Spanish patient infected with hantavirus recovering in hospital, Spain’s VAT cut on electricity and gas bills will end on June 1st, man arrested for sexual assault on tourist in Palma and more news on Friday May 15th.
Man arrested for sexual assault on tourist in Palma
Spanish police have arrested a man in Palma for forcing a tourist into a van and sexually assaulting her.
According to a police statement, the Family and Women’s Unit (UFAM) launched an investigation following an incident that took place in the early hours of 10th May along Palma’s seafront promenade, when a tourist reported that she had been sexually assaulted by the driver of a van.
According to the officers’ account, a tourist left a leisure venue in the area to head back to her hotel. During the walk, a van pulled up alongside her. The man then grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the van.
Spain’s VAT cut on electricity and gas bills will end on June 1st
The Spanish government’s 10 percent reduction in VAT on electricity and natural gas will end on 1 June, following moderating prices.
The tax relief measures introduced by royal decree in response to market effects of the war in the Middle East were contingent on the trend in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and the Ministry of Economy has confirmed that the reduced VAT rates on electricity, gas, pellets and firewood, as well as the excise duty on electricity, will no longer apply.
Under the regulations, the measures would be withdrawn in June if the April CPI for each category fell by 15 percent compared with the same month of the previous year, as has happened.
Spanish patient infected with hantavirus recovering in hospital
A Spanish man who tested positive for hantavirus remains in the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, where he is in isolation.
According to the latest information provided by Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García, he is a 70-year-old man who is currently showing mild symptoms and is “progressing favourably”.
A new medical update is expected on Friday.
Spain PM addresses Fatah meet as Palestinians face ‘profound difficulty’
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed a conference of the Fatah party on behalf of the international Socialist movement on Thursday, reiterating the latter’s commitment to a two-state solution at a time of “profound difficulty” for the Palestinian people.
The Socialist premier has been an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause and critic of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, and Spain was among several European countries to formally recognise a Palestinian state in 2024.
“As the Socialist International, we reaffirm our commitment to a just and lasting political solution based on international law and peaceful coexistence,” Sánchez said in a pre-recorded video message played at the conference.
“The two-state solution remains the necessary framework to move forward towards that goal.”
During Fatah’s three-day general conference that kicked off in Ramallah on Thursday, the movement will vote to elect a new central committee, its highest leadership body.