EE FR
® ISSUE 001
Friday 16th June Your Weekend Starts Here!
IssueB #134
ENJOY THE WEEKENDER! Welcome to The Weekender, the Costa Blanca’s newest English newspaper, and essential reading for all the family. Packed with news and views, the 48 pages also contain lifestyle and leisure stories and all the
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details of what is going on – so there is no reason anyone should miss out. There are 20,000 copies of The Weekender distributed along the coast and inland; the paper will interest and entertain both expats living in the
sun and visitors visiting this very special part of Spain all year round. Published every Friday, there is one clear
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
Your New Weekend Paper! By Simon Russell
The Weekender comes from the same team that successfully produced The Buzz over four years and, with the addition of some new faces, aims to quickly become a favorite. Managing Director Marco Baiardo said: “Our idea is to provide a fresh read specifically designed for the English-speaking market place based around lifestyle, leisure and family orientated content, along with a roundup of the week’s news, both locally and nationally. “Readers will be able to pick up the newspaper from Friday morning – ahead of every weekend – in local supermarkets, shops, bars and cafes, and tourist information offices.” He said The Weekender initially covers an area from El Campello to Denia, and inland. Distribution points also include the ‘La Marina’ shopping centers at Ondara and Finestrat, as well as cash and carry outlets across the region. “There will be 20,000 cop-
ies of The Weekender hitting the out to an audience of both expat streets every Friday morning al- residents and short term visitors lowing weekend shoppers and is huge, and The Weekender does visitors frequenting bars, cafes, exactly that.” shops and businesses to enjoy the free read,” said Marco. Plans are already underway “Market research has proven for the newspaper to be “rolled there is a massive The Family Weekender’ living life in Spain gap for the provision - Founder of The Weekender’ with wife Lada and son Giovanni of a leisurely weekend read geared to the English-reading public; with more than 50% of potential readers who either visit the Costa Blanca on a regular basis as second home owners or as holidaymakers.” And he thanked loyal advertisers for supporting the new venture and welcomed new businesses who wished to be part of the project. “The business opportunity to reach
out” to other coastal towns across Spain; Marco added: “The aim and my ambition are to give The Weekender national coverage, to take control of the market place, and become Spain’s most popular weekly English newspaper.”
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The Team
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Editorial
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Office - 965 898 355 Sales Direct - 634 310 665 Marina Alta - Marco Baiardo Marina Baxia - Conan Hazzard Deadline For Advertisers Tuesday Midday For Friday Distribution The Weekender (Registered Trademark Pending) Editor-In-Cheif Marco Baiardo - Y1153737-W Deposito Legal - A375-2017. C/Castellion 5 Benidorm, 03500.
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
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POSTHUMOUS HONOUR FOR TERROR HERO Ignacio Echeverria, 39, was praised for his heroic actions
By Simon Russell
THE body of Ignacio Echevierra, the Spanish victim of the London terror attack on 3 June, has now been flown home to Spain.
Echevierra was stabbed in the back while trying to save others and has been awarded the Spanish Gran Cruz de la Orden de Merit
posthumously, the highest award for valour for Spanish civilians. His coffin was met by Prime Minister Mariano Ra-
joy when it arrived in Madrid in a military aircraft while his family were also there. Later Mr Rajoy posted on Twitter “Spain pays trib-
ute to Ignacio Echevierra. Prayers are with his family in their pain and his example will stay in the memory forever.”
Finger Lickin' Good! By Simon Russell
KFC San Vicente opened its doors on Sunday 11 June to family and friends who had been invited to experience the brand new KFC restaurant and taste some amazing chicken options from their new menu. I hadn’t been to KFC for a long time so this invitation was a treat for me and made a perfect opportunity to get out with the family to join in the fun. Not only can you feed the family with the famous choice of delicious coated chicken, but also the menu has a wide range of kids favorites as well as the brand new play area “Tasty World” that keeps them occupied for ages, and in fact, it’s a job to get them out of there they love it so much! Talking to franchise owner Ahmed Abdol, he told “The Weekender” that the latest addition to the company’s chain of KFC’s was now number 14 with San Vicente. They explained that this all started 20 years ago with the first opening in Barcelona in the early 1980 while Valencia followed in 1985. The company has become 400 employees strong which makes the business one of the main employers of the region. The HQ is based in La Nucia where the behind the scenes operation take place; everything from marketing, administration, stragicic planning and recruitment. The operation behind the opening of
a new KFC takes around 4 months from the initial planning consent to the actual opening. With plans to expand further this year to Elche and a further 2 in Valencia with further expansions planned for 2018 in La Costa.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
BLACK-SPOT CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM
By Simon Russell
JUST few weeks after three cyclists were killed between Oliva and Denia there has been another rider killed on the same stretch of road. In common with the last fatalities drugs were also involved with the car
driver testing positive for banned substances including cocaine and amphetamines. The accident happened at around 8am on the morning of Sunday 11 June. The cyclist was with a companion when
the crash occurred, who was suffered from severe shock but was unhurt. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene but police traced him to La Marina shopping centre where he was drug and alcohol tested, proving positive for the former.
The arrested man is believed to be a Dutch national who is resident in Spain but police have not yet released his name. The victim was named on Monday as 32 year old Alejandro Jaen Ginestar from the tiny village of Senija near
Denia. He leaves behind a wife and four year old son. Alejandro was very well known in his home village which declared three official days of morning. The mayor of Oliva, David Gonzalez, posted his concern and anger on Face-
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book and called the situation “unsustainable�. The Valencian President, Ximo Puig, is due to hold a meeting with the Valencian Cycling Federation this week to discuss the recent tragedies and listen to ideas on how to tackle the problem.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
Spaniard falls foul of travel ban By Simon Russell
A Spanish architect was detained in a US jail for forty days without trial because he had taken a sightseeing trip to Syria with his family a few years ago. Leonardo Cadarso, aged 32, had been travelling to the US from Mexico where he had been working. Donald Trump’s controversial ban was in force at this time and he was detained under these laws by US immigration officials because of his trip to Syria. Sightseeing trips to Syria to important sites such as Palmyra were reasonably popular back in 2011 when Mr
Cadarso visited, although obviously is currently on hold and has been consistently blocked by US courts on the things have changed recently. When he was released after forty grounds of human rights. days, again with little explanation, Mr Cadarso returned to his home city of Madrid, where he plans to resume his architectural work. The US travel ban, which effectively bars visitors to its shores from several predom- Leandro Pérez Cadarso, inantly Muslim states, held for 40 days
IBERIAN CONNECTION
Insurance scam halted By Simon Russell
NATIONAL Police in Alicante have arrested two men on charges of falsely selling car insurance. One of the men, a Moroccan, worked for an insurance firm, and was able to act as a credible front for the scam which involved the sale of extremely cheap insurance. However the money taken was never reaching
the insurance firm and the man and his co-conspirator, also a Moroccan who was acting as the “salesman”, were pocketing the cash. The con only came to light when a driver tried to make a claim and realised he was uninsured. The police are aware of at least five other victims and fear there could be many others.
By Simon Russell
DIRECT flights between Alicante and Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon have now started. The new route opened by Portuguese carrier TAP is the first regular direct flights between the two cities. The event was commemorated with a presentation at El Altet
airport by representatives of TAP and senior staff from the airport including the managing director. Benidorm had recently been promoting itself as a tourist destination in Lisbon in anticipation of the new route being opened. Lisbon is Portugal’s
largest city with a population of half a million and a
popular tourist destination in its own right.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
THREE RESCUED AFTER BOAT CAPSIZE By Simon Russell
THREE people were rescued from the sea last weekend after their boat had sunk off the Moraira coast almost a day earlier. The boat capsized and sank on Saturday 10th, prompting an overnight search and rescue operation. Hope was fading after nearly twenty hours had passed without trace
but at around midday on Sunday the group was spotted by a French yacht and hauled from the water. Suffering only from mild hypothermia, the two Spaniards and a Russian were described as “extremely fortunate� by the authorities. The vessel in question was a nine metre pleasure boat, the Ricardo Noveno, which had set out
from Moraira Club Nautico on a charter trip. When it had still not returned by midnight and could not be contacted, the authorities launched the air and sea rescue. Fortunately the yacht discovered the three in the water at on Sunday, and though requiring medical treatment none of the three are seriously ill.
Back to school Raging bull By Simon Russell
By Simon Russell
THE Valencian Education Department has confirmed that the return date for children will be the 11 September. Children finish school for the long summer break between 20 and 22 June while most are already on the shorter days that commence this month due to the warm weather.
Other holiday dates for the 2017/18 school year have also been confirmed with the Christmas break running from 23 December to 7 January and Easter from 29 March to 9 April. October 9 and 12, November 1, December 6 and 8 and May 1 are all fiesta days while
local municipalities will also usually add additional days for local fiestas or for bridging days to make a long weekend.
A bull caused understandable panic on the streets of Albacete after running amok during the middle of the day. Apparently the creature escaped from a lorry parked in the town where it was en-route to the
fiestas in a nearby village. Thankfully noone was hurt in the incident and the animal was eventually stopped with a tranquiliser gun. No damage to property was reported.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
LOTTO WINNER, LOSES WINNINGS Judge orders return of 320,000€ By Simon Russell
A Spanish woman who won €320,000 on the national lottery at Christmas has been ordered to pay the money back by a judge. The ticket had the name of another woman, Ines, on the back and the ticket seller who it was traced back to said
it was one of a number she brought for friends as Christmas presents. The woman who claimed the prize stated that she bought the ticket, number 13437, as 13 was her lucky number. The judge found that she had not purchased the ticket although he did not go
Christmas Lotto celebration
so far as to accuse her of theft based on the evidence he had. The name According to article of the Spanish Civil had been 616 Code, anybody who finds and hands in to the aurubbed out on thorities an item worth the back of the less than €12 is due a of the value, and a ticket, but fo- 10th 20th if it is worth more that. rensic experts thanObjects, including lottery tickets, that are were able to handed in to the authorprove that it ities and are not claimed two years are had originally within handed over to the finder. been there.
Turtles back where they belong By Simon Russell
As part of World Environ- injury, was released into the ment Week celebrations, three sea from Denia, watched by turtles were released back crowds of schoolchildren as into their natural habitat off well as tourists and residents. the Valencian coast. The children were also One, a young boba turtle told about the dangers to the which had been in Valencia’s creatures from man-made acKFC PRENSA BENIDORM 247X170.ai 1 such 7/4/17 11:41 Oceanografic recovering from tivities as pollution and
the dumping of plastic bags. Many are also caught accidentally in fishing nets, although local fishermen have become very good at ensuring that any live turtles are brought to shore for treatment and recuperation.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
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Troops prevent Case for soft sex attack Brexit hardens By Simon Russell
By Simon Russell
IT is believed that a sexual assault was prevented on a boat travelling from Valencia to Palma in Mallorca. As well as other passengers and crew the boat had personnel from a battalion of Military Emergency Troops on
board. In the early hours, three of the soldiers noticed a man behaving strangely and a young woman who was in obvious distress. When they approached him he ran away although he was soon tracked down and
the incident was reported to the Guardia Civil who have detained the man for further questioning. The troops are being deployed to Mallorca for the summer to assist with emergency fire fighting duties on the island.
AFTER the shock general election result in the UK, many are wondering if this is likely to signal a softer stance on Brexit by the British parliament. Theresa May’s Conservative Party remain in power but with enough of a reduced margin to mean they have lost their overall majority and are dependent on the help of smaller fringe parties to govern. Many also saw Labour’s surge under Jeremy Corbyn as a rejection of May’s “hard Brexit” stance, particularly her “no deal is better than a bad deal” mantra. Even the harder line Tories such as Brexit Minister David Davies now seem open to a more conciliatory stance in the negotiations. The EU meanwhile welcomes this, even going so far as to make
it clear that it is not too late for the UK to return to the European Union fold if they want. However they stress that negotiations must start as soon as possible, and are becoming increasingly frustrated at what they see as Mrs May’s delaying tactics, made worse by calling a snap election so close to the planned start date for talks to begin.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
Airport on the up and up Tractor By Simon Russell
ALICANTE-Elche airport continues to post record numbers of passengers, with almost 1.3 million people passing through in May. This is a 13.4% increase on the same month last year and the 4.7 million passengers in the first five months of the year is a 14.4% increase. El Altet is now Spain’s fifth largest airport based on users and May
saw it show the highest rise amongst all the top five airports. Once again the UK led the way for users, five times as much as Spanish travellers with the Dutch, Germans and Belgians making up the majority of the remainder. The important cargo business also increased by over 20% in May and the first five months of the year.
Summer jobs boost By Simon Russell
ANTICIPATING a busy summer, Valencian supermarket giant Mercadona is looking to hire 7,000 extra staff for the season. This is an increase of 2,000 on the corresponding period of June to September last year. The seasonal workers are in addition to the existing 79,000 staff that
work full-time for Mercadona and the increase in staff is based partly on predictions about the influx of tourists to Spain which generally predict a busier than usual summer. The additional staffing also allows full time employees to take their own breaks during the summer if they wish.
Improved Parking By Simon Russell
THE municipality of Teulada-Moraira has communicated its plans to improve the Les Sorts parking area in Moraira in time for the summer. Councillor Raul Llobell has said that the town is doing everything it can to offer additional parking and also to improve the appearance of the area.
The improvement will benefit visitors and residents alike and additional parking is already in place for the current Moors and Christians Festival. Painting work has been completed to clearly mark off the current 900 spaces in what constitutes Moraira’s main central car park.
death
By Simon Russell
A man was killed in the rural Alicante region of Canada del Fenollar on 12 June while driving a tractor. It appears that the man, in his seventies, collided with some low hanging tree branches which knocked him from his vehicle. It is not thought that other vehicles were involved in the accident. The majority of tractor deaths in Spain occur on those with an open cab, with the driver being vulnerable to both falls and overturning vehicles.
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Suitcase murderer found in Spain By Simon Russell
A British man who is wanted for the murder of a woman in Thailand has been arrested in Ibiza this week. Shane Looker was accused of killing dancer Laxami Manochat in Bangkok in 2014. Ms Manochat’s dismembered body was found in a suitcase which had been dumped in a river. 47 year old Looker was the last person seen with her and while he admitted paying to spend the night with her he denied any in-
volvement in her killing. He fled Thailand before he could be officially questioned and an international arrest warrant has been in place since 2014. Authorities have known for a while that he has been living in Ibiza where he is believed to have business interests in a hotel. The Guardia arrested him when he was taking his car to a local garage and he is set to be extradited to Thailand to stand trial.
Fruit growers squeezed By Simon Russell
FRUIT producers across the Valencian region are concerned about the recent dramatic drop in the prices they are being offered for their produce.
Peaches for example were being sold for around €2.50 a kilo last month but they are now being sold for just €0.55 on average with nectarines and apricots seeing similar drops. The farmers unions com-
plain that pressure from the major retailers, especially supermarkets, is forcing the prices down and they will not be sustainable for much longer. The peaches that they are selling for €0.55 are appearing on
supermarket shelves for between €2.50 and €3.50 a kilo they say, with the major retailers clearly making massive profits at the expense of the producers.
The summer is one of the main times of the year for local fruit growers and there are concerns that many small growers will not survive the season.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
Out & About
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Benidorm burlesque By Simon Russell
ONE of the most innovative and original shows currently touring Spain is coming to Benidorm in July, announced Jose Gonzalez de Zarate, the cities councillor for events. A mixture of the circus, the burlesque and a stage play, and with a spectacular set that takes two days to construct, “The Hole”
is coming to the Julio Iglesias auditorium in L’Aiguera Park from July 12 to 19. Mr Gonzalez de Zarate said that Benidorm is aiming to stage a wide variety of events over the year, to ensure residents and tourists alike do not need to leave Benidorm to view top quality entertainment.
By Simon Russell
Roller Skates!
Callosa Bonfire night By Simon Russell
CALLOSA d’en Sarria’s Festival committee has announced the programme for the traditional San Juan festivities in the town on 23 June. There will be a special San Juan dinner at 20.30 to coincide with the
parade of the “lanterns” which are constructed especially from melons, pumpkins and peppers. The dinner will be held in Plaza del Convent and includes live music as well as food and drink. At 22.30 there is the bolero performance and this all leads up to the midnight
Tidal trouble
burning of the bonfires. As things go on through the night there will be a live DJ, while food and drink will also be sold by the towns Moors and Christians Association. If you are interested in reserving a place for the dinner please call the Town Hall on 96 588 09 46.
STRONG currents on a beach in Benissa caught out several people last week with seven being swept out to dangerously deep waters. The beaches surveillance and rescues teams were called out on each occasion and all the bathers were safely rescued. One
of those helped was a local police officer who had gone to help two girls in trouble before getting into difficulty himself amidst the strong and unpredictable tides. Although shaken, none of the swimmers was hurt and required only precautionary medical treatment.
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events
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Beauty spots
By Simon Russell
FOUR Valencian municipalities are included in the list of Spain’s most beautiful villages and small towns. The four are Guadalest, Morella, Peniscola and Vilafames and all will be promoted as part of the Noche Romantica event on 24 June. This is jointly
promoted by 300 municipalities across Europe, all keen to give a larger stage to their natural attractions. The event will be held in Madrid and will include tourist information on all participating villages. Many of the places involved, although undeniably beautiful, are suffering
from depopulation as Spanish youngsters move away from rural areas and into towns. It is hoped that by encouraging rural tourism this trend can be reversed. Similar events in the past have seen an increase in tourism of between 30 and 50 per cent on average for the places involved.
Salsa on the Costas By Simon Russell
THE Benidorm Summer Festival is set to bring a flavour of South America to the Costa Blanca. Running from 6 to 16 July Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba are among the Latin dances showcased at the festival which is expected to attract
around 12,000 people to the Hotel Bali where it is being held. The cities Councillor of Events, Jose Gonzalez de Zarate, has said that Benidorm is seen as an ideal venue as outside of the festival the beaches, bars
and shops all offer attractions in their own right for the festival goers. Many people will come for a short break while others will come for a week or more and are expected to spend an average of â‚Ź100 per day each.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
Out & About
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Molly’s Restaurant Eating out at Molly’s Restaurant in the Old Town Benidorm is not only enjoyable but has the most comfortable surroundings with the most relaxing atmosphere. The menu has a great choice of fresh food. Where else can you find Wagyu
made chips and side-salad. It’s simply mouth watering. Mike and Helen take great care serving home cooked food from 10am with their varied breakfast menu including “The Flying Scotsman,” An Irish Feast as well as the Classic English. Their very own reci-
served in a traditional style with rich onion gravy and mustard mash. The other pub favourites I can describe only as mouth-watering. A well presented range of dishes that include fish cakes, Scotch Pie, Chilli-con-Carne, Spaghetti Bolognese and Vegetable Curry. For me it’s all about the burgers. Homemade seasoned fresh beef that tastes delicious served with a Mayonnaise with lemon and chilli sauce and classic melted cheese in a bun, and if that’s not enough then try the Molly Special Burger, or the Texas Squealer!
Steak; a Japanese beef similar to rump but looks like a fillet; served with home-
pe butchers style sausages that are also used in classic dish of “Bangers and Mash”
The burgers are all served on a slate with a salad - it looks fantastic and tastes great. You would be impressed and almost certain to spread the word on this hidden gem of a eatery.
If your watching your waistline then choose a salad from a classic Ceasar, Greek, Five Bean or Molly’s House Salad. When eating out, the thing that grabs me is a venue that gives not just great food but the surroundings are just as important - to sit and relax with great service and this is exactly what Molly’s has to offer.
Without wanting to spoil the fun and tell you everything about Molly’s, allow me to mention the “Bistro Selection;” There are six great choices - so take the opportunity for a great night out or drop by for a breakfast on the sunny terrace. Being in the heart of the Old Town, you can be sure to soak up the vibrant Spanish surroundings. Calle Moli 3, Old Town Benidorm, Spain 03501 +34 865 881 856
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events
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NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
By Simon Russell
THE new nature centre in Benitatchell has been approved and the town says that it will offer a pioneering project of bioclimatic architecture and landscaping. The centre aims to educate primary school children in conservation and traditional local agricultural methods. Designed by a small team of architects from Bulgaria’s Sofia University, the plan was viewed by the mayor and consists of an 8,000 square metre space. It contains natural mazes, wooden buildings, water features and is irrigated by an under-
LA NUCIA TAPAS TRAIL By Simon Russell
THE 8th “La Nucia Anem de Tapas” tapa route commences in the Marina Baixa town on 22 June. Twelve bars are taking part this year, all offering a snack and drink for €2.50. A jury will decide which establishment has the best gastronomic offering while anyone who purchases a tapa is entered into a raffle with prizes including a weekend away and dinner at the bar judged to ground stream system. The mayor says that the project aims to be a leader in environmental design
serve the best food during the festival. The event continues until 25 June and has been organised by the town’s Department of Commerce in collaboration with participating bars and restaurants. The scheduled times are 12pm to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm and tapas featured include flamenquinos with Serrano ham and manchego cheese with potatoes and olive oil.
and sustainability while educating the next generation and still allowing them to have fun.
ENLIGHTENING TALK By Simon Russell
lighthouse and the surrounding Sierra Gelada. This included the monk seals that used to live in the area until they died out in the 1950’s, probably due to adverse environmental impacts. The seal colony here was the last to be found on the entire Spanish coast.
THE Albir lighthouse was the spectacular setting for a talk by Doctor of Philology Dr Francesc-Xavier Llorca from the University of Alicante. Held as part of World Environment Day, the professor focused on both the environmental and historical side of the
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
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Out & About
The Bay Leaf Food | Drink | Leisure | Events
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If you thought that going out for a curry was all about having a tasty plate of Indian food with a pint of lager or bottle of wine then your wrong! At the Bay Leaf, new to Albir, it’s all about tasting the most authentic India food with Tandoori recipes and Indian curries as well as Nepalese special dishes. The restaurant has a large outside seated terrace area and a spacious comfortable restaurant that has a real authentic feel to it. Going to try any new Indian restaurant and to make an initial decision on the quality of food the I have to choose a classic curry that I know so I can measure the quality based upon my own past experiences. So that’s why I ordered a Chicken Tika Bhuna and my partner had a Chicken Tikka Masala. The curry was accompanied with a couple of my other favourites; tarka dal, spinach and cheese and garlic Nan bread. Although the he restaurant was full with other curious locals the service was impeccable, I lost count of how many floor staff were taking care of the customers but what was apparent was that we were well looked after and hadn’t waited long before the food arrived. Steaming hot and well presented; the dishes
looked great and tastes fantastic. I love curry so I knew straight away by the look of the food that it was going to be a great meal. The medium spice of my Bhuna was enough to get my taste buds tingling and the smooth spinach
and cheese made a great combination tougher with the richness of the Tarka Dal, soaking up the sauce with a puffy garlic Nan bread made the meal complete. The Bay leaf have made an incredible impact on the locals; it really is the talk of the town since opening only two weeks ago. I eat curry on a regular basis and love to move around but I have already planned my next visit to this fabulous restaurant so if you want to take up the opportunity to enjoy a great night out then visit the Bay leaf Albir at Calle Ruperto, Chapi 9 or call them to reserve a table on +34 865 671 139.
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SPAIN FORCES BANKS TO REFUND FEES ON MORTGAGES By Simon Russell
British investors in Spanish property who took out a Spanish mortgage and were charged fees while doing so may be due a refund. In its latest purge of the property market the Spanish judiciary has taken its banking sector to task on two fronts: mortgage setup fees and floor clauses. For more than two decades bank clients were charged loan setup fees that should have been covered by the banks. Many were also subject to illegal “floor clauses”, where the bank would not allow loan repayment rates to fall below a certain level, even in the low interest-rate environment that prevailed through much of this period. Legislation is now in place to help those affected to reclaim the overcharged amounts. In December 2015, Spain’s supreme court ruled that clauses introduced by two Spanish banks, forcing borrowers to pay all fees associated with taking out mortgages and buy-to-let loans, were abusive. Additionally, the court ruled that banks should
pay for at least part, or in some cases the entirety, of these set-up expenses. It reasoned that it is the lender that requires the lien of the debt placed on a title deed, so it should also be responsible for the associated fees. Floor clauses have long been used by Spanish banks to protect their profits in a low interest environment. These have now been deemed illegal by both Spanish and European courts. Seville-based solicitor Fernando Salmerón, managing partner of Bufete Salmerón, is taking a high-profile case to recover funds invested in a failed Royal Marbella development by one of the company’s clients, former England footballer Sir Geoff Hurst. Last year it was widely reported that those who had lost deposits on unbuilt properties could reclaim the money, plus interest, from their Spanish bank using Ley 57/68 (see The Irish Times report on May 21st, 2016). Bufete Salmerón is using its experience in Ley 57/68 recovery for En-
glish-speaking clients, to now make claims for those overcharged by banks. Salmerón says that, although claim forms are freely available, it requires an understanding of Spanish, and the Spanish legal system, to complete them properly. Mortgage set-up fees vary, but are usually about 3 per cent of the loan value. A typical recovery will involve recoverable amounts of €3,000 upwards. Claimants can expect to pay about 40 per cent of the value of the recovery on receipt of the payment on a “no win, no fee” basis. Buyers of Spanish properties wishing to check whether they are due a fee refund will need access to a number of documents such as payment invoices from the bank along
with a copy of the mortgage deed. Fees charged may include payments to the notary and land registrar as well as Documented Legal Acts tax (AJD duty). Loan set-up documents along with associated terms and conditions will be required to see if they included an illegal floor clause. Initial assessments will generally be carried out without an up-front payment.
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“John had no idea his investment fees were so high!” John was helpful enough to bring along all the valuations he’d been issued since he started his plan, along with some Fund Fact Sheets.
By Sam Kelly Managing Partner Chorus Fancial
Last week, a gentleman, we’ll call him John, (I’ve changed his name to protect his identity) came to see me. John wanted a second opinion on an investment plan he had set up when he first moved to Spain 5 years ago. Somehow, despite strong financial markets, John’s portfolio hadn’t made a penny this entire time.
From these documents, I quickly realised that the funds that had been recommended to John had incredibly high entry and ongoing fees. These anomalies were directly related to the fact that these funds were not FCA regulated. FCA regulated funds cannot make nondisclosed payments to financial advisors, yet the funds John’s advisor had recommended actually charged the client a 5%
entry fee, all of which was subsequently paid to John’s advisor here in Spain, and also paid John’s advisor a hidden ‘trail’ fee of 1% per year. This explains the incredibly high ongoing fees, which were 3 to 4 times higher than I’d expect of an FCA regulated fund.
In addition, the client had also paid open fees to his advisor – 3% to set up his plan and 1% annual advisor fee. To add insult to injury, around 18 months ago, John’s advisor had switched all of John’s funds because his firm now had access to a new ‘exclusive’ fund. This cost John another 5% of his portfolio, to buy into a fund with
absolutely no track record, which subsequently underperformed.
John’s total fund and advice fees over 5 years were close to 25%, over three-quarters of which had been paid to his advisor.
Due to the complex way the fees were disguised and layered, John had no idea his investment fees were so high. There were only 2 small reassurances I could make. Firstly, he was not alone – 10,000s of expats in Spain have been set-up with similarly overpriced portfolios as this is widely practised by firms here. Secondly, it’s a very easy problem to solve. John agreed for Chorus to take over the management of his portfolio, and we
immediately reduced his annual advisor fee, and sold those over-priced, under-performing funds.
John now has a diverse portfolio of FCA regulated funds, with a strong track record from well-known, UK based investment institutions, none of which charged an entry cost. His total fund and ongoing advice fees are down to just 1% per year, meaning John will save significant amounts in fees over the coming years which will have a positive effect on the growth of his plan. The exact overall fees paid will depend on the specific situation so may vary, but Chorus pride ourselves on fair, transparent and above all, value for money fees. Chorus may not be
the oldest, or indeed the biggest company out here in Spain, but we firmly believe that our approach to UK style, truly independent advice, makes us the best. If you would like me to demonstrate where I can help reduce costs and improve the returns on your existing portfolio, including QROPS and Spanish Bonds, please call me today to book a free, no obligation review on 664 398 702. Chorus Financial is a trading style of Tourbillon Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar), licence Number FSC1118B & registered with the UK FCA, ref. 539348.
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PMR Celebrates 10 Years!
A big thank you to Lisa and her team at PMR based in Alfaz del Pi for putting on such a fabulous day. One of the holiday villas in Albir was used to host this fun filled afternoon with over 50 guests tucking into the tapas and paella. The afternoon also consisted
of a Cheque presentation to HELP charity with more than 1800â‚Ź raised by PMR in recent weeks. A raffle on the day helped top up the fund as well as there being some great prizes. Marco and The Weekender team wish Lisa & PMR another 10 fantastic years ahead.
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By Simon Russell
“The Mummy” is a big money reboot of the earlier horror franchise and is set to be one of the major releases of the summer. You can expect to see it in
HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 21st-April 20th)
ARIES
ARIES
TAURUS
TAURUS
GEMINI
GEMINI
CANCER
CANCER
It’s an ideal week to decide whether you ARIES (March 21st-April should jettison the aspects of your20th) life that are The inactivity inertia been dragging you down and or holding youthat’s back. Focus surrounding you could be good you on the matter at hand midweek evenfor there it coming pours cold your arebecause distractions at youwater from allon angles. impulsiveness. The sun in Pisces When the practicalities are out of the helps way, youthe look over thesocial way opportunities the last yearthe has make most of any gone. Time to change direction? Finance weekend presents.
also crops up in conversation at the top TAURUS (April 21st) of the week and21st-May you’re in charge.
You have everything at your disposal to get TAURUS 21st-May 21st) more or less(April what you want from life this EvenDon’t if you’re the shy side midweek of Taurus week. holdonback around you’re morethat of a alittle social this and remember goes animal a long way. week. There’s alsoisanwell-starred edge to you. It’s Your social potential at the called ambition. Crossed wordsfollow or a weekend and you should perhaps power struggle is attraction. all about someone your hunches about an
understanding that we all must take the rough with the smooth. Nostalgia suits you. GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st)
A quieter approach works well this week and GEMINI 22nd-June 21st) this should (May help you combat any tension Yourhanging individuality and that’s over one isof amazing more of your you’re strong and purposeful. relationships. The weekend has much The to offsun er Pisces putsfinances you under the spotlight in in terms of your and re-establishing your you might to forself-worth, one lastbutweek, yet also an decide irritation continue a low profi le. at the start of needstotokeep be ironed out
the week – possibly at work. The rest of the week and the weekend should CANCER 22nd-July 23rd) be plain(June sailing. Your success this week hinges how willing you (June 22nd-July areCANCER to be charming, affable and 23rd) easygoing - even don’tsister feel like PutPisces your The when sun inyouyour signit. of natural to worry meanstendency that you’ll strike tooutone in side your midweek and try to look on the bright side of own individual way, plus this also life. The weekend with brings new directions, opens your mind to help you see but follow established routes, too.
the bigger picture. Opportunity could strike without warning and the LEO (July for 24th-August 23rd) outlook the weekend is dramatic
This week’s focus is on your determination 24th-August 23rd) to LEO make(July headway at work. If you’re between jobs, keep your eyes open because may Expect a changeable type you of week hear something to suit you. Not all invitations when people are hard to second will be welcome at the weekend, and you guess. The sky also shifts your focus might have to let someone down gently.
LEO
LEO
VIRGO
VIRGO
towards taking a constructive stance over your long-term plans. It’s all in the timing at the weekend. VIRGO 24th-Sept 23rd) Don’t (August rush things
An improvement is on the way across the board of your life, so24th-Sept please take time this VIRGO (August 23rd) week and plan ahead. There’s Theto look sun ahead in your opposite sign also movement in your personal life around means you’ll be dealing with ALL midweek, but you’re less inclined to make your relationships this week. This decisions if you’re put on the spot.
is extremely well-starred so please don’t panic. You’ll be quirky in your communications and your thought processes midweek.
LIBRA
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) There’s headway to be made by broadening LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) your horizons as much as possible this week. You’ll takegeta the cool, impartial looknew at You might chance to make finances thismidweek, week. The sunwill in look Pisces friends around or you at is about rolling sleeves, someone you’ve knownup for those a while in a very getting your shoulder to the wheel different light. Try talking about what’s on your at the weekend. help for you make andmind making things It’ll work you. aWhatever decision. it is you’re after, if you set it up now, you a better chance of SCORPIO (Octstand 24th-Nov 22nd) Getting on with others is entirely possible this SCORPIO (Octbe24th-Nov 22nd) week, but it can tricky around midweek. Sunanswer in your sister sign of Pisces is The is don’t try to please everyone. It’s unlikely to work. There’s much to said your signal for fun, laughterbe and for allowing feeling those you love to make time their generally good. Spend own the weekend. Try not to and take on mistakes gettingat creative midweek, yourself so seriously.
there’ll be plenty of shake, rattle, and roll by the time the weekend arrives. SAGITTARIUS (Novdone. 23rd-Dec 21st) You’re on fire. Well
Follow your gut instincts this week, and SAGITTARIUS 23rd-Dec 21st) remember that lady(Nov luck is on your side. The You’ve an connection to midweek skyextra-special encourages you to take a few the roots ofenjoy youryourself. life and be chances and to Yourthere’ll charm and lots of work family issuesinto be and dealt with. charisma wonders social romantic situations at theget weekend. This might deep and memories
could come flying back. There’ll be a few surprises at the top of the week, but you’ll feel like you’re in a balanced CAPRICORN (Dec place again by the22nd-Jan weekend. 20th) You might be more tempted to do what’s (Dec this 22nd-Jan 20th) inCAPRICORN your best interests week and there’s very little fast point and in waiting in the wings.time Get A very unpredictable out there and grab life. Off er congratulations awaits some Capricorns. The sun in where they’re due at the weekend, and Pisces means that it’s a fast-paced make the most of the chance to make a fuss in that general. A revelation at ofweek someone has been starved of your the weekend stimulates your social attention.
life, and this is a time to be among
CAPRICORN AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th) positive people.
An ideal week to look at your finances and the ways you (Jan could 21st-Feb improve them in the AQUARIUS 19th) days and concentrates weeks ahead. its You might find The sun rays on what that someone is there for you midweek, you want for and youand come to confounding youryou, expectations, it’s also know that youryou’ll worth week if you possible have athis change of heart on adon’t few other levels too. the already. ThisMake is ato-do timelistsofatself.
AQUARIUS
AQUARIUS
PISCES
PISCES
weekend. Of individuality.
The sky also opens up so many opportunities at the weekend for those of you looking to PISCES (Feb 20th-March 20th) make a connection. You get the chance to show everyone how resourceful you are20th-March this week, and 20th) to prove that PISCES (Feb you’re more able toyou, get and whatright you want, There’s no than stopping from even potentially difficult Don’t the from top of the week, yoursituations. individuality rules take an answer Pointless willno setforyou apart -midweek. as will your thought and regulationsAll make more goodness determined processes. of you thiseven cosmic atconspires the weekendto make you a winner in the eyes of people who matter. Plant career seeds and watch them grow. Travel is also well starred.
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ARGUABLY still the biggest movie star on the planet, Tom Cruise has been in Madrid promoting his latest blockbuster “The Mummy”. As you would expect a huge crowd turned out to see Cruise and his co-stars as they signed autographs in the Spanish capital. Although this is Cruise’s first visit to Spain for a few years he used to be a regular when he was involved with Spanish star Penelope Cruz. Not known as a football fan, some people were surprised that he also paid a visit to Atletico Bilbao’s new Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Blue Peter star passes away in Spain
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Superstar in Spain
By Simon Russell
POSSIBLY the best known children’s presenter in UK TV history, certainly one of the best loved, former Blue Peter stalwart John Noakes died last week at the age of 83. He had lived near the town of Andratx on Mallorca for several years and died in Palma’s Son Espases Hospital after a long battle with Alzheimer’s
disease. Noakes hosted the children’s flagship programme for twelve years in the 60’s and 70’s alongside the likes of Peter Purves, Valerie Singleton and of course his faithful dog Shep. After Blue Peter Noakes went on to do other TV projects, most notably Go with Noakes (alongside Shep) before moving to Spain for his retirement.
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Born To Climb By Simon Russell
A Spaniard has achieved the remarkable feat of climbing Mount Everest twice in less than a week, something only achieved previously by a handful of Sherpas who make a living guiding climbers up the
world’s tallest mountain. Remarkably Catalan Kilian Jornet is relatively new to mountain climbing, although he has a background in endurance events such as ultra-running. Doctors who have
examined Jornet have found that he has a huge lung capacity, nearly twice the average. However everyone who knows him agrees he is also very strong on the all important mental side of endurance feats.
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Security fears over health centre By Simon Russell
MEDICAL staff at Gata de Gorgos health centre have reiterated their various concerns over the state of the centre itself. Top of the list of worries is the broken front gate which means that the site can be accessed by
the public at all times. As the centre has emergency medical staff on duty around the clock they are worried about not being able to restrict access in the small hours to drunks or troublemakers. There is also the issue that if the staff are called away on an
emergency the centre is open to all with drugs and medical equipment vulnerable. It was agreed a while ago that the centre needed a security guard at least at night and, obviously, the gate should be replaced despite the expense.
WATCH OUT FOR THE TIGERS By Simon Russell
RESIDENTS of Benidorm have been sent a timely reminder with their latest water bills; information about preventing tiger mosquitoes from breeding and spreading. The leaflets have been sent to 25,000 customers to date and are produced by Benidorm Town Hall in conjunction with water company Hidraqua. The Department of Health estimate that 90%
of the mosquitoes originate from private property and while the council do what they can with the land and buildings they own the public must also do their part. This includes the usual information about not leaving standing water, the favoured breeding ground for the pests. The Health Department said that in its native Asia the tiger mosquito is responsible for the spread of
diseases such as the Zika virus and dengue fever, as well as giving the nasty bite
that many people around here have experienced over recent years.
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Advertising Feature
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Hospital Veterinario Marina Baixa Hospital Veterinario Marina Baixa: Technology and kindliness for healthier pets. From its beginnings, the Marina Baixa veterinary hospital bets on the training and specialization of its team of veterinarians and nurses, and for the implementation of stateof-the-art high technology. Endoscopy, Ultrasonograpphy, CT scan and high field (1,5 teslas)MRI are services offered.
It is a reference center in traumatology, neurosurgery, cardiology, oncologic surgery and rehabilitation and physiotherapy. The center focuses on the most innovative techniques such as regenerative medicine through the use of platelet-rich plasma (growth factors) and stem cell therapy. It has the HVMB Pet Wellness Center where patients with articular, locomotor, neurological
and obesity problems are treated with techniques such as massages, TENS, acupuncture and hydrotherapy through a swimming pool with underwater treadmill. For the wellness of the pets we complete the service with hairdressing. The Hospital veterinario Marina Baixa offers the service of 3D technology. We make copies of patient´s bones from the data obtained with computed tomography (CT),explains Jose Rial, veterinarian and head of the hospital . Once we get the copy of the bone we can make a proper pre-surgical plan and build customized guide also of plastic material with our 3 D printer. The latest addition has been an device of airplasma for surgery with minimal bleeding. Next month will open a new area
with a new operating room with the most advanced anesthesia and monitoring of the patient dedicated to minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy, torascoscopy, arthroscopy,...) At the Marina Baixa veterinary hospital all kind of pets (cat, dogs and exotic pets) are treated 24 hours a day. 3d printed plastic bone for surgery planning. Hospital Veterinario Marina Biaxa Passeig de la mitja llegua, 17, 03580, Alfaz Del Pi 966 860 669
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017 Health | Style | Family | Wellbeing
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Diabetic Foot Care By Phillip Mann
Residencia canina y felina Boarding kennel & Cattery
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Individual rooms Ozono Music Heated floor system Landscaped playgrounds Free home delivery service All types of dogs & cats allowed
With the incidence of diabetes on the increase in the western world, the importance of foot care for diabetics has never been more important. Sadly diabetics represent the biggest group of lower limb amputees even greater than that of road traffic accidents. Diabetic amputations are avoidable and in this article we will look at the causes and how to avoid problems leading to amputation. If uncontrolled or poorly controlled, Diabetes can cause damage to small blood vessels particularly in feet, hands, eyes, kidneys and heart and damage to nerves. Damage in the foot is often three fold, poor circulation, nerve damage and poor healing following injury. Circulation can be effected by accelerating arthrosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries; this makes it more difficult for the blood to get to where it needs to go. This means when an injury occurs it may be slow to heal or even ulcerate. If the ulceration is not treated it can get infected and if that infection is not treated it can turn to gangrene which would mean amputation of the affected toe, foot or even leg. Nerve damage or neuropathy can occur with diabetes. This can lead to loss of feeling particularly pain sensation in the feet. The problem here is the individual may not be aware that there is loss of
feeling and if there is an injury may not seek care promptly. Poor healing in diabetic feet means that injuries are often slow to heal so wounds stay open longer increasing the chances of getting infected and infections love sugar. The higher the blood sugar the more rapidly the infection can take hold. Good diabetic control means less damage and less problems. Inspect the feet daily to make sure there are no injuries or changes in colour, inflammation or pain, if need be look at the bottom of the feet in a mirror. Avoid walking barefoot. Wash the feet daily and dry carefully between toes and apply moisturiser to any dry areas, but not between the toes. Have feet measured when buying shoes and
always check inside shoes before putting them on for stones or other foreign bodies. It is important to visit a Podiatrist to have foot assessment. Circulation can be checked with a Doppler and neuropathy measured and then tailored advice given as well as routine care of nails corns and callous and even ulcers. If you have a foot problem don’t ignore it or try to self treat or self diagnose. Early intervention and treatment is the key to avoiding serious foot problems and having peace of mind. This article was supplied by Philip Mann – Chiropodist / Podiatrist The Family Medical Centre, Albir
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IN GOOD Cats, Dogs And Human Food How Can Our Food Harm Our Pets? HEART By Simon Russell
DENIA Hospital has won a prestigious award for its achievements in the field of cardiology. The Certification in Treating Heart Failure (CI) is awarded to by the Society of Cardiology to those hospitals and clinics that it judges as having an excellent programme. The award was col-
lected in Madrid by Dr Julia Seller on behalf of the cardiac team at the hospital, making Denia only the fourteenth Spanish centre to receive the CI award. The criteria the award is based on are measuring, comparing standards and auditing data to achieve the best results.
We’re all guilty of it - giving in to those big begging eyes pleading at us for a scrap from the table during dinner. Fido knows just how to get you to concede, and most of us justify that a little won’t hurt, or we don’t even think of the potential danger at all. But the truth is that human food can be harmful to your pet, and in some cases, can be fatal. It’s important to know how certain foods can be unsafe so that you can avoid them for the sake of your animal. Here is how a few of some of the most common “human foods” become harmful for pets:
Chocolate and other foods containing caffeine
Caffeine is one of the greatest culprits because it contains an alkaloid called theobromine. Theobromine acts as a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic, which in turn can cause a heart attack or other heart and nervous system problems in animals.
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are potentially harmful due to the fact that both contain thiosulphate, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in cats and dogs. Of the two, onions are the most toxic, as consumption of simply one serving by your pet could result in
anemia.
Milk
Milk can harm your pet due to the fact that many dogs and cats tend to be lactose intolerant. The consumption of milk and milk products by a lactose intolerant pet creates a breeding ground for bacteria, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Bones
Bones, although commonly known as a great treat for your dog, are potentially very dangerous for pets. Once eaten, bones can splinter and get stuck in the intestines, causing damage or fatality. In most splinter cases, the bones must be removed surgically.
Other Foods
Other human foods to avoid
when feeding your pet are: macadamia nuts, potato peelings and green-looking potatoes, rhubarb leaves, moldy/spoiled foods, alcohol, yeast dough, tomato leaves and stems, broccoli, and raisins or grapes. Some human foods potentially cause only mild digestive upsets, while others can be fatal. Regardless of the level of danger, the best choice for your pet is to keep him from any potentially harmful foods in order to ensure his health and safety. So, the next time your pet looks up at you with those pleading eyes, show him you care by doing what is truly best for him and feeding him only products meant for pet consumption. In the end, both you and your pet will be glad that you did.
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LAST FEW DAYS FOR ROAMING CHARGES By Simon Russell
SPAINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S principal telecoms provider, Telefonica, will end its roaming charges by 15 June in order to comply with EU regulations on the use of mobile phones in European Union countries. Telefonica have left the change until late in the day, in common with Orange and Yoigo, two of the other
main mobile companies here. 15 June is the cut-off point for eliminating the charges and while many of the main providers left the change until the last possible minute, Vodafone dropped their charges a while ago and also scrapped roaming fees for the US and Turkey amongst other non EU countries.
App of The Week
This weeks App Of The Week is from Peter Kovac. From the outset, Cubiscape may appear uncomplicated in its setup. You simply need to get the ball to its goal. But once you dig in, you will see how devilishly well thought-out and challenging the
puzzle design is. As a free-to-play release, you can easily try the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first 60 human designed levels at no cost. When you do finally run out of these free puzzles, you will have the ability to purchase all new level packs.
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NO STOPPING WHATSAPP!
New On Date Night
Who knew simple dinner reservations under a different name could turn one New Jersey couple’s date night so terribly upside-down? What they wanted was a night off from their dull marriage. What they got was a one-way ticket to crazy town.
The Long Weekend
Adman Ed Waxman has 48 hours to create a great campaign to save his job, but a visit from his tomcat brother proves to be a diversion Ed can’t ignore. A ladies man knows just what his workaholic brother needs to get his groove back. But dude is WAY out of practice.
By Simon Russell
Queen of the South Season 1
Forced to work for a cartel that recently killed her boyfriend, Teresa relies on her street smarts, a loyal pal and a mysterious notebook to survive.
FIRST there was texting, then Messenger and now WhatsApp, with the latter now proving by far the most popular phone messaging system in Spain. 90% of smartphone owners regularly use the app as opposed to around 25% that regularly use Facebook’s Messenger while the likes of Snapchat account for only around 5%. WhatsApp has successfully introduced enhancements such as voice
and video calls and have easily overtaken previous market leader Skype for video calls. The general survey about Spanish internet use finds that 82% of the population is now online and that over 80% of those use mobiles as their preferred way of connecting to the internet. The survey also finds that although TV is still the most popular form of audio-visual entertainment mobiles are catching up fast.
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FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
Back In
EX-TOP GEAR HOST RICHARD HAMMOND ALMOST INCINERATE D T
V presenter Richard Hammond was seconds from being “incinerated” in a car crash, according the producer of his programme. Andy Wilman, who helps put together The Grand Tour, said the star was lucky to be alive after his vehicle flipped and burst into flames in the Swiss mountains. The 47-year-old suffered a fractured knee while racing an electric super car, but was not seriously injured. Hammond’s co-stars on the show, Jeremy Clarkson and James May, arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. Mr Wilman told the Sunday Mirror: “Jeremy and James both raced down to the scene of the crash as soon as it happened. “When they saw the wreckage on fire they thought Richard was dead. It was really bad.
“They were staggered he had got out of it alive, because there was just nothing left.”
tia, during the Hemburg Hill Climb.
Clarkson described it as the “biggest” and “most frightening” crash he had ever seen, adding in a Twitter post: “Thankfully, Richard seems to be mostly OK.”
It was filmed as part of the second series of The Grand Tour, the Amazon Prime programme Hammond, Clarkson and May joined after leaving the BBC’s Top Gear in 2015.
A spokesperson for The Grand Tour said: “Richard was conscious and talking, and climbed out of the car himself before the vehicle burst into flames. “He was flown by air ambulance to hospital in St Gallen to be checked over - revealing a fracture to his knee. ”Nobody else was in the car or involved in the accident, and we’d like to thank the paramedics on site for their swift response. “The cause of the crash is unknown and is being investigated.” Hammond was racing a Rimac Concept One car, built in Croa-
According to the car manufacturer’s website, the Concept One can reach a maximum speed of 220mph thanks to its 1,224 horsepower motor. The Hemburg Hill Climb takes place over a one-milelong course, which climbs 157m (515ft). Contestants average speeds of more than 70mph. In 2006, Hammond suffered brain injuries after crashing a jet-propelled car while travelling at close to 300mph.
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
Britain O 17 DEATH TOLL RISES T S R O IV V R U S E R O M O BUT N sa May on Prime Minister There l ful public inThursday ordered a quiry into the high-rise blaze in London that killed at least 17 people. The cause of the blaze is not known, Lonbut don Police Co mm an de r Stuart Cundy said that there is no su gg es tio n
it was terror-related. happened, ”We need to know what explanation,” we need to know an g the inquiry. May said, announcin ilies.” “We owe that to the fam can take ies uir British public inq to complete, months and even years minal prosand they don’t end in cri ecutions. currently The death toll, which d to increase as stands at 17, is expecte t through more emergency workers sif ntial building wreckage at the reside Kensington rth No in west London’s d dozens, ure inj o als re fi district. The irt Th y people 18 of them critically. are still hospitalized.
MONOPOLY MONEY
By Simon Russe ll
BOND Street in don areas London has of Covbeen ent Gard en, Oxford named as the most Street and Sloane expensive shop pi street in Europe ng Square which all for make up Eu retailers to op rope’s top erate four. In Spain, Barcefrom. lona’s Port de L’A At a whopngel is now the countr ping ies priciest retail estate a t €3,360 p e r square metre, over ta ki ng previous holder Calle Serrano in Madrid. Malaga, San Sebastian and Seville are all among the ot her €25,500 pricey Spanish per square citie s, while Italy’s metre, M iBond lan ha s the priciest Street is ahea d shopping area outof the other Lo n- side of Lo ndon.
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Local Lookout
Benidorm
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“WE WILL FIGHT THEM BY THE SUN-LOUNGERS…” By Simon Russell
OVER 300 hundred people are set to recreate the Normandy Day landings on Poniente Beach in Benidorm this weekend. The event is part of the history of cinema events occurring over the 16 to 18 June and thousands of people are expected to come down to the resort for the long weekend. Other attractions include military parades, 40’s musical shows and an army parachute display. The cities Fiesta Councillor, Jesus Carrobles, started things off by presenting the details of the event accompanied by participants dressed in military regalia from different armies. Activi-
ties commence on the Friday at 5.30pm with the opening of the aircraft and army zones. For the duration of the weekend the various armies will be”camped” in Parque de Elche (Dove Park). The Normandy landing recreation is scheduled for Saturday at 5pm and will include an authentic 12 metre motorboat.
WEB APPEAL BY DEATH FALL HUSBAND By Simon Russell
THE young husband of Kirsty Maxwell, who plunged to her death from a Benidorm hotel in mysterious circumstances, has taken to social media to appeal for information. Adam Maxwell still feels there are a lot of unresolved questions about Kirsty’s death, many of them held by the five men whose balcony she fell from. The post reads “My lovely wife Kirsty lost her life in tragic circumstances on holiday at Apartmentos Payma, Avenida de Almeria in Benidorm on Saturday 29th April 2017. There are a lot of unanswered questions still being investigated by Spanish Police, Lawyer Luis Miguel Zumaquero and the Courts. Something happened in those apartments which resulted in Kirsty’s death and someone knows the answers. Did you take any photos or videos that night, do you remember Kirsty and her friends who were all wearing pink shirts, and do you know anything about the group of men who were staying at the Payma Apartments?” He says he lives in hope that someone can provide the answers and is supported by his wife’s family in the appeal.
Judge Ana Garcia Galbis has requested that the five men in the hotel room where Scot Kirsty Maxwell fell to her death are to be formally investigated but stated they are persons of interest though not necessarily suspects. Up to this point only one of the men, Joseph Graham, had been named as an investigado. The judge has also asked the UK police for details about the men’s background, including any criminal records they may have.
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017 Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles
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Dancing the night away under the stars By Simon Russell
“Moonlight Serenade” lived upto its promise: we had great music of the Glenn Miller era from Rommy Baker Big Band, we had some swinging music from Swingtet in the interval and we were joined by dance group “SwingPeaks” who took over the “dance floor” area in front of Alfaz Casa de Cultura. These young Spaniards professed themselves delighted to dance to real live music and rather than limit themselves to a handful of numbers they had chosen from the musical programme they danced to every one. Many of our older residents took up the challenge and joined them which kept them warm when a slight un-June-like chill in the air crept in later that night. It was a great atmosphere for the around 350 people present of
various nationalities who came from from other costa towns as well as locals and their generosity generated a good sum for the national cancer charity AECC and the Alfaz volunteers association -presentations to be made later this week - . The local AECC branch thanks the town hall for all their help, the
BRIGHT SPARKS By Simon Russell
F I F T E E N unemployed residents of La Nucia are undergoing formal training courses to allow them to qualify and hopefully work as electricians. Paid for in part by the EU Social Fund, the courses consist of 960 hours of training which comes to an end this August. The
successful trainees will receive level 2 certificates in the trade, which it is hoped will lead to full time work. As well as the theory training, the students also undergo 80 hours of on the job practical training during placements with local electrical firms.
volunteers from Amas de Casa and the Companians and others who sold raffle tickets and kept “crowd control”. Many thanks also to famous local artist Goyo Perez who donated one of his original works as the raffle prize and to donations from other supporters including 1000 euros from Gary of Giving4Giving.
LOCAL ARTIST DROWNS By Simon Russell
RUBEN Fresneda, a well-known artist aged 28 from Alcoy, drowned after getting caught in strong currents on Playa de Paradis in Villajoyosa. The accident occurred on Sunday 28 May when Ruben was swimming at around midday. Other bathers could see he was struggling to swim ashore and several swam out to assist him and
managed to bring him ashore. A swimmer who was also a first aider helped him until the emergency services arrived and they spent a further forty minutes trying to resuscitate him but he was sadly declared dead at the scene. Ruben was a graduate of Fine Arts and there were regular exhibitions
of his artwork across Valencia. Local people who knew him were said to be profoundly shocked by the sudden death of such a young and talented man. The lifeguard service for this beach does not start until 1 June and, despite the beach being packed on a warm weekend, there were no lifeguards on duty.
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Motoring
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VOLVO V90 CROSS COUNTRY It may have a slightly more convoluted name, but the V90 Cross Country essentially replaces the XC70 in the Volvo line up. Now that XC moniker is only used for SUVs. So where does this V90 fit in? Well it’s a more rugged off-road version of the V90 with a raised ride height - a rival for the likes of the Audi A6 Allroad. And with the latest generation of Volvo models now good enough to be seen as genuine premium cars - it’s a realistic alternative to the likes of the Audi and Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain. But where it has those two beat is on price. The V90 Cross Country starts at £40k new whereas the cheapest A6 Allroad is more than £47,000. It’s well equipped too with dual-zone cli-
mate control, heated front seats, navigation and a bright 12.3-inch colour touchscreen among the standard specification.
it’s often easy to forget it’s only a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel. Official economy looks promising with a figure of more than 53mpg for both versions,
While it may not come with a 3.0-litre engine like the Audi, the 2.0-litre diesel that’s used in both the D4 and D5 models is one of the best diesels around. It’s quiet, smooth and delivers excellent performance for its size. In fact, the D5 is so good that
so expect around 40mpg in real world driving. While it has four-wheel drive and rugged bumpers, the V90 Cross Country is no proper off-roader, but it does have a higher ride height than the standard V90 and makes an excellent
tow car with the power to haul a 2.5 tonne braked trailer. The raised ride height means the Cross Country isn’t as good in corners as a standard V90 but it still drives extremely well with plenty of grip and a reassuring feel through the steering. The im-
pressively comfortable seats and well insulated cabin make this an ideal motorway car too. Only the ride lets it down
somewhat. It’s on the firm side due to the tougher suspension and so is susceptible to the occasional jolt as it crosses potholes. The standard V90 rides better. But this is only a minor criticism of what is a very accomplished and impressive estate. The interior is a real strong point with a high quality and solid feel mixed with a minimalist Scandinavian design. The huge iPad-style touchpad in the dash adds to the feeling that this is a car with modern tech on board. And one that’s easily good enough to rival its premium competition.
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Motoring
THIS DAY IN DELAYS AS AUTOMOTIVE PENSIONER HISTORY STRUCK
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By Simon Russell
In June 1896 Henry Ford test drove his first automobile, the Quadricycle. It was named for its use of four bicycle tires. Ford sold his first Quadricycle for $200 in 1896 to Charles Ainsley. He later built two more Quadricycles: one in 1899, and another in 1901. He later bought his first one back for $60. The success of the vehicle led
By Simon Russell
AN 88 year old man was hit by a car in Torreviejaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s town centre on 12 June, sustaining various injuries. The man was on foot when he was hit by the vehicle on Calle Azorin. A doctor happened to be close by and attended him but the SAMU
to him founding the Ford Motor Company in 1903.
ambulance was in use elsewhere and the Guardamar ambulance had to attend, a distance of about twelve kilometres from the scene. The man remained conscious but was complaining of severe pains in his back and arm with his age obvi-
ously being a concern. Police have called for any witnesses to come forward as they are keen to determine the speed of the vehicle involved at the time of the incident. The pensioner is in hospital while the extent of his injuries is determined.
The rest, as we know, is history!
TAX BREAKS FOR GREEN VEHICLES By Simon Russell
AN Alicante municipality has agreed to start offering reduced taxes for drivers of more ecologically friendly vehicles. Teulada-Moraira Town Hall agreed the move at a recent
meeting and will apply to vehicles that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exceed 200 gram per kilometre of CO2 emission, or energy efficiency A,B,Y and C. The reduction on car duty will be up to 75% and must
be applied for through the Town Hall. You will need your ITV certificate or other official documentation stating the energy usage of the vehicle when you apply for the reduction.
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Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Match Report By Simon Russell
An absolute run feast took place at the Woodbridge Oval today in the league contest between Sporting Alfas and Madrid CC. Alfas captain Christian Munoz won the toss and elected to bat. He then sat back, relaxed and watched as the opening partnership of Phil Pennick and Gary Crompton put on 156 for the first wicket. Pennick was the first to go with 50 to his name, and then as often is the way, Crompton soon followed after just completing a fine century. His innings included sixteen fours and three sixes and was made in quick time to give Alfas a great platform for a huge score. Another excellent partnership of 147 followed as Adam Algar and Christian Munoz piled on the pressure as the Madrid
bowling attack toiled in the hot sun. Algar went on 41 but Munoz went on to complete the second century of his sides innings, finishing on 111. His first fifty just took 22 balls and 400 looked a distinct possibility when the Alfas captain departed. Some tight bowling from Madrid that produced wickets in the last handful of overs restricting the innings to a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mereâ&#x20AC;? 389 for 8. After tea, Madrid started forcefully and at the first drinks break at 15 overs had the identical score of 99 as Alfas did at the same stage in their innings. This was due to some belligerent batting from Adam Langhans and Varun Jain. Langhams finally was dismissed on 68 but Jain stayed for the majority of the innings to become the third centurion of this amazing match. With
support from Tetlow (28) and Wilson who hit 22 off nine balls the visitors continued to have an outside chance of a major upset. Another whirlwind innings by the Madrid skipper Ted Miller, who blitzed 25 off eight balls gave the visitors full batting points but their valiant effort finally ended
One shot in it, Benitachel Bowls Peter Collins 4-4-2 By Simon Russell
Peter Collins, a well respected member of the BBC along with his daughter Maria from Dragon Insurance sponsored a two day event of rinks and pairs to be known as the Peter Collins 4-2-2. 64 players participated in teams of 4 and the
winners on maximum points were Jeff Richards, Alan Guest, Ruth Meadows and Joyce Pope. Runners up with just one shot behind were Bob Bailey, Steve Griffin, Linda Richards and Jennifer Nesteroff.
on 321, sixty eight runs shy of the Alfas total. A special mention should also go to Pul Taylor, the evergreen left arm spinner, who bowled nine very tight overs for just 27 runs, whilst all the other bowlers around him from both sides went for double or treble his economy rate.
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE 2017
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S.F. Costa Cobras RFC Juniors Leading The Way By Simon Russell
Since our fun day at the beginning of May we have seen a steady increase in the number of people turning up for training. For the adults we are getting a good turn out, just a few more and we can get a full team together. As for the juniors, we started off with a few turning out each week, training at the same time as the adults. Now things have improved dramatically, we are getting more and more as each week passes. Kids from all over the area are coming from San Miguel de Salinas to the local town of San Fulgencio. Junior training is every Monday and Wednesday from 18:00 – 19:30 at the San Fulgencio football ground. For the summer the adults training will be moving to the beach, every Monday and Wednesday 20:00 – 21:30, for more information on the location you can check our Facebook page out or contact Dutch, his details are below. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to experienced players, the more the merrier. Why
not come along and join the fun with the newest rugby club on the Costa Blanca. Fancy a chance at winning 100,000€, why not purchase a Costa Cobras lottery card, priced at 10€ this Euro Millions card is valid for 2 draws per week until May 2018. The money raised from sales is split between the club and AFA San Fulgencio Alzheimer’s charity. For more information about our club, or the lottery cards, call or Whatsapp Dutch on 692 767 242 or find us on Facebook - S.F. Costa Cobras RFC. Dutch is also at Zoco market on Sundays from 09.00-13.30 selling all of your rugby branded clothing and gear including Canterbury casuals, Cotton Traders, club and international shirts. He also has our club shirt on sale, so get your orders in now! Finally, a big thank you to all of our local sponsors for their continuing support; Ayuntamiento de San Fulgencio, the Power Pub in San Fulgencio, Legal and Tax in Spain, Autocenter Rojales and Active Surfaces.
Olympic fun and Games
By Simon Russell
ALICANTE province hosted the Olympic Games for a day as Valencia’s third “Olympic Day” came to La Nucia. 3,000 people attended the event which was held at the Camilo Cano sports stadium and was hosted by Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olym-
pic Committee. Ten Spanish Olympians attended, including four medal winners who carried the torch as the day began with a traditional Olympic parade. The day included 36 activities including swimming, BMX biking, archery, volleyball, athletics and football.
There were also non-Olympic activities such as Zumba and bouncy castles for the little ones. La Nucia was chosen to host this year as it sees itself as the area’s centre for sporting excellence and has superb facilities for sportsmen of all levels.
More sports for Benidorm By Simon Russell
BENIDORM has continued with its pledge to improve the cities sporting facilities by opening a new sports track. The new facility, which is for various sports, is lo-
cated next to the outdoor sports area in L’Aiguera Park which was itself opened only recently. The track is constructed from concrete and natural stone and surrounded by a
wooden fence. The council are now looking into possible further additions to the area including a petanque court, the Spanish version of boules. The security in the area
has also been stepped up both to monitor and protect the youngsters who are the main users of the facility which is popular with skaters, footballers and basketball players.
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Record breaking Rafa By Simon Russell
LEGENDARY Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal won the French Open tournament for the tenth time on 11 June, the first player of either sex to have won the same grand slam tournament this many times. He comfortably beat Swiss underdog Stan Wawrinka in straight sets on the red clay of a very warm Roland Garros stadium. Na-
dal, now 31, won his first French Open when he was just nineteen and this is his fifteenth grand slam victory overall. The man from Mallorca has recently suffered with injury problems and slipped down the world rankings, but his main rivals will be well aware that Rafa now seems to be back to his winning best.
Nadal opts out to rest for W of Queen’s imbledon Rafael Na confirmed Tu dal the world numbe es r he has pulled day two said on hi out of Face s next week’s book page. Aegon am “I sad Championship s at decis to make this Queen’s in or io because der to I lo n rest and prep ve Queen’s, are for wo n the tournam I Wimbledon. ent in 2008 “I am very so rry time I and every to say that I re ac hed the am going to be ab not Wimbledon final le it Queen’s next play was after playin week,” Qu g een’s.”
Murray looks ahead to Wimbledon after semi final defeat Despite falling just short of a second successive French Open final, Andy Murray feels he is getting back to his best — just in time for Wimbledon. Murray arrived at Roland Garros on the back of a poor run of
form which included early exits at Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome. The top-ranked Murray has improved over the past two weeks, shaking off a cold to reach the semifinals, where he lost
6-7 (6), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-1 to third-seeded Stan Wawrinka on Friday. Murray, who said he expected to have more ups and downs at the tournament than he did, believes he can take the positives from the
French Open onto grass — specifically Wimbledon, where he will be bidding to retain his title. “I do feel like having an event like this can give me a boost, and hopefully have a strong grass court season and try to understand
what worked well this event and what worked well in the sort of 10 days in the buildup and the practices,” Murray said. Wimbledon starts July 3 at the All England Club.
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Ronaldo denies Tax evasion By Simon Russell
Soccer superstar Christiano Ronaldo’s legal woes with the Spanish taxman, who is sueing him for nearly 15 million euros in unpaid taxes, have stunned his fans. As for the man himself, he does not appear to fear his upcoming day in court. “My conscience is quite clear, brother. Always, man,” he said to reporters on Tuesday. Jorge Mendes, who manages Cristiano Ronaldo, has been summoned before a Spanish court as part of the probe into Colombian striker Radamel Falcao’s alleged tax evasion, legal sources said on Wednesday. Monaco’s Falcao is suspected of failing to correctly declare €5.6 million (AU$8.3m) of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while he was at Atletico Madrid. He is suspected of using a web of shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, Ireland, Colombia and Panama to avoid taxes on the image rights income. Mendes was summoned to appear before the court of instruction at Pozuelo de Alarcon, close to Madrid, on June 27. The summons comes a day after Ronaldo was accused by Spanish prosecutors of evading €14.7m ($21.8m) in tax through offshore companies. Real Madrid earlier gave their backing to Ronaldo, releasing a statement saying the club had “full confidence in our player Cristiano Ronaldo, who we understand has acted in accordance with the legality regarding the fulfilment of his fiscal obligations”. “Since his arrival at Real Madrid C.F. in July 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has always shown a clear will to fulfil all his tax obligations. “Real Madrid C.F. are absolutely con-
vinced that our player, Cristiano Ronaldo, will prove his total innocence in this process. Real Madrid C.F. hope that justice is done as quickly as possible so that his innocence can be proven as soon as possible.” The 32-year-old — the world’s highest paid athlete according to Forbes magazine — follows in the footsteps of Barcelona forward and Argentina star Lionel Messi, who was found guilty of the same offence last year, although the sums involved were allegedly smaller. Ronaldo is accused of “four crimes against the public treasury between 2011-14... which involves tax fraud of €14,768,897”, Madrid’s public prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday. “The accused took advantage of a company structure created in 2010 to hide income generated in Spain from his image rights from tax authorities, which is a ‘voluntary’ and ‘conscious’ breach of his fiscal obligations in Spain,” it said. It seems that the courts are doing everything they can to ensure no big money players get away with a cent, with Lional MEssi recently being charged for similar accusations. Elsewhere, Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren’s turn in the witness box at a multi-million euro corruption trial was adjourned on Wednesday after a furious outburst from defendant Zdravko Mamic, the former chairman of Dinamo Zagreb. Lovren, 27, arrived at the tribunal in Croatia’s eastern city of Osijek to be questioned over his 2010 transfer from Dinamo to French side Lyon.
England Win World Cup! England was crowned the winner of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea on Sunday after the team beat Venezuela 1-0. The only goal of the match, played at the Suwon World Cup Stadium, carried the signature of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin 34 minutes into
the game, while Adalberto Peñaranda wasted a penalty for Venezuela at the 73rd minute. It was the first time England won the tournament, one that Argentina has won six times, and the country’s biggest soccer achievement since winning the World Cup in 1966.
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Sport
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US OPEN June 15-18 Sky Sports from 19:00
RUGBY UNION INTERNATIONALS Friday June 16 Tonga v Wales Sky Sports from 07.30am Friday June 16 New Zealand v Samoa Sky Sports from 10.00am Saturday June 17 Australia v Scotland Sky Sports from 07.00am Saturday June 17 South Africa v France Sky Sports from 16.30am Saturday June 17 Argentina v England BBC from 21.15am
RUGBY LEAGUE Friday June 16 Leeds Rhinos v Featherstone Rovers Sky Sports from 21:00 Saturday June 17 Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors BBC from 16:00 Sunday June 18 Hull FC v Castleford Tigers BBC from 16:00
TENNIS - QUEENS June 19-25 Euro Sport Daily
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Weekender Sport
MAYWEATHER CONFIRMS MCGREGOR FIGHT The superfight between all-time boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor has a date, time, venue and even a fight poster after the two sides agreed to meet Aug. 26 for... the bout pitting two of the best in their respective worlds against one another. Mayweather (49-0 boxing) and McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will clash in a 154-pound
boxing bout on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas. The card will be a Showtime pay-per-view broadcast, though a price point has not been announced. The fight is already being touted as one of the most financially lucrative combat sports contests in history, and the artwork that will go along with promotion for the fight has been released.