Business View

The Dominican Republic Police have arrested three people, including a Spanish woman, who confessed his involvement in the murder of Spanish businessman Antonio Crespo, a resident in the east, where they searched his body, said one police source.

Crespo was seen alive for the last time on 29 March, has said his family in Spain.

The detainees are the Spanish Maria Isabel FG, 39, a former member of the now vanished in a restaurant Bavaro Beach in the tourist area of ​​Punta Cana (east), and Dominicans Oswaldy BMT and Yonson R.P. alias ‘El Flaco’.

She admitted, said the police source told Efe, who committed the crime in an unspecified date at the request of a fellow, who declined to identify, and who had promised 10 million pesos ($ 256,000) for the death of Crespo, who advanced him 40,000 pesos (just over $ 1,000).

According to the source, the detainee said in interviews that planned the death of his compatriot with Oswaldy MT, who attacked with sticks to Crespo when he was sitting on a couch in the house of the woman, in a residence of Bavarian .

Oswaldy M.T. narrated that the man survived the attack and that the woman placed a plastic bag over the head of the employer to cause death by asphyxiation.

To remove the body of Crespo’s house the Spanish Oswaldy MT Yonson sought help from RP, who confessed to police that, in turn, requested the support of two other men currently fugitives-for “disappearing” the body.

Crespo’s body, according to the account of those arrested, was taken in his own vehicle, which was later found traces of blood in Friusa Hole in the Playa Bavaro.

Police are looking for the body of Crespo and the two men at large, also found bloodstains in the house of the woman arrested, and a stick and a plastic bag allegedly used in the crime.

Two other people, apparently alerted about the incident to the police were investigated on the matter, but excluding the case but will be used as witnesses.

A son of the late Efe said yesterday in Madrid that his father was about ten years living in the Dominican Republic and the prime suspect, Maria Isabel FG, is a former partner in a restaurant in Playa Bavaro.

He added that at first his father started a business of import and export years later “went down” and then decided to open a restaurant in Playa Bavaro with the now detained, who according to his son owed him money.

Earlier this year, according to their statements, decided to work in a business that imported Spanish wines and sell in the area of ​​Playa Bavaro, Punta Cana.

Daniel Brühl dreams as a leading Ferrari in the film which portrays the Austrian driver Niki Lauda Formula 1, but living in Berlin made ​​him abandon that idea now, said Germano-Spanish actor in an interview newspaper “Die Welt” in its Easter edition.

“Unfortunately I have no garage and a car and must be looked after well. In Berlin set fire to cars,” said the artist, who lives between the German capital, where last summer more than 700 vehicles burned in a wave arson, and Barcelona.

Fortunately, three cars have been burnt down, despite being potentially flammable.

“I have an Audi, an old Alfa Romeo Giulia and Peugeot 204 convertible. They are perfectly,” said the actor, 33.

But not only the arsonists is concerned, but also the current state of German cinema, acknowledges in the interview.

“Today it’s frustrating,” said the actor, adding that at the beginning of his career “was proud to be part of German cinema” and thought “good films continue”.

The artist, who said miss science fiction films in the German film industry, was nevertheless optimistic and confident that the situation “already fixed”.

In addition to being immersed in the filming of “Rush” by U.S. director Ron Howard and which gets into the role of legendary Lauda, ​​finds time to work on a book about Barcelona travel.

The gas consortium of Gazprom has asked the authorities in Greece to buy Greek gas company DEPA, said the Russian state giant’s vice president Alexander Medvedev.

“We have submitted our application and we hope to make the cut. We intend to make an offer for a real price, we will not pay more than it costs,” he told reporters the company’s top executive was quoted by local agencies.

Medvedev said that Gazprom does not intend to do also with the Greek consortium of gas transportation disadvantaged, acquisition coupled with the purchase of DEPA would run counter to antitrust European Union known as the Third Energy Package (TPE).

At the same time, the gas giant’s vice president said that in case of recovery of the entire European market, the Greek could double their capacity.

The Greek press has DEPA valued at 1,000 million dollars.

Meanwhile, Gazprom is negotiating with the EU the implementation of the TPE, energetic new legal framework in place since May 2011 to force the unbundling of the activities of production, transportation and marketing of gas and includes safeguards to prevent networks fall into the hands foreign companies.

Moscow considers very harmful to their companies operating in the European market this containment wall that some called “anti-Gazprom clause” so that has not stopped fighting to ease the conditions of TPE that directly affect their interests.

“The last contact with the European Commission indicate that solution even without the light at the end of the tunnel, a light strong enough to not be turned off, and have the possibility of marketing and promotion in the European market,” Medvedev said today.

The vice president, aware that the TPE can not be reversed, said that “Norwegian companies have gained a special status for its pipelines” and expressed hope that the regime of enforcement “is discussed” that at least ” Russian pipelines to get the same benefits. ”

The executive of Gazprom also announced that the export volume of the company could stop growing in 2012, not least because the consortium intends to sell its product at the lowest cost.

“If we have to choose to export 154,000 cubic meters at a lower price or 150,000 million to a higher opt for the latter,” Medvedev said.

In 2011, the Russian giant exported 150,000 million cubic meters of gas, 11,400 million more than in 2010.

In February, the consortium announced that it estimates the export volume in 2012, 154,000 cubic meters.

The deputy from A Coruña and former minister of Justice Francisco Caamano said today that if you need to work together with the Government for the country not intervened, the PSOE “be there”.

In response to questions from reporters during a visit to the area of ​​fire Fragas Eume As in A Capela (A Coruña), Caamano has reviewed the statements of Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos, who, in an interview German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, is confident that Spain will overcome the crisis “by his own strength.”

“I hope what he means is that we are who we can work together and make policies that allow us to overcome this without having to undergo surgery,” has expressed Caamano, then move on to blame the PP behavior in opposition, when the socialist government passed “peaks as hard or more than this” but Spain was bugged.

So, has ensured that the socialist opposition “will not be like them” and “if you have to work together to make this country is not involved, the PSOE will, yes,” he said. He pointed out that the PP has to be aware of “the few hands that threw” when necessary.

Caamano expected that the PP will realize that “if they had done the same” now asking, “Spain was perhaps better placed in the international context and crisis, a little better.”

He has also warned that it is not possible out of the crisis with measures “where austerity is opposed to prosperity” and that Spain must convince the rest of the EU to the south of Europe requires political support and solidarity “for the adjustment is deferred in time “and to end the crisis with growth and” all live better and avoid dramatic unemployment figures. “

The French Ministry of Transport has approved the layout of the two branches of the future line of high-speed train (TGV) from Bordeaux to the south, one to the Spanish border and the other at Toulouse.

The announcement was made by the railway infrastructure manager RFF, which said in a statement that such approval is validation of the proposals had been made on 9 January in a steering committee.

Proposals that are the result of “an innovative action consultation and studies conducted over the last four years, which has enabled the project now approved evolve” to the point that 40% has been “adapted” to have into account the proposals of local actors, RFF said.

In this regard, has approached the project of new TGV lines to the existing southeast of the city of Bordeaux and north of Toulouse to allow use of both infrastructure for regional transport.

The Government’s decision now allows to prepare the survey of public utility which is scheduled for the end of the first half of 2013 with a view to obtaining the declaration of public in late 2014.

The so-called “Great Southwest railway project” includes 417 kilometers of new lines between Bordeaux and, on one hand the Spanish border in the Basque Country and Toulouse on the other.

Bordeaux a common will to be divided into two branches about 50 miles south, one towards the Basque Country, the southwest and one to the east and Toulouse.

The first pass north of Mont-de-Marsan and Dax and enter the French Basque country on the periphery east of Bayonne, with a detour to the station of the city. From there it will run parallel to the coastline and three miles of it to cross the Spanish border in Irun, near where the highway does.

The second will be directed first towards the valley of the Garonne and once there Feugarolles up to follow the course of the river to its final destination.

ERC President, Oriol Junqueras believes that if the government of the Generalitat fails to negotiate a pact with the PP tax in the line of a financial arrangement, “should seek help from the EU” as well as “call and consultation “to the Catalans.

According Junqueras said that the only way that the Government has enough resources to carry out the policies that need the Catalans’ passes have an economic agreement “or otherwise” advance towards independence. ”

Noted, in this sense, the government of CiU that, given “a state of financial strangulation as currently suffering from the Generalitat, which compels him to increase the deficit year after year,” which “can not do is keep losing time. ”

“Politicians are here to solve people’s problems, not to waste time,” he insisted, so it has urged the government led by Artur Mas “to move without delay to the plenary of the Parliament” the conclusions of the commission study on the economic agreement.

According to the ERC leader, “if not used by most CiU already on the commission is not willing” and has asked the convergent “meet its election commitments” and that “govern” with the assurance that “yes they do, they can count on our support. ”

Although, in theory, the CDC will that Catalonia has a state of their own, expressed at its last congress should close the gap with CKD, the president of this party wants to “talk about facts and not mere declarations of good will. ”

“It’s not whether we believe it or not, but we are in politics to analyze the facts and defend the interests of citizens,” said Junqueras before noting that “the acid test” is that CiU “set date to democracy. ”

The latter clarified, means “let the Catalans expressed in a query in a clear and explicit” on the fiscal pact, which is crucial, he said, because it amounts to decide “what is done with their taxes.”

In the event that the Govern negotiate with the PP without convening a consultation and talks end with a denial that Catalonia has a funding system similar to the Basque Country and Navarre, Junqueras believes “should be given back the voice to citizens for their opinion.

The number of self has decreased by 0.7% in the first quarter, from the 3,071,669 who were registered in the Special Scheme for Self-Employed in late December 2011, to 3,050,798 in March , 20,871 less.

In a statement, the National Federation of Independent Workers Association (ATA) said that the decline has been widespread in all the Autonomous Communities, except in Ceuta and Melilla, where he has such workers increased by 1.1% and 0 , 1%, respectively.

Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla-La Mancha are the ones leading the falls, with 1%, and absolute values ​​of 755, 428 and 1,500 fewer workers.

Is then placed Valencia with a -0.9%, followed by Aragon, Castile and Catalonia Lenon, who with a drop of 0.8% are above average, while Galicia and La Rioja define this fall of 0.7%.

The 0.6% decline own Canary Islands, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia and the Basque Country.

As for the sectors most affected, it becomes, according to the ATA report, construction in the first quarter, followed by commerce, industry and agriculture.

From the Federation emphasizes that there has been increased self-employed in the education sector, with membership of 860 new workers in the financial and insurance, 259 workers.

ATA President noted that during March there was an increase of self, which is a “turnaround” but feels that one must be cautious and wait for the behavior of the coming months.

Bad weather and the economic crisis affecting tourism Spanish during Holy Week, the failure to comply with forecasts pointing to a hotel occupancy rate of over 80%.

Forecasts released a week earlier by the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) to place the occupation of this 2012 season at levels similar to the previous year, ie over 80% on average in the country, have not been met overall, staying between 70 and 75%.

However, there have been areas where tourism has reached the half and even surpassed, but as noted Rafael Gallego, chairman of the Federation of Travel Agents (CEAVYT), more foreign tourists by nationals.

Foreign tourism and local employment has favored island in the Canaries, where it has exceeded 90% of arrivals, representing, according to the president of CEAVYT, high occupancy, which contrasts with the Balearic Islands, an archipelago where there have been problems with the advancement of Holy Week.

For example, employment in the south of Gran Canaria shows that 90%, as confirmed Ramon Suarez, Councillor of Tourism of San Bartolome de Tirajana, municipality, together with the adjoining Mogan, are the two quintessential tourist areas Gran Canaria.

Suarez explained that good occupation recorded resorts of southern Gran Canaria has been made possible by the influx of local tourism, which has decided to stay “at home” to spend these days off, as this is the more affordable alternative to household economies in this crisis situation.

The Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) estimates that the average occupancy of the premises of the island is around 72%, representing a decrease of about 9.5 points over the same period of 2011, when the hotels open sold 82% of their seats.

66.6% of the squares of the hotels associated with the FEHM are open these days, a percentage slightly lower than 68.9% of the Easter of 2011, which fell in late April.

Another area that usually represents a good barometer of the Easter holiday is the Levant, especially Valencia.

The Councillor for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Dolores Johnson, the community has indicated that it is in occupancy rates similar to 2011, although there has been a slight decline in some parts of the coast, where the average occupancy reaches 70%.

In Andalusia, the occupation is similar to the average, highlighting the traditional processions cities such as Seville and Malaga, as well as in other parts of the country of great tradition of Holy Week.

Anyway, to Gallego, and in view of the reservations that have been registered travel agents can speak of an average occupancy that would stand at 70 or 75%, but above all thanks to foreign tourists, adding that the occupation is uneven and that “the show is on neighborhoods.”

About 1,200 outlets closed travel agencies in Spain this year, due to the crisis and the adjustment being made by the sector, as explained the CEO consortium GEBTA Spain travel agencies specializing in trips business, Marcel Forns.

This year will follow the industry trend, as in Spain in 2011 closed about 1,600 points of sale of travel agencies, because there is’ over the network compared with other European countries, “according Forns, excess being adjusted with the crisis.

The turnover of the companies that are part of GEBTA closed the year 2011 with a revenue growth of between 1.6% and 2.5%, failing to finish closing the data.

The forecast GEBTA suggest that this year will be quite similar to the previous and business travel will remain a “lever” in favor of globalization and the export of Spanish companies.

However, and given the government cuts to reduce the deficit this year may be a reduction of government travel.

The government accounts for between 10 and 15% of corporate travel.

Forns For business travel is a key element in the growth and export business, since, according to a study GEBTA, for every dollar spent for the company’s return would be about 118 euros.

The market pressure on European countries with debt problems has raised again the risk of Spain this Easter and the stock fell to lows in three years without the budget crisis presented by the Government in Congress have softened the nervousness of investors.

On Holy Thursday jumped alarms. The risk premium reached 402 basis points, the highest since November, and the stock market has lost 4.34% this week and 11.68% throughout 2012.

The Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Luis de Guindos, this situation has been attributed to “nervousness” of markets by “doubts about the growth of Europe” and said in an interview with Reuters that the government is committed to “the politics of deficit reduction and economic reform. ”

In addition to stress that the problem is in Europe, whose parks have fallen this week between 3-5%, de Guindos insisted that the objective of the budget for discussion by the Congress is to advance fiscal consolidation to restore confidence and growth.

In an interview broadcast Friday on the Internet by the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, the minister has defended the budget cuts of 27,300 million euros and is confident that Spain will overcome the crisis “by his own strength.”

“The markets will react positively when they have precisely studied our budgets,” said and anticipated that the next steps the government point to reforms of public services “especially in health and education”, without specifying.

The European Commission, through its financial vice-president Olli Rehn, has insisted on claiming an “unambiguous commitment” to reduce government deficits, but has thrown a cloak reiterating his confidence in the reforms.

“Spain is showing determination in its fiscal policy and structural reforms,” ​​Rehn said on Friday Reuters in Brussels.

Economic analysts polled by Reuters see the rapid implementation of reforms and in meeting the deficit target the touchstone to scare the investor distrust.

The key to calm the markets is to issue “a message for strong fiscal consolidation,” said Guntram Wolff, deputy director of Bruegel Brussels study center.

“The main crisis in Spain is not fiscal, but results of imbalances that have had an impact on banks and households and therefore in government accounts,” added Wolff, who said “it is absolutely essential that the Spanish Government will continue to demonstrate that you are serious structural reforms and budget adjustments. ”

For Soledad Pellon, an analyst at IG Markets, “The debt crisis is not over but has experienced a temporary stage of tranquility through massive injections of liquidity from the ECB.”