada passing through Mula, Pliego, Archena, Fortuna, La Murada, Orihuela and Hurchillo before hitting the home straight. If you haven’t done it before then what are you waiting for give it a bash. up to the gate and take more pics, this time you really feel on top of the world and sometimes we are even higher than the clouds. On the way back down we travel at a considerable pace usually passing the cars as they try and negotiate the tight switchbacks, everyone normally works at their own pace and it usually only takes

Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical in Quesada from 9.30am till 5.30pm Monday to Friday and from 10 am till 2 pm on a Saturday to help and assist you with all your cycling requirements. Call 637487377 or www. cyclogicalcostablanca.com. Or see us on Facebook.

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Sunday shopping proposal

Calpe, high street affected by the new proposal.

C A L P E ’ S governing Partido Popular is testing the water regarding allowing larger shops to open on Sundays, although not everyone agrees with the proposal. They are planning to make a request through the Generalitat which will allow stores in the town centre of 300m2 or more to open seven days a week between 15 June and 5 January. H o w e v e r unions and trade associations are

by Simon Russell

against the idea as well as the main opposition parties in the town. Compromis spokesman Ximo Perles said any such move would badly damage work-life balance, especially for shop-workers with families. He also said that the move was likely to be detrimental to small businesses in the town who can currently open on Sunday’s if they choose.

Brits on trial for pensioner con PROSECUTORS have asked for a jail sentence of five and a half years for two British nationals accused of swindling an elderly couple out of €385,900. The trial started this week relating to events that took place in Alicante province between 2012 and 2013. They pair started working for the couple doing basic domestic chores but charging an

by Alex Trelinski

extortionate rate, up to €21 per hour. They were left as sole carer for the husband after his wife died in 2013; he had various mental and physical issues, including Parkinson’s disease and memory loss. They allegedly took advantage of these conditions to make bank

transfers to their own accounts totalling more than €166,000, took out around €145,700 using credit cards and a further €30,000 in checks and other withdrawals. The son of the elderly couple made the allegations leading to the trial in Alicante Provincial Court. It is believed the matter came to light after his father died.

Coke factory was the real thing

POLICE have arrested six people after raiding what they described as a highly sophisticated cocaine processing operation at Llombai, a rural village in the province of Valencia. In a collaboration between State Security and local agencies, five houses and two

by Simon Russell

other properties were raided in a carefully co-ordinated operation. Five kilos of ready for sale cocaine was seized as well two kilos of marijuana,1,500 grams of hashish and 50 sacks of base material weighing 1,000 kilos which was ready

to convert into cocaine. The main laboratory was in the basement of a remote house in Llombai where the drugs were being extracted, processed and packaged. Two of the six detainees have existing police records and all appeared before the courts last week.

Teen snatched off busy street THREE Romanian nationals have been arrested after an incident in Valencia City where a 16 year old girl was kidnapped and driven away. She was snatched at about 10pm in the Cabanyal area where she was out

with a friend. A van drove up and the three young men got out and bundled her into the vehicle before driving off. Her mother contacted the police who were able to trace the girl using mobile phone technology. The

child, who is also Romanian, was returned to her mother unharmed. Police have not commented at this stage about any motive for the kidnapping or whether the gang members were known to the teenager.

Spain´s January record

BRITISH visitors helped to fuel a record number of tourists coming to Spain in January, according to official figures, which also saw more people digging into their pockets. The National Statistics Institute says that almost four point two million people visited Spain in

by Alex Trelinski

January, which is a two point two per cent rise on January 2018. The largest portion of visitors came from Brfitain with over 800,000 tourists, followed by Germany with over 500,000 and France with a little under 450,000.

One boom area saw just under 150,000 visitors arrive from the USA, representing a 25.5 per cent hike on the previous January. The month also saw a record amount spent by tourists visiting Spain (including travel costs from their home countries) at four point seven billion euros.

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DRIVING PERMIT

UK MOTORISTS planning to drive to Spain via France may need to get two different types of international driving permits in the case of a no-deal Brexit, which may be as soon as the end of this month.

UK government advice states in a positive vein that if there is a deal, then UK driving license holders will be able to continue to drive in EU countries without any further documentation. The problems arise if a nodeal Brexit is triggered with the official government position that International Driving Permits(IDP) will be needed if the UK authorities cannot get EU countries to recognise British licenses when people go onto the continent on holiday or on a business trip. The government´s website states that “each EU country will decide if they require a foreign driver to have an IDP, in addition to a driving licence, to legally drive in their country.” The website then says that “in some circumstances you may need more than one IDP. For

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

by Alex Trelinski

example, when driving through France (1968 IDP) to Spain (1949 IDP).” Such IDPs are available from UK post offices at a cost of £5.50 each. Spain´s positive package for UK citizens suggests that an IDP will not be needed, but there is silence so far from France. The government also talks about using a UK driving licence if you are resident in a country like Spain, though essentially, with a few provisos, you should have already switched because that is the law. There´s also a warning that technically after a no-deal Brexit, UK driving licence holders living in the EU and not having already changed to a different licence, may end up “licenceless”, and that they would need to take a driving test in the country that they are living in. This is the official advice of the UK government, similar to recent announcements over possible travel visas and health coverage if a no-deal Brexit happens.

Permits may be required if the UK leaves the EU in a no deal Brexit

A CLEAN RIP-OFF TWO SPANIARDS have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in the Vega Baja region for selling household cleaning products to elderly people at massive prices. The men, aged 27 and 34, scammed three victims, aged in their late

by Neil Mortimer

seventies, in Dolores, Alicante City, and San Miguel de Salinas , with over 35 thousand pounds fleeced out of them. The con was run by a manager of a business that sold cleaning

materials, and he had access to a client database, from where he identified his elderly targets, who lived on their own. The victims were sold items at home, and then doubled up the prices claiming that IVA tax

was liable to be paid. The amounts shelled out by the residents got higher and higher as they were forced to sign contracts for several items, with invoices totalling nine thousand and 14 thousand euros respectively in two cases. Both accused men were granted bail ahead of their trial.

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Expat deal welcomed

BRITAIN´S ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, has welcomed Spain´s announcement of a Royal Decree that guarantees the rights of British expats living in the country, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The Weekender reported on the front page last week that the Spanish government was going to issue a Royal Decree last Friday lining up a series of contingency measures over a no-deal Brexit. Simon Manley said:- “The Royal Decree offers important assurances on issues like residency and access to healthcare for the more than 300,000 British nationals who have chosen to

by Alex Trelisnki

make Spain their home, and for the many millions more British tourists who visit Spain each year.” The main headline, as expected, is that Spain plans to grant permanent residency to British citizens living in the country in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The only requirement for the eligible expats would be to apply for a foreigner identity card before the end of 2020, which has been reported as being “nearly automatic”. The British embassy said that more details on transferring to the

Stubbing out the tobacco smugglers

THE Guardia Civil has revealed that it seized 5,500 cartons of contraband tobacco in the regions two main points of foreign entry last month. In the biggest raid 4,000 cartons

by Simon Russell

were smuggled in on a ship arriving at Valencia port from Algeria. They were hidden in dozens of false bottomed compartments

card “would be available in due course”, and again emphasised the need for expats to have a residencia certificate. The Spanish government made it clear that the measures would be conditional on the same terms applying to Spaniards living and working in Britain, and that if the UK government does not offer reciprocal guarantees within two months, then Spain can withdraw it. The legislation also states that expats with S1 certificates will be guaranteed healthcare and British tourists can receive emergency care if they have a European Health Insurance card.

All these rights are to be guaranteed during ‘a transition period’ until December 31 2020, with the presumption being that the UK and Spain would have had to thrash out a longer-term treaty by then. UK Health Minister Stephen Hammond said: “This is a positive step forward in securing an agreement which will enable British expats to access Spanish healthcare in the same way they do now.” “This should also give reassurance to the millions of British tourists who travel to Spain every year using the EHIC scheme for free or reduced medical costs if they need to see a doctor or nurse.” Under the health reimbursement mechanisms, the UK Government paid Spain £250m last year for

the healthcare costs of British nationals in Spain, and the Spanish government paid the £4 million for the healthcare costs of Spanish nationals in the UK. Interestingly enough, the Royal Decree makes no mention of what plans would be for any UK citizens wanting to come live in Spain after a “no-deal” Brexit.

and in that quantity would have been destined for onward sale. Three Algerian nationals were arrested and charged with what was described as serious contraband offences. In a second operation 1,500 packets were intercepted at Valencia Manises airport and two people have been charged. Cigarettes and other tobacco products from regions such as North Africa are far cheaper than in Spain and not subject to Spanish tax or other regulations.

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7 day cruise with MSC Divina from Valencia 11 Apr from 379€* 9 & 16 May from 399€* 27 Jun from 499€*

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Albir on the tourist web

Weekender Reporter, Andy Mansell with VisitAlbir Director, Dino Trubianelli

CATERPILLAR WARNING THE ANNUAL scourge of the poisonous processionary caterpillar that can kill small dogs and make children sick is starting to arrive across Spain, boosted by the recent warmer weather. The dangerous caterpillars, which are usually about an inch long, have tiny barbed hairs containing a protein

by Alex Trelinski

called thaumetopoein, which can cause allergic reactions, foaming at the mouth and vomiting if children come into contact with them Vets say that dogs are especially at risk because if they accidentally ingest the caterpillars, the barbed hairs

could cause severe damage to the tongue. Dogs that try to eat or even sniff the processionary caterpillars could face amputation of their tongue or nose, or even end up dying. The caterpillar’s eggs are laid inside floss nets on pine trees and are generally in a line, creating the shape of a snake.

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A new tourist website, promoting Albir and it’s surrounding area, was launched last week at an inauguration ceremony held in the town’s historic Villa Romana Museum. VisitAlbir.com, is the brainchild of local entrepreneur, Dino Trubianelli, who also runs the highly popular,We loveAlbir Facebook group, with almost 5,000 active members. The inauguration event was attended by Mayor of L’Alfas del Pi, Vicente Arques, and Councillor Martine Mertins who is responsible for foreign residents, plus Hoteliers and business owners from the local community. In his presentation, VisitAlbir Director, Trubianelli, spoke of his desire to provide an information point for visitors to the area and local residents.

by Andy Mansell

“We have created a major new tourism website for visitors to Albir, the first of its kind, which provides detailed information and is backed by the Town Hall,” he said. “Albir is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places to live along the coast, with its own major protected natural park, lighthouse walks, and a beach which has won the Blue Flag award for the past 30 years”. The new website also includes details of surrounding attractions such as the Fuentes del Algar natural waterfalls, the pretty villages of Guadalest and Altea, as well as a list of activities and things to do with children. VisitAlbir.com also reviews the best restaurants and bars, along with all of the hotels and several private villas and apartments in the area and provides an immediate booking service, as well as for airport transfers and taxis. For information, take a look at the website www.visitalbir.com

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Advertising Feature Call : +34 91 342 25 49 or visit - www.libertyexpatriates.es Three reasons to buy life insurance A proven product that everyone should protect themselves with. Life insurance is a necessary purchase that has the benefit of giving you and your family peace of mind. There are many different types of cover that can be tailored to suit your needs and lifestyle. Life insurance not only provides financial protection in the event of death but it is also a savings product that offers benefits that are becoming ever more extensive and customisable, so it is not surprising that, after the car and home insurance, it is the third most contracted insurance cover in Spain. The average profile of a person who contracts life insurance is a married male aged between 35 and 44 years old, but it is never too late or early to take out a policy. 1. Arrange a mortgage to buy a house In Spain, six out of ten homes are bought with a mortgage. In this case, it is advisable to take out life insurance because, in case of death or permanent disability of the person who contracted the mortgage, the insurer will take over the payments to the bank and remove your partner or relatives from the economic responsibility that could be difficult to continue with. In fact, with most banks, it is a pre-requisite as a guarantee before signing the mortgage. Until recently, banking entities conditioned their mortgage lending with an â&#x20AC;&#x153;obligationâ&#x20AC;? to contract some linked products, such as Life insurance.

But since a few years ago, with the approval of the European Parliament of the Mortgage Credit Directive, banks are prohibited by law from linking a mortgage to the purchase of insurance. You only need that your insurance company includes a clause in your policy registering your lending bank as the mortgage beneficiary. In that way, you comply with the request of the bank but you also save money. You could even save a difference of 700 euros as the products offered by the bank can be up to 300% more expensive. 2. Start a family Life insurance can also be a guarantee for those who are thinking about starting a family. It should be taken into account that raising a child in Spain can be expensive. It has been estimated that a baby can cost 14,266 euros during its first year of life

and 14,056 euros during the next two. On average, a child can represent the disbursement of 1,183 euros per month during its first three years, which represents 80.78% of the average monthly net salary of a worker. It will depend on each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard of living, but before the child turns 18 the parents could have spent between 115,000 and 350,000 euros. If at any time one of the parents dies, it will be difficult for the family to maintain the same rhythm of life. In those cases, although the personal loss will be irreplaceable, life insurance could guarantee the necessary capital to meet family expenses. With Liberty Seguros, even if the insured dies in an accident along with his/her spouse and they have children younger than 18, the beneficiaries will receive double the sum insured. 3. Protect your income level Last year there were 3,796 serious occupational accidents in Spain. Of these, 618 had fatal consequences. The possibility of suffering an accident at work or outside that causes a permanent or temporary disability exists, so it is a wise choice to protect your income level. It will depend on each policy, but the insured can receive an advance payment of the contracted

capital in case of temporary or permanent incapacity that prevents them from working and, therefore, affects their income, whether as a result of an accident or illness. In fact, with Liberty Seguros, the insured will be advanced the sum insured for death if he/she is diagnosed with one of the following serious illness or needs one of the following operations: cancer, heart attack, cardiovascular accident, kidney failure, bypass surgery, paralysis and transplant of vital organs, in accordance with the terms established in the special conditions of the policy. With insurance, not only for life but also car, home, business, commercial, funeral, etc., Liberty Seguros is considered the preferred expat insurer in Spain today. Liberty Seguros has an extensive network of over 300 brokers and agents that are dedicated to providing unbiased, friendly and expert advice, because every home is different and such an important decision deserves a face to face chat with a professional insurance advisor, in your own language, to discuss the most suitable cover for you.

To find out more visit www. libertyexpatriates.es or simply call 91 342 25 49.

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

World News

Anti-Muslim backlash Tornadoes devastate the forces sporting giant deep south to withdraw veils Scenes of the wreckage in Alabama.

A sportswoman in a hijab.

SPORTS goods retailer Decathlons shops are a familiar sight here in Spain but the French chain has been at the centre of controversy in their homeland over plans to introduce “sporting hijabs” for female athletes. The garments, which cover hair not face, is already on sale in their Moroccan stores but plans to bring it to France have met with such stiff opposition that this week Decathlon decided to withdraw their sale. Politicians of all stripes voiced opposition, those on the right tending to take a more direct “we shouldn’t pander to Muslims” type stance while those on the left opposed it on supposedly

feminist grounds, with Health Minister Agnes Buzyn saying it did not “correspond to French values” and was not a “vision of women” she and many others shared. The turning point for the retailer seems to be the abuse that some of their employees have received, physical as well as verbal. They expressed their disappointment on Twitter saying their aim was simple, to give women a product which is especially adapted to sport and without judgement. The French are going through a difficult period of relations with Muslims, and the niqab, associated with more extreme forms of Islam and covering the whole face,

has been banned there since 2010. The hijab is legal but many would like to see it outlawed, although in theory that could mean banning headscarves for all - including Christian Mademoiselles - and would probably be impractical. One Muslim association spokeswoman said “So much outrage over a piece of clothing. The overreaction has nothing to do with secular values, which are ones of empathy, compassion and justice. True secular values should support women to make autonomous choices about their lives, including what to wear and ways of empowering them to participate in sport.”

THREE children are among the 23 confirmed dead, a number that may well rise, as the worst tornadoes in years tore through some of the poorest parts of the USA earlier this week. East Alabama was the epicentre with 170 mph (273 kmph) winds in Lee County leaving a path a mile wide and destroying everything in its way. The path of destruction looks “as if someone had taken a blade and just scraped the ground,” Sheriff Jay Jones said. While the area is used to tornadoes this level of wind is extreme, worsened by the fact that people only had a few minutes to take cover - in Lee County the warning was issued at 2.58 pm and the tornado struck at 3.03 pm.

by Simon Russell

As you can imagine many of the survivors have severe injuries and more deaths are anticipated, both from the injured and bodies hidden in the wreckage of houses, vehicles and vegetation. To give an idea of what 170mph wind can do, two 12 ton air conditioning units were blown off a school and thrown 35 feet. 12 tons is about the same weight as a bus. The only thing preventing further deaths is that the tornadoes missed any populated urban areas. Many of those affected are now homeless and to make matters worse the weather forecast is predicting an extreme cold snap in the area.

Fears grow for missing climbers

AIDS cure a step closer by Matthew Richards

Timothy Brown, the first man to be “cured” of HIV

ALTHOUGH doctors and scientists are cautious, they concede that a man in the UK who appears to have been “cured” of HIV does mean that the battle against AIDS and HIV infection may finally be one they are starting to win. The unnamed patient has been free of HIV for 18 months after a stem cell transplant three years ago and Professor Ravindra Gupta, who led the team that treated him said

“There is no virus there that we can measure. We can’t detect anything.” However he was careful to describe the patient as being “in remission” rather than cured. The only person who has made such progress is American Timothy Brown who had similar treatment in 2007 and remains HIV free. The implications for the global health of this current case could be huge with almost 40 million people worldwide suffering from HIV. AIDS, officially described as a pandemic, has killed 35 million people since it was first detected less than 40 years ago. However, one possible barrier is the controversy that surrounds stem cell research, which often involves the development, use and ultimately destruction of human embryos. The US religious right is staunchly against the process and it is effectively banned there despite scientists claiming it could cure a number of diseases outside of HIV. However, there is now an increasing focus on developing treatments from adult stem cells derived from the umbilical cord or even breast milk.

Tom Bollard on the summit of the Matterhorn three years ago.

ONE of Britain’s best-known mountaineers and his Italian climbing partner are feared dead after they have been missing on one of the world’s most dangerous peaks for more than a week. Tom Ballard and Daniele Nardi were attempting to ascend Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, nicknamed “Killer Mountain” due to its difficulty and high mortality rate among climbers. When the pair first failed to report in as usual and it was clear there was a problem no search could be made as Pakistani air space had been closed due to the conflict with India in which two Indian military planes had been shot down. That situation has calmed down for now, but when Pakistani army helicopters tried to reach the spot where the pair were last seen they were driven back by heavy snow and

by Simon Russell

winds, conditions which do not bode well. One positive is that high altitude drones have been sent out and will continue the search while the weather remains too dangerous for a human team. Mr Ballard, aged 30, is the son of the UK’s most famous female mountaineer, Alison Hargreaves, the first woman to climb Everest unaided. Tragically she died on K2 a few months later aged just 33. In 2015 he became the first person to climb all six major north faces in the Alps in one winter, a feat still marvelled at in the close-knit climbing community. Mr Nardi, aged 42, is a hugely accomplished mountaineer and adventurer who has conquered all the world’s major peak including Everest and K2.

Welcome

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Visit your agent or go to www.libertyexpatriates.es Offer valid from 26th February 2019 to 25th June 2019. Policies must be paid by direct debit. Applies to new comprehensive car, home, life and funeral policies only. Not for renewals or replacements. Conditions and minimum premiums will be applied in all cases. Visit www.libertyexpatriates.es or ask your broker/agent for full details.

THE WEEKENDER – Alicante Sur y Murcia – 338mm x 256mm – Colour

8 March

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Business & Finance

Prices on the up

Watch out tax dodgers VALENCIA City has collected around 29 million euros in the last three years from people and companies who were avoiding paying tax. Mayor Joan Ribo announced the figures at the

The RPI tables from January 2018.

SPAIN’S Retail Price Index (RPI) rose by 1.1% last month, a small jump from the January figures of 1.0%. The Office of Statistics has said that this is mainly down to a hike in

by Simon Russell

fuel prices while the price of most other consumer products remained stable. Between May and October last year, the RPI

increased by over 2% each month, while this is the fourth month in a row to drop below that figure and leaves Spain roughly in line with the rest of Europe.

Talks Sponsored By Tel: 671 935 072

STATING THE OBVIOUS Delaying Brexit is now “inevitable” even if the Prime Minister’s deal passes, a senior minister has told Sky News. In a sign of how confidence is falling at the top of Government about leaving March 29th, the unnamed minister said the legislation needed to finalise Brexit would require more time. The senior Conservative, who is closely involved in Brexit planning, described it as “ridiculous” that the prime minister and members of the cabinet continued to

publicly insist there is no the legislation through. That need for a delay. is accepted in government, there is no way around it.” These comments echo The idea of a delay is those of Michel Barnier, the refuted by Downing Street EU’s chief Brexit negotiator who say Britain will leave who warned a delay would on time. But Theresa May be needed in an interview recently watered down with a Spanish newspaper her language to state that over the weekend, and that leaving on 29 March is still if a deal had been passed “within our grasp”. by Parliament it would be “justified”. MPs will vote on the withdrawal agreement on The minister said: or before next Tuesday, “It’s now inevitable there after the Attorney General would have to a technical unveils what concessions extension of a couple of he has managed to get from months. A month probably Brussels on the backstop. wouldn’t be enough to get

by Simon Russell

start of this month saying “Valencia is no longer the fiscal semi-paradise it used to be, and we will go on to ensure that life is made

difficult for tax fraudsters”. Measures in place include regular inspections of firms that invoiced over a million euros turnover and more rigorous implementation of the ICIO building tax.

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Business & Finance

The Three types of Money, The plan to Wealth and the 4% rule of thumb! Never heard of it? Well read on, this could change your life! So, what are the three types of money and what is the 4% rule and how can it help you with your income and road to wealth planning? Well, let’s make a start on looking at the three types of money first. When you are working you have your salary and possibly bonuses and overtime etc. 1. We have money for bills such as food and mortgages, money for eating out, money for entertainment. 2. If we are sensible we build up a little reserve for rainy day money and keep 3 months’ worth of outgoings as cash. 3. Then if we are prudent, we save anything left over, but where to save it?

or €25,000. But the same thing applies today just as it did then. In order to have some money, we have to save it first. So what happens once we have built up our savings and we then want to rely on it for our retirement income? Taking this lady’s portfolio as an example. When she came to us for ideas, I heard another useful snippet from a very experienced financial adviser(I was just a junior financial adviser back in 1990). He said, “have you heard of the 4% rules of thumb?” No, she said! He explained that if you take a withdrawal from your pot of money at 4% of the invested amount each year, then over time this will likely allow for fluctuations and the prospect of growth for

a rising income. The idea being by taking 4%pa would likely cope with the short-term falls in the share markets without making a real dent in the capital and the prospect of a continued income stream as they rise. So she re-examined the risk she was taking with her portfolio and it was set it up for income and growth by the adviser. She then started taking a £1,333 per month i.e.; 4%from her investments each year. What she found is that over the next five years, that despite taking the income she had more than she started out with. In addition, had that lady lived in Spain and I was setting this up for her now, she would have very little tax to pay on her income, and any inheritance tax liability could also

It’s this last bit that’s important. But how can saving little and often get you wealthy? When I joined the life insurance industry in 1990, I heard a very useful snippet from a wealthy lady. She said “Once you have saved £20,000 cash in the bank you then invest it in shares. “Saving that £20,000 was really hard and I had to discipline myself not to spend it. Once saved, I then invested it. I doubled that money in just over seven years by spreading my investment, by which time I managed to save another £20,000 and invested that”. In fact, she had amassed nearly £400,000 worth of investments in 25 years using that strategy when I met her, but I realised early on what she said made sense. These days the minimum investment into shares-based investment funds is £20,000

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

By Andrew Gibson DipIP BLACKTOWER Financial Management be potentially dealt with. Now saving in shares (Equity Funds) is obviously a risky business, however, the risks in shares can be reduced by diversification of assets ranging from Low Risk, Medium and High risk. So there is something for everyone prepared to take some risk. Share related investments take time to work and of course, they can fall in value and you could get back less than you have invested especially when taking large withdrawals. HoweverI always says to people “You cannot time the markets, it’s the time in the markets and the risk you are taking in relation to the withdrawals that is important”. So whether you are that individual who has amassed your £20,000 and wish to invest for Growth, or you want to find out how the 4% rule of thumb could work for you then give me a ring on 603 612 464 or email andrew.gibson@ blacktowerfm.com and find out how my 27 years of financial advisory experience and as an Investment Diploma Qualified Adviser can help you realise your financial plans! 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.

(International) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) 00805B and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

by Yvonne Hollywood, Worldwide Horizons

This country has always attracted worldwide tourism, blessed as it is

with stunning scenery and lochs and glens that look as if they have been photoshopped, they are so breathtaking. Also steeped in history of battles, allegiances and

deceptions, there is literally a story waiting to be told the length and breadth of the over 400 miles from North to South, and at times, nearly 300 miles width. The Capital of the country is Edinburgh, a majestic city whose castle sits proudly overlooking stunning public gardens where many meets to have a picnic lunch on a rare beautiful day (yes, there are days like this too!). On the other side of the gardens, shoppers can fully indulge in the many shops selling both luxury products and “real” Scottish Haggis for the tourist that believes in the myth. Glasgow however, is the undisputed capital of shopping! On its own, Edinburgh is enough of a city offering cultural excursions including a visit to the old alleys of 1800´s Edinburgh that, when no longer wanted after the plague,were simply sealed and built on top of, but have been brought back to life with daily tours and authentic actors taking you through life as it was back then. It’s easy to see where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle got his inspiration for his best-known character, Sherlock Holmes and indeed where Julia Roberts filmed Mary Reilly, the maid that fell in love with Dr Jekyll (or was it Mr Hyde?). When a haar descends on the city, it’s exceptionally easy to recall the deeds of Burke and Hare whilst walking around the old cobblestoned city. Relatively still south of Scotland, you need to have a good 5 days at least to leave Edinburgh and head north, perhaps stopping at Pitlochry, where the salmon ladders have a glass front allowing you to watch for the salmon as they make their way north upstream of the river Tay.

Inverness is the next largest city, and indeed the capital of the north. A vibrant city, tourists are now flocking this way, interest piqued by the success of recent series Outlander, or perhaps to visit the nearby Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous in the Harry Potter films (to some the name already known as one of many whiskys produced in the area). Although enjoying more exposure due to this relatively recent movie hits, Inverness has long been on the map for the many Shakespeare fans that would head to Inverness to drink in the setting of the classic, Macbeth. And if you drink enough of the national drink, perhaps you might even be lucky to see one of the most famous mythical creatures of all time, the Loch Ness Monster, believed to be a creature left trapped in this huge loch when the water receded around it. Many have tried, however, she is very elusive when it comes from photographs…maybe yoú ll get lucky? To the west of Inverness, you really have to make the effort to get over to the beautiful Isle of Skye, known worldwide for the stunning Eilean Donan Castle, featured in the epic battle of good over evil in the film, Highlander. These are just some of the films and scene destinations can be visited by one of the many tour operators that have created specialized itineraries to allow you to see the best of the country, based on the number of nights you have free. Lowcost flights operate regularly to Edinburgh and to Glasgow, a short train journey distance. No matter where you arrive, you are assured the warm welcome that all Scots are known for.

RENT PRICE FREEZE MORTGAGE PAYMENT RISE

by Alex Trelinski

months. As a result, borrowers in Spain with annually resetting Spanish mortgages will see their mortgage payments rise by around €4 per month for a typical €120,000 loan with a 20 year term. As far as mortgage

lending goes, the latest figures from the Association of Spanish Notaries shows that residential lending was up six point two per cent in December 2018 to a figure of 23,051 new loans, as the Spanish mortgage market continues its gradual recovery.

THE EUIBOR, the base rate used for most mortgages in Spain, came in at -0.108 in February, a slight increase on the previous month, and 43.5 per cent higher (less negative) than the same month last year, which means that the Euribor rate has risen for 11 consecutive months. As a result, borrowers in Spain with annually resetting Spanish mortgages will see their mortgage payments rise

by Alex Trelinski

by around €4 per month for a typical €120,000 loan with a 20 year term. As far as mortgage lending goes, the latest figures from the Association of Spanish Notaries shows that residential lending was up six point two per cent in December 2018 to a figure of 23,051 new loans, as the Spanish mortgage market continues its gradual recovery.

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Local - Property

Reaching for the sky

Millionaires map PROPERTY portal Zoopla has published a map of areas in the UK with the most million-pound properties. As you would expect London heads the list with a shade under 400,000 homes worth seven figures or more. Outside of the capital London satellite town Guildford has 5,615 properties worth

a million followed by Cambridge, Sevenoaks, St Albans and Edinburgh. At Cobham in Surrey 44.3% of the homes make the list, the highest proportion of anywhere in the UK. Despite these numbers, Zoopla says that there are 35,000 fewer homes on the list than the previous one.

The changing London skyline

LONDON is set to construct a record amount of skyscrapers this year with 76 due for completion by the end of 2019. The borough with the most is Tower Hamlets with 18 but the buildings are scattered over the UK capital, covering 19 local authorities in all. Supporters of the skyscrapers defined as having 20 storeys or more - have said it is the easiest way to address the

by Simon Russell

housing issue without expanding into green belt areas. However detractors have called it â&#x20AC;&#x153;heartbreakingâ&#x20AC;? saying the edifices ruin the London skyline. The figures for 2019 are three times that of last year, illustrating a growing trend to build up rather than out in many big cities.

The property rich list.

EXPATS FUEL PROPERTY BOOM

THE PURCHASE and sale of housing by expats in Spain has registered record figures for the second consecutive year, surpassing 65,500 transactions (a growth of seven point six per cent year-on-year), according to a report by the College of Property Registrars (Colegio de Registradores de la Propiedad). The weight of property purchases by non-Spaniards in Spain made up 12.6 per cent of total sales in 2018 with 516,680 transactions, the highest figure in the last 10 years, while the price of housing increased by eight point per cent, with Alicante Province leading the field. The last quarter of 2018 saw the lowest sale statistics of the year,

by Alex Trelinksi

according to the Real Estate Registry Statistics report. Even so, more than 516,000 housing transactions were closed, with a year-on-year rise of 11.3 per cent and the highest figure recorded in a decade. According to the Registrars, foreign buyers increased their operations in Spain during 2018. Interannual figures grew for the ninth consecutive year, and for the second year in a row set historic sales records. While the barrier of 60,000 transactions was already surpassed in 2017, in 2018 they increased to 65,500, seven point six per cent more. These figures show that 12.6 per cent of

total sales were made by foreign citizens, with British nationals heading up the demand at 15.3 per cent, followed by Germans at seven point four per cent. Despite the uncertainty generated by the lack of agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU to reach a Brexit deal before the end of March, Brits have once again increased the number of homes they buy in Spain and exceeded, by a small margin, 10,000 transactions. Alicante Province is still the place with the highest weight of housing purchases by foreign citizens, maintaining levels above forty per cent for years, specifically 41.28 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2018.

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Local - Property

Pricey properties by Simon Russell

THREE of the four most expensive places to buy property in the Valencian Community are in the Marina Alta, according to figures just released by the Development Ministry. The statistics are based on the price per square meter and while Benidorm tops the list at 1,883 euros m2, Javea is second (1,742) followed by Calpe (1,630) and then Denia (1,572). Valencia City makes up the top five at 1,371 euros per square meter. Housing prices last year across the Marina Alta increased by 6.5% in Denia, 6.8% in Javea and 4.5% in Calpe, which is a slower rate of growth than the average for Alicante province which was 12.5%.

Calpe, third highest place to purchase property in Valencia.

Alex Trelinski’s

Back In

S Ý R JER T C A C I S S A JUR

g British gardenin Forget the old messing up your ts complaint of ca instead for a big go t bu garden, d. dinosaur instea s from Cwrnbran m da A Jerry ing has been caus in South Walesr installing Alan the quite a stir afte ont of his home in Allosaurus in frarity. the name of ch ve been flocking Hundreds ha ssic friend after Jura to see Jerry’s from The National it ht ug bo ith he tre for Wales w Showcaves Cen ,600. a price tag of £1sation decided to The organi plastic dinosaur e ct au ion off th for charity, which ey on m e ity to rais perfect opportun Jerry saw as the three grandchildren to entertain his m. who have autisquite the garden Alan is ht of ding at a heig ornament stan d attracting many a seven metres an photographer! ly what´s the betting to Unfortunate vandals will tryes? ag that some stupid l al r fo n fu t of spoil a great bi

CAT BURGLAR STRIKES A kleptomaniac cat money a neighbour had notorious for stealing left out item s for the milkman. from its neighbours has “fi Ms Drouet and her fam brought home somethingnally ily of rec ent ly moved to a new house real value” - £25.70 in cas h. in the town and thought Theo Pilfering puss became known for thi Theo might have left his thieving Christmas decorations eving habits behind him. Far from mending his ways, toys in Ipswich, which owand Rachael Drouet would the ner the filching feline upped his n try game and stole a to return. plastic bag containing the cash. She had joked it might be Luckily there was a no useful if he brought home te cash inside with an addres instead of “tat”. s, and Ms Drouet’s partner Paul Edwa So he did. The eightrds old Siamese cross stoleyear- was able to return the money to the their neighbour.

Britain SPDOICTKON y put on Twitter than a she subsequentl A woman was more found has been liked 56,000 times. eyes little surprised when she “I’d just closed myispered ay lodge lid ho r he wh ce in nie an my sw a briefly when TV set. needed watching shows on the very quietly that shey. m fro y, Carne rne Ca ss Dulcine rt break help,” said Mi at, she Norfolk, was on a sho Center “When I asked with wh at ces nie r he ’. th an wi Forest, said ‘the sw my eyes and there Parcs in Sherwood one of “I opened en lounge Nottinghamshire, wh was sitting in the it d. bir the . nd TV the girls fou children’s whispered: watching fe swan was waiting niece “My wi is “H th wi lp... ‘Auntie, I need your he for him by the door.” d. s on sai she ’,” an sw the Perhaps Swan Lake wa to d ge na ma y rne Ca ? Miss e photo the television usher the swan out. Th

Met Police Dick was right boss Cressida to LBC Radio when speaking she said that yoon Tuesday, as not discount u simply could numbers for be lower police the increasing ing a factor in cases of knife crime. PM Theresa May only hours before coppers on th said fewer patrol was not ae beat or on would say that factor, but she because she w, wouldn´t she Secretary as sh as the Home 20 thousand of e slashed over ficers. You don´t genius to work have to be a a big problem out that there´s and not just for the cops, dealing with knife crime. Police forc staff....”simpleses need more Theresa May”....to quote meerkat com ´s ill-timed week, but shement of last from her view. won´t budge It´s anothe how her totar example of brand of decisi lly unflexible created so manon-making has the UK, be it y problems in over Brexit or the police.

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Motoring

SEAT Arona 2018

The SEAT Arona is proof that bigger isn’t automatically better when it comes to crossovers. More comfortable, practical and desirable than the majority of its rivals, the Arona is one of the best all-rounders in the compact crossover market, while its excellent range of petrol engines make it a great choice for those who want to avoid diesel. Despite the visual similarities with the Ateca, the Arona doesn’t actually share any of its major components with SEAT’s medium size SUV; it’s actually based on the same platform as the fourth-gen Ibiza. And that’s good news for those who value comfort and value over performance and handling. For sure, it’s not the most engaging of drives, but the Arona is smooth and predictable. The ride quality is also excellent and even sportier models on firm suspension and 18-inch wheels feel comfortable on rough roads. The only area of annoyance is the abundance of wind noise; fit the optional roof rails and the problem becomes quite noticeable at motorway speeds. That said, the Arona gets all the fundamentals right. In terms of size, it’s similar to the Juke and Captur but its 400 litre boot capacity is far superior to the 354 litres in the Nissan and 377 litres in the Renault. You also get better comfort in the back with plenty of head and legroom to transport two adults in the rear seats

over a long journey in comfort. The Arona works best with petrol-power, with the star of the show being the threecylinder 1.0 TSI. Not only is it smooth and hushed on the motorway, but it also promises an official 57.6mpg which means you no longer need to default for diesel when it comes to low fuel costs. Most engines are offered with a manual

or DSG automatic transmissions. While it might seem quite expensive against its rivals, the Arona comes with a lot of equipment as standard. Even basic SE models get 1 7 - i n c h

phone. Only those who want sporty styling or plush interiors will need to spend more on FR or Xcellence spec. List price aside, we think the Arona is one of the best all-rounder compact

alloy wheels, twotone metallic paint, LED daytime running lights and a 5.0-inch colour touchscreen. SE Technology trim adds parking sensors and a large 8.0 inch screen to the dash, along with navigation and full link connectivity for a mobile

crossovers. More comfortable than the Captur and more practical than the Juke, SEAT’s second crossover is another success story for the Volkswagen-backed carmaker. In fact, to find a genuine rival, you have to look towards the T-Roc. However, badge snobbery aside, we think the SEAT wins on value every time.

Mercedes-Benz dominates first ever - Leasing.com League Table Following the recent launch of new car marketplace Leasing. com, the first-ever Leasing.com League Table shows the personal contract hire market is currently being dominated by MercedesBenz. Half of the vehicles in February’s top ten most popular vehicles are from Mercedes-Benz, with Volkswagen Group also featuring prominently. The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class compact SUV was the most enquired on vehicle during February, rocketing up the table and just pipping its hatchback stablemate, the A-Class, to top spot. The rise of the GLA-Class during February can be attributed to affordable deals on the GLA 180 Urban Edition 5dr Auto, the derivative that earned most of the enquiries on Leasing.com. Commenting on the figures, Paul Harrison, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Leasing.com, said: “Mercedes-Benz continues to lead the way when it comes to personal leasing, with desirable vehicles at

attractive rates. “It’s also worth noting Volvo is fast becoming a major player, moving up to third place in the manufacturer table, with the S90 executive saloon making it into the top ten.

“The Volkswagen Golf was the most popular personal lease car in 2018, but it’s got a fight on its hands this year with the techladen new A-Class. We fully expect the A-Class and Golf to continue to battle it out over the course of the year to be the most popular car overall.” New car marketplace Leasing.com launched earlier this year to drive the UK’s switch from car ownership to usership. According to the latest figures from the British Vehicle Rental

and Leasing Association, there was a 24% increase in the personal contract hire fleet between Q4 2017 and the same period of 2018.

“The leasing market is holding up BVRLA chief executive, Gerry well compared to the wider new Keaney. car market, largely thanks to strong demand for personal leasing,” said

Facebook: @TheWeekenderSpain

MY FAIR GRACIELA

THE JAVEA Players have been well-known for over 40 years for their varied productions, and they will be bringing one of the great musicals south to Rojales next month, in the shape of My Fair Lady. The show´s choreographer will be Graciela Kaplan, an Argentinian, who started dancing at the tender age of four, and has therefore plenty of experience under her belt. She was Principal Ballerina for 12 years with the Northern Ballet Company, based in Leeds,

Umbrellas galore at Los Locos beach, Torrevieja.

Graciela Kaplan.

by Alex Trelinski

to win Hope’s heart. Moonface will be played by Andy Kirkwood (pictured), who has been with Studio 32 for some time, having recently played the Lion in the production of The Wiz. Local charities will once again benefit from the show staged at San Fulgencio´s Cardenal Belluga theatre between Wednesday May 29th and Saturday June 1st, with the performances starting at 7.30 pm. Reserved seating tickets are now on sale, priced at 10 euros, and can be obtained by emailing tickets@ studiothirtytwo.org or by calling 744 48 49 33.

by Alex Trelinski

Fire crews alerted shortly after 9.30 pm, with a next-door restaurant full of diners having to be evacuated. Firefighters from Almoradi, Torrevieja, Los Alcázares, and San Pedro del Pinatar attended the scene, and they managed

TORREVIEJA´S beaches are set to have no sunbeds or umbrellas over the busy Easter holiday period after the council failed to renew a contract. Recreativos Acuaticos Horadada have provided a wide-ranging beach hire service since 2013, and pay Torrevieja council for the concession. The deal ran out last summer, but Recreativos claim,

by Alex Trelinski

in a report in the Informacion newspaper, that they´ve not been contacted about a renewal or told about a new tender. They added that it would be too late to get a new formal deal in time for Easter, with mystery surrounding as to why the council has not acted on the matter.

CANCER CABEROKE

Andy Kirkwood as Moonface.

WAREHOUSE DESTRUCTION A D.I.Y. warehouse store next to the N-332 in the Pilar de la HoradadaSan Pedro del Pinatar area was completed destroyed by fire on Sunday night. The blaze happened at the Pepeterio-General Store not far from the border between Alicante Province and the Murcia region.

BEACH HIRE RIDDLE

by Alex Trelinski

until she stopped dancing in 1996. “I had the privilege to dance with Rudolf Nureyev and perform all the leading roles in the classical repertoire”, said Graciela. The Teatro Capitol in Rojales will host the one night performance on Saturday April 13th, with curtain up at 7.00 pm. Tickets are priced at 12 euros and reservations can be made on-line via www. javeaplayers.com

ALL ON BOARD FOR FUN

THE COLE PORTER musical Anything Goes will be the spring production for the Studio 32 Musical Theatre Company, which will be staged in San Fulgencio at the end of May. Anything Goes is a hilarious farce set in the early 1930s aboard an ocean liner , with nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney en-route from New York to England, but her pal Billy Crocker has stowed away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, who is already engaged, to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh! Joining the love triangle is “Public Enemy Number 13” Moonface Martin and his sidekick-in-crime Erma, with Reno and Moonface joining forces to help Billy in his quest

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

to stop the fire spreading to the Sal y Pimienta restaurant. The N-332 was closed off at kilometre 39, with the thousand square metre D.I.Y outlet raised to the ground, as the blaze was made worse by all of the inflammable materials inside the warehouse.

F.A.B.(Fighting Against Breast Cancer) has raised 3,577 euros in recent months for the A.E.C.C. charity, thanks to events in Vega Baja region. F.A.B. will be hosting a Caberoke night with Shanie on Tuesday, April 9th, at the Coopers Arms, Dona Pepa, Quesada, starting at 7.00 pm, with tickets costing just five euros each. Tickets are on sale from the venue or by calling Sue on 966 392 823.

www.weekendernews.com

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Local - News & Community

The UNEASY ALLIANCE A FRAGILE peace has been brokered in a Partido Popular row which will see Orihuela major, Emilio Bascuñana head the PP list in May´s local elections. The local PP, backed by regional officials, wanted him removed and replaced by Dámaso Aparicio, who now will take second place on the list, and is officially first in line to take over from Bascuñana. The PP nationally, including party leader Pablo Casado,

Bitter rivals smile uneasily

NO COMING BACK

by Alex Trelinski

Postbag

intervened and ordered that Bascuñana should be the mayoral candidate, with the Orihuela PP backing down. Aparicio, who is also the Orihuela PP president, will be able name half of the local cabinet positions, assuming the PP take control again in May, and he has also been given a seat on the Alicante Provincial Council.

CHEAPER POWER

SPAIN´S domestic electricity tariffs fell in February, making it the fifth straight months that rates have gone down, helped by a temporary suspension of the seven per cent electricity generation tax. Prices last month were one point two per cent lower than in February 2018, with the average monthly bill now clocking in at just under 57 euros, compared to nearly 64 euros back in August. Wholesale price reductions have also contributed to the fall.

EX-SAN FULGENCIO mayor, Carlos Ramirez, won´t be making a return to elected politics soon, after he lost his appeal at the Provincial Court over his eight year ban from public office handed down in November 2017. The former Partido Popular mayor, along with two others, was found guilty of administrative trespass over the awarding of sports school

by Alex Trelinski contracts worth nearly 200 thousand euros. All three men had their appeals rejected, with Ramirez booted out of the Partido Popular soon after the initial verdict in 2017, as he then clung onto power for a few extra months in San Fulgencio, before being ousted as mayor.

COFRADIA CALLING!

TORREVIEJA´S Semana Santa processions attract thousands of people to the city each year, and next month, it will be the 14th year that the Paso of Jesus in the Garden of Olives (Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesús en la Oración del Huerto de los Olivos) will be taken through the streets by the International Cofradia. The International Cofradia is a group made up of mostly, but not entirely of British expats, and is a

HOME THIEF CAUGHT

A 21-YEAR-OLD burglar who plundered empty holiday homes on the Mar Menor during the winter has been arrested by the Guardia Civil. Guardia officers got reports of increased burglaries towards the end of last year, with a bunch of adjoining properties getting unwelcome visits. Substantial damage was done by the thief, as he smashed in doors and window to steal mainly electronic goods. The Guardia detained the man in Los Nietos, and revealed that he had an extensive criminal record of home robberies.

by Alex Trelinski great opportunity to participate in one of the most important events in the local cultural and religious calendar. Those involved over the years will testify to the fact that it is a unique and memorable experience, and you do not have to be extremely fit to take part, with most of the members not in the ‘first flush of youth’, but these days the “paso” is pushed around, as opposed to

I applaud the Spanish government and Friday´s announcement of a package of contingency measures to preserve the rights of Brits in Spain if things go pear-shaped over Brexit. But I´m a cautious soul, and always believe that the devil is in the detail, and though my champagne bottle cork is close to popping, I´m still keeping the ice bucket close to hand! For example if the reports are accurate, health provision for UK retirees is only guaranteed until December 2020, and of course that is assuming that the British government offer Spain a similar package if the UK crash out of the EU later this month. I saw no mention of what happens after the end of next year. Presumably that will depend on both countries negotiating a permanent bilateral deal if Britain leaves the EU with no deal? I know that PM Pedro Sanchez has implemented a policy of free healthcare for all, irrespective of residential status, but a recently arrived British retiree in my area got short-shrift when trying to get some treatment, as he waited for his S1 form to clear. Another concern is what happens if Sanchez and the PSOE don´t remain in power after the general election on April 28th? I can´t see certain other political parties being as generous to the Brits, so my Dom Perignon bottle is still on chill for the time being! Mike Rushall, Denia It was fun reading all the reports on line last weekend about the Spanish Brexit contingency plans and the reaction on UK social media sites, and the bonkers comments on them. Last Friday night, the BBC website had over 700 comments on the story, some of which came from Spain, and you had to laugh at some of the postings. A number of posters stated that if the 400 thousand resident Brits suddenly left the country, the Spanish economy would collapse. Really? A quick check by me on the internet put the Spanish population at over 46 million, and most of the mainland Brits are on the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol, and mostly retired. I hardly believe the expats are a priority for the men in Madrid, but what really does count is sending out the right “moodmusic” to make sure that British tourists keep on coming to Spain in their hundreds of thousands. Negativity over the UK and the feeling that Brits are not welcome on holiday is far more important than a handful of pensioners seeing out their golden years, and for the Spanish government, as with any other administration around the world, money does really talk. Helen Baxter, Benidorm

Send us your letters! newsdesk@Weekender.news

Letters and news are printed at the editors discretion. All letters should contain, the writer’s name, NIE and contact information (Phone number/address) although only the name and town will be published. Please state clearly if you wish to remain anonymous. The publishers reserve the right ammend submissions and publish, in part or full

carried! If you are interested in taking part, then please contact David McLachan on 865 661 937 or Paul Mutter on 671 218 285. The first official meeting of the International Cofradia will be on Thursday, March 14th at the Semana Santa museum. Existing members are asked to let David or Paul know whether they will or not be taking part this year.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

A MURCIA CITY man who was due to stand trial on Monday on a drink-drive charge was found drunk behind the wheel again, after failing to turn up for his hearing. The man was spotted by

by Alex Trelinski

Murcia local police in an intoxicated state driving around the area of the Atalayas Shopping Centre in Murcia City, and was promptly arrested again.

Facebook: @TheWeekenderSpain

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Pets & Wildlife

Why you must insure the ‘little’ things in life

ARC - PUPPIES & KITTIES NEEDING HOMES NORA.- Pictured

behind Lucie, this lovely cat is 22 months old, very quiet and no trouble and is a house cat. She needs her forever home with a small garden.

(BPT) - The gift-giving season is upon us once again! Whether you’re buying your loved ones a new pet, some fancy jewelry or the latest mobile phone for the holidays, one thing is for sure - these gifts come with costs and complications that can add headaches in the long run. For instance, new pets will inevitably need visits to the vet, electronic devices are often accidentally damaged, and valuables such as jewelry, art or cameras can get stolen or misplaced frequently. Therefore, this holiday season, investing in pet insurance, device insurance and valuable personal property insurance is the thing to do, so that the “little” things in life do not turn into big problems when things don’t go quite as planned. Here are a few reasons why you should consider purchasing insurance this holiday season: 1. Pet insurance: Coverage is flexible and nondiscriminatory. A major bonus of pet insurance is the flexibility associated with it. For example, unlike health insurance policies for humans that often require you to use a specific group of providers, pet insurance policies allow you to choose the veterinarian you prefer. Likewise, pet insurance does not favor certain ages of pets. You can choose to begin insuring your pet at any time, whether that is at the time of adoption/purchase or many years later when your pet reaches maturity. Perhaps most compelling is the fact that many pet insurance policies reimburse owners at least 3/4 of costs after deductibles. This is a significant chunk of change, especially when a seemingly small procedure, such as having a foreign object removed from a pet’s

TOM This gorgeous pup is about 16 weeks old. Cross Jack Russell. Very playful and ready for his own home.

NO ADOPTIOIN FEE BUT A DONATION IS MUCH APPRECIATED. Also, many other dogs, puppies, cats & kittens needing homes. Food and donations also urgently needed and can be left at ARC’s charity shop on CarrerValencia 1, Jalon between 10 am & 1.00 pm Monday to Saturday. Contact Tel No Sally:- 625 985 689 or Jayne:- 649 310 285.Email jalonvalleyarc14@yahoo.co.uk. Facebook – Jalon Valley A.R.C. Based in Jalon. Charity Reg No CV-01-054107-A. CIF No G5482759

Residencia canina y felina Boarding kennel & Cattery

Since nce 11977 97 desde/si

RESIDENCIA CANINA Y FELINA BOARDING KENNEL & CATTERY Habitaciones individuales Ozono Hilo musical Calefacción Parques ajardinados Servicio a domicilio Admitimos todas las razas

Individual rooms Ozono Music Heated floor system Landscaped playgrounds Free home delivery service All types of dogs & cats allowed

stomach, can cost nearly $800. 2. Device insurance: Accidental electronic device damage is all too common. Approximately one-third of all users damage their cell phone within the first year of owning it, and as we all know, repairing or replacing these devices can be quite pricey. While a phone warranty typically does not cover loss or theft, many insurance providers offer protection plans that do and save you money to boot. USAA has partnered with ProtectCELL to offer a smartphone protection plan. 3. Valuable personal property insurance: Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance do not always cover valuables. Many homeowner’s coverage policies have a certain limit for valuable items categories. For example, a typ-

ical homeowner’s policy may have a limit of $1,500 in coverage for jewelry. A valuable personal property policy provides coverage for higher-ticket items such as jewelry, silverware, fine art, stamps and coins, instruments, etc. that may not be adequately accounted for in other property policies. This type of policy also provides coverage for damage or loss, which is a major distinction from a homeowner’s or renter’s policy. It is the smart and financially savvy decision to protect your purchases for loved ones this holiday season, especially when it comes to meaningful and valuable gifts such as pets, electronic devices and personal property, such as jewelry or art. To learn more about these varieties of insurance, visit: USAA.com.

Pets in Spain

Sammy is an 18 month

old little boy. He is chipped, vaccinated and neutered. Sammy is good with other dogs and loves attention. Call: 645 469 253

Call: 645 469 253 www.petsinspain.com info@petsinspain.com

Andy Mansell’s

Stars In

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Luke was universally loved Such a sad Celebrity week this has been, with the death of Beverley Hills 90210 star Luke Perry, who passed away after suffering from a stroke at the tender age of 53. To me, he always epitomised, the cool, good looking best friend that everyone wanted to be seen with and boy how I wanted that California life of his….. Wolverhampton

WV6, wasn’t exactly the postcode I craved. Reading the tributes from his former co-stars and other legendary actors that poured in after his untimely death, it’s easy to see he was universally adored in real life too. The one that gave me a lump in the throat came from Hollywood bad boy Charlie Sheen, who wrote “L.P. LP …..You made every

situation better, my man. Your elegance, your wit, your charm and your giant heart inspired and enchanted so many of us, on countless occasions, with brilliant aplomb. R.I.P good sir, I am truly honoured to have known you all of these years. Now, that got me Charlie …. Thank You!

Beverley Hills 90210 star Luke Perry, who died last week.

Shirley’s Kili Hell Strictly judge Shirley on her Kilimanjaro climb. I watched with a curious mix of horror and jealousy as I followed the journey to the top of Africa’s highest mountain, taken by the Comic Relief celebrities last week. I took the Kilimanjaro charity challenge myself last year, reaching the 5895 metre summit at sunrise on New Year’s Day 2018, in a life changing moment, I shared with 22 other incredible people I am still in touch with. It was definitely, the most gruelling, mental and physical experience of my life, but I wouldn’t have missed a second of the journey. I was lucky that I didn’t suffer from altitude sickness too badly, so reading about poor Shirley Ballas and her struggles made me really warm to her. The Strictly Come Dancing judge, has now revealed that she had panic attacks and

experienced severe altitude sickness during her climb. “I was having panic attacks. My nose started to bleed. I was vomiting. And then my mind and senses lost control,” Shirley said. Shirley explained in a Sun interview, that she took on Africa’s tallest mountain in support of people with mental health difficulties. Spurred on by the loss of her brother David, who died by suicide 15 years ago, aged 44, she said, “You motions. I can’t control the e was crying over David, I was blaming myself and I was going back through all the years in my life, I was thinking I am not worthy.” Knowing how close, you can get to quitting in pressure situations such as this, fair play and hands up to Shirley, who stayed focused and completed the journey for her brother.

n My Eyes FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

The Voice Within Returns

Six time Grammy winner, Christina Aguilera releases tour dates. I have to say, it’s not very often the release of a singers tour dates get me a little excited and hot under the collar. Madonna and Celine’s upcoming tours passed under my radar and left me somewhat underwhelmed. But, when I heard that Sixtime Grammy award-winning singer Christina Aguilera will visit eight countries for “The X Tour”, starting in July, I can’t deny I almost wee’d a little in

excitement. She’s one of the few recording artists where I could honestly say I’ve loved everything she’s done, all the way from Genie in a Bottle, through Dirty and onto the Burlesque movie. Her first UK concert will be Glasgow on 7 November, followed by London, Manchester and Birmingham, so I may have to plan a little trip home to the West Midlands this Autumn.

Tributes have poured in from fellow music stars following this week’s tragic death of charismatic, Prodigy frontman, Keith Flint. Fans and friends continue to mourn the forty nine year old singer, whose lifeless body was found at his home in Dunmow, Essex, after an alarm was raised. Although no official statement has been issued, bandmate Liam Howlett, told fans that Flint had taken his own life. A message, issued by The Progidy, said, “it is with deepest shock and sadness that we can confirm the death of our brother and best friend Keith Flint, who was a true pioneer, innovator and legend. He will be forever missed.” Punk legend, Johnny Rotten, of the Sex Pistols, who spoke while attending a Los Angeles premiere, expressed his intense sadness on hearing the news, “My heart is broken for him. He was a good friend of mine,” he

said, adding that “Nobody loved him and he was left alone and he got destroyed, why do so many people in this industry be left alone?” The tragedy, highlights the loneliness and depression felt by performers and back up crews, who are continually on the road and constantly in the media spotlight. A friend of mine who works in a senior position in Asia for the Live Nation concert promoters, summed it up in a Facebook post to her followers. “In our industry suicide is rife. We spend months on the road, away from our loved ones, working very long hours in highstress environments.” “Please be kind to each other and please support your industry family. We are in this together but it doesn’t always feel like that.” RIP Keith ……. forever the ‘Firestarter’

t n a r g in n r o m ’s n a Morg

.... you know Now, I’m not a morning person ely big smile lov a h wit up ke the ones that wa on their face. there is no That’s definitely not me and sent a TV pre way in the world that I couldabout people. breakfast show and be nice I don’t think, It seems I am not alone, but rude as piers even at my worst I could be as ly. Morgan was on GMTV recentabout the t ran old ht He went on a rig aire status and Kardashian’s and their billionred. spa s wa m the almost none of a Kardashian Apparently, Kylie Jenner, who’sng the bei g atin ebr cel by marriage, is e, thanks youngest ‘self-made’ billionair e. pir em kit largely to her lip, “Wait a Now, Piers weighed in saying billionaire? I ade f-m sel say minute, when you

Piers Morgan launched an early morning antiKardashian rant.

e her sister just thought she got it becaus y they’ve all wh t’s tha and e, tap made a sex become hugely rich.” , she’s not even “The thing about Kylie Jenner’s not,” said the She ? that good looking, is she ie at number four presenter, before placing Kyl rt. cha uty on the Kardashian bea hot Kardashian “I’m not being rude, the only t hot and if tha are is Kendall, none of them y would not get they weren’t Kardashians, thehtclub.” nig n in to the average Croydo of his tirade, for Saving the most vicious partng her a ‘pimp’, ndi bra ‘momager’ Kris Jenner, every pimp he raged “Good old Kris, wellyou make money if and needs to make money e, what are you? out of your daughter’s sex tapside of the bed ich wh Ouch Piers, we know Hilarious! you got out of that morning …..

Alone and unloved The Progidy’s charismatic singer Keith Flint who died this week.

friday 8th june 2018

FRIDAY 8th March

10:15 Crimewatch 00:00 Derry Girls 07:30 Escape to the 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Roadshow Show 00:30 Gogglebox Country 11:00 Homes Under the 01:30 999: On the 08:15 Best House in Town 07:00 Good Morning Hammer Frontline 09:00 Antiques Roadshow Britain 12:00 Wanted Down Under 10:00 BBC News at Nine 09:30 Lorraine 02:25 The Secret Life of... 12:45 A1: Britain’s Longest 11:00 Victoria Derbyshire 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle 03:20 Walks with My Dog Road 04:15 The Secret Lives of 12:00 BBC Newsroom Live Show 13:15 Bargain Hunt Slim People 11:30 This Morning 13:15 Politics Live 14:45 Doctors 13:30 Loose Women 04:40 Dispatches 14:00 Think Tank 15:15 Shakespeare 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 05:10 Come Dine with Me 14:45 Ray Mears Goes and Hathaway: Private Walkabout 14:55 ITV News London 06:05 Liam Bakes Investigators 06:35 Kirstie’s Fill Your 15:45 Who Do You Think 15:00 James Martin’s 16:00 Escape to the House for Free You Are? Great British Adventure Country 16:00 Tenable 06:50 Countdown 16:45 The Hairy Bikers’ 16:45 Best House in Town Pubs That Built Britain 17:00 Tipping Point 07:25 Cheers 17:30 Flog It! 08:45 Frasier 17:15 Patagonia: Earth’s 18:00 The Chase 18:15 Pointless 19:00 ITV News London 10:40 Everybody Loves Secret Paradise 19:00 BBC News at Six 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:30 ITV Evening News Raymond 19:30 BBC London News 19:00 Eggheads 20:00 Emmerdale 11:10 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell 20:00 The One Show 12:05 Undercover Boss 19:30 Great Continental 20:30 Coronation Street 20:30 Celebrity 21:00 Countrywise 13:00 Channel 4 News Railway Journeys Mastermind 13:05 Come Dine with Me 20:00 Saving Lives at Sea 21:30 Coronation Street

SATURDAY 9th March

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Nigellissima 13:00 Football Focus 14:00 BBC News at One 14:15 Six Nations Rugby 15:00 Live: Six Nations Rugby 17:30 Final Score 18:10 Celebrity Mastermind 18:40 Impossible Celebrities 19:30 BBC News at Six 19:40 BBC London News 19:45 Pointless Celebrities 20:35 All Together Now 21:40 Casualty 22:30 Mrs Brown’s Boys 23:00 BBC News at Ten

07:25 The King of Queens 07:35 Make It Pop 08:30 Absolute Genius 08:00 Mission Employable 07:50 Everybody Loves With Dick and Dom Raymond 08:05 Mr Bean 09:00 Top Class 08:15 Everybody Loves 08:20 Mr Bean 09:30 The Dog Ate My Raymond 08:30 Scrambled! Homework 08:40 Frasier 10:00 Deadly on a Mission: 08:35 Scrambled! 08:50 The Powerpuff Girls 09:05 Frasier Pole to Pole 09:30 Frasier 10:30 Nature’s Microworlds09:10 ToonMarty 10:05 The Big Bang 09:30 Robozuna 11:00 Natural World Theory 10:05 Teen Titans Go! 12:00 Homes Under the 10:30 The Big Bang 10:25 ITV News Hammer Theory 10:30 James Martin’s 13:00 Rick Stein’s Long 10:55 The Big Bang Saturday Morning Weekends 12:40 Ainsley’s Caribbean Theory 14:00 Talking Pictures 11:25 The Simpsons 14:45 Daddy Long Legs Kitchen 13:40 ITV Lunchtime News 11:55 The Simpsons 16:50 Coast 12:25 Four in a Bed 13:45 Dancing on Ice 17:45 Natural World 12:55 Four in a Bed 18:30 Mountain: Life at the 15:45 Catchphrase 16:30 ITV Evening News 13:25 Four in a Bed Extreme 16:45 ITV News London 13:55 Four in a Bed 19:30 The Great British 14:25 Four in a Bed 17:00 Live: Six Nations Sewing Bee 14:55 A Place in the Sun: Rugby

07:00 Breakfast 09:30 Match of the Day 11:00 The Andrew Marr Show 12:00 Sunday Politics 12:30 The Big Questions 13:30 Homes Under the Hammer 14:00 BBC News at One 14:15 Songs of Praise 14:50 Bargain Hunt 15:50 Garden Rescue 16:35 Money for Nothing 17:20 Escape to the Country 18:20 Pointless Celebrities 19:05 BBC News at Six 19:20 BBC London News 19:30 Countryfile 20:30 MasterChef 21:00 Antiques Roadshow

07:35 Countryfile 08:30 Live: FIA Formula E Motor Racing 10:15 My Life on a Plate 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30 The Hairy Bikers’ Chicken and Egg 13:30 Best Bakes Ever 14:00 ITU World Series Triathlon 15:30 Kon-Tiki 17:15 Natural World 18:00 Inside the Factory 19:00 Six Nations Rugby 20:00 Travelling Blind 21:00 Top Gear 22:00 Race Across the World 23:00 Louis Theroux

SUNDAY 10th March

07:20 The Big Bang 09:10 Mr Bean Theory 09:30 Project Z 10:05 Teen Titans Go! 07:45 The Big Bang Theory 10:25 ITV News 08:10 The Big Bang 10:30 Parveen’s Indian Theory Kitchen 08:35 Frasier 11:30 This Morning 12:30 Ainsley’s Caribbean 09:00 Frasier 09:25 Everybody Loves Kitchen 13:35 ITV Lunchtime News Raymond 10:00 Everybody Loves 13:50 The Voice UK 15:15 Live: Six Nations Raymond 10:30 Sunday Brunch Rugby 18:30 ITV Evening News 13:35 Jamie’s Quick and 18:50 ITV News London Easy Food 14:10 Jamie’s Quick and 19:00 Dancing on Ice 21:00 Midsomer Murders Easy Food 14:45 The Simpsons 23:00 ITV News 15:15 The Simpsons 23:15 Joanna Lumley’s 15:45 The Simpsons India 16:20 Cloudy With a

10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:15 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! 14:10 Access 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Fatherly Obsession 17:00 Friends 17:30 Friends 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Edwardian Britain in Colour 21:00 Secret Scotland 22:00 Flight MH370 5 Years On: The Mystery Continues

07:45 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:10 You’ve Been Framed! 09:00 Emmerdale 09:25 Emmerdale 09:55 Coronation Street 10:25 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20 Superstore 11:50 Superstore 12:15 You’ve Been Framed! 13:15 Emmerdale 13:45 Emmerdale 14:15 Coronation Street 14:45 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:40 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 The Jeremy Kyle Show

00:00 Law & Order: UK 01:05 Scott & Bailey 02:05 Scott & Bailey 03:00 ITV3 Nightscreen 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:55 Heartbeat 09:00 Murder, She Wrote 10:00 Judge Judy 10:30 Judge Judy 11:00 Judge Judy 11:25 On the Buses 12:00 On the Buses 12:35 Rising Damp 13:05 George and Mildred 13:40 Heartbeat 14:45 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:55 Midsomer Murders

07:00 Judge Judy 11:05 Make You Laugh Out 07:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:20 Judge Judy Loud 07:10 Emmerdale Omnibus 07:40 Judge Judy 11:35 Dolphin Tale 08:05 Rising Damp 09:40 Coronation Street 13:40 Friends 08:35 Rising Damp Omnibus 14:10 Friends 09:05 George and Mildred 13:05 The Voice UK 14:40 Friends 09:40 George and Mildred 14:30 Catchphrase 15:10 Friends 10:15 Carry on Behind 15:30 You’ve Been 15:40 Friends 12:00 Midsomer Murders Framed! 16:10 Daddy Day Camp 14:05 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Bargain Loving Brits 15:55 Red Riding Hood 16:10 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Minions in the Sun 18:05 Lewis 19:00 Bargain Loving Brits 19:50 The Hobbit: The 20:00 Lewis Desolation of Smaug in the Sun 22:00 Lewis 23:00 Family Guy 19:55 5 News Weekend 20:00 Balmoral: A Hidden 23:30 Family Guy History 22:00 The Queen Mother 23:00 Angels & Demons

11:15 Britain’s Greatest Bridges 11:25 Police Interceptors 12:20 Friends 12:50 Friends 13:20 Friends 13:50 Friends 14:20 Friends 14:50 A Knight’s Tale 17:35 The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 19:40 5 News Weekend 19:50 Flight MH370 5 Years On: The Mystery Continues 21:00 Drain the Oceans 22:00 Inferno

07:00 Emmerdale Omnibus07:00 Rising Damp 09:25 Coronation Street 07:25 George and Mildred Omnibus 07:50 George and Mildred 12:45 Britain’s Got Talent 08:20 Heartbeat 13:45 You’ve Been 09:20 Heartbeat Framed! 10:20 Love Your Garden 14:15 Spy Kids 3: Game 11:25 Carry on Dick Over 13:05 Agatha Christie’s 15:55 Antz Poirot 17:40 Yogi Bear 15:20 Agatha Christie’s 19:20 The Hobbit: The Poirot Battle of the Five Armies 17:40 Agatha Christie’s 22:00 The Ibiza Poirot Weekender 18:45 Agatha Christie’s 23:00 Family Guy Poirot 23:30 Family Guy 21:00 The Durrells 22:00 The Durrells 23:00 Grantchester

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MONDAY 11th March

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Crimewatch Roadshow 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Good Morning Dagenham 12:45 A1: Britain’s Longest Road 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at One 14:30 BBC London News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 A Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day 17:00 Money for Nothing 17:45 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Six 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show

07:15 The World’s Most 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle 06:50 Countdown Photographed Show 07:25 Cheers 07:45 Best House in Town 07:00 Good Morning 07:55 Cheers 08:30 River Walks Britain 08:20 Cheers 09:30 Lorraine 09:00 Great American 08:45 Frasier Railroad Journeys 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle 09:10 Frasier 09:30 The Week in Show 09:40 Frasier 11:30 This Morning Parliament 10:10 Everybody Loves 10:00 BBC News at Nine 13:30 Loose Women Raymond 11:00 Victoria Derbyshire 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News10:40 Everybody Loves 12:00 BBC Newsroom Live14:55 ITV News London Raymond 15:00 Judge Rinder 13:15 Politics Live 11:10 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell 14:00 Women’s Six 16:00 Tenable 12:05 Undercover Boss 17:00 Tipping Point Nations Rugby USA 18:00 The Chase: 14:30 Coast 13:00 Channel 4 News 14:45 Sacred Wonders of Celebrity Special 13:05 Come Dine with Me 19:00 ITV News London 14:05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It Britain 15:45 Who Do You Think 19:30 ITV Evening News 15:10 Countdown 20:00 Emmerdale You Are? 16:00 A Place in the Sun: 16:45 The Hairy Bikers’ 20:30 Coronation Street Summer Sun Pubs That Built Britain 21:00 The Kyle Files 17:00 Escape to the 17:15 Patagonia: Earth’s 21:30 Coronation Street Chateau: DIY

What’s

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Midsomer Murders

10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:15 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! 14:10 Access 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:20 Hidden Intentions 17:00 Friends 17:30 Friends 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Premiership Rugby 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson 23:00 The Bachelor UK

07:20 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:45 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:10 You’ve Been Framed! 08:35 You’ve Been Framed! 09:00 Emmerdale 09:25 Coronation Street 10:00 Coronation Street 10:25 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20 Superstore 11:50 Superstore 12:15 You’ve Been Framed! 12:45 You’ve Been Framed! 13:15 Emmerdale 13:45 Coronation Street 14:15 Coronation Street

new this week

Mary Berry’s Quick Cooking

Season 1 Episode 1 of 6 BBC2 11:00pm Sun 3rd March

BBC2 London 9:30pm Mon 11 Mar

NEW SERIES: The Ghost of Causton Abbey New series. A disused abbey that is believed to be cursed is about to be turned into a pub, a decision that has angered many superstitious locals not to mention the real ale society. The day after the launch night, the curse appears to have claimed a victim - a body is found boiled to death in a kettle of beer, in a manner very similar to an infamous execution on the site in the 16th century. Elaine Paige guest stars, while Annette Badland joins the cast as new pathologist Fleur Perkins

NEW SERIES: Rome-. The food writer demonstrates recipes that deliver on flavour but save on time, inspired by the cuisine and cooking culture of places she visits. Mary beginning by making her first-ever visit to Rome to explore a cuisine that she has always adored, trying a new take on traditional pizza, uncovering a hidden gem in the Jewish quarter and cooking a speedy Roman classic with Michelin-starred chef Cristina Bowerman. Mary also whips up bruschetta, speedy pasta dishes and an irresistible tiramisu

TUESDAY 12th March

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:55 Heartbeat 09:00 Murder, She Wrote 10:00 Judge Judy 10:30 Judge Judy 11:00 Judge Judy 11:25 On the Buses 12:00 On the Buses 12:35 Rising Damp 13:05 George and Mildred 13:40 Heartbeat 14:45 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Endeavour 23:00 Scott & Bailey

06:50 Countdown 07:00 The World’s Most 07:00 Good Morning 07:00 Breakfast 07:25 Cheers Britain Photographed 10:15 Crimewatch 07:55 Cheers 09:30 Lorraine 07:30 Good Morning Roadshow 08:20 Cheers Dagenham 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle 11:00 Homes Under the 08:45 Frasier Hammer 08:15 Money for Nothing Show 09:10 Frasier 12:00 Good Morning 09:00 Great British Menu 11:30 This Morning 09:40 Frasier 13:30 ITV Lunchtime News 10:10 Everybody Loves Dagenham 09:30 Grand Tours of 13:55 ITV News London Raymond 12:45 A1: Britain’s Longest Scotland’s Lochs 10:40 Everybody Loves 10:00 BBC News at Nine 14:00 Live: ITV Racing Road Raymond 13:15 Bargain Hunt 11:00 Victoria Derbyshire Live 14:00 BBC News at One 12:00 BBC Newsroom Live 17:30 Tipping Point: Best 11:10 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell 12:05 Undercover Boss Ever Finals 14:30 BBC London News 13:15 Politics Live USA 14:00 The Super League 18:00 The Chase: Celebrity13:00 Channel 4 News 14:45 Doctors Show Special 15:15 Shakespeare 13:05 Come Dine with Me and Hathaway: Private 14:45 Sacred Wonders of 19:00 ITV News London 14:05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It 19:30 ITV Evening News 15:10 Countdown Investigators Britain 16:00 A Place in the Sun: 15:45 Who Do You Think 20:00 Emmerdale 16:00 Escape to the Winter Sun 20:30 Call the Cleaners Country You Are? 21:00 This Time Next Year 17:00 Escape to the 16:45 Money for Nothing 16:45 The Hairy Bikers’ Chateau: DIY 22:00 Cheat 17:30 Flog It! Pubs That Built Britain 18:00 Four in a Bed 17:15 Patagonia: Earth’s 23:00 ITV News at Ten 18:15 Pointless 18:30 Come Dine with Me 23:30 ITV News London 19:00 BBC News at Six

07:00 The Planet’s 10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:15 Nightmare Tenants, Funniest Animals 07:20 Totally Bonkers Slum Landlords 13:10 5 News Lunchtime Guinness World Records 07:45 Totally Bonkers 13:15 Can’t Pay? We’ll Guinness World Records Take it Away! 08:10 You’ve Been 14:10 Access Framed! 14:15 Home and Away 08:35 You’ve Been 14:45 Neighbours Framed! 15:15 Killer Nightshift 09:00 Emmerdale 17:00 Friends 09:25 Coronation Street 17:30 Friends 10:00 Coronation Street 18:00 5 News at 5 10:25 The Ellen 18:30 Neighbours DeGeneres Show 19:00 Home and Away 11:20 Superstore 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Canada: A Year in 11:50 Superstore 12:15 You’ve Been the Wild Framed! 21:00 The Yorkshire Vet 22:15 London: 2,000 Years 12:45 You’ve Been Framed! of History

07:00 Coronation Street 07:30 Coronation Street 07:55 Heartbeat 09:00 Murder, She Wrote 10:00 Judge Judy 10:30 Judge Judy 10:55 Judge Judy 11:25 On the Buses 12:00 On the Buses 12:30 Rising Damp 13:05 George and Mildred 13:40 Heartbeat 14:45 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Agatha Christie’s Poirot

Easy 32

STAR PUZZLE Medium

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Relax

Rose_0003_E1

ta Roset ROSETTA

1 3

4 A Rosetta is made up of a 7 6 centre coloured hexagon Example encircled by 6 white hexagons. To complete the puzzle, fill in all 7 Rosettas with each number between 1 and 7 in no particular order while also ensuring that : 2

Puzzle Star Star 0006-Grid_M2

Daily Codeword

CODEWORDS 24 January 19

STAR PUZZLE

To complete the puzzle fill in each of the empty hexagon cells with numbers between 1 & 7 following the 3 rules below; 1. No numbers in a horizontal line can be repeated. 2. No numbers in a diagonal line can be repeated. 3. No numbers in the 7 gray hexagons can be repeated.

1. No number is repeated in a horizontal row 2. Each number from 1 to 7 are represented in the 7 grey coloured hexagon cells.

3 1

2 1

7 6

Sudoku

Easy

* Note that each white hexagon belongs to a line of 7 that must contain each of the numbers between 1 and 7.

Medium

http://bestforpuzzles.com/dc/print.html?puzz=daily-codeword-190124

Puzzle Solutions DROP QUOTE

For a complete explanation on how this puzzle was solved visit www.hexaliagames.com “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

CODEWORD

Stardoku

Star 0006-Solution

QUICK CROSSWORD

Facebook: @TheWeekenderSpain

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Relax

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD Across

1. Panic had strange drawback (8) 6. Give weapons to some regular militia (3) 9. Pinched an item of clothing (5) 10. A Greek mountain could be so lumpy! (7) 11. Poor Alex, he’d expelled air (7) 13. City centre layabout in the country (5) 14. Sheep from Ireland seen in a moment (6) 15. Puzzle noticed after dance (6) 19. Hoods for cold birds (5) 21. The state of a man not getting upset (7) 22. College dance, after which one has nothing left (7) 23. An insect for example, not very bright, going backwards (5) 24. Bond is Asian, so we hear (3) 25. Cressida mixed cocktails (8)

Aries

Down

2. A throne designed for someone else (7) 3. Some pallid yellow colour? (3) 4. Large gatherings of birds - about 500 (6) 5. Having achy pins, I get treatment from a doctor (9) 6. Start of alphabet, in more ways than one (5) 7. Before end of day dining room is littered (5) 8. Characters in Beau Geste emphasising respect (6) 12. Falls for light garments (9) 16. Manxman, for example, doesn’t start defamation (7) 17. Animal from the east seen in parts of Wales (6) 18. Walked leisurely out of bedlam (6) 19. Measure young animal with it (5) 20. Playwright or raving egghead (5) 23. A little machine that’s waterproof (3) Drop

Drop Quotes

21st Mar – 20th Apr Queen of Pentacles If you are looking to move house you will find it happening much quicker than you thought, there may be a minor set back to your plans but all will work out well towards the end of the week. News of a celebration is on its way may be a surprise to someone around you - Lucky Number 33

Tarus

Quotes

Source: Elbert Hubbard

Drop Quotes are similar to cryptograms, in that the goal is for the solver to uncover a hidden quote. A blackand-white crossword-style grid is set up for each quote, with a number of letters “hovering” above each column. Your task is to “drop” each of those letters into the appropriate square in each column, until the entire quote is revealed. All punctuation (commas, periods, dashes, etc.) has been removed. Good luck!

M Y O S

Puzzle #M873AJ

U G C N

E O O N A

E M T

B M S

C O U

K O N

T N

G A

21st Apr – 21st May Two of Swords This week may seem as though its all working no play, its up to you to organise some time for fun, however hard it may seem that will be worth while. This is a good week to organise any projects you have been putting off as you do this you will find others wanting to help -Lucky Number 12

Gemini

22nd May – 21th June Nine of Pentacles Your plans are finally coming together and those around you seem to be getting with the plans too. Only a couple of weeks to go and you will see many benefits coming your way. Slow down and relax rushing around will not help you in the long run. Tuesday will be lucky - Lucky Number 22

QUICK CROSSWORD Across 1. Qualms (10) 7. Not fact (7) 8. Sudden alarm (5) 10. Minor chess piece (4) 11. Brothers (8) 13. Doubting apostle (6) 15. Deer’s horn (6) 17. Finally (2,3,3) 18. Sophistication in dress and manner (4) 21. Hard work (5) 22. Prickly bush (7) 23. Unnecessarily (10)

Down 1. Type of parrot (5) 2. Jump with a rope (4) Copyright © Puzzle Baron March 7, 2019 - Go to www.Printable-Puzzles.com for Hints and Solutions! 3. Cold-shoulder (6) 4. Powerless (8) 5. Army rank (7) 6. Discouraging (10) 9. Became smaller (10) 12. Gifted (8) 14. Stare down (7) 16. Make possible (6) 19. Leisure pursuit (5) 20. Deep-voiced male singer (4)

Cancer

22nd June – 22nd July Four of Wands Time to sort out that wardrobe and maybe even have a general clear out. Money issues will be resolved thanks to the help of a long standing friendship. After this week you will find no opposition to your plans for the future. Another look at your general diet is needed - Lucky Number 11

Leo

23rd July – 22nd Aug Strength Money issues are being left behind this week and things are looking much simpler from now onward. A gift is being given to you although not financial will be much appreciated. You are planning some travel now and need to look carefully at the small print involved Lucky Number 27

Virgo

23rd Aug– 22nd Sept Ace of Wands There seems to be quite a few things around you that need to be finished this may just be those jobs you hate around the house or those things involving other people, just get them out of the way this week as your life is to become much busier after the coming weekend -Lucky Number 07

Libra

23rd Sept – 22nd Oct Two of Coins A great week to start to look after yourself for a change, take responsibility for your own well being, a routine check up at the doctors will put your mind at rest. Meditation or yoga will show you how to really relax. An enlightening week showing many avenues to follow - Lucky Number 15

Scorpio

23rd Oct – 21st Nov Queen of Cups Beware of people who are asking for financial help this week it could be better for them to sort things out without your help. Your future plans are coming along nicely keep on & see the rewards begin to show. Take your courage and believe in your own capabilities now - Lucky Number 02

Sagittarius

22nd Nov – 20th Dec The Moon Your imagination is growing at this time, use it positively and allow that artistic side some time you will be surprised at what you will achieve if you give yourself time for this. A young person will be of great help with this, don’t be shy to ask for their help. Monday is luckiest - Lucky Number 31

Capricorn

21st Dec – 19th Jan Three of Coins A week of communications, you will be speaking or connecting with an old friend who will be so pleased to hear from you, talk of old times will cheer you. Buying some new items of clothing or footwear is in your cards this week, go on treat yourself you know its about time Lucky Number 16

Aquarius

20th Jan – 19th Feb Ten of Cups There is a person around you who is being a bit mean at the moment, rise above it and they will soon give up. Arrange your time to suit you, others will fall in line. There’s a lot of wonderful energy around at the moment, take a little time to acknowledge and feel this Lucky number 20

Pisces

20th Feb – 20th Mar Ten of Wands When you most need it family will step in to help, though some have whacky ideas of how to overcome obstacles their heart in the right place, be patient and a new adventure will soon begin for you. This will be a week of decisions and action for you, follow your dreams- Lucky Number 08

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

WEDNESDAY 6th March

07:00 Breakfast 07:00 The World’s Most 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle 06:50 Countdown 10:15 Crimewatch Photographed Show 07:25 Cheers Roadshow 07:30 Good Morning 07:00 Good Morning 07:55 Cheers 11:00 Homes Under the Dagenham Britain 08:20 Cheers Hammer 08:15 Money for Nothing 09:30 Lorraine 08:45 Frasier 12:00 Good Morning 09:00 Great British Menu 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle 09:10 Frasier Dagenham 09:30 Great American Show 09:40 Frasier 12:45 A1: Britain’s Longest Railroad Journeys 11:30 This Morning 10:10 Everybody Loves Road 10:00 BBC News at Nine 13:30 ITV Lunchtime News Raymond 13:15 Bargain Hunt 11:00 Victoria Derbyshire 13:55 ITV News London 10:40 Everybody Loves 14:00 BBC News at One 12:00 BBC Newsroom Live 14:00 Live: ITV Racing Raymond 14:30 BBC London News 12:15 Politics Live Live 11:10 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell 14:45 Doctors 14:00 Think Tank 17:30 Tipping Point: Best 12:05 Undercover Boss 15:15 Shakespeare 14:45 Sacred Wonders of Ever Finals USA and Hathaway: Private Britain 18:00 The Chase: Celebrity13:00 Channel 4 News Investigators 15:45 Who Do You Think Special 13:05 Come Dine with Me 16:00 Escape to the You Are? 19:00 ITV News London 14:05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It Country 16:45 The Hairy Bikers’ 19:30 ITV Evening News 15:10 Countdown 16:45 Money for Nothing Pubs That Built Britain 20:00 Emmerdale 16:00 A Place in the Sun: 17:30 Flog It! 17:15 Lost Land of the 20:30 Coronation Street Summer Sun 18:15 Pointless Tiger 21:00 Britain’s Brightest 17:00 Escape to the 19:00 BBC News at Six 18:15 Put Your Money Family Chateau: DIY 19:30 BBC London News Where Your Mouth Is 21:30 Coronation Street 18:00 Four in a Bed 20:00 The One Show 19:00 Eggheads 22:00 Cheat 18:30 Come Dine with Me

10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:15 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! 14:10 Access 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Cradles for Cash 17:00 Friends 17:30 Friends 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Canada: A Year in the Wild 21:00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 22:00 Critical Condition 23:00 The Bachelor UK

07:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:45 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:10 You’ve Been Framed! 09:00 Emmerdale 09:25 You’ve Been Framed! 10:25 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20 Superstore 11:50 Superstore 12:15 You’ve Been Framed! 13:15 Emmerdale 13:45 You’ve Been Framed! 14:45 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:55 Heartbeat 09:00 Murder, She Wrote 10:00 Judge Judy 10:30 Judge Judy 10:55 Judge Judy 11:25 On the Buses 12:00 On the Buses 12:30 Rising Damp 13:05 George and Mildred 13:40 Heartbeat 14:45 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Lewis 23:00 Agatha Christie’s Poirot

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Crimewatch Roadshow 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Good Morning Dagenham 12:45 A1: Britain’s Longest Road 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at One 14:30 BBC London News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Money for Nothing 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Six 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show

10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:15 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! 14:10 Access 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game 17:00 Friends 17:30 Friends 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Canada: A Year in the Wild 21:00 Secrets of Your Supermarket Food 22:00 Draining Alcatraz: The Impossible Escape

07:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:45 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:10 You’ve Been Framed! 08:35 You’ve Been Framed! 09:00 Emmerdale 09:25 Coronation Street 10:00 Coronation Street 10:25 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20 Superstore 11:50 Superstore 12:15 You’ve Been Framed! 12:45 You’ve Been Framed! 13:15 Emmerdale 13:45 Coronation Street 14:15 Coronation Street

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:55 Heartbeat 09:00 Murder, She Wrote 10:00 Judge Judy 10:30 Judge Judy 11:00 Judge Judy 11:25 On the Buses 12:00 On the Buses 12:35 Rising Damp 13:05 George and Mildred 13:40 Heartbeat 14:45 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple 18:55 Heartbeat 19:55 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 23:10 Law & Order: UK

THURSDAY 7th March

07:00 The World’s Most 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle 06:50 Countdown Photographed Show 07:25 Cheers 07:30 Good Morning 07:00 Good Morning 07:55 Cheers Dagenham Britain 08:20 Cheers 08:15 Money for Nothing 09:30 Lorraine 08:45 Frasier 09:00 The Great British 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle 09:10 Frasier Sewing Bee Show 09:40 Frasier 10:00 BBC News at Nine 11:30 This Morning 10:10 Everybody Loves 11:00 Victoria Derbyshire 13:30 ITV Lunchtime News Raymond 12:00 BBC Newsroom Live13:55 ITV News London 10:40 Everybody Loves 13:15 Politics Live 14:00 Live: ITV Racing Raymond 14:00 Think Tank Live 11:10 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell 14:45 Pilgrimage with 17:30 Tipping Point: Best 12:05 Undercover Boss Simon Reeve Ever Finals USA 15:45 Who Do You Think 18:00 The Chase: Celebrity13:00 Channel 4 News You Are? Special 13:05 Come Dine with Me 16:45 The Hairy Bikers’ 19:00 ITV News London 14:05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It Pubs That Built Britain 19:30 ITV Evening News 15:10 Countdown 17:15 Lost Land of the 20:00 Emmerdale 16:00 A Place in the Sun: Tiger 20:30 Tonight Summer Sun 18:15 Put Your Money 21:00 Emmerdale 17:00 Escape to the Where Your Mouth Is 21:30 Australia with Julia Chateau: DIY 19:00 Eggheads Bradbury 18:00 Four in a Bed 19:30 Great Continental 22:00 Cheat 18:30 Come Dine with Me

our

Top

movies

A cop infiltrates the inner circle of a feared Boston mobster, unaware a fellow officer is already an informant on the gangster’s payroll. When both the crooks and the police discover they have a mole in their ranks, the two detectives realise they are in sudden danger and try to expose each other. Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin

week

Antz

The Departed ITV London 11:40pm Sat 9 Mar

this

8.1/10

ITV2 HD 3:55pm Sun 10 Mar A neurotic worker ant passes himself off as a soldier to impress a princess. However, he provokes a jealously ambitious general with an accidental act of heroism - so he and his beloved decide to flee the brutal colony and go in search of the promised land of Insectopia. Animated comedy, with the voices of Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman and Sylvester Stallone

5.9/10

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Sports & Local Sports News

Horoscopes ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) Step out of your routine, Aries. Try to see nightmares as safe ways to Do this every so often to increase understand feelings, Libra. No one your knowledge and expand your likes to experience them, and we’d horizons. The planetary aspects sooner forget them once awake, favor this. Walking to a different but the best way to ensure they ARIES beat can give you far more than LIBRA don’t return is to understand them. you imagine. Try something you’ve What’s frightening you? Why do you never considered before. Go to a new place. Change feel insecure? Consider these questions and look for your desk around to gain a new perspective. See answers. Fear, pain, and anxiety are the most common what you can discover about yourself and the world. ingredients of a real cold-sweat nightmare.

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st) Are you satisfied with your current career, Taurus? If not, start by making a plan. There are specific steps that you can follow to take the greatest advantage TAURUS of the available opportunities. Consider visiting career-related websites or ask a career counselor for advice. Don’t settle for less than you deserve. See what you can find, and move toward a more fulfilling future.

SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd) Are you living your dreams, Scorpio? Are you still in touch with them? The energy from today’s planetary aspects can lend strength and encouragement SCORPIO to this part of your life. Seize the opportunity to take hold of the things that you want most of all. Ask yourself what you want people to say about you after you’re gone. Get back on track to a fulfilled life by taking steps toward your desires.

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st) Don’t fear any changes that lie ahead, Gemini. Even if you think you don’t adjust well, you have more adaptability than you realize. Without GEMINI change, life would become stagnant. It wouldn’t be long before you became dissatisfied and bored with the same old thing. Try to see change as an adventure and a gateway to greater happiness and fulfillment. Trust your versatility.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st) Check out advancing your career or education today, Sagittarius. The energy can favor expansion and growth. When was the last time you SAGITTARIUS learned a new skill? It doesn’t have to be work related. If flower arranging, skydiving, or massage therapy is something that appeals to you, go for it. Never stop looking for ways to expand your knowledge.

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd) Make your dreams a tool for gaining insight, Cancer. In the past, some rulers believed that their dreams held great insights and they employed people CANCER to interpret them. Whether you think dreams are mystical insights or random brainwaves, there is much to be gained. Recurring dreams hold significance. They can point to something that you need to take care of. Consider exploring this area.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th) Do you recognize your intuition as a valuable asset, Capricorn? Some people do and some don’t. Which group are you in? It’s easier to trust in concrete, CAPRICORN factual reality than in things you can’t see or touch. But your intuition can serve you more than you may realize. That gut feeling you experience can guide you with caution and alert you to danger. Put more trust in it and see.

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd) Follow your instincts, Leo. Even if you have a tendency to listen more to reason, put it aside today. While your ears hear words, your intuition can hear what’s between the words LEO and unsaid, providing you with a bigger picture than whatever is presented. If everything sounds right but feels wrong, you’d be better off trusting your feelings. Act with careful consideration and caution.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th) Use your creativity to make things happen today, Aquarius. Remember that creativity doesn’t always take the form of a finished product. Use it to come up with innovative ways AQUARIUS to approach a task, project, or problem. Trust in your ability to discover such possibilities. You’re an intelligent and creative person. Combine the two to make an unbeatable tool for finding solutions to almost anything.

VIRGO (August 24th-Sept 23rd) Feed your mind new knowledge, Virgo. Visit a bookstore or read some interesting information on the web. If you have more time, visit the library or find out about some courses that might VIRGO be perfect for you. There’s knowledge to be had everywhere you look, provided you’re open to receiving it. People are often the best resource. Ask someone to explain something, if that’s what you need.

PISCES (Feb 20th-March 20th) Find some new ways to expand your horizons, Pisces. The web has an infinite amount of information to explore, and your community and local offer many courses PISCES colleges from which to choose. Think about what you’d enjoy learning. Perhaps a new skill for your job or a crafts class that shows you how to make things. Whether self-defense or Italian strikes your fancy, it’s out there. Find it.

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Gusty Cobras go down at Denia On February 22nd the Costa Cobras Club de Rugby were invited to play Denia Club de Rugby. This was to be their first fully contested match. Denia who at the moment are flying high in the league and are unbeaten in their last six matches, so they were looking forward to receiving a new look Cobras side who were extremely pumped up. The Cobras left La Marina with a bus full of sup-

by Costa Cobras

porters and very confident. The first half was a close affair with the referee commenting ‘It was worthy of any division one fixture’. The second half showed Denia’s classy backs as they slowly pulled away from the tired legs of the Cobras. The final score saw the hosts winning 22-0 which did flatter them as the Cobras defence was enormous. The Cobras would like

to thank Mac from Denia for the invite and we look forward to the return match at our home ground at Football de Campo, La Marina village in the near future. The day ended with the inaugural pint of Guinness while watching Ireland v England. If anyone is interested in playing, training or just to get fit contact us on our Facebook: s.f.costacobras or telephone Corky 664013129.

Quesada Bowls Club Report What a difference a week can make! Our bowlers were on better form this week with some good wins despite some very competitive matches. In the South Alicante Winter League, Quesada Pearls held off San Luis Klingons for a 6-6 draw narrowly winning the shots 93-90. This performance means the Pearls have maintained 4th place in the league. Meanwhile the Diamonds put up a great fight in a very close match against San Luis Trekkers. Some of the rinks won or lost by only 2 or 3 points for a final result of Trekkers 7 points, Diamonds 5 points and the shots were 90-85 to the Trekkers. Unfortunately the Rubies had a bad day against Greenlands Sycamore who won the match 12-0 and 94-71 shots. Results in the Southern

League this week included a reversal of fortunes for Quesada Swallows against San Luis Leopards and they lost their match 8-4 points and 94-70 shots in favour of the Leopards. And a reversal of fortunes for the Swifts as well but in the Swifts favour! They were hosted by Montemar Toreadors and in a game of two halves initially in favour of the Toreadors, Swifts proved their tenacity and staying power coming back in the second half of the match to win it 12-0 points and 88-81 shots. In the Winter league, Quesada played away at La Siesta and enjoyed an 8-4 win with the shots 89-79, thus maintaining their 4th place in the league. Meantime, in the Federated 4’s, Quesada Panthers hosted San Miguel Mohawks and in a hard fought match, with sever-

al rinks decided on the last one or two ends, managed a draw, 4 points each. A good result for the Panthers and with only 2 games remaining, they’ve moved into 4th place in the league and will be working hard to maintain this - although the Mohawks and Condors are still hot on their heels. Just a reminder that we welcome both new and experienced bowlers. We’re a friendly club with a mixture of competition, league and casual players. In addition to league matches and Club competitions we have our popular Saturday morning chicken drive which is open to visitors, and we have free coaching for new members. So come along and see what we have to offer! Contact our membership secretary Angie Goddard newleaf2014@ hotmail.co.uk

Las Ramblas Golf Society OK! As this week’s ‘senior moment’ award goes to me let’s get it out of the way at the outset. Whilst enjoying a beer on the terrace after Monday’s round it was pointed out that the two young guys at an adjoining table were both golf professionals and that one of them was Jose-Maria’s son! (Olazabel, I immediately thought). Armed with camera, notebook (and one eye on the Costa Blanca Press Awards) I sat down with them for a chat. It turns out that Dutchman, Jim De Hey and Alfonso are both based at Las Ramblas. I went on to tell Alfonso how much I

admired his father’s career and also that my wife was currently drawing him together with Seve. A look of bewilderment came over his face but he gave me his email address anyway to send him a copy when it was finished. After studying the address it became apparent that his father is actually Jose-Maria Bueudia, our resident professional at Ramblas! Back to business. Monday’s format was the good old 1-2-3 Waltzer. Taking the limelight, with an impressive 90 points, (the record is 98) were Olga Douglas, Peter Wickham, Mike Mahony and the fictional Albert. Highlights

included Peter getting a 4 for 5 points on the 4th, Mike 4 for 4 on the 16th and Olga 4 for 4 on the last. Pat Cassidy took first place in Wednesday’s stableford with 39 points. In second spot, with 36, was Mike Chapman. Welcome back Mike. Nora Betts took bronze, on countback from Liz Robertson, with 35 points. Por ultimo, Friday’s ‘counter game’ saw our winners equal the record (set in 2017) score of 106 points. The team consisted of Geoff Biggerstaff, Ron Percival, Peter Radcliffe and Andy McDonald.

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Sports & Local News

Woods necks it

Tiger Woods has withdrawn from this weekend’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill after suffering from a neck strain, amidst some concerns that his impressive return after a long injury may have hit the buffers. The American 14-time major winner, now aged 43, says his previously troublesome lower back is unaffected and he has no long-term concerns, despite questions marks over his participation in next month´s Masters. Woods suffered from a

by Alex Trelinski

neck strain in last year´s Open, but added that he hopes to play in next week’s Players’ Championship at Sawgrass. Woods won his 80th PGA title, and his first for five years, when sealing the season-ending Tour Championship in September 2018. He is currently ranked 12 in the world, having recovered from being number 1,199 after spinal fusion surgery - the latest of multiple operations.

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

OLYMPIAN BEN IN TOWN

A BRITISH bid to take sailing´s prestigious America´s Cup has brought 35 members of the Ineos Team UK to the Mar Menor for some of their preparations. The squad is led by four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie(pic-

tured second-left), and his team have been based at the Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar. The long-running build up will continue in Dubai and Miami, with the competition taking place in New Zealand in 2021.

by Alex Trelinski

The Brits, despite having some close shaves, have not won the America´s Cup since it started way back in 1851! Local dignitaries including San Pedro mayor, Visitacion Mar-

tinez(pictured-centre), greeted the squad last week, who decided to use the Mar Menor on the recommendation of Ineos Team member, the 2004 Olympic gold medallist Xabi Fernandez, who comes from Cartagena.

MURADA GO TOP

CD Murada(pictured) are the new leaders of Primera Regional Group Eight, after winning two at Callosa Deportiva B last weekend, whilst Racing San Miguel fell one-nil at Monovar CD. Racing are down to third, after AC Torrellano beat relegation-threatened AD Betis, four-two. CD Montesinos lost

by Alex Trelinski

two nil against Hondon Nieves, and need to deliver at second-bottom CD Dolores this Sunday to quell any relegation fears. At the top, Murada play struggling CD Altet; Torrellano entertain Santa Pola CF; and San Miguel are at home to fourthplaced Bahia SP.

Murray on the mend Murray had hip resurfacing surgery in January, which he said meant it was possible he would not be able to play professionally again. The three-time Grand Slam champion said it was the only option if he wanted to return to the court compet-

by Neil Mortimer

itively. “The rehab is slow but going well,” the 31-year-old told the BBC in an interview at Queens Club. “I want to continue playing, I said that in Australia.

The issue is I don’t know whether it’s possible.” Murray added: “The operation went well. I’m feeling good and walking around pain free - which hasn’t been the case for pretty much 18 months, two years.” “That was the main reason

for having it done. I’m happy with how that’s going and day to day things I’m doing are more enjoyable now.” He said he is under “no pressure” to resume a career which has also seen him win two Olympic gold medals amongst 45 singles titles.

COKANASIGA STARTS AS ENGLAND CHANGE FIVE FOR ITALY The Bath wing made his international debut in the autumn, playing two Tests and scoring a try in each against Japan and Australia, while he featured off the bench against Wales in Round Three. But the 21-year-old is in from the start this weekend in place of the injured Jack Nowell in a powerful looking England side that also sees Ben Te’o line up in the 2019 Championship for the first time.

Eddie Jones said. “Italy is a bit of an unknown quantity but when Conor (O’Shea) allows them to play rugby they play well. They have played terrific games in the Guinness Six Nations. “They are fitter, physically stay in the contest a lot longer and they are quite unpredictable in the way they attack.

England team to face Italy at Twickenham: 15. Elliot Daly (Wasps) 14. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) 13. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) 12. Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) 11. Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) 10. Owen Farrell (Saracens) (capt) 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) 1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers) 2. Jamie George (Saracens) 3. Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) 4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps) 5. George Kruis (Saracens) 6. Brad Shields (Wasps) 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) 8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

“We expect Italy to throw the ball The centre is named alongside Manu around a bit so we are going to have to defend very well against their Tuilagi, with Te’o replacing Henry Slade in the starting XV. However, he unpredictability and when we have got the ball, we have to use it wisely.” takes the No.12 jersey, with Tuilagi shifting across to Slade’s spot on the On the bench, experienced prop Dan outside. Replacements Cole returns and could add to his 83 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter In other changes, Ellis Genge comes caps, while Nathan Hughes is also named after missing out against Wales Chiefs) in at loosehead prop in place of Ben 17. Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs) – he comes in to replace injured lock Moon, while lock Joe Launchbury 18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) Courtney Lawes. and flanker Brad Shields are also 19. Nathan Hughes (Wasps) promoted to the XV. 20. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Alongside Slade and Moon, Mark Wilson drops to the bench where they Falcons) “We have had a good preparation 21. Dan Robson (Wasps) are joined by Luke Cowan-Dickie, ahead of Italy with a great week in 22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers) Ford. George and Dan Robson Oxford where we competed against 23. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) Georgia for two days,” head coach

FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Sport Boxing

Friday 8th March

Dubois vs Cojanu BT Sport 1 - 20:30 Anthony Yarde vs Travis Reeves BT Sport 1 - 20:30

Sunday 10th March

Callum Johnson vs Sean Monaghan Sky Sports Action - 03:00 Dmitry Bivol vs Joe Smith Jr Sky Sports Action - 05:00

Darts

Thursday 14th March Nathan Aspinall vs Michael Smith Sky Sports Action -20:00 James Wade vs Mensur Suljovic Sky Sports Action - 20:45 Rob Cross vs Raymond van Barneveld Sky Sports Action -21:30 Gerwyn Price vs Michael van Gerwen Sky Sports Action - 22:15 Peter Wright vs Daryl Gurney Sky Sports Action - 23:00

Premier League Saturday9th March

Crystal Palace v Brighton - 13:30 Sky Sports Main Event Huddersfield v Bournemouth -16:00 Southampton v Tottenham -16:00 Leicester City v Fulham -16:00 Cardiff City v West Ham -16:00 Newcastle v Everton -16:00 Man City v Watford -18:30

Sunday 10th March Liverpool v Burnely - 13:00 Sky Sports Main Event Chelsea v Wolves - 15:05 Everton v Liverpool - 17:30

English Football Friday 8th March

Norwich v Swansea - 20:45 Sky Sports Football

Saturday 9th March

Golf Friday 8th March

Charlton v Portsmouth - 18:30 Sky Sports Football

Sunday 10th March

Birmingham v Aston Villa - 13:00 BT Sport 1

Qatar Masters 2019 Sky Sports Golf 08:30 Arnold Palmer Invitational 2019 Sky Sports Golf 15:00

Spanish football

Saturday 9th March

Qatar Masters 2019 Sky Sports Golf 10:00 Arnold Palmer Invitational 2019 Sky Sports Golf 18:30

Alaves v Eibar Eleven Sports 1 - 13:00 Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano Eleven Sports 1 - 18:30 Getafe v Huesca Eleven Sports 1 - 20:45

Sunday 10th March

Sunday 3rd March

Qatar Masters 2019 Sky Sports Main Event - 10:00 Arnold Palmer Invitational 2019 Sky Sports Golf 17:30

Tuesday 12th March The Players 2019 Sky Sports Golf 14:00

Saturday 9th March

Celta Vigo v Betis Eleven Sports 1 - 12:00 Girona v Valencia Eleven Sports 1 - 16:15 Sevilla v Sociedad Eleven Sports 1 - 18:30 Valladolid v Real Madrid Eleven Sports 1 - 20:45

ALL TIMES GIVEN ARE SPANISH TIME

RUTHLESS ENGLAND England´s women footballers won the SheBelieves Cup for the first time after thrashing Japan threenil in their final match in Tampa on Tuesday. England also beat Brazil and drew with hosts the USA to ensure they topped

Santiago Solari has vowed to fight on but the reign of Real Madrid in Europe came to an end as they were stunned by a 4-1 defeat at home to Ajax on Tuesday. In eight terrible days, Real were knocked out of the Copa del Rey, La Liga’s title race (both at the hands of Barcelona) and now the last 16 of the Champions League, the competition they had come to believe was their own. They had won it three times in a row, four times in the last five years, while the last time Madrid failed to reach the quarter-finals was 2010, in Cristiano Ronaldo’s first year at the club. Solari said that he would not quit, but to pile on the pressure, supporters chanted the name of ex-coach Jose Mourinho during Tuesday´s debacle.

the four-team round-robin competition. It is the first time England have won the invitational tournament, which was introduced in 2016, having lost to world

champions the USA in last year’s competition. England, ranked fourth in the world, also meet Japan again in the group stages of this summer’s World Cup in France, which kicks off on June 7th.

MURCIA VICTORIOUS

The battle of the yellow shirts, saw the black and yellow of ITV Orihuela Vega Baja going down at home to table-topping Murcia by 45 points to 14. Orihuela are third in the FERRMUR Murcia Federation Top Five standings, with Cartagena University above them, who picked up

IN REAL TROUBLE

by Alex Trelinski

by Neil Mortimer

maximum points when Murcia University did not fulfil the fixture. The next match for Orihuela is on Saturday March 16th, when they´re scheduled to be at home to Murcia University, whilst more immediately there´s an under-18 clash tomorrow as the youngsters of Orihuela entertain Murcia.

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FRIday 8TH maRcH 2019

Sport

THE ITALIAN JOB ENGLAND have to do the business against Italy at Twickenham tomorrow (5.45 pm) and hope they kick-off with the news that Scotland has done them a favour by destroying the hundred per cent Six Nations record of Wales at Murrayfield (3.15 pm).

by Alex Trelinski

Warren Gatland´s Welsh side have the Grand Slam, Triple Crown, and Six Nations title in their sights on the penultimate weekend of the tournament, and worrying for all of their rivals is the fact that Wales

have never lost to Scotland since Gatland started coaching them. After a poor secondhalf in Cardiff a fortnight ago, England goes into their clash with wooden spoon favourites Italy, with lock Maro Itoje and wing Jack Nowell as their main fitness

doubts. Italy performed bravely against Ireland in Rome, who have had a bitterly disappointing campaign in terms of quality, and they now entertain France on Sunday(4.00 pm), who have not a great deal to shout about either.

UNITED´S GREAT COMEBACK Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led the club into the Champions League quarter-finals on a pulsating Wednesday night in Paris and then told reporters: “This is what we do.” Romelu Lukaku scored twice before Marcus Rashford’s injury time VAR-

by Alex Trelinski

awarded penalty saw United progress, three-two, on away goals at the expense of Paris St-Germain, with the French side having taken a two-nil advantage from the first leg at Old Trafford. “It’s this club. It’s what we do, that’s Man Utd,” said

Solskjaer, who famously scored a late winner for United in the 1999 final. “That’s the Champions League, it’s what it does.” This is the first time since 2014 that United have reached the last eight, and Solskjaer declared:-”We can go all the way and of course we fancy ourselves.”