THIS WEEK’S NEWS BITES

FIT NOT FAT

According to figures released last week one in 6 adults in Spain is obese, and more than 1 in 2 is overweight (including obese). The latest data show that the proportion of adults who are overweight has generally increased over recent years although at a slower pace than foreseen by previous projections.

ABORTION LAW SCRAPPED

The Spanish government is poised to abandon its plans to drastically limit access to abortion in the country. The PP introduced legislation in December that would make abortion illegal except in the case of rape or when there is a risk to the physical and mental health of the mother. But sources told the press last week that the law would never make it to parliament with several regional PP leaders speaking out against the deeply unpopular changes, and with polls showing between 70-80 per cent of the population opposed.

KIDS GAME

Barcelona Football Club have extended to 2016 a deal with Unicef under which the La Liga side pay $2 million a year to display the name of the United Nations Children’s Fund on the back of their shirts.

TORREVIEJA U3A

On Monday, Sep 29th, we are holding a groups fair. You are welcome (members/non-members) to come along and see the range of over forty activities we might encourage you to take part in as well as some of the trips we organise. See what is on offer at the CMO building right opposite the back of the Carrefour superstore in town. Doors open at 10.30 and we look forward to seeing you.

LITTLE WEED

Manuel Gallud, Orihuela’s councillor of the Environment has proposed the creation of a "Garden of Oriolanos" where parents will be encouraged to plant a palm tree for every newborn in Orihuela. The councillor said that many of the details are still to be worked out but he is hopeful that the scheme could be introduced next year.

LEADERS MEET

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, met with the Mayor of Valencia, Rita Barberá, last week when the two leaders discussed the economic situation and the latest economic figures. The pair also took the opportunity to examine local politics and the situation of local councils.

GUARDAMAR TOURISM

Guardamar be present for the first time at the Feria Top Resa de París, the only professional major tourism event in France. It will share space with the Costa Blanca stand. In recent years French tourism has grown quickly in the municipality, making up 14% of all tourists who spend their holidays in the town.

SPAIN IN CHARGE

Spain will head up the European EUTM-Mali mission, for nine months starting in November. Command will be under a Brigadier. The Spanish contingent is currently made up of 114 military personnel with the EUTM mission as a whole totalling 577 military personnel from 27 countries. This new responsibility is due to Spain’s commitment to stability in African countries affected by Jihadi terrorist threats which was acknowledged by NATO at the recent summit in Wales.

SPIRITUALIST CENTRE

Spiritualist Centre, Benijofar, (formerly of Quesada) meet at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. Sunday, 11.30 a.m. and Tuesday 7.30 p.m. For more information contact Wendy on 965323028.Website www.spiritualistcentrebenijofar.com email phoenixchurch23@gmail.com Identification Fiscal G54713789

BOYS ON TOP

Spain’s performance in mathematics, reading and science remains anchored just below the OECD average, despite a 35% increase in spending on education since 2003 and numerous reform efforts at national and regional levels. In 2012, Spanish boys scored 9 points higher in mathematics than girls, on average; whilst 9 years later, they scored 16 points higher than girls.

POLICE RAID

The Guardia Civil have mounted an operation to control criminal activities in one of the Redován slums, in the area known as Redován Corner, a group of houses located on the Callosa edge of the town. The Public Safety Unit from Torrevieja, along with agents from Jacarilla and Callosa de Segura are searching for stolen goods and drugs.

GOING DOWN

According to the figures published by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.5% year-on-year in August – in line with the preliminary data announced at the end of August.

AGE CONCERN

The Age Concern Charity Shop in Los Montesinos will have been open for five years on Friday 24th October and to help us celebrate, the President of Age Concern, Maureen Payne, would like to invite all customers old and new to the Shop on that date for free drinks, nibbles and cake. We look forward to seeing you there.

PRISON FOR POLITICIAN

More than 40,000 people, in less than 6 days, signed a petition on the Change.org website urging the Minister of Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, not to pardon to former president of Castellón and president of provincial PP, Carlos Fabra, sentenced to four years in prison for fraud of the treasury.

HERO DEATH

The funeral was held this week for another fire fighting helicopter pilot who died last weekend whilst tackling a blaze at the Almansa area of Albacete. An investigation has been launched into the crash but it appears the helicopter crashed whilst picking up water.

A MEATY ISSUE

Scientists in America have attributed a recent spate of meat eaters turning into vegetarians to an insect. They have discovered that the victims of a bite from the Amblyomma americanum, or lone star tick, results in the human becoming allergic to meat and dairy products. Thousands of people in the US have already been declared as affected, with similar occurrences are now being investigated in Spain, Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, Japan and Korea.

DON´T STOP THE MUSIC

A wedding DJ in India was beaten to death for refusing to play a song. Two groups had approached the DJ and made different requests, which were refused, resulting in tension and the DJ subsequently deciding to leave. He was found at his car having received multiple beatings with an iron bar.

A BUCKET OF HELP

An Indian journalist has come up with a more practical and useful version of the infamous water-wasting Ice Bucket Challenge, which aims to directly help those in need. Manju Kalanidhi’s “Rice Bucket Challenge”, which encourages people to take a bucket of rice and give it to somebody in need of food, has already gone viral with thousands taking up the challenge.

HAPPY READERS

Fast food chain McDonald´s has replaced toys in happy meals with books in a trial in their restaurants in India, in an attempt to combat illiteracy. The trial is running until the end of this month, with a statement saying that they believe “this is a smart move that will aid the progression of education and encourage reading”.

POPE DOPE

The Italian occupants of a vehicle registered to the Vatican were arrested last weekend at a toll booth near Chambéry (Savoie), in eastern France, after the vehicle they were in was found to be carrying 4 kilos of cocaine and 200 grams of cannabis. The Vatican has said that “no employee or member of the Vatican is directly involved in this matter”, but confirmed that the car belonged to their French delegation. French media say that the car belongs to the Argentine Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia, 91, and that the private secretary lent the car for a few days to two men.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/44971/

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