Catalan language learners abroad double since 2003
Catalan language is taught abroad, mainly in university. Last year 1,252 applicants took the language tests held in 76 cities throughout 32 countries.
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The Catalan Government issues 2,700 million euros in retail bonds to generate cash
In order to attain liquidity and taking into account the difficulties getting money from the international markets, the Catalan Government is selling 2.7 billion euros worth of treasury bonds. These will be bought by citizens at bank branches. One-year bonds have a 4.25% interest rate while for two-year bonds it is 4.75%. At the end of the first day of sales, 29% of the bonds were sold. The measure was already taken last October by the previous Government and the totality of the bonds were sold quickly.
The Catalan Government will not open delegations in Mexico, China and Morocco for the moment
The budget austerity measures and the reduction of the public deficit have forced the restructuring of the Catalan Government’s offices abroad and have also impeded the opening of new ones. The Catalan Vice President Joana Ortega explained these changes to the Catalan Parliament’s External Action and European Union Committee.
Barcelona’s Hospital Clínic to start virtual medical consultations for HIV-AIDS patients
Two hundred patients are already attended by webcam. The number is expected to grow to 500 over next two years.
Rajoy claims that Zapatero should pay the Catalan Government 1.35 billion euros from the Competitiveness Fund
The leader of the Conservative and Spanish Nationalist People’s Party visited the Catalan Parliament today. There, he supported the Catalan Government’s claim and asked Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero to fulfil his legal obligations towards Catalonia and pay the money his Government owes.
The Catalan Government practically eliminates the Inheritance Tax for close relatives, which means 102 million euros less in 2012
In the last elections, the elimination of the tax was one of the main promises of the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Coalition, Convergència i Unió (CiU), which controls the Catalan Government. From January 1st 2011, first and second degree relatives will have a 99% bonus on this tax. The decision has been taken in the middle of the debate about public expenditure cuts.
Catalan version of Wikipedia celebrates its 10th anniversary
The ‘Viquipèdia’, the Wikipedia version in Catalan language, is currently ranked 10th out of the 272 languages used in this encyclopaedia quality rankings.
Unemployment increases in Catalonia for another month and reaches 611,269 people
Unemployment registers in Catalonia increased by 8,658 people in March. One in four jobseekers does not receive any public assistance. In addition, training courses for jobseekers have run out of funding and are waiting for the new budget to be approved by the Catalan Government.
"Business must be as innovative as possible. All the staff has to take part”, says the President of Torres Wines
Torres is one of Catalonia's most globally recognised wine houses, with vineyards and wineries in places such as Chile and California. Company President Miguel A. Torres believes that innovation in every step of the process of wine production is necessary. He also stressed the importance of exports to get over the crisis.
The Catalan Government says “enough is enough” to further public expenditure cuts, but Madrid keeps putting on the pressure
On the same day that Catalan hospitals presented their plans to reduce their budget by 10% and cut several services, the Catalan Government’s Spokesperson sent a strong message to Madrid saying that "enough was enough." The Spanish Government answered the calls by the Catalan Executive by saying that if it does not meet the 1.3% deficit objective for 2011, it will run out of cash. Madrid is asking for greater budget cuts. Almost all Catalan political parties, including the People’s Party, back up the Catalan Government, the main exception being the Socialist Party, which supports Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
Only 60% of Catalan residents know how to write in Catalan whereas all can do it in Spanish
A study has found that the Catalan language is used less than Spanish in Catalonia. In addition, only 40% of foreigners are able to speak Catalan. In total 95% of Catalan residents understand the language, 77% know how to speak it and 60% can write in it. When it comes to Spanish almost 100% of residents can both read and write in it.
Who pays for the public deficit? Autonomous Communities vs. the Spanish Government
The Spanish Government demands an additional budget reduction of 3.2 billion euros to Catalonia, while the Catalan Government claims 3.3 billion owed by the Spanish State. Catalan parties have accused Prime Minister Zapatero of reducing his government’s deficit by increasing that of the autonomous communities. The Spanish Government wants to force Autonomous Communities to pay for the deficit by limiting it through specific laws.
Foreign Direct Investment in Catalonia in 2010 at its highest level in 10 years
FDI in Catalonia surpassed the 3.9 billion euros mark in 2010. It represents 34% of FDI in Spain and was almost three times higher than 2009 levels. The Catalan Government is currently negotiating 189 projects that could bring in up to 6.5 billion euros to the Catalan economy.
"As a chef, the most important part is not to damage the product" stated Oriol and Miquel Rovira
The Rovira Brothers make an unrivalled gastronomic duo. They claim that having a close relationship with the producers is a key element to get the best out of the products they use.
The PP or the PSOE will only have CiU’s support if a new regional fiscal redistribution model is agreed, affirms Mas
The President of the Catalan Government Artur Mas announced in Madrid that in 2012, if the People’s Party (PP) or the Socialist Party (PSOE) want CiU’s support to form a new Spanish Government, Catalonia needs more money and greater control over its own finances. Mas made these comments the same day his Government agreed a 400 million euros loan.