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Large rise in number of foreign nationals
Germans and Britons still the main groups The foreign population of the Balearics has rocketed by 17.2% in just one year, according to new figures from the National Statistics Institute. The figures show that the flow of migrants to the islands remains intense, with over 32,000 foreigners and 9,000 Spaniards arriving in one year. The…
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Cyclist becomes first Balearics road victim of 2009
Cause of accident unknown A 49 year old man was killed on Wednesday afternoon after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle along the Bunyola Road 3km from Palma. The incident was relayed to the emergency services but, upon arrival at the scene, paramedics were unable to save the man’s life. The death…
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Fire engulfs flats
More than 200 residents evacuated, several injured A block of flats in Palma has been destroyed following a devastating fire. The blaze at the flats, located on Calle Francesc Fiol, started at around 7am and spread extremely quickly. By the time firefighters arrived at 7:30 the fire was burning out of control and it took…
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Zapatero grants increased funding to Balearics
Scheme to be retroactive to 1st January Spain’s prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said yesterday that the Balearics archipelago are set to receive extra funding from central government. A new funding system has been agreed upon after an hour and a half meeting in Madrid between the prime minister and the president of the…
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Cold front brings snow and ice to Mallorca
Miserable weather set to continue An icy cold front moving down from northern Europe brought snow and freezing rain to Mallorca yesterday (Wednesday). By the morning the temperature in the mountains had dropped to zero and people sat shivering in their houses, while at lower altitudes people had to put up with incessant rain. A…
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Property sales drop 65% in one year
Expectations of further price drops impedes purchasers The sale of resale properties in the Balearics has fallen by 65% since last year. In 2008 around 25 new properties were sold every day whereas the figure today is closer to eight. Reacting to the new figures the Society of Taxations has warns that purchase prices are…
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Freddy Shepherd moves into the endgame
British businessman to travel to Palma with ultimatum over Real Mallorca Monday will see the arrival of former Newcastle owner Freddy Shepherd in Palma to present an ultimatum to the managers of Real Mallorca. Shepherd is launching the offensive to buy control of the club as it struggles to stay afloat and keep the administrator…
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Barcelona v RCD Mallorca: Preview
Manzano believes it may be a good time to visit the Nou Camp Real Mallorca, who have only won three times this season and lie just one point above the relegation zone, visit league leaders Barcelona today. Barcelona currently lead the Primera Liga by 10 points and have been in fantastic form, but Mallorca coach…
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EU warns Balearics highly vulnerable to climate change
Report highlights ecological and economic vulnerability The Balearic islands’ economic reliance on tourism makes them especially vulnerable to global warming, a new report from the EU states. The report, ´Regions 2020’, focuses on the different regions of Europe and assesses their vulnerability. The Balearics, it warns, will suffer from an increasing incidence of violent rains,…
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Police discover illegal arsenals
Guns, grenades and flamethrowers discovered in bust Police have uncovered hundreds of weapons stored in two illegal arsenals in Palma and Zamora. In all 276 guns were found, all of which were in good working order and many which had never been used. Besides the guns, police also found numerous grenades, mortars, bazookas, flame throwers…