A total of 255 new officers were welcomed to the ranks of the police force at a ceremony held in Sevilla.
Weekend toll
Four people lost their lives on the roads in Andalucía at the weekend in three fatal accidents.
Weather update
High winds are continuing throughout parts of Andalucía and maritime traffic in the Straits of Gibraltar is very restricted with ferry crossings being cancelled. Gusting winds in Málaga and Almería provinces are reaching 90 kph and there have been many incidents reported. In Málaga, 10 people had to be evacuated from their homes after a tower collapsed and in Jaén, …
Stricter rules planned for cosmetic surgery for minors
Minors in Andalucía who wish to undergo cosmetic surgery may soon have to undergo a preliminary test before any operation can be performed. The minor will have to undergo a psychological assessment carried out by an independent professional not connected to the health centre or facility where the operation is to be performed. The test will assess the maturity of …
Unemployment up by 3.93% in Andalucía
Unemployment in Andalucía rose by 3.93% compared to the previous month, bringing the total number out of work to 774,198. Nationally, the increase in unemployment in February was 4.63%. Provincially, unemployment in Jaén was up by 10.5%, Almería up by 5.91%, Córdoba up by 5.03%, Sevilla up by 4.04%, Granada up by 3.79% and Málaga up by 3.32%.
Alert for strong winds
Parts of Andalucía are on alert for high winds, up tp 100 kph in some areas. Gale force 8 or 9 winds are expected in the Straits of Gibraltar and some ferries have already been unable to leave port. Málaga province could also be affected, particularly along the coast, and people are advised to avoid the beaches. In the cities, …
€1 billion for regional public works projects
The Junta de Andalucía has approved a €1 billion package of public works projects to help the regional economy. Almost €400 million will be invested in the road network, including the building of highways in the Guadalhorce and Almanzora areas, improvements to metropolitan road networks and maintenance of existing roads. The railways will get €208 million, schools €126 million and …
House sales in Andalucía fell by 28% in 2008
House sales in Andalucía fell by just over 28% in 2008, with a total of 122,439 transactions for new and used properties. Of the total sales, 28,900 were in Málaga province, a drop of 31.79% compared to 2007.
Increased grants for renovation of properties for rental
The regional Ministry of Housing has announced plans for a new series of grants for the renovation of rental properties. To qualify, house owners must rent out the property after renovation for a period of at least five years. The Junta de Andalucía will subsidise up to 40% of the renovation costs with a ceiling of €4,800. Last year, a …
Cinema audiences waning in Andalucía
The film industry didn’t fare too well during 2008, with the number of cinema goers down by 3.4 million compared to 2007, translating to lost revenue of €14.2 million. Málaga and Sevilla rank 5th and 6th as far as cinema-going public is concerned, behind Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante, but both lost out during 2008.