The European presentation of the Audi Q3, which will be unveiled in Catalonia, is the focus of the first day’s attention at Bacelona’s Automobile Fair. Electric cars are set to be one of the main attractions of this year’s Fair. The ‘Saló de l’Automòbil’, in its 36th year, will run until May 22nd.
Catalan pop group Manel or opera singer Josep Carreras are also part of the line-up, which includes up to 22 performers, including Julio Iglesias. The festival is a classic milestone of Catalan summer at the Costa Brava. Concerts ara held next to the sea in the evening.
The transformation of the savings bank La Caixa’s industrial holding, Criteria into the private bank CaixaBank is reaching the final stage. Criteria’s stockholder board approved duplicating the current stocks by issuing 300,000 convertible bonds. The new bank expects increasing its market share in Spain by 50% through business activity increase and new acquisitions in the period 2011-2014. The announcement is made the day after billionaire Carlos Slim bought 900,000 CaixaBank stocks.
Two earthquakes of 5.1 and 4.5 Richter degrees hit the Murcia Region (South-East Spain) on Wednesday afternoon causing at least 9 deaths and injuring 300 people. 30,000 people spent the night in the streets, fearing further shocks. All the Catalan parties suspended their electoral campaigning for 24 hours and a minute’s silence spread across Catalonia.
FC Barcelona have won their 21st Spanish League title, and it’s now three-out-of-three for manager Josep Guardiola, who has produced a winning style that has amazed the footballing world.
The Universitat Ramon Llull (URL) was created 20 years ago and brought together several prestigious educational institutions, such as ESADE, IQS and Blanquerna. Over the last 20 years, the university has gained recognition and is now on the European Association of Universities’ board. Banco Santander’s President Emilio Botín, the Spanish Minister for Education and the Catalan political class gathered for the 20th anniversary celebration.
The airline Vueling, which has its main base at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, has a network of permanent operating bases, to which Paris Orly will be added if French authorities give the green light. Vueling’s Chairman, Josep Piqué, announced that a minimum of six planes will be based at France’s second airport. Across the 21 routes it has in France, the airline estimates that it will carry 26% more passengers in 2011 when compared to last year.
The most desired point (1-1). Barça are the Spanish League champions after drawing away to Llevant. Keita scored the goal that eventually secured the third consecutive title, in Guardiola’s third year as coach. There are still two matches to play, but it is mathematically impossible being overtaken Real Madrid. And now, Barça faces its next challenge: the Champions League final against Manchester United.
Ferran Adrià has been considered for many years as the best chef in the world and his restaurant El Bulli, the world’s best restaurant. Together with Lisa Abend, ‘Time’ magazine’s Spain correspondent explained a movie project based on Abend’s book ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentices’. The movie will show the experience of young cooks in El Bulli.
An exhibition on the rise and fall of the Catalan industrial and financial bourgeoisie in the 19th century titled ‘Gold Fever’ inaugurates the new CaixaForum in Girona. After the merger with La Caixa, the cultural centre of the former savings bank Caixa Girona has been transformed into the new CaixaForum.
The Spanish Government risked losing an important vote at the Parliament if members of the Catalan Socialists had voted the same they did in the Senate. However, they voted together with the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE). By obliging the PSC to choose between its vote coherence and its loyalty to the PSOE, the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Coalition CiU dislocated the PSC in the middle of the municipal election campaign. The rejected motion had asked the Spanish Government to reconsider its stance and pay the Competitiveness Fund’s 1.45 billion euros in 2011.
FC Barcelona need just one point to mathematically win the Spanish League title, but Guardiola says “we need to be well prepared mentally because you have to win points, they don’t give them away”. However, if Real Madrid does not win all the 9 points still to be decided, Barça will become this year’s champion.
Tourists from Eastern Europe will increase their presence in Catalonia this summer season, according to experts in the sector. Girona is now linked with 60 destinations while at the same Ryanair is reducing its flights from the airport and in a dispute with the Catalan Government over subsidies. Spanair will operate Ryanair’s flight to Madrid if no other airline does it.
A special exhibition is showing Pablo Picasso’s art with lithography, a printmaking technique he explored. Picasso made a total of 450 pieces using this craft, which he revolutionised. The museum in Barcelona already owns 300 of them.
Major League Soccer and CAA Sports have announced the fixtures for the Herbalife World Football Challenge to be held in the United States. FC Barcelona, which will participate between July 30th and August 6th, have also announced that Turkish Airlines will be the main sponsor for the team’s US Tour.