PET STORES COULD CLOSE DUE TO NEW ANIMAL WELFARE LAW

The Federation of small and medium sized businesses says that "if the law goes ahead it will be a complete disaster"

Where will masks still be mandatory from 7 Feb?

The Spanish Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, has announced that the mandatory use of masks on public transport will end on February 7. However, the use of face masks will continue to be mandatory in health centres, services and establishments, such as hospitals, pharmacies, opticians, dental clinics, and social health centres for both visitors and workers.

Spanish passport the third most powerful in the world

Spanish passports are among the most powerful in the world, allowing holders to travel to 191 countries without the need for a visa, according to the 2023 Henley Passport Index, which is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Spain is in joint third place, tied with Germany.

Spain is one of the cheapest countries in Europe to own a car: study

According to a study, Spain is the seventh cheapest country in Europe to own a car. The study evaluated 22 European car markets and took into consideration factors such as the cost of fuel, taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, and the depreciation of vehicles. The average car owner in Spain spends euro 1,044 per month on their car.

Jihadist allegedly planning attack on Benidorm beach

"It's a disaster" said one local pet store owner,as an uncertain future now lies ahead for many pet shops in the province.The reason,the new Law for the Protection and Rights of Animals that the Government is planning to introduce,that will both prohibit the sale of some animals,and their possession in homes.

Although the list of animals to be prohibited from sale is still provisional it is understood that birds such as parrots, lovebirds,nymphs or blackbirds may not be sold,neither can small rodents including guinea pigs,chinchillas,mice or rabbits,nor turtles and,of course,no exotic reptiles like spiders or similar invertebrates.

Dogs and cats will still be able to be purchased,but they may only be done so through registered breeders.

In the province there are approximately 95 establishments dedicated to this sector,shops and veterinary services, according to the latest estimated data from Facpyme,who all point out that "if the law goes ahead it will be a disaster" since "if the animals cannot be sold,then neither will food,cages or many other associated products."

Soledad de la Hoz,the boss of one such establishment,said that this will also mean "the closure of many small businesses"."The big stores stopped selling animals a long time ago and they are now focused on other things, but many smaller establishments rely on the sale of small pets,cages and so forth."

Alicia Martín,owner of the Deconatura pet store,said that sales this Christmas have already seen a significant loss because many customers "were aware that the law was to be introduced."

"Every day the phone has been ringing with people asking if they can still have rabbits or hamsters," she says.

"Last Christmas,instead of selling 20 rabbits I sold 5 or 6 ",Alicia points out. "This does not only affect the animal,if I sell 20 rabbits I have 20 new customers,who also come here to buy feed and accessories.Now I have 15 fewer customers and many stores will almost certainly have to close because we cannot live by selling feed alone."

Members of the Spanish National Police and Guardia Civil detained an alleged jihadist in Girona who is believed to have intended to carry out a gun attack on tourist beaches in Benidorm.

The suspect,a 28-year-old of Moroccan origin with Spanish nationality, was arrested after an alert from the FBI in the United States.

Political Leaders under fire over anti-Islam comments after attack on churches

Conservative and far-right Spanish political leaders have been accused of seeking to smear and stigmatize Muslims and migrants after a suspected Islamist terrorist attack on two churches in the southern city of Algeciras in which one man was killed and four other people were injured. A 25-year-old Moroccan man had been arrested over the attacks and remains in custody.