Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 15 - 21 December 2016 Issue 1641 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

ISSUE NO. 1641

15 - 21 December 2016

MALLORCA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

A sickly rip-off? Parents on €600,000 spending charge By Matt Ford A SPANISH couple who lived in Mallorca have been accused of exploiting their daughter’s rare medical condition by amassing €918,000 in donations from the public and using the majority of it for their ‘personal enjoyment.’ Nadia Nerea Blanca Garau, 11, suffers from trichothiodystrophy (TTD), an inherited condition characterised by a sulphur deficiency which can cause intellectual disability, stunted physical development and early death. But a medical expert this week claimed their daughter’s condition was “not serious.” Her parents, Fernando Blan-

co and Margarita Garau, are accused of ‘large scale fraud’ by profiting from her illness, and were arrested on Wednesday, December 7, in the town of La Seu d’Urgell, Lleida Province. The pair began a now famous fundraising campaign for their daughter in 2008 which attracted the support of several national television stations. It saw them make numerous public appearances, but they are accused of spending €600,000, two-thirds of the proceeds, on themselves. Despite claims by Blanco that the cash was used to travel the globe in search of cuttingedge medical solutions - including trips to South America, Cuba, Panama, Russia, India,

Finland, and a supposed ‘world expert’ who dwells in an Afghanistan cave - he has so far failed to provide any solid evidence. Police investigators have discovered that the €9,800 annual rent for the family’s home is being covered by the charitable foundation created by Blanco. He also purchased a car valued at €24,500 after donations increased following a recent televised advertising campaign. During a raid on the house itself, officers recovered €1,845 in cash, 32 luxury watches valued at €50,000, high-end elecTurn to page 4

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NEWS

LOCAL NEWS

Local is best

THE 1640 (December 8-14) issue of the Mallorca Euro Weekly News contained 32 local news items, demonstrating once again our dedication and commitment to delivering the news that matters most to you, our readers, in each of our six editions. Nobody does it better!

Fusty felines A COLONY of cats occupying a huge plot of a quiet Palma street has caused a row between residents and the local council. The malodorous mousers have left a trail of waste and captured prey across Calle Fotja, causing a stench in the summer and concerns over hygiene year round.

THE NIGHT MANAGER: The all-star cast travelled to Mallorca for principal photography last year.

Perfect for a spy thriller By Matthew Elliott

No boozy streets PALMA police have intensified their campaign against violence and alcohol abuse on the city’s streets as the festive season gets into full swing.

A zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour has been issued as the authorities pledge to make Christmas free of crime and trouble-makers.

ONE of the UK’s most famous television and radio magazines is asking readers to pick the best television location for British shows in 2016 and Mallorca is a prime candidate. The Radio Times, the world’s first magazine devoted to broadcasting news, has given readers the choice of 10 2016 TV programs which spanned a terrific variety of

spectacular locations, among them Mallorca, Moscow, Girona and Rome. Mallorca’s entrance comes courtesy of The Night Manager, the acclaimed mini-series based on master of spy thrillers John le Carre’s 1993 novel. An all-star cast including British stars Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie travelled to Mallorca for principal photography last year and were treated to some of the island’s loveliest locations and picturesque sights.

In fact the popularity of The Night Manager is thought to account for at least some of Mallorca’s staggering number of bookings from Britain throughout the year. It showed millions of enchanted viewers La Fortaleza in Port Pollensa, Palma’s old town, Cala Deia, and Port de Soller, doubtlessly exotic sights from the average British living room. Play your part and vote for Mallorca online at The Radio Times website.

NEWS

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EWN

Featured News 3

European Press 20

Finance 23 - 28

Stocks 24

Leapy Lee 29

Daily TV 30

Time Out 32 - 33

Letters 34

Nora 36

Health & Beauty 38 - 39

Social Scene 40 - 41

Property 43 - 45

Homes & Gardens 46

Pets 48

Classifieds 49 - 50

Motoring 51

Boats 52

Sport 54 + 56

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TA C T I C A L t e a m s w i t h a speciality in combating nuclear, biological and chemical attacks were summoned after a man killed himself using a vial of hydrocyanic acid and three Palma police officers were poisoned by the toxic cloud. The incident occurred at

11am in the city’s Gomila district when police were sent to the home of a man who had written and sent a suicide note to his brother. There they found his body and another note, warning anyone who entered the apartment that they were in danger. It was too late for the officers who were contami-

nated by the hydrogen cyanide solution. One needed urgent medical care and was taken to hospital, while the other two were able to walk away after on-the-spot treatment. Ta k i n g n o c h a n c e s , t h e specialist chemical warfare team was deployed and the affected area cordoned off until public safety could be

assured. A solution of hydrogen cyanide released into the air can kill a human in just 10 minutes if suitably strong and can even be explosive at certain concentrations. A well-known weapon in chemical warfare it is so strong it has been used to hunt whales by dousing harpoons in a solution.

Rip-off? Parents in court From Front page

tronic equipment, and a stash of marihuana, with more money, watches, mobile phones and a hand gun seized from the car. It is claimed that 52-year-old Blanco was detained after attempting to flee a police checkpoint in the region of Cerdanya, when investigators feared he would leave the country after he failed to show up for a planned television appearance. In earlier TV slots, he claimed he was going to use some of the money to take Nadia to ‘Houston Children’s Hospital’ in order to undergo a procedure which he described as “a genetic manipulation outlawed in Spain” during which “three holes are made in the back of the neck.” He said that his daughter has already been treated in a similar way by a Mexican neurosurgeon, but was unable to name this medic. Experts replied that the procedure does not exist, with Lluis Montoliu, a researcher on rare diseases, telling the El

LA SEU D’URGELL: Scene of the ongoing trial. Pais newspaper that “the part about the holes in the neck and the cave in Afghanistan are straight out of a comic book.” It has also emerged that Blanco was jailed for four years in 2000 after he defrauded the company he worked for to the tune of €120,000.

The judge overseeing the case has decided that Blanco should remain in custody pending the results of the trial, while Garau has been charged and bailed. Nadia is currently staying with a family member in Palma de Mallorca as the case continues.

NEWS

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‘Invisible’ citizens SQUATTERS and homeless people will be included on the residents’ register in Palma as part of a new initiative to bring social security services to some of the city’s most vulnerable people. The council will work with an agency comprised of local and international doctors to take a rough census of those living on the streets or in unstable housing conditions and then offer those who are willing essential services. Mayor Jose Hila has described it as a matter of basic human rights and decried the idea of so-called ‘invisible citizens,’ who are deprived of healthcare services, welfare and a roof over their heads. It is hoped that inclusion on the register will mean better options in the event of an emergency.

Systemic violence By Matthew Elliott PRISON unions have denounced protocols in place as inadequate after three guards were seriously attacked by a violent inmate with a history of aggression. The prisoner was being held in Palma’s maximum security wing yet still managed to punch, kick, and spit on the guards while occupying his cell in a one-man protest.

URGENT REVIEW: Unions are demanding an urgent review of safety measures.

All three guards have been placed on medical leave to recover physically and psychologically from the attack and the three main Spanish unions, CSIF, ATP and Acaip, are demanding an urgent review of safety measures. They note that such incidents have been on the increase in Palma lately and criticise the Mallorcan prison for not taking the same precautions as seen on the mainland. Most of the vio-

lence is committed by inmates with a chequered history of attacking guards and are entirely predictable in the union’s eyes. The news comes after a tense few months for the Palma prison. Guards have been accused of torturing and humiliating inmates. In November prison doctors testified before a Mallorca court to support the claims of British national James Langford that he had been beaten while held in solitary confinement.

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Council’s war on bad manners By Matthew Elliott THE Kafkaesque world of Calva by-laws is quickly beginning to resemble something you might find in Iraq or Syria under the iron fist of Daesh. Under the council’s war on bad manners there are now an astonishing 109 possible infractions, with new ones being added seemingly every other day. The latest punishable offences include picking flowers from flowerbeds, bringing your own soap to a beach shower, and even drinking from water fountains. Some, such as drinking alcohol in public and jumping

from balconies make sense, even if they don’t speak well of humanity, but others like skateboarding and sand castle building seem a little spiteful.

There are now an astonishing 109 possible infractions.” Fortunately for anyone considering drawing a line in the sand and washing themselves in public showers with a bar of soap and putting council flowers in their hair, the punishment isn’t death or amputation. Offenders can, however, expect a €100 fine.

NEWS

OUR VIEW

Thinking of others AS we all gear up for Christmas and New Year celebrations, spare a thought for those who are going to have to cope with their first year alone following the death of a loved one or those who are going to be spending their time in hospital, perhaps confused and unable to communicate fully with those who are looking after them. Those of us who speak good Spanish could do worse than to talk to local expatriate charities to see whether we can assist by offering a few hours of interpreting for those who can’t always express themselves as they would want to. For many this is a great time, enjoying family life and getting ready for the magic of Christmas, New Year’s Eve and even Three Kings, but for others it is a

lonely and desperate time when there seems to be little to look forward to and much to regret, which can end up with depression and a dangerous reliance on alcohol. It isn’t easy to give up your time when there are so many distractions and matters to prepare, but if you do know a lonely person or elderly couple, it would be a wonderful thing to offer them a little bit of your time. Sadly one of the greatest problems with elderly people in Spain and away from their family is the problem of what we call senility or Alzheimer’s and whilst those who suffer from it tend to be cushioned from its effects as they revert into their own world, those who have to live with the deterioration of their loved ones have a double burden to bear.

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Splurge of taxi break-ins A SPATE of thefts has infuriated Palma taxi drivers who are demanding that police take urgent action to put an end to the robberies, which may or may not be connected. More than 80 taxi break-ins have been recorded in just two weeks, occurring in different areas of the city, both at night and day. The

standard modus operandi sees thieves smash the drivers window while the taxi is vacant and snatch all the money and valuables they can get. Shaky mobile phone footage of one of the robberies, taken by a concerned citizen, shows a man wearing a long coat with a white cap breaking into a taxi on St Vincent de Paul street.

NEWS

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CORRUPTION CASE: Has plagued the city authorities for a long time.

Police chief or mafia boss By Matthew Elliott PALMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S police commissioner has been arrested in connection with a long-standing and notorious corruption case that has plagued the city authorities. Rafael Estarellas and four others will be investigated over allegations that they were criminally compliant in the homophobic abuse and humiliation doled out to a gay police officer

who was forced to leave the service. Estarellas also stands accused of collusion in the systematic extortion and blackmail of businessmen and enterprises throughout the city, conducted with the knowledge of senior politicians. The list of crimes the commissioner may be charged with is significant and hugely embarrassing to the city. It reads

more like the CV of a mafia figure, including coercion, extortion, bribery, and the concealment and alteration of key evidence. He is accused of working hand in glove with a criminal organisation profiting from Palmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deep underworld network of clubs, prostitution and drugs dealing, and his case is certain to reveal even more alarming details if it goes to trial.

EWN

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No Brexit judgement BREXIT PAGE By John Smith

MANY find it hard to understand why the government has allowed itself to fight the decision by the High Court to find in favour of the demand that it should put the decision to parliament to decide on whether or not to trigger Article 50 to start Britain’s exit from the European Union. If Britain is a true democracy then it is argued that as MPs are elected to rule, then the very least that could happen in this scenario is for the matter of formal exit to be placed before Parliament. The refusal by government to do this infers that it is not confident that it will receive the number of votes needed but it is impressive that the courts have become involved as it does show that the government can be held to account by an independent judiciary. With both sides having stated their cases, the

judges in the Supreme Court have retired to make their decision although this is unlikely to be revealed until the new year. At the end of the four day hearing, one very important and salient point was made which should be obvious and that is that whatever decision is made, it will not automatically stop the exit, but will either give the government the right to proceed without bothering to put the decision to parliament or parliament will be entitled to vote on the matter. The current working majority of the government is 14 seats and it would need every opposition party (except UKIP) to vote against the Brexit plus eight conservative defectors in order to defeat the motion although if the four Sinn Fein MPs who have never taken the oath of loyalty decided to sit in the Commons, then the matter would be even closer. It is however unlikely that such an event would ever happen as on December 7, the Commons passed Labour’s motion calling for “the prime minister to commit to publishing the government’s plan for leaving the EU before Article 50 is invoked” by 448 to 75 votes – a majority of 373 – after it was amended by Downing Street to “call on the government to invoke Article 50 by 31 March 2017”. Of the 75 opposing the vote, the bulk were represented by the SNP members plus 21 labour MPs with just one conservative, the voluble and pro-EU former cabinet minister Ken Clarke. It was something of a landmark in as much as it

marked the first time MPs had endorsed the government’s Brexit timetable Prime Minister Theresa May can expect a more gruelling time when she attends the European Council Summit on December 15 which amongst other matters will be reviewing Brexit.

NEWS

LORD NEUBERGER: President of the Supreme Court.

Photo Credit: Chensiyuan Wikimedia

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NEWS

Unusual form of cocaine smuggling out at sea By John Smith AFTER sacks containing cocaine were discovered in the

sea off of the island of Formentera, further sacks were found off Menorca and Mallorca which when weighed totalled more than 150 kilos. Officers of the Guardia Civil realised that they had discovered a new way of smuggling the drugs into the Balearics, as each sack contained a GPS transmitter and they realised that the drugs were dropped into the sea from one vessel with the intention that they should be collected by another, but on this occasion at least, something went wrong with the plan. Officers then established that the drugs were thrown overboard from commercial vessels that sailed on a regular basis from Colombia to Italy via Spain and also that the drugs were eventually

POLICE RAID: Found cocaine and various cutting agents. transported by mules to an apartment in Valencia so that the cocaine could be cut and made ready for sale, much of which was returned to Menorca. After five raids in Valencia and one in Menorca, of-

ficers arrested 12 people (eight Colombians, one Ecuadorian, one Paraguayan and two Spaniards) and removed 1.5 kilos of cocaine, various cutting agents, presses, scales, six vehicles and â&#x201A;Ź10,000 in cash.

Strangled by strangers POLICE have arrested a diabolical couple suspected of strangling four old women until they lost consciousness before robbing them. The Lebanese man and Spanish woman are believed to have waited outside the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes before attacking them. When the women returned home and opened their door the assailants would pounce, closing off their airways until they collapsed and then

unburdening them off money and jewels. At least four victims have now come forward since police opened their investigation in October. The crimes all took place in Palma over the space of six weeks and the two suspects stand charged of assault and burglary. Police are calling for any other potential victims to come forward.

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NEWS

Combative new year ahead for Balearics By Matthew Elliott AS Spain celebrated Constitution Day on December 6, Balearic president Francina Armengol spoke at a ceremony in Palma where she promised to challenge the government over greater rights, autonomy and financing for Mallorca and the islands. Speaking at the Almudaina Palace the PSOE leader argued that having a minority government in Madrid was favourable to the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interests. The Conservatives (PP) would be forced to talk with their opponents in order to ensure they remain in power, potentially ushering in a new era of dialogue after a fractious series of elections. The Balearics are looking for a range of concessions from Madrid and interparty dialogue will be essential to achieving those aims. More spending on health and education are key priorities, as is increased autonomy, the op-

Photo Credit Govern de les Illes Balears

FRANCINA ARMENGOL: The Balearic president speaking in Palma. portunity to develop a Mediterranean pact with Corsica and Sardinia, and even a change of time zone. In Madrid president Rajoy may or may not be responsive to those requests as his party faces an almighty problem

in stemming the tide of Catalan independence. Greater autonomy for all the regions may be deployed tactically but he favours a centrally controlled government with Spanish unity at the heart of all decision making.

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NEWS EXTRA

Desert storm FELANITX police have scooped up a dozen suspects believed responsible for 17 thefts across the town. Officers swooped on four addresses and found a variety of stolen items, mainly taken from cars. The gang are also accused of two violent street robberies, one of which saw a victim in his 80’s sustain serious injuries. Together with the Guardia Civil the Local Police have launched a serious crack down on crime in the area. Operation ‘Fallujah,’ somewhat excessively named after the Iraqi city destroyed by American forces in 2004, is aimed at stopping car break-ins, muggings and other disorder in the town.

NEWS

Scrap kings

AIR BERLIN: Will fly its last flight to Mallorca in the spring.

End of an aerial era By Matthew Elliott ALMOST 40 years after its maiden flight from Germany to Mallorca, Air Berlin will fly its last plane to the island in

spring 2017. Berlin was still a divided city when the first shuttle took off from the west on April 28, 1979 but, after decades of successes and frustrations, the story has finally come to an end. The airline has become synonymous with Mallorca in the eyes of many German tourists. Ten years ago it was Germany’s second largest outfit but since 2013 has suffered major losses and is undergoing a massive restructuring project. Tickets to Mallorca al-

Other competitors in the changing marketplace will be quick to fill the void left by Air Berlin in Mallorca. ready sold for after spring will be managed by Niki, the airline’s subsidiary company. Its stake in Niki will soon be sold to Etihad for €300 million as the Arabian airline plans to start a new European budget service in partnership with Tui. This new venture and other competitors in the

changing marketplace will be quick to fill the void left by Air Berlin in Mallorca while it pivots to the eastern European and Italian markets. Whoever takes their place will have big shoes to fill and it may be impossible to replicate the sentiment from those early days of pioneering budget fights.

A PAIR of car battery thieves were arrested by the Guardia Civil in Calvia after a lengthy investigation into scrapyard sales. The two are suspected of stealing at least 50 batteries around the area and are considered part of a larger operation with tentacles right across the island.

Red-handed A PLUCKY Pollensa resident caught a burglar red-handed in his home in the middle of the night. He contacted police who arrested the 29-year-old Moroccan who had already stolen a TV and a bicycle from another home that evening, having made an art form of sneaking over walls.

Beach 2017 TOURIST chief Biel Barcelo announced €1 million will be invested in the Playa de Palma to support much needed infrastructure projects, including sports facilities and parking spaces. The money will arrive in the first quarter of 2017 but there are no dates scheduled for the actual work.

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Living on a prayer HEAVY rainfall in recent weeks has seen the level of Mallorca’s reservoirs rise substantially but they still remain precariously low. At the end of November reserves in Palma, Pollensa, Andratx, Calvia and Marratxi all rose, helping bring the Balearic average to 49 per cent full. That is still officially at pre-alert levels of drought and officially classified as unstable. If any real progress is to be made in properly conserving the island’s water supply then it will depend on actions taken in next year’s budget to improve infrastructure. The government has also announced bans on golf courses using underground supplies to water the greens, following much publicised scandal earlier this year when one course siphoned off essential village water for its own selfish ends.

NEWS

Rust never sleeps

PEST CONTROL: The council budget is to be doubled next year. By Matthew Elliott A PLAGUE of rats, mosquitoes, and cockroaches afflicting Palma has resulted in more than 3,000 official complaints to city council from disgusted citizens. It is an unprecedented level of complaints, with the number expected to exceed 4,000 before the year is out. That brings the volume of

grumbles to roughly the same level as Valencia, a city with a substantially higher population, almost double Palma’s 400,000 at some 790,000. Fortunately the anger hasn’t fallen on entirely deaf ears. The council has promised to double the pest control budget next year to €500,000, much of which will go down the drain, not metaphorically but

to tackle the rusty sewer system. Much of the real difference can be made by the actions of ordinary citizens. Simple practices like leaving food for animals in parks contribute a great deal to the rising vermin population, and people are asked to seal bin bags and clean up properly around their homes.

SOCIAL NEWS

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EWN

Charity shop broken into

ESRA donates “OUR sewing machines and needles are never idle,” says Katy Stevens leader of the ‘Sew and Sews’ sewing group from ESRA (South West). The group recently presented the Old People’s Home in Calvia with knee quilts which they have made during the course of the year. The presentation, which was made in the presence of council officials, was the third time that such quilts have been made for the home. Within minutes of the quilts being handed over, the residents of the home were snuggling under them to keep warm. In addition to making quilts, the group also make various other items to sell at local functions to raise funds for numerous charities.

CONTINE NTAL 180x200 BEDS TOP M METAL B ATTRESS & ASE INCL UDED!

THE Calanova Cancer Care shop had a pretty busy week, since on Monday December 5 they were called at 6.30 in the morning by the bar next door to advise that the Charity Shop had been broken into. It was a bit of a disaster; they had switched off the electricity to disable the alarm by breaking the electric box outside on the street, sawn off the strong padlocks and used a jemmy to force open both doors (one of which resisted), made a big mess looking for something (no money is left in the shop), and in the end took the AECC Charity box for Cancer and some items from the shop. The whole day was spent with the police, insurance and workmen. Then, after the bad, some nice things happened; first the Christmas lunch for all the volunteers helping with the shop, which was a lot of fun, and then a very charming Swedish man came into the shop and made a donation of €3,000 to give to ASPANOB (children’s charity). He had won it in a golf tournament and wanted to give it to a good charity.

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CANCER CARE: A donation of €3,000 was made to ASPANOB, the children’s charity.

On Friday December 16 Calanova Cancer is holding the Christmas Event Lunch at Mood Beach Restaurant. Doors open at 12.30pm and the won-

derful BIC children’s choir will open proceedings at 1pm. After a glass of Cava, a super Christmas Lunch including wine/water will be served with live entertainment. There are still a few tickets left at €35 which can be obtained from Mood Beach, the Calanova shop or Studio 3. Alternatively phone Angela on 609 848 622.

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EUROPEAN PRESS

DENMARK

GERMANY

Lego brand

Legal cannabis DUSSELDORF is planning to legalise the sale of cannabis to the over 18’s. The council is pushing ahead with plans and is taking advice from numerous experts in the are a s of psychol ogy, cr i m e and economics.

LEGO, the Danish toy maker, has announced the creation of the Lego Brand Group, which will work on developing further growth and new opportunities for the company. Lego sales have increased to €4.8 billion in the last decade.

Officer killed A POLICE officer who was shot as he arrived for a shift in Copenhagen, has died from his injuries. Police arrested a 26-year-old in relation to the shooting who has mental health problems.

Grammy nominee DANISH band Lukas Graham has been announced as a Grammy nominee

LEGO SALES: Have increased. in three categories. The band will compete against the likes of Adele and Beyonce to win ‘Record of the Year’ for their hit ‘Seven Years.’

Late starters A STUDY has found that women

living in big cities are leaving it longer to start a family. The a ve ra ge a ge of firs t time mothe rs in C ope nha ge n a nd Fre de riks be rg is 30.8 a nd 32, whilst in provincial towns such a s Lolla nd, the a ve ra ge a ge is 25.5.

AN international study on student assessment found that whilst the 6,000 French students questioned were per-

THE new ruling government in Ber l i n has r eveal ed pl ans wanting to make the city a much greener place and to improve the treatment of refugees.

Top company SOFTWARE com pany SAP

Heart care

Winter pollution

Student study

Berlin’s blueprint Domestic case A MAN has been arrested in northern Germany accused of setting his wife on fire. The wom an i s i n a ser i ous condition in hospital suffering from extensive burns. The couple of African origin have been in Germany around 20 years.

BELGIUM

FRANCE AIR pollution in Paris is currently at its worst winter levels in the last 10 years. Car travel has been limited in the city to reduce pollution as public transport was made free for passengers.

has been named as the best place to work in Germany according to a report which has been compiled by a job search website. The company was named the best place to work as it was a ‘great employer with many social benefits.’

forming around average in science, maths and literacy, French students were the most affected by their social and economic surroundings.

Heritage protection AROUND €30 million is being offered by France to a new fund that is being set up to help protect cultural heritage sites and pay for restoration of ar-

eas damaged during war and times of conflict in places such as Syria and Iraq.

Public to private A FRENCH town has been told to remove a statue of the Virgin Mary from a public park to comply with the country’s ban on religious symbols. The mayor said they will find a new home for the statue on private land.

THE Euro Heart Index, comparing cardiology care in 30 European states, has ranked Belgium seventh place for heart care in terms of prevention, procedures and access to care. France topped the list with Cyprus in last place.

High costs

Pilots wanted AIR BELGIUM, the new airline launched earlier this year, is looking for pilots and cabin staff as it prepares for its inaugural flights between Belgium and Asia in June 2017.

Motorway attacks

SWEDEN

NORWAY

THE higher rate of inflation in Belgium means that restaurants, cafés and the telecommunications operators are more expensive than neighbouring countries. From 2008 to 2016, prices rose by an average of 1.5 per cent.

Not true

Crime aid

HOLLAND

A NEW museum is to open in Stockholm in April 2017 aimed at tourists to dispel the myths of the Vikings, as historians say they are the most falsified figure in the country.

NORWAY is giving Sri Lanka NOK 39.7 million (€4.39 million) to support UN efforts to combat fisheries crime which is posing a threat to resources and economic development in developing countries.

Sustainable sources

Open house A 25-YEAR-OLD man is opening his Stockholm home to disadvantaged children this Christmas. Having worked for charities, he will offer the youngsters lunch and games.

Fashion conference STOCKHOLM University has hosted the first ever academic conference looking at luxury and sustainability in the fashion industry and its social impact.

Malmo shooting A MAN has died in hospital after being found with gunshot wounds in Malmo. No one has yet been arrested in connection with the shooting. A total of 25 people have been killed in the southern Skåne region this year.

Elephant attack A NORWEGIAN man in his 70’s was killed following an elephant attack as he was on safari in Malawi, Africa. He died in hospital from his injuries.

School stabbing A TEENAGE boy, aged 15, has confessed to stabbing a boy and a woman at a primary school in Kristiansand. Police do not believe anyone else was involved in the killing.

Online abuse AN eight-year prison sentence has been handed down to a 66-year-old man after being found guilty of online sexual abuse against children in Norway and the Philippines.

AS part of the government’s new energy strategy, the use of gas cookers and heaters will be phased out. The country wants to ensure that 16 per cent of the energy requirements are from sustainable sources by 2023.

Modern families A REPORT commissioned by the government has said that family law in the Netherlands needs to be drastically overhauled and updated to cope with modern families and allow up to four legal parents in two separate households.

THE number of attacks and incidents involving migrants has increased at the Flemish Brabant motorway services. Lorry drivers have reported being attacked and there has been two stabbings.

Not guilty A POLICE officer has won his appeal after being jailed for two years for shooting a man during an arrest. A court now agreed that the officer took the shot in an emergency situation to defend himself.

Illegal fireworks OVER 14,000 kilos of illegal fireworks have already been seized by police and customs in the run up to the New Year. By this time last year around 32,000 kilos of fireworks had been seized.

FINANCE

Mallorca

15 - 21 December 2016

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Banks defending their position AFTER an investigation into the rigging of the euro interest rates, the European Commission has announced that it will be fining three banks - who did not originally accept their part in the fixing cartel a total of €485 million. Of the three banks involved in this latest investigation, Credit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan,

Quote of the Week

€337 million is the amount that JP Morgan was fined by the European Commission for its part in the alleged rigging of the euro interest rates and is far more than any other bank was fined.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Photo Credit: SounderBruce Wikimedia

Building job

An Amazon bookstore in Seattle. By John Smith INTERNET retail giant, Amazon has revealed that it will trial the concept of running a grocery store which has no checkout, but customers will automatically pay for the items in their baskets through an app and the company intends to use the same types of technologies found in self-driving cars. It appears that the system they plan to use will be smart

the American Bank does not accept that they have done anything wrong and may appeal the decision as is made clear in a prepared statement shown below. “We have cooperated fully with the European Commission throughout its five year investigation. We did not engage in any wrongdoing with respect to the Euribor benchmark. We will continue to vigorously defend our position

Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” Donald Trump on the cost of presidential aircraft due for delivery in 2024.

Amazon opens grocery stores

enough to identify when items are taken from or returned to shelves and will record all of this in a so-called virtual shopping cart so that once the shopper leaves the store, their Amazon account will be charged and a receipt will be sent to them automatically. The first shop is expected to open in Seattle where the company has its headquarters in the first quarter of 2017 and will be a natural extension of its physical bookstores.

INDIAN born British citizen Bali Padda who has worked for Lego for 15 years will take over as the first non-Danish CEO of the group still owned by the family of the original founder, to run and streamline the business.

Oldest bank FOLLOWING the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Renzi, shares in the already teetering Monte dei Paschi di Siena, took a nose dive but now that a rumour is circulating that a €5 billion rescue package is likely, their position seems less precarious.

Not enough THE Spanish government has agreed with demands from ‘opposition’ parties that the monthly minimum wage for 2017 should be increased 8 per cent to €825.5 which is an increase of €61.1 but is still considered insufficient by trade unions.

Spread betting crackdown THERE is to be a crackdown on spread betting in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority as it believes those investing in this very volatile market don’t fully understand the risks. The concept which was introduced in the 1970s over the daily

€14.56 billion is the amount spent by UK visitors to Spain in the first 10 months of the year and represents 21 per cent of total tourist spend in the country.

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 12

By John Smith

EWN

movement of the gold price now covers individual shares or indexes such as the FTSE 100. The concept is that rather than purchase shares, investors bet on whether the market will go up or down and pay a fee to a broker who handles their bet.

against these allegations, including through possible appeals to the European courts.” Danish European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager believed that the banks had worked together to exchange information and pointed out that banks have to recognise and respect EU competition laws like any other business regardless of where they operate from.

IBEX 35

+0.26%

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 12

Company fines THE UK Competition and Markets Authority has fined the Pfizer pharmaceutical company £84.2 million (€99 million) after it increased its price to the NHS massively for an anti-epilepsy drug without justification, which is said to have cost the cash strapped health service tens of millions of pounds. It also fined Flynn Pharma a distributor of another anti-epilepsy drug the lesser amount of £5.2 million (€6.1 million) for similarly overcharging the NHS.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY Anglo American 1,240.00 26.00 Associated British Foods 2,936.00 247.00 Admiral Group 975.00 -1,824.00 Ashtead Group 1,620.00 -20.00 Antofagasta 755.00 -1.50 Aviva 483.50 0.80 AstraZeneca 4,300.00 20.00 BAE Systems 603.50 3.00 Babcock International Group 940.00 12.50 Barclays 235.00 1.90 British American Tobacco 4,392.50 -27.50 Barratt Developments 469.50 1.90 British Land Co 624.00 2.00 BHP Billiton 1,372.50 17.50 Bunzl 1,150.50 -2,055.00 BP 475.00 -1.20 Burberry Group 1,475.50 1.50 BT Group 355.50 3.50 Coca-Cola HBC 1,660.00 -5.00 Carnival 4,118.00 -4.00 Centrica 215.50 -1.50 Compass Group 1,362.50 -14.50 Capita Group (The) 475.00 -5.00 Croda International 1,500.00 -3,192.00 CRH 2,594.00 -111.00 Dixons Carphone 337.50 -22.70 DCC 0.00 0.00 Diageo 2,025.00 -18.00 Direct Line Insurance Group 161.70 -355.90 Experian 1,502.50 -4.50 easyJet 998.50 1.50 Fresnillo 1,185.00 1.00 GKN 317.50 1.30 Glencore 301.50 1.50 GlaxoSmithKline 1,480.50 2.50 Hikma Pharmaceuticals 1,679.50 -44.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 0.00 0.00 Hammers 543.00 -9.00 HSBC Holdings 675.00 1.20 International Consolidtd Air Gr 446.00 4.60 InterContinental Hotels Group 1,412.50 -3,350.00 3i Group 655.00 -38.50 Imperial Brands 3,640.50 170.00 Informa 290.00 -665.50 Intu Properties 0.00 0.00 Intertek Group 0.00 0.00 ITV 185.50 -6.00 Johnson Matthey 3,042.50 -2.50 Kingfisher 348.00 0.10 Land Securities Group 1,010.00 -4.00

% CHG. NET VOL 2.14 17,457.90 9.19 21,082.28 -100.00 5,232.08 -1.22 8,037.53 -0.20 7,413.64 0.17 19,785.08 0.47 52,069.52 0.50 19,181.41 1.35 4,742.50 0.82 40,535.48 -0.62 81,528.92 0.41 4,737.25 0.32 6,353.02 1.29 28,988.19 -100.00 6,805.63 -0.25 90,283.06 0.10 6,519.81 0.99 35,554.38 -0.30 6,041.59 -0.10 8,915.53 -0.69 11,798.32 -1.05 22,262.29 -1.04 3,237.64 -100.00 4,153.99 -4.10 22,643.27 -6.30 4,080.49 0.00 5,237.27 -0.88 51,053.05 -100.00 4,918.38 -0.30 14,188.14 0.15 3,999.89 0.08 8,606.92 0.41 5,431.45 0.50 43,565.68 0.17 71,192.94 -2.58 4,081.63 0.00 5,800.92 -1.63 4,330.81 0.18 134,558.38 1.04 9,510.30 -100.00 6,612.88 -5.55 6,799.63 4.90 32,644.11 -100.00 5,360.15 0.00 3,647.77 0.00 5,248.30 -3.13 7,306.12 -0.08 5,881.48 0.03 7,776.96 -0.39 7,954.73

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Legal & General Group 244.00 0.20 Lloyds Banking Group ORD 62.00 0.26 London Stock Exchange Grp 1,400.00 -2,774.00 Micro Focus International 0.00 0.00 Mediclinic International 325.00 -737.00 Merlin Entertainments 432.00 -1.70 Marks & Spencer Group 329.00 -9.60 Mondi 1,757.50 146.50 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 225.00 0.10 National Grid 917.50 -4.20 Next 4,870.00 16.00 Old Mutual Group 195.25 -2.35 Provident Financial 1,425.00 -2,726.00 Polymetal International 376.50 -783.00 Paddy Power Betfair 5,000.00 -8,280.00 Prudential 1,586.00 -8.00 Persimmon 1,673.00 -43.00 Pearson 792.50 -8.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 6,570.00 -30.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Grp 219.00 1.70 Royal Dutch Shell 2,091.50 4.00 Royal Dutch Shell 2,195.00 11.00 RELX 1,355.00 -18.00 Rio Tinto 3,257.00 33.50 Royal Mail 459.00 3.30 Rolls-Royce Group 665.00 -3.00 Randgold Resources 5,950.00 85.00 RSA Insurance Group 550.50 -6.50 Sainsbury (J) 242.50 -4.50 Schroders 1,493.50 -2,936.00 Sage Group (The) 625.00 0.00 Shire 4,420.00 -12.50 Sky 887.50 -112.50 Standard Life 359.50 -11.30 Smiths Group 700.00 -1,442.00 Smith & Nephew 1,140.00 -29.00 SSE 1,487.50 -4.50 Standard Chartered 669.50 12.00 St James's Place 887.50 -112.00 Severn Trent 2,125.50 -21.50 Travis Perkins 1,420.00 9.00 Tesco 217.78 -0.32 TUI AG 0.00 0.00 Taylor Wimpey 155.00 0.60 Unilever 3,105.00 -19.50 United Utilities Group 886.50 -6.00 Vodafone Group 198.95 0.55 Wolseley 2,245.00 -4,963.00 Worldpay Group 272.50 6.70 WPP Group 1,705.00 -66.00 Whitbread 3,495.00 -23.00

% CHG. 0.08 0.42 -100.00 0.00 -100.00 -0.39 -2.84 9.09 0.04 -0.46 0.33 -1.19 -100.00 -100.00 -100.00 -0.50 -2.51 -1.06 -0.45 0.78 0.19 0.50 -1.31 1.04 0.72 -0.45 1.45 -1.17 -1.82 -100.00 0.00 -0.28 -11.25 -3.05 -100.00 -2.48 -0.30 1.83 -11.21 -1.00 0.64 -0.15 0.00 0.39 -0.62 -0.67 0.28 -100.00 2.52 -3.73 -0.65

NET VOL 14,612.28 44,801.29 9,664.95 4,877.12 5,193.88 4,398.45 5,501.31 7,938.80 5,254.73 34,474.56 7,161.66 9,662.52 4,177.11 3,318.89 6,869.40 41,994.28 5,356.75 6,416.66 45,723.62 26,046.42 91,332.05 82,213.43 14,708.00 45,286.15 4,621.00 12,108.42 5,553.63 5,591.18 5,322.74 6,606.64 6,777.28 39,148.23 13,571.64 7,351.13 5,693.95 9,923.05 15,024.65 21,884.62 5,208.76 5,040.32 3,592.81 17,734.57 6,451.55 5,090.08 39,684.56 5,997.21 52,795.28 12,416.28 5,178.00 22,040.34 6,395.88

Kleinwort Benson Elite PCC Ltd

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US dollar...................................................................1.05653 Japan yen.................................................................122.287 Switzerland franc .................................................1.07592 Denmark kroner...................................................7.43665 Norway kroner ......................................................8.94515

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DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 5

COMPANY 3M AMERICAN EXPRESS APPLE BOEING CATERPILLAR CHEVRON TEXACO COCA-COLA CISCO SYSTEMS DU PONT EXXON MOBIL GENERAL ELECTRIC GOLDMAN SACH HOME DEPOT IBM INTEL JOHNSON & JOHNSON JP MORGAN CHASE MCDONALDS MERCK MICROSOFT NIKE PFIZER PROCTER & GAMBLE ST. PAUL TRV UNITED TECHNOLOGIES UNITEDHEALTH VERIZON VISA CLASS A WAL-MART WALT DISNEY

PRICE 178,490 74,770 113,950 156,490 95,530 115,810 42,000 30,060 74,850 89,000 31,780 241,850 133,390 166,520 35,760 112,260 85,490 121,260 61,230 61,970 51,720 31,700 84,370 119,190 109,790 160,120 51,490 79,140 70,080 104,860

CHANGE %CHANGE 2,61 +1,48 -0,14 -0,19 1,83 +1,63 1,1 +0,71 -0,74 -0,77 0,64 +0,56 1,02 +2,49 0,11 +0,37 0,17 +0,23 0,68 +0,77 0,25 +0,79 0,4 +0,17 0,86 +0,65 1,16 +0,70 0,06 +0,17 1,27 +1,14 0,37 +0,43 0,81 +0,67 1,11 +1,85 0,96 +1,57 0,17 +0,33 0,76 +2,46 0,87 +1,04 0,81 +0,68 1,36 +1,25 0,8 +0,50 0,36 +0,70 -0,14 -0,18 -0,26 -0,37 1,48 +1,43

VOLUME 735.183 775.025 7.9M 606.680 2.3M 1.9M 6.1M 5.9M 800.760 2.8M 8.3M 966.906 1.6M 855.742 4.3M 2.7M 3.8M 820.891 3.1M 8.6M 1.7M 8.3M 2.4M 625.656 840.385 767.073 3.1M 1.6M 3M 3.5M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES

DECEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced AC Immune SA Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. RigNet, Inc. Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. Ocean Rig UDW Inc. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited NII Holdings, Inc. Conn's, Inc. Educational Development Corporation Intersections, Inc. Calithera Biosciences, Inc.

$ 14.93 $ 3.20 $ 21.85 $ 2.75 $ 2.22 $ 22.99 $ 2.35 $ 14.45 $ 10.40 $ 4.03 $ 3.50

2.88 ▲ 23.90% 0.50 ▲ 18.52% 2.95 ▲ 15.61% 0.35 ▲ 14.58% 0.28 ▲ 14.43% 2.48 ▲ 12.09% 0.25 ▲ 11.90% 1.40 ▲ 10.73% 1 ▲ 10.64% 0.37 ▲ 10.11% 0.30 ▲ 9.38%

$ 6.85 $ 28.55 $9 $9 $ 23.36 $ 14.05 $ 36 $ 3.50 $ 2.51 $ 2.80 $ 4.50

2.45 ▼ 26.34% 8.49 ▼ 22.92% 2.53 ▼ 21.94% 1.15 ▼ 11.33% 2.60 ▼ 10.02% 1.46 ▼ 9.41% 3.70 ▼ 9.32% 0.35 ▼ 9.09% 0.25 ▼ 9.06% 0.23 ▼ 7.59% 0.35 ▼ 7.22%

Most Declined DAVIDsTEA Inc. Duluth Holdings Inc. Clearside Biomedical, Inc. Fanhua Inc. Willdan Group, Inc. IRIDEX Corporation CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CPI Card Group Inc. Oncobiologics, Inc. Atlanticus Holdings Corporation Xcel Brands, Inc

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Some banks looking to leave London Photo Credit: theendup shutterstock

By John Smith IF there is one fact of life that one can be fairly sure about, it is that banks are at best amoral and at worst totally immoral. Certainly and to some extent they understandably want to make sure that their financial position is as protected as possible, even though they may only still be in business because of the generosity of various governments who have diverted funds from the taxpayer to support their financial errors and in many cases wrongdoing!

There are already positive noises being made by eight EU capitals encouraging banks to move their business. Now that Britain is due to sever its direct links with the European Union and it looks as if London could be excluded from the euro passport system, various banks have started looking for a safe bolthole within the EU from which to run their ‘wholesale’ businesses. According to Benoit de Juvigny, a French financial regulator, many international banks are looking to Paris as an option. According to the BBC, there are already

PARIS: Could it be the new banking capital? positive noises being made by eight EU capitals encouraging banks to move their business to Amsterdam, Bratislava, Dublin, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris or

Valletta and in some cases at least, international banks have already started to undertake due diligence research in order to ensure that they would be able to operate

subsidiaries from their chosen city. Whilst it would be unfair to accuse these cities (and no doubt others to follow) of acting like jackals fighting over a carcass, it is obvious that once Britain does leave the Union, it will find competition hard in many areas and the retention of business such as in the banking sector could become an expensive operation. What is also worrying is that despite all that has gone wrong with banks in the past and the fact that members of the Union are in theory supposed to work together, it is more than speculation that at least one of those scrabbling for the new business may be prepared to relax legislation and control in order to attract international banks which could result in another financial disaster in the medium term. Perhaps an unshackled Britain could actually find a way of wooing bankers back to London by seeing what concessions other countries are making and then topping them. Alternatively, the underworld needs somewhere to safely deposit its illegally gained funds and perhaps the time is right to open the equivalent of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (also known as BCCI or the Bank of Crooks and Cocaine International) which had its headquarters in London before spectacularly being closed down in 1991.

Tata Steel and unions in principle agreement AFTER recognising the importance of India as a strong financial target, UK governments were happy to see an influx of investment into UK industry by Indian businesses but after some years, it came as a great disappointment when these companies started to have financial difficulties or decided that they wanted to divest themselves of their British financial interests. Once such company was Tata, the massive industrial operation that had taken over most of the British Steel industry which announced in March of this year that it wanted to either sell its UK businesses or in a worst scenario close them down. Thousands of workers, mostly employed in Wales were left facing future financial and work insecurity, especially when it appeared that apart from a relatively small division, there was little hope of finding a buyer for the business. Now, following recent meetings between Tata and the two main unions representing workers in the plants - Community and Unite - it has been announced that subject to a ballot of workers the company would continue to operate the business and invest further to make it a viable and profitable concern.

Photo Credit: Tata Group

By John Smith

KOUSHIK CHATTERJEE: Group executive director of Tata Steel. T h e ma in points of a gre e me nt w hic h should satisfy the workforce are: A guaranteed, minimum five-year commitment to keeping two blast furnaces at the

Port Talbot plant. A £1 billion (€1.17 billion) investment plan to be implemented over a 10-year period in order to keep the manufacture of steel

running at Port Talbot. An expression from Tata that it would commit to avoid making compulsory redundancies for at least five years. Whilst all of this is very positive, the only possible sticking point will be over pensions where the company wants to replace the existing scheme for one which sees a new scheme requiring no more than 10 per cent of salary contribution from the company and 6 per cent from employees. Both union representatives and Koushik Chatterjee, group executive director of Tata Steel and executive director for its European business expressed their pleasure at the outcome of the meeting, but stressed that the government still had a great deal to do to ensure that the company was supported especially as far as fair external competition and cost of energy are concerned. Workers will need to balance the positive out com e of seei ng t hei r j obs pr ot ect ed against the new pension proposals which the uni ons bel i eve i s t he best deal i t coul d achieve, although they are not making a positive recommendation to their members concerning this particular matter. In the event that Tata employees vote to reject the deal, then there is every possibility they will find it hard to invest further and may well withdraw from the UK completely.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Between a rock and a hard place

La edit: o Cr Phot flickr cloa Mon

CRISTOBAL MONTORO: Spanish Minister of Finance and Public Administration.

By John Smith UNDER pressure from leftwing allies in parliament who want to see a relaxation of austerity and the European Union which wants to see the Spanish economy much more under control, the government of Mariano Rajoy and Cristobal Montoro, Spanish Minister of Finance and Public Administration have had to try very hard to produce a budget for 2017 which will be acceptable to all parties. They are looking to increase taxes by some €4.8 billion by collecting certain monies in advance rather than arrears and hope to pull in additional funds by increasing the purchase tax of alcohol (except beer and wine) as well as cigarettes and tobacco. In addition, following the example of other European states, there will be a new tax on soft drinks with high sugar content and although it is suggested that such a tax is not to raise funds but to alert the public to the dangers of these

There will be a new tax on soft drinks with high sugar content which will produce more revenue. drinks, it is interesting that it is likely to produce more new revenue than the increase in tax on alcohol and tobacco. The government wants to ensure that people are paying tax on their earnings and to reduce the amount spent on the so-called black economy and is therefore reducing the limit of cash settlements of transactions from €2,500 to €1,000, although this could back fire on the local councils who up to now have been able to accept the larger sums via bank deposits. Speaking of local councils, 2,452 have applied for the cadastral value of properties to be increased and whilst this could not be done in time for the current budget, government is expected to approve this in principle during the

year as it will make those local councils less reliant on national hand outs, assuming the residents can afford to pay any increased rates. It was originally thought that approval of increased property taxes would be deferred for a year alongside certain environmental taxes and local death duties, but a codicil within the December 2 approval document covered the cadastral increase. None of this is enough and after having hit the pension pot once again to allow for a Christmas bonus pay out, the government is not only going to have to consider what it will do there, but it has also promised to boost income by fighting tax fraud, making collection of IVA speedier and more efficient as well as collecting monies owed to government more competently. Time will tell whether these actions will be enough to increase sufficiently to satisfy the EU, but if that is the case, then it is possible that the fragile alliance within parliament could be shattered.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

EWN

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

EWN

Boris Johnson was right about Saudi now, is that Koreans, Pakistanis, Somalis, Filipinos, etc. get paid, but generally a mere pittance. Homosexuality is a topping offence, yet the country is rife with men so highly sexed nothing is safe from their amorous intentions. (I was propositioned at least once or twice a day; but I was much prettier then!) They insist on building mosques all over the world, but refuse to allow any trace of alternative religions in their country. Alcohol is banned yet, when I was there, they were the biggest importers of Johnnie Walker Whisky in the world. In Jeddah they have the largest canvas-covered area in the world. All air conditioned and able to accommodate over a million people. How many refugees could this area accommodate? Ha! No, I’m afraid money buys it all my friends and they have enough to purchase everyone. On our own subservient heads be it.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT BORIS JOHNSON was 100 per cent correct with his ‘proxy wars’ remarks regarding Saudi Arabia. It is merely another example of the deed this nation does best of all – delegate. Having lived among them for some eight years I can categorically state that, in my opinion, they are the most arrogant hypocrites on the planet. If they were not floating on a sea of money, they would be fighting for survival, and probably losing! Instead, sitting in their ivory towers they get everyone else to do their dirty work for them. Cashing in on the fact that this world is run by greed, money and the resulting power it brings, they continue to get away with just about everything. Their human rights record is atrocious. The only difference

HUMAN RIGHTS: Their record is atrocious.

Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

TV LISTING

THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER

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Still Open All Hours EastEnders Citizen Khan Have I Got News for You Walliams and Friends BBC News at Ten BBC London News The Graham Norton Show The Apprentice: Why I Fired Them

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Watchdog Six Wives with Lucy Worsley BBC News at Ten BBC London News Mrs. Brown's Boys Who Do You Think You Are? The Apprentice Weather for the Week Ahead BBC News

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Celebrity Antiques Road Trip MasterChef: The Professionals Close to the Enemy The Apprentice: You're Fired! Newsnight The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve Panorama Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Mastermind Coastal Path Rick Stein's Long Weekends QI Newsnight Close to the Enemy

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Walt Disney Disney's A Christmas Carol QI XL Porridge The Making of Young Men Balletboyz - Young Men Chances Are This is BBC Two

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The Real Marigold Hotel We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story University Challenge Only Connect Lenny Henry - A Life on Screen Two Doors Down Top of the Pops 2 The Choir

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Mary Berry's Absolute Christmas Favourites University Challenge MasterChef: The Professionals Inside the Christmas Factory Live at the Apollo Upstart Crow NFL

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6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street This Time Next Year In Plain Sight ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Wanted Jackpot247

6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am

6:40pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 1:15am 3:25am

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Channel 4 News The Political Slot The Secret Life of the Zoo Grand Designs 60 Days in Jail 24 Hours in A and E Random Acts 999: What's Your Emergency? Four in a Bed Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Alan Carr's Happy Hour Gogglebox The Last Leg 8 Out of 10 Cats Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Arthur Christmas Channel 4 News Tree of the Year with Ardal O'Hanlon It Was Alright in the 1970's Escape Plan Before I Go to Sleep 60 Days in Jail Inkheart The Snowman Channel 4 News Cars Britain's Wildest Weather Humans Gogglebox About a Boy Before I Go to Sleep 60 Days in Jail The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie's Ultimate Christmas First Dates at Christmas Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas Derren Brown Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Supervet at Christmas This is Us Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas First Dates at Christmas Four in a Bed Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 24 Hours in A and E Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas Micky Flanagan: Back in the Game

8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:05pm 12:10am 6:40pm 7:25pm 8:25pm 8:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am

5:00pm 6:45pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:05pm 11:55pm 2:00am 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 1:05am 2:00am 6:20pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:35pm 12:05am 6:20pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:55pm

Ultimate Strongman Team World Championship Xmas Excess: Parents Splash the Cash Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door Crackers About Christmas

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5 News at 5 Police Interceptors 2016: Terror in Europe The Gadget Show Christmas Makes You Laugh Out Loud 22 Jump Street 5 News 22 Jump Street The Other Guys

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Christmas Under Wraps Space Cowboys 5 News Weekend Space Cowboys Football on 5 Football on 5 The Funny Thing About... Christmas Greatest Ever Christmas Songs

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The Christmas Scrooge Michael Buble at Christmas 5 News Weekend Hercules 5 News Weekend Hercules Snitch Super Casino Tour De Celeb All New Traffic Cops Chris Tarrant: On the Xmas Express Greatest Ever Christmas Adverts Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick Super Casino

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6:15pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 11:30pm 12:30am 1:00am 1:30pm 4:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 10:30pm 10:45pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am

Operation Christmas 5 News World's Strongest Man 2016 Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud The Graham Norton Story Lip Sync Battle UK Xmas Special 22 Jump Street

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The Borrowers 5 News World's Strongest Man 2016 The Dog Rescuers at Christmas The Trafford Centre: Countdown to Christmas Chas and Dave's Xmas Knees-Up Greatest Ever Christmas Songs

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Football Football Football Premier League Match Pack Premier League Review Football Premier League Review Sporting Triumphs Game Changers Premier League Match Pack The Fantasy Football Club Football The Fantasy Football Club Barclays Premier League Preview Soccer A.M. Football Gillette Soccer Saturday Football EFL Goals Nissan Game of the Day Nissan Match Choice Football NFL Greatest Games Live Nissan Super Sunday Live Nissan Super Sunday Spanish Gold Football Spanish Gold Spanish Gold Football Football Football NFL Highlights NFL Highlights Football's Greatest Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2016/17 F1 Season Review 2016 Brundle Meets Bernie Football Scottish Football Round Up Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Joe Cole Premier League Review Live World Darts Championship 2017 Premier League Review Scottish Football Round Up Sporting Triumphs Premier League Legends Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Tony Adams Darts Rivalries Darts Rivalries Live World Darts Championship 2017 Sky Sports Originals Time of Our Lives Premier League Legends

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Word Ladder

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

Weather

for next 7 days

Alicante

Move from the start word (FACE) to the end word (HUNT) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.

FACE

TIME

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TODAY:

Madrid

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 10 Sh Tues - 16 10 C Wed - 16 10 Cl

16 13 C 15 13 Sh 15 11 Sh

Fri Sat Sun -

Almeria TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 16 10 Sh Tues - 16 10 C Wed - 16 10 Cl

16 13 C 15 13 Sh 15 11 Sh

Solution FACE PACE PANE (PACT) PANT PUNT HUNT

YOUR STARS

‘THE SUPERMARKET IS STILL UNDER WATER BUT THE FISH COUNTER IS DOING A ROARING TRADE!’

Accept all invitations, however dull you feel that they may turn out and allow yourself to be surprised. Continue with any check-ups on your health, eating sensibly if you overindulged during the holiday. There is no better time to make that special effort.

SAGITTARIUS ( November 23 - December 21) Get both business and personal plans sorted out in the coming week. Thereafter, changes to your routine may be necessary, which is disruptive. The best-laid plans can need adjustment, so don’t beat yourself up over that. Spending extra time alone gives pause for thought and makes the next step so much clearer.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Someone close has ideas about how things should be at home this Christmas. Although you wish to show an interest, and should, they may be more 'hands on' than you. Do whatever your talents allow to help because this will not be forgotten. Your other half may be feeling sensitive, so tread carefully. What is at the root of it is likely to come to light as the week progresses.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) The repayment of a favour should see you with extra money in your pocket. Holding on to it is your best bet. Trying to change someone close is so obviously not going to work that it is surprising you tried for so long. What you may be able to do, however, is to spend less time in their presence. Make sure that you get out with friends, if only for a few hours. It will brighten your spirits.

change to your surroundings opens up. Comfort is top of your agenda and the continuing sales give scope. Restlessness can be channelled into an energetic response when others seek help. Taking on a small charitable task makes you smile and brings satisfaction. ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Your mind is as sharp as a razor this week, so woe betide anyone who tries to trick you. It's a great time to use your talents fully, particularly in regard to a business venture. It is possible that your strengths are a little unrecognised so don't be afraid to try something entirely new. A strong urge to take control keeps others on their toes.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) The pleasure you will get from helping in the home this week should not be underestimated. What you have been thinking of as a chore turns out to be a great ball of fun. Youngsters may be involved at the weekend, so plan ahead to give them a festive surprise. Appreciation is all around you at the moment and should be sending a nice glow through you. It's best not to overspend on something that could mean no return for you.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Concentrating on hearth and home gives you great satisfaction. As a born home-maker, you relish the idea of making something beautiful. This week it may be possible to show more of your skills when someone seeks your advice. This time it is on more of a personal note and you could end up helping with appearances.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) A festive social gathering turns up an old friend who makes an offer. Although you may feel unworthy, please be reminded of the times in the past when you have given them support. Certainly, it will be through others that real progress will be made. It is easy at this time of the year for someone of your intelligence to become bored. Through making a start on a long-term plan, it is possible to feel inspired.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) This week is mainly concerned with financial matters, and it is easy to both save and make extra money. Keep your energy levels high by making the most of chances to exercise and get out in the fresh air. Your need to know exactly where you stand brings with it a danger of putting someone off romantically right at the start. Although your no-nonsense approach normally serves you well, in love you need more subtle methods.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Your relationships to others linked to the home environment are going well. Aim to build on that this Christmas week because the chance to make a real

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) As you have decided to rearrange both your business and home life, it is a busy time, indeed. You enjoy a challenge so it will not worry you that other people have different ideas. Although you are not inclined to listen to silly whims, some things crop up time and again and have to be dealt with at some point.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Making a new start is not always the exciting thing that people imagine. When there are still old matters to be resolved, it takes the edge off the pleasure. It may be worth cooling off a new relationship until your social life is more settled. An urge to move around could be caused by your not facing a problem straight on.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Keep energy levels high by being at the hub of any social activities.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday December 10

BONUS BALL

EURO MILLIONS Tuesday November 6

7 27

11 45

LUCKY STARS

Friday December 9

12 37

28 40

LUCKY STARS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday December 10

Sunday December 11

REINTEGRO

20 37

34 44

REINTEGRO

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 33 23 Sh Tues - 33 22 Cl Wed - 33 23 Sh

34 23 C 33 23 Sh 33 23 Sh

MAX MIN

17 11 Sh 17 12 Sh 17 9 Th

Mon - 17 9 Sh Tues - 17 8 Sh Wed - 18 8 Sh

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 16 11 Sh Tues - 16 10 Sh Wed - 16 10 Sh

16 12 Sh 15 13 Sh 15 12 Sh

S Sun,

SHOWERS MAX 15C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Cl Clear,

Sh Showers,

F Fog, Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

15 10 Sh 14 12 Sh 14 9 Sh

Mon - 15 7 C Tues - 16 7 C Wed - 16 8 C

C Cloudy, 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 C) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed. TARGET: • Average: 11 • Good: 15 • Very good: 22 • Excellent: 28

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION hale halt hate heal heap heat heel help hype lath path phat that thee they yeah aleph ethyl haply lathe phyla teeth theta athlete heeltap TELEPATHY

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.

LOTTERY

Mon - 15 9 Sh Tues - 16 8 C Wed - 16 7 C

SHOWERS MAX 19C, MIN 10C

TODAY:

Benidorm TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

HUNT BACK

MAX MIN

14 8 Sh 16 10 C 15 10 Sh

Mallorca

CLOUDY MAX 33C, MIN 23C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 11 4 C Tues - 11 3 Sh Wed - 12 4 Cl

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

12 6 Sh 12 6 Sh 11 5 Sh

Malaga

SHOWERS MAX 16C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 11C, MIN 6C

TODAY:

OUT

15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

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AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

page

Enjoy filling in the following puzzles and check the answers in next week’s edition

Code Breaker

Quick Across 1 Storage closet (8) 7 Courageous (5) 8 Absolve (9) 9 Perceive (3) 10 Secret look (4) 11 Conclude (6) 13 Easygoing (6) 14 Against (6) 17 Deep orange root vegetable (6) 18 Not easy (4) 20 Attempt (3) 22 Frightened (9) 23 Grab (5) 24 Practice (8)

Down 1 Inexpensive (5) 2 Declare openly (7) 3 Follow a command (4) 4 Brought up (6)

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Crossword

EWN

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 7 represents T and 12 represents Z, so fill in T every time the figure 7 appears and Z 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: 7 Cartel, 8 Shoves, 9 Nest, 10 Adulates, 11 Tracked, 13 Regal, 15 Charm, 17 Cashier, 20 Handsome, 21 Also, 23 Escape, 24 Dismal. Down: 1 Bare, 2 Static, 3 Cleaver, 4 Issue, 5 Donate, 6 Beverage, 12 Rehearse, 14 Calends, 16 Redraw, 18 Hoarse, 19 Homer, 22 Swag.

QUICK Across: 5 Incorrect (5) 6 Conquers (7) 7 Bewildered (7) 12 Provide commentary for a film (7) 13 Struggle between rivals (7)

English - Spanish

Down: 1 Insist, 2 Polka, 3 Sincere, 5 Idols, 6 Collier, 7 Sister, 8 Resplendent, 14 Neutral, 15 Starter, 16 Avocet, 17 Replay, 19 Trace, 21 Beret.

The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

Across 2 Derecha (5) 6 Race (racial origin) (4) 7 Buttonhole (4) 8 Escalón (5) 9 Húmedo (clima) (4) 10 Honey (from bees) (4) 11 Novia (en boda) (5) 12 Boss (4) 13 Mediodía (4) 14 Asado (5) 15 Puerta (4) 16 Abbot (4) 17 Años (5)

ENGLISH-SPANISH

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Across: 1 Parrot, 3 Acid, 7 Nib, 9 Charlar, 10 Demasiado, 13 Taladro, 14 Dar, 15 Last, 16 Bakers. Down: 1 Pink, 2 Orchards, 4 Calidad, 5 Dark, 6 Mariposa, 8 Beetles, 11 Util, 12 Gris.

Down 1 Waiters (9) 2 Frambuesa (9) 3 Hailstorm (9) 4 Storms (9) 5 Saucepans (9)

Hexagram

1 Impose, 4 Discus, 9 Silence, 10 Ogles, 11 Stale, 12 Passive, 13 Unnecessary, 18 Vaulted, 20 Amble, 22 Circa, 23 Natural, 24 Taller, 25 Pretty.

15 More frightening (7) 16 Common (6) 17 Faultfinder (5) 19 Avoid artfully (5) 21 Monetary penalty (4)

Cryptic 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 (SUBSET) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ABRUPT AUNTIE BLANCH BLOUSE BOBCAT BUREAU CRITIC DEFRAY LAUNCH LEGUME

MASSIF MASTIC OBJECT RESUME SELECT SPONGY SUBSET (10) TITIAN TRACER

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Gyrate 2 Strand 3 Regent 4 Sundry 5 Errata 6 Allege 7 Darkle 8 Tangle 9 Screen 10 Kettle 11 Marble 12 Delete 13 Borate 14 Depend 15 Latent 16 Senior 17 Sodden 18 Triune 19 Seeing.

Across 1 Sounds like seabirds or bears (5) 4 Chemical element from Burma I ordered (6) 9 Duplicate pie Carl cooked (7) 10 Steps inside spaceship (5) 11 Collapsed in church recess (4) 12 Stone smashed in grate (7) 13 Feel sorry about Herb (3) 14 It's the judge's habit to steal a note (4) 16 Son has time to be a wise person (4) 18 Spied middle of bakery item (3) 20 After break had meal and set out again (7) 21 Damage some hidden treasures (4) 24 Building support from trust (5) 25 One reaching across for a hand tool (7) 26 Name of man arranging events (6) 27 Felix effortlessly holds back outcast approval (8) (5) 6 Eager to get out of ditch in garden (7) Down 7 Learn all aspects of being a captain 1 Mad Hatter is a danger (6) (6) 2 Pores over ring edges (5) 8 Push river transport (5) 3 Hide skinhead's family (4) 13 Comeback for chopped up pear tree 5 Evaluate a quiet expression of (8)

15 See old boy put ball in play (7) 17 Has faith in repaired struts (6) 18 Drink from fractured pipes (5) 19 Tristram Shandy author enters in disguise (6) 22 Even nuisances find it boring (5) 23 Made out to be an aristocrat (4)

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

LETTERS

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OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments straight on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com

A Christmas shambles in Almuñecar

Witchdoctor in a dress WHY do these uneducated people with their Bronze Age superstitions about sky fairies think they can tell the rest of us how to live? What is it to do with them what the rest of us do on Sundays? We do not tell them they must not grovel on their knees to empty air, while listening to the local witchdoctor in a dress. We can do without their blatant lies about pretending to care about Sunday being a family day. On my first

Photographs for possible publication should be sent by email with a full caption to: photonews@euroweeklynews.com david muscroft/Shutterstock.com

LIKE many, I am looking forward to the festive season and all that comes with it. So I was very happy to read in the EWN last week that the Christmas lights would be switched on in Almuñecar on Saturday the 2nd. I have been living here on and off for the last eight years and was surprised every year again by the decora t i v e l i g h t s, t h e v a rio u s beautiful trees and the wonderful and sp e c i a l a t m o sp h e re in th e town square. I also read that a new company now took care of the decorations etc due to financial cuts... well did they cut! The Christmas lights in the street look like they have been last used 30 years ago and since been stored in a cow barn (lots already ‘out of light’ after two nights). A kind of Christmas market on the s q u a r e , wh i c h t a k es u p s o much space and now makes concerts and Christmas plays impossible the r e a n d a d d e d w ith s o me poor pine trees, pulled from the beaches of the Costa de la Luz. The designer of this mismatch has also dropped a pile of wood in the middle of all this, (expect it to be lit one day when dried) fenced off by some roadwork fencing. But worst of all... NO TREE!! Is this a case of ‘penny wise and pound stupid’? The town hall of Almuñ e c a r c a n ’t b e th at p o o r? And also so inconsistent! This Christmas cut makes the town look cheap and poor and without any ambience for the upcoming festivities. Apart from creating a signature for the tourists, I think the people of Almuñecar deserve more than this shambles given for their Fiesta de la Luz... Ann Olivier

A needless death? THE tragic pictures of the flooded homes are enough to make you weep. All of us know that natural disasters can overwhelm a place, but do the Spanish really make enough provision for dealing with this amount of water? I know it’s not usual, but we know it will rain heavily like that again. So why not build the drainage systems that can cope? Would it really cost

visit to christian America in 1980, I was surprised to find so many s h o p s o p en o n S unda y, unlike mainly secular Britain at the time with its so many empty churches. Michael Hill

A fee to stay in the EU I READ this week that the chief EU Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has stated he supports the mo tio n th a t w o u l d a llow e xpa t Brits to pay a fee to Brussels so they can keep their EU membership. Is it not enough that we put millions of euros into the Spanish economy every year, that now they

that much? I am not saying the UK handles this better, but there at least you expect the rain to be heavy and persistent. The pictures of the firefighters and divers struggling to free the young woman in Estepona were heartbreaking. She must have been terrified. If someone deliberately locked her inside that building they should face the full force of the law. Alison, Alicante

want us to pay as well? I think we expats are in a very iffy situation. What with T May’s buffoon Johnson and now Verhofstadt, it seems to me that the only hope we have is the Spanish Prime Minster who in the past has said that our situation in Spain would not change. We have heard that sort of thing in the past. It’s a shame we can’t pa c k up a nd go ba c k to the U K and plant ourselves on the benefit s ys te m, the n the G ove rnme nt would understand how we benefit their system by not being there, after all we are the ones that have paid our 45 years and now deserve to be treated with a bit more respect and consideration. It would also show Spain just how much we put into their country. The ex-

pats in Spain need a voice, then we will be treated fairly. Ron Chivers

Doubling down A CONCISE, good summary. Hillary was elected president of California. Trump was elected president of the U nited St at es. Per i od. The protests since then are mostly by e a s ily l ed, wr ongl y educat ed youngsters incited by paid rabble rous e rs f unded by peopl e l i ke George Soros. The Democratic Party itself is doubling down on stupidity. “We need more big government, more government spend-

ing, more regulation.” What part of no do you not understand. Love the quote from Robert Frost: ‘Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t say it… and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.’ Frank Barone

General Trump DOES anyone else worry that Donald Trump’s inner circle now has t hr ee gener al s i n i t and a fourth might also be on the way? A lot of people voted for Trump because he speaks his mind and doesn’t sit on the fence. If I were in America I think I’d have done the same. Giving the political establishment a good shake-up can’t be a bad thing can it? But why is it US generals get involved in public life to this extent. You don’t get to be a gener al by pussy- f oot i ng ar ound, but t hat doesn’t m ean diplomacy has to be a rude word. Mending fences after you’ve mouthed off is never easy. Bill, Malaga

Christmas cards TO t he Br i t s t hat ar e sendi ng Christmas cards home, please be advised. The Calahonda post office charges double the stamp if the envelope is not white and oblong. If it is white and oblong the stamp cost is under 80 cents, but if the envelope is coloured and a different shape it cost €1.50 per card. As was explained by the post office, the cards or letters would have t o be sor t ed by hand. Not sure I believe that. I f you have a l ot of car ds t o send an extra 70 cents per card mounts up. Merry Christmas. Trilby

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:

www.euroweeklynews.com

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.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

EWN

Euro Weekly News announces media partnership with Antony Wolfson By John Smith

NTONY WOLFSON is a very special entertainer who has attracted the attention of Euro Weekly News ever since he arrived in the Costa del Sol with his wife Karen just four years ago and now his latest achievement has meant that we are delighted to have been asked to become his official media partner as his musical star continues to rise. Originally, destined to be an artist,

Antony attended the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s College which is considered to be the premier art school in the United Kingdom and when he left, he started work in commercial advertising and digital marketing. As Antony explains during an exclusive interview, he had something of an early mid-life crisis and decided to join the City of London Police where he was soon promoted to the rank of Sergeant and became known as ‘The Singing Policeman’ as he appeared in so many charity events where his mellifluous voice was always in demand. Having been brought up on a diet of Elvis Presley and some of the early rock and rollers he naturally gravitated to this style of music and his voice has been compared to Elvis at the height of his talent. Antony Wolfson stresses that he is not an impersonator or a tribute artist but a singer who enjoys the songs of his great hero Elvis and it seems that plenty of others, including those who ought to know, agree with him. He was inspired to give up his position in the police force and move to Spain because of the encouragement that he had received from people who had been close to the ‘King’ and had heard Antony though his website which had more than 60,000 visitors even when he was an amateur. One of those was Kathy Westmoreland who sang soprano with Elvis from 1970 to 1977 and was introduced by him as “the little girl with

Antony in concert Photo Credit: Antony Wolfson

the beautiful high voice” and she contacted Antony saying “You are brilliant, I love everything you do.” This praise was followed by Joe Esposito road manager and long-time friend and business associate of Elvis simply saying “Wow” when he saw Antony perform a concert in Melbourne. Joe then went on to introduce Antony to a number of members of the Presley family and has helped to open a number of doors for him. Perhaps the greatest thing that has happened for Antony is that he has been given access to a number of unrecorded songs written for Elvis by the world renowned song writing duo of Leiber and Stoller who have penned at least 70 top 10 hits including 20 recorded by Elvis. The first song, ‘Stay Awhile’ was recorded in 2015 and with very little promotion won the Akademia Award in Los Angeles in November of last year and continues to receive 10,000 radio plays monthly around the world. Following the success of this song, Antony asked his friend and mentor Tim Knight, a long-time resident of Marbella to produce the next song, the more upbeat ‘Touch of Heaven’ which has just been finished at the Mikki Nilsen studio in Cortija Blanca with Mikki on guitar, Leonardo la Peruta on saxophone, US rockabilly star Susan Erwin on piano and Helena Paul on backing vocals. When Mike Stoller heard the recorded version, his response was “You’ve got it” and then went on to say “Elvis would have done it one way but Antony does it his

way!” As far as Antony is concerned it is an honour to be allowed to record these tracks and he is blown away by the very positive comments. The next step is to produce a video to support the song and until that is ready, he doesn’t want to issue it as a single but has at our request, included a short 30-second preview on his website at www.antonywolfsonmusic.com/mu sic with the expectation that the single will be launched simultaneously in both the UK and Spain with TV support in January. Having just returned from the UK where he had the privilege of meeting with Priscilla Presley who he describes as “a beautiful lady inside and out” at a special concert ‘Elvis and the Philharmonic Orchestra’ held at the O2 in London which attracted an audience of 20,000, he is still gathering more plaudits. The organiser of this concert Don Reedman which is due to tour Europe in 2017 and producer of three hugely successful Elvis related albums commented on the new song “Very cool.” In a space of two weeks in January, Antony will be travelling to the USA, performing concerts by invitation in Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans and the Presley birth place Tupelo. This local boy seems to be going from strength to strength and can be seen performing at some of the top venues in the Marbella area six times a week and we at Euro Weekly News will be following his activities in 2017 very closely as we think that we are the media partner of a potentially major star.

Antony and Priscilla Pre sley

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Nora Johnson

Breaking Views Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

YOU can tell Christmas isn’t far off when the annual ‘families ripped off by unscrupulous and entirely predictable seasonal Winter Wonderland theme-park extravaganza’ is upon us. This is like Groundhog Day, yet another year, yet another traditional Christmas fiasco. For the past few years problems at these Winter Wonderland events have been highlighted by the media and still people fork out to stand in long queues in ‘boggy’ fields to see dodgy Santas in tacky outfits and donkeys sporting cardboard antlers expecting the experience to be some sort of Disneyland. Why? You’ll recall ‘The Magical Journey’ attraction created by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen at the UK’s Belfry

Golf Club promising ‘the most amazing Christmas experience that Planet Earth has ever seen’ was temporarily cancelled in 2014 following a barrage of complaints from angry parents and children left in tears to find hour-long queues for swearing Santas and chav elves. A so-called Winter Wonderland in Milton Keynes was cancelled in 2013 after a deluge of complaints of Santas ‘dressed in outfits from Poundland’ and smoking elves, while in 2008 at Lapland New Forest ‘Santa got attacked and an elf got smacked in the face and pushed into a pram.’ All helping to put the grot into grotto! This year, the Bakewell Winter Wonderland was branded a ‘shambles’ on opening last month after complaints visitors were forced to walk through muddy fields only to find... no Santa. The glitter dust included pitiful stalls, non-existent reindeer, Santa’s Grotto still under construction - plus

The rip-off Winter ‘Blunderland’ of Grotty Grottos is upon us

LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWEN: Created the Magical Journey.

two-hour queues to meet Santa when he eventually turned up. This happens every year. But if held in November in sodden fields, what sort of magical Christmas treat do you realistically expect? Why not instead look in the local paper for any German markets or other special events nearby. There’s probably more fun to be had at a local church’s Christmas Fayre than at these ‘blunderlands.’ So, in conclusion, you get to a ‘Winter Wonderland’ entrance, look inside, see an absolute ‘shambles’... and still pay to enter? Mugs? Gullible? Daft? Answers on a postcard to: ‘Santa, North Pole.’ Nora Johnson’s psychological/suspense crime thrillers ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/ eBook (€0.99;£0.99) and iBookstore. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

Throw the book at them Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man OK I am pretty much grumpy with the whole world this week. Let’s start with the real serious stuff. Don’t tell me that those football clubs did not have a clue what was going on or some suspicion that children were being abused by members of their staff. Some have admitted they had. Chelsea made a payment to one victim who had to sign a non-disclosure document. Why? Because they wanted it to just go away. I hope they get the book thrown at them. It’s typical of big organisations that just want to buy their way out. It is unacceptable these people can hurt our children and appear to do it unnoticed. It makes my blood boil and my heart break. The bravery of the men now coming forward must be applauded and idiots like Eric Bristow should just keep their mouths shut. What is it with this lunatic Trump? I can’t believe what he tweets. He managed this week to knock 20 per cent off Boeing’s share price by saying the new Airforce One was too dear and the order should be cancelled.

He may be right but don’t tweet about it! Call them in and discuss it. Also, the racists he’s bringing in to advise him are scary. Google Steve Bannon - it’s terrifying. You know it’s wrong when David Duke, head of the KKK, thinks you’re making good choices! In other news, the Beckhams have allowed, and are promoting, their 11-year-old son Cruz to sing a charity song for Christmas. It’s fine if that’s what you want but remember you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. You have now put him out in the public domain and you can never play the privacy card again. He’s 11 - let him have a childhood. You can milk your fame for every cent but these things often end in tears... or worse. Mrs S and I watch all the junk TV: X Factor, Strictly, I’m a Celeb and quite enjoy them. What I don’t enjoy is that nobody does great anymore... they ‘smash’ it. That’s all you hear. You smashed that dance, you smashed that song, and you smashed that task. As I recall if you smash something you break it. STOP IT! Just say, ‘Well done, you did great.’ We went to Miramar for our ‘after Christmas recce.’ We have a look at all the stuff we want for Christmas then go back and buy them in the sales. It saves a fortune and you get twice as many pressies!

E W N Mallorca

15 - 21 December 2016

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HEALTH BEAUTY

Could blood help heal? USING blood as a beauty treatment is now a common occurrence, particularly among Hollywood A-listers. The so-called ‘vampire therapies’ are a favourite of Kim Kardashian who was one of the first to draw attention to the rather unusual facial which involves using your own blood in the platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP). But now, the healing platelets, rich in proteins and beneficial properties to help accelerate and repair tissue, bone and skin, are not just being used in the beauty industry as a way of helping you stay looking younger for longer and are being used as a way of helping numerous conditions. Pulled muscles PRP is becoming more common amongst athletes who are reporting that the growth factors in the platelets are helping to heal tendon damage with the blood being a natural healing substance and speeding up the process. Golfer Tiger Woods and tennis

player Rafael Nadal are all reported to have received PRP to help treat various problems. Arthritic knees Painkillers and keyhole surgery are the normal options for sufferers, but could blood be beneficial in treating such ailments? A study by researchers in New York reported that injecting the patients’ own blood cells into their knees reduced pain and improved function and appeared to delay the progression of osteoarthritis. As a result, some specialists are now offering PRP treatment with the blood plasma being injected into the knee to stop arthritis getting worse. Healing wounds A study last year published in the World Journal of Plastic Surgery, reported that using a patient’s blood could help heal wounds and burns. By incorporating it into a gel it is believed to not only help with the healing process, but help protect against infection on the wounds. It is also believed

to reduce the appearance of scars. Hair loss Could PRP even be used to help prevent hair loss? Some dermatologists believe so as a study found that PRP injections into the scalp appeared to slow the hair loss process. However, it is thought to work better the earlier it is used in the hair loss process. How does PRP work? Blood is taken from the patient with the platelets separated from the other blood cells before going through a centrifugation process to increase the platelet concentrations. It is these platelets that are understood to have the healing benefits with the platelet-rich plasma then injected back into the patients.

UNUSUAL FACIAL: Using your own blood.

Men living with HIV IN Spain it is estimated that between 130,000-160,000 people are living with HIV, with around 20 per cent undiagnosed. Of new cases diagnosed, eight out of 10 of them are men, aged between 29-45 years of age. These are the findings of a report on HIV and AIDS in the country made available to the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality. Up to June 30 this year, there has been a total of 3,428 new diagnoses of the virus within the Autonomous Communities, Cuenta and Melilla. This rate is similar to those of other European countries. The most common mode of transmission of HIV is through sexual relations. Transmission from drug injecting continues to decline and stood at 2.8 per cent. The report also shows a fall in the cases of the disease being detected among immigrants.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

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Sleep well at Christmas

Arthritis and the weather

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. PEOPLE with arthritis tend to complain that at this time of year damp conditions and lower temperatures cause their joints to give them more grief. Is it true that arthritis gets worse when the weather is bad? Why is that? • It’s true that people who have joint problems, whether due to a chronic condition such as arthritis or due to previous injuries, tend to find their joints are more sensitive to temperature changes and damp conditions. This is due to the fact that the joint has been permanently affected and changes in atmospheric conditions lead the tissues to expand or contract, leading to symptoms. What can be done to counteract the effects of the cold or damp on joints? • The first thing that can be done is to try not to expose yourself to brusque temperature changes or wet weather and, if you have no choice, try to protect yourself as much as possible. If in spite of this, you start to notice symptoms or they worsen, you should take further measures such as taking anti-inflammatory drugs or resting.

Can we help our joints through diet or healthy habits? • Obviously diet is fundamental to keep joints healthy. Your diet should be balanced and rich in fruit and vegetables as well as, of course, products containing calcium to help strengthen your joints and muscles. You should take care not to gain excess weight or become obese as that can cause injuries to the joints in your legs. Moderate physical exercise, such as walking for 40-60 minutes every day, can also help strengthen joints. Is arthritis hereditary? If my parents have it will I inevitably get it in the future or are there ways to avoid it appearing? • Arthritis can be caused by many different things. In some cases these can be hereditary so some people are predisposed to inherit it and cannot do much to avoid it. Luckily, though, most cases of arthritis are due to other mechanisms such as excessive wear of the joints due to misuse, so learning how to care for your joints can help avoid problems later in life.

If you have any questions for Dr Perez Belmonte, please send them to: jefemedico@helicopterossanitarios.com

HELP TO SLEEP: A book or sex? FESTIVE cheer might bypass a third of the UK population this year according to a survey from Drift Sleep, a British mattress manufacturer. Grumpiness from lack of sleep affects 28 per cent of us, so with a third of us planning to go to friends or family this festive season, Drift asked the UK’s adults what they do to get a good night’s shut-eye. More men (12 per cent)

More tablet use damaging eyesight EXCESSIVE use of technological devices such as tablets and computers is believed to be behind an increase in the cases of the eye condition presbyopia in younger people. The condition of long-sightedness is more common amongst the over 50’s and is a natural result of the aging process and wear and tear on the eye. Sufferers experience blurred vision when doing close up work or working on the computer. Now, the Eye Institute Tres Torres is reporting more cases in the younger population, of those in their late 30’s.

than women (4 per cent) say sex helps them sleep, whilst over twice as many women than men say a good book is the best way to drift off. For women it’s all about the bed as the mattress tops the list with 67 per cent saying that it’s the most important thing, followed by the pillow (65 per cent) and clean sheets (51 per cent). Men can more or less be able to sleep anywhere as op-

posed to women, but there are still things keeping them awake. Men are more likely to be affected by work worries with 17 per cent saying they can’t stop thinking about work when trying to drop off, whilst only 9 per cent of women have this problem. But when it comes to Christmas games more men than women will stay awake stressing about losing the

family game of Monopoly. Adam Black, co-founder of Drift Sleep said of the results, “With a third of the UK staying away from home this Christmas it’s important that people do all they can to get a good night’s rest. Despite the differences, it looks like what both men and women need is a comfortable bed and clean sheets, hopefully that’s not too much to ask of the relatives!”

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15 - 21 December 2016

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OCIAL

SCENE

Lloseta art, music and tapas THE council of Lloseta has sponsored the second season of the Nits Cúbiques event which combines artwork, food and music and the latest great night will be held on Saturday December 17 running from 7.30pm to late. The council

has come up with a very good idea which allows visitors and residents to enjoy a number of aspects of art and music, but with sufficient time to have decent food rather than concert snacks. First of all, there will be a display of the artwork of Dio (Asier Guerrero) who produces a range of different and challenging artwork using a number of mixed mediums including wax, spray paint and ballpoint pen. After the opening of the art show, visitors will be encouraged to

follow the local tapas and beer route until 10pm when they return to the Teatre Lloseta where the opening acts will be electronic pop group Amatria and DJ Dirty Appetite, but the highlight of the evening is bound to be the arrival on stage of La China Patino fronting the Madrid electro pop band, who are well-known for both their music and the performance of actress and dancer La China Patino. Tickets to this very unusual event cost €10 in advance or €15 on the night and for more details do visit www.teatrellose ta.com/teatre.

LA CHINA PATINO: On stage.

Photo by bSides Flickr

By John Smith

MUSIC ENSEMBLE: Including carols.

Christmas concert by the Archduke’s Consort A CANDLE-LIT concert of traditional Christmas music from Spain, England, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy will include arrangements of popular carols such as Riu riu chiu, The Angel Gabriel, the Wexford Carol, the Coventry Carol and Gaudete alongside Monteverdi’s Laudate Dominum and pieces by Kapsberger, Praetorius, Tromboncino, Guerrero and Ortiz performed by The Archduke’s Consort, an early music ensemble based in Mallorca with Fiona Stuart-Wilson (soprano), Guillermo Femenias (lute) Kepa Artetxe (violin) and Xisco Aguilo (viola da gamba and violone). The event takes place at La Capella de les Escolàpies, C/Batac 25, Soller at 7.30pm on Saturday December 17. Tickets are available on the door for €15, or advance reservations can be made by calling 971 633 370 or emailing contact@thearchdukesconsort.com.

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New Year Concert By John Smith THE world famous Strauss Festival Orchestra and Festival Dance Ensemble which has now been presented throughout Europe for the past 27 years and has been seen by an audience that exceeds five million will appear in Palma on January 2. The Palma Auditorium now stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the most prestigious of concert halls throughout Europe which include Vienna’s Musikverein, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the Philharmonie in Berlin, the Musikhalle Hamburg, the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, the Gran Teatre del Liceu and Palau Music Barcelona, the Royal Theatre and the National Music Auditorium in Madrid.

The programme is inspired by the traditional musical event that is held every year in Vienna and includes some of the best-known pieces such as the Waltz King, Napoleon, Feast of Flowers, The Emperor Waltz and Champagne. The festival will not ignore the most famous of all waltzes, the beautiful Blue Danube, or the Radetzky March that invariably closes the evening to the rhythmic hand clapping of the audience. This particular concert is always one of the most anticipated events of the musical season wherever it appears, with regular speedy sell outs and many people buying tickets to give as gifts to friends and family. Starting at 9pm, tickets cost €42, €52 and €66 and early reservation is recommended.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

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15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

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FEATURE

A Christmas Tale from Tuscany By Dario Poli THE plane landed with a soft bump at Pisa airport. I disembarked and was met by a tall blonde Italian friend by the name of Giovanni. His good looks, striking blue eyes and tall posture, reminded me more of an upstanding German officer, than the traditional stereotype view of an Italian. He greeted me warmly, confirming the various holiday arrangements he had made for my Christmas break in Tuscany. Once settled in his Alfa Romeo, with typical Italian verve, we sped rapidly out of the airport, passing the famous leaning tower and its cathedral, and headed, via an excellent motorway, into the open country, towards our final destination, the popular ski-resort of Abetone situated high in the snow-capped Apennines. To reach the resort we had to traverse through the wonderful rocky countryside of Garfagnana. Crossed by the river Serchio, Garfagnana stretches out amongst rugged hills and richly wooded valleys. Though I was familiar with this region of Tuscany, Giovanni opened my eyes to the many varied local

Christmas traditions, whilst driving at enormous speed, one hand casually on the steering wheel, the other, pointing out places of special historical interest to his petrified passenger. He navigated the car with consummate skill, racing along the much narrower winding roads as we headed towards Upper Garfagnana and the dramatic snow-capped peaks of the Apuan Alps, alluringly visible in the distance. Near Borgo Mozzano, we saw the spectacular Maddalena Bridge known as the Devil’s bridge because of its peculiar arch shape. In the middle valley of the river Serchio, nature offered us a superb show, as the road runs along the river for a while amongst chestnut groves and lush green valleys which abound, even in winter. We stopped for an espresso at Bagni di Lucca, a secluded paradise surrounded by hills and woods known as the ‘Land of princes and poets,’ due to its popularity with local and foreign poets including Byron, Lamartine, Heine and Shelly who came for inspiration and to enjoy the thermal waters in well run ‘health giving’ establishments.

Re-invigorated by the coffee, it was time to move on. Giovanni was determined to reach the ancient fortress town of Castelnuovo by the afternoon. Passing through many picturesque villages, I was finally deposited at a small hotel in the town and my dashing driver left me, with instructions to be ready for collection M ad da len a Br id ge wi early next morning, th its pe cu lia r ar ch sh ap e. which was Christmas Eve. served in a time capsule undisturbed Giovanni arrived on the dot, and medieval design. by the touch of man. took me on a winding drive up the Two large fierce-looking mules We climbed steadily upwards mountain and after one hour, he had observed our intrusion into their along a narrow muddy well-worn stopped at a lake, then led me on a world. With considerable resentment pathway in the forest for about half hike up a steep hill towards a small they jointly insisted in directing their an hour, breathing the intoxicating unnamed hamlet of about 40 houses, attentions on the impudent strangers perfume of fresh pine and sucking in perched like an eagle’s nest on a by making a beeline rapidly towards the biting pure mountain air, with the plateau high above us. us, their intentions unmistakably hosfirst falling snowflakes lightly caressIt was built in Roman times and tile. Just before impact they were ing our cheeks. was occupied by poor farmers until stopped in their tracks by a piercing Out of breath and gasping, we 1950, when they abandoned their whistle. There stood the figure of Silgratefully found ourselves standing homes in the Italian exodus to find vio, our saviour. on a narrow plateau about 200 metres prosperity in the United States. Now wide in front of an ancient church of all were empty. Locked and prePart 2 is in next week’s Euro Weekly

Part of the caste system But neither could he have returned to the Mon-

Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

IN the early days Pablo Iglesias, Podemos secretary general and one of the party’s cofounders, mocked the established parties as the political caste. This was easy when he and the party were on the outside looking in but now they’re inside. Podemos male MPs might be tieless and the women might favour bovver boots but now they are part of the system and belong to the caste. To dispel any lingering doubts, Iglesias is sidelining another Podemos co-founder, Iñigo Errejon. He wants to call all the shots and will metaphorically shoot anyone who gets in the way, a classic indicator of having taken out a lifetime subscription to caste membership.

Killing with kindness WITHOUT Albert Rivera and the Ciudadanos’ votes, Mariano Rajoy would not be president.

All due respect THE Public Safety Law, popularly called the Gagging Law and due for emasculation by the Opposition, does nothing for the government’s democratic credentials. Harsh fines for unauthorised demonstrations or ‘lack of respect’ for the authorities can be imposed by police, not the courts and the law smacks of tyranny. Rajoy argues that demolishing liberties and rights won since the Transition protects the population while the country is on high terrorist alert. Like many of his arguments, this one is specious, because the Public Safety law is clearly designed to control the public not terrorists. cloa without the PSOE party’s abstention. Rajoy should be grateful to both, although it is with the PSOE, now led by a Management Committee, that he negotiates. He has little to say to Rivera and studiously ignores Podemos while treating the PSOE as the Opposition. Not very helpful to Ciudadanos and galling to Podemos which fancied itself as

leading the Opposition. Ultimately Rajoy could damage the PSOE by alienating the militant membership which has not forgotten or forgiven secretary general Pedro Sanchez’s forced exit before the investiture abstention. A smooth PPPSOE relationship will irritate paid-up party members and lose future votes, which wily Rajoy knows well. What he’s doing is killing the PSOE with kindness.

Taxing situation THE Budget will slap more tax on vices - admittedly minor ones - like tobacco, spirits and sugary drinks, which makes a change from the past. Time was, in Spain, when vices were cheap and staples expensive.

Pablo Iglesias.

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Demolition time for some

EXCESS STOCK: It may be necessary for some properties to be demolished. By Sam Croft AT the present moment, there is a huge surplus of uninhabited homes in Spain. Most of these buildings have been languishing on the market for years, unable to find a suitable buyer. Experts in the sector are now beginning to argue that the time has come to do something about the situation, and the solution may involve a bulldozer or two.

It all started in 2008 when the crisis kicked in and the real estate bubble burst, leading to disastrous results for the Spanish property sector. Fast forward eight years and there are now thousands of these unused homes in the country, despite recent improvements in the real estate market. Juan Antonio Gomez-Pintado, president of the property developers board APCE,

has argued that it has become apparent that it is necessary for some of the excess stock to be demolished, given that it is unrealistic that it will ever be fully absorbed into the market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There still exists the possibility of selling off part of it, but in some cases the time has come to demolish it because people prefer new residences, with environmental features, made with other

materials and which have been conceived differently than buildings constructed 10 years ago,â&#x20AC;? he stated. According to data from real estate portal Servihabitat Trends, by the end of 2016 there will be around 388,000 of these uninhabited homes on the market, although the number is expected to drop to 315,000 by the end of 2017 owing to the ongoing upswing in the sector.

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Tvmedmallorca is changing viewers’ TV habits forever TVMEDMALLORCA is a company specialising in supplying IPTV for Mallorca. This is a complete UK television system delivered through the internet requiring NO dish or antenna. A small set-top box is supplied and installed in as little as 20 minutes. This connects to your existing internet service and to Tvmedmallorca’s servers to bring a top quality television service. Tvmedmallorca are based in Palma and install all over the Island, usually at very short notice, although due to the popularity for this system, they are happy to post out the set-top box to virtually anywhere in the world. It’s never been cheaper to change to Tvmedmallorca than it is now, with the monthly sub-

scription starting at €19.99, and including over 150 mainstream UK channels it certainly does represent a bargain, especially when you consider they are currently offering the box, fully installed for only €70. With two important additions to the market for Tvmedmallorca it’s easy to see why they continue to grow, they have recently added an international option. This is a system with 20 different nationalities’ TV systems

on one box. This has been developed in order to target landlords and homeowners who have property to let, the idea being that you simply select your required nationality from the menu and immediately the full system is available to enjoy. No more

multiple dishes, antennae or decoders, and of course without lengthy contracts, you only pay for the months you need the system active. The second new addition is designed for the Scandinavian community, and contains the TV from five different countries: Denmark, Swe-

den, Finland, Norway and a full complement of UK channels. This has so far proved very popular with many island residents. Tvmedmallorca’s videoclub is included with the package, and contains more than 1,600 films and TV series for your enjoyment at no extra cost, combined alongside 14 day rewind for anything you may have been unable to watch, this really does seem to be at the forefront of changing viewers’ habits forever. Tel: 971 416 565 Mob: 687 493 804 www.tvmedmallorca.com Email: tvmedmallorca@gmail.com

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When the going gets tough get plants! WHEN times are hard, surrounding ourselves with certain plants and flowers can help improve our mood and find inner harmony to carry on regardless. There are many different types and personal preference obviously plays an important

role, here are a few choices. Lily of the Valley: Gardening expert David Domoney decided to carry out an informal three-month survey to discover which plants inspired positive feelings. An amazingly large majority of those he questioned

said Lily of the valley brought them happiness, in part because the aromatic flowers brought back beloved memories. Geranium: Masses of richly coloured flowers have always helped cheer people up, but the soft aroma of the geranium

plant (similar to that of roses) has also been found to encourage peace of mind. English ivy and fern: Both purify the air, helping easier breathing and peace of mind. Lavender: The smell reduces anxiety. Although lighting a scented candle could bring the same results, the natural fragrance of fresh lavender permanently scents the air for a more constant effect. Roses: A study by the Journal of Physiological Anthropology revealed office workers who looked at roses felt more relaxed and comfortable. Orchids: One of life’s most accessible luxuries, orchids have been favoured in Feng Shui for increasing positive energy within a room. They flower all year round, bringing a touch of colour which can improve even the darkest mood in the winter months. Rosemary: Rosemary has symbolised many things over the years from memories to inner peace probably due to the smell of the plant, which encourages memories of summer days.

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Dogs & Dogs: An Aladdin’s cave WALKING into Dogs & Dogs you expect another conventional pet shop but what you immediately encounter is an Aladdin’s cave, a wondrous variety of pet accessories with everything from toys to treats, to sprays for fleas. This is in addition to the usual pet products, such as leads, collars, beds, transport boxes, brushes, jackets, coats, food bowls, shampoos and numerous varieties of food. Dogs & Dogs has a special grooming service, run by Jenny, offering a transport service, where your pet can be picked upfrom your home and returned safely after the grooming is complete. At the back of the shop there is a dozen or so water tanks full of beautiful coloured goldfish and turtles. There is also a wide range of animals for sale, including tortoises, rabbits, hamsters and even parrots. Many promotional discounts up to 50 per cent are available on food products, toys and other accessories. Owner Miguel will celebrate his 25th anniversary in this fantastic pet shop next year.

WONDROUS VARIETY: Of products can be found in the shop. His two assistants, Esperanza and Rosa, are both friendly and informative and are only too pleased to answer any questions or enquiries that you may have. Dogs & Dogs is situated on the main high street, Jaime 1, (opposite Eroski ) in Santa Ponsa, where parking is very easy.

Miguel also has another shop in Sa Coma. Avda Las Palmeras s/n- Galeria Eroski. Opening hours: 9.30 – 14.00 16.30 – 20.00 Monday to Friday Saturday 9.30 – 14.00 Email: info@dogsanddogs.com

NEXT YEAR: Is the 25th anniversary.

Sebastian loves to follow Bragi around the house AS cats go, Sebastian is a pretty loyal friend. Certainly according to Bragi one of our house-sitters who loves to petsit in Spain to escape Winter in his native Iceland. He met his new friend after answering a housesit assignment advert on

Hous eSitMatch.com. A British couple living in Orihuela Costa were looking for an experienced pet-sitter to care for their cat while they took a long winter holiday. They preferred to have someone at home caring for him

where he would be relaxed and comfortable. Sebastian an independent soul, likes company, and if he takes to someone he just follows them around. After a couple of days in Bragi’s company, Sebastian began to shadow his

house-sitter. They seemed to get on well. Then one day Bragi noticed Sebastian in the street, following him down the road to the local pub. He turned around and collected him to take him home and put him indoors.

This kept happening and became something of a ritual between pet and pet-sitter. Almost as if Sebastian just needed to know Bragi would accompany him home for safety! Do you need a sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free

house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner now with a 20 per cent off introductory offer using coupon code PER FECT20. Visit www.Housesit Match.com.

SEBASTIAN: An independent soul, who likes company.

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That Zonda really! It’s like a lion in orange dungarees. Kind of fierce, but ridiculous all at the same time.” Some might say...

A Ferrari good cause By Matthew Elliott THE very last LaFerrari ever to be produced has done its bit to help victims of the catastrophic earthquakes which struck central Italy earlier this year. It has sold at a charity auction in the United States for a spectacular €6.5 million, with all

LAFERRERI: Can reach 100kph in under three seconds.

Outstanding Ford S-Max THERE are plenty of midsized family MPVs available and most have individual plus points, but the big question is which one presents itself as the best all-rounder. One model which has outstanding credentials is the Ford S-Max, which in its latest guise is arguably the smartest looking. It comes in three trim levels, all well equipped, offers a choice of four diesel and two petrol engines, manual or auto gearboxes, and its cabin has an upmarket feel. The only significant downside to the S-Max CV is it’s not the cheapest to buy, nor the most fuel-efficient, though it does atone with superior driving dynamics. S-Max prices start at £21,895 (€29,161) and even entry level cars get Ford’s new SYNC 2 infotainment system,17-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, keyless entry and push-button start and a DAB radio. Despite its bulk it has a light, agile feel and i it rides and handles better than most sevenseater MPVs.

the proceeds going towards rebuilding efforts. Ferrari had given the car to auction overlords Sotheby’s in August just days after the 6.2 magnitude quake

killed almost 300 people across the Umbrian region. Sotheby’s did what they do best and arranged a classic auction with a powerful PR team to help sell the 500th and final LaFerrari built, which will have a special plaque embedded in the finish

to pay tribute to the victims. With production from 2013-2015, it has now become the most expensive car built in the 21st century ever to be sold at auction, commanding the highest ever price from Italy. With a top speed of 350kph, LaFerrari can reach 100kph in under three seconds and is the fastest road legal vehicle the Italian manufacturer has ever produced.

Motoring shorts

UK to face legal action THE European Commission is to initiate legal proceedings against the UK & Spain for failing to enforce environmental regulations during the Volkswagen ‘Dieselgate’ scandal. Britain, alongside Germany and as many as seven other countries, will now have to justify its reasons for failing to adhere to European Union law which requires governments to take action against environmental breaches. Volkswagen used cheat devices on its cars in order to pass emissions tests, a clear violation of European law, and Brussels is of the opinion that certain governments failed to take sufficient action in the wake of the scandal. The EU will now issue formal notices to the offending nations, with individual cases to be shifted to European courts should they fail to receive adequate responses.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

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BOATS Photo Credit: pilot-micha flickr

Monkey boat Mallorca.

Difficulty in policing party boats By John Smith BACK in August of this year, the Balearic government passed legislation which was intended to protect areas which have been designated as National Parks and other marine areas which are considered to be ecologically endangered. One of the main targets for this protec-

tion were the numerous party boats which cruise around the islands making plenty of noise, seeing passengers getting drunk and often jumping into the waters, although the legislation was also aimed at owners of superyachts who visited the areas for picnics. Now the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration in Madrid has indicated that the local legislation is contrary to national

law as any restriction has to show a direct link between the land and the sea suffering ecological damage. A report is being produced to see which areas can be policed locally and which are the responsibility of the national government and it is hoped that this matter can be settled to the satisfaction of all parties without the need for it to go to court.

The Balearic government has indicated that it will change legislation if absolutely necessary but does believe that areas within National Parks should be the responsibility of the national government, who should arrange enforcement in order to allow those who wish to visit the areas to enjoy the peace and quiet rather than be assaulted by loud music and noisy behaviour.

THE first weekend in December saw a total of 20 superyachts calling in at Gibraltar as the flow of these prestigious vessels from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean reached its peak. At one point, no less than 19 yachts were either alongside one of the berths at the new Mid Harbours Marina, the commercial harbour, a private marina or in the anchorage. CEO and Captain of the Port Bob Sanguinetti commented that “the new berths at Mid Harbours, improved infrastructure, competitively priced fuel,

and a concerted marketing effort in this niche sector are clearly placing Gibraltar firmly on the superyacht map.” The Minister for Maritime Affairs, Gilbert Licudi QC added he was “delighted with the Port of Gibraltar gaining a higher profile across the superyacht community. “With crew changes, re-provisioning, bunkering and the wide range of attractions available to these discerning visitors, it is good to see so many of these impressive looking vessels making use of the facilities on offer.”

Photo Credit: Vendée Globe Facebook

Gibraltar sees a record number of superyachts

RACE ABANDONED: RIB sets off to rescue Kito De Pavant.

Vendée Globe Race continues WITH seven yachts out of the Vendée Globe Race, the single Spanish competitor Didac Costa found himself languishing in last place but one and some six thousand nautical miles behind the race leader, but he is still in there and fighting. Third pla c e le a de r a nd one of the ra c e fa vourit es Frenchman Sébastien Josse had to abandon the race off the coast of Australia as his yacht was damaged, but fellow countryman Kito De Pavant suffered so much damage to his vessel that he had to be evacuated by the crew of the French research and supply ship the Marion Dufresne 2 as

it was no longer safe for him to remain on board Bastide Otio. Whilst a great deal of time and energy was put into preparing these yachts for the challenge, the seas are their own masters and damage cannot be avoided if the weather suddenly changes and there is little doubt that other vessels will suffer over the coming weeks. At the time of writing, Armel Le Cléac’h in Banque Populaire VIII was leading second place British skipper Alex Thomson in Hugo Boss by just 150 nautical miles with more than 12,000 still to be covered.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Mallorca

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SPORT

Vardy helps spank Man City and Kohli smashes England Tony Matthews International Sports A former player and now the world’s most prolific author of football books with almost 150 published since 1975, Tony is also the sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio and lives on La Pilica in the Sierra Cabrera Mountains overlooking Turre. Costa de Almeria

WITH Christmas approaching fast, there’s no respite whatsoever for sports-minded people, competitors and fans alike, with continuous action in football, Rugby Union and horse racing, the 5th

and final cricket Test between India and England, the International Horse Show at Olympia and the PDG World Championship Darts in London all coming up. FOOTBALL: * A week ago, Dundalk and Southampton were eliminated from the Europa League but Manchester United progressed to the knockout stage. Leicester crashed 5-0 at FC Porto in their final Champions League Group game while Tottenham’s European campaign ended with a 3-1 win over CSKA Moscow. Meanwhile, Celtic drew 1-1 at Manchester City, Arsenal whipped Basel 4-1,

Barcelona beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0, Real Madrid were held 2-2 by Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0. * Recent PL results were Leicester 4 (with a Jamie Vardy hat-trick) Manchester City 2; Arsenal 3 Stoke 1; Burnley 3 Bournemouth 2; Chelsea 1 (another Diego Costa goal) WBA 0; Hull 3 Crystal Palace 3; Swansea 3 Sunderland 0; Watford 3 Everton 2; Manchester United 1 Spurs 0; Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 0 and Liverpool 2 West Ham 2. Chelsea’s win was their ninth on the trot in the PL. * Championship leaders Newcastle claimed an emphatic 4-0 win over inconsistent Birmingham, Derby County beat Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands clash and Wolves drew 4-4 with Reading. There were also vital wins for Brighton (against Leeds United), Huddersfield Town and

KOHLI: Captained India to a formidable win.

JOSHUA: Defended his heavyweight title.

Steve Bruce’s improving Aston Villa. * In La Liga, Real Madrid lead Barcelona by six points (37-31) with Sevilla third (26). Last Saturday, Sergio Ramos headed a dramatic injury time goal for Real Madrid who created a new club record of 35 matches unbeaten with a 3-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna. And just six points cover the top five teams in Serie ‘A’ with Juventus (top on 36) followed by Roma 32, AC Milan 32, Napoli 31 and Lazio 30. * After the midweek games involving BournemouthLeicester and Everton-Arsenal on Tuesday and Crystal Palace-Manchester United, Middlesbrough-Liverpool, Stoke-

Southampton, SunderlandChelsea-Spurs-Hull and WBA-Swansea last night, the top matches coming up over the weekend are Crystal Palace-Chelsea, Everton-Liverpool, Manchester City-Arsenal, Tottenham-Burnley, WBA-Manchester United and West Ham-Hull. In the Championship we have Birmingham-Brighton, Burton-Newcastle, NorwichHuddersfield, Nottingham Forest-Wolves and QPR-Aston Villa; it’s ChesterfieldBolton, ScunthorpeMillwall and Walsall-Bradford City in FL1 and Accrington-Plymouth, Carlisle-Yeovil, DoncasterGrimsby and PortsmouthHartlepool in FL2. * Crewe Alexandra director and former manager Dario Gradi has been suspended pending an FA investigation concerning

VARDY: Hattrick helped Leicester win.

claims he ‘smoothed over’ a complaint of sexual assault against a Chelsea scout in the 1970s. CRICKET: * India thrashed England by an innings and 36 runs in the fourth Test in Mumbai to clinch the series with three wins. Debutant Keaton Jennings scored 112 in England’s first innings total of 400 but bagged a first-ball duck in the second which saw the tourists dismissed for 195. India’s captain Virat Kohli smashed 235 and Murali Vijay scored 136 as

the hosts posted a formidable 631 with England’s Advil Raschid taking four wickets for 191. The final Test starts in Chennai tomorrow. RUGBY UNION: * England captain Dylan Hartley was sent off six minutes after coming on in the second half as Northampton lost 37-10 to Leinster in the Champions Cup… dismissed for a swinging arm on Sean O’Brien in the 58th minute. BOXING: * Britain’s Anthony Joshua successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title with a thirdround stoppage of Eric Molina in Manchester. Joshua, who decked the American before the referee waved the bout, has 18 knockouts to his name from as many fights and will face former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley next April. * On the same Manchester bill, Dillian Whyte beat Dereck Chisora on a split decision in a WBC heavyweight title eliminator, Britain’s Khalid Yafai won the WBA super-flyweight title and Katie Taylor won her second professional fight. CHEATS: * It’s believed over 1,000 Russians - including Olympic medallists - benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015. Lawyer Richard McLaren said: “It was a cover-up that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy and covered 30 different sports with London 2012 being corrupted on an unprecedented scale.” McLaren’s report also implicates medallists at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and it seems as if salt and coffee were used to manipulate Russian samples. Indeed, the system was refined over the course of the 2012 Olympics, 2013 Worlds and Winter Olympics to protect likely Russian medal winners.

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SERGIO RAMOS headed in a dramatic injury time goal for Real Madrid who created a new club record of 35 matches unbeaten.

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Baleares Girls v UCD Zaragoza A TEAM from the University of Zaragoza came to spend the weekend in Mallorca with a friendly match against the Baleares Girls team as a highlight. The home team came out flying and, even after some fumbling, put a try down in the first few minutes. The visiting girls took a while to settle into their routine but managed a few long runs with the ball, coming close to the try line. The Baleares girls pushed hard but Zaragoza also worked hard and managed to put their first points on the board. The game continued with both teams making scoring chances that were prevented by the opposition defence. A second try came for Baleares just before the first break taking the score to 10 points to five. A team talk during the break paid dividends as the Baleares girls were much better organised during the second part and another try added to their lead. More accurate passing and support within both teams added to the exciting game. Two more tries were scored by the Baleares girls, the last one converted, taking the score to 27 points to five. As the Zaragoza team were short of players, girls from the Baleares selection

Gabriel Rado, Sabrina Formigo.

The girls play in a friendly match

FRIENDLY MATCH: The Baleares girls tackle Zaragoza. A try for the Baleares girls. took turns to play for the opposition and all joined in with the ‘tercer tiempo’ as the local girls entertained their visitors. Senior League Shamrock RC beat Ibiza RFC at home in Son Roca, giving them their second win of

the season. Coming Up Next Weekend Senior League matches next weekend; El Toro RC has an early start as they head to Menorca for their match against TRUC Menorca. Bahia RC is at home to Shamrock RC, RC Ponent play CR Escolar Capdepera in Principes de España and Union RFC are hosts

to visiting Ibiza RC. Kick off on Saturday at 4pm at the football ground in Puerto de Pollensa. Corsaris RFC are hosting a Rugby Day for the younger categories at the Sports Centre in Pollensa beginning at 12 noon for the U6, U8, U10 and U12, followed by the U14 and U16. The U18 teams will play before the Senior match in Puerto Pollensa.