Times are desperate in Spain. The Sun is setting on expats' Costa dreams

 

It was sundowner time at the Cantina tapas bar in the picturesque village of Frigiliana, a few miles inland from the Costa del Sol town of Nerja. Inside, local men were watching bullfighting on television and smoking cigars in quiet contravention of the smoking ban. Outside, expatriate Britons were discussing the vagaries of living in Spain while downing glasses of tinto de verano, the popular summer drink of red wine and lemonade. Mark Jones, who runs his own gardening and pool maintenance company, had spent two days queuing at the local municipal office to renew his residence permit. "I got there at 9am on the first day and my number was 26; by lunchtime they were only up to number 6 and they close at 2pm," he complained. "You have to renew every bit of paper here every few years but I can't afford two days off to queue in an office. There are no staff now because of the cuts, so it all takes longer. It's like everywhere – as soon as the recession hits, it's the immigrants who cop it worst."  Conversation turned to a local couple, who are desperate to leave Spain but who can't because their house is still unsold after four years on the market - despite dropping the asking price from €1 million to €750,000. In 1992 the BBC spent millions of pounds launching an ill-fated soap opera, Eldorado, following the fortunes of British expats on the Costa del Sol. The project flopped and was cancelled a year later. Now, 20 years later, the real-life diaspora is experiencing an equally disastrous end to its Iberian dream. Times are desperate in Spain. More than a million people took the streets earlier this month to protest at budget cuts, 24 per cent unemployment and the rising cost of living. The price of milk and bread has risen by 48 per cent during the last year, according to a recent study, and of potatoes by 116 per cent. Electricity bills are up 11 per cent while property prices are in free fall; they have declined for 15 consecutive quarters and are 41 per cent lower than in 2006. Several of its banks are faltering: this weekend Spain's government is preparing to pump a further €19 billion into Bankia, the country's fourth-largest lender, in the biggest single bank bailout in the country's history. Trading in the bank's shares was suspended on Friday until negotiations over the rescue were complete. Santander, Europe's largest bank, was among 11 Spanish financial institutions to be downgraded by the credit rating agency Standard and Poor earlier this month; and there's no sign of anything like economic recovery on the horizon. Expats are finding life hard in a country where they once basked in a cheaper way of life. Around one million Britons spend part or all of the year in Spain, but thousands are now returning home – and more want to, but say they can't afford to because their property is no longer worth what they paid for it. For the first time since 1998, Spain recorded a drop in foreign residents last year, according to newly released figures. With its narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and children riding horses down the main road, Frigiliana lives up to most tourists' idea of an authentic Spanish village. But appearances can be deceptive. Out of its 3,000-strong population, 1,280 are foreign nationals including 700 Britons, making the village one of the most expat-dominated in Spain. The school advertises itself as bilingual. The British population is so large that the local council pays Kevin Wright, a former travel rep from Leicestershire who has lived in Spain for more than 20 years, to run a "foreigners' department". He helps expats deal with everything from local business permits to burst pipes and land disputes with neighbours, and has noticed changes since the eurozone crisis began. "Before, I was getting 10 newbies a week moving here from the UK; now I get one," he said. "Some Brits have lived here for 20 years but now families move out here then six, eight months later pack up and go back because they can't find work, or didn't realise what the cost of living would be." Mr Wright says many Britons fail to learn Spanish or to assimilate, so that the community becomes dependent on itself – to its cost. "People think they can set themselves up doing business to other Brits, like finance or house sales and rentals, or pool maintenance, gardening and cleaning. "But the property market isn't there any more and people have cut back and do their own maintenance, so there's less work." In desperate economic times, the expat community is increasingly vulnerable to financial trickery. "The worst people for scamming you are other Brits," said Gary Smith, a builder, who emigrated two years ago. "You trust them more but they just take your money for an investment and you never see a penny." Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable. The exchange rate - still far less favourable than five years ago - has meant British pensions and other income in sterling do not stretch as far as they once did. Julia Hilling moved from the UK to Fuengirola, along the coast from Frigiliana, 20 years ago with her husband. They bought a spacious, three-bedroomed apartment with two balcony patios in an upmarket area, overlooking the town's castle. Six years ago, Mrs Hilling, by then a widow aged 83, was persuaded by an independent financial adviser to take out a full mortgage on the apartment. She was told the equity raised would be invested, risk-free, to provide an income, while the mortgage would help offset Spain's 34 per cent inheritance tax when she died. Now 89, Mrs Hilling has never seen any return on her money, owes more than €300,000 to Rothschild Bank on the mortgage and relies on handouts from her children to stay in Spain. "It's devastating," she said. "The man was British, very charming, and said there was no risk. My children said 'Mummy, please don't do this', but I needed the extra income. Now I'm fighting for my life and my home." She is one of more than 100 mainly elderly British expats who have banded together in a Spanish court action to have their mortgages voided, arguing they were mis-sold. Rothschild and several Scandinavian banks also named in the legal action claim the financial advisers are to blame; and the advisers, who are not regulated in Spain as they are in Britain, insist the risk was mentioned in the small print. In a country fighting for its own survival, Spanish politicians are not unduly concerned with the plight of British residents, particularly when many are retired so do not actively contribute to the national economy. Spain's government is currently involved in a dispute with Britain over extent of free health care for Britons under EU law and there are moves to force them to pay 10 per cent of their prescription costs. But for some, returning home remains unthinkable. Former fitness instructor and gym owner Jo Morrison, 49, moved to Spain from London with her partner Lloyd 11 years ago. In 2008 she sold her house in Putney so she could open a gym in Nerja but the project failed after her business partner pulled out, and then the global financial crisis erupted. She now works as a cleaner while renting a one-bedroom home. "Sometimes we've gone without food and I still can't believe that I don't have my house or any savings any more," she said. "But Spain is my home now. I'd rather sleep on the beach than go back to the UK."

Bankia shares are suspended in Madrid

Trading in shares in the Spanish lender Bankia have been suspended in Madrid. The market regulator CNMV said it was "due to circumstances that may affect the normal share trading". Bankia is reported to be due to ask the government for a bailout of more than 15bn euros ($19bn; £12bn) after a board meeting later on Friday. Bankia, which is Spain's fourth-largest bank, was part-nationalised two weeks ago because of its problems with bad property debt. Any extra government money would be on top of the 4.5bn euros in state loans that the government had to convert into shares in the group in the part-nationalisation process. Shares in Bankia's parent company Banco Financiero y de Ahorros (BFA) have also been suspended. Bankia was created in 2010 from the merger of seven struggling regional savings banks. It holds 32bn euros in distressed property assets.

Spain beset by bank crisis, recession, bond pressure

Spain's borrowing costs shot up at a bond auction on Thursday, after economic data confirmed the country is back in recession and a report of an outflow of deposits from nationalised Bankia hammered its share price. Madrid approved plans by the country's heavily-indebted autonomous regions to make budget cuts worth 18 billion euros this year, and a government source said Bankia would present a plan for its restructuring next week.

Vinnie Jones favourite for kidnapper role in true-life Costa tale

A SENSATIONAL new film is planned about the dramatic kidnap of a five-year-old expat on the Costa del Sol 25 years ago. The movie – with could star British actor Vinnie Jones – tells the story of the incredible rescue of Melodie Nakachian, who was snatched at gunpoint on her way to school. Written by expat Paul Grimshaw – who is about to shoot another gangster flick Shill, also starring Jones – it will recall the kidnap, which became international news in 1987. It happened as terrified Melodie was dragged at gunpoint from her car on her way to Aloha College, in Marbella. An agonising three days later, Melodie’s father – rich Lebanese businessman Raymond Nakachian – received a call from one of the kidnappers. The distressed father was told that if he wanted to see his daughter alive, he would have to cough up 1.5 million pesetas in cash (the equivalent of nine million euros today). Nakachian, constantly pursued by the police and media, negotiated with the French and Spanish kidnappers to bring the ransom sum down, pleading for proof his daughter was alive. The kidnappers responded with photos of the tot clutching the day’s newspaper, and chillingly, locks of her dark hair and voice recordings. Meanwhile Melodie’s distressed mother, a south Korean singer known as Kimera, released an appeal, transmitted on TV across Europe. After setting a date for the handover one of the kidnappers made an unthinkably stupid mistake while out jogging on the beach. Clumsily, he dropped his wallet which was later picked up by a passer-by and handed to police. Inside were details including the girl’s name, a draft of the ransom note and – crucially – details of where she was being held. Finally, 12 days after she was abducted, a dawn raid involving 100 police rescued Melodie from the kidnapper’s hideout in nearby San Roque. “Don’t cry, Mummy, I’m all right,” Melodie reportedly told her mother as her father brought her home, ending her terrifying ordeal. The story is being developed by scriptwriter Grimshaw, 45, from Cheshire. Now based in Calahonda, he is working closely with the family, who still live on the Costa del Sol, in Benahavis. “I’ve been in a lot of discussions with them and have met Melodie,” he said. “It will make a great film and Vinnie’s manager says he is very interested. “The energy behind Shill has given us a platform to develop the idea of bringing the story of Melodie back to life,” he added.

Spain to present new bank clean-up measures

Spain's prime minister said Monday the government will likely present important bank clean-up measures this week to clear up doubts about the solvency of the sector — a key source of worry over whether Spain might need a financial bailout. Mariano Rajoy gave no details but said he would not rule out lending, or injecting public money into the sector if necessary. "The last thing I would do would be to inject or lend public money but if it is necessary I would not hesitate to do it, just as other European countries have done," Rajoy told Onda Cero radio in an interview. He said the measures would almost certainly be presented after Friday's weekly Cabinet meeting. Rajoy's comments came after El Pais newspaper said the government was preparing to help out troubled lender Bankia SA. Spain's real estate bubble burst in 2008, saddling banks with enormous amounts of bad loans as unemployment rose and people could not pay their mortgages. The Bank of Spain says the sector has about €175 billion ($230 billion) in "problematic" holdings. Bankia is known to be among the worst hit. The government has forced banks to strengthen their finances by merging and setting aside some €50 billion ($66 billion) more in provisions this year to cover toxic assets. The Economy Ministry last week said Spanish banks were studying creating a separate entity — a "bad bank" — to take on these assets. Rajoy has regularly denied Spain needs a "bad bank." Spain's is at the center of Europe's debt crisis with investors concerned about its ability to push through austerity measures and reforms at a time of recession and with unemployment above 24 percent. The measures are aimed chiefly at slashing the government's deficit from 8.5 percent of economic output to below the maximum level set by the European Union of 3 percent by 2013. For this year, the goal is 5.3 percent.

Brink's Mat the reason that Great Train Robber was shot dead in Marbella

The Brink’s-Mat curse even touched on the Great Train Robbery gang of 1963. One of them, Charlie Wilson, found himself in trouble when £3 million of Brink’s-Mat investors’ money went missing in a drug deal. In April 1990, he paid the price when a young British hood knocked on the front door of his hacienda north of Marbella and shot Wilson and his pet husky dog before coolly riding off down the hill on a yellow bicycle.

British tourist falls to her death from hotel balcony in Magalluf

23 year old British tourist has fallen to her death from the third floor balcony of her hotel in Magalluf, Mallorca. Emergency sources said it happened at 4.25am Saturday morning at the Hotel Teix in Calle Pinada. Local police and emergency health services went to scene. After 20 minutes of an attempt to re-animate her heart, the woman was pronounced dead. Online descriptions for the Hotel say it is the best place to stay of you are looking for non-stop partying, adding it not suitable for families.

Greek far-right parties could end up with as much as 20 percent of the vote in Sunday's elections. The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party has intensified the xenophobic atmosphere in the country.

At night, the streets leading to Omonoia Square are empty. That wasn't always the case. The area was the premier multicultural neighborhood of Athens and one of the first quarters to be gentrified. Jazz bars and Indian restaurants lined the streets, separated by the occasional rooms-by-the-hour hotel. It was a quarter full of immigrants, drug addicts and African prostitutes, but also of journalists, ambitious young artists and teenagers from private schools. Today, the immigrants stay home once night falls. They are afraid of groups belonging to the "angry citizens," a kind of militia that beats up foreigners and claims to help the elderly withdraw money from cash machines without being robbed. Such groups are the product of an initiative started by the neo-Nazi Chrysi Avgi -- Golden Dawn -- the party which has perpetrated pogroms in Agios Panteleimon, another Athens neighborhood with a large immigrant population. There are now three outwardly xenophobic parties in Greece. According to recent surveys, together they could garner up to 20 percent of the vote in elections on Sunday: the anti-Semitic party LAOS stands to win 4 percent; the nationalist party Independent Greeks -- a splinter group of the conservative Nea Dimokratia party -- is forecast to win 11 percent; and the right extremists of Golden Dawn could end up with between 5 and 7 percent. My name is Xenia, the hospitable. Greece itself should really be called Xenia: Tourism, emigration and immigration are important elements of our history. But hospitality is no longer a priority in our country, a fact which the ugly presence of Golden Dawn makes clear. A Personal Attack Shaved heads, military uniforms, Nazi chants, Hitler greetings: How should a Greek journalist deal with such people? Should one just ignore them and leave them unmentioned? Should one denounce them and demand that they be banned? One shouldn't forget that they are violent and have perpetrated several attacks against foreigners and leftists. I thought long and hard about how to write about Golden Dawn so that my article was in no way beneficial to the party. On April 12, the daily Kathimerini ran my story under the headline "Banality of Evil." In the piece, I carefully explained why it was impossible to carry on a dialogue with such people and why I thought the neo-Nazi party should disappear from media coverage and be banned. Five days later, an anonymous reply to my article appeared on the Golden Dawn website. It was a 2,500-word-long personal attack in which the fascists recounted my entire career, mocked my alleged foreign roots (I was born in Hamburg) and even, for no apparent reason, mentioned my 13-year-old daughter. The unnamed authors indirectly threatened me as well: "To put it in the mother tongue of foreign Xenia: 'Kommt Zeit, kommt Rat, kommt Attentat!'" In other words, watch your back. Most Greeks believe that Golden Dawn has connections to both the police and to the country's secret service. Nevertheless, I went to the authorities to ask what I should do. I was told that I should be careful. They told me that party thugs could harass me, beat me or terrorize me over the phone. It would be better, they said, if I stopped writing about them. If I wished to react to the threats, they suggested I file a complaint against Golden Dawn's service provider. That, however, would be difficult given that the domain is based somewhere in the United States. Like Weimar Germany A friend told me that I should avoid wearing headphones on the street so that I can hear what is going on around me. My daughter now has nightmares about being confronted by members of Golden Dawn. Three of her classmates belong to the party. The three boys have posted pictures of party events on their Facebook pages. For their profile image, they have chosen the ancient Greek Meandros symbol, which, in the red-on-black manifestation used by Golden Dawn, resembles a swastika. The group's slogans include "Foreigners Out!" and "The Garbage Should Leave the Country!" The fact that immigration has become such an issue in the worst year of the ongoing economic crisis in the country can be blamed on the two parties in government. The Socialist PASOK and the conservative Nea Dimokratia (New Democracy, or ND) are running xenophobic campaigns. ND has said it intends to repeal a law which grants Greek citizenship to children born in Greece to immigrant parents. And cabinet member Michalis Chrysochoidis, of PASOK, has announced "clean up operations" whereby illegal immigrants are to be rounded up in encampments and then deported. When he recently took a stroll through the center of Athens to collect accolades for his commitment to the cause, some called out to him: "Golden Dawn has cleaned up Athens!" Yet, Chrysochoidis is the best loved PASOK politician in his Athens district, in part because of his xenophobic sentiments. His party comrade, Health Minister Andreas Loverdos, is just as popular. Loverdos has warned Greek men not to sleep with foreign prostitutes for fear of contracting HIV and thus endangering the Greek family. High unemployment of roughly 22 percent, a lack of hope, a tendency toward violence and the search for scapegoats: Analyses in the Greek press compare today's Greece with Germany at the end of the Weimar Republic. "We didn't know," said many Germans when confronted with the truth of the Holocaust after Nazi rule came to an end. After elections on May 6, no Greeks should be able to make the same claim.

Locked Up Abroad is different.

Reality TV is, at its core, about letting viewers revel in the bad decision-making of others: those who speak without thinking, who backstab, who have sex without condoms, who cheat. Frustratingly, though, reality shows—to which I am unapologetically addicted—tend to reward bad behavior, by giving its villains notoriety, spinoffs, opportunities to endorse weight-loss products, a nice sideline in paid interviews with supermarket tabloids, and other D-list rewards.

Locked Up Abroad is different. The National Geographic show, the sixth season of which premiered last week, gives its stars something they wouldn’t get on other reality shows: their comeuppance.

Having debuted in the U.K. (under the title Banged Up Abroad), Locked Up Abroad showcases one person (sometimes a couple) who ends up in prison overseas. Participants fit into one of two categories. The first group are the (largely) innocent: the married missionary couple who were kidnapped in the Philippines by the Islamist group Abu Sayyaf, for instance, or the seemingly goodhearted duo who wanted to help children in Chechnya, but ended up held hostage. These tales of the altruistic and naive can be difficult to watch.

But then there are those who rather deserve what happens to them. Typically these are drug smugglers, and their episodes follow a familiar arc. A young person—they’re almost always young—is bored or in need of cash (usually both). She is desperate or feels invincible (usually both). Someone approaches her and offers a seemingly great deal: an all-expenses-paid, luxurious overseas trip in exchange for a small favor. Sometimes the would-be employer is upfront and admits he needs a drug mule, but downplays the risk; other times, he hints at harmless-sounding illegalities, like bringing back legal goods to beat the export tax. In a few cases, the cover story is painfully thin: Come with me to check out this cool new nail polish technology only available in Thailand, for example. (That woman was in a vulnerable place: She had just been released on bail after killing her partner’s former husband—in self-defense, she claimed.)

The drug smugglers are caught, of course, usually at the airport, and brought to prison. And while a few episodes have taken place in developed countries—Spain, Japan, South Korea—the majority of our anti-heroes end up incarcerated in places with some of the dirtiest and most dangerous penitentiaries in the world.

Take last week’s episode, “From Hollywood to Hell.” (And pardon my spoilers, but this installment is too good not to describe in detail.) In 2001, actor Erik Aude was living the marginal Hollywood dream. An ür-bro, he had played bit parts in Dude, Where’s My Car?(credited as “Musclehead”) and 7^th Heaven (“Boyfriend”) when a gym buddy asked him to go to Turkey to bring back “leather goods.” Aude makes the trip, and though a drug-sniffing dog alerts authorities at the Turkish airport, they find nothing—so Aude feels sure the whole thing is legit. He even recommends that one of his brothers start couriering for his friend. Then, when his brother backs out of a planned trip to Pakistan in 2002, Aude steps in, and shit gets real.

It is difficult to feel sorry for Aude. After his escort dumps him in an Islamabad hotel and warns him not to leave because the area is unsafe for Americans, he doesn’t head to the embassy or the airport. Instead, he goes jogging—and even tries to flirt with girls in headscarves on the street (with disastrous results). And when he is taken to the airport with just one suitcase, he is (he claims) not the least bit suspicious that he might be a drug mule. When a customs official asks him whether his trip was for business or pleasure, he cheeses, “Pleasure is my business.”

Aude’s episode is mind-bogglingly watchable, not least because he—of course!—plays himself in the re-enactment. In his telling, he was a virtual action star: On at least three occasions, he single-handedly fights back dozens of Pakistanis. After he takes out a prison bully, he is hailed a hero. He rejects a reduced sentence because it would require him to plead guilty—and his pride is more valuable than his freedom, he says.

Aside from those truly in the wrong place at the wrong time, the most sympathetic characters of Locked Up Abroad may be the embassy employees called in to assist the suspected smugglers. Inevitably, Locked Up Abroad participants are horrified that the embassies of their homelands—usually English-speaking countries like the U.S., the U.K., or Australia—can’t do more for them. I can just imagine U.S. Embassy workers calling “not it” every time they get word from local authorities about some young American knucklehead who thought he could sneak past security with a bag full of cocaine.

Tonight’s episode is called “The Juggler Smuggler,” and its “hero” is Mark Greening, a “party-loving” drug-runner who knows his latest trip is “doomed” when he doesn’t get his fortune told by “his favorite Gypsy woman.” I can’t wait.

Low fare airline bmibaby to close

Low fare carrier bmibaby is set to close later this year, threatening the loss of hundreds of jobs and the ending of its flights. The carrier transferred to International Airlines Group, the owners of British Airways, last month, but consultations have now started with unions about its closure in September. The GMB union said it was "devastating" news, especially for the East Midlands, where hundreds of jobs are now threatened with the axe. With bmi Regional, bmibaby transferred to International Airlines Group ownership on completion of the purchase from Lufthansa. IAG has consistently said that bmibaby and bmi Regional are not part of its long-term plans. A statement said: "Progress has been made with a potential buyer for bmi Regional, but so far this has not been possible for bmibaby, despite attempts over many months by both Lufthansa and IAG. Bmibaby has therefore started consultation to look at future options including, subject to that consultation, a proposal to close in September this year." Peter Simpson, bmi interim managing director, said: "We recognise that these are unsettling times for bmibaby employees, who have worked tirelessly during a long period of uncertainty. Bmibaby has delivered high levels of operational performance and customer service, but has continued to struggle financially, losing more than £100 million in the last four years. In the consultation process, we will need to be realistic about our options. "To help stem losses as quickly as possible and as a preliminary measure, we will be making reductions to bmibaby's flying programme from June. We sincerely apologise to all customers affected and will be providing full refunds and doing all we can with other airlines to mitigate the impact of these changes." Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the pilots' union Balpa, said: "This is bad news for jobs. Bmibaby pilots are disappointed and frustrated that, even though there appears to be potential buyers, we are prevented from speaking with them to explore how we can contribute to developing a successful business plan. "The frustration has now turned to anger following the news that Flybe (which is part owned by BA) has moved onto many of these bmibaby routes without any opportunity for staff to look at options and alternatives. Balpa's priority is to protect jobs; and we will use whatever means we can to do so." The changes mean that all bmibaby flights to and from Belfast will cease from June 11, although this will not affect bmi mainline's services to London Heathrow. Bmibaby services from East Midlands to Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva, Nice, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newquay, and from Birmingham to Knock and Amsterdam, will end on the same date.

No sunny delight for Arantxa in Marbella

TENNIS great Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario enjoyed the Marbella sunshine, despite her team losing in a major tennis tournament. The Spanish captain praised the local fans despite being beaten by the Slovak Republic in the Fed Cup play-off. “Playing at home is great, and we could hear the Spanish crowds supporting us,” the three-times French Open winner told the Olive Press at the Puente Romano Tennis Club. Unfortunately the Spaniards, up against a Slovak team containing two world top 20 players, were eventually outdone – thereby losing their place in the Fed Cup’s top group. It was an all round better tournament for Slovak player Daniela Hantuchova, who spent the following day lying on Marbella beach.

The Only Way is Essex star showed off her slender new figure in the Marbella sunshine yesterday

Frankie Essex has won her fight with the flab, shedding a whole stone in just two weeks.

The Only Way is Essex star showed off her slender new figure in the Marbella sunshine yesterday - just a fortnight after she started a gruelling diet and exercise regime in a desperate bid to swap her muffin top for a toned tummy.

And while Frankie may not have managed a six pack, all that sweat and starvation clearly paid off as there was barely a stretch mark or inch of fat on show.

Tanned and toned: Frankie Essex showed off her slender new physique on holiday in Marbella

Frankie piled on the pounds during a recent trip to Miami with TOWIE co-star Lauren Goodger.

The pair overindulged during their American vacation and made a pact to lose weight when they returned.

They started following the Cambridge Diet Plan, dropping their calorie intake to just 400 a day.

 

'No carbs before Marbs': A combination of diet and exercise helped Frankie shed a stone in two weeks

 

Miami vice: The TOWIE star decided to diet after piling on the pounds during a trip to Florida

And Frankie signed up the services of personal trainer and Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Tony Giles to whip her into shape.

Frankie and Tony were photographed on April 17 working out in an Essex Park.

She seemed well aware of her excess weight, grabbing her belly while exercising and pinching the fat on her thighs.

Sitting pretty: Frankie looked very toned and tanned as she lapped up the sunshine

What's wrong? Frankie checks out the marks left by her bikini bottoms as she rearranges her swimwear

Golden brown: Frankie does her best to ensure an even tan as she soaks up the sunshine

Tony - who is engaged to glamour model Danielle Mason - put Frankie through her paces making her do star jumps and squats, before strapping on boxing pads and sparring with her.

She clearly stuck to the work out sessions and the diet shakes.

Frankie showed off the effects of her weightloss during a night out in Marbella on Sunday night, posing with friends and TOWIE co-stars Billi Mucklow, Cara Kilbey in a trio of red, white and blue matching bandage dresses from Celeb Boutique.

Lauren Goodger proudly displayed her own diet efforts during a night out on April 23.

 

 

Frankie Essex

Fighting fit: Boxer & Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Tony Giles whipped Frankie into shape 

She looked back to her slender best, but revealed she still wants to lose two stones before she'll venture back into a bikini.

She said: 'I want something quick because I’m going away again soon. 

'I want to go to Marbella and Ibiza and when I’m walking around I want everyone to go, ''My God, have you seen Lauren?''

'The quick fix will act as a motivator for me.'

Sunseekers: Frankie, Cara and Billi sip wine and soak up the sun in Marbs

 

Bashful: Frankie and Cara cover up their curves from the cameras

Red white & blue: Billi Mucklow, Cara Kilbey and Frankie Essex pose during a night out in Marbella on April 29

The Only Way Is Essex stars head to Marbella for the ‘sexiest ever’ show

STARS of The Only Way Is Essex are promising sizzling scenes when they hit Marbella later this month. 37 comments Related Stories Bit nippy in Marbs Maria? FORMER The Only Way Is Essex star Fowler has a swimwear malfunction on hols TOWIE'S Sam and Joey are back onDavid Cameron throws in TOWIE Bed-hopping not the only wayLauren finds a Good outfit Essex stars told to behave TV Biz told last month how bosses planned a special in the Spanish resort. Yesterday they confirmed that Lucy Mecklenburgh and boyfriend Mario Falcone, James Argent and his ex Lydia Bright, and Sam Faiers and her on-off-on again fella Joey Essex would all be flying to the sun. So it will definitely be “no carbs before Marbs”, as they famously say in Towie, for that lot. One name missing is Lauren Goodger. She’s being left at home after a row with producers. They will meet her this week to discuss her future on the show. An insider said of the special, to be shown this summer: “Those who have been chosen to go to Marbella can’t wait. “The girls have pledged it will be the sexiest Towie ever, with lots of bikinis and bare flesh on show. “There will be a lot of boozy partying and cameras will follow them 24/7 for a week.” All eyes will be on Lucy — she cheated on Mario with Mark Wright in Marbella last year when members of the cast were enjoying their hols in the sun.

Easter airport 'gridlock' warning

 

Airlines have warned the Home Secretary that Britain "risks gridlock" at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick over the Easter break due to staff shortages. More than 370,000 passengers will leave Heathrow airport between Good Friday and Easter Monday, and 200,000 will pass through Gatwick. A spokesman for Heathrow owner BAA told the Daily Telegraph: "Immigration waiting times during peak periods at Heathrow are currently unacceptable and we have called on the UK Border Force to address the problem as a matter of urgency. "There isn't a trade-off between strong border security and a good passenger experience. UK Border Force should be delivering both." Meanwhile, Britons attempting to travel by rail and road face delays because of engineering works taking place on motorways and train lines. Stretches of the M1 and M25 will be affected, and the seven million passengers travelling by train over the weekend will see disruption to travel to and from Euston, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, and Waterloo stations in London. British Airways and Virgin Airlines are among 11 firms that have written to Theresa May in anticipation of "unacceptable" delays to hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling over the long weekend. The UK Border Agency is under fire for a lack of staff able to carry out full security checks, which the airlines say must result in a recruitment drive or the relaxing of some of the more stringent measures currently in place. A spokeswoman for Virgin Airlines said: "While the decision on what level of check should be made at the border is, of course, a matter for Government, we are concerned that there is currently a mismatch between policy and resource. "After years of reducing frontline staff, returning to a 100% check system will undoubtedly mean lengthy queues at UK airports over critical holiday periods such as Easter and the Diamond Jubilee."

Legal High Mexxy, Alternative To Ketamine, To Be Outlawed

 

legal high known as "mexxy" is to be outlawed, the Government has announced. It follows concerns that two people whose bodies were found in Leicestershire in February may have taken some form of the drug after buying it over the internet. Methoxetamine, or mexxy, will initially be made illegal for 12 months while Government advisers decide whether to ban it completely. Crime Prevention Minister Lord Henley said: "Making this drug illegal sends a clear message to users and those making and supplying it that we are stepping up our fight against substances which are dangerous and ruin the lives of victims and their families. "But making drugs illegal is only part of the solution. "It is important for users of these harmful substances to understand that just because they are described as legal highs, it does not mean they are safe or should be seen as a 'safer' alternative to illegal substances." Anyone caught making, supplying or importing the drug faces up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine. Under the change in law, police and border officials will also have new powers to search or detain anyone they suspect of having the drug and seize, keep or dispose of a substance they suspect is methoxetamine. After its growing use as a party drug, the Home Office referred mexxy to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) for its views on controlling it earlier this month. The drug, used as an alternative to ketamine, is widely available on the internet. Its effects include a faster heart rate, hallucinations, hypertension, loss of balance, higher blood pressure, agitation and cardiovascular conditions. Tests by the ACMD also found evidence that use of methoxetamine can lead to "significant additional toxicity". Professor Les Iversen, chairman of the ACMD, said: "The evidence shows that the use of methoxetamine can cause harm to users."

Russian shot in UK was due to give evidence

 

Russian banker shot five times close to London's financial district had been days away from giving evidence to an investigation into the attempted murder of a former business associate, his lawyer has said. German Gorbuntsov, who at the height of his business empire owned four Russian banks, was walking towards his apartment block near the Canary Wharf banking district when a gunman opened fire on Tuesday evening, leaving him badly injured. London police said on Saturday they were keeping an open mind about the motive of the attack. Gorbuntsov's lawyer, Vadim Vedenin, said the 45-year-old remained in a medically induced coma to give him a chance to recover, and that doctors were hoping to revive him in about three days. Vedenin said his client had been due to give evidence before the end of the month to an investigation by Russian prosecutors into the attempted murder of another Russian banker and former business associate of Gorbuntsov's, Alexander Antonov, in 2009. "He was preparing to give evidence on certain people. He has already given it in written form and he was going to do so in official testimony," Vedenin said by phone on Saturday, adding that Gorbuntsov had come to London because he feared for his life. The attack occurred outside the door of a block of high-end serviced apartments a short walk from the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. A member of the building's staff, who declined to give his name, said he heard no shots, but ran outside when he heard frantic shouting. "He is a customer here. He was still alive. He spoke to us in Russian. I understood what he was saying," the member of staff, a Polish man, said. "He was swearing a lot." LONDON RUSSIANS London is home to thousands of Russian business people seeking capital, prestige and, in many cases, a haven from the rough and tumble of their home country's financial world. Alexander Antonov made his career in the nuclear industry, then became its banker as owner of Konversbank, a financial institution founded to serve the nuclear industry about two decades ago. Antonov said he and Gorbuntsov had disagreed over the terms of a bank sale just before the debt crisis of 2008, but that there had been no acrimony. "Our relationship is friendly, and it has always been friendly," he told Reuters. "I have a great personal interest in his testimony." The attempt on his life in 2009 was linked in Russia to the 2008 murder in Moscow of Ruslan Yamadayev, a powerful opponent of the Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The two incidents were tried as a single case and three men were convicted. But the person or persons who ordered the murders was never identified, and the case had lain dormant until this year. Diplomatic relations between Russia and Britain have been tested by a series of disputes involving Russian emigres. Russia has refused to extradite the man suspected of murdering former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko by putting radioactive polonium in his tea in London. Meanwhile London courts have refused to extradite men wanted in Russia, including the Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, a former Kremlin insider turned fierce critic with criminal convictions in Russia. Berezovsky, who says the charges brought against him in Russia are politically motivated, said by telephone from London that he did not know Gorbuntsov personally, nor did he know of any Russian criminals hiding out in London. "One can give differing views, but it is important to understand that, from my not-exactly-dilettantish point of view, there is no place safer than London from Kremlin bandits or from Russian or international criminals," he said. "But that of course is no guarantee they won't get you."

More and more footballers are going bankrupt despite Premier League wages now averaging £1.47 million a year,

 

More and more footballers are going bankrupt despite Premier League wages now averaging £1.47 million a year, experts have claimed.  Mark Sands, head of bankruptcy at accountancy firm RSM Tenon, said the lavish lifestyles of the players coupled with poor investment choices has led to increased vulnerability. "In 2010 the average salary of a player in the Premier League was £1.47 million, 56 times the average UK wage," Sands told the Birmingham Mail. "But as their wages have increased so have the number who become insolvent. "We have certainly had an increase at RSM Tenon in the past three years. The main reasons for this can be unsustainable consumption, falling incomes after leaving the top flight, poor investment and lack of financial awareness." Last month former England international Lee Hendrie was forced to declare himself bankrupt after racking up debts of more than £200,000 with the taxman, despite earning £24,000 a week at the peak of his career. RSM Tenon stated: "The debts have apparently been a result of a tax scheme Hendrie was advised to enter into which was rejected by HM Revenue & Customs, leaving an unpaid tax bill which led to the petition. “Investments made during his peak years, in properties and film-related partnerships, went bad, leaving no money for Hendrie to turn to when times were tough.” Last year, current Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel was also declared bankrupt after his non-profit US football academy ran up debts of close to £5m.

TOWIE to shoot summer special in Marbella

 

Sam Faiers and the rest of her TOWIE castmates are apparently jetting off to Spain to film a special this summer. The reality TV stars will be shooting in sunny Marbella - where they holidayed last May - later on this year, reports the Daily Star. Speaking at the Tric Awards, Sam said the special will need "lots of dramas, a fight and maybe a wedding." Co-star Gemma Collins, who was snapped soaking up the rays in a black bikini during last year's trip, said the group are "all up for it". "We've been begging for a summer special in Marbella for a while," she said.

Could abolishing tax havens solve Africa's financing needs?

 

The past month, the spotlight has been on James Ibori, the governor of Nigeria's Delta state from 1999 to 2007, who pleaded guilty at in a London court to 10 counts relating to conspiracy to launder funds from the state he governed. Ibori was accused of siphoning off an estimated $250m and laundering it in London through a number of offshore companies and financial intermediaries to fund his extravagant lifestyle of lavish mansions, expensive cars and private jets. This mode of illicit capital flight is by no means restricted to one rogue Nigerian governor or even African leaders at large, nor is it the most important means by which capital leaves the continent (and developing countries generally) illicitly. True, $250m from one source is substantial. But this pales into insignificance compared with the estimated $100bn that left Nigeria illicitly between 1970 and 2008, according to Global Financial Integrity (GFI). The bulk of this haemorrhage, contrary to popular belief, is not through the laundering of corrupt money but through commercial activities, and particularly through multinational corporations. According to GFI's conservative estimates, more than $1.8 trillion left African shores illicitly between 1970 and 2008. Of this, only 3% is attributable to bribery and theft by government officials, 30%-35% results from the laundering of criminally acquired wealth (drugs, illegal arms sales, human trafficking, etc), and the bulk – 65%-70% – is from commercial activities, especially through trade mis-pricing of goods. Over the last 10 years, the average annual outflows of this sort exceeded $50bn. This compares with annual aid inflows of less than $30bn. The outflows are largely to avoid or evade tax and to conceal wealth. This week's proposed change by the chancellor, George Osborne, on how foreign subsidiaries of multinationals based in the UK are taxed, will give even less incentive to keep money in poorer countries. Reform of these controlled foreign company rules in the upcoming budget would strengthen the financial case for shifting money to tax havens by making profits made by multinationals abroad and retained in offshore jurisdictions free from UK tax. This could cost developing countries £4bn a year in lost tax revenue, according to ActionAid estimates. These outflows undermine the rule of law, stifle trade and worsen macroeconomic conditions. They are facilitated by around 60 tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions that enable the creating and operating of millions of disguised corporations, shell companies, anonymous trust accounts and fake charitable foundations. They allow the likes of Ibori and many multinational corporations to cripple Africa financially and politically. Given that about 50% of global trade passes through tax havens, these jurisdictions facilitate trade mis-pricing by making it difficult for documentation to be traced. Transnational companies have the ability to set up multiple trusts and shell companies in these jurisdictions. This is significant because about 60% of global trade takes place between and within multinational companies. Secrecy also attracts criminal activity, and the laundering of corrupt money through concealment of the natural beneficiaries behind shell companies and trusts. Africa is experiencing economic growth, and for the increasing wealth to be channelled to public services, development and the achievement of the millennium development goals by 2015, it is urgent the problem of tax havens as a conduit for illicit outflows is addressed. The high-level panel set up by the African Union, the African Development Bank and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and chaired by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, is a significant step forward – and testifies to the importance of this issue for Africa's development. The ball is now in the court of the rich countries.

20-STRONG ‘dog squad’ is taking on disobedient dog owners in Marbella.

 

The pet owners are being targeted in a crack down on those breaking strict bylaws with 440 summonses being issued in just 30 days. The most common offence involved dogs not being kept on leads, while others included owners not clearing up after their animal and dogs not being muzzled. Fines ranged from 75 to 3,000 euros depending on the offence. The most serious breach of the law involved 24 summonses for owning potentially dangerous breeds that weren’t registered or did not have the necessary paperwork.

1993 £1m Felixstowe heist: Suspect Eddie Maher was 'bankrupt'

 

A man wanted in Suffolk over a £1m heist in 1993 had been declared bankrupt with debts of more than $30,000 (£19,000), American court papers have revealed. Eddie Maher, 56, originally from Essex, was arrested on 8 February after being found in Ozark, Missouri. Mr Maher had $85 (£54) in his bank account when he filed for bankruptcy in 2010. He is due in court in America on 22 February for a preliminary hearing. Anonymous tip-off Mr Maher disappeared in 1993 after a security van packed with cash was taken from outside a bank in Felixstowe. The former security guard, who had been living in South Woodham Ferrers when he disappeared, has been charged with immigration and firearm offences in the United States. Bankruptcy papers filed in November 2010 revealed Mr Maher had got into financial difficulties. They showed that he had $17,061 (£10,881) of loan and credit card debts. He also owed $1,759 (£1,121) in hospital and doctors bills and $3,148 (£2,007) in unpaid tax. The security van disappeared after stopping outside Lloyds Bank, in Felixstowe, in January 1993 Assets listed on the court papers included a rifle and digital camera valued at $170 (£108) and a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer car valued at $1,700 (£1,083). He was working as a broadband technician and earned $1,896 (£1,208) a month. His monthly expenses totalled more than $1,807 (£1,151). 'Financial management' course The papers also revealed Mr Maher and his family regularly moved home. Between May 2007 and September 2010, they lived in three addresses within the Ozark area. After being declared bankrupt in November 2010, Mr Maher was forced to complete a course in "personal financial management" on 13 December 2010. Police in America arrested Mr Maher after receiving an anonymous tip-off that he was a "fugitive wanted in England". Papers from a US District Court, in Springfield, Missouri, revealed Mr Maher cannot afford a lawyer. Suffolk police is looking to start extradition proceedings to bring Mr Maher back to the UK.

Let’s clear up a few things about Whitney Houston.

 

 First of all, she left a last will and testament. It was drawn up after her divorce from Bobby Brown, according to my sources. Daughter Bobbi Kristina is her likely main heir. Despite dire reports, Houston also was not bankrupt or broke. Even though she didn’t have a publishing legacy–others wrote her songs–she did have money from album sales and touring. She likely had advances, too, from various deals with Sony (formerly Sony BMG) dating from 2000. She made a lot of money–at least $35 million gross–from touring Europe and Asia in 2010. Sony is shipping and selling millions of her records right now. And while there may not be a lot in the vaults of unreleased material, there will be enough to do some kind of souvenir album. Her estate in Mendham, New Jersey has been on the market for three years. Yesterday, the price was dropped to $1.7 million. “The property is amazing,” says a friend. “Someone will buy it and remodel it.”  The gated home comes with an Olympic sized swimming pool that at one time bore a large “W” scripted on its bottom. Mostly, Houston had been dividing her time between Atlanta and Los Angeles. Some other things to note: Houston was not scheduled to sing at the Clive Davis party on Saturday. She was merely there as a guest and cheerleader. As I reported on Saturday night– on Thursday she spent the morning and early afternoon with musical director Ricky Minor and Monica and Brandy. Minor reported that she’d been swimming and was in a good mood. Press saw her on Thursday with Davis and the singers. I was staying in the very same Beverly Hilton Hotel. The sense that Whitney was wildly partying all over the place has been conveyed by the tabloids. It’s just not true. What she did at night outside the hotel is another story. And then there was the exclusive story we reported here about the leak on Friday night from her room into the one below. The man in the suite below her saw water cascade through his bathroom ceiling at 2:30am. When he went upstairs, he found that the bathtub had been left on and was overflowing. Bobbi Kristina, 18, was not taking a bath at that hour. But she was awake, and the television in the room with the overflowing bathtub was cracked.

Whitney Houston's Funeral To Be Streamed Live Online

 

Whitney Houston's funeral will be streamed live on the internet so fans can pay their final respects to the legendary singer. The Greatest Love Of All hitmaker, who was found dead in her hotel room last weekend, is to be laid to rest at her childhood church in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday (18th February). Following confirmation that the ceremony will be a private, invite only event, Houston's publicist Kristen Foster has announced that The AP are allowed to film the service and stream it on their website - with the footage also available to broadcasters via a satellite. The 48-year old's body was flown from Los Angeles to New Jersey on Monday (13th February) ahead of the planned service at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark where she sang as a child with her cousin, Dionne Warwick. It is thought that Whitney will be buried next to her father, John Russell Houston Jr - who passed away in 2003 - with family members making the decision based on what the R&B star would have wanted. Despite her tragic death, Whitney's music continues to dominate the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, with one of her most famous hits I Will Always Love You on course to re-enter the UK singles chart top 10 on Sunday.

The World Poker Tour will squeeze in an additional European stop in Puerto Banus on the Costa Del Sol, Spain before the end of season X.

The WPT National Marbella Poker Festival will take place from April 19 to 27 at Casino de Marbella.

The €1,500 + €150 main event, from April 20 to 24, will be filmed for TV broadcast as well as live streamed.

Elsewhere the final table of WPT Venice has been set with Andrea Dato leading the pack on his second WPT final table in a row:

Seat 1: Andrea Dato – 1,591,000

Seat 2: Simon Ravnsbaek – 922,000

Seat 3: Andrea Carini – 347,000

Seat 4: Rinat Bogdanov – 907,000

Seat 5: Gianluca Trebbi – 343,000

Seat 6: Alessandro Longobardi – 558,000


Players are shooting for the $320,000 top prize.

Shyness could be defined as a mental illness

 

Under changes planned to the diagnosis handbook used by doctors in the US, common behavioural traits are likely to be listed as a mental illness, it was reported. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders could also include internet addiction and gambling as a medical problem. Although the guidelines are not used in the UK, experts said they feared it would affect thinking on the subjects. "We need to be very careful before further broadening the boundaries of illness and disorder," Simon Wessely, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, told the Daily Mail. "Back in 1840 the census of the United States included just one category for mental disorder.

Madonna stalker escapes

 

 A stalker who made violent threats against Madonna has escaped from a secure mental hospital in California. Robert Dewey Hoskins fled the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk without his medication last Friday according to police, who only revealed the disappearance on Thursday. Hoskins was jailed for ten years after stalking the pop star around California, and reportedly threatened to cut her "from ear to ear" if she did not agree to marry him. He was arrested in 1995 after scaling the walls of Madonna's Hollywood estate and being shot twice by her security guards. Madonna alleged that he had scaled the fence several times, and that the incidents had left her having nightmares. The stalker made similar threats against Halle Berry.

A TRUSTED accountant who fleeced $45 million from financial group ING Holdings has been jailed for at least seven years.

 

Rajina Rita Subramaniam splurged the money on lavish products, including jewellery which she never wore, and numerous expensive properties, all of which remained vacant except for one, for which she did not charge rent. In sentencing her in the NSW District Court in Sydney today, Judge Michael Finnane described as "staggering" the sheer size of the amount she stole from ING over a five-year period. The 42-year-old, from Castle Hill in Sydney's northwest, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of obtaining benefits by deception and four counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime. When police went to her workplace, they found 21 boxes stored under her desk and nearby. "When these boxes were searched, police found large quantities of jewellery, fountain pens, champagne, crystal and Michael Jackson memorabilia," the judge said. "Much of the jewellery was still in boxes that had not been opened." The judge said that outwardly, Subramaniam was leading a normal life with her husband in a suburban house and none of the money was used to pay off any of their debt. "The agreed facts demonstrate that she became accepted as a wealthy woman and a very desirable customer of a number of large jewellery firms," the judge said. At times she would spend millions of dollars in a single lunch hour and she lavished gifts on the shop assistants. "Each of them received commissions for sales to her, and giving presents to them, in my opinion, is consistent with her wanting to be accepted and praised," Judge Finnane said. "Her gifts of $1.3 million to one shop assistant and something like $240,000 to another shop assistant are consistent with her wanting to be loved and accepted." The judge said everything she did in stealing the money and using the proceeds "points to someone who got gratification from being able to be thought of as wealthy and generous". He referred to her having frequent sex with an ING supervisor and to her husband's statement that he joined in the sexual activity, which sometimes happened between them in motel rooms or at their home. Subramaniam claimed to police that the frequent sexual intercourse she had with the employee at work was part of her ill treatment by staff. "She claims that part of the reason for engaging in fraud was resentment towards ING and her wanting revenge," the judge said. The judge said while the sexual activity may have been abusive in her mind, it appeared to have been consensual. While she was not mentally ill, she had mental disorders that needed intensive counselling, he added. He set a maximum term of 15 years.

Syria bloodshed is outrageous, says Obama

 

President Obama has accused Syrian government forces of responsibility for "outrageous" bloodshed and called again for Bashar al-Assad to step down as troops sealed off of a rebel stronghold in the city of Homs and bombarded it using tanks, helicopters and artillery. Speaking after a White House meeting with the Italian prime minister, Mario Monti, Obama spoke briefly on Syria. He said: "We both have a great interest in ending the outrageous bloodshed that we've seen and see a transition from the current government that has been assaulting its people." His comments come as the international community struggles to find a common voice with which to confront President Assad. Eyewitnesses said roads in and out of Baba Amr, in the south-east of Homs, were blocked, preventing the evacuation of children or the wounded, and food, water and medicine were running out fast in the besieged suburb. The international community appeared to flounder over a coherent response. The UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the Russian and Chinese veto of a security council resolution on the crisis over the weekend as "disastrous for the Syrian people". He said the failure to agree on collective action "has encouraged the Syrian government to step up its war on its own people". The UN and the Arab League proposed a joint observer mission, and talks continued over the formation of an ad hoc "friends of the Syrian people" group to put pressure on the Assad regime without help from Moscow and Beijing. Speaking at an international gathering in Sweden, David Cameron said: "It is quite clear that this is a regime hell-bent on killing, murdering and maiming its own citizens … we need to take the toughest possible response we can." But the options the prime minister listed reflected a cautious, incremental approach the UK and other western governments have pursued after the security council debacle. "We also need to work with the [Syrian] opposition to try and help shape their future and assist them in whatever way we can. We also need to put together the strongest possible contact group of like-minded nations," Cameron said. Foreign secretary William Hague said there were no plans to arm Syrian rebels. He would not guarantee that Britain would not become involved in military action, but stressed: "We are clearly not planning military intervention." Amid speculation that the UK could assist the rebels with weapons or other equipment, Hague told Sky News: "Britain is not engaged in that and we haven't done that in any of the conflicts or we certainly don't have any plans to do such. "We are intensifying our contacts with opposition groups, opposition groups mainly outside Syria. "We're also increasing our support for organisations that get food and medical supplies in to people so badly affected by this situation." In the absence of international consensus, there was no sign of any decisive action that might stop the worsening bloodshed in Syria. More than 100 people were reported dead in Homs on Thursday during heavy bombardment by government forces, but the figure could not be independently confirmed in the absence of observers or humanitarian organisations. A local resident, Basil Abu Fouad, said it was impossible to estimate casualties accurately. "We can't count the number of the dead in the rubble. When we pull someone from the rubble, we don't know if they were killed today, yesterday or before," Abu Fouad said by phone from a basement in Baba Amr. "They are using helicopters and mortars and tanks, T-72 [former Soviet] tanks. Hundreds of homes have been demolished and they have come down on the heads of their owners. "Communications have been completely cut off between neighbourhoods. The army have blocked access to the city. Some people tried to escape but they found all the roads were closed. There is no food left in the city. We don't have milk. All the water tanks have been targeted. We don't have medicines. If you go to the shops and try to get in, the snipers up on the roofs will shoot you," he said. "The children will die here. All the people want is to escape. They can smash this place if they want. We just want to get out of there. But they won't allow us."

Barclays caps bonuses at £65,000

 

Barclays announced on Friday that it was capping cash bonuses at £65,000 as it reported a 3% fall in profits to £5.9bn. The bank also admitted it may miss the targets it had set itself for making returns to shareholders. Providing more detail about bonuses than usual, the bank said that the value of bonus per group employee was down 21% year on year to £15,200, while the average value of bonus per employee at Barclays Capital, its investment banking arm, was down 30% to £64,000 - just below the value of the cap. The bank said that annual bonuses for executives and its eight highest paid employees were down 48%. Chief executive Bob Diamond received a bonus in shares of £1.8m in 2010 so, if he is in line with the average, this might indicate that his bonus would be around £900,000. Barclays shares were down 3% at 225.9p in early trading. But the bank admitted that its return on equity was just 6.6% in 2011 - down from 8.8% the year before and well below the target of 13% set by Diamond. "Since setting the target the worse than predicted macro economic conditions, in addition to new regulatory constraints, mean that we may not be able to deliver 13% returns by 2013," the bank said. "We are not satisfied with the return on equity we delivered in 2011 and are committed to delivering steady improvement moving forwards. Our rock solid capital, liquidity and funding positions provide us with the flexibility and confidence to meet the economic and regulatory challenges ahead," Diamond added.

THE lawyer of a trumpeter claims the body of a Spanish nobleman exhumed for DNA testing which ruled out his client being a heir to his wealthy dynasty may not have belonged to him at all.

Marbella trumpeter Jose Collado, 62, claims to be the son of Jose Antonio Larios Franco the fourth Marquis de Larios, whose father founded the famous Larios gin brand in the 20s.

There are now suspicions, according to the lawyer, that the remains of the fourth Marques who died in 1954, aged 53, may have been transferred for a chapel in Malaga in 1999 from their location on a property in Albacete, meaning that the DNA tests, which ruled out Collado being a descendant of Larios, are worhtless.

Collado’s lawyer explained that a man who worked on property in Albacete since 1974 was witness to the remains being moved.

He also said that a crime may have been committed if the nobleman’s heir were aware that the analysed remains did not belong to the Marquis, something which they deny, and insist that they were never moved.

Collado’s mother, Emilia, told him that in the 40s, when she worked as a cook for the Larios family, she had an illicit relationship with the marquis, who had no other children.

She was in love with the marquis, but had to flee to Jaen because of his wife’s jealousy. Emilia left her son at a Malaga orphanage nine months after his birth on July 31, 1948.

She died in 2002, having signed her confession before a notary in Jaen at the request of her son.

The trumpeter says that although he might be entitled to a share in the family gin company and the vast Dehesa de los Llanos estate, he is not after money or titles, but the truth about who his father is.

He says if he did inherit anything he would use it to provide care for orphans and abandoned children.

15 unique hotels from all over the world where you can relax in an unforgettable holiday you’ve always dreamed of.

Whenever you feel the need to get out and have a glimpse of the wild, or just to relax by a nice fireplace or even to spend a few days trapped inside icy rooms or jungle canopies, there is a place awaiting you.

 

With prices ranging from too low too exorbitant, we invite you to take a tour into what we call “the most interesting places you can spend a few days at”, 15 unique hotels from all over the world where you can relax in an unforgettable holiday you’ve always dreamed of.

The Balancing Barn, England

Built by Living Architecture of an idea belonging to the Swiss writer Alain de Botton – the author of “The architecture of happiness” –, the purpose of this spot is to accommodate people and allow them to live in harmony with the environment, using modern architecture and high-quality materials. It’s situated in Suffolk, it may accommodate up to 8 people and it’s situated by the edge of a natural reserve.

With an odd shape and design, it has previously won a few rewards. Built with silver tiles and comprising huge windows, one can enjoy great landscapes while chilling inside any of the rooms.

Cost: $38 / person / night, depending on the occupancy.

The Mountain Retreat Inn, China

 
Situated in the Guanxi province, near Yungshuo, over viewing the Yulong River, this resort is renowned among the exotic seekers, being already recommended by The Telegraph and Trip Advisor.

It comprises simple rooms, but it uses the natural landscape surrounding it to emphasize every little piece of the beautiful design it has. Comfort is at high standards, the mountains offer one the possibility of totally getting away from day-to-day city life, and the nearby Li River is beautifully decorated with karst peaks.

Cost: $62 / single room.

Wild Brown Bear Hotel, Finland

This place is truly depicted out of fairy tales and novels. The beautiful scenery includes moss carpets, birch and pine forests, blueberries and forest fruits all over the place. It’s situated in the Karelia region, offering a rare chance to commune with nature itself.

One can reserve a night just to spend some time into the hides located here, watching wolverines and brown bears, or even make documentaries and photo-shooting from inside the photographer’s hide. You can also do some kayak-sailing on the silent lakes around the hotel, or even grab a bike to catch some wild air.

Cost: $213 / night / person.

Hotel Saratoga, Cuba

If you decide to visit Cuba, you probably want to have a cigar in Havana, or relax into a luxurious hotel; the chance to miss this hotel = 0. Far away from day-rush and noise, it’s the perfect place to be.

With a nice positioning, away from the great chaos from Paseo del Prado, the Guardian has put it among the top 10 Cuban hotels. With a not-so-good food reputation, it’s considered to be one of the best accommodations; the rooftop pool offers a great view over the town and it’s this hotel’s greatest card to play.

Cost: starting from $238 / night / Deluxe patio room.

Hoshi Ryokan, Japan

This resort has been built for everyone that wants to taste the uniqueness of the Japanese culture. Traditional tatami-matted rooms with futons, communal spas and the best Japanese food one can find are the reasons you should get here. The reputable business, lasting for 1300 years now, is located Hokuriku, Ishikawa. Considered to be one of the first Japanese ryokans, it has seen 46 generations.

The spring near the resort is believed to have curative powers; the rooms are decorated in pure sukiya style, while the kitchen offers traditional meals at breakfast and dinner.

Cost: $91 / guest room / night and going up.

Akköy Evleri Cave Hotel, Turkey

Situated in Cappadocia, this hotel is built near the historical village Akköy near Ürgüp. It’s owned by the AkköyEvleri family, comprising five bootique rooms, designed as caves and built in ex-cave houses.

Among the other similar locations around the spot, this one has the upper hand, because of the irreproachable services and great food it has to offer. One can visit the surrounding Byzantine caves or the underground cities Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.

Cost: $106-284 / room.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania

This is one of the most desirable places to be on Earth. Located on the edge of the Ngorongoro volcano, it offers absolutely superb views over the surrounding savannah. The Ngorongoro is a conservation area protected by UNESCO, and there are around 40,000 Maasai semi-nomadic pastoralists that go on with their living.

Wild animals, from herbivores to carnivorous beasts live here, and this spot is located right on the path of the migrating wildebeests, zebras and gazelles. The local design based on the Maasaimanyattai culture gives the guests a true African experience at a colonial comfort level. Marvelous safaris await you.

Cost: $720 / person / night.

La Résidence Phou Vao, Laos

UNESCO has reached even this spot, protecting the old Laos capital city of Luang Prabang. A mini-forest of palm trees, a large white colonial mansion and mountains as far as the eye can see is what makes this place unique.

Living in harmony with nature there are Buddhist monks around this resort. Observing them and the stupas is a great activity for the tourists that decide to come and visit this place, being accommodated by simple dark-wood rooms with cotton-wafting around doorways. There’s a Zen-like spirit at hand here.

Cost: $260 / double room.

Adrère Amellal eco lodge, Egypt

One of the few places left unspoiled is the Sahara desert. This resort is closely situated near it, providing easy access to the vast sands and great surroundings. One may check out the old Siwa culture, and taking benefit of the non-existent Internet services, no phone signal and no electricity, they can rest in peace without any speck of bother from the big city hustle.

The restaurant offers local meals, both vegetarian and meat, the Roman springs await everybody and the complex was built using only traditional methods, rock-hewn and kershef. It’s approximately 750 km away from the Egyptian capital of Cairo, but the ride is compensated by this particular spot.

Cost: $500 / night.

Palacio de Sal, Bolivia

White rock salt is everything here. Everything is made out of it. The spot offers some great night views over the stars, beautiful light shows on the salt lake and a mountain-like atmosphere, due to the location: 3,650 meters above sea level, on the eastern shore of the Great Salar de Uyuni. It comprises a golf course and a relaxing spa.

One can try to get the perfect shot here, playing with all the lights, decorations and landscapes. There’s always the need to get out alone and wonder alone. This place is ideal.

Cost: from $100 / single room.

Albergo ll Monastero, Italy

The surrounding Capri and Amalfi may capture tourists’ attention, but this tiny island is surely a subject to returning to Italy. The Albergol Monastero Hotel offers a great view over the Neapolitan gulf. The Mediterranean atmosphere is enhanced by the location; being a part of the Aragonese Castle, built during the 16th century, it’s located on a beautiful rock outcrop.

Thermal hot springs, volcanic mud treatments and wellness massage packages for the tourists spending at least two nights here are some of the few amenities one can try here.

Cost: prices oscillate, starting at $142 / room.

Alila Ubud, Indonesia

Rice terraces, a huge pool that looks like a mirror painted on the ground that doesn’t seem to end and the Bali hill-side – great location for this particular resort. It’s been recommended by Green Globe.

Totally eco-friendly, the hotel offers four-star services, traditional foods in the local restaurant, designed in a contemporary way. Come and see!

Cost: $148 and going up.

Great Orme Lighthouse, Wales

Comprising a beautiful history and a one-hundred-and-eighty degree view over the Irish Sea and North Wales, this former lighthouse was built in 1862 and was used for sailing purposes until 1985.

The hostess, Fiona, presents a modest accommodation, but promises to share the story of the lighthouse with you.

Cost: $129 / person / night.

Riad L’Ayel d’Essaouira, Morocco

Located in the middle of Essaouira’s old quarter, this particular hotel comprises four rooms, designed in Barber-style. Pleasing every eye, the level of detail this place was built with is astonishing: silky fabrics, carved-wood furnishings, tadlakt-coated walls and colored ceramic all over the place.

Offering a decent range of prices, check out the Travel Intelligence website and you’ll notice this location is marked there.

Cost: Starting at $71 / room.

The Oberoi Udaivilas, India

Located in Udaipur, this is your chance to spend one night as a Mughal Emperor. The traditional gold-leaf domes and sand-colored walls are easily noticed reflecting in the local clear-water pools. With Lake Pichola right near it, this location was voted as the highest level hotel Asia by Travel + Leisure’s 2011 after a poll they did.

Decorated with plenty of marble and frescoes manually painted by enthusiasts, this resort makes on feel like a Rajah. And, considering that the hotel is located in the middle of the ancient Mewar kingdom, the historical value of the place is unmatchable. The Aravalli Hills and the local lakes make this spot a desired destination for every human being, not mentioning that the feel it gives you is unique.

Cost: From $760.