Spanish economy shows strongest expansion since crisisJanuary 29, 2016 - 14:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Official figures show the Spanish economy grew by a strong 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous three months, the Associated Press reports. The National Statistics Office said Friday the economy grew 3.2 percent for all of 2015, its strongest expansion since before its economic crisis started in 2008. Spain only emerged from recession in late 2013. It's now one of the European Union's fastest growing economies but still has a 21 percent unemployment rate, the second highest in the 28-nation bloc after Greece. Acting conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had hoped the recovery would help him be returned to office in last month's election. His Popular Party won most seats but lost its parliamentary majority and must now clinch support from other parties to stay in power. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. |