Catalan economy grows by 0.2% in the 4th quarter of 2010
The industry sector consolidates its position as the main engine towards the recovery from the economic crisis. Despite this positive data, the 2010 GDP falls by 0.2% in comparison to 2009.
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Patients will know the cost of treatments but they will not have to pay for them directly
The Catalan Minister for Health, Boi Ruiz, announced today that patients will get a symbolic bill when leaving the centre informing them about the drug treatments’ costs. The Minister also stated that “for the moment” patients will not have to directly pay a part of the medical costs.
The “universal pain” from the forced disappeared pictured in an exhibition
Photojournalist Gervasio Sánchez culminates a decade of his work with a new exhibition called ‘Disappeared’. He has pictured the pain of family members who face the loss of a relative disappeared by a dictatorial regime. The work is shown simultaneously in Barcelona, Madrid and León.
Barça’s 35th Copa del Rey final
Barça, the team that has won the trophy the most times, are into their 35th Copa del Rey final. For coach Pep Guardiola this is already his seventh final since taking his place on the bench, and his second appearance in the domestic cup final.
CatalunyaCaixa’s announcement to become a bank puts an end to all the savings banks in Catalonia
All the Catalan savings banks are in the process of becoming regular banks. In the last 6 days, all the savings banks have been defining their future and they are all going in the same direction: transforming their structures into those of a regular bank. The first stage was the merging process that took place before summertime and now, with the new banking rules at international, European and Spanish level, savings banks are finding it easier to continue operating as regular banks. The old model is thus finished.
Pau Casals' widow urges to recuperate the anthem the famous cellist composed for the UN
Marta Casals asks the Spanish Government to ask the UN to recuperate the anthem that 40 years ago Pau Casals especially composed. The anthem was used in the seventies, under U Thant’s term, and then forgot. The famous cellist wrote a song for peace.
Barça reaches this year’s first final (0-3)
Barça qualified for the final of the Copa del Rey after continuing the good work in the semi final first leg by increasing their aggregate score against Almería to 8-0 following classy goals from Adriano, Thiago and Afellay.
School children sit on special balls to improve their posture
The new initiative is based on sports like Pilates. The pilot school is located in Montellà, in the Catalan Pyrenees. The measure was an initiative from the school zone director, who was concerned about future back problems. It was agreed on with the parents, the school and the Catalan Ministry of Education.
Unemployment increased by 26,950 people in Catalonia, 4.79% more than in December
The total number of unemployed people in Catalonia is now 589,623. In Spain as a whole, registered unemployment increased by 130,930 people this January. The total number of unemployed people sets a new historical record, with 4.23 million. Traditionally, January is a bad month in terms of unemployment data due to the end of Christmas sales’ hirings.
More than hundred people demand “Egyptian people’s freedom” in Barcelona
Demonstrators carried signs that said “Free Egypt” or “Up with Egypt, down with Mubarak”. All their claims demanded the President’s immediate resignation.
Objective: another final
FC Barcelona go out to defend a convincing 5-0 first leg win over Almería as they seek to qualify for yet another final (20.00h). Guardiola is taking his full squad, and only the injured Puyol, Jeffren and Iniesta have no chance of playing.
The Catalan Government is on its way to addressing its finances
The Catalan Government sent its austerity and viability plan to the Spanish Ministry of Economy for reviewing yesterday. The plan reduces the public deficit in more than 2 points and sets it at 1.3% for 2011. The finances of the Catalan Government are generating a wide debate at the moment, which is even been covered by international media.
The Catalan Government assures it has enough money to pay salaries
The Chairman of the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Group in the Catalan Parliament Oriol Pujol stated this morning that the Catalan Government could “practically not pay the salaries” of public workers. However the Catalan Government from the same party calmed public opinion saying that although the situation was difficult, civil servants would not need to worry. The Catalan Government needs new credits to get liquidity and is expecting authorisation from the Spanish Government.
Catalan researchers create an AIDS vaccine that can reduce HIV viral load up by three times
It is the most effective AIDS vaccine to date. It has been tested on HIV patients and reduces the viral load up by three times. It needs further test but in the future the new vaccine could replace the current retroviral treatments.
Banc Sabadell extends its capital by 10% and sets its 'core capital' at 8.88%
The Catalan bank Banc Sabadell reaches the 8% milestone by issuing 126.4 million new shares, which represent 10% of its capital. The movement is part of the bank’s strategy to strengthen its capital, foreseeing the future stress tests and the Basel III rules.