The insurance group VidaCaixa makes 249 million euros of net profit in 2010
The insurance group of the Catalan savings bank ‘la Caixa’ earned 19,5% more than in 2009. The acquisition of Adeslas is a positive result for the VidaCaixa Grup.
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The Spanish Government will formally ask to restore Pau Casals’ anthem for the United Nations
The Catalan violoncello player and composer Pau Casals was asked in 1971 to create an anthem for the United Nations by the former Secretary General. However, after Pau Casals death and the change of UN Secretary General, the anthem was never played again. The Spanish Parliament’s Culture Commission came to an unanimous motion to ask the Spanish Government to push for the restoration of the United Nations official anthem.
The Catalan Finance Minister affirms that the savings bank reform will not affect their social work
Andreu Mas-Colell, the Catalan Minister for Economy, reflected on the issue at a ceremony, where savings bank La Caixa and Catalan universities were giving away up to new 20 grants for research projects. The objective is to prevent a possible brain drain in Catalonia. Mas-Colell said that once the sector reforms were accomplished, the financial entities would get more freedom.
Chef Ferran Adrià will facilitate a course at Harvard for the next five years
The famous Catalan chef Ferran Adria was speaking at the Gastronomic Forum in Girona today. He said he would not be participating in conference for the next three years as he will be concentrating on his own brand new foundation. The Gastronomic Forum is a leading congress on cuisine that brings 30,000 people from all the world together.
Franco's symbols are still visible in some streets in Catalonia
More than 30 years after the end of the fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco, some towns have yet to remove the symbols that celebrated the victory of the general back in 1939. In Tortosa, the council is following procedures to change the name of a neighbourhood that refers to the day that the fascists conquered the town.
Barça shows winners’ character (2-1)
Barça had to dig deep to overcome Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp tonight. An early David Villa opener and a 77th minute Messi goal gave them the win which reinforces their position at the top of the table.
The culinary world bids farewell to Santi Santamaria in his native Sant Celoni
The top Catalan chef Santi Santamaria, who has 7 Michelin stars, died from a heart attack in Singapore on Wednesday. His remains arrived today in his native town of Sant Celoni (45 minutes North from Barcelona). The chefs Ferran Adrià, Juan Mari Arzak, Sergi Arola, Pedro Subijana, among others, attended the good-bye ceremony.
Hewlett-Packard will concentrate its marketing services for Europe, Middle East and Africa in Catalonia
The HP International Centre of Barcelona will be fostered in order to get “the maximum efficiency and effectiveness […] avoiding the dispersion in different European centres and countries”. The company will focus its image and printing business’ marketing services for the entire Europe, Middle East and Africa in Catalonia.
The Valencian Government stops Catalan Television broadcasts in Valencia
For many Catalan speakers in Valencia, the measure is a clear attack against their linguistic rights. The Valencian Government created a law foreseeing harsh fines per every day of emissions. The Spanish Supreme Court is to decide on the matter, but meanwhile the emissions had to stop yesterday after 25 years of broadcasting.
Guardiola makes century
Josep Guardiola will be on the bench this Sunday against Athletic Bilbao for his one hundredth league game. Since his debut away to Numancia, Guardiola has led his players to several records.
Miquel Barceló beats his record at a London auction
The masterpiece ‘Tres ics’ is now the artist’s most expensive work. The painting that represents a bullfighting arena was sold at Christie’s auction house in London this week for 1.5 million euros.
The retail group Inditex that owns Zara will invest €190 millions in Catalonia
The multinational clothing company Inditex has announced the expansion of its logistics centre in Tordera (North of Barcelona coast), which will create 500 direct jobs. According to the company, the centre will become the largest and most modern clothing distribution centre in Europe. Inditex CEO announced the decision after a meeting with the Catalan President.
The Mobile World Congress ends with record attendance
This year’s edition of the world’s leading congress on cell phone technology, which was celebrated in Barcelona for the 6th consecutive year, had 20% more visitors than in 2010. More than 60,000 people attended the congress.
The Gunners bounce back (2-1)
Barça lost away to Arsenal in a vibrant Champions League quarter final first leg. Two late goals cancelled out Villa’s opener, but all has yet to be decided at the Camp Nou.
The Catalan chef Santi Santamaria, with 7 Michelin stars, dies at 53
Santamaria was at his Singapore restaurant when he died. The actual causes of the death are still unknown, but the family talks about a heart attack. Santamaria was a defender of the Catalan traditional cuisine. He had two restaurants close to Barcelona and one in Madrid, Toledo, Dubai, and Singapore. He was the first Catalan chef to get three Michelin Stars for his main restaurant, ‘El Racó de Can Fabes’.