WEEKLY DIGEST – 29 SEPTEMBER 2014

GO FOR THROTTLE UP

In association with computer giant Hewlett-Packard, the Sant Joan de Deu hospital in Barcelona has converted its MRI scan room for children into a spaceship, albeit only in an aesthetic way, in order to cause less stress to young patient using the diagnostic equipment. “We wanted to make the children believe they were part of the crew preparing to enter a spaceship”, according to HP spokeswoman Eva Blanco, whilst the equipment has successfully reduced anesthesia use by 18% during MRI scans.

THE SILENT KILLER

Eight out of every ten women in Spain who suffer ovarian cancer are diagnosed too late, according to a report collated on behalf of three oncology institutes, the IVO, ASACO and SEOM, who released the data in the hope of raising awareness of ovarian cancer among doctors, given that around 4,100 women are diagnosed with it every year in Spain and few survive. In Spain, a total of 12,300 women are annually diagnosed with some form of gynaecological cancer, the second most common strain of the illness in women.

NEW PRIEST

Fr Pedro Crespo, has taken over as the new parish priest of the RC church, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Torrevieja, replacing Peñalver Ginés Ortiz, a native of Pilar de la Horadada, who had occupied the position for over 15 years. Fr Crespo was presented at a mass attended by Mayor Eduardo Dolon and celebrated by the Episcopal Vicar, Jesus Ortuno.

WINE-ERCISE

A new study has revealed that a daily glass of wine will protect against heart disease, but only if you combine it with exercise. Volunteers were asked to drink a glass of wine up to five times a week. The most active people were found to get the best result. Levels of ‘good cholesterol’ rose in both red and white wine drinkers, as long as they worked out in the gym at least twice a week.

SUITS YOU SIR

Isidoro Álvarez, the recently-deceased El Corte Ingles boss, is to have a Madrid street named after him in recognition of his major contribution to the Spanish economy. The 79-year-old, who suffered respiratory problems, which led to a fatal heart attack two weeks ago, is accredited with having put Spain on the international retail map, creating thousands of jobs in the process.

LAND PRICE INCREASING

The average price for urban land in Spain is showing signs of recovery, as quarter 2 of 2014 showed a 9.3% lower price than the same period of last year, but a 3.5% increase in price compared to the first quarter of 2014, as low prices have started to attract buyers once again, according to the Ministry of Public Works.

POWERING UP

Spanish power supply and construction company Abengoa has secured a 26 million dollar contract from the Kuwait government to develop a new power transmission project. In a statement, the company said that the project includes designing, building and operating three new high-tension electricity transmission lines which extend for 86 kilometres in the Kuwaiti capital. Abengoa is currently involved 25,000 kilometres of power transmission and distribution lines around the world.

FUEL THE FIRE

Despite continual threats of its withdrawal, the UK government have revealed that the number of people claiming the winter fuel allowance whilst living abroad has risen to record levels. The data reveals that a total of 139,000 people were paid the social benefit for last winter, compared to 75,000 in the 2011 to 2012 winter period. The number people in Spain who claimed the allowance in 2011 was 33,800, rising to 49,900 last winter. Apart from the apparently high figure, the government claim that it is only a small proportion of those who are eligible, with government officials estimating some 456,000 ex-pats would have been eligible in the winter of 2012.

BACK TAXES

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the Spanish authorities cannot charge different rates of inheritance tax for residents and non-residents and the verdict could open the floodgate to thousands of Britons reclaiming their tax. So far the Spanish authorities have not responded to the ruling.

AECC TORREVIEJA

The Torrevieja office of the AECC (Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer) located at Calle Torrevejenses Ausentes 33 is now open on Monday to Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. The telephone for information and for ‘Early Detection’ appointments for Breast, Cervical and Prostate cancers is 965 716 679. There wil be English speaking volunteers in the office on both Wednesdays and Thursdays.

GETTING IT TOGETHER

Guardamar Councillor Felipe Aldeguer said that he is satisfied with the cooperation achieved in the town during the holiday months between the Policia Local and the Guardia Civil. "We believe that this close relationship between the two forces has helped us to have a safer town and a summer without incident," said the councillor, adding that to assist with the liaison, 30,000 euros was invested in a new digital communication system for local police.

PLAYING AT HOME

The contract was awarded last week for the second and final phase of work on the Municipal play park, located in the Los Balcones urbanization, with an area of 28,000 square meters. The works have been awarded to the company Construcciones SL Caselles Zaplana and are valued at 89,830 euros, with a completion time of 3 months.

ARE YOU BEING SERVED

Euromonitor and Checkpoint have released the New Global Retail Theft Barometer Report which shows that Spain, France and The Netherlands suffer more than any other countries in Europe from shoplifting and break-ins on retail premises. The research company says that customers are tending to sleeve items more than they did in the past, but thefts by employees are virtually non-existent now since they are afraid of being caught and losing their jobs.

GIBRALTAR SOVEREIGNTY

It is being increasingly recognised in Spain that the waters of Gibraltar are British and that Spain does not have a solid legal case in saying that the waters are theirs. A report in the Spanish online paper publico.es says Spain has never claimed internationally the waters of Gibraltar because experts say she would lose.

SPANISH ILLITERACY

A survey carried out by the National Statistics Institute following International Literacy Day on 8 September says that more than 730,000 Spaniards can’t read or write. Women make up 490,000 of the total, of which 57 percent are between 65 and 84 years of age. Most of the remainder are said to be migrants or Roma.

AGE CONCERN

You helped us when we appealed last year, please help us again. We are looking for donations of clothes, bric-a-brac, bedding, and small furniture, in fact anything that you don’t want or need, for our shops in Torreveija and Los Montesinos. We are finding it very hard to cover all our costs and to make sure our beneficiaries are receiving the excellent care they are used to. We can collect anything, just call 966786887

RHINO SOMETHING

Benidorm´s Terra Natura animal park has been raising awareness over the plight of endangered rhinos, coinciding with International Rhinoceros Day. In addition to endangered status of the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), there are four other species which are in a critical situation. In Sumatra and Java, the populations of these animals are extremely low and it is estimated that only 100 remain in Sumatra and just 45 in Java. The park itself is home to four Indian rhinos It is estimated that the population of this species was about 200 copies in India and Nepal in 1900, conservation programs have allowed the species to recover to over 2,500 individuals since 2007. The main threat Rhino is human activity; hence very few animals survive outside protected areas.

NO COMMENT

Defense Minister, Pedro Morené, refused to answer questions from PNV deputy Joseba Agirretxea on Wednesday, who had demanded an explanation in Congress on the recent find of 127 kilos of cocaine on board the Navy training ship, Juan Sebastián Elcano. Morené refused to answer the question on the grounds that the case is subject to a “gagging” order, as it is still under investigation.

CRAFTY WOMEN

Women in Rojales are being encouraged to attend Council workshops which are aimed at developing their skills and crafts and putting them into business ideas. The courses will last for twenty hours and encourage the women to earn a living through their hobbies and skills. They will be held at the council offices in Rojales from 16 October.

LONDON HOTEL SOLD

Spanish investment and property management company Azora, has sold the Harrington Hotel in South Kensington, London, to an un-named Middle East investor. The price tag on the hotel was 112 million euro. Azora is represented in the hotel industry through its fund Carey Value Added that funded 10 assets in major markets, including New York, London, Washington, Berlin, Cologne, Geneva and Brussels, all operated by major hotel companies under different type of management contracts.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/45048/

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