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Free buses
UK expats voting rights restored
Torrox is to become the first municipality east of Málaga offering free local bus services to residents . Councillors last month approved the scheme which will require local people to present a special pass on boarding to ensure a fare-free journey . The town hall hopes free ecological and sustainable public transport will discourage the use of private vehicles , so decreasing pollution .
Invisible thieves
A criminal gang which broke into homes but left no trace of their visit has been broken up by National Police on the coast . The suspects , originally from eastern Europe , left the properties so neat and tidy that victims began to suspect a family member had been responsible . The gang were able to copy door keys by inserting an aluminium sheet into the lock to copy the notches needed to open it .
Alleged fraud
A businessman , detained in Torrox on June 7 , is reported to be under investigation for alleged investment fraud totalling € 280 million in cryptocurrencies . Enquiries into Javier Biosca began in March after the first of his 3,000 clients lodged complaints that he had promised returns of 25 % but that their funds had later vanished . Biosca , his wife and son , all from Toledo , face charges of fraud , money laundering , misappropriation and other offences .
Norwegian restructures
Norwegian Airlines , which avoided bankruptcy in March , says it will retain its base in Málaga and retain over 400 Spanish staff including cabin crew and pilots . A further 200 staff from Spain have been offered relocation to Oslo . However , the carrier says it has agreed plans with Spanish unions to lose about 800 staff in the country with compensation deals better than those required under the law .
The rule which bans British nationals from voting in UK elections if they have lived abroad for more than 15 years is set to be scrapped . All British citizens living overseas who have been previously registered as voters or previously resident in the UK will soon be able to cast their votes , and the government in London says the change will be in place in time to allow voting in the next scheduled General Election in 2024 .
The plans came to light in the March budget statement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak , and further details are now known . This includes the fact that British nationals living in a foreign country will have to renew their voter registration every three years to remain on the Electoral Role . At present , this has to be done annually .
In addition , electors will be able to reapply for a postal vote or to refresh
Summer water alerts likely
The seven reservoirs in the province of Málaga are at 56 % capacity , their lowest level since 2017 . The largest , La Viñuela in the Axarquía is a fifth lower than this time last year at only 31.7 % full , placing it close to the threshold for an alert . Data from Aemet says the average accumulation of water this year in the province is almost 28 % below the historical average .
Meanwhile , water from the treatment plants in Vélez-Málaga and Algarrobo is to be used to irrigate the Axarquía ’ s semitropical fruit sector . Last month , the regional government agreed to the move which could provide up to 6.5 cubic hectometres of water per year . A further six cubic hectometres could be available soon if plans go ahead to use water in pools of the Chillar river for agricultural purposes .
Growers , who have previously raised concerns about a possible risk of contamination of their crops through their proxy vote at the same time .
The UK ’ s Ambassador to Spain , Hugh Elliott , said that most British citizens living in Spain retain deep ties to the UK . “ Many still have family there ,” he said , “ have worked there for many years , and some have even fought for our country .”
Before 1985 , British citizens resident outside the United Kingdom were unable to register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections , but the Representation of the People Act then allowed overseas voters to register for five years after they left the UK . That was extended to 20 years in 1989 , and then reduced to 15 years in 2000 .
According to the UK ’ s Electoral Commission , around five million British nationals live outside the UK , although in the 2019 general election , only 230,000 of them registered to vote .
the use of treated water , now have to negotiate a price with Axaragua which manages the treatment plants .
Costal Uber
The ride-hailing taxi service Uber will be operating along the coast from Nerja to Manilva this summer . Since 2018 , the private-hire firm has expanded from being available in Málaga and Marbella to include Vélez- Málaga and Rincón de la Victoria , amongst other towns . The expansion makes the coast one of Uber ’ s biggest operational areas in Europe .
New showroom
Tesla has opened its fifth Spanish showroom in Málaga . Since 2015 , the electric vehicles business is reported to have sold 124 units in the province at prices of up to € 100,000 . The new car dealership on the MA-20 Málaga ring road joins others already trading in Barcelona , Madrid , Sevilla and Valencia .
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