Smoothing tensions A close call

AN Iberia passenger jet had a close call after lightning pierced the nose of the aircraft as it was approaching the airport in San Sebastian.

The A319 Airbus was reported by a news source on Monday, January 30 to have suffered damage to the radome.

The radome is the nose cover that provides the plane with improved aerodynamics but is also the protection for the plane’s radar equipment.

The lightning bolt is said to have pierced the cone coming out the opposite end of one of the horizontal stabilisers, which burst as a result.

Although the strike caused damage to the passenger jet it is understood that it managed to land safely and without harm to any of its crew and passengers.

THE Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez arrived in Morocco on Thursday, February 2 for a summit with top officials in the country. Among other topics, the countries are looking to recover their bilateral agreements on migration after relations broke down in recent years.

Pedro Sánchez declared a “new era” in relations between the two countries at the start of the summit adding, “We are committed to transparency and keeping all channels of communication open”.

During the first day of the conference, Foreign Ministers, Fernando Grande­Marlaska and Abdelouafi Laftit met to discuss immigration issues.

Agreements reached include strengthening relationships between law enforcement agencies working on trafficking cases, tightening migration controls and developing better repatriation proce­ dures to fight illegal immigration.

The Spanish delegation expressed their satisfaction at Morocco’s economic development, particularly with a new trade deal between Spain’s North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, for which test ­ operations have been running smoothly.

Sánchez also highlighted the Spanish government’s objectives of developing better social and cultural ties with its North African neighbour, saying education and employment exchanges will be the focus of discussions.

MUNICIPAL Police officers in Madrid had a huge shock on Tuesday, January 31, when they stopped a vehicle during a routine control in the city centre.

A car circulating on Madrid’s main street, Gran Via, was found to have €200,000 of banknotes in its boot.

As reported by the force through their Twitter account, the occupants of the vehicle could not justify why they were travelling with such a large amount of money in their vehicle. The identities of the two persons have not been revealed.