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7 - 13 AUGUST 2014
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A right royal welcome…
CREDIT: CORDON PRESS
MALLORCA is playing host to the King of Spain and his family. King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and their daughters Leonor and Sofia posed together for photographs of their first family summer holiday together on the steps of the Marivent Palace. The King commented on how happy he was to be able to spend some quality time “in this piece of heaven on earth.” The royals put aside the usual formal protocols and seemed happy to oblige photographers and reporters. They appeared informal and relaxed and took time to speak to some of the press, shaking some hands along the way.
The scene on the steps of the Marivent Palace was remarkably reminiscent of previous photographs taken on exactly the same spot, of former King Don Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. However, the new royals’ manner was tangibly softer and more approachable than their predecessors, reinforcing their popularity even more. Instead of the usual highly formal farewell evening dinner, the couple chose to meet with a group of 250 people from various areas of Balearic society in order to become more familiar with the island and its people.
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INDEX News 1 - 30 Finance 31 - 36 Letters 37 Leapy Lee 38 Daily TV 40 Time Out 46 - 47 Health & Beauty 48 Food 50 - 51 Homes & Gardens 52 Property 53 - 56 Classifieds 57 - 59 Boating 60 - 61 Motoring 62 Sport 64
AT RISK: Poverty threat for children.
Children under threat of poverty
ALMOST 73,000 children on the Balearic Islands are at poverty risk. PSIB-PSOE representatives said 37.8 per cent of children under 17 living on the islands are at poverty risk. Poverty levels on the Balearic Islands are higher than in the rest of the country (31 per cent), said social welfare spokeswoman Conxa Obrador. “The People’s Party (PP) created a fund to fight poverty and the Balearic Islands were allocated €880,000.
That means that every child will only get €12 until 2016,” said Obrador. According to the European Commission, at risk of poverty is a situation where people are “severely materially deprived or living in a household with a very low work intensity.” Finding a solution to poverty requires an agreement between the Government and opposition parties to guarantee every child goes to school, has a place to live and does not go hungry,” said the spokeswoman.
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NEWS Restoration project RESTORING the cloister and bell tower of Palma Cathedral is expected to cost as much as €1.08 million, according to the Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute (IPCE). New signing REAL MALLORCA signed Cristian Bustos for the upcoming season of Liga Adelante (Second Division of Spanish football). Bustos had so far played for Celta de Vigo and signed a two-year contract.
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Bus burns on Valldemossa A PALMA public transport bus burst into flames on the Valldemossa road on Tuesday. Although the vehicle was a complete write off there were no passengers injured. At around seven in the evening the bus was going along the Valldemossa road between s’Esgleieta and s’Estret when smoke started
billowing out of the rear end where the engine is. The bus stopped and all the passengers got off without any problems. Local Police arrived promptly at the scene and tried to extinguish the fire with the fire extinguishers at hand but, eventually, they had to give up and call the fire brigade to put
out the blaze. While the fire brigade were putting the fire out, the road had to be shut and this caused a huge tailback which the Guardia Civil had to deal with until the burnt out carcass of the bus could be removed hours later. The cause of the fire is, as yet, unknown.
Faster service CALVIA Council financed GPS systems currently being used by local taxis to offer local residents and tourists a faster and more efficient service. It is estimated the council invested as much as €136,000.
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Renewable energies
THE Spanish Industry, Energy and Tourism Ministry encouraged the Balearic Islands, Canarias, Ceuta and Melilla to promote the use of renewable energies.
THE Ombudsman (OAC) office in L’Arenal will be closed until the end of August for works. Anyone needing their services will need to go to one of the other offices in Palma which will all remain open.
Plenty of time
Major investment ENDESA is to invest €4.7m on the Balearic Island to conduct preventive maintenance on the local electrical grid. On a national level, the company is expected to invest a whopping €84.5m.
Bilingual textbooks CIRCULO BALEAR has advised parents to refrain from buying textbooks that are only written in Catalan. According to the organisation, schools that require monolingual textbooks are violating the law.
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No complaints
Terrible accident AN 88-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries after being run over on Serralta de Palma Street on Monday at 11.30am. He was rushed to Juaneda Clinic to undergo a medical examination.
Outstanding debts SIXTY-SIX Balearic families and businesses requested a creditors’ meeting in the second quarter of 2014 since they are unable to pay off their outstanding debts. This represents a 23.3 per cent decrease compared to 2013.
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THE Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Fundacion Sophia in Calle Jaue Ferrer, Palma, continues until September 30. Entrance is €4 with under 12s free. BOTTOM HEAVY: Lightest at the top.
Kings of their Spanish Castles I
TS motto is ‘Strength, balance, courage and common sense’ and participants need to have all of these when taking part in one of the most popular events in Spanish culture. ‘Concurs de Castells,’ the Human Tower competition, attracts thousands of spectators who cheer on the teams of people climbing over each other in an effort to make the tallest tower in the competition. The event is taken very seriously in Tarragona, Southern Spain; the tradition is believed to have been around since the 18th century, started by dance groups, and has been named as part of the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage established by UNESCO.
Quote of the Week Alarming’ Was the word that Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo used to describe the number of victims of Israeli bombing attacks on the Gaza strip in recent attacks. Spain has now put a temporary stop on all arms sales to Israel.
Each team taking part, some of which have 500 participants, clamber onto each other, strongest at the bottom and the lightest at the most dangerous point at the top, to form Castells. A seven-strong judging panel gives out points depending on the height and difficulty of the individual towers. Each team is allowed five attempts to build the tallest tower; the final score for each team is decided by the best three attempts and the winner is decided by competition organisers, known as experts in human towers. The event takes place every two years. The next one, XXIV Concurs de Castells de Tarragona, is scheduled for October this year.
Number of the week
14
is the age of the Spanish girl who was recently arrested when she declared her intentions to join the Jihadist ISIL forces in Iraq. She had, apparently, been a normal 14-year-old until spending time in the Jihadist chat rooms on the internet. A Madrid judge sent her to a juvenile detention centre.
Guetta gone DAVID GUETTA fans - thought to number 12,000 -were left disappointed when a concert was cancelled at the last minute. He was due to play at the Son Fusteret Stadium, Palma, on Saturday.
Summer woes OWNERS of small shops have been left disappointed by the summer sales. Some 60 per cent of them said that sales were below expectations.
No attendance MES PER PALMA representatives said they would not attend the official reception organised by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to honour members of the Balearic Government.
And finally... A restaurant in Ibiza erupted in cheers and applause when British actor Orlando Bloom allegedly tried to punch Canadian singer Justin Bieber as they were leaving the restaurant. A video posted by website TMZ shows Bieber allegedly shouting an obscenity at Bloom just before he tried to hit him.
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NEWS EXTRA
Football match REAL MALLORCA will play Getafe at Iberostar Stadium next Wednesday as part of the 39th Edition of the Ciutat De Palma Tournament. The game begins 9pm.
Brutal attack THREE Romanian nationals were arrested by Palma police for brutally attacking a fellow countryman. The victim was beaten to a pulp and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Strong team REAL MALLORCA defender Joan Truyols said the Balearic team is putting together a “very competitive team” for the upcoming season.
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Two Britons arrestd for theft and drugs
Man falls to his death
TWO British nationals were detained in Magaluf for theft and drug trafficking.
A FRENCH national died Wednesday morning after falling from a hotel balcony. The 20-year-old was reportedly trying to enter his hotel room via the balcony because he did not have a key and fell to his death after possibly losing his footing, according to radiointer economia.com. The tragic accident occurred at 6.20am on Wednesday at the Magaluf Playa hotel, located near BCM, a Mallorca discotheque. The Guardia Civil arrested a friend of the deceased for attacking reporters that were covering the gruesome death. As many as 22 people have plunged to their deaths on the Balearic Islands so far this year.
Guardia Civil officers in Palmanova arrested two Britons for robbing tourists and selling
illegal drugs at pool parties in Magaluf. In a house search conducted in a Torrenova residence, the police seized 15 mobile phones, several luxury watches, a large amount of anabolic steroids, 100 grams of methamphetamine, 50 ecstasy pills, an undisclosed amount of marihuana, drug paraphernalia and €3,000. The detained became the target of a police investigation after the officers discovered one of the men would steal mobile phones TRAVEL WARNING: The Health Ministry advises people to avoid travelling from a gym in Magaluf. At to countries affected by the disease. the moment of his arrest he was in possession of three iPhone 5s. The police suspected the EBOLA is very unlikely to Department Head Dr be one of the most thief was hiding most of the reach the Balearics. Paula Garau. severe outbreaks in stolen phones in his “The risk of the virus The current epidemic recorded history. It has residence and decided to reaching our Autono- of the Ebola virus disease already killed 887 people, conduct a house search. His mous Community is very in some West African according to the World accomplice was arrested there. low” said Epidemiology countries is considered to Health Organisation.
Ebola unlikely to reach Balearics
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Fisherman finds drugs A FISHERMAN found 30 kilograms of hashish at Port des Canonge. Guardia Civil officers in Mallorca have launched an investigation to determine the origin of a 30-kilogram bundle of hashish found by a local fisherman. The man said he saw the bundle floating in the water and realised it contained illegal drugs as soon as he got close to it. He then alerted the police who retrieved the bundle. A similar bundle was found by another local fisherman less than a month ago, according to ultimahora.es. The police are trying to determine if there could be a link between the two cases.
Cleaning protests CLEANING CREWS at the Son Espases Hospital could go on strike to protest the dismissal of six colleagues. The workers are threatening to stage half-hour strikes from Monday to Friday starting on August 18 if their colleagues are not rehired by the hospital. They were allegedly fired because of their “poor performance.” Trade unionist Gabriel Start complained that Son Espases hospital currently employs 140 cleaners while as many as 170 worked at the old Son Dureta hospital which was four times smaller. The large number of work-related accidents suffered by cleaning crews has also caused concern among trade unionists. According to some, the accidents can be attributed to the excessive workload cleaning crews must deal with.
Woman in ambulance crash A 70-YEAR-OLD woman was injured when she crashed her motorbike into an ambulance in the Soller tunnel. The ambulance was attending to another crash at the time and the
woman has been taken to the Son Espases hospital. The woman grazed past the ambulance’s wing mirror and this knocked her off balance; doctors have not commented on her condition.
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Shark’s fin is off the menu A MALLORCAN company is leading the way in the fight against shark fin soup. Melila Hotels International, Spain’s biggest hotel chain has pledged to make sure shark fins are not served at any of its hotels around the world. Melila, which has 350 hotels, said the ban would be enforced for all events on its premises anywhere in the world. The move comes after a growing global campaign to ban the food - considered a delicacy in some countries amongst fears that the world’s shark population may not be able to sustain overfishing. In a statement the company said: “With the removal of shark fin as an ingredient, Meliá contributes to the protection of the important role sharks have in maintaining balance in marine ecosystems.”
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Murdered woman may have known alleged killer THE murdered woman found on Alcanada beach may have been acquainted with her killer. Spanish law enforcement officials have so far been unable to identify the woman
that was found murdered in Alcudia, located approximately 53 kilometres from Palma de Mallorca. It has been 29 days since the gruesome discovery and the police are not ruling out
any hypotheses. The Spanish police suspect the woman may have been acquainted with her alleged killer. The injuries she suffered do not seem to be consistent with
a free fall onto rocks from high altitude. The autopsy revealed the woman was asphyxiated and the police believe she was actually murdered somewhere else and later abandoned where she was found. The Guardia Civil have launched a massive investigation in local hotels and hostels to try owners comply with the to determine if a hotel requirements for the plan. guest has been reported An amount of €44,979 missing but their efforts will be allocated to each have so far remained compliant home to cover fruitless. The police believe the the costs for insulation against noise pollution murdered woman could be a foreign tourist that from the nearby airport. So far, 860 applications had not been on the have been received, of island for long and have which 836 have been asked the public for help approved and another in identifying the victim. Since her picture was 768 homes are still in the process of providing the released as many as 12 necessary paperwork to people have contacted the Guardia Civil. become eligible.
Sound proofing plans take flight AENA has made more than €375,000 available for a new project involving providing the houses in the immediate vicinity of the Palma de Mallorca Airport with sound insulation. A census of 1,012 buildings has been conducted and a procedure put in motion to facilitate the progress of the plans. The 11th Environmental Monitoring meeting was held on Wednesday at the
NOISY FLIGHTS: Will no longer bother residents. Son Sant Joan Airport and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), the Government, Mallorca
City Council, Palma City Council and Aena. The committee reported successfully approving another 16 buildings for the project once the
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No sign of rat population increase as feared ON Tuesday, the PSIB political party accused Palma City Council of causing an explosion of the rat population in the Parc de ses Estacions by failing to carry out regular and sufficient cleaning services.
A pest control professional was called in to assess the situation and reported that there did not seem to be a problem and levels of both rodent and cockroach were stable. A statement from sanitation
officials also reiterated that complaints had not been made from any residents in the neighbourhood. Emaya indicated that cleaning services had been carried out as normal
in these areas by a company contracted to do so. Palma City Council has called the statement from PSIB ‘irresponsible’, saying it caused ‘undue public alarm’.
Can Puig is given a new life THE iconic Can Puig building in the old town of La Palma has been bought for the sum of €5.15 million by an international investment group The deal was brought to fruition by Solvia, which is the real estate subsidiary of Banco Sabadell group, in a bid to increase the value of their active real estate stock.
The building, which was originally built in the 15th century for residential use, consists of 2,506square-metres, covering five floors, and will now be developed as a residential housing project, according to a statement made by the bank. Director of the Territorial Network of Solvia, Augusto Monte, said the move had been made to
increase the value of their real estate stock and therefore ‘facilitate the development and direct sale of singular investor’s assets’. The bank explained that the transaction was led by the Territorial management of Levante and the Balearics and was processed through the commercial management offices in Palma. RAT SCARE: Palma Council accused by PSIB party.
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Thousands petition to stop oil search ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND German nationals signed a petition asking the Spanish Government to stop searching for oil in the Mediterranean. The petition was submitted on Monday to the Environment Ministry and calls for the Government to abandon its search for oil in waters off the Balearic coast. The initiative to gather signatures was launched a few months ago by OceanCare and Avaaz. “We wanted to raise awareness among
WHALES: The search for fossil fuels jeopardises the environment and marine species potential tourists,” said representatives of the international organisations talking to ultimahora.es.
OFFSHORE RIGS: They add pollution to the ocean and interfere with fishing. The petition was not only signed by German nationals but also by
concerned people from Switzerland, Austria and northern Europe. “We want the Government to rethink its plans because the search for oil can be detrimental to tourism,” remarked OceanCare and Avaaz representatives. As stated in the petition, the search for fossil fuels “greatly jeopardises the environment, fisheries and tourism.”
“Spain’s plan to use seismic airguns to search for oil in the beautiful waters of Ibiza and Mallorca is like playing Russian roulette with its amazing natural and economic resources,” said Avaaz Campaigns Coordinator Christoph Schott. “Not only does it jeopardise hundreds of whales, dolphins and other priceless marine species, but also threatens
to destroy tourism, a unique source of income for the country,” he added. Seismic airguns, which shoot loud blasts of compressed air through the water and several miles into the seabed, are used to find both oil and gas underneath the ocean floor. They are so loud that more often than not they disturb, injure and even kill marine life. Moreover, they are disruptive to coastal economies and very harmful to fisheries. Their blasts are said to be 100,000 times more intense than a jet engine. “The signatures we submitted prove that the protests transcend Spain’s borders. Our presence here is a symbol of the widespread repudiation of the ‘oil rush’ on the Mediterranean,” said OceanCare Head Sigrid Lüber.
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Arsonist faces 78 years behind bars AN arsonist could spend as many as 78 years behind bars if convicted by a jury of his peers. He stands accused of setting 24 forest fires in Mallorca and Menorca during the summer of 2012, putting human lives in
jeopardy on at least three different times. The Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses the man of starting 20 fires in Mallorca between June 12 and August 24 2012 and four more in Menorca in
September, according to the indictment. One of the worst fires scorched 69 hectares in Calvia (Mallorca) and affected areas protected by law known on the Balearic Islands as Natural
Areas of Special Interest. The arsonist, whose identity has not been disclosed, is being charged with 21 counts of arson and three counts of reckless endangerment. If convicted, he could also be
sentenced to pay a €110,880 fine and €1,321,721 in compensation. A trial date has been set for September 1 and the jury is expected to reach a verdict as early as September 3.
Gas pipeline to be built at Son Rapinya SON RAPINYA residents and representatives of Redexis Gas arrived at an agreement. Following a meeting held at Palma Council to discuss the exact location of the gas pipeline to be constructed by Redexis Gas, an agreement was reached between Son Rapinya neighbours and company representatives. Local residents said they are not against the gas pipeline because they understand that it is a necessary public service. However, they said they want
to be kept up to date. During the meeting, Redexis Gas representatives answered all the questions raised by the concerned local residents. Following the meeting, Redeix and council technicians and Son Rapinya neighbours visited the area where the gas pipeline is to be constructed, which will not affect the nearby wooded area. The Redeix Gas representatives committed themselves to plant autochthonous trees in the area once the gas pipeline has been built.
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PRESIDENT of the Balearic Islands Jose Ramon Bauza met with King Felipe VI of Spain at Almudaina Palace. During the meeting, Bauza and King Felipe VI discussed a number of issues concerning the islands and Spain, including the search for oil on the Mediterranean and the financing system, among others. King Felipe VI told Bauza he will continue to holiday on the Balearic Islands because it is a tradition started by King Juan Carlo. Regarding the differences between King Felipe VI and his father, Bauza said they each have their own style and that they are from different generations. He pointed out there is a difference between talking to someone his own age, with whom he shares the same points of view, and talking to some from an older generation. “We are both in our 40s and we understand each other in a different way,” he said. They did not talk about corruption or the recent number of tragic accidents involving holidaymakers in Mallorca plunging to their deaths from hotel balconies.
Council to chop trees PALMA Council is to cut down eight trees on Porta des Camp square. According to a recently released communiqué, the council plans to cut down five Pinus halepensis, a pine native to the Mediterranean region, and three populous alba, because they could fall over putting human lives and property at serious risk. The trees, scheduled to be cut down yesterday, are to be replaced next winter, said Council authorities.
Photos: Phoenix Media
King Felipe VI meets president
BASTILLE: Attracted many adoring fans.
Bastille on the Rocks
By Vicki McLeod BASTILLE attracted many adoring fans on Tuesday evening when they performed as the headline act at Mallorca Rocks, the venue which they made their debut at only a few months ago. Next week is an all time favourite UK band, Madness.
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Officers of the North branch, left-to-right: Nicolas Vazeille-Glitza, Sandra Hamill, Tony Wood, Susan Mackay and David Campling.
Lions roar in to north Mallorca MONDAY July 21 saw the inaugural meeting of the North Mallorca Branch of Calvia Lions Club held at the Real Club Nautico in Puerto de Pollensa. The Lions is the world’s largest service club organisation with over 46,000 clubs in 209 countries and regions. It is also an internationally registered charity with its 1.35 million global membership coming from all walks of life. The Lions have been established in the south of Mallorca for many years, with the Calvia Lions having
successfully organised a lengthy and impressive list of community projects and charitable events helping both local communities and individuals alike. They also operate a very popular charity shop in Palma Nova. Setting up a Lions Club in the north of the island is the brainchild of Ronald Hawes, President of Calvia Lions, and his team whose desire it is to extend the good work into the communities of the north. It is fundamental to the Lions to work at a grassroots level and be in close contact with local
communities and support groups so as to focus on projects where the most impact can be made. And thus was born the North Mallorca Branch of Calvia Lions, with the goal of receiving its own Charter during 2015. Susan Mackay, a former educator from Scotland with experience in organising community projects, is one of the founder members and newly elected Branch President of the North Mallorca Branch of Calvia Lions. www.lionsmallorca.net info@nmbcl.org
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Vomiting bug wreaks havoc SEVENTY British holidaymakers caught a nasty vomiting bug on the Balearic Islands. Several children had to be rushed to local hospitals and some families have said the bug seems to be out of a horror movie, which does not sound pleasant at all. As many as 50 tourists are said to have fallen ill at Club Mac Alcudia in Mallorca and another 20 at Stil Victoria Playa in Menorca. “It was just awful and poor Faye was so ill she ended up in the hospital,” said a mother of two from Washington, Tyne and Wear talking to The Mirror.
“There were kids being sick everywhere, left, right and centre,” she added. The 32year-old holidaymaker was staying at Club Mac Alcudia with her partner and children Nathan (nine) and Faye (three). A group of outraged holidaymakers posted complaints on TripAdvisor about their nightmarish stay at Stil Victoria Playa. “The food was poor throughout our stay and some food from the snack bar was terrible with chicken kebabs undercooked. We all became ill with the sickness bug with my four-year-old son getting it the worst. We
confined ourselves to our room for 24 hours,” said a woman from Manchester. “By day two, children were being sick all around us, in the dining room and around the pool. I can’t help but wonder why this is the second year running that this hotel is plagued by bugs when other hotels of a similar standard are not,” said another concerned holidaymaker. This comes after another bug affected a whopping 100 British tourists at an Egyptian holiday resort. The outbreak was blamed on poor hygienic conditions and dirty buffet containers.
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Immigrant death lawsuit reopens A SPANISH court is to reopen a lawsuit against some members of the Balearic Government for the death of a Senegalese immigrant. Alpha Pam, 28, died of tuberculosis on April 21 2013. He had been living in Spain for eight years and did not have a health card (tarjeta sanitaria), which made it impossible for him to be seen by a specialist. Six months before his death, Pam went as many as seven different times to the CS Can Picafort Health Centre, where he was given medication but
never officially diagnosed with the disease. It appears a physician advised him to get an X-ray at Inca Hospital, which he could not do because he did not have the required health card. According to medicosdelmundo.org, Pam went to Inca Hospital three different times but to no avail. His health kept deteriorating as time went by. He had nausea, excruciating chest pain and chronic fatigue. He died at his San Margalida residence in a pool of blood as a direct consequence of his disease. The plaintiffs are accusing Health Councillor Marti Sansaloni, General Director of Public Health Luis Rafael Santiso, Head A PLAN to totally revamp the Playa de Palma has of Health Services Miquel received the approval of the Balearic Environment Tomas and former Director of Inca Hospital Committee. Deputy Mayor Alvaro Gijon said it would be the Fernando Navarro of biggest investment for 30 years, at somewhere in the involuntary manslaughter, coercion, perversion of region of â‚Ź350 million in the medium term. The investment will include the construction of nine justice and discriminatory new hotels of four and five stars in an effort to increase deprivation of a public service. upmarket tourism.
â‚Ź350m revamp
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Jordi Pujol to be stripped of titles CATALIN nationalist Jordi Pujol is to lose all of his titles and privileges following the tax scandal that has hit his family. Jordi Pujol admitted to hiding a big fortune from the state in order to avoid paying inheritance tax. He has lost his position within his own party, the CIU, and his pension rescinded. This is not very good timing for the Catalan push for independence which will result in an unbinding referendum on November 9. President Artur Mas, who leads the Catalan regional government, has angered Madrid who believes the referendum is illegal. Pujol led the Catalan autonomous region from 1989 until 2003 and worked well to improve the standing of the region and
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JORDI PUJOL: Admitted to hiding a fortune. gain some more powers from Madrid. The media is now stating that the amount hidden by Pujol could rise into the millions. Pujol has kept it hidden for over 30 years.
Pujol has only recently divulged the facts. Also there has been recent scandal involving two of his sons, also possibly involved in corruption according to a Reuters report.
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DISMANTLING GANGS: Police have a 97 per cent success rate.
Spanish police crack down on organised crime gangs A WHOPPING 83 per cent of criminal gangs in Spain operate for as long as three years before being caught. Police broke up 497 criminal gangs in 2013 and detained 6,292 people for drug and human trafficking, Security Secretary Francisco Martinez has reported. Police operations to crack down on organised crime in Spain had a 97 per cent success rate, he added.
As much as 83 per cent of all groups dismantled had been operating for less than three years, while seven out of every 10 were made up of nationals from more than two different countries. Most gangs were based in Barcelona and Madrid, followed by Cadiz, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Sevilla and Murcia. The vast majority of them - 31 per cent - traffic in cocaine, and
21 per cent in hashish, said Martinez. Following nationwide operations launched last year to tackle organised crime, Spanish police seized almost 20 tons of cocaine, 146,708 kilograms of hashish, 103 kilograms of heroin, more than 10,000 ecstasy pills, 2,102 cars, 119 boats, six aircraft, 558 guns, 630 knives, 909 computers, 4,498 mobile phones and â‚Ź30 million.
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Nice work! BENIDORM’S Terra Mitica intends to employ a ‘fun-hunter.’ The three-week job consists of visiting five European theme parks, including Terra Mitica, to compare tendencies and write a report on findings.
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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
NEWS DESK Water investment THE Marina Baja Water Consortium has approved emergency work on the Mandem and Algar pumping stations with a budget of nearly €4 million to modernise infrastructure.
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
Free water
Caught red-handed
THE Aguas de Alicante company discovered illegal water meter connections in 13 San Vicente homes between April and July. Fraud like this costs the company €20,000 a year, Aguas said.
OFFICERS from the Guardia Civil arrested a man outside a bakery in Aguadulce just moments after he attempted a robbery at knifepoint.
Crop fires
Nasty trick
SMOKE was visible for miles from a crop and plastics fire between Roquetas de Mar and Cabo de Gata at the weekend. Twelve firefighters brought the fire under control the same evening.
A BENICARLO (Castellon) woman told police that she was inundated with phone calls requesting sex. Investigators found that a vengeful friend had uploaded her number to an internet contacts site.
Doing well GANDIA hotels averaged 88 per cent occupancy throughout July, the best result since 2007, the local AEHGS hoteliers’ association said. Accommodation prices rose by around 2 per cent.
Car fire doused TWO cars caught fire during a collision on the Terramar Urbanisation in Villajoyosa, affecting a third car parked nearby. No-one was hurt and firemen extinguished the fire without problems.
COSTA DEL SOL
Sovereign visit KING Felipe VI is to visit Malaga on September 5. This will be his first official visit since becoming king in June and he will host a dinner at the Automobile Museum.
Free parking THE mayors of the towns and villages of the Costa del Sol are getting together to demand that parking at the Costa del Sol Hospital should be free. They are also complaining that the citizens of Marbella get a 40 per cent discount, which is not available to other residents.
More donations ANDALUCIA has doubled the average number of organ donations made in the first half of the year; 153 Andalucia patients have donated their organs, which has allowed 358 organ transplants.
Extra cash THE Diputacion de Malaga (local government) has approved a loan
CONTROVERSIAL: The Algarrobico hotel in Carboneras.
Court rules licence legal THE court judgement is in for the Algarrobico hotel in Carboneras, after much deliberation. The panel of judges has ruled that the Algarrobico building licence from 2003 was legally issued, overturning a number of previous rulings. The judgement goes on to state that the promoter - Azata del Sol - and the town of Carboneras had their rights trampled upon by the earlier court decisions. Ecologist group allegations were summarily dismissed on a technicality. system whereby councils in the area will be able to borrow up to €10 million at zero interest. The only condition is that they must pay back the loan within 30 months.
Yellow alert THE province of Malaga and the Guadalhorce Valley will be on yellow alert until further notice; temperatures of more than 37º Celsius are expected.
COSTA BLANCA SOUTH
Jail term FORMER Mayor of Torrevieja, Pedro Mateo Hernandez, has entered Murcia Prison where he is to serve his sentence for forgery and corruption. He must serve at least 12 months before being eligible for parole.
According to local sources, they had failed to provide enough paperwork to support their case. This does not mean that the hotel itself is legal, solely the building licence. The court stated that within the information available in 2003, the promoter did nothing wrong in asking for the building licence, the town hall did nothing wrong in granting it, and the licence was therefore valid. In the meantime, Carboneras as a town still has its zoning plans going through the legal system.
Fireworks in demand ELCHE has awarded 26 new licences for the sale of fireworks ahead of the city’s Nit de l’Alba celebrations on August 13.
Water accident A MAN was admitted to Intensive Care with head injuries after the canoe he was in was hit by a pleasure boat off San Pedro del Pinatar.
Bisbal hater A SAN JUAN councillor has apologised for saying he wanted to “gun down” popular singer David Bisbal. Cesar Vilar criticised him on social media sites but after several apologies has managed to keep his seat on the council.
Trade guide BALERMA has unveiled its first trade directory aimed at visitors to the town. Fifty local businesses have jumped on board in a move that the mayor described as “an excellent opportunity.”
Outdoor fitness BALERMA’S outdoor gym is now open. Councillors attended the inauguration of the park which contains eight fitness machines suitable for use by people of all ages.
Drugs haul NATIONAL POLICE have arrested two squatters as part of the discovery of a marijuana facility in an apartment in El Ejido. One-hundred-and-fifty-two plants were seized.
AXARQUIA
Paying tribute ALMUÑECAR paid tribute to the late singer and composer Carlos Cano with a concert held last week at El Majuelo Park. One of the highlights of the event was a performance by Juan de Santamaria.
Classical music AS part of its successful Andalucian tour, the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra played last Monday in La Herradura. The concert included pieces by Mozart, Vivaldi and Saratase.
Major investment ALMUÑECAR Council is to invest €1 million to finish the construction of the local music school, which actually started more than three years ago. The school is scheduled to be ready next year.
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No ‘fast track’ into Gibraltar THE Gibraltar government has rejected and criticised Spain’s proposal to introduce a ‘fast track’ at the border for Spanish workers wanting to enter Gibraltar for the purpose of work and have responded to Spain by suggesting their proposal is nothing more than ‘discriminatory,’ claiming freedom of movement should be a privilege enjoyed by all. The Spanish government has proposed spending €5.3 million building a ‘fast track’ for workers resident in Spain with jobs in Gibraltar to cross the border faster. A fast track for vehicular access as well as a secondary fast track for workers crossing the border on foot has also been suggested as it goes through the motions of complying with the EU’s recommendations to ease traffic flow at the frontier where an estimated 6,000 workers cross the border daily. A spokesperson in the Gibraltar government said “The government
considers that any proposed solution towards a free flowing frontier must also encompass EU nationals and others who are not workers, like tourists and residents on both sides, whose right to freedom of movement continues to be undermined by Spain.” “The reality is that the Spanish authorities make life difficult for people and vehicles crossing the border for political reasons and because they want to. All that Madrid has to do is improve the flow rate of cars and persons and operate proper red and green channels. This alone will reduce waiting times to cross the frontier.” The ongoing row has not settled in an amicable agreement with either side, following last year’s intense crippling checks, which kept people in traffic queues for up to eight hours in the immense summer heat with Spain claiming those checks were essential in preventing tobacco smuggling.
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SWIMMING POOLS: More likely to involve the death of a minor than a motor vehicle.
Drowning deaths in July reach 32 THIRTY TWO people drowned in Spanish beaches, rivers and swimming pools in July. Most were between 60 and 78 years of age, while four of them were minors. Catalonia and Andalucia are the autonomous communities with the highest death toll (six drownings each) followed by Murcia (five), Valencia, Madrid, Cantabria and Castile and Leon (two) and Canary Islands, Basque Country, Navarra, Asturias, Aragon, Castilla La Mancha and Balearic Islands (one). To avoid drowning, the Spanish Red Cross advises against swimming right after a large meal and against diving into
areas of unknown depth. Furthermore, they recommend swimmers to get out of the water if they get chilly, dizzy or fatigued or have a headache. The Red Cross also advises parents to never lose sight of their children even if they are swimming in shallow waters. One of the most recent and saddest drownings in Spain involved a seven-yearold boy who accidentally fell into a private pool in Navarra and was underwater for 10 minutes before his family realised something was amiss. Paramedics performed CPR on the minor for 30 minutes but he later died.
Cocaine on Spanish Navy ship POLICE in Spain have discovered 127 kg of cocaine on-board a Spanish navy ship currently used to train new naval recruits. The ship, named the ‘Juan Sebastián Elcano,’ is an old fashioned tall ship. The drugs were found hidden in a room containing the ship’s sails. The ‘Juan Sebastián Elcano’ has travelled 33,000km around the world visiting many
countries with all 69 new recruits meeting some of the highest ranking officers of the Spanish Navy whilst on their travels. Three of the vessels’ sailors also travelling onboard took the opportunity to smuggle concealed narcotics hoping for safe passage for their personal gain. They are reported to have smuggled 20kg of cocaine from Colombia to
New York with intention to supply only weeks previously. Authorities in the USA became aware of potential drug trafficking from a suspect selling on behalf of the trio in New York City. Currently detained in a Madrid prison following their arrest and conviction all three are awaiting sentencing where they may receive up to a maximum of six years imprisonment.
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Children who fail school need their holidays too CHILDREN who fail school need holidays, say some Spanish teachers. Parents must realise that they cannot take all the blame for a child’s failing grades, said Communications Secretary of the Independent Teachers’ Union (ANPE) Sonia Garcia Gomez. If a child must sit remedial exams at the end of the summer, punishing the whole family by cancelling the long-awaited holidays may not be the ideal thing to do, though. Children must be taught to be responsible and the key lies in studying without being unmotivated, said
Gomez. However, summer is long and it is important to adequately manage study hours while having fun with the rest of the family, she added. Studies show that children need to stick to a reasonable schedule, with 15 minutes of daily uninterrupted study for children aged six to eight, between 30 and 40 minutes for students aged eight to 10 and between an hour and an hour and a half if older. “It is crucial to take five or 10-minute breaks for every hour of study,” said Gomez, lest the child gets bored, sleepy or fatigued. According to ANPE, it is
not advisable to start with the most difficult subjects. It is better to start with something easy which interests them and then move on to more challenging content when their attention peaks, approximately half an hour later.
MOTIVATION IS KEY: Excessive scolding may result in frustration. Constantly telling a child off for having failed school is a big no-no, warned Gomez. Studying should not be associated with stern reprimands; it is true the child failed to fulfil his or
A note from the
her school responsibilities but constant scolding has never been shown to be an effective motivational technique. In fact, it may backfire and result in frustration.
Editor
Money talks…. A
COURT has come out in favour of a building licence granted for the infamous Algarrobico hotel in Carboneras, in the province of Almeria. The unfinished building has become a cause célèbre with Greenpeace and other environmental groups, who have been campaigning for its demolition over the course of many years. Construction started in 2003 on the hotel, dubbed illegal by many, on so-called ‘protected lands’. Campaigners say that not only did it contravene the coastal law restricting beachside development, but the massive building also encroached on to the Cabo de Gata natural park. Now a judge has decided, in a bizarre ruling, that although the hotel may be illegal, its building licence was correctly granted. How that can be so is a mystery known only to the courts.
Meanwhile, Carboneras Town Hall’s urban development plans are also going through the judicial system in what appears to be an effort to legalise the hotel and permit construction to finish. Carboneras wants the income a completed hotel would bring and the developers want some sort of return on their investment. The hotel is a symbol of the excesses of Spain’s building boom in the early 2000s. Laws were ignored, unsuitable developments built, taking no account of the natural surroundings, and natural parks built on. While elsewhere in Almeria homeowners have had their houses demolished despite all their paperwork being in order, the bigboy developers look like they may be about to get away with a far worse offence. Everyone involved in trying to force through this monstrosity should be ashamed. But they won’t be. Money talks.
However, ANPE suggests taking away the child’s mobile phone or tablet to keep him or her from getting distracted but says daily rewards are important for motivation. “Let them have a little bit of fun, watch their favourite film or play with their friends,” advised Gomez. “Failing grades should not be used to punish the child but to teach responsibility. If the child studies, then he or she deserves to enjoy the holidays with the rest of the family,” she remarked.
Child porn arrest CATALAN police in Terrassa have detained a computer programmer for downloading child pornography. It appears the 43-yearold used his skills to get the illegal content without raising suspicion. Forensics experts said the files were downloaded from the deep web and could not have been viewed or obtained by the average internet user. The detainee is said to have conducted laborious and painstaking searches for the illegal material and to have downloaded it between July 2012 and March 2014.
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STAT OF WEEK VODAFONE’S turnover fell to €866 million in the first quarter of the 2014-2015 fiscal year, 15.3 per cent less than in 2013. The company blamed the economic situation and intense competition.
Swiftair’s many facets THE name Swiftair meant little until an MD-83s bound for Algiers disappeared over Mali. The aircraft had taken off in Burkina Faso and when it crashed, probably in a sandstorm, all 110 passengers and the six Spanish crew members were killed. The company, which was created in 1986 and made a €1.2 million profit last year, runs 44 low and mid-capacity aircraft and is principally a freight service. It also works with tour operators in Europe, Africa and the Near East, ‘wet leasing’ its aircraft complete with crews,
Begging letters make a fortune ‘NIGERIAN letters’ generate millions and Spanish police recently netted 84 scammers. They were detained throughout the country, including Malaga, Sevilla, Almeria, Alicante, Valencia and Madrid and are accused of defrauding and laundering €11.547 million. Few people have never received an email which plays on the age-old hope of obtaining a great deal of money for very little outlay. Vast sums will be released, the victims are promised, if they advance cash to set things in motion. Enough were taken in by the sting to send
money to ‘locutorios’ where immigrants, generally from outside the EU, use pay phones and arrange money transfers. Here the money was collected by the detainees, 80 per cent of whom were from Nigeria. In the latest operation the UDEF fiscal fraud squad seized 98 vehicles worth €1.127 million and 73 properties valued at €9.846 million. They also blocked more than 50 bank accounts. The victims are usually from the US, Canada and Germany, UDEF sources revealed. The true number is probably higher, they added, as many are later reluctant to admit that they were so easily fooled.
maintenance and insurance. Swiftair is also involved in baggagehandling services in Morocco and Africa and transports NATO soldiers bound for Africa. In a joint venture (UTE) with Air Europa, Swiftair won another government contract LIMELIGHT: Airline in the news for the wrong reasons. in March 2013 to fly undocumented illegal immigrants to internment centres on the Spanish mainland. The UTE’s lowest bid of €11 million origin, operations whose alleged deficiencies have been also included returning immigrants to their countries of criticised by humanitarian and civil rights groups.
B
usiness extra
Supermarket sell-off YEAR-ON-YEAR the DIA supermarket group earned 331.5 per cent more between January and June. The boost came from the sale of its French outlets, valued at €600 million, to Carrefour.
Fair shares GOVERNMENT rescue plans for Spanish motorways on the brink of insolvency will get the backing of the principal banks. In return they expect a say in how they are run, sources said.
New audit law - it all adds up THE government will speed through a draft audit law introducing tough new EU conditions. The directives, which the Cabinet expects to approve in September, should reach Parliament in October. These will require company auditors to be changed at regular intervals with strict controls regarding activities outside their usual remit. The Gowex case, where auditors M & A allegedly
colluded with the chairman’s false accounting, recently put auditing under the media microscope. Nor are M & A alone. BDO, a firm with the fifth-highest turnover in Spain, was accused of “serious errors” over Pescanova’s accounts. Although the company was refloated, shareholders lost most of their investments while Pescanova’s creditor banks also endured heavy losses.
CREDIT: Emilio Pastor de Miguel / Shutterstock.com.
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C LOSING P RICES A UGUST 4
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) 3i Group PLC 371.10 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 424.25 Admiral Group PLC 1458.00 Aggreko PLC 1700.00 Anglo American PLC 1584.00 Antofagasta PLC 815.00 ARM Holdings PLC 841.00 Ashtead Group PLC 885.75 Associated British Foods 2770.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4388.00 Aviva PLC 497.00 Babcock International 1069.50 BAE Systems PLC 427.75 Barclays PLC 225.18 Barratt Developments 345.65 BG Group PLC 1238.75 BHP Billiton PLC 2013.50 BP PLC 483.47
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -2.10 -0.56 9.90 2.39 -2.00 -0.14 -20.00 -1.16 4.00 0.25 6.00 0.74 -7.00 -0.83 -14.00 -1.56 -4.00 -0.14 50.00 1.15 3.30 0.67 -10.00 -0.93 1.60 0.38 0.95 0.42 -6.00 -1.71 30.00 2.48 2.00 0.10 0.50 0.10
NET VOLUME 84.54 762.32 27.31 20.52 269.41 91.16 345.63 146.39 47.58 323.43 324.50 55.41 179.26 2,668.20 398.89 1,389.30 774.83 2,148.08
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US dollar ................................................................1.34270 Japan yen...............................................................137.780 Switzerland franc................................................1.21658 Denmark kroner ................................................7.45590 Norway kroner....................................................8.41788
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PRICE(P)
British Amercn Tobacco British Land Co PLC British Sky Broadcasting BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC
3429.75 702.75 873.75 380.35 1585.50 1405.50 1169.50
DOW JONES
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C LOSING P RICES A UGUST 4
C LOSING P RICES A UGUST 4
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 140.11 86.47 35.33 120.38 100.52 127.90 25.00 64.21 98.80 25.35 170.25 79.75 33.74 189.15 99.90 56.48 94.30 56.80 42.86 76.78 28.86 79.65 39.29 89.61 104.75 81.49 49.83 211.81 73.54 85.38
-0.78 -1.53 -0.26 -0.10 -0.23 -1.34 -0.23 -0.10 -0.14 +0.20 -2.62 -1.10 -0.145 -2.52 -0.19 -1.19 -0.26 +0.06 -0.30 -0.35 +0.16 +2.33 0.00 +0.05 -0.40 +0.44 -0.59 +0.80 -0.04 -0.50
-0.55% -1.74% -0.73% -0.08% -0.23% -1.04% -0.91% -0.16% -0.14% +0.80% -1.52% -1.36% -0.43% -1.31% -0.19% -2.06% -0.27% +0.11% -0.70% -0.45% +0.56% +3.01% 0.00% +0.06% -0.38% +0.54% -1.17% +0.38% -0.05% -0.58%
2.5M 12.3M 24.0M 5.9M 6.0M 7.4M 28.6M 3.8M 14.9M 40.2M 3.1M 8.7M 33.5M 5.2M 8.6M 23.9M 4.6M 10.1M 31.2M 2.9M 31.3M 18.1M 13.6M 2.2M 4.7M 4.6M 18.3M 3.5M 8.2M 6.8M
1.25302
0.79806
C O M PA N Y
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -14.00 4.00 -2.50 -1.50 0.00 -5.00 -11.00
-0.41 0.57 -0.29 -0.39 0.00 -0.35 -0.93
NET VOLUME 196.79 212.09 76.69 792.16 30.24 136.15 76.68
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
Hutchinson Technology Incorporated $ 2.88 Planar Systems, Inc. $ 3.19 Intervest Bancshares Corp. $ 9.40 Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. $ 6.77 Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. $ 14.12 Nektar Therapeutics $ 11.82 DXP Enterprises, Inc. $ 78.78 Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. $ 15.73 Credit Suisse AG $ 3.80 Skullcandy, Inc. $ 7.39 Multimedia Games Holding Company, Inc. $ 26.33
0.66 ▲ 29.73% 0.50 ▲ 18.59% 1.42 ▲ 17.79% 0.79 ▲ 13.21% 1.63 ▲ 13.05% 1.27 ▲ 12.04% 7.75 ▲ 10.91% 1.40 ▲ 9.77% 0.33 ▲ 9.51% 0.63 ▲ 9.32% 2.21 ▲ 9.16%
Most Advanced
Most Declined Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Web.com Group, Inc. ServiceSource International, Inc. Immersion Corporation Pixelworks, Inc. Bio Blast Pharma Ltd. YRC Worldwide, Inc. STAAR Surgical Company Audience, Inc. GoPro, Inc. ARRIS Group, Inc.
$ 2.42 $ 20.12 $ 3.39 $ 10.50 $ 6.23 $ 6.90 $ 21.72 $ 10.86 $ 8.05 $ 40.97 $ 29.30
0.79 ▼ 24.61% 6.43 ▼ 24.22% 1.04 ▼ 23.48% 3.15 ▼ 23.08% 1.64 ▼ 20.84% 1.50 ▼ 17.86% 4.46 ▼ 17.04% 2.01 ▼ 15.62% 1.48 ▼ 15.53% 7 ▼ 14.59% 4.87 ▼ 14.25%
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C O M PA N Y Carnival PLC Centrica PLC Coca-Cola HBC AG Compass Group PLC CRH PLC Diageo PLC easyJet PLC Experian PLC Fresnillo PLC Friends Life Group Ltd G4S PLC GKN PLC GlaxoSmithKline PLC Glencore PLC Hammerson PLC Hargreaves Lansdown HSBC Holdings PLC IMI PLC Imperial Tobacco Group InterContinental Hotels International Consoldtd Intertek Group PLC Intu Properties PLC ITV PLC Johnson Matthey PLC Kingfisher PLC Land Securities Group Legal & General Group Lloyds Banking Group London Stock Exchange Marks & Spencer Group Meggitt PLC Mondi PLC Morrison (Wm) Sprmrkts National Grid PLC Next PLC Old Mutual PLC Pearson PLC Persimmon PLC Petrofac Ltd Prudential PLC Randgold Resources Ltd Reckitt Benckiser Group Reed Elsevier PLC REXAM PLC Rio Tinto PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings Royal Bank of Scotland Royal Dutch Shell PLC Royal Mail PLC RSA Insurance Group SABMiller PLC Sage Group (The) PLC Sainsbury (J) PLC Schroders PLC Severn Trent PLC Shire PLC Smith & Nephew PLC Smiths Group PLC Sports Direct Interntinl... SSE PLC Standard Chartered PLC Standard Life PLC St James's Place PLC Tesco PLC Travis Perkins PLC TUI Travel PLC Tullow Oil PLC Unilever PLC United Utilities Group Vodafone Group PLC Weir Group PLC Whitbread PLC Wolseley PLC WPP PLC
PRICE(P) 2125.00 306.65 1362.50 953.50 1388.00 1771.75 1287.00 1005.00 937.25 326.00 249.00 342.30 1426.75 360.50 594.75 1010.50 630.65 1430.00 2534.50 2369.50 338.60 2549.50 323.45 204.15 2882.50 299.80 1033.00 231.75 73.80 1903.00 424.30 503.75 1026.00 168.60 842.75 6717.50 194.40 1128.50 1245.00 1091.50 1353.75 5090.00 5237.50 939.25 505.75 3381.75 1041.50 351.00 2529.00 421.35 452.80 3210.25 364.00 309.40 2308.50 1877.00 4927.00 1063.00 1286.50 657.00 1442.50 1226.25 362.00 716.25 253.05 1686.00 358.85 726.75 2567.50 856.00 197.45 2528.50 4232.00 3075.50 1183.50
CHANGE -22.00 -0.20 -7.00 -3.10 2.00 -6.50 -10.00 -4.00 2.00 -0.70 -2.10 -1.60 10.45 4.35 1.50 -7.00 1.36 -15.00 -3.00 -5.00 0.60 15.00 -0.15 -1.30 -2.00 -0.80 -3.00 -0.30 0.48 -1.00 -2.90 -1.00 -6.00 -0.80 3.00 5.00 0.10 -8.00 -14.00 -19.00 11.00 25.00 25.00 -7.50 5.00 27.00 2.66 1.00 0.50 -6.80 1.00 6.00 -2.00 -1.50 -22.00 -1.00 54.00 -2.00 2.00 -6.50 5.00 4.50 -3.50 -1.50 -0.54 -3.00 -1.80 -1.32 1.00 0.45 1.05 -32.00 -40.00 -11.36 4.00
% C H G. -1.03 -0.07 -0.51 -0.32 0.14 -0.37 -0.77 -0.40 0.21 -0.21 -0.84 -0.47 0.74 1.22 0.25 -0.69 0.22 -1.04 -0.12 -0.21 0.18 0.59 -0.05 -0.63 -0.07 -0.27 -0.29 -0.13 0.65 -0.05 -0.68 -0.20 -0.58 -0.47 0.36 0.07 0.05 -0.70 -1.11 -1.71 0.82 0.49 0.48 -0.79 1.00 0.80 0.26 0.29 0.02 -1.59 0.22 0.19 -0.55 -0.48 -0.94 -0.05 1.11 -0.19 0.16 -0.98 0.35 0.37 -0.96 -0.21 -0.21 -0.18 -0.50 -0.18 0.04 0.05 0.53 -1.25 -0.94 -0.37 0.34
VOLUME 43.09 735.66 11.59 279.48 84.04 319.60 62.67 91.03 80.99 261.69 175.40 409.12 1,160.84 1,996.20 57.72 42.99 1,697.77 65.99 80.87 76.15 903.77 58.91 64.34 877.07 23.58 418.38 35.60 641.57 11,771.81 28.17 144.25 62.44 46.15 380.34 401.14 15.23 419.25 118.66 69.46 102.69 301.45 21.02 39.05 113.75 124.11 308.70 260.95 1,042.55 284.59 144.65 85.19 138.18 103.75 472.32 18.33 28.00 167.00 164.92 38.83 58.36 61.55 294.54 374.37 71.48 1,493.84 48.67 83.17 104.23 259.44 137.83 5,198.24 47.73 35.60 23.99 468.11
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Sterling reaches 22-month high against the euro and a 6-year high vs the dollar Ask the expert Peter Loveday Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com
after cutting its deposit rate (the rate at which commercial banks earn interest on funds parked at the central bank) to -0.1 per cent. Alongside the cut in rates, the ECB announced a raft of other policy measures aimed at getting credit flowing to businesses. The package of measures announced in June represents the ECB throwing the kitchen sink at fighting the threat of deflation. It will take several months minimum to see if measures aimed at getting credit flowing around the Eurozone are successful. At their last meeting in July the
ECB did not announce any further policy measures but made it very clear that they are prepared to act further and they have lined up Quantitative Easing (QE) as the next policy measure. It seems that the ECB are keeping QE in the locker to be used if required to combat deflation and they are hoping that US growth will pick up
and force EUR/USD to weaken. The strength of the euro is a concern to the ECB as it weighs on growth prospects, therefore if a natural correction does not take place from US growth we could see QE in the coming months to help weaken the euro and tackle deflation concerns. Falling inflation is a big concern
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Look on the private side of banking BBVA’s purchase of bailed-out Catalunya Banc for a knockdown €1.2 billion makes it a major Cataluña force. Until now CaixaBank administered the region’s principal fortunes practically without competition. Now it has BBVA to contend with. Twenty-two per cent of the clients who receive the services of Spain’s private banking sector live in Cataluña, which has the country’s fourthhighest per capita GDP after the Basque Region, Madrid and Navarra. Of these, Madrid boasts the largest segment with 25 per cent of the wealthiest clients, revealed consultants DBK. At the end of 2013, rich Catalans owned €74.8 billion of the €365 billion that moves the wealth management sector in
UK ECONOMY: The pound is nicely positioned for further gains.
Spain. CaixaBank’s private banking division attends to the financial affairs of clients with minimum assets of €500,000. From Barcelona it controls around €19.8 billion - almost half of the group’s wealth management business of approximately €44 billion. Nationwide BBVA can count on more than €76 billion that belongs to clients with assets of more than €300,000. By the end of last year 18 per cent of its clients were based in Cataluña, with a volume of assets approaching €13.7 billion. Cataluña’s private banking sector moves more than €80.3 billion, and once the Catalunya Banc deal is completed in 2015, almost half of this will be split between CaixaBank (€19.8 billion) and BBVA (€16.7 billion).
for ECB policy officials and inflation projections still look soft for the Eurozone. The euro has managed to maintain good levels despite the aggressive policy action announced by the ECB so far. After weakening in June post the announcement, EUR/USD managed to retrace back up to the same levels as we commenced the July meeting. But as we stand the outlook certainly looks soft for the euro and the pound is getting the plaudits. History tells us however that the pound can have a tendency to disappoint just when it looks likely to make further gains. If UK economic data starts to disappoint, the rally in the pound could lose steam and therefore caution is still noted. Assuming we do not see the UK economy derail, the pound is nicely positioned for further gains against the euro with an eye on 1.30 for GBP/EUR.
Gallows humour in bankruptcy Credit davepatten/Flickr
THE bull-run in the pound has continued unabated and recently it has managed to push to a fresh 22-month high against the euro and a six-year high versus the US dollar. These are exceptional levels for the Great British Pound and it is mainly due to the fact that currently the UK is on the path to raising interest rates ahead of its peers in the US and Europe. The economic backdrop for the UK for now is upbeat and the consensus is that the UK economy will continue to perform strongly for the remainder of 2014. There is a large contrast in Europe with economic data inconsistent and the outlook soft. The strength of the euro currently and the risk of deflation is a real concern. These concerns have provoked unprecedented monetary policy action by the European Central Bank (ECB) in June. The ECB became the first of the major central banks to apply negative interest rates,
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.
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WE often find humour even under the most dreadful circumstances; it is known as gallows humour. The never ending recession has produced its own brand of wit. ‘With the market turmoil being what it is what’s the best way to make a small fortune? Start off with a large one.’ Iceland’s President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson issued arrest warrants on the bankers responsible for bringing the economy to its knees. This was the basis of the joke, ‘Record levels of unemployment have been announced. Those worst affected are the construction trades and Iceland’s bankers.’ The roll call of bankers who have taken their own lives since the beginning of their Ponzi scams has reached unprecedented levels.
BIG ISSUE: A former banker? ‘What’s the definition of optimism? An investment banker who irons five shirts on a Sunday evening.’ In Britain there’s The Big Issue magazine; it is sold by unemployed street sellers. This gave rise to the joke: ‘I talked to my bank manager yesterday. He said he was going to focus on the big issue. He sold me one outside McDonald’s yesterday.’ I can identify with that. I received a letter from my bank manager stamped, ‘Insufficient Funds.’ I wrote back, ‘you or me?’
Investment banking isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Most of us relate to ‘what is the difference between an investment banker and a London pigeon?’ The pigeons can still make deposits on BMW cars. One businessman wryly remarked bankruptcy was worse than divorce: ‘I have lost half my net worth and I still have my wife.’ You know the credit supply is crunching when your cash-point asks if you have any spare change and the Inland Revenue offer a discount for cash payers.
E W N 7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
BUSINESS EXTRA
Pay-back pledge BAILED-OUT Bankia’s client base increased by 15,000 and profits rose by 48 per cent during the first six months of this year. The board is committed to repaying the taxpayer-funded rescue, said CEO Jose Sevilla.
Taurus takeover TAURUS, the Catalan electrical appliance manufacturer which markets 11 brands in 80 countries, acquired longestablished but insolvent Solac, best known for its steam irons.
I
’M just back from a trip abroad and the entire process of booking the low-cost flight couldn’t have been easier. While I normally need a stiff drink in hand to handle the frustration of reserving a plane ticket on the Ryanair website, their new updated and user-friendly browser is a pleasure to navigate. Apparently Michael O’Leary, renowned for his “my way or the highway” attitude - yes, the one who used to make people pay extortionate amounts for forgetting to print out the boarding ticket -
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It pays to be nice… NEW ATTITUDE: Michael O'Leary’s new policy paying off.
Loose change A look at finance for females
Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com
has turned over a new leaf. The airline adopted
Spain continues with aid DESPITE the crisis, Spain will continue sending aid to developing countries. Only four of 52 countries classed in the past as living below the poverty threshold are no longer underdeveloped, said Spain’s Foreign minister Jose Manuel
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
Garcia-Margallo during a UN-organised conference. Spain offered cooperation so these countries could leave underdevelopment behind. But they had to make efforts related to “good government, rule of law and political stability.”
Why can’t they collect debt? Q. I read with interest your answer to KS on the Costa del Sol regarding the You and the ‘Proceso Monitorio’ to collect Community Law in Spain debts. In our Community we have two By David Searl owners who have not paid at all for six years. They are not Spanish and one of them is not from an EU country. In my own country (Denmark) this situation would not have lasted long. The property would have been embargoed. I have asked our administrator what can be done and had different answers, which I do not quite understand. And where can I buy your book in Torrevieja? T.S. (Costa Blanca) A. I am glad you asked. The ‘Proceso Monitorio’ is relatively new, so you need an up-to-date edition of You and the Law in Spain. If you wait until September 1, you can obtain the new 2015 edition, with a full treatment of ‘Proceso Monitorio.’ Perhaps your best option is to order the book from the Santanabooks.com website. You will receive it at home. I agree with you that Spanish law for debt collection leaves a lot to be desired. It is far too slow in the backlogged courts. Nevertheless, Communities of Property Owners all over Spain have successfully taken debtors to court, either by the ‘Proceso Monitorio’ or a regular lawsuit. Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.
a strategy of being nicer to customers last autumn with O'Leary deciding that the firm should try to ‘eliminate things that unnecessarily p*** people off’. And so far being nice has been a success, with Ryanair admitting that its earnings have soared in the last three months. A new study backs up
this ‘it pays to be nice philosophy.’ While bosses who scream and micromanage their way to the top, are still common in today’s workplaces, according to the report the best bosses are humble bosses, those who empower and appreciate their employees, are open to feedback and care about the
Credit: Northfoto / Shutterstock.com
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greater good. There tends to be a stereotype that humble people are weak people that get walked all over. Humble people may be quieter, more in the background, but they lead in a different way, by empowering their employees, and this trickles down making humble bosses strong bosses, says the report. The qualities of a humble boss include: self-awareness, openness to feedback, appreciation of others and low self-focus. All of which are traits that help humble bosses acknowledge their weaknesses as well as their strengths, and therefore learn, grow and succeed. Controlling and tough bosses may be surprised by the study results, but maybe it’s time we understood that humility isn’t a sign of weakness or lacking confidence, but rather, a good thing that can benefit us all.
Messi still facing court in tax mess ACE footballer Lionel Messi is a step nearer the courtroom. If nothing changes, the Barcelona striker will be questioned regarding €4.1 million owed in unpaid income tax on image rights between 2007 and 2009. Messi, one of the world’s highestpaid sportsmen, earns just under €30 million a season in salary and bonuses, according to Forbes magazine, plus more than €17 million from sponsors. His father now faces charges of transferring income from sponsors to shell corporations in Belize and Uruguay amongst other tax havens. When this came to light in June last year, Messi immediately added €10 million to his 2010 and 2011 tax returns which were then under investigation. A further €5 million was paid in back taxes corresponding to 2007, 2008 and 2009. Barcelona judge Manuel Alcover rejected the public prosecutor’s
recommendation of excluding Messi from the three charges of fiscal fraud. The prosecution office maintained that the player did not realise the “range, dimension, aims and effects” of the strategies masterminded by his father, Jorge. Leo Messi also told the examining judge last September that he left financial matters to his father but Alcover was not convinced that Messi was entirely unaware of his machinations. The latter has accepted full responsibility for the tax evasion, maintaining that his son had no part in attempts to hide his earnings. There were sufficient indications to assume that Messi “must have known about and consented to” moves to construct a “fictitious corporate structure” specifically designed to evade taxes, the judge argued. The player’s involvement, if any, in the illicit financial dealings should be a trial matter, he added.
OPINION & COMMENT
Noise versus peace is a real dilemma I’VE been living and working in Spain more than 30 years. I call Spain my real home but what happened to that fun place I fell in love with? I am a professional DJ and worked for 40 years in England, Spain, Germany and now the Costa del Sol. Jake Smith is right when he says mayors have lost the plot on what tourists need. They are happy to give you dog beaches and toilets (we all need them, don’t we?) but they don’t permit bars or pubs to employ DJs any more. They use noise as an excuse to close or fine them. In other words, an early night for everyone. I came across this problem a few years ago in Galicia when I worked in one of the best discopubs in Pontevedra. Because of one person (yes, one) calling the local police, they closed us down. I understand that everyone has the right to sleep, but anyone with a minimum of common sense knows you don’t buy a flat over a bar without checking first! We now have to rethink where we go or live. Work-wise for me it’s looking like the end but noone is prepared to take on the local mayors even though they may or may not have voted for them. Spain isn’t the fun place which many of us were lucky enough to know in years gone by. Sorry to say, the end is near unless you are a dog person. D A Thompson (by email)
A sobering look THANKS for the Looky, Looky, Looky article. But you sure walk on tiptoe around the subject instead of calling a horse a horse and looking it in the mouth! Blissful are we tourists, looking at these people and having compassion for them instead of realising the sordid truth. These immigrants often have to pay back their passage into the paradise called Europe and are ruthlessly exploited by their own people and all others: 21 in a room, 63 to a house, payment per three-minute showers, etc.
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Letters
7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
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our aRUST dvert isers
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remaining is set against your private pension, often resulting in most of it being taxed at the full rate of 20 per cent. As to whether tax on retired people is unfair, well that’s a different matter. If you are resident in Spain and can reduce or avoid it altogether by doing the right thing, why not check it out? Stephen Clarke, Turre (Almeria)
Do as Romans
THE coast has many attractions, but there is so much to see inland. One of my favourite towns in the province of Valencia is Jativa, worth visiting for the basilica alone. Alphonse Ridgeway (by email)
They have no alternative but to survive as a group in these grey zones of legitimacy. There are too many Chinese stores and restaurants to really make a living unless they are a facade for money-laundering, drugs- and people-trafficking or servitude. I wrote to the Spanish and European governments and proposed not letting any immigrant enter the labourmarket without a certificate of an OESCD-level III education. The rest should be kept in camps and educated but sent back to their region, to help build that up. No response as yet. Roland de Rooy, Alhaurin El Grande (Malaga)
Easy target DO my name, telephone number and email address appear on an alternative mailing list? It could be paranoia, I’m ready to admit, but I am convinced that my details are obtained by, or sold to, hordes of spammers, hackers,
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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phishers and old-school con men. I have often written to Your Say in the past about this, partly for the pleasure of relating my phone and email adventures following unsuccessful attempts to deprive me of my hard-earned money. But I have also done this so that other readers will not be taken in. The latest episode began with a warning from my anti-virus program: “Virus detected in an incoming email,” it droned. I panicked a bit and deleted the whole thing and to be on the safe side emptied the deleted items folder. I did notice something about
‘virus order’ at the top and the name Vicente Pratt (which is exactly what he must be). Anyway, readers, don’t say I didn’t warn you! T Freeman (by email)
Tax truths THERE was a short letter from Stephen Tucker last week, whom we have to assume lives in Spain and believes it is unfair that he must pay tax on his private Merchant Navy pension at age 65. First of all, the reason why he has started to pay tax at age 65 is presumably because at that age he has started to collect the UK state pension, which is taxable. A lot of people seem to believe that it is not, usually because if it is your only source of income your personal allowances will cover it. HMRC will always recover any tax due from a private pension by allocating most of your allowances to the state pension so that you are not taxed on that (it is still taxable, remember). Then any personal allowance
I AGREE with Leapy Lee week after week. His comments are spot on; it’s a shame our leaders don’t have as much common sense. With regards to the Middle East, the Romans used to pay one tribe to fight another, keeping them occupied and off the backs of Rome. Why have we not learned from history? Then I see announcements by well-known actors, asking for my money to help support camps in Turkey or wherever people have fled because their country is having yet another civil war. Why would I want to give money to them? So they can have a better life and come and kill my fellow citizens and our troops? R J (by email)
Sick of cicadas LAST spring a reader complained about the noise and droppings from pigeons. Not long after there was another complaint, this time about intrusive sparrows. What a couple of killjoys, I thought, but now I’m beginning to sympathise. I’ve moved to the ‘campo’ after years in a city that I happily shared with pigeons and sparrows. No-one told me that there would be cicadas. They started tuning up as soon as the really hot weather began and now make a deafening din somewhere between a buzz and whirr. Occasionally they all stop at once and after a couple of minutes of silence they start up again in perfect disharmony, all at exactly the same time. Is it just me? Or are cicadas a pain where it’s preferable not to have one? M P Norris, Quatretonda (Valencia)
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 7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
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OPINION & COMMENT
Worms are out of the can… LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT
W
ELL, we certainly opened a can of worms last week. My statement regarding Arabic inventions, or rather lack of them, did attract some interesting response from quite a number of readers. As usual most were extremely positive, but a couple did creep in that I felt deserved at least some defence of my observations. On the advice of one particularly abusive missive, I did review my facts on the subject and, lo and behold, actually found quite a number of inventions allegedly discovered by members of Arabic communities. Coffee was one. Rocket propulsion was another. (Funny, I always thought that was the Chinese!) A number of others did come to light; even the camera crept in at one point. However, apart from one Mid-East gentleman who apparently worked for NASA during the moon landing, I couldn’t find any other positive input to the human
ARABIC DISCOVERIES? Coffee was one of them. race for the last thousand years. Not the most convincing record of humanityserving intentions; I rest my case. As far as the knockers of Israel’s Gaza onslaught are concerned, tragic as it all is, I don’t recall the British dropping leaflets on Dresden or Berlin, etc, warning their citizens to seek shelter before they wiped out hundreds of thousands of civilian women and children; or America, before it annihilated Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Sorry, but the pure hypocrisy of the West regarding this conflict simply defies the imagination. The only difference in the wars of the 21st century is the media coverage. In the past, what the eye didn’t see the heart didn’t grieve. Unfortunately, the allseeing eyes of the media and modern technology’s instant communication capabilities now bring the true horrors of conflict directly into our living rooms. Will
this finally lead our hearts to one day truly grieve and learn from our humanitarian mistakes? Don’t hold yer breath! Heard a particularly funny remark by one of the ‘you know where I’m comin’ from’ brigade last week. Many of these young people punctuate remarks by the word ‘ennit’. That’s literally all it is, a verbal punctuation mark that generally has no connection with the preceding sentence whatsoever. No doubt wishing to sound rather ‘better read’ than her peers this young lady informed her interviewer that she hoped Labour would win the next election - ‘isn’t it’! You really couldn’t make it up. Loved the story of the woman who got totally drunk on an aircraft last week. After shouting for cigarettes and a parachute, she then proceeded to unscrew her prosthetic leg and throw it at a member of the cabin crew. After the pilot decided to make an emergency landing, the police came on board and arrested the woman, who left the plane to the whole of the passengers giving her a rousing chorus of the Hokey Cokey. God bless the Brits! Keep the faith, Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com
Cassandra Nash
A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene
I
T’S financial corruption, political corruption, and politico-financial corruption all the way. There’s never a hint of the sex scandals that alternately delight and devastate the UK and the US, not to mention Italy and France. Jordi Pujol, former president of Cataluña, admitted not long ago to owning undeclared millions in tax havens. It was money inherited from his father 34 years ago, the 84-year-old explained in a plea for forgiveness, adding that the “adequate moment” for revealing it had never arisen. Presumably that moment has arisen now only because a judge is investigating his son’s own alleged corruption. Whatever Spanish politicians get up to in their private lives, they take care not to do it in the street and frighten the horses. But their bookkeeping sure does frighten the long-suffering, lawabiding, tax-paying, cash-strapped public. JORDI PUJOL: Owns undeclared millions.
Cordon Press
No sex, please: we’re Spanish Not just a pretty face PEDRO SANCHEZ is young, tall, dark and handsome. Now that politics everywhere else are a PR exercise in style over substance, Spain could soon follow suit. Whether Sanchez wants it or not, he will harvest votes on his looks alone. It wouldn’t be the first time. In 1977, in the first democratic elections after Franco’s death, many voted for Adolfo Suarez in 1977 because he was so easy on the eye. As it happened, the best man won but he was the best-looking, too. Sanchez is the best-looking of the present bunch but now he must prove he’s also the best man for the job.
Reverse aversion THE ‘third way’ favoured by the PSOE, many Catalans and most Spaniards allows Cataluña to remain in the fold but with still more power. Vice-president Soraya Saenz de Santamaria gave this solution the thumbs down. “It requires a consensus that doesn’t exist,” she claimed and recent events
tend to prove her right. Or because she is as canny as her boss Mariano Rajoy, is she dismissing the ‘third way’ to give it an aura of desirability?
Bareback riding THE PSOE’s new secretary general Pedro Sanchez will woo Indignados and PP voters. In 2011 thousands of the Indignados occupied the Puerta del Sol in Madrid and forced the national parties to look at themselves instead of their navels. They would once have voted PSOE but are now more likely to support Podemos, the radical non-aligned party that swiped five European parliament seats in May. Sanchez also wants to win over the people who voted for the PP in the 2011 general election because Rajoy pledged to end the crisis. If the PSOE is to do well in next year’s municipal, regional and general elections Sanchez must entice each faction without frightening the other. His resembles a circus bareback rider galloping round the ring with a foot on two ill-matched ponies. Can he make them gallop side by side? Or will he tear himself in half?
FINANCE
EUROPEAN PRESS
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7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
EWN
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UK Pensions – “Freedom And Choice” The biggest reforms to UK pensions in almost a century are underway. As more options become available, you need to understand how they affect you and consider what would work best for you in the short and long term. The pension reform was first announced in the March budget. Some initial changes came into effect that month, but the main reform will start next April. The government launched a consultation on its proposed changes, and on 21st July released its response to the consultation, “Freedom and Choice in Pensions.” Here is a summary of key decisions reached under the process. The Government believes that individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions with their pension savings. From April 2015 pension scheme members aged over 55 with defined contribution schemes will be able to access them as they wish - there will be no restrictions on how much you can withdraw, you can even take
by Peter Worthington, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks
the whole amount. For UK taxpayers, the first 25% will be tax free and the remainder at the individual’s marginal UK tax rate. Expatriates need to consider the tax implications in Spain. Besides Spanish income tax, funds withdrawn from pension schemes will form part of your estate for Spanish succession and UK inheritance tax purposes, so you need to plan for that.
Transfers out of private sector defined benefits pension schemes will still be allowed, up to the member’s normal scheme retirement date as opposed to within 12 months of that date. It will be a statutory requirement for such transfers to have been advised by a professional financial adviser who is independent of the scheme and authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Further consultation will be carried out to determine the viability of partial transfers. Transfers out of unfunded public sector defined benefit schemes will not be allowed. Transfers from funded public sector defined benefit schemes will be allowed, subject to the same safeguards as outlined for private sector scheme transfers. Currently, a 55% death benefit tax charge is levied on pensions that remain invested when the holder dies. The government
announced it will cut this charge, with a new rate to be announced in the Autumn Statement. Legislation will be introduced to enable product providers to introduce more flexible annuities. The minimum pension age will increase from 55 to 57 in 2018. Thereafter it will be 10 years below state pension age. This will not apply to certain public sector schemes such as the armed forces, police and firefighters. For those aged over 55 after April 2015 and still in employment, annual pension tax relief will be limited to £10,000 for further contributions where benefits in a defined contribution scheme have been drawn. The government recognises that the changes to the pension tax rules will have implications for the rules relating to Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS). It will consider these implications further to ensure the QROPS rules are
appropriate when the new system comes into force. There was no news on the suggested removal of, or change to, the lifetime allowance. These pension reforms are welcome, but it is essential that you understand how all the options work for you and weigh up what would be most beneficial for your circumstances and aims. The tax element, both in the UK and here in Spain, plays an important part. Specialist advice is important to make sure you get it right. 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.
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TV LISTING
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BBC TWO 4:15pm Natural World 5:15pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 6:15pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Hairy Bikers Asian Adventure 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Food and Drink 10:00pm Kate Adie's Women of World War One 11:00pm The Sarah Millican Television Programme 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Dragons' Den
ITV 6:00pm The 21st Question 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Countrywise 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Long Lost Family 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Zoo 12:40am All Star Family Fortunes
CH4 6:00pm Couples Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Food Unwrapped 10:00pm Royal Marines Commando School 11:00pm Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:00am Embarrassing Bodies
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Cricket on 5 9:00pm Police Interceptors 10:00pm Big Brother 11:00pm 70 Stone: The Man They Couldn't Save 12:00am Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm Night at the Museum 12:10am Trollied
Tuesday BBC ONE 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm In the Club 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm Scrappers 12:05am Scrappers
BBC TWO 3:15pm Cash in the Attic 3:45pm Natural World 4:45pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 5:45pm Athletics 6:00pm Athletics 9:30pm Coast 10:30pm Scotland Votes: What's at Stake for the UK? 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am The Stuarts
ITV 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Secret Dealers 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The 21st Question 7:00pm Local News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Ade at Sea 9:00pm Love Your Garden 10:00pm Executed 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Chase 12:40am Tales From Northumberland with Robson Green
CH4 6:00pm Couples Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Kirstie's Fill Your House for Free 10:00pm Undercover Boss 11:00pm Utopia 12:05am Royal Marines Commando School
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Henry and Anne 9:00pm The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies 10:00pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 11:00pm Big Brother 12:00am Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 4:00pm Glee 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm An Idiot Abroad 11:00pm Glee 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
Wednesday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Fake Britain 9:00pm The Great British Bake Off 10:00pm Operation Wild 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm A Question of Sport 12:05am The League Cup Show
BBC TWO 5:45pm Athletics 6:00pm Athletics 10:00pm The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire 11:00pm Backchat with Jack Whitehall and His Dad 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Kate Adie's Women of World War One
ITV 6:00pm The 21st Question 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm 100 Year Old Drivers 10:00pm Secrets From the Clink 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Dangerous Dogs 12:40am Off the Beaten Track
CH4 5:30pm Win it Cook it 6:00pm Couples Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Sarah Beeny's Double Your House for Half the Money 10:00pm One Born Every Minute 11:00pm The Mimic 11:30pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Best Bits 12:35am Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA
CH5 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm The Hollywood Mom's Mystery 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Ultimate Police Interceptors 9:00pm Emergency Bikers 10:00pm Grand Theft Auto: UK 11:00pm Big Brother 12:00am Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 3:00pm The Simpsons 4:00pm Glee 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm Modern Family 10:30pm Modern Family 11:00pm Modern Family 11:30pm Modern Family 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
OPINION & COMMENT
www.euroweeklynews.com
7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
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Is Spain good at anything at all? Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.
I
T was recently revealed that Spain came out EU tops for best value
healthcare. A well deserved tribute seconded by coffin-dodging pensioners who, thanks to this superiority, are still ‘all present and correct’ at morning roll-call. Conceding its moment of glory there are other areas requiring attention if Spain is to approach European standards. According to released data Spanish driving is not quite the worst in Europe: Italy takes the ignominious discredit for the ‘Did he Really do That’ Oscar. No smirking; British drivers are only 0.09 per cent better at driving than are the Spanish. The gap could be closed if we explain to Spaniards how to use direction indicators and behave sensibly at
SPANISH DRIVING: Not quite the worst in Europe, but almost. roundabouts. A far better way of closing the gap than tailgating the car in front. If Spanish drivers appear to be confused, it is likely because they are looking for non-existent, confusing or inappropriately placed road signs. Here there is room for improvement. There is good reason why national road numbers are preceded by an N as in N332. This is because such roads reach a
country’s national frontiers. I must remind Cartagena road planning department that if the N332 was supposed to Pedro out in their city’s camino it would be called the ?332, wouldn’t it? The Spanish are averse towards musical creativity but in fairness the British are not up to much either. I concede that Edward Elgar, Frederick Delius, George Frideric Handel and Gustav Holst were British citizens. Their names
are hardly Tom, Dick and Harry sounding, are they? The Spaniards can boast Enrique Granados, Pablo Sarasate and Isaac Albeniz. Respectively these maestros are passable at plinking guitars, scratching catgut and tickling piano ivories. However, opera and enchanting classical melodies that evoke Spain’s colourful tapestry, Carmen, Espana and Bolero, were composed by Frenchmen
Georges Bizet, Emmanuel Chabrier and Maurice Ravel. The Spaniards borrowed most of their language from Roman invaders and passed a little to the English language. One word best forgotten is armada. I hear you saying, what about corruption? The English concede Spanish superiority at passing brown envelopes. This could be down to the Spaniards being prepared to jail scoundrels. The English simply legalised sleaze. Problem solved. Spaniards are preferential to their own and many Spanish waiters display fecklessness. There was good reason why the truculent Manuel was chosen for the sitcom Fawlty Towers. In shipbuilding Spaniards are clearly steerage class. Spanish passenger liners were best known for wartime evacuations. Spain’s only super-liner, the Príncipe de Asturias was Glasgow built. At 8,000 tons it merely qualified as a bum-boat tender for the iconic ocean greyhounds of Europe.
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OPINION & COMMENT
www.euroweeklynews.com
Is there life without a smartphone? It seems like only yesterday that we had to queue up with a pocketful of change if we wanted to make a phone call when away from home. Times have changed; everywhere you go there is someone with their heads down looking at their phone. We asked: Could you live without your smartphone, or are they a waste of time?
F
OR Maria Isabel Signes, phones are a lifeline. The optician from Calpe works with the Visio Sense Fronteres foundation, offering optical advice and eye surgery in remote and poor countries where phones can be crucial: “Sometimes in the villages I may go ahead of the team so I have to contact them on Whatsapp and we have a Whatsapp group for the charity so we can contact each other quickly and easily, so it is essential.” Maria Isabel added: “I’ve been in Africa for a few weeks without my phone and you can survive without it, of course, but it does make life easier.” Team leader at Fastighetsbyran Real Estate in Torrevieja, Nina Gisslen, agreed, saying: “I could live without it but would I really want to? That is the question! When I am out working or showing a client a property, my phone is so important. It gives me all the tools I need to hand, although I do switch it off at night!”
STREET TALK
tphones make MARIA ISABEL: Smar much easier. her charity work so
NINA: Smartphones mean you can be on call 24-7.
Another devotee is Alan from Frankies Bar in Vera Playa, Almeria. He said: “I couldn’t live without my smartphone. It is glued to my side more or less. I use it for emails, Facebook, messaging and surfing the internet.” Emma-Maria Robertson, CEO of Mayfair Academy on the Costa del Sol, said: “My smartphone is essential when I am out of the office for emails and appointments. It keeps me updated when I need it to. But nothing can beat face-to-face contact.” And making a clean sweep of smartphone devotees was James Patterson, Managing Director and founder of Rib Club Global in Mallorca. “I could never live without my smartphone. It is like my comfort blanket! “Whether it’s for business or pleasure I always have two, one English and one Spanish, with a spare battery for each,” he said.
Leo leads defiantly into August: a time for positive influences WITH the new moon in Leo leading us defiantly into August, it is time to be confident about your talents and let your inner light shine. If you knew you would succeed in any endeavour, what would you do? Listen to the first answer that comes to mind and act on it! Influenced by the fiery sign of Leo until August 23, this creative, expansive influence is helping you to empower yourself in all areas of your life. Speak your truth, assert your needs and be guided by your highest vision. August is the eighth month of the year and the number eight gives you the opportunity for inner
Sally Trotman Based in Mallorca, Sally Trotman is a qualified Counsellor who works with Astrology, Numerology and the Tarot. Each month she will deliver the forecast as an intuitive tool to aid increased self awareness.
www.sallytrotman.com
and outer transformation. In the tarot deck, the cards of Strength and the Star are ruled by the number eight. These are extremely positive influences, meaning that you have the courage, strength and ability to fulfil your desires this month. With the full moon in the visionary sign of Aquarius on August 10, you won’t be short of ideas this month. The new moon in practical Virgo on August
CREATIVE: Leo’s expansive influence will help you to empower yourself. 25 helps you to ground your vision. As the sun moves into Virgo at the end of the month, you may feel a
little less exuberant, as the Leo energy fades. This is the perfect moment to commit to your ideas.
The sign of Aquarius also reminds you that you can achieve far more by working with a group than alone. Ask for help,
discuss ideas and find others who share your vision. Draw on the strength of the lion this month to create a stronger sense of self-belief and take the next step towards creating whatever is most important to you. Face your fears and push out of your comfort zone this month. You will be surprised at the result! Leo is a generous sign, so give thanks for all that you have in your life. Help others where you can and know that you will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest in September.
www.sallytrotman.com 0034 674 405 464
FEATURE
www.euroweeklynews.com
7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
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Advertising Feature
Euro almost unchanged against sterling Commentary by Moneycorp
EUR The statistics from Euroland continued to paint a less than rosy picture of the economy. Business and consumer confidence was down; unemployment ticked lower to 11.5 per cent but was still too high for comfort. Crucially, the rate of inflation fell to a provisional 0.4 per cent. The fear is it could fall further if Russian sanctions derail the fragile recovery. The euro was all but unchanged against sterling but lost three quarters of a US cent. USD A class-leading performance by the dollar took it three quarters of a cent
higher against the euro and a cent and a quarter higher against sterling. Two of the week’s US data were surprisingly good, the increase in durable goods orders and the rebound in growth, which showed the economy expanding by 1 per cent during the second quarter. The dollar was also helped by concern about the negative effect of Russian sanctions on the global economy. CAD The Canadian dollar was the underdog of the week. It lost a cent and a half to the US dollar and one and three quarter cents to sterling. At
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 the heart of its problems was a perception that Canada’s economy is falling behind the United States. Investors took a robust increase in US durable goods orders as an excuse to offload the Loonie and they dismissed a strong Canadian monthly growth figure as a fluke. AUD The commodity-related currencies
all suffered to some extent after news the US economy rebounded strongly in the second quarter. The argument was that more robust growth in the States would bring forward the advent of higher US interest rates. And the Australian economic data were not of any help, if only because there were so few. On the week the Aussie lost a cent each to sterling and the euro. NZD The commodity-related currencies all suffered to some extent after news that the US economy rebounded strongly in the second quarter. The argument was that more robust growth in the States would bring forward the advent of higher US interest rates. The Kiwi was also hit by the prospect of lower domestic milk prices. On the week it lost half a cent to sterling and three quarters of a cent to the US dollar.
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RS E IS R T E R RNE V A D CO
D
’
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SPOTLIGHT
Advertising feature
De Micco & Friends Legal - Tax - Real Estate
E MICCO & FRIENDS is the place to go for all your legal, tax consultancy and real estate
needs. The firm has offices in 14 different countries and 14 cities throughout Spain with its headquarters in Mallorca. With more than 200 attorneys throughout Spain, offering Spanish and international legal advice for both individuals and companies, it is no wonder that De Micco & Friends’ legal team was recently added to the ‘Legal 500 Europe’ list. Living & Investments - Since acquiring the renowned Pedro Mesquida real estate company, De Micco & Friends has entered the local property market, under the leadership of manager Alina De Micco, with a portfolio of more than 1,200 properties. In keeping with the company’s motto ‘Living & Investments,’ the group focuses on lifetime deals on luxury properties. The group also advises international investors and investment companies, Alina De Micco said: “We support private
buyers who wish to acquire holiday properties or residences in Mallorca at competitive prices. Our policy is that even the purchase of a private residence constitutes an investment. A good investment means purchasing below the market value, and it is in precisely this sector of the market that our strengths lie.” Visit www.pedromesquida.com or pop into the office, for more information. Legal - The Mallorca office has lawyers from England, Spain, Germany, and Russia representing clients on an extensive variety of legal matters. Buying a property? De Micco & Friends’ experienced legal and tax experts can assist you with transactions. The firm also provides advice for companies regarding optimisation and establishing branches along with a range of VIP services for wealthy clients.
Tax consultancy - In addition to the successful tax consultancy and advice service, companies and property owners can also benefit from accounting and annual reporting services. The firms’ consultants also assist with topics such as immigration, HGV import, the founding of companies or tax optimisation for property transactions. Real Estate Office 971 73 40 73 Legal Services Office 871 944 532 www.demicco.es
DE MICCO: Pop into the office for more information. ALINA DE MICCO: Manager (right).
Advertising feature
You need a Pit Stop for great service A PASSION for all things cars and great service has combined to make Pit Stop Tyres the place to go for a fast, efficient and friendly service. Owner Colin Tatham, originally from Lancashire, has always been passionate about cars and created a uniquely different garage in Mallorca just over two years ago. He and his dedicated team provide a wide range of services including puncture repairs, wheel balancing, brake replacement plus of course new tyres. They have all the services needed to ensure your car is safe to drive on the roads. Old and worn tyres and brakes are a danger so it is essential to keep them in top condition. The welcome you will get at Pit Stop Tyres is unlike any other in Mallorca, starting off with plenty of parking outside
PIT STOP: Come along and try their top class service.
the clean, tidy and modern workshop. Immediately you get a very warm and friendly northern welcome, and Spanish and Russian are also spoken
fluently. And they give great value for money on Lucas and Varta batteries and of course all the best known brands of tyres. Pit Stop Tyres are about much more than tyres and batteries though, they will also perform a filter and oil change as well as headlight cleaning and polishing. Excellent customer service is paramount to Pit Stop
Tyres, providing outstanding service with great attention to detail. They have a wealth of knowledge and are always happy to advise you on any questions or concerns you may have. Worried about where to take your vehicle for its ITV preparation? Well you needn’t be - Pit Stop Tyres will not just provide a full pre-ITV check
and repair any problems, they will also take your vehicle for its test. Just drop the car off with them and let them deal with all the hassle. Their top class service also extends to classic cars - they can source original replacement tyres and batteries for older vehicles where parts can be difficult to get. Not only do you get excellent service and advice at Pit Stop Tyres, but also a friendly face, a cup of tea and a ginger biscuit! Located in the Calle Illes Canarias on the Industrial estate Son Bugadelles in Calvia. Opening times are Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, and Sunday 10am-4pm. For queries, call Colin on 971 690 023. Pit Stop Tyres Poligono Son Bugadelles Calle Illes Canarias 33
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PETS
ets P
7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
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SPONSORED BY
TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Sharon, Tracy and the Three Persians By Lamia Walker of HousesitMatch SHARON is originally from Berkshire, UK and lives in Malaga. She works as a Reiki therapist and petsitter. Since moving to Spain she looks forward to her mum’s visits. This year, Sharon’s mum became ill and stayed home. Sharon needed an affordable way to visit with her kids so they could spend time together. Sharon’s freelance work gives an irregular income and she needed to make this trip affordable. She also didn’t want to crowd her mum as she was recovering from an operation, so staying in the same house was not possible. She went online and found a solution near
her mum - a housesit in Maidenhead. Tracy the owner needed a sitter for her three Persian cats while she travels, specifying someone who understands cats. Two of hers are fussy eaters. She liked that Sharon is a petsitter and thought the boys would be company for the cats. Sharon could look after the cats, her boys, and they could visit her mum without crowding her out. Sharon’s mum is recovering and planning Christmas in the sun with her family in Spain. Download your Free Easy Guide to Housesitting from here www.bit.ly/eurown001
To find a petsitter go to www.HousesitMatch. com or call Lamia on +44 (0)1865 521508
Can cats really always land on their feet? WELL, it is true they do have a ‘righting reflex’ that operates when they fall. First, the brain commands the head and neck muscles to put the head ‘square’ with the ground. Then the rest of the body aligns itself with the head and, hey presto, the cat ends up in a perfect position for a soft landing. One might assume that the greater the height of the fall, the worse the injuries. This is, however, only
true up to a level of seven storeys; after that the fracture rate actually decreases. This is because after dropping for a distance of five storeys, the cat reaches maximum speed, the so-called terminal velocity of a falling body. At this point, the speed is constant and thus the inner ear is no longer aware and stimulated by acceleration. So the cat relaxes and spreads its legs out just as a freefall parachutist
David THE Dogman
Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm
SOFT LANDING: The cat relaxes when falling. does when he is stabilising his descent. On landing, relaxed bodies are much less likely to fracture, which is also true of infants,
and adults who are drunk. For your local radio frequency log onto www.talkradioeurope. com.
Looking after your Pets in Spain
BABY: Looking for a permanent home.
THE managers at Pets in Spain have the following advice about looking after your pets. When moving to Spain it is important to note that there are a number of diseases and dangers for pets that aren’t found in most other European countries. For cats there is feline leukaemia virus and feline infectious enteritis.
Also note that poisoned bait is sometimes found on urbanisations to keep down the feral cat population. The charity Pets in Spain is currently looking for a home for Baby who is a 15-weekold tabby and white kitten. She is very trusting with people and loves to be cuddled. Those
interested should call 645 469 253.
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CROSSWORDS
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Time Out
TRUS
our a
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WE D
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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 Love Punch The Love Punch tells the story of Richard Jones who just cannot wait to finally go into a well-deserved retirement. Life, however, seems to have other plans. On his final day at the office he finds out that his pension fund has been stolen by Vincent Kruger, the man who bought over the company he had so far been working for. Jones enlists the help of his ex Kate to get his money back. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie and Louise Bourgoin, directed by Joel Hopkins. It has a run time of 95 minutes and is rated 12A.
TODAY TODAY
ALCUDIA
POLLENÇA
CALA MILLOR
INCA
CALVIA
CALA d’OR
PALMA ANDRATX
LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF
ALCUDIA
POLLENÇA
TOMORROW CALA MILLOR
INCA
CALVIA
CALA d’OR
PALMA ANDRATX
LLUCMAJOR
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Energy is high and there is a lot of fun to be had. An invitation sent out brings an old friend to your table. This is not as straightforward as you think it will be. Odd stirrings make you confused. Could it be that going back is the right way to go forward? SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) You feel like a fish out of water in a confused and noisy situation.
8-Star Quiz ROCKS AND MINERALS
1. Amethyst is a transparent purple variety of which hard, glossy mineral? 2. In geology, what name is given to the layer of the Earth between the crust and the core? 3. Limestone is sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium carbonate that was deposited by the remains of what? 4. Named after a 19th century German mineralogist, the Moh’s scale is used to measure the what of minerals? 5. Ruby and sapphire are both varieties of which mineral? 6. The bright red mineral cinnabar is the chief source of which metallic element? 7. There are three main rock types: metamorphic and sedimentary are two, which is the third? 8. What is the aboriginal/official name of the red rock mass in Northern Territory, Australia, south-west of Alice Springs that was formerly known as Ayers Rock?
Perhaps you are not making the right kind of friends, so take control of the quality of people who you associate with.
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FLICKR BY Casa de America.
Your Stars
August 7: Antonio Resines. Film actor. This Spanish actor, producer and director started out by studying to become a lawyer but soon got bored with that idea. He has appeared in Spanish cinema classics like Hay Carmela! and Celda 211. He won a Goya award for his role in La Buena Estrella in 1997.
humour into the most tense situations is invaluable midweek. AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) You like to do your own things in your own way and in your own time. That certainly shows this week. It can cause a bit of a stir with family. Even so, it will inspire someone close to step forward and make their own stand. Put someone straight when they step out of line.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) People look to you to guide them through the maze of right and wrong this week. Your talent for bringing
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) The kind nature that is so much a part of you is only too evident this week. A situation makes you feel
frustrated and you need to find a way forward. A bit of expert advice goes a long way even if it does mean that you still have to go it alone. ARIES (March 21 - April 20) As you prefer living in the here and now, you find it difficult to understand and tolerate people who plot and plan in advance. It is tedious in the extreme to consider every little detail of something which may never happen. TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) This time of year reminds you just how much you enjoy home comforts. Plan ahead now for those chilly winter nights when the air is crisp and the wine is mulled. The urge is to work with others this week and that in itself throws up plans for evenings ahead. Having planned a romantic weekend there may need to be some adjustments.
Sudoku 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.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Your mind, as ever, is changeable. This is a fun time to dabble at this and that to bring a bit of variety to your life and work. Meeting new people and starting new projects means that it is a busy time at work but the rewards are high.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) This is an emotional week, when it is difficult to keep things to yourself. Get together with others and do a bit of social networking. Talk, and if you cannot bring yourself to confess to a problem, say that it is a friend of yours who has it. Certainly, you need to share this concern to get a balanced picture. Things that are held inside can get blown out of all proportion.
LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
UK THUNDERBALL
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
Saturday August 2
Saturday August 2
Saturday August 2
Friday August 1
23
28
37
42
45
2
5 20
11 32
11
24
26
36
38
45
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
BONUS BALL
25
12
37
Almeria
SUNNY MAX 30C, MIN 23C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
24
44 48
LUCKY STARS 5
10
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA
2
32
37
44
45
49
REINTEGRO 14
6
1
32 46
Fri Sat Sun -
SUNNY
Fri Sat Sun -
Fri Sat Sun -
Madrid
29 23 S 31 23 Cl 31 23 S
SUNNY
Fri Sat Sun -
32 22 S 32 22 Cl 31 22 Cl S Sun,
MAX 35C, MIN 21C MAX MIN
33 20 Cl 32 19 Cl 33 18 S
Mon - 33 18 S Tues - 33 18 S Wed - 34 19 S
Murcia MAX 31C, MIN 21C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
SUNNY MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Mon - 32 23 S Tues - 28 22 S Wed - 28 22 C
Mallorca TODAY:
MAX MIN
Mon - 30 24 S Tues - 28 24 S Wed - 28 24 S
30 24 S 29 24 Cl 29 24 C
TODAY:
MAX 27C, MIN 21C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
SUNNY MAX 29C, MIN 24C MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Mon - 28 22 C Tues - 28 22 S Wed - 27 21 C
Malaga CLEAR
MAX MIN
Mon - 29 23 S Tues - 29 23 S Wed - 29 21 S
29 23 S 29 23 Cl 29 23 S
TODAY:
MAX 28C, MIN 23C
28 23 S 28 22 C 28 22 Cl
TODAY:
MAX 29C, MIN 22C
Benidorm
Barcelona TODAY:
SUNNY MAX MIN
Mon - 33 24 S Tues - 30 24 S Wed - 29 23 C
32 23 S 31 24 C 31 24 S
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Mon - 31 22 C Tues - 30 21 S Wed - 30 21 S Cl Clear,
SUNNY MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun Fog,
Sn Snow,
MAX 34C, MIN 22C MAX MIN
36 23 S 34 23 Cl 34 23 S
Mon - 36 23 S Tues - 34 23 C Wed - 33 22 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 P) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
TARGET:
Average: 19
Very good: 36
Good: 25
Excellent: 44
aver, cave, evil, lave, leva, live, rave, rive, uvea, vail, vale, veal, veil, vela, vert, vial, vice, vile, alive, avert, calve, carve, caver, cavil, civet, clave, crave, curve, evict, laver, liver, livre, ravel, rival, rivet, trave, uveal, valet, value, vatic, vault, velar, vicar, viler, viral, virtu, vitae, vital, active, claver, curvet, travel, valuer, varlet, virtue, caviler, clavier, culvert, rivulet, vaulter, victual, virtual, cultivar, curative, vertical, LUCRATIVE, VICTUALER
Word Ladder ROAD
Sunday August 3
Saturday August 2
46 50
LA PRIMITIVA
TODAY:
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) This is a great social week. Your puppy-like enthusiasm attracts others and a barrage of good vibes comes your way. Indeed, your relaxed attitude allows someone close to get their own life a bit more into perspective.
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Alicante TODAY:
Move from the start word (ROAD) to the end word (GANG) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
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REINTEGRO 1
GANG
RAND RANG GANG
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) There is a great impatience this week when someone flatly refuses to see something through to the end. You do not admire sloppiness and your reaction shows this.
IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: With high energy and sex appeal right through to the end of the year, you are likely to stir things up a bit on the domestic front. Doing something completely out of character should be avoided if possible. If this is not possible, then you may use your charm.
ROAD READ REND
LEO (July 24 - August 23) There is a highly social week ahead with social gatherings here and there. A trip means that finances start to look brighter. You may find it necessary, if you are to progress, to consider a move to another job or area. Get involved with people who have been in the same situation.
MAGALLUF
1. QUARTZ, 2. MANTLE, 3. MARINE ANIMALS, CRUSHED SHELLS OR CORAL, 4. HARDNESS, 5. CORUNDUM, 6. MERCURY, 7. IGNEOUS, 8. ULURU
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CROSSWORDS
Crosswords
7 - 13 August 2014 / Mallorca
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Cryptic
Quick
Across 1 The first victim is in Rabelais’ book (4) 3 The French get over oriental game (8) 9 Regular pay, spend it foolishly (7) 10 Five in wrong race are cut up (5) 11 Topic from ‘The Mentalist’ (5) 12 Being more foolhardy, I might get grilled (6) 14 Spies making name in stage work (6) 16 Dictator in vehicle waves back (6) 19 State limits of New Hampshire, Virginia and Dakota (6) 21 The Spanish fleet loses its leader, gets wrecked. What a tragedy! (5) 24 Once more a drink has the answer (5) 25 Lattice work is visible (7) 26 Pioneers such as pay their bills (8) 27 For warmth, sunbathe at noon, inside (4) Down 1 Dog, alas ain’t trained (8) 2 Top people of the Spanish, Italian and English (5) 4 Re Dad’s unusual snakes (6) 5 Shakes up The Stones (5)
Across 1 Appear to be (4) 4 Summit (4) 9 Ordinary (5) 10 Staying power (7) 11/21 Give insider information (3,3) 12 Exactly alike (9) 13 Consistent (6) 14 Afraid (6) 18 Partner (9) 21 See 11 23 Soldiers on horseback (7) 24 Blockhead (5) 25 60 minutes (4) 26 Not difficult (4)
6 Rob sets off for desserts (7) 7 Old prime minister is buried in Sweden (4) 8 ‘God without end’ admitting church is fake (6) 13 Affected manner to dress up (8) 15 Graceful neat leg crossed (7)
17 Did cat upset fanatic? (6) 18 Beat the one at the crease? (6) 20 Cancel year-book, it has a letter missing (5) 22 A pay increase for Dawn (5) 23 Blades appearing when people have a row (4)
Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 17 represents B and 12 represents V, so fill in B every time the figure 17 appears and V every time the figure 12 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 Sprites, 5 Coats, 8 Lantern, 9 Ethos, 10 Stole, 11 Extreme, 12 Sparse, 14 Ascent, 17 Airdrie, 19 Barks, 22 Tense, 23 Airfare, 24 Evens, 25 Scatter. Down: 1 Seles, 2 Rondo, 3 Theseus, 4 Singer, 5 Cheat, 6 Athlete, 7 Suspect, 12 Startle, 13 Arrange, 15 Siberia, 16 Pedals, 18 Rheas, 20 React, 21 Smear. QUICK Across: 7 Decade, 8 Leader, 9 Cage, 10 Prettier, 11 Crushed, 13 Reply, 15 Alone, 17 Consist, 20 Enormous, 21 Soak, 22 Severe, 23 Shared. Down: 1 Repair, 2 Hate, 3 Temples, 4 Flies, 5 Partners, 6 Reveal, 12 Sentries, 14 Possess, 16 Linked, 18 Scares, 19 Cover, 21 Snap.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Arbol, 3 Mesas, 5 Uña, 7 Ketchup, 9 Cats, 10 Blue, 13 Terraza, 14 Rib, 15 Swiss, 16 Temer. Down: 1 Aguacates, 2 Lake, 3 Mats, 4 September, 6 After, 8 Helar, 11 Pais, 12 Wait.
English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Cristal (5) 3 Huésped (5) 6 Fregonas (4) 7 Blood (6) 9 Aubergine (9) 12 Barbero (peluquero) (6) 13 Grille (window) (4) 14 Bee (5) 15 Museum (5) Down 1 Encías (4) 2 Manzano (5,4) 3 Farm (6) 4 Ingenieros (9) 5 Three (4) 8 Fishbowl (6) 10 Work (4) 11 Expensive (4)
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 (NURSED) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues. ABASES
MORSEL
CHAINS
MOTION
CINDER
NOBLER
ELDERS
NURSED (10)
ENABLE
RENDER
HOLDER
SENDER
ISSUED
THENCE
LADDER
TINDER
LEVELS
WATERS
LONGER
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Funagram Unscramble the title of a 2014 film starring Tom Cruise (three words): FORGET MORE WOOD FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: MICHAEL VAUGHAN, EDGE OF TOMORROW
Unscramble the name of a famous former England cricketer: HIGH CAVE MANUAL
Down 2 Representative specimen (7) 3 Human race (7) 4 Annoy persistently (6) 5 To one side (5) 6 Quick quarrel (4) 7 Bluish-white lustrous metallic element (4) 8 Lacking colour (6) 13 Grasp suddenly (6) 15 Narrow rock opening (7) 16 New recruits (7) 17 Native of Hungary (6) 19 Rescue from danger (4) 20 Large stringed instrument (5) 22 Destiny (4)
1 Leaned, 2 Strain, 3 Reared, 4 Treats, 5 Arenas, 6 Regard, 7 Retain, 8 Seared, 9 Nearer, 10 Insert, 11 Passed, 12 Enters, 13 Suited, 14 Course, 15 Desert, 16 Disuse, 17 Rivers, 18 Discus, 19 Afresh
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
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Talking yourself slim
A NEW and easy way to lose weight could have been found if one diet expert’s method is to be believed. John Richardson said that forget calorie counting, simply talk yourself thin. Dubbed the ‘self-chatter diet,’ the hypnotherapist and diet expert said his eating plan helps users beat the bulge by
eradicating fattening behaviour. He said: “Self-chatter is your inner-voice and often, this self-talk happens so automatically you are barely aware of it. However, what you say to yourself can have a profound effect on the way that you feel and what you can achieve.” For weight-loss that means being aware of
LOSE WEIGHT: Try ‘self-chatter’ diet and beat the bulge. behaviours that can lead to weight gain and stopping yourself before you do it. He believes that by listening to your body’s hunger signals and talking to yourself to stop snacking
and overindulging, over time consuming less food and smaller portions will become normal practice. He has written a book on the practice called ‘Talk Yourself Slim’.
Remedies for treating foot odour NOTHING ruins a good pair of shoes like being smelly. There are a number of factors that cause sweating and smell, including wearing shoes with inadequate air ventilation and polyester and nylon socks, as they don’t let feet breathe. Some natural remedies: Apple cider vinegar both kills bacteria
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and dries excess sweat. Add half a cup of it to a quart of lukewarm water and soak the feet for 20 minutes. Green and black tea can also help get rid of foot odour thanks to their tannic acids. Make tea and pour it into a tub big enough to fit both feet. Once cool, soak them for about 10 minutes. Another remedy is cornstarch. It absorbs excess moisture and neutralises odour.
FEATURE
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Advertising Feature
Mallorca’s pearl in golfing experiences PROMOCIONES DE GOLF POLLENSA, S.A. offers the highest standard of impeccably kept greens and provides an engaging course for all levels of players. The course was thoughtfully designed to incorporate seamlessly into the striking landscape and the two lakes attract a myriad of local birds and wildlife. Located in Pollensa, north-west of Mallorca, Golf Pollensa has panoramic views of the Albufereta Reserve, Pollensa Bay and the Tramuntana Mountains ensuring an extremely relaxing and enjoyable experience especially for those who appreciate nature and beautiful surroundings. Golf Pollensa has many additional activities and facilities, including a driving range with putting green and pitching area. For anyone new to golf, or wishing to brush up on their skills, tuition can be booked with their friendly and
highly experienced professionals. If you need to hire equipment, clubs, trolleys and golf cars are available for rent. The superb undulating nine-hole round incorporates plenty of native trees and hazards and is a short but stimulating test of skill. A diverse menu is served in the restaurant and a full bar is also available. After your game you can relax and enjoy a three course meal, a selection of salads or typical Mediterranean dishes while taking in the picturesque view and the leisurely atmosphere. Established in 1986, Golf Pollensa was one of the first golf courses on the island and has established a strong and long-standing customer base, offering locals, regulars and walk-in visitors alike, a relaxed ambience and a home-like feeling.
The friendly, helpful staff speak English, Spanish, French and German and are always happy to be of assistance. Summer Specials include €35 for nine holes, €60 for 18 holes and Winter Specials include the Twilight green fee and Special green fee vouchers. They are open every day from 7.30am to 8.30pm. For more information call: 971 533 216. Golf Pollensa, Ctra. Palma-Pollensa, km. 49.3, 07460, Pollensa, Illes Balears E-mail: rec@golfpollensa.com Website: www.pollensagolf.com
GOLF POLLENSA: Also has a driving range with putting and pitching area.
I THINK if you are going to set a good example to your kids you have to lead the way. One of the things I want my daughter to absorb and embrace is the idea that we continually learn throughout our lives, we have the chance to change again and again. Sometimes we can become interested in something which we didn’t think we would ever be able to do, and then by chipping away and finding people who can help you to achieve a goal, you get there. This is how I have come to find myself with some of the skills and knowledge it takes to become a photographer. I love to look at images and I sometimes would have a lucky break and be able to take a good shot on a camera, but only in the past year or so have I really developed into someone who could describe herself as a photographer. On Thursday night
My photos on show Vicki Mcleod
Family Matters
(tonight) in my home village of S’arracó at the Night of Art I am exhibiting some of my photographs. I’ve been learning how to take photographs with the help of my brilliant teacher Diana Hirsch (www.photoclasses.eu) who has taken me from enthusiastic amateur who doesn’t know what the buttons do on the camera, to someone who has now started taking photos as part of her job. And my very hard working hubbie (who does take photos for his job) who has had to endure me asking questions about shutter
BODYBUILDING: Is this an art? speeds and apertures, and then only half understanding his replies so I will then have to start all over again. And the encouragement of people like Dilip, the editor for the Euro Weekly who probably didn’t realise how much his nods of “that’s a good shot” meant to me. My photos are part of a series of images which I am trying to build over time. I’ve decided to call it ‘Tribes’ because each group in the series is about a certain group of people and their rituals,
beliefs, and celebrations. The ones that I will exhibit on Thursday night are an affectionate and intimate look at the inside world of competitive bodybuilding. I was very lucky to be
invited by a friend of mine to attend a bodybuilding competition in Alcudia where I was given free rein to shoot photos backstage. Is it art though? I guess
that is in the eye of the beholder. I will be joining many other people as they put their work out for inspection on Thursday evening. The whole event is free to enjoy and is SO enjoyable, I really hope to see you there. It’s strangely nerve wracking though, will people like what I’ve done, will they understand why, will my daughter? Will she just roll her eyes, in this new way that she has, and decry loudly that her mother is embarrassing her? Maybe I shouldn’t care either way. We will be exhibiting in the playground near to the square, and I will be proudly putting my own work up beside my husband’s. You can see more about the Night of Art at http://nitdelartdes arraco.blogspot.com.es. Well done to all the artists and the organiser of the event, Claire Lavriller for her patience and determination.
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A good ice cream shop or not EVERYBODY loves ice cream but can they tell a good one from a bad one? Here are a few tips on how to distinguish quality from quantity of merchandising. Overly colourful ice cream has usually been made in a factory and with artificial colours the more colours you can see behind the glass counter the more artificial the ice cream is likely to be. Choose a shop that only does ice cream - they tend to be more concerned with quality. If a shop also does anything from pizza to breakfast then they probably don’t care too much about the quality of their ice cream so long as they have quantity.
SUMMER TREAT: But ice cream should not be served too cold
A good ice cream shop will not put the product on display behind glass - ice cream should be kept in vats with the lids on except when being served. This helps maintain an even temperature which, in turn, helps the ice cream stay fresh. A quality shop will not only have good ice cream but should also have good quality ‘accessories’ like freshly-made cones and wafers. The ice cream should not be too cold. People can’t taste foods properly when they are served too cold and this goes for ice cream as well. It should be served at minus 12 degrees Celsius.
Just a few little known facts you need to know about Champagne THE Nigerians consume more Champagne than the French! Although 63 per cent of Nigerians live on less than a dollar a day they buy more Champagne than the French - this is probably due to the oil barons. There are three grape varieties commonly used in the production of
CHAMPAGNE: Must be present at all important occasions. Champagne: Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay. The trick is how to blend them together to produce the right taste. Champagne happened by accident. A winemaker’s mistake in leaving the bottles unattended on a dockside in the sun led to the discovery of Champagne when the wine fermented so much that it became fizzy. Champagne bottles used to be lethal. The bubbles would often make the bottles explode sending fine shards of
glass across the room. Modern Champagne owes much of its success to the ability of early makers getting the hang of fermenting without exploding the bottles. The world can’t have an important event without a bottle of Champagne. Although not a requisite, an occasion just doesn’t feel right without a bottle of fizz.
There are as many stars in the Milky Way as there are in five bottles of Champagne; according to scientific calculations there are around 49 billion bubbles in a bottle of Champagne. A Champagne cork flies out of the bottle at 25 miles per hour if the bottle has been well shaken.
FOOD & DRINK
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Happy foods to make you feel better about yourself EAT yourself towards happiness with these foods that are proven to make you feel better about almost everything. Clams: they are packed with vitamin B12 which the brain needs to make dopamine and serotonin. Depressed people have low levels of B12 and have been proven to feel better after a three month course of eating clams, or a B12 supplement, three times a week. Walnuts: these are full of alphalinolenic acid (ALA) which boost the brain’s production of dopamine and serotonin. Coffee: people who drink two to three cups of coffee a day were found to be around 15 per cent less depressed than those who didn’t caffeine gives the body a ‘happy boost’ which increases the production of dopamine and serotonin within about 30 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee. Radishes: the spicy crunch of these vegetables stimulates the production of norepinephrine and dopamine.
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MENDEL’S PEAS: Genetically modified?
GM or not GM?
POMEGRANATE: Lowers blood pressure, anxiety and stress. Oysters: these bivalves are a rich source of zinc which has long been recognised as essential to maintain a smile on people’s faces and relieve their stresses. Pomegranates: the juice of this unusually seedy fruit has been shown to lower blood pressure and anxiety as well as alleviating depression.
Yoghurt or kefir: a UCLA study showed that people who ate probiotic yoghurt twice a week reacted less stressfully when shown pictures of angry faces. The ‘good bacteria’ in these products spread relaxation to the vagus nerve which controls the interaction between the stomach and the brain.
ACCORDING to American astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, we should all calm down about GM foods as they are nothing new. “We’ve been modifying crops for thousands of years,” claims the scientist. DeGrasse believes that almost everything we eat has been modified in some way and that there is very little tasty wild food. The European Commission has stated that GM food is not unsafe and some scientists even think it could be the solution to feed the world’s ever expanding populous. Opponents of the food say it could contaminate natural crops and we don’t
know enough about it. Fans of the new GM food say that it already exists on the supermarket shelves and we just haven’t noticed - as an example they cite the seedless watermelon which, obviously, has been modified in some way or it wouldn’t be able to exist. While this is true to some extent, it also brings up the question of what, exactly, constitutes a GM food. GM stands for genetically modified and they are foods which have had specific changes made to their DNA using methods of genetic engineering. Fans would ask if this is not the same as Gregor Mendel did with his peas in the late 1800s?
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HOMES & GARDENS
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Dick Handscombe
Gardening Corner By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.
SOME people love the sea, storms, sand and sun and believe there is nothing more idyllic than living permanently or taking a few months holiday in a house or bungalow in coastal sand dunes or the inland dunes of Almeria. Their garden carved out from raw sand dunes created, weathered and shaped by high seas, wind and rain for thousands of years. The ambiance only disturbed by seagulls and passers-by on the beach, and luckily not yet the cranes of coastal strip construction. We visited such a situation recently and brainstormed some possible garden designs. We share five with readers. Some might even be tempted to purchase a few loads of sand to create artificial dunes if the current drought continues. But before reviewing them reflect on the lifestyle you would expect within the sand dunes and the
Some creative ideas for building unusual sand-dune gardens
numbers of visitors that might be tempted to join you. Also the style of garden you think would suit you, bearing in mind the inherent difficulties of constructing and maintaining a garden in such a situation. Bear in mind these potential problems: • Watering - Will the water be saline? • The possibility of shifting sands and erosion • How to establish pockets of good soil for planting trees and shrubs • The need for windbreaks and shade • The need to provide for privacy and security. The five styles of garden we describe are entitled: - Retained wild dunes - Enhanced sand dunes - An oasis garden - A Japanese style raked sand garden - An old creek garden 1. RETAINED WILD DUNES Why not? Especially if your house is isolated and
FEATURE: A Japanese style garden. surrounded by wonderful natural views. Gulls and plovers your regular visitors and existing naturalised sea hollies, sand tulips and clumps of coastal grasses holding the dunes together. The main problem will be sandstorms when galeforce winds build up. But glass screens could be built around a terrace for relaxing and entertaining. 2. ENHANCED SAND DUNES Plant a few trees like
palms, pines, tamarix and holm oaks or a standard pittosporum that withstand salty winds. In time their natural windblown leanaway would add atmosphere. Along the boundary, plant bamboos or a hedge of wildly growing lantana, oleanders, pittosporum, or purple bougainvillaeas to provide a windbreak. Tough grasses, thrifts, stonecrops, lavateras, euphorbias, pampas grass and capers
can all thrive in a sandy situation. Or how about a dune covered in morning glory? Plants can be planted in good soil in buried containers. Develop interesting features from seashells, driftwood, pieces of old fishing nets, fishing pots and floats, etc. If you like the sun, dig out sunbathing hollows. Dry sand can get very hot and difficult to walk on. So construct wooden duckboard pathways. They will look more natural than concrete slab pathways or stepping stones. 3. AN OASIS If more adventurous consider developing an oasis with a round swimming pool or large pond as the central feature. Surround it with tall palm trees and beds of herbs, lantanas, hibiscus, pittosporum, irises, lilies and ground-cover succulents. 4. A JAPANESE STYLE GARDEN A garden based on interesting rocks, driftwood, wind-sculpted trees, bamboo and raked designs in the sand. If the sand is first bulldozed into an amphitheatre landscape, an impressive and secluded haven could be developed. Construct a tasteful, raised wooden terrace from
which to get the best view. 5. AN OLD CREEK GARDEN Many coastlines used to have numerous small creeks where birds would nest and an isolated fisherman left his small fishing boat. Why not reconstruct such a situation? Dig out an area for a sizeable natural pool. Line it with pond plastic and fill with water. Hold the excess plastic down with weathered rocks or stones. Plant up with flag irises, bullrushes and sedge reeds. Find an old wooden boat. One with holes will look more authentic. Place it partially in the water with the shore end in the reeds, tied to a post. Create a wooden slat terraced area adjacent to the pool on which to build up a collection of oars, old fish pots and baskets. Add a rustic trellis frame draped in old nets and coils of rope and you will a very special garden feature. I look forward to seeing some more adventurous gardens when wandering along built-up seashores in the coming years.
© Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com August 2014
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Young Spaniards can barely afford their own roof BUYING a home is nearly impossible for young Spaniards. This may be the reason why three out of every four people under 30 years of age - 77.7 per cent - still live with their parents. In fact, the Spanish Youth Council (CJE) estimates that a young Spaniard would need to
invest as much as 61 per cent of his or her salary to buy a home. CJE President Hector Saz voiced his deep concern about the difficult situation facing young people in the country, characterised by ‘exclusion from the labour market’ and ‘job scarcity’. “Emancipation is a Utopia,” said Saz. As many
as 55.5 per cent of young Spaniards are unemployed and a whopping 61.2 per cent of those lucky enough to have a job have been working for less than three years, remarked Saz. The Spanish working population aged between 16 and 29 would need to invest an average 61 per cent of their salary to
NEW HOME: Is nearly impossible for young Spanish people. afford their own roof. The figure is even higher in Alava, Barcelona, Vizcaya, Madrid and Ceuta, with 70 per cent.
As a result, the percentage of independent 30-year-olds who decide to rent a property instead of buying one
has increased since 2006 from 37.9 per cent to 46.3 per cent, according to the organisation.
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PROPERTY
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As Claudia Schiffer said 'Its German genius
INNOVATIVE: Casa Meva. Advertising Feature
A message from Dressler & Partner DRESSLER & PARTNER is your number one construction company with exceptional standards. It was established in 1984 and has since been providing an extremely high level of service to our clients in Mallorca. We design your dream home according to your specific needs and requirements and specialise in ecological and environmentally conscious builds, whether you require a country house, classic or modern style. We are the first construction company to introduce the ‘Casa Meva’ to Mallorca. Based on
an innovative and sustainable modular construction, these buildings are stronger than conventional builds and once sealed, the modules become a singular integrated assembly, which prevents the common problem of condensation and mould development, an unsightly and undesirable problem often found in other building types in Mallorca. We personally oversee every step from start to finish, employing German guidelines and methods of construction, guaranteeing total safety and comfort for
FOUNDER: Wolfgang Dressler.
your home. All Dressler & Partner’s work is carried out under standard official contracting code VOB. In addition, our designs are carried out in close collaboration with reputable German and Spanish architects and under the supervision of German master craftsmen, all of whom we ensure have a proven track record of
Homes in Spain cheaper than in France and Italy HOMES in Spain are cheaper than in France and Italy. The average home in Spain is 50 per cent cheaper than in France and Italy, according to a study conducted by casaktua.com. Homebuyers in Spain only pay an average €1,459 per square metre. This means that a 90-square metre, three-
bedroom property would cost €131,310, approximately half of what they would have to pay in Italy and France. Italian website inmobiliarie.it released a report in May stating that the same property in Italy would cost as much as €190,710 (€59,400 more than in Spain). In France, the same home would be €202,500 (€71,190 more than in Spain).
reliability, expertise and experience. We are proud to guarantee that all our construction projects are undertaken and completed within just three months, saving you time and stress. Currently, Dressler & Partner is offering a 120m2 ‘Casa Meva’ house complete with sea view. Based on high quality, innovation and our signature fast completion time-frame, there is an excellent reflection between product and price. For more information call 971 125 375, Fax: 971 125 107 We are open Monday to Friday from 8am - 4pm C/SA TANQUETA 16, ALGAIDA 07210, PALMA DE MALLORCA (BALEARES) www.dresslerundpartner.com dressler@bauenmallorca.eu
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PROPERTY
Real-estate bolstered by foreign buyers and Brits lead the way THE property market in Spain is well on its way to recovery and some realestate agents are reporting record sales. The ever-increasing interest from foreign buyers is bolstering transactions and the time seems ripe to invest in a property. The real-estate agency Mercers managed to secure a record 16 sales
last month and could even add another before the end of the month, according to oppconnect.com. And Sotheby’s International Realty in Mallorca has reported a dramatically sharp increase in demand from foreign buyers. In fact, overseas investors bought as many as 2,400 properties on the island last year, which represents almost 30.7 per cent of all sales registered in Mallorca 7,726 - compared to the 11 per cent national average, says oppconnect.com. Britons seem to be the most active foreign buyers. They have accounted for as much as
MALLORCA: Foreign property buyers account for 65 per cent of sales. 65 per cent of sales, closely followed by Belgian, French and Dutch nationals, and their interest is higher than last year, said Chris Mercer, talking to oppconnect.com, and thinks the trend could increase
throughout the remainder of 2014. “We are selling both holiday homes and those for permanent living, but in every case it is pricedriven. Our cheapest twobedroom terraced homes currently start from as
little as €46,000 and a three-bedroom detached with pools for as little as €115,000. “Little wonder they are selling fast. The outlook for the rest of the year is very positive indeed,” commented Chris.
According to figures from the Land Registry, sales in Mallorca of highend homes with an average price over €500,000 triple (15 per cent) the national average (5 per cent). Managing Director of Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty said “Everything is on an upward trend for our Port Andratx and Palma offices. Enquiries are up, sales are up and prices are on the increase too.” Most of their overseas buyers also come from the UK. “Nationality-wise we already had most leads coming from the UK, and, if anything, they are getting greater in number,” he added.
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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)
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 (220223)
PROPERTY SERVICES
DINING OUT DELFINOS (Crazy Dolphin). Menu del dia - 3 courses and drink 9.95€. 971 676 449
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)
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)
INSURANCE
REMOVALS/STORAGE THE Man & Van Island wide removals & storage. Cheap, cheerful, fast, efficient and most importantly LEGAL. Tel: 626 792 037 (224621)
RUBBISH CLEARANCE DARRMAR Excavation, demolition, overgrown gardens cleared, ponds and swimming pools, reforms prepared, tree felling & landscaping. 608 790 007 (224739)
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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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2ND HAND FURNITURE
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XXX RELAXATION READERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION MAY FIND SOME OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS SECTION OFFENSIVE.
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BIZARRE DREAMS and FETISH FANTASIES Tel 670 210 581 (209776)
NICE AND SEXY GERMAN GIRL MAKES YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE 661 016 936
ATTRACTIVE Russian lady offers sensitive Tantra massage. 676 165 727 (224628)
MANACOR, 6 girlfriends, 60€ half hour, bare blow job, Calle de la Pau, 25 bajos, 24h acclimatised (220259)
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BOATING
Copa del Rey gets under way in Palma THE eagerly awaited Copa del Rey regatta is finally here. Palma Bay once again provided the perfect setting for some of the world’s top sailors to compete against one another. The first day saw wind conditions that allowed all the classes to complete their two races, with Americans Shockwave and Quantum Racing, Italian Hurakan, Russian Tsaar Peter, and the Spanish Rats on Fire, Movistar, Puerto Deportivo Benalmádena and Herbalife being the early leaders. A total of 117 boats crossed the starting line at 1pm as the wind blew from the south. Fourteen different teams took the wins. On the second day two races were again sailed in all classes. Six teams successfully defended their lead and two new teams went to the top of their categories. After the second day of competition Red Eléctrica de España
chiaracc
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SETTING SAIL: A total of 117 boats crossed the starting line. in Nespresso X-35 class and Bronenosec in the Gazprom Swan 60 class were the new leaders of their categories. Shockwave in Gaastra IRC 0, Hurakan in Gaastra IRC 1, Quantum Racing in Barclays 52 Super Series, Rats on Fire in BMW ORC 1, Movistar in BMW ORC 2 and Herbalife in Herbalife J80. After the competition on the water
finished, it was time for the social scene fun to start. Tuesday’s highlight was the traditional Sailor’s Party, at which music took the lead role and was the star thanks to the collaboration of Pachá and the performance of Eazy Mickael and Toni Rios. The 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE is organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and will finish on Saturday.
BOATING ‘IF it flies, floats or fornicates, always rent it.’ Felix Dennis If you love the idea of enjoying Mallorca’s great coastlines, coves and clear waters from a comfortable and speedy boat, but don’t have huge amounts of money, then this new concept might just be the answer. It looks a simple, flexible and very cost effective way of achieving a millionaire’s lifestyle without the bank balance. Established in Menorca in 2009, RIB Club Global has recently expanded to Mallorca and demands are so high that Rib Club Global is looking to the South of France, Ibiza and Marbella as the next locations. James Patterson, Managing Director and Founder of Rib Club Global, said: “The cheapest part of owning a boat is the day you purchase it, and then things get expensive. Maintenance and mooring, insurance and storage can set you back several thousand pounds a year, whilst depreciation will make a nice dent in your asset.” With RIB Club Global, members get all the perks of owning a boat, without all the hassle and cost. Offering different memberships starting at €2,499 for 600 points, you could
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Advertising feature
Explore Mallorca’s scenic coves by sea with Rib Club Global
MILLIONAIRE LIFESTYLE: But without the cost. take the Rib out five times during the peak summer months and more during low season, plus any unused points can be rolled over to the following year. The only ‘extra’ is fuel at around €50 a day. Moreover, with the property market being so competitive nowadays, members of the club have been offering a day or two as part of the rental
agreement, a proven strategy to get people interested and willing to pay more rent or reducing the cost of membership even lower. The club can arrange for a qualified skipper for the day so you can relax and lie back all day or you can get your
DD:+44 (0) 118 907 1816 Mob (UK):+44 (0) 7770 681499 Mob (ESP):+34 608 403 889 www.ribclubglobal.com paul@ribclubglobal.com ICC to pilot the Rib at the very competitive rates. RIB Club Global brings the privilege of enjoying the turquoise
waters, while snorkelling, wakeboarding, having a picnic and an ice cold beer, with Rib Club Global you will feel like a millionaire, for a modest cost.
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MOTORING
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otoring M TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
SPONSORED BY For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80
Cadillac unveils its 2014 ELR coupe
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CADILLAC unveiled the 2014 ELR at the North American International Auto Show. The sleek, luxury coupe features the first application of Extended Range Electric Vehicle technology by a full-line luxury automotive brand. “ELR is an unprecedented combination of luxury, advanced engineering and progressive design in a coupe that is both sporty and environmentally friendly,” said Bob Ferguson, Cadillac’s global vice president. “This is a pivotal moment in Cadillac’s history, as we continue our product-driven expansion.” The ELR delivers on the promise of the Converj Concept on which it is based. The exterior establishes a new, progressive proportion for the brand while the interior introduces a new design theme that will define future Cadillac models, emphasising modern
DESIGN: An unprecendented combination of luxury and advanced engineering. elegance, technology and precisely crafted details. Industry-leading Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology provides full driving range exceeding 480km, combining pure electric driving and an efficient, range-extending generator. “ELR marks a fresh, even surprising new dimension of Cadillac,” Ferguson said. “An additional aspect of ELR’s appeal will be exclusivity. It will be a specialised offering produced in limited numbers.”
ELR’s confident and responsive EREV driving technology is enhanced with exclusive Regen on Demand and selectable drive modes that enhance driving and make the most of efficiency. Regen on Demand allows the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from the ELR’s momentum into electricity that can be stored in the battery pack for later use. It is engaged via steeringwheel paddles adapted from traditional performance cars. The industry-leading, proven EREV technology is uniquely tuned for Cadillac in the ELR. Most daily commutes will require zero gasoline with zero emissions. Longer trips are free from electric-vehicle range anxiety because EREV technology enables the same long-distance freedom as a conventional car.
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SPORT
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Sport Mallorca’s best guide to local sport
Claudia Fragapane Became the first Englishwoman in 84 years to win 4 golds at the same Commonwealth Games. She gained success in floor/individual/vault/team gymnastics events. TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
England win 58 golds, Scotland 19
Tony Matthews
International Sports A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.
Costa de Almeria
IN the Commonwealth Games, England topped the medals’ chart with 174: 58 gold, 59 silver, 57 bronze.
BRITISH GOLDS A ADAMS, Nicola (E)... boxing; ADCOCKS, Chris and Gabby (E)... badminton doubles; ADLINGTON, Sarah (S)... judo; ARMITSTEAD, Lizzie (E)... cycling. B BARNES, Paddy (NI)... boxing; BLAGG, Alicia (E)... diving; BROWNLEE, Alistair (E)... triathlon (2); BROWNLEE, Jonathan (E)... triathlon relay; BURNETT, Darren (S)... bowls (2); BURTON, Euan (S - flag-bearer)... judo. C CARLIN, Jazz (W)... swimming; CLARK, Sarah (S)... judo; CONLON, Michael (NI)... boxing. D DALEY, Tom... diving; DAVIES, Georgia (W)... swimming; DAVIS, Nekoda (E)... judo; DOWNIE, Rebecca (E)... gymnastics;
SYNCHRONISED: Bouchard and Riendeau of Canada. DOWSETT, Alex (E)... cycling; DRINKHALLS, Paul/Jo, husband/wife (E)... table tennis/doubles. E EVANS, Geraint (W)... cycling.
F FACHIE, Neil (S)... cycling (2); FOSTER, Paul (S)... bowls (2); FLETCHER, Megan (E)... judo; FLYNN, Charlie (S)... boxing; FOWLER, Antony (E)... boxing;
FRAGAPANE, Claudia (E)... gymnastics (4). G GALLANTREE, Becky (E)... diving; GREAVES, Dan (E)... para/discus. H HALSALL, Fran (E)... swimming (2); HOLLAND, Vicky (E)... triathlon; HYND, Ollie (E)... swimming. J JONES, Frankie (W)... women’s gymnastics; JOYCE, Joe (E)... boxing. K KEATINGS, Dan (S)... gymnastics; KERWOOD, Charlotte (E)... shooting. L LAUGHER, Jack (E)... diving (2); LEWIS, Steve (E)... pole-vault; LIVESEY, Owen (E)... judo; LUCKMAN, David (E)... shooting (2). M McKENZIE, Anthony (E)... judo; MACLEAN, Craig (S)... cycling (2); MARSHALL, Alex (S)...
bowls/pairs; MATTHEW, Nick (E)... squash; MURDOCH, Ross (S)... swimming; MILEY, Hannah (S)... swimming. O OATES, Colin (E)... judo; O’CONNOR, Siobhan (E)... swimming. P PATEL, Parag (E)... shooting; PEACOCK, Dave (S)... bowls (2); POWELL, Natalie (W)... judo; PROUD, Ben (E)... swimming (3); PURVIS, Dan (S)... gymnastics. R RENICKS, Kimberley (S)... judo; RENICKS, Louise (S)... judo; RIVERS, Dan (E)... shooting; ROWSELL, Joanna (E)... cycling; RUTHERFORD, Greg (E)... long jump. S SCOTT, Helen (E)... cycling (2); SCOTT, Steve (E)... shooting;