News
Shakira charged
Fragile peace breaks out in taxi sector
New rules which are intended to promote peaceful co-existence between the region ’ s taxi drivers came into force last month . However , not all parties involved are entirely happy .
The Colombian singer Shakira was last month ordered to stand trial by a court in Cataluña over charges related to a € 14.5 million tax fraud . She has already paid the sum demanded by the tax authority plus € 3 million in interest after being charged with defrauding the treasury between 2012 and 2014 . She now faces six more charges of fraud and has been warned that she could be jailed for up to eight years .
Covid clearance
Spain has dropped all requirements for travellers to show proof of Covid vaccinations before entering the country . The rule change on October 12 , which included the Balearic and Canary Islands , came in time for school half-term holidays . Spain was one of the last European countries to impose strict Covid entry rules on foreign arrivals , although face-masks are still required on public transport , transfer coaches and taxis , as well as in chemist shops and medical centres .
Test alerts
The Ministry of the Interior is running a test of the new ES-Alert protocol , a rapid warning system for emergencies or imminent catastrophes , with text messages being sent to numerous mobile phones . Until November 16 , users may receive a notification which makes it clear that it is a test and that no action need be taken . The arrival of the text is accompanied by a beep which can only be cancelled by opening the message .
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The move by the Junta de Andalucía follows a history of disputes between licenced local cab drivers and those working for the ride-sharing businesses , such as Uber , which cannot be hailed on the street ( known in Spain as VTC - Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor – operators .) The change also followed a number of industrial disputes in Málaga over plans at allow VTC cars to operate within municipalities from October 1 , which they previously were not permitted to do .
VTC cars will continue to operate by pre-booking as before but now cannot approach areas of great demand , such as airports , stations , hotels and shopping centres without having been booked in advance by the client .
A minimum parking distance of 300 metres is proposed for airports , ports , train and bus stations and 150 metres from the door of other spaces such as hospitals , hotels of at least four stars with more than one hundred spaces , courts or places where events are held . This does not prevent the customer from booking an Uber , Cabify or other VTC car using its app to pick up in any of these spaces . Mobile applications must also suppress geolocation prior to contracting .
The regional government has also put measures in place to control the sector , with compliance monitoring now the responsibility of town halls , rather than regional inspectors . The new rules also prevent VTC businesses from inflating fares at exceptional times , as reportedly
10 happened during the recent strikes of licenced drivers in Málaga .
A number of other regulations related to the vehicles used and their operations are included in the new rules , which also include mandatory breaks for drivers and for vehicles .
Reactions have been mixed . Andalucía ’ s Minister of Development , Marifrán Carazo , believes the new rules are in the interests of the users and will guarantee the balance between taxis and VTC . However , the taxi drivers ’ union says it is insufficient while VTC businesses claim is too restrictive .
However , the new regulations were approved in the Partido Popular controlled regional parliament on October 13 , but with the abstention of Vox members and votes against from the PSOE and Por Andalucía .
Casilla condemned
Spain ’ s Higher Sports Council ( CTD ) has criticised Iker Casilla who is reported to have announced on Twitter that he was coming out as gay last month , before deleting the message and claiming his account had been hacked . The former Real Madrid goalkeeper was taken to task by the CTD who said , “ Much to do , to advance , to educate and to raise awareness ,” adding , “ We will continue .” A number of other players also condemned Casilla , including Josh Cavallo who came out last year and who described him as “ disappointing ” and “ disrespectful .”