16 - 22 August 2013
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Rosalia Mera fighting for her life by Jan Gamm ROSALIA MERA, who co-founded the Inditex textile empire along with her ex-husband Amancio Ortega, has been admitted to Menorca’s Mateu Orfila hospital in a serious condition after suffering a stroke. 69-year-old Mera, who resides in A Coruna, is Spain’s wealthiest woman and the world’s 66th
richest, with a fortune estimated at €4,700 million. She was on holiday with her daughter in Menorca when she fell ill on Wednesday morning. Her condition worsened and she suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after being admitted to hospital. Her prognosis is now described as “grave.” Mera was married to Inditex founder Amancio Ortega for 20 years before the marriage ended in 1986: they have two children.
Breakthrough for Malaria prevention SCIENTISTS IN the US this week announced a significant breakthrough in the fight against malaria after a human trial of a new vaccine was 100% effective against the disease for the first time ever. Volunteers were each given multiple doses of the vaccine, produced with a weakened form of the mosquito-borne disease. 57 people took part, 40 receiving a dose of the vaccine. All were bitten by infectious mosquitoes and scientists tested for development of the disease after a week. The six subjects given five intravenous doses of the vaccine PfSPZ were entirely protected, none becoming infected. Dr. William Schaffner, head of the preventive medicine department at Vanderbilt University Medical School, said it was “…a scientific advance” but added that it could be as many as 10 years before the vaccine can be scientifically proven, approved and distributed.
Is there a midwife on board?! A WOMAN on a Royal Air Maroc flight from Casablanca, Morocco, to Bologna in Italy gave birth to a baby boy mid-flight! The official Moroccan news agency MAP said the 39-year-old woman went into labour shortly after take-off on Sunday. The flight was diverted to Barcelona and the baby was born just before landing. The airline did not specify the passenger’s nationality but confirmed that crew members and a fellow passenger, who luckily was a midwife, helped with the delivery. Mother and baby were taken to Sant Joan de Deu hospital in Barcelona and are reported to be in good health. The flight continued to Bologna 50 minutes after landing in Barcelona.