Jove Orquestra Simfònica de Castelló

If you are in the Peñiscola area this festive period take the opportunity to see Jove Orquestra Simfònica de Castelló in concert at the Palau de Congressos de Peñiscola.

The concert starts at 20:00 hours on Wednesday 4 January 2012 and the programme will be Mahler’s 9th Symphony. This will  also be performed on Friday 6 January at 19:00 hours at the  Palau de Congressos de Castellón.

There is very little opportunity in this area to see live music so support it when you can.  More information at:http://www.culturalcas.com/

New government renegades on campaign tax pledge

Popular Party administration says hikes in personal income and municipal taxes needed to offset blowout in this years budget.

Going back on an election pledge not to raise taxes, the Popular Party government on Friday announced historic widespread 8.9 billion euros in cuts as countermeasures to a bring down an eight percent of GDP deficit for this year – two percentage points higher than the previous Socialist administration had forecast.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said the across-the board hikes in personal income tax of between 0.75 percent for those on lower incomes and seven percent for those who make more than 300,000 euros annually, will only be in effect for two years.”This is an exceptional move that we didnt foresee,” Sáenz said at a news conference following Fridays Cabinet meeting. “We had to resort to this because the previous government did not comply with its goal in reducing the deficit.”During this years prime ministerial campaign, Mariano Rajoy and other PP officials pledged not to raise taxes, and criticized the Zapateros governments decision in September to introduce a wealth tax for two years. The Socialist administration had forecast that Spain would end the year with a six percent of GDP deficit.Rajoys Cabinet also approved measures to hike the property-value-based municipal tax IBI for the next two years for dwellings that are appraised above the average price. But the PP administration has decided to reinstate the special tax deduction for new home purchases retroactive from 2010 – the same year it was eliminated by the previous Zapatero government – and introduce a super-reduced value-added tax VAT rate of four percent for purchases of a new home.The prime minister is trying to bring Spains debts down to meet a European budget deficit target of 4.4 percent by the end of 2012.At the same time, Sáenz de Santamaría confirmed a previous announcement that there will be hike in pensions based on the consumer price index IPC, and freezes in 2012 on public sector salaries. Government workers will also see their work week extended to 37.5 hours from the current 35 hours per week.The minimum wage will also be frozen at 641.40 euros per month.Political parties and labor organizations will also receive 20 percent less from their annual government subsidies, and Sáenz de Santamaría announced that the government will introduce in Congress next year reforms to political party financing laws.The government has decided to postpone presenting the 2012 budget until March.Besides the deputy prime minister, Rajoys three top government officials in finance and labor – Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, Finance Minister Cristóbal Montoro, and Labor Minister Fátima Bañez – also appeared before reporters to explain the measures.

M. D. – Madrid – 30/12/2011

via New government renegades on campaign tax pledge · ELPAÍS.com in English.

Hottest December day in history in the Comunidad Valenciana

THIS Thursday has been the warmest December day in years in the Comunidad Valenciana, despite being just after the shortest day of the year.

Hottest day

The record was held by Llíria, in inland Valencia, which reached 24.2ºC, followed by Manises at 23.5ºC.

Alicante city and surrounding areas saw highs of 22ºC, and the rest of the provinces of Valencia and Alicante were all over 20ºC in the shade.

But these temperatures contrast sharply with those seen in the early hours of Thursday morning in various inland towns and villages.

In Villena (Alicante), the morning temperature was 1.4ºC and in Jalance (Valencia) the mercury plummeted to 2.1ºC, whilst residents in La Pobla de Benifassà (Castellón) woke up to see the thermometers having plunged to 4.5ºC.

via Hottest December day in history in the Comunidad Valenciana.

By: thinkSPAIN , Friday, December 23, 2011

The Generalitat must pay to attract flights to Castellón in 2012

The arrival of low-cost airlines at the new airport will occasion a significant outlay from the Valencian coffers. The Generalitat are committed to spend around € 600,000 in the first year to subsidise the arrival of the 300,000 passengers that it expects in its first year of operation.
The operator now has a firm agreement with the British airline Jet2.com to start operating from 2013  and is negotiating with a dozen companies to fly into Castellón, among others, Ryanair and Wizz Air. The Irish company, has proposed ten weekly flights with routes to Charleroi (Belgium) and Bergamo (northern Italy), is asking for a public subsidy of between five and six euros per passenger. Wizz Air, that has its headquarters in Budapest and operates mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, asks for two euros.
The public investment could be even greater and reach 700,000 euros a year if you compare the numbers of passengers to Reus, an airport of similar characteristics in location and size, to that of Castellón. The Catalan airport received 3.5 million euros in aid in 2010 and attracted 1.4 million passengers, as reported by the National Competition Commission, with its main carrier being Ryanair. Thus, the 300,000 users of Castellón could attract between 600,000 and 700,000 euros in public funding in their first twelve months of operation.

Supreme Court clears way for Fabra to face fiscal charges

Former provincial leader of Castellón thought to have defrauded 1.5 million euros over five years

MARÍA FABRA – Castellón – 01/12/2011

The Supreme Court has rejected the prescription of four of five financial crimes levelled against the former leader of the Castellón provincial government, Carlos Fabra. In a court order published on Thursday, the magistrates admitted the prosecution’s arguments against the prescription, determined by the Castellón High Court, paving the way for Fabra, a PP heavyweight who was very visible during Mariano Rajoy’s prime-ministerial campaign, to be tried for fiscal crimes, influence peddling and bribery.

According to tax inspectors, Fabra and his ex-wife, María Amparo Fernández, defrauded 1.5 million euros over five years. The PP provincial chief also faces charges lodged by local businessman Vicente Vilar, who told authorities that Fabra was paid “millions of euros for political favors.”

Anti-corruption prosecutors are seeking a 15-year jail term for Fabra, while the people’s prosecutor, representing the Consumers’ Union, wants a sentence of 20 years and nine months.

via Supreme Court clears way for Fabra to face fiscal charges · ELPAÍS.com in English.