Surfing Tragedy
A kite-surfer was tragically killed on Friday morning in Playa den Bossa after a strong gust of wind led him to collide with a rock, a van and finally, the side of a hotel. It appears the 35 year old Ibicencan man was preparing to enter the water when he became tangled up with the ropes connecting the kite to the board. A strong gust of wind subsequently led to him being dragged up into the air and colliding with the various obstacles including the side of the Hotel Bahamas. The accident occurred during the strong winds of Friday morning. The beach had a red flag in place at the time, due to the weather.
The emergency services were immediately called but the man died at the scene from severe head injuries. The body was taken away during the afternoon by funeral services.
Kitesurfing, also known as kiteboarding, involves using a power kite to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard. The kite-surfer uses a board with foot straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel himself and the board across the water. The sport is still in its infancy, but is rapidly growing in popularity. In 2006, the number of kite-surfers had been estimated at around 150,000 to 200,000 across the globe.
The sport is becoming safer due to innovations in kite design, safety release systems, and instruction. Many riding styles have evolved to suit different types of riders and conditions, such as wake style, wave riding, freestyle, jumping, and cruising. However, as with any activity sport, there are dangers.

AROUND THE ISLAND

Up and Down
The president of the association of discotheques on the island, Pere Vidal, revealed on Monday that results for the season had been varying for the different establishments. Vidal, who represents around seventy businesses, said the only universal complaint from all of his members was the shortness of the season. He complained most places did not begin to really function until the middle of June, and added that April and May this year had been extremely difficult for his members.
However, results varied throughout the island with the majority of larger clubs reporting an increase in numbers from last year. The owner of Space, Pepe Rosello, revealed business was up 20 per cent from last year, and added that the experiment of closing a week later had been a success as the world renowned Closing Party at Space had been the busiest yet.
Salvador Salinero, owner of various nightspots including Eden, Coastline and Playboy said that while business had been better than last year in most of his establishments, the season had been alarmingly short. He continued by revealing most of his clubs and bars had closed during September and only three remained open into October. According to Salinero, April and May had been non-existent and his establishments had only really started to work midway through June. He claimed that if he opened for two months during the peak season, he would turn over the same amount of business.
Marisol Aguirre, the proprietor of Es Paradis, claimed that although the nightclub closed a week earlier than normal, May had been a good month. She said the key to the clubs success this year had been the ever-popular Water Party, which once again pulled in big numbers.
The president of the association, Vidal, closed by claiming more promotion of the islands clubs needed to be done by the authorities. He claimed that at the current tourist fairs they talked about everything from flowers to football tournaments, but the clubs did not even get a mention. He admitted the promotion should not centre around the clubs, but added they should also not be completely omitted.

Sharp Fall
Construction has fallen by 20 per cent so far this year, in comparison to the same period in 2006, according to the latest figures released by the president of technical architects on the island, Vicent Serra. However, he was quick to point out the falls were expected and that no one was overly worried by the figures.
Results, however, were extremely varied across the island, with heavy falls recorded in Ibiza Town (39 per cent), San Jose (48 per cent) and Formentera (21 per cent), in marked contrast to the rises in constructed metres so far this year in San Juan ( 22 per cent), San Antonio (58 per cent) and Santa Eulalia (38 per cent).
Serra blamed the rise in interest rates and the increase in prices for the slow down, which is due to continue through to next year.
However, his sentiments were not backed up by the president of the construction sector at Pimeef, - the association of small and medium sized businesses - Juan Andres Roig. He claimed that although the decline was no huge surprise after twelve years of consecutive rises, the fall would affect a great deal of smaller businesses. He added that the real problems would arise in a few months time, once the current construction jobs being undertaken were finished. He even predicted that the majority of foreign companies with less than four workers would pack up and leave the island, as competition for jobs becomes too fierce.
He admitted the construction sector had held up well on the island, ably supported by the great deal of public building which had taken place over the last two years. However, this would soon come to an end and problems were just around the corner.

Land Purchase
The president of the environmental group GEN, Joan Carles Palerm, has written a letter to the president of the Consell Insular, Xico Tarres, asking him to buy up certain pieces of land on the island which are under threat of urban construction. The areas underlined as being at risk include Ses Feixes, Na Xamena and Benirras. Palerm claimed it was time for the Consell to act and retake the countryside in a clear, direct and visible manner. He said the areas underlined were those most at risk, but that nowadays the constructors were capable of building anywhere. He continued by adding that the method of merely designating areas as protected did not work, and more direct action was needed.

Association Complaints
In keeping with what had been predicted towards the end of August, the president of the Association for Nautical Businesses in Ibiza, Mariano Torres, claimed profits were generally on a par with those of last year for most of his 42 members.
He claimed the bad weather during July and August, added to an increase in illegal boat charters had led to a fall in the chartering sector. He said there was now a great deal of competition on the island, both legal and illegal, and although numbers renting boats on the island had increased, there were simply not enough customers for the amount of businesses now on the island.
However, he continued by claiming that although sales of boats and nautical equipment had increased this year, turnover would be significantly improved if more berths were built. Torres claimed the existing level of 2,800 was simply not enough, and at least another 1,500 needed to be built. He added that while there was nowhere to berth more boats, sales would continue to be static.

Hospital Visits
Figures from the health service revealed that 390,000 was spent last year within the Balearics to ensure people unable to be treated on the island, were able to receive the most adequate treatment possible in other hospitals. Most of the money went towards airfares and accommodation, with associations on the island also doing a great deal to help the families of those affected.
The Majorcan hospital of Son Dureta treated a total of 1,046 patients with radiotherapy last year. Of those treated, 88 came from Ibiza with the important work done by the associations Aspanob and Adamob, crucial in ensuring they all received the best care possible. Each of these associations owns two apartments close to the hospital which they lend to the patients and their families, so that while treatment is taking place, families of the affected can be close by.
Radiotherapy is the use of x-rays and similar rays (such as electrons) to treat disease. Since the discovery of x-rays over one hundred years ago, radiation has been used more and more in medicine, both to help with diagnosis (by taking pictures with x-rays), and as a treatment (radiotherapy). While radiation obviously has to be used very carefully, doctors and radiographers at Son Dureta have a lot of experience in its use in medicine, and success rates are increasing year on year.

Bad Weather
The heavy rains on Friday led to three planes having to return to their airports of origin, and the cancellation of the fast ferry between Denia and Ibiza. The planes, two from Palma and the other from Barcelona, decided not to make the tricky landing at the airport during the heaviest of the rain in the afternoon, each deciding to return home.
The fire service was kept busy through the day as many roads became flooded as 38 litres of water per square metre fell during the afternoon. Several restaurants and bars also flooded, as the intense rain continued until the early hours of Saturday morning. The Ibiza-Airport road was again closed, as the tunnel once again flooded. There were also problems on the new stretch of road near to Can Misses hospital, which also had to be closed due to flooding.
Fortunately the bad weather predicted for Saturday failed to materialise, and the sun shone once again for the few remaining tourists.

Can Caus
This weekend sees Can Caus hold its now annual open day, in which people are able to catch a glimpse of life behind the scenes at the farm on the Santa Gertrudis road (close to Morna Valley school). The open day will again include an array of farmyard animals, as well as an arts and crafts demonstration from the many people taking part, and it once again promises to be a celebration of rural life.
It all kicks off at 12p.m. on Friday and will be open from 10a.m.-9p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Greenhouse Effect
The importance of the new gas duct, which is to be introduced to the island in 2009, was highlighted last week after figures revealed that the electric company GESA-Endesa currently produces over 51 per cent of all greenhouse gases on the island. The burning of petroleum to produce electricity, by the company, led to the emission last year of 528,509 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This will be reduced by 15 per cent once the gas line, being brought from the mainland, has been introduced.
The percentage of greenhouse gases produced in the making of energy (51 per cent) is far higher than the national average (34 per cent), but this fact is more due to the lack of factory based businesses on the island.

Insurance Bill
Initial predictions have estimated the cost of the damage caused by the bad weather in Majorca last week at 30million. The insurance company, Mapfre, has so received over 650 claims from private customers, 150 from businesses and 150 concerning vehicles.
Although it has yet to be confirmed, it has been rumoured the Consortium of Insurance Claims will pick up the huge insurance bill. They confirmed they were currently sending assessors to all of the claims, and had brought in reinforcements from Madrid, Ibiza and Minorca. They asked people affected to be patient, and promised 90 per cent of the claims would be settled within four months.

Subsidy Re-think
The Minister for the Economy within the central Government, Pedro Solbes, has backed the Govern Balear and called for the islands to receive more funding. Speaking at the Senate, Solbes said that historically the payments received in the Balearics had always been lower than the national average. He claimed his administration were trying to put that right, and would be reassessing the needs of the islands for 2009.
The Balearic Islands are to receive 270.73million in 2008, which, although it means the second highest increase of all the autonomous regions behind Valencia, equates to 220 less per resident than the national average, a statistic which had to be addressed, according to Solbes.

Dutch Closure
After fifty years on the island, the Dutch Consulate is to close its doors, leaving residents on the island stranded. The news was broken several weeks ago by the current Consul, Paul Wienen de Vries, to stunned residents. Although reasons for the closure were not given, it is believed to be part of the financial cutbacks being made by the Dutch Foreign Office around the world, due to the introduction of the expensive new machinery needed to create modern day passports.
The Consulate, which is based in Vara de Rey in Ibiza Town, will close at the end of October, although it will cease to issue passports from today, 17th October. This means all paperwork will now have to be done via the Consulate in Palma, a great inconvenience for the 1,500 Dutch residents living on the island. Cristina Krieger, president of Tulipanes, the association of Dutch residents, was indignant at the move which she described as shocking. However, what surprised her most was the lack of warning given to Dutch residents. She has written letters to the embassy in Madrid, and to the Foreign Office in Holland, but so far all of her correspondence has been met with silence.
The Dutch Consulate was first opened on the island in the 50s when there were just a handful of Dutch residents on the island. It now serves the 1,500 residents currently living on the island, as well as the tens of thousands of Dutch visitors which come every year. So far no explanation has been given as to where these nationals are supposed to go when they encounter problems on the island.
The news followed the announcements of the closures of both the Italian and French Consulates in similar cost-cutting measures.
Please remember, as British citizens we are very lucky to have a Consulate here on the island with some very hard working staff always willing to help. Please make use of it, and for those who have not yet registered there, please do so now it takes just a few minutes and could prove vital one day.

Boat Found
The glider boat found close to Es Vedra last week was being used to transport drugs from the Moroccan coast to the Balearics. The boat was first spotted by a transport ship early in the week, and reported to the Marine Authorities. After receiving a further sighting they sent out a ship to tow the small vessel back to Formentera, where it has remained. The glider was in a fairly decrepit state when found and was beginning to sink. There were no crew members or any items found on board. However the four powerful motors with a capacity of one thousand horse power, which would enable the boat to reach very high speeds, led police to believe that it was used to transport drugs, probably hashish or cocaine, from Morocco. The fuel tanks were also completely empty which could mean the men had to call for help from another boat after they ran out of fuel, and they simply left the boat in the water, having transferred all of the goods on to the second boat.

Illegal Parties
In a meeting of all the Town Halls and the local police on Wednesday, there was agreement that new legislation was needed to stop the growing trend of illegal parties. Santa Eulalia and San Jose have been two of the municipalities to suffer most during the summer, with the Councillor for home affairs of San Jose, Paquita Ribas, claiming at least two parties a week were held in various properties in es Cubells, Cala Conta, Cala Tarida and Sa Carroca. She admitted to accompanying police to one of the parties while it was in full swing, and witnessing at first hand the ineffectiveness of the current powers police possess.
At the moment police do not have the right to enter a private house, and being unable to identify the owners or those who are renting the property, they are unable to do anything. She added that most people were aware of their rights and the police officers were being placed in an impossible situation.
The mayor of Santa Eulalia, Vicent Mari, suggested that more communication between the municipalities was needed to try and stop the parties before they started. He claimed once they had begun they were nearly impossible to stop. He continued by explaining that most of the parties were advertised via word of mouth, giving officers the possibility of hearing about the gathering beforehand.

Consell Efforts
The Minister for Transport, Albert Prats, is continuing ongoing discussions to create 150 temporary taxi licences for next year. The island has long suffered from a shortage of taxis during the busier summer months, as pressure from the various taxi associations on the island have ensured that the five Town Halls limit the number of extra licences handed out. This year saw the most licences granted, but the 59 handed out across the island proved woefully inept, yet again.
The Town Halls are responsible for issuing the licences, although the Consell does have powers to intervene, something which will happen if the current situation continues, assured Prats. He claimed that he wanted to reach an agreement with the various Town Halls, as well as the taxi associations, but if all else failed he would issue licences from the Consell. However, he hoped an agreement could be reached and described the meetings so far, as positive.
The problem of illegal taxis increased this summer, and led to several taxi drivers being assaulted. Prats sees one of the solutions to this growing problem as an increase in licensed taxis.

Blood Donation
A special blood donation bus will be touring the island this week to try and educate people on the necessity of donating blood. The bus, which arrived in Ibiza on Monday 15th, will be in the Parque de la Paz in Ibiza Town for the first four days of the week, before moving on to Santa Eulalia (in front of the Town Hall) on Friday 19th, finishing the tour next Saturday 20th on the seafront at San Antonio. The bus will be open from 10a.m. 2p.m. and then again from 5p.m. 9p.m.
The demand for blood in the Balearics has reached staggering levels, with one 125 donations needed every day to cover the demand.
In order to donate blood you must be between the age of 18-65, weigh more than fifty kilos, and to have eaten something during the day.
DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL TODAY GIVE BLOOD!

Catwalk Star
Elisabetta Gregoraci will be the star model at the Adlib fashion show due to take place this Friday in Pacha nightclub, and the following day in Formentera. The annual fashion show, which shows off the current designs from the island will be assisted by 15 fashion designers. There will also be 22 models at the shows, including three Ibicencan models.
Gregoraci is the fiancé of the owner of the Renault Formula One racing team, and new owner of first division football club QPR, Flavio Briatore. She has starred in many fashion campaigns, including those of Playtex and Wonderbra, and is sure to add the necessary glamour to the event.

Expensive Weekend
Reports in some British newspapers suggest that Kate Moss recent visit to the island cost her a whopping 150,000. The supermodel, who recently split from her boyfriend, singer Peter Doherty, was accompanied on the two-day trip by the new man in her life, guitarist Jamie Hince. The trip coincided with the closing of many of the islands nightclubs and bars. Quite how she spent the money is anyones guess!

Butterfly Success
Tuesday saw the 2nd Butterfly Ball take place in aid of the Spanish Cancer Association and the MacMillan Trust at es Viver hotel. The event, organised by Jill Conney, was a great success once again and even the hostess admitted it might now become an annual event after two very successful years. The Thai buffet was followed by an auction to raise even more cash, which included a signed England shirt from David Beckham, a painting by the British artist Gary Cook (which both raised 1,000 each) and a signed shirt from the Spanish NBA basketball superstar, Pau Gasol. The night proved to be an enormous success and more importantly there was a great deal of money raised for a wonderful cause.

IBIZA TOWN

Ibiza Image
The new perfume of Elizabeth Arden, Mediterranean, which is currently being launched in the United States and will be available in Europe around Christmas time, is using a shot of Dalt Vila and the port of Ibiza in its promotion poster. A photo of the Welsh actress, Catherine Zeta-Jones, adorns the image which uses the Old Town of Ibiza as a background. The perfume is described as a modern expression of sparkling radiance, combining the creamy woods to reflect the whispering waters and rich textures of the Mediterranean whatever that may mean!

Torrent Work
On Wednesday the minister for the environment at the Govern Balear, Miquel Angel Grimalt, revealed a project to cover part of the torrent sa Llavanera next to the Grand Casino Hotel in Ibiza Town. The project will cost 1.1million euros and take precisely four months to complete. The Govern Balear, the Consell Insular and the Town Hall will pay for the work to be done in equal parts, with the five-star hotel ensuring the planting of trees and the upkeep of a gardened area.

SAN ANTONIO

Speed Trial
The man arrested for a robbery at knife-point in San Antonio last Saturday has been sentenced to two years in prison, following a quick trial. The man entered the shop, Ultramarinos Riera, in the centre of town and stole 115, 70 of which was in one euro coins. He was pursued by officers immediately after the raid, and whilst he initially managed to give them the slip, was arrested some time later. After being identified by various witnesseses, he eventually admitted to the crime, and received the sentence on Monday.

Cement Approval
The Environment Ministry has given the go-ahead for a cement plant to be built in the industrial area of Montecristo, in San Antonio. Despite fierce protests from the surrounding businesses that the new plant would create a great deal of noise and air pollution, the ministry said that, after extensive studies, they would give the company the green light. However, certain measures will have to be taken and the ministry warned the company they would be keeping strict controls.
The Councillor for Town Planning, Josefa Costa, said the Town Hall would follow the example of the ministry and issue the required permissions. It was now left to the Consell Insular to issue the final permit which would mean the plant reopening. Costa claimed that her administration could not stop a project which had satisfied all of the legal requirements necessary and received permission from the ministry. Although she understood the worries of local businesses, she underlined the fact that the plant would be built on land designated for industrial use.

SAN JOSE

Club Crackdown
The Town Hall of San Jose announced their intention to ban after hours clubs and bars from next year, after a season marked by a rise in complaints from neighbours. The councillor for home affairs, Paquita Ribas, claimed things had spun out of control last weekend at the closing of Space, with the Town Hall receiving a record number of complaints due to noise levels. She explained there was little they could do this year, as they had only entered into power at the very beginning of the summer, but Ribas revealed that residents within the municipality would not have to suffer the same fate next year.
The municipality is currently using legislation from 1986, which has been described by Ribas as totally inadequate given the changes to Ibiza over the last 20 years. She revealed her administration would be changing the legislation substantially, and create far stricter rules.
The Councillor said clubs would be forced to close at 6a.m. and would not be able to open again until 12p.m. This would avoid the situation which currently exists where both daytime and night time clubs are open in tandem, with clubs able to open their doors at 8a.m.
San Jose is currently the only municipality on the island which has not placed a ban on after hours establishments. However this will change from next year, and Ribas said she expected to receive the full support of the Consell Insular.

Purifier Worries
The protests against the huge water purifier being built in Cala Tarida continued this week, with a group of around 40 people gathering to voice their concern over the project. Construction began back in July, and is taking place on 8,500 square metres of land in Cala Corral. A spokesman for the protesters, Juan Francisco Bermejo, claimed the purifier, which was the idea of the previous administration, was being built to provide water for a proposed golf course to be built in the area.
The environmental group, GEN, criticised the project when it first began in July, claiming it was being done to please the many building constructors in the area who had donated the land, which, due to the fact it was in an area designated as protected, would prove useless to them.
However the current councillor for town planning, Josep Antoni Prats, defended the project and claimed that while he understood the concerns of the group, the area needed the project desperately, and the four current purifiers in the Cala Tarida region were becoming slowly more unreliable and creating a very bad smell.

SANTA EULALIA

Rubbish Dump
The Town Hall of Santa Eulalia has received several complaints from worried neighbours about the strong smell of methane emanating from the rubbish tip at Ca na Putxa. The smell spreads over more than a two kilometre radius, and includes the Roca Lisa area and the golf course. Several neighbourhood associations have already written formal letters to the mayor asking him to look into the situation, and for him to carry out a study on this type of gas to see if it is in any way harmful.
Other complaints centre on the great deal of noise now being produced from the area, with machines working through the night, as well as the proliferation of both rats and seagulls in the area.
The Town Hall claimed they would study the complaints carefully but made no guarantees, and whilst they understood the views of the neighbours in the area, rubbish disposal was always going to be a necessary evil which would affect a small minority of people in some small way.

Rock Competition
Twenty-two bands will compete in a rock festival organised by the Town Hall of Santa Eulalia over the next six months. The festival/competition will involve all of the bands playing in various concerts organised by the municipality. Carefully selected judges and managers will watch the different groups, with the band eventually chosen winning the right to play at the different official Fiestas organised by the Town Hall. The concerts will begin during the Fiestas of San Carlos and continue through until May, when the winner will be announced. The Town Hall also revealed that they are to make a CD, which will not only include the winners but several of the other more popular acts.

FORMENTERA

Formentera Changes
The vice-president of the Consell in Formentera, Sonia Cardona, explained on Tuesday that her administration was completely restructuring their current offices to best serve the public. She explained that with the islands new political makeup, it now has its own Consell Insular, meant a restructuring was vital, as more services would be made available to the public. The Consell has now taken over the old public library and will use the building to house the citizens advice bureau, as well as the cultural and sports departments. It will also be home to Cardona´s new office.
She continued by explaining that the current layout was poorly planned and those offices most used by the public on a daily basis were usually on the first floor including the payments department. She added that the technicians of the various departments would be placed together, so as to facilitate their work in group projects.
The other big change has been the move of Social Services from their rented offices which they had occupied until the end of September, to the Health Centre in s´Estany Pudent, which they will cohabit with other services, which are yet to be decided.
The moves were described as vital in the efficient running of the island and ones which would benefit the residents greatly.

Officer Slapped
A 19 year old Italian girl is facing an 18 month jail sentence after striking a police officer in the San Ferran area of Formentera. During the initial trial the judge heard from both parties, with both recounting very different stories. The police officers involved claimed they had approached the Italian boyfriend of the girl as he emerged from a street in the area. Suddenly the girl appeared, became very nervous, and struck the officer.
Not surprisingly, the story of the defendants is somewhat different. The girl claimed that one of the officers became very nervous, and that she had lightly slapped him after he began holding her boyfriend.
Her story was backed up by the head receptionist of the hotel where the woman worked, who told the judge how one of the officers had told them they had to pay an on-the-spot fine of 150. He became noticeably agitated when they asked him for a receipt for the payment. This is the moment he started to hold the Italian youth slightly more roughly, and the girl slapped the officer. The trial continues.

CRIME & INCIDENTS

Suspect Held
The chief suspect in the murder trial of the Frenchman, Cristian Almerich, was placed in custody on Monday after arriving back in Ibiza. In an initial hearing the accused denied all charges, and said Almerich had committed suicide. The judge, though, refused to grant the defendant bail and ordered for him to be kept in custody until the investigation was over.
Almerich died on 14th September in his house in Cala Tarida, having been beaten around the head several times with a blunt object. The defendant was found standing over the victim, and after pleading for help saying he had tried to commit suicide, accompanied the victim to hospital. However after staying for a brief moment, he then tried to make his escape aboard a ferry headed for Barcelona. He was arrested in the city, and held while arrangements were made to transport him back to Ibiza.
However, the victim reiterated his innocence in the hearing, saying Almerich suffered huge bouts of depression and that he had killed himself using a knife, a claim denied by the medical staff at the Vilas private clinic who initially dealt with the victim. He added he was on his way to Montpellier when arrested in Barcelona to break the news to the family of the victim.
The judge claimed there was reasonable evidence to hold the defendant, also of French origin, until a trial date could be set. He asserted that the accused could be tried for first degree murder, hinting the defendant had premeditated the attack after finding out Almerich was going to end their relationship.

Prosecutor to Decide
The judge studying the case of the death of local businessman, Sol Monge, has sent the file to the public prosecutor to see if the partner of the victim is to stand trial. Although the British woman, who could be accused of his murder, is currently free, things could change if the prosecutor decides she is to blame for the death.
The incident occurred two weeks ago in the house of the dead man, when, after entertaining guests at a dinner party, the couple began to row, the heated discussion causing both to fall to the ground from a window 2.61 metres high. Whilst the British woman escaped with no injuries, Monge suffered serious injuries to the head which caused him to be rushed to hospital where he later died. However witnesses at the party claimed to have not seen any pushing going on, and said it was merely a tragic accident.

Captain Accused
The case into the death of the Irish tourist, Basile Bourke, looks set to continue after the judge claimed he saw no reason to dismiss the case, and added there was a possibility of a crime having been committed. Bourke, 24, died on 1st July last year after jumping from the pleasure boat, Captain Nemo, and subsequently drowning. Forensic reports claimed the youngster had taken a significant quantity of drugs in the hours leading up to the accident. The story was slapped across the front pages of Irish newspapers after it was revealed that Bourke was the nephew of the then Irish Defence Minister, Willie ODea.
The captain admitted to seeing someone throw themselves into the water, but claimed he saw them reach the shore. In fact, two people had thrown themselves into the water, the second youth narrowly escaping a similar fate after he was rescued by a passing boat, exhausted having been in the sea for ninety minutes. The body of the dead youth was found the following day close to Port des Torrent.
The move by the judge means the captain of the boat could be held responsible for Bourkes death. The case also brought into question these types of excursions, which begin in a bar, involve heavy drinking on board and end in a nightclub.

Two Arrests
Guardia Civil made two arrests at the closing of the club DC-10 in San Jose on Saturday, both for the sale of drugs. The first person arrested was a 30 year old British man who was detained in the car park of the club with 58 ecstasy tablets and six grams of cocaine. The other was a 28 year old Italian youth who was arrested after he offered drugs to a plain-clothed police officer. Police subsequently found a variety of drugs on the man, who was immediately arrested. The two men have both been denied bail because the judge believed there was a strong possibility they would flee the country. They are detained in custody, awaiting trial.

NEWS FROM THE MAINLAND

ETA Attack
Bodyguard, Gabriel Gines, was seriously injured on Tuesday after a bomb exploded in his car. The incident, which took place in Bilbao, has been blamed on the terrorist organisation, ETA, and came in response to the arrests of several political figures last week, deemed ETA-sympathisers. The bomb exploded in the mans Renault Megane as he left a car parking space. Police believe the bomb, containing a kilo of explosives, had been placed near to the fuel tank and had been set to explode as the car began to move. The explosion occurred next to a childrens park, and just fifty metres away from a secondary school.
Gines was not working, as the political figure he normally guarded - a member of the PSE party in Bilbao - was on holiday at the time. The injured man was rushed to hospital with second and third degree burns to his facial area and hands, and was said to be in a critical condition, although his life was not in danger.

HEADLINE UK

Mail Deal Hopeful
Royal Mail and union officials have thrashed out a deal which they hope will end the ongoing postal strike, so that the public can sleep safely in the knowledge that their letters will be delivered Further strikes planned by workers for this week have been outlawed by a High Court judge after an injunction was sought by Royal Mail
Mr Justice King upheld an argument by the Royal Mail's lawyers that the Communication Workers' Union had failed adequately to comply with legal requirements to state accurately the number of employees likely to be affected by the action. Leaders of the CWU met with Royal Mail Chief Executive Adam Crozier last weekend to try to break the deadlocked row about pay, jobs and pensions.
Wildcat strikes affected London and Liverpool and spread to parts of Scotland last week, as fresh disputes broke out following two 48-hour official strikes. Mail deliveries were badly affected in the areas where the unofficial strikes were held, although Royal Mail said at the end of last week that most of its staff were now back at work.

Our Weather A Cause Of Concern for All
The British media have reported on the incidents caused by torrential rain and high winds throughout Spain and the Balearics including the tragic death of a 40-year-old man who had been kite-surfing during the storm when a gust of wind crashed him into a building here on Playa d'en Bossa beach. There were also reports of a three-story building that had been evacuated by emergency services at El Vergel, which collapsed and was swept away by the Girona river and a nearby bridge at Beniarbeig also demolished by the torrent. One woman died in El Vergel, near Alicante, when a wall of water 6.5ft high rushed through her house. It is reported that the damage caused by swollen rivers and gullies around Alicante and Valencia prompted Defence Minister Jose Antonio Alonso to send in the army's emergency services.

Branson Bid to Save The Rock
A consortium led by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group has confirmed interest in a potential rescue of crisis-hit mortgage lender Northern Rock. Under the proposals, the group would inject "substantial new equity" into Northern Rock, renaming and rebranding the business as part of Virgin Money. Sir Richard, CEO of the Virgin Group, said: "We have been planning this ever since we saw the queues around the Northern Rock building society. It was very sad to see that. "It was a great company. We felt that Virgin could put a rescue package together. We have successful experience in savings products and we have very strong financial partners." His approach is backed by US insurance group AIG, buyout firm WL Ross, investment group Toscafund and Hong Kong based investment group First Eastern. The company is just one of a number of bidders in the running for Northern Rock, which was forced to seek emergency funding from the Bank of England last month. Earlier this month, it emerged that New York-based private equity firm JC Flowers was planning a L10bn bid for the bank, and private equity firm Cerberus is also understood to be interested in the firm's assets. Banking giant Citi has also agreed to be on hand to lend Northern Rock some L10bn to help ease its funding problems.

England´s Great Sporting Comeback
Jonny Wilkinson kicked a late penalty and drop-goal to put England through to the World Cup Final with a 14-9 victory over hosts France at Stade de France, Saint Denis, on Saturday. Whilst in football England cruised to a 3-0 success over Estonia at Wembley. They now play the qualifier today in Russia where a win will send them to the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Families First For Labour
Married couples could have their partnership rewarded with tax breaks under Labour, a Cabinet minister has hinted. Andy Burnham, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said the tax system should support commitment and marriage. Speaking in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he added: "It's not wrong that the tax system should recognise commitment and marriage." The Conservatives say Mr Burnham's admission is a u-turn on previous Government statements and another example of Labour crossing party lines for its policies. Shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "For two years David Cameron has been making the case for recognising marriage in the tax system and Gordon Brown has been attacking him for it. Now one of his minions appears to say we are right. Meanwhile the PM has been quoted as saying that every week in politics is a challenge, as he is questioned on the recent slide in opinion polls during a visit to schools to promote child health and measures to combat obesity in youngsters, during a campaign proposed by Families Secretary Ed Balls.

British Survivor Tells Of Ordeal
The sole survivor of a flash flood in a cave which killed her fiance and seven others has said his last words to her were "I love you". While Helena Carroll clung to a rock, her boyfriend John Cullen fatally chose to swim with the current in the cave in Thailand's Khao Sok national park. Miss Carroll, 21, of Solihull, West Midlands, survived on the rock ledge for hours, calling for help. She said: "One minute I was in what I thought was the most beautiful place in the world. The next thing there was death all around me." She described how she and Mr Cullen, 24, were with a tourist group and their Thai guides looking at bats and spiders. "All this water just went whoosh," she said.
"John turned to me and said 'We are going to die'. I said 'No, No'." After being swept some distance underwater, Miss Carroll described how she clambered onto a rock and saw her fiance. John Cullen told Helena he loved her before he was swept away She called him to stay with her above the water, but he said he wanted to swim with the current to get help. "He just said 'I love you' and let go," she added. The flood, which was caused by heavy rainfall, also claimed the lives of a 10-year-old German boy, a Swiss couple and their two daughters, and two Thai guides. Provincial governor Winai Phopradit said he had ordered the national park to close during the current rainy season.
"We have signs both in English and Thai warning tourists not to go into the cave during heavy rains," he explained.

FINANCIAL NEWS

Wage Difference
Equality does not seem to have arrived at the pocket just yet, as the tax office revealed there was still a considerable imparity between the wages of men and women within Spain. The average salary in 2006 was 16,849 across Spain. However, there still remains a difference of more than 6,000 between the sexes. Men were paid on average 19,314, whilst the average female wage was just 13,297.

LEISURE & SPORT

Chumps to Champs?
They arrived at the World Cup having been given little hope of putting up any type of resistance to the crown they won four years earlier during an unforgettable night in Sydney. However, against all the odds the English rugby team reached the World Cup final for the third time in their history last Saturday, with an emotionally charged 14-9 victory over their old enemy, France. The commitment and never say die attitude shown the previous week against Australia was there again in abundance in Paris, as the team, cheered on by 40,000 disbelieving fans, were inspired by a rejuvenated Jonny Wilkinson, as they pipped Les Bleus for the second World Cup in succession.
So what has been the difference over the last six weeks? It is difficult to say. We are talking about a team that has won just three away games out of their last 15. A team that had sunk to eighth in the IRB ratings, behind the likes of Argentina and Ireland.
Rugby is a different game altogether to so many other sports. Just taking the field takes a huge amount of courage, strength and self belief. The current England squad has that in abundance. Once you have that self belief, then anything is possible. The England players never walk on to a rugby field believing they are going to be beaten. Recently, however, they have also added a raw determination not seen by those sporting the red rose for some time.
The key difference is that the forwards have at last come to the fore, and England are now dominating teams up front. Several key players are suddenly playing at the top of their game, including the irrepressible Andy Sheridan. Not many will forget his destruction of the Wallaby front row last week just ask Matt Dunning and Co. Simon Shaw, having been ignored by his country for years, is also playing quite brilliant rugby. With Gomarsall and Wilkinson at last producing the goods behind a dominant pack anything is possible this weekend against South Africa. All we need is a little faith.and Jonnys boot of course!

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