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Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Feb 12
CLICK HERE FOR THE FEATURE ARTICLES "Spain says goodbye to facemasks" and "Novavax vaccine will be manufactured in Spain for whole of Europe"
Well 2022 is just flying by; it’s hard to believe that we’re at the end of the second weekend in February already with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. With the most romantic day of the year upon us, there’s no doubt that the pleasant weather has been doing a good job at warming our skin if not our hearts, but would you believe that the rising temperatures could actually be killing us slowly here in Spain?
Fear not, as we’ve learned this week that there are fewer better healthcare providers than sunny Spain, but if you’re heading down Murcia way, the heat may not be so much of a problem anymore given San Javier’s new beach rules. More of a soup person? Read on to find out why one politician is in trouble for not knowing her Gazpacho from her Gestapo.
Oh yes, it’s been an interesting week in Spain, with everything from grisly murders to heart-warming doggy rescue tales, and we’ve rounded up all the best bits for you right here.
Feeling hot hot hot
One of the biggest reasons people move to or holiday in Spain is the promise of more than 300 sunny days a year, but the rising temperatures caused by climate change are actually killing off a staggering number of people around the globe.
Over the last 40 years, extreme climatic phenomena have claimed the lives of 142,000 people in Europe alone, and Spain hasn’t escaped the carnage: during the scorching spell in 2003 when temperatures climbed into the 40s, almost 13,000 people lost their lives.
While the loss of human life is of course the most tragic aspect of climatic disasters, the cost to the public coffers can’t be ignored. Across Europe, the bill has exceeded half a billion euros over the last 40 years, with Spain racking up a debt of 60,976 million.
And agriculture and livestock in Spain is also paying the price, with meteorological experts warning that, unless the country experiences several huge downpours in the next few weeks, the upcoming harvests in the south of Spain are in serious trouble. The early forecasts for February aren’t encouraging though, as the balmy weather is set to continue aside from a few isolated showers.
If you’re still tempted to dip your toe in the water, you’ll need to keep your bum firmly on your beach towel in San Javier, as the local government has implemented new rules on many beaches including La Manga and La Ribera that forbid people from reserving spots. From now on, clean-up crews can remove any deckchairs, towels or umbrellas they find unattended, and beachgoers will also face huge fines for playing loud music that might disturb other visitors.
You might want to take one Alicante town off your beach bucket list too as Javea Town Hall has been ordered to close seven bar-restaurants on the popular Arenal beach within the next three months due to a lack of relevant licences or authorisation from the Coastal Agencies to operate on protected land. The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency began a lengthy investigation in August 2018 which has finally culminated in a bumper 39-page resolution, which basically states that the Town Hall must “finalise the sanctioning proceedings against the bars” and order them to close.
British tourists in Spain have been getting a lot of flak recently, between EasyJet warning UK travellers that their all-inclusive drinks packages will be limited this summer and officials on the Balearic Islands threatening huge fines for drunk and disorderly behaviour. But it’s time for Britons to step aside, as this time an Irish man has caused chaos on a flight from Alicante to Dublin by removing his pants and abusing airline staff.
Spanish police were forced to remove the “disruptive” passenger from the Ryanair flight before it even left the runway at Alicante airport on Monday February 7, as fellow travellers were left astonished when the drunken man took off his trousers, claiming the plane was too warm. As if the undressing wasn’t enough, the man was reportedly cradling several bottles of spirits which he refused to hand over to the air steward before take-off.
Coronavirus
Following a literal nightmare before Christmas with an explosion of infections, Spain is firmly back on track and the Covid incidence rate has been reduced to half what it was just three short weeks ago – 1,566 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
One trend which has been common throughout all the pandemic waves is that after the peak has been reached and infections begin to subside, fatalities sadly go up. The experts have warned us of this but somehow it just doesn’t prepare anyone for the grim reality that 95,606 people have lost their lives to Covid across Spain since the health crisis began two years ago.
All of the communities across Spain are following a similar downward trend in incidence and daily infections, with hospital and ICU pressure abating also.
In response to the slowly but steadily improving Covid situation, the Murcia Region has made changes to its restrictions this week by allowing all nightclubs to fill up to capacity as long as they demand that customers show a valid Covid pass before entering. They have also scrapped the alert level system which set restrictions for each municipality based on their incidence rates.
Other restrictions still remain, however, including a limit of ten people to a table inside and twelve outside, and a ban on eating while standing up. And dancing is still not allowed, but they’re finally considering reconsidering that one…
Perhaps a more pragmatic development is the decision to allow anyone resident in the Region of Murcia to get their booster shot, without having to book an appointment and regardless of age (well, you have to be over five years old). As long as the required amount of time has passed since you had your second jab, all you have to do is head to a vaccination centre and wait your turn.
Following weeks of record-highs in terms of new daily cases, the sixth wave fueled by the virulent Omicron variant appears to have loosened its grip in the Valencia region, but the pandemic has by no means passed. Just a fortnight ago, the week began with an all-time high of more than 57,000 infections over the weekend, but Monday’s update from the regional Ministry of Health painted a very different picture with new positives dropping sharply to 19,000.
And a different pattern has emerged in that recoveries now far outweigh new infections. Hospital admissions have also plunged, falling from 1,714 people admitted to wards, with 161 critically ill in ICU on Monday, to 1,509, and 142 in ICU in three days. Meanwhile, the 14-day incidence has also fallen significantly to 3,175.23 – a drop of more than 500 points in 72 hours.
But, as has been the case across the country, whilst the number of daily cases have subsided, fatalities have not. Dozens of Covid-related deaths are still being reported on a daily basis in the Valencian Community, with the Ministry data continuing to show a distinct disparity between the vaccinated and unvaccinated population and the latter responsible for a disproportionate number of new hospitalisations and deaths.
The highest rate of incidence is, and has been for some time, amongst children, and this week the Ministry of Health began rolling out second vaccinations to pupils at school, with more than 100,000 youngsters expected to be jabbed over the next fortnight. Overall, the region is progressing well with the administration of boosters jabs, in fact, the number of people who have received their third dose is above the national average.
In Andalucía, just as it seemed that things were starting to look up with the number of daily infections, hospitalisations and the incidence rate all dropping steadily, the last couple of days have seen an unfortunate spike in all these indicators. Worst of all is the death rate, which one moment drops as low as 15 in a 48-hour period (as we saw on Monday) and the next jumps to the highest figure in a single day in almost a year (on Tuesday).
And it’s the health professionals that are bearing the brunt of this disease, with 4,700 nurses and doctors in Malaga province have already been infected with Covid since the start of the pandemic, while those that haven’t caught the virus have to work doubly hard to cover their colleagues’ sick leave. A medical workers’ union has launched a petition to get the Emergency Department of the Civil Hospital in Malaga to “finally correct the permanent saturation of A&E at the regional hospital, increases in delays for patients, as well as the overwhelming situation professionals are having to work in”.
The positive data overall has prompted the government into another spectacular U-turn this week by scrapping the rule requiring people to wear masks outdoors. The rule was only brought in on Christmas Eve when the country was in the grip of the sixth wave, but from now on, while masks still have to be worn indoors, they won’t be needed on the street – a welcome development as Spain moves towards the spring.
It’s not all good news though, as the vaccination campaign for children under the age of 11 appears to have hit a roadblock after getting off to a promising start in December. Blame it on Covid fatigue; blame it on Omicron or confusion over the government’s mixed messages; the result is the same: Spain has fallen miserably short of its target of inoculating 70% of youngsters by February 7 – almost 15% short – and looks extremely unlikely to meet the next milestone of having almost three-quarters of this age group double jabbed by April 18.
This isn’t the first time President Sánchez has made premature proclamations on Covid vaccination progress. He set an immunisation target for the adult population when the vaccination campaign first began with the goal of reaching the elusive herd immunity but this date also came and went without the results he was hoping for.
From one fearless leader to another, Spain’s King Felipe isn’t having such a great week either and he has been forced to cancel all his official engagements for a week, including a snazzy awards ceremony, after testing positive for coronavirus. Happily though, Queen Letizia and the Infanta Sofia are both in the clear so they may hit the red carpet in his stead.
In positive news, the Public Health Commission has given the green light for Novavax, a new US coronavirus serum that is to be manufactured in Spain for every other country in Europe. During the meeting of the general directors, it was agreed that Novavax would be administered to people over 18 years of age who have not yet been immunised, with severe immunosuppression, people with allergies to various components in other alternatives, and those who are at very high risk of severe complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
We’re taking this health crisis seriously, and are of the opinion that the better informed everyone is about the latest of the fast-changing developments, the more protected we all are. That’s why we endeavour to bring you all the most up-to-date coronavirus news as it comes out, which you can always consult using the link above.
Motoring matters
Over the last few weeks the DGT has brought us countless new driving rules and regulations, and it’s no secret that the traffic authorities are fighting hard to reduce the number of tragedies on Spanish roads caused by motorists driving under the influence. But what many people don’t know is that there are several prescription and over-the-counter medications that can impair one’s ability to drive safety, and with 17% of drivers undergoing some kind of treatment, it pays to know how your meds will affect you.
One third of the drugs available in Spain carry a warning label that advises patients to consult the safety leaflet for information on driving, with side-effects ranging anywhere from general tiredness to dizziness, blurred vision and lack of coordination. And while there is no law against driving while on prescription meds, there are serious consequences for getting behind the wheel if your ability is compromised.
Drugs aside, the DGT has been telling us for months that mobile phones are one of the main contributors to road traffic accidents in Spain, and that even using a hands-free kit can cause enough of a distraction to result in a nasty smash. For those drivers who find it hard to resist the temptation to check an incoming message, both Android and iPhones now come equipped with a crafty Car Mode setting that can detect when drivers set foot in their cars, at which point they’ll block any potentially diverting functions.
If you’re more into drones than driving, then the armed institute’s latest project certainly shouldn’t ruffle your feathers. With the aim of carrying out covert surveillance on organised criminal gangs and terrorist groups, the Guardia Civil has commissioned two prototype bird-shaped drones that will provide a unique eye in the sky. These ‘Spy Birds’ will cost a whopping 108,000 euros and be modelled after similar equipment used by the secret services in countries like China, the US and Russia.
Murcia
National newspapers in Spain picked up on a tragic story coming out of the Murcia municipality of Totana this week after a 17-year-old girl, Claudia Abigail, was found stabbed to death in the basement storage room of the building where her boyfriend, 19, lived. The boyfriend, Johan Styven, was arrested at the scene of the crime, openly admitting he had killed the girl because she had said she was going to leave him. Police were alerted to the crime by the suspect’s own mother after he confessed everything to her. He has now been sentenced to provisional imprisonment while he awaits trial, and many local towns have held a one-minute silence in Claudia’s honour.
Also underground this week were the police in Molina de Segura when they discovered a hidden tunnel dating back to the 1940s. When they first located the tunnel entrance in the middle of a field, they thought it might be a secret passageway to someone’s house or some sort of shelter.
But when officers from the environmental unit ventured inside, they found it was totally flooded after 40 metres and that the walls crumbled dangerously to the touch, leading them to believe it had been used as a well for collecting groundwater. They’re now working with the owners of the land on which the tunnel was found to close it up to make sure nobody gets hurt or trapped inside.
If you’ve ever been to see the Carnival celebrations here in Spain, you’ll know how exciting it is that Águilas has finally decided its Carnival will go ahead this year. While many towns and cities have cancelled their February ‘Carnaval’ once again this year because of (what else?) coronavirus, Águilas has agreed to simply postpone theirs until late July. The exact date is due to be released next week, and preparations have already begun for what is one of Spain’s biggest, brightest and most flamboyant Carnivals, up there with the likes of Tenerife and Cádiz. Los Alcázares have also decided to go ahead with their Carnival on May 14 2022.
There was another celebration taking place in Los Alcázares last week when local resident Joan Mitchell held her 80th birthday party at Tataki Restaurant. But instead of birthday presents, Joan asked her guests to donate food and supplies that were then gifted to the poor and needy of Los Alcázares. Joan is a member of Help Murcia Mar Menor, a volunteer organisation that provides support to those who need it in the Murcia Region, and she has been lauded for her generous actions.
While some giveth, others taketh away. At the other end of the scale are those people listed as resident in Spain and who claim unemployment benefits, but who actually live in a different country, a group whose members number over 700 in the Murcia Region alone. It is illegal to claim unemployment benefits in Spain if you’re not actually in the country and actively seeking work (short holidays are allowed as long as you notify the employment services). Some of these benefit cheats are Spaniards who have moved abroad, according to the Provincial Immigration and Borders Brigade, but many more are foreign citizens, with the main offenders being Moroccans and Algerians.
Finally, a car was stopped by Murcia police this week with a surprising 500kg passenger – hundreds of loose oranges piled in the boot and in the backseats! The driver is now under investigation for theft and intent to sell on stolen goods after he failed to give a reasonable explanation for what the oranges were doing spilling out of his car, as if there is a good enough explanation for that kind of thing.
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Spain
Spain made history on Thursday February 3 when the Congress of Deputies gave the green light to new legislation which will dole out prison sentences to anyone harassing women outside abortion clinics. Once it has been officially passed, people who harass women entering abortion centres or the staff that work in them, “through offensive, intimidating or coercive” acts, such as taunting or praying, will be handed down jail terms. In addition, a complaint will not be required from the abused woman in order for her tormenter to be prosecuted.
Despite the fact that Spain is coming out the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, some of its restrictions are still wreaking havoc, particularly in relation to foreign travel. Many British families have been forced to cancel their planned half-term holidays to Spain because of the rule stating that everyone, including children over 12 years old, must be double vaccinated to enter. Hotel owners on Spain’s islands say the restrictions have lost them millions in revenue, and are calling on the Spanish government to relax its restrictions to allow in more British travellers. However, if this does happen it will not be until after half-term.
For those who do make it abroad this year, they’ll be happy to know that Spain has not only been voted the “healthiest country in the world” but has also ranked third on the Property Guide’s list of countries with the most affordable and accommodating healthcare systems. The analysis places Italy at the top of the list for accessible healthcare services, followed by Germany and the Netherlands in joint second place.
It might be a bit chilly to take a dip in the sea this time of year, but that didn’t stop one creative drug smuggling gang from braving the ocean and leading police on a rather unique wild goose chase. The drug ring allegedly faked sailing boat accidents, including one involving a killer whale attack, to smuggle hashish from Morocco to the southern region of Andalucía in the south of Spain. On one memorable occasion in June last year, the gang even called for help from the Spanish coastguard “after having allegedly suffered an attack by orcas while crossing the strait of Gibraltar”.
From chilly seas to hot water: one US congresswoman is definitely in the soup this week after comparing the Capitol Police to Spain’s famous chilled potage, Gazpacho. The always controversial Marjorie Taylor Greene clearly meant to refer to the force as the murdering Nazi secret police, the Gestapo, but her gaffe has gone viral and no doubt landed her in the goulash.
Alicante
It’s not just health professionals who are pulling out all the stops and going above and beyond: firefighters have also been making the news this week, particularly in Torrevieja where there versatile skills have been to the test. In dramatic scenes, half a dozen firefighters along with police, were involved in a delicate rescue operation at Torrevieja lagoons after a man fell into a six-metre well attempting to rescue a trapped dog.
The pooch plunged into the deep well first and a good Samaritan walking in the area heard its persistent barking and realised the dog’s plight, only to fall in and become trapped himself trying to help. Both dog and would-be rescuer were eventually brought to safety and neither needed medical assistance.
Hours later, colleagues were busy dousing a fire at an abandoned house occupied by squatters on a residential estate in Torrevieja after exploding propane cylinders started a blaze that gutted the inside of the graffitied property. Apparently, the area, known as Las Torretas, has become run down due to a lack of municipal services, slumping house prices, and the fact the initial home owners have returned to their native countries or passed away, leaving the buildings vulnerable to squatting, a situation not exclusive to Torrevieja.
In a bizarre case of fraud, a man in Valencia hid the death of his ex-wife for a staggering seven years so that he could pocket child maintenance payments and avoid paying debts of more than 240,000 euros. Each month for seven years, just over 2,000 euros was being deducted from his wages and transferred to his dead wife’s account, which he had access to, and because he was “paying his wife”, it meant he could not afford to settle debts with creditors due to insufficient funds. His scam came to light and he was given a suspended prison sentence, as was his son, who incredibly also played a part.
Meanwhile, National Police in Elche have launched a double-murder probe after the grisly discovery of a man and a woman gagged and buried on top of each other in a ditch on the outskirts of the town. According to police sources, the man’s corpse shows sign of torture and the woman may have suffocated as her mouth and nose were covered with duct tape. They are both believed to have been in their 40s and police are linking the deaths to drug or other criminal activities.
Early indications suggest they were killed three years ago, which coincides with the disappearance of a Spanish woman and her Moroccan boyfriend from the neighbouring town of Aspe in June 2019. The woman’s family are assisting police to determine whether or not this is the case.
Andalucía
Surely the most heartwarming story of the week is that of the homeless man in Seville who won 35,000 euros in the lottery with a ticket he was handed by a stranger. The man was sitting, minding his own business, in a bus station in the central Spanish city of Ávila, 500km away from his home city of Seville, when a lottery ticket salesman approached and handed him a free ticket.
After catching a bus back to Seville, the homeless man remembered the kind gift he’d been given, and the following morning decided to go and check to see if he had won anything. As it turned out, he had scored a 35,000-euro jackpot, but had no ID card nor any way of getting back up to Castilla y León to be able to claim his winnings. Enter the local parish priest who lent the man the bus fare and the money to enable him to get a new DNI so that he could collect his windfall. I guess, in the end, charity begins at the homeless.
Others aren’t so lucky, least of all the estimated 1,700 young girls at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Andalucía. This brutal practice is thought to affect some 3,652 girls across Spain, and Andalucía is second only to Catalonia for the region with the most girls at risk from this type of gender violence. Most of the young victims are of Nigerian or Senegalese origin, who face the horrendous removal of part of their genitalia or intentional injury for non-medical, cultural and superstitious reasons.
In Granada this week, a driver was caught on CCTV going the wrong way down the A-7 between La Mamola and Castillo de Baños for 8km just to avoid a police anti-drug roadblock. The video has been shared online by Spanish police and the suspect is now under investigation for reckless driving and endangering public safety.
In what seems to be something of a theme of late, a lorry driver was arrested over in Seville province for driving his truck the wrong way down a small city street. Not only was the man already wanted in connection with another crime, but he was also found to be driving without a licence after he lost all of his points for previous offences.
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The wealthiest families in Murcia have a combined worth of 7.8 billion euros.
The 71-year-old allegedly punctured at least 28 tyres of vehicles parked in the same street in Los Montesinos.
A new report on average rental prices in Spanish cities places Murcia and Alicante in the top 5.
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