In Friday’s Spanish news, 2024 extra-early potato export campaign begins, Special coin celebrates 200 years of the National Police in Spain, plus, we have a simple guide to obtaining a criminal record certificate in Spain. Plus, labour costs in Spain will lead the financial news.
Contents (click to jump ahead)
- Spanish News Headlines
- Business, Markets and Statistics
- Things to Do Today
- Local Markets
- Traffic and Travel
- Weather
- On This Day
- Video of the Day
- Follow Mark Nolan’s Podcast
Spanish News Headlines
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, through the General Directorate of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, has once again coordinated the start of the extra-early potato export campaign part of the third edition of the Regional Potato Plan of Mallorca.
The Regional Potato Plan, which was drawn up after the United Kingdom left the European Union, is a document that gives assurance to importers that the potato produced in Mallorca complies with all the phytosanitary and environmental regulations required by each country. In this sense, the general director of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fernando Fernández, assures that “this plan aims to guarantee competitiveness in the export of potatoes from Mallorca with quality standards that fit the requirements that the importing countries will make, as, for example, is the case of the United Kingdom.
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the National Police in Spain, the Royal Mint has produced a commemorative silver coin.
On the front of the medallion, a “Z” car type patrol vehicle can be seen, along with both a female and male National Police officer saluting. The image is in colour, showcasing the distinctive blue associated with the law enforcement body.
Images of the coin, and links to the Royal Mint store are on the website, spaintoday.news
A considerable number of people have given up their life in Spain to return to the UK, for which there are a variety of reasons, but for some, they have come into difficulty finding a job back in their homeland, on account of not having a continuous history in the UK, when it comes to having to prove a lack of a criminal record in order to get certain jobs.
The good news is that a criminal record certificate (El certificado de antecedentes penales en España) can be issued by Spain, and recognised by the UK, but it is far easier to obtain BEFORE you return to the UK, and IF you have a digital signature.
It is still possible if you have gone back, just a little more complicated if you don’t have a digital signature.
If you want the full guide, visit the website, spaintoday.news
To read these articles in full, visit SpainToday.news
Business, Markets and Statistics
The week ends in Spain with the publication of labour costs for the fourth quarter and January data on public administration debt, on a day in which BBVA holds a shareholders’ meeting.
Meanwhile, the main references on the other side of the Atlantic will be consumer confidence from the University of Michigan, the Empire index and industrial production. Back in the eurozone, the ECB publishes total reserve assets.
Spain will start Friday seeing the details from the INE on the labour cost survey for the fourth quarter, then the Bank of Spain publishes the progress of public administration debt figures for January, and finally that BBVA general meeting of shareholders in Bilbao.
In the Eurozone, Eurostat brings to light the labour market flows for the fourth quarter, and the ECB publishes the total reserve assets of the eurozone.
As for the UK, not a lot other than OECD harmonised unemployment and the Bank of England/Ipsos Inflation Attitudes Survey.
Things to Do Today
In Torrevieja, you can take a Trip to Oz today, and then the Magical world of Disney concert tomorrow. Classical music fans have a Beethoven concert in the International Auditorium on 23 March.
Sports fans in Torrevieja have World Football starting today, a rugby competition from 22 to 24, football on the 28 to 31, and handball on the same weekend.
For runners, Crevillente on 6 April has a 6k race, and the Dama de Guardamar half marathon, which takes the form of both a 10k and 21k variant, and will take place in Guardamar del Segura on 14 April 2024.
For petrolheads, Guardamar del Segura will host a wide range of classic motors, cars and motorbikes, in the XII Fiesta del Motor Clásico de Guardamar del Segura taking place on 23 March 2024, starting at 10 a.m. in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento where, in addition to the exhibition of participating classic cars and motorcycles, there will be live music, paella to eat, and drinks.
Finally, the Iberia Motor Fest brings classic and unusual vehicles together at La Vila Joiosa on 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of March 2024.
Aircraft fans can look forward to RACEFEST, Madrid, taking place on Saturday, where the Patrulla Aguila aerobatic team from San Javier will be taking part, before showcasing their skills locally in the San Javier Airshow, taking place from 3rd-5th May – Festival Aéreo San Javier – over the playas de Santiago de la Ribera, San Javier, Murcia. They are also at the DIFAS 2024, taking place in Oviedo on 1 June, and on 15th June, the 50º Aniversario del ALA 14, in Albacete, where a competition is open to design a Eurofighter livery.
If your love of the sky means watching people jumping out of planes, then there´s good news for you too, as on 19th March – Fiestas Patronales de Puerto de Mazarrón 2024, in Murcia, sees the Patrulla Acrobática de Paracaidismo del Ejército del Aire (PAPEA) parachutists perform, and on 31st March they are at the Conmemoración de “El Encuentro” de Alcantarilla, also in Murcia, before the team head overseas in April to attend the 5th FAI World Indoor Skydiving Championship, in Macau, China.
Musically, James Blunt is back in Alicante on 19 July, as is Tom Jones on 25. Other popular groups coming to Spain in the near future include AC/DC, Depeche Mode, and Simple Minds.
Down south, the Granada Tango Festival from 12 to 17 March.
Fallas season is on now across Valencia, culminating in the celebrations around the middle of March, not forgetting of course we have San Jose, Spanish Father’s Day, on 19 March, a big event in the Spanish cultural calendar. The main fallas event is around Valencia, where this year the calendar is from 25 February to 19 March.
We must also remember that Easter is earlier this year, Good Friday is 29 March, and one of the big draws is Elche, and in particular Palm Sunday, on account of the history of the city in relation to palm trees. A huge Palm Sunday procession takes place in the city each year.
Finally, bringing the two previous events together, we have a national holiday in Spain next week, on Tuesday, then the following week brings Easter, with Thursday a holiday in some places, Friday a holiday nationally, and then the following week, again, Monday is a holiday in some regions.
For more local events, pick up The Leader newspaper every Monday, and This is Torrevieja for Torrevieja events.
Local Markets
On Friday there’s are weekly market in Dolores, Jacarilla, Los Montesinos, Pilar de la Horadada, Torrellano (Elche), and Torrevieja.
On Saturday, you can get your bargains at the markets in Alicante, Almoradi, Catral, Elche, Moncayo (Guardamar), Orihuela, Playa Flamenca (Orihuela Costa), San Anton (Elche), San Fulgencio (La Marina), and Santa Pola.
And on Sunday, Algorfa (Zoco), Campoverde (Pilar de la Horadada), Corvera (Murcia), Guardamar El Limonero (Lemon Tree Road), Guardamar (N-332), Elche Mercadillo del Martínez Valero, La Aparecida (Orihuela), La Murada (Orihuela), and Pilar de la Horadada (El Toro).
The roads will of course be busy around those locations.
Traffic and Travel
Farmers in some parts of the country are resuming protests from today, so, as always, check the DGT map for information on any road closures.
All this week, and through the weekend, the Guardia Civil and Local Police I many areas will be joining in with a campaign, coordinated by the European Traffic Police network, ROADPOL, which will be focussing on the correct use of seat belts and safety systems, including child restraints and crash helmets.
These devices have one single purpose, that is to try to keep us safe, but they can only do that if they are used, and used correctly. Therefore, as part of the periodic awareness campaign, traffic police across Europe will be ensuring compliance with all of the regulations which aim to make the roads a little bit safer for all.
Remember that if you are venturing into the mountain areas, which in some cases might be less than an hour from the sunny coast, snow chains should be a consideration to avoid getting stranded.
On the roads of Spain, coinciding with the weekends of the winter months, an increase in traffic is expected on the main routes, national roads, and motorways towards rest areas, second homes and mountain areas for practicing winter sports.
FRIDAY
Movements out of large urban centres and increased circulation on the main communication routes towards rest areas, second homes and mountain areas, the least favourable time being between 7 and 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
Travel out of large urban centres, many of which will be short trips to recreation and leisure areas close to large towns, as well as increased circulation on the main communication routes to rest areas, second homes and mountain areas, the busiest times being between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
SUNDAY
Movements in the entrance direction to the large urban centres along the main communication road axes that channel the entire return movement, in particular on motorways, as well as along the access roads to areas of mountain with winter sports practice, at an unfavourable time between 6 and 10 p.m.
If you are going to the mountains, remember to take snow chains (click this link to browse snow chains on Amazon). Winter tyres are also permitted. If you come across a blue circular sign showing snow chains, it is obligatory to have them fitted on your wheels before passing the sign. In accordance with Spanish Traffic Law, you are not permitted further without having them installed. It is both dangerous, and illegal.
For information and updates about driving in Spain, visit N332.es
Official Websites for Travel Information
- For live traffic reports, visit the DGT traffic map
- For weather warnings, consult AEMET
- DGT Twitter account
- AEMET weather related road information
- Aemet Twitter account
- For flight information, check the AENA airport operator’s website
Weather
Always check the weather where you are before embarking on a trip. Here are the official sources for alerts and warnings.
- Click here to visit AEMET for weather alerts and forecasts.
- Click here to visit the DGT for live traffic and road conditions.
- AEMET weather related road information
On This Day
2020, the state of alarm comes into force in Spain due to the COVID -19 pandemic, and the population is confined, 31 days after the first death with this disease in Valencia, on February 13.
1992, in Catalonia, CiU obtains, for the third consecutive time, the absolute majority in the Parliamentary elections.
1858, the Madrid-Alicante railway line is officially inaugurated in Spain.
Video of the Day
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The post Spain Today – Friday 15 March 2024 first appeared on Mark Nolan´s Podcast.
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2024 extra-early potato export campaign begins
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