News
Bosé quits
Electronic cigarettes health warning
Spanish singer Miguel Bosé ( pictured ) has quit his role as an ambassador for Oxfam in light of the sex abuse scandal , saying he “ cannot be party to such barbaric actions .” Oxfam Intermón , the Spanish branch of the charity , says it lost 1,200 regular subscribers in the first two days after the story made headlines . Oxfam previously had 193,000 donors in the country .
Spared jail
An 83-year-old mother from Madrid has been spared jail after admitting killing her severely disabled 64-year-old son for whom she cared since birth . Prosecutors had asked for a six-year custodial sentence after she served him a cocktail of drugs and took some herself in a suicide bid . However , she recovered in hospital and will now be tagged for six years and must undergo psychiatric treatment .
Florida shooting
A teacher from La Rioja was able to lead her class to safety following the school shooting in Florida last month . Patricia Rivas bundled five pupils into a cupboard when shots were heard , although a 17-yearold girl from her Spanish class was one of the fatal victims . The 40-year-old from Calahorra is on a year ’ s unpaid leave from her school in Navarra .
Tow strike
Operators of tow trucks in the city of Málaga are threatening to strike during Easter week , meaning vehicles parked illegally , including those on routes of the annual processions , would not be removed . They are opposed to plans by Smassa , the municipal parking entity , to outsource parking attendants and the trucks ’ operations . The proposal was approved unanimously at a meeting last month .
Drugs poisonings
Two men have been detained in Málaga after girls aged 13 and 18 were hospitalised on February 7 with severe drugs poisoning . A 32-year-old understood to have a relationship with the younger girl faces a charge of the sexual abuse of a minor . He and a 41-year-old also face charges of trafficking drugs and the corruption of minors .
The Health Ministry has issued a warning to the 450,000 users of electronic cigarettes in Spain . However , a pro-vaping group has accused the health authorities of “ unfounded alarmism .”
The Health Ministry said last month that carcinogens had been detected in the liquid and vapour produced by socalled e-cigarettes . It added that the devices work by heating an aerosol which contains nicotine in quantities equal to or greater than an ordinary cigarette . This , it continued , produces psychological and addictive effects equivalent to those generated by lighting tobacco .
The Ministry of Health stated that it has agreed with the regional health authorities that , for these reasons , health risks associated with e-cigarettes
Funeral director Parcemasa is to open a pet cemetery in Málaga . The new facility in the city will be the first in the province to offer individual cremations and burial of the ashes for the animals ’ owners .
The move has been approved by the town hall where the councillor for sustainability and environment , Raul Jiménez , said it would “ answer a need of modern society .” Sr Jiménez , who is also President of Parcemasa , added that research into the requirements of animal lovers suggested that its feasibility is positive .
The pet cemetery will be self-financing and is expected pay for itself within five years . The councillor added that profits will be used to finance campaigns and initiatives for pets and to achieve the goal of “ zero sacrifice ” with no healthy animal ever being put down .
The new building will be circular in design with a floor area of 1,000 square metres , and will include private spaces
cannot be ruled out . The Public Health Commission went as far as warning smokers not to use e-cigarette products and recommending that sales restrictions on conventional cigarettes should also apply to the electronic versions .
However , the lobby group MOVE ( Medical Organisation supporting Vaping and Electronic Cigarettes ) described the comments as an “ ultraconservative stance ” against products which have been successful in helping , “ thousands of smokers to replace tobacco with less harmful alternatives .” It accused the health authorities of “ unfounded alarmism ” and cited the British Ministry of Health which , it claims , has reported that 20,000 people have quit smoking by using electronic cigarettes .
New pet cemetery for Málaga
Parcemasa pet cemetery - artist ' s impression
for owners to bid their pets farewell . It will have parking spaces and its own entrance in the Parque Cementerio . The construction project will be put out to tender with a budget of around € 800,000 and a time target of one year .
Tree fall
A British woman escaped serious injury in Málaga last month when part of a palm tree fell onto her . The tourist was struck on the head while sitting outside a restaurant on the paseo marítimo in La Malagueta district . The area was cleared while fire crews were called in to make the tree safe .
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