Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 13 - 19 February 2014 Issue 1493

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13 - 19 FEBRUARY 2014

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ISSUE NO. 1493

EWNFRONT EXTRA

Access all areas THE Balearic Parliament has passed a law to guarantee that guide dogs of any kind can access public areas. Some 1,500 people will benefit.

Drugs seized FIVE people were arrested in Palma after they were found with three kilos of cocaine and two kilos of marihuana, as well as €6,555 in cash.

Alleged abuse A MAN, 54, has been arrested in Palma for allegedly sexually abusing his partner’s granddaughter, aged seven, in their home.

‘Sexting’ peril A YOUTH, 16, has been arrested in Palma for allegedly sending photos of a naked girl, 13, to his contacts. The photos were sent by the girl to her boyfriend, whose phone was stolen.

WINTER ROUTES: Jet2 and Monarch considering a February to November flight season.

A winter boost

Airlines looking at low-season service BRITISH airlines Jet2 and Monarch could help to give Mallorca a winter boost.

They are considering operating routes to Palma during the winter months in a move that would be good news for local businesses, hoping to attract low-season trade.

Authorities in Mallorca have already mentioned plans to put an end to seasonality on the island.

City Mayor Mateu Isern travelled to London to promote Palma as an ideal all-year-round holiday

destination. Isern asked the airlines to extend their season from February to November.

As Palma is seen as a good ‘product’ for airline companies, Jet2, Monarch and also easyJet have proven very receptive to the mayor’s proposals. Tour operator TUI has also promised to promote the city all year round.

Isern explained to a group of 70 airline executives, tourism professionals and media directors that Palma Tourism Foundation aims to provide a 10-month tourist

season in the city and pointed out that it was an ideal destination for congresses and conferences.

“This city is capable of attracting much more tourism,” he said.

“Palma combines beach and sun with a proper urban holiday destination. The public and private sectors work hand in hand to provide visitors a creative, unique and quality experience.”

Palma’s campaign has been supported by the Spanish Tourism Office in London and the Melia Hotels International chain.

‘Friend’ stole 3kg of gold jewellery A WOMAN has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing €8,000 in cash and three kilos of gold jewellery from a friend.

In August 2009, she stayed at a friend’s house in Palma, and knowing that she kept valuable objects in a storage space, stole the keys. The victim had the items as she managed a pawn shop, which bought and sold gold.

The accused sold some of the items in the following months. Police recovered them and they were returned to the victim.

The woman was sentenced by a Palma court but appealed. However, the provincial court confirmed the sentence.

Meanwhile, a man, 34, has been arrested for burglarising the home of one of his girlfriend’s friends in s’Arenal so he could buy cocaine.

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www.euroweeklynews.com Juan Manuel Herrera/OAS

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THIS WEEK IN

EWN News 1 - 16

Finance 17 - 22

Letters 23 INFANTA CRISTINA: Claims she knew nothing of Aizoon’s activities.

Duke could face 19 years in jail

THE anti-corruption prosecutor in the Noos case could ask for between 10 and 19 years in prison for the Duke of Palma.

He is charged with embezzlement, corruption, document falsification, fraud against the administration and tax evasion.

In court, his wife, the Infanta Cristina, claimed she did not know of the activities of Aizoon, the company created allegedly to hide the €6 million of public funds illegally obtained through the Noos Institute, despite owning half of the company.

A video of her statement in court was recorded illegally and released. It is unknown who took the video, although Judge Castro, in charge of the case, says he “has his suspicions”. It could have been made with a hidden camera, police believe.

Daily TV 24

Leapy Lee 26

Time out 32 - 33

Classifieds 43 - 45

Sport 48

NEWS Diver rescued A MISSING diver, 33, was rescued in the Cala Carbo area in Pollensa. A Maritime Safety Service unit found him holding onto a rock near the Colomer islet in good health.

Pervert caught A MAN, 51, has been arrested for indecency in front of five German tourists aged 16 and 17 in Palma. An off-duty Guardia Civil officer caught the man, who had already been in jail for indecent exposure.

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

Tried to poison children A MAN, 49, confessed to having attempted to poison his two children while they were sleeping in Palma and has been remanded in prison.

He reportedly used a mixture of bleach and hydrochloric acid while they were sleeping.

He told a judge he “didn’t get on” with his daughter, 21, and claimed his wife, from whom he is separated although they still live together, gave her “too much freedom.” He gave no reason for wanting to kill his son, aged six.

He was also intoxicated by the fumes when he put the tub containing the mixture into their bedroom and was initially taken to the detainees’ module at Son Espases Hospital until he recovered.

The two youngsters don’t usually sleep in the same room, but that night he convinced them to do so. The vapours caused by the mixture made the boy cough and he was heard by their mother who went to the room and found the tub. She immediately got them out and called for help.

Smoke inhalation A CALVIA woman had to be taken to Son Espases Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation after her kitchen accidentally caught fire while she was cooking.

Pervert expelled A COLOMBIAN man, 37, will be expelled from Spain for 10 years after pleading guilty to sexually abusing his exgirlfriend’s daughter in Palma in 2012.

Boy injured A BOY, 8, was admitted to Son Espases Hospital with serious injuries to his head after he was hit by a scooter in Cala Rajada, Capdepera.

Defective schools A REPORT made by the Inca branch of the proindependence political party MES has revealed 50 defects in the five public schools of the town.

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Scanner broken

A TECHNICAL breakdown left the MRI scanner at Son Llatzer Hospital inoperative for two days.

Forty patients had to reschedule their appointments as a consequence.

Bad smell RESIDENTS from the Cala Pi and Vallgornera urbanisations in Llucmajor have complained about the bad odours coming from the use of bone meal fertiliser in a nearby vineyard.

Rubbish removed WORKERS from Palma’s public water treatment company Emaya removed 10 tonnes of rubbish from an illegal waste dump in the Can Valero industrial estate.

Pothole woes CYCLISTS have complained about the state of Palma’s bike lane network. They claim cycling in certain sections is dangerous due to potholes.

EWN

People up PESETAS: In 1983, the peseta piece was the lowest value coin in circulation in Spain.

Holding on to pesetas

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HE Spanish still have almost €1.67 billion worth of pesetas in notes and coins.

According to the Bank of Spain, in November there were €870.3 million worth of pesetas in notes in Spain, almost €1 million less than the previous month. However, there were still the same amount of pesetas out there in coins as the

Quote of the Week I know what Iñaki did, but not Noos,’ the Infanta Cristina, the King of Spain’s youngest daughter, testifying in Palma court regarding the €6 million corruption case in which she and her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, have been charged.

month before, €806.5 million.

Since the euro came into circulation, in January 2002, people have been changing their pesetas for euros. At the time, there were €48.7 billion worth of pesetas in circulation.

Until June 2012, the exchange could be made at any bank, but since then, only with the Bank of Spain. Since January 2011, approximately €1 million worth of pesetas has been exchanged every month.

The peseta became the monetary unit of Spain in October 1868, substituting the Escudo, although the first FROM 1982: Coins made from aluminium.

coin to carry the word was minted in 1808 and was a twoand-a-half peseta coin. The first peseta coin which was not made from a precious metal was in 1937.

The coin carried the face of a woman, representing the republic, and was known as the ‘blonde’ due to its colour from the copper-nickel alloy it was made of.

From 1982, peseta coins were made in aluminium to cut costs.

It was also when the 100 peseta coin came into circulation, followed later that decade by 10, 200 and 500 peseta coins.

In 1983, the peseta piece became the lowest value coin in circulation in Spain.

Number of the week

after their ancestors were expelled 522 years from Spain by the Catholic Monarchs, the descendants of Sephardic Jews who can prove their ancestry will be granted Spanish citizenship by the Ministry of Justice, regardless of where they live or their religion.

THE population in Manacor was 43,179 people in January this year, a slightly bigger figure compared to the 42,784 people registered the same month in 2013.

Crane danger A COURT has authorised Sa Pobla Town Council to disassemble a tower crane which is in danger of collapsing. The company that owns the crane has been in financial trouble since 2011, and hasn’t disassembled it since.

Mystery fire NATIONAL Police are investigating the origin of a fire that destroyed a car parked in the Palma area of Camp Redo. This is the third vehicle destroyed by a fire in the same area in just two months.

And finally...

A TRAIN carrying 18 wagons full of ammonia derailed in La Nava, Huelva. According to the Junta de Andalucia, there was something on the tracks which caused the accident but no one was injured and the problem was rapidly solved by emergency services.

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NEWS EXTRA

Hot spot MALLORCA, specifically Betlem Palma and Valldemossa, have three of Spain’s six most expensive homes. One Betlem property worth €19 million boasts 1.5 kilometres of coastline and a helipad.

Abortion demo A GROUP of 20 abortion activists interrupted a Sant Miquel church mass with chants and calls for free abortion rights, adding that protests would continue until their demands were met.

Eye trouble A BOLIVIAN man, 29, was arrested in Palma for causing an eye injury to a fellow countryman. The fight began over the attacker insisting on dancing with the victim’s girlfriend.

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Coca-Cola workers’ strike continues EMPLOYEES of Coca-Cola continued their indefinite strike while attempting to prevent the entry of the product from the mainland.

The latest is that staff are now trying to find out whether the company is bringing in products from other sources.

According to the employee spokesman, Palma’s Coca-Cola production remains paralysed and shortages will start to be apparent by the end of the week.

Furthermore, employees are

PROTEST: Production paralysed as strikers boycott deliveries. going out as early at 6am to the loading zones of larger Coca-Cola clients to try to establish where

In support of animal rights MORE than 150 people took to the streets in Palma to demonstrate against animal abuse, specifically that of hunting dogs.

Many of them were accompanied by their canine companions when they marched from the Plaza de España to el Born.

The event organiser explained: “The greyhound, the podenco and other mixed breeds live a hard life. Born in cages, they are bred simply for their hunting skills, then starved to see what kind of ‘fighters’ they are. If they don’t pass the aggression test, they are often hanged or thrown from vehicles at high speed.”

products are arriving from.

If products are arriving from the mainland, employees threaten to report the matter to the Department of Labour Inspection.

Despite the boycott called for by striking employees, the demand for Coca-Cola has gone up dramatically.

Recent purchases have risen to summertime levels which are three times the normal amount for this time of year.

The high demand is caused by people’s fears of the product no longer being available.

NEWS

Balearics high for mountain accidents ACCORDING to the Guardia Civil’s Mountain Services, 11.55 per cent of mountaineering accidents within Spain occur in the Balearics.

Almost 6 per cent of these victims actually come from the region.

Guardia Civil rescued 3,187 people nationwide in 892 incidents in 2013.

Of these, there were 475 injuries and 94 deaths.

The primary cause of required intervention is hiking, followed by skiing and rock climbing.

The Balearic Islands ranked third on the accident list behind Aragon (39 per cent), followed by Andalucia (12.8 per cent).

Primary culprits are those who underestimate the risk of danger by going out with insufficient experience or technical backup.

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NEWS EXTRA

Extortion arrest A MALLORCAN businessman and his two hired Guinean and Brazilian ‘hit men’ were arrested for extortion and threats to a fellow businessman who owed him €100,000.

Bad conditions ASIMA (Industrial Association of Mallorca) has proclaimed its surprise and shock at the poor condition of the old fire station in the Son Castello industrial estate. It was given the premises after a court judgement.

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Emaya waste warnings PALMA’S public water treatment company Emaya has issued warnings about water conditions in the Playa de Palma.

It has claimed the existence in the Playa of sewage and other insufficiently treated water.

Among other factors, the

defects stem from the beach’s plumbing and drainage systems, along with inadequate water purification.

The news is listed in a document that accompanies the company’s Integrated Rehabilitation Plan.

The defects in the water system belong both to Palma City as well as Llucmajor.

Emaya has claimed the three major pumps in the drainage network are located close to the coast.

These pumps contain emergency overflow channels that flow out into the bay when waters reach excess levels.

Additional problems are also caused by construction of the pipes, made of fibre-cement and concrete, which lend themselves to leaks and fissures.

In addition to these technical criticisms was the lack of a proper head of operations for the Sant Jordi purification plant.

Cove still closed to bathers SIX months after being closed to the public due to landslides, El Toro cove, near Port Adriano facilities in Calvia, still remains shut.

In August, several rocks from a retaining wall next to the area used by beachgoers fell onto the beach and it was closed by Local Police. The town hall and Coastal Department need to evaluate the danger.

EL TORO COVE: Hit by landslides.

NEWS

Man dies in recycling container A MAN, 67, died after getting trapped in a paper recycling container in Palma.

According to a local Spanish daily, residents in the area noticed something hanging from the blue container at around 10pm, and found it was a man’s body. The emergency services were called but the victim was already dead.

It appears the man dropped something inside the container, reached in to get it and was then unable to get out. He may have been there for an hour before the body was found.

The man was not homeless, his relatives confirmed, and was not looking for food as initially thought. National Police are investigating and a post mortem examination will be carried out, although it is believed he choked.

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NEWS EXTRA

Early birds MORE than half of Alcudia’s hotels will be open for business between February and April, a big increase compared to the 90 per cent a few years ago that normally remained closed until May.

Bakery fire FIREFIGHTERS were called to a Can Picafort bakery on Paseo Colom after the fryer the bakery used to make doughnuts caught fire.

NEWS

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New tourist cyclist route planned THE towns of Alcudia, Muro and Can Picafort are planning a massive new cycling path connecting the three locations along the northern bay.

The Balearic government has planned for more than a decade to renovate the current bike path that connects

Playa de Muro and Can Picafort.

They had promised to substitute it with a safer and more ecological one due to its proximity to the Albufera national park.

The route has been encouraged by local hotels and will receive €600,000 of government assistance. The Alcudia

€2.8 million bill for water

mayor explained how each local area is responsible for designing its own stretch of the cycling route.

She also detailed the route in her area of Alcudia, stating it will begin at the entrance to Alcudia from the Port de Pollensa and will continue along the avenue to the

NEW ROUTE: Will connect three locations along the northern bay. cemetery road, until reaching up to the Magic bar and hotel complex where it will join the existing road infrastructure.

Thieves jailed A GANG of thieves in Pollensa have been jailed for 13 separate robberies. The three leaders were given sentences totalling eight years, while two others received one-year sentences.

ESTIMATED costs for repairs for the water treatment plant in Andratx are €2.8 million.

Environmental councillor Biel Company and Andratx mayor, Llorens Suau signed an agreement at Andratx town hall headquarters in Castell de Son Mas allowing critical repairs to Camp de Mar’s water purification system.

Mayor Suau stated that the proceedings with the plant have been on his policy agenda from the beginning.

He also stressed the importance of additional work needed on the principle plant supplying Port d’Andratx and la Vila.

The Camp de Mar reforms are scheduled to begin in the tourist season.

The Balear government estimates that within a year’s time the plant will be supplying 8,000 residents, a 70 per cent increase of its current production.

Daily supply is estimated to be 700 to 1,200 cubic metres.

Children of Chinese prisoners come to Mallorca to ‘get away’ MORNING TEARS, a non-profit association working with children has organised a visit of Chinese children to Mallorca.

In an agreement reached between the organisation and the government of China’s Zhengzhou Province, the children, who are sons and daughters of imprisoned Chinese individuals, have been given the

opportunity to come to the island “to get away and forget about their misery for a while,” according to Morning Tears’ founder.

Among other things, the children were able to visit the Palma Nova beach, to experience the Palma Aquarium and to participate in activities at Marratxi’s Top Dance ballet academy.

NEWS

Man threatens his ex-boyfriend GUARDIA CIVIL have arrested a German man in Santanyi for reportedly harassing and threatening his ex-boyfriend with emails.

The detainee was admitted to the psychiatry ward at the Son Llatzer Hospital after testifying before a judge as he was visibly in distress.

He supposedly sent his expartner, with whom he had been together for 18 years, hundreds of threatening emails since December 2013.

In some of them he even warned the victim, as he claimed he had hired a killer to murder him.

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Parliament requests drilling plans be halted THE Balearic Parliament has asked for the regional government to demand that the Ministry of Industry, “immediately stop� plans to drill for fuel.

Following reports issued by the Balearic Environmental Committee, it was agreed in parliament that drilling can lead to geological changes,

the consequences of which are unforeseeable, and could include earthquakes, contamination of water sources, and threats to marine species.

It was also said that the aim of industrially exploiting gas and petrol resources is counterproductive for the islands, would provide no social or

financial benefits for locals, and constitutes a risk of losing environmental, social and financial assets.

The Balearic Government has said that it will do what it takes to cancel projects for drilling in the area.

Spectrum Geo Ltd. and Cairn Energy, have requested permits for testing in

large areas of the Balearic Sea in search of locations to extract oil.

Alianza Mar Blava is leading a campaign against these projects and has a form which can be filled in (three copies in Spanish) and taken to a local government office by anyone who would like to join in opposing the project.

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Attack on mother stopped A YOUNG man prevented his father from attacking his mother with a knife in Palma.

The attacker supposedly arrived home drunk and for reasons unknown, he started verbally abusing the woman and grabbed a knife from the kitchen.

One of his sons intervened, struggled with him and prevented him from getting at the woman.

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NEWS

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School drop-out rate rises again AFTER two years of better scores, the Balearic Islands have moved back into the uncoveted first place of the highest percentage of school dropouts.

Nearly 29.7 per cent of school-age students in the Balearics dropped out early in 2013 compared to the national average of 23.5 per cent, the Ministry of Education reported.

Since 2008, however, this figure has actually dropped 13 points.

The current drop-out rates in the Balearics can be compared to the

2007 rates of 43.1 per cent (compared to the national average that year of 31 per cent).

In this period, the drop-out rate has actually improved in Balears by 13.4 per cent compared with the rest of Spain’s 7.5 per cent average improvement.

The economic crisis and the collapse of the construction sector are primary reasons for the decrease in drop-out rates the last several years, as students are more inclined to stay in school without the temptation of work drawing them out early.

SCHOOL DROP-OUTS: Getting better with time.

Touchy subject PALMA Provincial Court has confirmed the sentence against a shop keeper from S’Arenal who inappropriately touched a teenage client in 2012.

The man has been sentenced to pay €6 a day for 20 months, and to pay the victim €250 compensation.

The events took place in September 2012, when the 15-year-old girl went to the man’s shop to buy a purse.

The shopkeeper grabbed the girl’s hand and placed it on his chest. He then grabbed her by the waist and touched her bosom and bottom.

Plea to withdraw sailing tax increase THE Balearic Association of Marinas (ANADE) has asked the national government to

withdraw the rise of a sailing tax that came into force in January.

They claimed the Aids to Navigation tax, which has increased by 100 per cent, seriously affects both sailing clubs and sailors.

They also criticised the fact that the rise was passed without reaching a consensus.

ANADE was joined in its petition by other associations at a national level.

These associations have been fighting against this tax, otherwise known as T0, since it was first applied in 2004.

They consider the T0 has caused an increase in mooring prices which is affecting the competitiveness of the nautical tourism sector.

In fact, marina occupancy rates in Mallorca have decreased in recent years, it is thought due to this tax.

This decrease is especially apparent during the low season, and has forced marina managers to lower their tariffs in order to keep their clients.

NEWS

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Cabinet members to give back rise THE Balearic High Court has told four members of President Bauza’s cabinet to return the €20,000 they received as part of a salary raise.

The court considers discriminatory that the president granted the closest members of his cabinet a raise while he announced cutbacks in the public sector.

It also dismissed the reasons given by the regional government, which said these people were taking over tasks

that used to be carried out by more than one person. Their salary was raised by 21 per cent the moment Jose Ramon Bauza became president in 2011.

The raise coincided with measures in the public sector including nearly 1,200 dismissals, increased working hours and salary cutbacks.

The members of Bauza’s cabinet will now have to return the monies they received over the last few years.

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Drunk driver damages cars A YOUNG man has been accused of smashing the safety screens of two Local Police cars after being arrested for dangerous driving in Palma.

The reckless driver had an alcohol level three times over the limit at

the time of being arrested, police sources said.

The events took place in the early hours of Monday morning in Palma’s promenade.

A Local Police unit was pulling cars out of the street due to a

cycling race to be held the same day, when a car overtook them at high speed.

It then dodged a tow truck, spun 180º and started driving in the opposite direction.

Local Police managed to stop it after a short chase.

The driver was arrested and, when officers put him in a car to take him to to this sector have police station, he kicked been included in the the safety screen inside until he destroyed it. law.

He was consequently He added that those associations fighting put in another car, and against addiction to destroyed its safety gambling have been screen as well on the way taken into account as to police headquarters. well.

Gambling law presented THE Economy department has presented a draft gambling law for the Balearic Islands.

The law will regulate all issues related to gambling, and would put an end

to the Balearics being the only region in Spain not having a law for this matter.

The Councillor for Economy, Joaquin Garcia, said the petitions from companies belonging

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Commissions charged by taxi companies PALMA City Hall is studying the possibility of legalising commissions which taxi companies charge taxi drivers when they radio them fares.

The Councillor for Mobility, Gabriel Vallejo, was in favour, but the rest of the parties in the local government opposed the measure and both taxi drivers’ unions and business associations are unsure.

Therefore, there will be a study into the matter and a

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TAXI DRIVERS: Face charges when they receive fares. report will be issued to determine whether the four existing associations which broadcast on radio

channels should be allowed to charge commission to taxi drivers and in turn, pay hotels, leisure areas or

workplaces in order to get clients.

It is banned by municipal and state transport laws, but is reportedly a common practice.

The aim of the municipal transport department was to make sure the drivers were charged a reasonable fee and it was subject to taxes.

Meanwhile, the Local Police will continue investigating which associations are charging commissions.

Do you wish to be a self-starter?

CAFÉ MILANO in Palma is hosting a talk for entrepreneurs today (Thursday) from 6pm.

The talk, which will be held in English, is directed to self-starters who are in the midst of launching their own business or micro-

enterprise. It has been organised with the cooperation of Palma storage company, Planet Space Self Storage.

Publicist Sergio G Garcia will share his experiences about promotion and positioning of products and services in a competitive market.

He will be focusing on market research, the service a company should give, the sales force and the plan of action for a company.

Entrance is free, but advance registration is required on 692 316 180 or www.exposia.net.

NEWS

22 houses were sold each day TWENTY-TWO houses were sold every day on average in 2013 in the Balearic Islands.

According to the National Institute of Statistics, in 2013, 7,971 properties were sold, 0.5 per cent more than the previous year.

Throughout Spain, however, house sales fell by 2.2 per cent compared to the previous year with 311,414 in total, making it the third consecutive year in which sales had fallen, although the figures were not as dramatic as the 11.5 and 18.1 per cent falls of 2012 and 2011.

This is despite the fact that 2013 saw the end of tax benefits for people buying a new home.

In 2010, house sales had risen by 6.3 per cent, but the two previous years saw figures drop.

NEWS

NEWS EXTRA

Cemetery expansion MONTUIRI cemetery is to be expanded by 900 metres to match the current demand. This will be the second time the cemetery has been expanded in five years.

Olive fire AN olive tree located in Avenida 11 de Mayo in Soller caught fire due to a cigarette butt someone had thrown. A driver saw smoke coming out of the tree and called the emergency services.

Goods seized MANACOR Local Police seized stolen goods including TVs, DVD players and coffee machines - from a garage. The goods were loaded on a van which was heading to Morocco.

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Spanish youths drinking poor quality alcohol FIVE per cent of youths in Spain drink illegally sold alcohol, according to a study.

Four per cent of youths don’t see any ethical or health risks in illegally buying alcohol which has not passed tax or health controls, despite the fact it could be adulterated, according to the study carried out by the Universidad Complutense in Madrid.

The study surveyed 1,200 people aged

aasdgadsgasdg between 14 and 34 of which 60 per cent habitually consume

alcohol, especially binge drinking at the weekend.

They mainly purchase

the alcohol from Chinese bazaars or stalls on the street, but also consume large quantities sold to them at low prices in certain establishments.

Due to the lack of available money, such practices are on the rise, but the youths do not see the risk, despite the fact that it could lead to addiction in later years.

Twenty-five per cent have suffered from alcohol poisoning in the past year.

Store manager changed expiry dates A COURT has confirmed the dismissal of a supermarket manager in Caceres who changed the expiry dates on products.

She was dismissed in November 2012 following complaints from staff working in the butchery, fruit and

bakery departments who she reportedly told to put new tickets on products which had reached their expiry date.

She also took products from the bakery and cosmetics counter without paying for them, as well as

manipulating stocktaking data to hide the super-market’s financial situation. This prevented the store from being stocked properly.

She appealed the dismissal but Extremadura High Court of Justice has confirmed it.

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Dog is thrown by man A MAN from Olula del Rio (Almeria) has been charged for attempting to attack a football referee by throwing a dog at him.

He was watching a match between Comarca del Marmol and La Cañada Atletico teams at the Juan Jose Rodriguez stadium in the town.

The referee approached the benches towards the end of the game and the man grabbed a dog belonging to another spectator and threw it at him. The dog fell to the floor from a height of two metres without hitting his target. It appeared to be hurt while its owner began fighting with the man who had thrown it.

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NEWS EXTRA

More space INCA Town Council is in negotiations with the owner of a plot of land in Calle Bisbe Morro to create two parking lots with capacity for 300 cars.

Tree value THE Balearic Tree Association has shown its opposition to the felling of a poplar on the Port Soller road in Soller for safety reasons. They claim the tree is part of the town’s heritage and has a cultural and social value.

No rabbits RABBIT population in Mallorca has decreased due to myxomatosis and mange, several hunting associations have reported.

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Girls at risk from ritual mutilation IN Spain, some 17,000 girls are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation.

According to anthropologist Adriana Kaplan of the Wassu Foundation, the risk has increased by 61 per cent in Spain in the last four years amongst girls under 15 in families from African countries.

This practice is carried out to prevent girls from having sexual urges so they maintain their virginity until marriage and assure they will be accepted by their future husbands.

Girls may be at risk depending on their country of origin and if their families have not abandoned this type of tradition.

Attempts are made by the authorities and health service to dissuade them from returning to their country of origin for the ritual or from having it carried

out by clandestine witch-doctors in Spain. Parents are also informed that in Spain, this practice is considered a crime punishable by law.

Many families living in Spain apparently do not want to carry out the mutilation, but feel pressurised into accepting it.

NGO Mundo Cooperante has launched a campaign to fight Female Genital Mutilation and is selling bracelets made by hand

by Masai women in Kenya and Tanzania to help them become independent.

Each bracelet costs â‚Ź5 plus p&p.

See more at www.mundo cooperante.org

NEWS

Fewer in Spanish prisons THE number of inmates in Spanish prisons has been falling for the past four years.

Between, 2009 and 2013 it has fallen 11.4 per cent.

The main reason for this is that in 2010, a new law was introduced which reduced the maximum sentences for minor drug-related crimes, which account for most of the inmates serving time.

Just days after the reduction from nine to six years was approved, some 400 people were released.

Another reason is because of extradition agreements for foreign prisoners, who are often sent to their countries of origin to serve time.

In the same four years, the number of foreign inmates in Spanish prisons fell by 21 per cent to 21,315 people, according to a Murcia University Professor who has carried out a study of the inmate population.

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COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Good record DENIA HOSPITAL treated 4,500 cancer patients last year, of whom 750 were new cases. There is no waiting list for oncology outpatients or oncological surgery, the hospital announced.

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NEWS DESK COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

British body AN investigation has been opened after the body of a British man was found in a house in Almoradi. The 73-year-old’s body was found by firefighters moments after entering the property which was on fire.

Buried treasure

Refuge found

FIFTEEN gold and 486 silver coins discovered beneath a San Juan house in 1963 are on display at Alicante’s Archaeological Museum (MARQ). They were hidden when French troops invaded Spain to reinstate Fernando VII.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL digs in Elche on the site of the new Central Market have found an entrance to a refuge from the Civil War.

Card cloning

Brits advance EXACTLY 181,451 of the 463,550 passengers who used Alicante-Elche airport in January were British. The next most numerous group were Spanish, with 69,859 passengers, and Germans with 40,866.

Funny money A 20-YEAR-OLD was arrested after trying to pass forged €20 banknotes in several Villena shops. A Romanian living in Yecla, he was charged after admitting distributing counterfeit money.

No help BENIDORM resident Fernando Flores, claimed he was kidnapped in Mexico and forced to transfer money to secure his release. The 66-year-old criticised the Spanish embassy’s lack of cooperation.

ALMERÍA

Pleased sir ALMERIA maths teacher Juan Jose Ramirez has been selected for the title of Expert Innovative Teacher by Microsoft from more than 20,000 teachers around the world for his innovative teaching style.

Berlin fair SIX fruit companies from Almeria Province have travelled to the Fruit Logistica fair held in Berlin.

In the dark A FAULTY electrical cable left the town of Cuevas del Almanzora without electricity for almost an hour last week.

Sales up FOURTEEN hybrid cars were sold in Almeria Province during January, which was a 27 per cent increase on the previous year.

BEACH ACCESS: Residents are calling for a bridge to be built.

A rough ride on way to the beach

RESIDENTS on the Orihuela Costa are calling for a pedestrian bridge to be built over the N-332 opposite Cala Mosca.

Homeowners on the Alameda del Mar urbanisation and other housing developments claim they take their lives in their hands when they have to cross four lanes of traffic to get to Cala Mosca. In addition, on the coast side there is no pedestrian walkway that

allows them to safely negotiate the road.

The builder had promised a bridge when the properties were built but it has not materialised and residents complain the problem has got worse with the widening of the N-332 and the opening of Zenia Boulevard bringing more traffic.

One said: “Swimmers and bathers could go to the beach and then go to

the bars, restaurants and shops in the area if they had a footbridge to cross the road, but as it is, they drive to the beach and do not come.

“Residents have argued against La Regia’s new footbridge, currently being built over the N332, saying there are closer bridges in the area for residents to cross the N-332, when at Alameda del Mar the closest one is at Punta Prima.”

TWO Bulgarians have been arrested for cloning credit and debit cards after placing a device in ATMs across Alicante and Murcia which copies the magnetic strip of the cards.

No course expansion PLANS to expand El Plantio golf course in Alicante have been turned down as it does not ‘meet the requirements of the Law to Promote the Implementation of Strategic Territorial Activities.’

Water works REDEVELOPMENT work in Avenida Alfredo Nobel, close to Los Locos beach, Torrevieja, has been completed. New water pipes have been installed at a cost of €290,000.

COSTA DEL SOL

Sea rescue A SEA rescue helicopter had to rescue three people suffering from hypothermia from a boat which had suffered a leak 27 miles off the coast of Marbella.

Lucky strike

Budget woes

Falling arch

THE Province continues to be lucky with lotteries this year with the ONCE lottery leaving €100,000 in Huercal de Almeria.

The money has been won by two groups who share the cost of buying tickets.

THE Velez-Malaga branch of the regionalist Partido Andalucista party has complained the local budget for transport has increased by €300,000 since the tram service was stopped in 2012 due to ongoing debts.

SEVERAL pieces of the Marbella arch had to be removed by firemen as they were in danger of falling onto passing traffic.

AXARQUIA

Public support VELEZ-MALAGA Council has made public its support for plans to declare Nerja Caves a World Heritage Site. According to councillor Jesus Lupiañez, this would benefit the Axarquia, and the whole of the Malaga Province.

Rainy January JANUARY was the rainiest in four years in Almuñecar with rains of up to 62.2 litres per square metre, according to the local Farmer’s Information Office.

Bar thieves THIEVES stole a TV, 12 bottles of whisky and nearly €3,000 in cash from a bar in Torrenueva, Motril. This is the fifth time the same bar has been targeted by thieves in just two years, its owner claims.

Marihuana arrest AN ALMUÑECAR man was arrested carrying 140 grammes of marihuana during a traffic control exercise on the GR-14 road in Salobreña.

King for a day A TORREMOLINOS pensioner has won a prize which will make him ‘King for a Day’ and allow him to spend €12,000 in one day in local shops.

Car overturns A WOMAN was injured when her vehicle overturned on the A-7 motorway in La Cala de Mijas for reasons which are not known.

Witness report LOCAL POLICE along the Costa del Sol intend to charge €20 for witness reports in traffic accidents from next week when used for claiming damages.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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

business & legal

Not a good deal

Spurious sales spotted by shoppers SPURIOUS reductions were detected by 65 per cent of shoppers at this year’s winter sales. ‘Before’ amounts on labels were often higher than the original prices, reported a FACUA survey.

Twenty-three per cent spotted this error in more than half the shops, reported the consumers’ association questionnaire.

A further 18 per cent saw labelling errors in less than half the shops, while 16 per cent noticed only a few bogus markdowns. They had not seen any misleading labels at all, 8 per cent said.

Almost half found supposedly-reduced products that were not on offer before the sales began in 50 per cent of shops.

Spain attracting more tourists...

SPAIN rose up the international tourism rankings in 2013 by overtaking China to take third spot.

The record 60.6 million international visitors it had left it behind France (83 million) and the USA (67 million) for international visitors, according to the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The 5.6 per cent rise in foreign tourists helped boost the economy, accounting for 11 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The news came as part of a worldwide rise in tourism that saw international arrivals across the globe rise by 52 million or 5 per cent, reaching 1.08 billion, despite the world’s

economy still being in ‘low gear.’

Demand was strongest in Asia and the Pacific (+6 per cent), Africa (+6 per cent) and Europe (+5 per cent).

The UNWTO’s Secretary General, Talem Rifai, said in the World Tourism Barometer report: “2013 was an excellent year for international tourism.

“The tourism sector has shown a remarkable capacity to adjust to the changing market conditions, fuelling growth and job creation around the world, despite the lingering economic and geopolitical challenges.

“Indeed tourism has been among the few sectors generating positive news for many economies.”

B

usiness extra

Tools down WORK on the Panama Canal has ground to a halt after builders led by Spain’s Sacyr carried out a threat to down tools.

The consortium building new locks wants compensation for a $1.6bn (€1.17bn) cost overrun, about half the original contract value.

Fat cat BBVA bank Chairman Francisco Gonzalez was paid €5.17m in 2013.

Pound Dealz UK retailer Poundland plan to open 10 stores in Spain under the Dealz brand, first launched in Ireland.

Not such a bad bank VULTURE fund Teide acquired a property portfolio from Spain’s ‘bad bank’ Sareb last December.

Some of the 2,500 properties had been sold, or were being sold, to private buyers who complained recently that Teide wanted to cancel their deals. Having put down deposits of €3,000 they each received a certified ‘burofax’

informing them that Teide “could not satisfy their request.” Instead it offered to return the €3,000 deposit without any kind of compensation. Teide was selling the properties at between €30,000 and €100,000 more than they had paid. Thanks to Sareb’s intervention, these purchases will now be honoured at the price agreed.

ON SALE: But how ‘accurate’ are the offers?

EWN

17

STAT OF WEEK THE average Spanish household uses 10.52 kilowatts of electricity a year. Half goes on central heating and 21.7 per cent on household appliances, 30.6 per cent of which corresponds to the refrigerator.

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C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 10

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 423.95 Admiral Group PLC 1392.00 Aggreko PLC 1572.50 AMEC PLC 1059.50 Anglo American PLC 1498.00 Antofagasta PLC 897.75 ARM Holdings PLC 917.00 Ashtead Group PLC 817.25 Associated British Foods 2835.00 AstraZeneca PLC 3884.75 Aviva PLC 455.05 Babcock Intrntl Group... 1373.00 BAE Systems PLC 429.70 Barclays PLC 274.65 BG Group PLC 1058.50 BHP Billiton PLC 1818.00 BP PLC 480.45 British Amcn Tobacco 2944.25

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 4.30 1.02 -25.00 -1.76 9.00 0.58 18.64 1.79 17.50 1.18 3.50 0.39 21.00 2.34 4.11 0.51 -13.00 -0.46 25.50 0.66 -1.40 -0.31 5.30 0.39 0.60 0.14 3.00 1.10 5.50 0.52 12.50 0.69 -1.30 -0.27 18.58 0.64

NET VOLUME 870.45 138.12 28.95 73.25 432.68 130.73 595.78 39.80 86.35 260.94 432.35 27.22 511.54 8,093.47 518.39 1,449.40 2,168.56 182.63

COME DIRECT TO US AND START SAVING MONEY NOW- See our advert on page 21

0.83217

1.20617 Units per €

United States $......................................................1.36436 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................139.461 Switzerland Francs................................................1.22294 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.46194 Norway Kroner.......................................................8.36142

currenciesdirect.com/mallorca • Tel: +34 687 906 226 C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Land Co PLC British Sky Broadcasting BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Carnival PLC

670.25 890.50 390.65 1390.50 1482.50 1002.50 2541.50

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

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 10

C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 10

C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc INTC Intel Corp IBM International Business Machine...

JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co KO The Coca-Cola Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc DIS Walt Disney Co

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 130.33 87.00 32.30 127.02 94.87 112.05 22.67 63.45 90.58 25.19 161.93 76.45 24.21 177.25 90.04 56.62 95.92 54.77 36.56 72.69 31.22 77.31 37.95 80.88 110.73 71.36 46.81 221.78 73.75 75.67

+1.43 +1.31 +0.30 +4.35 +1.04 +0.78 +0.18 +0.49 +0.78 +0.24 +0.18 +0.29 +0.215 +2.58 +1.29 +0.14 +0.98 +1.00 +0.38 +1.18 +0.38 +0.41 -0.08 +0.19 +1.28 +0.49 +0.13 +2.77 +0.93 +0.11

+1.11% +1.53% +0.94% +3.55% +1.11% +0.70% +0.80% +0.78% +0.87% +0.96% +0.11% +0.38% +0.90% +1.48% +1.45% +0.25% +1.03% +1.86% +1.05% +1.65% +1.23% +0.53% -0.21% +0.24% +1.17% +0.69% +0.28% +1.26% +1.28% +0.15%

3.3M 4.5M 29.4M 8.9M 9.7M 7.1M 54.2M 4.6M 12.6M 34.9M 5.0M 6.2M 30.9M 4.7M 9.5M 25.1M 6.6M 14.5M 33.3M 3.5M 27.9M 7.3M 20.5M 2.5M 4.0M 7.0M 13.5M 3.1M 7.3M 11.5M

2.00 -2.50 -1.43 1.54 8.00 7.50 15.00

C O M PA N Y

0.30 -0.28 -0.36 0.11 0.54 0.75 0.59

NET VOLUME 188.08 100.20 705.49 18.01 54.01 219.44 15.57

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 3.05 $ 173.93 $ 9.62 $ 351.56 $ 24.61 $ 14.12 $ 6.81 $ 5.42 $ 19.64 $ 74.45 $ 44.68

0.67 / +28.15% 34.85 / +25.06% 1.47 / +18.04% 51.18 / +17.04% 3.32 / +15.59% 1.87 / +15.27% 0.87 / +14.65% 0.69 / +14.59% 2.47 / +14.39% 9.31 / +14.29% 5.54 / +14.15%

$ 8.12 $ 3.16 $ 9.99 $ 7.93 $ 2.61 $ 17.79 $ 18.98 $ 15.72 $ 3.68 $ 17.05 $ 4.93

3.31 / -28.96% 0.63 / -16.62% 1.46 / -12.75% 1.15 / -12.67% 0.37 / -12.42% 2.37 / -11.76% 2.25 / -10.60% 1.73 / -9.91% 0.34 / -8.46% 1.482 / -8.00% 0.41 / -7.68%

Most Advanced SMART Technologies Inc. athenahealth, Inc. Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc. Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liquidity Services, Inc. Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. Lattice Semiconductor Corporation bebe stores, inc.

Activision Blizzard, Inc Expedia, Inc. Receptos, Inc.

Most Declined Fairway Group Holdings Corp.

Echelon Corporation Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. Credit Suisse AG Life Partners Holdings Inc Aceto Corporation NIC Inc. Montage Technology Group Limited Intermolecular, Inc. ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotchnlg Pixelworks, Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Centrica PLC 304.40 -9.78 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1604.50 -2.00 Compass Group PLC 889.75 -2.16 CRH PLC 1634.50 -3.00 Diageo PLC 1819.00 1.00 easyJet PLC 1717.00 -10.00 Experian PLC 1072.50 -3.00 Fresnillo PLC 817.00 24.00 G4S PLC 230.05 -5.00 GKN PLC 402.25 -1.38 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1602.75 -9.50 Glencore Xstrata PLC 326.05 0.75 Hammerson PLC 536.00 2.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 1351.00 -3.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 623.00 -4.80 IMI PLC 1474.50 -4.00 Imperial Tobacco Group 2233.00 20.00 InterContinental Hotels . 1949.00 6.00 International Consldtd ... 425.60 -2.70 Intertek Group PLC 2896.50 -2.00 ITV PLC 202.80 0.80 Johnson Matthey PLC 3199.50 18.00 Kingfisher PLC 363.15 0.40 Land Securities Group 1039.00 5.00 Legal & General Group 221.00 -0.20 Lloyds Banking Group 81.99 0.20 London Stock Exchange 1924.50 -4.00 Marks & Spencer Group 473.35 0.70 Meggitt PLC 519.00 1.00 Melrose Industries PLC 301.30 6.20 Mondi PLC 963.25 3.00 National Grid PLC 793.25 1.17 Next PLC 6300.00 -7.45 Old Mutual PLC 176.80 -0.30 Pearson PLC 1101.50 7.00 Persimmon PLC 1381.50 -3.00 Petrofac Ltd 1233.00 38.00 Prudential PLC 1273.00 -3.90 Randgold Resources Ltd 4494.50 68.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group 4801.50 18.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 888.50 1.50 Resolution Ltd 358.85 0.30 REXAM PLC 504.50 1.00 Rio Tinto PLC 3423.50 15.60 Rolls-Royce Holdings 1186.00 10.51 Royal Bank of Scotland 339.05 1.60 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2226.50 3.40 Royal Mail PLC 591.00 1.81 RSA Insurance Group 102.65 -1.50 SABMiller PLC 2746.50 7.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 416.90 0.80 Sainsbury (J) PLC 353.75 2.78 Schroders PLC 2538.50 14.00 Severn Trent PLC 1764.00 1.20 Shire PLC 3151.00 29.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 912.00 -2.50 Smiths Group PLC 1397.00 -6.64 Sports Direct Intrntnl...

691.50 0.00 SSE PLC 1342.00 -15.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1240.50 0.50 Standard Life PLC 377.25 0.10 Tate & Lyle PLC 774.50 -0.16 Tesco PLC 322.15 1.18 Travis Perkins PLC 1839.50 -7.00 TUI Travel PLC 432.80 -0.50 Tullow Oil PLC 836.50 -0.50 Unilever PLC 2370.50 7.00 United Utilities Group 732.50 -0.50 Vodafone Group PLC 220.17 -1.80 Weir Group PLC 2212.50 14.00 Whitbread PLC 3938.00 2.00 William Hill PLC 347.15 0.00 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 239.10 1.30 Wolseley PLC 3342.50 1.00 WPP PLC 1302.00 0.00

% C H G. -3.11 -0.12 -0.24 -0.18 0.06 -0.58 -0.28 3.03 -2.13 -0.34 -0.59 0.23 0.47 -0.22 -0.76 -0.27 0.90 0.31 -0.63 -0.07 0.40 0.57 0.11 0.48 -0.09 0.24 -0.21 0.15 0.19 2.10 0.31 0.15 -0.12 -0.17 0.64 -0.22 3.18 -0.31 1.54 0.38 0.17 0.08 0.20 0.46 0.89 0.47 0.15 0.31 -1.44 0.27 0.19 0.79 0.55 0.07 0.93 -0.27 -0.47 0.00 -1.11 0.04 0.03 -0.02 0.37 -0.38 -0.12 -0.06 0.30 -0.07 -0.81 0.64 0.05 0.00 0.55 0.03 0.00

VOLUME 4,129.74 73.61 244.20 123.21 319.34 81.32 116.77 253.87 1,302.85 351.63 764.34 1,838.30 41.25 72.74 5,154.75 56.22 164.25 24.53 510.36 23.53 317.52 21.51 457.25 59.64 921.25 17,211.61 28.14 224.04 50.98 130.92 99.76 234.01 31.17 709.20 168.26 53.24 295.29 303.98 53.47 147.26 117.22 170.71 36.44 700.25 307.14 501.57 189.27 52.49 3,914.77 356.87 116.62 864.56 19.73 24.25 74.04 380.69 44.99 32.13 552.33 293.16 382.93 98.97 940.75 28.04 154.06 258.36 200.52 169.12 7,202.11 42.93 169.13 197.15 374.03 17.84 158.83

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

EWN

19

Good news for Spanish economy THE good news for the Spanish economy keeps on coming. The Spanish service sector made a positive start to 2014 as both activity and new orders continued to expand solidly.

Moreover, employment stabilised, ending a sequence of job shedding which stretched back to March 2008. However, companies still discounted output prices sharply, while input costs rose following no change in December. The headline seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index rose to 54.9 in January from 54.2 in December, signalling a third successive monthly increase in activity in the sector.

Furthermore, the solid expansion was the sharpest since July 2007. A number of respondents indicated that improving economic conditions had supported rises in business activity.

Each of the six monitored sectors posted increases in activity, led by Transport & Storage. The weakest rise was

J

ON THE UP: Transport and Logistics lead the way. at Renting & Business Activities companies. Transport & Storage also registered the fastest rise in new business. Overall, new orders increased at a solid pace, albeit one that was slower than seen at the end of 2013.

UST 5 per cent of Spaniards do not believe that corruption is ‘widespread’ in the country.

According to a new anti-corruption report by the European Commission, 95 per cent of the population feels corruption is widespread.

A press statement from the EC said: “Although an anti-corruption legal framework is largely in place in Spain and law enforcement has shown good results in investigating corrupt practices, the report does show a certain number of deficiencies.

“Particularly challenging is political corruption and deficient checks and balances, notably in public spending and control mechanisms at regional and local levels.

“In this report, the European Commission suggests that tailor-made anti-corruption strategies for regional and local level administrations are developed, that ongoing reforms and implementation of the new rules on party funding is pursued, and that comprehensive codes of conduct for elected officials with adequate accountability tools are developed.”

Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, said:

Signs of strengthening economic conditions had reportedly been behind the rise in new orders, which was the sixth in as many months.

Services companies increased their staffing levels fractionally

in January, thereby ending a run of 70 consecutive monthly reductions in employment.

Anecdotal evidence suggested that staffing levels were reflective of current workloads, with some panellists taking on extra staff in response to rising activity, while others reduced their workforces in line with the completion of projects.

Outstanding business continued to decrease in January. Although only modest, the pace of depletion quickened for the third month running.

Service providers recorded an increase in input prices for the third time in the past four months, following no change in costs in December.

Respondents indicated that higher salary payments had been the principal reason for rising input prices.

Hotels & Restaurants posted the strongest increase in input costs. Companies continued to lower their output prices, as has been the case in each month

Hands up if you think Spain is corrupt...

HOME AFFAIRS: EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

since August 2008. Where selling prices were lowered, this was largely a result of competitive pressures.

The prospect of further improvements in economic conditions during 2014 led business sentiment to strengthen in January.

Optimism regarding the yearahead outlook for activity was at the highest since July 2007.

Commenting on the Spanish Services PMI® survey data, Andrew Harker, senior economist at Markit and author of the report, said: “The Spanish service sector backed up the solid performance seen in December with accelerated growth of activity in January, while we even saw an end to job shedding in the sector for the first time since the economic crisis began.

“Companies are still having to offer discounts in order to secure sales, but they are increasingly optimistic that 2014 can see a recovery get properly under way.”

“Corruption undermines citizens’ confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law, it hurts the European economy and deprives States from muchneeded tax revenue. Member States have done a lot in recent years to fight corruption, but this report shows that it is far from enough. The report suggests what can be done, and I look forward to working with Member States to follow it up.”

The Commission is also suggesting that irregularities in public procurement procedures at regional and local levels should be addressed further.

Alongside an analysis of the situation in each EU Member State, the European Commission is also presenting two extensive opinion polls.

More than three-quarters of Europeans, and 95 per cent of Spanish citizens, agree that corruption is widespread in their home country.

Approximately one in four Europeans considers that they are affected by corruption in their everyday lives. In Spain, that number is 63 per cent, the highest percentage in the EU. Four per cent of Europeans, and 2 per cent of Spanish citizens say that they have been asked or expected to pay a bribe in the past year.

The Commisssion has estimated that corruption costs the EU economy around €120 billion per year.

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Steer kids away from the pricey habit of smoking S

MOKERS out there already know what a drain the habit has on spending. A regular smoker might smoke up to or more than three packets a week, and that can add up considerably over the course of months and years.

On top of that, the majority of us women spend a substantial amount of money on face creams, eye creams, serums and masks - potions and lotions to help maintain youthful features as long as possible. Yet with every cigarette smoked, it massively increases our chances of wrinkly and dull skin - so forking out on all the creams in the world is just a big waste of money!

Each person has the right to do whatever they want to their own body, but as much as anyone claims to love cigarettes, that pricey-little-cancer-stick will

Loose change A look at finance for females

THE government spent €2.296 billion on unemployment benefits last year, 13 per cent less than in 2012. Average pay was €858.4, a reduction of 6.5 per cent on the previous year.

SPANISH toll roads company Abertis paid €32.2 million for another 6 per cent of Metropistas.

Albertis now has a 51 per holding in the Mexican motorway company.

jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

ANTI-SMOKING: Important to target children in the right way. eventually repay your love by making you ugly, with bags and wrinkles under your eyes.

Giving up smoking isn’t just about being responsible to your health and looks; it’s about being responsible in regards to controlling spending, as well as setting a good example for future generations.

Wouldn’t most smokers admit that they wish they had never become hooked in the first

Jobs deal place? That’s why targeting antismoking campaigns at children in the right way is so important these days.

In America more than $100 million is being spent on new anti-smoking advertisements aimed at frightening teenagers

Q. From your answer to my earlier question in EWN, it appears that I have You and the to pay the back taxes owing on the vehicle before I can de-register (baja) Law in Spain the vehicle still listed in my name.

By David Searl I have never got any notifications from DGT or from ‘Recaudacion’ to my correct address where I moved in 2001. I understand that you have to inform DGT Malaga, when you change address, which I did not do, thinking the new owner would arrange everything. Now Recaudacion has suddenly found my address and claims the taxes for the years 2003-2013. During all these years I have had in my possession another two cars registered at my new address since 2001, so Recaudacion could easily have found me.

I recently heard about a similar case where the person went to court and won his case on the grounds that they could easily find the correct address to send notifications. What is your opinion?

L.M. (Costa del Sol) owner. Many towns pass this tax to a central collection dept called ‘Recaudacion.’ You can protest you should have to pay only the previous four years of the tax, as you were not informed. I

Dole profit

Road sense

Jane Plunkett

If not informed, must he pay tax?

A. Unfortunately, I think your chances are small.

You are speaking of the annual municipal vehicle tax and the town hall is not required to inform you of back taxes owed. All responsibility is on you, as

BUSINESS EXTRA

suspect the person who won his case was protesting against a traffic fine.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

away from picking up the habit.

What does a pack of cigarettes cost? Your teeth, says one TV advert, which depicts a teenager buying a pack of cigarettes at a shop and literally pulling out a tooth with a set of pliers to pay for them.

BARCELONA-BASED pharmaceutical multinational Almirall agreed a redundancy plan reducing layoffs from 250 to 180. Thirty more employees can remain if they accept wage cuts and ‘substantial changes’ to working conditions.

New gold rush in Spain as millions are invested WITH gold prices still riding high a new mini-gold rush is taking place in Spain.

Regions where gold mines have long been closed are being prospected using modern techniques that international companies hope will make them profitable once again.

The traditional gold mining regions dating back to Roman times - are in Galicia and Asturias, and that is where there are thought to be some of the biggest untapped gold deposits left in Western Europe.

Two companies involved in investing millions of euros in the regions are Vancouver, Canada, based Edgewater Exploration and Astur Gold.

Edgewater acquired the rights to produce gold at a site called Corcoesto in Galicia in 2010, the same year that Astur Gold took control of the Salave deposit in Asturias.

Together, the sites are thought to contain more than two million ounces of gold, but it is unlikely anywhere near that amount can be profitably extracted.

GOLD: Prices still riding high.

Astur Gold has already received more than 11,000 applications for 800 jobs it is creating during the construction phase. But that depends on the regional government giving the go ahead, which the company hopes will happen before the end of 2015.

Once built the mine will need in the region of 200-250 workers. Astur Gold is currently completing a Feasibility Study on the Salave Gold Project. Meanwhile at Corcoesto an environmental impact study has been presented, with Edgewater Exploration planning an initial investment of somewhere in the region of €126 million in the mine.

OPINION & COMMENT

Time ‘illegal’ homes issue was sorted out I HAVE recently attended two SOHA meetings (Save Our Homes Axarquia), and to look around the room and see hundreds of people who have problems with their homes is shocking to see.

Some of these members have had problems for years; they live their lives in limbo, in fear of their homes being demolished, with little or no compensation to follow.

We live in a small area of Axarquia, but are fully aware that there are thousands upon thousands more properties throughout Spain with legality problems. We have lived in our home for 10 years, only to find out that the Junta de Andalucia is now in the process of trying to revoke all our licences. Does anyone really know if their home is legal?

Over the years SOHA has made many good contacts and is still working with the ‘powers that be’ to solve property issues. If there are any other small groups or individuals who are fighting for their homes, let SOHA know and we can all fight together.

After all these years of newspaper reports and TV programmes, buying property in Spain isn’t safe. Despite government promises and political reassurances, nothing has been done. It is time that this problem was taken seriously; it affects people and not just foreigners but Spain’s own subjects too.

Come on, Spanish politicians, make a stand and get your house in order NOW! Kath Williams (via euroweeklynews.com)

Lucky to be alive IN May 2012, at 2.50pm, I suffered a serious head injury in Mijas, when I fell about 10 feet. I was unconscious for about 15 minutes. I was covered in blood.

I was taken to the Xanit Hospital, Benalmadena, where they put six stitches in my wound, at the back of my head, put me on a drip, and did an X-ray. They then said I needed a brain scan as soon as possible, but, because I did not have private health cover, I would have to go to the Universidad Hospital in Malaga.

We arrived there (A&E) at approximately 7pm, I was pushed

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13 - 19 February 2014 / 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

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23

serve the new Marina Alta Hospital at La Xara.

Anyone using this hospital knows the frustration of finding a parking space there. Many people who do not drive have to rely on friends or pay high taxi fares to get to the hospital. It is possible to take the train to Denia and then get a bus, but it is not an easy option.

I would like as many people as possible to request a stop near the new hospital. There was fierce opposition recently when it was rumoured the line would be closed. Perhaps we could now gather the same enthusiasm to campaign for a stop near to the Marina Alta Hospital?

Lorna, Moraira (Alicante)

Bike trouble

ARE THE MARTIANS ABOUT TO LAND ON TORROX VILLAGE?

up against a wall on the trolley, and stayed there until 3am (12 hours after my accident).

I was then taken for a scan, and put into the Intensive Care Ward.

At about 10am, a doctor came to me and said I would have to have another brain scan at 11.30am because there was extensive bleeding on my brain.

Well, I had a second scan which showed a worsening condition.

The doctor then said: “You have been very lucky that blood has not entered your brain.”

Now after reading about Michael Schumacher’s accident, and the importance of urgent attention when sustaining serious head injuries, I realise how lucky I was, considering the time it took to attend to me.

Gordon Cooper (84), Benalmadena Costa (Malaga)

War decision

CASSANDRA NASH’S article (Issue 1492) calls for a bit of clarification of a small paragraph: ‘The killers of Jose Couso, a Spanish cameraman deliberately shot by

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published.

Letters may also be edited.

Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

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US soldiers in Baghdad in 2005, will never come to court, critics complained.’

This incident took place during the Iraq war when US tanks rolled into Baghdad. They were on constant alert for snipers positioned in buildings looking down to the street.

The main hotel in the centre of Baghdad was the base for all media from major countries booked in to gain as much information and photographs as possible of this ongoing war.

One of the tank squad sighted men on the terrace of the top floor of the press base hotel, and one of them was aiming

Elizabeth Clark (By email) down with what might have been a weapon.

Now, what must be understood, this is war! And if one is serving in the military it is a split-second, life or death instant reaction.

Had the tank soldier delayed a second or two to think, and in fact it had been a weapon, he would have been shot instantly.

Sadly, Jose Couso being a photographer and not a soldier, attempting to get some good photographs for his publication, had not even thought that what he was doing would cost him his life.

Couso’s family did bring charges several times against the tank team here in Spain; however, no doubt the court realised this was an unaccountable tragic incident, and tabled the case.

Jack Nusbaum, Torremolinos (Malaga)

Hospital stop I WAS very interested in the news that money is to be spent on upgrading the Trenet line as far as Denia and I hope that part of this can be used to create a spur to

WE’VE all been amused by these mid-teen Spanish boys riding bikes in groups, with one sitting on the handlebars with his legs sticking straight out in front. But be aware – they are not all just having fun!

When I went back to my parked car, four boys on three bikes were coming towards me, too close in for me to step back and open the boot. A boy sitting on the handlebars tried to get his foot through the shoulder strap of my handbag.

He did not manage it, and I just got my hands and arms dirty and a new sweater all kicked around by his filthy, sweaty trainers. But I was very lucky, I didn’t get really hurt and/or lose my handbag.

Watch out, ladies!

M Anderson, Los Alcazares (Alicante)

Big bank THERE'S been a lot of talk recently concerning food banks in the UK, where people can go along and get a shopping bag full of goodies, although I fail to see where biscuits and cakes come into a diet for near-starving recipients.

What I’m really annoyed about is no-one has yet mentioned the ongoing long-term biggest food bank that is actually in the Palace of Westminster. This is where our great and good can turn up, collect 500 smackers for doing nothing (in some cases) or very little but get subsidised food and drink in the Palace canteens because they can’t afford to pay the going rate, poor things!

Keith Hallam (By email)

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 13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

Thursday BBC1/ 4:00pm Perfection 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Pound Shop Wars 9:30pm Inspector George Gently 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Question Time

BBC2/ 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:30pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm The Hairy Bikers' Asian Adventure 10:00pm Bible Hunters 11:00pm Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm The Alan Titchmarsh Show 5:00pm Britain's Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Birds of a Feather 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Cube

CH4/ 4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Supersize v Superskinny 10:00pm Big Ballet 11:00pm Bodyshockers

ITV2/ 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed!

8:30pm You've Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm The Big Reunion 11:00pm Fake Reaction 11:50pm Mom

Friday

SATELLITE CHANNELS - SkyMoviesAction/

BBC1/ 4:00pm Perfection 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 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 Room 101 10:00pm New Tricks 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show

BBC2/ 4:40pm Winter Olympics 8:10pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm An Island Parish 10:00pm Mock the Week 10:30pm QI 11:00pm Alan Davies Apres-Ski 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm The Alan Titchmarsh Show 5:00pm Britain's Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Student Nurses: Bedpans and Bandages 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Piers Morgan's Life Stories 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Americans

CH4/ 4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast 10:00pm Peter Kay: Live and Back on Nights!

11:00pm The Last Leg 11:50pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine

ITV2/ 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Bridget Jones's Diary

TV LISTING

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8:30pm Sunday • Robert Downey Jr. • Gwyneth Paltrow • Don Cheadle • Guy Pearce

Saturday BBC1/ 5:30pm Final Score 6:15pm Reflex 7:00pm BBC News 7:10pm Regional News 7:15pm Weather 7:20pm Pointless 8:10pm The Voice UK 9:30pm The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 10:20pm Casualty 11:10pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:40pm BBC News

BBC2/ 5:30pm Winter Olympics 8:00pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm True Grit 11:45pm QI XL

ITV/ 5:20pm Local News and Weather 5:30pm ITV News and Weather 5:45pm The FA Cup 8:20pm Splash!

9:50pm Take Me Out 11:05pm The Jonathan Ross Show

CH4/ 5:10pm Come Dine with Me 5:40pm Come Dine with Me 6:10pm Come Dine with Me 6:40pm Come Dine with Me 7:15pm Come Dine with Me 7:45pm Channel 4 News 8:05pm The Restoration Man 9:00pm Walking Through History 10:00pm Hostages 11:00pm Inglourious Basterds

ITV2/ 4:20pm Horrid Henry: The Movie 5:20pm FYI Daily 5:25pm Horrid Henry: The Movie 6:15pm The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas 7:15pm FYI Daily 7:20pm The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas 8:00pm Rumour Has It...

9:00pm FYI Daily 9:05pm Rumour Has It...

10:00pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Tuesday BBC1/

Iron Man 3 (Film, 2013) Still tormented by his brush with death after aliens attacked New York City, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has fallen far from the heroic Iron Man figure the public know and love. But when maniacal terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) destroys his home and wounds his chief of security (Jon Favreau), Stark suits up and attempts to find a way to get even.

Sunday BBC1/ 4:30pm Hidden Kingdoms 5:30pm Lifeline 5:40pm Songs of Praise 6:15pm Pointless 7:05pm BBC News 7:20pm Regional News 7:25pm Weather 7:30pm Blandings 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm The British Academy Film Awards

BBC2/ 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:00pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Dragons' Den 11:00pm Alan Davies ApresSki 11:30pm Line of Duty

ITV/ 4:50pm Splash!

6:20pm You've Been Framed!

6:50pm Local News and Weather 7:00pm ITV News and Weather 7:15pm Dancing on Ice 8:45pm All Star Family Fortunes 9:30pm Dancing on Ice 10:00pm Mr Selfridge 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:15pm Birds of a Feather 11:45pm The FA Cup

CH4/ 4:20pm Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World 6:00pm Deal or No Deal 7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:30pm Gulliver's Travels 9:00pm Scandimania 10:00pm Red

ITV2/ 4:00pm FYI Daily 4:05pm Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties 4:40pm The Mighty Ducks 5:40pm FYI Daily 5:45pm The Mighty Ducks 6:50pm The Perfect Man 7:50pm FYI Daily 7:55pm The Perfect Man 9:00pm You've Been Framed!

10:00pm Ocean's Eleven 11:00pm FYI Daily

Monday BBC1/ 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Inside Out 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Panorama 10:00pm Britain's Great War 11:00pm BBC News

BBC2/ 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:00pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Food and Drink 10:00pm Horizon 11:00pm The Culture Show

ITV/ 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm DCI Banks 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather

CH4/ 5:30pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Coach Trip 6:30pm Superstar Dogs 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Benefits Street: The Last Word 10:00pm Benefits Britain: The Debate 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats

ITV2/ 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed!

8:30pm You've Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Mom 10:30pm Dads

4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm James Martin: Home Comforts 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather, Followed by 11:35pm Traffic Cops

BBC2/ 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:00pm Winter Olympics Today at the Games.

9:00pm The Great British Sewing Bee 10:00pm This World Special 11:00pm House of Fools 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm The Alan Titchmarsh Show 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm UEFA Champions League 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm UEFA Champions League

CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Coach Trip 6:30pm Superstar Dogs 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm The Taste 11:00pm Sexting Teacher

ITV2/ 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Wednesday BBC1/ 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm James Martin: Home Comforts 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Pound Shop Wars 9:00pm Waterloo Road 10:00pm Outnumbered 10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather, Followed by the National Lottery Update 11:35pm A Question of Sport

BBC2/ 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:30pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm The Restaurant Man 10:00pm Line of Duty 11:00pm Inside No 9 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm The Alan Titchmarsh Show 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Brit Awards 2014 11:15pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:50pm The Jonathan Ross Show

CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Coach Trip 6:30pm Superstar Dogs 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Restoration Man 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm First Dates

ITV2/ 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm The Brit Awards 2014: Red Carpet 9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm The Hot Desk 11:15pm The Brit Awards 2014: Backstage

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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OPINION & COMMENT

Not so sad farewell to BBC...

W ELL, here in Tenerife we’ve finally lost the BBC. With the shifting of the satellite, the whole BBC ORG is, until I work out another source, an ex-member of my telly club.

And, apart from the often excellent documentaries and Flog Its, I don’t miss it. Not having to listen to the biased drivel of BBC news has actually lowered my stress levels overnight.

The recent storms have been a case in point. You can almost feel the frustration straining through the screen, as they have tried to blame the government for all the storms and flooding.

Unfortunately, without raising the status of the Conservative party to that of God, (heaven forbid) they’ve been unsuccessful; but by Jove they really have tried!

Their cross section of politically correct announcers has regaled us with all the ‘Couldn’t more have been dones?’ ‘Why wasn’t it anticipateds.’ ‘Why weren’t we

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT more prepareds?’ and so on. Give us a break!

These storms are the worst since records began. You can’t anticipate or prepare for something that has no precedent. By this reckoning we should be building fleets of space ships in case the world comes to an end.

One thing I do agree with is the speed, or lack of it, with which the government has acted to relieve these areas. When the

UNPRECEDENTED: Flooding could not have been predicted. furore and floods subside, there should be serious questions raised. Mind you, for all the real errors of judgment over the past decade, the incompetent, sanctimonious Labour Quango chief Lord Smith should resign forthwith.

No, back on the ranch, I don’t miss the BBC, and as for EastEnders, I lost interest the first time they shot ‘Dirty Den’.

I see there are now hundreds of ‘British’ men training in Al Qaeda camps in Syria, apparently with a view to launching terrorist attacks back in the UK. I hope the anti-terrorist organisations have

their eyes firmly on this bunch of toerags. Mind you, they do have their ‘uman rites’, so I suppose they must all be allowed back to see their families, and no doubt collect the dole while they plan to kill the people who welcomed them into their communities. The only ‘rites’ these traitorous murders should be entitled to are the last ones.

Their families must know who they are. If they are all so ‘moderate’ they should shop ‘em to the authorities forthwith. But they won’t, will they?

Keep the Faith, Love Leapy Leapylee2002@gmail.com

LEAPY LETTERS

Issues of colour I HAVE always said it cannot work when, for example, there is a Black Police Officers’ Association but not a White one, and a Black Footballers’ Association, but again not a White one - (Pitfalls of being controversial, Issue 1491).

When are they going to understand that in order to be treated equally there must be total equality.

If you want to call me a Honkey, let me call you names.

After all, it used to be said “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me,” but nowadays people are too easily upset.

Richard Prowse, Cartagena (Murcia)

What does winning points mean?

Vicki Mcleod

Family Matters “I’LL do it later. Do I have to? I don’t want to!” Sound familiar? My daughter and I have been fighting like cats recently. It takes a regular pattern.

Saturday afternoon we get in from activities or shopping or whatever other business we have had to do.

Lunch is done and then it’s time for the weekly clear up. And door-slamming, roof-raising all-out fight.

Did cavewomen fight with their children about putting their mammoth furs away? Do the tribeswomen from the Amazon have to badger their offspring to put their reeds and beads back in the right place? No, because they didn’t have extra stuff that needed anywhere to be put.

They didn’t have eight different versions of the same t-shirt. They didn’t have attachments to pink plastic or a collection of summer clothes which should be put in a bag or given to charity. It’s a high maintenance occupation having too many

TIDY BEDROOM: Worth a few points, at least the floor can be seen! possessions. And mostly it’s not myself or my husband or even Gidg which are responsible for the incoming and ongoing ‘Stuff’ problem.

At Christmas time when we were visiting our relatives in the UK we had to drag two enormous laundry bags back across the country and on to

easyJet. And they were filled with pink things and miscellaneous stocking fillers and other cack.

So although I want to lose my temper with Gidg about her inability to keep her room tidy, it’s not exactly her fault. But the problem remains, and I refuse to tidy it up for her either. It’s

time for her to take on some level of interest in her own surroundings.

And hence the rows. That was at least until it was suggested to me by Julie Staley and Jay Hirons, the good people at the Kip McGrath Education Centre in Palma and my friend Pete Branch who is a teacher in Brazil that I use a points system.

“Right then chick, I am going to give you points for doing things which are helpful. So you can get a point for helping to do the washing up, you will get a point for clearing up your bedroom, and when you have 20 of those points you can have a treat”.

Her eyes shone and her brain started ticking. Suddenly my little girl went from being a grumpy tweenie to a motivated strategist. An interesting shift that’s for sure. We haven’t had a row in two weeks, her bedroom is more or less tidy, I can see the floor anyway, and she’s seeing opportunities to be helpful. She’s not had any points removed for being lippy, but that would be the case.

We’re currently at 17 points, we’re three away from a horse riding lesson.

Oh, and that’s another proviso, the points win her experiences, not prizes. www.familymattersmallorca.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

EWN

29

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

Raising an eyebrow at the latest fashion fad…

PEOPLE on Mallorca seem to shun the latest fashion fads. As much as Mallorcans love their dogs I have yet to see a perro carried around in a handbag.

The only women I have seen wearing curlers in the streets have been over 60 years old and orange spray-on tans are simply redundant when you have 300 days of sunshine a year.

So it is with some surprise that I have noticed an increase in the latest style sported by most WAGS and some reality TV minor celebs, namely the craze for tattooed eyebrows.

I am not one of the anti-tattoo brigade. In fact, some years ago I got a large tattoo at a parlour in Magaluf and have never regretted

Penn to Paper Laura Penn it. But when it comes to the new fad of eyebrow ‘tatts’, some of them look like they’ve been stuck on from a Groucho Marx disguise kit bought in a Chinese shop.

Semi-permanent make-up has been around since the late 90s and sometimes it looks good. A friend of mine has had her eyebrows and eyeliner done and you have to look really closely to see where her real bits of hair end and the arty ones start. She looks

a million dollars, which is almost the price that she paid for it!

A recent survey named tattooed eyebrows as the biggest beauty blunder that women can make. Now it is a long time since I have followed fashion, never mind been its victim, but recently I was asked if I would like to have my little bits of facial fluff improved as a promotional campaign for a beauty salon and I must admit I am tempted.

When I was much younger I followed the then trend and plucked my eyebrows almost to extinction. They never grew back.

Now I am almost a brow baldy on one side and not on the other. I do not consider myself vain but do rather fancy getting a new set

Mango contains agents for health and beauty THE mango is a tropical fruit which comes from south of Asia. Eating mango not only improves your health but it also serves to benefit the following: Memory: Mangoes are useful to children who suffer from lack of concentration in studies as it contains Glutamine acid, which is good to boost memory and keep cells active.

Skin: It is effective in relieving clogged pores of the skin. This means that people who suffer from acne will benefit from mango.

Eyesight: A cup of sliced mango has 25 per cent of the daily value of vitamin A needed, which promotes the vision and prevents itching and burning eyes.

MUNCH A MANGO: To receive health and beauty benefits

FASHION CRAZE: Tattooed eyebrows. of brows and it is only the fear that I may end up looking more like Boris Karloff than Kim Kardashian that is making me hesitate.

One thing I would say is that if you are considering getting your eyebrows tattooed, don’t try this at home! DIY kits retail at around €50 but run the risk of looking like they’ve been drawn with a kid’s crayon. Always do your research

and go to an experienced and artistic beauty practitioner.

So to tattoo or not to tattoo, that is the question. Done well it can transform your face and eyes for the better but remember that getting your eyebrows tattooed may well raise some eyebrows!

Laura Penn presents the weekday Breakfast Show Monday to Friday from 8am till noon on Spectrum FM - 89.8FM

E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

CLASSIC BOAT: Historical vessels will take part in regatta.

20th Illes Balears Classics regatta THE Illes Balears Classics regatta will be back this summer.

The Mallorca Club de Mar has announced the 20th edition of the competition will be held between August 14 and 17 this year.

This regatta is considered to be the most important race involving classic and historical boats in Mallorca.

This year’s edition will be open to vessels in the Gaff, Marconi, Classics, Spirit of Tradition, F115 and Big Boats categories.

They will be complemented by the Dragoon and the Lateen rigging categories.

The regatta will be part of the 5th Mare Nostrum Classics Trophy, a sailing circuit that comprises the most relevant classic regattas in Spain.

PETS/BOATING

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Mallorca Sailing Championship winners from CN Arenal Trophy THE winners of the Mallorca Sailing Championship were decided during the CN Arenal Trophy which was held last weekend.

This was the last regatta to count towards the island’s competition, and was held at the sailing club situated in S’Arenal.

Races on Saturday had to be suspended due to rough weather, and sailors could only compete on Sunday.

That means only three races were held in each of the categories.

Enric Noguera and Rafael Vallespir, from the Port D’Andratx sailing club, became the new 420 class champions in Mallorca.

A second place in the CN Arenal Trophy, together with their previous victory in the ProRiggin Trophy held in the

By Laura G Guerra with the permission of RCNP

Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias/Flickr

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LASER CHAMPION: Royal Sailing Club of Palma (RCNP) sailor Joan Cardona.

Royal Sailing Club of Palma (RCNP), allowed them to win the coveted title.

Runners-up were Laura Akrich and Clara Llabres from RCNP, who also were named

Fun stuff for all dog lovers SPONSORED BY For all dog treats please call: 971 887 007 / 634 152 813

David THE Dogman Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm

DOGS are fun and interesting.

Here are some pieces of trivia about our furry friends...

• The smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of two, weighed just four ounces, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

• An adult dog has 42 teeth.

• The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.

• Cleverest dog breeds, in this order, are supposed to be: Border Collie, Poodle, and

LONGEST-LIVED: Small dogs.

Golden Retriever.

• Dogs are good for you.

People who own pets have been found to live longer, probably because their stress levels are lower and they have fewer heart attacks.

• Dogs’ hearing is more than 10 times sharper than a human’s.

• A greyhound can run at up to 45 miles an hour.

• The dog name ‘Fido’ is from Latin and means ‘fidelity’.

• A dog’s whiskers are touch-

sensitive hairs and can sense tiny changes in airflow.

• Dogs have more than 220 million smell detection cells, compared to five million in humans.

• Small dogs tend to be the longest lived. Toy breeds live up to 16 years or more. Larger dogs average seven-12 years.

For your local radio frequency log onto www.talkradioeurope.com

the best female couple of the championship.

Completing the podium were Paula Barcelo and Margarita Alba, from the S’Arenal Sailing Club and the San Antonio de la Playa club respectively.

Joan Cardona clearly prevailed over other competitors in the Laser Radial Class, winning six out of the eight races scoring for the championship.

Following him was team mate Aina Bauza in the second place.

Sailor from the Sa Rapita Sailing Club Magdalena Bonet ended up in third position.

Finally, Toni Salva from the RCNP was the Mallorca champion of the Laser 4.7 class.

Salva was followed by team mates Maximilian Kimpel, runner-up, and Antoni Sbert, who classified third.

Manuel Fraga, Sports Manager from RCNP, showed his satisfaction for the results achieved by his team.

Fraga pointed out to the hard work carried out by the sailors and coaches as the secret behind the club’s success in the championship.

32

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CROSSWORDS

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

Mallorca weather

NEW ON DVD MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

for next 7 days

Captain Philips The film is based on the real life hijacking of a US cargo ship by Somali pirates. The Maersk Alabama became the first US cargo ship to be hijacked in 200 years when heavily armed Somalis boarded the vessel on the 8th of April 2009. As commander of the ship, Captain Richard Phillips inevitably found himself at the heart of events.

Held hostage by the pirates under the command of Muse, Phillips attempts to protect both his crew and ship to the best of his ability. However, as the drama plays out and Phillips spends more time in the company of his Somali captors, he gradually comes to realise that they have a story, too.

TODAY

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

Starring Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener and Max Martini. Directed by Paul Greengrass. Runtime 134 minutes. Rated 12.

TOMORROW CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR

memoirs, for instance, take up a craft or paint. Learning a new language would also be satisfying. Certainly, food for the brain and soul are what you should be seeking now.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A conversation with a colleague brings insights into how others live and it is quite an eye-opener.

Friendships are particularly important this week. You have been dashing around and maybe not enough thought has gone into how you spend your leisure time.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There may be some opposition to your ideas as Pluto turns this week.

Perhaps your natural charm just

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) There is something in you that needs a creative outlet. Perhaps you would like to write a book:

6-Star Quiz Gents 1. How old was the former South African president, Nelson Mandela, when he died in December?

2. Journalist, comedian, writer, media personality and television host Sir David Frost, who died in August, first rose to prominence in the UK when he was chosen to host which satirical television programme in 1962?

3. Left-wing politician, Hugo Chávez, who died in March, had been president of which republic in northern South America from 1999 to 2013?

4. Musician Lou Reed, who died in October, was the guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of which famous American rock band from 1964 to 1970?

5. The American politician Edward Irving ‘Ed’ Koch, who died in February, had been mayor of which US city from 1978 to 1989?

6. Welsh rugby player and broadcaster Cliff Morgan, who died in August, principally played in which position for Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions?

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Being very much in demand for your talents this week means less time to spend socially, so it's important to make time for loved ones at the weekend.

Someone seeking your advice may simply be seeking your approval for an action they are going to take anyway.

66

Mayra Gomez Kemp.

Born February 14, 1948.

Cuban-born Mayra Gomez Kemp is a Spanish actress, singer and TV presenter. She is known to Spanish audiences for hosting the game show Un, Dos, Tres... in six of its 10 seasons. She battled against tongue and throat cancer. She won the fight against them, although they affected her speech.

doesn't seem to be working. As you have helped others in the past, make it clear that you expect a bit of co-operation. It is not through lack of will that some people do not offer help.

looking to money-making ideas to progress finances, think also of alternatives. Perhaps there are areas of your lifestyle where money could be saved. Items that are not used could be sold for a profit and rid you of clutter.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is a week when progress is fast and plans run ahead. Try new ideas and seek information to hone your knowledge. An organisation that is new to you offers insight and social involvement. An offer that thrusts you into the limelight might be avoided at first but would be to your advantage.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Having suffered a bit of a setback last week, you may be feeling less confident. Revving up your social life will certainly help to bring spirits up again. Be with people who liven or inspire you in some way and avoid boring or moaning folk.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Thoughts come to you, perhaps in dreams, that are creative and energy boosting. Someone who recently moved out of your sphere is sadly missed but is in some ways still a part of you. A person at work who has been causing you concern needs investigation, but the facts may be less alarming than you suspect.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Although you have perhaps been

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 December 21) A strong and exciting romantic feeling flows through the week, which is fitting as Valentine's Day comes round again. Someone returning from a trip makes you smile and boosts your spirit. People who have been a little bossy of late finally realise that you will not rise to the bait.

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.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

CAPRICORN (December 22 January 20) It's a better week for travel with less likelihood of delays. Should you be feeling a little lethargic and sorry about recent events, just count your blessings. Consider raising some money and having fun at the same time by indulging in a garage or car boot sale. Doing something entirely different can boost your mind and activity levels, which can't be bad.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday February 8

Saturday February 8

Saturday February 8

Friday February 7

27

36

39

44

4

5 30

16 38

7

11

16

17

36

44

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

4

1

6

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

3

17 46

47

10

LA PRIMITIVA

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 14 9 S Tues - 14 8 C Wed - 14 8 C

17 11 C 16 9 C 14 8 C

Fri Sat Sun -

18 12 Cl 17 11 Sh 16 10 S

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 17 10 Cl Tues - 17 10 C Wed - 17 10 Sh

Mallorca 18 11 C 19 11 Cl 14 9 Sh S Sun,

14 8 Sh 12 4 C 12 3 Cl

MAX MIN

Mon - 12 3 Cl Tues - 12 2 Sh Wed - 13 4 Sh

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 12C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 14 12 S Tues - 15 12 Cl Wed - 15 11 S

CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 11C

TODAY:

MAX 19C, MIN 12C

MAX MIN

TODAY:

MAX MIN

18 14 C 17 3 C 15 12 C

Madrid

Malaga CLOUDY

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

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 14C

TODAY:

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

19 14 S 19 12 Cl 17 11 C

Benidorm

Barcelona TODAY:

CLOUDY MAX 20C, MIN 14C MAX MIN

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

21 13 C 21 11 C 17 11 C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 14 10 Cl Tues - 14 10 C Wed - 14 10 Cl Cl Clear,

CLOUDY MAX 24C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

25 10 C 23 9 C 18 8 C

Mon - 17 8 S Tues - 18 9 Cl Wed - 18 8 Cl

C Cloud,

Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

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

TARGET:

Average: 9

Very good: 17

Good: 12

Excellent: 21

dirt, foot, fort, frit, rift, riot, root, tiro, tori, trio, trod, trow, wort, writ, drift, droit, toroid, DRIFTWOOD

4

7

22

29

30

40

REINTEGRO 33

8

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

MALE

Sunday February 9

Saturday February 8

19

LUCKY STARS 9

TODAY:

Word Ladder

LOTTERY 25

Almeria

CLOUDY MAX 22C, MIN 12C

MAX MIN

Sudoku

8

Alicante TODAY:

14

23 31

26 36

REINTEGRO 8

FERN

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

TARN TERN FERN

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Satisfaction with your love life is paramount this week, and the opinion of others seems important to you. Perhaps you are looking for an excuse to make a change. It is possible, however, that a change is not required so much as a different approach. It is not essential to put all your eggs in one basket.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN IN 2013

Your Stars

IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK Possibly you did not imagine how active the new year would be. You are already needing to pull in the reins. Be careful what you wish for because this year it could come true.

MALE TALE TARE

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Spirituality seeps right through the week. As you are feeling particularly sensuous, invite someone special to dinner or on a trip. Visit garden centres and plan ahead. The colours and perfumes will be particularly pleasing.

MAGALLUF

1. 95, 2. THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS, 3. VENEZUELA, 4.

VELVET UNDERGROUND, 5. NEW YORK, 6. FLY HALF

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CROSSWORDS

Crosswords

13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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33

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

Cryptic

Quick

Across 1 Stretch your neck to see the bird (5) 4 Butcher gets Ray wheels (7) 7 Drug addict ate holding order (7) 8 Flies the men only back north in (5) 10 Longs for a church to end service collections (5) 11 Made from English gravel (7) 12 Loose bit of lettuce contained in bag (5) 14 Reposition trees in a different order (5) 19 Lets the donkey have ornamental hanging tufts (7) 21 Fly military aircraft across Germany and Spain (5) 22 Post Office harbours stolen picture (5) 23 Love in everyone married is permissible (7) 24 Supposed itʼs erupted at sea (7) 25 Ladyʼs out, sorry to say (5) Down 2 Everybody goes round company house for a strong drink (7) 3 Seam bowling caught ten in Tests (5) 4 A country sounded musical (6) 5 Great, Iʼm dancing to jazz music (7) 6 Southern sound the airline never

Across 7 Dwell (6) 8 In a foreign country (6) 9 Not coarse or heavy (4) 10 Particular (8) 11 Final course (7) 13 Established (5) 15 Periodically repeated sequence of events (5) 17 Imaginative fiction (7) 20 Income (8) 21 Exchanged for money (4) 22 Madcap goings-on (6) 23 Ecstatically happy (6)

16 Refrain from piling up dishes (4) 17 Where gods live in Africaʼs Garden of Eden (6) 18 New deal for guide (4) 20 Dig out a story that make the headlines (5) 21 Manuscript about beer for men (5)

gives first (5) 7 Costly creature, reportedly (4) 9 Uses fabricated charges (4) 13 Cigar with revolutionary origin (7) 15 Gave gifts but in the end was in debt (7)

Code Breaker

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 4 represents C and 11 represents S, so fill in C every time the figure 4 appears and S every time the figure 11 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 Siskin, 4 Scout, 8 Cheat, 9 Adamant, 10 Extract, 11 Cone, 12 Emu, 14 Cede, 15 News, 18 Tad, 21 Oman, 23 Adhered, 25 Theseus, 26 Spade, 27 Hosts, 28 Vestas.

Down: 1 Soccer, 2 Spectre, 3 Intranet, 4 Scar, 5 Otago, 6 Titled, 7 Caste, 13 Unchaste, 16 Warrant, 17 Hootch, 19 Daisy, 20 Adders, 22 Avers, 24 Keys.

QUICK Across: 1 Static, 5 Safari, 8 Fair, 9 Red giant, 10 Genius, 11 Carbon, 12 Game, 14 Let, 15 Tiny, 16 Morass, 18 Latest, 20 Farthing, 22 Near, 23 Coarse, 24 Easily.

Down: 2 Tease, 3 Termite, 4 Chrysalis, 5 Sad, 6 Friar, 7 Run-down, 11 Catalogue, 13 Avocado, 15 Tetanus, 17 Alter, 19 Shawl, 21 Ire.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Tasty, 3 Gifts, 6 Rule, 7 Cabeza, 9 Camareras, 12 Amargo, 13 Leña, 14 Llave, 15 Ahora.

Down: 1 Toro, 2 Salvajada, 3 Grapes, 4 Fregadero, 5 Star, 8 Sangre, 10 Ball, 11 Taza.

Funagram

Play on Words

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

Across 1 Seas (5) 3 Pequeño (5) 5 Alquitrán (3) 7 Hilos (7) 9 Sello (personal, de rey) (4) 10 Cordero (4) 14 Clases (7) 15 Goose (domestic) (3) 16 Walk (stroll) (5) 17 Arches (5) Down 1 Motorcycles (5) 2 Mushroom (4) 3 Seguro (convencido) (4) 4 The (pl, f) (3) 6 Carreteras (5) 8 Roast (5) 11 Alubias (5) 12 Red (4) 13 Island (4) 14 Labio (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 (NEARER) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ADHERE

PIERCE

AWARDS

PRAYED

BREACH

RATTLE

CANDLE

REELED

HEARTS

RESENT

LEADER

RESTED

LEERED

SCARED

NEARER (10)

SEARED

NEEDED

SHARED

PEERED

Unscramble the name of a type of vegetable (two words): REAL LUCKY

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

NEPALED IS DEPALED

Answers: A friend in need is a friend indeed, Unfinished business

Unscramble the name of a famous BBC sitcom, first broadcast in 1990 (five words): NOT OF NEGATIVE HERO

Down 1 Relating to cats (6) 2 Alcoholic drink (4) 3 Size (7) 4 Desert ruminant (5) 5 Something continually annoying (8) 6 Containing salt (6) 12 Magnificent (8) 14 Burrowing rodent (7) 16 Pines for (6) 18 Gloomily angry and silent (6) 19 Acute anxiety (5) 21 Submerge in a liquid (4)

BUSINES

1 Rarely, 2 Reared, 3 Rugged, 4 Roared, 5 Thread, 6 Badger, 7 Coarse, 8 Seated, 9 Factor, 10 Shaken, 11 Awards, 12 Listen, 13 Basked, 14 Glossy, 15 Bugles, 16 Broken, 17 Sighed, 18 Banner, 19 Hurray

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: CURLY KALE, ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE

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OPINION & COMMENT

To charge or not to charge?

This week we focus on how emergency services in the Valencia region will begin charging for avoidable rescue operations (irresponsible activity triggering forest fires, helicopter rescues for hikers who ignore weather warnings, etc).

E

NID Manning, 76 is retired in Albox (Almeria).

She says, “I think they should be charged, they should take more care and not waste time or money. Somebody else might need an ambulance desperately.”

Agreeing with her is Juan Perez, a 45-year-old businessman from Benidorm (Alicante) who believes in the fines: “Yes, it is their fault for getting themselves in that situation by ignoring warnings and taking unnecessary risk. And with pranks, somebody may need these services while they are responding to a wild goose chase.”

Maria Jose

Should the regional government make individuals pay for avoidable rescue services?

What do you think of people who use emergency services that might have been avoidable or call 112 as a prank?

STREET TALK Pizarra, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Benalmadena (Malaga) also agreed saying, “Yes, people should pay for avoidable services. These are their personal choices, and it shouldn’t end up as a cost to the public.”

Aneta Simko, aged 33, from Poland and now living in Benissa (Alicante) said: “I think it is quite normal they charge for avoidable rescue operations. I like climbing and hiking and I pay an insurance that covers mountain risks if anything happens.” But she added that she understands people sometimes panic and call 112 services for avoidable causes.

In principle, Carole Woodley, 67, from Torrevieja (Alicante), agrees in some kind of deterrent but is concerned at how it would be policed: “Those calling 112 for fun should definitely be fined and forced to pay, but are more resources then spent trying to track them down and find them?”

On the other side is Chris Taylor, 72 in Arboleas (Almeria). “I don’t think people plan to have an accident or illness, so they shouldn’t charge. Are they going to leave people who don’t have a bank card?”

Dale Saxon (50), retired in Albox (Almeria) agrees: “I don’t agree with charging people, they don’t set out to get lost on purpose. As far as people who DALE SAXON: phone the People don’t emergency get lost on services as a purpose, so prank, I think it is they shouldn’t disgraceful.” be punished for it.

ANETA SIMKO: People should be charged for avoidable rescue operations.

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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A case of woo or woe on you this Valentine Ulrica Marshall

Expat Strife Swedish-born Ulrica is a freelance journalist living in Mallorca with her family. Her debut novel $Expat Wives is available on Amazon and iBooks.

To comment on any of the issues raised in Ulrica’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ulrica-marshall

ulrica@euroweeklynews.com

I

N every shop window, fluffy toy dogs and bears wielding a red heart stare back at

you.

In the supermarket, row upon row is dedicated to dainty boxes of chocolates, cutesy sweets and pink fizz of all descriptions.

Meanwhile, restaurants remind us to book their special candle-lit 20course tasting menu early to avoid disappointment (theirs presumably). The question is: Are you embracing or studiously ignoring Saint Valentine this year?

Today’s commercial celebration of February 14 is an odd leap from the eponymous Roman saint who died on this day sometime during the third century. It was not until 16

SPLASH OUT: Wine and dine your loved one this Valentine’s Day. centuries later that the Brits fell in love with the idea of Valentine’s cards and letters, peppered with loving verses.

The rest, as they say, is history.

But regardless of history, celebrating Valentine’s Day

seems to have suffered some sad setbacks in an apparent backlash at the ‘establishment’, typically alongside stoic declarations of ‘I’m not giving in to this commercial nonsense’ or ‘we can celebrate any day.’

But will we, really? Isn’t romance and wooing each other the first thing to fall by the wayside once fatigue sets in or the monotony of daily life takes over? Perhaps we really do need a reminder after all.

And if your wife or partner tells you that she doesn’t care for flowers, gems or a dinner tête-à-tête, then I would suggest she may be saying it to please you.

Chances are that while you are congratulating yourself for not falling for such commercial traps, she is ruefully listening to a friend gushing over a romantic city break or showing off a pretty bracelet. And while some egalitarian readers may object, claiming that the responsibility lays squarely on both sets of shoulders, I admit to being old-fashioned in my expectations of courting.

So why not throw caution, and perhaps a little cash, to the wind and wine and dine the love of your life this Valentine’s. If not, what is the point of it all?

*Article not sponsored by the Spanish Federation of Restaurateurs but writer will happily accept donations.

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& DRINKS

ood F

FOOD & DRINK

Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local sport

Mallorca’s best guide for local restaurants

Lechazo month in Ribera del Duero FEBRUARY is ‘lechazo’ month in the Ribera del Duero region, Northern Spain.

A total of 21 establishments - 11 restaurants and 10 bars - from this area bordering the Duero river are serving their own version of the lamb dish every weekend this month.

Lechazo is made with unweaned lamb from the native Churra breed, and is cooked in a wooden oven on a clay pan.

The otherwise known as ‘lechal’, the lamb is exclusively fed with its mother’s milk, and has to be no more than 35 days old at the time of slaughter.

Lechazo will be the star of set menus

offering a starter, a main course, dessert and a Ribera del Duero bottle of wine for €32 per person.

For those on a budget or those who just want to have a taste of the traditional dish, the participating bars offer a lechazo tapa for €2.50.

Mixing tradition with cuttingedge cooking techniques, the tapas are served, as could be expected, with a glass of Ribera del Duero wine.

LECHAZO: Made with unweaned lamb.

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

Advertising feature

Little Britain even better LITTLE BRITAIN, your home from home for all your old favourite British staples, is even bigger and better now.

The supermarket has moved to larger premises and has an even bigger range of stock than before.

Owner Donna Mann said: “We have finally managed to do what we always wanted to do right from the start, but we could not find the right premises until now. We can now hold many more products and offer much more to our customers.

“Now that the supermarket has got the right feel and look we can grow in the direction we have have always wanted to. We always value our customer feedback and suggestions and will always do our best to satisfy our customers’ needs and wants.

“With the improved look and feel to the new premises we feel that this has been achieved. We look forward to a great new year ahead with this being the start of the real Little Britain, and will continue to make this business sa great success with the help of our

BIGGER: With even more stock. loyal local customers and NEW customers from across the island.”

As part of their expansion Little Britain now offers a great new range of baking products from flour to icing, flavoured fillings, decorations, in fact anything you need for your baking creations.

The ranges of Linda McCartney

and quorn products have expanded too.

Also on offer are gifts and helium balloons for practically all occasions.

Of course they also have all the extensive range of products you would expect for a supermarket, including all items expatriates miss from home. Being in the north of the island is also great for the English tourists who miss their favourite items that you can’t get in the normal supermarkets.

Little Britain not only serves people from that area, they have people that come from all over just to get that taste of home.

They also have fresh produce so if you fancy some fresh parsnips or swedes with your roast dinner, they have them available individually.

Whatever your requirements, Donna will always be there with her friendly smiling face to serve you.

For further information, call 971 897 945, email littlebritain1@hotmail.com and Facebook: Little Britain Alcudia.

The new address is C/ de les Barques 8, Local 1 Alcudia.

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FOOD & DRINK

JAMON SERRANO: More than 25,500 tonnes of the Spanish speciality were exported in 2013.

Exports go up as the world is hungry for Serrano ham THE world is hungry for Serrano ham and proof of that are the latest export figures released by the Spanish Serrano Ham Foundation.

A total of 25,543 tonnes of ‘jamon’ were sold outside the Spanish borders during the first 10 months of 2013.

This represents €226.4 million, a 15.5 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2012.

Of the exports, 82.4 per cent correspond to boneless formats of Serrano ham, a requirement asked by many of the target markets.

This format includes slices, cubes and packaged

Germany tops the list

The European with 27.8 per cent of exports.

Union remains the It’s followed main market for Serrano by France ham, with more than 80 per (25.5 per cent) cent of exports. By country, and Portugal Germany tops the list with (10.5 per cent).

27.8 per cent of exports.

ham.

The European Union remains the main market for Serrano ham, with more than 80 per cent of exports.

By country,

Sales in Poland are reported to have increased by 148 per cent, and in Sweden they have increased by 103 per cent.

Also hungry for Serrano ham are the Netherlands (with an increase of 53 per cent) and the United Kingdom (86 per cent).

First cookbook written by a woman in Spain is published SPANISH publishing house Editorial Visor has published what is believed to be the first recipe book written by a woman in Spain.

The book was written circa 1740 by Maria Rosa Calvillo de Teruel, a woman whom researchers believe worked for a wealthy family in Sevilla.

It has a total of 100 recipes, 99 from Maria Rosa and an additional one from an unidentified person.

The cookbook author wrote down

recipes she probably learnt from other people, with names like ‘How Doña Joaquina makes sausages’, and ‘How to make Mariquita’s cake’.

She also gathered recipes from various Spanish regions, including Utrera and Moron de la Frontera (Andalucia) and Extremadura.

There are almost no fish recipes, probably because of where she lived. She included, however, many recipes for traditional and indulgent desserts.

13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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Roses aren’t always red...

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ALTHOUGH roses are traditionally steeped in the symbol of love; being the flower of choice for Valentine’s Day, there are lots of other meanings on the basis of their colour, making them a great choice no matter what the time of year or occasion.

But, if you do choose roses for that someone special this Valentine’s Day, think about the colour and meaning to find that perfect gift: Red roses; love and respect. Best for getting the ‘I love you’ message across.

Dark pink roses;

appreciation and gratitude and are also often chosen when wanting to say ‘thank you’.

Light pink roses; admiration and sympathy.

This colour also sends a message to convey beauty and grace.

Yellow roses; happiness and friendship. If you want to treat a friend, enjoy an occasion or send a message of congratulations, choose yellow roses.

White roses; innocence, purity, humility. Also choose white when sending roses in remembrance.

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PROPERTY

13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

roperty P TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

MADRID: 63 per cent of houses sold are reported to be less than €100,000.

More properties available at less than €100k THE number of houses on sale for less than €100,000 has soared since the financial crisis started.

Globaliza.com. This increase also reflects in houses sold. Approximately 64 per cent of the houses sold by the website had a price lower than €100,000.

This tendency is increasing on a daily basis in small towns and cities alike.

Valencia (-43.5), Andalucia (-40.8) and According to data from Madrid (-40.7).

Tecnocasa, 76 per cent of Prices of second-hand houses slightly the houses sold by this increased, nevertheless, in Murcia (0.9 estate agency in Zaragoza per cent), and La Rioja (0.1 per cent). had a price of €100,000 or By city, the reports place San Sebastian lower. Sevilla, Madrid and (Basque Country) as the most expensive Barcelona follow the capital city, with prices reaching €4,203 per of the Aragon region with square metre. On the other side is 68, 63 and 32 per cent of Ontinyent (Valencia), where the the houses sold by average price per square Tecnocasa being less than metre is €854. €100,000.

These offers were almost non-existent during the years of the real estate bubble, with only 0.09 per cent of the houses matching this pricing.

Houses sold under €100,000 are normally second-hand flats with three rooms and are 83 square metres on average.

It is reported that the majority of them, 70 per cent, are in a good condition and located in middle-class areas of towns and cities.

It has gone from 2.9 per cent of the houses available to 30.8 per cent, according to data by property website

2nd-hand prices stable SECOND-HAND houses in Spain stabilised in January, with an average price of €1,730 per square metre.

This is according to separate reports by property websites idealista.com and fotocasa.es, which say there have been minor changes in prices since December 2013. This is good news for the property market as prices didn’t stop falling since the financial crisis started in 2008.

According to data provided by both reports, property prices in La Rioja decreased the most in six years, at 52.3 per cent overall.

This region is followed by Navarra (-46.6), Aragon (-46.5), Castilla La Mancha (-46.1), Murcia (-45.1), Cataluña (-44.1),

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FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

Welcome to Business Matters Vicki Mcleod

Business Matters RUNNING a business in Mallorca can be challenging, rewarding, a nightmare and a dream.

The Euro Weekly News, in collaboration with Phoenix Media Mallorca, wants to actively reach out and support local businesses here on the island with information, advice and ideas. This new section of the paper will be focused on the needs and interests of what local business people have to know, offering free professional advice from accountants, lawyers, marketers, and many other useful fields.

Together we can make a real difference to local businesses on the island, together we’re stronger: knowledge is power! To participate on this page or to ask our experts a business related question visit www.businessmattersmallorca.com.

Where do you want to be by 2015?

By Arvind Lall MA ACA (Partner) Chartered Accountant, Aspreys

From left, Arvind Lall, Julia Hannon and Duncan Finn from Aspreys.

The first months of the year are the toughest in Mallorca when work and money seems to have dried up. If you can plan for it then you can cope with it.

Aspreys can help, nothing is impossible.

You have to start by asking yourself some pertinent questions, and don’t stint on the answers. Try considering some of the

matters that Aspreys help clients with on a regular basis.

1. If additional funds are required do I need to speak with my bank?

2. Have I projected cash flows so the bank can see this would be a temporary measure?

3. Have I management accounts

showing current profitability?

4. Can I speak with my suppliers to have a payment plan if I need time to pay?

5. When did I last review my overheads? Are there cost savings to be made?

6. Are there other revenue streams I could target?

7. How do I market my business?

8. What are my competitors doing?

9. Where do I want to be by 2015......?

Over the coming weeks and months we will be helping businesses in Mallorca to answer these fundamental questions, so if your answer to any of the above has been “Don’t know.” then never fear. Look out for Asprey’s articles on these pages and on the new www.businessmatters mallorca.com site. Aspreys is a qualified UK Chartered Certified Accountancy Partnership based in Kent, and working in Mallorca supporting clients in Accounting and Tax matters.

There will be a presentation at the networking group The Supper Club at Mood Beach in Costa D’en Blanes by Isla Theatre Project and Aspreys next Thursday February 20 at 7pm. The event is €15 and includes supper and two drinks.

To book email info@moodbeach.com.

Advertising Feature

Liberty Seguros scores a Hole In One!

L

IBERTY SEGUROS has been elected by AEGG (the Association of Directors and Managers of Clubs and Golf Courses) as the Insurer of preference for golf insurances.

The agreement, which ensures that all of AEGG’s members are entitled to the best benefits when contracting a Liberty Seguros golf insurance, was signed by Manuel Lozano Pose, Manager of AEGG, and Francisco Javier Muñoz Postigo, Commercial Director for Liberty Seguros in Malaga.

AEGG is a non-profit organisation which looks to boost, develop and present the role of Golf Club director/management, making it the ideal organisation for Liberty Seguros to team up with in order to be able to grow in the field of specialist golf insurance.

On the left, Manuel Lozano Pose, Manager of AEGG, and on the right Francisco Javier Muñoz Postigo, Commercial Director Liberty Seguros Málaga and Campo de Gibraltar.

As Manuel Lozano Pose, Manager of AEGG, said: “This agreement is very beneficial to the organisation: to be able to count on a partner such as Liberty Seguros is a breakthrough as they will be able to offer us comprehensive cover, that can be adapted to our specific needs.”

The policy covers breakage and/or damage to equipment and clubs during the course of play, as well as cover

against fire and theft as a result of intimidation or violence whilst being transported by the insured, whilst stored with the caddymaster or at the pro-shop.

Perhaps even more importantly, it provides Personal Accident Cover for death, permanent disability and medical expenses

resulting from accidental injury occurring at the Golf Course. Third Party Liability is included up to €100,000, which also covers accidents whilst playing abroad, provided that liability would have applied to the insured had the same accident occurred in Spain.

Ask your Liberty Seguros

broker about these competitively priced golf policies and ensure you tee off with absolute peace of mind, whilst at any officially recognised club ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! Go to www.liberty expatriates.es to find the nearest broker that speaks your language!

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CLASSIFIEDS

13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

lassifieds C

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FOR RESULTS EVERY WEEK

BOATS / CARS / JOBS / SERVICES / PETS / BIKES / FURNITURE / PROPERTY / MOTORING / FOR SALES

ADMINISTRATION SERVICES

BOATS

CARS FOR SALE

CONVERTIBLE Mercedes 500SL, 2006 RHD, 1 previous owner, FSH, just serviced, 26k miles, blue/grey, condition new, divorce forces sale, beautiful car.

18,500€. Tel 971 676 480 / 0044 7826 222 221 (216899)

FRIENDSHIP FIND LOVE IN THE SUN w w w. i w a n t 2 m e e t y o u . c o m .

Browse for free Spain’s No 1 online dating site. Bringing ex-pats together. (219566)

HEALTH & BEAUTY

MINI CLUBMAN 2011, 30,000km, one careful owner. 12,500€ ONO. 687 898 494 (216925)

CHIMNEY SWEEP ‘SOOTY & SWEEP’, chimneys swept, repaired and installed. Tel 971 231 623 / 629 547 685 (216900)

CLAIRVOYANTS TAROT Reading. African Spiritualist solves problems - love and business. Tel: Ibrahim 626 502 803 (216597) ANTI-FOUL Removal Machine.

Top of the range Farrow system, environmentally friendly, slurry blasting machine, complete with many spares and 60m blast hose.

Cleans most surfaces, stone, wood, pools etc. Suit small marine business or contractor. 661 435 765 (216909)

INSURANCE INTERNET

CLEANING

BUILDING SERVICES

DINING OUT ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

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

BLINDS

www.MallorcaSolos.com / Social events and activities (216918)

AIR CONDITIONING

DRIVING LESSONS

BUSINESS FOR SALE FREEHOLD bar in Santa Ponsa, Street Avenida Jaume I, no 101, 90m2. Divided over two floors, first floor 35m2 plus a terrace and second floor of 45m2. Price 120,000€. 669 952 988 (216930)

LEARN TO DRIVE IN MALLORCA. Scottish Driving Instructor now qualified to teach in Mallorca.

Classes in English or Spanish. Obtain your Spanish licence easier or have refresher lessons and get behind that wheel. Interested!

Call 648 133 929 (201557)

HEALTH & BEAUTY

FLOORING

CAR HIRE

INSURANCE

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For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

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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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

MOTORING

www.euroweeklynews.com INTERNET

FELIX Dog and Cat Kennels.

Based at Manacor. Boarding available. Home sitting Island wide. Tel 689 795 049 (216915)

PET INSURANCE PROTECTAPET. Spain’s leading pet insurance. 965 756 371. www.protectapet.eu (216721)

PROPERTY FOR RENT LLUCMAJOR. Completely furnished first floor apartment with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, kitchen, lounge, terrace, 450 euros/month.

Ref 2940 Inmobiliaria Llucmajor.

Tel 971 662 402 (215771)

PROPERTY SERVICES

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@petchauffeur.eu (215263)

LIVE MUSIC LIVE music with the fabulous Rosae, every Saturday night at Delfinos ( crazy Dolphin ) Tel 971 676 449 (216841)

MOTORING

LANGUAGE SERVICES

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)

OPPORTUNITY, SANTA PONSA BEACH APARTMENT, 60m2, reformed, 1 bedroom, open kitchen, bathroom, terrace, great sea/beach views, pool, gardens, turn-key 125,000€. Owner 618 280 387 (216902)

REMOVALS / STORAGE

PETS REAL ESTATE

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 email us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227.

Email: info@pet-couriers.com or www.pet-couriers.com (206497)

INTERNET

PROPERTY maintenance services.

Renovation, painting, decorating & gardening. Last years rates!

Trustworthy and high standards Bart: 634 323 062 (216822)

REMOVAL/STORAGE THE MAN & VAN ISLAND WIDE REMOVALS & STORAGE. CHEAP, CHEERFUL, FAST, EFFICIENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY LEGAL. Tel: 626 792 037 (216884) VAN MAN FAST, FRIENDLY, EFFICIENT. REMOVALS, STORAGE 25 euros p/h. 638 478 204 (216880)

RUBBISH CLEARANCE DARRMAR Excavation, demolition, overgrown gardens cleared, ponds and swimming pools, reforms prepared, tree felling & landscaping. 608 790 007 (81692)

PROFESSIONAL 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)

CLASSIFIEDS

BRITISH property services in Mallorca. Construction & home reform services. Our promise: We WILL beat any price like for like ISLANDWIDE. All work guaranteed. See our large advert in this edition. Contact us at enquiries@j-mac.es or tel 971 230 136 (216932)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

WE CLEAR building rubble, garden rubbish, furniture etc. Quick & reliable. Tel 629 547 685 (216900)

SCND HAND FURNITURE

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CLASSIFIEDS 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)

STORAGE 50m3 Dry secure storage space available, Poligono Son Bugadelles. 250€/month. 971 231 623 / Mob 629 547 685 (216900)

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)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

SITUATIONS VACANT

TV & SATELLITE

13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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) ATTRACTIVE, Russian lady offers sensitive Tantra massage. Tel 676 165 727 (216885) NICE AND SEXY GERMAN GIRL MAKES YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE 661 016 936 (209776)

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Put your business on the fastest growing directory!

L A I C S P E FOR R OFFE T I M E T FIRS INGS now s LIStT u t ac Con

Telephone: 952 561 2 245 Fax: 952 440 8 887 directory@ewngetsit.com

MOTORING

www.euroweeklynews.com

13 - 19 February 2014 / Mallorca

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

For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80

C4 CACTUS: An alternative to the compact hatchback.

New Citroen C4 Cactus, functional and attractive CITROEN has unveiled the new C4 Cactus, the French manufacturer’s alternative to the compact hatchback.

The C4 Cactus stands apart with a unique design that is both functional and attractive.

It features pure, smooth surfaces and flowing lines with no aggressive edges.

Fitted on the side and bumpers of the C4 Cactus is the Airbump, a Citroen exclusive.

It provides day-to-day protection with a supple

thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) skin that comprises air capsules to absorb impacts.

The Airbump requires no specific maintenance and directly contributes to cutting vehicle servicing and repair costs.

Inside the C4 Cactus, which is going to be manufactured at Citroen’s plant in Villaverde (Madrid), space has been freed up for the driver and passengers.

The low dashboard with its horizontal lines creates

more space for the front passenger, with easily accessible storage. This was obtained by adopting a fully digital interface and optimising the driving position layout.

At the rear, passenger knee room is similar to that on the C4.

For an equivalent wheelbase, the C4 Cactus

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SPONSORED BY

Launch of 2014 Tri Glide Ultra

HARLEY-DAVIDSON has launched its 2014 Tri Glide Ultra threewheeled motorbike in the Spanish market.

Available from €40,500, the Tri Glide Ultra is reportedly the only motorcycle in its range that can be driven with a B type driving licence.

As part of the manufacturer’s Project RushMore, which aims at bringing customers an enhanced driving experience, the motorcycle has been redesigned.

It features the new twin-cooled high output 1,690cc Twin Cam 103 engine with 138Nm torque and 86HP. This is a 5 to 7 per cent increase in horsepower and torque due to a new cam profile and better breathing through an improved airbox. Its average consumption is 6.2 litres per 100km.

The luggage spaces have been redesigned with more space inside, a new look outside and new latches that can be operated with one hand.

The batwing fairing has also been changed to reduce head buffeting without losing its distinctive Harley-Davidson style, the motorcycle manufacturer claims.

Improved lighting comes as standard with the new Daymaker LED headlamp and LED fog lamps.

The new Boom Box 6.5 infotainment system features a 6.5 in fullcolour touch screen.

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provides the same amount of space for more compact exterior dimensions.

Fitted as standard, a 7inch touch screen with seven sensitive buttons gives access to a full range of modern vehicle functions.

The vehicle weighs 965 kilos, 200 kilos overall less than a Citroen C4.

Car sales on the up in January CAR sales in Spain increased by 7.6 per cent in the first month of the year, with a total of 53,436 units sold in January.

This is a remarkable increase compared to the 19,496 cars sold in the same period last year.

The Spanish Car and Lorry Manufacturers Association (Anfac) credits the sales boost to the fifth phase of the PIVE incentive programme, which came into force on January 29.

“The PIVE 5 has allowed the month of January to close with positive figures,” said Communications Manager at Anfac, David Barrientos.

This increase, however, is slightly lower than the one the market experienced during the last months of 2013.

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Sport Mallorca’s best guide to local sport

SPORT

Queen of snow Jenny LAST Sunday, Bristol-born Jenny Jones, aged 33 and wearing number 1, became the first Brit to ‘officially’ win an Olympic medal on snow. She claimed bronze in the women’s snowboarding event in Sochi.

TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Wenger’s Woe and Irish Jig

By Tony Matthews IT’S back to the FA Cup this weekend with 5th round ties featuring Cardiff-Wigan, Manchester City-Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday-Charlton and Sunderland-Southampton on Saturday; ArsenalLiverpool (revenge perhaps for the Gunners after last Saturday’s clattering at Anfield?), Everton-Swansea and Sheffield United-

Nottingham Forest on Sunday and Brighton-Hull on Monday.

Also on Saturday, the top Championship games are Nottingham ForestLeicester, QPR-Reading and WatfordMiddlesbrough.

On Tuesday, it was Cardiff-Villa, HullSouthampton, WBAChelsea and West HamNorwich, while last night’s games were Arsenal-

Manchester United, Everton-Crystal Palace, Fulham-Liverpool, Manchester City-Sunderland, Newcastle-Spurs and Stoke.

And Real Madrid and Barcelona should have qualified for the Copa del Rey final.

LAST WEEK’S SOCCER ACTION • It was ‘S Club Five’ at Anfield as Liverpool, with goals by Raheem Sterling (2), Martin Skrtel (2) and Daniel Sturridge, beat Arsenal 5-1 (it could have been 10-1). This was the Reds’ biggest win over the Gunners since 1964, the year the Beatles first visited America!

• Newcastle had a ‘Hazardous’ time at The

Bridge as Eden scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 3-0 win.

• The Eagles flew high in south-east London as Crystal Palace won the six-pointer against WBA 3-1.

• Swansea completed a PL double over Cardiff, winning the Welsh derby 3-0.

• Aston Villa got West ‘Hammered’ 2-0 at home

by Kevin Nolan!

SIX NATIONS RUGBY It was mud, sweat and tears for Scotland who were beaten at home by England for the first time since 1978, crashing 20-0; rampant Ireland whipped reigning champions Wales 26-3 and France powered past Italy 30-10.

TEAM SPIRIT: The enthusiastic Dimonis squad.

Good game DIMONIS RC were hosts to Corsaris FC on Sunday.

Dimonis started at a brisk canter, playing some excellent flowing rugby, notching up three converted tries before half time to a late Corsaris try which caught the Dimonis defence flat-footed just at the whistle.

The second half saw Dimonis increase their score with a converted try from a scrum five position.

Dimonis kept up the pressure on Corsaris, but tiring near the end, Dimonis conceded two late break out tries. Final score was 34-21, a very good game by both sides.