News, July '08

July 31st, recent news round-up

50th anniversary of ETA's terror, alert across Spain - BBC latest- flights at Palma suffering usual delays for mid-summer; bus crash in Sant Pol, near Calella, Costa Brava- 6 dead, 39 injured, mainly Dutch holidaymakers; 'Operation mid-Summer Changeover' expects 4.6 million holiday trips by road this weekend; oil slick affects Costa de la Luz beaches east of Huelva. 30th: ETA strikes again and again - Palma airport may close (according to some press, although airport info shows departures only slightly delayed before 17.30, with longer delays for national flights expected) - bombs in Palma Nova (Magaluf), Mallorca -2 civil guard dead at 13.50 as bomb was fixed to patrol car (BBC report)- and yesterday in Burgos - BBC report 29th. Eye witness reports say Magaluf and Santa Ponsa are gridlocked (16.30), with sirens going in the port area of Palma. BBC video and eyewitness report. Other news: 'A' flu claims 7th victim; forest fires continue across country; more Spanish troops to stay in Afghanistan; 'Advance HCPI' July inflation is -1.4%, Q2'GNP' down 4%; Telefónica surprises with slight gain on last year's first half figures, Repsol replicates Shell 60% fall; car sales hold above 100,000; Morocco jail amnesty affects 178 Spaniards.

July 27th Some recent news headlines.

We have been away for the first half of this month, with only partial service until the start of August, so here are some headlines from the BBC and other services: new finance model for the regions; Spanish bid made for Britain's National Express bus and rail operator, German minister's car stolen in Alicante; Fires devastate large tracts of land, death toll now 6, 4 firefighters die in Catalonia;, first ever Spanish ministerial visit to Gibraltar, but no change in Spanish posotion; Barcelona opens sea water desalination plant, green light for desert casino in Aragon; bull gores man to death in Pamplona, beach behaviour under scrutiny; Picasso exhibition heading for Liverpool; migrant tide wanes with crisis; Bolivia celebrates 200 years of independence from Spain; Canaries hit by recession, UK rain boosts last minute holiday deals to Spain - bucking earlier trend, Spain turns to tech tourism; 2-tier economy may save the country; The Economist special report on the Euro area; attempt to encourage start-up business; 'oldest mother' dies at 69 leaving baby orphans.

1st, general news roundup.

Family of first A-flu victim claims she was not asthmatic, as doctors had diagnosed - a series of mistakes may have led to her death - baby struggling to live; first of 2 important holiday months begins, with heavy traffic on roads; Briton dies as parachute fails to open at jump near Toledo; 2 presumed ETA members detained in France after car accident; people saved more in 1st quarter; Sales open 'officially' after month of heavy discounting - 70% now possible; El Mundo's opinion of last night's U2 concert - they have been converted to U-Dios (U-God); June 30th: First Swine 'A' flu death in Spain - a young woman who gave birth to a healthy 28 week baby yesterday - BBC report- 2 new serious cases noted today; last day for 2008 tax returns - 80% can claim tax back, with total revenue 24% down; European Court decides Spain can prohibit pro-terror party Batasuna; U2 gives concert in Barcelona to launch '360º tour' - tickets sold out in 54 minutes; 29th: 2 seriously ill with A-flu in Madrid and Tarragona - first serious cases in Spain - one is pregnant and has had forced birth at 27 weeks - baby doing well, mother expected to die; 8 migrants die as patera hits rocks in Straits, close to Trafalgar - up to 40 were aboard, another 2 pateras reach Mallorca; inflation (HCPI advance figure) -1%; major ETA arms hide located in France; Sales begin for holidays - 30% discounts available; electricity rises on 1st July and then state controlled pricing ends - but few generators offer discounts to change supplier; IBEX market index at highest since October; 'good drivers' get 2 point reward on 1st July for staying clean in first years of points system.

Earlier news headlines: click here.