In sports news:

Punters everywhere are gearing up for tomorrow's annual Aintree Grand National. 600 million people worldwide will watch horseracing's most celebrated event and many millions of pounds and Euro will be bet on picking the winner from the field of 40 runners and riders at the Liverpool racetrack.

International news:

This week has seen a significant ratcheting up of tension on the Korean peninsula with North Korea making belligerent threats against its South Korean neighbour and the United States. North Korea said it has instructed its military to prepare for attacks on the US, including nuclear attacks. In response the US has moved a missile defence system to its military base on the Pacific island of Guam.

And now some news in brief:

Ten people on the jobless register have recently signed up for six month work contracts with Casares Town Hall. Two masons and a labourer have started work in Secadero and in addition two ambulance drivers and five cleaners will be taken on in the coming weeks.

EASTER PROVIDED TOURISM BOOST FOR CASARES

Easter provided a tourism boost for the Casares area with over 300 people reported to have visited the birthplace of Blas Infante and the cultural centre. 80 per cent of the visitors were from different regions of Spain and the rest were made up of German, British, French, Japanese and Finnish tourists. Local bars and restaurants reported the same levels of customers as in previous years but with people spending less money than in recent years. The busiest days for tourists were Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Holy Week.

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO STOP EVICTION OF DISABLED WOMAN FROM HER HOME IN ESTEPONA

A campaign has been launched to prevent the eviction of a disabled woman and her son from their home in Estepona. The eviction is due to go ahead on April 16th. Leonora Mesa, is a resident of the Calle Granada area, with 82 per cent disability and a pension of lesss than 400 Euro. She was denounced for not paying her rent for several months. Now the Stop Evictions campaign has taken up her case to ensure that she and her son are not thrown out on to the street after April 16th. The group met with Estepona's Mayor on Tuesday and they are now calling for anyone with empty property to help the woman find somewhere to live.

MEMBERS OF CASARES COUNCIL APPEAR BEFORE ESTEPONA JUDGE INVESTIGATING THE MAJESTIC CASE

Members of Casares Council between the years 2003 to 2007 have been giving statements to a judge in Estepona who is carrying out the Majestic investigation. Members of the governing group as well as opposition parties and officials have been before the judge in court 2 in Estepona. Casares Mayor Antonia Morera has said that the evidence is to clarify some issues relating to the Majestic promotion and that everyone has acted in the best interests of Casares and its residents. She said that the statements they have given only relate to planning issues and not to the overall investigation. She said she hoped the statements would clarify the position of those who were involved in the council with the overall case.

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES SHOW SLIGHT DECREASE IN JOBLESS IN CASARES LAST MONTH

The latest unemployment figures show a slight drop in three number of people out of work in Casares. with two less people on the dole for the second consecutive month. The number out of work in March was 529, that's 31 less than for the same period last year. In Manilva there were 10 less people on the dole last month, with a total of 1,520 out of work. Unemployment also dropped in Estepona, where there were 211 less people on the dole, with a total of 8,158, or 345 less than a year ago. In Malaga province as a whole, the jobless figures have dropped with 1,623 less people signing on, but the total for the province now stands at over 216,000, a four per cent increase on the same period last year.