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IN a burst of do-it-myself enthusiasm I marched into the Madrid paper store De Papel(Calle Justiniano 7; 34-91-308-0152) recently and bought some beautiful hand-painted paper with which I planned to decoupage a rather lackluster lamp. But later that same day, with scissors in hand, I couldn't make the cut. The paper, an orderly arrangement of concentric turquoise and cobalt circles limned in gold and white, suddenly seemed like a brilliant modern redux of the bold blue-and-white Iznik pottery prized by the Ottoman sultans for centuries. It was too perfect to consider sacrificing even a strip of its loopy forms and is currently at the framer being put under glass. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on the proposal of Spanish government to give chance to illegal immigrants to apply for residency papers. Political criticism regarding the proposal; Requirements in getting the residency papers; Objective of the proposal.

A Spanish court is investigating accusations that members of a Catholic religious order sexually abused disabled residents at a center run by the order, a diocese spokesman said Wednesday. Jose Juan Jimenez, spokesman for the diocese of Cordoba in southern Spain, said the diocese had been cooperating fully with the investigation since being informed of it a month ago by court officials. The home for the people with disabilities is run by the Franciscan Brothers of the White Cross in Cordoba. The newspaper El Pais said two members of the order were brought before a Cordoba court on Wednesday and named as suspects. The paper said they were ordered to stay away from the center. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

MADRID -- Spain's Supreme Court announced Thursday that an investigating magistrate could proceed with a case against a crusading judge known internationally for indicting Osama bin Laden and the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, according to court papers. The judge, Baltasar Garzon, is facing possible charges of abuse of power over his decision to investigate crimes committed during the dictatorship of Franco. If Judge Garzon is indicted he will be automatically suspended. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

CHICKPEAS are often cooked with spinach, from India to the New World. But in southern Spain, they are mostly made with chorizo. Combine these ideas, and you have a rich, deep, full-flavored stew perfect for a fast dinner on a cold night. The texture of the dish is heightened by drying the cooked chickpeas between paper towels, then shallow-frying them in olive oil. Instead of being mealy, they become crunchy-mealy -- a change most people, I think, will like. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Manuscripts discovered in Spain may be unpublished novels left behind by the Chilean author Roberto Bolano, The Guardian of London reported, citing the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia. The works discovered when papers of Mr. Bolano, who died in 2003, were being sorted include novels titled ''Diorama'' and ''The Troubles of the Real Police Officer.'' Also found were documents that may make up an additional volume of ''2666,'' an epic 898-page novel by Mr. Bolano that was released in the United States last year. New works by Mr. Bolano have continued to be unearthed since his death; a previously unpublished novel, called ''The Third Reich,'' was acquired at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. The literary agency that represents the Bolano estate declined to comment to The Guardian. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Spain's first female defense minister, whose pregnancy became a symbol of Spain's new commitment to sexual equality, began maternity leave Tuesday after giving birth to a boy. The decision to appoint Carme Chacon, 37, defense minister in April raised eyebrows in Spain, a traditionally macho society whose new sexual equality laws placed the country, at least on paper, at the vanguard of Europe. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero named Ms. Chacon to Spain's first female-dominated cabinet, in which nine of 17 members are women. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports a daily newspaper called "Público" has been launched to allure young readers and to defy the ravages of new technology and free papers in Madrid, Spain. According to Ignacio Escolar, editor of the newspaper, the newspaper has no editorials, no news of bullfights and no advertisements for prostitutes. Newspaper sales in Spain is falling slowly than elsewhere in Europe.

The article presents information on the ham sandwiches offered by Café Viena in Barcelona, Spain. Jabugo means ham and flauta means a flute, a name for a bread. The pigs of Jabugo, near Seville, are special and of a good breed. The flauta is also very good. It can be filled with any ham. The crust of the sandwich is crispy and the interior is tender and chewy. Tomato sauce is spread on the bread to add the right amount of moisture and acidity. The sandwich is served in a waxy paper.

Reports that winemakers in Oyon, Spain began attaching a small strip of metallicized, refractive paper to bottles of young wines in 2000 and the 1998 Rioja crianza wine. Reason for the move; Information on the strips attached to the wines; Cases of Rioja wine fraud in Spain in 1999.