News
PMs meet
The Spanish and British prime ministers met on June 14 in Brussels during which time Boris Johnson thanked Pedro Sánchez for his “ pragmatic ” approach to the question of Gibraltar . A meeting on December 31 established that The Rock will become part of the Schengen area . Sr Sánchez said later they also discussed strengthening security and defence , as well as the importance of bilateral relations .
Election day
The next regional elections in Andalucía will be held on Sunday , November 27 , 2022 . This is the last date on which the vote can be taken before the end of the current four-year term held by the Partido Popular . Last month ’ s announcement ended speculation of an early election in the region , as has happened recently in the PPcontrolled Madrid region .
Toll thieves
A gang from Vigo which has been stealing from motorway toll booths has been broken up by police . Five people , all between 30 and 40 years old and with police records , were operating in Pontevedra province , targeting automated toll collection machines at night and causing substantial damage . They have been charged with various offences and the suspected leader has been held in preventive custody .
NATO host
Spain will host the 2022 NATO summit following a meeting of leaders in Brussels last month . It is 25 years since the last such meeting was held in Spain when Madrid hosted the event . The country became the 16th member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in 1992 .
Dinosaur death
In a bizarre accident , a 39-year-old man died last month after becoming trapped inside the leg of huge model dinosaur . The statue outside a cinema in Cataluña had to be cut open to retrieve the body . Police believe the victim had dropped his phone into the model and gone in head first to retrieve it , but then became stuck .
Doc detained
A doctor and her receptionist have been arrested in Málaga for allegedly issuing fake documents certifying negative tests for Covid . Police confirmed that those with the fake PCR test results had not given samples at any time . It is claimed the doctor charged € 200 per certificate to enable her clients to circumvent travel restrictions .
Confusion over new road sign
New road signs which have been appearing around Spain since March are reported to be confusing drivers who are uncertain of their meaning . More than 300 of the orange advisory notices are now in place , showing a symbol which clearly represents a radar device emitting waves towards oncoming traffic .
However , below this is shown two arrows pointing upwards and a distance , leading some drivers to believe that it warns of a radar speed trap that distance ahead . After all , the body controlling Spanish roads , Dirección General de Tráfico ( DGT ), is required by law to flag up all fixed radar controls to drivers .
However , the official explanation from the DGT reads , “ If you see this sign , it means that it is a dangerous section in which excess speed is specially monitored for the length of the section indicated .” In other words , drivers may encounter mobile radar speed controls at any point over the given distance ahead which is considered to be a dangerous section of road .
The measure is part of the DGT ’ s ongoing campaign to reduce accident rates to zero . This year up to June 6 , 100 people have lost their lives in road accidents on Spain ’ s motorways and 273 on the country ’ s other roads . Of these , the most vulnerable were considered to be 94 drivers , 34 pedestrians , 10 on motor cycles or mopeds and nine on bicycles .
The DGT has also warned motorists who come across a mobile radar speed trap that it is illegal to notify others of its exact location . This includes signalling other road users or notifying them by mobile phone .
Málaga money makers
Two speed cameras in Málaga were amongst the country ’ s Top 5 revenue earners in 2020 . The DGT recently published the country ’ s Top 50 radar traps , rated by the number of motorists caught exceeding the speed limit . In first place is the camera at kilometre 246 of the eastbound A-7 motorway at El Palo , on the eastern edge of the city of Málaga . It has been in place for 20 years but still caught out more 48,000 drivers exceeding the 80 kph limit during 2020 .
In fifth place is another camera nearby , at kilometre 256 on the westbound carriageway . It is within the municipality of Rincón de la Victoria and issued fines to more than 34,000 drivers last year .
A third trap in the province on the MA-20 , the Málaga ring road , caught almost 20,000 more speeding vehicles .
However , as a result of mobility restrictions imposed last year during the Coronavirus pandemic , the number of speeding fines nationally dropped by a quarter in 2020 . The total of 3.8 million was down from 2019 ’ s figure of 4.5 million .
Furlough extended
Spain ’ s ERTE furlough scheme has been extended until the end of September . The job retention payment is still benefitting around 600,000 workers and the four-month extension will cost the government an addition € 3.4 billion . Social Security Minister José Luis Escrivá said they were aiming for “ complete normalisation ” by autumn .
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