Spain to push EU to scrap daylight saving, Spaniards latest in the world to get married, calls for tougher fines for parking in disabled spaces and more news on Monday October 20th.
Spain to push EU to scrap daylight saving
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday announced that Spain will propose to the European Union that it permanently end the European Daylight Savings Time (EDT) next year.
The government will rely on three arguments to defend their stance: the overwhelming support among Spanish and European citizens; the lack of scientific evidence demonstrating that this practice currently generates substantial energy savings; and the negative consequences it has on the health and well-being of millions of people, disrupting biological rhythms and causing sleep disturbances twice a year.
In Spain, 66 percent of the population is in favour of ending this practice.
The European Commission and the Parliament supported the proposal years ago, but the lack of consensus in the Council stalled the decision.
The government will raise this issue in the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council.
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Another mass protest calls for ‘lasting peace in Gaza’
Thousands of people once again marched through central Madrid on Sunday in a demonstration calling for “A Just and Lasting Peace” in Palestine, just days after a general strike and dozens of similar protests across many Spanish cities.
According to the organizers, a total of around 20,000 people took part, including Transport Minister Óscar Puente and former EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
“When we say peace, we mean an agreement that allows for the establishment of a Palestinian state, as the United Nations envisioned in 1948,” Borrell told public broadcaster RTVE.
Spaniards latest in the world to get married, study finds
According to a study published by World Population Review, Spain is the country where people get married the latest, with the average age for the first marriage being 38.8 years old.
If we look at these figures by gender, Spanish men marry for the first time at 39.8 years on average, while women wait a year longer, at 40.8 years.
The youngest average age for first marriage by country is in Colombia, where couples tie the knot at 18.1 years of age on average.
Spanish government seeks tougher fines for parking in disabled spots
Spain’s ruling Socialists are looking to increase penalties for drivers who park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
The proposal suggests increasing the current fine from €200 to €500, by classifying parking in these areas as a “very serious” infraction rather than “serious”.
The Socialist group argues that the current penalties, which are reduced to €100 for early payment, are insufficient to deter these violations.