The Spanish government's big reform package announced this week will slash 56.4 billion euro ($69 billion) from the public deficit in the next two and a half years, daily El Pais reported on its website on Saturday. The figure falls short of the 65 billion euros Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday would be generated through tax hikes and spending cuts aimed at convincing the EU and investors it is serious about reform. The 8.6 billion euro shortfall will be covered by other measures such as new taxes on the energy sector which are expected to be announced later this month, El Pais said, citing ... (full story)