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15 - 21 MAY 2014
ISSUE NO. 1506
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
PALMA’S Son Sant Joan Airport broke historic records this April when it exceeded 1.7 million passengers for the first time. In a sign that the tourism industry is well on the way to recovery, 1,701,617 passengers arrived there last month; this is a year-on-year rise of 5.5 per cent. This figure is half of that expected to arrive every month in July and August. Most of the passengers were from Germany (652,949), Spain (437,474) and the UK (258,200). The vast majority of the flights were commercial although some were private. Most were scheduled flights but 11,747 were charters.
CORDON PRESS
Record-breaking Palma Airport is flying high
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THIS WEEK IN
EWN News 1 - 22
Finance 23 - 28
Letters 29
Daily TV HUMAN STATUE: Taking a break.
S’Hort del Rei art THE S’Hort del Rei is the place to exhibit if you are a street artist in the Balearic Islands. It’s a great place for them to do business as thousands of tourists pass through the park and gardens every day; in the last months the number of street artists working in the area has increased tenfold. Painters, caricaturists, human statues and musicians have converted the area into an impromptu museum while trying to earn themselves some money.
All of this is going on without council permissions and the Palma Council has now warned them that they will be removed from the area very soon. Councillor for the PP, Irene San Gil, has commented that as soon as council norms are established they will arrange a meeting with the street artists and come to an agreement as to where they can ply their trade and what the permissions might cost. This illegal trade is infringing on the legal market which is just next door; it is considered unfair competition.
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Leapy Lee 34
Time out 38 - 39
Classifieds 47 - 49
Sport 56
NEWS German promotion A DELEGATION from Palma City Hall travelled to Germany to meet with several companies in the tourism sector and promote the city as a weekend destination. Sellers tricked A MAN was arrested in Manacor for tricking disabled lottery sellers, asking them to give him coins in exchange for a note but failing to give them the money.
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15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
Schoolgirl fakes kidnapping A SCHOOLGIRL caused a police investigation to be launched after claiming two men in a van had tried to kidnap her in Porto Cristo. Her mother went to the police telling them that two men with balaclavas had approached her daughter offering her sweets and
attempted to get her into a white van. The girl claimed she had been able to escape to a nearby shop to get help. National and Local Police in Manacor launched an investigation, but found inconsistencies in the girl’s story and she eventually admitted that she had made up
the story because she was afraid of going to school. She said that during a workshop about fear that morning, a boy had said he was afraid of being kidnapped, after hearing rumours of similar cases, and she based her story on that.
Lighting plans LIGHTING will be provided in the 400metre-long Monnaber Tunnel in the Serra de Tramuntana, thanks to solar panels, following demands from cyclists. Unprepared staff THERE have been complaints that a doctor with no training in neonatal care is covering shifts in the paediatric department at Inca Regional Hospital. New flight AIRLINE Air Nostrum will connect Asturias and Mallorca three times a week with flights on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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ews watch
Hiker rescued
FIREMEN from Inca and Soller had to rescue a German hiker who hurt his foot and was trapped on the Valldemossa-Deia route.
More bikes
COLLABORATION: An important aspect of family life.
BICYCLE circulation on the streets of Palma has increased by more than 26 per cent in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.
Thief detained A MAN was arrested in Calas de Mallorca for allegedly breaking into at least two houses in the area and stealing jewellery and valuable items. Co-payment plan THE Balearic Government has introduced a system by which patients in care homes will have to pay part of the cost of their medicines and hygiene products.
EWN
Unpaid fare A MAN, 30, was arrested in Palma for failing to pay the €74.12 fare after taking a taxi from Santanyi to Palma.
Drunk driver
Happy families... TODAY (Thursday) is the International Day of Families, set up by the United Nations in 1992. The day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. An important part of family life is collaborating together towards a common goal and in Spain children could be legally obliged to do housework under a new draft law. Outside the home and school, children and adolescents should ‘respect themselves, the people they interact with and the surroundings in which they live’ and more specifically, ‘respect the environment and help towards its conservation’. The law also refers to children and adolescents respecting the ‘dignity, integrity and intimacy of everyone they relate to, independently of their age, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, disability, physical
Quote of the Week I prefer not to comment, but if you sow winds you reap storms,’ PSdeG-PSOE Councillor of Vilagarcia de Arousa, Pontevedra, Susana Camiño, on her Facebook wall, regarding the death of PP President of Leon, Isabel Carrasco. She was ordered to resign immediately.
or social characteristics, appurtenance to certain social groups or any other personal or social circumstance’. It also refers to them conserving and making good use of public and private resources, facilities and equipment, urban furnishings and any other infrastructures they might use. If the Child Protection law is passed, children under 18 will be legally obliged to do household chores ‘in accordance with their age and regardless of their gender’, as well as participate in family life and respect their parents, siblings and other relatives. The draft law doesn’t set out penalties for children who fail to fulfil these requirements, but it also specifies that children would have to ‘respect school rules’, ‘study as required’ and ‘maintain a positive attitude about learning’. Also at school, the law would oblige them to ‘respect their teachers and other staff, as well as their fellow students’.
Number of the week
1,611
pregnant women gathered in Plaza de Callao in Madrid to break the world record of the largest group of pregnant women in one city, a title which was previously held by Barcelona, where 1,189 people gathered last year.
A MAN, 38, was arrested in Palma for driving without a licence while he was also four times over the legal alcohol limit.
Fire controlled A FIRE broke out in a pine forest in Camp de Mar, Andratx, just 200 metres from a villa owned by Claudia Schiffer, and was brought under control within two hours.
Bookings up HOTEL reservations for this summer have risen 25 per cent in Mallorca already, compared to those received for the same period last year, according to Hotelbeds.
Man beaten A MARTIAL arts expert was arrested after beating another man unconscious in Manacor following an argument between them.
And finally... THE Taliban have announced that they will target Afghan interpreters and translators who have worked with the international troops, including the Spanish, in attacks as part of what they say will be a ‘key year’ to get rid of the ‘infidel invaders’ from their country.
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8 years for stabbing woman A MAN has been sentenced to eight years and three months in prison for attempting to kill the owner of a house in Port d’Alcudia where he was caught stealing
items in May 2008. The events took place when the man entered the victim’s property after making holes in the fence several days earlier. He took a motorcycle, helmet and a bag containing keys, gloves and protective equipment, but as he was looking towards the house he was spotted by the owner. He pulled down his balaclava and the woman attempted to get inside the house, but he grabbed her by the hair and pulled
BALACLAVA HELMET: As worn by the robber.
her to the floor. As she screamed and tried to get away, he knelt on her
chest and repeatedly banged her head on the floor.
She attempted to grab a knife but he got to it before her and stabbed her in the neck and arms three times. A neighbour arrived at that moment and the intruder escaped through the fence, leaving objects and garments behind him, many covered in blood. He been sentenced for attempted manslaughter, violent robbery and using deadly weapons.
Detained for driving without a licence A MAN has been detained in Son Servera for driving without a licence. The police chased him down after he fled from a routine traffic control; the man had already lost all the points on his licence and, as such, the police arrested him. He stands accused of driving without a licence or valid insurance.
NEWS NEWS EXTRA
More classes MALLORCA political parties have not reached agreement about teaching languages in schools; the PP say there should be more language classes to be in line with the EU.
€1.5 million FAMOUS singer, Ana Torroja, has been sentenced to pay the Hacienda over €1.5 million in back taxes from 2003, 2006 and 2007. She has already paid back €700,000.
No strike THE transport union of the Balearics could come to an agreement on the contracts to be renewed for the new season; this would avoid a strike in the summer months. NO POINTS: Therefore no insurance.
NEWS
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15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
REMAINS were exhumed in Son Valenti cemetery in Palma as part of an investigation into a possible ‘stolen baby’ case. Six bodies, one of which could belong to a baby, were found by National Police. It was the first time an
NEWS EXTRA
Campaigning president THE president of the Govern des Baleares (regional government), Ramon Bauza, will campaign for the EU elections in Andalucia; he is currently attending a tourist workshop in Malaga.
€24 million THE Agencia Tributaria (tax agency) has paid back €24 million to 39,115 Balearic tax payers who have already handed in their returns for 2013.
Thumbs up FROM the middle of June dogs will be able to travel on bus lines 2 and 20. They have been travelling on line 30 since November 2013 without incident.
Sex abuse COURTS in Palma have sentenced an 85-year-old man to one-and-a-half years in prison for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl. He also has to pay her a fine of €3,000 and cannot go to any bar in Palma for two years.
exhumation as part of the stolen baby scandal has happened in Mallorca. Tests will now be carried out to discover whether the remains belong to a girl born in August 1970 whose mother believes she was stolen from her. After hearing of several cases in the press, the woman managed to get an investigation launched into her case, which she thought could be similar. Her baby was born four weeks early in Son Dureta Hospital and put in an incubator. The mother was released four days later, but the baby remained in hospital. Nine days later, the family was told she had died and her husband at the time was told to take a white dress and a coffin to the hospital. Neither of them ever saw the body and the coffin was buried in a family tomb. According to the hospital documents, the baby was healthy and there are no hospital records of her death, only at the Registry
CABRERFOTO
Remains are exhumed in stolen baby investigation
BURIAL SCENE: Son Valenti cemetery. Office, and these are signed by a doctor whose surname doesn’t coincide with any working at Son Dureta at the time. The surname is the same as that of a matron working at the hospital then, who she suspects may have sold her baby. More than 1,500 court cases have been filed in Spain by people hoping to track down their lost relatives but many have been shelved on the grounds that they were committed too long ago. The alleged victims believe a network of doctors and nuns stole newborn babies and sold them for adoption,
starting under the 193975 dictatorship of General Francisco Franco and continuing up to the 1980s. In many cases, the wealthy families who got the babies were unaware that their parents had not given them up willingly.
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NEWS EXTRA
Give watts THERE will be a charity gym workout on May 24 at the Santa Ponsa Country Club in aid of the Givewatts charity. Access to energy is something many take for granted but for 1.5 billion people it is difficult. Just €45 can buy a solar lamp for a school to help children study. Givewatts’ vision is to make renewable energy available to offgrid households in a sustainable way. They can be contacted at www.givewatts.org.
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Drugs trial suspended after surprise ‘La Paca’ confession A NEPHEW of infamous Mallorca drugs matriarch ‘La Paca’ was arrested during a trial in Palma
Provincial Court after confessing that he had hidden 500 grammes of cocaine. GAMBLING ADDICTION: Can hit anyon.e
4 detained FOUR security guards, in es Pinaret, Palma, have been detained for, allegedly, beating up minors at the juvenile centre. They have confessed to being part of a neo-Nazi group.
NEWS
Gambling addict threatens own family A GAMBLING addict in Manacor threatened his own mother and cousin at knife-point because they would not give him money to feed his habit. The man, 50, has a long criminal record for robbery linked to his drug addiction. It would appear in recent years the man substituted his drug addiction for a gambling addiction.
Twenty-nine-year-old Francisco, known as El Ico Pequeño (Little Ico) was testifying in the trial against four families involved in drug trafficking in Son Banya, and said that he found the cocaine in 2010 and hid it in a chicken coup belonging to one of ‘La Sole’s’ son’s, who is accused in the case. It was later seized by National Police during a raid, and the owner of the chicken coup had always said it wasn’t his. Twenty-five people are on trial and facing a total of 138 years in prison for drug trafficking, including his ex-wife and other close relatives. However, after his revelation, it was suspended and he was handcuffed and taken to a cell. He remained calm at all times and was remanded in prison several hours later. The case has now been sent back to the Palma court which initially investigated it in 2010 for an extra inquiry to be launched which could reveal more evidence. Depending on how long this takes, the case could be annulled and may have to be repeated again from the beginning.
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NEWS EXTRA
More mosques IN just 10 years the number of mosques in the Balearic Islands has gone from six to 48. These figures indicate a rise of 700 per cent in a decade.
Hit for hoot LOCAL POLICE in Manacor have arrested a 21-yearold for beating up a driver who hooted at him as he was wandering around in the middle of the road. He also kicked the car several times.
Balcony fall A 70-YEAR-OLD woman died when she fell off a third floor balcony in Palma. Police do not suspect foul play.
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Second Year in Mallorca for the Street Angels STREET ANGELS was launched about eight years ago and they are now in more than 120 towns and cities across the UK. They are made up of groups of volunteers, mainly Christians from local churches, who want to make a difference in their communities. They do this in a very practical way, by caring for vulnerable people during the night. This might be helping people back to a place of safety like their hotels or homes, administering basic first aid or warning people of risks. Since starting in the UK, they have seen a massive reduction in violent crime, often over 50 per cent, in the towns where they are working
ON A MISSION: Making the streets a safer place. and have been honoured with numerous awards for their work. Street Angels Spain, now starting in Magaluf, is the first adaptation of the concept here in Spain, and after a very successful trial season in Santa Ponsa they are ready to play their part in making the town a safer place.
This year they have the support of the Guardia Civil, Local Police and the British Consulate, which they are hoping will lead to a more ‘joined-up’ thinking about the problems in Magaluf. Their team has now completed most of the training sessions which have covered, among
other things, personal safety, conflict resolution and first aid. They will be out from 4am to 8am every weekend morning and hope to increase the days they can cover although this depends on getting more volunteers. They are still looking for sponsorship and support as they are trying to purchase a road-legal golf buggy which will enable them to help people back to
their hotels, a big part of their work last year; getting people back to their beds is a simple way of reducing theft and violence towards them.
If you are interested in supporting them, or want to become a volunteer, then please contact them through their website: www. streetangels.es or facebook/StreetAngels Spain.
Two years’ jail for pimping girlfriend, 16 A MAN has been sentenced to two years in prison for forcing his girlfriend into prostitution when she was 16. The Romanian girl, now 18, claimed in Palma Provincial Court that when she was 13, her father forced her to enter an illegal marriage and that when her ‘husband’ left her, she went back to her family in Palma before meeting the accused and going to live with him in Barcelona in April 2012. Her father reported her missing, but said she called home once a month. National Police brought her back to Palma, but as soon as she turned 18, she went back to the accused. He was facing 14 years in prison, but the sentence has been reduced as he admitted that he took the money, and she said that she
PHOTO: from flickr by Sunset Noir
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ON THE STREET: Girl forced into prostitution. Picture posed by model. voluntarily worked as a street prostitute, sharing her earnings with her boyfriend to help pay the rent. He has also been sentenced to pay a €1,080 fine.
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NEWS
PICKED UP: Police arrested man at baggage reclaim.
100 drug packets hidden in body THE National Police in Son Sant Joan airport in Palma detained a Maghrebi man when they suspected him of carrying drugs inside his body. He was held at the baggage reclaim terminal as he was picking up his luggage from a flight from North Africa. He was obliged to undergo an x-ray exam after which it was confirmed
Mugger arrested LOCAL POLICE officers have arrested a mugger on the beach in Palma for an alleged robbery with violence. The alleged perpetrator hit the victim, a German tourist, several times in the face breaking his nose; he then stole his wallet and mobile phone. The incident happened in the early hours of the morning in Calle Cartago; an eye-witness identified the alleged mugger as being morbidly obese. The police rapidly tracked down the suspect and searched him which produced €800 in cash, the victim’s wallet and a high-end mobile phone. The suspect stands accused of robbery with violence.
that he had ‘foreign objects’ inside his body. The passenger was arrested and stands accused of crimes against public health; he was moved to the hospital at Son Espases where he began to expel the foreign objects from his body. He had more than 100 date-shaped hashish packets and once he left the hospital he was taken to the police station in Palma.
Europe Citizen of the year award EDWARD INGRAM was given the award for European Citizen of the Year. In his speech he thanked the committees and groups of the 41 Club, Rotary and others which he volunteers with as well as the organisers of Europe Day. A special presentation was also paid to Dora who recently passed
away. Her group The Coffee Mates and her husband took to the stage whilst Angela Guerro paid an emotional tribute to her. The entertainment flowed all afternoon under the guidance of local performer Gee Carmichael. Everyone hailed the day a great success.
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NEWS EXTRA
Safety screen PALMA Municipal Transport System (EMT) has finished installing safety screens to protect bus drivers as the number of attacks on drivers had been increasing.
Window case LOCAL POLICE in Manacor are asking for help to solve the case of who is responsible for a spate of carwindow breakages. At least six cars have had their windows broken.
Deaf safety SANTA MARGALIDA Council has come up with a novel idea for the safety of the deaf; it is making sure all life saving personnel know enough sign language to make rescuing a deaf person easier.
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NEWS
Father and son to stand trial for murder of woman A MAN, 80, and his son, 19, are facing a total of 43 years in prison for killing the youth’s mother in their home in Palma in 2013. In the early hours of the morning of February 28, 2013, following an argument, the young man allegedly grabbed his
mother, 60, pushed her to the floor and repeatedly beat her around the head with a three-kilo dumbbell before strangling her with an electric cable, while his father watched him. According to her secret diary, found by the National Police, she had been
abused by her husband and son since the boy was 13 and feared for her life. The youth, who already had a criminal record, was remanded in prison, and confessed to the crime late last year, claiming his father had not been involved. However, the older man
Balearic Islands short on nurses THERE are not enough nurses on the Balearic Islands. According to the CIS (centre for social investigations) healthcare is the fifth highest on the list of what worries the citizens of the Balearic Islands. The Spanish average is of 536 nurses for every 100,000 people, but the Balearic Island average is 508 for every 100,000, while the EU average is 808.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES: Provided by nurses.
is charged with habitually abusing and humiliating his wife and allowing their son to do the same. On one occasion, when the boy threw a can of condensed milk at her head, his father justified his actions and didn’t accompany her to the health centre, where
she was given stitches. He refused her money for clothes, despite the family being well off, banned her from seeing relatives and beat her when they argued. The youth had been involved with a girl under 18 who he left when she got pregnant, which is reportedly one of the reasons his mother argued with him just before her death. He had just come back from Madrid, where his girlfriend lived, and had been living in a hotel. He wanted to go live with her, but his mother disagreed. After killing her, he reportedly searched the internet for information on how to clean up a crime scene and the emergency services were not called for several hours. Father and son initially said her death had been an accident.
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Palma fire brigade watching out for the forests PALMA FIRE BRIGADE has begun its maximum alert period which will last until around the middle of October. All through the summer firefighters will be making periodic inspections of the wooded areas around the municipality with the hope of spotting any likely problems before they turn into fires. They will also be making sure that all the access roads to water deposits are clear as well as confirming that the water deposits themselves are full and clear of any floating materials.
Councillor for Citizen’s Safety, Guillem Navarro, explained that the fire brigade will go out daily to each of the three risk zone parks; Sa Teulera, El Central and Playa de Palma to check on the areas where there are residents. He went on to comment that in Palma it is a problem that there are residential zones mixed in with the natural reserves. Fire brigade chief, Manuel Angel Nieto, explained that people living in the natural reserves should make a barrier of approximately 25 metres around their houses as a fire break;
he also said that those living in high risk areas should be extra-vigilant and warn the fire brigade the moment they see smoke. He also reminded citizens that it is illegal to make any sort of bonfire at any time of year in Palma. From now until October the Palma fire brigade will make approximately 400 runs to check the high risk areas. Last year they put out a total of 103 small fires and participated in the extinction of another six forest fires; there were 45 in 2012.
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NEWS EXTRA
Axe murder TWO alleged murderers from Pollensa, aged 40 and 56, are behind bars. They stand accused of killing an 84-year-old man with an axe.
Human rights MORE than a dozen Venezuelan nationals congregated in the Placa Major in Palma to protest the actions of their government for not observing human rights.
Car crash A MAN, 43, died in a two-vehicle crash in Palma, the other two occupants, 30 and 32, were not seriously hurt. The cause of the crash is not known but traffic lights at the crossing may have failed.
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NEWS
Major police operation against arranged marriages SEVENTY-TWO people were arrested and 546 charged throughout Spain in a National Police operation against arranged marriages. The network, based in Valencia,
paid Spanish women up to €4,000 to marry Nigerian immigrants so that they could obtain legal residence in Spain. The immigrants paid the gang between €6,000 and €10,000 to
arrange the wedding and obtain the necessary documents to get their residents’ card. The network forged documents to make it appear that they had been issued by the authorities in
Expats Club next networking party A CLUB for English speaking expats in Mallorca is throwing its next party for social and business networking. The Venue is Mood Beach in Portals next to Marineland and the date is May 26. The evening starts at 7pm with a welcome drink and mingling; this is followed by dinner at 9pm and entertainment at 10pm. The Expats Club is a gathering point for international residents who want to meet new, friendly people and enjoy the benefits of the membership card. Over the summer, Mood Beach will be the fixed venue for the monthly Expats Club parties. No
EXPATS CLUB: Meeting at Mood Beach. entrance fee, a free first drink, a dinner and entertainment promises all members a good night out.
Email: contact@expatsclub international.com or call 601 297 565.
Nigeria. On the day of the ‘wedding’ the Nigerians were often supplanted by similar-looking compatriots who spoke Spanish, as many of the illegal immigrants did not. Many of the people charged in Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Galicia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cataluña, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y Leon, Aragon, Navarra, Extremadura, Madrid, Andalucia and the Basque Country have been identified but not yet located. The investigation began in April when police learned there had been a high request for marriages between Nigerians and Spanish women over a brief period, and that many of the addresses provided on the documents coincided. The detainees are charged with crimes against foreigners’ rights and family relationships, belonging to a criminal organisation, using false identities, document falsification and false testimony.
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NEWS
15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
Money in the streets
MONEY FALLING: One of the robbers threw money in the air. The police presence at the scene of the robbery was not a coincidence. According to police sources they had information that the bank could be robbed at any time and, as such, they had many undercover agents in the area
pretending to be telecommunications engineers or having a drink in the pizzeria opposite. Most of them were wearing bullet proof jackets as the gang is known to be very violent. Police dismissed the idea of entering the bank to stop the robbery as this was considered too risky for the people inside; the robbers might have taken one of them hostage. They waited for the robbers to leave and then chased them down catching all four and recovering the money, with the help of the public, as some of it was floating around in the air. For the moment the investigation is under court ordered silence with the aim of discovering if and includes coffee. these four robbers have To book email also been involved in info@moodbeach.com or other robberies in the call 971 676 456. area. PHOENIX MEDIA
THE street of Vigo, Galicia, resembled a scene from a video game when four armed bank robbers tried to escape from the police. They all fled in different directions, there were two shots fired, one of the robbers threw his loot in the air as a distraction, passers-by were astonished by all the action. “It looked like the Wild West” commented one eye witness. All the action concluded with the four robbers being caught. They all had criminal records for similar crimes and were considered “very dangerous and violent” by the authorities. One officer was injured when he was stabbed in the leg by one of the robbers. The police confiscated three pistols and a large knife as well as the stolen cash.
WORKSHOP: Petra led the event.
LIVE workshop success THE first Health Matters LIVE workshop was held last week at Mood Beach in Costa D’en Blanes. The workshop, led by Petra Wigermo from the raw food business Ziva to Go in Santa Catalina, focused on preparation of raw foods, why they are good for you, tastings of some delicious treats and lots more information. Health Matters is supporting the Cancer Support Group in its aim to spread the word about their group around the island. You can find more information about the group on www.health mattersmallorca.com. The Health Matters workshops will continue with a similar Raw workshop in Pollensa (date to be confirmed). The next one in the south will be on Wednesday, June 4 at
11am with a Sound Meditation workshop led by the Gong Didge Mallorca. The workshop will cost €5
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Miss Gypsy competition A MISTER and Miss Gypsy competition has been launched in Spain. The competition, which claims to be beneficial to young gypsies because it judges contestants on intelligence as well as looks, is being organised by the Northern Flamenco Association in Madrid. Maria Jimenez, of the Northern Flamenco Association, is involved in organising the contest, which she hopes will encourage young gypsy women to be more independent. Many gypsy youths leave school at the age of 16, and this contributes to the high 36 per cent unemployment rate among the country’s 725,000 gypsies. The competition final will be in October and contestants will be vying for the crown and the chance to become Spain’s first Mister or Miss Gypsy.
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Prankster fined A BOY, 15, was fined €6,000 by Torremolinos Town Hall for emptying a fire extinguisher at the San Miguel Sports Stadium as a prank.
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News from our editions With six editions and read by more than half a million people, EWN is Spain’s largest free local English-language newspaper
Popular location
THE Alcazaba (Arab fortress) monument in Almeria City received a record 7,700 visitors during Easter week this year.
Fewer babies
Cheers El Ejido
THIS year there are reportedly more places in kindergartens throughout Malaga Province than required due to the fall in the birth rate, migration and unemployment.
EL EJIDO will hold its first ever Beer Festival in the Carpa Municipal. The ‘Bier Fest’ will be held during the weekend of June 5 to 8.
Eastern flights
GANDIA Town Hall will introduce permits allowing public administration and town hall employees to park in ‘loading and unloading’ bays. The current document is too easily forged, sources said.
Switched on CALPE Town Hall will install street lights in Calle Corbeta. Residents have complained about lack of illumination after developers remodelling the street failed to install cables.
Picked over SAN VICENTE vandals are looting abandoned industrial units that closed during the economic crisis. They are also held responsible for a recent fire at an empty Ronda Oeste depot.
Neat and tidy MORE than 15 environmental volunteers cleared the El Pantano area in the Elda countryside of rubbish. All the refuse collected was later separated and classified for recycling.
Factory death A LORRY-DRIVER was killed and two
NATIONAL POLICE arrested a 36-yearold Romanian woman in Nijar, wanted by the Romanian Authorities since June 2005 for allegedly defrauding €560,000 from 11 companies over a year.
Record Easter
AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI presented its latest model, the Huracan, at the Ascari racetrack in Ronda before a crowd of 500 people.
Parking scam
Fugitive caught
BEACH users in Cabo de Gata have complained about the bad condition of the disabled toilet; the shed has been vandalised and the toilet is out of service.
New model
COSTA BLANCA NORTH
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
Loo complaint
DESPITE being one of the most expensive locations in Spain, business premises in Puerto Banus remain amongst the most sought after by firms.
A DELEGATION from Andalucia and the Costa del Sol travelled to the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai to meet with airlines and negotiate more flights from the Middle East.
NEWS DESK
ELCHE CROWDS: Full house means club could settle some debt.
Barcelona helps Elche pay debts ELCHE Football Club expected to take €1 million thanks to the team’s match against Barcelona at the weekend. The match saw a full stadium for the first time this season, allowing the club to be able to settle it’s most pressing debts such as paying staff and wages of the youth teams. Unlike the Elche-Real Madrid match earlier this season where non-members paid from €110 to €180 and season-ticket holders were charged between €30 and €60, prices were set deliberately low for the Barcelona game in a bid to bring in the crowds, with tickets starting from €15 for season-ticket holders. Their nil-nil draw against Barcelona was enough to ensure Elche remains in the First Division. people injured at an Alcoy factory while loading a 2.5-ton piece of machinery. It fell from a crane, instantly crushing the 54year-old driver.
AXARQUIA
Bonsai victory
Pit bull attack
Called up UD ALMERIA midfielder Ramon Azeez has been selected for the preliminary World Cup squad for Nigeria.
COSTA BLANCA SOUTH
Wage rise SAN MIGUEL’S councillor of Hacienda has had a pay rise from €593 a month to €1,200 net in line with his ‘degree of responsibility.’
Tapas route ESTABLISHMENTS interested in taking part in the fifth Tapas Route of Santa Pola, proposed to take place in June should register by the end of today (Thursday) at the Tourist Information offices.
Culture week
TWO girls, both aged seven, and a man have been injured by a Pit Bull dog in Benalgabon; the dog was not wearing a lead or a muzzle when it attacked them in the street.
SANTA POLA has hosted the 18th edition of the Cultural Week of the Third Age, held at the town’s Casa de Cultura.
THE AXARQUIA Bonsai Club classified second in the international competition held in Lake Garda, Italy; 27 international clubs took part in this high level competition.
Tapas route
Murcia promoted
NERJA will hold a Tapas Route around the town for the rest of the month; there are around 12 restaurants and over 20 bars offering a tapa and a beer for €1.80.
MURCIA’S tourism board is in Milan, Italy, to promote the region’s tourism at the ‘La Spagna a Milano’ event.
Air show
Handball championship
MOTRIL is to host the ninth edition of the Andalucia Orion Air Show which will take place on June 22 and can be seen from the Poniente beach to the Granada beach.
THE SPANISH Federation of Handball has chosen Almuñecar to host the finals of the women’s championship which will take place from May 23 to 25.
Cars hit A VAN crashed into six parked vehicles in Torrevieja, shunting them along to the point that the last car moved on to the crossroads, hitting a travelling vehicle.
NEWS
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15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
THE WORLD class dinner show Son Amar launched its 2014 season with a bang on Saturday night. The international cast of dancers, singers, acrobats, contortionists, magicians, riders, break dancers, and comedians premiered their new show ‘High Energy’ to a packed house of more than 1,000 people. Local residents and visitors alike have been flocking to see the show at Son Amar since it began 51 years ago, but this year has got to be the biggest by far, which is why show owners Tony and Margaret
Forest fire A FOREST fire in the Banyalbufar area has burnt down around half a hectare of pine forest. The fire brigade arrived almost immediately and were able to put it out completely.
PHOTO: AIMEE K photography.
‘High Energy’ show
FLAMENCO FLOATING: A magnificent display. Whittaker, OBE, have taken to calling it ‘The Big One.’ “We so admire the show director Ricard Gamez and the choreographers Liubov Khelben and Carlos Vilan for their amazing achievements this year,” said Mrs Whittaker. “The whole company and cast have gone to another level. We are so proud of them all!” Son Amar serves a very high quality meal prior to the beginning of the show, and with the Whittakers’ eye to detail this element as well has improved year on year since they took
over the show from its previous owners. Particular show highlights include the amazing new LED dance which is fabulous; the new act Duo Nostalgia from Moscow who perform a trapeze act of incredible deftness and strength; the Peres Brothers who raise the temperature by a few notches with their strong lean bodies and live rock guitar accompaniment: the passionate Spanish Ballet who simply are the best flamenco performers on the island. www.sonamar.com
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S CANDINAVIAN P RESS
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Stories making headlines in Europe
GERMAN PRESS Train crash
BRITISH PRESS Not disappointed NORWAY - The Dalai Lama has said he holds no grudges against the Norwegian government after they decided not to meet him on his trip to Oslo in order to avoid further damaging their fragile relations with China.
Text message NORWAY - The Norwegian Air Shuttle staff announced a strike after the airline’s management brought weeks of negotiations to an angry conclusion with a text message threatening to close three of their four bases in Norway if the workers went on strike.
Firefighter’s baby
the Mediterranean.
LONDON firefighter Ross McClaren, 33, delivered a baby at the scene of a large fire using only the midwifery skills he learnt from watching television series ‘One Born Every Minute.’
Nando’s tattoo
GIANT jellyfish are likely to be drawn to the West Country as a heat wave draws them into British waters. Marine experts are warning bathers that the stingers may float over from
CONSTRUCTION giant BAM will renovate the Feyenoord football stadium in Rotterdam for €200 million if the City Council agrees. The plan is to turn it into a stadium for 70,000 spectators for football as well as concerts.
SMART DRUGS: Help students to stay awake.
RUSSIAN PRESS OLYMPIC skier Maria Komissarova has picked Spain over Russia to treat her after being left paralysed from the waist down at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Komissarova is set to continue her treatment at a clinic in Marbella.
Feyenoord stadium
ONE in five British students has admitted to taking ‘smart drugs’ to help them improve their academic performance. These drugs help them to stay awake and study longer according to a survey.
Portuguese Men o’War
DENMARK - Over a third of Danes (38 per cent) call in sick when in actual fact they are perfectly fine. Danish companies lose over 814 million kroner due to staff ‘duvet days.’
DENMARK - A man was badly injured when a propane gas cylinder at a hotdog stand exploded near the entrance to the Eurovision venue on the island of Refshaleoen in Copenhagen. The explosion caused beer cans to shoot in every direction.
THE latest and hottest new games console is for dogs. The CleverPet consists of three touch pads and a feeding pod. This educates, entertains and feeds the pet all at the same time.
Drugged students
Spanish rehabilitation
Gas explosion
Doggy games
A SURREY teenager has had the Nando’s logo tattooed on his backside. Bradley Holman, 19, is so obsessed with the chain restaurant and their Peri Peri sauce that he had their cockerel inked into his skin while on holiday in Crete.
Sick days
duty-free import of certain goods known as the Generalised System of Preferences.
Putin celebrates VLADIMIR PUTIN celebrated a decade as President amid high tension with the West over the Ukraine and slowing economic growth. Russians describe him as intelligent, competent, experienced, decisive and attractive.
Moon colony RUSSIAN newspaper Izvestia has reported that Russia has plans to put a manned colony on the moon as soon as 2030 and is racing to dispatch the first robotic rovers to explore the lunar surface two years from now.
$196 million
Plug pulled OBAMA has announced that the US plans to pull Russia from a programme that allows the
THE RUSSIAN government is to give Crimea $196 million to subsidise transport links and infrastructure between the two countries in an attempt to save a tourist season that is likely to be decimated by the ongoing crisis in the region.
DUTCH PRESS Fast exoplanet DUTCH astronomers from the observatory in Leiden discovered for the first time the rotating speed of an exoplanet. Bèta Pictoris b, circling a star in constellation Pictor and discovered in 2008,
EUROPEAN PRESS
rotates so fast that a day lasts only eight hours.
Internet speed THREE quarters of internet consumers by telephone or television cable do not get the speed their providers promised. Clients
with ADSL get 39 per cent and clients with cable get 54 per cent of the promised speed.
Clean cars EMISSIONS from new cars in 2013 were 8 per cent lower than in 2012, EEA reports. This makes
FIVE people were injured in a crash when a train smashed into a digger on the tracks near Munich. The train driver was seriously injured while the four construction workers suffered only minor injuries.
800 letters A POSTWOMAN, who had seven previous convictions for fraud and six for theft, has been sentenced to two- anda-half-years in prison after she was found guilty of throwing away over 800 letters instead of delivering them.
Jeweller raids A JEWELLER in western Germany has turned to robbery in a desperate attempt to save his failing business. The 48-year-old carried out a series of raids on other jewellery shops and a bank.
Ring busted ELEVEN people have been arrested in Saxony-Anhalt for running an international paedophile ring. The group is accused of distributing child porn as well as using a five-year-old girl to entice other victims.
Angel’s rules ACCORDING to a former member of the Berlin Hell’s Angels the group has strict laws banning its members from drinking alcohol and travelling by train or bus. The only exception to the alcohol rule is the gang’s annual party.
the vehicle fleet of new cars in The Netherlands the cleanest in Europe.
No difference COSMETIC dermatologist Jetske Ultee has found that according to ingredients listed on packaging, there is no difference between day creams, night creams, eye creams or serums.
FEATURE
www.euroweeklynews.com
15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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21
Advertising feature
Le Tour de Finance: innovative approach by Spectrum IFA Group launches in Mallorca THE very first Mallorcan leg of the Tour de Finance organised by The Spectrum I.F.A Group, Independent Financial Advisers, and Currencies Direct took place in Mallorca last week. The idea of these seminars is to offer a different approach to forums, as Jonathan Goodman, Development Director for The Spectrum IFA Group explains: “Le Tour de Finance is THE financial forum for English speaking expatriates wanting to find out more about how to make the most of their assets. No more lengthy PowerPoint presentations, we are here to answer the questions expats have. We invite a panel of guest presenters from a range of companies we work with so that everyone can seek specific and relevant advice asking their own questions to trustworthy sources.” Susan and Tom Worthington, Advisers at The Spectrum IFA Group office in Mallorca add: “Tax advice, pensions, investments are just some of the subjects that expats need to know more about when living abroad. Le Tour de
FIRST TOUR: A different approach. EXPERT PANEL: Covering areas of tax advice, pensions and investments. Finance is the ideal opportunity for them to find answers to the most pressing questions facing them and we were delighted to organise this first forum in Mallorca.” Le Tour de Finance takes place twice a year and the panel of experts changes every time. On this occasion, guests presenters were Trevor O’Neill and
Adriana Laforcada from Abacus Accountancy Services in Palma, Andrew Wallace from Prudential International, Jeremy Ferguson from SEB International, Richard Turner from Henderson Global Investors and Peter Loveday from Currencies Direct. The general reaction to this first edition in Mallorca was enthusiastic, the
public agreeing that this different approach was very interesting. If you have missed this edition, remember that Susan and Tom Worthington have got an office in Bendinat where you can pop in for a free chat; you can also provide them with your details so they can let you know about the next Tour de Finance in Mallorca. For more information, call on 971 696 292 or visit www.spectrum-ifa.com.
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E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
NEWS EXTRA
Ironman break A TRIATHLETE competing in the ironman challenge had to be rescued by the local fire brigade when his bike fell 10 metres down a cliff. He broke his collarbone.
Bad fall A 51-YEAR-OLD woman has been seriously injured after falling down a stream bed in Soller. She was in such a difficult place that it took the fire brigade, Guardia Civil and Local Police to rescue her.
New consultant INCA local hospital is to get another paediatric consultant due to the increased number of emergency calls for children - last year there were 6,929 calls.
NEWS
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Huge success for Pirates Mutiny charity event THE Pirates Mutiny Charity Event delivered an amazing night full of brilliant entertainment whilst raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and four local charities. The Cancer Support Group Mallorca, Milk on Mondays with Mediterranea Ong Ngo, The Son Espaces Children’s Ward and Stop FA which helps sufferers of Friedreich’s ataxia, an inherited disease that causes progressive damage to the body’s nervous system all benefited. The amazing figure of more than €20,000 was raised up to and on the night, with the final figure still to be confirmed. The audience was dazzled by the Mutiny show; Pirates Adventure has amazed over three million customers over the years with a swashbuckling mix of world class acrobatics and breathtaking dancing, a magical world of action,
PIRATES MUTINY: More than €20,000 was raised. comedy and fun for an experience that will never be forgotten. During the break the main charity auction was held and some fantastic items were auctioned off including a private jet to Ibiza for four people with a VIP lunch included which was donated by
Heiner Tamsin, Tamsin Yachts and Malcom Andrews which pulled in €3,000 for the charity. Two tickets to the Fosh/Groves Boxing fight at Wembley Stadium were auctioned for €1,400, donated by Impulse Decisions, seven nights in the four star Azuline Hotel Atlantic in Ibiza,
were donated by Jet2holidays. com, which raised €1,100. During the evening there was also a silent auction provided by Impulse Decisions. At the end of a truly entertaining evening a toast was made to the late Jaques Sasson, being remembered for the invention of Pirates Adventure in Mallorca. The Charity Premiere was Jacque’s idea and every year a toast is made to celebrate his life. During the evening mini bottles of numbered cava were sold and went into a special prize draw for a great day out on a 15 metre yacht which was donated by Malcom Andrews. There were also raffle tickets sold, with the draw being held live on Radio One Mallorca during the breakfast show today (Thursday). Winners will be announced on the website www.piratesadventure. com or by calling 971 130 411.
A note from the
Editor
Here we go again…
Y
ET more intrusive legislation is planned by the Spanish Government. Now it wants sweeping new powers to examine bank
accounts. It wants to collect data from all of Spain’s estimated 34 million accounts and allow a wide range of government bodies access to the information, including the Tax Office, Police, Military, Secret Services and the Judiciary. And as usual the excuse of it being part of the war against terror, corruption and tax avoiders is being trotted out. Well, that may be the case, but it is nothing more than a snooper’s charter. The old line ‘if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear’ just does not wash. History is filled with regimes which collated as much information about
its citizens as possible in order to keep them under the thumb. The next step is to use such information gleaned to demand that law-abiding citizens justify the contents of their bank balances; in other words, guilty until proven innocent. Some public authorities in Spain already have the power to simply dip in and take money from private accounts with little or no explanation. Combine that with the power to examine the accounts first, and it becomes seriously worrying. What then is to stop the taxman seeing you had, say, €30,000 deposited in your account and simply deciding that 40 per cent of it belonged to the government, and just helping himself? Far-fetched maybe. But who trusts the politicians and civil servants? Not many in Spain. Particularly when it comes to money.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
business & legal
MOTORWAY group Abertis announced first quarter net profits of €125 million. Although this was 11.6 per cent less than in 2013, traffic on Spanish roads grew by 2.7 per cent, its first increase since 2007.
Luxury on the cheap in Spain NON-EU tourists spend 90 per cent less in Madrid than in London or Paris. For every euro spent in Spain’s capital they spend €2.2 in Munich and €3.5 in Milan, found international consultants Global Blue. In London or Paris this rises to €9.5. The difference is unfair, Spanish analysts say, not least because it is often possible to find the same products at lower prices in Madrid. The Spanish daily ABC decided to do its own research and found that a trophy watch of the type sought by Asian tourists costs €70,162 in
Madrid without IVA value-added tax, compared with €78,057 in Italy or €74,270 in France. The cheapest capital outside Spain was the UK, where it costs €71,266. It was the same story with bags, again without IVA, with a designer handbag that cost €24,367 in Spain selling for €24,981 in London and €25,149 in France. The luxury goods market for tax-free tourism is not sufficiently exploited, the ABC study concluded, especially now when it could contribute to the country’s economic recovery.
saw a 16.2 per cent increase compared with last year and sales of 282,301 units gave the best result since 2010. It is hoped that by the end of the year total sales will reach 820,000 cars - well above last year’s 722,703, however, still short of the industry’s 1.2 to 1.3 million objectives.
B
usiness extra
Sharp-eyed inspectors THE government is creating a National Office to fight clandestine employment. Over the last two years, work inspections uncovered 161,381 irregular jobs and saved the government €7.6 billion.
Tax backtrack AIRPORTS authority AENA confirmed that it will freeze airport taxes in 2015. Thanks to increased domestic and international air traffic it decided to forego a planned 4.5 per cent increase.
Insurance chief loses pension THE ex-president of the Mutua Madrileña Automovisitica insurance company has lost his €13.9 million pension pot. Ramirez Pomatta, who was president of the mutual insurance company between 2002 and 2008, resigned two days before the board was due to change the rules regarding “excessive and disproportionate” pensions. He did so to be sure of receiving his
previously-agreed pension, the Supreme Court heard. Ramirez Pomatta was entitled to resign as a director, said judge Ignacio Sanchez Gargallo, but the circumstances in which he exercised that right and his purpose in doing so, knowing that the board would vote to change the pension regulations, was “an unreasonable exercise of his rights.”
Natali Glado / Shutterstock.com
PIVE allowance for taking old vehicles off the road. There was also increased demand for more vehicles from car-hire companies preparing for the Easter rush, said manufacturers’ association Anfac and concessionary associations Faconauto and Ganvam. The first quarter of 2014
23
STAT OF WEEK
Car sales increasing
MONTH-ON-MONTH vehicle sales rose by 28.7 per cent in April to 80,174 units. Car sales are always regarded as the economic climate’s barometer and the Spanish sector has now enjoyed eight consecutive months of increases. These were stimulated by government subsidies like the
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BIG RISE: Good news for the economy ?
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E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
LONDON - FTSE 100 MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US
C LOSING P RICES M AY 12
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 440.15 Admiral Group PLC 1438.00 Aggreko PLC 1660.50 Anglo American PLC 1630.25 Antofagasta PLC 790.50 ARM Holdings PLC 898.75 Ashtead Group PLC 864.00 Associated British Foods 2979.50 AstraZeneca PLC 4623.00 Aviva PLC 525.75 Babcock International 1221.50 BAE Systems PLC 406.85 Barclays PLC 255.43 Barratt Developments 375.45 BG Group PLC 1262.00 BHP Billiton PLC 1945.00 BP PLC 502.95 British Amrcn Tobacco 3462.00
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -2.77 -0.63 13.00 0.91 18.00 1.10 26.50 1.65 21.50 2.80 13.00 1.47 10.00 1.17 35.00 1.19 22.50 0.49 1.50 0.29 -1.36 -0.11 1.80 0.44 -4.70 -1.81 -2.10 -0.56 -2.00 -0.16 48.50 2.56 2.00 0.40 44.15 1.29
NET VOLUME 1,000.26 128.59 153.02 2,772.58 978.19 1,114.72 644.12 203.19 1,064.61 1,847.21 297.96 1,520.87 19,300.28 1,608.65 1,644.37 4,122.58 5,681.00 1,047.35
See our advert on page 27
Units per €
US dollar.................................................................1.37693 Japan yen..............................................................140.385 Switzerland franc ................................................1.22136 Denmark kroner ................................................7.46423 Norway kroner ....................................................8.14826
currenciesdirect.com/mallorca • Tel: +34 687 906 226 C O M PA N Y
PRICE(P)
British Land Co PLC British Sky Broadcasting BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Carnival PLC
714.75 867.75 374.75 1645.50 1529.00 1111.50 2409.50
DOW JONES
NASDAQ
C LOSING P RICES M AY 12
C LOSING P RICES M AY 12
C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc INTC Intel Corp IBM International Business Machine... JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co KO The Coca-Cola Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc DIS Walt Disney Co
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 141.34 88.84 36.44 131.10 105.06 125.03 23.02 67.78 101.95 26.42 157.20 77.71 26.30 190.08 100.91 54.01 102.93 55.21 39.54 73.45 29.03 82.39 40.87 91.30 116.99 76.95 48.48 210.81 79.20 81.95
+0.51 +0.22 +0.04 +0.53 +0.12 -0.06 +0.002 -0.32 -0.37 -0.02 -0.20 +0.66 -0.04 +1.17 +0.41 -0.35 +0.98 +0.38 -0.10 +0.40 -0.14 +0.23 +0.14 +0.06 -0.03 +0.06 -0.01 -0.09 +0.51 +0.35
+0.36% +0.25% +0.11% +0.41% +0.11% -0.05% +0.01% -0.47% -0.36% -0.08% -0.13% +0.86% -0.15% +0.62% +0.41% -0.64% +0.96% +0.69% -0.25% +0.55% -0.48% +0.28% +0.34% +0.07% -0.03% +0.08% -0.02% -0.04% +0.65% +0.43%
2.1M 2.3M 15.0M 2.5M 2.8M 4.8M 22.6M 3.7M 8.9M 17.4M 2.6M 4.3M 20.3M 2.3M 5.7M 12.4M 3.6M 12.4M 29.6M 2.4M 39.0M 7.3M 8.5M 1.6M 2.2M 3.5M 14.5M 2.9M 4.9M 5.4M
1.22667
0.81512
C O M PA N Y
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 1.86 -22.16 -7.80 -2.00 12.00 9.00 10.00
0.26 -2.49 -2.04 -0.12 0.79 0.82 0.42
NET VOLUME 1,123.10 2,322.53 12,279.97 183.21 241.23 475.89 102.12
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
$ 6.48 $ 33.57 $ 7.13 $ 23.08 $ 15.09 $ 12.79 $ 28.65 $ 27.52 $ 5.81 $ 12.40 $ 15.71
1.16 ▲ 21.80% 5.22 ▲ 18.41% 1.04 ▲ 17.08% 3.17 ▲ 15.92% 2.04 ▲ 15.63% 1.70 ▲ 15.33% 3.78 ▲ 15.20% 3.35 ▲ 13.86% 0.70 ▲ 13.70% 1.39 ▲ 12.62% 1.73 ▲ 12.37%
$ 31.38 $ 21.83 $ 19.06 $ 8.965 $ 32.679 $ 10.57 $ 6.68 $ 2.06 $ 47.36 $ 8.42 $ 9.47
9.99 ▼ 24.15% 5.98 ▼ 21.50% 3.95 ▼ 17.17% 1.845 ▼ 17.07% 6.631 ▼ 16.87% 1.96 ▼ 15.64% 1.02 ▼ 13.25% 0.27 ▼ 11.59% 5.76 ▼ 10.84% 0.97 ▼ 10.33% 1.01 ▼ 9.64%
Most Advanced RadNet, Inc. Matrix Service Company BioScrip, Inc. Black Box Corporation Tuesday Morning Corp. Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. Universal Display Corporation NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. Borderfree, Inc. Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.
Most Declined Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. Rocket Fuel Inc. Aceto Corporation Scientific Games Corp Insys Therapeutics, Inc. Depomed, Inc. Himax Technologies, Inc. ChyronHego Corporation Air Methods Corporation Silver Standard Resources Inc. Gencor Industries Inc.
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Centrica PLC 317.50 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1421.50 Compass Group PLC 976.75 CRH PLC 1684.00 Diageo PLC 1855.75 easyJet PLC 1736.50 Experian PLC 1053.50 Fresnillo PLC 836.75 Friends Life Group Ltd 299.95 G4S PLC 249.00 GKN PLC 378.80 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1611.50 Glencore Xstrata PLC 328.97 Hammerson PLC 581.75 Hargreaves Lansdown 1214.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 604.70 IMI PLC 1539.50 Imperial Tobacco Group 2626.50 InterContinental Hotels 2184.00 International Consldtd ... 391.15 Intertek Group PLC 3048.50 ITV PLC 187.10 Johnson Matthey PLC 3304.00 Kingfisher PLC 414.55 Land Securities Group 1085.50 Legal & General Group 226.00 Lloyds Banking Group 77.01 London Stock Exchange 1848.50 Marks & Spencer Group 455.95 Meggitt PLC 477.35 Melrose Industries PLC 287.05 Mondi PLC 1039.50 National Grid PLC 853.25 Next PLC 6482.50 Old Mutual PLC 206.20 Pearson PLC 1125.50 Persimmon PLC 1363.50 Petrofac Ltd 1206.50 Prudential PLC 1382.50 Randgold Resources Ltd 4591.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 4806.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 881.25 REXAM PLC 502.50 Rio Tinto PLC 3323.75 Rolls-Royce Holdings 1004.50 Royal Bank of Scotland 325.05 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2576.25 Royal Mail PLC 559.75 RSA Insurance Group 481.95 SABMiller PLC 3195.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 401.60 Sainsbury (J) PLC 336.65 Schroders PLC 2610.00 Severn Trent PLC 1890.00 Shire PLC 3326.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 917.00 Smiths Group PLC 1324.00 Sports Direct Internatnl 764.00 SSE PLC 1507.50 Standard Chartered 1288.00 Standard Life PLC 388.40 St James's Place PLC 791.50 Tesco PLC 293.52 Travis Perkins PLC 1736.50 TUI Travel PLC 441.05 Tullow Oil PLC 895.50 Unilever PLC 2639.50 United Utilities Group 832.00 Vodafone Group PLC 225.03 Weir Group PLC 2687.00 Whitbread PLC 4157.00 William Hill PLC 352.35 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 197.00 Wolseley PLC 3393.00 WPP PLC 1267.50
CHANGE -1.00 -31.00 5.50 19.00 5.25 51.36 5.00 20.06 -0.06 0.80 1.60 -1.90 3.49 -2.50 5.00 8.70 13.00 36.00 -1.00 6.30 21.00 -1.87 6.00 -5.60 -6.00 3.60 0.65 9.00 -2.07 -1.49 -2.53 24.00 -1.56 19.27 0.40 -12.00 8.00 29.00 13.00 53.00 -20.00 3.00 0.00 140.00 3.64 -0.16 0.50 2.20 385.50 -16.00 5.10 0.80 8.00 25.00 16.50 6.00 5.00 -5.00 -3.88 -4.00 1.90 4.50 -3.33 21.00 -3.50 -3.00 0.35 9.50 -1.70 22.00 58.00 1.30 -0.57 4.00 1.92
% C H G. -0.31 -2.14 0.57 1.14 0.28 3.05 0.48 2.46 -0.02 0.32 0.42 -0.12 1.07 -0.43 0.41 1.46 0.85 1.39 -0.05 1.64 0.69 -0.99 0.18 -1.33 -0.55 1.62 0.85 0.49 -0.45 -0.31 -0.87 2.36 -0.18 0.30 0.19 -1.06 0.59 2.46 0.95 1.17 -0.41 0.34 0.00 4.39 0.36 -0.05 0.02 0.39 399.48 -0.50 1.29 0.24 0.31 1.34 0.50 0.66 0.38 -0.65 -0.26 -0.31 0.49 0.57 -1.12 1.22 -0.79 -0.33 0.01 1.16 -0.75 0.83 1.41 0.37 -0.29 0.12 0.15
VOLUME 3,563.73 117.35 1,038.11 530.63 642.28 620.12 547.89 291.90 1,236.25 1,044.67 882.57 2,674.40 10,463.50 268.91 116.34 10,456.04 111.38 846.99 275.82 6,426.96 80.99 7,855.26 55.23 2,047.82 386.62 7,792.14 25,057.28 94.36 1,423.91 697.20 836.88 430.35 2,486.70 116.84 3,529.11 669.23 327.99 1,135.58 2,110.22 102.62 370.76 1,083.85 203.77 3,158.60 916.65 3,211.22 1,518.33 294.45 1,647.44 485.31 1,118.68 3,015.99 61.27 205.33 663.78 1,162.60 100.63 457.88 1,110.70 978.75 2,121.73 990.48 4,966.04 196.70 336.14 725.22 1,035.61 572.60 24,175.94 63.22 138.00 831.76 2,970.95 162.18 802.94
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
THE Bank of Ireland must pay €103.5 million compensation for a failed Spanish deal. Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that the Irish bank reneged on its May 2007 agreement to acquire the Plaza Imperial Shopping centre in Zaragoza. It had agreed to pay €360 million for 100 per cent of 1.7 million shares in Procom Desarrollo Comercial, jointly owned by Procom Desarollos Urbanos and Cecosa Hipermercados (Eroski). The Supreme Court recognised that Procom had received other offers from entities ‘of recognised prestige’ including ING Real Estate, Commerz Grundbesitz and Quinlan Private. Instead Procom chose the Bank of Ireland offer. The transaction was negotiated through the bank’s privatebanking division, which intended to provide €140 million. The remainder was to be financed by the German bank Hypo Real Estate although
Output continues to rise SPANISH manufacturing continued to rise in March, the fifth straight month of increases. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE) output was rising at an annual rate of 0.6 per cent. While the consumer sector continued to decline - consumer durables production fell 4.8 per cent output of business equipment rose 3 per cent while materials like textiles and chemicals used during the manufacturing process rose by 2.5 per cent. The modest but now sustained growth in output followed five years of falls that started with the implosion of the property market in 2008.
CREDIT Canadian Pacific.
No luck for the Bank of Ireland
PAY UP: €103.5 million bill for Bank of Ireland. the conditions of the agreements between the banks were never communicated to the vendors, the Supreme Court pointed out. Hypo Real Estate withdrew its offer in September 2008 and Procom and Cecosa were advised that the finance operation had fallen through
owing to ‘persistent adverse market conditions and the specific circumstances of the project.’ Unable to meet the terms of the contract, Bank of Ireland then took back the €40 million it had already advanced, prompting legal proceedings from Procom and Cecosa.
In December 2011, the Madrid Provincial High Court decided in their favour and ordered Bank of Ireland to pay €103.5 million plus €12.65 million in interest. “Bank of Ireland acted in bad faith,” the Supreme Court ruled, confirming the high court sentence.
Who wears the pants in business? MOST will be familiar with the wisecrack: “I am the boss in this house and I have my wife’s permission to say so.” You have got to believe it. Had I not caught on to the fact that it is the woman who makes the buying decision I would have starved. Time after time I have seen sales fall through because the salesman ignored the client’s wife or secretary. Fail. Our culture portrays man’s role as a decision maker. It is theatre. Selling is a balancing act in which it is necessary to empathise equally with the lady partner. When selling properties abroad I focused equally, often a little more so, on the client’s wife. However, if successful, it was the man who gave it the nod. My after sales practice was to ask which of them had actually made the decision to buy. In only one instance had the man made that decision. The others ruefully conceded that the wife had given it the final nod. Had she not done so the sale would have fallen through. Clients were often single women and either travelled alone or with a female relative. I can’t remember my sales partner in Spain not closing. Occasionally a single man would go on his own.
DECISION: Make sure the real boss agrees.
Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.
www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932
It was a waste of time. Only once did I make a sale. Modern man, I am sorry to say, finds making a decision harder to do than does a woman. Far less sure of himself he will pro-
crastinate. It got so bad that I would not send a man on a viewing trip unless he was accompanied by a woman. Property is one thing close to a woman’s heart but over the years I have sold payphones to businesses, building services, a retailer, and trade association accreditation. Other salesmen covering a wide diversity of products and services agree with me. A tip from a former Rolls-Royce Sales Manager: “The worst mistake you can make in business is to procrastinate.”
EWN
25
April showers work on the jobless DESPITE discouraging unemployment figures for 2014’s first quarter, April’s were buoyant. The increase in employment was the best ever for this month, with a 2.3 per cent fall in the number of people registered as unemployed. There were 111,565 more people in work than in March, the Ministry of Labour announced. Although unemployment fell by only 50,202 after seasonal adjustments, the reduction is still a record for April. “Seasonally adjusted employment fell for the ninth consecutive month,” said the junior minister of Labour Engracia Hidalgo. “Such a prolonged reduction has not been seen since 1999,” she added. Although 4,684,301 people are without jobs in Spain, there was further good news with another 133,765 people paying into the Social Security system as bars, restaurants and hotels took on more staff over Easter. The ministry of Labour figures followed the National Statistics Office (INE) report on the first quarter of 2014. If, as some analysts claim, INE figures are more reliable than the Labour ministry’s, then employment in Spain is still being destroyed. Approximately 5.9 million people - 25.9 per cent of the work force were out of work between January and the end of March, according to INE. The government is confident that the unemployment rate will drop to 23.3 per cent in 2015 although it will not fall below 20 per cent until 2017.
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E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL BUSINESS EXTRA
Well-heeled advice for a prosperous future A NEW book by a Canadian writer, an author specialising in finance for females, says young women may be intimidated by a lack of financial knowledge but are eager to learn and better at money management then young men. One of the main issues her book addresses is that there is no point saving money unless there is also a plan for spending it. She has a good point. If we have no particular goals in mind in regards to our savings, it is so easy to just spend money carelessly on stuff that we probably don’t even want, but that just might tickle our fancy in the moment. That’s because money is only good for one thing spending it - so the trick is to decide what’s important
Miami express road works CONSTRUCTION company OHL won a €180.5 million contract to design and construct express lanes on two 20.9-kilometre main roads in Miami’s metropolitan area. It must complete the work within 1,175 days.
Loose change A look at finance for females
SAVING: Start early.
Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com
More oil
to you and make sure you don’t waste a limited resource on impulses or poorly thought out sprees. If you want a holiday, to buy a new computer or put a down payment on a property, the trick is to make this particular goal a priority in your life. Discuss it; write it down to make it appear more tangible and then focus your energy on saving to make this goal become a reality. This way, every time you are tempted to spend frivolously, you will have
A TOTAL of 1.752 billion tons of olive oil was produced in the last six months, 188 per cent more than during the same period in 2012-2013. Exports increased 72 per cent to 514,800 tons.
Going digital more self-control to say ‘no’ because saving for your goal will be more important. It’s all about creating the correct mindset to save. Other top tips in the book include:
Liable for taxes if you live in Spain… Q. My husband and I became Spanish residents last year. We both receive our state You and the pensions in the UK and I have a small NHS pension. Do we have a choice as to whether Law in Spain we pay any necessary tax on our pensions in By David Searl Spain or in the UK? We are now about to sell our property in the UK. Will we be liable for Capital Gains tax on this sale, as we own an apartment in Spain? If we are liable for capital gains tax, will we receive any tax relief because we are now Spanish residents? L.C. (by email) A. If you are official residents of Spain, holding the EU citizen certificate of registration, you are liable for Spanish taxes on your worldwide income and assets. You should ask your nearest UK Consulate about the individual form on which you declare you now pay income tax in Spain and request you go off the UK tax books and onto the Spanish tax registry. You do not have a choice. If you own property outside Spain worth more than €50,000, you must file Spanish Form 720 declaring these assets. If you sell your UK property, you will be liable for UK Capital Gains Tax and also for Spanish Capital Gains Tax because you are a tax resident of Spain. You can claim relief from one of these taxes. Consult a Spanish tax advisor. Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.
- Talk to your children, especially your girls, about money. The more they know, the better they’ll be able to make good choices. - Start savings as soon as possible. The sooner you
start, the greater the benefit and set of security. - Avoid ‘bad’ debt, borrowing for consumption rather than to buy an asset that will gain in value. - Invest in yourself.
TELEFONICA’S €725 million offer for 56 per cent of Digital Plus has been accepted by media group Prisa. That raises Telefonica’s stake to 28 per cent of the pay TV company.
No cutbacks on First Communion expenses MAY means First Communions in Spain. Despite the economic crisis families are not cutting back in this area, although spending will vary depending on where they live. Parents in Madrid spend most - an average of €3,245 - found a survey by the FUCI consumers’ association. Next comes Valencia (€3,150), Barcelona (€3,118) and San Sebastian (€3,045) but families can expect to spend least in Tenerife (€1,665) or Caceres (€1,780). Half of any First Communion budget is eaten up - literally - by a formal meal costing from €40 to €60 a head for 30 or so guests. A girl’s dress costs approximately €225 while the sailor suit generally worn by boys comes in at between €40 and €60. Photographs, videos and mementoes of the occasion for the guests add a further €238 to €630 to the bill, plus €200 for a children’s entertainer. Nineteen per cent of parents told the FUCI survey that they were later dissatisfied with some aspect of the services they contracted. A third blamed
COMMUNION: No expense spared. the meal, 26 per cent were unhappy with photographs and 12 per cent with the clothes. Parents should plan carefully and always request written estimates for the meal and photographer, FUCI advised.
OPINION & COMMENT
Caring charity made life a pleasure again MY name is Patti Lee, I am 83 years old and live alone. Last October I had to have a hip operation, after which I spent a little time recovering in a nursing home. When they said I could go home I was so worried about how I was going to cope. A friend advised me to get in touch with HAH (Help at Home) who immediately came to my aid. How could I have coped without their wonderful care team? I couldn’t get dressed or do essential tasks, but they took this on, and for many days helped me, taking me to appointments and out for coffee and walks. They made life a pleasure again. Janet and Chris in particular have become firm friends and still visit me regularly, helping with difficulties and appointments, etc. My little dog and I look forward so much to their visits. Janet wrote down some very important facts on what to do in an emergency, and following a fall where I cut my leg quite badly, I followed her instructions. I was able to get help and I am convinced that this saved my life! Their volunteers are all so helpful and they work extremely hard, and their service is free. I could not have managed without them, and would like to thank them all for their time, care and friendship. They all deserve a medal! Patti Lee, Mar Menor (Murcia)
Surprise packet I WROTE to ‘Your Say’ not long ago about successfully seeing off someone posing as a Microsoft engineer. Now I must warn about another scam. My anti-virus recently warned me that I’d received a threat in an email, which I saw in the preview pane was supposedly from FedEx. They had tried to deliver a parcel while I was out and to please open the following link and print out their receipt, it said. Much as I’d like to receive a parcel, I was expecting nothing and zapped the offending email. Do the same! T Freeman (by email)
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Letters Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887
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WE love the ever-changing views of Montgo from our viewpoint on Gata Residencial. The helicopters water-bombing the recent woodland fires were amazing. Tom Miller, Gata de Gorgos (Alicante)
I SEE emigrants returning to Spain are making a lot of noise because they are being taxed on pensions which they obtained whilst working abroad and did not declare on their tax returns. My late wife and I declared taxes on all our incoming monies. In my wife’s case, four pensions from England, in my case, two. We, as foreigners knew we had to do so. I believe those emigrants returning also knew. Why were they allowed to escape those taxes for so long? M J Barnett, Los Gallardos (Almeria)
Three rules IN response to Tom Harksworth, there are at least three things we in the West can do to help those in the Third World. Work to ameliorate the effects of climate change. This will benefit all mankind eventually, but especially those living in regions of the world where survival is marginal at best. Work to stop agribusiness, mining corporations and businesses which use (abuse?) the cheap labour available in poor
WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:
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countries while abusing natural resources and exporting the profits. For example, the use of precious land water in India to produce a drink, Coca Cola, which is of no benefit to anyone but the shareholders. Also the aggressive marketing of GM seeds (see http://www.nation.lk/edition/lens /item/24886-geneticallymodified-seeds-in-india.html for a brief overview). Sadly, corruption of local politicians is part of the problem which is used by corporations to attain their goals. Education, especially of women. This simple resource has been shown to lead to reduced birth rates especially when girls are educated as well as boys.
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Plate dilemma
YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Taxing position
EWN
This in turn leads to a more sustainable population. Helena McGinty, Alhaurin El Grande (Malaga)
Identity crisis I CAN’T understand how anyone would shut out the sound of sparrows, even when they make a racket. Unlike the correspondent who complained about them, I like having them around. Instead of complaining, he could try enjoying the shenanigans when they have an avian version of a punch-up, usually over a female. My problem is a pigeon. Not all pigeons, just one pigeon. There are many where we live, as the locals raise them for the pot and racing although there’s a worrying margin for error over confusing the edible with the speedy. One spends all of its time on a telephone cable beside our house. I had thought it was cooing until my neighbour said it seemed to be saying “Quien eres tu?” (who are you) over and over again. She’s right and dammit, that’s what I hear the ruddy bird repeating all day long. Who am I? I’m beginning to wonder. Alec Morris (by email)
REGARDING non-Spanish numberplates, who’s supposed to monitor them and issue the fines? I have lived on my urbanisation for eight years and there are cars on UK and other countries’ numberplates that I see, and have seen, all the time I have been here. These cars have no road tax and no MOT, so any insurance they do have will be null and void if they are involved in an accident. Maybe insurance companies should stop insuring cars not reregistered in Spain. Tony Barker, Orihuela Costa (Alicante)
Coffee raiders I WAS saddened to see in the Euro Weekly News that Starbucks are about to invade El Corte Ingles. Many years ago I lived in the centre of Madrid, in the barrio of Malasaña close to the Gran Via. Then the city was still very Spanish with families and friends promenading late into the evening, bars and pavement cafés buzzing, no drunks and little violence and the wonderful siesta during the hot summer afternoons. It was this Spanishness that led me to move there from London. One day I noticed that a recently-empty shop on Calle Fuencarral had been leased by yes you’ve guessed it - Starbucks. I realised then that the area was doomed! Within a year the whole character of the area had changed. What had been a ‘village’ with the streets full of ‘proper’ shops (the hardware shop, the bakers, several butchers and little family-run corner shops) was transformed into a ‘High Street Anywhere.’ The local traders had been made offers they couldn’t refuse, and their old shops were replaced by bland big business as Levi, Muji, Pepe and the rest moved in. All for the sake of an overpriced liquid tasting nothing remotely like coffee. A Wade, Benahavis (Malaga)
The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.
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E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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OPINION & COMMENT
Should the minimum wage be kept? ECONOMIC powerhouse Germany is prospering despite having no minimum wage. Cases of people being paid €1.54 an hour have been uncovered. Meanwhile, Spain remains in the economic doldrums, but does have a minimum wage of €645 a month. Should Spain abolish its minimum wage to make the market more flexible, or should low-paid workers be protected from potential exploitation?
J
OHN COOPER, from Albir, Costa Blanca, was shocked to hear that Germany doesn’t have a minimum wage in place and believed it was important for Spain to keep theirs. “They definitely need to keep the minimum wage, the poor will just get poorer and it is not fair on the workers.” John, who, after six years of living in Albir, is going back to the UK this week with his wife, does think the minimum wage of €645 a month is OK. “At the moment with the economy the way it is I think this is average and fair as everyone is struggling,” he said. ADRIAN CARMICHAEL: Good social conscience.
STREET TALK Clifford Salter, aged 54 and now retired, from Alfaz del Pi, Costa Blanca, could see both sides of the argument having been an employer and an employee over the years. He said: “Hiring people and keeping a company going is hard enough so sometimes even paying people the minimum wage is difficult. I think if a lot of companies now who are
JOHN COOPER: Minimum wage needs to stay.
struggling were able to take on casual staff even if they can’t pay them the minimum wage, it gives someone work experience and keeps the economy going. But also, as an employee, we always want more money and
don’t want to feel exploited or taken advantage of.” Adrian Carmichael, 35, on holiday in Benalmadena, Malaga, from his Bristol home, agreed with having a minimum wage. “As long as it is not at a stupidly high level. Low-paid workers do need protection from exploitation. People should be given the chance of earning a reasonable living. If a boss cannot pay a low minimum wage then he should not be in business. Of course, that might make some goods and services more expensive, but the public just has to accept that.” Adrian added: “I am surprised that Germany does not have a minimum wage, but generally it is a country with a good social conscience. The people do seem to be well looked after, so maybe a minimum wage is not needed.”
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E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
Thursday BBC1/ 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Food Inspectors 10:00pm MasterChef 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News
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Friday
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•Gerard Butler •Jonny Weston •Elisabeth Shue •Abigail Spencer
Chasing Mavericks (Film, 2012) A surf-mad Santa Cruz teenager asks a local legend to train him up to take on one of the world's biggest waves.
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ITV2/
ITV2/
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TV LISTING
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Saturday BBC1/ 4:35pm Escape to the Country 5:35pm Celebrity Mastermind 6:05pm Enchanted 7:45pm BBC News 7:55pm Regional News 7:58pm Weather 8:00pm Pointless 8:55pm The National Lottery: In It to Win It 9:45pm Casualty 10:35pm The Guess List 11:15pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:45pm BBC News
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ITV2/ 5:25pm Britain's Got Talent 6:45pm Britain's Got More Talent 7:45pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope 11:00pm Viral Tap 11:45pm Saw II
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4:05pm Coast 4:45pm Great British Garden Revival 5:45pm Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets 6:15pm Flog It! 6:55pm Party Election Broadcast 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 10:00pm Watermen: A Dirty Business 11:00pm Later Live... with Jools Holland 11:30pm Newsnight
ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 9:00pm Endeavour 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Cube
CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Embarrassing Bodies 10:00pm Mr Drew's School for Boys 11:00pm 16 Kids and Counting
ITV2/ 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:10pm The Real Housewives of Vancouver 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm The Vampire Diaries 11:00pm Celebrity Juice 11:50pm Duplicity
Wednesday BBC1/ 4:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm Watchdog 10:00pm Del Boys and Dealers 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm The Quite Remarkable David Coleman
BBC2/ 4:05pm Coast 4:45pm Great British Garden Revival 5:45pm Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 10:10pm Coast Australia 11:00pm Episodes 11:30pm Newsnight
ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Coronation Street 8:30pm Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 11:15pm ITV News and Weather 11:50pm Hot Fuzz
CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Supervet 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Derek 11:30pm Cardinal Burns
ITV2/ 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:10pm The Real Housewives of Vancouver 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Fearne and... 11:00pm Saw II
EUROPEAN PRESS
FINANCE
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15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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UK Pensions – All Change The UK government took everyone by surprise in March by announcing a series of radical changes to pensions. This is the most significant pension reform since 1921, and gives retirees much more freedom over their pension pot. Your pension funds are probably a significant part of their wealth; retirement planning is an essential component of your life here in Spain. Chancellor George Osborne wants “people to be trusted to make the right decisions about their future”, but you need to be armed with all the facts, understand how the options affect you, and review what you have to enable you to make the best overall decision for your situation. The reforms provide more options and opportunities, making specialist advice more important than ever before. Some reforms have already been introduced for Defined Contribution Scheme members, while others will start next April. From 27th March 2014, the capped drawdown limit increased to 150% of an equivalent annuity. You
By Peter Worthington, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks
can take a higher income from your pension fund, generally at your next annual review, but also need to consider how this could affect your pension pot in later years. Another key change was the reduction in the minimum income requirement for flexible drawdown to £12,000. Flexible drawdown allows you to take as much of your pension fund as cash as you wish. However, it is important to
consider the Spanish tax implications. Besides income tax in Spain, when you withdraw funds from your pension schemes you lose the inheritance tax protection they offer; the capital will form part of your estate for inheritance and succession tax purposes. The government also launched a consultation on more pension reforms. It intends to remove all remaining restrictions on how retirees have access to their pension pots. The key change here is that the tax rate on cash taken out of defined contribution pension funds on retirement will be reduced from the current prohibitive 55% rate. If this goes ahead, the withdrawal (after the 25% tax free lump sum) would instead be taxed at the individual’s marginal rate of income tax. Remember, this is under UK tax rules. These changes will not apply to Defined Benefit Scheme members, but a consultation has
been launched regarding transferring out of public and private Defined Benefit Schemes into Defined Contributions Schemes. These proposed conditions have wide implications for retirees. Again, it is very important to consider the tax implications in Spain, as well as the fact that the cash would become exposed to inheritance/succession tax. For larger funds, there is a need for sound financial planning and advice. The taxation, if structured correctly, could allow you to achieve a number of financial aims that may otherwise not have been possible. In some cases it may be beneficial to suffer tax on the funds to enable you to invest in something that suits you better, but this would have to be very carefully considered. You need expert advice to ensure you do what will work best for you in the short and long-term. Much can happen between now
and April. The proposed rules could change under consultation. A new government could well revise the rules - the General Election is currently scheduled for May but could happen before. Overseas schemes and jurisdictions need to consider whether to adapt to these new conditions. Specialist advice is therefore important for you to keep up-todate on all the changes, as well as to establish the most suitable options for your personal situation. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.
34 E W N
15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
OPINION & COMMENT
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Schools’ celebrity obsession is beyond belief
Ulrica Marshall
Expat Strife Swedish-born Ulrica is a freelance journalist living in Mallorca with her family. Her debut novel $Expat Wives is available on Amazon and iBooks. To comment on any of the issues raised in Ulrica’s column, go to
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W
ITH just a few weeks before local schools close for the summer (break out the Valium!) I thought it appropriate to include UK schools in a few moans this week. Once again the British educational system is in disarray. This week’s disclosure that one of Britain’s biggest exam boards is introducing socalled ‘popular culture’ questions into its A level exams is almost beyond belief. Example: Q. Analyse the transcript of Claudia Winkleman and the film critic Danny Leigh discussing the film ‘Spiderhole’ on the TV show Film 2010. You couldn’t make it up, could you? Where are these idiots coming from? Don’t ask me. No, to my mind the only real answer to all this nonsense is a reversion to the highly successful post-Second World War era. At between the ages of four
OTHERS THINK IT and five you went to mixed infants school. At seven or eight you transferred to junior school, also mixed. There you were groomed for the 11 plus, three Rs exam. (No questions on ‘Dick Barton Special Agent!’) Those who passed went on to grammar school, which ultimately offered the opportunity for pupils to enter university. Those who failed the exam were given the chance of attending technical college for whatever skills they wished to pursue, or alternatively moved to senior school where they left at 15 or 16 and went into normal jobs; many accepting the offer of an apprenticeship in various occupations. Also, if you wished, at senior school, you could often stay on for a further year and take your GCEs, a higher educational
WRONG QUESTIONS: Claudia Winkleman transcript not fit subject for A levels. certificate presenting a much wider selection of job opportunities. And that was that. It worked perfectly, until left-wingers decided to ‘improve’ it. Now it’s complete chaos and they’re all stumped! And of course the PCs are still walking tall among us.
I recall the headteacher reprimanding both pupils and parents for their offsprings playing ‘gun games’. Apparently, he objected to the children pointing their fingers and saying bang! Personally, I can’t remember a time in my childhood when
When exam fever strikes
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ulrica@euroweeklynews.com
ALL leave is cancelled, all activities suspended and a mild panic has set in to our household. We’re in the grips of exam fever - a dubious joy shared by untold other households, with each one dealing with it in their own way. Some ignore it, choosing to enjoy the fine May sunshine instead of trawling through the year’s many notes and books. They argue either that it is merely a record of what they have learned over the course of the year - in a sense more of a test on the teachers’ capabilities - or perhaps they simply can’t be bothered. Others go into hibernation accompanied by a mountain of books and papers, as well as large quantities of sugary sweets to keep the eyes open when energy invariably fails. While I opted for the latter once upon an exam time, I think the ideal probably lies
hours of leisure weren’t filled with Cowboys and Indians. ‘Gotcha, you’re dead’ and the sound of your pistol or rifle, imitated faithfully through clenched jaws and tightly pursed lips, was a part of growing up. We saw no evil in it. All our ‘victims’, took part in the next game. And that’s all they were, innocent games of childhood. I can’t remember one of my particular ‘posse’ ever turning into a mass murderer. It is a society of violent computer games and a ‘dumbed-down’ education system that has created these young psychopaths. These human rights and PC do-good bunglers are the true reason our young are running riot. Gawd. Will no one rid us of this troublesome bunch of selfsatisfied, incompetent morons? Somehow the signs are not good. Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee.co.uk
EXAM TIME: Panicking about the results is unlikely to bring much joy or success. somewhere in the middle of the two. If anything, the students of all ages - would be best advised to learn exam technique as this forms a large influence on the final result. That and a bit of luck.
I do feel a little sorry for the future generation - even if the economy is pointing in the right direction again come job application time, globalisation means that there is intense competition from across the
world. Not least India and China where those in education tirelessly, even robotically, study in ways most Western children do not. Many other forms of employment no longer require direct human input as
they have been automated and will continue to be so over years to come. So, many children and teens doing their exams over the coming month face a bleak career prospect - especially so in Spain, where youth unemployment has reached 55 per cent. The solution, one school of thought goes, is to seek a path where they can differentiate themselves from the competition. An upbringing in a democracy, with free speech and thought, means that our children are well-suited for creative roles, where thinking outside the box is required. Making connections that constant nose-in-book may not achieve. Whatever the future holds, panicking about your (or your children’s) exam results is unlikely to bring much joy or success, so perhaps don’t bury yourself entirely in the pile of books, but I think the sweets are still called for. Just don’t tell the dentist.
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E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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OPINION & COMMENT
If the cap fits I HAVE been clothes shopping recently. It’s not something I particularly enjoy in Mallorca because every single shop seems to only cater for size six midgets with perfectly dainty feet. Shopping was a source of great frustration for me until I gave in and resigned myself to a lifetime in the same M & S jeans. That is until I started exercising and then discovered a gaping hole in my wardrobe, that of ‘Gym Clothes.’ Up until now I have been going to the gym in what I only (and truthfully) can describe as my pyjamas. These same battered old t-shirts and jogging bottoms have doubled up as yoga gear, hang around the house gear, and fall asleep on the sofa gear. Now I am into my second round of the Whole Life Challenge at the Country Club in Santa Ponsa, it turns out that yes I may need an additional t-shirt and some socks, and probably should invest in a new pair of trainers because the soles of the ones I inherited off someone years ago
Vicki Mcleod
Family Matters are now unpeeling themselves rapidly. So off I toddled, (waddled, this is the beginning of ‘my weight loss journey’ after all) to Decathlon, full of hope and enthusiasm for my new clothes. Of course, it was a complete and total disaster. Yes they do have gym clothes for women in Decathlon, but only if you are already fit and thin and under five foot five. The tops, labelled L or even XL are wide, but they’re not long, in fact they’re sort of square when I am definitely more of a wobbly oblong. So whatever size I tried on it only skimmed my waist which meant if I put my arms above my head (quite a popular move in most sports) that I gave a most unwelcome flash of my tummy. Irritatingly for me I only realised this once wearing
the top in the gym. To the back of the wardrobe with you nasty bright top. If only the designers of workout gear could realise that making clothes for fat and unfit desk jockeys like me may actually be a great source of ongoing income. After all more than 50 per cent of us are overweight these days and need to get some activity going in order to counteract the flab. That’s quite a big market. If they could make clothes which fit, are long enough and flattering enough to not be shameful or humiliating to wear, don’t they think they would fly off the shelves? I guess I put this on my list of ‘Business Ideas To Do.’ In the meantime it’s back to the battered t-shirts and cut off joggers. After all, at least they fit, for now at least, that is until Lidia and the team at Sporting Fitness at the Country Club in Santa Ponsa, and the Whole Life Challenge have knocked me into better shape. www.healthmattersmallorca.com
CLOTHES SHOPPING: A source of great frustration.
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services division, combining its experience of 15 years on Mallorca and previously five years in Germany. Should your project or works prove to be too big or complicated, they can undertake it for you and liaise with architects, designers and also deal with the procurement of necessary licences. Whether it is a small reform, a new pool and terrace or a complete new house, they can deliver a comprehensive package. Whatever your requirements, small or large, please contact them for an informal appointment on 971 231 623 or 629 547 685, e-mail singleton@hotmail.es.
HOMES & GARDENS
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15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
omes&gardens
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Dick Handscombe
Gardening Corner By Dick Handscombe Spain’s best known expat gardening author about to start his 26th winter cut back.
WE are often asked ‘Oh, where did you get that plant from’ and we ask the same question from time to time of others. Often the plant is not from the local nursery! So we have compiled the following list of potential sources in case it helps other gardeners. • Nurseries where they propagate most of the plants they sell. Often they have stronger and less expensive plants than garden centres that only import their plants. • Garden centres where they tend to buy most plants in but we are careful not to buy overforced plants full of flowers. Better to have just a few buds open. Also we look out for plants that have been acclimatised after arriving from hot houses. • Weekly markets, especially when supplied by small growers. Often a good source of vegetable seedlings. • Rastros but not always at a plant stall. Interesting plants seem to pop up on all sorts of stalls including antique stalls and they are normally for sale and not for decoration. • Agricultural cooperatives, especially for trees and vegetable seedlings. • Horticultural and animal feed shops especially for seeds, bulbs and vegetable seedlings. • Flower shops often sell a few unusual plants for the garden or containers as well as house plants that can
Where to find plants and the best way to buy them
CUTTINGS: An epiphylum orchid cactus started from a small cutting. often be grown on a covered terrace. Look at the pavement displays and you may spot something unusual. • Supermarkets especially, for house plants, but search out a strong well cared for plant with plenty of flower buds. • Swap with friends as spare plants raised from seed or cuttings. • Plant sales at local gardening clubs. Often a good place to look for something a little different. Normally strong well grown plants and normally inexpensive. • Raffle prizes at gardening clubs. If you’re lucky they are just what you want. If not they make a good gift next time you go out for dinner. • Verges of roads or pavements. Some well rooted seedlings of succulents, lantanas and trees can be found under overhanging trees or planted walls. Our two largest mimosa trees came from this source. • Local garden rubbish bins or informal tips. Look out for healthy irises,
succulents and cacti. What you’re looking for to fill corners of a new garden may be just what someone with an over planted mature garden is thinning out. • Waste grounds and disused quarries, especially close to the sea, where migrating birds can drop seeds from north African plants. • Neighbours about to
build an extension or pool. Often if you don’t ask they will be bulldozed into a skip. • From mail order catalogues especially for roses, bulbs, special shrubs and vegetables. • Restaurants and Casa Rurales. You may be able to negotiate a cutting or seeds from something different that you spy. And no one can stop you
taking away a few seeds from tasty local heritage tomatoes that were in the salad! • Jobbing gardeners who propagate to obtain inexpensive plants to fit into the gardens they care for or landscape and to sell the spares to passers-by. • Smallholdings who sometimes produce vegetable and herb
plants for sale. • Visitors who bring gifts that they think will look lovely in your garden • The reject corner of garden centres. You might be lucky enough to see an inexpensive or even free plant that with care can be nursed back to health. • Your own cuttings and seed sowings in a semi-shaded corner of the garden or in a small greenhouse or garden frame. • Plants from seeds fortuitously dropped by birds in your garden. • Self seeded plantlets. • Airport gift shops in subtropical locations where mini exotic plants or packets of seeds may be on sale. Happy plant hunting!
© Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain. com May 2014.
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E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
CROSSWORDS
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Time Out EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE
Mallorca weather
NEW ON DVD MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE
for next 7 days
The Grand Budapest Hotel THIS comedy was written and directed by Wes Anderson and was inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig. The film stars F. Murray Abraham, Edward Norton and Ralph Fiennes as a concierge who teams up with one of his employees to prove his innocence when he is accused of a murder.
TODAY
ALCUDIA
POLLENÇA
CALA MILLOR
INCA
CALVIA
CALA d’OR
PALMA ANDRATX
LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF
ALCUDIA
POLLENÇA
The run time is 99 minutes and is rated 15.
TOMORROW CALA MILLOR
INCA
CALVIA
CALA d’OR
PALMA ANDRATX
LLUCMAJOR
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Upfront Mars and the upbeat Sun will be at loggerheads with powerful Pluto. You might not appreciate some of Friday or Saturday’s antics, so be ready to use your charm, or perhaps your equally wicked sense of humour will do the trick. Whatever comes up for review, a cool rethink could inspire you with some useful tactics.
8-Star Quiz THE WORLD’S OLDEST FOOTBALL CUP COMPETITION vThis Saturday, May 17, Arsenal will play Hull City in the 133rd final of the FA Cup 1. In which decade was the FA Cup final first played at Wembley Stadium? 2. Tottenham Hotspur have won the F A Cup final eight times; which team, in 1987, is the only team to have beaten them in the final? 3. What was the name of the Manchester City goalkeeper who played on, and earned a winner’s medal, with a broken neck in the 1956 FA Cup final? 4. Which Manchester United defender was the first player to be sent off in an FA Cup final? 5. Which Second Division side beat Leeds United 1-0 to win the 1973 FA Cup final? 6. Which team has appeared in four FA Cup finals (1949, 1961, 1963 and 1969), losing them all? 7. Which team has won the FA Cup on most occasions (11)? 8. Which two teams contested the famous 1953 ‘Matthews Final’?
Your Stars
LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is an intense week, and if you get stuck with a particular issue, jumble your words, or just can’t seem to do anything right, it might be worth finding out if the grass is greener on the other side.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Quirky planetary niggles will surface without warning. A variety of talks, news and last-minute changes surround your family members, friends or colleagues. No matter what affects your personal or occupational activities, stay focused, decide what your goals are.
May 19: Christian Galvez. Actor. This Spanish actor and presenter was born in Madrid and debuted on the small screen in 1996, at the age of 15, in a small role in the, then very popular, Medico de Familia series. He currently presents Pasapalabra on Telecinco.
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LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Even the best-made plans can suddenly sink without a trace. Your dreams for a fresh start in one particular direction still need tender, cautious care, and you may equally need to be wary of overstepping the mark where money’s concerned.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) If you suspect that some things are not what they seem, you could be right. Repel doubts, ban anxieties and stick to facts and tact. If certain individuals or situations continue to conspire against you, change course and do something entirely different.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) You will need bucketloads of humour and understanding as impatient Mars and the sprightly Sun engage with touchy Pluto. Stay well clear if you want to escape potential power struggles. .
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Storms in tea-cups need loads of sweet-talking. Of course, if you can’t be bothered with it all, fair enough; keeping quiet could be the best way to deal with problems, glitches or sudden backfires. AQUARIUS (January 21 February 19) You are about to tackle some tough tests. Work and personal hurdles could preoccupy you, but after the weekend you’ll be able to sort out the ice from the cream.
Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.
PISCES (February 20 March 20) Feisty Mars and the fiery Sun are warring with changeable Pluto, so avoid any tearaway temptations on Thursday or Friday. You could be emotionally vulnerable, or even lulled into a false sense of security.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Hassles and battles are on the cards. If things don’t happen as fast as you’d expected, or domestic and workaday blips assail your patience, transform them into an opportunity to show your special qualities.
LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
UK THUNDERBALL
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
Saturday May 10
Saturday May 10
Saturday May 10
Friday May 9
5
8
10
16
17
3
10 31
30 36
5
13
22
24
33
38
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
BONUS BALL
46
12
26
Almeria
CLEAR MAX 22C, MIN 14C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
3
21 28
LUCKY STARS 7
10
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA
5
15
17
23
33
37
REINTEGRO 16
6
19
20 47
Fri Sat Sun -
CLEAR
Fri Sat Sun -
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 21 16 Cl Tues - 20 15 C Wed - 21 14 Cl
Fri Sat Sun -
23 16 Cl 23 16 Cl 23 16 Cl
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 24 16 S Tues - 24 14 Cl Wed - 24 15 S
Mallorca 21 12 Cl 22 13 C 24 15 Cl S Sun,
29 11 Cl 29 13 S 29 14 Cl
TODAY:
MAX MIN
MAX 28C, MIN 12C MAX MIN
Mon - 27 12 C Tues - 24 11 C Wed - 24 11 Cl
Mon - 24 16 Cl Tues - 25 16 S Wed - 23 16 Cl Cl Clear,
CLOUDY MAX 24C, MIN 13C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun Fog,
Sn Snow,
MAX MIN
26 13 C 26 14 Cl 27 16 C
Mon - 31 17 S Tues - 29 16 C Wed - 28 17 Cl
C Cloud,
Sh Showers,
Th Thunder
Nonagram How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case G) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
TARGET:
Average: 7
Very good: 14
Good: 9
Excellent: 17
bait, barn, bint, boar, boat, born, bort, bran, brat, brio, brit, obit, abort, bairn, baron, baton, biont, biota, brain, brant, bravo, orbit, robin, tabor, tibia, barton, biotin, obtain, vibrio, vibrant, vibrato, VIBRATION
Word Ladder PINK
Move from the start word (PINK) to the end word (LADY) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
21 54
REINTEGRO 0
MAX MIN
Mon - 23 18 S Tues - 23 18 S Wed - 22 18 Cl
Murcia
CLOUDY MAX 22C, MIN 13C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
CLEAR
TODAY:
MAX 21C, MIN 15C
MAX MIN
TODAY:
21 16 Cl 21 17 Cl 22 18 C
Madrid
Malaga CLOUDY
MAX MIN
Mon - 25 18 C Tues - 25 17 C Wed - 25 17 Cl
CLEAR MAX 21C, MIN 17C
TODAY:
MAX 21C, MIN 14C
19 15 C 21 15 Cl 21 16 Cl
TODAY:
25 16 C 26 17 Cl 23 18 Sh
MAX 24C, MIN 16C
Benidorm
Barcelona TODAY:
CLEAR MAX MIN
Mon - 24 17 S Tues - 24 16 S Wed - 24 17 Cl
22 14 Cl 22 15 Cl 23 16 Cl
Sunday May 11
Saturday May 10
26 45
LA PRIMITIVA
TODAY:
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Sudoku
3
Alicante TODAY:
LADY
LADS LADY
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Punchy Mars and the heady Sun are set for a scramble with touchy Pluto. You’ve been there before, so despite any administrative bumps, gossipy whirls or curious rejections, don’t be too sensitive.
IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: Pay heed to your intuition. Nothing will be gained from rushing along a path that is peppered with financial risks, but your overall luck will hold. This means that studies, creative activities and domestic changes are progressively starred, especially this month.
PINK PINS PANS PADS
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Astrologically, it’s not unreasonable to assume that when sparky Mars and the zesty Sun conflict with restless Pluto, life could become a tad frustrating. You might find it hard to tolerate hypocrisy and setbacks, but fortunately, it’s all just a passing cloud.
MAGALLUF
1. 1920s (1923), 2. COVENTRY CITY, 3. BERT TRAUTMANN, 4. KEVIN MORAN, 5. SUNDERLAND, 6. LEICESTER CITY, 7. MANCHESTER UNITED, 8. BLACKPOOL and BOLTON WANDERERS,
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Crosswords
15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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39
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Cryptic
Quick
Across 1 Some slippers and also shoes (7) 5 Scrap in the departure lounge (4) 8 On the lookout for real model tenant (5) 9 State gets scientific institute to take on a graduate (7) 10 Film in animals’ kingdom (4) 11 Sign on in Bognor Regis? Terrific (8) 13 An endless pact to foot the bill (5) 14 Artist is champ (5) 19 Star treading carelessly (3,5) 21 Coin circulating in the Midwest (4) 23 Influence in part of church (7) 24 Set a trap separately (5) 25 Fish with eel’s head, Da Vinci’s? (4) 26 Bad cons make a break and run away (7) Down 1 Boxes with energy, being thin (6) 2 Anne meeting Queen, originally born less well off (7) 3 Neat arrangement for a stake (4) 4 See bad moves at the bottom of the ocean (6) 5 Metal lamp unit needing assembly (8)
Across 7 American wild cat (6) 8 Benevolent (6) 10 Admit, as defeat (7) 11 Defraud (5) 12 Secret look (4) 13 Stunned (5) 17 Fatigued (5) 18 Nothing at all (4) 22 Make different (5) 23 Occurring at the beginning (7) 24 Undertake a journey (6) 25 Pressure (6)
6 Severely criticise cook (5) 7 Lion’s leader publicises dens (5) 12 Marmite I made is salty (8) 15 Smart attempt to encircle a city (7) 16 A girl broke the chalice (5) 17 Girl from a strange land (6)
18 Bitter made from wheat, edible nuts etc (6) 20 Daughter is company for the nightclub (5) 22 Country leaders of Los Angeles or Seattle (4)
Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 23 represents T and 9 represents Z, so fill in T every time the figure 23 appears and Z every time the figure 9 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Bends, 4 Launch, 9 Narrate, 10 Lower, 11 Ares, 12 Varlets, 13 Ode, 14 Garb, 16 Nero, 18 Bug, 20 Iron ore, 21 Cafe, 24 Erase, 25 Inexact, 26 Shoves, 27 Binge. Down: 1 Banyan, 2 Norse, 3 Seal, 5 Alluring, 6 New Year, 7 Harass, 8 Leave, 13 Obsolete, 15 Avocado, 17 Timers, 18 Benin, 19 Gentle, 22 Again, 23 Herb. QUICK Across: 1 Cherish, 5 Dock, 8 Means, Roughen, 11 Note, 12 Garrison, 15 Fed up, 16 Basic, 19 Pastoral, 21 Tuba, 23 Stature, 25 Evade, 26 Drag, 27 Canteen. Down: 2 Heartless, 3 Rest, 4 Stream, 5/24 Dog tag, 6 Credo, 7 Amend, 10 Uproar, 13 Stimulate, 14 Sudoku, 17 Camera, 18 Cameo, 20 Alter, 22 Debt.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Chemistry, 7 Ropes, 9 River, 10 Team, 11 Fresas, 13 Spade, 14 Suave, 15 Contestar. Down: 2 Mesa, 3 Surprises, 4 Revista, 5 British, 6 Brushes, 8 Platano, 12 Left.
English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Hablar (4) 3 Guante (5) 8 To dare (9) 9 Cocineros (5) 10 Nidos (5) 12 Sleet (9) 14 Goat (5) 15 Pinzas (de ropa) (4) Down 1 To carve (meat) (8) 2 Key (door) (5) 4 Espliego (8) 5 To see (3) 6 Prisionero (8) 7 Campesinos (8) 11 Seven (5) 13 Nail (on finger, toe) (3)
Hexagram The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (RECEDE) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues. ABASES
RECTOR
BUSHEL
REGION
CLOSER
STEEDS
ENTERS
STREAK
HEARTS
TESTED
LARDER
THREAD
LATTER
TOWARD
LEADER
TRADES
NEARBY
WILDER
RECEDE (10)
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Funagram Unscramble the name of a type of home appliance (two words): TERRIBLE MUD FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: MARVIN GAYE, TUMBLE DRIER
Unscramble the name of a famous American soul singer, composer and musician: ARMY GAVE IN
Down 1 Basic idea (7) 2 Move about idly (7) 3 Pugilist (5) 4 Triumph (7) 5 Enthusiastic (5) 6 Small and of little importance (5) 9 Collection of live animals (9) 14 Obstruction (7) 15 Reached a judicial conclusion (7) 16 Devoid of good sense or judgment (7) 19 Religious belief (5) 20 Wander off (5) 21 Not clean (5)
1 Device, 2 Elders, 3 Seeing, 4 Arenas, 5 Cellar, 6 Steeds, 7 Acorns, 8 Reeled, 9 Spears, 10 Clever, 11 Leered, 12 Resort, 13 Veered, 14 Cursed, 15 Seated, 16 Greasy, 17 Drawer, 18 Grease, 19 Wealth
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
Lupus: an invisible illness AROUND 40,000 people in Spain suffer from lupus; an auto-immune, chronic and potentially fatal disorder. Now, to mark World Lupus Day, patients and
organisations are calling for the ‘invisible’ disease to be recognised as a disabling condition as sufferers are on the verge of exclusion. A report prepared by
the Spanish Federation of Lupus (FELUPUS) also calls for the inclusion of sunscreens in public funding on the National Health System for lupus patients. President of FELUPUS, Pilar Pazos said for sufferers sunscreens are like ‘drugs’ with patients having to use them throughout the year as the sun is one of the
SUN SCREEN: essential for Lupus sufferers
inducers of the disease. They are also calling for more awareness of the condition with few people knowing about Lupus, which is a disorder that involves the body’s immune system mistakenly viewing healthy cells as foreign invaders. It can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs.
FEATURE
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Advertising Feature
Euro poorest performer, Canadian dollar top performer Commentary by Moneycorp
EUR After a month of heightened anticipation, the European Central Bank (ECB) made no change to interest rates at its May meeting but said it would lower them next month if inflation remains low and there is continued upward pressure on the euro. The threat of action was enough to take the shine off the euro. It was the week’s poorest performer, falling by a fifth of a US cent and by half a cent against sterling.
USD The monthly figure for US nonfarm payrolls was much stronger than expected, with 114k more people in work than analysts had projected. But investors were still preoccupied by the American economy’s negligible growth in the first quarter and by the Federal Reserve’s warnings about a protracted period of ultra-low interest rates. In all it cost the dollar nearly half a cent against sterling and it could add no more than a fifth of a cent against the euro.
Clarisse Musselwhite is Moneycorp’s Account Manager for Mallorca
She can be contacted on Tel: +34 902 887 243 Mobile: +34 687 932 472 Email:mallorca@moneycorp.com
902887243 mallorca@moneycorp.com CAD The Canadian dollar was the week’s top-performing major currency, strengthening by a cent against the US dollar and by nearly two cents against sterling. There was nothing whatsoever in the Canadian data to justify its performance: it was simply that investors took against the US dollar and the euro and they already had on board as many British pounds as they could handle.
AUD The Aussie had a fairly good week, strengthening by three-quarters of a US cent, one and a half euro cents and by one cent against sterling. Its principal claim to fame was a 14k rise in Australian full-time employment but it helped that investors took against the US dollar and the euro and they already had on board as many British pounds as they could handle. NZD The Kiwi had a more successful week than the governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand would have liked. In a speech he said the bank would be prepared to intervene to sell it if it remained too strong. His threat sent the NZ dollar a quarter of a cent lower against sterling and it made no headway against the US dollar. However, the prime minister is an ex-foreign-exchange trader who has said in the past that intervention does not work.
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PETS
Tweet Tweet! Twitter is the way to go to find yourself some new clients Vicki Mcleod
Business Matters IS your business using Social Media? Even though Facebook is a very powerful tool for communicating with your existing customers and people who are referred to you, it is Twitter that you should be looking to if you want to find new clients. Set yourself up with a personal account on Twitter to try it out and see how it works. If you are based in a specific location and you want to find other people who are in that area then try tapping in the name of the place that you are in on Twitter. TWITTER TIPS: 1. Be patient. Unless you’re Katy Perry or Starbucks, your
brand probably doesn’t have a built-in following. Your first tweet isn’t going to get a lot of traction because no one knows you’re there. So start ‘favouriting,’ retweeting and replying to content that interests you. Bring yourself to the attention of people who you would like to communicate with. 2. Follow more accounts. Find accounts that are relevant to your interests, but be selective. There are accounts that may have 100,000 followers, but they also follow 80,000. How in the world will that person ever see anything useful to them? At the same time, don’t feel bad for unfollowing. 3. Be diligent. Make a point to spend even five to 10 minutes a day reading, ‘favouriting’ and replying to tweets. Don’t be discouraged if your replies and tweets go unnoticed. The more you tweet, the sooner you will learn what works and
Hive collapse worries
THE bee population is going down again and if it continues to descend it could provoke a decrease in many fruit and vegetable crops. The crops at greatest risk are, among others, apples, kiwis, almonds, melons and peaches. Greenpeace has calculated that the billing dependent on these insects is worth over €2,400 million annually in Spain. In the last 20 years the rate of descent has gone from eight per cent per year to between 30 and 40 per cent per year. Incorrect pollination decreases the quantity and quality of crops and would influence over a third of the world’s food. Spanish bees are in trouble and this puts crops in trouble, according to a report from Greenpeace up to 70 per cent could disappear in the next 10 years if immediate measures are not taken; ecologists and bee keepers are calling for the elimination of certain insecticides which are the main cause of their disappearance as they attack the bee’s nervous systems. The report specifies 319 different types of insecticide provoking this natural disaster; these insecticides are ‘systemic’ which means they get into the sap of the plant and therefore reach the entirety of the plant. When the bee lands on the flower to collect the pollen it picks up these chemicals and although they do not kill the bees immediately they do provoke a series of problems in the bee’s nervous system.
TWITTER: Be interesting and share information. what doesn’t. 4. Say something. If you have a smartphone then have the Twitter App on your phone so that you can have it to hand when you are not near to your pc. If you are stood in a queue
I HAD a call from a gentleman that informed me he had put his Dobermann to sleep due to illness, the dog was 12 years. Of course he was devastated. They have another four dogs. A few nights later they heard terrible fighting going on downstairs. The Cocker Spaniel had nearly bitten one dog’s nose off and they were all injured. Reluctantly he took the Spaniel to the vet and put the dog to sleep. He explained that the Spaniel looked at him as if to say Dad why are you doing this? The man was in a terrible state and called me to ask if he had done the right thing. I immediately said no. The pack hierarchy had now changed and sometimes this causes fights. If dogs start fighting dogs it has to be established which dog is the new leader (in many cases it needs an expert to help you). The new top dog is to be loved 10 times more and fed first. We keep using his
or you’re waiting for an appointment then get out your phone and send a tweet about your business. Integrate the use of Social Media into your day to day life so that it doesn’t become yet another job to do.
Try not to go days between tweets. Whether it’s a discount code, information on sales or something fun, be active. That said, don’t tweet for the sake of tweeting. 5. Once you have learnt how to use Twitter then decide on your strategy. What do you want to be found for? Use key words in your Tweets, and put your location if you are a location based business. Use photos in your tweets as well. Share information about what you do, share your expert knowledge. If you are a chef then give tips on cooking, if you are a garage then remind people to check their tyre pressure. No one wants to sign up for spam so make sure that you are interesting and useful: Tell don’t sell! You can follow Phoenix Media Mallorca @phoenixmediamlr on Twitter. www.businessmattersmallorca. com
Group hierarchy
SPONSORED BY DOG PACKS: Important to work out hierarchy. name and touching and cuddling him as a favourite. We are showing this dog that he is a top dog. The fighting then stops. However, I would stress that this does not work with fighting females. There is no known way to stop fighting and terrible injuries. Best to rehome one of them. Quite often owners who have brought another dog into the family get upset
For all do g treats p lease call: 971 887 0 07 / 634 1 52 813
when they see the younger dog mounting or David THE Dogman biting the rear Listen to David Costa del Sol on TRE every Saturday 10 legs of the (San Roque to(Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fam to 11am m (Calahonda to Calahonda) 91.9fm resident dog. Costa Blanca Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida (To 92 .7fm rre vieja to Elche) (Elche to Calpe It is best not 105.1fm (Denia to Valen) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia cia & Ibiza) 104.6fm Mallorca 103.9 ) 95.3fm to correct the , fm behaviour, it is very normal. Sometimes this is For your local radio when the status of the frequency log onto young dog is changing in www.talkradioeurope. the pack and the younger com dog becomes the top dog.
FOOD & DRINK
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& DRINKS
ood F
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Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local sport
Mallorca’s best guide for local restaurants
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Study promotes beer to benefit women’s health
DRINKING beer in moderation can have benefits on women’s health at different stages of their lives, according to a study carried out in Spain. The study suggests that the natural ingredients in beer can have benefits for women during pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause and in their old age. The book, ‘Women, Gynaecology and Beer’ was presented at the Official Pharmacists’ Association in the Balearic Islands, and was coordinated by Doctor Tirso Perez Medina, a Professor of Gynaecology
and Obstetrics at Madrid’s Autonomous University and Head of the Gynaecology Department at the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital in Madrid. It is the first of its kind to revise the effects of beer on women’s health. It shows that beer is a natural drink, low in calories and alcohol and with no fat or sugar, which on the other hand contains carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins and folic acid, making moderate consumption within a balanced diet beneficial for health.
Pregnant women can drink nonalcoholic beer, as folic acid is essential for pregnant women and those trying to conceive, as it aids the nervous system and cell regeneration and regulates levels of homocysteine, which is a risk factor in heart diseases. It also reduces the risk of malformations of the spine and prevents defects of the neural tube at birth. During breastfeeding, it also provides natural antioxidants which fight against heart disease and wear on the system. The polyphenols in it protect against heart disease and oxidation of the body’s systems during menopause, helps to increase good cholesterol in the blood, reducing ischemic heart disease and also provides vitamins, fibre and natural phytoestrogens which help to reduce the risk of diseases linked to the drop of estrogens.
Celiac sufferers’ technology
GIVEN we eat three times a day life can be a little like an obstacle course for anyone suffering from celiac disease, but now modern technology is coming to their rescue in the form of apps and websites. Celiac disease is an autoimmune illness characterised by an inflammation of the lower intestine after the ingestion of any sort of gluten, usually present in cereals. Spain has over 450,000 registered cases of people who suffer from the celiac disease. The Spanish federation of celiac sufferers, FACE, have brought out a list of webs and apps to help navigate the difficult path around cereals. Viajarsingluten.com is a web page that will inform sufferers of the disease where they can eat a gluten-free meal out, they include pizzerias and hamburger joints. Allergychef.es will inform those afflicted of slightly
CEREALS: Can be difficult to avoid. ‘higher class’ restaurants. If an app seems more useful then sufferers can check out the facemovil app which has a list of over
1,600 restaurants which serve gluten-free food; Celicity and Mobiceliac also provide lists of suitable restaurants and bars.
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PROPERTY
15 - 21 May 2014 / Mallorca
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Property TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Advertising feature
Fastighetsbyrån is the place to buy property THE Swedes are buying property as never before in Mallorca and the Euro Weekly News visited a recently established agency in Palma de Mallorca to find out why. In March 2013 the Swedish real estate chain Fastighetsbyrån (The Real Estate Agency ) opened its first office in Mallorca, located in the neighborhood Sa Clastra just behind El Corte Ingles on Jaime III in Palma City. It’s the chain’s first in Mallorca but its ninth in Spain. In Sweden the company is very well known because it is the largest real estate firm, owned by Sweden’s biggest bank Swedbank. Stefan Wiezell, who runs the office in Palma de Mallorca and is the franchise owner, said Fastighetsbyrån has had great success in Spain. During its first year in Mallorca the firm took
OFFICE: Welcoming and at home. nearly 15 per cent of the market share when it comes to Scandinavian buyers of homes on the island. Stefan added that the big challenge is to find good homes to sell. “We have the customers who want to buy.” He said that 85 per cent of the firm’s customers are looking for a
home from Palma to Puerto Andratx, along the coast. The remaining customers are looking for old stone houses in the
countryside or quality apartments on the east or north side of the island. Although the branch has only been open for a year, it has expanded rapidly and today has six people working at the office, with a total workforce in Spain of 70. Last year the Swedes were the next largest group of buyers in Spain after English of foreigners who bought property in Spain. No surprise, particularly in Mallorca as many Swedes appreciate the island for its diversity. Stefan said: “Many Scandinavians want to realise the dream of owning a home on the island and if we have the right property we sell it.”
He concluded that he receives customers who have just landed from Sweden and they start the meeting in the kitchen. What separates this agency from many others is that the office has a seating area and kitchen in the middle of the office, so all their customers feel welcome and at home. “All our customers appreciate that. It’s a very conscious choice that we have designed the office in this way,” said Torkel Hellberg who works there and usually is the first to meet all the customers who call into the office.
More information: www.fastighetsbyran.se/utland C/ Protectora 10, Sa Clastra Local 6, 07012 Palma de Mallorca Tel: 971 100 704
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PROPERTY
Property prices have effect on birth rate THE rise and fall of property prices causes birth rates to fluctuate. According to a study published in the Journal of Public Economics by economists Lisa Dettling and Melissa Kearney, couples considering having children take into account financial factors such as work perspective, income, and whether property prices are rising or falling. Rising prices cause birth rates to fall amongst those who don’t own their own homes and to rise amongst homeowners. This is because when homeowners see the value of their property
HAVING A FAMILY: The rise and fall of property prices causes birth rates to fluctuate. increasing, it makes them feel more confident they will be able to face the expenses of forming a family. Meanwhile, those who don’t have a house realise it has become more difficult for them to buy their own house, making them also think rent prices will rise and more of their income will be spent on housing, so less will be available to have children.
Their study is based on demographic data and property prices from 1997 to 2006 in the USA, and suggests property prices influence people’s decision to have children even more than whether or not they have a job, although it is unclear whether
property prices have had the same effects on other markets. When it comes to those renting a home, a rise in prices seems to make people delay the decision to have a second child, but has no influence to have the first.
More Belgians moving to Spain
PROPERTY SHOPPING: Rising trend in Spain.
A personal shopper to find a home or working space WE all know what a personal shopper is by now, but what about bringing this figure into the world of property investment? Well, that’s just what has been done in the USA, and in the past three years, the trend has been on the rise in Spain. The services of Personal Property Shoppers were initially hired mainly by the rich and famous who didn’t have time to look for their own houses, but apparently, more and more private buyers and especially companies are hiring their services. The Spanish Association of Personal Real Estate Shoppers says that companies mainly want to find offices and industrial or commercial
establishments. One of the first companies to provide the service in Spain in 2010 was Somrie Personal Shopper Services, who have exclusive agents for property investors in charge of finding, negotiating and closing rental or purchase deals on homes or offices based on clients’ needs. They don’t report to real estate agencies and have no conflict of interests which means they can look for the best deals. Forty per cent of clients are Spanish, executives with plenty of money to invest and little time for property hunting, while the rest are foreigners who appreciate having the paperwork done for them.
THE number of Belgians purchasing property in Spain has multiplied by five in the past six years. According to Flemish financial publication De Tijd, in 2013, Belgians purchased 3,804 houses in Spain. While 2,833 of them were buying properties as holiday homes, especially on the Costa Brava, 971 had sold up in their country of origin and were settling in Spain. The Belgian press says that this is mainly because of the fall of property prices on the Spanish market in the past few years. If seen in relation to the total number of inhabitants in the country, Belgium is the country which has most people investing in the Spanish property market.
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CLASSIFIEDS
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lassifieds C
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FOR RESULTS EVERY WEEK
BOATS / CARS / JOBS / SERVICES / PETS / BIKES / FURNITURE / PROPERTY / MOTORING / FOR SALES
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DINING OUT DELFINOS (Crazy Dolphin). Menu del dia - 3 courses and drink 9.95€. Dinner for 2, 19.90€. 971 676 449 (224510)
DRIVING LESSONS LEARN TO DRIVE IN MALLORCA. Scottish Driving Instructor now qualified to teach in Mallorca. Classes in English or Spanish. Obtain your Spanish licence easier or have refresher lessons and get behind that wheel. Interested! Call 648 133 929 (201557)
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LIMESCALE REMOVAL FOR LIFE Single Homes to Urbanisations for under 20 cents per week. For more information call Scalewatcher 952 857 680/687 760 038 or visit www.hardwaterproblems.com (215661)
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INSURANCE
WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)
CHIMNEY SWEEP ‘SOOTY & SWEEP’, chimneys swept, repaired and installed. Tel 971 231 623 / 629 547 685 (216900)
Price per word: 0,42€ + IVA minimum 15 words - Discount: Book 10 weeks, get 2 weeks free - Deadline: 4pm Mondays Contact: Phone (0034) 971 682 795 • Fax (0034) 971 680 438 • email classifieds@euroweeklynews.com • www.euroweeklynews.com
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OPPORTUNITY
PETS
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FELIX Dog and Cat Kennels. Based at Manacor. Boarding available. Home sitting Island wide. Tel 689 795 049 (224708)
PET INSURANCE PROTECTAPET. Spain’s leading pet insurance. 965 756 371. www.protectapet.eu (216721)
REMOVALS/STORAGE THE MAN & VAN ISLAND WIDE REMOVALS & STORAGE. CHEAP, CHEERFUL, FAST, EFFICIENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY LEGAL. Tel: 626 792 037 (216953)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PARTY HIRE
FREE FOR YOU FREE. MOBILE PHONE SIM CARD CALLS TO THE UK FOR ONLY 1 CENT PER MINUTE FREE CREDIT WORTH 12 EUROS.FREE MOBILE PHONE CALLS. CALL NOW TO FIND OUT HOW. TEL 902 887 091 WWW.TELITEC.COM (0)
PETS PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe. Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required. For further information call or e-mail us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227. Email: info@petcouriers.com or www.petcouriers.com (206497)
PROPERTY FOR SALE C A LO N G E , 2 b e d 2 b a t h , centralheating, klima, sea views, pool, g a ra g e . €275.000 - private sale, real estate welcome. Tel. 0034 971 64 84 10 - 0034 619 22 14 14 pics: calador@saco ma.es (220327)
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WE CLEAR building rubble, garden rubbish, furniture etc. Quick & reliable. Tel 629 547 685 (216900)
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VAN MAN FAST, FRIENDLY, EFFICIENT. REMOVALS, STORAGE 25 euros p/h. 638 478 204 (224726)
PROPERTY FOR RENT LLUCMAJOR. Completely furnished first floor apartment with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, kitchen, lounge, terrace, 450 euros/month. Ref 2940 Inmobiliaria Llucmajor. Tel 971 662 402 (222097)
BRITISH property services in Mallorca. Construction & home reform services. Our promise: We WILL beat any price like for like ISLANDWIDE. All work guaranteed. See our large advert in this edition. Contact us at enquiries@jmac.es or tel 971 230 136 (216932)
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HGV Class 1 European drivers UK/European tramping. Day workers 6/5 day shift patterns, many locations throughout UK. Excellent rates. Call 0044 7846 624312 or email camb scontractors@live.com (222314) KATMANDU PARK. Maintenance staff required. General technical knowledge required, good technical English, Spanish second language. We are looking for highly motivated people to join our Technical Team. Apply to tel: 616 777 881 / email tec@katmandu park.com (224537) AN ENGLISH family is looking for a suitable person to HELP ON A BOAT for days out from Puerto Portals. Boating experience required to assist the Captain. Pay depending experience circa 100 - 150 euros per day. Please email Mina on mlawrence@penhurst.co.uk / or call +44 207 978 0100 (224541)
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TELECOMS FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (0)
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MOTORING
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SPONSORED BY For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80
Completing an accident claim form
FRAYED nerves and the shock of an accident often lead people to make mistakes on their DAA (accident insurance form or ‘parte’ as known in Spain). Now experts at a major insurance company have brought out a guide to help people fill in the form correctly. The first thing to remember is to remain calm and not to argue. Then fill in all the fields, using capital letters, and take down all the pertinent information about the other vehicle. The circumstance of the accident is most important, so fill it in as completely as possible. It is also important to refer to your car as ‘vehicle A’ and the other car as ‘vehicle B’; get this wrong and it leads to confusion. Lastly remember to sign, and get the other person to sign, the form apparently almost 30 per cent of forms are never signed.
MSO 650S COUPE CONCEPT: Being shown throughout China.
A bespoke concept from McLaren
EN SPECIAL OPERATIONS, the bespoke division of McLaren Automotive, has released images of the MSO 650S Coupe Concept. It is a showcase of the MSO designed and engineered upgrades available for the McLaren 650S Coupe and 650S
Spider, the latest models to join the McLaren Automotive range. The model is being shown throughout China over the coming weeks and includes an array of bespoke MSO features, including a newly designed carbon fibre rear diffuser and MSO-branded carbon fibre side blades. The striking MSO 650S Coupe Concept has a stealth-like, menacing appearance, with subtle upgrades made to the exterior bodywork and within the driver-focused cabin. The MSO 650S Coupe Concept is finished in ‘Agrigan Black,’ which is a
metallic black paint specially developed inhouse with a deep ruby red metallic flake. This paint effect gives the exterior bodywork a dramatic colour change in direct sunlight, contrasting with the extensive use of satinfinished carbon fibre highlights. The lightweight carbon fibre accents, including the prominent front splitter and air intakes, are complemented by bespoke MSO carbon fibre side blades and the unique MSO ear diffuser. The MSO branded side blades are a more aggressive, full length, interpretation of the door blades seen on the 650S Coupe and Spider models. Finished in satin, they offer
increased improvements to the airflow along the edges of the bodywork, further optimising aerodynamic efficiency. At the rear, the GT3-inspired rear bumper features a carbon fibre centre section, and the lightweight material carries through to the carbon fibre airbrake and unique MSO rear diffuser. The MSO 650S Coupe Concept is presented as a one-off design study, and MSO is monitoring reaction regarding any potential production examples. The MSO side blades and rear diffuser are available to order now priced at £5,114 and £7,245 respectively for a new 650S. These styling upgrades can also be fitted to the 12C.
Look no hands… VOLVO Car Group’s groundbreaking project ‘Drive Me’ - featuring 100 self-driving Volvos on public roads in everyday driving conditions - is moving forward rapidly. The first test cars are already rolling around the Swedish city of Gothenburg and the sophisticated Autopilot technology is performing well, say Volvo. “The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption and merging traffic all by themselves. This is an important step towards our aim that the final ‘Drive Me’ cars will be able to drive the whole test route in highly autonomous mode. “The technology, which will be called Autopilot, enables the driver to hand over the driving to the vehicle, which takes care of all driving functions,” says Erik Coelingh, Technical Specialist at Volvo Car Group. What makes the ‘Drive Me’ project unique is that it involves all the key players: legislators, transport authorities, a major city, a vehicle manufacturer and real customers. The customers will drive the 100 cars in everyday driving conditions on approximately 50 kilometres of selected roads in and around Gothenburg. “This public pilot will provide us with a valuable insight into the societal benefits of making autonomous vehicles a natural part of the traffic.”
New ambassador for luxury Lexus SPANISH actress Adriana Ugartes is the latest ‘ambassador’ for Toyota’s luxury car brand Lexus. She will be driving the
marque’s Lexus CT200h hybrid around the streets of Madrid. Lexus says the young actress is the perfect
woman to represent it, particularly its compact model, aimed at a sophisticated younger market.
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BOATING
Ex-president Joan Noguera Nadal dies JOAN NOGUERA NADAL, founding president of the Association of Nautical Clubs in the Balearic Islands has died at the age of 76. He was the expresident of the San Antonio de la Playa Maritime Club (CMSAP) and the ex-president of the Association of Nautical Clubs of the Balearic Islands (ACNB). In his youth he was an outstanding member of the CMSAP’s Snipe class regatta team, he went on to form part of several director’s boards until, in 2000, he was elected president - a post in which he stayed until 2008. Although the members of the club invited him to run for another term he declined for health reasons.
JOAN NOGUERA NADAL: Will be missed by all. Between 2004 and 2008 he was the president of the ACNB and while there he negotiated the Balearic Ports Law with the government which was approved in 2005.
Noguera was a great defender of the nonprofit model for nautical clubs as well as the social and sporting functions that these clubs have been fulfilling for decades.
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BOATING
Kite surfing trimaran reaches Gran Canaria A MODERN multi-hull craft, which had lost its mast in an accident, managed to complete the Madeira to Gran Canaria crossing by using kite surf equipment to propel itself for three days.
Frenchman Lalou water without being Roucayrol, something of able to get it back,” a celebrity in big sailing commented Lalou. He went on to say competitions, that “we were limped into the The boat towed into port of Las lost Lisbon port but Palmas de Gran control they did not Canaria with his and nosehave the M-50 class dived into necessary trimaran the water equipment to ‘Arkema Region Aquitaine’ powered by help us” and, as such, the kiting equipment they decided to continue and nothing else after the 679 kilometres to an accident on the high Gran Canaria where they knew they could get seas. “We were going at help. about 21 knots when Roucayrol believes the boat lost control and that this is the first time nose-dived into the someone has underwater. It capsized and taken such an original we lost the mast in the voyage.
FEATURE
www.euroweeklynews.com
15 - 21 May 2014 /Mallorca
EWN
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Take to the open seas HEARING the purr of the engine, the thrust of the throttle and the wind sweeping through your hair; power boating is fast, fun and frivolous. It doesn’t take weeks to become qualified to drive a power boat as Euro Weekly News reporter Gemma Quinn found out...
WHO wouldn’t want to play ‘Bond Girl’ for a day and hit the open seas, ripping through the waves on board a speedy little power boat? Not me! Which is why I jumped at the chance to join Serenity Sailing at Torrevieja’s International Marina on a weekend RYA (Royal Yacht Association) Level 2 Power Boat course. It can takes months to learn to drive a car so with no experience at the helm of a boat, I was sceptical as to whether (a) I would actually pass the assessment, and (b) whether I would feel confident enough to take a boat out myself afterwards. But the answer was a resounding ‘yes’ to both. Under the expert guidance of Serenity Sailing founder and school principal Richard Plaster, within minutes his ‘students’ are put at ease and given the all-important practical experience required.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? • What is an RYA Level 2 Power Boat licence?
ALL ABOARD: Gemma Quinn takes on a new challenge as she learns to power boat.
All the theory in the PASSED: Gemma Quinn world will not prepare (centre) passed after the you for the actual feel of being in the driving power boating course with seat and that is the joy Andy Merrett (left) and of this course; it is 90 Warwick Baber. per cent practical with just some basic theory involved like learning about navigation and interpreting weather forecasts. But this all adds to your boating experience. Everything is done on board the Layla Maria, which is a Jeanneau Merry Fisher sports boat with a Suzuki 75 engine. It is the perfect size for practising manoeuvres such as parking, and is fully equipped to train anyone from novice to advanced students. The first important thing to learn is that there are no brakes... time to pay attention. The next, how to call a mayday... I am feeling a little worried now. Slowly but surely is the way forward, particularly around the harbour, learning the laws and sea courtesy as you go along. Richard, who has worked around the globe and been an adventurer training instructor for the British Army in the
It is an internationally recognised power boating ‘driver’s licence’ and is accepted by boat charter companies, the water police and customs. It entitles the holder to skipper watercraft including power/motor boats, jet skis and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) up to 12m (or 10m if chartering a boat back in the UK).
prestigious British Kiel Yacht Club in Germany, uses his calm and amiable persona to break down each and every part, quickly picking up a student’s ability. Despite there being three of us on board during our course, each at a different level, Richard is able to personally adapt and tailor-make the course to suit everyone, making it a funfilled and rewarding experience. With the basics planted and achieved, he is happy to let you take Layla Maria out to see what she can really do and experience a true bit of power boating. With multi-million-euro yachts sitting in the harbour, boating and yachting are often seen as elitist sports, but Richard explains Serenity Sailing aims to break down those barriers and show what a fun and affordable hobby it can be for all the family, with some overnight moorings costing no more than the average cost of pitching your tent or caravan at a campsite. So, if you want to learn a new skill, achieve a lifelong ambition or simply indulge in a bit of water-sport fun, gaining your power boating licence could be for you, whether you have your own boat or want to simply have the freedom of chartering one. I know I’m hooked. Watch out water...
• Are other courses available?
Yes, Serenity Sailing offer everything from power boating courses to sailing courses with lots of options to cater for novices to highly advanced students. Courses are on board either the power boat or Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 yacht, or on your own vessel.
LAYLA MARIA: Speed through the open waters on a power boating course with Serenity Sailing.
• What about for youngsters? From August 1-15 they are running boating camps for the over-16s including two-day Start Yachting, five-day Competent Crew and two-day Power Boat Level 2 courses. In addition to the courses, guardians will be on board teaching the teens about blogging, photography and cooking (for those on board the yacht, Serenity). There is already a waiting list for some dates.
EXPERT GUIDANCE: School principal Richard Plaster makes courses fun and fast-paced.
For more information visit www.serenitysailing.com / email enquiries@serenitysailing.com, follow them on Facebook or call 865 774 295. The school is open all day every day. Meetings by appointment only.
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SPORT
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Sport Mallorca’s best guide to local sport
SOME OF ENGLAND’S 2014 WORLD CUP TEAM MEMBERS From l to r: Rooney, Gerard, Lampard. TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
By Lynda Demangeat THE official presentation of the first HM Palma Beach Rugby Tournament took place in Bellver Castle last Thursday. This new competition in the Beach Rugby Circuit is due to take place over the weekend of May 17 and 18 on the Playa de Palma. To date there are 150 participants registered for the Saturday event and between 250 and 300 for
PHOTOS: BALEARES RUGBY FEDERATION
Get ready for more beach rugby... OFFICIAL PRESENTATION: Of the first HM Palma Beach Rugby Tournament. the Sunday which is the Family Day. There are seven local men’s teams who will be taking part, four local teams of girls and two national teams. There will also be competitions for veteran players, youngsters between the ages of six and 14 and for the U18’s.
During the weekend there is a competition for families and a schools rugby competition. Also alongside the matches there will be activities for the nonplaying spectators with the aim of promoting the values of rugby. Members of Palma Town Hall, HM Hotels, Orange and the Spanish
and Balearic Rugby Federations were at the presentation in support of the tournament. Jose Luis Marti Chiva, the Orange representative declared that one of the principal reasons that Orange support rugby is that the strength lies in the team effort and also strongly promotes moral values. He is convinced that the
event will be a resounding success for Palma and rugby in the Baleares. Rugby stars Margaret Alphonsie MBE, the Saracens and English national and Marina Bravo Bragado, from the Spanish national team will be present at the event. As well as the Palm Beach Rugby Tournament taking place on the beach
opposite Palma Aquarium, El Toro RC will be playing Irish Rugby Club Ballynahinch RFC at Campo de Rugby, Son Caliu this Saturday afternoon at 4pm. All support welcome. In Manacor the Dimonis will be hosting the last Rugby Day and U14 competition of the season.