Spanish Cortes Generales

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Bullfighting fans will shout "Ole" for the last time in Barcelona's Monumental bullring on Sunday before a ban on the sport takes effect across the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia.

Spain holds 'El Gordo' Christmas lottery, spreading 2.3 billion euros ($3 billion) in winnings. Spain's beloved Christmas lottery sprinkled 2.3 billion euros ($3 billion) in holiday cheer across the country Wednesday, handing out winnings eagerly welcomed by a nation facing 20 percent unemployment.

A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world. ___

Shooting deaths of 3 Spaniards boost pressure on Spain to quit Afghanistan. The shooting death of three Spaniards at a military base in Afghanistan has prompted renewed calls for the government to declare the war on the Taliban a failure and join other coalition countries in withdrawing.

Spain's northeastern Catalonia region bans bullfighting in new bid to be distinct. Lawmakers in Catalonia outlawed bullfighting Wednesday, making it Spain's first major region to ban the deadly, centuries-old ballet between matador and beast after heated debate that pitted animal rights against a pillar of traditional culture.

Spain's parliament rejects plan to ban Islamic veils _ for now. Spain's Parliament on Tuesday rejected a proposal to ban women from wearing in public places Islamic veils that reveal only the eyes.

Spanish parliament set to debate restricting burqas in public, opposition party says. Spanish lawmakers will debate barring burqas in public, joining other European countries considering similar moves on the grounds that the body-covering garments are degrading to women, the leading opposition party said Sunday.

Spanish Parliament OKs labor market reforms, but opposition doubts they will work. Spain's Parliament gave reluctant approval Tuesday to long-awaited reforms designed to boost the economy by shaking up a rigid labor market, with opposition parties worrying the changes are too little, too late and won't make a serious dent in the country's 20 percent jobless rate.

Dollar climbs against euro, major currencies after ratings agency downgrades Spain's debt. The dollar climbed against the euro and other major currencies Friday after another ratings agency downgraded Spain's debt.

Spanish government wins parliamentary approval for emergency economic measures. Emergency measures to cut Spain's bloated deficit passed by one vote in parliament Thursday, saving the Socialist government from an embarrassing defeat and suggesting the depth of resistance to the spreading austerity measures aimed at halting Europe's government debt crisis.

Queen Elizabeth delivers message of austerity in Britain, rest of Europe follows suit. Wearing her diamond-studded crown, Queen Elizabeth II arrived at Parliament in a gleaming horse-drawn carriage to deliver a message of austerity and making do with less in troubled economic times.

Judge who indicted Pinochet, bin Laden suspended from post pending trial in Spanish case. The Spanish judge who became an international hero by going after Augusto Pinochet and Osama bin Laden was suspended Friday for allegedly abusing his authority by investigating what is arguably Spain's own biggest unresolved case: atrocities committed during and after its ruinous Civil War.

Once a high-flier, Spain's super judge stares into abyss amid charges of abuse of authority. As a young man Baltasar Garzon pumped gas to work his way through law school. Decades later, as a crusading judge, he went after the likes of Augusto Pinochet and Osama bin Laden.

Court says Spain's super-judge Garzon may have acted without jurisdiction in Civil War probe. The magistrate known for indicting Osama bin Laden and Augusto Pinochet may have knowingly acted without jurisdiction by probing Spanish Civil War atrocities, a court said Thursday in a ruling that takes Spain's most famed judge a step closer to being put on trial himself.

Spain says it will send 511 more troops to Afghanistan, boosting deployment above 1,500. Spain's defense minister has announced plans to send 511 more soldiers to Afghanistan in response to President Barack Obama's request for more allied help to fight the Taliban.

A Western Sahara independence activist who has been on a hunger strike in Spain for three weeks is now refusing medical care, a spokesman said Monday.

Spain narrows scope of cross-border justice law that had irked allies. Spain's Parliament approved a law Thursday narrowing the scope of a cross-border justice doctrine which had allowed judges to indict people like Augusto Pinochet and Osama bin Laden.

Spanish Judge Bars 2 Basque Pro-Independence Parties From Running in Election. A Spanish judge on Friday barred two Basque pro-independence parties from running in general elections next month, suspending their activities for three years.