News
Cultural controversy
Heat wave takes a toll
The deaths of more than 600 people in Spain last month are being linked to temperatures of more than 40 degrees in some areas . The fatalities including a street sweeper in Madrid who collapsed , unconscious with heat stroke , as he worked three hours after starting his shift .
The appointment of American film maker Tim Burton ( pictured ) as Madrid ’ s first cultural ambassador has raised eyebrows . Next month , Burton will be in the city to accept the award despite the facts he has never made a film about Madrid , owns no property there and has never lived in Spain . However , he was the city ’ s second choice for the role after Mick Jagger turned down the offer .
Ryanair settlement
Ryanair ’ s pilots in Spain last month accepted plans for post-Covid salary restoration . The deal includes future wage rises each year until March 2027 . The airline ’ s French pilots have accepted similar terms which Ryanair says will preserve jobs and encourage growth .
Seafront crash
A 20-year-old British man was arrested in Torre del Mar last month after fleeing from the scene of a car crash and later testing positive for alcohol with twice the maximum level . He is understood to have been driving the Lexus IS 220 when it careered into the Solarium bar on the seafront at 3.00am . A 23-year-old passenger in the car was injured , as was a bar employee who was dragged along when the vehicle hit chairs and tables .
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José Antonio González , aged 60 , was working in the afternoon of July 22 and at 5.00pm was rushed to hospital where his temperature was recorded at 42 degrees . He died from heat stroke the following day . A second street cleaner in Madrid is reported to have collapsed three days later and was described as “ very serious ” in hospital .
The tragedy prompted trades unions representing municipal workers to call for changes in working conditions . A number have now signed an agreement with employers to suspend street cleaning if the temperature exceeds 39 degrees . Contractors must also provide hats and sun cream to employees working outdoors and must use only air-conditioned vehicles .
The Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid has estimated that 150 deaths in Spain were somehow linked to the heat wave on the day that Sr González died . The following day , the Institute attributed 169 deaths to the heat , bringing a total of 679 cases during just the first week of last month ’ s heat wave .
Too few AVE trains in Spain
The president of Spain ’ s national rail operator has admitted there are not enough high-speed trains available to return to pre-pandemic service levels in the country . Isaías Táboas was speaking in Torremolinos last month where he officially opened the town ’ s remodelled La Nogalera station .
He said that Renfe was operating exactly the same number of AVE highspeed train units as in 2019 , but that since then more lines have been added to the network . Until new rolling stock becomes available , he said that managers have to redistribute the units which means that , “ some cities have one or two fewer this summer .”
Sr Táboas was being quizzed by journalists over complaints that there is a lack of AVE services between Málaga and Madrid which is making travel difficult for some people . From the 13 or 14 services on the route in 2019 , the total had fallen to ten trains per day , and Málaga ’ s city council has complained that this put the Costa del
Sol at a disadvantage compared with other Mediterranean destinations .
However , Sr Táboas responded that from mid-July , an extra service would be added every day , which he said would make Málaga better off than many other cities where tourism is of prime importance .
Meanwhile , Renfe has warned of possible delays on AVE services in and out of Málaga in August thanks to maintenance work planned by Adif , the rail infrastructure operator . There could be delays of up to 30 minutes , as well as changes to normal departure times . Renfe says it is offering free cancellations and changes to anyone affected .
But it ’ s good news for those who use suburban trains . The government has announced free travel on short and medium-distance routes between September and December in an effort to reduce commuter road traffic as fuel costs continue to climb .
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