News
Hospital attacks
Health professionals at Málaga ’ s University Clínico Hospital staged a protest last month after a doctor was assaulted . The attack in the A & E department left the doctor , who is about to retire , off work with a whiplash injury . President of Málaga ’ s College of Physicians , Juan José Sánchez Luque , says the Health Ministry , “ cannot remain silent after two summer months in which at least one aggression has been recorded each week .”
Walking route
The provinical government is planning to create a 50 kilometre walking route , the Ruta de los Puentes , from Alcaucín the north to Arenas in the south . The € 150,000 project will take ramblers past Canillas de Aceituno , Sedella , Salares , Canillas de Albaida and Árchez along the way . Many existing paths will be upgraded to EU standards while five new bridges will be constructed to link them .
Mayoral error
Granada ’ s mayor has admitted making an “ error ” when he parked his car on the pavement of a city street with a yellow line running along its length . Francisco Cuenca said there was “ no justification ” for doing so and that he expected to be fined like any other driver . His offence came to light in a photo of the badly parked car circulated by the opposition Partido Popular at the town hall .
Street assault
A 29-year-old French national has been arrested in Málaga suspected of an assault on and theft from his partner . Witnesses told police the woman was severely beaten in a city centre street while the victim , who was taken to hospital for treatment to a scalp wound , claimed he had run off with her bag which contained jewellery and € 2,340 in cash . The couple were reported to be in the city en route to Tangier .
Fare increases
Taxi fares in the city of Málaga are likely to rise by an average of 1.46 % in 2019 following four years during which they have been frozen . Drivers ’ unions and representatives have been pressing for a rise to cover increasing costs including fuel , insurance , tyres , taxes and maintenance . The new tariffs have yet to be fully approved by the town hall before being submitted to the regional government .
Spain ’ s summertime may last 12 months
When the clocks go forward an hour on March 31 next year , it could be the last time that all members of the EC mark the transition of the seasons together . The European Commission says that after that , each State will have to decide for itself what it wants to do .
The problem for Spain is that the country is not sure what to do . Presently , the whole country with the exception of the Canary Islands , is one hour ahead of GMT ( GMT + 1 ) in the winter and two hours ahead ( GMT + 2 ) in the summer . The Canaries are on GMT in the winter and GMT + 1 in the summer , as are the UK and Portugal .
A recent on-line consultation run by the EC attracted 4.6 million responses and suggested that 93 percent of Spain ’ s population want to stay on the same time all year . Meanwhile , polls in the Spanish media show that about three-quarters of the population want the country to remain on permanent summer time ( GMT + 2 ) all year round .
The price of electricity in Spain is over 85 per cent more than it was 15 years ago and is the highest in the EU . The most recent peak was recorded on September 18 when power reached its highest-ever price per megawatt hour ( MWh ) of € 75.93 .
Teresa Ribera , the new socialist minister for Energy Transition who took up her post in June , is facing demands for measures to curb the upward spiral before it becomes an emergency . One plan is to reduce the seven per cent energy tax , which was introduced by the previous Partido Popular government in an effort to reduce the € 30 million deficit with power suppliers . The tax will not be abolished , according to reports , but reduced to near zero , saving the average household € 3 a month , roughly a quarter of the increase in monthly bills over the last year .
The Minister is also considering increasing the criteria which determine who is eligible for special needs discounts , as well as discounting
In Málaga , this would mean a later sunrise in winter - in January this would be about 9.30am at the latest - but an hour more daylight in the evening with the earliest sunset at about 7.00pm in mid-winter .
In the west of the peninsula , Galicia wants year-round GMT + 2 while Portugal , directly to its south , wants to retain the twice-yearly clock change . But the Canary Islands government is determined , whatever happens , to stay an hour adrift from the mainland , so that it keeps its hourly mention on the radio whenever there is a time-check .
Critics of the hour change say it has multiple health implications for humans , causing stress , fatigue , sleep problems and digestive issues .
A government committee is to meet to decide what Spain will do after next March , and is required to advise the Commission of their decision .
Power prices soar in Spain
heating bills for low income families . The average household in Spain pays € 80.73 per month for electricity , although almost two thirds of the total is taxes and charges . Critics say that the incentive for home-owners to save power is therefore minimal .
Ribera is also working on suggestions for further savings including reducing the IVA ( VAT ) on power bills from its present 21 per cent , to 10 or even four per cent . She says that it is “ illogical ” for vulnerable and low-income households to have to pay the highest rate of IVA for an essential service .
Power points
Power provider Endesa says Málaga is one of the cities where it plans to install recharging points for electric vehicles . The company says it wants “ take away the fear ” of electric cars expressed by some users and the results will be seen within about four years . It added that technological developments will provide great efficiency and competitiveness , as well as more competitive costs .
1 2