News, December 2008

December 27th, general news roundup.

Accidents on black ice involving 54 cars close A8 in Basque Country, while A7 access to France closed due to snow in Catalonia - also many roads close to Pyrenees, such as A2 Madrid-Barcelona hit by snowfalls and may need chains; 'El Solitario,' famous solo bank robber, condemned in Portugal to 7 years for attempted robbery - also wanted by Spain for countless robberies; minimum wage to rise 4%, pensions 6%; 22nd: EL GORDO 32,365 - the only item of news which matters to most Spaniards - once again at P4S we lost no money on the world's greatest lottery, unlike over 95% of participants -BBC report.

Other recent news includes: 20th: Iberia continues cancelling flights in pilots go-slow; Spaniar sold to a consortium of businesses in Catalonia and Balearics; roads full as many head for Christmas holiday; BBVA bank expects house prices to fall 25% by 2011; 18th: The Economist reports on economic stimulus measures; Spanish owned Aerolineas Argintinas nationalised by Cristina Kirchner - BBC report; 17th: Winter storm finally subsides and temperatures rise a bit; Ciudad Real airport gets last environmental permissions to operate - first flight Friday; Ferrovial, owner of BAA must sell 3 airports in UK: Gatwick, Stanstead and Edinburgh -BBC report; grape prices down 37%; 16th: 4 building workers die as Mallorca hotel collapses - reform works being done without license - 3 detained on manslaughter charges; 4 more ETA suspects arrested in Basque Country; finance minister Solbes will not stand in next elections; SEAT announces new lay-offs for 5,300 workers; 15th: Snow cuts A66 motorway from León to north coast - many passes closed or needing chains; Iberia pilots on go-slow cause 53 cancellations; Santander and BBVA banks and clients affected by Madoff case; UPA, the farmers' union gives away 20 tonnes of oranges in Madrid to complain at exploitation by middlemen; work on future Mardid - Valencia AVE high speed rail line hit as tunnel caves in due to rain.

Other recent news includes: 12th: Inflation confirmed at 2.4%, the figure used to determine next year's pensions; Ryanair cancels Fuerteventura route - will pay back 5000 ticket holders; ETA ex-convict Chaos again in Belfast court; Banco Santander to shed 1,900 jobs in UK -BBC report; Kraft to close Mahon (Menorca) mayonnaise and cheese factory -215 jobs to go; 11th: Riots in Barcelona and Madrid 'in solidarity' with Greek rioting victim; more people related to ETA leader Iriondo arrested in France and Spain; despite looming crisis the IBEX 35 firms made 9% more in the 9 months to September, helped by oil major Repsol and capital gains for Endesa; IMF expects 1% negative growth for 2009; 9th: Aitzol Iriondo, presumed ETA leader since arrest of 'Txeroki', arrested in France - car with much information also found; 30 dead on roads - 47 less than last year- over 'Immaculate Constitution' weekend (with bank holidays to mark Constitution (6th) and Immaculate Conception (8th); IBEX market index rises above 9000; 16% less take flights in October, but 28% more take high speed train; Sony to fire 8000 in Barcelona TV plant.

Other recent news includes: 3rd: ETA kills businessman in Basque Country; 25 injured in Barcelona gas blast - BBC report; 6th is 30th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution; report links Spain with Guantanamo flights - FT report; Spain signs cluster bomb demolition treaty day after demolishing first one in presence of defense minister Chacón; 2nd: Unemployment almost 3 million; 1st: Injured Bombay Spaniard in hospital in London as too sick to travel on; trapped Thailand tourists back home; 20 migrants attempt to cross Melilla fence; 68 migrants reach Tenerife on cayuco; snow in Madrid and across north; 40 arrested in child porn operation; power prices to rise 8% in January; troubled builder Sacyr sells toll operator Itinere, but still wants to sell share of Repsol; Catalan developer Habitat insolvent, Metrovacesa debts (7 billion) mean takeover by Santander, HSBC and La Caixa.

Don't miss The Economist's special report on Spain (from early November).

Earlier news headlines: click here.