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Thousands join new Spain protest

Thousands join fresh protests in the Spanish capital, Madrid, angered by budget cuts and calling on the government to quit.

Spain jobless rate hits new high

About a quarter of working-age people in recession-hit Spain are unemployed, new figures have shown.

The unemployment rate rose to 25% in the third quarter, from 24.6% in the previous three months, Spain's National Statistic Institute said.

Among workers aged 16-24, the jobless rate was flat at about 52%.

Spanish economy shrinks again

Spanish economy shrinks again (cnn)

LONDON (CNNMoney) -- Spain fell deeper into recession in the third quarter, upping the pressure on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as he seeks more austerity measures and considers requesting a eurozone-led bailout.

Preliminary central bank figures for the quarter released Tuesday showed the Spanish economy shrank by 0.4% compared to the March-June period, with contractions occurring in both government and household spending. Year-over-year, the economy contracted by 1.7% in the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with 1.3% in the second quarter.

Spain, the eurozone's fourth largest economy, is stuck in its second recession in three years. Both the government and the International Monetary Fund are predicting further contraction next year, although they differ on the scale.

Unemployment has risen to record levels around 25%, putting Spain on a par with Greece, and sparking angry protests at the waves of spending cuts and tax increases introduced by the government to reduce debt. 

Spain's PM Rajoy gets mixed regional poll results

Mixed poll results for Spain PM (bbc)

Exit polls suggest that nationalist parties in Spain's Basque Country have won regional elections, an outcome likely to fuel calls for independence. 

Separatists win Basque election - exit polls

Separatists 'win' Basque election (bbc)

Exit polls suggest nationalist parties in Spain's Basque Country have won regional elections, an outcome likely to fuel calls for independence.

Rajoy's conservative party 'wins' Galicia poll

Rajoy's party 'wins' Galicia poll (bbc)

Spain's ruling conservatives win the polls in the north-west Galicia region, exit polls suggest, in a key test of the government's economic policy.

Spanish PM Rajoy faces key vote

Spanish PM Rajoy faces key vote (bbc)

Elections are taking place in the Spanish Basque Country and Galicia, where PM Mariano Rajoy's handling the economic crisis will be tested.

Red Cross to launch Spain appeal

The Red Cross is to make its first ever public appeal in Spain to help those affected by the economic crisis.

It will ask Spanish people to donate money to help 300,000 of the most vulnerable people.

Before the crisis, it mainly helped immigrants but, with one in four adults out of work, more and more Spanish families rely on food hand-outs.

'Eerie feeling on Madrid streets'

'Eerie feeling on Madrid streets' (bbc, VIDEO)

Spanish police have fired rubber bullets and baton-charged protesters attending a rally against austerity, according to reports.

The clashes occurred as protesters tried to tear down metal barriers blocking access to the parliament in Madrid.

The BBC's Tom Burridge visited the scene and said that the demonstration had "more of an edge" than previous protests.

He also described "an eerie feeling" on the streets of the Spanish capital, with the "police wary that this could have turned into something bigger". 

In pictures: Madrid clashes

In pictures: Madrid clashes (bbc)

Rubber bullets at Madrid rally

Rubber bullets at Madrid rally (bbc)

Q&A: Spain's woes

Q&A: Spain's woes (bbc)

Worries are increasing that Spain may become the fourth eurozone country to require a full bailout. 

How Spain's regions got into trouble

How Spain's regions got into trouble (bbc)

Spain's 17 regional governments are a big part of the country's financial problems.

Like the regional savings banks, they are victims of the country's property boom and bust.

Massive turnout for Catalan independence rally

Massive turnout for Catalan rally (bbc) (bbc)

Some 1.5m people flood Catalonia's capital, Barcelona, demanding independence and blaming Spain's central government for the economic woes.

Armed Al-Qaeda' trio arrested in Spain

Al-Qaeda' trio arrested in Spain (bbc)

Police in southern Spain have arrested three suspected al-Qaeda members in possession of explosives and poison, Spanish media say.

They say the suspects are two Chechens and a Turk, arrested in La Linea de la Concepcion.

They are thought to have been planning an attack in Spain. It is reported to be the first time such suspects have been found with explosives.

Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz is expected to give details soon. 

Spanish miners: Rubber bullets fired at Madrid demo

Rubber bullets fired (bbc, VIDEO)

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Madrid to protest against government measures.

Police have fired rubber bullets to quell the demonstrations as minor scuffles broke out after thousands joined a march by miners campaigning against major cuts to industry subsidies. 

Spain: Police fire rubber bullets on austerity protest

Spain: Police fire rubber bullets on austerity protest (cnn)

Spanish police fire rubber bullets and use batons to disperse a group of protesters and coal miners demonstrating against austery measures in central Madrid.  

Spain jobless level falls sharply

Spain jobless level falls sharply (bbc)

The number of people looking for work in Spain fell almost 100,000 in June, a record for the month, to 4.62 million.

The Labour Ministry said the number of people filing for unemployment benefits fell by 98,853, or 2.1%, compared with the previous month.

June is generally a good month for employment as it marks the beginning of the tourist season.

Despite the fall, the unemployment rate in Spain is still the highest in the eurozone. 

Spain's struggling banks may need EUR62 billion

Spain's struggling banks may need EUR62 billion (France 24)

AFP - Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy welcomed Thursday results of two audits of its stricken banks, but said European funds were needed "as soon as possible" to help in their recapitalization.

Rajoy was speaking in Sao Paulo after Spain released the results of audits finding that the country's crisis-torn banks need up to 62 billion euros ($78 billion) to survive a severe financial slump, well within the scope of a vast eurozone rescue loan. 

Spain PM Rajoy says further reforms needed

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said further action is needed to make the economy "more flexible and competitive" after the International Monetary Fund called for wider reforms.

But he stopped short of committing to specific measures, such as increasing sales tax and reducing public wages further, urged by the IMF on Friday.

Madrid has already implemented drastic cuts to reduce its debt levels.

Spanish miners clash with police in Asturias

Seven people are injured after striking coal miners clash with riot police outside a mine in northern Spain, officials say.

Miners protest in Spain's parliament

Miners protest in Spain's parliament (bbc, VIDEO)

Leaders of Spain's miners union have staged a protest in parliament against a proposed 64% cut in subsidies for the mining industry.

The protest took place as government ministers were responding to questions about the banks bailout.

David Cuen reports. 

Spain rescue 'a victory for euro' Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy says

Spain rescue 'a victory for euro' (bbc)

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy says a decision by eurozone ministers to help Spain shore up its struggling banks is a "victory for the euro".

Spain bailout talks 'imminent'

Spain bailout talks 'imminent' (bbc)

Eurozone ministers are due to hold a conference call to discuss a possible bailout for Spanish banks, as the IMF warns 40bn euros is needed.

Jobless Spaniards moving abroad

Jobless Spaniards moving abroad (cnn, VIDEO)

Many jobless Spaniards are moving abroad to find jobs, escaping economic crisis at home. CNN's Al Goodman reports. 

Rajoy Says France's Hollande Doesn't Know State of Spain Banks

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Francois Hollande doesn’t know the situation of Spanish banks after the French president recommended an international bailout for the lenders, Efe newswire reported.

Spanish minister accosted in Street over banks

Spanish minister accosted over banks (BBC, VIDEO)

The Spanish government has announced that the level of bad loans held by the country's banks is at an 18-year high.

The news comes as 16 Spanish banks - including Santander - saw their credit ratings downgraded by leading credit ratings agency Moody's.

Some people have moved their money to new accounts from some of the affected banks - particularly from Bankia, which was nationalised last week.

Gavin Hewitt reports from Madrid. 

Spain's 'Indignants' activists mark protest anniversary

Thousands gather in Spanish cities to mark the first anniversary of the 'Indignants' movement, formed in reaction to the economic crisis.

Bank problems looming over Spain

Spanish unemployment hits record 5.64 million

Spanish unemployment hits record (bbc)

Spanish unemployment hits a new record high of 5.64 million, official figures show, hours after the country's debt rating was downgraded.