In Brief

The clocks "spring forward" this Sunday morning so that 0200 hrs. will become 0300 hrs.

Cruz Roja appeal for new ambulance

The Cruz Roja in Ciutadella are calling on the public and authorities to help them acquire a new ambulance which will cost in the region of 60,000 euros. Their previous vehicle had reached the statutory age for retirement (eight years) and they are worried that the lack of a replacement will hinder them in the many tasks they fulfill in the region.

The Ciutadella branch has recently moved office and can now be found at Camí de Maó, 180, in more spacious surroundings.

Tenth wettest winter recorded this year

According to the Balearic Meteorological Institute, a total of 226 litres of rain per sq.m. was recorded at Menorca airport during the months of December, January and February, compared to an average over the last 40 years of 179 litres, making it the tenth wettest winter on record.

Benefit concert for Chile and Haiti
Eighteen local groups and musicians are taking part in a concert to raise money for the victims of the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. The event will be held in the Casino 17 de Gener, Ciutadella, starting at 2000 hrs., with an entrance fee of 5 euros. All the artists are performing free and will offer a wide spectrum of music including pop, rock and folk.

At the end of last week the death toll in Haiti had risen to 222,570 with 869 people still accounted for and almost 311,000 injured. The damage caused has been calculated at over 5,600 million euros and over two million people have lost their homes and are living in temporary accommodation.

Warning of spammers seeking information

A reader has contacted the newspaper to say that within the last month he has received two emails supposedly from HSBC and one from Lloyds, both on very offical-looking headed documents, threatening to close his account within 24 hours and inviting him to find out why. He banks with neither of them and has been asked by both entities to send the emails on to their anti-scam divisions.

He has also received two emails, within eight hours of each other, purportedly from Telefónica saying that they need information (including his password) in order to avoid closing his account. Telefónica say that the emails did not originate from them and that his account is fine.

He warns people not to fall for these scams and give away the sensitive information which the senders require to extract unauthorised money.

Trotting cancelled in Maó this weekend

There will be no trotting races at the Maó Hippodrome this coming Sunday as the course will be closed for improvements to be carried out on the track. However the popular races will return the following week, on Sunday, 4th April, starting at 1130 hrs.