More than 727,000 people were unemployed at the end of March 2011 in Catalonia, 40,900 jobseekers more than at the end of 2010. In Spain as a whole, the unemployment rate has reached 4.91 million people, a rate of 21.29%.
Barça's coach Josep Guardiola hasn’t been distracted by Mourinho's controversy and the complaints before UEFA. On Saturday, FC Barcelona can go a big step further to the league title at Anoeta, and the coach guarantees that his players’ only concern is that game.
The Catalan Government is benchmarked by the American company for using this technology that has enabled saving up to 20% of the costs, according to a representative from the CTIT.
FC Barcelona will present an official complaint about the Real Madrid manager to UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body for what it considers “a violation of basic standards of behaviour”. The UEFA already decided to look on Wednesday's events. In the evening, it was known that Real Madrid also decided to file a complaint against Barça players for going against fair-play. The latter accusation seems quite surprising after having watched the game and Real Madrid's behaviour on and outside the pitch.
According to a study released by the Spanish Observatory of the Wine Market, Catalan wine exports increased by 8.8% in 2010 in terms of revenue, but at a lower rate than other wine producing areas in Spain, with an average increase of 10%. However, foreign customers seem to appreciate the quality of Catalan wine, as its price increased by 3.6%, while the average Spanish wine price dropped by 4.9%.
Elena Salgado, the Spanish Vice President for Finance, wanted to end the debate and discarded transferring the 1.45 billion euros from the fund in 2011. This is the amount asked for by the Catalan Government. The Catalan Minister for Finance has been asking for “co-responsibility”. The same day, the Spanish Senate approved a motion asking the Spanish Government to pay this fund this year as it is its legal obligation. The Catalan Government prefers political dialogue than taking the issue to the courts, as suggested by the Catalan Socialist Party.
FC Barcelona gave a footballing lesson at the Real Madrid’ stadium Santiago Bernabeu, climaxing in two Leo Messi goals -one of which will surely go down as a classic- that put them in the driving seat for a place in the Wembley final ahead of next week’s second leg at the Nou Camp.
The exhibition, which commemorates the 70th anniversary of the first meeting between Salvador Dalí and the American photographer Philippe Halsman, reflects the close ties the two artists kept up for over 37 years. The temporary exhibition ‘Dalí by Halsman’ is a collection of 88 photographs on show until 31st December at the Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol.
Car manufacturer SEAT, whose factory is in Barcelona, is present for the first time in Shanghai. Its cars will be seen in China’s roads as of 2012. Audi also officially introduced its new crossover model, the Audi Q3, which will be entirely produced in Barcelona. Auto Shanghai 2011 closes its doors on April 28 and is the main show of this kind in Asia.
Madrid and Barça face each other yet again this evening, this time in the Champions League semi finals (20.45h CET). The two opposing styles are once again about to clash at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, with FC Barcelona missing the injured Iniesta.
The Catalan Government received 3.2 billion euros last week from retail bonds, 0.5 billion euros more than the initial quantity released on the market. In addition, it will have to issue more debt and it needs the agreed money transfers from the Spanish Government. However, the Spanish Deputy Minister for Finance has rejected the request from the Catalan Government of 1.45 billion euros from the Competitiveness Fund and has warned Catalonia not to include that amount in this year’s budget. The Spokesperson for the Catalan Government accuses the Spanish Government of “acting as a defaulter”.
Visitors can get closer to the centre of the historical Roman stage thanks to a new ramp. Tarraco, Tarragona’s Roman name, was the capital of the Tarraconensis Province and an important city of the Roman Empire. Tarragona’s Roman ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage.
Xenophobic parties such as ‘Plataforma per Catalunya’ and ‘Vía Democrática’ are growing in the Left-Wing bastions near the Catalan capital. They are still very marginal but for the first time they could win some seats in Barcelona neighbouring towns.
FC Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola gave Jose Mourinho’s comments about him short shrift at tonight’s pre-match press conference. Guardiola also insisted that Barça would go into the game at the Real Madrid’s Bernabeu: “proud to defend style of play”. Besides, Guardiola confirmed Iniesta's injury.
FC Barcelona took another step towards the league title tonight with a 2-0 win over Osasuna thanks to a goal in each half from Villa and Messi which leaves them 8 points ahead at the top of the table with just 15 left to play for.