jueves, 29 agosto 2013

Actualizado 20:49 CET

Última hora

CORRUPTION

PP admits to wiping data from computer used by ex-treasurer

María Fabra Madrid 1

Machines used by Bárcenas are given to judge, but contain no evidence. Party claims that formatting of disks is standard practice

PP blocks Socialist bid to have Rajoy grilled over Bárcenas case

Fernando Garea Madrid

Ruling party uses absolute majority to stop debate in Congress. PM’s salary revealed to have nearly doubled that of head of opposition

CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

The tram system in Parla, located in the south of the Madrid region. / Paula Villar

Popular Party sues Socialists over tram project in Madrid suburb

Pilar Álvarez Madrid

Total costs of Parla transport system double to 255.9m euros thanks to interest

SOCIALIST PARTY

Socialist leadership candidate Chacón to take sabbatical from politics

Fernando Garea Madrid

Former defense minister to give up congressional seat to teach in US in what observers describe as a “tactical move”

PP EXTREMISTS

Popular Party promises to kick out members using fascist symbols

Fernando Garea Madrid 1

Affiliates of group’s youth wing displayed Franco-era flags and gave Nazi salutes on social networks. PP number two in Congress argues that a million people died as a result of the Republic

conflict of interest

Constitutional Court chief justice resigns from ILO panel

María Fabra Madrid

De los Cobos leaves paid consultative post with international organization after Popular Party membership row

HEALTHCARE BACKLOG

Antonia Arajol, who has been waiting for seven months to undergo cornea-transplant surgery. / Massimiliano Minocri (EL PAÍS)

“If my back gets any worse, I could end up in a wheelchair”

Antía Castedo / Emilio de Benito Barcelona / Madrid

Concerns rise among patients as waiting lists for important surgeries get longer

Spain’s hospital waiting lists hit historical highs on austerity

María R. Sahuquillo Madrid

Average time of wait leaps to 100 days from 76 with a total of 571,395 people currently in need of surgery

CRISIS

Recession eases in second quarter as export sector remains strong

El País Madrid

Economic decline slows; government predicts growth later this year

Government to simplify contracts

Jesús Sérvulo González Madrid

Labor reform has boosted foreign trade, claims minister

EUROVEGAS

Madrid PP defends Las Vegas Sands’ US laundering deal

El País / EFE Los Ángeles

Casino company settles with American authorities after year-long criminal investigation

PP to seek Socialists’ support in criminalizing illicit party financing

José Manuel Romero Madrid 1

Measures against political corruption to be included in draft legal reform but proposals will not be applied to ruling party's ongoing Bárcenas scandal

Spain to go ahead with military support aircraft sales to Egypt

Miguel González Madrid

But no new licenses for arms deals with troubled state will be issued, interministerial council decides

UP, UP AND AWAY

A balloon festival held in Igualada, Barcelona province. / Joan Sánchez

A high-flying business takes off

Camilo S. Baquero

From humble beginnings, the Catalan aerostatic balloon manufacturer Ultramagic now exports worldwide and has set up a unit in Mexico

The rise and fall of the once-elusive Bin Laden

AGENCIES Madrid

The circulation of 500-euro bills, which bore the nickname of the Al Qaeda leader, has fallen sharply since Spain’s boom time

INDEPENDENCE CHAIN REACTION

Catalan leader "supports" human chain plan but will not participate

Maoil Roger Barcelona

Officials may attend event, but as private citizens not government representatives

INTERVIEW

Fabian Picardo, pictured last Friday in front of an aerial photograph of Gibraltar in his office building. / MARCOS MORENO (EL PAÍS)

"If Spain wants to take the dispute to court, that's music to our ears"

Luis Gómez Gibraltar

EL PAÍS asks the chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, about artificial reefs, tax evasion, sovereignty and smoking

Hague highlights Britain’s “commitment” to Gibraltar

El País Madrid

Rock’s chief minister in London for talks on Spain dispute

Spain and Gibraltar agreed taxation talks before dispute flared

Luis Gómez Gibraltar

Madrid contacted the Rock to inquire about 30 cases of possible evasion, the first inter-governmental contact of this kind

What does Gibraltar live on?

Miguel Ángel García Vega 1

The Rock's economic success is based on a combination of low taxation, online gaming, finance and the controversial practice of refueling ships at sea

Zakaria, a waiter living in La Linea but working in Gibraltar, has been affected by the recent border controls. / Richard Lewington

“We are 100-percent kosher” — Gibraltarians have their say

Victoria Knill Gibraltar 1

Rock residents say Spanish media painting them in a bad light

FIRE DISASTER

Authorities battle blaze spreading across Galicia

José Precedo Santiago de Compostela

"We have a tough day ahead of us," says spokeswoman

Villagers’ fear as forest fires cross from Portugal to Spain

Alba Tobella Mayans Villardiegua de Ribera

Strong winds sent flaming leaves and brush across the Duero river

CHANGE IN ANDALUSIA

Griñán resigns as Andalusia chief to shield Socialists from scandal

El País Seville

"We cannot ignore the damage the ERE case has done to the image of the government"

SURROGATE BABY ROW

Spanish couple faces legal battle to take babies out of India

Pol Pareja Madrid

Twins are stuck in their birth country until Spain can confirm that their adoption is legal

Spaniard held in Madrid over huge JP Morgan Chase trading loss

El País Madrid

US authorities are seeking extradition of Javier Martín-Artajo, who is accused of fraud and falsifying documents to allege cover up a $6-billion hole in the US investment bank’s books

REGIONAL POLITICS

Government to have last word on regions' foreign treaties

Miguel González Madrid

Catalonia has questioned the legality of the current Law of Overseas Action

BUSINESS

Telefónica purchase of E-Plus to proceed after América Móvil deal

Ramón Muñoz Madrid

Spanish telecoms giant increases its offer for KPN’s German unit to 8.55 billion euros

BANKING ABUSES

Novagalicia to return funds
to mortgage holders

El País Santiago de Compostela

Nationalized lender to repay customers 39 million euros after abolishing abusive floor clauses in home loan contracts

ECONOMIC CRISIS

Jobseekers stand in line outside an employment agency in Getafe. / CARLOS ROSILLO

After recession, what prospects do the long-term unemployed have?

Manuel V. Gómez Madrid

More than half of Spain’s six million jobless have not worked in over a year. Many could find it impossible to return

Más información

Madrid’s decade-long Olympic dream faces final sprint

Capital’s bid team has prepared meticulously for vote to decide 2020 host city

A recreation of plans for the Puerta de Alcalá in the city center on September 7, from where the decision will be broadcast live.

ANALYSIS

Syria: Too little, too late

Javier Solana

The former NATO secretary general warns that any intervention conceived as a rapid strike may not turn out that way

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Follow EL PAÍS in English on Twitter, Facebook and Eskup

Connect with us to get all the latest Spanish news in English

FEATURES

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. / ULY MARTÍN

Rajoy’s new risk premium

Fernando Garea Madrid

As the prime minister embarks on the second half of his mandate, the Bárcenas scandal looks unlikely to go away, while the economy is yet to show signs of recovery

PROTESTS

Streams of social justice

Juan Carlos Bow Madrid

Protesters are making the most of new technologies, such as live video feeds of demonstrations, to help get their message across and gain support

AIRLINE INDUSTRY

Passengers making their way through El Prat's Terminal 1 last week. / gianluca battista

Terminal wars: a case of high cost versus low cost?

Jerónimo Andreu / Cristina Delgado

After years in the shade Barcelona's El Prat is catching up with Madrid Barajas. New rivalry reflects a change in the airline industry as Vueling threatens Iberia

ART HISTORY

A priceless collection left to Barcelona goes up in sfumato

José Ángel Montañés Barcelona

City was left the legacy of Julio Muñoz Ramonet, whose will made no mention of his daughters -- but most of the masterpieces are missing

GENDER AND THE MILITARY

Patricia Ortega is the first woman to rise to lieutenant colonel in the Spanish armed forces / R. A. Pérez (EFE)

No room for women in the army

Lola Hierro / Miguel González Madrid

The number of female recruits in the armed forces has remained stable at around 12 percent since the services were opened up to both sexes 25 years ago

IMMIGRATION