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3.93 million international tourists visited Catalonia in the first quarter of 2014, which represents a 10.4% increase compared to the same period of 2013. On top of this, 2012 and 2013 were already excellent years for international tourism in Catalonia, posting significant annual increases. In the first quarter of 2014, the growing trend seems to be continuing and 10% more foreigners visiting Spain traveled to the land that has Barcelona as its capital. With 3,929,163 foreigners, Catalonia is the Autonomous Community in Spain receiving the second highest number of tourists during these three winter months, only surpassed by the Canaries, which welcomed 4,077,759 international visitors.

Researchers from the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Catalan capital’s CELLEX Biomedical Research Centre (IDIBAPS-UB) have found the essential role played by cholesterol in cell mobility and tissue invasion, which also means its role in cancer propagation. In fact, this research, led by Professor Carles Enrich, is a key study for better understanding of cancer metastasis – the process in which cancer cells invade healthy tissues – and progresses the discussion on the relationship between cholesterol levels and cancer incidence. The paper is published in open access ‘Cell Reports’. In short they found that the so-called “bad” cholesterol (LDL cells) promotes cell mobility while “good” cholesterol (HDL cells) avoids cell propagation. The study opens new therapeutic paths to blocking cancer metastasis.

The Catalan highway and telecom company Abertis has closed a €291 million deal to buy the remaining 42.3% of the shares of the Rutas del Pacífico highway management enterprise. Abertis, which is a world leader in the highway management business, already controls 57.3% of the South American company and now it has bought Capital Riesgo Global, Grupo Santander and Inversora de Infrastructuras (Invin) the rest. The new operation will be completed in the second half of 2014, although the Catalan multinational will not have to pay the €291 million until August 2019. With this deal, Abertis will also take control of 50% of the Autopista Central highway company.

This year the Barcelona International Comic Fair celebrated its 32^nd edition by looking back at the golden age of superhero comics and the wars that shaped History. Organizers FICOMIC increased this year´s event space from 19,000 to 32,000 square meters, which resulted in attendance figures of 106,000 throughout all four days and an increase in sales of comics and other products. The Fair Director, Carles Santamaría, stated that “weare satisfied with the high participation of the audience in an edition that has beaten its record for space”. The festival was once again characterized by the presence of well-known names of the comic universe, such as Spanish artists Paco Roca and Francisco Ibañez, Canadian Ramón K. Perez and Maltese Joe Sacco.

Nike and FC Barcelona unveiled this Wednesday the new home kit for season 2014-15 season under the motto "Made to win", with stars from the present first team and the future of the club uniting as the side look to the future. From the famous La Masia to the iconic Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s footballers are synonymous for a unique playing style and philosophy for nurturing young talent to craft victory on the pitch. The home kit celebrates the return of the original Blaugrana for the 2014-15 season with a bold and classic look. The kits include Nike Dri-Fit technology and better fitting for comfort and performance. They are made with recycled plastic bottles; the shorts are 100% recycled polyester, the shirts are 96% and the socks are 78%.

Piqué’s contract, which runs until the end of next season (30 June 2015), has been extended for four more seasons. The Catalan defender has played 266 games for FC Barcelona in 6 seasons. He has scored 20 goals and has won 16 titles so far. The new contract will keep Piqué at the Catalan club until the end of the 2018/19 season and will be signed within the next few days. After coming up through the academy system, Piqué spent three years with Manchester United and another season with Zaragoza before returning to Barça in 2008, coinciding with the start of the Guardiola era.

FC Barcelona has announced the signing of the keeper from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Marc-André Ter Stegen, and the departure of José Manuel Pinto after six and a half years of service to the team. In addition, youngsters Gerard Deulofeu and Rafinha Alcantára will be returning to the Club after a year out on loan at Everton and Celta Vigo respectively. The Catalan winger and the Brazilian born midfielder both came up through the Masia and they have put in impressive performances on loan this year. Ter Stegen is one of the new signings for the 2014/15 Barça squad, announced by Football Director Andoni Zubizarreta and FC Barcelona's Board of Directors. On top of this, they also confirmed that José Manuel Pinto will no longer defend Barça’s goal now that his contract has expired.

On Tuesday the Japanese car manufacturer presented the new Nissan Pulsar, which is a new 5-door version of the existing compact car, at Madrid’s Automobile Fair. The new vehicle will be assembled in Barcelona’s Zona Franca plant, located next to the city’s harbour. In order to build the new Pulsar, Nissan will invest €110 million in the Catalan plant and will hire up to 1,000 workers by 2015. Nissan’s Barcelona plant was already in the news a few days ago as it began to produce the new e-NV200 electric van for the global market. The new Pulsar will go into production in July, to be on the market from October. Nissan is planning to produce 80,000 units of this model per year.

Exports from companies based in Catalonia reached €14.69 billion during the first 3 months of 2014, a 4.1% increase on the same period of 2013. Catalan exports stagnated in 2013 on 2012 figures, with 0.1% growth, after a few years of significant increase. The figures from the first quarter of 2014 point towards a recovery of export growth, mostly thanks to the month of March, when exports grew by 7.8% compared to the same month of 2013. In the whole of Spain, exports increased by 3.2% in the first quarter and Catalonia represented 25.2% of total Spanish exports. The chemical industry accounted for 27.6% of Catalan exports, followed by capital goods and the car industry. 65.4% of Catalonia’s exports went to European Union markets, while exports to Asia accounted for 9%.

The FC Barcelona Board of Directors have this evening confirmed  Luis Enrique Martínez as the new first team coach, replacing Tata Martino and following a proposal from Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta. Luis Enrique, 44 , will sign a two year deal. The new manager will sign his contract at noon on Wednesday and hold a press conference at 1:00 PM CET in the Auditori 1899.This wil be Luis Enrique’s third spell at FC Barcelona, after having arrived in 1996 as Player and coming back in 2008 as the Barça B's coach.

The Catalan Executive raised the alarm on Monday: the Spanish Ministry of Industry is planning to take away 1 of the 2 multiplexes run by the Catalan Public Television Broadcaster (TVC), which means reducing its number of TV channels. By halving the spectrum available for TVC – which is traditionally the leader for TV audiences in Catalonia – the Spanish Government will oblige the broadcaster to reduce its number of channels. This will decrease its audience and therefore its influence, which might also bring a reduction of advertising income and a consequent weakening of the public service. The Catalan Government sees "an undoubted" political motivation in this decision, aiming to decrease the influence of Catalan-speaking media by rendering TVC "residual".

Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino stepped down as FC Barcelona’s manager after the match against Atlético Madrid. The Argentinian, who was accompanied by Andoni Zubizarreta, announced the decision in the post-match press conference.  “I announce the mutual decision with the club to no longer manage FC Barcelona,” he started. He continued by thanking, “regardless of today’s result,” the club for the support he received throughout the season. “I thank the club for everything its given me, I thank President Bartomeu, Football Director Zubizarreta and Sandro Rosell for having confidence in me.” He added: “I also thank the fans for their respect, and I thank everyone that worked with me and my staff, and I especially thank the players.”

Barça were finally unable to lift their fifth Spanish League title in six years, as Atletico Madrid held them to a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou to win the league and condemn Barça to a second place finish. Only a win would do for Barça and the team pushed for it right till the end – when Pinto went up for a final corner – but despite going ahead through an Alexis goal in the first half, Godin’s headed equaliser after the break proved enough to give the visitors the point and the title.

On Sunday 18^th of May, the Port of Barcelona will register its highest passenger record in a single day this year with 31,600 people travelling in 1 of the 7 cruise ships docked in the city's harbour. "The city of Barcelona is, economically speaking, the great beneficiary from the arrival of cruise ships" in its harbour, stated Sixte Cambra, President of the Barcelona Port Authority.  According to the organisation’s calculations, in a single day these tourists will spend €3.5 million in the city's local economy. Five of the seven cruise ships offer a turn-around service from Barcelona, which means that passengers start or end their sea journey in the Catalan capital. The two other boats are making a layover in the city.

In the first debate ever among the official candidates to chair the European Commission, Catalonia's self-determination process, the referendum and the EU membership of a hypothetical Catalan independent state was discussed. After a question from the debate's host, Italian journalist Monica Maggioni, about Scotland and Catalonia, each of the five candidates shared their views on the issue. Juncker (People's Party) and Schultz (Socialist) called for respect for constitutional frameworks and insisted that Scotland and Catalonia are internal matters for the UK and Spain. Verhofstadt (Liberals) emphasised that the EU has to listen to the citizens and that it cannot intervene in a negative way, as it has done so far in this issue. Keller (Greens) promised that if Scots and Catalans vote for independence, she will work for an automatic membership. Tsipras (Alternative Left) recognised the right to self-determination but suggested greater autonomy within their respective countries as the best solution for Catalonia and Scotland.