FC Barcelona and UNESCO against racial discrimination
Messi, Keita and Piqué star in a new spot under the slogan "Put Racism Offside". March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
international
Tariq Ramadan: “Europe does not care about democracy in the Arab countries but rather its geo-strategic interests”
The Islamic intellectual, Tariq Ramadan was interviewed by CNA. “We are afraid of the arrival of immigrants, but the best thing to do is develop the countries of origin”. The grandson of the Muslim Brotherhood’s founder criticised Europe’s lack of commitment with the democratization of the Muslim world as revolts go on and racism grows in countries like Switzerland and Spain.
Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean resigns
The Secretary General for the Union for the Mediterranean Ahmad Masa’deh decided to step down as in his words, “the general conditions against which he accepted to assume the job have changed”. This statement can be interpreted as his way of denouncing how the Israeli-Palestine conflict is practically paralysing the work of the UfM.
Catalan Police help break up a ring of international criminals
Catalan Police assisted the investigation of an international criminal ring this week. The criminals were involved in money laundering and the financing of cannabis plantations. It is estimated that the group could have spent about 3 million buying properties in Catalonia’s Costa Brava.
Barcelona’s 6th International Percussion Festival ready
According to the artistic director of the festival Josep Maria Dutra "this year has the best line in the history of the festival”. The festival combines a broad international representation with a small Catalan one.
Spain will recognise South Sudan’s independence, but not Kosovo's
If South Sudan citizens finally vote for independence, the Spanish Government will respect it and recognise their independence. However, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trinidad Jiménez, announced that Spain would not review its stance on Kosovo. The Balkan country declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 but Spain is one of the 5 EU Member States that still refuses to recognise it.
Germà Gordó: the right-hand man in the shadow
The new Secretary of the Government was the party’s CFO and one of Artur Mas’ most trusted collaborators. As his duties were internal, Gordó was not a well-known figure. However, his role in the party was essential, as it will in the new Government. Gordó will remain somewhat in the shadows, as his new responsibility is to ensure the Government’s functionality. He will be in charge of preparing Government meetings and ensuring that decisions are implemented. He will also directly manage some concrete services, such as the Government’s offices across Catalonia and abroad.
Consulate corps believes relations with the new Government will remain positive
Consuls from all over the world and representatives of international organisations attended the swearing-in ceremony, in which Artur Mas took office. All of them stressed the “good relations” between their countries and Catalonia, which they believe will not change.
Italian resident of Barcelona wins best Euro-Mediterranean story of the year
Barcelona resident Alfredo Zucchi wins first place for his story 'Milena è una bomba' in the ‘Sea of Words’ contest, organised by the European Institute for the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Anna Lindh Foundation.
The Union for the Mediterranean cannot function without the Member States commitment, states its Secretary General
In an interview with ACN, Ahmad Masa’deh affirms that the UfM should work aside the Middle East political conflict and focus on economic and social projects. The Euro-Mediterranean Summit has been postponed twice this year and most of the Member State experts have not yet been sent to the UfM headquarters.
The Union for the Mediterranean budget drops by 60% and Member State experts have not yet been sent in
The organisation’s headquarters in Barcelona are half-empty with only 25 people currently working. The Arab-Israeli conflict is stopping the UfM's set up and the start of projects. The Secretary General of the UfM states that the organisation's work should focus on technical projects in economic and social areas, aside from politics.
Iraqi prison staff attend course in Barcelona on human rights in the penitentiary system
The 3-week course designed for Iraqi penitentiary workers ended today. The course aimed to strengthen democracy within Iraqi prisons and included visits to prisons in Barcelona.
2 U.S. restaurants awarded with Cartaví Internacional prize
The restaurants ‘B44’ of San Francisco and ‘Casa Mono’ of New York were recognised for the strong presence of Catalan wine on their menus.
Gambian doctors and nurses can now train in Girona
This morning Catalan Minister for Health Marina Geli made a cooperation agreement with Gambian Minister for Health Aboubakarr Gaye.
114,000 families still searching for missing loved ones from the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime
Amnesty International has released information suggesting that over 114,000 families from the Spanish state still have no solution to the disappearance of their loved ones as a result of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime. They have asked the Government to take responsibility on this “gross violation of human rights”.