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Actor Javier Bardem Joins Spain Culture Crisis Protest

Spanish film star Javier Bardem joined a mass street protest Thursday against economic crisis measures that he said are ruining Spain's cultural sector and the country generally.

The Hollywood star, bearded and wearing dark sunglasses and a simple blue t-shirt, joined hundreds of fellow artists in a demonstration outside the culture ministry, part of a wider workers' protest in the streets of Madrid.

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As World Watches, Merkel Finds Hands Tied On Euro Rescue

As markets and debt-wracked Eurozone countries cry out to Chancellor Angela Merkel for immediate action, a defiant top court and a strengthened role for Germany's parliament are slamming on the brakes.

On Thursday, German MPs will be dragged back from holiday to vote on a rescue package worth up to 100 billion euros ($123 billion) for beleaguered Spanish banks. Germany's parliament has to vote on all Eurozone bailouts.

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Animal Rights Group Wants Pamplona Bull Run Banned

Animal welfare group Vier Pfoten (Four Paws) urged Spanish authorities Friday to ban the famous Pamplona Bull Run, which left 22 people injured and 42 bulls dead this week.

"Four Paws is demanding an immediate break with this cruel tradition, in which many people get hurt and many bulls suffer a painful death every year," the international organization said in a statement on its Bulgarian website.

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Non-Stop Spanish Fiesta a Challenge for Clean-Up Crews

A street cleaner aims his hose at a pile of litter in a Pamplona street, sending it into a gutter -- and forcing revelers at Spain's San Fermin festival to flee to avoid getting wet.

"Watch out!" a young man dressed in white with a red scarf around his neck yells out to his two friends sitting on a nearby kerb drinking beer as the stream of water loaded with plastic cups and wrappers approaches.

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Eurozone Offers Spain 30 bn Euros for Banks

Eurozone finance ministers agreed Tuesday to offer Spain 30 billion euros this month to help its distressed banks as they raced to stay ahead of market skepticism.

After nine hours of talks, Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg premier who also heads the Euro group , said a memorandum of understanding for Spain would be formally signed "in the second half of July," with 30 billion euros ($37 billion) available by the end of the month.

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Report: Eurozone to Force Spain Banks to Boost Core Capital

Eurozone finance ministers will oblige Spain's battered banks to further boost the share of rock-solid core capital on their books at a meeting Monday, the daily El Pais said.

"All Spanish entities will have to raise their high quality 'core capital' to nine percent," the daily said, citing European sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

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Straggling Bull Skewers Runners in Pamplona

A straggling half-tonne fighting bull skewered two Britons and an American on Monday as it turned its horns on panicked runners in Spain's Pamplona bull run.

The bull lagged behind in the pack of six huge bulls and six steers that tore through the northern city's slippery cobbled streets, surrounded by crowds of thrill-seekers dressed in white with red neck scarves.

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Spain Says Jobless Numbers Slide Nearly 100,000 in June

Spain said Tuesday its jobless numbers tumbled by nearly 100,000 people in June, traditionally a bumper month for employment as the tourism season kicks in.

The number of people registered as unemployed fell by 98,853, or 2.1 percent, to 4.62 million in June from the previous month, the Labor Ministry said in a statement.

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Stoner wins Dutch Moto GP, Lorenzo Crashes Out

Australian Honda rider Casey Stoner won Saturday's Dutch Moto GP here after a terrific battle with Spain's Dani Pedrosa, also on a Honda.

Stoner started on pole but soon found himself behind Pedrosa before retaking the lead with nine laps remaining and surging clear to win by a comfortable margin.

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Euro Jumps on EU Summit Deals

The euro surged in Asian trade on Friday after European leaders struck a deal on a $150-billion growth pact to shore up the Eurozone, and opened the door to wider use of rescue funds.

The single currency hit $1.2594 in afternoon trade, climbing from $1.2449 in morning Tokyo trade, while it also rose against the Japanese currency to 99.96 yen from 98.60 earlier Friday.

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