Double strike
For the first time in 150 years, Madrid’s
famous Puerto del Sol clock will strike
twice to welcome 2019. The first will be at
midnight, while the second at 1.00am will
be for the benefit of the Canary Islands
where time is one hour behind the
mainland. The move comes as a national
debate continues over the future of the
annual changing of clocks by an hour every
March and October.
Fever diagnosed
Dengue fever has been diagnosed in two
people from Murcia, neither of whom has
visited the tropics. The disease, which is
not life-threatening, is spread by
mosquitoes and causes high fever, aches
and pains, and vomiting. They are thought
to have been infected by a tiger mosquito
while visiting Cádiz, the first time dengue
fever is believed to have been contracted
inside Spain.
Blue plates
Taxis licenced to carry up to nine people
are changing their rear matriculation plates
to white characters on a blue background.
The move does not change the number,
only the colour, and will become
obligatory on August 1 next year. The
move is help police to distinguish between
genuine carriers and their pirate
counterparts.
Serious injuries
A man and a woman in their 30s were
seriously injured when the motorcycle they
were riding was struck by a car on the MA-
3113 between Triana and Vélez-Málaga. The
man was admitted to Vélez-Málaga Hospital
with fractures and bruising while the woman
was transferred to the intensive care unit at
Carlos Haya Hospital in Málaga. The car
driver tested positive for alcohol.
Proposed ban on all
physical punishments
Spain’s third-largest political party
wants to outlaw all types of physical
violence against minors. Podemos says
this will include the presently “socially
acceptable” forms, including smacking
hands or bottoms, shaking the child,
and similar “disciplinary contact.”
In a motion presented to parliament,
the party says that any “use of physical
force” which is “aimed at causing a
certain level of pain or at least
discomfort, however mild” should be
banned. This would include, “slapping,
punching, smacking, kicking, shaking,
scratching, pinching, biting, pulling
hair or ears, and hitting with a rod or
other object,” as well as forcing a child
into uncomfortable positions, such as
standing in a corner with their hands
on their heads, for a prolonged period.
In 2005, Spain heeded recommend-
ations from the Council of Europe
which cited evidence showing that
physical punishments are harmful in
the short and long terms and changed
the country’s Civil Code. Before then,
parents or guardians were permitted to
use “reasonable and moderate”
physical methods of discipline.
Presently, the Civil Code permits
“correction” but with “full respect” for
the child and “in accordance with his
or her personality.” The courts have
used this to convict adults found guilty
of unnecessary corporal punishment.
Podemos now wants to expand the
legislation with a “human rights focus”
and says that there should be no limit
on exploring sexual abuse charges until
the victim is 30 years old.
Amongst its proposals is a 24-hour free
phone line operated by professionals
who, in emergencies, would be able to
trigger immediate action. It also includes
recording calls and statements from
alleged victims to avoid them having to
repeat the same details in court.
Guardia officer dies
from gunshot
A Guardia Civil officer died early on
the morning of October 15 after being
shot during a routine traffic stop in
Granada. Following the incident at
4.20am, an intensive search led to the
detention of a suspect about five hours
later.
Assault arrest The 47-year-old officer was shot in
Huétor Vega, about five kilometres
south-east of the capital, as he and a
colleague attempted to stop a white
Ford Escort travelling at speed and
believed to have been involved in a
robbery. The driver stopped the car
and fled on foot, pursued by the
officer.
A 41-year-old Moroccan man has been
detained for assaulting a 21-year-old
woman outside a nightclub in Torre del
Mar last month. He is reported to have
touched her inappropriately and without
her consent, before slapping her face.
National Police said he claimed to have
been fighting with someone who had fled
the scene, before being taken to a health
centre for assessment. The suspect is reported to have been in
possession of a gun but had no
ammunition. However, as the officer
caught up with him and two men
scuffled, he apparently grabbed the
officer’s weapon and shot him at point
blank range. A further two shots were
fired at the victim’s colleague as the
suspect fled.
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Jose Manuel Arcos died in hospital
shortly afterwards despite the frantic
efforts of surgeons. He had lived in
Granada for nine years and leaves two
children aged 25 and 21.
The 40-year-old man detained in
connection with the shooting is
reported to have a history of robbery,
threats and domestic violence. He was
described by police as an “habitual
delinquent.”
Braille boards
Information boards in Braille have
been installed on some of Vélez-
Málaga’s main beaches as part of its
“Beaches all year” project. The town
hall says the move is another step
towards the removal of barriers on its
beaches, “which today are a benchmark
in the province for their adapted areas
and extensive equipment.” The new
panels have been erected on the sea
fronts in Banajarafe, Caleta, and Torre
del Mar, amongst other towns in the
municipality.