A study has found that the Catalan language is used less than Spanish in Catalonia. In addition, only 40% of foreigners are able to speak Catalan. In total 95% of Catalan residents understand the language, 77% know how to speak it and 60% can write in it. When it comes to Spanish almost 100% of residents can both read and write in it.
The Spanish Government demands an additional budget reduction of 3.2 billion euros to Catalonia, while the Catalan Government claims 3.3 billion owed by the Spanish State. Catalan parties have accused Prime Minister Zapatero of reducing his government’s deficit by increasing that of the autonomous communities. The Spanish Government wants to force Autonomous Communities to pay for the deficit by limiting it through specific laws.
Berlin’s Museum is pretending to be an “official” Dalí Museum, with its website www.dalimuseum.de. The Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation won a trial against the German museum, but while a court appeal is pending, Berlin’s Dalí Museum is still open to visitors and using the “official” name.
From this Saturday on Barça face a demanding schedule with the three major titles at stake. In 18 days, Guardiola's side will play 6 games, including the Spanish Cup Final and the quarterfinal of the Champions League.
FDI in Catalonia surpassed the 3.9 billion euros mark in 2010. It represents 34% of FDI in Spain and was almost three times higher than 2009 levels. The Catalan Government is currently negotiating 189 projects that could bring in up to 6.5 billion euros to the Catalan economy.
The Catalan coastal town was nominated in the “Government” category of Twitter’s “Shorty Awards”. The Mayor of Newmark, Coory Booker won in this category. Vilassar de Mar was third, just behind Barack Obama’s Twitter.
The cultural facility is thought to be an adaptable building, a library of the 21st century. The project comes with more than 13 years of delay and it is the first ever Spanish Government-funded library in Barcelona.
The Major League Soccer organisation and CAA Sports have announced that Barça and Manchester United will meet on July 30th as part of the World Football Challenge Tournament 2011 to be played in Landover, Maryland.
The Rovira Brothers make an unrivalled gastronomic duo. They claim that having a close relationship with the producers is a key element to get the best out of the products they use.
The President of the Catalan Government Artur Mas announced in Madrid that in 2012, if the People’s Party (PP) or the Socialist Party (PSOE) want CiU’s support to form a new Spanish Government, Catalonia needs more money and greater control over its own finances. Mas made these comments the same day his Government agreed a 400 million euros loan.
The ‘Volta Ciclista a Catalunya’ celebrates its centenary in style. Alberto Contador has won the centenary edition of Catalonia’s cycling ‘Tour’. Michelle Scarponi and Daniel Martin are second and third respectively.
The Catalan race is one of the oldest cycling events in the world. The ‘Volta’ started in 1911, 24 years before Spain’s own ‘Vuelta’ and only eight years after the first Tour de France.
Under the slogan ‘Also in health, more than a club’, FC Barcelona has unveiled its ‘Smoke-free Camp Nou’ campaign on Monday whose two objectives are to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco and to encourage people not to smoke in the stadium.
Goods transportation is increasing at Barcelona Airport since it experienced a drop in 2009 due to the global economic crisis. Two companies have already announced that they will establish their services in the area. Barcelona Airport transported 104,280 tonnes of goods in 2010.
The board of the Catalan savings bank decided to “temporarily” use public capital in order to meet the new requirements in the sector. This move means it will reach 10.4% of ‘core capital’. Private capital is expected to increase its share “in the medium-term”.