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Rajoy will appear in front of Congress to discuss the Bárcenas corruption scandal

July 22, 2013 07:35 PM | Julian Scully

The Spanish Prime Minister has finally declared that he will stand before the Spanish Congress to face questions over the alleged illegal financing of senior members of his People’s Party (PP). During a press conference on Monday, Rajoy announced that in late July or early August he will face questions from parliamentary groups in an attempt to resolve the ongoing Bárcenas scandal. Rajoy has been under pressure from opposition parties to explain the scandal which involved alleged illegal cash payments given to the Prime Minister and senior members of the PP from former party Treasurer Luis Bárcenas. Spanish law stipulates that it is illegal for government ministers to receive an extra salary aside from their government income.

‘Marca España’ Deputy Director sacked after insulting Catalans on Twitter

July 22, 2013 05:00 PM | ACN

The Spanish minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García Margallo, says comments by Juan Carlos Gafo were “intolerable” and “absolutely inconsistent” with the organisation which aims to promote the Spanish image abroad. The now sacked Deputy Director said on Twitter: “F*** Catalans. They do not deserve anything at all. His words caused outcry in Catalonia, so he later apologized saying he has “nothing against Catalonia or Catalans”. He said he got “mad at hearing the Spanish national anthem booed” during the Barcelona 2013 FINA Championship.

Tito Vilanova will not continue as FC Barcelona coach due to health issues

July 19, 2013 09:52 PM | ACN

The President of FC Barcelona, Sandro Rosell, announced on Friday evening that the Catalan manager will not continue at Barça due to ongoing treatment of his illness. FC Barcelona will not travel to Poland on Saturday. During this evening’s press conference, president Rosell announced: “After evaluating the results from the routine check-ups, which Tito Vilanova underwent this week, he was presented with the option to continue treatment to control his illness which will make it impossible to continue his responsibilities as the first team manager of the senior side.” On 22 November of 2011 FC Barcelona announced that Tito Vilanova had a tumor on his parotid gland and he underwent emergency surgery.

Judge indicts the Catalan Socialist Party’s CFO for the ‘Método 3’ political espionage case

July 19, 2013 06:23 PM | ACN

In February, the offices of the private detective company Método 3 in Barcelona were searched by the Spanish Police, who brought to court many documents and computers in order to start a thorough investigation on political espionage in Catalonia. The case is affecting the People’s Party (PP), the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Coalition (CiU) and the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC). The judicial investigation is still ongoing, but much of the information – most of the time contradictory – has been leaked in the past few months. The case’s main focus is the recording of a private conversation at a Barcelona restaurant between the leader of the Catalan PP, Alícia Sánchez-Camacho, and the former girlfriend of the oldest son of the CiU’s historical leader, Jordi Pujol. Who is behind the recording is still a mystery, but some voices have pointed towards the PP, the CiU or the PSC. However, the PSC is the first one to have one of its members indicted.

15th FINA World Aquatics Championships to commence in Barcelona

July 19, 2013 06:15 PM | Julian Scully

From 19th July to 4th August, Barcelona will host the 15th FINA World Aquatics Championships and will bring together 2,500 athletes from 180 countries to compete at the highest level. Events will be held at 4 unique facilities all within a 10 minute walk of each other, which will enable spectators to gain access to a wide variety of events. Ten years after hosting 10th Championships, Barcelona will again unite the world of aquatics for two weeks of events that is bound to create a spectacular atmosphere throughout the city. The budget of the Championships is roughly €25 million and will be broadcast to an estimated 520 million viewers in 160 countries.

La Garrotxa: a rough but welcome land

July 19, 2013 12:20 PM | Guido Cengiarotti

The tourist slogan for the north-eastern Catalan county of La Garrotxa is “Rough land” because of the touch of the area’s volcanic clay. Aside from that unappealing logo, La Garrotxa is one of the most interesting tourist zones not only in Catalonia but also in Spain. This volcanic area, the widest in the Iberian Peninsula, has numerous natural, cultural and gastronomic interests. Its privileged location, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees, makes the zone a perfect place for tourism in the heart of the countryside, allowing the visitor to forget about stress and discover unique landscapes, gastronomy, history and folklore.

Former three-Michelin-star Catalan restaurant Can Fabes to close its doors after 32 years

July 18, 2013 09:37 PM | ACN

After 32 years of success in the world of haute cuisine, this internationally renowned restaurant will cease its operations due to financial reasons. The restaurant located in Sant Celoni, 50km north of Barcelona, was decorated with 3 Michelin stars for 18 consecutive years, being the first restaurant in Catalonia to receive such a distinction. Can Fabes became famous under the leadership of Catalan chef Santi Santamaria, who passed away in February 2011. Santamaria was the first Spanish chef to be awarded with 7 Michelin stars, with restaurants in Catalonia, Madrid, Toledo and Singapore. Following his death the group of restaurants was directed by his daughter Regina Santamaria. “We tried to keep fighting for Can Fabes, but it was not possible as the restaurant was no longer economically viable” she told the CNA.

The two Spanish MSF workers kidnapped in Kenya 21 months ago are released

July 18, 2013 09:17 PM | ACN

The family of Montserrat Serra has confirmed to CNA the release of the two aid workers. The Catalan Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut, from Madrid, were working for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and they were captured in the Ifo2 refugee camp of Dadaab in Kenya on the 13th of October 2011. MSF has ensured the two workers are “in good health conditions and they are waiting to join their loved ones as soon as possible”. An MSF team is already assisting the two aid workers. It is believed that immediately after the capture Serra and Thiebault were moved to Somalia, where they have been kept prisoners since. During the 645-day ordeal, silence and caution has been imposed by the negotiators.

A joint exhibition at Barcelona’s CaixaForum and MACBA to display vast collections of contemporary art

July 18, 2013 08:53 PM | ACN / Pau Cortina

MACBA and CaixaForum unveiled their first joint exhibit on Thursday, which shows one of the most important contemporary art collections in southern Europe. The project is called 'Art dos punts. Barcelona viu l'art contemporani' (Art in two sites. Barcelona is moved by contemporary art) and contains a selection of 400 works by 125 artists with a focus on modern and post-modern art. The collections of both institutions contain up to 6,000 pieces. The Director of MACBA, Bartomeu Marí, explained that the aim of the project is to create a story “that challenges recent history and puts us in a better position to understand the contemporary world.”

Barcelona’s 22@ innovation district aims to become the main economic powerhouse of the city

July 18, 2013 04:23 PM | Marc Ferragut

Many international and national companies have set up their headquarters in the 22@ area during the last decade, located in Poblenou, an old industrial district known as the “Catalan Manchester”. The borough continues to change and grow in many ways. Improved traffic distribution for the Plaça de les Glòries or the Design HUB are just some of the new proposals. At the moment, Poblenou is a landscape of contrasts: from hi-tech buildings to abandoned factories. It is a unique urban landscape as well as an ongoing challenge from an architectural, economic and social point of view.

The Catalan President and CDC leader, Artur Mas, guarantees he will react if the party’s corruption scandal is proved

July 17, 2013 09:37 PM | ACN

The day after the judge ended his investigation and stated he believed the governing party Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya (CDC) had earned 5.1 million in an influence peddling case, the party’s leader and President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, talked in front of the Catalan Parliament. Mas stated that the judge’s suspicions about CDC were “not proved” and he underlined the trial had not started yet. The Catalan President said he believed in the word of the party members involved in the scandal. However, he also stated that, if at the end the suspicions are backed up with proofs, he “will be the first one to act” as the party leader. The opposition parties asked Mas for further explanations.

Ski mountaineering world-champion Mireia Miró: “Technology has eliminated the feeling of wildness in nature”

July 17, 2013 07:27 PM | Júlia Manresa

Mireia Miró visits Barcelona a few times a year. Despite not feeling uncomfortable in an urban environment, where she grew up, she spends 90% of her time in the mountains. One of the reasons for being in Barcelona is to deal with media. She sometimes swaps mountain marathons for interview marathons. But it doesn’t bother her: “I think it is also important to tell the world what we do and what are our principles”.

Emirates announce plans to run daily Airbus A380 flights between Barcelona and Dubai

July 16, 2013 10:05 PM | ACN

As of 1 February 2014 the 517-seat A380 will link the Catalan capital with Dubai on a daily basis. It will be Spain’s first regular flight of the world’s largest passenger airliner. The flight will increase the route’s current passenger capacity by 44%. “Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations out of those that were unveiled in 2012,” stated Emirates Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Hubert Frach. The airline is currently running the flight with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Judge believes the governing and main Catalan party CDC earned €5.1 million in an influence peddling case

July 16, 2013 09:30 PM | ACN

CDC fully denies the accusations. The judge investigating one of the major corruption scandals in Catalonia, the so-called ‘Palau’ case, has finished the four-year investigation and now the trial can start. The judge accuses Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya (CDC) – the Liberal party within the governing Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Coalition CiU – of having illicitly received €5.1 million from the construction company Ferrovial through donations made to Barcelona’s Palau de la Música concert hall. The judge believes the money was allegedly given in exchange for the allocation of public work contracts. The former treasurer of CDC and a former Catalan MP, as well as two managers of Ferrovial are accused. In addition, the judge will also bring to trial the main managers of the Palau de la Música, Fèlix Millet and Jordi Montull. Millet and Montull are also accused of having stolen €26 million from the cultural organisation.

Catalan schools to provide part of their curriculum in English and to teach a second foreign language

July 16, 2013 09:17 PM | ACN

Plans have been made by the Catalan Ministry of Education that will adjust the curricula of primary, secondary and vocational training schools to provide part of them in English. In addition, pupils will be taught a second foreign language, prioritising the mother tongues of new-comers. The changes will prioritise the improvement and expanding of foreign language learning by Catalan pupils. A pilot program will be run by 50 schools starting next September and by 2018 all Catalan schools should follow the plan. The new model will ensure that by the end of their studies students will have mastered both Catalan and Spanish, be proficient in English, and 75% of them will understand a second foreign language.