News
Jobs posted
State-owned Correos has announced plans to appoint 5,377 new permanent staff , the largest recruitment drive in its history . It says that previous experience in the post office is beneficial as well as training , languages or digital skills , and the possession of a driving licence . Positions available will include delivery and customer services jobs .
Language targets
A family in Cataluña was under police protection last month after winning their case for their child ’ s right to bi-lingual education . They have been targeted by supporters of all-Catalan education after the five-year-old was granted the right to classes in Spanish . A number of hate messages on social media have been reported to the police .
New stars
A total of 31 Spanish restaurants received new stars when Michelin made its latest awards at a ceremony in Valencia last month . For most , it was their first , while four establishments become two-star establishments , but none was upgraded to three stars . Andalucía now boasts 22 stars , nine of which are in the province of Málaga .
Rock deal
The UK ’ s Foreign Secretary says she aims to conclude a deal on Gibraltar in the first quarter of the year . Liz Truss was speaking on December 15 at a meeting with her Spanish opposite number José Manuel Albares Bueno when she reportedly insisted that the UK will maintain sovereignty of the Rock . She said , “ The UK and Spain want a solution so that people can continue their business , and so we can all move on .”
Ring leader
A 55-year-old man detained for drugs trafficking in Cádiz has been nicknamed the Lord of the Rings by police . He was a well-known suspect but was finally caught red-handed during a drugs deal . Officers found suspicious material inside each of the three large rings he was wearing which had been hollowed out inside to form hiding spaces .
Winter arrives in the north
While the coast basked in warm sunshine for much of December , northern Spain suffered from heavy snow and flooding . At least two people died as intense rain caused rivers to overflow in parts of Navarre , Aragón , La Rioja and the Basque Country , forcing evacuations and disrupting transport .
The conditions were brought about by storm Barra which dumped up to 100 millimetres of rain in 12 hours in many places . At one point in the first half of last month , 20 provinces were on alert for rain , wind and snow .
On December 12 , rescue teams pulled out the body of a 61-year-old man from the Bidasoa river , in the Navarre region . Two days earlier , a 49-year-old woman died in the same region when a landslide near the same river caused a shed to collapse
Smoking in cars may be banned
Smokers face further restrictions if new legislation planned by the Health Ministry goes through . A draft proposal released last month suggests that tobacco taxes will be increased , while smoking will be banned on bar and restaurant terraces , as well as in private vehicles , before 2023 .
However , legal experts quickly warned that smoking inside a smoker ’ s own car could be “ unconstitutional .” Juan José Bestard , President of the Sanitary Section of the Madrid Bar Association said it was a “ complex ” matter because , “ there is legal coverage as long as it seeks to protect the health of the passengers , especially minors .” He added that limiting a smoker ’ s right to smoke while alone is , “ debatable .” on top of her at a rural property .
Zaragosa was badly hit with the city warning people to stay away from the River Ebro , swollen by water from thawing snow , and providing highlevel areas for parking vehicles . La Rioja was on emergency alert for several days as the Ebro riover flooded several municipalities , while the government in Aragón said they were prepared for “ worst case ” scenarios .
While smokers and the hospitality sector are unenthusiastic about the Government ’ s “ Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking 2021-2025 ” which aims to reduce tobacco consumption by 30 per cent in three years , family doctors have welcomed it . They are calling for the proposals to be implemented as quickly as possible , adding that the draft includes measures proposed by them to ensure that Spain reaches objectives for quitting smoking set by the World Health Organisation .
Other proposals in the draft include restrictions on tobacco-related advertising , and an end to “ covert ” tobacco advertising on social networks plus a generic style of packaging .
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