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Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 28 November - 4 December 2013 Issue 1482

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ISSUE NO. 1482

EWN FRONT EXTRA

More cash for flights THE budget to fund half the cost of plane tickets for residents in the Balearic and Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla travelling to the mainland will be increased in 2014 by 27 per cent to ₏342 million.

Gas deaths A GERMAN man, 50, and his cat were found dead in bed at his home in Andratx. Guardia Civil believe their deaths were due to a gas leak.

28 NOVEMBER - 4 DECEMBER 2013

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Retail sales rise in the Balearic Islands THE Balearics led the way for retail sales last month, with an 8.1 per cent rise on the same month in 2012. Employment in the retail sector also increased by 0.8 per cent, according to the National Institute of Statistics, meaning the islands showed some of the best results in Spain for the month, beaten only by the Canaries. At a national level, retail sales fell by 0.6 per cent in October and employment in the sector by 1.9 per cent. They had risen in September for the first time in more than three years, but now the summer season is over, small businesses have seen

sales drop. Throughout Spain, the only retailers which saw sales rise in October were large chains, and the

worst affected were those in large shopping centres, with sales down by 1.8 per cent.


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Immigrant death row rumbles on PLAINTIFFS in the case of the death of Senegalese immigrant Alpha Pam in April have accused the prosecutor’s office of protecting senior government officials. The public prosecutor asked a judge to shelve the complaint, considering that it has been promoted for political reasons and that four of the five crimes which the charges refer to never happened. Those backing the case against four senior government officials in the Health department are the associations Human Rights Mallorca, Senegalese in Mallorca, ASEMA, and unions CGT and UGT in the Balearic Islands. They claim there is no political motivation behind their complaint

NEWS

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THIS WEEK IN

EWN News 1 - 14

Finance 15 - 20

Letters 21

Daily TV 24

Leapy Lee ALPHA PAM: Claims he was refused medical care. and that it is based on behaviour that ‘affects the violation of human rights of a large number of people whose health is put at risk.’ Alpha Pam’s death from tuberculosis became a cause célèbre after claims he was refused medical care. However, according to

his relatives, the illegal immigrant was not turned away and was treated - but for the wrong thing. His family says that he was seen at Inca Hospital which referred him to the Health Centre in Can Picafort, where he was treated for bronchitis.

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Time out 38 - 39

Classifieds 50 - 53

Sport 56


NEWS House fire FIREMEN were required to put out a blaze in a house in Calle Son Moix, Palma, which began when the curtains and some pieces of furniture caught fire. No takers ONLY one person went to the exam to be a horse and carriage driver in Palma which was organised by the city hall. The exam included fitting an emergency horseshoe.

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28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

Customs cause port delays PASSENGERS arriving at Palma Port faced long queues and delays for both vehicles and foot passengers recently. Both from the sea and on land, the Customs Control Service put in place a major operation at the port to check ferries and cruise ships,

asking all passengers and crew for their documentation. The delays also affected buses and other traffic within the port. According to the Port Authorities, they had no knowledge that the operation was due to be carried out and they are unaware what led to the order, reportedly from Madrid.

Many passengers from cruise ships complained as they were not able to go on planned trips. Such a large operation of this kind had never been seen at Palma Port. It was also surprising as it came just hours after the Balearic Government announced the islands were being promoted as an ideal cruise destination.

€20,000 booty TWO people were arrested for allegedly stealing furniture and electrical goods worth €20,000 from a house in Puigpunyent. Marihuana was found in one of their homes. Boys examined A FORENSIC pshycologist for Palma court has examined two youths, aged 18 and 19, accused of killing the father of one of them in June. Lines down SPAIN was without emergency phone lines for an hour due to a fault. In the Balearic Islands, alternative numbers were used to contact the emergency services. Drunk drivers LOCAL POLICE arrested a drunk driver who collided with another vehicle in Palma. The other driver was also drunk and was fined.

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Violent daughter A JUDGE in Palma has ordered that a girl, 16, be sent to a centre for minors after stabbing her father in the chest and injuring her mother.

Severe scar

Huge pothole FIREMEN and Local Police in Palma had to partially close the Plaza de Abu Yahya to traffic after a large pothole, 15-metres deep, appeared in the road. Thieves detained FIVE people were arrested in Palma for allegedly stealing items from cars parked at the Colomer viewpoint in Puerto Pollensa by forcing open the doors.

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A MAN has been sentenced to three years in prison for causing serious face injuries to another with a broken bottle during a fight in Palma in 2010.

Yacht sinks HOME TOWN: The winery was founded in 1879 in Haro, La Rioja.

Best in the world Spanish wine wins coveted title

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SPANISH wine has been named the best in the world by specialist magazine Wine Spectator. The winning Rioja, the Imperial Gran Reserva 2004 from the CVNE winery, is the first Spanish wine to top the list, according to the executive director of Wine Spectator, Thomas Matthews. This year, their critics have analysed 25,000 wines, testing the quality, price, availability and the emotional factor. Second on the list was a Bordeaux, the 2010 Chateau Canon-La Gaffeliere, and third was Evestad’s 2010 Domaine Serene from Oregon, USA. The CVNE Gran Reserva 2004, of which 4,000 crates were produced, got 95 points out of 100, meaning it is readily available, and costs the equivalent of €46 in the USA, which is not considered to be expensive. Critics said it reaches the balance between tradition and modernity, which they believe is what people want nowadays. It is made with Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano grapes and matured in barrels of American and French oak. The winery was founded in 1879 in Haro, Rioja, S_BUKLEY / La SHUTTERSTOCK .COM and has belonged to the same family for five

Quote of the Week They go to Germany to clean backsides’

Maximo Gonzalez, President of the General Nursing Council, regarding the situation of hundreds of Spanish nurses who have gone to find work in Germany and are given the lowest possible positions.

Exams fixed TWO Local Police officers in Palma are under investigation for allegedly fixing entrance exams at the San Fernando police station.

Grow shop LOCAL POLICE located a marihuana sales point at a grow shop in Palma. There were more than 150 plants found inside.

A CORKER: Imperial Gran Reserva 2004 from the CVNE winery. generations. Its full name is the Wine Company of Northern Spain. The labels show CVNE written as ‘Cune’. Haro has some 12,000 inhabitants and it is known to have been the first Spanish city to have electric lighting in all its streets in the 1890s, not long after Paris or London.

Number of the week

2.7

IN Andratx Port a German yacht was split in half by storms and sank. The owner hired divers to salvage the pieces from the water.

per cent is how much petrol prices fell in October, dropping to the lowest average price this year, €1.412 per litre on the mainland and in the Balearic Islands, according to the National Markets and Competition Committee’s monthly report.

Flying car A CAR hit a bus in Son Rapinya, Palma, after hitting the central reservation and going over the top into oncoming traffic. Four people were slightly injured.

And finally... The winner of this month’s logo competition is William Pragt from Costa Blanca North chosen at random by Richard from The Bull & Bear. William takes home €100. How many EWN logos like this can YOU find in this week’s paper? Visit www.euroweeklynews.com to answer, for a chance to win €100 each month! All correct answers will also go into a Christmas draw for a gift voucher to spend on local businesses.


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Two cops and a robber rescued FIREMEN came to the rescue of an alleged burglar and two police officers who had arrested him on the balcony of a hotel in Palma. A security guard who was in the car park alerted the police that a man, 28, had accessed the hotel in the early hours of the morning. They all got to the

balcony by climbing up the outside of the building, as the hotel was closed to the public, and the burglar had forced open the window to enter one of the rooms. He stole five ashtrays and a candle. After finding themselves unable to get back down, they had to call the firemen who used a ladder to rescue them.

Swans return home TWO pairs of swans which during the summer travelled from Andratx Port to sa Calobra will be returned to their original home. The swans have been taken to the Consortium for the Recovery of Balearic Islands Fauna at Natura Park, because of fears they endangered the Mallorca midwife toads in the area. GOING HOME: After their summer travels.

NEWS Thief returns for goods A SUSPECTED thief facing criminal charges who was released from custody came back later to ask for the return of items which had been seized from him. The man, 40, who has a criminal record, was arrested by National Police in Palma when he was driving a van containing tools and other items and was unable to explain where they had come from. He was charged with theft and taken before a judge. He was released with charges. However, he returned an hour later and asked for the items which he had allegedly stolen and which had been confiscated by the police. Civil servants initially thought he had forgotten his personal belongings and could not believe it when he asked for the stolen goods.


NEWS

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28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

Winter is now coming DRASTIC changes to weather temperatures in Mallorca this autumn have sent locals running for their wellies. Rainfall has barely stopped for the past week, with the equivalent of four months of November rain in just one week. “About a week ago, a mass of cold air came in from the Arctic, causing a cyclone that has

RAIN: Barely stopped. persisted,” explained Miquel Angel Gili, from the Regional Meteorological Agency. “We have been

lucky that October and November have been so warm, but when the lower temperatures arrived, a

clash of air masses resulted in the storm we experienced.” The rain is expected to continue until at least Sunday. The strongest wind and rain and lowest temperatures were registered yesterday in Escorca. There were 80.8 litres of rainfall per square metre, with winds of up to 62 kilometres an hour and temperatures as low as 1.7 degrees Celsius.

Cockfighting gypsy squatters THE plight of locals in a Palma neighbourhood who have been left living in fear after a group of squatters took over their building has featured on national TV. Crews from CUATRO filmed residents who said they have been subjected to threats and assaults by the squatters. Apartments within the building in sa Indioteria had been left deserted after a bank repossessed them. One of the neighbours, Estrella, said she had been pounced upon by several squatters when she was heading to her apartment. She was beaten up and left badly injured, she told the TV crew, which was

investigating problems in the community. “When I least expected it, they grabbed me, pushed me to the floor and started kicking my head, arms and ribs,” she said and was left needing to wear a neck brace. Estrella and two neighbours are constantly harassed by the squatters and fear they will set fire to the building one day, claimed the show. It also alleged that some gypsy families who are squatting in the building held cockfights and parties into the early hours. Now Local and National Police have pledged to hold a meeting to try and find a solution to the problems.

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NEWS

Alleged abuser faces six years A MAN aged 55 is facing six years jail accused of abusing two girls in Port d’Alcudia. The accused, who will be judged by the provincial court, allegedly went to a

park where he grabbed a 10-year-old girl by the hip and kissed her several times. He asked the victim not to tell anyone “because it was a secret.” According to prosecution documents, 20 days later the man grabbed another girl, aged nine, in the same park. He held her by the wrist and trapped her on a bench where he touched her intimately for half an PALMA City Hall has set aside €125,000 to pay the hour. electricity and water bills for needy families. The prosecutor considers The City Hall’s social services have set aside 58 per these events constitute a cent more than last year to pay the bills for families in double sexual abuse crime financial crisis. In 2012, just €79,000 was spent helping and is asking for a threethe poor meet bills. year prison sentence for “It’s a remarkable increase,” pointed out the Secretary each crime, as well as a of the Government team, Ana Ferriol. She also said that restraining order to keep the budget for emergency economic donations, him away from his alleged including payment of power and water bills, for 2014 victims. totals €3.9 million. The suspect was arrested However, the local opposition socialist party said this by the Guardia Civil shortly is not enough to guarantee help in the payment of bills after the second event. He for the poorest. “The Local Government should approve has been released to await a poverty prevention plan to avoid scarcity and dearth trial, but is banned from situations,” said Maribel Gonzalez, opposition secretary. approaching either girl.

Help for needy in desperate times


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Jewels taken from elderly THREE people have been arrested accused of robbing two women aged 100 and 93 at their Palma home. Police sources said that a man covered with a hood and a scarf, burst into the women’s home late at night. He then locked the two ladies in the bathroom before stealing jewels and valuables valued at ₏5,000. The victims, who suffered several cuts during the assaults. The Assaults department

from the National Police managed to solve the case in less than 48 hours. The detectives suspected the robber had previous information about the house and where the jewels were located. So they tailed a woman who had worked as a maid for the women and caught her apparently trying to sell the objects in a pawnshop. The maid and her sister, Spanish nationals aged 20 and 22, and a Colombian man, 26, were arrested.

NEWS

Still living at home JUST 32.5 per cent of people aged 29 and under in the Balearics have left their family home. The rest are still living with their parents. The lack of job opportunities and the economic situation in the Balearic Islands is making it difficult for young people to fly the nest. According to a recent survey by the Gadeso Foundation, the 45 per cent unemployment rate for people aged between 16 and 29 is largely to blame for the situation. The number of youngsters in Balearics moving out of the family home has fallen three points from 2012. Spain as a whole is one of the European countries with the highest numbers of 16 to 29-year-olds still living at home.


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NEWS

Prison threat for prostitution gang A NETWORK which allegedly drugged and forced young women into prostitution is currently on trial at Palma Provincial Court. A total of 11 people have been accused of being part of this criminal ring, and are facing a total of 155 years in prison. The case was uncovered after a young girl, aged 16, died of a drug overdose on September 25, 2011. On investigating the incident, police

discovered a network which forced teenage girls to work for them as prostitutes at the intersection between Calle Pascual Ribot and Avenida San Fernando. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the main accused, a woman aged 36, won the victims’ trust by becoming their ‘friend’. She gained control over the girls by introducing them to cocaine. After that, she got in touch with men who would pay to have sexual relationships with the victims, the Prosecutor’s Office added. At least four girls, one of them mentally impaired, fell prey to the network. Three of the men accused said they didn’t know one of the girls was mentally impaired. Likewise, two of the other defendants said Fighting cancer they had had sexual relationships with the girls on 971 708 664 or 609 but did not know they 848 622. were underage.

Charity event CALA NOVA CANCER CARE is organising a charity event on December 12 at Hotel Lindner in Bendinat. There will be a welcome cava, buffet lunch with water and wine, and choir and Stevie Wray singing, all for €30. Call for reservations

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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NEWS EXTRA

Fined for walking dog A MAN has been fined €3,300 for walking his dog, an American Staffordshire, on the streets of Marratxi with no licence, no ID microchip and no muzzle.

Pension rise THE average retirement pension in the Balearic Islands in November is €902.18 a month, 3.6 per cent more than last year.

Drivers hurt TWO drivers were admitted to hospital after an accident on the crossing between Avenida America and Carretera Militar in S’Arenal. The women sustained neck injuries.

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Local company gives a helping hand to charity A LOCAL company has been instrumental in connecting two charities in order to help the needy in the UK. Haulage firm Webbs Removals agreed to transport a donation of winter clothing by non-profit organisation World Peace Sales to the UK.

The Mallorca-based organisation has donated 400 items of clothing worth more than €15,000 to Hope and Aid Direct, a UK charity that distributes aid across the world. “Without the help of Webbs Removals this would not have been possible, as transportation costs are expensive. I can’t thank them enough for their help,” said World Peace Sales CEO Mark Grimston.

Scooter gang broken up

WINTER CLOTHING: The donated goods include sweatshirts and teddy bears for children.

Cat problem in Palma A CAT colony in and around the Krekovic museum in the Llevant industrial park of Palma is causing conflict in the area. A neighbours’ association has been accused of trying to kill the 14 animals living in the controlled colony, which is allowed by the city hall, and looked after by some locals. The association has reported a ‘filth problem, bad odours and

fleas, especially in the summer,’ which it says it wants to avoid. But an animal’s rights association has accused them of trying to poison the cats. “We don’t abuse animals, we’re only asking the city hall to relocate the colony to another place where they’re not a nuisance to the neighbours,” said the president of the association Mari Carmen Bueno.

NEWS

Members of the neighbours’ association have lodged a complaint against the animal rights association’s accusations, which they consider part of a campaign to discredit them. In addition, they have asked both the city hall and the regional government to take part in the conflict as they give permits for cat colonies in ‘inappropriate locations.’

NINE people have been arrested in Palma for allegedly belonging to a gang that specialised in stealing scooters. The youngsters have been accused of stealing at least 43 vehicles, disassembling them and using the pieces to repair and illegally sell other scooters. The accused reportedly stole to order, stealing a required model of scooter by breaking their padlocks and forcing the handlebars. They then disassembled them in an establishment they used as a garage, leaving the chassis in an abandoned plot. The pieces were assembled again in scooters not reported as stolen which were then sold. So far National Police officers have recovered 19 scooters.


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NEWS

Get more out of living in Spain THE British Embassy has set up two new social media sites to help expatriates. British people living in Spain can now use the channels to engage with fellow residents, as well as to find news and advice from the Embassy and its partners who support Britons abroad. The new channels - ‘Brits living in Spain’ on Facebook

and @BritsliveSpain on Twitter - let residents search for and share useful tips and experiences, thus enabling the 800,000strong British community to better help each other and make more of Spanish life. The launch by the Embassy of these social media channels coincides with the first official visits

this week by the new British Ambassador Simon Manley to Malaga, Alicante and Barcelona - and ahead of visits to the Spanish islands.

Mr Manley said: “These days, whether we are young, or just young at heart, we are all going digital. Our new Facebook and Twitter channels are the perfect way for Brits living in Spain to get more information about the issues that matter, and to comment on them so that we can engage better with our nationals living abroad. “I would really encourage Brits in Spain to search out our new channels, ‘like’ or ‘follow’ them, and reap the benefits of a new way of communicating with each other and with us.” The new social media channels are regularly updated with useful, independent information tailored to local demand, and will provide open forums for residents to engage with fellow Britons across Spain. • HOW TO JOIN: Facebook: Go to www.facebook.com. If you don’t already have an account you will be prompted to create one. Search for ‘Brits living in Spain’ and once on the webpage, click on ‘like.’ Twitter: Go to www.twitter.com and sign in or create an account using your email address. Search for @BritsliveSpain and then click on ‘follow.’ You can also follow the Ambassador by searching on www.twitter.com for @SimonManleyFCO and clicking on ‘follow.’


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ALMERÍA

Call for help FARMERS are calling for help after a heavy hail and rain storm in the Poniente area of Almeria caused €32 million of damage. The storm affected mainly the area to the north of El Ejido where many greenhouses were destroyed and roads flooded.

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News from our editions With six editions and read by more than half a million people, EWN is Spain’s largest free local English-language newspaper

MORE Benidorm students are taking the bus each day to Alicante University. They can no longer afford to rent flats in the city, the ABEU students’ association explained. ALICANTE: The number of homeless has increased by 21 per cent.

THE International Photography Contest ‘Almeria Tierra de Cine,’ will be contested by 30 images showing film locations in the province of Almeria. The competition is one of the activities of the XII International Short Film Festival of Almeria (Almeria en Corto) which starts next week.

Alicante’s homeless cause big problem

Grammy winner

THE Caritas charity has said the number of homeless people in Alicante has increased by 21 per cent during 2013. There are twice as many women living on the streets and triple the number of young people aged from 18 to 25 that were registered last year. Caritas is now helping more than 2,000 of the 3,500 homeless people, with the rest being helped by other charity associations in the area. Charo Moreno, from Caritas who works with the homeless, explained that lots of these people are in this situation because they were evicted from their homes by the banks: “The biggest problem is that the people living in these conditions are normally affected by more diseases, which increases the risk of social exclusion.” She added it is more difficult for them to get medical assistance because most are non-registered foreigners and 60 per cent do not have a medical card. Caritas says their life expectancy is 20 years below the rest of the population.

Tummy ache A MAN was arrested aboard the Melilla to Almeria ferry and was later found to have 168 pellets of hashish in his stomach.

AXARQUIA

Lucky ticket A CITIZEN from Motril has won €180,000 on the Spanish Gordo de la Primitiva prize. The luck keeps flowing in Granada after another citizen from Almuñecar won €100 million two weeks ago on the Euromillions.

Hall and a tribute to victims were some of the events celebrated on Monday, the International Day against Gender Violence in Nerja.

Religious objects

NEIGHBOURS from Motril went to bed with their streets painted with white lines and when they woke up, there were blue lines everywhere. They are not happy that 222 parking spaces in the neighbourhood have been made pay spots.

RELIGIOUS objects given to VelezMalaga by Queen Isabel are on display at the Semana Santa museum. It is the first time in 40 years that these 15th century religious pieces, have been put on display.

Stolen fruits NINE people have been arrested and 24 charged following Guardia Civil and National Police operations to put an end to thefts on rural plantations.

Against violence AN institutional ceremony at Nerja Town

THERE are more than 20 schools in Malaga City working to promote the integration of disabled people. They have joined a campaign called ‘Put yourself in my place’ and will teach primary and secondary school pupils about different types of disability.

Home again

ALMERIA CITY COUNCIL has been honoured with the ‘Menina’ award of Andalucia for the ‘UNETE’ campaign against violence towards women.

ALMERIA guitarist Jose Fernandez Torres, ‘Tomatito,’ won an award at the Grammy Latino 2013 in the best album category for flamencan music for his album ‘Soy flamenco.’

In their shoes

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Violence ‘no’

Happy snappers

NEWS DESK

Blue zone

COSTA DEL SOL

Top cop A LOCAL POLICE officer from Cartama won second place in the Mister Model category of the Mister Universe Championship of the World Amateur Body Building Association held in Germany.

Mother’s milk SINCE 2012, Malaga Children’s Hospital has run a programme by which breastfeeding women can donate milk for babies at risk whose mothers are unable to feed them.

New museum THE Contemporary Art Centre in Mijas will have more than 400 works by artists such as Picasso, Dali, George Braque, etc, belonging to the Remedios Medina Collection.

On the streets MORE than 100 people permanently live on the streets of Malaga City, according to Catholic charity ‘Caritas’ and other associations which work to help them. The associations have said that 60 per cent of these people have health problems.

More jobs BENIDORM hotels provided 5,156 direct jobs last October, 100 more than in October 2012. This was the first personnel increase since hotel occupancy began to rise earlier this year.

Fundraiser THE Alicante Cerebral Palsy Association (APCA) is organising its eighth national horse-jumping competition in Muchamiel from December 6-8. Funds raised will help build a new residence for young local patients.

Dog fight fears JAVEA animal shelter was broken into for the third time since September. No dogs were missing but owners of fight dogs are thought to want them as ‘sparring partners.’

Fast work THE Alicante-Madrid high speed train ‘stole’ 110,000 air passengers between June and October. Iberia Express was worst hit by the frequent and cheap AVE service to Madrid.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Protest march AN estimated 70,000 people united in Murcia to protest against budget cuts and issues affecting the public. Simultaneous protests took place across Spain.

Low numbers THE Murcia Region has the second fewest number of nurses per capita with 378 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants. The national average is 528.

Kids rule CHILDREN of Orihuela took part in a political forum as the Sixth Children’s Plenary was held to commemorate the Convention on the Rights of Children.


FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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inance F A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

business & legal

FEWER young Spaniards are emigrating, claimed Labour Minister Fatima Bañez. Only 8,812 of 124,737 young people leaving in 2012 were Spanish compared with 19,927 returning Romanians and 15,800 Moroccans.

PICTURE COURTESY REPSOL

Mexican flavour for oil giant The Mexican corporation, which made huge losses last year, is ‘enormously interested’ in acquiring Repsol’s high-end technology, sources said. Repsol has a ‘free float’ of just over 60 per cent and if the deal goes through Slim would buy shares on the open market. This would cost an estimated €2.4 billion.

Can maker sells out to US rivals THE US company Crown Holdings recently acquired Murcia-based can-producer Mivisa. Crown, a leader in consumer packaging, paid €1.2 billion for the Murcia company whose annual six billion ‘easy open’ ring-pull tops make it a world leader. Mivisa is also the thirdlargest can manufacturer in Europe. The company was founded by Miguel Vivanco in 1972 to answer demand from Murcia vegetable-growers and exporters. Vivanco sold out in 2000 for €200 million, after which the company changed hands several times.

All were venture capital companies that favoured expansion and allowed Mivisa freedom to work professionally, said CEO Tomas Lopez, who has been with the company for 33 years. But it was satisfying to return to an industrial group, he admitted. The sale to Crown Holdings - which is subject to EU review - is mutually beneficial to both companies, Lopez explained. The 2,000 Spanish employees will keep their jobs and Mivisa, which also has factories in La Rioja, Asturias, Galicia, Extremadura and Sevilla, will retain its Murcia headquarters.

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usiness extra

Look East OIL company Cepsa is paying €1.63 billion for Coastal Energy, a Canadian company with assets in Thailand and Malaysia. The acquisition will further Cepsa’s exploration and production in Southeast Asia.

On board FORMER Economy Minister and expresident of the European Parliament, socialist Josep Borell has joined Abengoa’s Audit Committee. He has been on the Spanish energy firm’s board since 2009.

’Tis the season to be working AS usual there will be more work around at Christmas. Most jobs will be in the retail sector, as shops gear up for the holiday season and a predicted 1.2 per cent increase in spending. There will also be demand for other jobs, said Page Personnel, a company specialising in middlemanagement vacancies. Thirty per cent of staff required over Christmas will be in finance, with jobs for employees

experienced in accounting and taxes, according to Page Personnel. Between 55 and 60 per cent of the temporary staff could in time be taken on permanently, the company predicted. A further 20 per cent are likely to be needed in human resources for general tasks, training and analysis, with around 80 per cent eventually offered indefinite contracts.

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STAT OF WEEK

Bidding for Repsol PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, wants to buy a 10 per cent holding in Repsol, according to press reports. It already owns 9.3 per cent and if as thought, it joins forces with the world’s richest man, Mexican Carlos Slim, Pemex would have a controlling stake in the Spanish multinational.

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INTEREST: Repsol stake sought by Mexican oil company.


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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

LONDON - FTSE 100 C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 10.80 2.27

NET VOLUME 2,382.2

Admiral Group PLC

1248.00

-4.36

-0.35

190.82

Aggreko PLC

1558.50

-5.64

-0.36

373.40

AMEC PLC

1167.50

11.00

0.95

358.90

Anglo Americ PLC

1371.00

-9.50

-0.69

1,202.9

Antofagasta PLC

791.75

2.00

0.25

1,035.5

1005.50

14.00

1.41

2,063.4

ARM Holdings PLC

Associated B Foods PLC 2284.50 AstraZeneca PLC

3432.00

CU RR EN CI ES

C LOSING P RICES N OVEMBER 25

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Aberdeen Asset M PLC 486.10

0.83622

1.19584 Units per €

United States $......................................................1.34969 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................137.261 Switzerland Francs................................................1.23207 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.45782 Norway Kroner.......................................................8.27042

-6.00

-0.26

866.93

C O M PA N Y

-15.26

-0.44

1,064.0

British American T PLC

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.

NET VOLUME

C O M PA N Y Coca-Cola HBC AG Compass Group PLC

PRICE(P) CHANGE 1797.50 11.00

% C H G. 0.62

VOLUME 206.3

926.75

16.56

1.82

CRH PLC

1571.50

15.00

0.96

2,717.52 874.37

Croda Internatl PLC

2362.00

12.00

0.51

125.01

Diageo PLC

2000.50

24.80

1.26

2,153.06

easyJet PLC

1429.50

26.00

1.85

967.93

Experian PLC

1150.50

-4.00

-0.35

844.28

Fresnillo PLC

840.25

-0.50

-0.06

514.09

PRICE(P) 3301.25

30.50

0.93

1,580.6

G4S PLC

262.30

-1.30

-0.49

1,096.49

611.50

6.30

1.04

924.65

GKN PLC

376.70

4.00

1.07

1,852.85

428.50

-0.90

-0.21

2,447.4

British Land Co PLC

Babcock International G...1280.50

-44.00

-3.32

969.67

British Sky Broadcasting... 833.75

3.39

0.41

1,672.3

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

1643.25

1.55

0.09

2,234.42

-1.60

-0.43

7,078.6

Glencore Xstrata PLC

311.68

-0.15

-0.05

10,007.15

509.25

Aviva PLC BAE Systems PLC

431.95

1.10

0.26

4,520.3

BT Group PLC

374.45

Barclays PLC

259.82

2.87

1.12

23,022.

Bunzl PLC

1404.00

21.00

1.52

133.75

Hammerson PLC

1496.50

20.00

1.35

488.32

Hargreaves Lansdown PLC1185.50

BG Group PLC

1258.00

-1.50

-0.12

2,224.3

Burberry Group PLC

BHP Billiton PLC

1873.00

-4.00

-0.21

2,000.0

Capita PLC

978.50

1.00

0.10

517.03

HSBC Holdings PLC

689.60

13,956.

Carnival PLC

2269.00

40.00

1.80

388.00

IMI PLC

1486.00

Centrica PLC

343.50

-0.10

-0.03

5,022.9

Imperial Tobacco PLC

BP PLC

489.68

-3.80

-0.77

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES N OVEMBER 25

C LOSING P RICES N OVEMBER 25

C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc DD Dupont E I De Nemours & Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc INTC Intel Corp IBM International Business Mach... JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co KO The Coca-Cola Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 131.59 84.65 35.49 132.95 84.84 123.66 21.42 61.52 95.29 26.93 169.94 79.94 23.58 179.11 95.76 58.04 99.12 49.32 37.69 79.27 32.45 85.58 40.80 90.86 110.59 74.40 50.23 202.14

+0.57 +0.80 +0.07 -3.02 +1.96 -0.37 -0.045 -0.18 +0.28 -0.15 +1.84 +0.76 -0.29 -2.19 +0.51 +0.58 +0.85 +0.375 +0.12 +0.40 +0.33 +0.63 +0.365 +0.34 +0.39 +0.66 +0.01 +0.02

+0.44% +0.95% +0.20% -2.22% +2.36% -0.30% -0.21% -0.29% +0.29% -0.57% +1.09% +0.96% -1.21% -1.21% +0.54% +1.01% +0.86% +0.77% +0.32% +0.51% +1.03% +0.74% +0.90% +0.38% +0.35% +0.90% +0.02% +0.01%

20.2M 19.8M 24.1M 23.6M 16.1M 9.9M 11.7M 21.4M 12.1M 18.2M 10.1M 21.6M 12.7M 12.5M 21.4M 12.6M 17.9M 32.1M 14.0M 27.1M 22.0M 21.6M 21.1M 11.5M 19.5M 14.0M 17.0M 26.6M

C O M PA N Y

Most Advanced Camtek Ltd. Sungy Mobile Limited ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Kirkland's, Inc. Pain Therapeutics 8x8 Inc Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. Curis, Inc.

$ 4.2775 $ 15.71 $ 4.3999 $ 5.1701 $ 14.9059 $ 26.15 $ 4.0501 $ 10.29 $ 71.08 $ 6.15 $ 3.03

1.6275 / + 61.42% 2.36 / + 17.68% 0.6199 / + 16.40% 0.5701 / + 12.39% 1.5459 / + 11.57% 2.47 / + 10.43% 0.3501 / + 9.46% 0.81 / + 8.54% 5.58 / + 8.52% 0.47 / + 8.27% 0.21 / + 7.45%

Most Declined Performance Technologies, Incorporated DFC Global Corp China Sunergy Co., Ltd. Veracyte, Inc. Mannatech, Incorporated The Descartes Systems Group Inc. Immunomedics, Inc. Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. CNinsure Inc. Canadian Solar Inc. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

$ 3.14 $ 11.195 $ 5.72 $ 11.10 $ 22.06 $ 13.50 $ 4.12 $ 38.87 $ 4.956 $ 28.74 $ 16.65

0.48 / -13.26% 1.155 / - 9.35% 0.55 / - 8.77% 1.06 / - 8.72% 2 / - 8.31% 1.13 / - 7.72% 0.33 / - 7.42% 3.08 / - 7.34% 0.384 / - 7.19% 2.14 / - 6.93% 1.20 / - 6.72%

663.98 171.11

3.35

0.49

14,295.94

9.00

0.61

218.53 612.05

2367.50

-2.74

-0.12

21.00

1.13

233.96

International Consolid ... 371.85

9.10

2.51

6,435.96

22.00

0.72

111.41 4,421.00

ITV PLC CHANGE NET / %

0.10 1.11

InterContinental H Gro... 1884.00 Intertek Group PLC PRICE

0.50 13.00

3092.50 185.15

2.00

1.09

3259.00

-9.00

-0.28

146.45

Kingfisher PLC

390.90

6.90

1.80

1,941.74

Land Securities G PLC

952.75

2.50

0.26

997.46

Legal & General PLC

212.45

0.40

0.19

5,516.74

Lloyds Banking GrPLC

75.52

0.91

1.22

52,800.80

London Stock Exchange...1621.00

Johnson Matthey PLC

16.00

1.00

189.35

Marks & Spencer G PLC

500.25

4.50

0.91

1,475.99

Meggitt PLC

497.00

-1.00

-0.20

594.05

Melrose Industries PLC

296.10

2.30

0.78

1,047.83

Mondi PLC

999.00

2.50

0.25

642.77

National Grid PLC

784.25

4.50

0.58

3,722.47

5487.50

70.00

1.29

123.55

199.45

1.30

0.66

3,382.79

Next PLC Old Mutual PLC Pearson PLC

1341.00

2.00

0.15

1,152.11

Persimmon PLC

1217.50

-4.00

-0.33

255.46

Petrofac Ltd

1210.50

20.00

1.68

925.72

Prudential PLC

1278.50

13.00

1.03

1,273.8

Randgold Resos L

4224.00

-138.00

-3.16

389.45

Reckitt Benckiser G PLC 4940.50

93.00

1.92

538.37

Reed Elsevier PLC

888.25

6.00

0.68

717.12

Resolution Ltd

345.60

0.50

0.14

1,377.88

REXAM PLC

493.30

6.30

1.29

553.57

Rio Tinto PLC

3163.50

-31.50

-0.99

1,333.40

Rolls-Royce H PLC

1236.50

-1.05

-0.08

1,657.54

Royal Bank of Scod G...

331.15

1.01

0.31

4,525.83

Royal Dutch Shell PLC

2199.75

-3.50

-0.16

2,596.57

105.95

1.39

1.33

7,398.04 1,613.75

RSA Insurance G P SABMiller PLC

3252.75

34.00

1.06

Sage Group (The) PLC

349.05

3.40

0.98

479.68

Sainsbury (J) PLC

408.55

4.00

0.99

2,086.74

Schroders PLC

2486.00

46.00

1.88

100.65

Severn Trent PLC

1785.00

-27.00

-1.49

651.20

Shire PLC

2836.50

5.50

0.19

666.89

813.75

8.42

1.05

1,727.98

1371.50

11.00

0.81

253.59 280.07

Smith & Nephew PLC Smiths Group PLC Sports Direct I...

705.50

12.50

1.80

SSE PLC

1369.50

-0.95

-0.07

736.57

Standard C PLC

1463.75

14.25

0.98

1,666.46

Standard Life PLC

350.30

-0.20

-0.06

2,095.25

Tate & Lyle PLC

798.75

4.50

0.57

707.13

Tesco PLC

354.57

0.00

0.00

4,899.56

1802.00

6.00

0.33

270.35

362.65

3.65

1.02

3,358.7

876.75

-10.00

-1.13

746.27

2505.50

43.00

1.75

1,059.43

Travis Perkins PLC TUI Travel PLC Tullow Oil PLC Unilever PLC


FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

EWN

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18

E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Small steps to bigger savings Loose change A look at finance for females

Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

E

VERY now and then it’s time to recap on spending and expenses and examine what exactly we do with our money. Often, habitual spending habits can be reduced or cut out completely, when on closer inspection we realise that they aren’t actually that necessary. But to do this we need to step back and take a good look at our spending and figure out where cutbacks can be made. Here are just a few ideas to think about in order to save an extra bit of cash for the Christmas holidays. Don’t take water for granted. The water that runs from a tap is not free; a water company,

New fate for tall tower EMIN Capital investment fund intends to buy Barcelona’s 145-metre high Torre Agbar for €150 million. North-American company Hyatt will spend another €35 million on transforming it into a super-luxury hotel. The 38-storey skyscraper was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel in association with the Spanish firm b720 Fermin Vazquez Arquitectos and built by Dragados. The tower has a floor space of 50,693m2, of which 30,000 are offices, 3,210 technical facilities, 8,132 services, including an auditorium, and 9,132m2 for parking. It opened in June 2005 at a cost of €130 million.

CUT IT OUT: From a pricey slice of cheesecake to letting the tap run. which makes a profit every time we let water run endlessly, supplies it. In fact, it costs about two cents to flush the loo, but these costs could potentially soar if it refuses to rain and water shortages kick in. So respect the fact that water flows freely in your

house, but don’t abuse it. Plan your meals. Nobody wants to take the spontaneity out of cooking, but not being prepared for mealtimes can often lead to overspending. Nothing in the fridge? Of course a pizza or eating out is an option. But it’s not a

cheap option. The best solution is to plan a few meals each week. Make a shopping list and only buy what you need. Supermarkets are designed to intrigue and tempt your taste buds, so entering one without a list is dangerous territory. Be warned!

Is Michael O’Leary having a change of heart? OK, so the Ryanair boss has promised to be kind and thoughtful from now on. Well, we shall see. If you are planning a trip home for Christmas, the flights should have been booked three weeks ago. Only a few seats on each flight are sold at bargain prices and once they’re sold, the prices rise. So book early. Always ask yourself: do I really need this? From a piece of delicious €5 a slice cheesecake to complement afternoon coffee, to picking up a barbeque utensil set that is suddenly half price, just step back and think are these purchases necessary? Try to teach yourself to take the impulse out of impulse buying. You’ll be amazed at how much stuff you actually don’t want! Remember, small steps towards better managing your finances can go a long way, which results in more savings for you.

Spain is on the road to recovery says international think-tank AN international think-tank has confirmed that Spain is entering a period of economic recovery. But the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned that the need to control government spending, plus a lack of private lending, could keep the pace of recovery slow. It has still upgraded its forecast for growth in Spain to 0.5 per cent, up from 0.4 per cent, in 2014. That is substantially lower than the Spanish

Government’s own forecast of 0.7 per cent. The forecast for 2015 is a growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1 per cent, while the economy will have contracted 1.3 per cent during 2013 against initial estimates of a 1.7 per cent decline in GDP. The OECD expects the unemployment rate to improve slightly but still remain at around 25.6 per cent by 2015. “Improving growth in export markets, gains in market share and the stabilisation of private domestic demand will help to foster a weak UPTURN: Spain’s growth forcast upgraded.

recovery in 2014 and 2015,” the OECD’s report on Economic Outlook said. GDP growth across the 34member OECD is projected to accelerate from this year’s 1.2 per cent rate to a 2.3 per cent in 2014 and 2.7 per cent rate in 2015, according to the Outlook. The pace of the global recovery is weaker than forecast last May, largely as a result of the worsened outlook for some emerging economies.Growth in the United States is projected at 2.9 per cent in 2014 and 3.4 per cent in 2015. The euro area is expected to witness a gradual recovery, with growth of 1 per cent in 2014 and 1.6 per cent in 2015. Growth has begun picking up in China but will remain weaker than previously projected in most other major emerging market economies.

BUSINESS EXTRA

German surplus under review THE European Commission has launched a review into whether Germany’s export surplus is undermining the European Union’s economic recovery, which has sparked outrage among German officials.

Fewer hols SPAIN will have fewer national holidays (nine) compared to Italy (12), Slovenia (17) and the rest of Europe in 2014, the government has stated in the Official State Gazette.

Exports rise EXPORTS to the Euro- zone grew with the best development in the last two years with a 14 per cent increase. This export upturn extends the trade deficit.

Looking better? FAMILIES’ net revenue fell 3.5 per cent to €23,123. But the number of households beneath the poverty line fell to 21.6 per cent as poverty is defined as a percentage of average income.

Google card GOOGLE will be offering credit cards for consumers to use in any establishment and withdraw money from any cash machine in the coming months as part of its online Google Wallet scheme.

Cheaper fuel PETROL and diesel prices dropped 0.3 and 0.2 per cent respectively last week. The prices registered their lowest point since December 2012, according to the European Petrol Gazette.

Here’s hoping! THE Spanish will spend an average €50 on the Christmas lottery, €4 less than last year.


OPINION & COMMENT

Text advice to help keep people online I WOULD like to take issue with Gary Waite’s letter about Movistar/Telefonica (Issue 1481). I work for a group of companies and am responsible for the contacts we have with Movistar; faults, contracts, discounts and so on for both mobile and landline telephones. I have nothing but praise for Movistar. Their service and customer relations have improved enormously over the last couple of years. Last week was a typical example: I had a call to say that on two lines the ADSL wasn’t working. I texted 1002 with the telephone numbers and a brief description of the fault. Straight away, a reply was texted that they were looking into it. Within a few minutes, another text arrived, saying it was a local problem and that their engineers were working on it. About an hour-and-a-half later, another text arrived, saying that the problem had been resolved but the routers may need re-booting. A bit later, I had a call, asking if the problem had been resolved satisfactorily. We have many landlines and mobiles and Movistar also provide us with computers. If ever I have occasion to contact them their response is rapid and efficient. I would recommend that Mr Waite tries the texting way of reporting faults. Cherry Atkinson, La Nucía (Alicante)

More red tape I WAS slightly amused, as well as bemused, to see Benidorm Council’s plans for controlling mobility scooters (Costa Blanca North, Issue 1481). Whilst the story may bring up images of reckless users, too lazy to walk, mowing down pedestrians, in my experience most mobility scooter users do need them and are very responsible. To insist on medical

www.euroweeklynews.com

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

Letters YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887

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

No tea party IT is sad to witness the shutdown of a once great democracy, the USA, as it moves inevitably closer to a society governed by a small but influential minority. I am referring to a group of ultra-conservative Republican members of Congress who are stubbornly prepared to not only destroy the economy of their own country, but also cause irreparable harm to those of other nations, simply because these ‘Tea Party’ extremists don’t like a law! A law that was not only approved by both chambers (Congress and Senate), but was also later upheld by a Supreme

21

everywhere (only my humble opinion). There’s so much more serious stuff involved, which I won’t go into here as the readers will get tired of it all. Thanks again for your offer, but I’m too far away. Un saludo. Olivia Qualtrough, Calvia (Mallorca)

Licensed to heel

A Spanish flag flying in the November sunshine by a Santa Pola beach. Simply beautiful! By Brenda Pullen, Gran Alacant (Alicante)

certificates or proof of age from everyone wanting to even hire them, let alone buy one, on pain of being fined, is sure to hit those shops who rent them out hard. How many people coming on holiday are going to bring a doctor’s certificate? Will any certification have to be translated into Spanish? Having lived here 20 years, I expect so, probably by an official translator at vast expense. Yet another layer of unnecessary red tape for no real reason at all! Jeremy Bartholemew, Benidorm (Alicante)

EWN

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

Court decision. A group of Obama-hating politicans who have practically kidnapped the system in such a way that it’s almost impossible to defeat them at the polls because of their gerrymandered election districts. I sincerely hope the US can heal its wounded political system before it suffers a slow self-destruction caused by a small group of petty, selfish individuals who apparently are not at all interested in the welfare of their own country. Richard M McBride, Benidorm (Alicante)

Double fault... THE list of Top Ten Tennis Players, (Time Out, Issue 1480) on the basis of achievement, appears in a haphazard sequence. For example, Hewitt and Roddick are ranked above Agassi and Borg.

It also mixes currently active players with those retired. More significant is the omission of the two players with arguably the most valid claim to all-time greatness: Steffi Graf and Rod Laver. David Worboys, Nerja (Malaga)

Lunch declined THANK YOU, Mike Thomas, for your lunch invitation and education. It was very sweet of you. My husband and I often enjoy tapas or ‘pa amb oli’ (Mallorcan bread and olive oil) at our local chiringuito. My initial letter (regarding nudists in everyday life) certainly did not intend to offend you or anyone, rather it was written with tongue in cheek or a light-hearted view of mine. Now history. Over 40 years ago having a drink at a chiringuito in Porto Cristo, Mallorca with my ‘now’ Mallorquin husband clad in 60s’ beachwear - longish shorts and full swimming costume - we were asked to put on shirt/blouse whilst we sat at the table. We apologised and did so. Just manners, no! In your nudist colony you have your rules and etiquette. And that’s fine. But in the real world we ‘hoi polloi’ are not ready for nudity

AT last a sensible suggestion regarding the dog owning problem in Spain. However, as in Germany, the tax or licence should be graded according to the type of dog, large aggressive types hundreds of euros, for example. This would provide employment and income which is especially needed in Spain, also ensuring appropriate veterinary checks and happy contented dogs! Robert Fudge, Mallorca Editor’s note: In Issue 1481, Mrs J Hollowell suggested bringing in dog licences to pay for wardens and dogs’ homes.

In dog house I DISAGREE with David the Dogman’s advice to parents to not get a dog if they have children. I, myself have grown up with dogs and my own children have grown up with rescue dogs. It would be better to advise parents to show caution when choosing a dog when you have children. For example, get a rescue ‘puppy’, or a breed that is good with children; rescue centres are full of them. I also think parents have a responsibility to teach their children how to treat the dog, and at the end of the day it teaches children to love and respect animals. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are re-homed every year, and most rescue centres do get it right. Don’t let the mistake of one rescue centre undermine the brilliant work most rescue centres do! Francesca Fedo, Albir (Alicante)

The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.


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E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Damage limitation primary concern Cassandra Nash

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

T

HE PSC, Cataluña’s Socialist party, merged with the PSOE in 1977. Like any Spanish bride, it kept its own name and cohabited without too many problems until the separatist question reared its head. Many PSC politicians and voters want a right-to-decide referendum but after much soulsearching, the PSC has abandoned the independence route.Pere Navarro, PSC Secretary General, announced that the party “will oppose any initiative in favour of Cataluña’s selfdetermination not first agreed with the Spanish institutions.” Navarro knows that agreement, amounting to permission, is unlikely to be forthcoming. His decision could lose votes for the PSC but backing independence

would lose the PSOE many more outside Cataluña where there is scant sympathy. The PSOE has enough on its plate just now. It cannot capitalise on the government’s unpopularity, its party image is no better than the PP’s and it needs a charismatic leader. If the PSOE is to have more problems to contend with, they should at least be of its own making, not Cataluña’s.

A true princess THE judge investigating the Noos corruption scandal is apparently determined to involve Iñaki Urdangarin’s wife, Princess Cristina. The Public Prosecutor

is equally determined to clear her of any wrongdoing. Whether or not Urdangarin diverted public money into his joint accounts with Cristina, it’s unlikely she was ever aware of what she put her name to. Remember how

the sleep of a true princess was disturbed by a pea beneath a towering stack of mattresses? The Infanta’s involvement is a reversal of this story. The Spanish monarchy is comparatively austere but she was presumably sufficiently featherbedded not to lose sleep over whether there was money under the mattress or in offshore accounts.

Brave enough? “INVESTIGATE disappearances during the Franco dictator-ship,” the UN urged Spain. Earlier its Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) was unimpressed by the Spanish Government’s reasons for not doing so. Madrid should take the “necessary legislative or judicial” steps to bring suspects to VOTE LOSER? PSC Secretary General Pere Navarro.

Pere Navarro CREDIT FLICKR_agenciaacn

trial instead of sheltering behind the Amnesty Law, the Committee insisted.What judge will be brave enough to dig up the past? It was doing precisely this that cost exjudge Baltasar Garzon his job.

Spilt milk THE Prestige trial is over and only the stricken oil-tanker’s captain Apostolos Mangouras is to blame, a La Coruña court ruled. Mangouras, who looks the way Ulysses would have looked at 78, received a nine-month sentence which he is unlikely to serve - for initially ignoring the government’s orders to be towed out to sea. The government is unhappy about the verdict because it will lose €4.24billion civil liability compensation. Tough: the then national government should have let him put into port as he wanted. The spill would have been contained and 1,600 kilometres of Spanish, French and Portuguese coast would not have been polluted.


FINANCE

W

e have been talking about the global crackdown on tax evasion and undisclosed offshore assets for years, but this year has seen significant developments. Global leaders are endorsing automatic exchange of information for tax purposes as the new global standard, and there has been a pivotal shift from bilateral to multilateral agreements. Today more data than ever before is being passed between countries, enabling tax authorities to collect unpaid tax. This will increase when the proposed new agreements come into effect. Governments will be able to track the wealth of their taxpayers like never before. In 2009 the global financial crisis was the catalyst for an international crackdown on banking secrecy. Within four years 119 countries had committed to the standard and around 1,100 new bilateral tax information exchange agreements had been signed. As the economic downturn took its toll on state coffers, governments realised they needed a more effective, global approach to fight tax evasion. As a result we now have various multilateral initiatives, where several countries would automatically share information on taxpayers’ income and assets each year. It

EUROPEAN PRESS28 November - 4 December

www.euroweeklynews.com

2013 / Mallorca

EWN

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No Hiding Place By Peter Worthington, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks looks like this will soon become the global standard. Here is a summary of the key developments this year: February/March – The Isle of Man and Channel Islands agreed to enter into an automatic exchange of information agreement with the UK. April – The G5 (UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy) announced that they would develop and pilot a new multilateral tax

information exchange agreement. April – Luxembourg and Austria said that they will prepare to end banking secrecy for EU residents. The European Court of Justice obliged Gibraltar to share financial information with Spain. May – 12 EU countries joined the G5 in signing a joint statement calling for the development of a single global standard for automatic exchange of information covering a wide scope of income and entities. May – EU Member States committed to adopting a revised Savings Tax Directive by the end of 2013, so that it will cover all types of savings income and products generating interest or equivalent, such as investment funds, pensions, innovative financial instruments and payments made though trusts and foundations. They agreed to negotiate as soon as possible with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Andorra to ensure they apply equivalent measures.

June – The European Commission proposed the widest scope of automatic exchange of information within the EU. The Administrative Cooperation Directive is scheduled to start in January 2015 to cover employment, directors’ fees, life insurance, pensions and property. Under the latest proposal, capital gains and other financial income and account balances would also be included. May/June – The Swiss Private Bankers Association urged the Swiss Federal Council to opt for automatic exchange of information with the EU. A Swiss government panel report suggested that Switzerland should be ready to share data on foreign depositors with the EU. June – G8 leaders signed the Lough Erne declaration, where the first point was that “tax authorities across the world should automatically share information to fight the scourge of tax evasion.”

September – G20 leaders announced plans to introduce automatic exchange of information as the global standard. This is a major breakthrough in the global fight against tax evasion. This story will continue to develop until most countries are sharing information with each other. The days of financial privacy are over. One thing has not changed, however, which is that every individual has the right to structure their tax affairs in the most tax efficient manner. You should take professional advice to establish how you can use approved tax advantageous structures here in Spain to reduce your tax liabilities. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com


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Thursday

Friday

SATELLITE CHANNELS - SkyMoviesComedy/

BBC1/

BBC1/

4:55pm Paul Hollywood's Pies and Puds 5:40pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Animal Odd Couples 10:00pm Crimewatch 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Crimewatch Update 11:40pm Question Time

4:55pm Paul Hollywood's Pies and Puds 5:40pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Miranda 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Live at the Apollo 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show

BBC2/ 4:20pm Cagney and Lacey 5:05pm Are You Being Served? 5:35pm 'Allo, 'Allo! 6:00pm Natural World 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm Legacy 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Show Me the Telly 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Britain's Secret Treasures 10:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Jonathan Ross Show

CH4/ 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm George Clarke's Amazing Spaces 10:00pm Getting Rich in the Recession: Scrappers 11:00pm What Happens in Kavos...

ITV2/ 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm The Nutty Professor 11:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now!

BBC2/ 4:20pm Cagney and Lacey 5:05pm Are You Being Served? 5:35pm 'Allo, 'Allo! 6:00pm Jimmy and the Wild Honey Hunters 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Kangaroo Dundee 10:00pm Wild Burma: Nature's Lost Kingdom 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Show Me the Telly 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Off the Beaten Track 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 11:30pm ITV News and Weather

CH4/ 4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats 11:00pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man

ITV2/ 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm Totally You've Been Framed! 9:15pm The Incredible Hulk 11:30pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now!

1:10pm Sunday

•Judi Dench •Tom Wilkinson •Patrick Pearson •Celia Imrie

Saturday

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Film, 2011) A group of retirees heads to India to live out their days in luxury, but the beautiful residence they were sold isn't quite what they expected when they arrive.

Sunday

BBC1/

BBC1/

5:30pm Final Score 6:10pm My Family 7:00pm BBC News 7:10pm BBC London News 7:15pm Pointless 8:00pm Strictly Come Dancing 9:15pm Atlantis 10:00pm Casualty 10:50pm The National Lottery Live 11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm Match of the Day

4:30pm Bargain Hunt 5:15pm Escape to the Country 6:15pm Songs of Praise 6:50pm BBC News 7:10pm BBC London News 7:20pm Countryfile 8:20pm Strictly Come Dancing 9:00pm The Paradise 10:00pm Britain and the Sea 11:00pm BBC News 11:15pm BBC London News 11:25pm Match of the Day 2

BBC2/ 5:30pm Rugby Union 8:00pm Jonathan Davies Trimsaran Boy 9:00pm Dad's Army 9:30pm A Culture Show Special 10:30pm QI XL 11:15pm Carnage

ITV/ 4:15pm Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 7:05pm ITV News London 7:15pm ITV News and Weather 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm The Chase: Celebrity Special 9:00pm The X Factor 10:45pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 11:50pm The Jonathan Ross Show

CH4/ 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:35pm Come Dine with Me 7:35pm Channel 4 News 8:05pm Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 9:00pm The Lakes: Walking Through History 10:00pm Charlie Brooker's How Videogames Changed the World

ITV2/ 4:05pm You've Been Framed! 4:30pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 6:00pm Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium 7:55pm Apollo 13 10:45pm The Xtra Factor 11:50pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now!

TV LISTING

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2/ 6:30pm Inspire: The Olympic Journey 7:00pm Flog It! 8:00pm Cuba with Simon Reeve 9:00pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 10:00pm Morecambe and Wise: The Whole Story 11:30pm Hebburn

ITV/ 5:40pm All Star Mr and Mrs 6:40pm Prize Island 7:35pm ITV News London 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Surprise Surprise 9:00pm The X Factor Results Show 10:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 11:45pm Off Their Rockers

CH4/ 4:25pm Monster-in-Law 6:25pm Sister Act 8:25pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm Time Team Special 10:00pm Homeland 11:00pm Rock Night: 50 Years of Rock Excess: Amps, Whips and Rebel Riffs

ITV2/ 4:40pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 5:45pm The Little Vampire 7:45pm Small Soldiers 10:00pm The Xtra Factor 11:00pm You've Been Framed! 11:30pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now!

Monday BBC1/ 5:40pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Panorama 9:00pm EastEnders 10:00pm Ripper Street 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News

BBC2/ 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm The Choir: Sing While You Work 11:00pm Never Mind the Buzzcocks

ITV/ 5:00pm Show Me the Telly 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Tales From Northumberland 9:30pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather

CH4/ 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Turner Prize 2013 9:00pm A Great British Christmas with Sarah Beeny 10:00pm Liberty of London 11:00pm Fresh Meat

ITV2/ 5:05pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm Ocean's Eleven 11:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now!

Tuesday

Wednesday

BBC1/

BBC1/

4:10pm Pressure Pad 4:55pm Escape to the Country 5:40pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Imagine...

4:10pm Pressure Pad 4:55pm Escape to the Country 5:40pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm Nigel and Adam's Farm Kitchen 10:00pm New Tricks 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Match of the Day

BBC2/ 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm The Mary Berry Story 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm Pilgrimage with Simon Reeve 11:00pm Hebburn 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Show Me the Telly 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 9:00pm Coronation Street 9:30pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Trauma: Level One

BBC2/ 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm The Mary Berry Story 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm Tudor Monastery Farm 11:00pm The Culture Show 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Show Me the Telly 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:30pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm 28up South Africa

CH4/

CH4/

4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm Stephen Hawking in Brief 9:00pm Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners 10:00pm The Sound of Musicals 11:00pm Masters of Sex

4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm Stephen Hawking in Brief 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Gogglebox 11:45pm British Comedy Awards Nominations Show 2013

ITV2/ 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm You've Been Framed! 10:00pm The Vampire Diaries 11:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now!

ITV2/ 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm The Nutty Professor 11:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now! 12:00am Celebrity Juice 12:50am Take Me Out


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www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Women can’t have it both ways LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT

I

DUNNO, you girls really do want to have that bit of cake and eat it too. For years now, in fact ever since the railing chains and racecourse ‘suicide’, women’s libbers have fought tooth and nail to be accepted as equals to men. And what a success the whole exercise has turned out to be! We now have female church leaders, men-only organisations are basically illegal, women are 50 per cent partners in matrimony. Western women are now just about accepted in every field as the equals they have always yearned to be. And then what happens? A number of the ‘sexually equal’ military members sue the army because they hurt their backs when expected to take the same spaced marching step as the men! Give us a break, girls! You can’t have it both ways. The only reason you were a bit ‘stretched’ was because you were a bit short. Well, I’ve got news for you. There are plenty of short men who find it a mite uncomfortable to keep pace with their taller comrades in arms; you really don’t see them running to the authorities bleating about discrimination. I

suggest you just get used to it. Shame on the Ministry of Defence for actually paying out sums of money that in many cases exceeded those given to soldiers injured in Afghanistan. Disgraceful! I suppose Cameron and his European cronies really won’t be convinced that you simply cannot trust most of these ‘mid-beast’ leaders until Iran drops the biggest suicide bomb in history, right in the middle of Israel. Western leaders still don’t seem to understand that nobody fights fair any more. The Christmas Day ‘truce’, decent treatment of prisoners and suchlike are things of the past. I bet the Iranian hierarchies are Women in laughing up their sleeves at the the military ‘stupid infidels’ who actually should keep believed they would restrict their nuclear capabilities in return for the pace with lifting of sanctions. This dangerous their male naivety and appeasement will get us colleagues. all killed. Come back, Winnie. All is forgiven. Once again, thanks for all the mail. My Princess Di opinion created a virtual avalanche. Sorry all, but that was my opinion. Can’t reply to ‘em all, but I read every one. Keep ‘em coming. Keep the faith, Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

LEAPY LETTERS

Well said! WOW! Leapy that’s one helluva theory about the causes for racism, and I cannot argue with it. I wish you success with your efforts to persuade the media to monitor itself, or be controlled. The media holds sway over everything in our society, even our right to discuss it. Nevertheless, anything we can do to eliminate racism is worth a period of experimentation. However, you will have disappointed all those poor misguided souls that see you as a rank racist. Well said, Leapy. Leo (by email) Editor’s note: Leapy said adults are to blame for bringing up children as racists, as well as images and stories in the media. He targeted charity appeals saying they often depicted black children as always suffering from famine and disease.


CHRISTMAS FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

CHRISTMAS DAY: Main event is lunch.

Traditions for a real Mallorcan Christmas C

HRISTMAS in Mallorca is very similar to the rest of Spain, but the island has its own traditions. Christmas Eve is a night to celebrate with the family, eat together and look back over the year that has passed, but also that night, there is a tradition which attracts many people to the island’s churches. It is the ‘Misa del Gallo’ (translated literally as rooster’s mass) which is held at midnight. In Mallorca it is also known as the ‘Canto de la Sibila.’ In each church, a child dressed in a medieval tunic and holding a sword will sing a hymn from the middle ages. While they sing, they walk through the church to the choir, accompanied by two other children carrying candles. When the procession ends, the singer

draws a cross in the air with the sword. After that, many people go for hot chocolate with the traditional local cakes ‘ensaimadas.’ On Christmas Day, the main event is the lunch, with soup and turkey, chicken or suckling pig as the main dishes. Another popular day is December 26, which in most of Spain passes without celebration, but in Mallorca is also a day for families to get together and have meals, often seeing those who weren’t with the family the previous day. There are also races held for those who want to do some sport. Throughout the Balearic Islands there are Nativity scenes or ‘Belenes’ (Bethlehems) in churches, town halls, shopping centres and homes which can be visited from early December. New Year’ Eve is celebrated as in the rest of Spain, but in Palma, the date coincides with the arrival of King Jaime I to conquer the city in 1229 and a celebration is held in the morning.

DECEMBER 26: A day for families to get together.

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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HRISTMAS wouldn’t be Christmas in Spain without the traditional sweets and desserts. Any good party needs plenty of food, and in Spain this is just as important as the decorations, nativity scene and the Three Wise men. Many traditional Spanish Christmas dishes were simple, but nowadays, customs have changed and large family meals are celebrated. The main events are the Christmas Eve dinner, the New Year’s Eve dinner and the afternoon snack on January 6. Some of the best known sweets are the different varieties of ‘turron,’ a nougat-type confection, typically made of honey, sugar, and egg white, with toasted almonds or other nuts, and usually shaped into a rectangular tablet. The traditional varieties are the soft ‘Jijona’ turron, and the hard ‘Alicante’ turron. However, nowadays, there are dozens of varieties for all tastes. Amongst the most popular of these are the chocolate turron, the variety with candied fruits, the toasted egg yolk (yema tostada), cream and walnuts, marzipan and many more.

www.euroweeklynews.com

CHRISTMAS FEATURE

A sweet touch for the festive season TRADITIONAL: Turron, churros and mantecados.

Use of marzipan in Spanish sweets is very popular, and for Christmas there are figures and ‘breads’ made from marzipan which are very popular. Nuts are also covered in sugar and used to make dragées of different sizes, from the smaller variety, with pine nuts, to the large and more

traditional almonds covered in sugar. Another two traditional sweets found in most Spanish households at Christmas are

‘mantecados’ and ‘polvorones.’ Mantecados (from manteca, meaning lard) are made with lard although nowadays, they can be found made with vegetable oils and in a wide variety of different

flavours. The other ingredients include flour, sugar, milk, and nuts. A polvoron (from polvo, meaning powder or dust) is a type of mantecado, which is heavy, soft and very crumbly. They are both mostly produced in Andalucia. When you are offered any of these sweets in a Spanish household over Christmas, you will normally also be given a shot of anise-flavoured liqueur to wash it down. Although many children now receive gifts on December 25, in Spain, the tradition is that gifts are brought by the Three Kings (Tres Reyes Magos) on January 6 following large parades in towns and cities the night before. On that day, it is also traditional to eat the ‘Roscon de Reyes,’ an oval shape pastry which is normally decorated with candied fruit representing the jewels in the Kings’ crowns and which can be plain or with different fillings. It has two objects inside, one a gift, which makes the person who finds it ‘king for the day’ as they are given the crown which accompanies the cake; the other a bean, which means the finder will have to pay for the ‘Roscon’ the following year.


30

E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Pot, kettle and black:

Nora Johnson

Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to

politicians grasping at straws

www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ nora-johnson

T

HREE party grandees two former Home Secretaries and a former Prime Minister - came out of the woodwork recently to come clean and admit their own party policy was wrong. Jack Straw criticising Labour for allowing so many people to settle in Britain which, he confessed, was a “spectacular mistake”. David Blunkett warning of civil unrest in his own Sheffield constituency because of the “aggravating” behaviour of recently-arrived Roma migrants. And what about former PM, John Major? Well, he’s “shocked” at the public-school elite’s current grip on power, saying Cameron’s Tory-led coalition should do more to help social mobility. Oh, such is the benefit of

migrants creates “frictions” with local residents. In fact, the last Labour government predicted only 13,000 would move to Britain from Eastern Europe after 2004. Yet, more than one million arrived in one of the biggest waves of immigration ever seen in the UK. As Straw himself put it: “Lots of red faces, mine We’re always included.” Blunkett’s left with too, CONFUSING COMMENTS: John the same old apparently: Major, former British Prime Minister. in 2003, he story from declared politicians there was “no obvious upper hindsight! Straw and Blunkett, work in Britain from limit” to for their part, were two of the 2004 was a “wellimmigration. most senior figures of the intentioned policy we And as for Major, I’m a bit Blair/Brown era. Fully signed up messed up” came just a day Blunkett, Straw’s confused by his comments. Not to the New Labour ‘project’. after Straw’s admission that the successor as Home Secretary, so long ago, he was forever Labour party’s decision to allow warned British cities could face waxing lyrical about England Eastern European migrants to riots as the arrival of Roma being “a land of David Fowler_Shutterstock.com

long shadows on county cricket grounds and old maids cycling through the morning mist” (a rather elitist view of the country if ever there was one). Now he’s “shocked” that Eton and Harrow public schoolboys rule the land? (Careful, though, to blame the “collapse” in social mobility squarely on Labour.) It’s always the same old story from politicians, isn’t it? “Yeah, fings is bad now, but it’s the other guys what dunnit, guv.” Do we have here The Three Wise Men? Probably not. All three are like little schoolboys caught smoking behind the bike sheds. “Oh! It weren’t me, sir it’s ’im over there!” Nora Johnson’s thrillers Retribution, Soul Stealer, The De Clerambault Code (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.77) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

The fascination for Japanese art Peter Fieldman London-born journalist and author, Peter spends his time between Paris and Madrid. His novel ‘1066 The Conquest’ available on Amazon or www.1066TheConquest.com

www.pfieldman.blogspot.com

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APANESE art had a profound influence on artists and designers in Europe during the latter part of the 19th century as Japan, which had been isolated from the outside world, began to open its ports to foreign trade. The current exhibition at the Caixa Forum in Madrid is the first exhibition in Spain dedicated to what has become known as Japonisme and has been organised in collaboration with the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. Around 300 works of art, paintings, prints, illustrated books, porcelain, textiles, vases, sculptures, folding screens, jewellery and furniture, dating from the 17th century, are on display. Although there had been a growing interest in oriental art since the 17th century, it was the decision by the Japanese to participate in the Paris World

Fair in 1867 which brought Japanese art to the attention of Europeans. The delegation was led by 14-year-old Tokugawa Akitake, the younger brother of the last Shogun. While in Paris his portrait was taken by French artist, James Tissot, the first by a European artist. The watercolour on a hanging scroll on show in the exhibition belongs to the Tokugawa Museum in Mito. The Japanese followed up their success in Paris by attending the World’s Fair in Barcelona in 1888, and a network of shops specialising in oriental art and decor opened in Barcelona, making Catalunya the most important centre for Japanese art in Spain, attracting both artists and collectors. Japanese art became an international phenomenon influencing artists and designers with its aesthetic approach, graceful nature, delicate finish, compositions, treatment of perspectives, colours, textures, formats and use of lacquer. European artists were captivated by the Ukiyo-e woodblock prints from the Edo period, modern-day Tokyo, dating from the late 17th and early 18th

century. The meaning of Ukiyo-e is a ‘floating world’ and this concept influenced and transformed European art at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The artists, Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro became as well-known in Europe as they were in Japan. Their art inspired the impressionist movement, clearly evident in many of the works of Monet, Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec and James McNeill Whistler. Spanish artists such as Camarasa, Fortuny, Guiard, Rusinol, Sorolla and Villegas also adapted their styles to Japonisme. Mariano Fortuny was considered the first ‘Japonista’ in Spain and many of his works have a distinct Japanese flavour with the use of flowers,

INFLUENTIAL: Japanese art. colours, furniture and objects in his works. His painting ‘The artist’s children in a Japanese salon’ shows his use of Japanese techniques. The exhibition commemorates the 400 years of Japan’s ties with Spain since Date Masamune, the ruler of Sendai, first established diplomatic relations. “This is not just the first exhibition of its kind in Spain but the first to show how Japanese art took root in Spain, especially in Catalunya,” said curator Ricard Bru i Turell. ©peterfieldman


OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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December is a time for reflection Sally Trotman

NEW MOON: Move forward with your plans in preparation for the new year.

Based in Mallorca, Sally Trotman is a qualified Counsellor who works with Astrology, Numerology and the Tarot. Each month she will deliver the forecast as an intuitive tool to aid increased self awareness.

www.sallytrotman.com

W

elcome to your forecast for December. Each month I write about how you can make the most of the month ahead, using astrology, numerology and the tarot as a unique tool to help you confidently create the life you desire and deserve. Read on... DELVE deeper in December: As the year draws to a close, this is a time of reflection, consolidation and endings. As you plan for the New Year, move forward with ideas, people and situations which inspire, motivate and uplift you. Leave the old behind and let your inner wisdom guide you to pastures new. As December is the 12th month of the year, this powerful number is influenced by both the sun (1) and the moon (2). This gives you the confidence to act on your intuition. The sun brings you energy, courage and motivation, whilst the moon enables you to hear the intuitive whispers of your heart. Balance your head and heart this month and attain the fulfilment you desire.

Tune in to the moon: On December 2 the new moon is ruled by the sign of Sagittarius. This fiery, upbeat sign is helping you to move forward with your plans in preparation for the new year. On the new moon day write your wish list for the month ahead. Sagittarius is helping you to aim high, so fire out your arrows in the direction of your dreams and have absolute faith that what you desire will manifest. This is the key to attaining your desires. It may feel like your faith is being tested at times, but know that any

challenges will only make you stronger and more determined to fulfil your goals. On December 17 the moon becomes full and is influenced by Gemini. This airy sign is helping you to make new contacts. Abundance comes through connecting with others. Whether you wish to attract better health, more wealth or new love, this moon will guide you to the right people to help you along your path. Hanging around: The Major Arcana Tarot card which influences this month is the

Hanged Man. The picture on this card is of a jester hanging by his foot and he is helping you to lighten up this month, so enjoy festivities and fun. On Christmas Day the moon is influenced by Libra which is perfect for gathering with family and friends as Libra brings balance and harmony to all your relationships. The hanged man card is also helping you to keep a balanced mind. If you feel you have been waiting this year for your dreams to manifest, know that the new moon on January 1, 2014, is bringing a completely different energy to help you swiftly move forward to exactly where you need to be. Meditate your way to success! Visit my website and listen to a free 10 minute guided meditation for relaxation and inspiration. I will be holding Meditation Workshops on December 2 and 17 in Palma for the new and full moon where you will learn techniques to relax your mind and body. Personalised Forecasts I hold one hour sessions in Palma, Mallorca or via Skype, telephone or email. www.sallytrotman.com/sally.trotman@btin ternet.com or call on 674 405 464.


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E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Everybody needs good neighbours Ulrica Marshall

LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR: Is yours a law-abiding citizen or not the sort that you would wish for?

Expat Strife

Swedish-born Ulrica is a freelance journalist living in Mallorca with her family. Her debut novel $Expat Wives is available on Amazon and iBooks. To comment go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ulrica-marshall ulrica@euroweeklynews.com

L

OVE them or hate them, neighbours can have an enormous impact on your daily life. Neighbour relations here in Spain appear to be particularly fraught and a long way from the warm and cosy set-up portrayed in the Australian TV show. Some of the calmest and kindest people I know confirm that they are embroiled in some feud over property lines, right of way or undesirable building projects to sully the relationship. Making ‘denuncias’ at the police seems to be a particularly common and popular activity. Growing up, I believed that neighbours were there for a friendly morning chitchat, to borrow cups of sugar from, or perhaps to look after your pet. Perhaps it is the tempestuous southern temperament or a result of the ambiguous laws and rules surrounding property as I have previously highlighted to in Expat Strife (link http://www.euroweeklynews.com/colum nists/ulrica-marshall/item/109775-

imprecise-how-long-is-a-piece-ofstring?), but the concept of live and let live does not seem to apply here. Costly squabbles may, however, be the least of your worries. Spain is still viewed as a haven by many hardened criminals. UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) alongside the Spanish Government recently revealed that some of Britain’s most wanted are at large here. Unsavoury mugshots of the so-called ‘Unlucky 13’ were posted with details of their crimes, ranging from

murder to paedophilia: not the sort of neighbour that anyone in their right mind would wish for. Many, the NCA claim, are here because of the drug smuggling opportunities, with hashish from Morocco within reach, while others mistakenly believe it is a safe place to hide. In 2012, there were 1,599 arrests of Britons in Spain - not all in the big league in the style of the 2000 film ‘Sexy Beast’. But since ‘Operation Captura’ was

launched in 2006 to target serious criminals who have fled the UK, 54 of the 76 listed have been caught. The NCA and Spain now call upon the public to be more vigilant and report any suspicions. Still, confessions at a cocktail party are unlikely. Not least because, ‘So, what do you do?’ is a taboo question. Mainly because the answer is often obvious - many of us retiring or relocating here in the search of sun, golfing, and a better life. A few have left behind a troubled relationship with tax authorities, teetering at the brink of legality, and have no wish to discuss this. Then there are the ‘13’. Since spotting the criminals in our midst is no mean feat, it may be worth taking a look on the Crimestoppers website (under Operation Captura). Most likely is that your neighbours are not only law-abiding citizens but also of that old-fashioned ilk who look out for your house when you’re away and whom you can run to when baking that Christmas cake, realising you are short of one cup of sugar.


34

E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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FEATURE

Advertising feature

Trafalgar International GmbH LIVING as an expat abroad can certainly come with its advantages. With many people coming from the UK to enjoy the weather and the lifestyle, quite often other possible advantages are overlooked, particularly when it comes to finances. One area we are often asked to look at is how to best manage the pension that has been built up over the years. If coming from the UK, one option may be to look at the use of a QROPS scheme. Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) are overseas pensions schemes that HMRC have authorised for use by those expats living abroad. Whilst we would not say they are the correct option for everyone, they are certainly worth considering. QROPS were designed with cross-border regulations in mind and therefore provide a number of benefits to those living abroad that may not be available to those in the UK.

TRAFALGAR: Each client is individual. Depending on the country the QROPS is set up, these benefits may relate to the age that the pension may be drawn, the amount available to the member

at the commencement of drawdown, the amount of tax payable on the pension income, removing impact of death charge after drawdown, elimination of

tax on exceeding the lifetime allowance etc. One other point that often causes concern is that a UK pension often remains in Sterling and therefore pays in Sterling.

With a QROPS, a member may choose their local currency for their pension scheme which eliminates the very real risk of losing money due to fluctuating exchange rates. QROPS also offers a wider choice of investment vehicles and this can be useful if the client wants to invest in assets that fit the currency and inflation regime of the region they want to retire to. At Trafalgar International we are a fully licensed and regulated financial advisory firm with many years of experience. We have a number of offices throughout Europe together with our local office in Palma. As mentioned, each client is an individual therefore before proceeding with any scheme you should always seek impartial, professional advice based on a full understanding of current and future plans and circumstances. For more information: www.trafalgar-international.com, enquiry@trafalgarinternational.com, 871 946 761


FEATURE

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28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

Advertising Feature

A reasonable week for the euro

Commentary by Moneycorp EUR A reasonable week for the euro saw it lose a fifth of a cent to sterling while rising half a US cent and nearly five Australian cents. The currency’s main problem was a story that the European Central Bank is considering paying a negative rate of interest to commercial banks on their deposits. The concept was not new but investors got the impression that this time the idea is being given serious consideration. USD The dollar lost half a cent to the euro and three quarters of a cent to

35

inflation slowed to 0.7 per cent, exactly the same rate that caused ructions for the euro. There is no assurance that the BoC will lower its 1.0 per cent interest rate target but investors fear it might.

Clarisse Musselwhite is Moneycorp’s Account Manager for Mallorca

She can be contacted on Tel: +34 902 887 243 Mobile: +34 687 932 472 Email:mallorca@moneycorp.com

902887243 mallorca@moneycorp.com sterling because the US economy failed to deliver the upbeat economic data which investors demand these days if they are to buy a currency. Although the Federal Reserve said it might begin to wind down its $85bn-a-month bond

EWN

purchase programme “in coming months,” the comment was too vague to give the dollar other than brief support. CAD The Canadian dollar lost three cents to sterling and one to the US dollar. The problem was inflation - or the lack of it - and how the Bank of Canada might react after Canadian

AUD The Australian dollar got buried, losing three cents to the euro, five cents to the US dollar and six to sterling. Investors were worried by the US Central Bank’s reminder that its money-printing stimulus would begin to wind down ‘in coming months,’ removing one of the Australian dollar's key props. They worried even more when RBA Governor Glenn Stevens implied that he might use intervention to weaken the currency. NZD The Kiwi lost a cent and a half to the US dollar and four and a half cents to sterling. Investors were worried by the US Central Bank’s reminder that its money-printing stimulus would begin to wind down ‘in coming months,’ removing one of the Kiwi’s key props. They also took note of RBNZ Assistant Governor John McDermott when he said the Kiwi was “overvalued” and that the Bank “would like to see it lower.”


36

E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

ealth & beauty H TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM

Advertising Feature

Ask the Optician - I can see perfectly well, why should I have an eye test?

By Andrés Román Romero, Store Director from Specsavers Opticas Santa Ponça THIS month, rather than answer a series of questions, I wanted to answer this one important point in more depth, as too many people just fail to have regular eye tests. Many problems with the eyes have no symptoms, so you should have a check up with your optometrist every two years. More frequent checks are advised for the over 60s or those with a family history of glaucoma

or a condition such as diabetes because they are more at risk of certain eye diseases. While many people know that a routine eye test can identify sightrelated illnesses such as glaucoma and cataracts, a relatively unknown fact is that the same eye test could help to detect serious medical conditions that you wouldn’t usually associate with the eyes, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and brain tumours. Optometrists are trained over a period of four years to look out for eye related

To book a free eye test or find your nearest store visit specsavers.es

VITAL: Eye check every two years. diseases and these other medical conditions. Recent

advances in technology such as digital retinal photography are helping

to catch conditions early and save lives, reinforcing the importance of regular

eye examinations. There is a great deal of research done into eye diseases, with advances being made in treatments e.g. in macular degeneration. However, effective treatment relies on an early diagnosis, so it’s vital to have a regular eye test even if everything seems OK.

Could be a touchy subject TODDLERS who have tablets and smart phones have a higher risk of developing long-term problems with their hands and fingers later in life. An occupational therapist

has warned parents that excessive screen time could cause children longterm damage as by using touch screens they are not building up the muscles needed for writing. Neck and back pain in youngsters has also been linked to computer and video game usage. Experts say that it could lead to developmental delays but add that because technology is so new, no one really knows the potential damage that could be caused.

TAP TAP: Smart phones and tablets may delay development.

Regular sleep to be slim GOING to bed and waking up at the same time each day could be the secret to staying slim. Researchers studied more than 300 women, aged 1726 and found that those with consistent sleeping habits were slimmer and had less body fat. The study, published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, found that getting less than six-anda-half hours, or more than eight-and-a-half hours, sleep a night was also linked to higher levels of body fat.


38

E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

CROSSWORDS

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Time Out EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

NEW ON DVD

Mallorca weather

Monty Python have decided to reunite.

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

for next 7 days

Red 2 Ex-CIA agent Frank Moses is brought out of retirement once again when he is asked to track down a nuclear device which has fallen into the wrong hands. In order to find out the device’s location, he must first speak to Edward Bailey, the scientist responsible for its creation. But to make matters worse, his old partner Victoria has been hired to kill him with the help of a much renowned deadly assassin.

TODAY

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

Starring Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, MaryLouise Parker, Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins. Directed by Dean Parisot. Runtime 116 minutes. Rated 12.

TOMORROW CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA

“DON’T BE FRIGHTENED MAMA, IT’S ONLY A MONTY PYTHON GROUP REUNION PRACTISING THEIR SILLY WALK!”...

ANDRATX LLUCMAJOR

Important things are signalled by the stars. There are gains to be made in many different areas. Just keep believing things will work out for the best for you and they will.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Your mind is still sharp this week and there are many questions that you would like answered. Doing a bit of research proves fruitful and also quite amusing. A recent contact may not come up with the proposition hoped for, but realise that it is still early days. AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) A meeting midweek could mean a change to your finances for the better. In the short term, it may be necessary for you to rearrange money and appointments but try not to be too put out. Change is perhaps something that we become less tolerant of after a situation has gone on for a time.

7-Star Quiz LOVE IS ALL AROUND 1. ‘If music be the food of love, play on’ is the first line of which play by William Shakespeare? 2. ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry’ was a catchphrase based on a line from which 1970 romantic drama film? 3. According to his 1976 Top 10 hit single, music was which singer/songwriter’s ‘first love’? 4. The 40-piece string-laden group the Love Unlimited Orchestra was formed by which American R&B/soul musician in 1973? 5. What is the name of (a) the Greek goddess of love and (b) the Roman goddess of love? 6. Which 1956 black-and-white motion picture, directed by Robert D Webb, starred Richard Egan, Debra Paget and introduced Elvis Presley in his first theatrical release? 7. Which famous 18th century poet wrote the song/poem that begins ‘My love is like a red, red rose’?

Y our S tars

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) There is so much that has come to light in the past few weeks. It is no wonder that your mind is reeling. All will become clear in the weeks ahead and this cannot be rushed. However, there is a need to look after your health and get out in the fresh air.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A pleasant surprise makes you a little more optimistic midweek. It is possible for you to take on negativity too quickly. The next time something does not go according to plan, hold fire. It is amazing what a little time and distance will solve.

29

November 30. Sara Carbonero is a Spanish sports journalist. Toledo-born Sara Carbonero started her career in Radio Marca during her second year in the Journalism faculty of the Complutense University of Madrid. Carbonero gathered media attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup for reportedly distracting her boyfriend, Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, in a match between Spain and Switzerland.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Although last week was not run at the pace anticipated, now the pace certainly picks up. Finances are still firmly on the agenda, but this time you will be able to deal on a more relaxed basis. A contact made recently gives you the opportunity not only to make some money but also to enlarge your circle of friends.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Being considerably more relaxed about those things which cannot be changed has taken a weight from your shoulders. It is also easier to understand why others have taken this approach in the past. There is, however, a balance to be found. LEO (July 24 - August 23) Are you still patting yourself on the back for that recent achievement? Socially, this is a lovely week when old friendships are strengthened and new acquaintances prove to be relaxing. It is another mellow week but one in which you seriously consider making a major change.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Make a point of putting on a happy face and your mood will stay high. There is still some more to be done to improve your social life and a recent offer of charity work may be just the thing. Avoid restricting the sort of folk whom you are willing to mix with.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Be your charming self this week without pushing too much. A natural approach when you are seeking a response is the best course of action. Simply being in the right place and under someone's gaze is all that is required.

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.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) It is clear that you really love your hearth and home but, every now and again, there is a small voice calling. The good things in life appeal and, to have these, an effort is involved.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Having put in extra effort to bring a zing into your life, it is important that you keep the impetus going. This is not only good for your health and wealth, but also your mind. Although trying something new brings a few odd remarks your way, try not to be sidetracked.

LOTTERY UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday November 23

Saturday November 23

Saturday November 23

Friday November 22

12

16

22

13

35

38

48

30

35

1

3

8

11

14

34

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

15

01

40

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

13

25 40

26 50

LUCKY STARS 8

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 11 S Tues - 16 10 Cl Wed - 17 9 C

16 7 Sh 16 9 S 16 9 S

Fri Sat Sun -

SUNNY

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 13 9 S Tues - 14 9 Cl Wed - 14 9 S

CLOUDY 17 10 Cl 18 9 S 17 9 Cl

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 17 11 S Tues - 17 9 C Wed - 17 9 Cl

Mallorca

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 13 S Tues - 16 13 Cl Wed - 16 13 C

14 9 S 13 9 C 13 11 Cl S Sun,

12 -1 S 12 1 Cl 11 1 Cl

MAX 10C, MIN -1C MAX MIN

Mon - 11 2 S Tues - 12 2 C Wed - 11 2 S

Murcia

SHOWERS MAX 13C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLODY

TODAY:

MAX 16C, MIN 10C

MAX MIN

TODAY:

15 12 Sh 15 11 S 15 12 S

Madrid

Malaga Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 11 S Tues - 16 12 Cl Wed - 17 12 C

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 11C

TODAY:

MAX 12C, MIN 7C

12 7 S 12 7 C 13 8 S

TODAY:

16 11 Cl 17 10 S 16 11 S

Benidorm

Barcelona TODAY:

CLOUDY MAX 15C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Cl Clear,

CLOUDY MAX 14C, MIN 7C MAX MIN

Mon - 14 2 S Tues - 15 11 Cl Wed - 14 2 Cl

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

16 5 Sh 16 8 S 16 9 S C Cloud,

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 9 S Tues - 16 9 Cl Wed - 17 10 Cl Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

Nonagram How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case D) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

TARGET:

Average: 15

Very good: 28

Good: 19

Excellent: 34

ante, dan, dean, dent, etna (gas burner), gean, gent, gnat, nave, neat, tang, tend, vane, vend, vent, agent, anted, vaned, vegan, adnate, advent, agenda, agnate, vantage, vanadate, ADVANTAGE

Word Ladder

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

22

Almeria

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 10C

MAX MIN

Sudoku

15

Alicante TODAY:

9

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday November 23

Sunday November 24

7

12

15

23

39

46

REINTEGRO 49

7

9

17 37

LAKE

21

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

41

REINTEGRO 4

BEDS

WEDS BEDS

IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK:

LAKE WAKE WADE WADS

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) There is still a strong accent on family matters and getting things sorted out. The way ahead is clear. If you are able to persuade someone that an idea was theirs and not yours, so much the better. Being in a practical mood serves you well because it is possible to get a lot done in the next few days.

MAGALLUF

1. TWELFTH NIGHT (OR WHAT YOU WILL), 2. LOVE STORY, 3. JOHN MILES, 4. BARRY WHITE, 5. A – APHRODITE, B – VENUS, 6. LOVE ME TENDER, 7. ROBERT BURNS


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CROSSWORDS

Crosswords

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

EWN

39

SPONSORED BY

For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com

Cryptic Across 2 A bill for a musical symbol (4) 4 Family doctorʼs first to be sympathetic (4) 9 Partly determining final points (7) 10 Bring tea round in porcelain (5) 11 Sends off vessels (5) 12 Keeps making chess move (7) 13 Like bears and lemurs in every part (6) 15 Buddy to finish after half a day (6) 18 Ticket tout exchange parcels (7) 20 Ape is different colour (5) 22 Unsuitable camouflage paint (5) 23 Theoretically itʼs no Milan, sadly (7) 24 Kate chopped wood (4) 25 We must accept silver as payment (4) Down 1 Collection Iʼm backing for little children (5) 2 Nymphs concealed in reeds (7) 3 Endeavours to score sporting points (5) 5 Awfully ironic about old Bob cutting tooth! (7) 6 When a doctor gets sick it calls for exercise (5) 7 Sea bird can be cooked slowly (7) 8 Little bird wrapped in a scarf in church (5) 13 Sign up centre forward by mistake

Quick

but itʼs an improvement (7) 14 Nathan, missing the point, conceals acidity level of solvent (7) 16 Stretch of river harbouring vessels (7) 17 Elephant part makes a strong case

(5) 19 Sailor a foot nearer the stern (5) 20 American uncle taking bachelor to dance (5) 21 Al sat tripping up heavenʼs supporter (5)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 6 represents S and 19 represents W, so fill in S every time the figure 6 appears and W every time the figure 19 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.

CRYPTIC Across: 1 Pilfer, 4 Abode, 8 Arson, 9 Nippers, 10 Digital, 11 Halo, 12 Elm, 14 Dali, 15 Agog, 18 Nab, 21 Calf, 23 Avarice, 25 Tearing, 26 Phial, 27 Email, 28 Ferret. Down: 1 Pravda, 2 Lasagna, 3 Einstein, 4 Asps, 5 Omega, 6 Euston, 7 Angle, 13 May apple, 16 Olivier, 17 Scythe, 19 Barge, 20 Merlot, 22 Llama, 24 Dial. QUICK Across: 1 Sales, 3 Pardon, 6 Agitate, 8 Abhor, 10 Eat, 11 Extinct, 12 Bored, 13 Obeys, 18 Inertia, 20 Own, 21 Lotus, 22 Amiable, 23 Assess, 24 Roots. Down: 1 Scared, 2 Startle, 3 Prefer, 4 React, 5 Broth, 7 Introvert, 9 Honeycomb, 14 Barrier, 15 Silly, 16 Harass, 17 Unless, 19 Taste. ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Codo, 3 Track, 8 Seaweed, 9 Car, 10 Opaco, 11 Anden, 12 Eat, 13 Teorias, 14 Users, 15 Town. Down: 1 Customer, 2 Diamantes, 4 Radiator, 5 Cocodrilo, 6 Reporter, 7 Grandson.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Play on Words

Unscramble the name of a famous television quiz show that was first broadcast in August 2000 (three words): KNEW SKI ATHLETE Unscramble the name of one of the oldest dog breeds in existence (two words): HAND A HOG FUN

English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 According to (5) 3 Valiente (persona, acción, decisión) (5) 7 Passage (between buildings) (6) 9 Love (between people) (4) 10 Prisioneros (9) 13 Camino (carretera) (4) 14 Broom (brush) (6) 16 Estante (5) 17 Piedra (material) (5) Down 1 Soup (thick) (4) 2 Grape (3) 4 Cupboard (7) 5 Orejas (4) 6 Badgers (animals) (7) 8 Apellido (7) 11 Brazos (4) 12 Jaula (para animales) (4) 15 Gato (3)

Hexagram The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (WANDER) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues. CASTLE

RESENT

CREATE

RESTED

DEATHS

SCARED

DIREST

SEATED

ENTERS

SINGLE

ESTATE

SPEARS

LADIES

TESTED

LEADER

WANDER (10)

MUTTER

WEARER

REGARD

PALSTANDINGPAL MISS

Answers: A little misunderstanding between friends; Kings Cross

Funagram

Across 1 Occasionally (9) 4 Donkey (3) 6 Cooking stove (5) 8 Piece of furniture (5) 9 Reserve (5) 10 Commence (5) 11 Foolish (6) 13 Most recent (6) 16 Allotted portion (5) 17 Aches (5) 19 Plentiful (5) 20 Join together (5) 21 Regret (3) 22 Lasting (9) Down 1 Dangerous (7) 2 Less (5) 3 Female parent (6) 4 Mean (7) 5 Holy person (5) 7 Inspect (7) 10 Sports ground (7) 12 Ignorant of (7) 14 Anguish (7) 15 Seem (6) 16 Clearheaded (5) 18 Wait on (5)

G E O HENRY VII G E V

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Mutter, 2 Curled, 3 Insect, 4 Packed, 5 Lector, 6 Senses, 7 Pamper, 8 Hasten, 9 Lament, 10 Postal, 11 Wishes, 12 Dealer, 13 Assert, 14 Almond, 15 Earned, 16 Signed, 17 Reward, 18 Leaned, 19 Streak

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: THE WEAKEST LINK, AFGHAN HOUND


40

E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

I

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OPINION & COMMENT

A room of one’s own

HAVE been away for a couple of weeks, back in the UK. Not so long ago leaving my husband and little girl on their tod whilst I went off on a one-woman jolly would have been inconceivable. I would have been expected to stay in and not come up with such silly ideas. There were offers from older female relatives to fly in and save them, but the two of them did very well without any outside help, thank you. In 1929, the great thinker and poet Virginia Woolf wrote an extended essay about women and creativity entitled A Room of One’s Own, claiming ‘Give her a room of her own and 500 a year, let her speak her mind and leave out half that she now puts in, and she will write a better book one of these days.’ It’s true, a woman may be in charge

Vicki Mcleod

Family Matters of the kitchen or living room, in fact the whole house, but if she has a family then all of these spaces will be shared with others who may not remember to not fiddle with those papers, or just stay out of the way for a bit. Space and money are the two things that seem to be the scarcest; so many women simply don’t have them, myself included. So being in a hotel room on my own with only a computer, and a kettle for three nights in Derbyshire may sound dull to you, but it was paradise to me. I got a lot done. A lot of lists were made, diagrams drawn, emails sent and plans hatched. It felt fantastic. The only thing I really miss about living in the UK is the access I had to training. I have studied topics from print and radio journalism to aromatherapy and beauty therapy. All of them have expanded my life and furthered my

career. This started me thinking about what is available here on the island for people who want to explore something new or try out a new skill, so I came up with Education Day which will be on tomorrow (Friday), at Mood Beach from 11am. I wanted to gather together as many types of tutor and trainer as I could for adults and kids. You can learn to present your own video, how to dive, how to meditate, how to prepare raw food, how to speak another language, about interior design, flower arranging, cocktail making, Indian Head Massage, Reiki, cake decorating, picture framing and sculpting, plus more being confirmed all of the time. Get in touch at info@moodbeach.com for more information about the event which is a one off and not to be missed. Try to find some time, and space in your day to attend, you never know what you will learn.

More information at: www.familymatters mallorca.com

NOT TO BE MISSED!

Opel Isleña de Motores competition 2013 COLD WEATHER and rain were no impediment for the Opel Isleña de Motores held at the Club Nautic s’Arenal last weekend. Nearly 200 competitors took part in this competition which is increasingly becoming more established year after year. Aina Colom proved her consistency this

season by winning the Optimist class. The current European runner-up prevailed in the race even though she was eliminated during the last leg. Marcos Plomer from Andratx and Giuletta Lang from the Real Club Nautico (RCN) Palma came second and third respectively. A total of 27 vessels took part in the 420

class race, which qualified for the Spanish Championship. The couple made up of Enric Noguera from Club de Vela Port d’Andratx and Rafa Vallespir from Molinar won the race. Laura Akrich from RCN Palma and Clara Flabres from Club Nautic s’Arenal won the women’s race. The Laser Radial class race

was won by Javier Melia from Club de Vela Port d’Andratx, followed by Tomeu Torrandell and Yolanda Morell. Finally, the Laser 4.7 class race was won by Maximilian Kimpel from RCN Palma, with Martina Magri and Mario Plomer, both from Club de Vela Port d'Andratx, coming second and third.

Setting sail on a mini yacht DURING the last Monaco Nautical Showcase, Lazzarini introduced a new compact polyvalent ship, only 25 feet tall (7.5

metres) and 11.5 feet wide (3.5 metres) named Jet Capsule. It’s a cabinet ship for coastal sailing with a capsule design, useful as a recreational, emergency or military patrol boat. It is made of fibreglass and offers the possibility of choosing between diesel or petrol engines. It comes with automatic lock doors and a single cabinet bathroom. During the night, a show of interior and exterior

Lazzarini’s new compact Jet Capsule. lights makes the capsule look like a spaceship. This model has a maximum capacity of eight people and comes with a convertible living room.

There are other mini yachts on the market, like OvoYachts, with a sevenand-a-half feet ship. It comes with a solarium and several separated

areas. Designed by Serhan Güzelderen and Erkan Sahin, this compact boat allows the possibility of installing two different Yammar

engines from 75 to 125 knots. Antonio Yachts designed by Marc de Antonio is another sevenmetre ship which stands out from the others with its unique design, serving perfectly as an auxiliary boat for Super Yachts. Beyond the elegant exterior design and its modern finishing, the yacht comes with a D23 135hp engine that stays perfectly hidden thanks to the intelligent design at the stern.


OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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41

Good fun or just shallow? ‘Selfie’ is the word of the year 2013, according to Oxford Dictionaries. It describes a self-portrait taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone, often posted on social media internet sites. WOMEN who take selfies spend an average of 16 minutes to prepare themselves for a ‘spontaneous’ picture, according to a survey. Many take up to six pictures of themselves to check hair and make-up before going out. That, for many of our readers, seems a waste of time. Kirsten Van Barneveld, aged 38, works as a waitress at Digby’s Bar in Javea and has only taken selfies a couple of times in her life. She said: “It was just for fun, with some friends of mine and I didn’t like how I looked on them. I did not prepare at all to take both selfies.” Maria C Cano, a 20 year-old

Patricia Lawrie

STREET TALK

student from Benissa, said: “I have never taken a selfie because when I need to check how I look, I look in the mirror.” Penny Loudon, a retired nurse from Almanzora, agreed, saying: “I have got a mirror. Selfies are too vain and egotistical. I think people are just fishing for compliments.” Patricia Lawrie, retired, who lives in Arboleas, remarked: “I don’t take selfies. I ask my partner for his opinion, that is the most important one. I am not vain. I think it is a very strange person that takes photos of themselves. Whatever happened to mirrors?” Kirsten and Laura Mattin

Hairdresser Laura Mattin, aged 21 from Benijofar, said: “I have taken selfies but only if I’m going out and they are never for Facebook. I certainly wouldn’t particularly get ready and dressed up just to take one.” She did, however, think they are more acceptable for celebrities to take and post on Twitter. Friend and colleague, Indie, aged 17, said: “I find them a bit cringe-worthy. I don’t take them but would ask someone to take a photo of me and friends if I’m out.” David, aged 60, who is retired and living in Crevillente, is Penny not really a selfie Loudon fan and has never taken one: “It is a generation thing. Generally, I think they are a bit silly,” he said.


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FOOD & DRINK

& DRINKS

ood F

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Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local sport

Mallorca’s best guide for local restaurants

TO READ MORE VISIT: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM/FEATURES/RESTAURANTS

Viva la Pizza! A new way to look at the Italian dish PERHAPS one of the things we pay least attention to when ordering a pizza is the box it comes in. For many, pizza boxes are nothing less than an accessory, and most of the time, if not always, they end up unnoticed in the rubbish bin. But now a selfproclaimed expert in pizza boxes has decided to look beyond the food and

focus his attention on the cardboard container. In Viva la Pizza! Scott Wiener has traced design

trends over the past four decades. The book is the result of collecting and cataloguing

pizza boxes for more than five years. In it, Wiener presents more than 100 weird and wild box designs and explores the curious history of this item. The book includes international designs, corporate designs and dozens of quirky images from family-run pizzerias. The result is a new way to look at one of the world’s favourite foods.

Some foods can keep you up at night IF you are not consuming any coffee in the afternoons or evenings but still can’t sleep, the food you’re eating might be the problem. Sleep is part of your overall health, so the same things that you do to take care of your body and health can also be good for your sleep. If you’re snacking at night, make sure it’s a healthy snack that’s not loaded with sugar. Steak, due to its high protein levels, takes longer to digest. Wine, beer or alcoholic drinks are sedating, but may alter your sleep cycle. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, high acid content foods like tomatoes are the cause of at least 20 per cent of sleeplessness. Chocolate has big levels of caffeine that can also disrupt sleep cycles. Trying to avoid these foods before going to bed might help you if you’re having trouble falling asleep.


FOOD & DRINK

Would you drink new health juice? THE UK’s first ever Brussels sprout juice has been launched by Juice Club. The green drink is being hailed as the new healthy option and is going on sale at Fortnum & Mason stores. Sprouts, a staple of the Christmas dinner, are rich in victims C and K and contain sulforaphane, which is believed to have cancer-fighting pro-perties and can help lower cholesterol.

NOT A FAVOURITE: But the humble Brussels sprout is thought to have cancer-fighting properties.

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28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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Advertising Feature

Darrmar demolition & waste removal DARREN set up Darrmar.com five years ago shortly after moving to Mallorca and has been working hard since then to build up his team and establish their reputation for offering a quick, reliable and inexpensive solution. Initially Darrmar offered a rubbish clearance service, for all types of household, garden and building waste with a guarantee of being cheaper than a skip with labour included in the cost. This being a huge success and being asked for many other services, the team at Darrmar felt

it was time to expand and add to the services already offered. Darrmar is getting more involved in tackling overgrown gardens, including landscaping and also excavation and clearance of land ready to build on. Darrmar have also been involved in removing palm trees which are infested with beetles which have become quite a problem on Mallorca. Darrmar has also been involved in reforms and their team will do the rip out, including knocking down walls and stripping of tiles and leave a clean

base on which to start the reform process. Darrmar has been working with many of the teams of builders across the island and is gaining a great reputation of working alongside them in many projects. In addition to the rip outs Darrmar has also been involved in excavations in order to create cellar space and Darren has good experience of this from his past work in the UK. This excavation work also includes swimming pools. Darrmar has also been involved in relaying playgrounds and car parking and has worked alongside a specialist tarmacking firm. There are some new services that are being offered this year including supplying of ton bags. The idea is that Darrmar supply the ton bags for you to fill at your own

DARRMAR: Offering rubbish clearance, excavation and treatment of infected palm trees.

pace, with your own manpower and they will be picked up ready for disposal when full and will be priced per ton, however, if you want to take the hard work from this get Darrmar’s team in to help you. In the winter time Darrmar can also supply bags of wood (waste wood material) delivered to your door which is ideal for kindling, but for

a fraction of the price. The team at Darrmar are very proud that they have built up their reputation as being quick, reliable, adaptable, clean and inexpensive and plan to continue to develop the business in other areas yet still retaining these qualities. Darren says “I am very proud to say that I have customers who use my

services on a regular basis and who actively promote me to their friends and family. No job is too big or small and any type of work is considered and if in doubt, just give me a call.” Contact: 971 131 644 or 608 790 007, darren@darrmar.com.


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E W N 28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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PROPERTY

y ropert P TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM Advertising Feature

The one and only option for getting the best job done

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PEOPLE don’t need to worry about hiring and coordinating different companies to complete their home and building projects with J Mac & Option Services on hand. J Mac & Option Services will coordinate everything needed to satisfy the client’s needs from start to finish, so they don’t need to worry about hiring different companies. And J Mac & Option Services will take the stress out of any project by handling guarantees, budgets and making sure time frames are met. J Mac & Option Services works together as a team and gets the job done correctly and on time. The team is formed by qualified specialists in all fields working under one umbrella. J Mac & Option Services will also beat any like for like quote island wide, which in this current climate is very much appreciated by their existing and ever growing new customer base. Due to the current economic situation, laws regarding technical building codes and security rules are increasingly and rapidly changing all the time. Often companies are run by individuals who, though highly qualified in their profession, are not able to keep up with the constantly changing regulations. You won’t have to worry about that with J Mac & Option Services. J Mac & Option Services places a high priority on a personal service as well as knowledge. Members of the team are fully qualified and licensed and constantly updating their skills, which allow them to offer their clients much more than an

BUILDING PROJECTS: From start to finish.

SPECIALISTS: Work together as a team to get the job done. average contractor. With many years of great relationships built with manufacturers, they have access to the best materials at source, reflecting in the costs to their customers. And many of their satisfied

customers return time and again every time they need work done on their properties. J Mac & Option Services loves to experiment with new concepts and the clients appreciate the benefits of good workmanship and quality materials. J Mac & Option Services constantly offers great discounts and special offers to their customers, feel free to give them a call and they will advise you.

J Mac & Option Services covers the entire island, you can contact them on 971 699 616 or info@optionservices.es. www.j-mac.es.


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RS E S TI R R E NE V R A D CO

E

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SPOTLIGHT

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Indigo Car Hire - I’m 98 years old, can I rent a car? No problem!

XPATRIATES who have chosen to live in Spain for their retirement often return to the UK on a regular basis for various reasons. As the years go on, a problem that many have faced when renting a car in the UK for their trip so that they can get around, is the upper age limit that many car hire companies impose. Indigo Car Hire are pleased to say that they can offer good value car rental up to and including 98 years of age!! Even better, there is no extra charge. Many car hire companies have an upper age limit of 75, and as people are living longer, healthier lives, especially out here in the sun, this can be very frustrating. At Indigo, they believe that drivers over 75 are often more reliable, have fewer accidents, and so are more than happy to have them as customers. Indigo also accept most debit cards, and offer free one-way hire. That means that you can rent your car from one airport as you land, and drop it off at another when you are ready to return to

INDIGO CAR HIRE: Older renters are not penalised. Spain. Therefore, you can visit friends and family all over the UK. Christmas is an extremely busy time of year for car hire. Not only is availability limited as the festive season approaches due to sheer volume of demand, but as

availability decreases, prices can soar. Cherie Walker, Reservations Manager for Indigo Car Hire, says: “Leaving the booking of your car hire until the last minute can result in charges of up to £200 for a small car for one week, or even

Advertising Feature

David S Jones creator of Fireman Sam releases his latest novel DAVID S JONES found unlikely employment as a bodyguard to an American millionaire and entrepreneur, travelling throughout Europe. Upon reaching Portugal, he left this employment, and met and married his Portuguese wife. David has four children from that marriage, three living in Portugal and one in the UK. He later returned to London and joined the London Fire and Rescue Service, serving for a further 11 years. It was during this time that he had the idea to develop the children’s character Fireman Sam, now an international success as a

children’s TV series. His latest novel Trevelyan reflects his deep knowledge of the British Army and his love of adventure. Main character Nick Trevelyan fulfils a childhood dream to become a commissioned officer in the British Army, but his career is shattered by a series of explosive encounters with an aristocratic fellow officer. When forced to resign his commission, Nick takes time to ponder his future staying with a friend in the Algarve, where he eventually discovers an unlikely talent. Returning to London he begins to exploit his new-found skills - not

NAIL-BITING: David S Jones’s new novel Trevelyan.

necessarily in a legal manner. David S Jones’s highly entertaining novel explores the highs and lows of Nick Trevelyan’s life of intrigue, beautiful women and espionage right up to its nailbiting finale. Available to buy from www.austinmacauley.com.

being told there is nothing available. I have worked in the car hire industry for over nine years and the same applies every year - car hire at most major airports will be booked up by the end of November. I would advise all our clients not to leave it to chance but rather to book their car hire as soon as they have booked their flights and know their dates and times. We deal with lots of suppliers and will make every effort to obtain the best price possible for all our customers. “Imagine not being able to rent a car to get around while you are in the UK at Christmas! Contact Indigo Car Hire now for a no-obligation quote and excellent customer service. Indigo offer UK, Spanish and worldwide car hire with no hidden extras and at competitive rates. To get the best deal, book as early as possible. Also, if customers can contact us directly for a quote on 00 44 113 2899281, or email sales@indigocarhire. co.uk with their requirements we may be able to locate even better prices than on the website at www.indigocarhire.co.uk.”


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DELFINOS (Crazy Dolphin). Menu del dia - 3 courses and drink 9.95€. Dinner for 2, 19.90€. 971 676 449 (216841)

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PROFESSIONAL renovation/ building company. Free estimates/good rates. Call now: 666 112 489 (81695)

BUY & SELL

LEARN TO DRIVE IN MALLORCA. Scottish Driving Instructor now qualified to teach in Mallorca. Classes in English or Spanish. Obtain your Spanish licence easier or have refresher lessons and get behind that wheel. Interested! Call 648 133 929 (219833)

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POOL TABLES, Snooker Tables, Table Tennis Tables, Darts Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com

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CLAIRVOYANTS TAROT Reading. African Spiritualist solves problems - love and business. Tel: Ibrahim 626 502 803

FULL SIZE snooker table. Beautiful condition. Tel 971 267 248 / 649 127 321 (216817)

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Price per word: 0,42€ + IVA minimum 15 words - Discount: Book 10 weeks, get 2 weeks free - Deadline: 4pm Mondays Contact: Phone (0034) 971 682 795 • Fax (0034) 971 680 438 • email classifieds@euroweeklynews.com • www.euroweeklynews.com


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NEWSPAPER

PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe. Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required. For further information call or e-mail us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227. Email: info@pet-couri ers.com or www.pet-couriers.com FELIX Dog and Cat Kennels. Based at Manacor. Boarding available. Home sitting Island wide. Tel 689 795 049 (216827)

MOBILITY INSURANCE INSURE your mobility scooter for just €105 per year, fully comprehensive inc 1,000.000 public liability cover, underwritten by Lloyds of London, dare you risk not to have it? email.in fo@mobility-spain.com / www.mobility-spain.com / tel: 952 663 131 / 633 127 901

28 November - 4 December 2013 / Mallorca

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PROTECTAPET. Spain’s leading pet insurance. 965 756 371. www.pro tectapet.eu (216721)

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PET TRANSPORT ACCOMPANY your pets to their new home. Fully licensed pet transport service. Denise www.petchauffeur.eu 952 197 187 / 696 233 848 info@petchauf feur.eu (215263)

POOL TABLES MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 153, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 153 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

NEW/used pool tables. For sale/rental/shares. Tel 649 127 321 (216818)

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PROF. SERVICES FREE FOR YOU FREE. MOBILE PHONE SIM CARD CALLS TO THE UK FOR ONLY 1 CENT PER MINUTE FREE CREDIT WORTH 12 EUROS.FREE MOBILE PHONE CALLS. CALL NOW TO FIND OUT HOW. TEL 902 887 091 WWW.TELITEC.COM (0)

PALMANOVA, studio, fully furnished, terrace, seaview, parking, 385 euros pm. Tlf 693 971 990 (218651)

PROPERTY FOR RENT

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LLUCMAJOR. Completely furnished first floor apartment with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, kitchen, lounge, terrace, 450 euros/month. Ref 2940 Inmobiliaria Llucmajor. Tel 971 662 402 (219812)

BRITISH property services in Mallorca. Construction & home reform services. Our promise: We WILL beat any price like for like ISLANDWIDE. All work guaranteed. See our large advert in this edition. Contact us at en quiries@j-mac.es or tel 971 230 136 (216755)

SAN AUGUSTIN. Studio. 2 fixed private double beds. 300€ monthly, no bills, no deposit. Tel 0044 7918 070864 (216848) STUDIO to let in Son Caliu. 450€ all inclusive. 634 388 678

PROPERTY SERVICES

PROPERTY maintenance services. Renovation, painting, decorating & gardening. Last years rates! Trustworthy and high standards Bart: 634 323 062 (216822)


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TELECOMS FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (0)

XXX RELAXATION READERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION MAY FIND SOME OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS SECTION OFFENSIVE. BIZARRE DREAMS and FETISH FANTASIES Tel 670 210 581 (209776) VIP escort, Mariana www.escortsmallorca.com - 698 250 674 (206953)

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SITUATIONS VACANT EXPERIENCED FEMALE HOUSEKEEPER available now for full/part time positions. All duties performed to a high quality. Trustworthy, friendly and hard working. Duties can include school runs,cooking and shopping. Flexibility and reasonable rates. Call now on 634 349 418 (216822) THE Man & Van Island wide removals & storage. Cheap Cheerful and most importantly LEGAL. Tel: 626 792 037 (216798) VAN MAN FAST, FRIENDLY, EFFICIENT. REMOVALS, STORAGE 25 euros p/h. 638 478 204 (216828)

RUBBISH CLEARANCE WE CLEAR building rubble, garden rubbish, furniture etc. Quick & reliable. Tel 629 547 685 (216639) DARRMAR Excavation, demolition, overgrown gardens cleared, ponds and swimming pools, reforms prepared, tree felling & landscaping. 608 790 007 (81692)

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STORAGE 50m3 Dry secure storage space available, Poligono Son Bugadelles. 300€/month. 971 231 623 / Mob 629 547 685 (216639)

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otoring M TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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ERMAN manufacturer Porsche unveiled the allnew Macan during the Tokyo Motor Show, which is being held in the Japanese city until Sunday. The Macan, whose name comes from the Indonesian word for tiger, combines the typical handling characteristics of Porsche with a high level of comfort and everyday suitability. Three models comprise the Macan product range. The Macan S1 is equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo engine delivering 340bhp and also features an active all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled, map-controlled multi-

MOTORING

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Porsche unveils its first ever SUV - the Macan MACAN: Porsche’s first ever SUV. Design elements have been taken from sports cars.

plate clutch. A seven-speed doubleclutch transmission transfers power as required and almost without any interruption in tractive force,

enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds. The Macan S Diesel 2 is the economical long distance runner of the three Macan models. Its 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine achieves fuel consumption figures of between just 6.3 and 6.1 litres/100km, which corresponds to a CO2 value of between 164 and 159g/km. Nevertheless the Macan S Diesel accelerates from 0 to 100km in just 6.3 seconds thanks to its 258-bhp engine. As the top model in the Macan model line, the Macan Turbo 3 is set to

be the most powerful vehicle in the compact SUV segment. The 3.6-litre V6 biturbo engine, which is being used in a Porsche model for the first time, achieves an unrivalled 400bhp and catapults the vehicle from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds. Although the top speed is 266km/h, the Macan Turbo delivers fuel consumption figures of between just 9.2 and 8.9 litres/100km. The design elements of the new Macan, available in April from €57,930, have been taken from other Porsche sports cars.

Round lines meet the strategically positioned precision edges, giving the vehicle a compact, powerful and close to the road look. The side view, with its sporty sloping roof line, creates a sharp profile and emphasises the dynamic nature of the vehicle, while the design lines running to the rear accentuate the broad, sculpted wings. The focus on agility and breadth continues into the Macan’s interior. From the low front seats to the sloping centre console, the interior offers a sense of familiarity with features coming from sports cars.

Fiat Panda 4x4, with all wheel drive for rain or shine

FIAT has designed a car to appeal to both lovers of adventure and drivers who simply want extra grip on slippery surfaces, the Panda 4x4. The 4x4 features a permanent allwheel drive system that employs two differentials and an electronically controlled coupling governed by an electronic control unit. In normal dry conditions, 98 per cent of the engine torque is transferred to the front wheels. This means the car handles in a very similar way to a front-wheel drive model and there are no increases

in petrol consumption and tyre wear. Under low grip conditions such as snow, ice or mud, the electronically controlled coupling prevents wheel spin by progressively increasing the proportion of torque sent to the rear wheels. The Fiat Panda 4x4 features ELD (Electronic Locking Differential) as standard. This improves traction by braking wheels with poor grip on slippery terrain and transferring the driving force to those with greater purchase.

PIVE plan gives car sales a boost CAR sales in Spain soared in the first half of November thanks to the fourth phase of Spain’s PIVE incentive programme to buy new cars at a discount. A total of 19,232 cars were sold in the first weeks of November, an impressive 42.6 per cent more than the same period last year. This growth is mainly due to the extension of the PIVE plan which the national government passed in October. Car sales for private use reached 12,317 units in the first two weeks of November, a 54.2 per cent increase on last year. As for commercial vehicle sales, they rose by 20.3 per cent compared to 2012 thanks to the PIMA Aire plan, a counterpart to the PIVE plan intended to help businesses buy commercial vehicles. By region, Asturias, Castilla La Mancha and Extremadura experienced the biggest growth in sales. The PIVE plan was designed by the Spanish government to boost car sales. Buyers receive a €2,000 discount when buying a new car - the price of which should not exceed €25,000 - in exchange for scrapping a car at least 10 years old. €1,000 of the total discount is paid by the government, with the other €1,000 provided by car dealers.


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Sport Mallorca’s best guide to local sport

SPORT

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Ronnie O’Sullivan is champion SNOOKER - In the Champion of Champions final in Coventry, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Stuart Bingham. And the UK Championship started on Tuesday at the Barbican, York. TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

By Lynda Demangeat EVEN though the weather was cold this weekend the rain held off for most of the rugby matches, although the wind made kicking difficult. In the Senior matches El Toro RC continued their unbeaten run with a decisive match against a weakened RC Pollença side who were unfortunate not to be able to present a full team, which also left them no options for substitutions. El Toro RC on the other hand had plenty of players to choose from so gave some of their newer and less experienced players match time. Within a few minutes points were on the scoreboard for the home side and they kept up

the pressure so that by half time the score was 39 - 0. RC Pollença had a few opportunities to score after a good series of passes but unfortunately a forward pass saw them lose the chance right on the try line. El Toro RC proved to be much stronger and efficient in the scrum and this was a starting point for several of the tries scored. As the RC Pollença team tired they were depleted yet again as one of their team received a yellow card. The final score was 92 - 0 giving El Toro RC another bonus point to extend their lead at the top of the Baleares league table. The other match played in this league was between RC Ponent and Dimonis in Principes de

International Sports A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.

Costa de Almeria

CONGRATULATIONS, again, to F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel who equalled Michael Schumacher’s feat of 13 wins in a Grand Prix season

by taking the chequered flag in Brazil last Sunday. Arsenal, Celtic, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been involved in Champions League action this week, while Tottenham, Swansea and Wigan compete in the Europa League this evening. And over the coming weekend there are full programmes in the Premiership (including Cardiff-Arsenal, Chelsea-Southampton, Spurs-Manchester United),

Caballeros, a team based near Zaragoza, for the first time. This involved an early start and a tedious journey but it proved to be worthwhile as they won the encounter against this team by five points to 42, giving them a bonus point.

Regional U18 and Michel Rodier U14 League. In the other action this weekend the younger players from RC Ponent were victorious against Dimonis RC, final score was 72 - 5. As the season has AGORA PORTALS: Another victory for the U14s. progressed the standard of fitness España which RC Ponent won by postponed until February due to and quality of play has improved the bad weather affecting the and the number of players and 35 points to 10. spectators continues to grow The matches between Corsaris ferries between the islands. In the National League RC amongst these younger teams. RFC and Truc Menorca and Ibiza Teams from Agora Portals, El RFC and Bahia RC have been Ponent played against Ejea de los Toro RC and RC Ponent continued their league matches in Agora School on Sunday. The home team continue to dominate and beat both the other teams keeping them at the top of this league. In the third leg of the first Cruijff); Ten-man Crystal Senior Girls League, El Toro Palace, with new boss Tony RC girls were supported by Pulis looking on, won 1-0 at their men’s senior team Hull; bottom club who watched them win Sunderland, beaten 2-0 at against Dimonis RC and Stoke, had their seventh draw against RC Ponent red card of the season; who also played each other. Fulham’s manager Martin These results keep El Toro Jol is under severe pressure RC at the top of the table. after a 2-1 home loss to The Seniors Regional Swansea and Newcastle League continues on edged Norwich 2-1. On Saturday with matches Sunday, Manchester City between Ibiza RC and Truc thrashed, and I mean Menorca, SEBASTIAN VETTEL: F1 world champion. weather thrashed, Spurs 6-0 and permitting. Pollença RC the Championship and in Cook (65) earned their Manchester United drew 2- play Corsaris RFC, kick off 2 at Cardiff while Monday’s 4pm in Pollença. Bahia RC Football Leagues 1 and 2. corn. CRICKET - England FOOTBALL: Last all-Midland clash ended will meet RC Ponent in were battered inside four Saturday’s Merseyside WBA 2 Aston Villa 2. Principes de España and in RUGBY Shaun the National League RC days by Australia in the first derby ended Everton 3 Ashes Test in Brisbane. The Liverpool 3; Chelsea beat Johnson’s last minute try Ponent meet Geig from arrogant Aussies won by West Ham 3-0; Arsenal and conversion broke Barcelona, kick off at 1pm hearts as also in Principes de España. 381 runs, scoring 295 and increased their PL lead to England’s 401-7 declared against four points after beating reigning champions New The Michel Rodier Trophy England’s paltry 136 and Southampton 2-0 (Saints’ Zealand reached their for the U16 teams Artur Boruc fourth successive Rugby continues with the fifth leg 179. Only Stuart Broad (6- ‘keeper 65) and captain Alastair thought he was Johan League World Cup final. in Palma beginning at 3pm.

Super Sebastian, sensational City, sad England in both rugby and cricket Tony Matthews

JUSTINE KNOX, BALEARES RUGBY FEDERATION

Another successful weekend for El Toro RC and RC Ponent teams


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