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A8 world news
Thursday 27 July 2017
Spanish PM Rajoy denies knowing about graft deals in party

By ARITZ PARRA fund the party. Wednes- secretary general until officials and other Popular who is the key defendant
Associated Press day’s highly-anticipated 2003, and its secretary gen- Party members, including in the case, considered
SAN FERNANDO DE HENA- hearing was the first time eral until 2004, when the il- two former treasurers, are one of the largest corrup-
RES, Spain (AP) — Spanish that a prime minister has legal funding scheme was among the 37 accused of tion scandals in the coun-
Prime Minister Mariano Ra- appeared in court while allegedly still operating. “I bribery, money launder- try’s modern history. Cor-
joy told the country’s Na- holding office since Spain never took care of the eco- ing and tax evasion in the rea faces a 125-year prison
tional Court that he didn’t transitioned to democracy nomic issues in the party. I “Gurtel case,” named after sentence if found guilty of
know anything about the four decades ago. Rajoy was devoted to political the German translation for controlling the network of
ruling Popular Party’s ac- himself is not accused of activity,” Rajoy told the belt. The Spanish word for aides and companies that
counting practices when wrongdoing, but the court three magistrates during belt is also the last name of arranged free events for
a kickbacks-for-contracts called him to provide tes- the proceeding. Francisco Correa, a busi- the party in exchange for
scheme allegedly helped timony as the party’s vice Businesspeople, elected nessman arrested in 2009 public contracts.q

Britain’s economy stuck in low gear amid Brexit concerns

By DANICA KIRKA Retail and film production
Associated Press showed improvement, the
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s ONS said. Motion pictures
economy hobbled along in were the second biggest
the second quarter, barely contributor from the ser-
recovering from a weak vices sector, growing by
start to the year as indus- 8.2 percent. Manufactur-
trial production and con- ing swung from 0.3 percent
struction flagged amid un- growth in the first quarter to
certainties over the coun- a 0.5 percent decline amid
try’s exit from the European a slowdown in car produc-
Union. tion.
The economy grew by a The results also weaken the
quarterly rate of 0.3 per- likelihood that the Bank of
cent in April-June, a mea- England’s Monetary Policy
ger rate that is barely Committee will raise interest
above the 0.2 percent of rates from their record lows
the first three months of the of 0.25 percent. Though in-
year, the Office of National flation is above the 2 per-
Statistics said Wednesday. cent target, it moderated
Economists have been in June to 2.6 percent from
downgrading their fore- a near four-year high of 2.9
casts for Britain’s economy percent in May.
as the country embarks on “The confirmation of the
the process of leaving the lackluster performance
European Union and nego- British Secretary of State for Exiting the EU David Davis addresses the media during a press of the economy so far this
tiating new trade relations. conference in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, July 25, 2017. year surely also diminishes
Wednesday’s figures show (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) the chance of an interest
that the economy, which economist. cast for British economic prospects for the British rate hike any time soon,
had initially weathered “They don’t look favorable growth this year to 1.7 per- economy. especially as growth pros-
well the uncertainty of the at the moment, given the cent from 2.0 percent pre- Growth in the second quar- pects for coming months
Brexit vote a year ago, is in uncertainties around Brexit viously. Others are more ter was driven by services, have become increasingly
a new, weaker phase. and the pressure on house- pessimistic, with financial which increased by 0.5 skewed to the downside,”
“It’s the underlying trends hold budgets from higher services firm PwC expect- percent compared with 0.1 said Chris Williamson, chief
that matter,” said Lucy inflation.” ing 1.5 percent. percent in the first quarter business economist at IHS
O’Carroll, Aberdeen As- The International Monetary Ratings agencies Moody’s stretching from January to Markit, as he focused on
set Management’s chief Fund this week cut its fore- has also warned about March. the second quarter.q

EU court advised to reject Hungary, Slovakia refugee case

By PABLO GORONDI Hungary, Slovakia, Po- Poland, which the decision legality of the relocation migrants in Italy, now the
Associated Press land and Romania voted said should take in 6,182 plan. The advocate gen- main point of arrival for
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — against the 2015 decision asylum-seekers, supported eral’s position is often an in- migrants making the risky
The European Court of Jus- establishing a temporary the positions of Hungary dication of what ruling the Mediterranean boat cross-
tice should dismiss lawsuits plan to relocate 120,000 and Slovakia. court will likely make. ing to Europe from North
filed by Hungary and Slo- migrants. Advocate General Yves “One thing is very clear: Africa, mostly Libya.
vakia challenging a Euro- Under the deal — agreed Bot, whose role is to pro- relocation works if the po- Gergely Gulyas, a deputy
pean Council decision that at the height of Europe’s pose non-binding legal so- litical will is there,” said EU leader of Fidesz, Hungary’s
EU nations must take in hun- migrant crisis — Hungary lutions for the court in cases Migration Commissioner governing party, called
dreds of asylum-seekers, a would have to temporarily under his purview, rejected Dimitris Avramopoulos. the EU mandatory migrant
court adviser said Wednes- take in 1,294 asylum-seek- arguments from Slovakia He urged EU nations to quota scheme “illegal and
day. ers and Slovakia 902. and Hungary regarding the step up efforts to re-house inapplicable.”q