Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 10 - 16 March 2016 Issue 1601 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

ISSUE NO. 1601

10 - 16 March 2016

MALLORCA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

Taxation but no representation? FIGHTING over the spoils of proposed tourist tax in the Balearic parliament By Matthew Elliott The controversial tourist tax planned for Mallorca was the subject of a row in the Balearic parliament as local party Mes proposed that some €5 million of the revenue be used to fund social housing for the elderly. The notion sparked furore among tourists, residents and other parties who believe that, should the tax be levied, the funds should at the very least be used for touristic purposes. Despite the hurdle, it is expected that the main parties will come to an agreement and pass the law before Easter, meaning tourists arriving from June onwards will be expected to pay between €1 and €2 per day throughout their stay. The proposals have been heavily criticised by the tourism industry and will doubtlessly be grudgingly accepted by visitors who may

look elsewhere unless the anticipated €50 million plus revenue is ploughed into tourist infrastructure. Left wing party Podemos has demanded that the tax be used primarily to sustain and improve the island’s ecology and environment. There is also dispute as to how much of the treasure trove is split between the islands, the extent it should change between seasons, and what the cap should be. Whatever the conclusion, millions of British and German tourists will be expecting more value for their money.

Just Palma THE Balearic government has come out in favour of amending local laws to allow a parliamentary bill proposing that Mallorca’s capital city change its name from Palma de Mallorca to Palma. Government spokesperson Marc Pons explained the Balearic Parliament had accepted the processing of the bill presented by Palma city hall and agreed to pass it through urgently. The idea has proven highly controversial among residents with passionate arguments from both sides of the fence.

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LOCAL NEWS

Viewing area for Inca procession PEOPLE with reduced mobility will have a space reserved during the Easter processions of Inca. A special area located in the Pla z a d e l a L i b e rta d

will be fenced off for the processions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday allo w in g th o s e in w h ee lchairs to have a front row seat.

Escaped male burglar NATIONAL POLICE have detained a 19-year-old male for stealing a computer from a secondary school in Palma. It was discovered that he had escaped from the Es Pinaret juvenile centre. After the boy appeared before the police court on theft charges, he was taken back to the juvenile facility.

TV viewing time TELEVISION viewing time in Spain per person for the month of February was four hours and 11 minutes per day. According to data from Kantar Media, this is four

minutes less than last month and 11 minutes down from February 2015. Baleares is the region with the most viewing done through satellites.

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NEWS

A hotter and drier spring than normal RAINFALL expected to be below average in the east and south By Sandra Galo ELTIEMPO.ES predicts that this spring will be hotter and drier than normal in the Balearics. Seasonal predictions are made through a comparative study to determine what is normal during a given time of the year. By comparing the data normally recorded during the springtime, it has been determined that the average temperature in Spain for the three months of March, April and May is 13.6ยบC. Using that information, Meteorologist Mar Gomez explained that they forecast above-average temperatures that will affect all of Spain, but especially the eastern and central areas of the mainland and the Balearic Islands where temperatures may be between 1 and 2ยบC above the average. Higher-than-normal temperatures are also expected in general throughout all of Europe.

flickr by Eva Lorente

SPRINGTIME: Forecast to be hotter and drier than usual. Rainfall is predicted to be below average in the east and south of Spain as

well as all of the western Mediterranean basin including the Balearic Islands.

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Featured News 3

Finance 23 - 30

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Improving safety for cyclists in Mallorca EIGHT of the improvements will be of municipal roads on the island By Sandra Galo

Stocks 24

Leapy Lee 31

Legally Speaking 32

Daily TV 34

Letters 36

Vicki McLeod 38

Time Out 39 - 42

Our View 44

Colin Bird 44

Health & Beauty 46 - 47

Social Scene 49 - 51

Property 52 - 54

Homes & Gardens 55

Classifieds 56 - 57

Pets 58

Boats 59

Motoring 60

Sport 62, 64

THE Council of Mallorca has developed a plan to make bicycle paths in Mallorca safer for cyclists. In total, 40 improvements are planned which are expected to be completed over the course of the next few years. Of the 40, 32 will be improvements to the main road network. Eight of the improvements will be of municipal roads and agreements will need to be reached with the various municipalities to carry them out. This year, plans have been made to improve the bicycle routes on the Ma-10 (Valldemossa-Esporles) and the Ma1041 (Puigpunyent-Establecimientos, starting from the turn-off to Calvia). Other improvements of vari-

flickr by Circula Seguro

BICYCLE PATHS: Improvements will be made for cyclistsâ€™ safety. ous pathways will be made each year ending in 2019. According to Vice-president and councillor for Culture, Her-

itage and Sports Francisco Miralles, the intention is to prioritise the safety of cyclists, promote sport on the island and focus

more on cycle tourism as an important economic factor which lengthens the tourist season on the island.

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Airports expected to beat records CAUSE of boom is due to diverted flights from other countries AROUND 39 million passengers are destined to come to the Balearic Islands for the 2016 summer season according to Eurocontrol. The data provided by airlines to Eurocontrol (the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation) shows the number is 4.1 million more in comparison to last year. The huge volume of traffic is set to beat all records from April to September of last year at Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan airport. An increase near 6 per cent is expected at Palma’s airport with Ibiza and Menorca predicted to have even higher increases of passengers. An 11 per cent rise from March to October is expected for Ibiza with Menorca expecting to register an increase of 10 per cent. The cause of this boom is due to the fact that tour operators have diverted

flickr by Lars SØnderby Lang

By Sandra Galo

PALMA AIRPORT: Expects to see more passengers this summer. many of their flights for Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia to the Balearic Islands and

other Spanish destinations because of terrorist concerns.

‘Work shuttle’ employment programmes for young people AS of March, 25 unemployed young people in Mallorca will receive help through a Work Shuttle (‘Lanzadera de Empleo’) programme. The programme is an innovative way of helping the unemployed learn skills in a team with the help of a coach. It is open to men up to 29 years of age and women up to the age of 34. Those registered in Palma will have preference, but it will also be open to neighbouring areas for all young people with a basic education including those with vocational training,

diplomas and university degrees. Participation is open to people from all different backgrounds, with or without experience including those with special difficulties for entering the labour force. At the signing of the agreement between the city of Palma, Telefonica Foundation and the Santa Maria la Real Foundation, Palma Mayor Jose Hila said that in Palma 3,255 young people under the age of 25 were unemployed in January which represents 11 per cent of unem-

ployed jobseekers registered in the SOIB (Service of Occupation of the Balearic Islands). He lamented that although the numbers are declining each year, they are still too high and added the Balearics ‘must continue to work to improve this difficult situation.’ Those interested in participating in the Work Shuttle programme have up until April 7 to register and can sign up at www.lanzaderasdeempleo.es or at Calle del Socors nº22 and Calle Gerreria nº 8 from 9am to 2pm.

Vueling low-cost Easter flights VUELING Airlines is offering a total of 24 national and international direct flights from the Balearic Islands. During ‘Semana Santa’ (Holy Week) this service which includes eight new flights will be offered from the airport of Mallorca as well as the airports of Menorca and Ibiza. From Mallorca, domestic connections include one weekly flight to Asturias and

three weekly flights to Santiago de Compostela. The airline will also add a weekly international direct flight to Cardiff from Palma. These flights will be added to Vueling’s normal routes to Alicante, Bilbao, Granada, Malaga, Sevilla, Munich and Paris (Orly) with eight daily flights equalling up to 12 destinations between March 20 and 28.

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Equality Act approval THE Regional government has approved a bill of the Balearic Islands Equality Act which will come into effect this year. The law includes ‘economic violence’ which is defined as the refusal to pay alimony as one of six types of gender violence. The law considers it an act of violence when alimony payments are not made as a way to control and mistreat women economically and recognises the right of women to receive the same support and benefits that abuse victims receive.

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NEWS

Businesses want rules for hawkers TOWN HALL intend to carry out integration measures By Sandra Galo BUSINESSES want the Palma City Council to place more controls on peddling. This issue is especially troubling since the Balearic Superior Court (TSJIB) recently annulled a controversial civic ordinance. According to the president of the Balearic Federation of Commerce Entrepreneurs (Afedeco) Rafael Ballester, there must be some kind of regulation regarding hawkers because businesses that pay taxes are unprotected against this type of illegal trade. Sources from the town hall explained that the government hadn’t planned to a pprove a s pe c ific ordinance because street ped-

HAWKER: Selling sunglasses on the street. dling is already prohibited by state regulations and that it be lie ve s tha t the re a re some issues that should not

be regulated. The intention of the town hall is to instead carry out integration measures through

PalmaActiva (a local development agency) to help peddlers leave illegal trade and mafia networks.

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NEWS

Rubbish collection violations in Palma

GOVERNMENT has started a campaign to monitor infractions By Sandra Galo FORTY-FIVE official complaints have been filed for violations involving the collection of rubbish. At a press conference regarding rubbish collection, both mayor of Palma, Jose Hila and President of Emaya, Neus Truyol reported the non-compliance problem of rubbish pick-up that the city is currently facing. A total of 34 individuals and 11 companies have been fined in the last six weeks for leaving rubbish in the streets during times or days when there is no pick up or leaving out items that cannot be collected including domestic appliances, sanitary waste and debris from buildings. Both Mayor Hila and Truyol highlighted the key collaboration of ASIMA (the Industrial Association of Mallorca) for their contribution to the monitoring of waste in the business parks of Son Castello and Can Valero. They also appealed to citizens to comply with regulations and to be aware of

flickr by Juan Antonio CapĂł Alonso

COREA BARRIO: Rubbish left out on the street gives Palma a bad image. the importance of maintaining a clean city. Hila and Truyol were joined by the president and the director of ASIMA (Francesc Martorell and Alejandro Saenz de San Pedro respectively) who stressed the importance of collaborating with Emaya to ensure

that Son Castello and Can Valero are not forgotten and in making the public aware of the importance of keeping the areas clean. They explained that the government has started a campaign to monitor infractions.

Major operation against steroid trafficking by National Police THE National Police Drug Unit and Organised Crime division is conducting a major operation in Mallorca against the trafficking of anabolic steroids. The operation started in the early hours of Monday morning (March 7) with the collaboration of police from the Spanish mainland. Police simultaneously searched more than 14 private homes, shops and gyms in different parts of the island. The main activity was centred at a luxury chalet in the village of Son Ferrer located in the munici-

pality of Calvia, where officers arrested the ringleader after making a search of his house where they found a vehicle worth more than â‚Ź350,000. More than 12 people have been arrested including the president of the Balearic IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) Javier Sbert who has been president of the federation for five years. Some local bodybuilders as well as a Guardia Civil officer have also been arrested.

Palma burglar is caught NATIONAL POLICE have arrested a 24year-old Moroccan male on burglary charges. The man was arrested on Thursday (M a rc h 3) for the the ft of t hr ee r esi dences in Palma which occurred on April 10 and 20 of last year on Calles Lluis M a rti a nd Sa ntue ri a n d anot her l ast month on Calle Joan Miro. Two of the home s w e re e mpty a t t he t i m e of t he

crime while the third burglary occurred with the residents inside. The suspect had been detained in February for petty theft, but was later released. He had not had any prior record. However, officers suspected that he may have been responsible for the burglaries in Palma and continued to investigate. Stolen items included two computers, a video camera, jewellery and watches.

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NEWS

Women in the Balearics find employment faster AVERAGE time it takes to find a job is 13.4 months By Sandra Galo WOMEN living in the Balearic Islands take less time in finding work compared to women in the rest of Spain. According to a report by Adecco, the average period of time it takes unemployed women in the Balearics to find a job is 13.4 months. This is 4.6 months less than the national average of 18 months. The report shows that of the 49,500 female jobseekers in the Balearics, more than 14,000 have been looking for a job for more than two years (28.5 per cent versus the national average of 44 per cent). To this group, 7,600 women who have been without work for between one and two years must be added. An inverse relationship exists between age and unemployment. The older a person is, the lower the unemployment rate and vice versa. The average rate of unemployment for all of the islands is 17.3 per cent, but for those between the ages of 16 and 19, it reaches close to 68 per cent. In regards to education, women in the

Credit: flickr by Monaworld

WORKING: Women find employment faster in the Balearics. Balearics with more education (those with university degrees), have an unemployment rate of 9.6 per cent which is the lowest in Spain. Of women working in the Balearics, 83 per cent are salaried employees and 16.1

per cent are entrepreneurs (the secondhighest number in the country). There is a small group of 2,000 women (0.8 per cent) who are members of cooperatives, work in the family business or do volunteer work.

The sale of alcoholic drinks prohibited in certain areas THE Palma City Council has prohibited the sale of alcoholic drinks in certain conflictive areas of the city. Those in violation of the ordinance can face fines of up to €3,000. The areas in question are parts of Playa de Palma, Can Pastilla, El Jonquet, Paseo Maritimo, Son Armadams, Plaza Gomila and El Terreno. According to a press release from the City Council, the measure is part of the ordinance regulating the civic use of public spaces and prohibits the sale of alco-

holic beverages in business establishments, vending machines, or through peddlers from midnight until eight o’clock in the morning. Mayor of Palma, Jose Hila and councillor of Public Safety Angelica Pastor presented the initiative during the Public Safety board meeting held at the headquarters of the Local Police and attended by the heads of the Local Police, National Police and the Civil Guard as well as representatives of the Balearic government.

More help for farmers to cope with drought THE Balearic government announced an increase in help to alleviate the effects of the drought. Spokesperson for the Balearic government Marc Pons announced that €1.8 million from the contingency fund will go to the Department of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries to help ease the effects of the drought.

A modification of credit that the Agricultural and Fishing Guarantee Fund manages will also be processed. These measures are the result of concern due to the drought of recent months which has caused a decrease in food for animals as well as causing an increase in pests and diseases of livestock and which threatens the viability of farmers.

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NEWS EXTRA

17th comp BALEARICS synchronised swimming champions from CampusEsport travelled to Torrevieja in Alicante to participate in the 17th Winter Synchronised Swimming Championship for young people on March 4 and 5.

Man falls A 42-YEAR-OLD man lost his balance and fell off the Sa Reira bridge near Sa Feixina Park in the early hours of Saturday morning (March 5) while horsing about with some friends.

Car crash A CAR making a U-turn in the wrong direction caused a collision at the exit of the tunnel linking the Avenidas with Calle Aragon. Two women passengers were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries.

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Doctors travel to Menorca and Ibiza COST of transporting patients is covered by Health department By Sandra Galo MEDICAL specialists from Mallorca’s Son Espases Hospital are travelling to the islands of Menorca and Ibiza to treat patients there. Last year the system of sending doctors to treat patients on their own islands, avoided the need to bring 1,559 patients to Mallorca. The consultations in general, were related to vascular, paediatric and plastic surgery as well as neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery. All of these services are currently only available in the hospital of Son Espases in Palma. Last year doctors from Son Espases travelled to Ibiza’s Can Missas Hospital for 539

SON ESPASES: Medical experts from the hospital are travelling to the other islands. first-visit consultations with 772 successive visits. Menorca’s Mateu Orfila hospital received doctors from Son Espases who gave

195 first-visit consultations. The Health Department covers the cost of transporting patients to the referral hospital, so sending doctors

to the patients is a more efficient method of treating patients and is more comfortable for patients and their families.

NEWS

Lack of allergy specialists THE Balearics is the only autonomous community in Spain which hasn’t got allergy specialists working in the public health system. According to the Spanish Society of Allergy and Immunology Clinic (SEAIC), despite the commitment made by the Health Council to create an allergy service in the Balearic Health system, to date nothing has been done. The SEAIC also pointed out that on October 19 of 2005, Parliament urged the Balearic government to give sufficient coverage to allergology in its health services. Although not included in the public health system, allergology services are offered in private clinics on the islands. Allergies affect around 30 per cent of the population on the islands.

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A failed burglary THIEVES inadvertently broke a water pipe causing damage OFFICERS from the National Police are investigating an attempted burglary of the Carrefour shopping centre located in Palma’s General Riera Street. The botched burglary took place in the early hours of the morning of Balearic Day, taking advantage of the fact the centre would be closed for the day. The thieves were able to get past the main wall and enter the building, but as they were attempting to make a hole in the wall, they inadvertently

flickr by Jens Best

By Sandra Galo

CARREFOUR A botched burglary caused water damage in the Palma store. broke a water pipe and had to hastily leave the building.

Because security guards took a long time in realising there had

been an attempted break-in, there was a lot of water damage.

NEWS

Education document is signed THE President of the Balearic government joined other executive branch officials in signing a document as the starting base for a political agreement regarding education. According to Illes per un Pacte (Islands for a Pact), the group which drafted the document, the main objective of the Pact, as it is called, is to ensure t he st abi l i t y of t he educat i onal syst em i n t he Balearics so that it ‘doesn’t depend on the political situation of the moment.’ Illes per un Pacte is a platform joined by 80 different organisations working for better education in the islands. In her speech addressing this topic Balearic President Armengol called for ‘a respectful education with our identity’ that ‘shapes questioning citizens’ and promotes language learning. The document will be sent to the Balearic School Council and then debated in Parliament.

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Streetlights to be improved WORK includes fitting new LED lighting

STREETLIGHTS: In the city will be upgraded. By Sandra Galo THE town hall of Palma will spend €21.7 million to improve the streetlights of the city. Councillor for Infrastructure and Accessibility Rodrigo A Romero pointed out that the initiative will affect some 25,000 lights in the city during the 2015-2019 period. This will be accomplished with the fi-

nancial help of the Regional Development Fund (FEDER) of the European Union which will fund half of the amount. During the 2008-2015 period, 7,969 lighted areas were improved representing an 18.13 per cent of the total spending (€903,000) and should amount to 51 per cent in savings on electricity consumption. According to Romero, this will result in annual sav-

ings of more than €1 million. Work includes replacing obsolete technology with new LED lighting, adjusting lighting and power to more adequate levels according to Energy Efficiency Regulations and eliminating obstacles which interfere with lighting. The initiative is aimed primarily at outlying neighbourhoods which are considered the ‘most needy.’

NEWS

Mallorcans on Forbes richest list TWO Mallorcans appear in Forbes Magazine’s list of the world’s richest people. The annual Forbes listing includes 20 Spaniards, two of whom are Mallorcan hoteliers. Miguel Fluxa of Iberstar is 906 on the list of billionaires with a fortune of two billion US dollars. The company started in the leather industry of Inca and later diversified into travel agencies and hotels. Iberstar now has more than 100 hotels in Spain, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Ranked at 1,367 with a fortune of 1.3 billion dollars is Gabriel Escarrer Julia who founded Melia Hotels in 1956. Melia has more than 300 hotels in some 35 countries. Spaniard Amancio Ortega, co-founder of Zara, is second on the Forbes list with a fortune of around 67 billion US dollars and is just behind American Bill Gates who continues in first position for the third consecutive year with his fortune of 75 billion dollars.

Man fires blank gun at farmer THE Guardia Civil arrested a German citizen in Capdepera for shooting a farmer in the face with a blank pistol. The incident took place on Saturday (March 5) and occurred during an argument over money he owed the victim. According to judicial sources, the 60-year-old German met the farmer, aged 70, on some land in the area. The farmer reminded him that he owed him some money. At some point, the German man pulled out the blank gun, pointed it to the head of the victim and fired. The detonation burned the farmer’s corneas and left him stunned and unable to see well. The German national fled the scene but was later located at his house. He was detained by police and hours later was taken to court in Manacor.

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Help for Greek’s refugees MALLORCA is collaborating with the Greek island of Chios to help with the refugee crisis the island is now facing by offering ‘technical and economic cooperation.’ Council of Mallorca President Miquel Ensenyat’s administration was the first to meet with authorities on the island of Chios to help in the crisis. Ensenyat announced his plans to raise funds in Mallorca by contacting companies, trade unions, employers, schools and municipalities to determine the numbers of people willing to volunteer their time and skills to help with the crisis in Greece.

Boy creates and stars in a video against bullying BEATEN throughout his school years By Clemente Ferrer HIS name is Luke Culhane, he is an Irishman who at only 13-years-old has created, produced and edited an excellent campaign, where he is also leading actor. The video, which is two and a half minutes long, tells the story of a child, and a tough fight against their harassers through social networks. With the hashtag ‘#CreateNoHate’ Culhane wanted to transform his bad experience into helping other children who are in the same situation. With a clean photograph, a clear message and a clear look, this child does an excellent anti-bullying advertising campaign. Thus, every insult he received on his mobile or computer becomes a hit, a cut or a scar. Shocking images based on a true story that serves as an example of strength and how social networks can be transformed from a destructive weapon to a platform of great persuasive power.

Cyberbullying is the use of electronic information and digital media such as e-mails, social networks, blogs, texts, mobile phones and defamatory websites to harass a person by personal attacks. The famous actor Tom Cruise is more susceptible than others, since he had a difficult childhood. He went to 15 different schools as his family home changed many times. Throughout his school years he was beaten and teased by his peers for his dyslexia. In his recent remarks to the magazine Parade he says he suffered harassment from his schoolmates. In recent years we have witnessed a remarkable increase in cases of bullying in schools and out of them among increasingly younger children. This is a social problem of the first order we must tackle through education and social awareness. Although these situations are increasingly being denounced, there are still many who for fear of worse consequences silently endure a constant and permanent humiliation.

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Flu cases reaching epidemic levels THE cases of flu registered in the Balearics continue to rise to epidemic levels. According to the latest report from the Carlos III Health Institute, the flu has reached epidemic levels in the islands, although it seems the rise is less pronounced than last season. The predominant virus for this year continues to be type A (82 per cent) with 18 per cent of cases corresponding to type B.

The increase in cases of flu has also caused an increase in older patients being treated, many of which are chronically ill with respiratory diseases and have to be admitted to the hospitalsâ€™ intensive care units which have seen a recent surge of activity. On Sunday February 6, a total of 1,244 people were admitted to the intensive care units of hospitals on the islands.

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NEWS

Hotels to create up to 6,000 new jobs THE start of the season is looking very optimistic By Sandra Galo THE Mallorcan Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) plans to create between 5,500 and 6,000 new jobs this tourist season. According to the president of FEHM Inmaculada Benito, these new positions are due to the expected boom in tourism forecasted for this year. Benito added that the start of the season is looking very optimistic and hotels have already begun the hiring process ahead of schedule. Given the growing demand because of the current economic situation, the hotel industry has decided to create these jobs to give tourists the best quality and service they can starting from this month up until the end of October. Hoteliers believe that this year will be an exceptional year for tourism since Mallorca has become a haven for European holidaymakers avoiding the possibility of jihadist terrorism in Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt. She also explained that investments made

flickr by quimby

HOTEL BARS: Will hire more employees to offer clients a better quality service. in hotels towards modernisation are being highly valued by tour operators. It is expected that more than 55 per cent of hotels will be open in March and occu-

pancy levels will rise progressively during this month. The increase of tourist arrivals to the island in April will result in almost 85 per cent of hotels opening.

NEWS

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Shearwater could become extinct By Sandra Galo A STUDY published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, has stated that the Balearic shearwater could become extinct in approximately 60 years. The study included the participation of the SEO/BirdLife and other Spanish and British

institutions. In 2004, a demographic study of the Group of the Ecology of Population of the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (CSIC-UIB) announced the decline of the species and the possibility of extinction in a few decades. The study was prompted by an update of the Red Book of

Michael Douglasâ€™s property fire CONTROLLED burning was the cause of a fire on the property owned by Michael Douglas known as Sâ€™Estaca in the Port of Valldemossa. The caretaker, who had been burning areas in a controlled manner, left the property after checking that

the fire was extinguished. However, it appears that the prevailing wind rekindled the fire during the night and around 9am an alarm was sounded. The flames were extinguished after an hour and a half of difficult conditions due to the strong winds and the steep terrain.

Birds in Spain. After the publication of the book, Birdlife International quickly labelled the bird as endangered. In the study, the exact causes of the decline of the shearwater were unknown but the main problem consisted in abnormally low adult survival rates.

College owner is arrested THE owner of King Richard III College in Portals Nous who was arrested for alleged child abuse has been set free with charges. The 72-year-old businessman was detained in his house in Santa Ponsa. Officers searched his home and his office at the school. He is accused of sexually abusing his daughter, now 50 years old, over the course of many years.

EWN

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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

COSTA DEL SOL

Bulgarian fair comes to Marbella EVENT also included folklore presentations and exhibition of religious icons COSTA DEL SOL

MARBELLA residents got a little taste of Bulgaria on Sunday March 6, thanks to the National Bulgarian Fair, which took place in the Glorieta de la Fontanilla. Visitors feasted on traditional Bulgarian dishes, marvelled at fascinating folklore presentations, explored the exhibition of religious icons or simply browsed the bazaar of typical Bulgarian objects. The fair was made possible thanks to the col l abor at i on of t he t own council and the Marbella-Bulgaria A s s o ci at i on, a non- pr of i t ent i t y which hopes to encourage knowledge of Bulgarian traditions and culture.

MARBELLA: Visitors feasted on traditional Bulgarian dishes.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

AXARQUÍA

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Easter donations

Barely shaken

Football news

Injured women

THE Fountain Bar in Dolores is collecting Easter Eggs for the children at the Elche Children’s Home. Donations into the Easter box are welcomed.

BAÑERES recently registered a 2.2 magnitude earth tremor although few were aware of it as it occurred at 4.33am. The epicentre was located halfway between Bañeres and Beneixama at a depth of 14 kilometres.

YOUNG football cadet Jorge Carrion Hernandez from La Herradura, has been called up by the Granada football selection to take part in the 31st Cadet and Juvenile Championships of Andalucia, held in Chiclana, Jerez and Cadiz province.

A DRAMATIC four-car crash took place on March 5 near La Mojonera, leaving seven women injured. The women, between the ages of 21 and 60, were taken to the Hospital de Poniente in El Ejido.

Equal rights

Language centre

VALENCIA CITY marked International Women’s Day with its first twogender traffic lights. The walk and don’t walk icons showing both a woman and a man now advise pedestrians in Calle Xativa, near the bullring.

LA HERRADURA’S Las Gaviotas primary school is to become one of 10 new public bilingual education centres for the 2016-2017 school year. The bilingual programmes will form part of the Andalucian multilingual plan’s aim to achieve more than 1,500 bilingual centres.

Disabled centre ADIS has opened the doors of its new centre in Orihuela for the disabled. It will serve 20 people with disabilities and situations of dependency aged from 16 to 65.

New girls LOS MONTESINOS is screening the documentary ‘New Girls, 24 hours’ in the auditorium as part of the events to mark International Women’s Day. The film on trafficking in women was nominated for a Goya award.

Memorial cup FIREFIGHTERS from Valencia won a memorial football match in Orihuela which is held every year in memory of firefighters who were killed in an accident.

Half marathon LOCAL resident Alberto Gonzalez Conesa and British expat Rachael Rozhdestvenskaya were the overall winners of the 23 Half Marathon of the City of Cartagena. More than 1,800 runners took part.

Madrid meeting ESTELA MENACHES, councillor and Compromis spokeswoman at Callosa d’en Sarria Town Hall attended the first 2016 meeting of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) in Madrid. Menaches is the Compromis party’s first FEMP representative.

Online registry IT is now possible to register a birth at Francesc de Borja hospital in Gandia which has introduced an online link to the Civil Register. The parents later receive official confirmation either by email or post.

NEWS

Cervantes city book VELEZ-MALAGA was converted into a city-book on March 4 and home to the commemoration of the fourth century of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, whereby some of the streets were transformed into gigantic pages in which quotes appeared which were taken from the book ‘El Quijote.’

Nerja museum THE Nerja Museum has unveiled a new exhibition featuring the work of renowned sculptor Luis Manuel Garcia Cruz. The show includes 40 sculptures, modelled in terracotta and bronze, as well as numerous drawings and collages.

For more local news from our five other regions see www.euroweeklynews.com

Special weekend THE younger residents of Albox enjoyed their own special event during the first weekend in March which was organised by the council and took place over three days in the Plaza de San Francisco.

Hunting negligence A FOREST fire that occurred in the Rioja area of Almeria was caused by negligence related to hunting. Plan Infoca, a forest fire prevention and control service, released the information on its Twitter account.

Robber arrested A 20-YEAR-OLD allegedly broke into a property after climbing the fire escape and made off with a number of items. Following his arrest in Cuevas del Almanzora, the man told the police where he had hidden the stolen goods.

Hidden record A LOCAL POLICE Officer from VelezRubio has been sentenced to pay a fine of €10 per day for three months after he concealed he had a criminal record for drunk driving when he joined the police.

Estepona fire ON MARCH 5, at the busiest time on a Saturday afternoon, a firm of demolition experts started to pull down the old Cafeteria Real building on Calle Real. Despite all of their precautions, something went wrong and the building caught fire. The fire brigade was called to extinguish the flames.

Theatre news THE Culture department in Marbella Council has prepared a series of activities to celebrate World Theatre Day on March 27. In fact the festivities began on March 5 and will culminate with a performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Ciudad de Marbella theatre.

Rubbish strike THE streets of Malaga are litter-alley overflowing with waste as the rubbish strike continues into the second week. New fears that this strike could be a repeat of the situation which occurred in December 2013 are mounting like the rubbish.

Cigarette scam A MAN in Malaga City has been reported to be offering sealed cartons of cigarettes after pleading that he needs money at reduced prices. When the cartons are opened, rather than containing packets of cigarettes, they are found to contain polystyrene into which large nails have been inserted to add weight.

Sports success THE sports facilities in Torremolinos have attracted a total of 600 international athletes belonging to 30 teams of different nationalities in February alone. Great quality facilities and good weather have helped raise an impressive €54,000 for the Torremolinos Sports Department.

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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NEWS

RUSSIAN P RESS

Bleak but beautiful Credit Weird Russia.com

CAPTURES a sad, melancholic atmosphere

TIME IN BETWEEN: A new collection of Russian photographs. A NEW collection of photographs from across Russia by photographer Frank Herfort have been released and are called ‘Time in Between - Fairy Tale of Russia.’ His photo series captures a very sad, melancholic atmosphere of daily life in Russia. It seems like the environment is almost too peaceful and too quiet.

Don’t isolate us WESTERN attempts to exclude Russia from shaping European and global affairs have led to countless historical tragedies over the centuries, according to Moscow’s foreign minister, who added lasting stability can only be reached through cooperation. Any attempts to isolate Moscow as a major world power have Evgen y Srib nyjj / Shutte rstock .com

Putin popular RUSSIA’S president is enjoying popularity in Syria like never before. The reason for this might be the anti-terror mission of Russian forces. These forces were invited by Syria’s president Assad and have lasted since September 30 of last year. Above all, Russia supports Syria by providing humanitarian aid so that Syria can re-establish itself.

PUTIN: Popular in Syria like never before.

led to historical defeats and countless deaths, he said.

Nuclear power A NUCLEAR power propulsion system could propel a manoeuvrable spacecraft to Mars in just over a month, a huge step forward from the current 18 months required. Russia might test a nuclear engine as early as 2018, the head of the Rosatom nuclear corporation revealed.

Russian pilots MARIA SACHAROWA, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, is correcting Mr Erdogan’s words concerning the murder of the Russian pilot. Erdogan should put his words in the correct order, because it was Russia that lost two pilots because of Turkey, and not the other way around. Earlier, Mr Erdogan had sent some soft messages in the direction of Russia.

Aim for stars ASTEROID-SEEKING missiles could be ready in as little as 20 years, Russian scientists say. The Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau, which specialises in longrange ballistic missiles, has developed a project to upgrade its fleet - and aims to be ready for target practice on Apophis, an asteroid due to pass Earth in 2036.

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10 - 16 March 2016

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3.8 per cent is the drop in GDP for 2015 of Brazil which was worse than any of the other major world economies according to their national statistics agency IBGE.

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

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

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Ortega is the second richest man

Problems at Barclays Bank

ACCORDING to Forbes magazine’s new rich list

DESPITE having divested itself of its Spanish and Portuguese operations, Barclays Bank finds itself with a drop in profits, a need to cut dividend and a very poor position in Africa where it is desperate to sell the bulk of its investments. Shares fell after the bank revealed its 2015 profits, even though they were only down by 2 per cent over 2014 at £5.5 billion (€7 billion), but it also has to make provisions of £1.45 billion (€1.88 billion).

By John Smith EVERY year Forbes magazine produces its list of the richest people in the world and according to them, Amancio Ortega, owner of Inditex which includes the Zara Group, is the second richest man in the world

Quote of the Week

€68 billion is the estimated value of the worth of Bill Gates of Microsoft according to Fortune Magazine.

with a personal fortune estimated at just under €61 billion. He is now catching up with the richest man, Bill Gates of Microsoft. There is then a very long space between the number two spot and number 178, the

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Brexit does not only affect your country but our country.” Steffen Kampeter politician and CEO of the Confederation of German Employers’ Association.

Photo Credit Maly Designer

BUSINESS EXTRA

Airport sale stalls IT is reported that just two offers were received by the deadline for the Ciudad Real Airport of €55 million and €200 million, whilst the estimated cost was in excess of €1 billion.

Pizza profit

EROSKI: Wants to sell 36 of their stores around Spain.

Supermarket sales AS part of its programme of disposing of supermarket properties that do not fit in with its development plans, Basque-based Eroski wants to sell 36 stores around Spain, including two in Mallorca, to Carrefour for €205 million. The stores involved are con-

tinuing to trade whilst awaiting government approval for the deal. Eroski wants to upgrade its remaining stores to become more citycentric, as those to which this has been done have shown a marked increase in return per square metre.

CONSUMERS are gobbling up Domino’s pizzas and the company recorded excellent profits of €91 million in 2015, 18 per cent up on the previous year. The company says that profits were helped by low cheese and fuel prices, and that more and more sales are made via the internet or its app.

Figure rises THE number of unemployed in Spain rose by just over 2,200, which was the highest February rise since 2013, taking the total number to 4.15 million. It is still an enormous reduction from the six million unemployed in the first quarter of 2013.

Qatari investment in Spain CATALAN real estate company Colonial, which already has strong investment from the Qatar Investment Authority, its largest individual shareholder, has announced that the two organisations are discussing the possibility of the Qatari group transferring some of the shares it holds in the

French subsidiary of Colonial. The announcement goes on to confirm that in the event that this possible deal is approved, the Qatar Investment Authority will still hold less than 30 per cent of the shares of the parent group.

next richest person in Spain, his daughter Sandra Ortega Mera who can boast just €5.9 billion. It is interesting to note that the bulk of the wealthiest men in the world come from the USA, but China and India are beginning to spawn more billionaires.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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LONDON - FTSE 100

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 444.70 -0.40 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt PLC 284.30 -1.16 Admiral Group PLC 1957.00 13.00 Anglo American PLC 620.45 28.30 Antofagasta PLC 564.50 14.00 ARM Holdings PLC 999.75 -17.00 Ashtead Group PLC 903.00 1.00 Associated British Foods PLC 3338.00 -3.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4009.00 -12.50 Aviva PLC 466.00 -0.10 Babcock International Group 963.00 4.50 BAE Systems PLC 506.75 -0.50 Barclays PLC 172.07 -2.20 Barratt Developments PLC 559.50 5.00 Berkeley Group Holdings 3056.00 46.00 BHP Billiton PLC 874.70 6.51 BP PLC 365.65 -2.25 British American Tobacco PLC 4057.00 13.00 British Land Co PLC 682.50 -3.50 BT Group PLC 463.22 -6.65 Bunzl PLC 1961.00 -1.00 Burberry Group PLC 1378.50 -1.00 Capita PLC 1023.00 0.00 Carnival PLC 3442.00 -16.00 Centrica PLC 224.60 0.57 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1385.00 0.00 Compass Group PLC 1232.00 -3.00 CRH PLC 1903.00 -2.50 DCC PLC 5702.50 -20.00 Diageo PLC 1873.00 -1.00 Direct Line Insurance Group 400.90 2.30 Dixons Carphone PLC 433.60 -2.40 easyJet PLC 1534.50 -18.00 Experian PLC 1214.00 11.00 Fresnillo PLC 945.50 -13.00 GKN PLC 289.90 -3.80 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1373.75 4.16 Glencore PLC 159.82 -0.15 Hammerson PLC 553.25 -3.40 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1262.00 -10.00 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC 1788.00 -5.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 449.65 -3.85 Imperial Brands PLC 3686.75 11.00 Inmarsat PLC 912.75 -19.00 InterContinental Hotels Grp 2674.50 -61.00 International Consolidated 540.75 -4.00 Intertek Group PLC 3110.00 16.00 Intu Properties PLC 301.35 -0.40 ITV PLC 233.20 2.60 Johnson Matthey PLC 2602.00 -11.00

% CHG. -0.09 -0.41 0.67 4.78 2.54 -1.67 0.11 -0.09 -0.31 -0.02 0.47 -0.10 -1.26 0.90 1.53 0.75 -0.61 0.32 -0.51 -1.41 -0.05 -0.07 0.00 -0.46 0.25 0.00 -0.24 -0.13 -0.35 -0.05 0.58 -0.55 -1.16 0.91 -1.36 -1.29 0.30 -0.09 -0.61 -0.79 -0.28 -0.85 0.30 -2.04 -2.23 -0.73 0.52 -0.13 1.13 -0.42

NET VOL 40.07 308.79 56.02 2,789.08 682.04 308.23 121.15 19.63 161.54 483.14 27.19 174.62 3,306.50 172.46 44.08 1,885.36 4,017.51 183.82 63.30 1,323.67 16.95 35.25 44.34 12.03 757.03 8.48 125.97 51.10 7.21 127.56 348.96 57.00 55.00 180.21 127.88 285.22 536.88 17,545.70 30.43 45.31 26.92 2,435.09 229.12 97.46 99.06 402.23 34.84 136.47 1,220.25 22.40

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Kingfisher PLC 339.15 -3.10 Land Securities Group PLC 1051.50 -9.00 Legal & General Group PLC 238.60 -0.90 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 72.85 -0.39 London Stock Exchange Grp 2827.00 -26.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 420.40 -3.60 Merlin Entertainments PLC 451.70 -4.70 Mondi PLC 1344.00 -9.00 National Grid PLC 948.20 3.70 Next PLC 6602.50 -16.60 Old Mutual PLC 196.00 16.40 Pearson PLC 876.50 4.50 Persimmon PLC 2007.00 16.00 Provident Financial PLC 3263.00 4.00 Prudential PLC 1337.00 -9.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6427.50 -185.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 6514.00 -25.00 RELX PLC 1230.50 3.00 REXAM PLC 615.25 -1.00 Rio Tinto PLC 2164.25 34.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 724.00 2.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Grou... 230.50 -0.10 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 1688.00 3.00 Royal Mail PLC 455.10 -1.96 RSA Insurance Group PLC 448.50 -0.40 SABMiller PLC 4216.00 -9.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 599.50 -1.50 Sainsbury (J) PLC 268.45 1.40 Schroders PLC 2609.50 -14.00 Severn Trent PLC 2103.00 -2.00 Shire PLC 3730.50 -51.00 Sky PLC 1021.00 -3.82 Smith & Nephew PLC 1143.00 -6.00 Smiths Group PLC 1061.00 1.00 Sports Direct International... 405.90 -1.10 SSE PLC 1428.50 -4.64 Standard Chartered PLC 485.02 -1.10 Standard Life PLC 358.30 6.30 St James's Place PLC 896.50 37.50 Taylor Wimpey PLC 178.30 1.50 Tesco PLC 191.05 0.20 Travis Perkins PLC 1767.00 -16.00 TUI AG 1036.00 -6.00 Unilever PLC 3092.00 -17.00 United Utilities Group PLC 912.25 -1.50 Vodafone Group PLC 218.92 -2.30 Whitbread PLC 3743.00 -60.00 Wolseley PLC 3853.00 -34.00 Worldpay Group PLC 296.20 -3.60 WPP PLC 1545.50 14.00

% CHG. -0.91 -0.85 -0.38 -0.53 -0.91 -0.85 -1.03 -0.66 0.39 -0.25 9.13 0.52 0.80 0.12 -0.67 -2.80 -0.38 0.24 -0.16 1.62 0.28 -0.04 0.18 -0.43 -0.09 -0.21 -0.25 0.52 -0.53 -0.10 -1.35 -0.37 -0.52 0.09 -0.27 -0.32 -0.23 1.79 4.37 0.85 0.10 -0.90 -0.58 -0.55 -0.16 -1.04 -1.58 -0.87 -1.20 0.91

NET VOL 403.40 89.03 789.50 7,774.10 98.88 137.05 110.15 81.74 732.13 17.09 4,431.80 91.72 50.77 10.96 433.93 58.43 41.09 169.79 23.33 1,097.57 554.40 1,195.29 489.48 237.56 125.99 75.73 62.27 154.26 28.77 9.15 107.85 206.02 107.04 30.44 89.19 68.64 1,611.22 1,682.79 322.38 641.02 879.90 39.10 42.15 120.48 30.66 2,827.30 53.85 47.35 144.71 522.58

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US dollar...................................................................1.09555 Japan yen................................................................124.454 Switzerland franc.................................................1.09477 Denmark kroner....................................................7.46120 Norway kroner ....................................................9.33908

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COMPANY MMM 3M AXP American Express AAPL Apple BA Boeing CAT Caterpillar CVX Chevron CSCO Cisco KO Coca-Cola DIS Disney DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil GE General Electric GS Goldman Sachs HD Home Depot IBM IBM INTC Intel JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase MCD McDonald's MRK Merck MSFT Microsoft NKE Nike PFE Pfizer PG Procter & Gamble TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies UNH UnitedHealth VZ Verizon V Visa WMT Wal-Mart

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 160.07 +0.69 +0.43% 1.8M 58.29 +0.20 +0.34% 5.4M 103.01 +1.51 +1.49% 46.1M 121.07 +1.46 +1.22% 4.4M 72.84 +1.09 +1.52% 9.5M 87.93 +0.40 +0.46% 9.3M 26.80 -0.07 -0.26% 19.4M 44.11 +0.15 +0.34% 13.7M 98.48 -0.34 -0.34% 6.7M 63.18 +1.27 +2.05% 8.7M 82.29 -0.11 -0.13% 18.4M 30.46 +0.24 +0.79% 33.0M 156.84 +1.51 +0.97% 5.3M 125.56 -1.24 -0.98% 6.4M 137.80 0.00 0.00% 4.0M 30.63 +0.05 +0.16% 20.4M 106.50 -0.15 -0.14% 6.7M 60.05 +0.09 +0.15% 18.5M 117.18 +0.49 +0.42% 5.9M 52.08 -0.02 -0.04% 9.1M 52.03 -0.32 -0.61% 33.0M 61.26 -0.21 -0.34% 7.3M 29.71 -0.18 -0.60% 36.8M 83.49 +0.65 +0.78% 9.4M 110.40 +0.60 +0.55% 1.4M 97.00 +0.89 +0.93% 4.7M 121.80 -0.02 -0.02% 2.9M 51.81 -0.08 -0.15% 14.0M 73.90 -0.01 -0.01% 9.5M 66.78 +0.64 +0.97% 10.0M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 7

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Vanguard Natural Resources LLC Legacy Reserves LP Memorial Production Partners LP Legacy Reserves LP GlycoMimetics, Inc. Paragon Shipping Inc. Vanguard Natural Resources LLC NantKwest, Inc. Carmike Cinemas, Inc.

$ 6.46 $ 2.58 $ 2.61 $ 2.04 $ 2.81 $ 2.02 $ 5.18 $ 6.37 $ 5.72 $ 8.87 $ 29.25

1.97 ▲ 43.88% 0.71 ▲ 37.97% 0.50 ▲ 23.70% 0.39 ▲ 23.64% 0.49 ▲ 21.12% 0.34 ▲ 20.24% 0.81 ▲ 18.54% 0.949 ▲ 17.51% 0.82 ▲ 16.73% 1.27 ▲ 16.71% 4.14 ▲ 16.49%

$ 4.69 $ 19.67 $ 3.02 $ 15.88 $ 5.71 $ 6.65 $ 12.58 $ 9.14 $ 42.11 $ 50.38 $ 9.21

5.11 ▼ 52.14% 3.56 ▼ 15.33% 0.51 ▼ 14.45% 2.42 ▼ 13.22% 0.74 ▼ 11.47% 0.82 ▼ 10.98% 1.35 ▼ 9.69% 0.92 ▼ 9.15% 4.13 ▼ 8.93% 4.90 ▼ 8.86% 0.86 ▼ 8.54%

Most Declined Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AveXis, Inc. Senomyx, Inc. Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. Inventure Foods, Inc. IntriCon Corporation Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. Ardelyx, Inc. Ambarella, Inc. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Sky’s the limit for Lego profits

STAR WARS: Very shrewd licence deals mean the success of the films has reflected in their sales. 2014 figures, and this is mainly due to the very shrewd licence

deals they have struck meaning that the success of both the latest

Star Wars film and Frozen has reflected in their sales to boys, girls

and not a few adults. Interestingly, there has been a s u d d e n r e s u rg e n c e o f s a l e s i n Asia, an area which had been depressed for a while, and China has become very much a growing market for the company. Apart from making money, the company also has a sense of social conscience. Following a petition which gathered over 20,000 signatures complaining that it was ignoring disability groups and ‘pandering to disability stereotypes’, it has added to its range for release later this year, a young disabled person in a wheel chair accompanied by his own support dog. With the Lego movies, theme parks, Duplo for the very young a n d t h e e v e r- i n c r e a s i n g L e g o range, this is one ‘toy’ that will surely reach its centenary and stay around for long after, earning money for the manufacturers, film studios and retail outlets alike.

Indian and Spanish consortium buys historic London building Photo Credit Robert Cutts flickr

By John Smith WHO would have imagined that a company formed for the manufacture of wooden duck toys would become a multi-billion euro success, following its foundation 84 years ago in Denmark? The word Lego itself came from the Danish words ‘leg godt’ which means ‘play well’, but in an example of serendipity, it was later discovered that in Latin the word Lego comes from the word t o g a t h e r, a n d t h e o w n e r s h a v e taken it to mean ‘put together’. I t w a s n ’t u n t i l 1 9 4 9 t h a t t h e company produced its first plastic brick and as the saying goes, after that, the only way was up and there is no doubt that its products continue to capture the imagination of generations of children worldwide, as well as generating huge revenues for the family firm. They were delighted to reveal that their 2015 turnover of €4.8 billion was 25 per cent up on

Photo Credit Ian Muttoo flickr

THE company, which was founded 84 years ago, is a multi-billion euro success

WAR OFFICE: The old building in Whitehall, Central London has been bought for an undisclosed amount. ALTHOUGH the concept of the deal was first announced in 2014, it wasn’t until March 2 of this year that a consortium between the Hinduja Group of India and OHLD of Spain formally purchased the old War Office building in Whitehall, Central London for an undisclosed amount on a 250-year lease.

Once the workplace of Sir Winston Churchill during the Second World War, the 1,100 room building, which is literally a stone’s throw away from Downing Street and a short walk from the Houses of Parliament, has been the home of the Ministry of Defence since 1964, which has now had to find ac-

commodation elsewhere. The building will now be restored and redeveloped into a five-star hotel, private function rooms, a spa and fitness centre and a number of prestigious apartments. Although the historic building passes from government ownership, its facade will be preserved.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

Car manufacturers and Brexit BMW and Nissan have made their feelings on Britain leaving the EU clear, and they’re obviously worried SO far, two car manufacturers have made their positions clear on the Brexit, BMW and Nissan, both of which are obviously worried about the effect on their bottom lines in the event that Britain does decide to leave the EU, whilst the association representing car manufacturers has also made its own comments on behalf of its members. The management of BMW has written to workers in the Rolls-Royce and Mini UK operations which employ 8,000 staff, explaining that whilst the decision is a British affair, the company believes that any decision to exit would be bad for its trading position, and could very possibly hurt the jobs of those working for BMW. Their message, which was delivered via email, effectively suggests its employees would be better off to vote in favour of staying within the EU. “Free trade is important for international business. Tariff barriers would mean higher costs and higher prices, and we cannot assume that the UK would be granted free trade with Europe from outside the EU.” It also said: “For BMW Group,

Nissan Motor Company

By John Smith

NISSAN: Employs 8,000 staff directly and 32,000 indirectly in the UK. more than half of Minis built, and virtually all the engines and components made in the UK are exported to the

EU, with over 150,000 new cars and many hundreds of thousands of parts imported from Europe each year.”

To a lesser extent, the same is true for Rolls Royce, which does export a good percentage of its cars to the EU.

Earlier, Nissan, which also employs 8,000 staff directly and 32,000 indirectly in the UK, released a statement regarding its position on the same matter and basically said the same as BMW, stating: “Last year we produced more than 475,000 vehicles in the UK, 80 per cent of which are exported.” The company’s CEO went on to say: “Our preference as a business is, of course, that the UK stays within Europe. It makes the most sense for jobs, trade and costs. For us, a position of stability is more positive than a collection of unknowns.” The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which represents more than 30 manufacturers in the UK, released the results of a survey that it had undertaken, which was also in favour of remaining within the Union because of the volume of vehicles exported from the UK to European destinations. Whilst it is quite reasonable for these companies to take a view and make that view known, some comments have been raised as to whether BMW in particular had gone too far in contacting all of its UK employees, and effectively encouraging the way in which they should cast their vote.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Morgan Stanley to raise €1 billion for El Corte Ingles THE group plans to sell up to 200 properties which it owns THE strangely named Operation Batman, is not a new film or computer game, but the title of an operation being undertaken by international financial group Morgan Stanley to raise €1 billion for El Corte Ingles, by selling up to 200 properties which it owns. It will not be selling any of its main El Corte Ingles stores, its Torre Titania skyscraper in Madrid, nor its headquarters building, but everything else seems to be available at a price. A formal valuation of the portfolio, which is said to include supermarkets, operational buildings, plots of land, office buildings and high street outlets, is due to take place shortly which will then allow

Photo Credit Feranza Wikimedia

By John Smith

UK life insurance review is now underway

Photo Credit Ewan Munro Wikimedia

SPORTS DIRECT: Is being dropped to the FTSE 250 group.

for bidders to offer to purchase the entire range of properties, or to make selective bids for perhaps the office buildings or supermarkets. The plan, if successful, should see the completion of the sale by the end of August and it is suspected that there will be a great deal of interest from investment funds and insurance companies.

TORRE TITANIA: Is under construction.

Recent additions and subtractions in the FTSE WITH a review every three months as to which companies should remain in the FTSE 100, it must be very difficult in these financially volatile times to invest in just the top 100 companies, which is a service offered by some financial organisations. In the latest review, to be implemented on March 21, Morrisons supermarkets return to the ‘club’, and amongst others are joined by the new betting group Paddy Power Betfair. Sports Direct, whose owner is the chairman of Newcastle United football club (also possibly to drop out of the Premier League), join technology company Smiths Group as well as a pharmaceutical company and an asset manager, in being dropped to the FTSE 250 group. Once a company enters the list, its share price can benefit from index tracker investment, which has to include all the shares in the top 100.

billion euros is the amount of money Morgan Stanley hope to raise

THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has announced it fears a number of customers of some of the main life insurance companies, may not have had details of the penalties that may be charged in the event they wished to move to another company properly explained when they took out the policies. Whilst current policies do contain very clear information, these ironically named zombie policies, which were sold several years ago, may contain nasty surprises for many customers, even if they have paid the full amount agreed into the policies. Having come to the conclusion that a number of individuals may be adversely affected, the FCA has decided to review the situation in greater depth, and may decide to recommend a capping of any exit fees that could be charged. This whole matter has caused some headaches as when the decision was first taken to consider the situation of these policies, one newspaper was given advance information which resulted in a fall in the value of insurance company shares generally, and the FCA was reprimanded following an independent enquiry.

OPINION & COMMENT

10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

I was against it from the start THE decision to join with Europe was political, not economic LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

I, OF course, am old enough to remember a United Kingdom without the leaden yolk of the European Union hanging from its neck. A time when our Commonwealth partners were the integral centre of our trade and commerce. Who could forget the succulent New Zealand lamb, the delicious fruits and prime beef from Australia? The colourful high quality clothing from Canada and much, much more. We never in fact needed the common market. I was against it from the start. Frankly I couldn’t see the point. We had complete control of our borders and trade outlets and were barreling along very nicely thank you. The decision to join with Europe was political not economic. They needed us far more than we needed them. When we joined up and dropped our ties with our Commonwealth partners, they felt betrayed and indeed, in some quarters our

NEW ZEALAND LAMB: I still remember it. changes of direction lead to a great deal of hardship and job losses in the countries concerned. I sometimes doubt whether we’ve actually been truly forgiven to this day.

This bunch of power-mad politicians and their ideas of free trade have restricted our fishing rights, led to mountains of wasted fruit and vegetables, created ludicrous food regula-

tions. (A 27,000 word directive on the growth and sale of cabbages is a case in point!) And an open border policy which threatens our very existence. I simply find it hard to believe that so called intellectuals can actually be that stupid. I can’t help but feel there is some other, more sinister objective to their actions. Turkey, I find particularly unsettling. Who in their right mind would want to make a country with a 67,000,000 population, of which 99 per cent are Muslim, a part of the European Union? Millions of Muslims swarming into Europe with no restrictions whatsoever. No, I’m afraid something is severely amiss somewhere and the sooner the UK gets out and takes control of its own future the better. I still maintain they need us more than we need them, and rely heavily on the amount of trade and business that stems from British firms and institutions. Cameron’s scaremongering to the contrary is utter rubbish. Keep the faith. Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

Small things keep a grumpy man happy Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man ANOTHER update for my avid reader - I must have one. After my successful refund from the car rental company, the phone company have refunded my €3, and have informed me that they are reviewing their policy of customers having to give van drivers cash when they deliver phones... Result! I’m off to the USA soon and, as usual, all the companies I’m using for my arrangements are companies I have used for many years, and therefore I belong to their frequent flyers or whatever they call their scheme. So I get an email about a ‘points upgrade sale’, therefore I get on the phone and ask for one. “Sorry, you don’t qualify with your code number.” “So why send me the email?” “We send them to everyone who is a member.” Great idea - pee off your regular punters! The next call is to the hotel in Houston to tell them that looking online the room price has gone down. They can’t reduce the price and suggest I cancel the booking and rebook

online, which I do and save $300. The next email I get is from the hotel I’m staying at in Las Vegas with a great offer. Have your breakfast delivered to your room for an extra $12 a night. This is a great deal as I hate going down to breakfast. I get on the phone and tell them I’d like to upgrade my room. “Sorry sir we can’t.” Why? “Because we don’t do the offer if the hotel is full and there are no rooms available.” I explain I already have a room, I just want some eggs and bacon. I gave up after 10 minutes but I’ll retry when I’m checking in and let you know! Last but not least, another airline I’m using for internal flights sent me some offers. So I gave them a try. “Hi, I’d like to upgrade to first class using my air miles and cash.” “I’ll check...Yes sir, that’s no problem. It’s $75 for the change and $75 for admin.” “OK, I’ll do that.” “Sorry sir, can you hold we are having a problem with the computer.” They came back on 55 minutes later and said, “That’s all done. Do you want to use your credit card on file to pay the $75?” “You mean the $150?” “No, we appreciate how long you have had to wait so we won’t be making that charge.” YES, YES, at last a person that understands about how a small gesture can keep a grumpy old man happy!

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Child restraints CLARIFICATION of the current legislation AS part of a new series, we answer some common driving questions, kindly provided by members of the Guardia Civil based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, who set up the N332 website and Facebook page to help break down barriers.

LEGISLATION: All children 135cm or less in height must ride in the rear of a vehicle. FOLLOWING confusion over recent statements that ‘a child from four to 12 years old and under 1.5 metres tall may ride in the front seat using either a child booster seat or a special system of belt restraints’, the N-332 Guardia Civil say this is incorrect. They clarify the current legislation, which came into force October 1, 2015, which states all children measuring 135cm in height or less must ride in the rear seats, irrespective of their age, and in addition to the requirements of the correct seat being provided. There are a number of exceptions to the rule, for example, when the vehicle does not have rear seats, when all rear seats are already occupied by others under the same characteristics, and where it is not possible to install approved child restraints in those rear seats. These are the only occasions when children may occupy a front seat, but they must always use the restraint system ap-

proved for their height and weight. The rule stipulates that child restraints must be installed in the vehicle in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The modification of the law also reflects the scientific evidence from numerous studies that demonstrate the benefit of children travelling in the rear seats of vehicles, in order to strengthen their protection in the case of an accident. A study in the United States looked at 5,751 vehicle occupants under the age of 15 who had suffered a serious car accident. The report shows sitting in the back seat had a protective effect with respect to serious injury or death. A further study in Australia concluded the risk of death in children under four years of age involved in an incident whilst travelling in a car was doubled if they sat in the front.

For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook.

Can we buy a building? IS a Community of Owners legally allowed to purchase and manage a commercial building? Our original developer has been liquidated and his remaining property is being sold at auction. An office building with 30 units is going cheap. Our president is proposing the community buy this office building from our acFirst, I would like to congratulate your president on a creative idea. Just imagine, a community that makes money. In fact, no law prohibits this. The community already owns

cumulated funds. It has only two tenants. The idea was dropped because he had not allowed for the excess sales tax on the cadastral value, and did not know there was €30,000 owing on the rates. The president insists the community is allowed to buy such a building.What is the position? SJ (Costa Blanca)

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

property, such as lifts, gardens, pools and so on. However, the property

administrators I spoke with threw up their hands in horror. What if it loses money? What happens when one owner sells his flat? Even if it is legal, they advise against the venture.

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

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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TV LISTING

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The TV That Made Me Flog It! Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show Match of the Day Live BBC News at Ten BBC London News Comedy Playhouse Catherine Tate's Nan

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Flog It! Who's the Boss? Steve Backshall's Extreme Mountain Challenge Let's Play Darts for Sports Relief 2016 Thirteen The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life University Challenge Only Connect The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story QI XL Newsnight Weather Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life Mary Berry's Easter Feast Inside Obama's White House: 100 Days Scrappers Newsnight Weather Terry and Mason's Great Food Trip Bargain Hunt Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life Horizon Brendan O'Carroll's Family at War Live From the BBC Newsnight Weather

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Flubber Now That's Funny Budgies Make You Laugh Out Loud Penn and Teller: Fool Us in Vegas 5 News Weekend Jonah Hex Angels and Demos Tattoo Disasters: UK Super Casino

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5 News Police Interceptors Britain's Horror Homes Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick Best of Bad TV: Classic CultAstrophes Penn and Teller: Fool Us in Vegas

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Home and Away 5 News Tonight Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild The Secret Life of the Family Trauma Doctors The Moors Murders: Britain's Worst Crimes Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

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E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

LETTERS

OPINION & COMMENT

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YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

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

Calais calamity - but what exactly is going on there? Zebra fighting

Not quite so welcome ACTUALLY there were scores of photos in the news of Germans holdin g u p b a n n e r s re a d in g ‘refugees welcome.’ Merkel had her country’s support in the beginning. It wasn’t until the NYE attacks that things changed, because the offenders were erroneously described as ‘refugees’ (only three in 58 were. At least one was German. Just as I’ve had to fend off feral men who were British...) With Pegida inflaming the situation further, it’s all gone into meltdown. But Germany needs immigration (most countries do, actually). As for giving my jobs to them... luckily, my job couldn’t easily be done by a Syrian. Or a Spaniard. Or quite a few Brits. But immigrants t e n d t o b e e n t e rp ris in g wherever they come from (just look at Brits, Germans, Dutch, Moroccans, Latin Americans, etc, in S pai n , a n d t h e c o n trib u tio n they’ve made to society and the economy). Kally via the website

Sorry Sanchez SANCHEZ is the wrong person anyway, but I don’t think the PP has an y o n e t o d o t h e jo b . T h e Spanish people, as lovely as they are, seem to ignore or forget the

created this awful tragedy with their bombs and their foolishness will give way at some point. Nothing lasts forever. The dam will burst. It’s bursting already. Brian via the website

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Aperture Untamed via Shutterstock

DON’T understand what is going on with this. The people in the camp are already in Europe and it seems that they are not happy with the social services offered by the French, they just want a better deal, which they think they will get in the UK. So technically they have been offered refuge in France and they refused, so basically they can no longer claim refugee status. Barbara via facebook

With the popularity of bullfighting being under scrutiny, it seems that the Spanish have invented a brand new game. It’s played all over towns and cities in particular but variations are common in rural parts also. The rules are complicated but it’s played by all ages, in fact the older players are more adept than the young ones. The Spanish name for this rapidly growing sport eludes me but in English it’s roughly translated as; “Let’s jump out on to zebra crossings without looking, scaring oncoming drivers out of their wits!” With indicators not being fitted on Spanish cars, this is another extension of Spanish ingenuity. I have involuntarily played this game several times, but failed to hit the opposition once. My biggest success was when I was actually on the crossing when a gaggle of locals decided to tee off right in front of me, thus giving me a Spanish rollicking in quadruple for having the audacity to be on the crossing, driving, and for being born. On another occasion I got several points for having to brake hard, causing the opposition female to almost fall over and die from a heart attack brought on by the screeching of tyres and my bumper kissing her thigh! With obvious fatal consequences being certain (unable to find out how many points for that). When’s the next bullfight in Alicante? Philip from San Fulgencio

great job Rajoy has done before the elections. We were all surprised at the election results, to be h o n es t, as n o t only ha s R a joy changed many things for the better in Spain, but he got us through the financial crisis extremely well even better than most other countries, ridding Spaniards of austerity and hardships, and he did it in a big way. What the Spanish people are thinking of beats me. Neil via the website

Learn from the past WE should learn from the past and use it to shape the future. My family left the rubble of their homes and fled to other countries. My uncles and aunts who did that are no longer alive but their descendants, my cousins and their families are. They are no longer Scottish.

They are now Americans, Canadians, Australians. They have given birth to other Americans, Canadians, Australians and more. So it will be in due course with Syria’s people - just on a bigger scale - but it is only one country. The world has many countries. They will no longer be Syrians. They will become other nationalities. This terrible paralysis that is gripping the world’s leaders - who

Apathy over Brexit would be a tragedy I WOULD like to encourage all those readers who are able to please register to vote in the upcoming referendum. Of course I understand that it’s a difficult decision, and even the process of registering can be offputting to some. Others might think that since we’re here in Spain it might not make such a difference, especially if they aren’t drawing UK pensions or are not dependent on some form of health care or treatment. It’s much easier not to care sometimes, silly as it might sound. But I think the greatest tragedy would be allowing this opportunity to slip through our fingers. Whether you are determined to see the UK leave Europe, or the opposite, or whether you don’t indeed care for politics at all, I sincerely hope the historians of the future don’t wonder how we managed to sleepwalk into our own demise, whichever road that might take. One thing is certain, a population that doesn’t care what happens doesn’t deserve the benefits either Brexit or Bremain might offer. We would see only the negative impacts of either and this would be our just desserts. Archibald from Marbella

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

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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.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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OPINION & COMMENT

Is that an obsession or a passion? I’VE experimented with different types of diets including a vegan diet for the whole of January Vicki McLeod

Family Matters WHAT’S your passion, or your poison? What makes an interest in something healthy or harmful? I was a 20-aday smoker for 20 plus years, that’s pretty bad for you, we all know that. I stopped, finally, successfully four years ago. I would smoke a cigarette 20 times a day, damaging my body and affecting people around me. But strangely, it was hardly ever mentioned as being a problem. In fact I would find people who wanted to be my allies, in order to give them permission to smoke as well I guess, as if it was our ‘right’ to smoke. Regular readers of my column will probably have noticed my ongoing interest in getting fitter and healthier, including my personal goal I set three years ago that I would be able to do a handstand by the end of that year. I didn’t achieve it, I was so out of shape. Strange then that if I decide to take up healthier pursuits that some people think they have the right to comment

CROSSFIT MALLORCA: Some of the gang at the gym in Santa Ponsa. on it, suggesting in some way that my lifestyle choices are harmful to me. I’ve experimented with different types of diets, specifically a vegan diet for the whole of January, which garnered many comments. “Where will you get

your protein from?”, “There’s nothing wrong with cow’s milk”, “Are you one of THOSE funny eaters?”. The reality is aside from writing about it in these pages I didn’t really speak about it to anyone, and yet it seemed to inspire

derision from some quarters. It took me some time to realise, actually these people were simply challenged by what I was doing, because they saw it as a reflection on them, rather than my simple decision to try something new.

Another thing I have been changing, which has become a passion for me, is the daily ritual I have of going to the Crossfit Mallorca ‘box’ (gym) in Santa Ponsa Son Bugadelles. First thing in the morning I get up and go to class. I’m there with a bunch of other earlybirds and our trainer, and owner of the box, Rob Martin. We do a variety of exercises and every day is different. The crucial thing that stays the same is the support and encouragement from Rob and the other members of the group. Some of the guys are super fit, and others are like me, over 40 and flabby. Well, not so flabby these days. I had to get some smaller sports clothes this week as the ones I had begun sliding down when I skipped! That was quite a day, but followed almost instantly by comments from well meaning people “Are you sure this is healthy for you?” “Do you think you should be training so often?” My answer is that it makes me feel happy and relaxed. So is that an obsession or a passion? You can’t win. Although I did do a handstand today for the first time. Finally. mallorcamatters.com

When are the kids going to stop throwing their toys out of the pram? THE Brexit debate has really unleashed open warfare amongst the Conservative party Nora Johnson

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

GOOD grief! When are the kids going to stop throwing their toys out of the pram? The Brexit debate has really unleashed open warfare amongst the Conservatives with pro-Brexit London mayor Boris Johnson dismissing as “baloney” the attempt by David Cameron styling himself the leader of ‘Project Fact’ - to talk up the case for staying in the EU. This, then, after a run of headlines in the press as part of the so-called ‘Project Fear’ (sounds like some low-key porn movie, doesn’t it?). According to Government reports (dismissed as ‘dodgy dossiers’ by Brexiteers), Brexit would mean Brits won’t be able to live abroad in countries like France and Spain, access to the single market would be questionable and it could take Britain up to 10 years to negotiate new trade deals. And all this amid claims Mr Cameron’s new

EU MEMBERSHIP: The Tory party is split from top to bottom on Europe. EU membership deal could actually extend the powers of the EU, and end up being a ‘Trojan horse’ that allows it to intervene over any domestic financial crisis! Well, I’ve got a few questions for Mr Cameron.

If the Government truly expects it to take 10 years to negotiate new trade deals and the referendum is intended to cover either outcome, then why didn’t he start preparing ages ago? I don’t understand either Mr Cameron’s fre-

quently repeated warning that Brexit is a “leap in the dark.” Does he really believe that it’s a greater ‘leap’ than remaining in an organisation whose idea of financial probity consists of 21 consecutive years of failure to have its accounts approved by its auditors; whose knowledge of economic theory results in the belief that a common currency can be effective without a common fiscal policy and whose grasp of good housekeeping is to move its central parliament/administrative entourage from Brussels to Strasbourg 12 times a year for no practical reason other than to satisfy France’s ego? Those who campaigned to remain in the 1975 referendum will know only too well what a ‘leap’ that turned out to be. I’d say the only real difference between the two leaps into the darkness is who operates the light switch. What a mess. This only reinforces what we have known for years. The Tory party is split from top to bottom on Europe. Always will be. Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.79) and iBookstore. All profits to Cudeca charity.

TIME OUT

10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

Famous quote

This week

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

‘

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. Muhammad Ali.

in history 515 BC. The building of the great Jewish temple in Jerusalem is completed. 44 BC. Julius Caesar is assassinated by high-ranking Roman Senators. 537. The Goths lay siege to Rome. 607. The 12th recorded passage of Halley’s Comet occurs. 1493. Christopher Columbus returns to Spain after his first voyage to the New World. 1496. The Jews are expelled from Syria. 1507. Cesare Borgia dies while fighting alongside his brother, the king of Navarre, in Spain. 1609. The Bermuda Islands became an English colony. 1702. The Daily Courant, the first regular English newspaper is published. 1876. Alexander Graham Bell makes the first telephone call to Thomas Watson. 1879. The British Zulu War begins. 1894. Coca-Cola is sold in bottles for the first time. 1910. Slavery is abolished in China. 1945. American B-29 bombers attack Tokyo, killing 100,000 1949. Almost four years after the end of World War II, clothes rationing in Great Britain ends. 1969. James Earl Ray pleads guilty of murdering Dr Martin Luther King and is sentenced to 99 years. 1985. Mikhail Gorbachev is named the new Soviet leader. 1988. The Prince of Wales narrowly avoids death in Switzerland in an avalanche which kills one of his closest friends. 1994. The Church of England ordains women priests.

Women’s wit

‘

Think new thoughts. Grab life with both hands, take opportunities you have, & create the ones you need. Debby Ryan

World of English

‘

The sentence ‘He believed Caesar could see people seizing the seas’ includes all seven different ways to spell the sound ‘ee’ in English.

‘ NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REFERENDUM - THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF VIAGRA FOR WOMEN!’

Kakuro

for next 7 days

Mallorca

weather

Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.

TODAY ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

TOMORROW ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA CALVIA

INCA

PALMA

CALA MILLOR

CALA d’OR

ANDRATX

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

Fri Sat Sun -

Benidorm

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

18 9 S 19 10 S 19 10 S

Mon - 20 11 S Tues - 21 12 S Wed - 22 12 Cl

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

16 11 Cl 18 11 S 19 11 S

Mon - 18 11 S Tues - 21 12 S Wed - 21 12 Cl

CLEAR MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

16 9 S 17 9 Cl 18 11 S S Sun,

12 8 Sh 14 6 C 17 6 C

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 7 C Tues - 19 8 Cl Wed - 18 8 C

Madrid MAX 17C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

Mon - 20 11 S Tues - 20 11 S Wed - 19 11 C Cl Clear,

TODAY:

Fog,

TODAY:

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

16 8 C 17 8 C 18 8 S

CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 2C

16 2 Cl 18 3 S 21 3 S C Cloudy,

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 21 4 S Tues - 21 4 S Wed - 21 5 S

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 8 S Tues - 19 8 S Wed - 19 8 Cl

Sh Showers,

CLOUDY MAX 20C, MIN 9C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

20 8 S 20 8 S 21 9 S Sn Snow,

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday March 5

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

MAX MIN

Mon - 20 10 S Tues - 22 12 S Wed - 23 12 Cl

Murcia

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

18 8 S 19 8 S 19 9 S

Mallorca

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

CLOUDY MAX 21C, MIN 9C

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Mon - 19 13 S Tues - 19 12 S Wed - 20 12 S

SHOWERS MAX 12C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

17 11 S 18 12 S 18 12 S

Bilbao

Almeria TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Malaga

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 9C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 23 11 S Tues - 24 10 S Wed - 26 12 Cl Th Thunder

LOTTERY

Alicante TODAY:

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Saturday March 5

Friday March 4

29 29

Saturday March 5

Sunday March 6

14 16

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

LUCKY STARS

REINTEGRO

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Trumbo Directed by: Jay Roach Starring: Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren, Diane Lane, Elle Fanning, Louis CK, John Goodman, Stephen Root and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Funagram

Just Joking

Unscramble the name of a top English professional darts player: IN WILD AREAS Unscramble the name of a famous American jazz musician: OUR STORM SIGNAL

Hexagram

A: A guy who has never been hit with a dictionary.

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

ALLIED ANNUAL (10) BEHEST BLUISH CACTUS CHEERY CORRAL DETENT DIAPER ENTIRE

The successful career of 1940’s screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) comes to a crushing end when he and other Hollywood figures are blacklisted for their political beliefs. Trumbo (directed by Jay Roach) tells the story of his fight against the US government and studio bosses in a war over words and freedom, which entangled everyone in Hollywood from Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) and John Wayne to Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger.

Pablo Espinosa, Actor. March 10 After spending time as a singer, he landed a role in the original Disney TV series Violetta. His first major TV role began in 2010 when he appeared in the Spanish series Física o Química.

Rupert Murdoch, Entrepreneur, March 11, 85 He is the notorious media mogul who built a global empire of newspapers, TV, and movies through holding company News Corporation. Liza Minnelli, Actress/Singer, March 12, 70 The daughter of Judy Garland who was acclaimed for her performance in Cabaret, and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in The Sterile Cuckoo. Neil Sedaka, Singer-song writer, March 13, 77 The great singer and composer of ‘Breaking Up Is Hard to Do’ in 1962. He has had nine number 1 hits like ‘Bad Blood’ and ‘Laughter in the Rain.’ His career has spanned some 50 years. Michael Caine, Actor, March 14, 83 Across his 50 year career, he has had roles in Cider House Rules, The Italian Job, Get Carter, Kingsman: The Secret Service and The Prestige. He played Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred Pennyworth in The Dark Knight Trilogy and appeared in Austin Powers in Goldmember. Eva Longoria, Actress, March 15, 41 She rose to fame on Desperate Housewives, and has since won multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards and was named Philanthropist of the year. Jerry Lewis, Actor, March 16, 90 Comedian, actor, and muscular dystrophy telethon host who formed one of history’s greatest comedy teams. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, The American Comedy Awards, and the Venice Film Festival.

GYRATE ITALIC LINEAR LOAVES MEMBER MENIAL PANDER TEETHE TITIAN

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Sodden 2 Careen 3 Dugout 4 Arrear 5 Trance 6 Resort 7 Antler 8 Rustic 9 Feeble 10 Tackle 11 Extent 12 Bauble 13 Kindle 14 Clutch 15 Garble 16 Recode 17 Target 18 Global 19 Galaxy

YOUR STARS ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Hassles and battles are on the cards. If things don’t happen as fast as you’d expected, or domestic and workaday blips assail your patience, transform them into an opportunity to show your special qualities. Potent planetary influences urge you to look, listen, learn and refuse to allow petty stumbling blocks to undermine your confidence on Tuesday and Thursday. TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Astrologically, it’s not unreasonable to assume that when sparky Mars and the zesty Sun conflict with restless Pluto, life could become a tad frustrating. You might find it hard to tolerate hypocrisy and setbacks, but fortunately, it’s all just a passing cloud. Regardless of any lack of continuity, concentrate on keeping going and prepare for next week’s brighter outlook. GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Punchy Mars and the heady Sun are set for a scramble with touchy Pluto. You’ve been there before, so despite any administrative bumps, gossipy whirls or curious rejections, don’t be too sensitive. Add up what you’ve achieved, subtract your fears and keep your emotions under control. CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Upfront Mars and the upbeat Sun will be at loggerheads with powerful Pluto. You might not appreciate some of Friday or Saturday’s antics, so be ready to use your

PISCES

(February 20 - March 20)

Feisty Mars and the fiery Sun are warring with changeable Pluto, so avoid any tearaway temptations on Thursday or Friday. You could be emotionally vulnerable, or even lulled into a false sense of security. However confusing the planets may seem, even out the odds as best you can by ensuring your worries take second place. charm, or perhaps your equally wicked sense of humour will do the trick. LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is an intense week, and if you get stuck with a particular issue, jumble your words, or just can’t seem to do anything right, it might be worth finding out if the grass is greener on the other side. VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Quirky planetary niggles will surface without warning. A variety of talks, news and last-minute changes surround your family members, friends or colleagues. No matter what affects your personal or occupational activities, stay focused, decide what your goals are and, just as importantly, find the easiest way to move forward without losing your healing sense of humour. LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Even the best-made plans can suddenly sink without a trace. Your dreams for a fresh start in one particular direction still need tender, cautious care, and you may equally need to be wary of overstepping

TIME

EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

10-Star Quiz

Q: Who says sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: ADRIAN LEWIS, LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

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the mark where money’s concerned. SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) You will need bucketloads of humour and understanding as impatient Mars and the sprightly Sun engage with touchy Pluto. Stay well clear if you want to escape potential power struggles. SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) If you suspect that some things are not what they seem, you could be right. Repel doubts, ban anxieties and stick to facts and tact. If certain individuals or situations continue to conspire against you, change course and do something entirely different. What goes around will come around quicker than you think. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Storms in tea-cups need loads of sweettalking. Of course, if you can’t be bothered with it all, fair enough; keeping quiet could be the best way to deal with problems, glitches or sudden backfires. If you can’t take a break, at least chill out with whatever or whoever brings you the greatest pleasure. AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) You are about to tackle some tough tests. Work and personal hurdles could preoccupy you, but after the weekend you’ll be able to sort out the ice from the cream. No matter how awkward things seem on Monday or Wednesday, trust your ability to wait for the right moment, rather than risk spoiling your plans.

SQUARE DEALS 1. How many square inches are there in a square foot? 2. How many squares are there on a chess board? 3. In which European capital city is Wenceslas Square to be found? 4. Muhammad Ali’s first professional defeat was at the hands of Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971, at which famous New York venue? 5. Unsquare Dance was a 1962 UK Top 20 hit single for which American jazz pianist? 6. What is the name of the large city square in the centre of Beijing that was the focal point of student-led popular demonstrations in the spring of 1989? 7. Where did the inexperienced amateur pilot Matthias Rust illegal land his light aircraft on May 28, 1987? 8. Which American animated television series created in 1999 by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon, chronicles the adventures and endeavours of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom? 9. Which British comedian hosted the comedy game show Celebrity Squares from 1975 to 1979 and from 1993 to 1997? 10. Which London Square is home to the American Embassy? Not a lot of people know that... Arsenal Football Club were formed as Dial Square in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, south-east London Answers 1. 144, 2. 64, 3. PRAGUE, 4. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, 5. DAVE BRUBECK (QUARTET), 6. TIANANMEN SQUARE, 7. RED SQUARE, 8. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, 9. BOB MONKHOUSE, 10. GROSVENOR SQUARE – although the official residence of the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Court of St James's is Winfield House in Regent's Park.

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: 8 Good: 11 Very good: 15 Excellent: 20

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION arvo aver cave cove derv deva dove ever over rave rove veer vert veto vote avert carve caved caver cover covet crave drove evade evert ovate overt raved reave revet roved trave trove voted voter advert avocet carved cavort covert craved devote evader octave vector vetoed vetoer averted covered coveted evocate overact overate overeat cavorted OVERACTED

SOUND OF THE WEEK The Life Of Pablo by Kanye West. ‘Name one genius that ain’t crazy.’ That’s Kanye West on ‘Feedback,’ delivering the single most quotable line of his new album The Life Of Pablo. In a weird way, The Life Of Pablo is a landmark within West’s discography because it’s the first album that isn’t really a landmark. More than maybe any other working artist, West is deeply conscious of the album as a holistic statement, a closed system, and every new album marks a new stage of his development.

OUT Crossword

10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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

Quick

Cryptic

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC Across: 1 Stop, 4 Treasure, 8 Crater, 9 Oliver, 10 Riga, 11 Harmless, 13 Philosophical, 16 Escalade, 19 Sale, 20 Behest, 22 Heated, 23 Restless, 24 Term.

Across 1 Instruction for the French boy (6) 4 Established customs in religious attire (6) 9 Note lad has boat clearing (5) 10 Middle class men return single flower (7) 11 Opera set is changed but works (8) 12 Discovered tea secret luxury (4) 14 Long standing horse barn (6) 16 Back in the news, US neckline poll (6) 19 Tipsy cast are singing jazz (4) 20 Via clean, new Spanish city (8) 23 Worry it’s set in ornamental stone (7) 24 Isolated a character (5) 25 Looked to be soundly joined (6) 26 Gambler is recovering (6)

Down: 2 Tarnishes, 3 Pitfall, 4 Torch, 5 Ego trip, 6 Skill, 7 Roe, 12 Small beer, 14 Startle, 15 Instant, 17 Alert, 18 Ethos, 21 Ewe.

QUICK Across:

Down 1 Sloe gin is made for hordes of soldiers (7) 2 Measure untied laces (5) 3 Drunk pale Boer is ready to run (8) 5 Middle Eastern port, a refuge for animals (4) 6 Air boss redesigned map lines (7) 7 Convinced by soft leather we hear (5) 8 Arrived with nothing for a small role in a play (5)

Code Breaker

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13 Create teenager’s problem (8) 15 Greedy girl and a grass (7) 17 Act, rest, rebel then disperse (7) 18 Am in endless cell, it’s a beast (5) 19 Bites at ginger biscuits (5) 21 Connecticut service admitted talent (5) 22 It’s the end of the board game, buddy (4)

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 8 represents W and 25 represents Z, so fill in W every time the figure 8 appears and Z every time the figure 25 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.

Across 1 Back of the neck (6) 4 Separated (6) 7 Pleasurable (9) 9 Small hotels (4) 10 Departure (4) 11 Brutal (5) 13 Mistakes (6) 14 Wealthier (6) 15 Talk (6) 17 Smarts (6) 19 Retains (5) 20 Leave out (4) 22 Protagonist (4) 23 Finished (9) 24 Elevated (6) 25 Visions (6)

Down 1 Holy sanctuary (6) 2 Large coffee or tea pots (4) 3 Flattens (6) 4 Devout request (6) 5 Regulation (4) 6 Medic (6) 7 Full of vim and vigour (9) 8 Swapped (9) 11 Become fractured (5) 12 Elevates (5) 15 Not as fast (6) 16 Assisted (6) 17 Stretch (6) 18 Yells (6) 21 Playthings (4) 22 In this place (4)

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

1 Actual, 4 Scrape, 8 Scary, 10 Agile, 11 Heals, 12 Gusto, 13 Toast, 14 White, 17 Slap, 19 Fees, 21 Stops, 24 Swamp, 25 Wager, 27 Agree, 28 Friar, 29 Raise, 30 Angler, 31 Defeat. Down: 1 Assigns, 2 Traps, 3 Anyhow, 5 Chaste, 6 Agitate, 7 Elect, 9 Sari, 16/15 Top hat, 18 Amazing, 20 Serpent, 21 Sparse, 22 Ogre, 23 Swerve, 24 Sofia, 26 Guide.

ENGLISHSPANISH Across: 1 Tiles, 4 Attic, 7 Shoulders, 8 Raro, 9 Aqui, 13 Translate, 15 Sales, 16 Asnos. Down: 1 Taburetes, 2 Loser, 3 Snow, 4 Alla, 5 Tie, 6 Castillos, 10 Queen, 11 Asks, 12 Vaca, 14 All.

CODE BREAKER

Across Down 1 Garganta (6) 1 Juguetes (4) 3 Nudo (en hilo, cuerda) (4) 2 Público (teatro) (8) 7 Sí (3) 4 El más cercano (7) 9 Slim (figure, person) (7) 5 Herramienta (4) 10 Forks (cutlery) (9) 6 Pillow (8) 13 Harvest (7) 8 Hijastro (7) 14 Aunt (3) 11 Escocés (4) 15 Atún (4) 12 Cup (vessel, amount) (4) 16 Flour (6)

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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By Fiona Barton Published by: Penguin Random House FOR fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, this mystery/psychological thriller will take you into the dark spaces that exist between a husband and a wife. When the police started asking questions, Jean Taylor turned into a different woman. One who enabled her and her husband to carry on, when more bad things began to happen... But that woman’s husband died last week. And Jean doesn’t have to be her anymore. There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment. books@euroweeklynews.com

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

Biggest medical breakthroughs in the last year

Scientists have had an eventful and productive year for medicine. They have had exciting discoveries, breakthroughs in technology, and new applications for existing products. Here are 10 medical headlines from the last year that are sure to make a significant impact on the world in the years to come. 1. THC-Producing Yeast For years, marihuana has been used to treat symptoms brought on by HIV or chemotherapy. Alternatively, there are pills that use the synthetic version of marihuana’s main psychoactive compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC). Now biochemists at the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany have announced that they engineered a new strain of yeast capable of producing THC. 2. Injectable Brain Nano Implant A team at Harvard developed a brain implant that promises to treat a host of maladies ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to paralysis. The implant consists of an electronic device made of scaffolds which can be connected to various machines after being inserted into the brain. It could then be used to monitor neural activity, stimulate tissue, and promote neuron regeneration. 3. Nanobots Work In Living Creature In early 2015, the field of robotics scored a big victory when a team of researchers from the University of California in San Diego announced they had conducted the first successful tests in which nanobots were used to perform a task inside a living creature. The creatures in question were lab mice. After being implanted inside the animals, the micromachines travelled to the stomachs of the mice without causing any damage to their stomach linings. 4. DNA Printing The technology of 3-D printing has created a unique, new industry - one that prints and sells DNA. Although the term ‘printing’ is widely used because it has commercial appeal, it doesn’t accurately describe what is happening. As the CEO at Cambrian Ge-

Sudoku

App of the Week Yamaha MusicCast Lets you stream music from any source. Want to play music from multiple sources all over your house? ALL MusicCast products come with Bluetooth onboard, so you can stream to any compatible Bluetooth product, or from your smartphone or tablet. There are 23 compatible products in the range, from soundbars, micro-systems and stereo amps to CD players, desktop speakers and AV receivers, including the high-end Aventage range for beaming movie and TV sound. The app is free.

Play on Words PRODUCTIVE YEAR: For scientists. nomics explains, the process is more akin to a high-tech version of ‘spell-checking’ than printing. Millions of pieces of DNA on tiny metal beads are scanned by a computer that selects the ones necessary to make the desired DNA sequence. 5. Male Birth Control Pill In Japan, scientists at the Osaka University Research Institute for Microbial Diseases have released new research that might lead to a male birth control pill in the near future. They were working with drugs normally administered to organ transplant patients to suppress their immune systems and reduce the chances of their bodies rejecting new organs. 6. Skin Cells Turned Into Brain Cells The scientists at Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, have had a busy year studying the human brain. They developed a method of turning skin cells into brain cells and have already found several useful applications for this new technique including turning skin samples into old brain cells for specialists to study. 7. World’s First 3-D-Printed Rib Cage In 2015, doctors at the Salamanca University Hospital in Spain performed the world’s first rib cage transplant using a 3-D-printed chest prosthetic. The patient was suffering from chest wall sarcoma. To reach the tumours and prevent them from spreading,

doctors had to remove sections of his rib cage. Doctors realised that a 3-D printer could be used to make a highly customised titanium structure that would better fit this particular patient. 8. Cancer Drug Might Help Parkinson’s Sufferers Tasigna (aka nilotinib) is an FDA-approved drug that is regularly used to treat people with leukemia. However, a new trial conducted at the Georgetown University Medical Center suggests that Tasigna could be extremely potent in managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by improving cognition, motor skills, and non-motor functions. 9. Doctors grow Vocal Cords from Scratch One of the most exciting, futuristic fields of medicine is tissue regeneration. In 2015, doctors at the University of Wisconsin grew human vocal cords from scratch. The team bioengineered tissue that mimics the vocal cord mucosa, which represents the flaps that vibrate in the larynx to create human speech. The donated cells came from five patients and were grown in the lab for two weeks. 10. Discovery of Teixobactin antibiotics After a gap of almost 30 years, scientists made a discovery in 2015 that has been described as a ‘game changer’: a new class of antibiotics with 25 new antimicrobials, including a potent one named teixobactin.

CHOP NAD

EVER EVER EVER EVER TUESDAY

Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.

TARGET: Average: 17 Good: 23 Very good: 33 Excellent: 43

SCORING: • 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points • 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points • 8 or more letters: 11 points

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION inter inters inner inert inept inset insert inserts intense innit inns issue ensue ensues erst hint hinnies hies hone hones hoes hoer hose hoses hoser hosers horse horses horst host enter enteron enters sort apse apses apron haps harp harps hart hats apart

Word Ladder LAZY

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

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.

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DOGS BACK

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

LAZY LAZE DAZE DOZE DOGE DOGS

The Widow

TIME OUT

LAZY LADY LADS LAGS LOGS DOGS or

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Answers: Chop and change, Forever and a day.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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OPINION & COMMENT

This team takes the biscuit

OUR VIEW three rocks images shutterstock

FANS of the Royals have had good reason to celebrate recently Colin Bird A weekly look Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-thewall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

I HAVE had good reason to celebrate recently. My football team, Reading FC, have not only reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup, but managed two consecutive wins in the league, a bewildering experience for the fans this season. “Why are they called the Royals?” a friend asked me. “I remember them as The Biscuit Men.” So I explained that it was because Berkshire is known as The Royal County, and the once world renowned Huntley & Palmers biscuit manufacturer was based in the town. But it took me back. I come from a biscuit family, who all originate from the biscuit town. My mother worked for years at the Huntley & Palmers

ICED GEMS: One of the few that are still around. factory in Reading, then the largest biscuit manufacturer in the world, and my father helped make the tins at Huntley Bourne & Stevens. Both worked long hours and

I can remember them coming home from work completely cream crackered. That was a joke by the way. At their height, H&P were producing a staggering 400 va-

rieties of biscuit, and I remember with great affection such goodies as Suncake, a round shortbread biscuit, which I would scoff hamster

like by nibbling around the outside working inwards, making a mess in the process. Banana Creams which looked like the present day Custard Cream, but with a flavoured cream and a banana shape cut out so that the filling was on display. Obviously a visual reminder for people whose taste buds were shot. Then there were Chocolate Wafers that were a natural tan colour, not like their insipid pink successors. And Iced Gem, little round bite sized biscuits topped with a swirl of hard icing, and one of the few that are still around. With generous price concessions given to employees, there was never a shortage of biscuits in our house, and I can remember being taken down to the factory shop in the 50s for our weekly supply. Cream Crackered... Biscuit? Oh forget it. Come on the Royals!

How the scales fell from my eyes Photo Credit World Economic Forum Remy Steinegger flickr

WHEN I was younger I naively thought you could trust a politician John Smith Random thoughts... IN issue 1600 of the Euro Weekly News, the Our View section on page 98 looked at the situation with regards to France and their commitment to keep migrants out of the UK by allowing the British to continue to keep customs and immigration posts in Calais. No sooner had this been printed than both French economy minister Emmanuel Macron and then premier Francoise Hollande made public statements, to the effect that in the event of Britain leaving the European Union, France would ask the British to take their customs and immigrations posts and stick them back in the UK. When I was very much younger, I naively thought you could trust a politician as there would be hell to pay if they backed down from what they had promised, but in retrospect I can see how stupid I was.

TONY BLAIR: Addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos. They all say that they go into public office in order to help their fellow citizens and to make sure that there is a fair and equitable society, but I have now come to the conclusion that the honest and well-meaning

politician is that one who ‘tests’ the rule. It seems that it’s becoming more ridiculous as well. In Britain there were the politicians who became ‘troughiteers’, taking as much as they

Helping to get in touch.

Missing people RECEIVING a request from a family in Manchester who are trying to find a relative who they believe moved to Spain about four years ago has made us think about the number of people of so many different ages and sexes who literally disappear and in many cases are never heard of again. There are a number of reasons for this which depend very much upon the area in the world in which a person lives and with the terrible problems in North Africa and the Middle East at the moment, the numbers must be rising disproportionally. There are still cases of people trafficking for both prostitution and cheap labour and when someone appears in either category in Spain, it almost certainly means there is a family missing a person in their country of origin with little possibility of ever finding them again. What doesn’t quite make sense is the fact there are so many unaccompanied children arriving in Europe as refugees and one wonders what has happened to their parents and how they managed to travel literally thousands of miles to reach their destination. For Europeans, the reasons for disappearance are easier to fathom as many teenagers run away because of disagreements with parents over sexuality, abuse or sheer dislike whilst children can disappear when taken by one of their parents. It is sad, but a fact of life, so if anybody can help to put families in touch with each other, then they will have done a great service to the individuals concerned and the community at large.

could from the system whilst some of the Lords were quite content to sell their influence. The record album by Generis entitled ‘Selling England by the pound’ seems to describe the way in which many were seen to act. We went into a war in Iraq against the wishes of millions, which ended up making the situation worse, except of course for American business. Then the EU appointed one of the chief instigators, our very own former PM as Middle East peace envoy - makes you think of Turkeys voting for Christmas! Luckily for him and every other previous and subsequent PM, he is able to earn millions on lecturing wealthy people about how good he and they all are. There is a conspiracy theory that the whole Daesh problem and the movement of hundreds of thousands of people into Europe has been orNow we ganised by a shadowy group of alien want to infiltrators working with the shadhear your views. owy Illuminati, who meet annually in Davos (very close to the YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE name of head Dalek Davros) - YOUR OPINION which I used to laugh at but now www.euroweeklynews.com I’m not so sure!

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Unhappy in your job are you comfort eating? IT’S important to recognise and acknowledge the signs that lead you to it

FitFoxy Looking Good, Staying Trim

THERE was a survey compiled on women some time back that revealed that those unhappy in their job were more likely to comfort eat. I would take it one step further and say that women unhappy with many things in their life would be more likely to comfort eat. I may even go another step further and say that I know men that comfort eat. We all comfort eat from time to time, it’s nice to indulge, food should be a pleasure right? However the fine line is crossed when it starts to become an every day habit that you are finding hard to control. When it starts to affect your weight and your health, it no longer feels good. You end up feeling awful, guilty and frustrated that you cannot find the discipline to get back on

COMFORT EATING: Food should be a pleasure. track. It’s incredibly important to recognise and acknowledge the signs that are lead-

ing you to comfort eat, or even comfort drink for that matter. Alcohol is also a huge contributor to weight

gain as far as I’m concerned, wine is a huge culprit. Some of the clients I have dealt with in the past have had psychological obstacles in their path that have led them to require my service. They have sought help with diet and food etc, but after drilling down and getting to know exactly what makes them tick, I see it is often something deep they are not dealing with which is continuing to sabotage their weight, health and well-being. Comfort eating will release feel good endorphins and make you feel great for a short time, but then what? You will feel awful again, your weight will fluctuate. You will feel like you are going around in circles and never getting where you need to go. There is no simple solution, there never is, but you only get one you. It really is up to you to decide what is more important to you in the long term, and go with it.

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The side effects of medication

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. This week the doctor answers a reader’s questions regarding the side effects of her blood pressure medication:

Dear Dr Perez Belmonte, Further to your article in the Euro Weekly, I have a problem which my doctor cannot solve. I do hope you can. I am a 77-year-old female and for several months I have been taking Amlodipino Normon 5mg Comprimidos EFG (previously I took Valsartan Normon 80mg with similar results). My current side effects are dry mouth two hours after I take my pill at breakfast time. Two hours later I get a tightening of the skin both sides of my throat, behind my tongue. This lasts for several hours and is very uncomfortable as this feeling is like blisters and sore. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Yours sincerely, Pearl

Dear Pearl, The medication you are taking to keep your blood pressure under control, Amlodipindo, and the one you took previously, Valsartan, can have some adverse effects. In the case of Amlodipino, these can include hot flushes, a red face, leg swelling, dizziness, dry mouth and dermatitis among others. The severity of these reactions can vary. If you have been suffering side effects since you started taking the medication, a specialist doctor should change your medication to another type which could suit you better and not cause these problems. Luckily today there are many different types of blood pressure medications available.

If you have any questions for Dr Perez Belmonte, please send them to: jefemedico@helicopterossanitarios.com The Coast’s Home GP service - wherever you are - at home - in the office - in the car - on the golf course your GP will get to see you any time, anywhere. A priceless service at an affordable price.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Prosecco can damage your teeth PROSECCO is fast overtaking Champagne as the fizzy celebratory drink of choice; being cheaper, sweeter and with fewer calories. But dentists are warning the alcoholic drink can erode teeth, saying they have seen many people, particularly women, whose teeth have been damaged by the acid in the drink. Prosecco contains about a teaspoon of sugar per glass, enough to feed the harmful bacteria in your mouth and can lead to tooth decay. The bubbles also contain high levels of carbon dioxide which are highly acidic and this acid attacks and erodes the enamel in teeth, weakening them and making them more susceptible to decay.

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A surge of happiness can lead to heart failure HAPPY heart syndrome is real say researchers after a new study BEING too happy could kill you. A major research project has found that joyful events causing a sudden surge of adrenaline, can lead to heart failure. Known officially as Takotsubo syndrome, it was originally detected and known as ‘broken heart syndrome’ caused when extreme emotional stress causes the heart to shut down. But the authors of the new study, led by researchers in Switzerland, suggest that a small number of cases would be better known as ‘happy heart syndrome.’ Their study was based on 1,750 patients in nine different countries. Of 485 patients which researchers identified as having an emotional trigger, 96 per cent had suffered sad and stressful events such as the loss of a loved one or attending a funeral. However, in 20 individuals, heart damage appeared to have been triggered by happy occasions including a birthday party, a wedding, a surprise

TAKOTSUBO SYNDROME: Even a rugby team winning a game could cause it. celebration, the birth of a grandchild, or even a rugby team winning a game. The condition, which strikes sud-

Ask the Optician Glaucoma

denly, causes the heart chamber to balloon out at the bottom while the neck remains narrow.

In the UK, around 5 per cent of patients die after suffering from the syndrome.

Eat well to keep blood pressure under control

By Andrés Román Romero, Store Director, Specsavers Opticas Santa Ponsa March 6 - 12 is World Glaucoma Week and with an estimated 60 million suspected cases of glaucoma worldwide, it’s Specsavers Opticas’ aim to raise awareness about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Here is some information about one of the world’s leading causes of blindness and how to protect your vision. What is glaucoma and who is at risk? Glaucoma is a build-up of fluid on the eye which increases pressure and in turn damages the optical nerve. If left untreated it can lead to permanent tunnel vision and blindness. Often there are no symptoms in the first stages and vision loss occurs gradually therefore it’s hard to spot

before severe damage has been done. There is no cure for this vision loss so it’s extremely important to have regular eye tests to diagnose the disease as early as possible, so you can be referred to a specialist for treatment. Over 60’s are more at risk of glaucoma however babies and young adults can also be affected. People of African origin are more at risk of glaucoma at a younger age. Other high risk groups include anyone with family history of glaucoma, people who are severely short sighted, and diabetics. How is glaucoma diagnosed? An in-depth eye test is all that is required to diagnose glaucoma early and if your optometrist sees any signs of

the disease they will refer you to the correct medical professional. There are three tests that optometrists perform to spot glaucoma; a visual examination of the optic nerve head, a check of the field of vision and measurement of the pressure within the eye. Not all eye tests include these elements, so ask your optician. How can you avoid eye damage from glaucoma? The best way to avoid vision loss from glaucoma is to make sure you have regular eye tests which contain health checks. The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated. Specsavers Opticas are currently offering free sight tests. Visit www.specsavers.es for more advice and information

FLAXSEED: Just a few tablespoons a day can reduce blood pressure. HIGH blood pressure, or hypertension, is known to affect 25 per cent of the UK population, but you can help keep it under control by eating the following: Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spring greens and watercress, should be eaten daily with a serving classed as around half a cup.

Spring greens; kale, young salad greens, sorrel, spinach, Swiss chard. Two servings a day is the preferred amount to keep blood pressure lower. A serving is one cup raw or half a cup cooked. Try eating two portions a day of asparagus, beetroot, peppers, carrots, corn, courgettes, garlic, mushrooms, okra, onions, pumpkin, sugar snap peas,

squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and a serving (half a cup) of berries such as grapes, raisins, blackberries, cherries, raspberries and strawberries. Flaxseeds and nuts are also ideal to snack on throughout the day. One study found that eating just a few tablespoons of ground flaxseeds a day resulted in a falling of blood pressure readings.

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OPINION & COMMENT

No shining example RATHER than a cynical crook, Iñaki Urdangarin merely comes across as not particularly bright Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

IÑAKI URDANGARIN told the Palma High Court that he had no part in defrauding €6.2 million of public money and had no idea of what his companies or his colleagues were doing. “I just did what I did,” he told the court, namely he swanned around as Duke of Palma de Mallorca. He apparently believed that as son-in-law to one king and brother-in-law to his successor, he could let everyone else do the work and presumably get away with siphoning off public funds. Rather than a cynical crook Urdangarin merely comes across as someone who is not particularly bright.

Spoilt for choice SINCE the December 20 general elections, Spain’s acting president Mariano Rajoy has resented rivals’ refusal to accept that he is enti-

News in brief MARIANO RAJOY inadvertently said: “What we’ve done and you haven’t is deceive people,” during the investiture debate. Albert Rivera began his speech in Catalan, Pablo Iglesias tried to address the speaker, Patxi Lopez, by his first name and Pedro Sanchez got nowhere at all.

tled to form a government. His was the most-voted party, but the PP received those votes because it is the only rightwing option. The left are spoilt for choice, hence a fractioned vote totalling more than the PP’s votes. Unfortunately for Spain’s leftwing voters, the pre-election red lines drawn by the PSOE, Podemos and Ciudadanos led them not to victory, but a one-way street leading to more elections.

Separate ambitions ARNALDO OTEGI emerged from prison after serving six years and four months for attempt-

ing to rebuild Batasuna, the political arm of the ETA terrorist group. Otegi said on leaving Logroño jail that he was more committed to independence than ever. So, presumably were the 200 or so people waiting outside to hail Otegi, but where were the rest of the 2.189 million people living in the Basque Region? As both Basque and Catalan polls demonstrate, nationalism is not automatically synonymous with separatism. The only people reluctant to absorb this fact are those who make the loudest noise about independence: the politicians. IÑAKI URDANGARIN: Said he had no idea what his colleagues were doing.

Natursports / shutterstock.com

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ALCER and Specsavers Opticas supporting World Kidney Day FUNDRAISING drive received a huge boost from the Trefoil Guild By Sandra Galo JESUS ANGEL MOLINUEVO, the President of Kidney Charity ALCER, visited Specsavers Opticas in Mallorca on Tuesday (March 8) to show his thanks for the company’s fundraising campaign ahead of World Kidney Day and share information about kidney disease. Store Director Martin Blake confirmed Specsavers’ commitment to ALCER and shared his story of saving his brother-in-law’s life by donating a kidney. Thanks were also given to the Trefoil Guild in Pinosa for their generous donation of €500 towards the campaign. World Kidney Day is today, March 10, and is a global cam-

paign to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys. By increasing awareness about preventive behaviours, risk factors and living with a kidney disease, the aim is to get kidney health for all. Chronic kidney disease affects 10 per cent of the population, with half of people over the age of 75 having some kind of kidney disease. High blood pressure and diabetes are the most common causes in adults, but by staying fit and healthy, drinking enough fluids and avoiding smoking and too many over the counter medications, you can significantly reduce the risk of getting kidney disease, doctors say. Specsavers Opticas had pledged their support for this cause in February, with all the stores raising money

for ALCER until March 15. They were inspired by Martin Blake, their Santa Ponsa store director, who came to the rescue of his brother-inlaw and donated a kidney in March 2015. His brother-in-law was seriously ill, receiving dialysis five times a week whilst he waited for a donor and got weaker. Martin bravely put himself forward as a donor and since the transplant has also raised €1,300 for Kidney Research. This fundraising drive received a huge boost when the adult guiding association, the Trefoil Guild in Pinosa, made a donation of €500. They decided to support a kidney charity in solidarity of one of their members’ daughters who is experiencing kidney failure due to severe

RAISING AWARENESS: Specsavers Opticas Director Martin Blake shakes hands with ALCER President Jesus Molinuevo in Santa Ponsa two days ahead of World Kidney Day. Type 1 diabetes and is awaiting a kidney transplant. The family have been really impressed with her medical care and Spain’s pioneering approach of transplanting both the pancreas and

kidney without removing the old ones to minimise complications in case of rejection. They wanted to show their thanks by making a donation and were delighted to see Specsavers supporting ALCER.

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SOCIAL SCENE

Port Adriano spring events FOOD lovers can enjoy a variety of cuisine on offer PORT ADRIANO is offering a variety of upcoming events. The port is celebrating the beginning of spring with a party on March 20. Proceeds will go to the Sonrisa Medica charity which brings humour to hospital wards. Food lovers can enjoy a variety of cuisine at the Third Street Food Festival which will be held in the main square for three days starting in the evening of March 25. In April, the winners of the Port Adriano

short film contest will be announced. The following month, Port Adriano will host a SUP boarding tournament and the â€˜Best of Yachting Port Adrianoâ€™ exhibition featuring the best nautical offers on the island. A variety of gastronomical activities are planned for the summer months and wellknown musicians have been booked including Roger Hodgson from Supertramp and the group Buena Vista Social Club. For more information about these events and more, visit www.portadriano.com.

PORT ADRIANO: The beautiful port is hosting a variety of activities in the upcoming months.

Major DJs to hit Mallorca

TOP NAMES: David Guetta with Kelly Rowland. ALTHOUGH Ibiza has boasted for many years that it has the best clubs in the Balearics, the BH Mallorca hotel in Magaluf is hitting back by hosting a summer open-air festival in its Stage arena. Running in both June and August 2016, this follow up to the first and highly successful venture by the hotel promises to feature some top names including Dim Mak, Steve Aoki, French star David Guetta, singer Jess Glyne and Martin Garrix. The summer will be hot and even steamier now that these events have been announced.

SOCIAL SCENE

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12th Oris Classic Rally PARTICIPANTS come from all over the world

PUERTO PORTALS: The 12th Oris Classic Rally will be held at the port. THE 12th annual Oris Classic Rally will take place on March 10, 11 and 12 in Puerto Portals. On March 4 a presentation of the event wa s m a d e a t t h e Ca p p u cc in o Gran Cafe in Puerto Portals by the organiser of the Rally, Toni Dezcallar, Calvia General Director of Sports and

Sporting Events Marcos Pecos Quintans, President of the Balearic Federation of Motorsports Rafael Abraham, Oris Spain’s Director of Marketing and Communications Susana Cabello, and Alvaro Irala, Director of Puerto Portals. Alvaro Irala said that the port, which

is celebrating its 30th anniversary, is honoured to host the Rally for the fifth consecutive year. Participants will come from differe nt c orne rs of the w orld inc luding Fra nc e , Engla nd, G e rma ny, South A fric a , Sw e de n, Sw itz e rla nd a nd Spain.

More penitents Photo Credit José Juan 'Potti' Luna flickr

FIRST procession on Palm Sunday

SEMANA SANTA: There will be a total of 17 processions. THE Chairman of the Association of Brotherhoods, Miquel Llabata told a press conference on March 9 that the number of penitents who intended to take part in the Easter processions in Palma had increased by 500 from last year to a total of 5,000. In 2015 there were 33 different brotherhoods taking part,

with the oldest, Antiquisima Cofradia de la Cruz de Calatrava founded as long ago as 1902 whilst the youngest, Nuestro Padre Jesus de la Humildad y Nuestra Señora de la Paz is just eight years old. This year there will be 37 holy statues, 20 bands and a total of 17 processions with the first starting at 7.30pm on

March 18, with the first big procession being on Palm Sunday, March 20 at 6pm. The highlights and arguably the two most important processions will take place on Holy Thursday (March 24) with the Sant Crist de la Sang procession at 7pm and then on Good Friday the Sant Enterrament also at 7pm.

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52 E W N Mallorca V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W . E U R O W E E K LY N E W S . C O M

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New cutting edge designed homes SPAIN offers homes that are good quality, but many are actually excellent! John Graham The property expert

IT’S March, a time of the year when international buyers start seriously looking at where to buy their holiday home or permanent home in the sun and I’m seeing an increase in buyers looking to buy in Spain, or to be more precise, along the Costas and Balearics. An interesting report came out recently and the report states that around 73 per cent of all property for sale in Spain is good quality. I would go a lot further and say that in my experience there is now a much higher percentage of properties for sale in Spain that are not just good, but are excellent quality. Pushing the excellent quality levels to new highs today are the archi-

LUXURY LIVING: Architects and builders are pushing the quality to new highs. tects and builders of new luxury villas and apartments, all along the Costas and Balearics. The cutting edge designs of many architects are truly stunning and their properties are being snapped up by buyers from around the world, in many cases, even before being built. The interior designs are modern and open plan, making the most of

natural Mediterranean light and giving the feeling of space and comfort. Many of the building materials used today are sourced from all over Europe to give buyers the best in quality and value. Energy efficiency is now as good as it gets, underfloor heating, hot and cold air conditioning, high tech insulation, high quality double glazing,

the latest hot water systems, solar panels and much more, are delivering new luxury homes with excellent green credentials, which can be seen on the Energy Certificate. Top architects plan for appliances and fittings of the highest technical standards, from kit-chen appliances to bathroom fittings to the bedroom furnishings, nothing is overlooked. Low maintenance materials are used by architects and builders to ensure the annual running cost of a new luxury home is kept to the minimum. A high level of security is also an important factor in the modern luxury home and some of the luxury villas I am selling include bullet proof glass, electronic security shutters, secure rooms, security camera systems, security systems linked to the home owner’s iPhone and the Local Police, a gated community and armed guards 24/7. I know what you’re thinking, wow that’s certainly a lot of security, I have to agree, especially

compared to my home security, two dogs! Several of the deluxe villas my customers are buying also include many extra luxuries, such as, spa bathrooms with hydromassage baths, saunas, gym, home cinemas, private lift, roof solarium with jacuzzi and a heated indoor pool to match their outdoor pool. For the car enthusiast I’m selling a villa with a garage for 10 cars, maybe someone from Top Gear could be interested but it seems to me that new home designs have no limits in Spain today and that is great news for property buyers. What makes all of this even better is that all this new luxury can be yours for well below 2007 prices and to be frank, the quality and designs of most of today’s luxury homes are far superior than those built before. John Graham Fellow of The Architecture & Surveyors Institute. email. gk.ipad@me.com

PROPERTY

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Building increases SECOND year in a row to reflect positive results

A TOTAL of 49,695 building licences for new homes were approved in Spain in 2015, an increase of 42.5 per cent compared to the year before, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Public Works and Development. This was the second year in a row to reflect positive results, and the vast majority of the permits granted, approximately 35,000, were for flats, the report revealed. A seven-year run of drops in licences for new builds applied

for and granted was broken in 2014, when an increase of 1.7 per cent on the 2013 historical low brought the total to 34,873. Yet the total is still a far cry from the peak levels of 2006, when 865,561 licences were approved. BBVA Research reported that the 2015 increase was ‘the end of a successful year for construction activity,’ and said the growth is supported by improvements in employment within the construction sector.

CONSEQUENCES: Having more power means that electricity bills are much higher.

Two out of 10 homes have more electric power than they need TWO out of 10 homes in Spain have more contracted electric power than they actually need. As a consequence, their electricity bills are much higher. According to the Spanish Electric Network (REE), the power contracted by the majority of the consumers is 175,000 megawatts, whereas the average capacity held by the electricity network in Spain is 108,000 megawatts.

The difference between the contracted power and the actual consumption is around €7 billion. That’s what Spaniards pay for the electricity they do not use. In fact, a study by Mirubee’s electricity webpage shows that more than 3.6 million houses —two out of 10— in Spain have hired more electric power than they need. An average family usually consumes 1.1 extra kilowatts in their house. If each of

these families reduced their power, they could save around €52 per year. According to specialists, it is easy to know whether the contracted power is enough or not and if there is enough of a margin to adjust it. There are mobile apps for calculating the power that a house should have and some electric energy companies also offer simulators on their own websites.

British are dominating FULL figures are in for Spanish home sales in 2015 and show that British buyers have harked back to the pre-crisis years by dominating the foreign demand market. A significant chunk of the marketplace is dedicated to international sales with 13 per cent of sales throughout the year featuring a foreign buyer, whether a resident or not. To give an idea of where this figure lies historically, the last quarter of 2014 saw a record

NEW BUILDS: Number of licences has increased.

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proportion of foreign buyers at 14.4 per cent. Roughly 46,000 homes were sold to foreigners throughout the year, with 9,956 going to British buyers. Their dominance was highlighted by the fact that second place went to the French with a mere 4,116 acquisitions. Germans were a close third on 3,445 while Russian demand saw a rather dramatic decline courtesy of the weak Ruble.

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UK housing mini boom ADVANCE MOVES international removals have reported on a 2016 first quarter mini boom in the UK housing market that has resulted in a significant increase in their UK to Spain removals services. The surge in demand for removals services has been put down to a number of factors that have all resulted in a very busy period in what is traditionally a quieter time of year for the removals industry during January to March. The prime influence appears to be the British chancellorâ€™s increase in stamp duty on buy to let homes that comes into effect in April and has therefore resulted in a rush to buy before the new higher levels of stamp duty come into effect. With more properties suddenly being sold in the UK and combined with the terrible

weather conditions that the UK has experienced this winter, many UK residents are selling up and contacting Advance Moves to undertake their relocation to Spain at the earliest convenience. Many of their clients are making the most of the free of charge storage period they offer so that they know that their effects are safe and secure whilst they wait to complete on their new home. Advance Moves has also been investing heavily in their new mobile friendly website that offers a quick quote facility so a client can enter minimal information to obtain a quotation for their removal. The new site at www.advancemoves.com has been well received by the public as it offers a lot of information on the removals process.

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PROPERTY

Small flat prices have been slashed since 2007 CURRENTLY cost as much as nine years ago

SMALL FLATS: Are considerably cheaper than the rest. By Antonio Melgar THE smallest apartments, those measuring up to 60 square metres, are the ones that have seen the biggest price drop during the crisis. In fact, they currently cost half as much as they did nine years ago, according to a study carried out by Fotocasaâ€™s property webpage. For this study the flats were divided into

four groups: smaller than 60 square metres, from 60 to 100 square metres, from 100 to 150 squar e m et r es and f r om 150 t o 300 square metres. The conclusions are that those flats smaller than 60 square metres are considerably cheaper than the rest. Specifically, they have decreased by roughly 50 per cent compared to their price in 2007, which means a drop of â‚Ź1,738 per square metre.

HOMES

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GARDENS

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It’s time to watch out for unexpected low temperatures in the garden! HARD soils can be hard on wrists and elbows when digging holes, so use a mattock Dick Handscombe

Temperature on thermometer oC

Gardening Corner By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.

TRADITIONALLY March is a month of strong winds and unexpected low temperatures, so do watch out for the following possible problems in the garden and take timely precautionary or corrective actions. 1. Broken branches of all types of plants, shrubs and trees. Cut them off to prevent further damage and remove eyesores. 2. Tight ties holding trunks and branches that are starting to cut into the bark. Carefully loosen them and replace. 3. The chaffing of trunks and branches from loose ties. Tighten but leave space for the thickening of the branch. 4. Wind factor burning even if the thermometer does not actually fall below zero. The following table indicates the possibilities.

Wind speed around and through plants Km/hr

Chill factor temperature on surface of leaf oC

+2.5

-5.0

0.0

-2.5

0.0

-10

-2.5

-5.0

-2.5

-12.5

-10

-12.5

-10

-17.5

5. Fleece placed over vulnerable plants being ripped off by the winds. Fix more securely. 6. Already dry soils being further dried out by strong winds. Water so as to not lose early blossom and prevent bulbs dying off quickly. 7. Nesting birds can be disturbed if too many people walk near them so be careful.

8 . If there are no signs of forthcoming frosts that normally kill off the yellow flowered oxalis flowers in your garden weed them out. 9. On windy days fires can soon get out of control or create new fires from flying sparks so ensure you obtain a licence, burn early, finish early, and dampen the cinders before you leave.

10. Cover seed beds with wire mesh to make it difficult for visiting cats or birds to dig. 11. Hard soils can be hard on wrists and elbows when digging planting holes so use a mattock or spade even for small holes rather than a trowel. 12. Put a heater in a greenhouse if frosts could damage young seedlings or mature specimens. 13. Keep bird baths filled with water as it is important birds do not become thirsty as the nesting season starts. 14. Give fruit trees a spring neem insecticide and propolis fungicide spray. 15. Attend one of the local spraying courses so you are legal when you use insecticides, fungicides and weed killers. 16. For many there is no sign of this year being any wetter than recent years so rethink your gardens before going out and buying new plants. Ideas for reducing the watering needs of your garden are in the book ‘How to use less water in your garden.’ © Dick Handscombe / www.gardenspain.com

Getting your garden into a good mint condition MINT is a garden superstar. It can add a bit of a kick to a fruit salad, can make a mean mint tea if you’re feeling under the weather, and of course it is a key ingredient in all of your favourite indulgences, from

mint ice cream to mint chocolate. And who doesn’t love a good mint julep or mojito? Once you plant it, mint will stick with you. It is a very tough plant and can

Planting with purple PURPLE is the second most common flower colour, after yellow, but we often fail to get the most out of it. It is an incredibly versatile colour, which can either be vibrant or subdued, so it really depends on what kind of statement you’re trying to make with your particular flower garden. If you’re going for a pale purple, lilac and lavender can be a lovely choice. The contrasting colour for violet and purple is yellow. The paler shades offered up by lilac and mauve look very nice next to creamy yellows, such as common primroses. When purples are placed alongside whites, silvers and greys, they look darker and more vibrant than they really are. For something more dramatic, try morning glories or some purple gladiolus.

even be invasive and take over your garden if you don’t keep an eye on it. Mint should be planted in full sun or partial shade, in moist soil that has been thoroughly drained. It can fall victim to various un-

pleasant garden beasties, including spider mites, flea beetles, and weevils. It should be hosed down often to prevent this from happening. Harvesting mint is easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Once the plants begin to bloom, just cut the leaves and tops off, and voila! Your mint tea, mint julep, or fresh bowl of after-eight ice cream is waiting for you just around the corner.

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Esmerelda is a Rum Tum Tugger Housesitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and petsitting and the experience and checked sitters get free accommodation! To find a pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com or call Lamia on +44 (0)1865521508

SOME thoughts from our feline friends 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

A Lonely

Now I lay me down to sleep, deep... The king-size bed is soft and ove gro tre cen the in t I sleep righ My human can hardly move!

ed in tight I’ve trapped her legs, she’s tuck night And here is where I pass the ude intr es No one disturbs me or dar food!” t wan “I and es Till morning com I sneak up slowly to begin chin. My nibbles on my human’s e sharp teeth hav I , ckly qui up She wakes the And my claws I will unshea

IT never fails to surprise Esmerelda’s family just how mature and regal she looks when her long coat is groomed and brushed beautifully, raised around her like a virtual crown. In this poise she lives up to her ‘sensible everyday name’, as Old Possum would have it. But she only has to hear one bird sound from outside and she is off, scattering any royal illusions about her as she tears around the house and garden like a Rum Tum Tugger. TS Eliot’s cats famously named for their hidden and sometimes not-so-hidden personalities brought about her nickname, and how truly she

lives up to her multiple personalities! When catsitters come to care for her in her home, as requested by the family while they are on holiday, Esmerelda performs for an introductory period. The house-sitters have been warned, it takes just one bird and you may not see her for the rest of the day as she chases the offender all over the neighbourhood. The house-sitters have been prepared for her special ways and her routines. The owners leave a list of daily routine instructions for her care, and telephone numbers.

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What have I done?

A Cat’s Prayer

ESMERELDA: Performs for an introductory period.

PETS PAGE

it’s time to play For the morning’s here and . I always seem to get my way me So thank you Lord for giving . see I that son This human per ds me tight The one who hugs me and hol ht. nig at bed And sacrifices her ~ Author Unknown ~

Cat

I w is h s o meone w o u ld te ll wrong. me what it is th a t I’ v e d o n e Why do I have to sta y outside long? in the rain and be left alone so They seem ed so glad to have me w ten. hen I cam e here as a There were kitso many th ings we’d do while I was growin g up. The maste r said he’d love me as The mistre a companio ss said she n and a frie ’d never fe nd. The childre ar to be le n said they ft a lone again ’d feed me . They’d pla and brush y with me me every and walk m day. e if I would only stay. But now th e master h asn’t time She doesn , the mistr ’t want me ess says I in shed. the house, The childre not even to n never pe be fed. t me, they I wish tha always say t I could p , “Not now lease them ” . Won’t so meone tell m e how? All I had, you see, w as love. I wish the y would e xplain Why they said they w anted min And then e, left it outs ide in the rain. Author: J

odi Riker

Yap

Take your furry friend with you on holiday THERE is a growing trend in owners taking their beloved pets on holiday with them. For those who can’t imagine leaving their furry friend behind while they relax on holiday, then there are plenty of options nowadays to include them in getaways. Many people feel that their dog is a true member of the family and dogs, being pack animals, probably feel the same way. Research has shown that it can be unsettling for domestic animals to be left for long periods while owners go away. Nowadays, increasing numbers of des-

tinations are willing to accommodate people holidaying with their pets, and with just a little extra planning there is no need for a dog walker or to stay in the kennels. Pets can even travel with owners on international flights but the paperwork must be in order. For international travel from Spain, pets must have the correct microchip inserted, be vaccinated for rabies and various other diseases at least 21 days prior to travel and not more than one year prior to travel. Consult your vet for the full information.

PETS: Can even travel with their owners on flights.

Credit Javier Brosch / Shutterstock

10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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First Spanish Olympic casualty of Zika virus

Trawler sinks in Palma port

CURRENTLY competing in the World Championships in Israel REIGNING women’s windsurfing gold medallist Marina Alabau has revealed that following a period of training and acclimatisation in Rio in preparation for the 2016 Olympics, she was bitten by a mosquito and suffered symptoms which she believes are the evidence that she caught the Zika virus. At first she thought that she had simply had a case of 24hour flu but then she developed a red hue and considerable itching, she told Associated Press, so she returned to Spain. She is currently competing in the World Championships in Israel and has made it clear that despite this ‘scare’ she has every intention of returning to Brazil to defend her gold medal status there.

Ayuntamiento de Mairena del Aljarafe

By John Smith

EWN

Balearics Port Authority

BOATS

DERELICT: The ‘Port d’Andratx.’

MARINA ALABAU: Inaugurating a sports hall named after her.

A DERELICT trawler named ‘Port d'Andratx’ whi ch had been l ef t abandoned in the port of Palma caused problems to the port authorities on the afternoon of February 29. It appears that the vessel had suffered an engine failure several years ago and had been left unattended as the owners

did not have the funds to repair it. The aut hor i t y was alerted by the local Fisherman’s Association to the fact that it appeared t o be l eaki ng oi l and therefore action was taken t o put an absor bent coating around it and to check it on a regular basis before having the tank emptied.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016

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FOR BEST RATES IN MOTOR INSURANCE CALL: 952 89 33 80

Motoring shorts

Fiat are over the legal limit A GERMAN environmental group called Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) recently tested the emissions of the popular Fiat 500X SUV, to see how they matched up to the company’s own claims. Not only did the 500X produce more emissions than Fiat-Chrysler claimed, it produced between 11 and 22 times the harmful emissions expected! That’s up to 2,200 per cent more harmful emissions than the company stated. Following the highly damaging VW emissions scandal that led to the brand all but abandoning diesel vehicle sales in the US, the DUH has begun testing other carmakers’ products to see how they stack up. The resulting tests have caught a few more cheaters, but few have racked up scores as high as the Fiat’s.

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

MOTORING www.euroweeklynews.com

It doesn’t matter whether you drive a McLaren or a McDonald’s delivery van, you are still relying on exactly the same technology that was dreamed up more than 100 years ago.

Some might say...

Viva the Vauxhall Viva THE new model still offers the same practical and economical motoring IT’S been nearly 40 years since the Vauxhall Viva was launched, and the new model still offers the same practical, economical motoring. For some time back in the 70s, family transport typically came in the shape of a Vauxhall Viva, which was available in a particularly unattractive pale green or mud brown paint job. Boyhood recollections of this particular car are somewhat limited, the huge Ford Cortina Mk I which preceded it, and the much more exciting looking Triumph Herald which came later, both made more lasting impressions. Other than that, to a young child with more of an interest in cars of the Matchbox variety, it was a pretty unremarkable car. Google informs us that there were three generations of Viva that Vauxhall produced, the first having appeared in 1963, and it was the last of the compa-

ny’s cars to be totally designed in the United Kingdom. Four decades later, though, the Viva name is back on Britain’s roads – reincarnated to replace the Agila as the entry-level model in the Vauxhall range. Of course, the new Viva is a different car for a different age. In 2016 the new version lends itself more to the role of a second car for family buyers, but will also appeal to city dwellers

and older folk, perhaps looking to downsize after the family have fled the nest. It comes in two trim levels, SE and the SL, and power coming from just one engine - a 1.0 litre, three-cylinder petrol unit which kicks out a modest 75bhp and boasts impressive

average fuel economy of 62.8 miles per gallon. As you’d expect, performance is steady rather than sporty but is perky enough in town traffic, and with a UK entry price of £9,495 (€12,000), it will hardly break the bank.

VIVA: Back on Britain’s roads.

How can you repair a Tesla? COMPANY will not give you the tools or data to fix your car CONSUMER reports say Tesla drivers are more satisfied with their car than the drivers of any other car. Nonetheless, Consumer Reports gave only an average rating for the cars’ reliability, despite worshipping the Model S P85D just a few months ago. Regardless of the raving reviews, and how great Tesla cars are when they are functioning, what happens when your Tesla needs to be fixed? Where can you take it? There aren’t any local Tesla dealers, and you can’t arrange for your neighbourhood garage to repair the problem. Why? According to Yahoo, Tesla will not give you the information or tools required to fix your car, irrespective of whether you’re an individual car owner, a local car repair facility, or a nationally franchised chain. Currently, Tesla’s share of the American car market is less than a 20th of 1 per cent, and their refusal to share informa-

CONSUMER REPORT: Says Tesla drivers are more satisfied with their cars than any other drivers on the road. tion may not seem to be a major concern right now. Plus, the company has been rather generous with free repairs and upgrades. However, their continuing pursuit of reaching their ambitious goal by selling 500,000 cars by 2020, and older cars accumulating more miles, means the company could gain considerable wealth by eliminating re-

pairs competition. Right now, Tesla America charges the following service costs for their vehicles: €550 - Annual inspection (every year or 12,500 miles) €1,700 - Four years of prepaid service (one inspection every year or 50,000 miles) €3,450 - Eight years of prepaid service (one inspection every year or 100,000 miles)

Tesla would be set to benefit almost €1 billion euros in extra revenue if all of their current customers opted for the four-year programme. This plan, however, only covers simple wear and tear items, such as windscreen wipers, wheel alignments, tyre rotations, and software upgrades. If you have a major issue after the eight-year warranty expires, you have no other option but to pay Tesla to repair your car, and Tesla is free to set the charges for parts and labour. Increasingly complex software, such as collision avoidance, lane keeping and selfsteering technology, are becoming common to all new cars. Manufacturers believe this software is their property, even though it is installed on your car, and thus owners are not allowed to access or alter the software at all.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Mallorca

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SPORT

Foxes on the run… so too are GB in Davis Cup ONLY a handful of points cover the top four Tony Matthews International Sports A former player and now the world’s most prolific author of football books with almost 150 published since 1975, Tony is also the sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio and lives on La Pilica in the Sierra Cabrera Mountains overlooking Turre. Costa de Almeria

FOOTBALL • With nine games remaining in the PL title race, Leicester City, 1-0 winners at Watford, are five points clear of Spurs who drew 2-2 with third-placed Arsenal. Despite Aguero’s penalty miss, Manchester City (4th) hammered ‘dire’ Aston Villa 4-0; West Ham came back from two down to beat 10man Ev e r t o n 3 - 2 ; L i v e rpool’s 10 (Milner saw red) beat Crystal Palace 2-1 with a 94th m i n u t e B e n te k e penalty and WBA edged

Manchester United’s 10 (Mata dismissed)1-0 - their first ever home PL win over the Reds as United manager ‘LVG’ moaned and mumbled again! At the foot of the table, there were vital wins for Bournemouth 3-1 at Newcastle and Swansea 1-0 over Norwich, while Sunderland drew at Southampton and Stoke at Chelsea, both 1-1. • A handful of points cover the top four in the Champ io n s h ip w ith M id d l e s brough,

JAMIE VARDY: Leicester City top.

DID YOU KNOW? Eighty years ago, in 1936, two founder members of the Football League, Aston Villa and Blackburn, were relegated from Division One for the very first time.

Burnley, Hull and Brighton all chasing automatic promotion, while bottom club Bolton are 10 points from safety. Burton Albion lead FL1; Northampton (unbeaten in 12) are 13 points clear of Oxford at the top of FL2 and Celtic are still the SPL leaders. • Barcelona, on course to w in La Liga (a ga in) s e t a new Spanish record of 36 ga me s w ithout de fe a t by beating Eibar 4-0. Messi ne tte d tw ic e to ta ke his goa l-ta lly for c lub a nd c ountry to 525. A nd la s t Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo ba gge d his 530th c a re e r goal (in 771 games) with a four-timer in Real Madrid’s 7-1 La Liga win over Celta Vigo. • Bayern Munich lead the Bundesliga by five points from Borussia Dortmund a nd J uve ntus ha ve e dge d clear of Napoli in Serie ‘A.’ • The 2016 Italian Cup final will be between AC Milan and Juventus. • In the Champions Le a gue on Tue s da y, R e a l Madrid (2-0 up) met Roma w hile la s t night, Chelsea, trailing 2-1,

played PSG at the ‘Bridge.’ This evening, Spurs visit Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool play Manchester United in the Europa League. • There are threeFA Cup quarter-fina ls c oming up: Reading v Crystal Palace (tomorrow), Everton v Chelsea (Saturda y) a nd M a nchester United v West Ham (Sunday). The winners of Tueday’s Arsenal/Hull fifth round ANDY MURRAY: Star of the show with two singles victories. re pla y w ill me e t Wa tford on a da te Classic in Miami. And 11• And Walsall have sacked yet to be arranged. year- ol d Tayl or Cr ozi er manager Sean O’Driscoll. • Also on Sunday, it’s Hirecorded a hole-in-one off bs v R os s C ounty in the the first tee, on the opening RUGBY UNION Scottish League Cup final day of t he new Bl uej ack • The Six Nations continand later this month, Celtic National Park course in ues on Saturday with Ireplay Rangers in the Scottish Texas. land-Italy, followed on SunCup semi-final. day by England-Wales (both • The MLS season kicked CRICKET unbeat en) and Scot l andoff last Sunday with New • The T20 World Cup Fr ance. I n t he dom est i c York City beating Chicago started on Tuesday in India. game, it’s Saracens and ExFire 4-3 in the opening fixIreland and Scotland were eter first and second in the ture. in action immediately while Aviva PL and Connacht and Engl and’s f i r st m at ch i s Leinster 1-2 in the Pro12 against the West Indies next League. Wednesday. TENNIS CYCLING • Holders GB beat Japan • In the World Indoor to reach the quarter-finals Tr ack Cham pi onshi ps at of t he Davi s Cup i n Lee Valley Velopark, 8,000 Birmingham. And once fans a day saw Laura Trott again ‘Man of Steel’ (two), Jason Kenny, Jon Andy Murray was star Dibben, Mark Cavendish of the show with two and Si r Br adl ey Wi ggi ns singles victories (his win gold medals for GB. second l ast ed al m ost five hours) and a douROUND-UP bles win with brother • The All-England badJamie. Next up - Novak minton championships are Dj okovi c and Ser bi a. under way in Birmingham. Meanwhile, GB’s Heather • Widnes, Warrington and Watson beat Kirsten FlipWigan are locked together kens (Belgium) to win the at the top of Rugby’s Super Monterrey Open - her third League. WTA career title. • Ex-GB Olympic cyclist The ATP/WTA Paribas Victoria Pendleton will ride Open in Indian Wells, USA, at the Cheltenham NH Fesis now under way and ends tival which starts next Tueson March 20. day. • And McLaren’s F1 driGOLF BAYERN MUNICH: vers this season will be Fer• Rory McIlroy ‘blew’ a Five points ahead three-shot lead on the final nando Alonso and Jensen of Borussia But t on wi t h a Honda enday as Adam Scott went on Dortmund. gine. t o wi n t he WGC Cadi l l ac

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10 - 16 March 2016

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Nike has suspended its relationship with the Russian star after she admitted testing positive for a banned substance.

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El Toro RC Girls Sevens AFTER the penultimate day in the Baleares Girls Sevens League held in Pollensa on a wet Sunday morning, El Toro RC and Bahia RC remain at the top separated by only four points. The girls of El Toro RC won each of their three matches with a clear advantage whilst Bahia RFC was only able to win against the Shamrock RC girls who beat Corsaris RFC. Bahia RC also lost to Corsaris RFC. The final leg coming up in Son Caliu on March 19 leaves both teams with everything to play for the League title. Baleares Senior League In one of the few remaining matches left of this season, Ibiza RFC hosted RC Ponent at Can Misses sports ground. After a tough match RC Ponent came out clear winners by 17 points to eight. In the other Baleares Senior League match TRUC Menorca played against Shamrock RFC where the final score was 22 points to 29. Another victory for the improving Shamrock RC team. Rugby Day The younger teams enjoyed a fun

EL TORO RC U6: Listening intently to their coach. day of rugby organised by RC Ponent in Principes de España Sports ground. As always there were plenty of participants, both boys and girls,

with lots of support from the stands. U16 tournament In the U16 triangular tournament organised jointly by Pollensa and

Corsaris RC teams from El Toro RC, RC Ponent and the combined Corsaris RFC, Mallorca Bocs RC and Pollensa RC took part. The winners

on this occasion were RC Ponent. Coming up next week A rare midweek game is due to be played in Son Caliu in an effort to fit in the remaining matches before the FBR deadline for the season. This will be between El Toro RC and RC Ponent. Kick-off is at 8.30pm. Bahia RC will be playing against Ibiza RC in S’Arraco. Kick-off is at 3pm. Mallorca Bocs are organising the next Rugby Day and U14 League matches to be held in Inca.