Reopen Madeleine case, police urge

Scotland Yard has urged Portuguese authorities to reopen the search for Madeleine McCann as detectives said there are 195 potential leads to finding her alive. The detective leading the Metropolitan Police review said the case can still be solved before officers released a picture of what she might now look like as a nine-year-old. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said he believes her disappearance was a stranger abduction, as he said there are 195 "investigative opportunities". Police refused to say what evidence they had uncovered to suggest Madeleine is alive. Mr Redwood confirmed that his team of more than 30 officers involved in the case had been out to Portugal seven times, including a visit to the family's holiday flat in Praia da Luz. It will be five years ago next week since...

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Insecure websites to be named and shamed after checks

Companies that do not do enough to keep their websites secure are to be named and shamed to help improve security. The list of good and bad sites will be published regularly by the non-profit Trustworthy Internet Movement (TIM). A survey carried out to launch the group found that more than 52% of sites tested were using versions of security protocols known to be compromised. The group will test websites to see how well they have implemented basic security software. Security fundamentals The group has been set up by security experts and entrepreneurs frustrated by the slow pace of improvements in online safety. "We want to stimulate some initiatives and get something done," said TIM's founder Philippe Courtot, serial entrepreneur and chief executive of security firm Qualys. He has bankrolled...

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Anti-depressants likely do more harm than good, study suggests

Commonly prescribed anti-depressants appear to be doing patients more harm than good, say researchers who have published a paper examining the impact of the medications on the entire body. See Also: Health & Medicine Pharmacology Birth Defects Mental Health Research Mind & Brain Depression Disorders and Syndromes Psychiatry Reference COX-2 inhibitor Psychoactive drug Seasonal affective disorder Anti-obesity drug "We need to be much more cautious about the widespread use of these drugs," says Paul Andrews, an evolutionary biologist at McMaster University and lead author of the article, published recently in the online journal Frontiers in Psychology. "It's important because millions of people are prescribed anti-depressants each year, and the conventional wisdom about these drugs is...

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Madeleine McCann, the British girl who went missing while on holiday in Portugal half a decade ago, could still be alive, Scotland Yard said on Wednesday.

Madeleine McCann as she might look aged 9  Photo: Teri BlytheDetectives released a new “age progression” image of the toddler, which they said showed what she would look like today at the age of nine.On Wednesday, Britain’s biggest police force said that as a result of evidence uncovered during a review “they now believe there is a possibility Madeleine is still alive”.Officers have so far identified nearly 200 new items for investigation within historic material and are also “developing what they believe to be genuinely new material”.Scotland Yard urged Portuguese authorities to reopen the search for her amid the new "investigative opportunities".Police said the image, created ahead of what would have been her ninth birthday on May...

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Dengue Fever Asian Mosquito Could Invade UK

The mosquito can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses A mosquito that spreads tropical diseases including dengue fever may be poised to invade the UK because of climate change.The Asian tiger mosquito has already been reported in France and Belgium and could be migrating north as winters become warmer and wetter.Scientists have urged "wide surveillance" for the biting insect across countries of central and northern Europe, including the UK.The mosquito can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses, both of which cause high fevers. The infections usually occur in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America.Scientists led by Dr Samantha Martin, from the University of Liverpool, used climate models to predict how changing conditions might...

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exploding the common myths about which foods are good for us

Myth: Salt in your diet causes high blood pressureIn the 1940s, Walter Kempner, a researcher at Duke University, North Carolina, became famous for using salt restriction to treat people with high blood pressure. Later, studies confirmed that reducing salt could help reduce hypertension. But you don't have to avoid salt entirely, says Sara Stanner, of the Nutrition Society. "Adults need a small amount of sodium in their diet to maintain the body's fluid balance."Average salt intakes have come down in recent years, mainly due to product reformulation. But it's still the case that many of us consume too much salt – around 9g a day instead of the maximum recommended dose of 6g per day – around 75 per cent of which is in processed foods such as soups, sauces, sandwiches and processed meat."People...

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Britons living overseas defrauded 43 million pounds in benefit fraud in 2011

The British Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, has been visiting the Department of Work and Pensions benefits and healthcare team in Madrid. He warned Britons living abroad not to break the strict rules on what benefits they can and cannot claim. People who are pretending to live in the UK so they can collect benefits, but in fact are living overseas cost the British taxpayer 43 million pounds last year. Most of the reports of such benefit fraud came from Spain. Iain Duncan Smith commented, “We are determined to clamp down on benefit fraud abroad, which cost the British taxpayer around £43 million last year. This money should be going to the people who need it most and not lining the pockets of criminals sunning themselves overseas. The vast majority of British people...

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Anti-Corruption prosecutors to be strengthened in Málaga

 The State Attorney General, Eduardo Torres-Dulce, has said that there are plans to designate ‘one or two prosecutors’ more to the specialist Anti-Corruption section in the province of Málaga. He made the comment at an event where Juan Carlos López Caballero took possession as Chief Prosecutor for Málaga, a job which he was sharing with his post as Delegate from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, where three prosecutors work. There have been complaints from prosecutors that only 8% of civil servants who work for the administration of justice do so in the prosecutors’ office, a number described as ‘totally insufficien...

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Health Minister announces crackdown on foreigners using the Spanish Health Service

The cabinet on Friday decided to crack down on foreigners using the Spanish Health Service as part of an additional 7 billion € of cuts. They intend to toughen the conditions for inclusion on the Padrón census. Minister for Health, Ana Mato, said ‘We are going to end the abuses committed by some foreigners’. She is going to change the Ley de Extranjería which intends to put a limit to the so-called ‘health tourism’, which has seen family members of foreign residents to come to Spain ‘exclusively’ to receive health attention. Ana Mato insisted that from now it will not be so easy to come to Spain, sign the Padrón census, and obtain a health card, as it has been. ‘Just getting on the Padrón they all had the right to the health card’, said the Minister. ‘Now there will be a series of additional...

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Ryanair threatens surcharge on flights to Spain

 Millions of its passengers – who have already booked and paid for their flights in full – may now be asked to pay an extra fee upon departure, or be told they are not allowed to board. The airline sent an email to customers this week warning them of the backdated fare. “We may be forced to debit passengers for any government imposed increases in airport charges prior to your travel date,” its message read. “If any such tax, fee or charge is introduced or increased after your reservation has been made you will be obliged to pay it (or any increase) prior to departur...

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Surf Air: Can an all-you-can-fly airline possibly work?

 SURF AIR, a Californian start-up, has a novel business model: for a monthly fee you can fly with the airline as much as you want. Is buffet-style air travel the wave of the future? JetBlue and Sun Country Airlines have both already tried offering all-you-can-fly passes, but so far no carrier has built its business model exclusively on a buffet plan. The idea isn't bad, but some scepticism is warranted. At $790 a month, Surf Air's flying plan will probably only appeal to business travellers who often go to the same places and rich Californians in long-distance relationships. Will that customer base allow Surf Air to make a profit? Maybe: 20m frequent flyers jetted between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2011, according to the company's numbers. The airline plans...

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Worrying is good for you and reflects higher IQ

It evolved in humans along with intelligence to make them more adept at avoiding danger. A study of 42 people found the worst sufferers of a common anxiety disorder had a higher IQ than those whose symptoms were less severe. Scientists say their findings published in Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience, suggest worrying has developed as a beneficial trait. Psychiatrist Professor Jeremy Coplan, of SUNY Downstate Medical Centre in New York, and colleagues found high intelligence and worry are linked with brain activity measured by the depletion of the nutrient choline in the white matter of the brain. He said: "While excessive worry is generally seen as a negative trait and high intelligence as a positive one, worry may cause our species to avoid dangerous situations, regardless of how remote...

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Eating nuts can help stave off obesity, says study

 Dieters often dismiss them because of their high fat content, but research suggests that snacking on nuts can help keep you slim. A study found that those who consumed varieties such as almonds, cashews and pistachios demonstrated a lower body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference compared to non-consumers. They were also at lower risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Experts are now recommending a daily intake of 1.5 ounces, or three tablespoons of nuts as part of a healthy diet. Lead researcher Carol O'Neil, from Louisiana State University, said: 'One of the more interesting findings was the fact that tree nut consumers had lower body weight, as well as lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference compared to non-consumers....

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Laser attacks on planes are surging, warn aviation officials

 The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is warning of a global surge in laser attacks on planes after almost 2,000 incidents were reported in the UK last year. There were 153 incidents at Heathrow in 2011 involving lasers being shone towards aircraft. The second most affected airport was Manchester with 148 incidents, while Birmingham had 143 and Glasgow 107. Liverpool's John Lennon airport had 90 incidents. Throughout the UK last year, the CAA said there were a total of 1,909 incidents, whereas in 2005 there were just 20. At John Lennon airport, a crew member was temporarily blinded as the plane landed following a laser being shone into the aircraft. In October last year, a jumbo jet whose pilot was trying to correct an error after dropping to 300 metres (1,000ft) had a laser shone at...

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Crisis-hit Greece rents police for €30 per hour

Greece is offering a ‘cop-for-hire’ service, renting out policemen for €30 per hour, plus €10 if you want a police car too. It triggered fears that security of people who cannot afford a policeman for hire may be affected in favor of those who can. This new way for the cash-strapped Greek state to raise money will "pay for the cost of using police materials and infrastructure, and allow to modernize them", the Ministry of Citizen Protection said in a statement. The Police services on offer were previously used in "exceptional cases" – escorting the transportation of dangerous material or art works and were free of charge. Now, Police services have a price-tag. If you need something special the hourly fee for patrol boats is €200, and €1500 for helicopters, according to the Proto Thema...

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Vinnie Jones heads to Marbella

Vinnie Jones is heading to Marbella for a role as a twisted garrotte killer. The British actor and ex-footballer – who was once given a yellow card after just three seconds on the pitch – will play a lead in gangster movie Shill, to be filmed entirely on the ‘Costa del Crime’. “Jones plays Branch, a guitar-playing nutter who chokes his victims with his strings,” said Shill writer and producer Paul Grimshaw, who based the film on his own experiences. The Shill actors will meet investors at Marbella Film Festival in October this year, with filming set for spring 2013. “We’ll be filming over a six-week period which will be a chance for some real star-spotting in Marbella,” said Grimshaw, who has worked as an estate agent in Marbella for 20 years. The film – also likely to star Tom Hardy...

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Spain says banks may need more capital

Spain's banks may need more capital if the economy deteriorates, the head of the central bank said on Tuesday, reflecting fresh concerns that some might not survive a recession made worse by the government's austerity drive. Spanish lenders were bruised by the 2008 property crash and have been under scrutiny since the euro zone debt crisis deepened last year. But a recent surge in loan defaults in other sectors has put them back under the spotlight again. Investors are worried the banking troubles may force Spain to take a bailout like Greece and neighboring Portugal and sold Spanish bonds on Tuesday, sending yields up to levels not seen since December. The government has ruled out a bailout and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced new spending cuts on Monday in a bid to meet a stringent...

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Man in court on murder bid charge

 A man will appear in court charged with attempted murder following a bottle attack at a celebrity-packed party thrown by smartphone company BlackBerry. A 37-year-old man remains in a critical condition in hospital following the incident at Pulse nightclub in Southwark, central London. Ashley Charles, 25, of Nevanthon Road, Leicester, will appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court in connection with the incident. The party on Tuesday night was attended by journalists, celebrities including rapper Wretch 32 and stars of The Only Way Is Essex and BlackBerry competition winners. Brit award-winning singer Jessie J had been performing at the party before the bloody brawl and spoke of her shock on Twitt...

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Police on nationality swaps for Easter

 French police are on patrol in Madrid this week to collaborate with their Spanish counterparts. They will assist patrols in tourist zones, such as the Prado Museum, the city centre and the airport until Monday. Meanwhile if you ask a policeman for directions in Torremolinos or Benalmádena they could well speak Portuguese. The Ministry of the Interior says the initiatives come in the framework of European Commission Projects. Two National Police patrols are meanwhile on patrol in Lisbon and Prag...

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The Socialists want Rajoy to criticise Sarkozy's comments about Spain

 The PSOE Socialist party has called on the Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy to ‘disallow’ the statements made by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy about Spain and the state of the Spanish Economy. Sarkozy used Spain and Greece as examples of the opposite of what he had done in France. ‘France has withstood an incredible crisis’, he said, ‘the only country in Europe which has increased its purchasing power every year’. ‘Do you think the French want to be in Greece’s situation, in Spain’s situation?’ Sarkozy said that Spain is an example of ‘a country which has lost its confidence’. ‘It is’, he said, ‘the political formula to avoid’. The Partido Popular consider that this harsh and public criticism is an analysis of the policies of the Zapatero administration, but they think he could...

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Nine bodies shot in the Civil War found in mass grave in Burgos garden

 Despite the absence of any judge, the bodies of several Guardia Civil killed in Franco’s time are being recovered from a mass grave under the pavement and just a few metres from houses in Espinosa de los Monteros. The Mayor of the town, José Carlos Peña, said that they knew the bodies were there, but until now, they had been left alone. Nine bodies have been identified between the pavement and inside the garden of the house, owned by Ález Hernández. It comes as several local people asked for action to recover their loved ones. The grave contains people killed at the start of the Civil War in October 1936, and in total there could be ‘ten or twenty bodies in two mass graves’. The bodies of four women and a 16 year old boy have been found. The territorial judge, whose responsibility...

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Profile of the British Expat and Overseas Voter

These different but typical profiles of British overseas voters adding value to Britain, should not be so easily or generally dismissed as having severed all links with their country of birth and, therefore, deprived of their right to vote after 15 years. The Lifers are people living and working permanently in another country. The majority, 78%, move to English speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. Their age ranges from 25 to 45 and they are mostly skilled or semi skilled workers. After 15 years living and working permanently in another country they are then deprived of their voting rights in the UK , when they are then typically still in the age range of 40 to 60 years old. However, the law determines that they have now severed all links with their country...

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The Legion arrive in Málaga to carry and process their Christ

The rain stayed away on Thursday for what is for many the highlight of the Semana Santa processions in Málaga. The traditional arrival by boat of the Spanish legion to carrying their Christ, the ‘Santísimo Cristo de la Buena Muerte y Ánimas’ was witnessed by an estimated 10,000, among whom was Antonio Banderas. The legionnaires from the Tercio Don Juan de Austria, based in Viator in Almería, arrived on dock two in the port around noon, only slightly late, and on board the ‘Contramaestre Casado’. 12 horses took the Christ to the Santo Domingo Church from where the legionnaires, took their Christ round the city’s streets in the evening, led by their mascot, a goat. As they process they are famous for lifting the sculpture of Christ on the cross using only one arm each. When doing so they...

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Five arrests as specialist police sieze 3 tons of hashish in San Vicente

National Police intercepted a small lorry on Wednesday night in San Vicente del Raspeig, found to be carrying about three tons of hashish. The five arrests took place in the town centre, close to the university campus, and caused great commotion in the area, because some locals confused the police operation with a street fight. Five people have been arrested in San Vicente, Alicante and Sant Joan, and more detentions have not been ruled out. The operation was carried out jointly by the GRECO special response team, the Alicante Judicial Police, and the customs. The small lorry was followed by the police from the province of Almería and several camouflaged cars were used in the operation along the motorway. Despite the care being taken the driver became aware that he was being followed and...

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