The Catalan pharmaceutical and chemical company was identified in a Wikileaks cable from the U.S. State Department as one of three strategic items the United States had in Spain, together with the natural gas pipeline from Algeria and the Gibraltar Strait. Grifols leads the blood plasma-based products’ market in Europe and is expanding its U.S. presence.
The Comic Book and Illustration Museum aims to contribute to the development of a cultural industry with a long tradition in Catalonia. Professionals ask the already approved museum to open its doors by 2013 in Badalona, next to Barcelona.
The ruling coalition Government promised the immediate abolition of the Inheritance Tax in the last election campaign; however the public finance situation has complicated the move. The Catalan President took the floor to stress that his Government is preparing a radical modification of this tax system. He wanted to stop the debate launched on Sunday by the Government’s Secretary.
PIMECAVA is the Association of Small and Medium-sized Cava Producers. It is chaired by Mercè Rosell, who claims in a video interview that the only way to compete against French champagne is by marketing cava as a quality and prestigious product. In order to do that it is fundamental to have the support of big cava companies like Freixenet and Codorniu and a good relationship with exporters.
The ‘Taksee’ application, available for Android and iPhone, uses Internet connection to call a cab.
The Town Hall’s twitter is a finalist in the ‘Best Government’ category in the third edition of the US-based Shorty-awards. @vilassardemar is the only European site nominated.
Messi, Keita and Piqué star in a new spot under the slogan "Put Racism Offside". March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The team gave their stricken team mate Eric Abidal, as well as their fans, a great present with the three points against Getafe that take them one more step towards the title. Alves and Bojan were Barça’s scorers.
The Bank of Spain today released the debt of the Spanish Autonomous Communities. Catalan public debt represents 16.2% of Catalonia’s GDP and increased 36.7% in one year. The new Catalan Government stressed its austerity and stability plan, which will cut public expenditure by 10%.
The Japanese writer wins the 23rd edition of Catalonia’s top award. Other winners have included Jimmy Carter, Aung San Suu Kyi, Claude Lévi-Strauss and Harold Bloom, among others.
The technology multinational will open a Customer Centre in the Scientific and Technological Park of Lleida to serve the entire Iberian Peninsula and international clients.
The Mayor believes the Catalan capital has a real chance of being chosen as the starting city to the world’s most famous bike race and the Tour organisation says it is a ‘remarkable candidature’.
FC Barcelona have been drawn against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League quarter finals. The first leg is at the Camp Nou on April. If Barça qualify for the semi finals, they will meet either Real Madrid or Tottenham, with the second leg in Barcelona.
The strike threatened by Spanish airport staff was finally cancelled as an agreement was reached between the ministry and trade unions. Air Berlin announced a flight increase in Barcelona: 38 flights per week will link the Catalan capital with Düsseldorf. The Spanish Minister for Transport insisted that the tender process to manage the airport will be issued before the end of the year.
Discovering the optic properties of ‘graphene’, a new material for which the 2010 Physics Nobel Prize was awarded, is one of the institute’s projects. Frank Koopens came from Harvard to Catalonia to work on this project, together with other scientists.