Climate Change
Spain yesterday said it wants to outlaw the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2040, the latest European country to target polluting vehicles to try to cut emissions.
Pedro Sanchez’s government included the proposal in a draft document for an energy transition law which also calls for Spain to completely decarbonise its economy by 2050.
The announcement comes a year after Britain and France both pledged to ban new diesel and petrol cars by 2040, while Norway is aiming to end the use of all cars running on fossil fuels by 2025.
The plan calls for setting up charging points for electric vehicles while cities with over 50,000 inhabitants will have to set up “low emission zones” before 2021, like those that already exist in the centre of Madrid and Barcelona where traffic is restricted.
“By 2050, the electricity system will have to rely exclusively on renewable energy sources,” the document said.
Under the plan new licenses for hydrocarbon exploration and fracking will be banned and subsidies that “favour the consumption of fossil fuels” will end.
EU Visas
Eurocrats have announced that British tourists won’t be required to apply for a visa to travel to European Union member countries after Brexit.
British passport holders will be able to visit Europe for three months at a time whatever the outcome of Brexit, deal or no-deal.
The news comes as the European Commission revealed plans to review their visa regime after Britain’s exit from the European union.
However, British citizens wishing to work in the European Union will likely require visas post Brexit.
The new visa rulings will either come into effect immediately after a no-deal Brexit or alternatively, in the case of a deal being made, the ruling will be applied after the transitional exit-period concludes in December 2020.
Eurocrats warned, however, that the visa-free travel offer will be withdrawn if Europeans are not offered equal travel rights to the UK after Brexit.
Human Trafficking
Police yesterday arrested five people and searched 20 flats in an operation that targeted the trafficking of women and prostitution in Madrid.
authorities said that the probe would see between 30 and 40 women freed from forced prostitution.
Airport
Alicante Elehc Airport passenger numbers are up again following 5.5 per cent growth for October.
Figures released by airport managers AENA show the terminals handled over 1.3 million passengers during the month .. an increase compared to the same time last year.
Despite worrying dips during July, August and September it was the British tourists that saved the day and accounting for almost 550 thousand passengers in October.
Travelers from the UK lead the list and are followed by those from Germany Holland Norway and Belgium.
The accumulated numbers show a slight increase of 0.8 per cent compared to this time last year and the airport is on course to once again have its busiest year ever.