Catalan fashion designers Custo Barcelona and Toni Francesc are currently exhibiting their Spring-Summer collections at New York Fashion Week. Custo Barcelona’s collection is inspired by geometric shapes and graphic prints, while Toni Francesc seeks out environmental stability in his pieces this year.
Fewer trips, cheaper and shorter. More and more Spanish companies are choosing low-cost airlines when it comes to business travel. The Catalan company Vueling has felt the effects of this trend and already has 40% of its passengers travel for work-related purposes.
233,538 students in 954 programmes throughout Catalonia will begin the 2010/2011 school year in the new European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The EHEA is an objective of the Bologna Process to create a common and compatible university system throughout Europe.
The Catalan Ministry of Social Care calculates a total of 80,000 diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease patients in Catalonia, a number that is expected to double in the next 10 years. The Ministry is now promoting a new attention model for Alzheimer’s patients based on individualised therapy and family collaboration.
The data compares to July of 2009 and confirms an 8-month trend of continuous increases. For the rest of Spain, there has been an increase of 16.4%. This data confirms construction market’s recovery.
The 11th of September is Catalonia’s National Day, commemorating the day that Catalan troops were defeated while defending Barcelona in 1714. This day Catalonia stopped being recognised as a nation and lost its self-government. Pre-campaigning for the upcoming elections was present throughout this year’s celebrations. The celebration had 2 institutional milestones: the flower tribute to Rafael Casanova, who was Barcelona’s Head Councilman in 1714, and the institutional ceremony at Ciutadella Park. Besides, many institutional and civil society activities were organised throughout Catalonia, such as concerts, demonstrations and tributes.
Economic crisis is hitting some families unmercifully. 40,000 families that could not pay back their mortgage have lost their homes, according to a study made by the General Workers’ Union (UGT) and a consumers association presented today. A judicial procedure that permits banks and savings banks to survey homes and put them up for auction for 50% of their value is putting thousands of families in the risk of social exclusion.
At the ceremony held Thursday night in Barcelona, U.S. novelist Harlan Coben received the award for the RBA International Prize for Crime Writing for his novel ‘Live Wire’. The new book reflects on the limits of sincerity and forgiveness and is part of his hit series starring his alter ego, private detective Myron Bolitar.
The first edition of Sónar Chicago kicked off yesterday with an inaugural show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s famous Millennium Park. Musicians Jimmy Edgar, The Slew, Kid Koala, Bradien and Faraón opened the 3-day festival with their much-anticipated performances. The festival will continue on Friday and Saturday in the Chicago Cultural Center where the up-and-coming Catalan artist bRUNA will play on Saturday.
GDF Suez announces the selling of its 5.01% share in the Catalan energy company Gas Natural Fenosa. The share represents some 46,176,000 stocks that are worth some 560 million euros at yesterday’s price (12.140 euros).
Prices have risen 0.3% during August compared with July, levelling the annual rate. Tourist industries such as hotels, restaurants, bars and organised trips have contributed to the rise in prices. In July, prices dropped by 0.3% in relation to June.
Several foundations from Catalan-speaking territories have launched a newsletter that will portray opinion articles published in the Catalan press but translated into English. The newsletter ‘Intransit’ will be thematic and issued every 3 months. The initiative aims to better present Catalan views abroad.
The L3 will be extended and pass by Sant Just, Esplugues, Sant Joan d’Espí and Sant Feliu. The construction could start in 2012 or 2013 and the service will not be ready until 2015 or 2016.
Two hundred people got together in London this Wednesday to celebrate in advance the National Day of Catalonia, which is celebrated on the 11th of September. At the event, attendees had indulged in gourmet Catalan products such as cava and participated in other Catalan traditions.
Aragon, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community each presented a different appeal before the Court against some articles and dispositions of Catalonia’s main law, the Statute of Autonomy, which was approved in 2006 by a referendum. The magistrates have completely rejected Aragon and the Balearic Islands’ appeals and have “not admitted” the appeal from the Valencian Community.