Farmland costs soar to record high

 Farmland costs soar to record high: "The cost of farmland soared to a record high during the second half of 2010 as commercial farmers looked to cash in on rising commodity prices, research has suggested.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said 55% more surveyors reported a rise in demand for commercial farmland during the period than those who saw a fall, as farmers were keen to expand their production, while a balance of 6% more reported an increase in demand for residential farmland.
But the supply of both types of land has been falling steadily for the past two-and-a-half years, pushing prices up to a new high."

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Graffiti Artist Banksy Banned From Oscars | Neon Tommy

Graffiti Artist Banksy Banned From Oscars | Neon Tommy: "Banksy, star and director of the Oscar nominated documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” was banned from attending the Academy Awards Sunday after he insisted on being in disguise.

The Academy’s executive director Bruce Davis barred Banksy, a notorious British graffiti artist, from attending the ceremony in disguise because of potential issues with imposters and party crashers, according to Yahoo.com contributor Susan Montag.

In “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” which is nominated for best documentary, Banksy’s face is shadowed and he is wearing a hoodie to mask his identity, and the Academy does not want someone wearing a monkey suit accepting an award on stage.

'The fun but disquieting scenario is that if the film wins and five guys in monkey masks come to the stage all saying, 'I'm Banksy,' who the hell do we give it to?' said Davis.

If the film, which follows guerilla artists and collectors, wins, its producer Jaimie D’Cruz will accept the award for he and Banksy, according to Elle.com writer Brooke Bobb.

Other people have been banned from the Oscars, including “The Hurt Locker” producer Nicolas Chartier who broke the Academy’s rule against “creating a negative impression of a rival nominee,” according to Montag. "

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A round the world sailing rally, due to set off from Gibraltar this October has been cancelled due, in part, to the threat from pirates.

The 2011-2013 Blue Water Rally would have been the company's ninth global cruise via the Trade Winds route. This route takes in the northern sector of the Indian Ocean into the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.

BWR's decision was taken before the killing of the four kidnapped American yachtsmen at the hands of pirates.

The yachtsmen, skipper Scott Adam, 68, and his wife Jean, from California and their crew Phyllis Mackay, 59, and Bob Riggle, 67, of Seattle were sailing Quest, a 58ft Davidson a pilot house double-headsail cutter, as part of the current BWR round -the-world rally.

But they dropped out of the rally at the crucial moment: just as it was about to cross the Indian Ocean. Adam, described as ‘very independent' may have become frustrated travelling in convoy, but whatever the reason it was a fateful decision.

The first alert that the Quest might not be alone came from a helicopter flying from a Danish warship which spotted the yacht towing a skiff. This meant only one thing: that pirates had boarded.

Three US warships - the guided missile cruiser USS Sterett, guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise deployed in the area - then steamed towards the yacht.

Negotiations were taking place between the military and the pirates when gunshots were heard. It seems a row had broken out between the pirates: one theory being examined is that the gunmen were from different warlord clans - there were an incredible 19 pirates on the yacht - and that a ‘surf war' - as opposed to a turf war - had broken out and two pirates were killed in a rival shoot-out.

Whatever the truth, the stand-off then escalated into a boarding by US Navy Seals who shot one and stabbed another pirate to death. They then made the grim discovery that all four yachtsmen had been attacked. Two were already dead and two more died later.
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Jennifer Aniston Debuts New Haircut in Spain

Jennifer Aniston Debuts New Haircut in Spain: "Jennifer Aniston welcomed her 42nd year with a new hair style. The actress, who celebrated her birthday on February 11, has shown off her new lock when attending a photo call for her film 'Just Go with It' in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday, February 22.

She chopped her signature long-layered hair into a shorter, chin-length bob. Debuting the new look, the ex-wife of Brad Pitt donned an outfit consisting of a clingy black Theory tank top, Celine pants, Fred Leighton jewels and Pierre Hardy shoes which made her look more energetic."

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Carlos Slim: At home with the world's richest man

Carlos Slim: At home with the world's richest man You have to be brave to take on the traffic in Mexico City. But the world’s richest man, at the wheel of his car, certainly relishes a challenge. With a convoy of bodyguards following closely behind in blacked-out 4x4s, his navy Mercedes darts across the lanes.
“Would you like me to scare you?” he says with a twinkle in his eye, accelerating suddenly and laughing at my braced position as we jostle through the congested streets.
This is not what I had expected when I was granted a rare interview with Carlos Slim Helú.
But Mr Slim is no ordinary multi-billionaire. His 42-year-old son Marco Antonio – “Tony” – sitting in the back of the car, laughs when I ask if his father normally drives himself around. “Always,” he replies.
Despite his $53.5 billion (£32.9 billion) fortune, the 71-year-old lives in a modest six-bedroom house a mile from his office, and has no interest in flashy super-yachts or palatial houses around the world."

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NEW gangster film about the Costa del Crime is being recorded.

 NEW gangster film about the Costa del Crime is being recorded. In May, starts filming Shill in Marbella. The screenplay was written by Paul Grimshaw who for 20 years worked as an estate agent in Marbella and Estepona.

For many British citizens, the Costa del Sol is synonymous with gangsters and a refuge for fugitives Britons. Very often we read about how the police managed to arrest wanted persons from Great Britain. Recently, it was about Christopher Karnihan, a criminal Irishman who was arrested in Estepona.

Now the film industry reflect the Costa del Crime. Previously, the movie Sexy Beast with Ben Kingsley in the game. Although it was recorded in Cadiz would show life in Marbella.

Paul Grimshaw is behind the script for next film says that the film is based on his own experience of having worked on the Costa del Sol for 20 years.

Over the years it has shot several films about the criminal Costa del Sol. In the 1980s, was the movie The Business, which was filmed in Málaga, directed by Nick Love. The comedy 'Oh Marbella' and 'La de la costa history más caliente' are other films that have had the Costa del Sol and the Costa del Crime by themes."

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Marilyn Monroe's dresses on show in Granada

Marilyn Monroe's dresses on show in Granada: "Marilyn Monroe is more alive than ever in Granada thanks to the Retroback International Classic Film Festival which opened on Friday and which continues until April 3.

Along with all the films being shown, two parallel exhibitions show 30 dresses, photographs and 83 other personal objects from Marilyn the legend. The dresses on show were used from the films ‘Gentlemen prefer blonds’, ‘The Seven Year Itch’, ‘How to Marry a Millionaire’ and ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ and
Retroback poster

include the famous billowing white dress from the street scene with the up-draught.

The exhibitions can be found in the Caja Granada Centro Cultural and the Sala Zaida in the Caja Rural."

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Suspect linked to East End gangster

The Press Association: Suspect linked to East End gangster: "Police want to trace the grandson of one of Britain's most notorious East End gangsters over a drug-smuggling conspiracy.
Anthony Fraser, grandson of former gangland enforcer 'mad' Frankie Fraser, is believed to be hiding on the Costa del Sol in Spain.
The 39-year-old Londoner is wanted over the importation of two tonnes of cannabis, hidden in a lorryload of frozen chicken, from Holland in 2009.
He is one of 10 suspected villains whose faces will be unveiled by Crimestoppers on Monday in Alicante, Spain.
Investigators want the public to help them trace fugitives thought to be on the run in the Costa del Sol region of the country.
Among those on the latest 'most wanted' list are men suspected of murder, child sex offences, kidnapping, robbery and drug smuggling.
Anthony Fraser went on the run after several people were arrested at a storage unit in Grays, Essex, as cannabis worth £5 million was uncovered in March 2009.
Five people were subsequently convicted of drugs offences and jailed for between six and seven years at Southwark Crown Court. A second suspect, Neil Mulligan, 39, is awaiting trial in Britain after he was arrested in Spain last December."

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Morocco Holidays Thrown into Doubt by Protests

Morocco Holidays Thrown into Doubt by Protests: "The unease has thrown holidays to the whole region in doubt with some of the world’s most popular tourism spots affected. First it was the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia, then Cairo, Egypt’s capital and gateway to the Pyramids of Giza.

Over the weekend a number of largely peaceful protests took place but similar protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya quickly turned violent.

While the Tunisians and the Egyptians were successful in forcing out their leaders, the Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi shows no signs of giving up just yet and has been willing to massacre his own people.

Most of the protestors are confined to the Moroccan capital of Rabat although there are also a number of protests in Casablanca, that romantic North African city made famous by the movie of the same name. Around ten thousand Rabat protestors marched through the streets chanting ‘down with autocracy’.

There are also thought to be smaller protests taking place in popular tourist destinations such as Tangiers, Fez and Marrakech with a few violent clashes with police having been reported. Tour operators are currently monitoring the situation, as should car hire Morocco customers.

But commentators do not believe that Morocco will witness a major uprising on the scale of what happened in Egypt."

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Unspoilt Spanish beauty in Tarifa

Unspoilt Spanish beauty in Tarifa - The National: "Tarifa dangles like a tiny pendant from the southernmost tip of the Spanish coast. It's almost an island, hanging on to Spain by a thin thread of land. Crossing the Gibraltar Strait from Morocco, the final tip of Europe emerges, leaving African territory behind as the ferry ploughs between two continents. Tarifa holds Europe above her head while North Africa is so close that from Tarifa's port, I can still see Morocco's Rif mountains drawing a jagged skyline only 14 kilometres away.

Tarifa is Spanish territory, yet the town bears traces of Arab civilisations that left indelible footprints on Iberia, centuries ago. The Muslim victory over Andalusia, which continued for centuries, began in 710 CE in this tiny town, 100 kilometres from Cadiz and 200 from Seville.

Tarif Ibn Malik gave the town its name. This powerful Berber warrior led the initial invasion under the notorious Muslim conqueror of North Africa, Musa Ibn Noussair, taking much the same route as I am now, across the Gibraltar Strait, the circumstances being admittedly rather different. Many towns still bear names of Arabic origin in Andalusia. Yet it was this pinhead-sized town of Tarifa, welcoming travellers into Southern Spain, that first saw some 400 men and 100 horses embark from Maghreb before pushing through the region to take Cordoba, Granada and Seville."

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To celebrate the firm's 125th anniversary, Triumph International will break new ground

"To celebrate the firm's 125th anniversary, Triumph International will break new ground on Tuesday by becoming the first lingerie brand to hold a catwalk show at one of the most prestigious events in the fashion calendar.

Shape-seekers will be captivated by the four new ranges from the highly innovative AW11 Shape Sensation collection.

Conceived and designed as a new lingerie concept for everyday wear, Shape Sensation is the sensational solution for flawless, fashionable shaping — a real curve creator.

Hero pieces from the range, uniquely customised by Felder + Felder, will also be hitting the runway.

Triumph has dedicated its 125 years of expertise in understanding women's curves to create new levels of everyday shapewear sophistication by combining innovative fabric technology with contemporary fashion styling."

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Elle News | London Fashion Week Starts | Elleuk.com

Elle News | London Fashion Week Starts Tomorrow! | Elleuk.com: "The New York shows wrap up today which can mean only one thing - London Fashion Week begins tomorrow.

Over the next five days we will be hitting all the shows and presentations, writing reviews, uploading pictures, going to as many parties as we can manage and surviving on no sleep, lots of adrenaline and even more coffee. We can't wait. In the midst of all the last minute preparations and wardrobe anxiety we thought we'd share with you the things that we're looking forward to the most:

Carrie Gorman, Editor:

I can’t wait to see Anna Della Russo’s fashion week outfits. She’s filming a documentary this season which surely means stepping up the already Kerazee looks.

There’s always a frisson of excitement before the Kane show. If last season was neon Princess Margaret and the one before was embroidered leather, I think maybe Miami Tramp this time? Whatever, we’ll all be wearing it come September.

And I always look forward to catching up with my bi-annual show friends."

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Cheryl Cole doesn't send Rolls Royce for Derek Hough as he jets into London

Cheryl Cole doesn't send Rolls Royce for Derek Hough as he jets into London | Mail Online: "With news that Cheryl Cole will be taking her place on the judging panel of US X Factor, her long distance are-they-or-aren't-they relationship with Derek Hough will get a whole lot closer.

Until she makes the move Stateside though, the rumoured couple have to make do with jetting back and forth to spend time together.

Hough arrived in London today and was whisked straight to Cheryl's north London home - but instead of sending her Rolls Royce to fetch Derek in style, the dancer was forced to hail a black cab just like everyone else."

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start of the Marbella Classic Poker series 2011

 "start of the Marbella Classic Poker series 2011. There is a change in the structure to a two day event instead of the previous 3 days it ran over in the past. This I feel is a good move on the part of the Marbella Casino, as we demonstrated at last year’s Marbella Mob Open, a two day event with a good structure and earlier starting times is a far more attractive game for the seasoned poker player than a 3 day slog.

The cost of the buy-in remains the same at €350 for which you get a starting stack of 10,000 chips. You also have the option to take a re-buy for another €350 for the same number of chips.

So depending on whether you get off to a flying start or not, may influence your option, but the unlucky players who suffer bad beats and get their Aces cracked in the first few levels, can still come back in to fight again, but at a cost of course.

Starting time with cards in the air on Saturday is now 4.30pm and doors to the casino open at 4pm.

You could take a shot at winning a seat into the weekend’s tournament on Thursday night."

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Marbella restaurant to auction €4,200 bottle wine for charity | Costa del Sol | News | The Largest English Language Newspapers in Spain

Euro Weekly News | Marbella restaurant to auction €4,200 bottle wine for charity | Costa del Sol | News | The Largest English Language Newspapers in Spain: "SANDRO MORELLI, owner of Marbella’s Villa Tiberio is to raffle one of the rarest bottles in his cellar at a starting price of €4,200 in aid of Cudeca. The 1973 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru will be auctioned during a charity gala to be held at his restaurant on Sunday, March 6.

Decanter considers that “Among the 100 wines which it is necessary to taste before dying, three of the ten first would come from the Domaine of Romanée Conti.”"

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Lawyer Giovanni di Stefano held in Spain

 Lawyer Giovanni di Stefano held in Spain: "An Italian lawyer dubbed the 'devil's advocate' for representing a variety of high-profile criminals has been arrested in Spain on a British warrant.

Giovanni di Stefano, 55, was held in a mansion in Palma, on the island of Majorca, on Monday evening.

Mr Stefano has represented train robber Ronnie Biggs and advised the team that defended Saddam Hussein.

He is wanted by detectives at City of London police in connection with a lengthy fraud inquiry.

A City of London Police spokesman said: '[The arrest] was the result of a European Arrest Warrant issued at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on 31 January on matters relating to fraud, theft and money laundering."

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The Birthday of the Infanta at the Unicorn Theatre

Destination News - London, Florida, Geneva & South Africa Luxury Hotels - Red Carnation Hotels: The Birthday of the Infanta"The Infanta does not get many opportunities to play with other children but families enjoying a stay at the luxury London hotel the Rubens at the Palace are invited to her 12th birthday celebrations at the Unicorn Theatre in March.

This is the one time of year when she is allowed to have other children come to her home and run and play like kids do, however, all is not as straightforward as it seems when it comes to the young Spanish princess.

Having a royal bloodline brings its own pressures, especially for kids, and the Infanta faces a stark choice for someone of such tender years.

Her parents pull out all of the stops for her birthday party, with no expense spared.

The final act is a small, deformed boy who while being a figure of ridicule to others, has a profound effect on the young princess and she on him.

Their meeting changes both their lives and they find themselves in a transitional moment when the heart could melt or freeze."

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Bvlgari Signs Hotel in Knightsbridge, London

Bvlgari Signs Hotel in Knightsbridge, London: "Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts has signed a new hotel in London.

The luxury hotel, scheduled to open in spring 2012, is located in Knightsbridge, a prestigious area of Central London close to Hyde Park.

It is the third hotel project of Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, following the opening of the Bvlgari Hotel in Milan in 2004 and of the Bvlgari Resort in Bali in 2006.

The Bvlgari Hotel in London was designed for Bvlgari by the renowned architectural firm Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel & Partners, with Squire and Partners as the local architect for the project.

The hotel, with its 85 rooms and suites - including seven Bvlgari suites, each more than 200 square meters large - will offer a unique combination of refined amenities and exclusive services."

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The Return of PartyGaming

Gambling Online Magazine | News | The Return of PartyGaming: "With the recent revelation that Florida is planning to legalise online poker, and many other states considering taking advantage of the massive financial benefits of legalising online poker, it seems that some online gaming firms are way ahead of the curve.

Partygaming has reportedly signed a deal with at least one of the behemoths of US casinos to provide an online poker platform for the US market when it is regulated.

According to the Daily Mail, it has been alleged that Gibraltar-based Partygaming, has signed a deal with one or more of the major US casinos – Boyd Gaming, MGM, Las Vegas Sands and Caesars.

Ahead of the curve they are, as not only are they about to become the biggest firm in the industry after their merge with Austrian firm Bwin, this deal would give it a strong foothold in the US market when, and more importantly, if, online poker and gambling are legalised by the US government.

Many European gaming companies left the US after they were effectively outlawed in 2006, after the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act."

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Charlie Mullins, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, has bought a £1 million villa in Marbella

Charlie Mullins, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, has bought a £1 million villa in Marbella, Spain, for his four children and seven grandchildren.

The founder of Pimlico Plumbers, whose customers include Hugh Grant, already owns the four-bedroom house next door in the gated complex.

Charlie, 56, and wife Lynda, 50, spend half the year at their Spanish home.

'We need a place for them when they come out here,' says Charlie, who also owns a five-bedroom pile in Keston, Kent. "

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