Dr. Garcia and Dr. Marin described the methods of genetic diagnosis of embryos and the freezing of ovules of young women who want to postpone having children

Last Hjek, the Fertility Unit of the HC Marbella International Hospital hosted a clinical session Turing which 12 specialists in gynaecology discussed the latest techniques in assisted reproduction, namely the genetic diagnosis of the embryo before it is implanted in the uterus and the procedure for freezing the ovules of young women who want to postpone pregnancy.

The lead of this department, Dr. Luis Garcia, explained the methods of Pre-implantational Genetic Diagnosis, which permits doctors to ascertain the state of each of the conceived embryos in order to “transfer only healthy ones to the uterus”. This process, which is useful for patients who have recurrent miscarriages, is a combination of a genetic analysis and a subsequent in-vitro fertilisation.

At the session, Dr. Juan Manuel Marin also explained the latest systems for preserving fertility by means of cryopreservation and vitrification –the freezing of ovules at low temperatures they can be used in the future. “This procedure is used in young women who want to postpone parenthood and, increasingly, in patients who have to undergo cancer treatment or surgery”, he said.

The embryologist at the centre, Maria Jose Figueroa, described clinical cases of these techniques which had been carried out at the laboratory and which, in accordance with the needs of each patient, “are the most efficient solution for achieving gestation”.

Gary Lineker's brother Wayne Lineker has joined 'The Only Way Is Essex'.

The bar owner - who was declared bankrupt last year and jailed for tax fraud in 2006 - is hoping to open a new club in Essex and is reportedly viewed by show bosses as the ideal replacement for Mick Norcross, who has now left the programme.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: '''TOWIE' bosses hope signing up Wayne will prompt cameos from Gary and his wife Danielle, too.''

Wayne, 50, began filming yesterday with the rest of the cast in Marbella, for the new series' special 'The Only Way is Marbs' opening episodes, and began his stint on the show by judging a bikini competition.

The new series of the show starts on Sunday June 2 with two 'The Only Way is Marbs' special episodes.

Actor Sean Connery has been warned that he has six months to answer questions about a Spanish land deal or face possible arrest.

Spanish judges claim that they have tried for three years to question the actor about the sale of his house in Marbella in 1999.

His villa, Casa Malibu, was demolished and replaced with a development of more than 70 apartments — sold for an estimated £45 million. It is claimed that planning regulations stipulated that only five apartments could be built on the site.

More than 15 people, including disgraced ex-mayor of Marbella, Julian Munoz, and former town planning chief Juan Antonio Roca, face being tried over the so-called ‘Goldfinger’ probe, named after Sir Sean’s 1964 Bond film. Both men are in jail for convictions relating to town hall corruption.

The alleged crimes being investigated include money-laundering, tax evasion and town planning breaches.

THE Mayor of Marbella, Angeles Muñoz, has inaugurated work to conserve and repair the Roman Villa at Rio Verde. The work will be financed by the city hall and the Ministry of Public Works.

She was accompanied by Ana Pastor, the Minister for Public Works, Carlos Posac, one of the discoverers of the villa and family members of Fernando Alcala, who was the official chronicler.

'...A few months ago, while on holiday in Spain I had to drive to a radio station in Marbella to record some alterations to a TV advertising voice-over. While I was there, I happened to pick up one of the many English-language newspapers that serve the Costa del Sol - The Euro Weekly News - in which I found a column that made my heart skip. It was written by a man called Leapy Lee, who had a hit in 1968 with a song called "Little Arrows," and who was later sent to prison following a fight in a pub which also involved an actor called Alan Lake (husband of the Fifties' starlet Diana Dors).
Yes, that's my idea of the perfect columnist, some minor expat singer with a criminal record and views tailor-made for his audience of drink-sozzled, golf-playing Costa Brits. Sure enough, Leapy didn't let me down. His column employs a folksy, jaunty style, laced with references to his "dear old mum" and his idyllic Essex childhood to express his ludicrously reactionary views on Iran's possession of nuclear weapons, asylum seekers to the UK, Jihadist terrorists who are "nothing more than dog's droppings in the swimming pool of decent humanity" and the general state of the world. As my dear old mum would say, you can keep your Aaronovitches, your Melanie Phillipses and your Rees Moggs - it's Leapy Lee for me'.
(Alexei Sayle in The Independent. September 2006). Heh!

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/alexei-sayle-the-world-according-to-me-414250.html

THE contract to extend the Port of Marbella has been terminated. The Ministry of Works and Housing, operating through the Andalucian Ports Authority, has initiated proceedings to terminate the public works concession intended to extend Marbella’s La Bajadilla port. 

The decision to end the joint-venture agreement between Qatari Sheik Al Thani, the owner of Malaga Football Club; Marbella City Council; and the Marbella Port Authority, was taken “after the failure of the contractors, Nasir Bin Abdullah & Sons SL, to meet their contractual obligations, without the slightest justification, and after repeated requests for information.” 

The contract, signed on December 1 2011, has been breached on five counts. Initially the consortium should have been constituted as a corporate body in order to undertake a public works concession. 

The Ports Agency granted several extensions to this deadline. A fine of €30,000 has led to further acrimony and delay. Secondly, the plans for the operating licence, submitted on the date they were due, were the same draft outlines that had been presented at the tender stage. They lacked sufficient detail for a licence to be issued.

A three month extension and a €25,000 fine resulted, and to date detailed plans have not been re-submitted. Thirdly the annual operator’s fee of €750,000 has not been paid for the last two years.

Marbella City Hall has said that the Junta de Andalucia “must” offer some alternative rather than just terminating the contract. The Mayor, Angeles Muñoz, during a visit to Dubai with the Costa del Sol Tourism Board, said that she would attempt to restore contact with the Sheikh. 

THE American College of Marbella has organised a forum with a theme of social and economic growth. INNOVA 2013 will be held in the Palacio de Congresos on Thursday, May 16, and will be welcoming the economic advisor of Barack Obama, Juan Verde, as one of the guest speakers. 

MARBELLA Under 18s, featuring some of the triumphant Spanish squad, will be heading to The Nelson Mandela Stadium in Torrevieja for an under 18 Spanish Club Championship this weekend.

The 16 teams coming to Torrevieja to compete at the tournament will include: Valladolid, Madrid, Santboi Barcelona, Ciencias Sevilla, Marbella, Getxo Bilbao, Vigo Galicia, Cau Valencia, a nd La Vila.

The first stage of the tournament will be played on the three pitches at the Sports City in Torrevieja, before moving to the Nelson Mandela Stadium for the finals. 

Saturday games start at 9.00 am and go on until 2.00 pm, and Sunday games will start at 10.00 am, with the final to be played at 1.00 pm. 

Entry is free for everyone, and there will be a raffle for free rugby balls and shirts for children. Refreshments will be available at both grounds throughout the tournament.

Six current Marbella players represented Spain in the European Championships Division A, helping the team triumph and progress to the Elite division.

MARBELLA based Babak Alimoradian is the toast of the town after being regaining his Jiu Jitsu World title

Fighting at the Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro World Championships 2013 he had entered as one of the favourites as reigning European Open champion in the 82 kilo purple belt master division.

Babak from the Dynamic Team in Marbella, is coached by black belt Carlos Varona, and is a 38-year-old former college wrestler wth Iranian and German roots.

He said: "This gold medal is the result of a lot of training and dedication as well as the support from my team, training partners and coaches." In the final Babak dominated his American opponent Dwight Brooks with a final score of 20-0 with several takedowns and guard passes during the six minute match.

In term of future plans future the reining European and World champion (in the purple belt masters category) mentions that he would like to achieve similar results in the brown belt category in the upcoming year. 

THE Butterfly Children charity (DEBRA Spain) is getting ready for the 11^th edition of its annual charity golf tournament and ball.

It will be held on the first weekend of June at the Aloha Golf Club in Marbella.

The event will kick off on Saturday, June 1, with a golf tournament at the prestigious Aloha Golf Club.

Players will be welcomed with strawberries and champagne, and there will be €10,000 worth of prizes for ladies and gentlemen’s teams, as well as prizes on each hole.

There will also be wine tasting and other surprises. 

On Sunday night, June 2, a delicious meal will be served under the stars at the terrace of the Aloha Club House. After that, a spectacular show will be put on by the big T.A.P.A.S. Choir , the fabulous Ratpack, with their Vegas tribute and finally the “Impossible not to dance to” Mel Williams.

Golf and dinner are sold separately. Green fees €65, reservations 952 90 70 85.

Dinner reservations, including three course meal with wine and live entertainment is €60. Call 952 812 390.

Funds raised will be dedicated to projects of The Butterfly Children Charity (DEBRA Spain) such as the Respite Home in Marbella, Hospital visits for families with new born babies and the Annual Families Gathering. More info at www.debra.es or contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.