The train disaster in Santiago has dealt a hard blow to the local railway industry, leaving Spain’s participation in several international projects up in the air

LABOR DATA

Jobless figures drop for the fifth straight month

El País Madrid

Doubts remain whether trend will continue after summer season.

PP's HIDDEN FINANCES

Rajoy says he won’t resign or call elections over Bárcenas case

Anabel Díez Madrid 1

PM admits “mistakes” in trusting the former treasurer of the ruling Popular Party as Socialists reiterate their threat to file a censure motion against prime minister

Judge fixes civil bail of 6 million euros for wife of ex-PP treasurer

Fernando J. Pérez Madrid

Amount will serve as compensation in event Bárcenas' spouse is found guilty

PP secretary general told to appear in court in Bárcenas case

Fernando J. Pérez Madrid

Judge also subpoenas two former party chiefs

Tax rate burden of big corporations eased to 3.5 percent during crisis

Alejandro Bolaños Madrid

Large corporate groups paid just 3 billion euros tax on combined earnings of 86 billion in 2011

New auto sales boosted by government subsidy scheme

Agencies Madrid

Purchases of new vehicles climb 14.9 percent in July

ECONOMY

Public deficit already at full-year target in first six months

El País Madrid

Statistics office confirms GDP shrank only 0.1 percent in the second quarter

Downturn in economy slows in second quarter

Madridec bankruptcy hands 400-million-euro debt to City Hall

Bruno García Gallo Madrid

The capital’s government will take on the company’s arrears and unpaid bills

Regional deficit plan approved despite dissent

Francesco Manetto Madrid

Controversial program calls for different targets for different regions

ECONOMY

Spain books trade surplus in May as exports surge

El País Madrid

Imports remain weak because of low demand from consumers and companies as a result of the recession

BANKING SECTOR

BBVA’s profit doubles on gains from asset sales

Bloomberg

Income climbs to 1.15 billion euros from 505 million euros last year

Santander benefits as provisioning burden eases

El País Madrid

Latin America accounted for 51 percent of group earnings

ACQUISITIONS

Slim puts Telefónica’s purchase of KPN’s German unit at risk

Isabel Ferrer Madrid

América Móvil breaks pact with Dutch firm on not launching full takeover

Telefónica buys KPN German unit for 8.1 billion euros

NÓOS CASE

Princess Cristina to move to Geneva but Urdangarin to stay for charges

Natalia Junquera Madrid

Duke of Palma is not under judicial order not to leave the country

Court overturns ban on publishing Urdangarin’s private emails

El País Madrid

Bar on duke’s partner releasing more emails remains in place

Nóos judge to probe reform work to royal couple’s house

Andreu Manresa Palma de Mallorca

José Castro to investigate origins of three million euros poured into Pedralbes property

LA LIGA

Valencia's Soldado has been sold to Premier League club Spurs. / Manuel Queimadelos Alonso (Getty Images)

Soldado joins La Liga exodus

Rob Train Madrid

Spain striker follows international teammates in heeding siren call of England

WILDFIRES

Man admits to starting Mallorca blaze with barbecue

Andreu Manresa Palma de Mallorca

At least 700 people had to be evacuated from the village of Estellencs

JUDICIAL SCANDAL

Embattled court chief justice has worked for PP for past 20 years

María Fabra Madrid

Judge Francisco Pérez de los Cobos gave advice to now-Deputy Speaker Celia Villalobos

Judge dodges congressional appearance with votes from PP

Fernando Garea Madrid 1

Governing party blocks Constitutional Court chief’s grilling on bias claims. Judge has admitted that he was a card-carrying member of the PP from 2008 to 2011

Catalonia seeks to bar top judge from cases due to possible bias

El País Madrid

Andalusia also wants action against one-time PP card-carrying magistrate

Government defends top court judge over PP membership

El País Madrid 2

Deputy head of body overseeing judiciary says political beliefs are a “private” matter

BUSINESS

The Holy Sites metro light railway in the city of Mecca. / amer hilabi (AFP)

FCC wins 6-billion-euro contract for Riyadh subway

A. S. Madrid

Foreign deal is second biggest ever awarded to a Spanish builder

EMPLOYMENT

Crisis and labor reform push part-time jobs to record levels

Manuel V. Gómez Madrid

National Statistics Institute says 16.4 percent of employed people are not working full time

PROFILE: SUSANA DÍAZ PACHECO

Susana Díaz in Seville earlier this month. / julián rojas

A climber of political heights

Lourdes Lucio Seville

The Socialist Party candidate is ready to become Andalusia's first woman regional premier

Socialist premier of Andalusia announces he is to step down

Manuel Planelles / Reyes Rincón / EFE Seville

José Antonio Griñán to hand over power as ERE investigation widens. Regional leader will leave post on August 27

Atocha railway station offers refuge for unwanted pet turtles

Rafael Fraguas Madrid

Terminus's tropical garden is inhabited by 300 of the animals

Government toughens up punishment for drunk drivers

El País Madrid

Cabinet also approves rules forcing young cyclists to wear helmets

ECONOMY

Unemployment falls back below six million in the second quarter

Manuel V. Gómez / Andrew Sim Madrid 2

Jobless rate declines to 26.26 percent

LAYOFF FUND SCANDAL

Ex-Andalusia comptroller claims premier knew of ERE fund report

Javier Martín-Arroyo Seville

The fund was a “very singular budgetary disease,” defendant testifies

construction

InTempo, which rises high above Benidorm's already crowded skyline. / ROSA FUSTER

Benidorm's prized high-rise tower becomes a symbol of incompetence

Ruben Esquitino Alicante

"Bad bank" Sareb holds InTempo's financing as architects quit

Más información

“In Spain you can be a mobster but still merit full institutional approval”

Mortgage Victims Platform spokeswoman says Spain is mishandling evictions

Mortgage Victims Platform spokeswoman Ada Colau. / HEINO KALIS (REUTERS)

SOCIAL NETWORKS

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FEATURES

FAMILY

A family visit at one of the country’s meeting points. / Gorka Lejarcegi

Joint custody — a pipe dream?

Manuel Altozano Madrid

The government wants to bring Spain’s divorce laws in line with the rest of the European Union but the system lacks the necessary resources, say legal experts

TRANSPORT

Madrid's pirate cabbies

Rodrigo Casteleiro García Madrid 1

The capital's taxi owners are fed up with unlicensed drivers taking their custom, and aren't afraid to get violent with repeat offenders

EFFECTS OF THE CRISIS

Piñor Mayor Francisco Fraga (l) says that the central government “has no idea about the reality on the ground.” / NACHO GÓMEZ

The local councils that are running the risk of bankruptcy

María Fernández 1

During the good times in Spain, many small towns and villages overstretched themselves financially. Now many are having to seek urgent solutions to stay afloat

SOCIAL NETWORKS