SPAIN: 11-M & more – 14th Mar 2024

Buenos días from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Spain Update from the 14th of March twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Spain.

Starting off, Spain commemorated the eighteenth anniversary of the two thousand four Madrid train bombings this Monday.

Media outlets across the nation honored the 192 victims killed in the deadliest terrorist attack in the country's history. The event, remembered as 11-M, saw ceremonies held across Spain, including a memorial at Madrid's Atocha train station, the site of the explosion.

Officials and survivors laid wreaths, observed a minute of silence, and paid tribute to the victims. The two thousand four attack left hundreds wounded and scarred Spain, reshaping its counterterrorism strategies and sparking political divides in security that still last to this day.

In government news, the Socialist Party, or PSOE, has called for an investigation into express contracts in the healthcare sector since the pandemic's onset.

The PSOE has urged the Andalucian Parliament to scrutinize these contracts, suspecting irregularities in their awarding and execution. The focus lies on contracts issued quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns about transparency and potential favoritism in procurement processes. An example of these dubious contracts is the Koldo case, which we have covered in previous shows and triggered the investigation.

Speaking of the socialists, this week, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez proposed recognizing Palestine as a state.

At the heart of Sánchez's proposal is support for a two-state solution, advocating for international recognition of Palestinian sovereignty without dismantling established Israeli identity. Sánchez stated, "I do this out of moral conviction, for a just cause, and because it is the only way that the two states, Israel and Palestine, can live together in peace."

However, the plan faces challenges, including potential backlash from Israel and concerns about its impact on diplomatic relations. The proposal aligns with Spain's historic support for Palestinian rights and its efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.

In other political news, Pere Aragonès, the president of the Catalan government, announced on Wednesday the 13th that the region would move forward its election date to the 12th of May. Originally, it was supposed to be sometime in February twenty twenty-five, when his legislature was due to end.

Aragonès dissolved the Catalan Parliament due to the failed twenty twenty-four budget, sparking political tensions. His decision also reflects growing dissatisfaction with his leadership. The upcoming elections are bound to reshape Catalonia's political scene, impacting Spanish politics and Sanchez’s alliances with Catalan parties.

Let's move on to the weather now. Andalucia, the southernmost region of Spain, has been experiencing some wild wintry conditions.

Because of Storm Monica, rough rain, snow, wind, and even choppy sea conditions affected five regions within Andalucia last weekend. The unusual weather phenomenon resulted in traffic disruptions, with several roads temporarily closed for safety.

The snow surprised residents and tourists alike, and they enjoyed the picturesque scenes, which lit up social media.

This weather continues to highlight the strange shifts in temperature and conditions as global warming and climate change affect the world.

From powerful weather to power points, Barcelona has planned to triple the number of electric car charging stations across the city.

million euros by: 2026

Jaume Collboni, the Mayor of Barcelona, announced that the city council is working on pre-installing two thousand additional charging points, adding to the existing one thousand.

Now, if you had to guess Spain's most shoplifted product, what would you say? Well, the answer is olive oil.

According to Alejandro Alegre, the marketing director at a security company that surveyed supermarkets called STC, hunger does not drive most thefts; it’s actually organized gangs seeking to make a profit illegally.

Spain is the world’s largest olive oil producer, but Europe has almost run out of local supplies after extreme weather continues to damage olive oil farming. According to the International Olive Council, global production is expected to fall to 2.4 million tonnes, while the global demand is around 3 million tonnes.

Moving on, the World Rally Championship, or WRC is set to return to Spain, but not to Catalunya, where it had been held in previous years.

Returning in twenty twenty-five, the WRC will be held on the island of Gran Canaria, offering the ideal terrain and climate conditions for rallying.

Additionally, Gran Canaria's popularity as a tourist destination could attract even more international attention to the event. That said, critics have raised concerns about the island's infrastructure, including narrow roads and limited spectator access, which may not meet WRC standards.

Spain last hosted the rally in twenty twenty-two, in Salou, south of Tarragona.

As we're talking about driving, this week, the Directorate General of Traffic has announced that it will intensify surveillance to ensure correct seat belt usage and proper use of child car seats.

The measure aims to promote road safety and reduce injuries in case of accidents. Authorities emphasize the importance of wearing seat belts for all occupants and securing children in appropriate car seats according to their age, weight, and height.

In twenty twenty-three, in 25% of the accidents on interurban roads, people died because they were not using seat belts, amounting to 139 deaths. Road safety law currently punishes drivers with four points for not wearing a seat belt or incorrectly installing a child seat. After twelve points, your license gets revoked; for new drivers who have only been on the roads for up to three years, it’s eight.

Now, here's a quick update on Worldcoin.

This week, Spain's High Court upheld a temporary ban on Worldcoin's iris scanning venture. The decision comes amidst concerns about the project's potential breach of privacy laws and its impact on personal data protection.

Worldcoin's proposal involves using iris scanning technology for identity verification, raising questions about its compliance with European Union regulations on data privacy.

The court's ruling affirms the need for thorough assessment and regulatory scrutiny of innovative technologies.

On that note about emerging technology, the European Parliament has approved a new artificial intelligence regulation law, with an overwhelming majority of 523 votes in favor and only forty-six against. The only thing left to do is to formalize it with signatures from the member states, making it official.

The EU wants it to become the world's first comprehensive framework for regulating AI. This includes striking a balance between regulations and fostering innovative technology, all while considering ethical implications.

Let's turn to the African north coast. This week, Morocco sent imams and religious guides to Spain ahead of Ramadan, which started on Sunday the 10th.

This initiative aims to support Moroccan communities living in Spain during the holy month, ensuring they have access to religious guidance and support services.

Imams and guides are expected to aid local communities and foster a sense of unity among Moroccan Muslims in Spain during Ramadan, a period of fasting and spiritual reflection.

Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim listeners!

And to close this edition, Nusret Gökçe (GER-CHE) is a Turkish restaurateur who rose to fame through his alias 'Salt Bae'. However, this week, he announced his newest project, one of the biggest the isle of Ibiza has seen in some time.

Gökçe has given the green light to a massive building complex consisting of fifty-one luxury apartments and four restaurants.

And.. that’s it for this week! Thanks for joining us!

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¡Hasta la próxima!