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The outgoing Spanish Government has refused to pay Catalonia €759 million this year despite being legally obliged to do so and having stated publicly on several occasions it would pay the money. The Spokesperson for the Catalan Government announced Catalonia is risking to miss the deficit objective for 2011 without the funds. Facing this situation and the damage caused by it, the Catalan Government has decided to take the Spanish State to court and explain the issue to European institutions. Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s future Prime Minister, has said that he is not aware of the issue.

Catalonia is fast becoming an international reference point in research projects thanks mainly to a large number of articles being produced and exchange initiatives with other countries being set up. Catalan research centres, especially medical and technical institutions, have accomplished an important level of international recognition after a relatively short period of time.

12 of the 23 players that FC Barcelona have taken to Japan have never appeared in the competition before. However, Valdés, Puyol, Iniesta and Xavi are going for the third time. Before this Tuesday’s training session in Yokohama, Barça players and technical staff met with children from Fukushima, in solidarity with Japan and its nuclear accident.

Catalan CaixaBank (La Caixa's private bank) will need €630 million while Banco Santander will be the bank with the highest capital requirement with €15.3 billion euros. The European Bank Authority (EBA) has tightened the core capital requirements and increased the limit up to 9% which forces European Union banks to recapitalise with €114.685 billion.

Discouraging hotel occupancy rates and low commercial trade during this year’s Puríssima holiday clearly display the effects of the financial crisis in Catalonia and the whole of Spain. The Catalan tourism sector senses that a change has taken place in the profile of visitors to the territory. They generally come from nearby areas, look for offers on the Internet and wait until the last minute to make reservations.

Marvellous Barça performance against Real Madrid who went ahead within a minute but were overwhelmed by a superior FC Barcelona with goals from Alexis, Messi and Cesc. Barça switched to a three man defence after 15 minutes and are now back on top of the Spanish League, though Real Madrid do have a game in hand.

The wine sector foresees an increase of cava and wine consumption in Spain and Catalonia, as well as in the foreign market, during the upcoming Christmas holidays. The price adjustment, one of the measures used to fight the financial crisis, will help to sell one million more bottles compared to the same period last year, however producers predict purchases to be last minute.

’10 milles per veure una bona armadura’, the second album from the Barcelona group ranks first at the annual list of best selling albums in Spain, compiled by The Apple Store

With this operation, the Catalan Banc Sabadell becomes Spain’s fifth largest banking group. The Bank of Spain has decided to accept Banc Sabadell’s offer to purchase the CAM, a savings bank that was rescued and restructured. Banc Sabadell buys CAM after the savings bank completed a €5.25 billion regularisation process to balance its books. Banc Sabadell will take on 20% of the expected losses over the next ten years from CAM’s real estate properties.

The Spanish Government refuses to transfer some of the funds that it is legally obliged to pay Catalonia in 2011. Without this money, the Catalan Government will have difficulties meeting the deficit objective for this year. The Catalan Minister for Finance, Andreu Mas-Colell, considers the stance of the Zapatero Government to be “rude” and ignorant to the needs of Catalonia. Furthermore it forces the finances of Catalonia to be put in the spotlight. Every single Catalan political group, including the Socialists and the People’s Party, have criticised the decision of the soon to be former Spanish Prime Minister, and have expressed their support for Mas-Colell.

The FC Barcelona’s Assistant Manager, Pep Guardiola’s right hand man, returned to training this morning after going through surgery on November 22nd. Guardiola was able to work with the whole squad, including Adriano, to prepare the clásico against Real Madrid. On pitch number 1 at the training ground, reserve team players Cuenca, Soriano, and Muniesa, also took part in the session.

A Barça team with an average age of just 22.7 years in the starting line-up overcame BATE Borisov with exquisite football to end the Champions League group with 16 points. FC Barcelona ends the phase unbeaten and on top of its group.

The ice rink has been fully funded by the private retail sector. It aims to attract locals and visitors to Barcelona city centre in the hope that consumers will spend more in the Christmas period. Catalunya Square is the location for the largest ice-skating rink of its kind in Europe. The attraction has caused controversy because it occupies public space for a private activity in a time of serious economic difficulties.

IESE has been ranked the fourth best business school in Europe in 2011 and ESADE the seventh. Both Catalan education centres have improved their positions since last year’s FT ranking.

The Great Escape Music Festival, in the UK, known for its commitment to up-and-coming groups, continues to support bands from Catalonia and other Catalan speaking areas. The latest edition of the festival brought together groups that have already performed over the past three festivals such as Mishima or Manel. This year the organisers also decided to include an exclusive space in the programme for bands from the Balearic Islands.