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Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’ produced by the Catalan company Mediapro and the Catalan Public Television Broadcaster, has been nominated for Best Movie, Best Director, Best Art Direction and Best Adapted Script and has already won a Golden Globe. The film ‘Chico y Rita’ has been nominated Best Animated Feature. The movie was developed in the Catalan capital by Barcelona-based Javier Mariscal. However, the Catalan film ‘Pa Negre' has not been nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

The prestigious medical journal ‘The Lancet’ publishes findings from Barcelona’s CRESIB researchers who work in Papua New Guinea. The study has found a an oral treatment for Pian’s disease, also known as Yaws. The treatment could lead to the total eradication of the illness.

Barcelona’s independent fashion fair kicks off this week, running from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th. The fall-winter 2012/2013 collections of prestigious brands and designers such as Desigual, Pierre Cardin or Mango will be presented in the centre of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter in the Plaça del Rei (King’s Square) and the Saló del Tinell, inside the former King’s Palace.

‘L’exili’ (The Exile) is part of Barcelona-based Teatre Lliure’s series “Cartes lliures” (Free Letters) directed by Pau Carrió. The series focuses on the correspondence of Catalan intellectuals, and each “chapter” has a theme. The veteran theatre actors Núria Espert and Josep Maria Flotats, who are considered to be two of the best actors in Catalonia, perform in that focusing on the exile. They read on stage the letters of intellectuals who were obliged to leave Catalonia because of the Spanish Civil War.

With the win in Málaga, Barça finished the first half of the Spanish League season in second spot, with an exceptional home record and Leo Messi equalling César’s goalscoring record. However, the away record is not as good as recent seasons.

The company plans to open 60 new stores around the world in 2012, and build a new logistics centre in the town of Viladecans, located south of Barcelona. This year, the Catalan brand plans to launch a household linen collection and collaborate with the famous Cirque du Soleil to present new designs inspired by the spectacle.

The participation of the Catalan business community and local governments in the management of Barcelona’s Airport has been halted. This has been a long-term claim by many in Catalonia, as they believe that the centralised management of the airports has clearly benefited Madrid over Barcelona. The new Spanish Minister for Public Works and Transport announced the decision to cancel the tender process to privatise the management of Spain’s two main airports, Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat. The reasons for the decision have been put down to a negative time for the markets and a desire for the value of the assets to increase in the future.

A sensational display from Barça at La Rosaleda against a threatening Málaga side. A stunning hat-trick from Messi, and another goal from Alexis, reflected the FC Barcelona superiority. Víctor Valdes made a vital triple save in the 15th minute.

The project’s aim is to design maritime platforms able to produce hydrogen, generated with the help of green energies. The platforms could be used to provide service to oil tankers or to fix even fish farming, among others potential uses.

The 2011 price increase is 0.5 percentage points below the 3% inflation rate of 2010 thanks to a drop in the price of fuel and oil and the leveling off of tobacco prices. Inflation in December 2011 was 0.2 points higher compared to December 2010.

Two archaeologists from the Universitat de Barcelona have determined 52 pairs of the genetic sequence of a jaw found in the Catalan coastal town of Sitges in 2005, popularly known as the “Jaw of Sitges”. The experts could genetically identify the fossil as a Neanderthal.

Foreign tourists generated a record amount of revenue last year. The number of visitors also grew by 5.7% in 2011, according to the Catalan Government. Furthermore, Catalonia’s stand at Europe’s most important tourist fair, FITUR, has been declared the best in the current campaign.

MNAC’s new Director and its new President presented their plan to foster the identity and singularity of a museum known for hosting, among others, the most important collections of Romanesque art in the world. More space, more contemporary artwork and more visitors are the three keywords that will guide the museum’s new stage. Furthermore, the MNAC wants to vindicate its position as Catalonia’s top museum and within the museum’s first division at international level.

Gerard Piqué offered his views on the FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid Spanish Cup game. The Barça centre back has never lost to Madrid, and was delighted with yet another victory at the Bernabéu. When asked about Pepe treading on Messi’s hand, he said that others are to judge, not FC Barcelona players.

FC Barcelona presented their manager, who on Wednesday celebrated his 41st birthday, with an epic comeback win at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Spanish Cup. Puyol and Abidal scored the goals.