22 - 28 December 2016
MALLORCA
YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
Deathly vigil Boys stayed with body of dead mother By Matthew Elliott Three young children spent several days living with the body of their dead mother after she died in the family’s Palma apartment. The eldest, an 11-yearo l d b o y, e v e n t u a l l y w e n t out onto the streets and asked a city gardener for help. The gardener went with the boy and entered the Son Cladera apartment. He found the two
younger brothers, aged 10 and five, and the body of their deceased mother. The man quickly called Local Police who removed the body of the 40-year-old African immigrant and took all three boys to Son Espases hospital. The boys are being held in the hospital’s pediatric e m e rg e n c y w i n g . A n y symptoms they may have cannot be made public as they are minors. The boys reportedly told
Pediatric area of Son Espases Hospital.
the gardener that they had no idea what was wrong with their mother, only that s h e w o u l d n ’t w a k e u p . They also told social workers they had not eaten in days. Preliminary investigations have found no signs of violence but detectives are on stand-by as doctors await the results of a full post-mortem examination. It has now been revealed that Mallorcan social services were aware of the
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM Copyright Antonio Fernandez-Coca
ISSUE NO. 1642
family but the woman had refused help of any kind. Officials had also been trying to deal with the fact that her sons had not been to school since September. E ff o r t s a r e n o w b e i n g made to trace the boys’ father in case he is able to look after them. Fina Santiago, Social Aff a i r s m i n i s t e r, e x p r e s s e d his sadness that such a situation could be allowed to unfold “in a developed country.”
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NEWS
Life-changing day! THIS is the time of year to bring your loved ones close and let one another know how much you mean to each other. It’s the same for our family, the Euro Weekly family. Our readers and clients help complete our very own circle of affection and appreciation. So at this time of year we’d like to send our greetings to you and yours, and wish you the very best of Christmas tidings and may you enjoy a peaceful and prosperous new year. From all of us at the Euro Weekly family, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
LOCAL NEWS
Local is best
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THE 1641 (December 15 - 21) issue of the Mallorca Euro Weekly News contained no less than 25 local news items, demonstrating once again our dedication and commitment to delivering the news that matters most to you, our readers, in each of our six editions. Nobody does it better!
Community news VISITORS to the EWN website may have noticed our new ‘Community News’ section, currently stuffed full of Christmas news from all the local clubs, charities, theatre and church groups. Going
forwards it will feature all the latest from the Spanish expat community, and submissions (which will also appear in the paper, space permitting) can be sent to commu nity@euroweek lynews.com.
By John Smith TODAY (Thursday December 22) is the day that can change the lives of potentially thousands in Spain forever. With up to €2.44 billion of prize money on the table, the Spanish National Lottery, nicknamed El Gordo, has won a reputation over decades for spreading fame and fortune in life-changing doses. Throughout today millions will be watching it live on television and checking online to see if they are among the winners, with villages, office syndicates, clubs and associations plus bars often jointly buying tickets. Twenty children from San Ildefonso School (11 boys and nine girls aged from nine to 13) will today sing out the numbers as the various prizes are drawn with the top prize guaranteeing €4 million for a full ticket or €400,000 for a tenth. This Christmas lottery has been organized every year since 1812 by an arm of the Spanish Government now called Loterías y Apuestas del Estado and has been so popular that the draw even continued during the Civil War years. Nowadays even the government benefits, keeping 30 per cent of the total ticket spend and additionally charging a ‘profit tax’ on winnings over €2,500.
EL GORDO: Has spread fame and fortune.
There is only a limited range of numbers, but more than one ticket with the same number is offered for sale and most of the outlets only have two or three different numbers which means that there could be say 500 big winners within the same town. Although referred to as El Gordo by al-
most everyone, it only applies to the top prize and the correct name for the Government Christmas Lottery is ‘El Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad’ sometimes shortened to ‘Lotería de Navidad.’ To check if you are a winner of one of the 17 prizes, visit www.laloteriadenavi dad.com.
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FEATURED NEWS
“Our lives have new direction”
DR ORQUIN: Graduated with flying colours last year and is now in his first year of residency at Vinaros hospital. AS many people go about their daily lives today ( T h u r sd a y 2 2 ) , mu c h o f S p ain is glued to the television or radio hopefully clutching their lottery tickets as the children of San Ildefonso sing out the seemingly endless numbers for the El Gordo Christmas draw. Others will be listening out for another number, one given to them in a cause that could see them exchange their €10 donations for an apartment. The property in question will be going to the holder of the chosen lottery number and was donated by journalist and radio presenter Javier Cardenas. The reason? He had been told the moving story of Mara, a 13-year-old girl with a rare illness called Idic15 syndrome, and her father. As described in our previous article, Mara’s Va l e n c i a n f a t h e r, M ig u e l A n g e l Orquin Gonzalez, decided after losing his job during the recession to attend Valencia’s Faculty of Medicine. After six years of hard work, Dr Orquin graduated with flying colours last year and is now in his first year of residency at Vinaros
hospital and Benicarlo health centre. Yet the doctor has a goal which is both personal and professional and goes much further than treating coughs and colds: to spend his life researching and working towards a cure, or at least better treatment, for Idic15.
Hope is at the forefront as Dr Orquin seeks the funds to allow his investigations to continue. In his second year at the university, the determined father proposed investigation hypotheses to the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology which surprised and caught the attention of the professors. The need for €123,000 in funding to continue investigations along these lines discovered by Cardenas during an interview - led to the fundraising campaign which will today culminate in somebody winning a flat. Yet whoever wins the property, and an
€8,000 cash prize to redecorate it to suit their taste, will not be the only winner today. The real winners are Mara and her family and others who suffer the effects of this little-known genetic syndrome. In the face of the doctors who claimed nothing could be done, this campaign to improve the lives of those with Idic15, could prove otherwise. It’s far too easy to read about this type of case and put it aside, with no consideration for the fact that we’re reading about real people with real lives, who struggle on a daily basis to cope with the effects of crippling conditions. Yet Dr Orquin and Mara are far from just names on a hospital list and for her father, M a ra is e ve rything. It m ay have been a long, hard slog but it has been more than worth it to try and improve his daughter’s future, the doctor told EWN: “It’s been a complicated path, with short term goals and a lot of effort. First an exam, then a term completed, then another exam… then suddenly you look back and realise you’ve really run a marathon, one tough, tiring step at a time, but we’ve reached the finish line.
“At the end of the day, your case is at home and the love you feel for your daughter pushes you to keep digging and investigating. From the very start of my studies I was excited to be learning about human genetics, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that the authorities had abandoned us to fate,” he explained. Hope is at the forefront as Dr Orquin continues to seek the remaining funds required to allow his investigations to continue. In the meantime, he hopes his hypothesis on improving cell function will remain as his ‘little legacy’ to families which, like his, share their lives with children born with Idic15. Children, he explained, who battle every moment of every day against biological barriers most of us cannot even imagine, yet teach us life lessons along the way. “Every day I learn something from Mara and she learns something from me. I hate speaking of disabilities because Mara has managed to completely modify her surroundings and all these modifications have been good for our family, she has given our lives new direction and a clear goal,” this loving father ends by saying.
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INDEX News 1 - 20
Love triangle gets nasty By Matthew Elliott
Featured News 3
European Press 22
Finance 23 - 28
Stocks 24
Leapy Lee 29
Daily TV 30
Time Out 32 - 33
Letters 34
Nora 35
Health & Beauty 38 - 39
Social Scene 40 - 41
Property 43 - 46
Homes & Gardens 47
Pets 48
Classifieds 49 - 50
Motoring 51
Boats 52
Sport 54 + 56
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THE woman at the centre of a sex scandal that lost the former Bishop of Mallorca his job has accused her artistocratic ex-husband of psychologically abusing her. Sonia Valenzuela made the claims against her estranged partner Mariano de Espana as their lengthy and
acrimonious separation takes shape. She says that she was subjected to verbal humiliation and abuse throughout her marriage to the wealthy Mallorcan, who is of noble stock. Valenzuela made headlines earlier this year when the former Bishop of the island Javier Salinas was dismissed over allegations that
he conducted a secret affair with her while she was his secretary. Lurid tales of secret rendezvous and video tape evidence captured headlines across Spain as the allegations were made public. Salinas hasn’t been seen on Mallorca since his ignominious departure but the effects of his actions linger
on. He had refused a request from Mariano de Espana to nullify his marrige with Valenzuela on the basis of the alleged affair, forcing the matter to go to the courts. Now de Espana faces a full police investigation into the accusations from his exwife, and will face prison if convicted of domestic abuse.
Zsa Zsa’s swinging sixties MANY in Mallorca joined the world in remembering Hollywood star and celebrity icon Zsa Zsa Gabor, who died aged 99 on December 18. After all, Gabor’s visit to the island in the late 1960’s was one for the ages. During her 1968 visit Gabor refused to pay the bill at a boutique Son Vida hotel and tried to leave the island on an Air France flight. Police officers boarded the plane and one promptly received a slap on the face when asking for the payment. Gabor was arrested and spent the night in the cells before posting bail of $2,000. Naturally that wasn’t the end of the Mallorcan adventure for the larger than life star. The next day she tried to board a flight to London with four dogs and a cat she had ‘adopted’ in Ciutat but they were refused boarding by the stunned pilot. Gabor was also once married to English actor George Sanders, who had a home in Mallorca before taking his own life in a Catalan hotel in 1972.
ISLAND VISIT: Resulted in a night in the cells for Zsa Zsa.
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22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
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Taxi drivers lending a hand
TAXI DRIVERS: Will hand out toys for children in need.
By Sam Croft THIS year the Three Magic Kings of Palma will have a little extra help, not from elves, but from local taxi drivers. Around 100 taxi drivers from the association AmtatPimem will chip in to make sure that every child in the community gets a toy this Christmas. The members of this board, which is affiliated
with the National Taxi Association, have banded together to carry out a fundraising campaign. They will drive from place to place, collecting presents from people looking to make a charitable contribution. The taxi drivers will then hand all of the toys over to Caritas Charity and the Red Cross, so that they can be distributed to children in need. President of Amtat-Pimem Antoni Cladera explained
that “the initiative will be directed at children whose families are in precarious situations, a problem which has grown in the last few years.� Anyone who wants a taxi to come by their house can call 914 444 444 or request the service through the mobile application Taxies. Toys can also be taken to the headquarters of AmtatPimem, on Via Alemania 2, as well as other branches in Inca and Manacor.
Another fundraising initiative this Christmas period took place at the San Cayetano Elementary School. A Christmas market and living Nativity Scene allowed people to enjoy some holiday fun while purchasing and exchanging items in a bid to help out the less fortunate. This fourth edition of the small fair has become a reference point in the community for various charitable organisations.
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Burglar set fire to flat By Matthew Elliott A MAN who burgled a flat and then set it on fire has been jailed for eight years. The defendant was given six years for arson, two for burglary and ordered to pay more than €130,000 in compensation, mainly to insurance companies. In November 2014 the man snuck into the El Toro apartment in Calvia through the terrace of another property he
had broken into. He stole minor items, including handbags and sunglasses, before starting a fire to cover his tracks and escape. Guardia Civil officers and firefighters raced to the scene, some suffering smoke inhalation as they tried to evacuate the building. The court was told that one elderly woman who lived next door was put in danger and may have died if not for the quick action of the fire brigade.
Labrador search off EMERGENCY teams had to give up their search for a labrador who was lost after falling down a ravine. Firefighters and Guardia Civil officers had joined the search party for the dog, which tumbled almost 100 metres from the Alaro castle last weekend. While playing with other dogs near the top of the castle, the labrador crashed through a protective fence to the horror of its owners. They quickly called emergency services on 112 but, after a full day’s search, rescuers abandoned the effort, believing it unlikely that the animal could have survived the fall.
NEWS
OUR VIEW
Season’s greetings THIS will be the last edition of Euro Weekly News to be published before Christmas and all of the EWN family would like to wish our family of readers and advertisers the very best for Christmas and the New Year. 2016 has been strange with Brexit which whilst pleasing many has also caused worry for expats, especially those who are of advanced years and fixed income from UK pensions. The good news is the initial dip in sterling against the euro after the Brexit result has been reversed in parts although exchange rates are fragile and can drop if the news is bad. What has become clear in hindsight is on both sides of the Brexit argument there was a huge amount of misleading information and
scaremongering but 2017 will hopefully see some positive information about the rights of expats in Spain and also EU residents in the UK. By all accounts, the Spanish authorities want to make transition easy for people living and indeed visiting Spain as their contribution to the Spanish economy is so important. Many older British residents remember living quite comfortably in Spain before Britain joined the EEC and we will certainly continue to work within the community and publish Spain’s favourite English language newspaper. Wishing you every happiness in the coming year and we look forward to continuing to be an important part of the expat family within our adopted homeland.
Now we want to hear your views. YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION www.euroweeklynews.com
Anti-cruelty campaign ANIMAL rights activists have launched a campaign condemning the cruel slaughter of pigs across Mallorca. Pacma, a national political party devoted to protecting animals, claims techniques used violate animal welfare laws. The social network campaign, launched across Spain, says that pigs are frequently killed without first being stunned, dragged and beaten
in contravention of European regulations. Pacma identifies the ability of unlicensed individuals to slaughter pigs as the root of the problem. People without any training or accountability routinely kill animals in Spain, operating in a grey legal zone. The Madrid-based group want those people to either be banned or to receive training.
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NEWS EXTRA
Slippery slope ACTION will be taken to repair the Portals Nous slope in Calvia. More than €1 million will be spent to prevent possible landslides in the future.
Rebel, rebel TWO bikers were charged after being caught speeding at more than twice the limit in the Tramuntanas. They clocked 158kph and 160kph on the winding 70kph maximum road.
No veil A MUSLIM employee at Palma de Mallorca airport has taken her company to court over their banning the use of veils at work, claiming that her religious freedom has been violated after she was punished seven times.
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EWN
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Galaxy closer to home
Art for the people
By Matthew Elliott
A NEW graffiti piece set to be spray painted at Palma train station will be the biggest the city has ever seen. Street artist Joan Aguilo was immersed in the vast project at the Soller train station for days drawing a large portrait of a toddler with an adult face. It was commissioned by the owner of the station's parking lot, a fan of Aguilo’s work across Spain, who formed a partnership with the council to fund the artwork. Over 18 metres high, the professional piece dwarves any others across Palma and has radically transformed the station’s look. Aguilo says his work represents a child wondering what they will be when they grow up and believes in bringing art to the city which means something to locals.
A SCIENCE FICTION associa tio n b ro u g h t an e a rly Christmas present to a young b o y w ith c a n ce r. A s p ec ia l ceremony in honour of fiveyear-old Luca was held at the Palma premiere of new film ‘Ro g u e O n e : A S t a r Wars Story.’ The event was organised by the Association of Friends of Science F ictio n , a P alma b a s e d g ro u p , a n d to o k p lac e a t th e Sala Augusta cinema in th e city o n Sunday December 18. T h e re w a s a s p e c ia l s cre e n in g o f a s h o rt film about Luca’s struggle, that of other sick children, and how the Stars Wars universe has helped him explore his inner fan tas ie s w h ile b e in g treated.
STAR WARS: A special ceremony was held in honour of Luca.
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Brussels meets without Theresa May BREXIT PAGE By John Smith
WHILST there was a summit of EU leaders taking place in Brussels on December 15, there was one obvious absentee from a discussion on Brexit and that was British Prime Minister Theresa May.
firms its decision to leave the Union. The imaginatively named Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis has indicated that he expects a smooth exit, even though he hasn’t quite agreed any strategy with his cabinet colleagues and didn’t expect to be able to reveal plans in detail before February 2017 at the earliest. This admittance that the government really doesn’t know how to proceed but is confident of success overlooks the fact that it is one against 27 and each of the 27 may well expect to have its own national criteria
Union pean : Euro Credit Photo
The EU continues to make it clear that it will not enter into any advance negotiations unless and until Britain invokes Article 50.” It is assumed that it would be unacceptable for her to be party to the plans of the other 27 members although they of course won’t come to any decision until such time as Britain formally con-
THERESA MAY: Frozen out of the Brexit discussion.
as well as a Federal criteria when negotiating. Such a view appears to be backed up by the British Ambassador to the European Union Sir Ivan Rogers who according to the BBC has warned the government that the feedback he is getting from representatives of the other EU members is that it could take up to 10 years to negotiate the deal and it could then be vetoed by one or more members. The EU continues to make it clear that it will not enter into any advance negotiations unless and until Britain invokes Article 50 but in the meantime will be appointing a leader for the negotiating team shortly. At the moment, despite optimism on the part of those who wanted to see Britain leave the Union, there seems to be more negative than positive news but once the government reveals its final policy then perhaps the future will appear more certain. One body that has moved both speedily and without any need to negotiate is the lexicographers of the Oxford English Dictionary who has now embraced and defined the word Brexit for their latest edition describing it as “the (proposed) withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and the political process associated with it. Sometimes used specifically with reference to the referendum held in the UK on June 23, 2016, in which a majority of voters favoured withdrawal from the EU.”
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Girl under protection AN adolescent girl has been placed under the maximum level of protection offered by the Palma police force after receiving death threats from the family of her abusive boyfriend. The girl is aged just 14, and her boyfriend 16, however he already has an extensive and violent criminal record. She went to the police after he launched a savage assault on her and is now in 24-hour protective custody while her family are also under police surveillance. Her boyfriend has been arrested, but is a member of a notorious gypsy crime family who have threatened revenge on the girl for going to the police. Her mother said the family are terrified and feel unable to leave their home and desperately want a long-term solution that will guarantee their safety.
22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
Stargazing spot
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NEWS EXTRA
Sales rocket SMALL businesses across Mallorca have reported an excellent November with eight out of every 10 enterprises reporting higher sales and profits than last year.
Pool plague USERS of a Marratxi sports centre pool are furious over a mosquito infestation that has made swimming a dangerous and dirty affair. They claim neglect from the Caulelles centre staff has turned the water green.
Screen villain COSTA DELS PINS: A tranquil place favoured for its natural beauty. ONE of Mallorca’s most beautiful towns will finally have its enchanting Mediterranean view made safe for visitors. After much public demand a new balcony has been installed at the famous Costa dels
Pins viewpoint on the east coast, a tranquil place favoured by Spanish and global celebrities for its natural beauty. Son Servera Council is finishing the work, which also involves repairing the
damaged gazebo. A sculpture will also be added to lend the viewpoint a more inviting aura for contemplation than the padlocks and disrepair that greeted lovers, mourners and stargazers in the past.
A MYSTERY man seen on CCTV breaking into several schools in Palma in November was arrested after Local Police officers recognised the suspect as he cycled down Constitution Avenue. The 43-year-old was charged with burglary.
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NEWS
Bidding to boost artisan produce By Matthew Elliott AS Mallorca continues to promote its artisanal produce a survey has been conducted of residents to see just what local delights get stomachs growling. A campaign is underway to get speciality foods and drinks native to the islands protected with certificates of origin and help promote their sale in local shops. Organised by the Agricultural ministry the survey asked locals just how often they bought particular Mallorcan oils, olives, almonds, wines and cheeses, and what kind of people prefer which products. For instance, the most popular wine is Binissalem, although younger generations under the age of 46 seem to prefer the earthy option Serra de Tramuntana.
More than half of those asked regularly buy Mallorquina speciality, Ensaimada de Mallorca, 43 per cent often buy Sobrasada, a quarter purchase Mallorcan olives and a fifth choose local almonds at least once a month. The most popular cheese, however, is a little further afield, across the sea in Menorca which produces Mahon cheese, the Balearics’ clear dairy favourite. Local authorities are keen for people to buy local artisanal produce for Christmas gifts and for festive meals. By enhancing their local popularity, producers stand a better chance of getting certification for their work, and may be able to command a higher price in international markets.
NATIVE PRODUCE: Popular with locals.
Probe over tragic hospital death of mother-to-be AN investigation has been launched into the tragic death of a young pregnant woman in Son Espases hospital. The 25-
year-old was six months pregnant and had gone into the Palma hospital last week for a routine ultrasound.
But while in the ward she suffered a sudden violent episode and died, along with her unborn baby, despite the best efforts of doctors to resuscitate her. The Spanish woman had a history of medical problems but nothing so serious as
While in the ward she suffered a sudden violent episode and died.� to demand an emergency appointment and the ultrasound had been planned well in advance. Her body has been taken to the forensics department for a full post-mortem examination and her family are considering legal action against the hospital should they find any evidence of negligence.
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NEWS
Back from the dead By Matthew Elliott BARCELONA Zoo has shipped 82 Mallorcan midwife toads to the island. The extremely vulnerable species is native to the Tra-
muntana mountains but are also bred in the mainland zoo to save them from extinction. The toads were released into the mountainous wild after their arrival and will help repopulate the area. Until the late 1970s they were considered extinct by scientists,
largely understood from fossil remains, but today there are roughly 500 breeding pairs in Mallorca. That improvement is thanks to the efforts of Barcelona Zoo, which has bred more than 1,500 toads since 1993. The Mallorca midwife (Alytes muletensis)
is still classed as vulnerable but no longer endangered by the International Union for Conservation. The toad is a hardy creature with a history stretching back 155 million years. It has small warts on its back which can emit a poison so strong it can kill a snake. Photo by J. Bosch/MNCN
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MIDWIFE TOADS: Were released into the mountainous wild.
Playing with fire A CARIBBEAN drugs smuggler has been jailed for trafficking offences and his involvement with a drugs mule who died after ingesting cocaine. The Dominican man was denied bail by a Palma court after being arrested with 100 grams of cocaine. He had fled Mallorca after the death of a compatriot at a city hotel in June but made the mistake of returning in December. In June his associate ingested 40 grams of cocaine and smuggled it on a Mallorca-bound flight.
He later collapsed at a Playa de Palma hotel and died after seeking help from reception. The jailed Dominican had the audacity to show up at the hotel when he heard there was trouble in a bid to somehow recover the cocaine and police put out a warrant for his arrest. Despite him fleeing Mallorca, agents tracked his movements and, when he returned, captured the Dominican and 100 grams of smuggled cocaine during the arrest operation.
FEATURE
22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
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EWN
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Advertising Feature
An average week Commentary by Moneycorp
EUR weekly currency update The euro zone is never truly comfortable without a crisis of some sort. This week’s related to the capital adequacy of Italian banks, which are lumbered with disproportionately high levels of non-performing loans. A change of prime minister complicated what was already a tricky problem but it now looks as though the government will chip in €15bn of support to keep the institutions afloat, even though to do so would be to break EU rules. Crises aside, Euroland did not have a great deal to say for itself. The number of people in work went up by 1.2% in the year to September while industrial production was incrementally lower in October. The result was an average performance by the euro. It lost the better part of two cents to the class leader, the US dollar, and was down by half a cent against sterling. USD weekly currency update There was no competition for the US dollar, which led the major currency field by a street and dealt the yen a crushing 3% blow. It picked up a cent and two thirds against sterling and took nearly two cents off the euro. The US economic data were few and mostly unremarkable. Inflation was in line with the
consensus forecast at 1.7%. Retail sales went up in November but only just. Industrial production was down by -0.4% for that month, double the expected decline. Nevertheless the dollar prospered after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for only the second time in a decade. It was not the rate hike itself that did the job: everyone had been expecting it. But the Fed’s economic projections made it look likely that there will be three more increases next year instead of two that investors had been counting on. CAD weekly currency update It was not such a winning week for the Canadian dollar but it still managed to outperform its antipodean cousins and was one of only two currencies to make gains against sterling, where it picked up two thirds of a cent. The US dollar had a far better week though, thanks to an interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve and the prospect of three more next year. The Loonie lost three quarters of a US cent, having first touched a two-month high. Canadian ecostats were exceedingly thin on the ground: the only one that might have mattered was a -0.8% monthly fall in manufacturing shipments and even that had no impact on the currency. UK data were more plentiful and, on
Clarisse Musselwhite is Moneycorp’s Account Manager for Mallorca
She can be contacted on Tel: +34 902 887 243 Mobile: +34 687 932 472 Email:mallorca@moneycorp.com
902 887 243 mallorca@moneycorp.com the whole, reasonably good. The trade deficit narrowed and inflation accelerated to 1.4%, at least partly as a result of the weaker pound, and average earnings were up by an average 2.5%. AUD weekly currency update The main domestic event for Australia’s dollar was the employment data that came out on Thursday. They indicated a jump of more than 39k in full-time workers while only 200 parttime positions were lost. However, unemployment went up to 5.7%. The combination of more jobs and higher unemployment left in-
vestors slightly bemused and the figures had no lasting effect on the Aussie. What did affect it, at least against the US dollar, was the Federal Reserve’s widely-expected quarter-percentage-point interest rate increase. It was not the rate hike that made the difference, it was the suggestion in the Fed’s economic projections there could be three more increases next year instead of the two that had been anticipated. The Aussie lost one US cent on the week and it was all but unchanged against sterling. NZD weekly currency update There was no repeat of the previous week’s bonanza for commodity-related and emerging market currencies. This one belonged to the US dollar, which was lifted by only the second interest rate increase in a decade and, more importantly, the prospect of three more to come in 2017. The Greenback picked up a cent and a third - 2% - against the Kiwi and led the major currency field by a mile. Sterling shared third place, behind the Canadian dollar, with the Aussie and added one NZ cent.
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Silver lining ONE silver lining from the heavy rains is that key Mallorca reservoirs doubled their reserves in just four days. Cuber and Gorg Blau are now more than 40 per cent full, with water levels rising by over three metres in the Cuber and almost six metres in the Gorg Blau. November and December has seen much more rainfall than in 2015 but, despite the pre-Christmas torrents, the island’s reservoirs remain in a state of virtual drought. January to March was drier than in 2015, and this year far drier than average.
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NEWS
Devastating storms cause severe flooding
WILD STORMS: Doubled the average rainfall for December. MALLORCA is on the slow course to recovery after wild storms led to severe flooding across much of the island. More than double the average rainfall for December fell in just 24 torrential hours as emergency services worked overtime to protect people and property. Although the storms, which arrived late on Sunday December 18, have finally abated, security alerts are in place as water levels re ma in high. D oz e ns of roa ds ha ve be e n c los e d across the island and there is still a threat from landslides. Damages have yet to be calculated but farmlands in Porreres and Campos are thought to have lost almost a third of the ir c rops to
flooding. Parts of the Tramuntana mountains saw an incredible 200 litres of rainfall per square metre. Palma, Campos and Llucmajor saw levels exceeding 100 litres per square metre, while Felant i x, Manacor, and Por t Sol l er wer e am ong t he worst areas affected by flooding. Firefighters attended more than 100 emergency incidents across Mallorca, rescuing people trapped in cars and homes by rushing waters. They attended electrical fires, traffic accidents and vehi cl es st r uck by falling trees. In Palma emergency prot ocol s wer e act i vat ed on Monday. Rubbish collection was abandoned and the Citi-
zen’s Assistance Office was flooded. More than 5,000 schoolchildren missed classes due to closures across the isl and, whi l e t he Bal ear i c University suspended lectures in affected areas. The road between Campos and Porreres became a brown river of mud and water and, on Monday, at least 10 rivers burst their banks. Winds exceeded 90kph as they battered the island’s southern coast, while rains were more pronounced on the north-east. The other Balearic Islands, including Ibiza and Menorca, also suffered serious damage as the storms swept through the western Mediterranean, even striking Corsica.
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NEWS EXTRA
Beach death
22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
Water eruption
THE body of a 65-yearold German man was found a few metres off the Port Andratx coast by police. He was fully dressed and there were no signs of violence.
Love island PALMA airport’s busy year saw the arrival of the 26 millionth passenger on December 20, well ahead of last year ’s t o t a l o f 2 3 . 7 5 million.
Popular port WITH a record-breaking 1.69 cruise visitors arriving until October, the Balearics has the second biggest tourist port traffic in Spain, after only Barcelona.
FONTS UFANES: The heavy rainfall pushed the water up from underground. By Matthew Elliott PEOPLE gathered to witness the Fonts Ufanes phenomenon in Mallorca as the springs began to discharge water for only the second time this year on Tuesday, December 20. Extra security had to be sent to the Gabelli Petit farm in Campanet to deal with the crowds who swarmed
to see the powerful springs finally unleash, while they were closed on Wednesday after breaking their banks. The recent heavy rainfall pushed the water up from underground for the first time since early April as drought continues to afflict the island. From 2014-2015 the springs gushed on 51 days in a calendar year
and usually averaged at least 35 days. This year the springs have erupted only five days as Mallorca received a third less rainfall than usual. Located at the foot of the Puig Tomir mountain, the springs are classified as a protected natural monument and considered the most marvellous hydro-geological phenomenon in the entire region.
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Power to the people LOCAL residents are set to be protected from loud tourists under new rental rules. Tourism minister Biel Barcelo lent his support to proposals which would ensure guests in rented properties abide by community regulations. All tourists who rent out an apartment would have to follow strict community guidelines on noise-levels, swimming pool times, or any other matter neighbours deem important. Barcelo believes this will bring a measure of influence back to local citizens who often bear the brunt of an influx of guests with little knowledge, or regard for, the rules designed to keep everyone happy. By writing these proposals into the rental laws, the government will be able to fine homeowners who rent out their properties to tourists who then flout community laws. Communities would be able to vote on their own regulations, which means they could ban tourist rentals altogether if a majority wished. Many who deal with noise on a regular basis will be tempted to ban short-term rents outright, but will have to balance that instinct with the healthy profits to be made.
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NEWS EXTRA
Death sentence CALVIA’s Amnesty International members celebrated the abolition of the death penalty in Tuscany in 1786 as people around the world called for an end to capital punishment.
System down A COMPUTER server crash in Madrid meant that all systems were down in the Balearic courts and no judges or lawyers could work properly on any of the islands.
Karma police MORE than 50 Palma police officers launched a surprise removal of local cars with an expired ITV, taking 90 away to the pound where their owners can expect hefty fines.
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Breathtaking discovery By Matthew Elliott SCIENTISTS have dated a fossil stumbled upon by a German tourist to a staggering 260 million years old. The guest found the skull fragment of an ancient reptile whilst walking along the Playa d’es Canonge on Mallorca’s west coast in 2002. Lieselotte Hannen was struck by the strangeness of the small ‘stone’ which seemed to have several rows of teeth. She took the rock home and five year later gave it to paleontologists in Bonn who puzzled over the relic. They partnered with a group of Spanish researchers from the Catalan Institute of Paleontology. Together they have identified the fossil as belonging to Captorhinidae, an extinct family of reptiles which lived from roughly 300 to 250 million years ago. The creatures were largely herbivores but also fed on insects. Their skulls could be 50cm long and their bodies span two metres as they prowled the Tramuntanas. The finding represents the first direct evidence of the reptile’s existence in southern Europe, adding Mallorca to a list of habitats that includes Africa, North-America, China and Russia. Back then Mallorca was not an island
Photo credit Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont.
SKULL FRAGMENT: Is like a small stone with several rows of teeth. but was merged into the giant supercontinent Pangaea which was largely in the southern hemisphere. The fossil is presently held in Berlin
but will soon be exhibited in Soller’s Museum of Natural Sciences, while Lieselotte has since made a new home in Mallorca.
NEWS
Muddy waters ANGER is rising among Calvia councillors over the shoddy state of Magaluf’s streets. Members of the Popular Party have demanded that urgent action be taken to reduce the amount of mud which is at dangerous levels. They blame the impact of various construction works in operation across the Mallorcan tourist resort, with trucks and tractors spinning huge volumes of dirt and dust onto the street. Passing cars and bikes often get mud trapped in the spokes of their wheels, creating a dangerous situation as they travel across the island. The opposition councillors claim the lack of zeal shown by the socialist-run town hall reflects badly on the area, which, as a key tourist attraction, should look at least reasonably clean throughout the year.
NEWS
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Discriminatory code asks for consent certificate BLIND and deaf people will now need to present a medical certificate proving their ability to give consent ahead of getting married. The move comes following changes to the Civil Code. Previously, Article 56 stated that persons affected by ‘deficiencies or physical anomalies’ had to present a medical certificate on ‘their ability to give consent’ as part of the paperwork needed to get married. Now, the code has been modified to include all those affected by ‘mental, intellectual or sensory deficiencies’ which affects a large group of citizens across Spain who are blind and deaf. The Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities (CERMI) want the article amended saying it is discriminatory assuming that this sort of disability questions that they understand the meaning of marriage and
the ability to consent to it. The platform reminds that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stresses that ‘all persons are equal before the law’ and therefore urges that the discrimination of the group be ended in matters related to ‘marriage, family, parenthood and personal relationships.’ CONTROVERSIAL CODE: Means blind and deaf people need consent to marry.
22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
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NEWS
Jaen author writes debut children’s Christmas book RUBY MOLLY HAWKINS, an English author who now resides in Spain, is to have her debut children’s book published this month. Ruby is concentrating on a series of children’s stories and these are based on the recollections of her childhood and feature the fictional ‘Hawkins Family’: three brothers and a sister, aged between three to eight years old who are brought up by their single father. The story begins with dad and the children visiting nanny and grandad’s house for a pre-Christmas visit, on a typically cold December day, only to find that they have no decorations nor Christmas tree. But, where will Father Christmas leave their presents? Or are nanny and grandad on Santa’s naughty list. The children are determined to correct this error and will not leave before the house is decorated and full of Christmas cheer. The talented author says: “From an early age, I was always encouraged to keep a diary, due to these entries I can recall events that occurred within my
RUBY MOLLY HAWKINS: Based her book on her own childhood memories. family, and have based my stories on these.” A few years ago, Ruby relocated with her husband and two young sons to Jaen in southern Spain where she worked as an English language teacher. She has previously worked in the Civil Service and in foster care and now writes full-time at home, as well as car-
ing for their ever-expanding family of animals. Christmas at Number 61, published by Austin Macauley, is available from Amazon and all good bookshops. For more information, please visit http://www.austinmacauley.com/book/ch ristmas-number-61 for more information.
FEATURE
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Cancer Support Local Group Mallorca heroes
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CSG, ULEM, AUBA and Aprop were invited to the AECC (Balearic cancer support) offices on Thursday December 15, where the Lions Club Palma de Mallorca presented them with wigs and other items that had been donated by Asociacion Brustkrebs Deutschland (www.brustkrebsdeutschland.de). The items were equally divided amongst the five associations. This means that Cancer Support Mallorca has the following items that they are happy to offer to anyone here on the island who may need them: Thirty four wigs, eight head stands, four bathing costumes, hair cleaning products, five prosthesis and eight headscarves. Please contact the group via their website www.cancersupport mallorca.com if you need any of the above.
PLAYERS and coaching staff from Real Mallorca paid a visit to boys and girls at the pediatric unit in Son Espases hospital. The local heroes visit the children’s wing of the hospital each year before Christmas to sign autographs, bring gifts and raise spirits. The second division football team are celebrating their centenary anniversary this year, having been founded in 1916. The board of directors also sent out a special Christmas message to children and unwell people all across Mallorca wishing them happiness over the festive season.
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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS
COSTA DEL SOL
Christmas greetings tree COSTA BLANCA NORTH
ALTEA TREE: Up it goes!
COSTA BLANCA SOUTH
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
COSTA BLANCA NORTH
By Linda Hall PUPILS at primary schools in Altea and Altea la Vieja made a Christmas tree for each town. Instead of pine needles and branches the trees were created from Christmas cards that the children had made themselves at school. In Altea la Vieja a four-metre high tree was put up in the Centro Cultural while Altea’s sixmetre tree was set up in Plaza de la Paz. “It was very rewarding to see how so many children took part and watch as the tree took shape th anks t o t he t owns’ st at e schools,” said Education counc il l or Vi cent a Per ez as she thanked the Altea la Vieja, La Olla, Blanquinal, Les Rotes and Garganes schools for their hard work.
Burglars fail
Cyclist’s signage
Man injured
A GROUP of criminals, known by police as the ‘Ford Gang’ have struck again in Petrer. In this latest case, the group stole a car ahead of carrying out a robbery at a petrol station.
THREE burglars had to run away empty handed after they were spotted by a neighbour entering a country property in Olula del Rio, who called the police.
A GERMAN man was badly injured when he was involved in a paragliding accident near Almuñecar. The man, 51, was discovered on the terrace of a farmhouse in the Loma del Gato area
Lorry overturned
Found safe
IMPROVED information boards have been placed at the Via Verde de Denia to help encourage cyclists to discover new routes. The panel, with map, images and text covers a 36 kilometre route linking towns in the Marina Alta region.
A LORRY driver, aged 37, was injured and had to be cut out of the lorry’s cabin by fire crews following an accident at kilometre 185 of the A-31 motorway at the entrance to Villena when the lorry overturned.
A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD girl reported missing from Almeria City on November 17 has been found at a home in Benahadux by the Guardia Civil.
Life savers QUICK-THINKING Local Police in Sax saved a toddler’s life who had stopped breathing following a coughing attack. They carried out the necessary first aid to revive the two-year-old as they drove to the health centre.
Injured man A HOMELESS man, well known in Torrevieja as ‘the Antonio’ has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in Torrevieja Hospital after being hit by a car.
Clean up BENIJOFAR is proposing the creation of an eco-park to prevent and avoid further waste dumps that are developing in different parts of the municipality. Opposition parties in the town hall have denounced the increase in illegal dumps springing up and want action taken.
TEN hedgehogs have been confiscated from a van parked in Almeria City after police officers determined they were of a protected species. The hedgehogs said to be of North African origin were confiscated and taken to a specialist animal shelter.
Worried farmers COAG farmers’ association has reported its concern over an increase in agricultural theft. The latest break-in saw 4,000 aubergines stolen from a greenhouse.
Better shelters SHELTERS at 11 of the area’s busiest bus stops are currently being replaced by the Public Works and Housing Department to improve public transport for users. The shelters include stronger aluminium roof, meet universal accessibility standards and have been given an anti-corrosive coating.
Altea arrest GUARDIA CIVIL officers have arrested three people and dismantled a marihuana plantation in Altea. Officers launched their investigation when it was noticed that the rural location seemed to have a lot of unusual activity.
Food donation
Turned down LA HERRADURA’s request for its own ambulance service has been turned down by the Andalucian Health Service, which has decided that those in Almuñecar are close enough to cover the area.
Nerja fire
THE President of the Caixaltea Foundation, José Miguel Asencio Cortés, presented 450 kilos of food to the Food Bank of La Nucia.
THE residents of a block of flats in Nerja were evacuated following a fire caused by the occupant of a ground floor flat when she tried to dry a towel over an electric heater.
Budget knowledge
New square
MUTXAMEL has set aside €3,000 to hold financial workshops for its residents. It is hoped this will enable them to understand council funding and guide them in knowing how decisions are made.
THE old bus station in Motril will be demolished and the space converted into a public square provided that developers can obtain planning permission.
Park improvements BENIDORM’S Aiguera amphitheatre and its two accesses are being repaved during the first phase of park restoration. The €60,000 improvements should be completed by late December.
For more local news from our five other regions see www.euroweeklynews.com
Pope’s blessing A PRIEST from Ronda had the honour of an audience with Pope Francis in Rome, giving the Holy Father a special birthday present from the Costa del Sol town. The Pontiff turned 80 on December 17 and thousands of wellwishers descended on St Peters Square for a Christmas blessing.
Soulless act THIEVES stole a Christmas tree at the El Corralillo shopping centre in Ronda. It is the second incident in just a week after vandals smashed an angel statue at the town’s nativity scene.
Expat death
AXARQUÍA
Ford gang
Spiky find
NEWS
Road works ONE of the lanes in the road leading from Salobreña beach has been closed in order to allow work on the infrastructure to take place, but happily there appears to be no major disruption to traffic.
AN elderly British man who had been visiting the Materno-Infantil Hospital in Malaga crashed his car outside the hospital and died on December 16.
UK visitors BRITISH tourists have been praised for their loyalty to the Costa del Sol as the numbers visiting leapt considerably this year. Up until October almost one million Brits had stayed at hotels in the region, making them the largest foreign contingent by a country mile.
Easy riders CARTAMA police expanded its two-wheeled fleet with a pair of brand new motorbikes costing €11,000. Volunteers get the Kymco 125cc, while officers will cruise on a 300cc version.
Danger destroyed EDUCATION chiefs are using the Christmas holidays to remove asbestos from 10 schools across Malaga Province after a strong campaign to rid all public places of the danger.
EWN top for all the news from Spain.
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GERMANY
Legalising cannabis
Hitler’s house
COPYRIGHT Bucchi Francesco.
DENMARK
COPENHAGEN is trying for a fourth time to get a trial programme allowing legal cannabis to be approved. Each attempt has so far been rejected by the national government.
Rich and poor
Freedom award BREAKING the Silence, an Israeli organisation that shares soldiers’ stories of serving in the West Bank and Gaza, has received the Freedom Award in Copenhagen.
Peaceful demo MORE than 5,000 Danes took part in a peaceful candlelit demonstration in
TRYING AGAIN: To legalise cannabis in Copenhagen.
support of civilian victims affected by bombing in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
Shot dead POLICE have shot and killed a man
who attacked them with a knife. The incident occurred as officers were called to a late night noise complaint. When they tried to remove the man’s stereo he stabbed one of the officers.
Costly exit
Stop free lessons
Taxi protest
A NEW report has shown the ever increasing social divide in Germany with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. There are now more millionaires in the country but also the number heavily in debt has risen and 5.6 per cent of the population is officially classified as poor.
People’s train THE country’s first crowdfunded train has made its maiden voyage from Stuttgart to Berlin and even arrived five minutes early. The one return service a day is operated by Berlin-based startup Locomore.
Mother’s murder A MOTHER is on trial for attempted murder after she allegedly threw her three children out of a window in western Germany. The youngsters, aged three, four and six at the time, all survived the 8m fall and now live with their father.
BELGIUM
FRANCE PRESIDENTIAL candidate, Marine Le Pen, from the French far-right National Front party has said she would stop free education for children of undocumented immigrants saying “play time is over.”
THE house where Adolf Hitler was born in Austria, close to the German border, is to be demolished and replaced with a new building. The site has become a pilgrimage for neo-Naxis.
EUROPEAN PRESS
drivers protested at Charles de Gualle and Orly airports. Drivers were protesting their wages claiming they are earning just €3.75 an hour.
Tower closed THE Eiffel Tower was closed for a second day as workers took strike action over salaries and conditions leaving tourists disappointed. The attraction
has already lost about one million visitors this year compared to 2015.
Stronger security PARLIAMENT has voted to extend a national state of emergency until after next year’s elections. It means that the extra security measures in force since the Paris attacks in November 2015, will remain in place.
A HARD Brexit with the UK leaving the EU and not remaining a member of the single market, could cost Belgian businesses €1.6 billion in unexpected expenditure, according to figures from Belgium’s central bank.
No noise
Historical home A BELGIAN house built in 1964 in Tielt, has caught of the eye of The New York Times, which called it “a modernist masterpiece.” It was designed by the architect Georges Vandenbussche and in 2008, it was classified as a historical monument.
Airline acquisition
SWEDEN
NORWAY
A ZERO tolerance for planes that exceed noise levels risks forcing passenger carriers out of Brussels. As a result, Flemish PM Geert Bourgeois has called on the Brussels Region to drop the strict noise rules or risk losing thousands of jobs.
Profits up
Chess champ
HOLLAND
SMALL companies are reporting a successful 2016 with profitability increasing across most industries and profits increasing by an average 15 per cent this year, according to a consultancy firm’s profitability barometer.
THE Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is the new World Chess Champion after he played to victory in New York, USA. This is his third World Champion win and it was a good birthday present for him coming on the same day as he celebrated turning 26.
Fewer unemployed
SOME passengers missed their flights and suffered traffic chaos as taxi
Terror tax MORE tax is to be levied on those suspected of financing terror activities with 100 paying so far. It is part of a collaboration between the Swedish tax agency and security police.
Syrian smuggling TWO men accused of smuggling approximately 170 Syrians from Milan in Italy to Sweden, have been convicted of human trafficking. A third received a suspended sentence.
Nursing shortage A SHORTAGE of nursing staff has resulted in hundreds of empty hospital beds at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Patients are being sent home and operations postponed.
December gathering IN a bid to try and not offend anyone, a primary school in Stavanger has removed a festive hymn from its Christmas party and even renamed it a ‘December gathering.’ The principal of the school said this was because some people associate the word ‘Christmas’ with something Christian.
Smaller reindeer SANTA may have a struggle this year when delivering all those gifts as researchers say that reindeer on Norway’s Arctic Svalbard archipelago are becoming smaller due to climate change. The average weight of the reindeer has fallen from 55kg to 48kg.
UNEMPLOYMENT in the Netherlands has fallen to below 500,000 for the first time since March 2012. According to the national statistics office, in November, 499,000 people were officially listed as unemployed, which is around 5.6 per cent of the working population.
Lacking integration MORE needs to be done to improve integration in the Netherlands with claims the move made in 2013 for new arrivals to organise and pay for integration courses themselves is not working.
LUFTHANSA has acquired Brussels Airlines with a promise to invest €600 million in the company, for the renewal of its fleet of long-haul carriers.
Name change AMSTERDAM’S main football stadium, owned by the Ajax club, is likely to change its name to the Johan Cruijff stadium in honour of the former international player who died in March.
Shopping spree RETAIL sales have increased by 5.4 per cent this year compar ed t o t he sam e per i od l ast year. Onl i ne sal es have al so i ncreased by almost 20 per cent in the Netherlands.
FINANCE
Mallorca
22 - 28 December 2016
A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM
British Airways threaten strike By John Smith BRITISH AIRWAYS crew flying out of Heathrow Airport have overwhelmingly given a strike mandate to their union Unite after rejecting a 2 per cent pay offer and the strike is due to take place sometime after December 21. Currently there is no confirmation of the actual dates or indeed the duration of the strike but to have made this decision so close to Christmas must be seen as very worrying for the management of the airline who Unite
Quote of the Week
£1.4 billion (€1.7 billion) is the amount of profit declared by the IAG group for the previous trading year.
BUSINESS EXTRA
Photo Credit: Timahaowemi Wikimedia
Saffron on the rebound
ZARA: Is the biggest brand of Inditex. By John Smith INDITEX, the world’s largest retailer of clothes continues to go from strength to strength and has announced a profit of €16.4 billion, an 11 per cent rise over the nine month period to the end of October last year. The owner of such diverse ranges as Zara (which is its biggest brand), Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull & Bear said that its best sellers this year have been military blazers, mi-
would like to see return to the negotiating table. The major problem arises with regards to staff employed after 2010 who were enticed to join the flight crew of the airline with expected wages of between £21,000 (€25,000) and £25,000 (€30,000) when in reality their basic wages turned out to be £12,000 (€14,500) plus a £3 (€3.6) an hour flight bonus. According to the union, staff are taking on second jobs, working whilst ill and many are suffering from depression and stress because
“Without reforms, the regional financing framework remains a risk for the achievement of fiscal targets.” Christine Lagarde, President of International Monetary Fund on Spanish economy
Inditex keeps making money
ni-skirts and velvet dresses and its online business is also continuing to attract new custom. Ironically, although competitors appear to be facing a much tougher period, the shares in the company have fallen slightly but with its policy of not overstocking, turning round production quickly for popular styles and its continued expansion into new markets, the succesful group looks destined to continue to grow.
SPAIN is renowned for the use of saffron in many of its rice dishes but with the introduction of a usable ‘imitation’ and an increase in exports from Iran, the price dropped but Spain is now making a comeback in the market.
A fine mess A BARCELONA court has overturned a fine of €30,000 imposed by the regional government of Catalonia on Airbnb for advertising lodgings that did not have permits to accept paying guests arguing that Spanish law is currently inconclusive on the matter.
Victory pay NIGERIA’S victorious women’s football team protested outside parliament in Abuja over unpaid win bonuses on the day that the annual budget was to be debated. They argue that they are owed win bonuses of €16,000 and plan to continue until paid.
Bank loses out in court case AFTER 13 years, a British couple who lost €227,000 paid to a Spanish developer in Marbella for a dream home that was never built due to planning irregularities, has been awarded the full amount by a court in Malaga.
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1.62 million is the number of people unemployed in the UK at the end of October representing 4.8 per cent, which is an 11 year low.
STAT OF WEEK
business & legal
EWN
Banco Popular has been instructed to return the money which it received from the developer and should have been held in a special guaranteed account. The bank can appeal but may be hesitant as the award would only escalate if the appeal failed.
of their financial position which is particularly galling as the BA parent IAG saw its profits rise by 64 per cent in the last year. With strikes being undertaken by BA staff, Post Office staff and members of rail unions, the government alleges that these are positively motivated and planned to cause major disruption to the public but in the case of the BA strike, their union Unite denies this and says that they are looking after their own long-term interests and those of their customers.
Trump hotel sues chef SPANISH celebrity chef José Andrés who is being sued for $10 million (€9.4 million) after pulling out of a deal to open a restaurant in a Trump hotel in Washington because of what he considered racist comments by the president elect has suggested that the case be cancelled and all legal fees likely to be paid by each side be donated to a US Veterans charity. Mr Trump’s response is now awaited.
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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 674.75 -5.50 Admiral Group PLC 1776.50 -5.00 Anglo American PLC 1113.50 -19.50 Antofagasta PLC 659.00 -11.00 Ashtead Group PLC 1602.50 -9.00 Associated British Foods PLC 2690.00 1.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4342.00 -59.50 Aviva PLC 474.35 -4.40 Babcock International Grp 946.25 -1.00 BAE Systems PLC 590.75 -1.00 Barclays PLC 225.90 -2.25 Barratt Developments PLC 458.85 1.50 BHP Billiton PLC 1283.00 -22.43 BP PLC 492.47 2.85 British American Tobacco PLC 4507.25 1.00 British Land Co PLC 634.50 5.50 BT Group PLC 367.52 0.55 Bunzl PLC 2070.00 -1.00 Burberry Group PLC 1487.00 -2.00 Capita PLC 494.60 4.20 Carnival PLC 3920.50 -147.00 Centrica PLC 230.35 0.20 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1658.50 1.00 Compass Group PLC 1420.00 4.00 CRH PLC 2686.50 -14.00 Croda International PLC 3187.50 -1.00 DCC PLC 5855.00 -10.00 Diageo PLC 2067.50 12.00 Direct Line Insurance Group... 356.40 -0.30 Dixons Carphone PLC 345.65 1.60 easyJet PLC 1047.00 3.00 Experian PLC 1509.00 -3.00 Fresnillo PLC 1100.50 -1.00 GKN PLC 329.05 -0.50 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1521.75 -4.50 Glencore PLC 267.67 -0.80 Hammerson PLC 560.25 6.50 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1237.50 2.00 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC 1800.50 10.93 HSBC Holdings PLC 658.85 -8.00 Imperial Brands PLC 3502.00 13.00 Informa PLC 671.50 0.50 InterContinental Hotels Gr 3510.00 5.00 International Consolidated 459.70 0.29 Intertek Group PLC 3324.50 -7.00 Intu Properties PLC 273.95 0.70 ITV PLC 196.45 0.40 Johnson Matthey PLC 3074.50 5.00 Kingfisher PLC 343.10 0.30 Land Securities Group PLC 1033.00 3.00
% CHG. -0.81 -0.28 -1.72 -1.64 -0.56 0.04 -1.35 -0.92 -0.11 -0.17 -0.99 0.33 -1.72 0.58 0.02 0.87 0.15 -0.05 -0.13 0.86 -3.61 0.09 0.06 0.28 -0.52 -0.03 -0.17 0.58 -0.08 0.46 0.29 -0.20 -0.09 -0.15 -0.29 -0.30 1.17 0.16 0.61 -1.20 0.37 0.07 0.14 0.06 -0.21 0.26 0.20 0.16 0.09 0.29
NET VOL 65.41 5.60 372.93 74.91 18.93 5.73 122.46 186.05 8.93 112.03 712.93 32.81 399.28 1,615.48 165.78 60.64 239.61 20.90 20.98 130.24 30.82 234.73 6.97 118.75 12.19 2.16 1.71 91.20 15.64 69.80 54.94 10.27 65.96 33.80 210.99 2,412.14 26.72 6.78 10.15 931.98 44.93 30.61 4.71 140.04 2.21 70.58 453.03 2.62 120.63 54.44
COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Legal & General Group PLC 242.50 -0.05 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 63.65 -0.12 London Stock Exchange Group...2821.50 16.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 355.70 0.76 Mediclinic International PLC 733.25 8.50 Merlin Entertainments PLC 436.85 -1.10 Micro Focus International PLC 2154.00 -5.00 Mondi PLC 1566.50 6.00 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets PLC227.35 0.70 National Grid PLC 933.65 2.30 Next PLC 4952.50 0.00 Old Mutual PLC 197.50 -1.70 Paddy Power Betfair PLC 8617.50 10.00 Pearson PLC 821.50 -0.50 Persimmon PLC 1721.50 18.00 Polymetal International PLC 767.75 -7.00 Provident Financial PLC 2749.50 -2.00 Prudential PLC 1576.25 -7.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 5615.00 40.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 6634.00 21.00 RELX PLC 1395.00 5.00 Rio Tinto PLC 3040.00 -52.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 672.50 -2.50 Royal Bank of Scotland Grou... 227.05 -0.50 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2290.00 1.00 Royal Mail PLC 451.30 -0.10 RSA Insurance Group PLC 568.00 -1.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 649.25 0.00 Sainsbury (J) PLC 250.00 0.07 Schroders PLC 2989.00 2.00 Severn Trent PLC 2191.00 8.00 Shire PLC 4590.00 -5.00 Sky PLC 991.50 0.50 Smith & Nephew PLC 1182.00 -1.00 Smiths Group PLC 1406.50 -5.00 SSE PLC 1517.50 1.00 Standard Chartered PLC 678.65 -6.40 Standard Life PLC 363.35 -2.30 St James's Place PLC 996.25 -3.00 Taylor Wimpey PLC 153.70 0.60 Tesco PLC 201.28 0.95 Travis Perkins PLC 1449.50 0.00 TUI AG 1109.50 0.00 Unilever PLC 3180.75 28.00 United Utilities Group PLC 886.50 6.50 Vodafone Group PLC 200.93 0.48 Whitbread PLC 3637.00 17.00 Wolseley PLC 4884.50 5.00 Worldpay Group PLC 269.40 0.87 WPP PLC 1782.00 1.00
% CHG. -0.02 -0.19 0.57 0.21 1.17 -0.25 -0.23 0.38 0.31 0.25 0.00 -0.85 0.12 -0.06 1.06 -0.90 -0.07 -0.44 0.72 0.32 0.36 -1.70 -0.37 -0.22 0.04 -0.02 -0.26 0.00 0.03 0.07 0.37 -0.11 0.05 -0.08 -0.35 0.07 -0.93 -0.63 -0.30 0.39 0.47 0.00 0.00 0.89 0.74 0.24 0.47 0.10 0.32 0.06
NET VOL 209.49 2,346.35 4.59 62.17 12.27 21.90 3.99 21.30 58.22 325.84 3.36 428.85 .89 36.05 27.58 29.59 4.32 49.59 51.01 52.30 50.20 156.48 46.60 227.09 181.69 53.61 18.42 24.87 95.55 1.69 9.47 23.50 131.16 36.94 14.54 23.35 208.93 148.76 13.44 182.28 376.30 1.55 33.49 67.91 31.00 1,102.90 4.14 8.96 58.27 66.20
Kleinwort Benson Elite PCC Ltd
0.83796
1.19337 Units per €
US dollar ..................................................................1.04625 Japan yen .................................................................122.774 Switzerland franc ..................................................1.07271 Denmark kroner...................................................7.43387 Norway kroner......................................................9.04156
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DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 19
COMPANY 3M AMERICAN EXPRESS APPLE BOEING CO CATERPILLAR CHEVRON CISCO SYSTEMS COCA-COLA DU PONT(EI) DE NMR EXXON MOBIL GENERAL ELECTRIC GOLDMAN SACHS HOME DEPOT IBM INTEL CORP J.P.MORGAN CHASE JOHNSON & JOHNSON MC DONALD'S CORP MERCK AND CO. NEW MICROSOFT NIKE PFIZER PROCTER AND GAMBLE TRAVELERS CIES UNITED TECHNOLOGIE UNITEDHEALTH GROUP VERIZON COMMS VISA WAL-MART STORES WALT DISNEY CO
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 177,450 +0,81% 1,430 106M 75,0000 +0,08% 0,0600 68M 115,970 +0,13% 0,150 617M 154,500 +0,47% 0,730 95M 92,580 -2,06% -1,950 54M 118,08 +0,88% 1,03 223M 30,590 -0,13% -0,040 153M 41,74 +0,46% 0,19 179M 74,8600 -0,04% -0,0300 65M 91,18 +0,32% 0,29 376M 31,7500 +1,57% 0,4900 281M 238,90 -1,69% -4,10 95M 135,1100 -0,54% -0,7300 164M 166,73 -0,77% -1,29 158M 36,3100 -1,30% -0,4800 171M 84,9400 -1,23% -1,0600 304M 115,8800 -0,01% -0,0100 315M 123,2400 +0,72% 0,8800 102M 62,44 +0,11% 0,07 171M 62,300 -0,45% -0,280 484M 50,92 -0,72% -0,37 68M 32,8400 +0,27% 0,0900 198M 84,680 +0,00% 0,000 226M 121,60 +1,00% 1,20 34M 108,52 +0,36% 0,39 89M 163,94 +2,07% 3,32 155M 52,27 +0,89% 0,46 212M 78,35 -1,45% -1,15 145M 70,9800 -0,14% -0,1000 217M 103,9100 -0,46% -0,4800 165M
NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES
DECEMBER
19
COMPANY
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
Most Advanced TiGenix Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. Egalet Corporation Flex Pharma, Inc. Versartis, Inc. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Unity Bancorp, Inc. StealthGas, Inc. Horizon Pharma plc VOXX International Corporation ChemoCentryx, Inc.
$ 14.01 $ 2.15 $ 7.89 $ 6.13 $ 14.85 $ 6.19 $ 16.70 $4 $ 16.44 $ 5.05 $ 8.99
2.31 ▲ 19.74% 0.32 ▲ 17.49% 0.88 ▲ 12.55% 0.67 ▲ 12.27% 1.55 ▲ 11.65% 0.62 ▲ 11.13% 1.65 ▲ 10.96% 0.38 ▲ 10.50% 1.51 ▲ 10.11% 0.45 ▲ 9.78% 0.77 ▲ 9.37%
$ 9.98 $ 45.08 $ 3.20 $ 3.18 $ 2.98 $ 12.40 $ 28.87 $ 3.9299 $ 34.85 $ 6.63 $ 2.60
2.85 ▼ 22.21% 10.86 ▼ 19.41% 0.68 ▼ 17.53% 0.32 ▼ 9.14% 0.2659 ▼ 8.19% 1.08 ▼ 8.01% 2.44 ▼ 7.79% 0.3265 ▼ 7.67% 2.85 ▼ 7.56% 0.54 ▼ 7.53% 0.20 ▼ 7.14%
Most Declined XBiotech Inc. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Diana Containerships Inc. SORL Auto Parts, Inc. Vanguard Natural Resources LLC TerraForm Power, Inc. Fossil Group, Inc. Presbia PLC Natus Medical Incorporated Everspin Technologies, Inc. Kopin Corporation
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E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
www.euroweeklynews.com
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
British gas pipelines set to be sold Photo Credit: Oxyman Wikimedia
By John Smith FORMED in 1990 and privatised in 1995, the National Grid not only controls the movement of electricity throughout the UK it also acts as the sole transporter of gas on behalf of all of the gas producing and marketing companies through its enormous network of gas pipelines.
Ofgem has been keeping a close eye on matters and will no doubt report any fears to the government before final approval is given.” Now it has announced that it has accepted in principle an offer from a foreign consortium to sell 61 per cent of its holdings in the gas pipelines for £13.8 billion (€16.4 billion) in order to distribute part of the proceeds to shareholders, a small part to energy users and to invest the balance in faster and more profitable areas. The main partners in the consortium are the Australian investment bank Macquarie (nicknamed the ‘Vampire Kangaroo’ for its alleged draining of the lifeblood of companies in which it invests), the China Investment Corporation (CIC), the Qatari Investment Author-
NATIONAL GRID: Is the sole transporter of gas. ity as well as fund managers Allianz. The British government will need to consider whether this is an investment that it can possibly allow in view of its recent comments
concerning the owning of important British utility companies by foreign companies and governments which almost resulted in a major incident with China over the Hinkley Point C
nuclear power station. Whilst Britain may be friendly with China at the moment their continued investment in the UK, particularly in utilities, could have a potentially negative effect on the country and Prime Minister Theresa May publicly stated that investment in critical infrastructure would be “scrutinised for the purposes of national security.” Although not having made a definitive observation on the proposed sale, it is known that energy regulator Ofgem has been keeping a close eye on matters and will no doubt report any fears that it may have to the government before final approval for the deal which is planned to be completed in March of next year is given. Unions are also worried about this proposed sale as they point to the activities of Macquarie in particular which purchased (with CIC) Thames Water which it allegedly used to syphon funds back to Australia whilst increasing both prices to consumers and company debt and after 10 years of ownership is now looking to get out by selling its majority shareholding. Having as it does a complete monopoly on the distribution of gas, the National Grid has 82,000 miles of pipeline, which delivers gas to approximately 11 million households and businesses and the gas division employs more than 5,500 staff.
White Elephant discovered in South Atlantic By John Smith
ipation of the opening of the airport in May of this year, but when Comair, a subsidiary of British Airways tried to land a commercial Boeing 737 on the runway they only just managed on their third attempt due to the problem of ‘wind shear’ which had been identified by Darwin. The opening of the airport was postponed indefinitely as it then transpired that the Department for International Development (DfID) ignored a Met Office report produced in January 2015 which made it clear that there would be considerable difficulty in landing due to the problems with the wind and to make matters worse, DfID underwrote ‘profits’ for Comair which means that they will have to pay the airline £1.9 million (€2.25 million) a year for lost revenue.
One bit of good news has appeared on the horizon however as in early December an Embraer ERJ-190-100 jet aircraft, operated by Embraer Commercial Aviation as a non-commercial trial and demonstration flight, visited St Helena Airport and made a number of succesful landings in different wind conditions over a period of three days. This aircraft type is one of a number of potential solutions to operating regular flights to St Helena and other aircraft have landed at the airport either as Air Ambulances refuelling or as tests by new aircraft being delivered to South America. It is just possible that the airport will become a commercial reality rather than a white elephant which has been paid for by the British taxpayer, if the Embraer report is positive and an airline operating that aircraft type can be persuaded to fly regularly to St Helena.
Photo Credit: Paul Tyson Wikimedia
AS early as 1836 Charles Darwin noticed that winds across St Helena, the British Colony in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, were exceptionally strong, almost constant and often changed direction, but this information didn’t seem to occur to the British government when it authorised the spending of some £285 million (€340 million) on building what was meant to be a commercial airport on the remote island. Currently an age-
ing vessel, the RMS St Helena potters along a route which takes it to three of the British Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic, Ascension Island, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha with journey time from South Africa to St Helena taking at least four days depending on the weather. The concept of an air strip on the island had been spoken about for years and was attractive to the 4,000 locals as it would not only make journey times to the outside world much quicker (and there is a large population of St Helenians in the UK) but would be likely to attract tourists who amongst other reasons would want to visit sites associated with Napoleon. Money was spent locally to improve hotel facilities, buy boats and vehicles all in antic-
COMAIR FLIGHT: Landing at St Helena.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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Chaos over Greek pension payout
RELIEF SUSPENDED: After the Greek Government’s Christmas bonus decision. By John Smith A DECISION taken by the Greek government to give hard hit Greek pensioners a Christmas bonus has resulted in eurozone lenders suspending a debt-relief plan as punishment. According to the lenders, the decision to make a oneoff payment of €617 million to elderly Greeks was not in accordance with any existing agreements with the lenders and it had not been put to them for approval. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the body that helps eurozone governments facing financial problems, has decided to review the payment. In a statement it said “Following recent proposals by the Greek government to spend additional fiscal resources for pensions and VAT, our governing bodies have put their decisions temporarily on hold.” The actual agreement was only reached in early December and would have seen an extension of time concerning the maturity of existing loans as well as freezing interest
rates on some of the country’s debts which would have made repayments on the €300 billion of debt more bearable.
Following recent proposals by the Greek government to spend additional fiscal resources our governing bodies have put their decisions temporarily on hold.” Now however this decision to make the payment to pensioners and also to delay indefinitely increasing VAT in the Aegean Islands due to the financial burdens caused by the large numbers of migrants has meant that it may miss future targets which has spurred the German government in particular to demand the suspension of the proposed debt relief. Germany is already the least favourite country of the Greek people and this decision has caused some splits within the eurozone membership with French Finance Minister Michel Sapin suggesting that the decision had
not been taken unanimously by the 19-member Eurozone. “Individual statements are not the collective statements of the Eurogroup” Sapin told reporters when the decision was announced and even Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said that “the European Commission believes there is no reason for eurozone lenders to question a debt relief deal struck with Greece.” To add to this, the International Monetary Fund is not convinced that the agreements which had been reached with the Greek government are likely to be workable and that regardless of what the eurozone lenders may consider sensible, it is possible that the Greek economy will not be able to recover from such crippling debts. In the meantime the euro found itself under fire from the US dollar which hit a new 2016 high against the currency on December 15 and sterling also continues to hold its own against the euro after initial falls following the referendum.
22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
EWN
27
OPINION & COMMENT
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22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
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Foto Copyright Emi Cristea
Celebrate Christmas while you still can LEAPY LEE SAYS IT
OTHERS THINK IT
JUST when you thought you’d heard it all, another gem pops up. Last week some jobsworth or other, decreed that we should no longer address our school children as ‘girls and boys!’ Apparently, they inform us, labelling youngsters in this fashion can be ‘upsetting to children who may have transgender leanings.’ This bright idea of course comes hot on the heels of not running in the playground and wearing goggles plus crash helmet to play conkers! Of course, they haven’t managed to come up with any alternative titles for our poor beleaguered offspring. What about ‘bits,’ ‘no bits’ and ‘assorted bits’? Or perhaps ‘he’s,’ ‘she’s’ and ‘maybe’s’ might fit the PC acceptable bill. The mind truly does boggle. Honestly, where do they find these people? More to the point, who pays their wages? (I know I know, silly question.) What I do find almost beyond
BURNING BELGIUM: Another example of where complacency of the west has got us. comprehension is that adult people (persons) actually sit around tables
seriously discussing these ridiculous directives. Personally I think they
have a great job. I could think up all sorts of things to drive people (per-
sons) around the bend. How about all of us wearing onesies and referring to each other as ‘IT’S’? Ah well. C’est la vie. I see they are burning Christmas trees in Brussels. Belgium of course has the biggest Muslim population in Europe. For a number of years, their more radical leaders have been boasting Belgium would be the first country ‘to fall.’ I suppose the destruction of anything sacred to other religions is a natural progression. Yet another example of where the complacency of the west has got us. It’s all too late now of course. It was actually too late 20 years ago. Ah well, let’s all wish each other a Merry Christmas, while it’s still considered acceptable and let us hope our future children will be allowed to do the same! (Don’t hold yer breath) Personally I’m off to Dublin for my Christmas sojourn. Can’t wait to see ‘em all. Bring on the black beer! Have a good one. Remember whose birthday we are celebrating. Always Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com
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E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
www.euroweeklynews.com
TV LISTING
THURSDAY 8:00pm
22 DECEMBER
FRIDAY 23 DECEMBER
SATURDAY 24 DECEMBER
SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER
MONDAY 26 DECEMBER
TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER
WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER
8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:15am 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm 12:25am 12:55am 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm 12:25am 12:55am 1:25am 3:05am
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Celebrity Mastermind EastEnders Who Do You Think You Are? The Royle Family BBC News at Ten BBC London News Mrs. Brown's Boys Katherine Jenkins: Home for Christmas
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7:30pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:05am
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Nigella's Christmas Kitchen The Cook Who Changed Our Lives University Challenge MasterChef: The Professionals Close to the Enemy QI Mock the Week Alpha Papa
9:30pm 10:00pm
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7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm
Inside the Christmas Factory University Challenge Wild Tales From the Village Saving Mr. Banks Mock the Week Close to the Enemy And Now for Something Completely Different Splash Snow Chick: A Penguin's Tale Gorilla Family and Me Gorilla Family and Me Carols from King's Dad's Army Alan Bennett's Diaries
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ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ITV News ITV News London Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales Jackpot247 ITV Nightscreen
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7:40pm
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street You've Been Framed! Coronation Street Captain Philips ITV News and Weather
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Paul O'Grady For the Love of Dogs at Christmas Blankety Blank ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ITV News Jaws Jackpot247
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Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Secret Life of the Zoo at Christmas The World's Most Expensive Toys Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas Gogglebox The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Food Unwrapped Does Christmas The Last Leg Christmas Special The Windsors Christmas Special Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas
7:10pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:35pm 12:05am 1:25am 6:25pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm
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Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Food Unwrapped Does Christmas The Last Leg Christmas Special The Windsors Christmas Special Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas
6:25pm 7:55pm 8:00pm
We're Going on a Bear Hunt Gogglesprogs Christmas Special 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Rude Tube Christmas Cracker 2016 Trigger Happy Christmas Special The Inbetweeners
9:00pm
Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather. The World's Most Expensive Toys A Big Lego Christmas Big Fat Quiz of the Year Pitch Perfect Travel Man Stuart Little The Simpsons Hollyoaks Posh Pawn at Christmas Amazing Spaces Snow Special This is Us Gogglebox 2016 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown A Big Lego Christmas Channel 4 News The Simpsons The Simpsons Hollyoaks Arrivals What Britain Bought in 2016 24 Hours in A and E David Blaine Big Fat Quiz of the Year
9:00pm 10:00pm
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All New Traffic Cops World's Strongest Man 2016 Santa Makes You Laugh Out Loud The Peter Kay Story Peter Kay at the Comedy Store The Graham Norton Story Super Casino A Christmas Star 5 News World's Strongest Man 2016 Christmas with the Double Acts The Morecambe and Wise Story: Look Back in Laughter Morecambe and Wise Live! 1973 A Christmas Star 5 News World's Strongest Man 2016 Christmas with the Double Acts The Morecambe and Wise Story: Look Back in Laughter Morecambe and Wise Live! 1973
5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 12:00am 1:30pm 2:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 12:00am 2:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am
The Yorkshire Vet at Christmas Eamonn and Ruth: A Million Pound Christmas Greatest Ever Christmas Movies Scrooge Super Casino The Trafford Centre: Countdown to Christmas
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5:25pm 7:10pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm
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Kelly's Heroes Battlebots: World Championship World's Strongest Man 2016 Kitten Rescuers at Christmas Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of 2016 Pete Burns: The Last Interview
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Premier League Legends Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Gazza Barclays Premier League World Sporting Records Live World Darts Championship 2017 Premier League Matchpack Joe Hart: The Italian Job Live World Darts Championship 2017 Game Changers Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon The Fantasy Football Club Barclays Premier League Preview Live World Darts Championship 2017 Game Changers Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon The Fantasy Football Club Live World Darts Championship 2017 Barclays Premier League Preview Football Joe Hart: The Italian Job NFL - A Football Life NFL - A Football Life Live NFL Action from the NFL. Live NFL Action from the NFL. Live NFL-Cincinnati @ Houston Gillette Soccer Special Football Football Nissan Match Choice Football Football Football Football Scottish Football Round Up Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Live World Darts Championship 2017 Football Football Sky Sports Originals Out of Contract Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon Barclays Premier League World Football Barclays Premier League World Premier League 100 Club
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E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
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Move from the start word PASS to the end word GIFT in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
PASS
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MAX MIN
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Solution PASS LASS (PAST) LAST LIST LIFT GIFT
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‘WE ARE LATE - FORGET RUDOLPH I’M GOING TO CALL YOU USAIN - NOW BOLT!’
CAPRICORN
months you have found this to be true. Hard work is not alien to you, but there is a point where you want to shout ‘enough’. It may be that business or home life needs some rearranging, or that someone is moving job and the routine is severely disrupted.
(December 22 - January20)
The enthusiasm of your bright Capricorn mind is also capable of making you restless. There are mixed feelings about being at or near home this week, with thoughts of more progress being possible elsewhere. Your need to make things better for those round you may not make you money but it can bring great joy. Give of your time and talents generously.
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) When you are at home this week I would like you to consider how you view your surroundings. This is a good week to make changes and have discussions about future directions. It is assumed that those close are happy with the status quo, but this may not be the case. The things which you find irksome may also irritate them. Ask in a tactful and gentle way and you will be surprised at the outcome.
falls into place. Why, you wonder, have you worried so much about things which could not be changed? With this clarity of vision, the future seems so much brighter. Use your talents and advantages to the full in this sparkling seven days and beyond.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) There is so much in you that is determined and looking forward to a fresh start, but something that you are trying to get rid of, or give up, may be giving you more trouble than anticipated. Some things have to be done alone, or so you think, but others have gone through this before you so they are able to give support.
LEO (July 24 - August 23) Consider what is the most important thing to you at the moment? Is it wealth or social position? Your work, or how it may be possible to afford that new conservatory are minor considerations compared with your greatest asset which is your health. This week, then, is all about boosting this valuable commodity and building its future. Worry, stress, overwork should be words not in your vocabulary.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) When it isn't possible to change something, often it is just as effective to rearrange it. That is the solution which comes to you this week. Instead of being frustrated at a delay, try changing the conditions or times. This may mean that you save money or delay a payment to your advantage. We all have set ideas, whatever our age or circumstances.
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Rarely has your mind been as sharp as it is at the moment. There have been some awkward and downright bad periods in the recent past, but this week everything
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) As a home-loving Libran, you are torn between making changes to your surroundings and getting some cash in on the business side. Apparently, it is not possible to do both because energy levels fluctuate. I have a proposition for you. Get business out of the way during the week and plan home activities for the weekend.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) When we have long-standing friendships, these are often taken for granted and yet often we could make so much more of them. How long is it since you had a really deep conversation with your closest friends? What has changed in their attitudes and fortunes over the years? How could you help each other to make better progress? Working together brings so much more forward movement and satisfaction.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) For all of the things that you want to do, there are three others that you wish to do. Maybe they are waiting for their own time to come. During the course of this week you will be thinking of what the future could hold, even though dealing with practical issues. While you are doing the ordinary tasks of the day, or thinking of how you can save money, also think about how to save your dreams.
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Pat yourself on the back for all of your efforts of recent weeks. Looking back just a few months, would you have thought so much progress could be made? Because of your efforts, home life is enhanced and you are more appreciated. Give yourself a break at the weekend and do something with a loved one that you have not done together for some time. Think of the great times you had and relive them to warm your heart.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Is playing the waiting game really to your advantage? Your Sagittarian character naturally leads you to be optimistic, and why not? Even so, it won't hurt to hurry someone along rather than having them go at their own pace. Bear in mind that, in letting someone get away with sloppiness, you are doing them no favours at all.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) As the saying goes, ‘no one ever said it would be easy’. In the past few
IRISH LOTTO
Saturday December 17
Saturday December 17
2
11
18
7
20
25
32
40
54
27
41
45
BONUS BALL
BONUS BALL
8
35
EURO MILLIONS
LA PRIMITIVA
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA Sunday December 18
Tuesday November 13
Friday December 16
Saturday December 17
14
6
11
18
31
34
35
45
28 48
29 50
LUCKY STARS
2
8
10 41
30 45
LUCKY STARS
4
11
REINTEGRO
32
4
21
22 46
44 54
REINTEGRO
3
Mon - 16 9 Cl Tues - 16 9 Cl Wed - 16 8 C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 15 6 S Tues - 15 7 S Wed - 15 6 C
16 7 S 15 7 S 14 6 C
CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 8C
TODAY:
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
18 8 C 18 8 S 17 6 C
Mon - 18 6 C Tues - 17 7 S Wed - 17 7 C
Murcia
SUNNY MAX 19C, MIN 10C MAX MIN
S Sun,
MAX 17C, MIN 6C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 17 11 S Tues - 16 10 C Wed - 16 9 C
18 9 S 19 9 S 18 11 S
SUNNY
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Cl Clear,
Sh Showers,
F Fog, Sn Snow,
MAX MIN
18 6 S 18 7 S 17 6 S
Mon - 16 7 Cl Tues - 16 8 C Wed - 16 8 C
C Cloudy, Th Thunder
Nonagram
How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case B) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed. TARGET: • Average: 8 • Good: 12 • Very good: 17 • Excellent: 21
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION acne acre cane cant care cart cent cere cert cran cure curt cute ecru narc race tact acute caner caret carte cater crane crate cruet cuter enact erect eruct nacre react recta tacet terce trace tract truce acuter canter careen center centre create curate cutter nectar recant recent tenrec tercet trance centare centaur crenate cuneate curette reenact uncrate truncate UTTERANCE
Sudoku
Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.
LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
MAX 16C, MIN 6C
Benidorm TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
GIFT BACK
MAX MIN
17 8 S 18 8 S 17 8 S
Mallorca
CLEAR MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 11 2 C Tues - 12 3 S Wed - 11 4 C
SUNNY MAX 18C, MIN 7C
TODAY:
Barcelona TODAY:
MAX MIN
13 3 S 12 2 C 11 2 C
Malaga
SUNNY MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 3C
TODAY:
OUT
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AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE
page
Enjoy filling in the following puzzles and check the answers in next week’s edition
Code Breaker
Quick Across 1 Feel remorse (6) 4 Smooth fabric (5) 8 Small adhesive token stuck on a letter (5) 9 Post conveyed by planes (7) 10 Within a building (7) 11 First light of day (4) 12 Beer (3) 14 Range of food of a particular type (4) 15 Artificial source of visible illumination (4) 18 Colour like blood (3) 21 Listen (4) 23 Ceremonial dress (7) 25 News (7) 26 Sound of any kind (5) 27 Hoard (5) 28 Edible seed (6) Down 1 Characteristic of rural life (6) 2 Mother of your father or mother (7)
33
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Crossword
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Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 2 represents Q and 5 represents G, so fill in Q every time the figure 2 appears and G every time the figure 5 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Turns, 4 Barium, 9 Replica, 10 Paces, 11 Apse, 12 Granite, 13 Rue, 14 Robe, 16 Sage, 18 Pie, 20 Restate, 21 Dent, 24 Strut, 25 Spanner, 26 Steven, 27 Exile. Down: 1 Threat, 2 Ropes, 3 Skin, 5 Appraise, 6 Itching, 7 Master, 8 Barge, 13 Repartee, 15 Observe, 17 Trusts, 18 Pepsi, 19 Sterne, 22 Ennui, 23 Dame.
QUICK Across: 3 Boss (8) 4 Arrange in order (4) 5 Jewelled head wear (5) 6 Hosiery (6) 7 Latin American style of music (5) 13 Refined grace (8) 16 Thousand thousand (7)
English - Spanish
Down: 1 Cheap, 2 Profess, 3 Obey, 4 Reared, 5 False, 6 Defeats, 7 Bemused, 12 Narrate, 13 Contest, 15 Scarier, 16 Coarse, 17 Cynic, 19 Dodge, 21 Fine.
The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.
Across 1 Brazalete (6) 3 Heladas (6) 8 Trineos (5) 10 Chestnut (fruit) (7) 11 Emotion (7) 12 Dream (while asleep) (5) 13 Camello (5) 15 Goose (5) 20 Árboles (5) 22 Milagro (7) 24 Reunión (7) 25 Girls (young) (5) 26 Cocinas (aparatos) (6) 27 Precios (6)
ENGLISH-SPANISH Across:
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Down 1 Cesto (6) 2 New (5) 4 Laughs (5) 5 Patinadores (7) 6 Estación (parte del año) (6) 7 Perfume (5) 9 Deslizarse (5) 14 Dressing (culinary) (7) 16 Delantal (5) 17 Sellos (6) 18 Friend (f) (5) 19 Banquetes (6) 21 Especia (5) 23 Brandy (5)
Hexagram
1 Cupboard, 7 Brave, 8 Exonerate, 9 See, 10 Peek, 11 Deduce, 13 Casual, 14 Versus, 17 Carrot, 18 Hard, 20 Try, 22 Terrified, 23 Seize, 24 Rehearse.
17 Snaps (6) 19 Put on clothes (5) 20 Father or mother (6) 22 Wireless (5) 24 Leg joint (4)
2 Right, 6 Raza, 7 Ojal, 8 Stair, 9 Damp, 10 Miel, 11 Bride, 12 Jefe, 13 Noon, 14 Roast, 15 Door, 16 Abad, 17 Years. Down: 1 Camareros, 2 Raspberry, 3 Granizada, 4 Tormentas, 5 Cacerolas.
Cryptic The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (ADVENT) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.
ADVENT (10) CARROT CEREAL DECEIT DETOUR ENTICE HARDEN INCOME INTENT IODINE
NOTICE ORIENT PARIAH POLITE ROUTED SKIMPY THEORY TRANCE VENDOR
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Abrupt 2 Bureau 3 Blanch 4 Resume 5 Blouse 6 Launch 7 Massif 8 Bobcat 9 Defray 10 Subset 11 Titian 12 Critic 13 Mastic 14 Tracer 15 Auntie 16 Select 17 Object 18 Legume 19 Spongy.
Across 1 Wise man chopped-up elm before excited choir (8) 5 Show Ruby around American capital (4) 9 Brags about clutches (5) 10 Drove back at pace to give information (7) 11 Some bottles of wine are stored next door (7) 12 Small beers for after Christmas events (5) 13 Support donkey and sit awkwardly (6) 15 Core gym is in shed for a change (6) 19 Chooses Portsmouth to host the game (5) 21 He levitates without this to improve (7) 23 Rubbish time to walk like a duck (7) 24 Are potentially about a foot past (5) 25 Fat little girl with tiny top (4) 26 Holds a rally in favour of experiments 4 Highly decorated in the Battle of Little (8) Big Horn, a terrific achievement (6) 6 Record allowed to include gold US Down decoration (7) 1 Name tag rewritten in red (7) 7 Follows eating programme and dies 2 Pack animal kept in cell a matter of with time inside (5) hours (5) 8 Lofty pursuits, a right stop-start (4) 3 Carelessly she lost lodging places (7) 14 Or in stage warehouse (7)
16 A gentle dance is beautiful (7) 17 Grassier Rastafarian land contains mountain ranges (7) 18 Finish even confused the queen (6) 19 First staff at the Esso station fills up (5) 20 Reportedly joined the rush (4) 22 Singers lost a production (5)
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E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
LETTERS
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OPINION & COMMENT
YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION
Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments straight on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com
Speaking another language Photographs for possible publication should be sent by email with a full caption to: photonews@euroweeklynews.com Foto Shutterstock riggsby
WELL done Mike Senker for bringing up the so-called celebrityspeak from programmes such as Strictly, X Factor and many more. Not only do they smash it, they step up to the plate, put on their game face, don’t have an option of failure, winning means everything, ride the rollercoaster, relish the journey, use awesome armography, on and on and on......... To endorse not that Grumpy, Mr Senker, STOP IT!!!!! Philip, San Fulgencio.
Berlin heartache
Dump Trump THE world seems to be so angry with traditional politicians that we somehow think it’s a good thing to elect Donald Trump! I think Americans will come to see that their political system prevented a good man from doing as much as he would have liked! Barack Obama was a missed opportunity. After Trump’s tweets does anybody think this bloke will get a second term? Not me, and I actually think he’s not all bad. If he gets through his first term without a military scrap with someone I’ll be amazed. Perhaps he’ll just divide up the world and let the bad guys have their bit as long as it doesn’t concern America too much. Sally
Droned to death IF, like me you are a regular flyer, I urge you to consider the problem that is happening within our skies. There are countless drones being allowed to fly amongst our planes, with frequent near misses. Without any regulation experts say there will soon be a major incident. Please consider signing my epetition on www.gov.uk/petition-gov ernment. Anyone who is a UK resident can do this. It will take three minutes. Our security and safety is at risk so I am contacting people from all walks of life. If we can get 100,000 clicks on this petition our MPs have to discuss the matter. We all need to do something before there is a serious accident in our skies. Please inform as many people as possible and consider the following: In the USA their airline security
Maybe it should be brought into schools too. For me, too many areas of Britain are made up of young and old who feel closer to altogether different cultures. Extend this oath and make it a part of daily school life as well. That seems to be the way forward to me. Margaret, Almeria
FIFA fine for poppy teams ENGLAND, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been fined by FIFA for wearing poppies as a mark of respect for the fallen and injured of conflict. The figure in England’s case is more than £35,000. Is there anyone who thinks the actions of an organisation as corrupt as FIFA has shown itself to be can be defended? They could have taken the moral high ground
FAA brought in new drone rulings. We need something similar. There are countless near misses reported every week despite having a recommended maximum height. In April 2016 a passenger plane was hit. Pilots have expressed their serious concerns about these toys being unregistered. Every week packages are dropped into our prisons and operators are never found. No licences are required to operate these smaller drones. Someone can film you or your children without your permission. Most police forces do not have any procedures in place to deal with drone nuisance. In the wrong hands they could be a serious threat to our security.
and insisted on levying the fine for rule breaking but made it a token. All sides would have been satisfied. Wouldn’t FIFA have been seen as taking the heat out of a thorny issue and at the same time received much needed positive publicity f or a change? Instead, they again look like the corrupt overlords of world football. David, Marbella
They should be treated in the same way as firearms Ann Paterson, Santa Pola
Stamp of disapproval TRILBY is truly fortunate to be buying his stamps for Britain from the Post Office in Calahonda as that branch must surely have the cheapest postal charges in Spain. I cannot remember when I last paid less than 80 cents to send a ‘standard’ letter or card to England (‘standard’ being 14x9cm and 23.5x12cm, and less than 20gr according to the Correos website). Since the beginning of 2016 the
price of a stamp to Britain has been 1.15€ (1.55€ for non-standard). I do hope his cards all reach the recipients safely! Barbara Wicker, Torrox
Oath of allegiance MAKING every civil and public servant swear to uphold British values seems sensible to me and long overdue. Even if it doesn’t stop radicalism, it helps to make people aware our society is based on a belief in democracy, equality and being able to say what you want. The USA uses such an oath and it seems to be successful.
THE awful events in Berlin bring to mind the attack on shoppers in the French city of Nice. I know there is no way to be completely safe but perhaps it’s time to stop traffic coming into the centres of our big cities after rush hour. But how do you stop the driver of a giant lorry who intends to kill and maim? There’d be almost no way to stop a 40 ton lorry especially one going at full speed. All we can do is express our sorrow and sympathy with the families of those who died in Berlin. How many more attacks will there be in Germany’s cities? Jane, Costa del Sol
Flood damage SPARE a thought for the victims of the floods that have hit our area of Spain. Having just arrived from the UK I thought that we had it bad, not least because we always seem to react with such surprise when the water hits. But in Spain the infrastructure seems to be taking a hammering. And officials make the right noises but will they actually pay up? I hope so for the sake of all those affected. To have everything you own destroyed by water and this close to Christmas is awful. As one who has experienced it many years ago, I know how heartbreaking it can be. Bill, Almeria
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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OPINION & COMMENT
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Copyright TheFinalMiracle
Christmas is falling victim to politically correct obsession 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
PARENTS have been told by academics to stop pretending Father Christmas is real in case the ‘lie’ damages relations with their children who might then question what else mum and dad are lying about. What! First, no Father Christmas; next they’ll be telling us politicians tell the truth and do their ‘underpaid’ job for the love of serving their country! Why do academics want to sweep away the myths and legends which are part of our cultural heritage? All part of childhood and growing up. How boring and unimaginative life would be without Father Christmas, the tooth fairy and fairy stories. What would children do without them? Obsess about video games, sexting, selfies? There are more obvious ways to get
DIWALI LANTERNS: Embracing every culture except our own. children adjusted to the harsh realities of life than to take away their Christmas ‘magic.’ Why not start reintroducing a sense of competition in schools, competition they’ll face soon enough in business and job applications?
I’m also reminded here of a recent report that political correctness is crippling British culture to the extent that Christmas itself is at risk. Christmas trees have already been renamed ‘festive trees’ by some and Christmas itself
‘the winter holidays.’ Way back in 1998, Birmingham City Council already called it ‘Winterval.’ When my friend’s daughter was at primary school 10 years ago, she never painted a fireworks picture in Novem-
ber, made Halloween lanterns, took in a contribution for harvest festival or acted in a nativity play. All things I did at school. She did make a lantern for Diwali, fine in itself, but not as an alternative to Britain’s own traditions. All these years we’ve been exhorted to celebrate diversity by embracing every culture except our own. Such a shame. Ah, with all this talk of political correctness, it’s already beginning to feel like Christmas. And a sure sign Santa’s already having his sleigh valeted at Kwik Fit. As for me, not exactly a hard ‘BrXmas’ here but definitely no free movement of loads of in-laws - I’m too busy writing my latest thriller! HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Nora Johnson’s psychological/suspense crime thrillers ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.99; £0.99) and iBookstore. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.
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Dragonfly British Nursery The first British Nursery in Palma AT Dragonfly British Nursery, the staff are committed to preserving the magic of childhood by allowing the children’s natural sense of wonder to nurture them and their interest in the world around them. In the classrooms, the children are taught how to think, not what to think. The role of the teacher is one of facilitator or guide who brings expertise and knowledge of child development into the classroom. Social development is central to their philosophy. The school partners with parents to support each child’s unique development. Nursery school is often a child’s first link to a larger community. Experienced, sensitive and loving teachers create a safe haven at Dragonfly British Nursery for children to take both small and large steps. Children are assisted in negotiating play with others, taking turns, listening and honouring their friends needs for individual exploration. They receive focused support and guidance on many social issues such as separa-
DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT: Classrooms offer a wide variety of learning experiences and opportunities. tion, conflict resolution whilst sharing experiences and feelings that is an integral part of the curriculum. With nearly 1,000m2 of facilities, natural light and a playground of 400m2, the nursery has experienced native speaker teachers, who create a
safe environment where the children can become a member of a community, along with the family, enjoying experiences that provide a foundation for future living and learning. This is designed to meet the physical, mental, emotional, social and cre-
ative needs of each child, whilst providing a unique, creative and innovative programme to help the child develop in these vital years. Dragonfly British Nursery encourages a love of living things and creates a thirst for knowledge about the natur-
al world around them. The vegetable garden provides a part of nature that encourages children to touch, feel and watch plant life even though they are centred in Palma. Each classroom is created to offer a dynamic and enabling environment with a wide variety of learning experiences and opportunities to explore and investigate, equipping them with a positive self-image and a love for learning where they can observe, question and appreciate their world. Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Dragonfly British Nursery believes that, in partnership with the families, they can provide your child with that best possible start. Tel: 971 937 502 www.dragonflybritishnursery.com
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E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
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Have yourself a merry little Christmas with our ultimate Christmas security and travel guide
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OPINION & COMMENT
LEGALLY SPEAKING
When police want to pull you over AS part of the series, we answer some common driving questions and keep you updated on the latest driving and road news 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.
Christina Sharp GLOBELINK INTERNATIONAL christina@globelink.co.uk.
IT’S beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and with millions of us away over the holidays, read Globelink’s tips on a stress-free festive season. Make a list and check it twice! Make your travel checklist and check it as many times as it takes to ensure you are good to go well before you travel. Keep essential documents handy so you can breeze through check-in and security. Driving home for Christmas? (… or flying) Plan your route well in advance and check that nothing will scupper your well-laid plans, like scheduled closures, maintenance work, or even strike action. Baby it’s cold outside! Seems obvious, but check the weather at your destination in advance and pack accordingly. UK temperatures have varied between minus five and 17 degrees this month, so you never know! Bring us some figgy pudding? Your Christmas pudding may be a firm family favourite, but check that you are permitted to carry whatever item you plan to take if you are travelling by plane, or crossing country borders. Don’t go crackers Even though crackers are a Christmas tradition, many airlines don’t allow Christmas crackers in your luggage. Also you cannot take party poppers, fireworks or sparklers. Blue Christmas Nothing will give you the Christmas blues and dampen your spirit like an exorbitant excess baggage charge at the airport, so check your allowance and weigh luggage before leaving home. Also avoid pre-wrapping presents in case you’re selected for a security check. Home alone? Avoid worrying about your home security at Christmas while you’re away by taking a few straightforward steps to minimise risk, leaving you to enjoy your travels. Start by cancelling any regular deliver-
ies, and arrange for the local postal service to hold your mail when you’re away. This will avoid a pile of newspapers in the doorway, or a bulging mailbox which is a sure sign that nobody’s home. Be discreet when discussing travel plans where others may overhear. Be especially careful on social media and avoid recording details on your voicemail. Don’t close curtains or blinds in an attempt to make your home look less tempting. It’s likely to do the opposite. Instead, move desirables (car keys, for instance) out of sight, and fit a timer switch on lights and radios. It’s not rocket science but it will deter casual observers and opportunists. If you can, leave a key with a neighbour or friend who will clear away telltale post, open and close curtains and maybe park their car on your drive to give an ‘I’m home’ impression. Your neighbours could be invaluable in spotting suspicious behaviour in your absence. Also avoid the unwanted surprise of burst pipes by setting your heating to automatically come on for short time periods, or if temperatures drop below zero. And insulate any exposed outside pipes. And finally, why not take snapshots of special value items, preferably in their normal surroundings; it could be useful evidence for your insurance company if you are unlucky enough to have a problem. Lastly have a wonderful Christmas from Globelink and don’t forget a decent Travel Insurance policy for essential peace of mind. Visit www.globelink.co.uk, or call (UK) +44 1353 699 082 or our Spanish link lines on 96 626 5000 or 95 124 2434.
FLASHING LIGHTS: Indicate officers want you to pull over. WITH increased police patrols now due over the festive period to prevent drink driving, you may spot extra officers on the roadside, so it is important to know what actions the patrols will take in order to stop a vehicle on the roadside if they wish to speak to a driver. Amongst their duties, the Guardia Civil is tasked with controlling road traffic to ensure road safety and prevent offences as well as providing assistance if necessary. If an official vehicle wants to stop you, it will display a flashing light in addition to the blue lights. This red light means you must stop your vehicle and pull over to the right hand side of the road. When stopping
however, you must ensure you do so in a safe place that does not pose a risk to the other road users. When you have safely stopped the patrol car will stop their vehicle behind yours. All occupants within your vehicle must remain inside the vehicle as the officer will approach you on the right side of your car and inform you why you have been stopped. When they have finished with you they will help you join the flow of traffic back on the road. So remember, flashing red light indicates you must stop. Stop the vehicle in a safe area and make sure all passengers remain in the car.
For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook.
Can the president recover debt? WE are a small community of 16 houses, and we have just suffered our first bad debt in 10 years. Our administrator has advised me as president to call an EGM in order to obtain a majority of voters agreeing to take the case to court. We wish to use the ‘procesomonitorio’ to save on costs. Under the Law of Horizontal Property, is it necessary for a president to do this? I thought the president would have executive powers to provide simple evidence of the bad debt. Or is this a wise precaution to enable the judge to come to a decision? M.G. (Costa Blanca) First, your thinking is correct. The president is authorised to act in court for the community. With certification of the debt and of your election as president, you can initiate the ‘procesomonitorio’
David Searl You and the Law in Spain
against the debtor. This requires no lawyer and is
designed as a sort of small claims court. Second, your administrator is not wrong to suggest that every possible legal measure be taken. If you hit a snag, you can always go back to this.
Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.
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22 - 28 December 2016
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Helping to detect hearing loss EXPERTS recommend getting a hearing screening every year, especially after we hit 50. Any small sign of hearing loss detected early can help us to avoid, or at least to slow down, some of the deterioration processes of our hearing capabilities. Most of us go to the dentist or optician to make sure everything is okay with our teeth and vision. However, hearing screenings and the health of our ears too often fall by the wayside. • What is hearing loss? Hearing loss or deafness refers to damage or dysfunctions in one or more parts of the ear. They can occur at any age and for different reasons. The later the diagnosis, the worse the hearing loss will be, and it will be more difficult to prevent it from getting worse or alleviate the symptoms. In 90 per cent of cases of hearing loss there are numerous solutions which
can help improve communication. • What is a hearing screening? A hearing screening allows a doctor to evaluate a person’s hearing ability in minutes. It is a simple and painless test which is done after a consultation with a specialist or in a hearing centre, in a soundproof booth designed to carry out different hearing analyses without the interference
EARLY DETECTION: Of hearing loss can avoid or slow down deterioration. of other sounds or external noises. • I can hear but I don’t understand what people are saying, what’s happening?
This is one of the most frequent symptoms of people who need help with their hearing. The possible cause could be on a sensorineural level, which can impede the ears from functioning properly. Of course, factors like age, certain medications, genetic causes, or noise pollution can also have an influence. All of these factors can lead to a lack
of ability to understand conversation. • Do hearing aids damage the ear? Many people think using hearing aids can damage the ear as a result of listening to things at a higher volume, but this is not the case, because hearing aids are regulated to the level of sensitivity of each individual. • I can’t hear very well with my hearing aid. Why? It’s necessary to get used to hearing aids and this is not always easy. This is even more difficult when the person has been living for a long time with hearing loss. However, with a little patience and following the hearing specialist’s advice, the majority of users achieve highly satisfying results and their quality of life rapidly improves. Contact Audifonos Llompart on 971 24 34 64 or visit www.audifonosllompart.com.
Go smart when buying toys for your child STILL wondering what Santa can bring the little people in your life? Then think smart. Experts say babies and toddlers should be stimulated as much as possible and toys play an im-
portant part in that. For babies, eager to learn about the world, every shape, colour and texture is new to them and toys help build motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It is also reported in this stage black and white forms the largest stimulation in an infants continually developing brain. As they reach the toddler stage toys like shape sorters and building blocks are ideal for developing their imagination and teaching about colours and shapes and building basic life skills. Equally such toys can detect gaps in infant development as found by a project carried out by several universities in Madrid. The project designed different toys e.g. rattles, balls and cube towers with built-in sensors that can help support the early detection of gaps in the development of young children. This is important as certain motor difficulties can be warning signs for other diseases related to poor motor development and developmental problems.
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Pneumonia: to vaccinate or not?
SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. WHAT is the vaccination against pneumonia we’ve been hearing about recently? The vaccination against pneumonia is an injection which prevents infection from pneumococcus, a bacteria which can cause serious infections. There are about 100 different varieties of pneumococcus, only a few of which can cause infections in human beings. Who should have the vaccination? The groups who are most vulnerable to this type of infection are children under the age of five, especially those under two, but it can also affect the elderly, especially those over 65 or who have conditions which make them prone to infections from this germ. Therefore, these groups are under increased risk of suffering an infection from this germ and should be vaccinated. Is it expensive? The Spanish health system covers the cost of vaccinations for people in the high-risk groups, so they do not have to pay for the injections. If you wish to have the vaccination outside the normal vaccination dates or are not in the high-risk groups, the price is approxi-
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mately €80 although this depends on the brand and the country. How long do the effects last? If you are correctly vaccinated the effect can last for many years. From the age of 65 onwards it is advisable to have a reminder dose to maintain coverage for years to come. Is it efficient? The vaccination is very efficient, as proved by many studies, although no vaccination is 100 per cent effective. Does it have many side effects? The most common side effects reported have been reactions at the injection site including swelling, redness, pain at the site of the injection and difficulty moving the arm. Others are: fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, fever and vomiting among others. In very rare cases serious adverse effects may occur at a neurological level or affect the respiratory system. Is it really worth having the injection? It definitely is. Anyone who meets the vaccination criteria should most definitely be vaccinated against pneumococcus.
If you have any questions for Dr Perez Belmonte, please send them to: jefemedico@helicopterossanitarios.com
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Have a flatter stomach this Christmas WANT to stay looking trim this festive season, then try these tricks to avoid the bloat and keep a flatter stomach this December: Little and often That big over indulgent Christmas Day feast may be something you have been looking forward to for weeks but it can be hard for the body to digest and process all that food leading to excessive gas and bloating. Eating smaller meals more regularly is a preferred option and means those festive buffets may not be as bad as you think if you keep returning for little nibbles every now and then. Avoid the fizz We all like a glass of fizzy stuff at Christmas but the bub-
CHOOSE CAREFULLY: Try to go for healthier options. bles in prosecco and Champagne as well as beer and coke can end up in your stomach leaving you dehydrated and bloated. Get active As tempting as it is to slob around catching up on television viewing during your time off, try and stay active during the festive season. Enjoying a walk along the beach, even getting active with the family on Wii sports games, can help
speed up a sluggish digestion and help ease IBS symptoms. Choose carefully No one wants to turn down a party invite and the buffet at the office party can be hard to avoid but, you can make careful choices in what you eat. Try and stay clear of pastry and fried foods and go for the healthier option of prawns, salmon and lean meat and indulge all you like in vegetables and fruit on offer.
Take time chewing your food to allow your digestive system time to work. This will also help you realise when you are full before you over indulge. Hot water and lemon Try swapping that morning coffee for hot water and lemon to help wake up your digestive system. Peppermint and chamomile tea are also known for easing stomach problems.
Enjoy your life and live longer SIMPLY being happy and having fun could help you live longer. Experts from University College London followed more than 9,000 people in their 50’s and 60’s in England and every two years between 2002 and 2006, they were asked about how much they enjoyed their
life and daily activities. Over the next seven years to 2013, 1,310 of the participants had passed away with many of them being those who had reported having no or little enjoyment in their daily lives when asked during the assessments. Scientists believe that being happy re-
duces stress and anxiety hormones which can put pressure on the heart and lead to increased blood pressure. Whilst the researchers said they could not conclude a direct biological link between happiness and mortality, they said their study did indicate a correlation.
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‘A simple question of good taste!’ ‘IT’S a simple question of good taste!’ is the catchphrase used by Angel and Javi, owners of the restaurant El Galeon, which is situated on the beach (Playa Taura) in front of the Hotel Beverly Playa. Angel and Javi have run restaurants in Paguera for the past 40 years and their great experience means that eating in their restaurant is a gastronomic experience never to be forgotten. Inside, the restaurant is decorated like an old Galeon ship and is perfect for special occasions.
The most popular dish is red tuna fish with pisto (mixed vegetables in a home-made tomato salsa).” There is private parking and a children’s play area enabling parents to eat in peace while watching their children play in complete safety. It serves typical Mediterranean food; fish, meat, paella and tapas. The most popular dish is red tuna fish (see photo) with pisto (mixed vegetables in a home-made tomato
RED TUNA: The popular dish that is incredible value at only €8.90.
salsa). At €8.90, this is incredible value. Another speciality is prawns with fresh garlic cooked and flambéed at the table in front of you, an experience not to be missed. (€7.50). Mallorcian specialities include frito with lambs liver, baby lamb chops and a gigantic mixed platter of tapas, which two people would struggle to finish. Angel is almost embarrassed when he tells me that it costs €9.50. “But it is an enormous portion and great value,” he added. For children there are crispy chicken nuggets, breast of chicken, croquettes, and patatas bravas. Home-made bread with Aioli (garlic mayonnaise) and olives are served to all guests on arrival for only €1.80. El Galeon is open every day and night over Christmas and New Year. Reservations must be made for December 24 and 31 when a special menu will be served, including a glass of Champagne, a party pack and the 12 lucky grapes on New Year’s Eve. They are offering a choice of three or four different dishes of meat or fish for these two special occasions. Tel: 661 573 332 or 661 593 487 Email: renatehuth@hotmail.com
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Circus with a difference Moscow Ballet returns
DON’T MISS: Aqua Circus. gether in this production that recognises water as one of the essential elements of life and makes its elegant shapes match the harmony of the circus. This homage to water and performance remembers that it is a fragile resource and as such it also promotes an environmental message as all of the water used is properly managed and recycled. As the audience and pirates view the performance in amazement, the final question to be asked is whether the pirates themselves will be so consumed by the excitement of the
activities that they will give up their evil ways and join in to become part of the friendly and active team of circus performers. This 90 minute tour de force is without doubt another fine and original presentation from Circo Allegria and with more than one performance most days at prices from €18 to €35 with discounts for children under 10 and also for early booking, this promises to be a unique opportunity to enjoy the magic of circus and tear the children away from their gifts, computer, games and TV.
to perform in Palma FOR the third year running, the Moscow Ballet returns to Mallorca as part of its Spanish Winter Tour and will present Swan Lake and the Nutcracker in Palma. This world-famous company which highlights the dancing skills of Cristina Teremtiev, Anatolie Ustimov and Alexei Terentiev has been touring internationally for 25 years, promoting some of the most popular ballets of all time. Demand has been so great that they have agreed to add an additional performance of the Nutcracker at the Palma Auditorium and there will be two presentations of different works written by Tchaikovsky. Tuesday January 3 sees the Nutcracker performed at 6pm followed by Swan Lake at 9pm whilst on the following day, Wednesday January
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
JUST right for children of all ages over the holiday period is the Aqua Circus presented by Circo Allegria at Son Fusteret in Palma from December 23 to January 8. Imagine the wreck of a pirate ship in the middle of the ocean in the late 18th century with the crew having to fight a terrible storm but despite having to swim for their lives, they arrive at a desert island populated by circus performers. This is the heart of the story where more than 40 artists will perform a whole range of stunning tricks and cameos whilst set in a pool containing 24,000 litres of water. The show combines music recorded in Miami, spectacular lighting, live vocals, water fountains and a whole host of incredible performers. Acts will include roller skaters, trapeze artists, wire walkers, acrobats, aerial excitement, magicians and a trio of well-known and much loved clowns. Pirates, sirens, sharks, fish and a world of fantasy come to-
Photo Credit: Circo Allegria.
By John Smith
ENCORE SHOW: The Nutcracker. 4, the Nutcracker encore performance is at 7pm. Tickets range from €20 to €39 although there are some discounts for group bookings. Further details and reservations may be made at the website www.auditoriumpalma.com.
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Winter getaways pricier this year By Sam Croft WINTERTIME has arrived meaning many people are renting cottages and chalets so they can get away for a few days and enjoy some skiing. Others might prefer re-
laxing by the fire with some hot chocolate and a good book. In any case, these winter getaways are a popular alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city during the Christmas period. Owing to this popularity, prices for rented residences have seen a slight increase this year, according to data re-
leased from real estate portal Pisos.com. The average price in 2016 for a chalet or cottage near a ski resort is €562 a week, a rise of 0.4 per cent compared to 2015. However, the prices are 2.8 per cent lower than they were four years ago. Winter rentals come in all shapes and sizes, and not surpris-
ingly, in all price ranges. The survey by Pisos.com indicated the gap between the most expensive and cheapest weekly rate is €672. A handful of high-end chalets in the Pyrenees of Lleida cost the most, charging an average weekly price of €1,006. Those looking for more of a bargain may want to head to Segovia, where the average weekly price is
€372 a week, or to Fuentes de Invierno in Asturias (€387) or La Rioja (€394). Miguel Angel Alemany, general director of Pisos.com said “residences at the foot of the ski slopes have recoved very well in recent years, but there are also many nearby municipalities where there are great opportunities at excellent prices.”
SKI BREAKS: A popular alternative for Christmas.
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Government will not combat ‘vulture funds’ THE National Government is concerned about social housing being sold to ‘vulture funds’ but considers the issue to fall under the jurisdiction of the autonomous communities. During a Senate meeting, Maria Pilar Garrido Gutierrez, the senator from the parliamentary group Unidos Podem-En Comu Podem-En Marea grilled Minister of Development Iñigo de la Serna on the subject. She asked the minister what measures the National Government plans to implement to stop investment funds or profit-seeking entities from snapping up social housing and using it for their own personal gains. De la Serna pointed out that matters relating to real estate fall
under the umbrella of the autonomous communities and that “the National Government respects the current legislation.” According to De la Serna, the National Government can only approve property-related plans once they are run through the regional governments. Representatives from the Ministry of Development are scheduled to meet with representatives from the autonomous communities on Thursday December 15 to discuss the potential direction of future property plans. STOP SALES: Of social housing.
Reduced rate of home evictions THE amount of evictions in Spain between July and September this year represented a drop of 11.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. The data released by the General Council
of the Judiciary (CGPJ) potentially represents another sign the country is making its way out of the crisis. The CGPJ has indicated the amount of evictions carried out in the third quarter of
the year - 9,094 - is the lowest number since the fourth quarter of 2007. Every region in the country saw a decrease in evictions in the third quarter of the year in comparison to 2015.
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Design trends for year ahead has increased by 80 per cent, Pinterest deduced, while that of copper instead of gold rose by 90 per cent. The pattern everyone is expected to be mad
about next year is marble, with companies quickly catching on and creating wallpaper and accessories with a marbled effect. Hygge, a trend based on the Scandinavian style
Go loco and grow cocoa THE Mediterranean climate allows for a wide range of plants to be grown. The restrictions of soil quality, water availability and the ability to create microclimates are really where gardening skills are required to make the most of the possibilities. It will require more planning and preparation and after care to maintain exotic plants but if you have the time it can be a great interest. If you want to add some elements of exotic interest or reminders of home to your Mediterranean garden or balcony, it is possible to grow many temperate and various tropical plants. There are many gardens in Spain that, in addition to their almond, citrus and olive trees, have tropical avocados and bananas and yet also pears, apples and peaches of the temperate climates. The secret to growing exotic plants successfully is to replicate the natural environment they come from as far as possible. If you are really adventurous, there is a plant, with heavenly connotations for many people, that can add great interest to a garden. It is known as the food of the gods, recognised by the greek botanical genus name Theobroma which means god food. It is better known by its species name, cocoa. In the indigenous Mexican regional language of Nahuati it is known as xoclati, but to most of us it is known for being the main flavour source of chocolate, the cocoa tree. Cocoa beans from the tree were first introduced into Europe by the Spanish and their use soon spread as a sweet delicacy, with regional recipes developed to give us
Photo Credit: Dr. Morley Read shutterstock
By Graeme Tyrrell
CHOCOLATE TREE: It is possible to grow your own with careful planning and care. the vast range of delightful delicacies we have today. The cocoa tree grows naturally as an under storey plant shaded by taller trees in rain forests but as it matures it can tolerate full sun. So a well shaded, sheltered spot in the garden is ideal. They are cold sensitive below 8°C so the best place is next to a heated building or, if in a pot, it can be brought indoors in winter to a well lit location. They will tolerate cold below 8°C but may lose their
leaves and be set back. Frost is likely to kill them. Windy conditions are detrimental. The soil required to grow them needs copious amounts of organic material of high fertility with regular addition of nutrients several times a year, as in a tropical forest environment. Ensure the soil stays moist all year through supplementary watering as necessary, like in a rainforest environment. Flowers can appear
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PINTEREST is a social media platform which has become increasingly popular with those looking for decorating inspiration. With this in mind, its insights team has analysed data from the last year to predict the interiors trends for 2017. The colours of the year are likely to be navy and copper. Popularity of navy instead of black
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throughout the year and the cocoa fruit is gradually harvested over several months. The pod contains 30-40 bean seeds which you can separate from the pod to be dried in the sun. The cocoa bean is naturally bitter but when crushed into powder and a sweetener added, it reveals the exquisite taste of chocolate we all know. So with careful planning and care, you can have your own chocolate tree.
of cosy living, is set to stay in fashion with warm yet simple designs and rustic or farmhouse tones being the overall atmosphere to go for. For accessories, Pinterest has forecast we will all be going for indoor vines, which has seen a 260 per cent increase in interest on the platform since September, and floating art.
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Beware of Xmas excesses (for pets!) CHRISTMAS is here again. It should be a time of fun, food and gaining a little weight (for us and for our pets!). But beware it can also be dangerous for them. There is a temptation to give our little ones some of the leftovers from our hearty Christmas lunches, but dogs and cats have a different digestive system and they are not designed to eat our food (even though many do!). However any abrupt change in diet can cause acute vomiting and diarrhoea. Many ingredients in human food can be toxic to dogs and cats, for example grapes can cause kidney failure. They would probably have to eat large amounts of grapes, but the toxic effects are greatly multiplied in raisins and sultanas. Onions can also cause anaemia (breakdown of red blood cells), especially when cooked. All of these are very tasty! Dogs are famous for raiding the chocolates and chocolate biscuits well before granny, but large amounts of this in a sensitive dog can cause heart arrhythmias and even death. Keep bins well closed - dogs and cats are very ingenious when there is a nice smelling
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Daisy and Glossy have made themselves at home House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! To find a pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com or call Lamia on 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742.
JELLY JULIETA: Hates it when fireworks are let off. bone in the rubbish. I rarely advise giving dogs and cats bones because they can cause lots of problems. But bones, especially from chickens and turkeys, once they have been cooked are very sharp and very difficult to digest and can cause gut perforations and infections. Many house plants, indeed the red leafed Xmas plant and especially lillies are super toxic to cats - the latter can cause death even if they lick their leaves!! Christmas decorations look great but many young dogs find them lovely to eat! Cats for some unknown reason like eating long stringy things. Try to
keep decorations out of the reach of pets and children!! Listen for fireworks in the evenings leading up to and during Christmas and New Year they are popular in Mallorca. My Staffie Julieta goes to jelly if she hears one. Fortunately she’s going a bit deaf so it will not be so bad this year!! Please consult us or your vet for anxiolytics which may help them. Despite all these worries strive to be healthy and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Nick the vet, Clinica Veterinaria Bendinat, Calvia , Mallorca. www.vet-bendinat.com Tel. 971 404 459.
RESIDENTS’ REPORT: Gail keeps Ann updated on the cats and the house. ANN a homeowner in Fuengirola Spain has found that in the seven years since living in this part of Spain she has attracted large numbers of stray cats. They simply turn up at the door looking for a caring hand and over the years she has crossed paths with a large number who simply move on after a few meals. Daisy and Glossy, however, have stayed with her for four years now. They are fixtures in her home and don’t need a great deal of attention but she has grown very fond of them. As a working lawyer with a base in the UK Ann still travels a great deal and worries about her cats when she is away from them. Her current trip is a long one and may stretch from three to six months. She found HouseSitMatch online and registered. Within a couple of weeks we had
found her an experienced house-sitter in Gail. Ann has returned to the UK to take care of some urgent business leaving Gail in charge. Gail sends Ann regular updates on the property and its feline residents. Gail in the meantime has three to six months free accommodation in a sunnier climate to her Scottish homeland. Both joined HouseSitMatch as standard members for the cost of only £35 per year! Do you need a sitter? Get in touch. Housesitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as a house-sitter or homeowner now with a 20 per cent off introductory offer using code PERFECT20. To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.
Could your pet pass on salmonella to you? INVESTIGATORS at Valencia’s CEU-Cardenal Herrera university have warned of the possible dangers of keeping turtles as pets. In a study led by veterinary professor Clara Marin, investigators discovered the presence of salmonella in 29 per cent of 96 privatelyowned turtles kept as pets. The reptiles show no symptoms, yet this considerable number of carriers is extremely likely to pass the bacteria on to its owners, especially children, the elderly or people with weak immune systems, Marin said. This should be taken into account by parents who choose
turtles as pets for their children due to their small size and convenience, and pet shops should warn of the dangers, the investigators said. In Europe 100,000 cases of salmonella are diagnosed each year and although most are due to contaminated food, it’s estimated about 6 per cent are from contact with turtles and reptiles. The Valencian university study found no significant differences between turtles kept in tanks indoors and those kept outside so said that doesn’t seem to influence the possibility of presence of the bacteria.
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Koenigsegg are saying that the new CCX is more comfortable... more comfortable than what? Being stabbed? Some might say...
Changing of the guard By Matthew Elliott GOOGLE has launched its first foray into the pioneering world of autonomous cars with the formal unveiling of new sister company Waymo, which is expected to whet its appetite for world domination with a self-driving taxi service. Waymo says that drivers around the
world clock up an incredible 10 trillion miles each year, one of those fantastically difficult to challenge numbers, and that it will make every one of those miles safer. First step in the Google revolution will be a self-driving taxi fleet. It probably
won’t be sparing expats awkward conversations of payment moments in far flung corners of the world. More likely the fleet will occupy the pristine streets of tech cities like San Francisco and Seattle, charging executives
an arm and a leg for WiFi access on their way to meetings. After the taxi fleet, the sky is the limit. The motoring world will be transformed beyond all recognition with the entrance of tech and software companies into the market, challenging the power players of Ford, Volkswagen etc, who has ruled the roost for a century.
GOOGLE TAXIS: Will be a self-driving fleet.
ROAD TEST
Honda HR-V: compact SUV by Nick Fletcher HONDA’S entry into the compact SUV market was a little later than most rivals, but the current HR-V underlines why it was certainly worth the wait. Dynamic styling, generous levels of standard equipment and class-leading interior space give the HR-V compelling appeal in a class already well served with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Yeti and new Suzuki Vitara. HR-V prices start at £18,695
(€21,053) for an entry level S version which comes with alloy wheels, climate control, CD/DAB radio, Bluetooth, USB socket, cruise control with speed limiter, four power windows, and auto lights. For many that will tick most of the must-have boxes. There is a 1.5 litre petrol engine or 1.6 litre diesel, with manual and CVT options. My test model was the higher-spec SE Navi model, priced in manual form at £23,050 (€25,956) and adding extra kit including larger 17”
alloys, front and rear parking sensors, 7” touchscreen infotainment centre and driver assistance pack with lane departure, forward collision warning and traffic sign recognition. It had the 130 hp 1.6 litre diesel unit with a 0-60 mph time of 10.2 seconds and top speed of 119 mph. Fuel economy is impressive at 68.9 mpg combined. Visual styling is a good pluspoint. Its more sporty stance and coupé appearance (it has four doors but the rear door handles are hidden to give a two-door look) give it a boost over less sleek rivals.
The dashboard is user friendly though is visually rather dull. Front and rear occupants get plenty of space and the load area is also good, 470 litres with the rear seats in use, and 1,553 litres with them folded. The seats fold flat easily and a minimal lip makes loading easier. There is also useful underfloor storage. When it comes to the driving it establishes its credentials as soon as you move off. Smooth quiet power delivery, light intuitive steering and nicely balanced suspension enable you to feel immediately at home, and confident you know just how the car is going to behave.
Stats panel:
HONDA HR-V: Wor th the wait.
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Model: Honda HR-V SE Navi Engine: 1.6 litre diesel Transmission: 6 speed manual Performance: 0-60 mph 10.2 seconds, top speed 119 mph Economy: 68.9 mpg combined Emissions: 108 g/km
Motoring shorts
What is in a name? AFTER almost a century in the motoring game, Porsche have become so irritated by constant mispronunciations of their deliberately hard to pr onounce nam e t hat t hey’ ve now r el eased a video telling people exactly how to say it. Those who pronounce it as one syllable, dropping the ‘e’ at the end now have no excuse and will be accordingly humiliated at mot or i ng gal as and cockt ai l parties until the end of time. The video is just 16 seconds long in keeping with a strict German no nonsense approach and features a man voicing how exactly to say i t phonet i cal l y onscreen... Por-she.
22 - 28 December 2016 / Mallorca
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BOATS Photo Credit: Yamaha Motor Company
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F100: Faster and more powerful.
Yamaha’s latest generation engine By John Smith OFTEN thought of as a company just involved in the production of motor bikes, there is another side to Yamaha which produces some of the best outboard engines in boating. Their latest product, the all new F100 is faster and more powerful than previous versions and it is lighter and even more compact.
Due for release in 2017, this improved flagship model takes the already impressive midrange model and has updated it with the latest technology to offer a clean, smooth, economical four-stroke outboard motor ideal for water sports, offshore fishing and leisure activities. Without compromising the legendary strength and reliability for which all Yamaha engines are world-famous, their engineers have
not only redesigned certain components to make this latest model even more compact, but at the same time, a significant weight saving has been achieved which results in more power, more speed and even sharper acceleration. The F100 not only delivers this higher level of performance, but does it even more smoothly and quietly, with ultra-low sound and vibration levels - particularly noticeable at lower operat-
ing speeds - thanks to the redesign of the exhaust system, the addition of an intake silencer and improved rigidity of the engine unit itself. Full compatibility with Yamaha’s unique Digital Network System brings with it an impressive array of sophisticated control functions and options, including availability of a wide range of digital gauges, VTS control and the exclusive Y-COP immobiliser security system.
THE Costa del Sol is missing out on the lucrative superyacht industry according to the chief of the Andalucia Marine Association. Jose Carlos Martin believes the Costa needs to improve its ports to be able to welcome larger boats. The Marine Association is a collective of 17 privately managed ports which has surveyed the region’s suitability for the mooring of luxury boats. It believes a worrying deficit is the lack of facilities available to moor private superyachts longer than 50 metres. Martin said there are only around 450 such boats across the world and there is no reason
Photo Credit: Ayuntamiento de Marbella
Superyacht kingdom why 5 per cent or so can’t be anchored around the Costa del Sol. He points to the region’s plethora of international schools and excellent climate as making it the perfect candidate. He believes the Marine Association should be incorporated under the umbrella of tourism and help attract investment to build a suitable port for the many rich Russians and upscale Saudis who call the Costa del Sol home. Gibraltar however has no such problems with superyachts a plenty visiting the Rock in order to either refuel or simply dock in an area which is safe and relatively inexpensive.
INTERESTED PARTIES: A meeting was held in Marbella.
Marbella to Ceuta Yacht race THE intercontinental Yachting Cup which covers a course from Marbella to Ceuta will take place between April 28 and May 1 and will be officially launched at the FITUR International Tourism show which will be held in Madrid from January 18 to 22, where the city of Marbella will have its own booth. Prior to the formal launch of the competition, a meeting was held in Marbella with interested parties from the councils of both Ceuta and Marbella, Marbella port and
various maritime clubs from the Marbella area. It is expected that at least 50 large yachts will set off from Marbella to Ceuta and then return and the regatta is part of a programme of activities for a nautical week christened ‘Sol Marina,’ organised in conjunction with the commonwealth of municipalities of Western Costa del Sol, which this year will take place in Marbella and will include motorcycle, boating, kayak and paddle surfing competitions.
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FEATURE
A Christmas Tale from Tuscany By Dario Poli (part 2) GIOVANNI’S childhood friend was solidly impressive in a rough checked shirt and a rope holding up his corduroy trousers and wearing thick boots. Of medium height, he had fair wavy hair, ruddy complexion and steely grey penetrating eyes. His handshake, firm but gentle, was his calling card. I sensed immediately this man was built by nature, blessed with an abundance of good health. Wiry and physically strong, a morally incorruptible individual, with genuine spirituality exuding from every pore in his body. He grabbed the ropes, held and restrained the two excited mules. One particularly aggressive mule with his eyes on me, clearly intended to kick me as hard as he could, turning and twisting, to deliver the blow. With Silvio still firmly holding them, they finally calmed down and he amiably conversed with us about the old times and mutual friends. I asked him about local Christmas customs, and he told me about the little town of Castiglione, where at twilight, a man whose identity is known
only to the priest, enters the vestry and is closed inside the wardrobe. After Mass, the congregation leaves the church in procession and find the penitent (the same man who had been closed in the wardrobe) at the door dressed like Jesus Christ. The man leads the procession through the streets of the village wearing a hood to prevent anyone from recognising him and carrying a cross. At the end of the procession the penitent is closed again inside the wardrobe and emerges unseen only late at night. He invited us to enter the ninth century Church, of which he was the keeper. He released the mules and drove them away from the nervous visitors, then with a large metal key unlocked and pushed open wide the huge creaking doors. Once inside, I was met with the pungent smell of incense and as my eyes gradually became accustomed to the darkness, I was able to pick out a white marble altar directly in front of me fully prepared for a Christmas Mass. The interior had been left exactly as it was, as the final celebration of Christmas.
There were a number of ornate pillars supporting the wooden beamed roof, and beneath them were several rows of wooden benches for the villagers to occupy during past services. Near one of the pillars a large beautiful crib had been built to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus and was totally illuminated like a stage spotlight, Ga rfa gn an a, vi lla ge of by a penetrating shaft Ce se ra na . of light emanating from a round stainedThe men deep in their meditations glass window above. With the excepwere not at all disturbed by the arrival tion of light coming from the enof worshippers from the animal kingtrance, the rest of the church was in dom. The touching and quite amazing almost total darkness. scene of two men, two mules, and a Giovanni and Silvio standing dog, gazing silently and reverently in silently beside the crib made the sign homage at the crib appeared to be the of the cross and prayed. most natural occurrence in the world. The silence was broken by the Had I not seen this event with my echoing sound of hooves clip-clopown eyes, I would never have given ping on the stone floor. this story any credence. The two mules and Silvio’s brown Leaving the church Giovanni and I hunting dog, entered the church and said our goodbyes and in silence calmly ambled down the aisle, then turned towards the path, engrossed in stood silently in front of the crib.
our own private thoughts. Before descending, I turned and saw Silvio; his dog and the two mules, watching us depart framed by the magnificent mountains behind them. Mentally thanking each one of them for sharing with me a little of their living time and giving me a rare glimpse of innocence. The imagery of that special Christmas Eve holiday will be forever engraved in my memory and my heart. THE END
Big guns for a minor disturbance Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene
THE Spanish are not overwhelmingly monarchist but have too much on their minds to start agitating for changes in this department. But for Catalans who want independence, the monarchy symbolises unsympathetic central domination. This is particularly true of the CUP party, whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts thanks to its parliamentary support for the centre-right regional president Carles Puigdemont. CUP is anti-everything except independence and its MPs are actively sup-
Carles Puigdemont.
porting party members hauled up before the Madrid National High Court for burning photos of the King. By bringing out the big guns for a minor dis-
turbance the establishment is walking its usual route plagued with elephant traps and minefields. It doesn’t do the King many favours, either.
PSOE’s regional secretary Miquel Iceta and Ines Arrimadas of Ciudadanos, prompting the regional government’s spokeswoman Neus Munte to express ‘surprise’ that the minister should have preferred to meet the Opposition first. Not the best of starts, then.
Kicking off the conversations
Altogether now!
SORAYA SAENZ DE SANTAMARIA, the national government’s vice-president recently paid her first visit as Minister of Territorial Administration to Cataluña. The radiant politician (fillers, botox, surgery or hair extensions?) smiled broadly and reiterated the government’s promises of dialogue regarding Catalan independence. Saenz de Santamaria’s first meetings were with the
FIFTY-NINE PER CENT of Basques might want an independence referendum but centrists can stop rending their Madrid-manufactured garments. The same poll found that only 31 per cent of the Basque population would back secession. They might be anti-Constitutional but referendums are paradoxically the best way to ensure that Spain remains intact.
Discreetly keeping their distance PEDRO SANCHEZ is tenacious. No longer PSOE secretary general or an MP in the national parliament, he is popping up all over the place and if he has his way party members will again choose the next PSOE secretary general in primaries. This is how he rose to the top in 2014, a prelude to leading the party from bad results to worse. So far Sanchez is holding meetings and visiting towns where he believes he’ll get a warm welcome from the membership. Meanwhile the few politicians who backed his ‘no means no’ diktat to prevent Mariano Rajoy from forming a government once more are discreetly distancing themselves from him. Everyone loves an underdog but nobody backs an outcast.
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GUNDOGAN tweets: “Don’t worry - I’m still alive” after Manchester City shirt tribute goes viral. The midfielder will miss the rest of the season due to injury.
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EARLY FINISH: For the El Toro v TRUC match. was reduced to 10 players through injury and two yellow cards with a final score of six points to 47. RC Ponent won easily at home against RC Escolar Capdepera and Bahia RC defeated Shamrock RC by 19 points to 11 in a close match which took place in S’Arraco. The game between Union RFC and Ibiza RC was postponed until a later date.
The fifth rugby day held in Pollensa on Saturday for the U6 to U12 teams was a huge success with the year finishing with the highest number of clubs participating in these rugby days. El Toro RC had a very successful day winning in the U8, U12, U14 and U18 categories. Next weekend all teams and players are taking a break and enjoying their festivities until after Christmas and New Year.
Baleares Rugby Federation. Matt Demangeat, Agusti Grim alt,
BRONZE for Baleares Girls in Provincial B Tournament who, accompanied by their trainers Mikel Mendizabal and Marta Lliteras and physio Manuel Tur, set off on Thursday to Malaga for the B territorial tournament. In their first match against Andalucia the girls improved on the points difference against the same team last year; only letting 21 points past as opposed to 56 the previous year. The final score was 21 to 0. The match organisation, scrum and tackles were the main objective in this difficult match and that was achieved. In the Sunday match against Murcia they fared better with a decisive win of 24 points to 8. All were content with the positive growth and continuing formation of the Baleares team. In the game for the gold position Euskadi beat Andalucia. In the senior league El Toro RC had an early start on Saturday to make it to Menorca for their eventful match against TRUC. The local team had only enough players for a team so tried not to lose any players to injury or punishment. The visitors however, were at an advantage as they had a full complement of replacements and easily won in the scrums and line-outs. El Toro RC began scoring early and kept the points trickling on to the scoreboard. The match was halted before full time as TRUC Menorca
RC Ponent.
Huge success for fifth rugby day
The year kicks off for the U16 and U18 on January 7 and 8 with training sessions in Son Caliu. The girls begin their Sevens tournament in Son Caliu and the senior league resumes the following weekend with matches between El Toro RC and Union RC, CR Capdepera play Bahia RC and Shamrock RC face TRUC Menorca.