Former politicians active in the private sector rise sharply in two years

Former politicians active in the private sector rise sharply in two years

Beyond the criminal implications, the investigation into former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is raising questions these days among professionals who operate in the busy border between public and private interests. A senior official with political experience was surprised that the appearance of the governor of the Bank of Spain, José Luis Escrivá, is being requested in Congress just because a meeting with Zapatero is mentioned in Judge José Luis Calama’s order, when this type of meeting is common. A former consultant wondered how much a former politician should be paid for a report or advisory work and recalled that at the beginning of the century a former U.S. vice president earned more than $150,000 for speaking for ten minutes at a forum with Spanish businessmen. These are examples that the boundary is blurred. And it tends to widen because the number of former politicians with business activities is increasing.

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Robert Smith, leader of The Cure: "I never thought I would make it past 30... and here I am"

Robert Smith, leader of The Cure: “I never thought I would make it past 30… and here I am”

September 12, 2024. Robert Smith is at the Abbey Road studios in London. Smith has spent time here recently listening to the atmospheric mix of ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, The Cure’s first new album in 16 years. Today, however, he can be found in Studio 3, where, in an interview as rare as it is revealing, he will delve not only into this new record but also into the past and future of one of the most enduring and fascinating musical institutions of British rock.

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The CNMC deals a blow to Aena's investment plan by demanding a reduction in airport fees

The CNMC deals a blow to Aena’s investment plan by demanding a reduction in airport fees

The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) approved on Monday a report that represents a setback for Aena’s investment plan for the period between 2027 and 2031. The regulator recommends a reduction of airport fees by 0.59% annually, compared to the airport manager’s proposal, which advocates increasing them by 3.8% per year to undertake, among other things, the expansion of El Prat airport.

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Feijóo insists on the expulsion of “all” immigrants and rejects the Moroccan “blackmail”

Feijóo insists on the expulsion of “all” immigrants and rejects the Moroccan “blackmail”

Alberto Núñez Feijóo returned this Wednesday to Ceuta, for the second time in just over fifteen days, to demand the voluntary return or expulsion of “all” immigrants who have entered illegally following the massive entry that overwhelmed the autonomous city. From the southern border, the leader of the PP raised his tone against the “inaction and irresponsibility” of the Government three weeks after the crisis and, positioning himself as an alternative Government, sent a clear message to Rabat in case Pedro Sánchez is removed from the Presidency: Spain will not act “under blackmail or threat” because “the Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla is not negotiable.”

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Mbappé's slips ignite Madrid fans: from the 2-0 photo in the clásico to another smiling in the gym

Mbappé’s slips ignite Madrid fans: from the 2-0 photo in the clásico to another smiling in the gym

While Real Madrid was facing an uphill battle in the clásico with a 2-0 from the 18th minute, Kylian Mbappé was watching from the capital as he could not travel due to a hamstring injury. His trip to Cagliari (Italy) with his girlfriend Ester Expósito still lingers, and some disturbing images show him leaving the Valdebebas training ground smiling after Valverde and Tchouaméni fought in the locker room. It was a self-destructive week at Madrid, also for Mbappé.

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The PP believes that the declassified documents from Ceuta reveal a "state lie" and hold Sánchez "directly responsible"

The PP believes that the declassified documents from Ceuta reveal a “state lie” and hold Sánchez “directly responsible”

The PP considers that the documents declassified by the Government are of enormous seriousness and, therefore, they have called for the calling of elections and have warned that the Government “committed a manifest and willful dereliction of duties.” Ester Muñoz, spokesperson for the Popular Party, has argued that, based on all the documentation, it can be concluded that “the Government knew everything that was happening” when more than 70,000 immigrants entered Ceuta on July 30 and 31, revealing a “state lie” and making Pedro Sánchez “directly responsible.”

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Inter gifts the match to Madrid

Inter gifts the match to Madrid

The result could have been scandalous, such was the flood of chances missed by both teams, especially when the match completely opened up in the second half. But before that, what was seen was one team that proposed, Inter, and the other, Madrid, which took advantage of their opponent’s ridiculous blunders to take control of the match. Mbappé and Valverde were the ones to thank Inter for their mistakes and put Mourinho’s team in the lead, who ended up securing a hard-fought victory in their Champions League debut.

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La Fundació Vila Casas files a lawsuit against its former manager for alleged embezzlement

La Fundació Vila Casas files a lawsuit against its former manager for alleged embezzlement

La Fundació Vila Casas, founded in 1988 by the Catalan patron of art and health Antoni Vila Casas (1930-2023), is engaged in an ongoing legal dispute with its former general director and manager, Joan Torras Ragué. The entity has filed a criminal complaint attributing to Torras the alleged commission of three crimes: breach of trust, embezzlement, and document falsification. Allegedly, the defendant unlawfully appropriated around 400,000 euros in just a year and a half, according to the complaint obtained by La Vanguardia.

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This is what Bad Bunny's fans are like

This is what Bad Bunny’s fans are like

What do global artists today like Kendrick Lamar, Rosalía, C. Tangana, and Bad Bunny have in common? They connect with their identity and claim a cultural heritage, whether it be Las Grecas, George Clinton, Camarón, or the Puerto Rican Héctor Lavoe. To the point that this identity ends up being embraced by anyone from any generation, social stratum, and geographic location. This explains why among the fans of Bad Bunny who will gather at the Estadi Olímpic de Barcelona this Friday and Saturday, in his first appearance in Spain on the Debí tirar más fotos tour, you can find both fifteen-year-old Catalan girls from affluent backgrounds as well as young Latin American immigrants or professionals from Barcelona’s avant-garde cultural sector.

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PP and Vox exclude victims of gender-based violence from social housing in Valladolid

PP and Vox exclude victims of gender-based violence from social housing in Valladolid

The municipal government of Valladolid, formed by the coalition between the Popular Party and Vox, has excluded victims of gender-based violence as beneficiaries of social rental housing. The measure, which was announced in May and also increased the minimum years of registration, seeks to extend the criterion reserved for victims of sexist violence to all those who have suffered violence in the family environment.

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