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In Spain, two new satellite TV stations recently signed on. They won't be airing 'Judge Judy,' but instead are broadcasting Islamic theology and political propaganda

Bankrupt Spanish Airline Halts Flights

Some 23,000 passengers of Spanair were left stranded across Europe and Africa or rebooking flights when the Barcelona, Spain-based airline abruptly stopped operations due to bankruptcy

Will the Euro Survive 2012?

2012 could be the make-or-break moment for the embattled eurozone. Europe could either continue on the path of ever-greater integration - or return to being a regional group of rival states.

The Failure of the Euro

The euro should now be recognized as an experiment that failed. The political goal of creating a harmonious Europe has also failed

The Double Dilemma Facing Weaker National Economies

At the heart of this particular crisis is the unpleasant fact that the common European currency project is, in its present form, simply not working

Eurozone Rescue or Recession? Fallout of the October Package

It was short-term good news in that it defused 'the bomb' -- the possible catastrophe vortex of failing banks and defaulting sovereigns. The bad news is that it will induce a recession. Banks will create a credit crunch in trying to meet capital adequacy ratios, and the new austerity will create a fiscal contraction

Euro Zone Rescue: Deja Vu All Over Again

The crisis won't be over until the underlying flaw of the euro is fixed -- namely the separation of monetary and fiscal policy. German public opinion has to realise that the euro was built on imperfect foundations and that these imperfections must be corrected. Meanwhile, the Italian president of the ECB will need all his technical and political expertise to keep the Eurozone together

France Teetering on Edge of Financial Precipice

France, like all of Europe, is caught in an economic tsunami, and France is teetering at the edge of the precipice. Every week, it seems, presidents and prime ministers hold urgent meetings searching for a solution, culminating with the G-20 convocation recently. Still, the problem grows only worse

European Union Leaders Reach Deal on Greece, but Worries Remain

European Union leaders have brokered a deal to reduce Greece's debt and hopefully stem the continent's lingering debt crisis. The deal is a major move forward, but it is still only one step in restoring stability on a continent beset by economic woes

Spain: ETA Separatists Declare Cease Fire

Basque separatists declared it is ending its armed struggle for an independent homeland in Spain

Spanish PM Welcomes ETA's Declaration to End Guerilla Activity

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hailed the Basque separatists ETA's declaration to end four decades of violence

Spanish Court Won't Let Cameraman Couso Killing Die

The U.S. embassy in Madrid was able to strong-arm the Spanish government into twice closing the Couso case, but a Spanish court has re-opened it

Precise Solutions in an Imprecise Reality

The plans all are financial solutions to a particular set of financial problems. But regardless of whether they are realistic in addressing the financial problem, the question of whether the financial issue really addresses the fundamental dilemma of Europe -- which is political and geopolitical -- remains

Spanish Judge Frees 5 Terror Suspects

A Spanish judge has ordered the release of five Algerians arrested last week on suspicion of financing al-Qaida-linked terrorist activities in North Africa, saying there is no significant evidence to keep them in jail

Innovation and Foreign Ownership: New Evidence from Spain

Studies have shown that foreign-owned firms are typically more productive. This column presents evidence from Spain that suggests this is mainly due to foreign firms buying the most productive domestic companies

Real Madrid Signs 7-Year-Old Prodigy Leonel Coira To Contract

Real Madrid has signed 7-year-old Leonel Angel Coira. Coira signed to Madrid's youth academy after the club saw him tryout

Richest Spanish Woman Giving Inheritance To Children Early To Marry Civil Servant

Spain's Duchess of Alba, the richest woman in the country with a wealth worth up to $5 billion, will give her children their inheritance early so they will not block her marriage to a civil servant

Spaniards Protest Against Euro-Pact and Austerity Measures

Thousands of Spaniards have come to streets across the country in protest against austerity measures, unemployment and spending cuts

What's New in Spain

While their economies may be undergoing turbulence in 2012, positive changes in France and Spain are also in the air -- making this year a good time to touch down in these essential European destinations

Barca Super-Scorer David Villa Out Six Months

Spanish national team striker David Villa will sit out for six months after sustaining a broken leg in Barcelona's victory over Al Sadd in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals. Villa boasts 51 goals in 82 international matches

Barcelona Takes Clasico from Real Madrid

Barcelona gave up a goal in the blink of an eye but still had Real Madrid seeing red after Saturday's clasico. Barca gave up one of the fastest goals in clasico history but rallied to win 3-1 in Madrid

Nadal Powers Spain to Davis Cup Victory

Rafael Nadal overcame a sloppy start to rally past Martin Del Potro 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) Sunday and give Spain its third Davis Cup championship in four years

Stage Set For 2012 Euro Cup Finals

The stage is set for the 2012 Euro Cup following Friday's draw that saw host Poland and Ukraine getting the top draws while Spain placed in a tougher group. Poland was drawn in Group A along with Greece, Russia, and Czech Republic

Spain: Third Credit Rating Downgrade for Spain in 13 Months

In a span of just a little over one year, Spain has suffered a third debt rating downgrade from Moody's Investors Service. The rating agency cut Spain's rating by two levels to A1 from Aa2

Better Ways Forward for the European Union

The European Union is presently a source of great instability that leaders have yet to tackle. This column argues the current policy response is misguided. The adjustment programmes are bound to fail to achieve sustainable budget deficits, and may result in an unprecedented destruction of economic activity

Steve Jobs May Have Failed Abroad

A Tweet I received after the death of Steve Jobs caught my attention. It said, 'In Spain, Jobs wouldn't have been able to do anything, because it's illegal to start a business in your garage, and nobody would give you a penny.' The comment raises the interesting questions of why there aren't more innovators such as Jobs in other parts of the world

Behind Europe's Debt Crisis Lurks Another Wall Street Bailout

If you want the real reason for concern in the United States about what's happening in Europe, follow the money. A Greek (or Irish or Spanish or Italian or Portuguese) default would have roughly the same effect on our financial system as the implosion of Lehman Brothers in 2008. That is, financial chaos

The Crisis of Europe and European Nationalism

Europe was seen as a work in progress moving inevitably toward unification -- a group of nations committed to a common fate. What was a core vision in 2008 is now gone. What was inconceivable -- the primacy of the traditional nation-state -- is now commonly discussed, and steps to devolve Europe in part or in whole are being contemplated. This is not a trivial event

Barcelona: A Visual Feast

If you're in the mood to surrender to a city's charms, let it be in Barcelona. Life bubbles in its narrow old town alleys, grand boulevards, and elegant modern district. While Barcelona has an illustrious past -- from Roman colony to 14th-century maritime power -- it's enjoyable to throw out the history books and just drift through the city

The Pain in Spain

The Spanish government has been showing the world how to repress an uprising European-style

Spain Announces Temporary Tax Cut to Stimulate New House Sales

Spain announced it would temporarily lower the rate of the value-added tax on purchases of a new house as one method of trying to increase sluggish sales in that sector

Spain: Playing at Revolution

It is never easy to end a revolution. One month after the beginning of the protests which began on May 15 in Madrid and quickly spread to the rest of Spain, most of the camps have been dismantled. Just a few nostalgic souls refuse to abandon their posts in Puerta del Sol in Madrid and Plaza de Cataluna in Barcelona, the two most symbolic squares of these peaceful revolts

Spain May Change Tone on Latin America

The widely expected victory of the center-right People's Party in Spain's next presidential elections is drawing growing attention to statements by party officials that they plan to change this country's foreign policy, and become much more critical of Cuba, Venezuela and other authoritarian regimes. If that happens, it would make a big difference in the Latin America diplomatic arena

Copa del Rey: Barca Eliminates Real Madrid

Barcelona moved on to the semifinal round of the Copa del Rey with a 4-3 aggregate win against arch rival Real Madrid

Pele: 'Messi Doesn't Match Up to Me in Soccer'

Brazilian soccer great Pele stated Argentine and Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is miles away to equaling his legendary feats

Troubled Spain Elects New Leadership

The Spanish people rejected the ruling Socialist government in favor of the center-right Popular Party, electing Mariano Rajoy as the new prime minister and handing the party an absolute majority in parliament. Yet the results of the election highlight the gap between Spain and its southern European brethren

Democracy in Revolution: the Mediterranean Moment

By showing us the possibility of democracy in revolution, the Mediterranean has ignited a revolution in democracy, one that is redefining the meaning of both terms

EU Leaders Announce New Eurozone Rescue Deal

EU leaders announced a new plan to contain the debt crisis in the euro area, after private banks and investors agreed to write off 50% of Greek debt from their books

Can Europe's Divided House Stand?

Conventional wisdom has it that the eurozone cannot have a monetary union without also having a fiscal union. Euro-enthusiasts see the single currency as the first steppingstone toward a broader economic union, which is their dream. Euroskeptics do, too, but they see that endgame as hell -- and would prefer the single currency to be dismantled

The Last Colony in Africa

The Western Sahara is the last country in Africa that has not been correctly decolonised -- instead, the right of the Sahrawi people to post-colonial independence has been frozen in time

Assessing the Damage of the European Banking Crisis

Europe faces a banking crisis it has not wanted to admit even exists

Sergio Aguero's Late Game-Winner Lift Manchester City Over Villarreal

Sergio Aguero chipped in a goal in second half stoppage time and Manchester City overcame a slow start to beat Villarreal, 2-1 in UEFA Champions League match at Etihad Stadium

EUFA Champions League: Barca Solves Viktoria Plzen; Chelsea Rips Racing Genk

Andres Iniesta and David Villa netted a goal each and Barcelona easily nabbed a 2-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen in a UEFA Champions League Group H showdown at Camp Nou

Eastern Mediterranean Olive Oil Producers Seek Markets in Far East

There's a revolution taking place in the eastern Mediterranean and it's all about oil ... olive oil

European Union Spending Cuts and Tax Hikes Hurt GDP Growth

A new round of second-quarter GDP figures shows slowing growth in the EU, which makes for a complicated economic situation, as reduced government spending can further stifle growth. Some economists say that, in tackling this dilemma, European governments are focusing too closely on their balance sheets and neglecting to propose real growth policies

Who's Worse Off: Europe or the United States?

To be sure, both the United States and Europe continue to grapple with slow economic growth, the crushing weight of enormous public debt, and austerity measures designed to trim government expenditures. But many of the similarities between the debt-ridden European Union and the United States end there

Youth-Led Protests Rock Spain

The protest movement that started in the Middle East and north Africa is spreading to other nations as people complain of poor governance and economic hardship under their leaders

Pamplona's Running of the Bulls

Every year, a million revelers pack into Pamplona, Spain, for the raucous Festival of San Fermin. They come to this proud town in the Pyrenees foothills for music, fireworks, and merrymaking. But most of all, they come for the Running of the Bulls, when fearless (or foolish) adventurers -- called mozos -- thrust themselves into the path of six furious bulls

The Divided States of Europe

It is important to understand that the crisis is not fundamentally about Greece. After all, Greece represents only 2.5 percent of the eurozone's GDP, and the bloc's fiscal numbers are not that bad when looked at in the aggregate. The real crisis is the more fundamental question of how the European continent is to be ruled in the 21st century

27.7% of Greek citizens 'living in poverty and social exclusion'

Author: New Europe

Nearly 28% (3,031,000 ) of Greek citizens, according to data released today from the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) for 2010, are living in poverty and social exclusion. The rates refer to 2010, and the economic situation in Greece has deteriorated further during 2011.

GDP contracts by 0.3% in the fourth quarter

Author: New Europe

The latest set of fiscal data from Spain’s national statistical office, the National Statistics Institute (NSI) showed the Spanish GDP, in line with market apprehensions, fell behind the red mark in the final quarter of 2011.

Spanair pulls down shutters due to crash

Author: New Europe

Spanair finally failed to survive the crash. The carrier which went deep in trouble since 2008 after a crash killed 154 people, on 27 January landed its last commercial flight, local reports revealed.

Lower cost for Spanish debt

Author: New Europe

A Spanish sovereign debt-paper auction was successful on 2 February, with demand covering more than the double the offer, which led to a marked fall in interest rates.

Eurozone prepares for overall solution

Author: New Europe

With reassuring signs from Italy and Spain that the two countries are on a sound financial track, applying effective policies on both state deficits and banks' recapitalisation, Greece remains the black spot, given that Ireland has already entered a ‘virtuous circle’ that is solidly based on trade surpluses, while Portugal's problems are considered negligible.

Good news…but only from Rome

Author: New Europe

A significant reduction in interest rates was noted in the auction of Italian treasury bonds of multiple maturities on 30 January.

Spanish crisis at the worst, minister admits

Author: New Europe

Advance figures of an Active Population Survey announced by Spanish Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro on 26 January revealed that more Spaniards have lost confidence in their government amid the ongoing fiscal raucous.

Strike over at Iberia after deal with cabin crews

Author: New Europe

The cabin crews union representing 4,000 employees at the Spanish airline Iberia called off an indefinite strike action scheduled to commence in February after they reached an agreement with the airline management.

Iberdrola invests heavily to improve grid in 2011

Author: New Europe

About €550 million was spent by Iberdrola last year to improve and extend its electricity grid, reports citing the Spanish utility said last week.

Renowned judge stands trial in Spain over Franco-era crimes investigation

Author: New Europe

Tajani visits Madrid to boost Spanish economy

Author: New Europe

Commission Vice-President for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani visited Spanish capital Madrid on 17 January for the first official meeting with the newly elected centre-right government. Tajani had a series of meetings and conferences aimed at boosting growth and competitiveness in Europe and Spain.

Spain

Spain Busines Brief - Thursday February 9 2012
Hopes for EU deal with Greece this evening

Zapatero takes up his seat on the Council of State
The ex Prime Minister will get a 71,000 β¬ annual wage, in addition to his pension from Congress

More Spaniards are smoking now than before the anti-smoking legislation
The percentage of smokers is practically unchanged since 2007

ETA activist arrested in Bilbao
Patxi is wanted as being a collaborator in ETA's Vizcaya cell

Spanish sportsmen upset at French jokes
The Splitting Image programme in France has implied that the Spanish sports success is down to drugs

Judge Baltasar GarzΓ³n - Guilty
The National Court judge has been handed down an 11 year ban from office by the Supreme Court for recording GΓΌrtel suspects with their lawyers in prison.

Measles outbreak in Alicante and Elche
The health department says the outbreak is under control.

Two arrested in connection with Cabopino stabbing
A 23 year old was stabbed to death after an argument in a bar

57 arrested in child porn swoop across the country
Arrests have been made in 21 provinces across Spain and a large amount of material and hard discs have been impounded.

RTVE announces a series of cut backs in spending
Top presenters face a 25% cut in their wages

Spanish Economy Minister highlights importance of today's Greece talks
Luis de Guindos is concerned about contagion from Greece to Spain

Spain Papers Review - Thursday February 9 2012
The comments to Congress by Mariano Rajoy yesterday lead many of the papers.

Stabbed for asking for a cigarrette
The agressor was a 23 year old Irishman

Odyssey tries to stop the US Supreme Court order to send their treasure to Spain
The US Supeme Court is deciding whether to accept the company's urgent appeal

Barcelona reach the final of the King's Cup
The will meet Athletic Club in the final in May

Spain Weather - Thursday February 9 2012
Spain is getting ready for yet another cold spell next weekend.

Judge agrees not to videotape the Duke of Palma in court
IΓ±aki Urdangarin will declare in Palma on February 25

Baltasar GarzΓ³n Franco case now ready for sentencing in the Supreme Court
The prosecutor considers that GarzΓ³n's resolutions were in error, but not criminal.

13 called to the National Court following alleged irregularities in the Pope's visit to Valencia in 2006
It's part of the GΓΌrtel corruption case

Justice Minister says he cannot withdraw gay marriage appeal from the Constitutional Court
It would need the original 50 PP Mp's who presented the orginal appeal in 2005 to come together to withdraw the request.

typicallyspanish.com
Spanish news in English

U.S. court backs Spain over $500M sea treasure
Spain has won a major victory in its long court battle with a Florida-based deep-sea salvage company over rights to an estimated $500 million in silver and gold coins, officials said Wednesday.

Sid Lowe: In defeat, Madrid takes away a moral victory from latest clásico
Here's a date for your diaries: March 27, 2012. That's the earliest that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona can meet each other again. That's when they will play if they get drawn together in the quarterfinal of the Champions League -- and if the first clash is on the Tuesday. If they meet in the semifinal, they cannot face each other until April 17. If that happens, they will play three times in eight days, or possibly maybe even three times in six, because the second league game will be on April 21 or 22.

Investors gain confidence in Europe
Things are looking up in Europe, at least for now, as borrowing costs in Italy and Spain eased Thursday following strong debt auctions.

Spain sets out painful spending cuts
Spain's new government announced a series of spending cuts Friday intended to bring down the country's soaring deficit amid concerns over the European debt crisis.

Spain's monarchs reveal finances for first time
Spain's royal family publicly revealed its finances for the first time Wednesday, as the nation faces an economic crisis and corruption allegations bring increased scrutiny to the monarchy.

Spain face Italy in Group C opener at Euro 2012 finals
Spain's world champions will begin the defense of their European title against fellow football superpowers Italy next June, after both were drawn in Group C on Friday.

Spanish bonds signal tough road ahead
Spain's newly-installed government has done little to restore faith in the country's economy so far, with the first post-election debt auctions drawing sales at their highest rates in years.

Many similarities in Arab Spring, European chaos
The victory of the opposition Popular Party in Spain's general election means that seven leaders or governments around the Mediterranean have been thrown out within the last year, amid an explosion of popular protest. Several more are fighting for their survival. Places often perceived as the cradle of civilization have become bywords for political chaos. The causes are various, but there are common strands that suggest the fallout from 2011 will be with us for many years to come.

Spain turns right to escape crisis
Americans don't usually pay a lot of attention to Spanish politics, but the election of 2004 proved an exception. The election that occurred Sunday should be a second.

Conservative Rajoy set to lead Spain after defeating ruling party
Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy is poised to become the next prime minister of economically embattled Spain, with his ascension assured after the ruling Socialist Party's candidate conceded Sunday's national election.

Immigrant workers leave struggling Spain
For Laura Dominguez, nothing tastes more like home more than mate tea and dulce de leche, both typically Argentine flavors that she missed during the eight years she lived in Spain.

Jobs, cuts to dominate Spanish vote
The campaign for Spain's parliamentary elections was concluding late Friday under the shadow of financial markets that have hammered debt-ridden Spain in the run up to Sunday's vote.

Spain and France: Market says you're next!
Next up on the 2011 Europe Financial Calamity tour? Spain and France.

Protesters take to the streets of Spain
Several thousand demonstrators took to the streets of the Spanish capital Sunday, protesting unemployment a week before voters elect a new government.

Campaign ramps up in economically embattled Spain
Spain's parliamentary campaign formally began Friday and will likely culminate with opposition candidate Mariano Rajoy as prime minister of the economically embattled nation.

Tax evasion is a national pastime afflicting southern Europe
"Wherever the olive tree grows, you won't find much tax being collected," the mayor of a small town in southern Spain told me a few years ago. He shrugged; such was life.

Messi heads 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist
European and Spanish champions Barcelona dominate the shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, the award given to the world's best footballer.

Spain minister warns ETA's end to violence is not end of story
Spanish Interior Minister Antonio Camacho warned Friday that although the Basque separatist group ETA has declared an end to violence, the most difficult task still lies ahead -- ensuring no Spaniards suffer the threat of terror attacks in the future.

Basque group ETA announces end to campaign of violence
The Basque separatist group ETA announced Thursday a "definitive cessation of its armed activity" in a statement published on the website of Gara, a newspaper that the group has used to convey messages in the past.

Moody's cuts Spain's sovereign rating
Moody's has cut Spain's sovereign credit rating, making it the last of the big three rating agency to take action in less than a month as confidence wanes over whether eurozone's fourth largest economy will be able to meet its ambitious deficit reduction targets.

Standard & Poor's downgrades Spain
Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's credit rating Friday, blaming economic malaise and dim prospects.

S&P hits Spanish banks
In the latest blow to the European banking sector, Standard & Poor's on Tuesday announced negative rating actions on 15 Spanish banks.

Spain's Duchess of Alba Weds for the Third Time - at 85
Spain's Duchess of Alba marries a civil servant 24 years her junior

Spain's round-the-clock solar power plant
Typical solar power plants stop working when the sun sets, but a new one in southern Spain, called Gemasolar, can stay awake all night.

Spanish judge frees 5 terror suspects
A Spanish judge released from prison Saturday five Algerian men arrested for suspected Islamic terrorist activities, but ordered them to report to authorities twice a month and not leave Spain, according to a copy of the court order viewed by CNN.

Sid Lowe: Will Enrique get a call-up? Spain's best-ever player, more Mailbag
Why doesn't José Antonio Reyes get a call-up for the Spanish national team?

Police in Spain arrest 5 suspected of financing terrorists
Civil Guards arrested five Algerian men early Tuesday in northern Spain on suspicion of providing logistical and financial support for Islamic terrorist activities, Spain's interior ministry said.

Spain's Catalonia region bans centuries-old bullfighting
In the sandy arena of Catalonia's La Monumental bullring, the traditional bugle signaled the end of an era Sunday as Barcelona hosted its last bullfight.

Sid Lowe: La Liga meeting agenda wilts when confronted by Real and Barca
It was Fernando Roig who said it best, explaining the truth that lies behind the Spanish League or the LFP. "You go to a league meeting and you discuss things, you explain, you talk about your position for half an hour," the Villarreal president told the radio station Cadena Cope, "and then it turns out to be completely worthless. There you are making proposals, analyzing the situation and it means nothing because the decision has been taken by in some restaurant the day before the meeting. You can talk, but the decision has been made and there is nothing you can do."

Europe default risk signal flashing red
Europe default risks are on the rise. Take one look at the market for credit default swaps, and the probability that Greece will default on its $345 billion in debt is near 100%. Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy aren't too far behind.

Sid Lowe: Gap continues to widen between Madrid, Barcelona and the rest of La Liga
Two games, 11 goals and one mighty familiar looking league table. A player's strike denied the Spanish league its opening round of games and put everything back by seven days, turning Week Two into Week One, but it only delayed the inevitable. And the inevitable still arrived with indecent haste, not even hanging on for a fortnight or two. When it did, it brought with it laments and arguments.

Sid Lowe: Brawl helps heal Spain's internal rifts
Peace came via a punch up. Spain came from two goals down to win 3-2 against Chile on Sept. 2, Cesc Fàbregas scored twice to make it five goals in four matches, and Andres Iniesta was so good that one newspaper gave him four marks out of three, the Chile coach saying: "he destroyed us." But that was not the best thing that happened. The best thing that happened was a fight.

Brazil to host World Youth Day, pope announces
Rio de Janeiro will host the next World Youth Day, Pope Benedict XVI announced Sunday to hundreds of thousands of young Roman Catholic pilgrims at the close of this year's event in Madrid.

Pope reaches out to youths in Spain
Catholic youths should not hide their beliefs from their peers, Pope Benedict XVI told them in a World Youth Day speech delivered Thursday in Spain.

Brut or sweet? Spain gets electronic 'tongue' to taste cava
Scientists in Spain say they have developed an electronic "tongue" that can identify different types of the Spanish sparkling wine cava -- a task more usually left to the skilled palate of the sommelier.

Moody's creates more trouble for Spain
Moody's Investors Service downgraded six regions of Spain on Friday, and warned that other regions could also face a downgrade.

Authorities bust international drug money-laundering ring
Authorities in Spain and the United States have busted an international drug money-laundering ring and seized buildings, cars and cash valued at more than $140 million, the Spanish National Police said Monday.

Australian man gored in 2nd day of Spain's running of the bulls
A 24-year-old Australian man was gored in the thigh Friday, the second day of the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

UK arrests man in assassination attempt on Spanish king
British police arrested a man wanted for an attempt to assassinate the king of Spain more than a decade ago, they announced Thursday.

Thousands of Spaniards call for economic reform in new protest
Tens of thousands of protesters converged on central Madrid Sunday as the so-called May 15 movement pushing for political and social change in Spain again took to the streets.

Spain is expelling Libyan diplomats
Spain is expelling the Libyan ambassador to Madrid and three other Libyan diplomats here, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

WHO: E. coli death toll rises to 35
Four more people have died in Germany, health officials said Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths from an E. coli outbreak to 35.

Madrid camp dismantled, but Spanish protesters say work is ongoing
Protesters dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol plaza on Sunday, nearly a month after it sparked large nationwide demonstrations and similar encampments in other cities to demand changes in Spain's political and economic system.

Grant Wahl: Three quick postgame thoughts on U.S.-Spain
Three thoughts after Spain's 4-0 win against the United States on Saturday in Foxboro, Mass.:

Jen Chang: U.S. vs. Spain play-by-play analysis
FOXBORO, Mass. -- Saturday's game beween the U.S. national team and Spain is expected to draw a crowd of over 60,000. Spain of course, is the reigning World Cup champion and has brought a strong squad, although its missing playmaker Xavi and inspirational defender Carles Puyol. The last time these two nations met was in the 2009 Confederations Cup tournament when the U.S. pulled off a huge upset by winning 2-0 and ending Spain's then 35-game unbeaten streak. Spain's playersare a little tired after a long campaign, but expect both teams to play most of their starters for at least the first half.

Sid Lowe: Infighting, fatigue could hurt Spanish team's chances at Euro '12
It would be time for revenge if they knew what time it was -- and if there weren't other things on their minds. This time, Spain's most difficult opponents are not on the other team; they are the men supposedly on their own.

World health officials scramble to stem deadly E. coli outbreak
Infectious disease detectives worldwide rushed Thursday to find the cause of an outbreak of a rare strain of E. coli that has spread to 10 countries and is blamed for at least 16 deaths and hundreds of illnesses.

Warning lifted against Spanish cucumbers suspected in E. coli outbreak
The European Commission on Wednesday rescinded its health warning against cucumbers from Spain, according to a statement from the Spanish Health Ministry.

Conservatives make some key wins in Spanish elections
Spain's opposition conservatives were heading to victory Sunday over the ruling Socialists in local and regional elections, with 84% of the vote counted, according to official results.

Spaniards vote in local elections amid protests
Spaniards voted Sunday in local and municipal elections forecast to inflict deep losses to the ruling Socialists as a week-long protest over mass unemployment continued.

Spain's high court OKs ban on protests, even as dissatisfaction grows
Spain's supreme court on Friday rejected an appeal to overturn the electoral board's order banning demonstrations on Saturday, a spokesman for the court told CNN, confirming Spanish media reports.

Thousands protest economic crisis, high unemployment in Spain
Protests against Spain's economic crisis took a new turn Wednesday as social media networks fueled calls for demonstrators to take to the streets before local elections a few days away.

Quake worst to hit Spain in decades
Residents on Thursday surveyed damage and tried to take in what is being called the worst earthquake to hit Spain in 30 years.

Eight dead after earthquake hits Spain
Thousands of residents of the southeastern Spanish city of Lorca slept outside Wednesday night, hours after the city of about 80,000 was struck by an earthquake that killed eight people, state radio reported, citing authorities.

22 migrants missing off Spanish coast, officials say
Spain's sea rescue service pulled 29 sub-Saharan African migrants from a capsized boat early Friday off the coast of southern Spain, but 22 others who were also aboard are missing, a rescue official told CNN.

Spain says it hasn't officially recognized Libyan rebels
Spain denies it has officially recognized the Libyan rebels' transitional council as the legitimate leadership of Libya, despite sending a diplomat to talk to them, a Spanish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Thursday.

Matadors (Related Stories)
Matador stories in the SI Vault

Spain's jobless rate tops 21% as all major sectors lose jobs
Spain's unemployment rate rose nearly a point to 21.29%, with 4.9 million jobless for the first quarter of 2011, the government reported Friday, as the prolonged economic crisis continues to squeeze the nation.

Sid Lowe: Biggest loser in Barca-Real rivalry could be Spain's national team
MADRID -- In the immediate aftermath of a tense and often fractious clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga on April 16, something terrible happened. It was just before midnight and the final whistle, barely audible over a deafening din, had been blown. Down in the tunnel, away from watchful eyes, beyond the public gaze, a Barcelona player and a Real Madrid player turned and began to head straight for each other. Face to face they came. And then ...

Judge orders 25-year-old man to leave home and find job
A 25-year-old Spanish man has been ordered by a judge to leave home and look for a job after he took his parents to court for stopping his allowance money.

Latest group of former Cuban political prisoners arrives in Spain
A total of 37 former Cuban political prisoners landed in Madrid on Friday from Havana, boosting to 115 the number of former Cuban prisoners who have come to Spain since last July, a Spanish Foreign Ministry statement said.

4 suspected Islamic militants set to go on trial in Spain
Four suspected Islamic militants are due to go on trial Thursday afternoon in Madrid for allegedly aiding fugitives from the Madrid train bombings of 2004, a National Court spokesman told CNN.

Sid Lowe: Real's relief at Champions League quarterfinal berth
MADRID -- Jose Mourinho was fighting a losing battle Wednesday night. Not on the pitch, but off it. Real Madrid finally won a knockout tie in the Champions League, the competition that it likes to think it has a hold of and the one that certainly has a hold over it. After six years of failure, it finally reached the quarterfinal, a huge roar greeting the final whistle as it defeated Lyon 3-0. By its own measure -- and the European Cup is the team's measure -- the biggest club of all had stopped being a big club at all. Now, at last, it is back.

Spain orders review of nuclear power plants
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero Wednesday ordered a review of his country's nuclear power plants in light of the crisis unfolding in Japan, where workers are battling to contain radioactive materials at a plant after an massive earthquake and tsunami.

Madrid to mark 7th anniversary of train bombings
Friday marks the seventh anniversary of the Madrid train bombings -- coordinated attacks on four morning-rush commuter trains that killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800.

After 7 years, memory of Madrid train bombings remains powerful
In advance of the seventh anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, ambulance technician Esther Lopez went back for the first time to the scene where she aided the wounded and transported the bodies of the dead.

Asia, Europe stocks sell off
Asian markets fell sharply and stocks in Europe were also under pressure Thursday, following China's surprise trade deficit and another downgrade of Spain's credit rating.

Spain downgraded by Moody's
Moody's Investor Service downgraded Spain on Thursday over concerns about its sluggish economy and the central government's questionable ability to control finances throughout the country.

Police find body of U.S. student missing in Spain
Police in Spain found the body of missing U.S. college student Austin Taylor Bice, 22 early Tuesday in Madrid, authorities said.

Family of missing American student hires private investigators
The family of an American college student who has been missing for more than a week in Madrid has hired private investigators from California to help search for him, the student's father told CNN on Monday.

Friends conduct search in Madrid for missing American student
Friends of an American college student who has been missing for a week in Madrid searched for him Saturday near a discotheque where he was last seen.

Search is on in Spain for American student not seen since Saturday
An American college student has not been seen since early last Saturday after a night out with friends in the Spanish capital. His father, who has since rushed from San Diego, California, to Madrid, is hopeful the police will find him.

Cuba frees 2 political prisoners against their wishes
Two prominent Cuban dissidents who had refused to leave prison were released against their wishes on Saturday as the Cuban government continues to free opposition activists arrested during a notorious crackdown in 2003.

Spain shutting down restaurant for defying smoking ban
Authorities on Thursday ordered the closure of a restaurant for repeatedly violating the nation's tough new anti-smoking law, the first such shutdown in Spain, officials told CNN.

ETA-linked party rejects violence, seeks spots in Spain elections
Leaders of the outlawed Batasuna party on Monday publicly rejected the violence of the armed Basque separatist group ETA and said they intend to run candidates in the May 22 municipal elections in Spain.

Sid Lowe: Pressure on Real and Barca builds
Álvaro Arbeloa promised to keep fighting despite Real Madrid's defeat at Almería last Sunday night. Teammate Sergio Ramos shook his head and lamented the result: It's hard, he said after the game, to take this defeat. Kaká, meanwhile, was defiant: "I don't think this defeat is definitive," he was reported as saying in the sports newspaper AS.

Spanish police seize 'largest, most sophisticated' cocaine lab
Police in Madrid seized what they called the "largest and most sophisticated cocaine laboratory" in Europe known to date, and arrested 25 people, Spain's national police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Police arrest suspected top computer programmer for ETA
Police arrested a suspected top computer programmer for the Basque separatist group ETA in France Tuesday, the Spanish Interior Ministry said.

ETA announces permanent cease-fire in Spain
The Basque separatist group ETA said Monday it was declaring a permanent cease-fire.

Sid Lowe: Real Madrid's Team of the Decade, 2000-2010
Here's one man's choice for Real Madrid's Team of the Decade, 2000-2010:

Smoking at Spanish restaurants, bars banned
A law in Spain that went into effect Sunday has banned smoking in indoor bars and restaurants, giving the nation some of the toughest smoking restrictions in western Europe.

Spain's popular Christmas lottery pays out $3 billion in prizes
Spain's El Gordo, or "the fat one," annual Christmas lottery paid a hefty $3 billion in prize money on Wednesday to thousands of people testing their luck in Spain's deep economic crisis.

Sid Lowe: The hype for Barcelona vs. Madrid goes into overdrive
Contrary to what you might have heard, the world will not end on Monday night. The sun will rise on Tuesday morning. And there is life beyond the clásico.* It's just that right now, it doesn't feel like it -- it feels like nothing else matters, like no other games exist, like no other teams do. Every year Barcelona versus Madrid, already the biggest club game in world soccer, seems to get bigger. Even the old title seems worthless now. Derby? No thanks, this is the clásico. It's even moved on from that. Now it's the Super Clásico. Carry on like this and soon we'll run out of superlatives.

Stocks hit 2-year highs
Stocks closed at two-year highs Thursday, with two of the three major indexes hitting their highest levels since September 2008. Investors looked on the brighter side of mixed reports on housing and jobs that came out before the opening bell.

Man goes on rampage, kills 4 in Spain
A man armed with a rifle killed four people in two towns near Barcelona on Wednesday, CNN affiliate CNN+ and Spanish media reported.

Flights resume after all air traffic controllers return
Spain reopened its airspace Saturday after it was shut down due to a strike by air traffic controllers, the country's airport authority said.

Madrid cop drags man off tracks as train arrives
An off-duty police officer named Angel leaped off a subway platform Friday in Madrid, Spain, and dragged a fallen man off the tracks just as a train arrived.

Military in charge of Spanish air space after controllers walk out
The Spanish government put the military in control of air space late Friday to get commercial jets flying again after a surprise air traffic controller strike stranded tens of thousands of travelers, the deputy prime minister announced.

Only one of the PIIGS matters. S is for Spain.
The market has been referring to the problem nations in Europe all year as the PIIGS. But maybe it should be the piigS.

Spain arrests 7 suspected extremists
Spanish authorities arrested seven alleged Islamist extremists Wednesday who dealt in providing stolen travel documents to terrorist groups, the national police said.

Jonathan Wilson: Barca teaches Real a master class
Greatness is not measured in medals alone but in style. "Great clubs," Arrigo Sacchi said, "have had one thing in common throughout history, regardless of era and tactics. They owned the pitch and they owned the ball. That means when you have the ball, you dictate play and when you are defending, you control the space."

Spain's Socialists take big hit in key regional election
Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero suffered a political reversal on Sunday when his party sank in elections in the powerful northeast region of Catalonia, around Barcelona.

Spain and Portugal take center stage
Worries about the health of some European economies, specifically Spain, Portugal, and Ireland are rearing their ugly head.

Sid Lowe: La Liga gets it all wrong with clásico
And so at last it's official: Barcelona versus Real Madrid, Spain's clásico, will be played at 9 p.m. on Nov. 29. That's MONDAY, Nov. 29. It will be the last game of jornada, or Match Day, 13.

Pope urges Spain to shun secularism
Pope Benedict XVI defended religion from critics Sunday as he dedicated the Sagrada Familia church, a still-unfinished emblem of the Spanish city of Barcelona.

Venezuelan official sought by Spain in court
A high-level Venezuelan official wanted by Spain in connection with links to a Basque terrorist group was due to testify Wednesday in a Venezuelan court looking into his extradition, the South American nation's top prosecutor said.

Unemployed security guard tapped as Spain's top snoozer
An unemployed security guard from Ecuador is Spain's top snoozer.

Snoring to success in Spain's first national siesta championship
The competitors started off by lying down. On blue sofas. Some in pajamas. Most fast asleep and a few on the verge of snoring.

Sid Lowe: Mourinho plays a dangerous game with the Spanish media
MADRID -- And so the iron curtain came down. No, not in East Europe; in Northeast Madrid. There is something cinema-esque, something consciously, almost laughably melodramatic about the way prying eyes are kept off the training pitch at Real Madrid's Valdebebas HQ, out near Barajas airport. It's hard to see it happen and not think: Smoke and mirrors. It's hard not to giggle and think of spies and the Communist bloc.

12 Britons arrested in Spain on suspicion of drug trafficking
Spanish authorities have arrested 12 Britons on suspicion of drug trafficking in nightclubs on Spain's eastern Mediterranean coast and on the island of Ibiza, the country's Civil Guard said Monday.