Raising the minimum age of sexual consent from the current 13 years to 16 years is included in the new draft Penal Code, according to the Ministry of Health.
A sign of the (financial) times
The annual ‘Tomatina’ festival took place on Wednesday in the town of Buñol, Valencia, with 20,000 people hurling over-ripe tomatoes at each other for an hour before being hosed down, although this year they dad to pay.
Hospital waiting lists on the increase
Average waiting times for surgery in Spain have risen from 76 to 100 days and there are now 571,395 people waiting for operations, the worst figures since the Ministry of Health started recording such data in 2004.
EU wants Cameron and Rajoy to engage in dialogue to resolve dispute
The president of the European Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, has called upon the Prime Ministers of the YK and Spain to engage in dialogue to resolve their dispute over Gibraltar and has apparently informed Prime Minister Rajoy that any toll introduced for people entering or leaving the Rock would be illegal.
14 arrested in child pornography investigation
Fourteen people have been detained in various provinces in Spain as alleged perpetrators of a crime of possessing and distributing child pornography. Another five people have been charged.
Weather alerts for August 12th 2013
Monday begins with weather alerts for high temperatures, rains or storms in 28 provinces in Spain.
IMF suggests wages cuts and increase in VAT
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that it would be beneficial for Spain to agree a social contract whereby employers commit to hire more staff in exchange for a 10% reduction in wages.
Rajoy admits to ‘making a mistake’
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has admitted to MPs that he made a ‘mistake’ in trusting ‘someone who we now know did not deserve it’, a reference to former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas who is currently in jail on corruption charges.
Spending on corruption cases
The Ministry of Justice apparently spent more than €10 million in 2012 investigating cases of corruption, of which there are around 798 nationwide.
Proposed amendments to Road Safety Laws
The Government has approved draft amendments to the Traffic and Road Safety Laws, these to include stiffer penalties and alcohol and drug tests for pedestrians who violate the rules of the road.