News, August 2008

August 28th, general news roundup.

Spanair MD82 (archive)

Disaster: investigators told reverse had been blocked on one engine of fated Spanair plane; DNA study identifies 126 bodies; HCPI (inflation) down to 4.9%; home completions down 30% in June; 27th: Growth slows to 1.8% (0.1% over Q2); air disaster funeral postponed to 11th September, due to delays in identification of victims; woman dies in León of Mad Cows disease, 2nd death in family - first case in world of 2 members of same family being affected; Taylor Wimpey interim loss includes 85% profit fall in Spain -BBC comment; 26th: 10 Spanish children among 26 injured (ears suffered from depressurisation) as Ryanair Bristol-Girona flight makes emergency landing at Limoges (France) -BBC report; 108 Spanair disaster victims identified; survivor Beatriz Reyes, who saved two children, speaks to press: 'on 20th August I was born again' - she was placed on the maternity ward!; investigation shows 'reverse' open on one of the engines, but no fire - which would spin the plane round, like rowing in alternate directions, but no conclusions yet; patera sinks off Almería, 25 of 45 saved - BBC report; 25th: Identification of air disaster victims slower than hoped, but 90 now identified; one survivor died in hospital over weekend, 2 still fighting for life -BBC report; investigation likely to last 3 to 12 months, maybe longer; industrial prices up 10%; fuel sales down 15% in July, tolls down 4%, as people stayed at home - or maybe they flew: low cost arrivals up 18% in year to July; mortgage debt grows to 666 billion Euros.

After the accident

Other recent news includes: 22nd: 50 air disaster dead now identified, 3 still fighting for life as most injured 'stable' or recovering; DNA testing being done to identify remaining dead - BBC report; state funeral planned for 1st September, 3 national days of mourning start today; first ideas of what happened coming out as pilots criticise Spanair safety procedures; SAS (owner of Spanair) shares fall on stock exchange; 8% less foreign visitors to Spain in July; Inditex, owner of Zara, becomes world's top clothes retailer - BBC video report; 21st: Air disaster toll rises to 153 as survivors fight for life with serious burns - 19 are in hospital, 3 are children, 4 are expected not to survive - over 40 bodies have been identified so far - one victim was evangelical; flights at Madrid operating as usual on all runways; IOC refuse to allow flag at half mast as Spanish sailors win gold medal; 20th: Major Spanair plane accident at Madrid airport, some 140 dead, 26 injured transferred to hospitals, - reports suggest either engine caught fire and explosion made plane break-up - the scheduled flight was bound for Las Palmas (Grand Canary) with a mixture of Canary islanders and holiday makers, 175 including crew -BBC report; Ferrovial's BAA subsidiary must sell 3 British airports - it will not sell Heathrow, but despite words to the contrary, the order might relieve its financiers - BBC report; construction down 16% on year; Ryanair cancels some Spanish web reservations - authorities likely to sue; 18th: Bus accident on Valencia - Barcelona highway - 8 dead, mainly North Africans, plus driver; ETA plants 3 small bombs on Costa del Sol - 2 explode, one defused, none hurt; study of shoreline shows Spain is noisiest country also off-shore, with sub-aquatic levels of 150 dB off Vigo (Galicia); 40% would now allow new nuclear power plants, 48% still against; Ferrovial completes refinancing of BAA.

14th: Government recognises extent of economic crisis with emergency cabinet meeting and measures; Iberia and British Airways make Atlantic alliance with American; inflation 5.3%, while growth slows to 1.8%; another corruption scandal hit former Partido Popular government of the Balearic islands; last 'operation exit' of summer begins as Spain heads off for mid-August bank holiday weekend (15th is Assumption of Mary, the trial run for the rapture - check the state of city streets this day to see what it will be like!)

Earlier news headlines: click here.