Hantavirus cruise ship could dock at Spain’s Canary Islands, Spain to allow children under 12 to be heard in court proceedings affecting them, US investment giant Blackrock hits record €100 billion portfolio in Spain and more news on Tuesday May 5th.
Hantavirus cruise ship could dock at Spain’s Canary Islands
The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed on Sunday that at least six people were affected by the possible hantavirus outbreak – three dead and three sick – detected on the ship ‘MV Hondius’, which set sail with 150 tourists on board on March 20th from Ushuaia (southern Argentina) to cross the South Atlantic to the Canary Islands.
Currently, the ship is off Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, whose authorities have denied entry for reasons of “national public safety”.
The cruise ship’s owner, Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions, has said that “the option of sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife as a disembarkation point is being considered” and once on the islands “further medical examinations and case management could be carried out.”
Thirteen Spaniards are on board the cruise ship.
Hantavirus refers to a strain of viruses spread by rodents through their bodily fluids and excrement. Humans often become infected when they inhale particles from dried rodent droppings.
US investment giant Blackrock hits record €100 billion portfolio in Spain
BlackRock , the world’s largest private equity firm, remains the foreign fund with the greatest clout in the Spanish stock market and the entire Spanish economy.
This is according to an investigation by Spanish business daily Expansion.
BlackRock manages assets globally valued at $14 trillion and in Spain it has reached €100 billion in investment in the country in recent months for the first time ever.
Public debts, unlisted companies, a vast property portfolio, the Spanish stock exchange, energy company Naturgy – Blackrock has its fingers in a lot of pies in Spain.
Its opponents dub it and the similarly named Blackstone “vulture funds” for the negative impact they’re having on the Spanish housing market.
READ ALSO: Blackrock and Blackstone – The ‘unknown’ multinationals controlling Spain
Spain to allow children under 12 to be heard in court proceedings affecting them
Spain’s Cabinet will approve this Tuesday the reform of the country’s Child Protection Law (LOPIVI), which strengthens children’s right to be heard with a series of measures of various kinds.
According to sources at the Ministry of Youth and Children, which is promoting the legislation, the text will require that children’s wishes be taken into account in any process that affects them, such as the separation of their parents, regardless of their age.
Currently, judges only consider this possibility if the child is over 12 years old or demonstrates “sufficient maturity.”
The law will also explicitly prohibit the false concept of Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) – which alleges manipulation by one parent (most often the mother) to provoke the child’s rejection of the other parent – as it currently has no legal basis.
Spain PM’s ex-top aide tells trial no wrongdoing in mask contracts
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s former right-hand man on Monday denied irregularities in the purchase of masks during the coronavirus pandemic, in a corruption trial that has rocked the government.
The trial of José Luis Ábalos is just one of several investigations into alleged graft by the Socialist premier’s family and former political allies that have raised doubts about the minority coalition’s viability.
Ábalos, a former transport minister and Socialist heavyweight who helped propel Sanchez to power in 2018, is accused of earning kickbacks for the irregular awarding of contracts for the face masks, which were in high demand and short supply as the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Asked about a contract for eight million masks allegedly awarded in exchange for commissions, Ábalos told the Supreme Court in Madrid that “it was just another contract”.
“It was an odyssey to get masks for all the administrations. At least we were the first ones in Spain to manage to bring them in, and at a price that was well below the average at the time,” Ábalos said.
The former minister distanced himself from the purchases and said any problems with the contracts were caused by the urgency of the situation.
“I always said the masks had to be brought in as soon as possible, that they use all means… I have never been part of any procurement body,” he said.
With additional reporting by AFP.
