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Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 22 - 28 May 2014 Issue 1507

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ISSUE NO. 1507

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Unhealthy hearts PEOPLE in the Balearic Islands have double the risk of other Spanish regions of suffering from heart diseases, according to the Spanish Cardiology Society.

Mystery fall GUARDIA CIVIL are investigating the death of a woman, 86, who fell from a first-floor apartment in Esporles, although foul play is not suspected.

Port protest MORE than 10,000 signatures have been handed in to the port authorities to protest against plans to expand Al Molinar Port.

Rapid aid THE Playa de Palma area now has a new immediate ambulance service which will operate in popular night-life spots.

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Beach flag boost for the summer season IN a boost to the tourism industry the beaches of the Balearic Islands have received a total of 63 Blue Flags, 16 more than last summer. The flags are given out across Europe by ADEAC (authority in charge of Blue Flags) to beaches which meet their stringent quality controls; the beaches are judged on, among other things, the cleanliness of the water, the standard of the beach installations and the quality of the sand. Among those which have regained their flags are the beaches of Oratori, Cala Vinyes, Cala Ferrara, Platja de s’Arenal and Cala Mondrago (pictured). The only beach to have lost its flag is Es Canar.

Overall Spain has received a total of 681 flags on 573 beaches and 108 marinas, which is a new world record followed only by Greece (407 flags), Turkey (397

flags) and France (379 flags). In a press conference, the president of ADEAC, Jose Ramon Sanchez Moro, commented that this result consolidated Spain as the world leader, a place it has held, without interruption, since 1987. One in five Spanish The collective is also asking for the beaches along the 8,000 central registry of bicycles to be better kilometres of coastline publicised so that a greater number of has the coveted Blue Flag cyclists sign up for it and therefore gain flying. more security against having their bikes stolen. Councillor for Mobility Gabriel Vallejo has suggested there should be more connection of bike routes between the industrial estates and the centre of Palma. At the moment the routes exist but they are fragmented and therefore more dangerous to users.

More routes for cyclists

BICICIUTAT - a cycling collective in Palma - has proposed several improvements for urban cyclists. Of the seven proposals one has been approved by the council in Manacor. The idea is to create footpaths to all the local schools with the aim of “not collapsing traffic at the school rush-hours in Palma. These footpaths could be used by cyclists and would also have the added advantage of instilling in the young the healthy habit of walking or cycling as opposed to using the car for everything.”


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THIS WEEK IN

EWN News 1 - 24

Finance 25 - 30

Letters 31

Daily TV UGLY PLATFORM: Collectives uniting against oil prospecting.

No to prospecting COLLECTIVES from several Spanish communities are coming together to protest against the seismic surveys that are being done off the Spanish coasts. They are uniting under the slogan “We have enough energy. No to prospecting.” Protest groups from the Balearic Islands, Cataluña, Andalucia, Valencia and the Canary Islands are forming a central collective, which met in Valencia last week, to coordinate their efforts against what they are calling an environmental disaster. The collectives are suggesting that the government look for alternative energy

which would not be dependent on oil but would be based on renewable energy sources including wave power and wind power. The collective groups are calling on the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism not to pay attention to the needs of the big oil companies but rather to the needs of society, as the result of these seismic surveys would have, in their opinion, a negative impact on the current way of life in these communities. They are warning that oil exploration would mean a decrease in tourism.

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Leapy Lee 36

Time out 40 - 41

Classifieds 49 - 51

Sport 56


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NEWS Intruder attacked A WOMAN in Palma has been sentenced to three and a half months in prison for attacking a man who broke into her house and exposed himself in front of her 13-year-old daughter. Drug eviction NATIONAL POLICE in Manacor found 163 marihuana plants and a gun in a house that had an eviction notice on it. They have delayed the eviction order while they investigate the plantation owner.

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‘Kamikaze’ run a costly one TEN months in prison, a fine of three Euros a day for those 10 months and the loss of his driving licence for a year and a half: this is what the courts in Palma have given the young man, 27, who drove the Via de Cintura ‘kamikaze style’ (going in the opposite direction of the traffic flow).

The young man confessed to his actions and accepted the sentence without challenge. He also admitted to being under the influence of cocaine, heroin and benzodiacepinas when carrying out the 11 kilometre ‘kamikaze’ run between Llucmajor (MA-19) and Calvia (MA-1).

At the time he was running away from a police control which had stopped him and asked him to identify himself. He left the traffic stop in such a hurry that he didn’t even turn on his lights for the first 3.8 kilometres and then he got on the motorway going the wrong way.

Cyclist injured A CYCLIST, 62, is in a serious condition in hospital after falling off his bike in Santa Maria. The accident happened on the MA-2030 near the train tracks to Soller. High speed chase TWO car thieves have been caught by the Guardia Civil after a high speed chase around the island. They stand accused of fleeing the scene of a crime and car theft. Agreement signed THE transport unions of Mallorca have signed an agreement to cover the next five years which contemplates the possibility of a 1 per cent pay rise per year for the last four years.

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Missing man

THE family of a man who went missing in Mallorca in February of this year are asking for help in locating him. He visited the island in the company of a Guinean woman and hasn’t been seen since.

Burning car NATIONAL POLICE are investigating the burning of a car in Palma. A neighbour heard a group of youths talking in the street who then ran away just before the car burst into flames.

Bike crash TWO women, 44 and 24, have been seriously injured after their motorbike crashed into a safety rail on a road in Llucmajor. Police are looking into the cause of the crash. Robbery gamble TWO men have been detained for, allegedly, robbing a games salon in Palma; they got away with €410 after threatening the employee on duty with two huge knives.

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Brazilian attack

Keep on shopping

A BRAZILIAN man was detained for head butting the barman of a nightclub in s’Arenal with whom he was having an argument. The victim was taken to hospital with a broken cheek bone.

Expensive theft ONLINE SHOPPING: The Spanish are becoming more accustomed to it. FIFTY-FIVE per cent of Spaniards shopped online in 2013, which is 8 per cent more than in 2012. According to a study carried out by OMD Resolution, the Spanish are becoming more accustomed to online shopping. Seventy-six per cent use credit cards to pay, although other methods are also becoming more popular. According to the study, most people who use their computers for online shopping in Spain buy holidays, fashion and jewellery, and tickets for shows or visits. However, those who use mobile devices tend to purchase fashion and jewellery, followed by consumer electronics and tickets. A study by DigitasLBi also shows that 76 per cent of people in Spain use their smartphones to look up prices, specifications or compare offers in different shops. The favourite device on which to do this is a laptop computer (73 per cent), followed by a desktop computer (60 per cent),

Quote of the Week Regarding this ‘lady’, it’s best not to say anything, she has already portrayed herself.’ Racing de Santander footballer Mamadou Kone, speaking of a woman who made racist gestures towards him during a match by behaving like a monkey.

tablets (34 per cent) and Smart TV (17 per cent). However, when it comes to actually buying products, 60 per cent use their desktop computer, followed by 29 per cent who use a tablet and 26 per cent who use smartphones. Online sales of fashion articles rose 32 per cent in Spain in 2013, according to Kantar Worldpanel, amounting to 3.1 million buyers who use the internet to buy clothes an average of three times per year, buying an average 6.4 items and spending around €130 per year. Online sales of shoes in Spain also rose by 67 per cent in 2013, making €43.3 million, according to the National Market and Competition Commission. Sixty-four per cent of buyers are women. The travel sector also saw sales rise, and 63 per cent of Spaniards now claim to purchase their flights, book hotels and reserve other products for their holidays online.

Number of the week

lost their homes in 49,694 people Spain in 2013, according to the

Bank of Spain, 11 per cent more than in 2012. There were 28,173 evictions by court order and in the remaining cases, an agreement was reached with banks to repossess the properties.

TWO men, 25 and 26, have been detained in Llucmajor for the theft of three motorbikes, one of them worth more than €10,000, and several competition components.

Knife threat A MAN has been detained by the Local Police in Palma for threatening behaviour in public. He stood in the middle of the square brandishing a large knife and threatening to stab anyone who came near him.

Domestic abuse AN Ecuadorian man, 22, has been detained for hitting his mother after having a fight with his girlfriend; apparently it was not the first time this had happened.

And finally... JUDGE Castro is investigating if Telefonica transferred €12 million to an account in the Ukraine for Royal son-in-law Iñaki Urdangarin in December 2007, when he held a high management position within the company.


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€80,000 for information leading to Malen Ortiz

Punter stabs brothel owner then bites ear

THE father of Malen Ortiz, the minor who went missing over five months ago when she was going from Magaluf to Son Ferrer, has offered €80,000 for any information which might lead to finding his daughter. He had initially offered €30,000 but, after appearing on ‘El Programa de Ana Rosa,’ he has upped the offer to any persons who can offer reliable information which might indicate the whereabouts of his 15-year-old daughter. Alejandro Ortiz explained that he has increased the offer in order to “tempt” that one person who knows where she is; Alejandro is convinced that someone knows either where she is or what happened to her.

A CLIENT of a brothel in Palma stabbed the owner and then bit his ear. Apparently the motive for the fight was that the attacker had taken a ‘worker’ away from the bordello. Francisco Jose R M, 50, was detained by the National Police suspected of stabbing and biting the ear of a well known brothel owner in Palma. Police were called to the area when they received several calls about a fight going on in the street outside the brothel. The suspect confirmed that he had been having a few drinks in a restaurant in the area, in the company of a Colombian woman, when the owner of the bordello walked past and started an argument with him - they had known each other for some time as he was a patron of the Delfos brothel and his wife had worked there at one time. They fought each other until they were separated by mutual friends.

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Officers applauded GUARDIA CIVIL officers were congratulated and applauded when they arrested the killer of Llorenc Colom; the suspect was insulted and spat at.

French attack A FRENCHMAN, 29, tried to attack a taxi driver and a Local Police officer after he had been involved in a traffic accident with the taxi in Palma. BROTHELS: One of the oldest businesses. The suspect had received a hard hit to the nose and had a sprained ankle and so an ambulance was called. The victim was interviewed by the police a few minutes later and they discovered that he had a deep cut to his stomach and another on his right ear, ambulance workers suggested

that he needed stitches so he too was taken to the hospital. The victim claims that he was just walking down the street when the suspect started shouting “I’m going to kill you” and when he turned round the suspect hit him and bit his ear - he claims to have hit the suspect in self-defence.

No party ALTHOUGH Guardia Civil are celebrating their 170th anniversary there will be no formal celebration this year; there has been no celebration since they were 164 years old.


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Illegal phone tap leads to release of suspects ANOTHER criminal gang has been freed due to what the court considered to be illegal phone bugging by the police. The decision, which exonerates seven Nigerians who stand accused of trafficking cocaine and heroin and of killing one of the mules

who brought them the drugs, considers that the original paperwork authorising the telephone bugging was not correct and, as such, all evidence collected via this method was no longer admissible. This decision came about

because the judge considered that the initial evidence used to obtain permission for the phone tap was not complete as all the evidence was circumstantial and had come from a ‘minimum of investigation’ and, as such, was not objective and therefore not admissible.

PHONE BUGGING: Court ruled it illegal. As the prosecution’s case depended very heavily on what

€32,000 for ‘botched’ operation A PALMA clinic and plastic surgeon are to pay €32,869 to a former patient who had both her breasts operated on in

NEWS EXTRA

Solidarity gesture REAL MALLORCA players have decided that if they stay in the league and get the €100,000 promised by Utz Classen, they will give it to the employees of the football club who are going through hard economic times due to the recession.

Custody war COURTS in Palma have taken four children away from their mother as she was neglecting them. The mother has appealed the decision but to no avail as Social Services consider her to be an unfit mother.

Cycle boost THE Balearic Tourism Agency has taken part in a tourist fair in Berlin to promote cycling on the islands; around 14,000 cyclists attended the fair.

2005 and did not get the results she wanted, not even on the second attempt. The courts have rejected both the woman’s plea for €59,360 in compensation and the surgeon’s and clinic’s plea that the case be dismissed. The courts found that, although the technique used was not at fault, the

way the technique was performed did not allow for the maximum results to be achieved. The patient believes that she was not given what had been discussed with her surgeon but was not aware of the change until she was given the consent form. According to the patient she was only given the consent form minutes

before going into surgery and, as such, she had no time to read it and understand it properly. The surgery team deny this but the courts have ruled that it is up to the surgeon to explain and make sure that the patient is fully aware of what a procedure involves. BREAST SURGERY: Results not achieved.

was recorded from the private phone conversations within the gang, they had no other substantial evidence and therefore no option but to let them go. Originally the defendants stood accused of belonging to an organised crime group, manslaughter and crimes against public health. This is not the first time that Palma courts have had to free criminals due to unsuccessful policing methods and several legal organisations have made a formal complaint as this makes their jobs more difficult.


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Abuse of power JAUME MATAS, expresident of the Govern de Balears (local government) has denied that he used his influence to get his wife a €3,000 per month job at a hotel. He claims she got the job because of her abilities and not his power.

New rules LANGUAGE teaching students are complaining about the sudden change in the rules about qualifications necessary in order to teach a language. Authorities are asking for more and more qualifications without giving them any notice beforehand.

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Jail call from prosecution for youth demonstrator THE prosecution is asking for a year in prison for a youth who stands accused of pushing a policeman and resisting arrest during the 15M demonstrations in the Plaza de España in Palma in 2011. The defence lawyer, Francisco Perez, has asked for the case to be dismissed as there is no proof that the policeman was pushed or assaulted in any way. As a secondary line of defence he is asking for the accusation to be reduced to “lack of respect for authority” which would mean a sentence of one month and a fine of two Euros a day.

DEMONSTRATION: Similar to the one in Plaza de España in 2011.

The accused claims that, after a police charge against those present in the square, a policeman

tried to push him to the ground by tripping him up. He then grabbed hold of him, made him kneel

down, handcuffed him and took him to the police transport van. The policeman claims that the youth hit and pushed him and that is why he was taken to the custody van. The defence team has a video of the youth in which he is on the floor, showing no signs of aggression, they also point out that the youth has no criminal record and has never been in trouble with the police.

Bin burner is caught and sentenced A MAN has accepted a two-year prison sentence for intentionally setting five bins on fire in the Palma area. One of the

fires caused damage to the value of €5,000 when it spread to a car and then a shop window. The incidents date back to 2008 when there was a spate of bin burning over the course of several months. The accused, 41, has confessed to all of the fires. He began by detailing how he had manipulated an electrical meter on the corner of las Avenidas and Calle Joan Maragall; he had cut off the front

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JUST A SHELL: Burnt remains of a bin. panel and tried to set it alight with a lighter, he then turned his attention to the paper and

cardboard recycling bins, which cost €571 to repair. Six months later, he went on to confess,

he poured petrol into the recycling bins on Calle Gabriel Maura - this was the fire that spread to a car and a handbag shop. Moments later he set another bin in the same street on fire. The accused has been condemned of continuously causing damage to urban furniture and, as well as the prison sentence, he has to pay €5,050 to cover the costs of the burnt bins, the car and the shop window.


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Beach plus... THE municipal group PIB-PSOE has criticised the way Turespaña has promoted Palma; they used a photo of a central street to illustrate Palma is more than just beaches.

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New drugs for Palma THERE is a new drug on the streets of Platja de Palma. Medical personnel from the

emergency services have had to look after three young Spaniards who were intoxicated by the new

No additions CITIZEN’S groups in Pollensa are requesting that the modernisation of the old fish market be stopped and the market conserved in its original state with no added elements.

Jail threat PROSECUTION is asking for two years jail for the Marratxi policeman who asked a woman for sexual favours in exchange for helping her get out of her legal problems.

NEWS

RED CROSS: Members on training exercises.

style of liquid ecstasy called GHB and known on the streets as ‘baby bottles.’

Health workers were surprised by the gravity of the symptoms and the fact that all three victims were Spanish - police sources comment that it is normal to see this drug in gay bars or in the ‘rave’ areas of Ibiza but, until now, they had not seen any in Mallorca. They went on to comment that these drugs are, generally found on foreigners and not locals. GHB is a synthetic drug that has been around for approximately 10 years and is commonly known as liquid ecstasy, which can be confusing for consumers as its effects are almost the opposite of those of ecstasy. Police commented that GHB is often used to make exclusion” according to the Red people lose their memories Cross statement. - it is used by thieves and The organisation is now in need rapists to subdue their of funds to “not only continue what victims who will not we do, but also to increase our remember anything when labours as the demand increases”. they wake up.

Poverty on the increase in the Islands THE Red Cross in the Balearic Islands has released a statement warning of the increase of poverty on the islands and stating they attend 80 new cases every week. The prolonged situation of the

crisis is taking its toll on the islands and, despite an improvement in the macro economy, there is an increase in “the number of needy people and the number of people who are at risk from social


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Pub crawling rules to be reviewed THE OPPOSITION in Calvia (PSOE) is asking for the rules on pub crawling to be removed as they consider them to be encouraging an activity which incites the disproportionate consumption of alcohol. Last March the council in Calvia presented by-laws to regulate this activity which takes place in tourist areas - especially Magaluf during the summer and which is neither legal nor illegal. At the time the council defended its actions stating that if there were control mechanisms in place to regulate these excursions then the promoters of the pub crawls would have to make sure to stick to them.

MAGALUF SUMMER: By-laws were seen to be encouraging alcoholic tourism. These by-laws came under a lot of scrutiny as they were seen to be encouraging alcoholic tourism. At the time the PSOE abstained

from voting for or against the bylaws as they thought they would be ‘complicated’ to regulate and would affect the image of the

island as a family holiday destination; they are now asking for the laws to be removed and a new plan to be put in place.

The new plan to regulate these sorts of activities, according to the PSOE, should include strict vigilance and rigorous control of the activity itself and, above all, put pressure on the promoters to adhere to these new rules. The PSOE also point out that in order for any kind of regulation to work they would need the cooperation of the tour operators, hotels, police force etc. The PSOE have asked that if the by-laws are not removed then, at the very least, they be reviewed because as they now stand the parameters are not very clear and whose job it is to enforce these parameters is also not very clear.


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Green insurance for the Balearics THE 67,000 square hectares of the underwater prairies around the Balearic Islands have a price of €4 billion according to the IUCN (international union for nature conservation). As such David Abril, of the Mes political party, is asking the Govern de Baleares (Balearic Government) if it is going to ask Cairn Energy and Seabird what sort of civil responsibility insurance they have contracted. Cairn Energy and Seabird are the two companies in charge of the three oil prospecting projects which, currently, are the biggest threat to the marine ecosystems and the economy of the islands should there be any kind of oil spill. According to Abril “the government should look into all possible resources

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170 delays ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY Palma flights were delayed due to the French air controllers strike; this caused chaos at Son Sant Joan airport. Four flights had to be cancelled.

Big debt PALMA is the most in debt municipality in the Balearic Islands; it owes €861.49 million which is 1.9 per cent more than last year.

Eight months A MAN and a woman have been sentenced to eight months in prison for attacking Guardia Civil agents while they were trying to break up a fight between the two. They bit the agents on the hand and thigh.

OIL SPILL: To be avoided at all costs. to prevent these oil projects from becoming a genuine threat to the environment and our way of life.” The price of €4 billion the IUCN has put on the Balearic prairies is based on the value of the algae on the global CO2 market. Abril underscored the fact it has been scientifically demonstrated that

the absorption capacity of underwater prairies is greater than that of a tropical rainforest. These civil responsibility insurances would not only force the oil companies to take extreme safety measures but would provide the area with some financial security in the face of a disaster.

Fatal crash in Calvia A MAN, 57, has died after his van was involved in a collision with a car in Calvia. The two vehicles collided head on, due to causes as yet unknown, on the road to Andratx near the exit to Peguera. The Mallorca fire brigade had to be called to the scene of the accident to free the driver of the van who was trapped by the metal barrier. Emergency services arrived promptly but were unable to do anything for the driver of the van as he was already dead. The young man who was driving the car, 20, was taken to hospital and, after examining his wounds, doctors hope that he will make a full recovery. The Guardia Civil shut the road for nearly two hours in order to investigate the cause of the crash.

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Victim saves aggressor’s life A MAN in Son Espases who beat his wife then stabbed himself was saved when his victim stemmed the bleeding with a tourniquet. National Police have detained a Colombian man, 43, for allegedly beating

his wife and then stabbing himself in the leg. The police were on a routine patrol in the area when they came across a large puddle of blood and some footsteps leading away from it towards the

entrance of a building. The agents followed the footsteps and rang the doorbell of the house in question which was answered by a visibly upset woman who explained to them that she had been the victim of domestic

abuse by her partner after an argument about jealousies. The victim went on to explain to the police that her husband had arrived home extremely inebriated and, after a violent spat, he got hold of a knife and, without saying a word, stabbed himself in the leg. He immediately called the emergency services and went downstairs to accused of sexual wait for them but, as they aggression and hitting were taking too long, he both children, he also went back upstairs and threatened to turn them went to bed where he fell over to the social asleep. His wife noticed that he services if they ever told anyone about the abuse. was not asleep but All of this happened unconscious, due to the between 1976 and 1980 loss of blood, and put a when the man was tourniquet on his leg to married to their mother. stop the bleeding. The police then took He took advantage of the fact that she worked over the medical care of the nightshift to abuse the man calling another her children when she ambulance and making sure he got into it this was out of the house. As he had a European time. He was taken to the detention order in his hospital in Son Espases name he will appear in and is making a good recovery. court in Madrid.

A BRITISH man has been detained in Valencia accused of abusing his two stepchildren. He had a European detention order in his name for alleged child abuse. The girl is now around the age of 49 and the boy around 46, but 38 years ago they were 11 and eight, respectively, and they were, allegedly, abused by their stepfather, now 71, who has been detained by the National Police in L’Olleria, a small town in

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Alleged child abuser held in Valencia

CHILD ABUSE: Graffiti artist protests in 2009. the province of Valencia. The Minister of the

Interior, Fernandez

Jorge Diaz,

commented in a press release that the man is


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Velodrome conservation POLITICAL party Mes per Palma (More for Palma) is requesting that the old Tirador velodrome and its annexed buildings be catalogued and protected from destruction.

Market problems RESIDENTS of Santa Ponsa have complained that the weekly market, held near the PAC health centre, leaves them nowhere to park if they want to go to the doctor on market day.

Squatter fight ONE squatter, 48, stabbed another over the rent on a room in Palma. Although both are occupying the house illegally, one was there first and, as such, wanted to charge the other rent. He stabbed him four times.

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Guardia Civil heroes receive medals TWO Guardia Civil officers who rescued the pilot of a crashed aircraft in 2013 are to receive medals for their bravery in rescuing the only survivor. Almost a year has gone by since the tragedy in Marratxi in which a light aircraft went down killing three passengers and leaving the pilot seriously hurt. The Minister of the Interior, Jorge Fernandez Diaz, has recognised the

bravery of the two officers who risked their lives to save the pilot. The ceremony took place in the Golegio de Guardias Jovenes de Valdemoro and was part of the 170th anniversary of the Guardia Civil. Corporal Miguel Angel Homar Aragunde and officer Carlos Luis Casado

CESSNA 172: Same as that involved in the crash. Rodriguez both received the Guardia Civil merit cross, with a red ribbon to denote bravery in adverse circumstances, for their part in the rescue. The Cesna 172 had taken of from Son Bonet and, due to a pilot error, just two kilometres out of the airport it plummeted to earth. The Argentinian pilot, Ignacio Carretero, 23, had invited three of his friends to take a sightseeing trip around

the island in his plane. All three died when the plane crashed and was engulfed in flames. It was at this point when the two Guardia Civil officers managed to get the pilot out of the plane and the flames they were helped by an off-duty fireman who was in the area. This heroic action saved the life of Carretero who, one year later, has still not fully recovered from his injuries.


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Long trial THE Mallorca man, Salvador Llinas Bauza, currently standing trial in Paraguay is trying to stretch his trial out as long as possible in order not to be extradited back to Mallorca where he will face more legal troubles.

Jetty rescue A WOMAN, 62, has had to be rescued by mountain teams after falling from a jetty while walking in Deia. She was taken to Son Espases Hospital.

Mystery fall GUARDIA CIVIL are investigating the death of a woman, 86, who fell from a first-floor apartment in Esporles, although foul play is not suspected.

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Cala Nova Cancer Care Charity YET again the Cala Nova Cancer Care Charity Shop, opposite the Sailing School in San Augustin, has been able to make some magnificent contributions to worthy causes: a donation of €8,000 to ASPANOB (the Association of Children with Cancer and their Parents) accepted by Jaime Coll who is the President and a donation of €3,000 made to The Cancer Support Group which was accepted by Krista Hyer who is the President. A donation will be made to the AECC (the Spanish Association of Cancer

Aspanob cheque presentation. Care) of €10,000 and will be accepted by Teresa Martorell who is the

President of the AECC in the Baleares. The Cala Nova Cancer

Robbing the German police A 31-YEAR-OLD Romanian thief got a shock when he tried to steal the wallets of two policemen. The two German policemen were on holiday in s’Arenal and having a drink in a local bar when they noticed that someone was trying to rob them. After a short struggle they managed to subdue the thief and call the Local Police to deal with the situation.

Care Charity Shop would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated unwanted things in good condition: bric-a brac, clothes, books, bed linen and small items of furniture that can be sold so that it is possible to make these donations to help people on the Islands with Cancer. Now just think: by getting rid of stuff that you don’t need or want any

more you can really help in the fight against Cancer. A big thank you also goes out for the tireless volunteers who help in the shop, to everyone who comes to buy in the shop, to everyone who supported the James Bond Night in Mood Beach, which made €3,000, and to all those who have helped in any way at all, giving up their time and expertise. So that has meant that all together Cala Nova Cancer Charity Shop has been able to donate this €21,000; and don’t forget that after paying the rent and expenses 100 per cent of all monies goes to the Cancer charities who do such fantastic, dedicated work helping those on the Islands with Cancer. ...and of course a big thank you to EWN for all your continued support! Angela McGrath made the presentation of the cheques.


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Courts free incitement of violence suspect PHOTOGRAPHS: Spread through ‘Whatsapp’.

Safety on the net

FIVE children aged 13 and 14 have been arrested for illegally distributing ‘intimate’ photographs of one of their classmates. The five boys were detained by the National Police in Vigo under suspicion of distributing sexual content photographs of a 13-year-old girl. The police interrogated a dozen children, all aged between 13 and 14, and finally selected five whom they suspected of being the principals responsible for the photographs’ dispersion on the web.

Police haven’t dismissed the possibility of making more arrests as the pictures have now left the geographical area of Vigo and have gone national. The victim herself originally distributed the photographs, in which she appears naked or semi-naked. She sent them via WhatsApp to her friends and ex-boyfriend but they forwarded them to others who distributed them outside the group. Police are continuing the investigation even though they already have 40 accusatory cases open on the matter.

THE Valencia courts have released the young man who was detained for inciting violence against politicians through social networks. However, he will have to sign in at

his Local Police station three times a week until his case comes to court. The 19-year-old celebrated the death, via ‘tweets’, of the PP delegate for Leon, Isabel Carrasco, who was

murdered by a former employee’s mother. The young man is the first in Spain to be arrested for ‘expressing his agreement with the assassination of Isabel Carrasco’, according to the Twitter account of the Valencia courts. The investigation began when the Guardia Civil got wind of a person using the social networks to condone the murder. After looking through Twitter they found several ‘tweets’ making reference to the killing including “Good one! Let’s kill them all,” “More bullets to the head of the PP dogs” and “Give me an AK47 and I’ll continue the spree.” NOT WANTED: Even the French protested. After searching the man’s abortions and would condemned to have the residence they found data generate a lack of equality baby or go to an illegal on his computer and between those who could clinic. The petition has the mobile phone to back up afford to go abroad for an support of almost all the their identification of him as the suspect. abortion and those opposition parties.

Spain’s abortion reforms not popular with the population A PETITION bearing 217,000 signatures has been handed in to Congress to protest against the ‘restrictive’ abortion law reforms. The citizens’ associations of Decidir (Decide) and Avaaz have presented the petitions; they are supported by the opposition (PSOE) as well as many other political parties. Luis Morago, President of Avaaz, commented that the restrictive laws would lead to more ‘backstreet’


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61 courts may close THE National Government want to close 61 courts in the Balearic Islands. Mariano Rajoy’s government want to close many courts all over Spain and this means the elimination of 61 of the islands’ courts which serve small and medium sized towns; these are mainly dedicated to matters like civil registry and civil and penal notices. The proposed change would mean the end of non-professional judges hearing cases but would include keeping the civil registries. The Minister of Justice, Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, has explained that they want to make the judges more professional, which would mean the disappearance of the justices of the peace and the creation of provincial tribunals. Justices of the peace are not part of the legal system but rather volunteers who apply for the job, usually someone who is socially well considered in the area where they will be working and known to the local councils, who are in charge of appointing them, as a trustworthy person. Justices of the peace are called upon, among other things, to judge in cases in which the civil fine is no more than €90 and simple cases including the death pronouncement at scenes of accidents. The Superior Tribunal of Justice is the body in charge of naming professional judges.

NEWS

NEWS EXTRA

Tablet voting VOTING results for the European Parliament will be transmitted to Madrid from the Balearic Islands via 418 tablets, which have been handed out to the polling stations.

Top ranking THE Balearic University has been ranked among the most efficient in the country according to a survey done by the BBVA bank.

Green zones MALLORCA Council has approved a proposal to make the green zones which have been urbanised in the Pollenca area, public territory and the responsibility of individual councils.


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NEWS

22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

Site of new cave paintings discovery stays a secret ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered 12 prehistoric rock paintings in Eastern Spain. Town hall officials in the Valencian municipality of Vilafranca announced the finding on Tuesday but are keeping the exact location

secret until all of the necessary security measures are in place. The paintings, which depict hunting scenes and are from around 7,000 years ago, are the most important find of their kind in the region for a number of years.

Security is an issue that certainly needs to be addressed. Just last month a UNESCO World Heritage 5,000-year-old rock painting was destroyed. Vandals attempted to remove the cave painting and damaged it beyond repair.

THE European Union’s highest court, the European Court of Justice, has hit Spain with a €30million fine for failing to recover unlawful aid. The court in Luxembourg found on Tuesday that Spain had not complied correctly with a 2006 judgement in which it had been ordered to recover illegal state aid given to the Basque Country. The money had been granted to businesses in the northern region.

Peter Fuchs / Shutterstock.com

Spain fined €30 million by the European court

Justifying the size of the fine the Luxembourg-based court said that the aid had been “particularly harmful

to competition by reason of the size of the amount... and the high number of recipients.”

Spanish TV staff are arrested on The Rock POLICE in Gibraltar reportedly arrested two journalists from a Spanish TV company after the pair annoyed locals by raising a Spanish flag in the British territory. Gibraltar has seen a spate of squabbles between the UK and Spain over the small Mediterranean territory which Britain has governed since the 18th century. According to the authorities, the two people, a presenter and a cameraman, were arrested for breach of the peace. Telemadrid’s Cake Minuesa from current affairs show ‘Citizen Cake’ and his cameraman were later released on bail. Telemadrid producer Jose Luis Leon said: “While they were filming a group of people, they started insulting them. The police arrived and then they (the journalists) were detained. “It seems the intention is to accuse them of a breach of public order for placing a flag on a public beach in Gibraltar.” Madrid and London have clashed frequently in recent months over Gibraltar, especially over fishing rights and military use of the waters off the territory. The disputed territory’s 30,000-strong

GIBRALTAR: Journalists arrested for raising Spanish flag. population is staunchly pro-British but Spain would like to regain ownership. The UK has accused the Spanish authorities of causing long queues at the Gibraltar border, while Madrid has blamed Gibraltar for an increase in tobacco smuggling to Spain.

SENTENCE: European Court of Justice fines Spain. The EC (European Commission), which is the EU’s executive arm, is demanding the repayment of a lump sum of around €65 million, which it believes is still owing on the recovery of the aid. Authorities in the three provinces of Alava, Vizcaya and Guipuzcoa granted the aid in the 1990s in the form of tax cuts and a 45 per cent tax credit for investment. Back in 2001, the EC found the aid to be incompatible with EU internal market rules and ordered Spain to end the scheme. It also stipulated that Spain recover the money granted.

EWN

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Gift for mayor THE Harley Davidson Motoclub of Almeria gifted the mayor of Santa Cruz de Marchena a plaque as a ‘thank you’ for the town’s hospitality during the recent fiesta.

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NEWS DESK municipal course of Flamenco singing with a prize giving ceremony for the nearly 20 students who attended.

New centre LA HERRADURA is to get a new health centre; it will be located in the Centro Jate and should be open by around September.

Bird rescue

Good access

A YOUNG eaglet was rescued by environmental agents in the Seron area. The bird has been sent to an adoption centre in Madrid. Once it is able to fly it will be released in Navarra.

FRIGILIANA has won the Reina Sofia prize for accessibility which is given to towns and villages which have, for longer than five years, continuously improved access for the disabled.

Alcazaba activities

Other portraits

THE Junta is planning 43 events between July 1 and August 30 at the Alcazaba Arab fortress in Almeria City. They include theatre, music and exhibitions to mark the city’s millennium.

PABLO DEL PINO is exhibiting a collection of portraits of poets in the Casa de la Cultura in Almuñecar which fits in with the town’s international poetry festival.

School grant

ALMUÑECAR, and many other Axarquia towns, has held a minute’s silence in memory of Isabel Carrasco who was assassinated last week.

SCHOOLS in Huercal-Overa, Cuevas del Almanzora, Bacares and Viator are to receive a €230,000 facelift from the Education Department.

Pines planted MORE than 120 pupils from the Emilio Zurano school in Pulpi planted pine trees on the main Pulpi to San Juan de los Terreros road as part of the ‘Grow with your tree’ programme.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Selfie arrest A MOBILE phone thief in Callosa del Segura was caught after continually taking ‘selfies’ on the stolen device.

Chase crash A DRIVER, aged 38, is in intensive care in Torrevieja Hospital after crashing the car he was driving after trying to avoid a police control in the Mar Azul area of Torrevieja. Police believe the car was stolen.

Official mourning

One minute HORSE SHOW: One of the most popular aspects of Torrevieja’s May Fair.

Fiesta fun

THE major cities of Torrevieja and Orihuela attracted thousands of visitors over the weekend. Torrevieja hosted the 26th annual May Fair with the port area transformed into the Sevillanas festival which was declared of ‘Provincial Tourist Interest.’ In Orihuela feasts and dancing were held in honour of the Virgen del Rocio along with a paella contest.

Three cultures

Fire engine

MURCIA'S ‘Three Cultures’ festival is on until Saturday with a range of concerts happening across the city. Tickets are free, available from the Teatro Romea. Visit the Tourist Information office for more information.

FUENGIROLA Town Hall has donated a fire engine to NGO ‘Firemen in Action’ which collaborates with volunteer firemen in Paraguay.

COSTA DEL SOL

Dog attack

SAN ISIDRO is in three days of mourning for the death of the PP Councillor Juan Jose Gil Ruiz. Flags will be flying at half mast.

A BRITISH couple was charged after their four dogs escaped from their home in Alhaurin de la Torre and one of them injured a woman and her Yorkshire Terrier.

Widows conference

Wanted woman

MORE than 900 widows gathered in Torrevieja for the 42nd edition of the National Assembly of Confav (Confederation of Federations and Associations Widows Hispania).

A BRITISH woman, 66, wanted in the USA for fraud, was arrested in Marbella when she went to the police station to carry out a procedure regarding her NIE document.

Unique street TORREMOLINOS-based businessman Javier Checa has proposed the creation of a street in the town dedicated exclusively to prostitution, similar to Hamburg’s Herbertstrasse.

Noise measure THE Andalucian Ombudsman has proposed that Puerto Marina in Benalmadena be provided with means to measure noise levels in order to reduce acoustic contamination.

AXARQUIA

Flamenco singing ALMUÑECAR has ended its second

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Cherry setback CHERRY growers in inland areas expecting the best crop for 15 years have amended earlier predictions. Continuing lack of rain has reduced production by 20 per cent, they said.

Factory facts FORD’s Almussafes (Valencia) plant increased its European sales by 14 per cent in April. It outstripped other Ford plants in Germany, Belgium, Romania and Turkey which all saw sales fall.

Fuel scam DIESEL siphoned off from parked lorries and buses in Aspe was re-sold at €1 a litre. Five men, all Aspe residents, were finally arrested following a three-month Guardia Civil operation.

Canine help NOA, a black labrador-cross abandoned when two months old, was rescued and taken to Gandia’s animal shelter. She has now been selected as a therapy dog for autistic children.

Thirst quencher ALICANTE Province’s growers are resorting to old-fashioned ‘blanket flooding’ irrigation. Despite the large amounts of water required, only this will save parched crops and trees, cooperatives said.


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NEWS

EIGHTY five per cent of Spanish people believe the royal family is somehow implicated in corruption cases and scandals. Seventy five per cent confess that the royal family inspires little or no confidence in the people; despite this the majority of the population would not change the current state of affairs. Sixty per cent consider the democracy to work badly or very badly in Spain. The credibility crises that Spanish institutions and political parties are going through together with the continuous scandals that surround the king and his family have ended up weakening the royal family in the eyes of the Spanish. The fact that 85 per cent believe the

Photo from Cordon Press.

Spanish opinion on royal family

SPANISH ROYALS: Inspiring little or no confidence. royal family are implicated in corruption is principally due to Iùaki Urdangarin, the king’s son in law, who currently stands accused of embezzlement, fraud, perversion of justice, lying and money laundering. In a survey, done by Sondea Investigacion Social (social investigation surveys), of the 75 per

cent who say the royal family inspires little or no confidence in them, their main concern is with the family itself and not the actual institution of the monarchy. Only 45 per cent believe the current king should be the last one, the other 55 per cent want Prince Felipe to continue the tradition.

WE DO!

22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

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Stories making headlines in Europe

S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

GERMAN PRESS Duck escape

BRITISH PRESS Top duo NORWAY - Norwegian pop duo Nico & Vinz have become the third Norwegian act to make the Billboard Top 20 in the US after their song ‘Am I Wrong’ jumped into 18th place this week.

Dead reindeer NORWAY - Scientists in Norway have raised the alarm after reports that close to 100,000 reindeer died last year on the Finnmark plateau, the heartland of Norway’s Sami minority.

Anti-Semitic SWEDEN - One in 20 Swedes hold anti-Semitic views according to a report released by the non-profit Anti-Defamation League, this is enough to rank Sweden as the least antiSemitic country in Europe.

Mainly happy SWEDEN - A comprehensive survey of the 28 EU member states revealed an EU-high of 91 per cent of Swedes believe immigrants contribute significantly to society and 97 per cent of Swedes are satisfied with their lives.

Prices up DENMARK - Electricity prices increased by more than 83 per cent between 2002 and 2012, for private houses and businesses.

Jaws’ teeth

Cop lift

THE creator of Jaws’ metal teeth, Luis Fairman, falsely claimed to be a dental technician. The manufacturer of the iconic Bond villain’s teeth has been fined for unlawfully claiming to be registered with the General Dental Council.

A POLICEMAN in Nottinghamshire had to ask a prisoner’s mum for a lift to the police station after he locked his keys in his car.

Beer goggles BEER GOGGLES really do exist according to researchers from the University of Bristol’s Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group. They conducted tests to gauge whether drink changed people’s perceptions of what is attractive and discovered that, in 98 per cent of cases, it does!

Welsh aliens TELEPATHIC aliens are targeting Wales in a bid to harvest their superior genetic material according to ‘abduction victim’ Hilary Porter. She claims that a stretch of road between Swansea and Cardiff is a “hotspot of alien activity.”

BEER GOGGLES: Really do exist.

Kicking weight ROSS CONNOR, from Cambridge, lost so much weight at a kick boxing camp in Thailand that border officials refused to let him fly home as he did not look like the photograph in his passport.

Foreign citizens THE State Duma has passed, at its first reading, a bill that would require Russians to report any citizenship they might hold in another country. The measure has been criticised by some but backed by President Putin.

UKRAINE is “as close to civil war as you can get” according to Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister. He does not believe that free and fair elections will be held.

Heavy drinking RUSSIAN Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, has reprimanded the head of Russia’s alcohol watchdog as the World Health Organisation published a report classing Russians as some of the world’s heaviest drinkers.

World Cup training THE Dutch national football team, preparing for the World Cup in Brazil, has organised two public training sessions on May 30 in Rotterdam and June 3 in Alkmaar. The team leaves for Brazil on June 5.

Family struck A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was taken to hospital in a serious condition after he was struck by lightning along with four other members of his family in Chemnitz, Saxony.

False papers

Four minutes ALCOHOL: Russians heavy drinkers.

Priest suspended THE Moscow-loyal Orthodox Church in Ukraine has suspended a priest after he participated in a prayer service for peace alongside priests from the rival Kiev-based Orthodox Church.

Russian chic RUSSIAN cosmetics chain, L’Etoile, is bringing French chic to Russia with the appointment of celebrity designer John Galliano as creative director.

DUTCH PRESS More otter news Asylum seeker NOW that otters have made a comeback in The Netherlands, five genetically different otters from Germany are being released in order to prevent inbreeding.

A MOTORWAY in Bad Hersfeld, Hesse, had to be closed while firemen rescued a flock of ducks which were waddling around on the road. The birds had escaped from a crashed lorry.

POLICE have raided funeral homes in Berlin suspecting them of selling the passports of dead people to smugglers who are using them to get illegal immigrants into the country.

RUSSIAN PRESS

Civil war

EUROPEAN PRESS

A GERMAN judge has decided that a refused Somali asylum seeker must not be sent back to The Netherlands, where he had previously also been refused, because of his human rights. The judge ruled he could face

THERE is a break-in every four minutes in Germany and police are holding professional gangs responsible. In some states burglaries have risen by up to 30 per cent.

Train crash FIVE people have been injured in a train crash in Olching, near Munich. An S-Bahn train collided with a digger injuring four construction workers and the train driver.

functions they have in order to make their interests clear. problems getting food and shelter.

Job on the side ONE in five members of the Dutch Senate have not published their second jobs outside politics. By law senators must publish all

Wedding war IT should have been the most beautiful day of their lives, but the wedding of a newly married couple from The Hague ended with a fight between the family of the bride and the family of the groom.


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A note from the

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Editor

Signal for success

O

NE thing Spain is good at is beaches. And so it should be as millions of tourists flock to the country for their sun, sea and sand holidays. If the country’s tourism trade is to continue the resurgence experienced at the start of the year, the authorities must continue to improve and not sit back on their laurels. So it is to be welcomed that Spain has the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in Europe, with 34 more awarded the coveted title this year. These flags are not handed out on a whim, a body of inspectors must approve the accessibility, cleanliness, safety and facilities on offer before the flags are awarded. It is good news that local councils up and down the Costas take their responsibility to provide safe, clean beaches with adequate facilities seriously, and they deserve a pat on the back for it.

Royal crisis THE Spanish Royals are suffering from a credibility crisis. With 85 per cent of Spaniards believing the family is implicated in corruption cases and scandals, the question arises of will it be able to survive. Loyal subjects point to the fact that 55 per cent of the population want Prince Felipe to one day be king. Republicans point at the same figure and say 45 per cent don’t want a king. The figure confirms that the deep divisions which have always run through Spanish society, culminating in Civil War and dictatorship, still exist. The Spanish royal family must look at their British counterparts with envy. Despite the deep unpopularity of Charles in the wake of his failed marriage to Diana, the British royals look to be as secure as ever.

NEWS

Bodies piled up in university basement REPORTS in the Spanish press have revealed that some 250 human bodies, which had been donated to science, are piled up at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid. According to a report in Spanish daily, El Mundo, after being used in classes at the university, they have been piling up for the past seven years instead of being incinerated. The head of the Anatomy and Human Embryology department claimed that this was because the person who worked on the incineration oven took early retirement in December, and that because unions claimed that the oven was faulty, the university had not been able to take on someone else. Union representatives claim that it emits toxic gases, bacteria and viruses. Although only 20 people have authority to access the area where the bodies are piled up, in reality, anyone

curious can get in. Infected bodies are incinerated immediately and not touched by students, and apparently the man who has taken early retirement will work 40 days per year exclusively burning the remains. What he can’t deal with should be taken elsewhere. Some 50 bodies are donated to science every year. In the storeroom, remains, some of them mummified, are mixed up with others, with no type of identification at all; in some areas, the floor is slippery with bodily fluids. There is reportedly no law regarding what should be done by faculties of medicine with bodies which are donated to them. Since the situation came to light, an investigation has been opened by the university, which blames it on government cutbacks and says that the bodies will be removed by the end of the week by a funeral parlour.


FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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

22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

business & legal

In this year’s first quarter Ryanair brought 3,820,032 passengers to or from Spain, according to the latest figures from Spain’s airports operator AENA. Vueling was not far behind with 3,032,325 passengers, followed by Air Europa’s 2,078,586. If the figures for all four IAG

Civil service jobs are ‘not enough’ SPAIN’S Official State Bulletin (BOE) is advertising 6,500 new public administration jobs. The CSI-F civil servants’ union was underwhelmed by the announcement. “Despite losing 70,000 posts in recent years only 6,500 are being filled,” complained Francisco Javier Camarillo, who heads CSI-F’s central administration. The new intake will cover only 10 per cent of the jobs lost to government cuts, Camarillo told an interviewer from finance daily, Expansion. This will not cover the demand for public administration jobs or

ensure that public services function correctly, he said. Speaking at the launch of a campaign to improve the public sector image, Camarillo conceded that the job offers suggested a change of direction on the government’s part. “Public services have begun to decline and the spending cuts have had an impact on civil servants’ efficiency,” he said. In addition to the cuts, the workforce was aging, with more than half of employees aged over 50. As employees retired, however, they were not being replaced and this too is eroding efficiency, according to Camarillo.

companies - Vueling, BA, Iberia and Iberia Express are taken into account - IAG overtakes all its rivals with 6.4 million users. A total of 51,434,596 people used Spanish airports in the first three months of this year, an increase of 4.1 per cent on the same period in 2013.

B

usiness extra

Summer promise HUMAN resources company Randstad predicted 569,700 new jobs for Spain between July and September, a 5 per cent year-on-year increase. Most will be in hotel and catering industry.

New money CREDIT SUISSE paid €77.2 million for a 3.19 per cent stake in Spanish construction company Sacyr. The group increased its share capital in April, raising €166 million from institutional investors.

Spanish store spreads its wings IF they haven’t heard of it before visiting Spain, tourists soon make the acquaintance of El Corte Ingles. The 60.6 million people who come to Spain each year are potential customers once they return home, the chain store realised. Although it has been selling online in Spain and Portugal since 1999 it has now extended its website to include European sales. Three months ago the service

reached the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and France and since then has received 70,000 hits. The 200 products originally on offer have been extended to 250, with labels that include Custo Barcelona, George Rech, Pecado Original and Clanxart. The website hopes to boost the ‘El Corte Ingles’ brand and the labels associated with it in countries whose tourists visit Spain.

25

STAT OF WEEK OIL company Repsol has set aside €10 billion to shop around for investments in ‘safe’ countries. It is looking towards the 34 OECD countries and particularly Norway, Canada and the US.

Irekia/Flickr

Vueling catches Ryanair THE gap between Vueling and Ryanair closed further in March. Iberia’s budget airline was used by 1.2 million passengers while Ryanair maintained its place as sector leader with 1.4 million passengers - a difference of 224,000.

EWN

VUELING: The budget airline is closing the gap.


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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

LONDON - FTSE 100 MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US

C LOSING P RICES M AY 19

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 423.15 Admiral Group PLC 1414.00 Aggreko PLC 1742.00 Anglo American PLC 1565.00 Antofagasta PLC 800.50 ARM Holdings PLC 868.00 Ashtead Group PLC 816.75 Associated British Foods 3071.50 AstraZeneca PLC 4288.25 Aviva PLC 511.75 Babcock International ... 1176.50 BAE Systems PLC 413.30 Barclays PLC 239.07 Barratt Developments 343.40 BG Group PLC 1296.25 BHP Billiton PLC 1941.50 BP PLC 508.90 British Amrcn Tobacco 3525.75

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 5.90 1.41 -4.00 -0.28 44.00 2.59 4.00 0.26 9.50 1.20 7.50 0.87 18.50 2.32 67.00 2.23 -536.00 -11.11 -1.00 -0.19 -10.00 -0.84 -1.40 -0.34 -2.60 -1.08 -1.30 -0.38 13.00 1.01 -11.00 -0.56 2.00 0.39 15.00 0.43

NET VOLUME 2,589.50 490.85 552.61 4,786.29 1,696.98 3,817.52 2,623.29 660.98 26,830.81 5,769.73 1,839.46 6,694.68 70,096.57 6,265.27 4,777.67 5,340.03 20,881.69 2,776.19

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US dollar ..................................................................1.37123 Japan yen..............................................................138.936 Switzerland franc...............................................1.22302 Denmark kroner ................................................7.46468 Norway kroner ....................................................8.13456

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PRICE(P)

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

703.50 859.00 371.15 1651.00 1529.50 1070.50 2302.00

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C LOSING P RICES M AY 19

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

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 141.60 87.77 36.04 131.49 104.98 123.08 24.41 67.32 100.84 26.61 157.81 76.72 25.90 186.22 100.31 53.63 101.99 56.08 39.66 74.05 29.45 79.82 40.54 92.57 115.19 76.87 49.41 209.03 76.73 81.03

+0.47 +0.27 -0.70 +0.68 -1.05 -0.10 +0.04 +0.30 +0.10 -0.06 +1.38 -0.64 +0.08 -0.84 -0.28 +0.32 -1.15 +0.21 -0.17 +0.11 +0.33 -0.51 -0.35 -0.01 +0.61 +0.22 +0.34 -0.78 -0.28 +0.64

+0.33% +0.31% -1.91% +0.52% -0.99% -0.08% +0.14% +0.45% +0.10% -0.22% +0.88% -0.83% +0.31% -0.45% -0.27% +0.60% -1.11% +0.38% -0.43% +0.15% +1.13% -0.63% -0.86% -0.01% +0.53% +0.29% +0.69% -0.37% -0.36% +0.80%

708.9K 765.2K 47.5M 1.1M 2.1M 1.6M 15.8M 879.9K 2.2M 7.1M 719.2K 2.5M 10.3M 1.4M 2.3M 6.2M 1.9M 3.1M 9.7M 1.1M 25.4M 2.9M 3.6M 534.6K 1.6M 771.5K 9.1M 831.4K 2.4M 1.7M

1.22619

0.81553

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 1.00 9.00 4.70 -5.00 -2.00 -3.00 7.00

C O M PA N Y

0.14 1.06 1.28 -0.30 -0.13 -0.28 0.31

NET VOLUME 2,176.72 2,937.30 14,094.70 524.31 984.83 1,730.50 890.32

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

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$ 19.30 $ 8.52 $ 3.34 $ 7.75 $ 11.21 $ 3.835 $ 8.50 $ 2.16 $ 2.1001 $ 6.35 $ 4.56

3.66 ▼ 15.94% 0.82 ▼ 8.78% 0.32 ▼ 8.74% 0.669 ▼ 7.95% 0.83 ▼ 6.89% 0.275 ▼ 6.69% 0.58 ▼ 6.39% 0.14 ▼ 6.09% 0.1299 ▼ 5.83% 0.35 ▼ 5.22% 0.25 ▼ 5.20%

Most Advanced Intermolecular, Inc. InterMune, Inc. Aceto Corporation Senomyx, Inc. Infinera Corporation Gogo Inc. The KEYW Holding Corporation Sypris Solutions, Inc. Bel Fuse Inc. Empire Resorts, Inc. American Independence Corp.

Most Declined Theravance Biopharma, Inc. Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. Hong Kong Highpower Technology Lombard Medical, Inc. Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. QuickLogic Corporation Kamada Ltd. China BAK Battery, Inc. ChyronHego Corporation SFX Entertainment, Inc. Arotech Corporation

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Centrica PLC 328.40 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1346.00 Compass Group PLC 1000.00 CRH PLC 1625.00 Diageo PLC 1919.25 easyJet PLC 1587.50 Experian PLC 1031.50 Fresnillo PLC 846.75 Friends Life Group Ltd 306.05 G4S PLC 257.80 GKN PLC 370.55 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1623.75 Glencore Xstrata PLC 327.40 Hammerson PLC 582.75 Hargreaves Lansdown 1144.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 632.75 IMI PLC 1533.50 Imperial Tobacco Group 2664.00 InterContinental Hotels 2184.00 International Consldtd ... 370.10 Intertek Group PLC 2984.50 ITV PLC 172.80 Johnson Matthey PLC 3287.50 Kingfisher PLC 407.60 Land Securities Group 1063.50 Legal & General Group 224.70 Lloyds Banking Group 73.97 London Stock Exchange 1762.50 Marks & Spencer Group 452.00 Meggitt PLC 468.95 Melrose Industries PLC 279.70 Mondi PLC 1024.00 Morrison (Wm) Sprmrkts 214.10 National Grid PLC 889.00 Next PLC 6477.50 Old Mutual PLC 200.75 Pearson PLC 1173.50 Persimmon PLC 1326.50 Petrofac Ltd 1193.50 Prudential PLC 1394.75 Randgold Resources Ltd 4530.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC5102.50 Reed Elsevier PLC 907.25 REXAM PLC 513.00 Rio Tinto PLC 3225.00 Rolls-Royce Holdings 1021.00 Royal Bank of Scotland 323.80 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2591.25 Royal Mail PLC 564.75 RSA Insurance Group 489.55 SABMiller PLC 3253.25 Sage Group (The) PLC 397.85 Sainsbury (J) PLC 345.40 Schroders PLC 2490.00 Severn Trent PLC 1919.00 Shire PLC 3354.50 Smith & Nephew PLC 918.25 Smiths Group PLC 1302.50 Sports Direct Interntnl... 719.75 SSE PLC 1568.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1333.75 Standard Life PLC 388.45 St James's Place PLC 744.75 Tesco PLC 312.02 Travis Perkins PLC 1616.00 TUI Travel PLC 406.20 Tullow Oil PLC 852.75 Unilever PLC 2725.00 United Utilities Group 847.75 Vodafone Group PLC 217.20 Weir Group PLC 2522.00 Whitbread PLC 3941.00 William Hill PLC 331.35 Wolseley PLC 3311.00 WPP PLC 1221.50

CHANGE -0.70 -35.00 10.50 18.00 -23.00 71.00 -8.00 10.50 -2.20 -0.40 5.60 -23.50 2.00 -4.50 -29.00 0.40 -1.00 3.00 1.00 12.50 -8.00 0.30 66.00 4.00 -1.00 -1.90 0.52 -16.00 -4.50 6.70 4.50 28.00 1.10 13.00 80.00 0.70 5.00 -5.00 6.00 -6.00 -4.00 30.00 18.00 -1.50 -61.50 18.00 0.90 20.00 -5.50 0.20 0.50 0.20 -2.70 -10.00 9.00 87.00 -9.00 -2.00 1.50 1.00 -2.50 1.00 5.50 1.55 -13.00 -1.70 8.00 22.00 10.50 0.00 8.00 21.00 6.20 63.00 10.00

% C H G. VOLUME -0.21 8,017.61 -2.53 369.83 1.06 3,107.26 1.12 1,422.21 -1.18 4,001.42 4.68 2,303.75 -0.77 3,797.15 1.26 799.53 -0.71 3,216.78 -0.15 7,034.67 1.53 8,130.03 -1.43 9,522.48 0.61 15,880.90 -0.77 1,377.76 -2.47 1,117.54 0.06 29,879.56 -0.07 549.91 0.11 1,635.10 0.05 1,005.71 3.49 14,258.94 -0.27 795.01 0.17 12,270.97 2.05 323.70 0.99 4,648.71 -0.09 1,674.35 -0.84 9,125.96 0.71 104,511.70 -0.90 458.33 -0.99 5,856.57 1.45 1,224.17 1.64 1,647.22 2.81 2,582.13 0.52 9,282.52 1.48 11,428.54 1.25 701.81 0.35 4,986.51 0.43 2,739.17 -0.38 1,385.38 0.51 701.33 -0.43 4,570.28 -0.09 241.83 0.59 1,015.08 2.02 2,577.90 -0.29 2,298.54 -1.87 4,506.37 1.79 3,558.95 0.28 6,187.57 0.78 5,259.55 -0.96 1,009.91 0.04 3,739.36 0.02 2,076.29 0.05 2,526.82 -0.78 8,264.55 -0.40 320.01 0.47 1,605.74 2.66 1,866.59 -0.97 1,944.14 -0.15 690.19 0.21 1,189.51 0.06 2,759.00 -0.19 4,393.46 0.26 2,948.09 0.74 1,360.79 0.50 19,712.91 -0.80 1,891.08 -0.42 3,149.31 0.95 1,946.52 0.81 2,846.89 1.25 1,798.11 0.00 72,733.17 0.32 717.17 0.54 1,098.54 1.91 4,045.83 1.94 707.90 0.83 5,275.27


FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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Don’t sell on price alone JOE SEER / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

CHINESE buyers are increasingly interested in acquiring property in Spain for three reasons. Anyone outside the European Union who spends at least €500,000 on a Spanish property gets a residence permit thrown in. As Spanish property prices plummet, this buys a semi-detached house in a leafy city suburb, a seaside villa or two apartments. The third reason? China is enjoying its own property boom and the equivalent of €500,000 is just enough for an 80square metre twobedroomed apartment in Beijing. This would be outside the fourth city ring-road and some way from the city centre. Spain’s ‘Start-ups Law’ has the double advantage of attracting foreign money and marketing Spain’s huge stock of new but unsold properties. The law, which came into effect in September last year, also offers a residence permit to anyone from a non-EU member country who invests €1 million in sovereign debt or €2 million in a Spanish company. Since then Spain’s Beijing consulate has approved eight visa requests to purchase properties here. The Spanish embassy there has received ‘a flood’ of requests, sources said, although not all applicants had sought residency permits either because purchases were below €500,000 or were formalised before the 2013 law.

22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

MY well-heeled friend excitedly told me that her home had received the attention of an interior designer notorious for charging exorbitant prices. We both knew the owners of a rival business that could do the job just as well for considerably less. Why did she use the more expensive one? In a word, snobbery. The one chosen had a reputation for nouveau-riche pretentiousness. Selling on price, her competitor charged down to earth reasonable prices. Good salesmen know that people buy for emotional reasons. A prime buying incendiary is social status. Having bought a £10 replica

PRICE MATTERS: The more expensive the better. Rolex I was struck by the number of clients who, thinking it was the real thing, were impressed by it. Deception was never my intention. I had bought it because I liked the look of it, it was reliable and cheap. Then I

recalled a seminar addressed by the sales boss of a major motor manufacturer. Over coffee he named four different car makes that were fundamentally the same vehicle other than their bodywork

design. The difference in their showroom prices was about £8,000, yet the engines, chassis, transmissions; all the basics were products of the same production line. Asking why buyers would choose to pay so much more for a car little different than the lowest price option, he smiled: “People don’t buy cars; they buy badges.” Social status is a far more powerful selling tool than is price. To make my point I used to flip my neck tie to show a maker’s label few had heard of. “It cost £10,” I said. “If I were to change the label to that of Gieves and Hawkes, the Savile Row tailors, it would command a price fifteen-times higher.” Often people fail to compare prices and presume the price suggested is about right. Many a builder told me that they doubled or trebled a price as, being busy, they didn’t want the order. Often they were taken aback when the exorbitant price was happily accepted.

Drones becoming busy bees Towering purchase in rapidly growing sector for Abertis group SPAIN’S ministry of Public Works is preparing to regulate drones. A draft law with rules for their commercial and professional use will be ready by the end of the month. Technology has been less of a hindrance for regulation than the legal vacuum surrounding drones, according to junior minister for Transport, Carmen Librero. “Until 2011 they weren’t regarded as aircraft,” Librero said recently. Once the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) equated drones with unmanned aircraft these became subject to general aeronautical legislation. The European Union followed suit and began preparing regulatory framework that will be approved in 2016. Despite difficulties in calculating the size of an

SF PHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Bargains for Chinese property investors

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DRONES: A draft law is being prepared. industry that lacks regulation, the sector is growing so rapidly that the European Commission believes it will account for 10 per cent of the aeronautics market within 10 years. It foresees an annual €15 billion turnover. Drones have a bad name owing to their spying and military associations although their principal uses are fumigation, photography, fire extinction and

inspecting high tension cables and railway tracks. They also keep frontiers under surveillance. The 2016 regulations will bar drones from overflying built-up areas except in exceptional circumstances and only with specific permission, the minister said. They will be able to fly only in restricted airspace without exceeding an altitude of 150 metres, so visible to the controller.

ABERTIS bought TowerCo, which operates mobile phone masts on Italy’s toll roads. The Spanish group specialising in mobility and telecommunications infrastructure paid €94.6 million for the Italian company. The operation is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, sources said. TowerCo provides service for Vodafone, Wind, H3G and Telecom Italia, the country’s principal telecommunication companies. Until the Abertis deal, TowerCo managed 212 towers and 94 points in tunnels on Italy’s 3,000 kilometres of paid motorways. Last year the company had a €21 million turnover and Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of €13 million. This is Albertis’s first acquisition of telecommunications towers in Italy and the first step of this kind that it has taken on the international market. The company also expressed interest in bidding for the wireless towers of Telecom Italia and Wind once they come up for sale. Abertis already controls around 6,000 mobile towers inside Spain and last last December paid Telefonica and Yoigo €171 million for more than 1,700. Having taken over the Hispasat communications satellite in 2013, more than 65 per cent of Albertis’s telecommunications’ revenue comes from services other than broadcasting.


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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL BUSINESS EXTRA

I should be so lucky! I BUY lottery tickets on a regular basis. Regular, as in once or twice a month. The habit stems from my parents, who have as long as I can remember, remained convinced that one-day it could just be possible that they will win. We’re still waiting for that windfall. But imagine it did happen. Imagine your numbers were the ones to win big. How does one go from struggling to pay bills and living expenses to suddenly being absolutely loaded. The first piece of advice would be to take things slowly. Don’t go popping Champagne like a Formula One driver from the top of your roof just yet. On the contrary, keep it quiet till you can organise yourself properly. Immediately sign the winning lottery ticket. Lottery tickets are the

‘No change’ Cemex

Loose change

LORENZO ZAMBRANO, Cemex president died of a heart ailment in Madrid, aged 70. The Mexican cement firm’s operation and administration will continue as normal, said a company communiqué.

A look at finance for females

Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

belonging of the bearer. This means that whoever holds the ticket is the winner. We’ve all got Smartphones these days, so why not also take a photo and video of yourself with the ticket to prove you are the winner. Change your phone number and get a PO box mailbox in order to help avoid unwanted mass mail begging for money or endless calls from long lost relatives who suddenly want to be in touch. It might be tempting to tell your boss you’re quitting, but knee jerk

Sareb interest PRIVATE-EQUITY firm KKR run by billionaires Henry Kravis and George Roberts is interested in Spain’s bad bank, Sareb. The firm is keen to invest in a Spanish lender, revealed KKR’s Spanish head Jesus Olmos. BIG WINNINGS: Best to take things slowly. decisions like that are not advisable. Keep your job, at least for a while, until you figure out how to handle your new wealth. Settle any big debts you may have, a mortgage, a car loan etc. and make a date with a

Do I need a non-residency certificate? Q. Regarding non-residency certificates in connection with Spanish bank accounts, I find You and the that my bank charges €29.50 plus another €6.82 each for my wife and me, as we have a Law in Spain joint bank account. This totals €72.64 every By David Searl year, so I wonder if these certificates are really necessary now that we are all European, even those of us from the UK. If the certificates are still necessary, can we apply ourselves to save on the expense? P.S. (e-mail) A. Yes, the non-residency certificate is still necessary for those non-residents who hold accounts in Spanish banks. This is because the bank itself withholds 21 per cent tax on interest earnings by tax residents of Spain for capital gains tax. The bank pays this directly to the Spanish Tax Agency in the name of the account holder. This tax is not withheld from the accounts of non-residents, as they are supposed to declare such interest income to their country of residence. The bank needs the document to justify their not collecting tax. Yes, you can apply on your own. You need your passport and photocopy of all pages, Form EX-15 in duplicate, explaining why you need the certificate, and Form 790 to pay the charges. You present the forms at your nearest National Police station. Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

financial adviser. A financial planner plays the role of coach, keeping you on track so that your cash doesn’t run out before you do. They can also help in terms of gifting money to relatives or charities.

Don’t treat your win as a bottomless purse - pay yourself a salary. This will allow you to make a year or two of potentially bad financial decisions while you learn the ropes of the best ways to manage your money.

Less debt LATEST data from Spain’s central bank showed net debt owed by the country’s banks to the European Central Bank fell by 29 per cent in 12 months. That is a sign the economy is starting to recover.

Biofuel danger to ‘green’ industry EXECUTIVES at advanced biofuel companies are nervous now that the EU has pulled back on rigorous biofuel targets it began putting in place in 2009. Without an aggressive, long-term biofuel framework, these companies are less likely to get monetary help - whether bank loans, tax credits or subsidies needed to build and run their refineries. They claim the industry would move out of Europe altogether which, while sounding ominous, is based on incomplete and exaggerated information, according to the the Pine Chemicals Association (PCA) which believes the EU’s more measured approach is clever. Pine chemicals, made from renewable crude tall oil (CTO) as a product of forestry, are key ingredients in many consumer products that add value to other businesses according to the PCA. In the EU, CTO is now being diverted for use in biodiesel fuel, but that threatens to damage the pine chemicals industry. That is because there is a finite supply of the product, and as it is used to make bio-fuels its use in other industries could decline, with other less environmentally

PINE FOREST: Used for chemicals. friendly products taking their place. For example, a cradle to gate study of the CTO lifecycle finds the carbon footprint of pine chemicals in Europe is 70 per cent lower than the substitutes that would be used if CTO is diverted to biofuel use.


OPINION & COMMENT

Property and politicians’ promises A FEW weeks ago I was feeling quite positive about the proposed changes to the LOUA (urban planning law) and the prospect that the problems of thousands of homeowners in Andalucía, including mine and my neighbours’ in Las Huertas (Alcaucin), would at last be resolved. For the past few months there has been so much in the press about these changes, but still nothing has happened. Don’t the politicians realise the misery and heartbreak they are causing? The worry and stress as well as the high cost of any legal action? The local Spanish people I know are very caring, especially to the older generation. It is hard to comprehend that once they become involved in politics they change and no longer care about how fairly they treat people. Both of the main parties tell us that they agree that the LOUA needs amending, but what is happening? Nothing! As usual they are saying what they think we want to hear. What we want is action, not words. Stop talking about it and make the changes. Kath Williams (by email)

Old as you feel EVERYONE is aware the Rolling Stones are on tour again in Spain next month. They were here several years ago in El Ejido as well as Madrid. A señorita friend and her brother said that as they were going to see the Rollings (as she put it), should they get extra tickets? Since the price of tickets was equivalent to the cost of a moon landing, we declined. They did not seem at all impressed when I told them I had seen the Stones at Walthamstow Assembly Halls in 1963. I further added that it was about time Old Age Pensioners started to act their age. The reply was who did I think I was, telling pensioners to act their age! Harvey ‘Hogan’ Appel, Sorbas (Almeria).

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Letters YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

TRUS

our a

dvert

WE D

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isers

O!

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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LIKE many Anglo-Spanish grandparents, we have family back in the UK. At least our grandson keeps everyone happy by supporting a former Spurs player as well as Real Madrid.

Brian Ponting (by email)

Long walk home AS the non-driving owner of a holiday home in La Zenia I am writing to register my dismay regarding the sudden withdrawal by Costa Azul Autobuses of the bus stop at La Zenia. Whilst I appreciate that the bus company is being fined for causing an obstruction at the roundabout when the bus pulls in, withdrawing the bus stop completely without an alternative stopping point seems a bit harsh. At the moment our only option is a walk of at least 15 minutes to Cabo Roig or Playa Flamenca to catch or get off the bus. This of course causes a great deal of inconvenience, particularly if you have heavy shopping or luggage if you are going to Alicante airport. I would have thought that the bus company and the local council could have placed a bus stop off the roundabout at La Zenia just past the Consum towards La Zenia boulevard. Some buses already call at the Boulevard in any case and it would only mean a diversion of approximately 800 metres to the next roundabout to turn around.

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:

another year, there will always be comments of collusion and bias amongst the judges. The only results no-one can argue with are with swimmers and runners etc, where the obvious winner is the first one past the tape. Keep up your good work, very best wishes to you all. Colin Clarke, La Cala de Finestrat (Alicante)

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I would assume that there are a lot of residents and tourists who use the bus service and I am surprised that there has not been a greater protest from everyone, including local businesses, who would like to see the stop restored. As I see it, the only people to benefit are the taxi drivers who would take the people who cannot physically make it to the the alternative bus stops. K James (by email)

Neck and neck HELLO to all you hard-working Euro Weekly News staff! Now that the Emerald Isle talent contest finals are over for

Tasteless soup ALREADY 2014 has been the year for a number of incidents: the missing Korean plane, the conflict in the Ukraine and worldwide shark culls. But 2014 is also the year that sees my local Chinese restaurant put controversial shark fin soup on its menu. This dish features the fins of sharks that are killed for said fin, tens of millions of them. This is then served in a soup whose main flavour is chicken stock, because the meat of a shark’s fin is actually tasteless. Interestingly enough, though, shark fin soup is legal in Spain, despite a ban put into place for all of the EU back in 2003. The ban was opposed by both Spain

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and Portugal, who currently possess a special permit that allows them to continue to land fins as long as they are separate from the bodies. The permits are standard practice but are considered by most to be a major mockery of the law. One third of Europe’s shark and ray species are categorised as ‘threatened’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. It might even shock you to learn that EU fishing industry companies are the biggest suppliers and exporters of shark fins to mainland China. So if you have a hankering for something new and fancy trying the dish, which is viewed as “rather pointless,” “an insult to nature” and “disgraceful” by many conservationist groups and organisations, then head on down there today. It will not be long before various members of differing communities begin lodging complaints and the dish is removed from the menu. J.H. Longman (by email)

Pat on the back JUST to say a big “thank you” for printing details of the dog show organised by the Protectora de Animales de El Campello (APAC) in your newspaper. Thank you for your response and your professionalism. Pamela Fielden, APAC secretary, Campello (Alicante)

Sweet music I CAN go one better than the Your Say correspondents commenting on endlessly chirping and sparring sparrows or monotonous pigeons repeating the same phrase time after time. Late every night for the last week or two as I sit at the wideopen window and take off my make-up I have been listening to a nightingale. It sounds as though it is a field and a coppice away from our house, but its voice carries - and what a voice! Want to know where? Not a chance! I’m keeping this late-night concert all to myself. Pearl Cooper (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.


32 E W N

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FEATURE

Advertising feature

The health benefits of a hot tub

T

HROUGHOUT history and in different cultures across the world, water has been considered central to restoring health and harmony. The benefits of water and massage in strengthening the constitution and treating disease date back to Hippocrates (c. 460-377BC, best known as the father of Western medicine), and to the ancient Egyptians, who believed that water had both physical and sacred properties. Given that an estimated 85 per cent of all illness is stress related, massage is increasingly used both preventively and therapeutically to combat the effect of stress and promote relaxation. Using a hot tub, with its consistent warm water and powerful massage jets, can bring you to a more relaxed state, relieve tension and help lower high blood pressure. Adding aromatherapy oils increases relaxation even more. For general pain, immersing in warm water raises your body temperature, causing your blood vessels to dilate and increase circulation. This can relieve sore muscles, headaches and even chronic pain. Water exercise, a gentle way to exercise joints and muscles, can help people who find weight bearing exercise

HOT TUB: Can relieve sore muscles.

MASSAGE: Increasingly used to combat the effects of stress. difficult or painful on dry land. The buoyancy of warm water makes it a safe, ideal environment for relieving arthritis pain and stiffness. Furthermore, the water supports joints, encouraging free movement, and the water acts as resistance, helping build muscle strength. The benefits of a hot tub are varied and the overall improvement in well-being means that this is more than a frivolous

indulgence; it is part of a feel good regime.

Alpha Pools and Spas Mallorca are based in C/Pollentia 75, Alcudia, Mallorca. They can be contacted by phone on: +34 971 545 377 or e-mail: info@hotspringmallorca.net. For more information please visit their

RELAXING: Helps relieve tension.


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Thursday

Friday

SATELLITE CHANNELS - SkyMoviesDrama/

BBC1/

BBC1/

4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm From There to Here 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Question Time

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BBC2/ 4:05pm Coast 4:45pm Great British Garden Revival 5:45pm Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 10:00pm Horizon 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm All New It'll be Alright on the Night

CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Posh Pawn 10:00pm Heston's Great British Food 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:55pm The Island with Bear Grylls

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TV LISTING

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10:50am Sunday

•Matt Damon •Scarlett Johansson •Thomas HadenChurch •Colin Ford

Saturday BBC1/ 5:55pm A Question of Sport 6:25pm F1: Grand Prix Qualifying 7:40pm BBC News 7:50pm Regional News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm Pointless 8:50pm The National Lottery: In It to Win It 9:40pm Casualty 10:30pm The Guess List 11:10pm BBC News 11:25pm Weather 11:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys

BBC2/ 6:00pm Flog It! 7:00pm Golf 8:00pm The Mysterious Mr Webster: BBC Arts at the Globe 9:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 10:00pm 50 Years of BBC2 Comedy

ITV/ 5:05pm Off Their Rockers 5:35pm Tipping Point 6:35pm Local News and Weather 6:45pm ITV News and Weather 7:00pm Let Me Entertain You 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm UEFA Champions League Final 11:15pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm The Americans

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 7:40pm Channel 4 News 8:05pm The Restoration Man 9:00pm Grand Designs 10:00pm Breaking Dawn: Part 1

ITV2/ 5:20pm FYI Daily 5:25pm The Mighty Ducks 6:30pm Nanny McPhee 7:30pm FYI Daily 7:35pm Nanny McPhee 8:25pm Star Wars 9:25pm FYI Daily 9:30pm Star Wars 11:00pm Celebrity Juice

We Bought a Zoo (Film, 2011) Looking for a new start, a widowed father-of-two moves his kids out of the city to take on the project of renovating a derelict zoo.

Sunday

Monday

BBC1/

BBC1/

4:15pm Points of View 4:30pm Brazil with Michael Palin 5:30pm Songs of Praise 6:05pm F1: Grand Prix 7:35pm BBC News 7:50pm Regional News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm Quirke 11:30pm BBC News 11:50pm Regional News 11:55pm Weather

5:45pm Antiques Road Trip 6:30pm Pointless 7:15pm BBC News 7:45pm Regional News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 11:05pm BBC News

BBC2/ 6:30pm Charley Hull: Teenage Tigress 7:00pm Golf 8:00pm Tropic of Cancer 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Harry and Paul's Story of the 2's 11:00pm Absolutely Fabulous 11:30pm Steve Coogan: The Inside Story

ITV/ 5:00pm Let Me Entertain You 5:30pm Midsomer Murders 7:30pm Regional News and Weather 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Britain's Got Talent 9:15pm The British Soap Awards 2014 11:20pm Perspectives

CH4/ 4:05pm The Simpsons 4:35pm Hocus Pocus 6:30pm Deal or No Deal 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Four Rooms 9:00pm For the Love of Cars 10:00pm Fargo 11:05pm Kick-Ass

ITV2/ 4:10pm The Lost World 6:45pm Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 9:15pm Britain's Got More Talent 10:20pm Funniest Ever You've Been Framed! 11:00pm Viral Tap 11:45pm Britain's Got Talent

BBC2/ 5:30pm Nature's Great Events 6:30pm Flog It! 7:15pm Eggheads 7:45pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Springwatch 10:00pm The Fast Show Special 10:30pm Inside No 9 11:00pm Goodness Gracious Me: Reunion Special

ITV/ 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm Regional News and Weather 7:15pm ITV News and Weather 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Britain's Got Talent 10:00pm Coronation Street 10:30pm Britain's Got Talent 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather

CH4/ 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The World's Weirdest Weather 10:00pm The Island with Bear Grylls 11:00pm Man v Weird

ITV2/ 5:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:10pm Britain's Got Talent 7:25pm Britain's Got More Talent 8:25pm The Lost World 11:00pm Britain's Got More Talent

Tuesday BBC1/ 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:30pm The Hairy Bikers' Best of British 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 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 Happy Valley 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather

Wednesday BBC1/ 4:30pm The Hairy Bikers' Best of British 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm Watchdog 10:00pm Del Boys and Dealers 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm A Question of Sport

BBC2/

BBC2/

4:15pm Cash in the Attic 4:45pm Big Cat Diary 5:15pm Nature's Great Events 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Springwatch 10:00pm Welcome to Rio 11:00pm Later Live... with Jools Holland 11:30pm Newsnight

4:15pm Cash in the Attic 4:45pm Big Cat Diary 5:15pm Nature's Great Events 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Springwatch 10:10pm Coast Australia 11:00pm Episodes 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/

ITV/

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm Regional News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Britain's Got Talent 10:00pm Coronation Street 10:30pm Britain's Got Talent 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Cube

CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm The Complainers 11:00pm Embarrassing Bodies

ITV2/ 4:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:00pm Britain's Got Talent 7:30pm Britain's Got Talent 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm You've Been Framed! 10:00pm The Vampire Diaries 11:00pm Britain's Got More Talent4:00pm Escape to the Country

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm Regional News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Britain's Got Talent 10:00pm Coronation Street 10:30pm Britain's Got Talent 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm On Assignment

CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Supervet 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Derek 11:30pm Cardinal Burns

ITV2/ 4:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:00pm Britain's Got Talent 7:30pm Britain's Got Talent 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm The Nutty Professor 11:00pm Britain's Got More Talent


36 E W N

www.euroweeklynews.com

22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

OPINION & COMMENT

N the light of those poor Nigerian girls, abducted in the ‘name of Islam’, it struck me that there has been a remarkable absence of burka-clad women standing up displaying those ‘bring back our girls’ notices in their support. I wonder why that is? Well, it could be they don’t give a damn. I think that unlikely. It could be they agree with the sentiments of the abductors. I feel that is also untrue. No, I think the real reason is that their menfolk have ordered them not to. Basically, you see, most Islamic men believe in the inferiority of women. They want them to remain second-class citizens. They don’t want their females too well educated, it frightens them. So although they may not agree with the methods used by this murderous bunch, most of them will certainly agree with their sentiments. I wonder what happened to those women in Saudi Arabia, who were leading the protests against the ban on women being allowed to drive? That’s all gone pretty quiet, hasn’t it?

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

No, believe me, those protesters were squashed like bugs by the Saudi authorities. They had no chance. Islam is a man’s world. Women are merely chattels. The way they are treated under the yolk of Islam is almost beyond belief. Made to walk four or five paces behind their men. Stoned to death for adultery. Stripped of their marital status simply by their husband standing up in court and declaring ‘I divorce thee’ three times. Needing three or four male ‘witnesses’ before having rape proven. The list simply goes on and on. Then to top it all, to comply with their ‘religion’ they are clad from head to foot in a black shroud. To me it’s the mentality of some of the women you see interviewed that amazes me. Women, whose eyes peer out from narrow slits and muffled voices actually condone these practices. I can only assume

Credit: meunierd / Shutterstock.com

Keeping women under the thumb I NOT PROTESTING: Why are burka-clad women not demanding the return of kidnapped girls?

they are either suffering from some form of phobia, are simply brainwashed or mega-masochistic.

As a final observation it is important to remember this is not a militant situation. This is not something that can be dismissed by ‘moderate’ Muslims as something perpetrated by a ‘small number’ of extremists in their midst. These practices are the norm among the followers of Islam. Well, all I can say is on your own heads be it, girls. And as a word to their menfolk, I think your fear of women is perfectly justified. I dread to think of the reaction of western ladies should you try and inflict these rules and regulations on them. Singing in shrill falsetto comes to mind! Thanks for all your mail. You know I can take it. Have a good week and, whatever ya do, always keep the faith. Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

Why don’t you take a hike? 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

I

ulrica@euroweeklynews.com

F you’d told me a few years ago that I would be partial to a hike in the Great Outdoors, I would have assumed you were deluded. Yet, here I am, a paid-up and willing member of a hiking group. Having said that, it has been a bit of a slow burn, love/ hate relationship. My first outing a couple of years back, as a newbie expat in Spain and novice hiker, didn’t end too well. I was ill prepared, certain that my faithful gym trainers would suffice and considered myself tooled up with a small bottle of water and a book of walking routes. I assumed that we’d reach a quaint little hilltop café, that nature would not call en route,

and that the guidebook would be blindingly simple to follow, thus not leading to wrong turns which doubled the allocated walking time and made us scale sheer rock faces that may have been a real path once upon a time;

specifically the dinosaur era. Treading through unknown shrubbery and woods, I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever find our way out. News stories of hikers trapped on mountains overnight, surviving by making a fire to huddle

around sprung to mind. If only I had been a smoker, I would have come prepared with a lighter. Or been a girl scout. Further into the woods, with no clear path in sight and no reception on the mobile, images from the 90s’ horror

movie The Blair Witch Project began to prey on my mind. Was that pile of twigs and branches a mere coincidence…? Perhaps the elements were not our only enemy on this ill-advised hike… In the end, we found the path as ‘Google maps’ finally blinkered into function. Since then I have gone on many hikes with joyful sights of spring lambs, forests like one might expect in a Lord of the Rings movie, complete with quaint little ‘hobbit’ houses and amazing views across beautiful landscapes, which made the producers of great films like the Cloud Atlas choose Spain to film. So, if you haven’t taken a hike yet, take my advice and do so. Just make sure you go prepared, proper boots, compass, map, a small first aid kit, lots of water and snacks. I still have not needed the lighter I ritually bring - or a distress flare - so far, so good. So see you at the peak?


OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

22 - 28 May 2014 /Mallorca

EWN

37

The UK’s great recession’s over? Depends who you ask … Nora Johnson

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

B

RITAIN’S six-year ‘Great Recession’ is officially over and the ground lost in the crisis has been

financial recovered! This is according to one of the UK’s leading economic bodies, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, which recently declared that Britain’s GDP is almost back at its March 2008 record. “We are incredibly close to the pre-recession peak,” an institute member commented. But before we go any further, let’s look at what caused the Great Recession in the first place. Who’s in the firing line? Well,

LOOKING UP: On the road to recovery, or not. apart from the usual suspects lawyers, hedge-funders and taxavoidance accountants - many are quick to point the finger at the bankers. Bankers are the culprits, eh? Now, the crisis began in the USA and spread to much of the Western World. People, who were probably financially illiterate, took out home loans they couldn’t

afford. So, does this mean anyone who borrowed more than they could afford to repay is also to blame? The reality is that we all, bankers and consumers, caused the problem and it’s typical of many people to jump up and down and yell “someone else’s fault, not mine!” Yes, bankers must share their responsibility because they’re taking the risk

and are supposed to be the financial experts. But shouldn’t everyone who took advantage of such a loose system? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? So, the recession’s really over, is it? You tell that to those on low wages, those who can’t find work, like university graduates and those unintentionally unemployed.

Those on zero-hour contracts not knowing where their next pay packet will be coming from. All these groups must be wondering which planet those statisticians live on. Plainly, it must be called something like ‘Cloud-Cuckoo Land’ - a small planet on the outer regions of the nebula: “I Saw You Coming!” If things are looking up - and they would have been whichever government had been in office by the turn of the cycle - there is cause for qualified optimism. But not until the UK Government’s austerity programme has truly finished and more people can find work will these statistics have more of a ring of truth to them.

Nora Johnson’s thrillers Retribution and The De Clerambault Code (www.norajohnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89; £0.77) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

Acupuncture an effective way to treat hay fever Vicki Mcleod

Health Matters This week registered Acupuncturist Anne Verinder discusses how she can treat allergies. IT has been the time of year that I see people suffering with runny noses, sneezing, and itchy eyes. All signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis, more commonly called hay fever. Here in Mallorca people often suffer with hay fever for a more extended period than they do in the UK. The reason being is the allergy that causes these symptoms is not necessarily only pollen. Moulds are also a common source of irritation and mould is almost as common as the yellow pine pollen that plagues us each year. The good news is that Acupuncture is a very effective treatment for symptoms of hay fever whatever its cause. In November 2008, a study was reported in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101. This involved looking at 5,327 patients with allergies to see if adding acupuncture to their standard care had any benefit. The acupuncture group had up to 15 sessions in

ANNE VERINDER: Registered acupuncturist. a three-month period. “The conclusion: The results of this trial suggest that treating patients with allergic rhinitis in routine care with additional acupuncture leads to clinically relevant and persistent benefits.” What to expect at your initial session? Generally, your first visit is longer than

your follow up visits and may last from one to one and a half hours and will involve your acupuncturist asking you lots of sometimes ‘unusual’ questions. The answers you provide to the questions, along with other basic diagnostic tools such as looking at your tongue, feeling your

pulse and examining the areas that you have pain in allow your acupuncturist to tailor the treatment specifically to you. This individualisation of the treatments is one of the strongest points of oriental medicine. It is why people may notice other changes within themselves after receiving acupuncture for a specific complaint. For example, some of my own past patients who came to see me for a frozen shoulder have found that their constipation is relieved as well! After these initial questions and examinations, the acupuncturist will make a diagnosis and treatment plan. In most cases, I personally try to make the initial treatment as conservative as possible to ensure that my client is comfortable and to allow me to see how well they respond to the acupuncture. So if you would like to give it a try, now is the time before we are yet again buried in the annual onslaught! You can contact Anne on acunovamallorca@gmail.com. You can find out more about Acupuncture and how it can help you by visiting www.healthmattersmallorca.com. N.B. The next Health Matters LIVE will be on June 5 at 1am at Mood Beach and features a Gong and Digdgeridoo demonstration and meditation session. Register at info@moodbeach.com.


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E W N 22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Wrong side of the tracks? Vicki Mcleod

Family Matters MY father used to work as a police officer, back in the day he was a Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police and remained so for all of my childhood. As a result I was brought up thinking that the cops were basically to be respected, sometimes feared, but also that you could have a conversation with them and that they were there to help. I suppose this is why I find the Local Police in Mallorca so frustrating. You know that saying about police officers getting younger all of the time? I suppose I could be getting old, but I am not alone in thinking it’s bad for policemen to be able to wear long hair in pony tails and that they can chew gum

FRIENDLY: Police should be smart and approachable. or smoke on duty? It just looks wrong to me. I see a lot of police officers. Every morning as I take my daughter to school there is one doing crossing duty. I like this concept, it makes the kids feel safe, and it keeps the naughty parents (who want to drive down the lane to school when it is forbidden at certain times of the

day) in check. It stands to reason that there’s only a certain amount of space to park and so some of the older kids get dropped off at the side of the road and then walk down the lane on their own. Gidg is one of them. She is eight, going on 18, and likes the independence of walking to school on her own.

This leaves us with the tricky issue of which side of the road do we stop to let her out. If you ask one police officer on one day he will tell you the right hand side, and then another police officer on another day and they will say completely the opposite. Most of the police officers are friendly and helpful, but they also always insist they are right,

even if they are contradicting each other. If you park on the opposite side to which they think you should be doing (because the previous day you were told to by a different copper) you are then treated to a very condescending ‘chat.’ If you reply with a “Si, pero…” (Yes, but…) they literally hold their hand up in your face because your input is not required. And it’s an example of the police not knowing the law or how to apply it. I look forward to seeing how they interpret the new laws enforcing children under the height of 1.35 metres using a booster seat in the back seat of a car. It’s also not allowed to have a child under the age of 12 sitting in the front seat. So what if you have a child who is well over 1.35 metres tall but not over the age of 12? How many different types of trouble can we get into? I imagine Gidg and I will find out. www.familymattersmallorca.com

Cash-raising laws hit drivers.. New driving laws in Spain mean people face a fine of €500 for being just one kilometre over the speed limit, and in some areas new limits of 20kph are being brought in. Are these sensible rules for road safety, or a way for the government to make money with heavy penalties? Are drivers being unfairly targeted, or should drivers just be more careful?

J

OANNE and Terry Pearson moved permanently from the UK to Quesada in Alicante just six months ago and are already finding that Spain is full of red tape and bureaucracy with these new driving laws adding to their experiences. “It is so strict here,” said Joanne, with Terry believing it is purely just a way for the

STREET TALK government to boost coffers. “It is just a way of getting cash and is unfair to drivers. I think the 20kph speed limit is good if it is an area where there are schools, but if there are then going to be police there

checking and if you go at 21kph you will get a €500 fine, that’s a lot.” Bryn Williamson, aged 59, on holiday in Rojales on Costa Blanca wasn’t aware of the new regulations. “As a holidaymaker renting out hire cars, I’d want to be aware of any changes and new speed limits. I think people should be made aware or will it just apply to residents? Probably not, unsuspecting tourists are likely to be the victims. It doesn’t surprise me, though, governments will do anything to get more money,” Bryn believed. George Rennie, 66, who lives in Zurgena, Almeria, and is retired, thought that it was definitely a way for the government to make money. He said it was unfair that the PEARSONS: It police could watch you is just a way on a road and fine you for the without you knowing. government He was surprised to make that the European money. courts let them

get away with it. Johnny Bedford, retired, from Arboleas in Almeria, has just celebrated his 66th birthday. He also thought it was a way for the government to make money, saying: “I think children’s safety is important, you shouldn’t put children in the front seat. “The speed limit is to make money, but drivers need to be careful. There is a high mortality rate on Spanish roads. The lorry drivers are particularly dangerous.”

GEORGE: Unfair law.


E W N 22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

CROSSWORDS

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Time Out

TRUS

our a

WE D

Mallorca weather

NEW ON DVD MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

for next 7 days

The Monuments Men Based on the true story of one of the greatest treasure hunts in history this AmericanGerman war film is directed by George Clooney and written and produced by Clooney and Grant Heslov. It stars Clooney, Matt Damon and Bill Murray among others and is loosely based on the non-fiction book by Robert M. Edsel.

TODAY

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Someone really has rattled your tree, but try to refrain from throwing coconuts on their head. It is much more effective to be charming and get them confused. LEO (July 24 - August 23) Are you feeling that you have been dealt a rough hand? Consider this: there are some who are not dealt a hand at all. Many are missing those few cards that mean they are never really in with a chance. VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) A chance remark opens a can of worms. Trying to get them back in

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

TOMORROW CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: You are not so much in the mood to be practical are you? A lot is going on that you are really happy about but you do not seek perfection. Be aware if no one seeks it then it will cease to exist for appreciation. Try to improve your own lot.

MAGALLUF

Your Stars

May 22: Paloma Lago. TV presenter. This famous television presenter and model was born in Ferrol, Galicia. She started as a model with International Booking agency and in 1990 debuted on the Tele 5 programme ¿Digame? Now she presents the De Lujo section on Antena 3.

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ing than anticipated. This should not bother you because time could yet change that. You need to be in the right place at the right time, so don't give up hope.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Someone who is usually quite the opposite to you will surprise with an offer. Although you are naturally suspicious, give them the benefit of the doubt. Leopards do not change their spots but they are capable of behaving for the bigger good. .

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) While counting your pennies, also count your blessings. Money can be a big problem or merely an irritation but the lack of it must be kept in perspective. You are right to think twice about accepting something that seems to be for nothing. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) The goat in you is keen to find pastures new. It isn't a nibble that is need-

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.

TODAY:

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Awkward situations usually bring out the best in you and this week proves that. In the longer term, you will be grateful to those making things difficult now.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday May 17

Saturday May 17

Saturday May 17

Friday May 16

33

43

46

16 31

25 35

5

7

14

30

36

44

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

25

12

18

MAX MIN

Mon - 24 17 S Tues - 23 17 C Wed - 24 18 Cl

23 16 S 23 16 C 23 17 C

SUNNY

23

26 37

40

4

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 23 18 C Tues - 23 19 Cl Wed - 22 19 S

Madrid

22 14 S 23 15 S 24 16 S

23 14 Cl 23 14 Sh 23 14 C

CLOUDY MAX 19C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 24 16 S Tues - 25 17 S Wed - 25 17 S

20 8 C 22 9 C 24 10 C

MAX MIN

Mon - 25 11 C Tues - 25 11 C Wed - 24 11 Sh

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 22C, MIN 14C

S Sun,

MAX MIN

22 18 S 22 18 Sh 22 18 C

TODAY:

MAX 22C, MIN 13C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

SUNNY MAX 23C, MIN 17C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 21 16 Cl Tues - 21 16 Cl Wed - 21 16 Sh

Mallorca TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 25 18 S Tues - 25 18 S Wed - 26 18 S

Benidorm

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX 23C, MIN 16C

23 17 S 22 17 Cl 24 18 C

TODAY:

Malaga

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 22 14 S Tues - 22 16 Cl Wed - 22 16 Cl Cl Clear,

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

27 15 S 26 16 Sh 27 17 C C Cloud,

Sn Snow,

MAX 27C, MIN 14C MAX MIN

Mon - 27 17 S Tues - 27 17 S Wed - 27 18 Cl Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

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

TARGET:

Average: 14

Very good: 25

Good: 18

Excellent: 31

gent, gift, girn, grin, rip, grit, ping, prig, ring, ting, trig, feign, genii, grief, grift, gripe, reign, tiger, tinge, feting, finger, firing, fringe, ignite, pinger, tiring, igniter, rifting, tiering, FINGERTIP

3

7

33

37

47

49

REINTEGRO 6

1

PLUG

Sunday May 18

Saturday May 17

29

LUCKY STARS 3

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX 21C, MIN 15C

20 15 S 21 16 Sh 21 16 Sh

SUNNY

SUNNY MAX MIN

Word Ladder

LOTTERY 11

TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Don't allow an open-ended offer to muddle your mind. There is no need for an immediate decision and this may be too soon for a positive move. A sense of urgency may be put down to practical reasons when, in fact, it is no such thing.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Get out in the fresh air as much as possible and be kind to your body. You may have neglected yourself because you have been such a busy bee of late. What about a trip to the seaside or a walk in the hills? Maybe a trip to the local cocktail bar is more your style! Whatever puts a spring in your step will be good.

20

Fri Sat Sun -

ed at the moment, but a feast. Accepting anything less would be a mistake because someone is watching your reaction to an offer. If you feel unsure of your worth, then ask a few trusted friends.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

19

Almeria

SUNNY MAX 24C, MIN 16C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

PISCES (Febraury 20 - March 20) Are things going swimmingly? Good. Maybe you had forgotten how to have real fun. Remember when you were a child? Life was so simple. Relax and be that child again. If some old fogey accuses you of being silly, feel sorry for them.

Sudoku

10

Alicante TODAY:

MAX MIN

could turn out to be very messy. We all open our mouth and put our foot in it sometime. However, over-reacting won't help.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) An intimate meeting is less excit-

6-Star Quiz

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

15

25 28

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

27 40

REINTEGRO 9

AWAY

SWAY AWAY

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) A fleeting meeting stirs feelings that you thought were dead. This could be good if it reminds you of how life can be, or bad if it makes you think of missed opportunities. It is never too late to make a fresh start.

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

Running time is 118 minutes and it is rated 12.

1. Which BBC sitcom that ran from 1975 to 1978, featured a goat named Geraldine, a cockerel called Lenin and two pigs named Pinky and Perky? 2. In the TV sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, what was the name of Frank and Betty Spencer’s baby daughter? 3. Whose neighbours were Fred and Ethel Mertz played by Vivienne Vance and William Frawley? 4. Which 1990s BBC2 television comedy series featured the characters Richard ‘Richie’ Richard and Edward ‘Eddie’ Elizabeth Hitler? 5. What was the name of the ITV comedy series in which divorced novelist Patrick Glover (Patrick Cargill) struggled to keep his daughters Karen (Ann Holloway) and Anna (Natasha Pyne) under control? 6. Which comedian used to sign off each of his television shows with the line: “Thank you, goodnight, and may your God go with you’?

isers

O!

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

NO LAUGHING MATTER

T

dvert

PLUG SLUG SLAG SWAG

40

1. THE GOODE LIFE, 2. JESSICA, 3. LUCILLE BALL/ARNAZ in I Love Lucy, 4. BOTTOM, 5. FATHER DEAR FATHER, 6. DAVE ALLEN


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Crosswords

22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

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Cryptic

Quick

Across 1 Castro arranged to share the lead (2-4) 5 Show support for the runner up (6) 8 Lot overweight, needing energy (4) 9 States journey begins on the landing site (8) 10 Learned about elite art (8) 11 Shouldn’t it be "Is a region"? (4) 12 Lead in main trolley dash (5) 14 The song for Sunday is in hand (5) 18 Large deer with no tail makes a beastly noise (4) 20 Camera in development for US resident (8) 22 Starting point for Balinese building (8) 23 Observes what they grab, by the sound of it (4) 24 Strain trifle by mistake (6) 25 Racing car plant (5) Down 2 Love to put a limit on speech (7) 3 Main melody from the meerkats’ advert (5) 4 President whose age ran out (6) 5 Awful scene about right PC etc display (6) 6 Weapon used to lacerate young

Across 1 Soak thoroughly (8) 4 Unemotional (4) 7 Adjust (5) 9 Footwear (5) 11 Money holder (5) 12 Drinking vessel (5) 13 Modify (6) 15 Common toast (6) 19 Have in common (5) 21 Collect together (5) 23 Wait on (5) 24 Make fun of (5) 25 Lure (4) 26 Move forward (8)

woman (7) 7 The racket of Yoko Ono is excruciating (5) 13 Admire broken sceptre (7) 15 The Parisian reads about pioneers (7) 16 Delicacy from Antarctica via

Russia (6) 17 ‘Rice’ really covers any grass that produces an edible grain (6) 19 Fine given to a Greek character for a striped animal (5) 21 Small picture from poinsettia collection (5)

Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 22 represents B and 24 represents G, so fill in B every time the figure 22 appears and G every time the figure 24 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Sandals, 5 Part, 8 Alert, 9 Alabama, 10 Skin, 11 Register, 13 Treat, 14 Munch, 19 Red giant, 21 Dime, 23 Inspire, 24 Apart, 25 Code, 26 Abscond. Down: 1 Sparse, 2 Needier, 3 Ante, 4 Seabed, 5 Platinum, 6 Roast, 7 Lairs, 12 Maritime, 15 Chicago, 16 Grail, 17 Angela, 18 Heated, 20 Disco, 22 Laos. QUICK Across: 7 Ocelot, 8 Humane, 10 Concede, 11 Cheat, 12 Peek, 13 Dazed, 17 Jaded, 18 Zero, 22 Alter, 23 Initial, 24 Travel, 25 Stress. Down: 1 Concept, 2 Meander, 3 Boxer, 4 Succeed, 5 Eager, 6 Petty, 9 Menagerie, 14 Barrier, 15 Decided, 16 Foolish, 19 Faith, 20 Stray, 21 Dirty.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Talk, 3 Glove, 8 Atreverse, 9 Chefs, 10 Nests, 12 Aguanieve, 14 Cabra, 15 Pegs. Down: 1 Trinchar, 2 Llave, 4 Lavender, 5 Ver, 6 Prisoner, 7 Peasants, 11 Siete, 13 Uña.

English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Works (musical, theatre, literature) (5) 3 Páginas (5) 5 Two (3) 7 Cubo de la basura (7) 9 Ordenado (4) 10 Plano (llano) (4) 13 Faint (medical) (7) 14 Quién (3) 15 Gust of wind (5) 16 Manzana (fruta) (5) Down 1 Computer (9) 2 Silk (4) 3 Weight (4) 4 Insolación (9) 6 Intercambia (sellos, fotos) (5) 8 Debajo de (5) 11 For (going to) (4) 12 Boot (footwear) (4)

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

RAISED

ADHERE

SCARED

BRAVER (10)

SPADES

CURSED

SPEARS

DREAMS

STATUE

ENDURE

STEALS

HEARTS

TRAMPS

NEATLY

VEERED

PITTED

YARNED

POWDER

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Funagram Unscramble the name of a famous American composer: RARE BLEND, IN NOTES FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: ATLANTIC PUFFIN, LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Unscramble the name of a species of seabird in the auk family (two words): UNFIT, PLAIN FACT

Down 1 Cooking utensil (7) 2 Walk heavily (5) 3 Pill (6) 5 Sediment (5) 6 Hanker for (4) 8 Conditions (5) 10 Lacking freshness (5) 14 Denim trousers (5) 16 Hollow muscular organ (5) 17 Triumph (7) 18 Vocation (6) 19 Clean thoroughly (5) 20 Acquire by effort (4) 22 Humiliation (5)

1 Streak, 2 5 Leader, 6 9 Tested, 10 13 Enters, 14 17 Larder, 18

Trades, 3 Rector, 4 Bushel, Steeds, 7 Hearts, 8 Closer, Recede, 11 Abases, 12 Latter, Nearby, 15 Toward, 16 Thread, Region, 19 Wilder


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Check carefully before buying plants

Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner By Dick Handscombe Spain’s best known expat gardening author about to start his 26th winter cut back.

BUYING plants is like looking for clothes. Always keep a watchful eye open for wellshaped, well-grown, strong, and realistically priced quality plants. Whenever you are tempted to buy plants do check out the following before making the final decision. This will help ensure that the plant has an above average chance of becoming one of the best plants in your garden for years to come. Make sure: A. Plant has a good root ball and is not root bound. B. The chosen plant has a good natural shape. C. Plant shows no sign of disease or insect

GARDEN CENTRE: Look around for best prices.

damage. D. Leaves and stems are not scorched by cold or hot winds or the burning sun. E. Plant shows no sign of stress caused by under- or over-watering. F. If a tree or climbing shrub is tied to a supporting cane, check that there is no sign of

rubbing or cutting into the bark of the main stem. G. If a flowering plant, choose one that is not in full flower but one which has just a few flowers out to be able to check the colour and has plenty of follow on flower buds already formed. We note that some garden centres have started to charge a premium price for this type of plant! H. Ask yourself ‘Do I really want this colour? Will it really fit into the garden or look good alongside existing plants?’ I. Labels that explain what you are buying. This is especially important when buying citrus trees to know whether you are buying an early or late fruiting variety. J. If a new type of plant, labels that inform

you how the plant should be cared for. K. Check prices at a number of garden centres if you feel that a plant is overpriced. Recently we found that prices for an apparently identical

plant, the same size and same sized pot, can vary by 50 per cent between two garden centres only a kilometre apart. L. If a bushy plant, check if it is grown from one or several cuttings in the same pot. M. Think ‘Is this plant really right for the micro-climate of my garden and the

particular spot you have in mind for planting it?’ N. Consider whether it is really the best time of year to plant that type of plant. O. Check that the pay desk prices are the same as the price tags displayed in front of or amongst the plants. Prices do get mixed up when changes are made in the layout and new stock is sometimes a higher price than old stock. Being thoughtful and vigilant when buying plants can save disappointments and wasted money. Spanish garden centres used to be very much less expensive than those in the UK. Today this is often not the case.

© Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com May 2014 FLOWERING PLANTS: Choose one that has plenty of buds still to open.


HEALTH & BEAUTY

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New toothpaste claims to help rebuild your teeth A NEW toothpaste has been revealed that claims to regenerate 82 per cent of tooth enamel after just three days of use. The new Regenerate Enamel Science Advanced Toothpaste contains calcium silicate and sodium phosphate, which effectively rebuilds a new layer of white enamel on the teeth. The technology appears to work much like replastering a wall, filling

any microscopic holes caused by fizzy drinks or sugary foods to leave a strong, smooth finish. It is being marketed more as a form of beauty product that will sit alongside anti-aging creams and potions. The toothpaste has been created by the Unilever research and development laboratory at Port Sunlight on Merseyside (UK) as well as teams in Milan and

Shanghai, and was developed in collaboration with dental

experts from International Oral Health Research Centres.

REGENERATING: Product claims to build a new layer of white enamel on teeth.


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PETS/FEATURE

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Keep cats apart when eating CATS all feeding from a row of food bowls look cute and you will find many of these photos on the web. Cute they may be, but this is stressful for cats, even cats which get on well with each other. Cats go hunting on their own and they eat on their own. They don’t socialise over a meal like humans do. So keep those food bowls well apart. Is your cat going bald? It could be fleas. Some cats are so allergic to a single flea bite that they pull or nibble their fur in this area. Cats also pull or nibble their fur if they

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

have a painful area, if they are allergic to some forms of food, or if they are ill. Some cats even pull their fur through stress. So take your cat to

the vet and discuss the problem. Choosing a pedigree kitten Today’s pedigree cats are beginning to develop inherited diseases from too much inbreeding, just like the diseases found in pedigree dogs. It’s a complicated topic but worth looking into before you decide on one

particular breed. All the information you need can be found at International Cat Care – www.icare.org. There are now genetic tests available for some disorders, and you may like to discuss these with cat breeders.

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

FEEDING TIME: Cats prefer to eat alone.

FOUNDER: Peter Redrin at one of the events.

Expats Club networking party THERE is still time to attend the next meeting of the membership club for English speaking expats in Mallorca. It is throwing its next party for social and business networking at Mood Beach in Portals next to Marineland on Monday (May 26). Starting at 7pm with a welcome drink it offers people the chance to mingle. That is followed

by dinner at 9pm with entertainment at 10pm. Expats Club International is a gathering point for international residents who want to meet new friendly people and enjoy the benefits of the membership card. Over the summer Mood Beach will be the venue for monthly Expats Club parties. Email contact@ expatsclubinternational.c om or 601 297 565.

Advertising feature

No insurance, no boat. Are you covered? By Pete Woodall SAILING your boat is not unlike driving your car, some things just have to be in order, and one of them is your boat insurance documentation. If you’re out on the water, especially here in Spain, you need to be able to produce valid insurance documentation on request. If not, then the stern looking gentleman in the big powerful green and white boat, clearly labelled Guardia Civil, (and his pal with the machine gun) are perfectly within their rights to confiscate your nautical pride and joy. This is probably followed by a large fine and it just goes downhill from there. So it is much better not to go there in the first place. Edward William Marine Services provide all their insurance customers with multi-

lingual insurance papers, including English and Spanish, at no extra charge. That ensures not only the authorities but also you know exactly what’s going on. Other insurance companies may charge for this or provide paper work in only one language, leaving some customers guessing as to what is and what is not covered. That can be all too confusing. Cost wise there are advantages as well, for example, a third party basic insurance on a speedboat is available from €199, and fully comprehensive for not a lot more. So good value and good service. Edward William Marine Services maintain, “for every risk there is a premium,” all agents are experienced employees who can give anyone an immediate

quote for any boat, in any waters, for any use, anywhere, over the phone or by email. If you’re in any boat business yourself, ‘introducers’ with integrity are also welcome and remunerated for their efforts. Edward William Marine Services have built a strong reputation for first class insurance and personal service that has spread their name throughout Australia, New Zealand, The Americas, The Pacific Rim, the Caribbean and, since 1998, in Spain.

So don't be shy, whatever your craft or related profession take a moment to visit their website www.edwardwilliam.com or call 952 476 090 and see what’s on offer for you and your boat. Just as their adverts says; any boat, any waters, any use, anywhere.

GREAT SERVICE: The team from Edward William Marine Services.


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FOOD & DRINK

Mallorca’s best guide to local restaurants

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Advertising feature

A real taste of home at El Elefante in Portals Nous

M

EL is the new English owner of El Elefante a café/ bar/restaurant in Portals Nous situated in Portals Plaza on the left hand side as you go down the stairs. Formerly known as Akbars, it serves traditional English food, such as bangers and mash, Sunday Roasts, home-made pies, liver and onions, lasagne, fish and chips using the best Grimsby fish and done in beer batter. In fact everything anyone would want to be reminded of England. And to ensure top quality, everything is freshly cooked with the best ingredients. Mel has been in Mallorca just over eight years and back in the UK worked for the same employer for 25 years as a licensee, running a nightclub which had a café and bar, and various pubs and bars. When he first arrived in Mallorca he ran a bar, in Son Caliu, and was there for eight years. The name El Elefante came from his love and fascination of elephants, he has seen them in zoos and animal parks in the UK, but his dream is to go and see them in their natural environment in Africa on a safari one day.

He will cater for parties, birthdays, christenings and anniversaries, as well as wedding receptions of up to 40 people. He always runs specials and promotions - at the moment he is running a Tuesdays Pensioners’ special. He has a three course set menu and a Sunday lunch special of three courses for €12.95 or two courses for €9.95. He has recently started a Wednesday night Fish and Chips special for only €9.95 and its Grimsby fish done in beer batter served with mushy peas and bread and butter, just how it should be!! In the very near future Mel will be starting to do traditional English Breakfasts including hash

EL ELEFANTE: A cafe/bar/ restaurant serving top quality freshly cooked food with the best ingredients. browns, black pudding, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans and mushrooms. He has a variation of beers to suit everybody including Estrella on tap, San Miguel, Heineken, San Miguel, John Smith, plus canned ciders Strongbow and Magners at €3 a can. Over the coming weeks Mel will also be starting themed nights so watch out for them! All English sports are shown, including football, cricket, rugby, F1 and Wimbledon tennis. El Elefante does have a special promotion running at the moment with a 10 per cent discount voucher off the menu.

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PROPERTY

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Highest flat is for sale

HIGH RISE: Apartments in Torre de Madrid. gym, parking and a doorman, to name but a few. Illustrious residents of the

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SPAIN’S highest flat is for sale. The duplex, on the 32nd floor of Torre de Madrid, a building in the Plaza de España in Madrid, is where Sofia Loren stayed while she was filming El Cid. The building is still in the process of being refurbished but flats between the 10th floor and the 14th floor are selling for anything between €400,000 and €825,000. The first 10 floors will be occupied by a five-star hotel. Torre de Madrid is the only skyscraper in the city to have flats and commercial premises for sale and they are going fast. The building was a symbol of modernity when it was built in the 1950s, not only for its height and the distribution of its space but mainly for the services that come as standard if you own a flat there: 24 hours security, a fully-equipped

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landmark building have included singer Loquillo and film-maker Luis Buñuel.

Rent state-protected empty houses call THE Junta de Andalucia’s Councillor for Public Works, Elena Cortes, has asked towns to put state protected houses up for rent. Her department sent letters to promoters, banks and councils in cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, as well as to presidents of provincial governments which have state protected houses empty. They were invited to make the properties available for rent to families who need them, with the aim of making sure that within a year,

there are no stateprotected houses empty. The Junta claims to have already done so with their own 638 stateprotected houses which were empty. However, unofficial reports suggest they may have up to 60,000 empty stateprotected homes. The Department of Public Works estimates there are some 5,620 new houses which have been built with public funds in the possession of town halls, governments and promoters and it is unacceptable for them to be empty.


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PROPERTY

Barcelona Meeting Point

THE biggest buyers of Spanish real estate are other Europeans. Spain is in fashion among international investors, North Americans, Russians and Chinese principally but, recently, there has also been a lot of interest from other European nations. Last year real estate sales to foreigners rose by 36.6 per cent. Analyses of the fundamentals of the sector show that Spain is very competitive now that it is perceived to be coming out of the recession.

This increase in interest will be in evidence at the Barcelona Meeting Point (BMP) which is the main showcase of Spanish real estate in Europe. Enrique Lacalle, President of BMP, confirmed that this year they will continue to centre their attention on international investors, paying particular attention to other Europeans. Presidents of important international banks will be at BMP, among them the presidents of Goldman Sachs, AXA, HSBC Bank

and Benson Elliot. The BMP real estate fair will cater not only to them but also to their families as they try to court their business. The fair will take place between October 29 and November 2 and this year will feature ‘clusters’, which is a novel concept of clustering all the real estate agents from one area to meet with the investing agents from another area. In this way the Spanish market can learn to adapt itself better to the needs of the foreign investors.

Price is the most important factor PRICE is the most decisive factor when purchasing a home, according to a study by Via Celere estate agents. The second most important factor is location, followed by quality. According to the study, for a complex to be successful it should be in an area with schools and health centres, at a good price and have used good quality materials. Other factors which can guarantee success are good facilities in communal areas and facilities for payment. However, the study defines two types of buyers, those buying for the first time, and those who are relocating, who tend to be more demanding.


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GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email serena@eu roweeklynews.com for more details.

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WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)

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

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SITUATIONS VACANT KATMANDU PARK. Maintenance staff required. General technical knowledge required, good technical English, Spanish second language. We are looking for highly motivated people to join our Technical Team. Apply to tel: 616 777 881 / email tec@katmandupark.com (224537) www.euroweeklynews.com

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Rolls-Royce to honour Campbell ROLLS-ROYCE has unveiled its Waterspeed Collection Phantom Drophead Coupés in honour of power boat record breaker Sir Malcolm Campbell They feature a number of exclusively created bespoke design and engineering features, to create a contemporary tribute to Campbell’s famous Bluebird craft. The new car will be shown to the public for the first time at Concorso

D’Elegenza at Villa D’Este on the shores of one of Italy’s world-famous lakes, Como. It was on the adjacent Lake Maggiore where, on September 1, 1937, Campbell established his legend, setting a worldrecord speed of 126.33 mph in the famous Bluebird K3 boat powered by a Rolls-Royce R Engine. The car is finished in a specially developed ‘Maggiore Blue’ exterior paint, inspired by Bluebird’s famous colour scheme.

“

This very special motor car serves to pay a perfect homage to my grandfather’s remarkable acts of British daring and endeavour,” said Donald Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell. “The extraordinary attention to detail and commitment to engineering excellence so evident in these motor cars perfectly echoes the lengths my grandfather and his colleagues went to in their pursuit of the waterspeed records.”

Nine layers of paint are applied before an exhaustive process of hand-sanding and the application of a cuttingedge powdered lacquer is

undertaken to ensure an impeccable finish. For the first time in RollsRoyce history the exterior finish extends to the engine, creating a visually striking homage to the power behind Campbell’s records. The finish also adorns the car’s specially developed, fully-polished 11-spoke wheels for the first time, providing a subtle decorative accent. The exterior is completed with a handpainted coachline that culminates in a Bluebird

motif with the design taking Rolls-Royce’s master coachline painter four hours to apply by hand. Phantom Drophead Coupé’s traditional teak decking to the rear makes way for brushed steel. Each piece of material is individually panel-beaten by hand for 70 hours following initial mechanical pressing. A Rolls-Royce craftsperson will then hand-brush the metal for over 10 hours showcasing the fastidious attention to detail and commitment to hand-

craftsmanship. that informs everything undertaken at the Home of Rolls-Royce. The car’s Maggiore Blue exterior finish is subtly echoed on the interior via accents on the dashboard that perfectly complement the Windchill Grey interior leather scheme. The marque’s hallmark attention to detail extends to the application of handengraved door armrest tunnel caps featuring a new interpretation of Campbell’s famous Bluebird motif. The armrests alone take eight hours to complete. Abachi wood also makes its Rolls-Royce debut in Waterspeed. By nature the material is cool to the touch with a satin-like tactility, and is bookmatched at an angle to echo the wake left by a boat moving at speed.


BOATING

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RCNP team wins Toni Ferrer Memorial Trophy MARIA BOVER, sailor with the Palma Royal Nautical Club (RCNP) team won the Toni Ferrer Memorial Trophy, celebrated last week, in the 420 class. She was partnered by Clara Llabres from the Arenal Nautical Club (CNA). Together they managed a comfortable victory, winning three of the six regattas sailed that day and gaining an advantage of 12 points over the second place which was occupied by national champions Paula Barcelo, from the CNA, and Margarita Alba, from the San Antonio Maritime Club (CMSAP). Third position went to Cata Homar and Maria Llabres, both from the CNA. Aina Bauza, also of the RCNP, classified in second position in the Laser

MARIA BOVER: In the 420 class. Radial regatta and got the highest place in the feminine competition. The lack of wind marked the last two weekends of the regatta and the rain and weak winds on the last Sunday of the event meant that the fleet could not go out and dispute the last leg of the regatta. The competition was organised by the Nautical Club S’Arenal and 15 craft

took part in the 420 class and another 15 in the Laser Radial.

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BOATING

Team Handisport compete in Ibiza THIS weekend Janna Mestre, of the Port d’Andratx Sailing Club (CVA), became the Balearic Adapted Sail champion in the Access class. The competition took place in the waters off Ibiza and was organised by the Santa Eulalia Nautical Club. Mari Carmen Garcia and Maximo Dominguez, both from the Palma Royal Nautical Club (RCNP) - Handisport Team, came in second and third places, respectively. Janna Mestre also became the independent champion in the doubles category partnered by her club companion Tolo Gelabert. Isaia Iglesias and Maximo Dominguez (CVA and RCNP respectively) came in second place followed by the Team RCNP Handisport formed by Miguel Angel Garcia and Angel Vega. Training three times a week for three hours all year round is the secret to their success and the reason why they were able to beat the other 15 crafts

MEMBERS: Team RCNP Handisport. that took part in the regatta, despite the 30 knot per hour gusts of wind which characterised the races. In the individual category there were four regattas between Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s races had to be suspended due to the lack of wind and strong rains.


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Glory for the Gunners, Saints and Atletico as season nears end Tony Matthews

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

Costa de Almeria

FOOTBALL ROUND-UP At last, after a nine-year wait, Arsenal have won a trophy! Last Saturday the Gunners, playing in their 18th final, came back from 2-0 down to beat Hull City 3-2 to lift the FA Cup for the 11th time. This was the first time since 1966, when Everton defeated Sheffield Wednesday, that a team has come back from a two-goal deficit and it’s only the second time in 25 years that five goals have been scored in a final. Congratulations also to St Johnstone who won the Scottish Cup for the first time in their 130-year history, beating Dundee United 2-0 at Celtic Park. Perth is rocking this week!

And here in Spain, Atletico Madrid gained the point they needed at the Nou Camp with a 1-1 draw to win the La Liga title for the tenth time ahead of Barcelona. And on Saturday Atletico have the chance to complete the double when they play city rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Lisbon. Also coming up we have the League play-off finals at Wembley when Derby play QPR for a place in the Premiership on Saturday, Leyton Orient meet Rotherham in FL1 on Sunday followed on Monday by Burton Albion v. Fleetwood Town, the latter having already won six promotions in 10 years. ROUND UP Marc Marquez (Spain) became the first rider in 42 years (and the youngest) since Giacomo Agostini in 1972, to win the opening five races of a season when he won the French MotoGP at Le Mans last Sunday. Valentine Rossi was

DID YOU KNOW?

LA LIGA: Atletico Madrid won the title for the tenth time ahead of Barcelona. second with Spaniard, Alvaro Bautista third. Later, Rafael Nadal, having beaten Andy Murray on clay (again), eventually lost to Novak Djokovic in the Madrid tennis final. Also in Spain, home favourite Miguel Angel Jimenez, with a brilliant final round, won the Open de Espana in Gerona. Sir Bradley Wiggins is back on track - winning the Tour of California race. UEFA has fined Manchester City £49

million (€60 million) for ‘breach of financial fair play rules’ and have also restricted the club’s Champions League squad to 21 players for next season. Former World F1 champion Sir Jack Brabham OBE has died in Australia at the age of 88. He won three titles, 1959, 1960 and 1966. COMING UP Today, England’s cricketers play Sri Lanka in the first ODI at The Oval (the second takes place next Wednesday at

Old Trafford) and the four-day PGA Championship starts at Wentworth (Virginia Water). Tomorrow night Bath play Northampton in Rugby’s Amlin Cup final at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, while 24 hours later Saracens meet Munster in the Heineken Cup final at the same venue. This Sunday, it’s the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco (Nico Rosberg won last year’s race); horse racing fans can gamble on the

Beach rugby tournament a success From Back Page Okehampton RFC took on Ballynahinch next and were out to enjoy themselves. Some of their girls team joined in after the half time break and were given plenty of opportunity to handle the ball. Final score was 25 to Okehampton, five for Ballynahinch RFC. The final match in the series between Okehampton RFC and the home team was a slightly more serious affair but the visitors, who had a generally younger team, finished just ahead with 19 points to 10. Both teams tackled and defended well but the speed of the visiting wing made the difference to the final score. All the visitors were impressed with the ‘Tercer tiempo’ barbecue

ACTION: From the Schools Tag Rugby Tournament. and entertainment after the match and agreed that it had been a great afternoon of rugby and cameraderie.

Two U16 teams from the island spent the weekend in Valladolid playing in the Spanish Championship for RC Ponent and the Clubs

National Championship for El Toro RC. RC Ponent finished in eighth place and though unsuccessful in improving on last year’s results in the tournament they enjoyed the experience and appreciation of their efforts in their matches. El Toro RC finished in eighth place in the Plate tournament of the Club Championship. They enjoyed the weekend and took the opportunity to play at a different level than used to. The end of the season is all but finished and most of the matches to be played in the next few weeks are against visiting teams. Saturday May 31 has another triangular tournament in Son Caliu. Kick off at 4pm and all spectators welcome.

THE Premiership’s longest-serving manager, Arsene Wenger, has been with Arsenal for 18 years. During that time he’s won the PL title three times and the FA Cup on five occasions while completing the double twice, and between his fourth and fifth Cup wins, 2005-14, Great Britain has had three Prime Ministers, one billion babies have been born, England’s cricketers won and lost the Ashes, Andy Murray won an Olympic gold medal and the men’s singles title at Wimbledon and rival manager Sir Alex Ferguson won 10 trophies with Manchester United. Irish 1,000 Guineas from the Curragh and the French Open Tennis Championship starts at Roland Garros in Paris (ending June 8). And don’t forget, the World Cup starts in 22 days time, on June 12, when host nation Brazil take on Croatia in Group A (10pm). Spain, in Group B, start their tournament against the Netherlands the following day (9pm) while England meet Italy in their opening Group D game on June 14 (midnight). The competition will run for four-anda-half weeks with the final taking place on July 13. OFFER I have for sale a few copies of my latest book ‘England in the World Cup’ signed by Bryan Robson OBE. They cost €15 and you can call me on 634 319 414 or 950 699 991 to reserve (buy) your copy.


56

E W N 22 - 28 May 2014 / Mallorca

SPORT

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Valentino Rossi Second in the French MotoGP at Le Mans. Turn to Page 55 TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

By Lynda Demangeat WITH 34 teams and 400 participants the first HM Palma Beach Rugby Tournament which took place over the past weekend was considered a resounding success. The event has taken its first steps to becoming a social rugby fixture in the European beach rugby circuit. During Saturday the classification matches for

the U18 and Senior men’s and women’s competitions took place and Sunday was the Family Day with the senior’s finals, school championship, rugby for the U6 to U14’s and family matches. The rain didn’t dampen spirits and players and spectators alike enjoyed the games and festivities in true rugby style; “with respect, companionship and fun.” Margaret Alphonsie,

BALEARES RUGBY FEDERATION (FBR)

1st Palma Beach Rugby Tournament

patron of the tournament and professional rugby player capped 70 times for England, expressed surprise at the number of players of all ages in Mallorca and congratulated the organisers on the excellent organisation of the event.

Trophies were presented to RC Ponent as winners of the Men’s competition; Caçadors de Mamuts who were winners of the Women’s event; El Toro RC who won the U18 trophy and to the youngsters of RC Ponent who won all the junior categories.

Two visiting teams joined El Toro RC on Saturday to participate in a triangular tournament in Son Caliu, players from Ballynahinch RFC from Northern Ireland and Okehampton RFC had been spending a few days in Mallorca with a rugby match as a good excuse!

BEACH RUGBY: Some of the competitors after the successful event. The first match between the home team and Ballynahinch RFC began with good intentions but El Toro RC proved to be the better team in all but the scrum and soon put some points on the board. The visiting Irish in their green shirts tried hard but they were no match for the locals passing skills and speed. The points after forty minutes was 33 to five with various players scoring tries, including a great run of nearly the whole pitch from Andreu ‘Gato’ Wurschmidt. Turn to Page 55


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Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 22 - 28 May 2014 Issue 1507 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A. - Issuu