Catalan institution forced to stop funding foreign universities offering Catalan Studies
The Ramon Llull's co-ordinator for education tells the CNA why budget cuts have forced the institution to re-evaluate its language partnerships
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Catalan cinema challenges –a debate
CNA talks to some of the most important figures from the Catalan cinema industry to discuss the main challenges for the future after 2010 was described as “the best year” to date for movies filmed and produced at home
Spanish minister for Infrastructure "committed" to the new Mediterranean Corridor
The Minister of Public Works, José Blanco, announces his desires for the first stage of the project, linking Valencia and Barcelona, to develop in September. The train that will connect the main Mediterranean cities with Europe by rail is a "priority", says Blanco.
Full fiscal autonomy for Catalonia in exchange for a “permanent and stable ally”
Catalan President Artur Mas will give full support to the next Spanish government if it accepts a new fiscal arrangement for Catalonia. Mas says his party, the centre-right nationalist Convergència i Unió, is the only political force able to become a counter-power to the Spanish conservatives, the most likely winners of the next general election
CaixaBank obtains a net profit of 833 million euros
The results are 11% higher than last year. The group stresses that has strengthened its capital standing by 11.3%, 2.4 points higher than in December 2010.
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There is "suspicion" in Spain about the use of Catalan as the main language in Catalonia's schools, admits Rubalcaba
"Catalanophobia exists" and "Catalonia has to communicate its ideals if it is to be understood by the rest of Spain" says the socialist candidate to the next Spanish general elections
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Catalonia is committed to take a firm stance against the deficit despite all the backlashes, Artur Mas tells the Wall Street Journal
Characterised as one of the most powerful men in combating the Spanish financial crisis, Catalan President Artur Mas presents his forceful economic strategy to the US newspaper
Two Catalan banks fail the stress tests in worst case scenarios but would be approved if all provisions would have been taken into account
Unnim and CatalunyaCaixa would have 4.5% and 4.8% of core capital respectively. However, the provisions that all Spanish banks must have to face difficult times have not been taken into account as they did not exist in other European banking systems. With these funds taken into account, Unnim and CatalunyaCaixa would have approved the tests with 6.2% and 6.3% respectively. CaixaBank, the most important Catalan bank passes the test with 6.4%.
One of the European Parliament Vice Presidents considers Catalonia a model for linguistic minority rights
László T?kés, from the Hungarian minority in Romania and member of the European People’s Party, supports the “linguistic rights” of minorities in front of a European Union “sometimes too ignorant”. “I don’t like integration being replaced by assimilation”, he stated.
The Brandery proposes experimenting with urban fashion in a new space for concerts, fashion shows and exhibitions
The 5th edition of the urban and contemporary fashion exhibition The Brandery takes place in Barcelona from the July 13th to the 15th in the Monjtuïc venue. The fashion fair has created a new space called ‘Brandtown a FashionXperience’ that will host concerts, fashion shows and exhibitions.
The Catalan Government and the People’s Party reach an agreement on the 2011 budget
The deal introduces new restrictions on public spending while protecting health, education and social services. The conservatives have asked the Government to change its foreign policy strategy and make it more commercially oriented.
Albino gorilla ‘Snowflake’ movie to première in December
Directed by Andrés G. Schaer and featuring popular actors Pere Ponce and Elsa Pataky, the film hopes to reach an international audience. It combines 3D animated features with real images. The movie pictures Snowflake, the popular albino gorilla that lived in Barcelona’s zoo.
The European Parliament passes a rule that may end labels only in Catalan
A product labelled only in Estonian could be sold in Catalonia, but not a product labelled only in Catalan. The new rule authorises the Spanish Government to force all products in Spain to be labelled in at least one official language of the EU, and therefore ban products only labelled in Catalan from being sold within Catalonia. The new European rule aims to authorise Member States to prevent products from being labelled only in a non EU language, such as Chinese or Arabic, but it has consequences at local level. Three Catalan MEPs pushed for an amendment, but it was rejected.
Catalan GDP will grow 1.1% in 2011 and 1.6% in 2012 according to CatalunyaCaixa
A new study by the Catalan savings bank corrects and improves the previous economic forecast. It is now believed that in 2011, Catalonia will grow at a 1.1% annual rate, and at 1.6% in 2012. However, without the public sector budget cuts, the Catalan economy will grow at 2% this 2011. The export sector has reached historical maximums, and will lead economic growth. However, economic growth in 2011 will not be translated into an improvement in employment.
The British School of Catalunya to be opened in 2012
The private school will follow the British curriculum so, that when the students finish high school, they will be able to attend any public or private university either in Spain or in the United Kingdom. It is the latest addition to a series of international schools in Catalonia, which infuse an international and intercultural perspective into their teaching programmes, or they directly follow a curriculum from another country.