Europe Calling

The trends are clear. Eurostat has studied 1,216 regions – or provinces in the case of Spain – in 31 countries. Almost nine out of 10 will have a higher average age in 2050 than in 2019. Not all areas will age at the same rate. The fastest aging populations are expected to be those located mainly in Eastern Europe – the Baltic countries, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria; and southern Europe– Italy, Spain and Portugal. Spain’s Social Security system could be about to change. Negotiations underway with employerand worker representatives may lead to a new multi-tiered system of contributions for the self-employed based on annual revenue, as well as new benefit reduction rates for early retirement. Meanwhile Thousands of migrants have crossed into a Spanish enclave from Morocco after swimming around a border fence, taking advantage of relaxed border controls in the North African country.

Podemos as a party was born from the 2011 citizen movement known as 15-M, a series of protests in response to austerity policies in place at the time and political corruption. The emergence of the group in 2014, led by Iglesias, who back then was a university professor and television host, shookup the traditional two-party system in Spain. In 2019, Podemos joined forces with the United Left (IU) and Equo, to create Unidas Podemos ahead of a general election that year. In Spain, large groups of revellers chanted 'Freedom' and sang songs as they unleashed their emotions and boozed on take-out alcohol after the threat of fines of more than £500 was lifted.There were reports of clashes between partygoers and police in some parts of Madrid as officers tried to dissolve large gatherings of people without face masks on.

The Italian government expects its debt to rise above 159.5 percent of GDP later this year, the highest figure in a century. To support its members the EU has agreed to a €672.5billion (£585billion) rescue package named the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)......and lots more

In UK a topless eco-activist accused of baring her breasts to mourners at Prince Philip's funeral yesterday has been charged with causing 'harassment, alarm and distress.'. ..................plus news from Spain including.... The Spanish National Police on Wednesday rescued a 12-year-old girl in the northwestern city of A Coruña who had allegedly been sold by her parents to another family. The financial exchange took place in Córdoba, in southern Spain, and the child was then taken to the region of Galicia, where the police located her after a one- month search. According to experts, there are a number of reasons why schools in Spain have been able to stay open. These include strict protocols to prevent contagion, such as the use of face masks for students over the age of six, social-distancing measures and – as is the rule in most regions – the preventive quarantine of classes when a positive case is detected in a class bubble.

European Council President Charles Michel said he can't sleep at night because of a humiliating seating gaffe that relegated the female EU commissioner to a sofa during a meeting on women's rights. Ursula Von der Leyen, the first female president of the European Commission, expressed surprise and raised a hand in disbelief when she found Michel had taken the only chair available next to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the talks

...“People from the age of six and older have the obligation to wear masks [...] on public streets, in outdoor spaces and in any closed space that has a public use or is open to the public,”....................... Until now, regional governments were free to adapt these rules as they saw fit, and many did so immediately after they came out. Some regions made masks mandatory at all times, but introduced exceptions for certain situations, such as going to the beach. In Exceltur, they are extremely critical of the ubiquitous images of illegal parties in tourist apartments in cities like Madrid and the new rules that require travelers coming over the French border to have a negative PCR test. But in the Valencia region, the use of face masks was already mandatory in public areas, including beaches and swimming pools, regardless of social distance. This law was passed in February and will remain in force until April 12. Only those in the water are exempt.

lorry driver has been jailed for two years for smuggling ancient artefacts worth more than £76,000 into the UK from Bulgaria. Ancient coins, pendants, brooches, statues and spearheads were among the artefacts found hidden inside a trailer full of trousers at the Port of Dover in October last year. Police have smashed an international sex gang who forced Romanian women to become prostitutes in Britain. Police in Spain and Romania 'liberated' 17 women and one underage girl who were coerced into sex work. After expressing his condolences to the family of the teacher, ANDALUSIA REGIONAL HEALTHCARE CHIEF JESÚS AGUIRRE said that the clinical autopsy had been carried out by two pathologists and a coroner, and as such had been done in the “most regulated and scientific” manner possible...... The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded that the vaccine is “safe and effective”, and it will once again be administered to under 55s from Wednesday. A start-up company in the Valencia region, on Spain's east coast, called MyTurn.es, has struck a deal with the developers to use software created by the Mediterranean firm. The SNP could promise to retain the monarchy even after Scotland quits the UK in a bid to placate unionists, Richard Fitzwilliams said. It comes after new polling revealed over half of Scots (52 percent) think there is still a place for the monarchy in the country. BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has been 'reminded of her responsibilities' by the corporation after liking a series of anti-Conservative tweets after she and co-host Charlie Stayt ridiculed Robert Jenrick for having a Union flag and a portrait of the Queen in his office. A paedophile British teacher is awaiting trial in Spain accused of making indecent videos of children at the school where he worked - four years after he was spared jail for the same offence in the UK. The Earl of Clancarty told the House of Lords today school uniforms should be scrapped. He said the requirement was an "outmoded idea" and was part of a "wider educational policy working against a child-centred approach to education". Parents picking up their children from a primary school have been sent letters asking them to cover up as too many are wearing skimpy outfits. Sadiq Khan has launched an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and other bold policies to tackle air pollution in London. The Mayor's initiative is expected to save the NHS around £5 billion and more than one million hospital admissions over the next 30 years. But broadcaster Cristo Foufas has branded Mr Khan a "hypocrite" when he is driven around in a 5-litre Range Rover.

Pablo Iglesias, leader of the left-wing Podemos group and currently the second deputy prime minister in the coalition government with the PSOE socialists, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is to leave his role to stand for the presidency of the Madrid regional government, in the elections to be held on 4 May. Iglesias has announced his reasons and intentions in a video posted on social media Madrid will be heading to the polls on 4 May following last week’s ‘political earthquake’. The current president of the capital’s regional government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the right-wing People’s Party (PP), called for elections in order to avoid a potential motion of no confidence against her from the socialist PSOE and centre-right Ciudadanos (Cs) parties. In an interview on Monday, Ayuso has said that she will have no problem making a pact with the far-right Vox party, if necessary.

Pablo Iglesias, leader of the left-wing Podemos group and currently the second deputy prime minister in the coalition government with the PSOE socialists, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is to leave his role to stand for the presidency of the Madrid regional government, in the elections to be held on 4 May. Iglesias has announced his reasons and intentions in a video posted on social media Madrid will be heading to the polls on 4 May following last week’s ‘political earthquake’. The current president of the capital’s regional government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the right-wing People’s Party (PP), called for elections in order to avoid a potential motion of no confidence against her from the socialist PSOE and centre-right Ciudadanos (Cs) parties. In an interview on Monday, Ayuso has said that she will have no problem making a pact with the far-right Vox party, if necessary.

Groups of Christian protesters in Cyprus have gathered outside the state broadcasting agency demanding the withdrawal of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest entry, El Diablo, claiming that it promotes devil worship and makes a mockery of the country’s strong religious beliefs

Former French premier Nicolas Sarkozy is to have an electronic band fitted around his ankle so he can serve a 12-month prison sentence from the confines of his home. French MEP Julie Lechanteaux was asked to address her European Parliament colleagues in English during a virtual parliamentary session on Thursday.

.Having attempted to break international law, the European Commission next attempted to break the border between Northern Ireland, the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. A border that the Commission had spent the last five years pretending to care deeply about. ...................................................... Street protests that began in Barcelona over the arrest of Spanish rapper Pablo Hasél extended to Madrid on Wednesday night, leading to clashes between supporters of the musician and riot police.

Speaking for the first time since the ban earlier this week, recently-appointed BBC Director-General Tim Davie accused countries such as China of trying to expand their “control of information”. The BBC boss warned it is of “deep concern” that China was preventing the BBC from properly doing its job and broadcasting around the world. The Director-General warned of the “growing global threats to the free media as some seek to increase their control of nformation”............"Now, more than ever, it is important that we speak out to defend free and fair journalism.”

Speaking for the first time since the ban earlier this week, recently-appointed BBC Director-General Tim Davie accused countries such as China of trying to expand their “control of information”. The BBC boss warned it is of “deep concern” that China was preventing the BBC from properly doing its job and broadcasting around the world. The Director-General warned of the “growing global threats to the free media as some seek to increase their control of nformation”............"Now, more than ever, it is important that we speak out to defend free and fair journalism.”

A group of almost 200 British academics from more than a dozen UK universities could face jail, as officials probe whether they may have unwittingly helped the Chinese government build weapons of mass destruction. Officials are investigating the academics amid suspicion they may have breached laws designed to protect national security and human rights.