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☆ Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain complete star-studded Women’s Champions League semifinals lineup
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain both reached the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League with dominant performances to set up two thrilling clashes in the last four. “Tonight was a good example of what my team are,” Barcelona head coach Jonatan Giráldez added. However, the French side stamped its authority on the match in the opening stages and deservedly broke the deadlock after 27 minutes thanks to Chawinga’s unerring left-footed finish off the post. PSG will rightly feel confident going into the semifinal against European powerhouse Lyon, with the team currently on a 22-match unbeaten run and 11-game winning streak at home. Thibault Camus/AP“It was a good game, there are many reasons to be satisfied,” PSG head coach Jocelyn Prêcheur said, per UEFA.

Persons: Germain, Ballon, Aitana Bonmatí, Fridolina Rolfö, Patricia Guijarro, Barça, Lyon, Tabitha Chawinga, Korbin Albert, Marie, Antoinette Katoto, Bonmatí, Barça hasn’t, Tomine Svendheim, Guijarro, Caroline Graham Hansen, Fridolina, Albert Gea, ”, Jonatan Giráldez, deservedly, Chawinga’s unerring, Albert, Katoto, Thibault Camus, Jocelyn Prêcheur, it’s, “ Organizations: CNN —, Paris Saint, Women’s, League, Norwegian, Brann, Chelsea, PSG, Women’s Champions League, Lyon, Rolfö, Reuters, UEFA, ”, ” Barcelona, ” PSG, European, Parc des Princes Locations: CNN — Barcelona, Paris, Thursday’s, Norway, Barcelona, ” Barcelona, Parc des

☆ Police Evict Squatters From Barcelona Buildings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Riot police on Thursday evicted a group of squatters from two buildings in Barcelona that had been occupied for several years, following a court order in a case that has triggered significant attention in Spain. In the raid, that started before dawn, police officers approached the adjacent buildings walking inside a metal cage to protect themselves from rocks, smoke guns and fire flares thrown by the squatters. Officers cut the gates to eventually enter the buildings and remove its occupants, including one person who was hanging on a cord along the facade of one of the buildings. The buildings are located in a wealthy Barcelona neighbourhood. (Reporting by Albert Gea, Joan Faus and Jesus Aguado; Writing by Joan Faus; Editing by Christina Fincher)

Persons: Albert Gea, Joan Faus, Jesus Aguado, Christina Fincher Organizations: Riot Locations: BARCELONA, Barcelona, Spain

☆ EVs struggle with reliability due to charging, battery issues - Consumer Reports survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nathan Gomes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On average, new EVs had 79% more problems than gasoline-powered vehicles, Consumer Reports' 2023 Annual Auto Reliability survey showed. "For the legacy automakers, (EVs) are really new technologies, so they don't have a lot of experience with batteries, charging and motors." Jake Fisher, senior director of Auto Testing at Consumer Reports, said in an interview with Reuters. Consumer Reports survey covers 20 problem areas including engine, electric motors, transmission and in-car electronics. "Even with monumental shifts in the auto marketplace, what matters most to consumers remains the same: finding safe, reliable cars," said Marta Tellado, President and CEO of Consumer Reports.

Persons: Albert Gea, Jake Fisher, Fisher, Elon, Stellantis, Marta Tellado, Nathan Gomes, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: REUTERS, Electric, Consumer, Auto Testing, Reuters, U.S, General Motors, Buick, Benz, Chrysler, Lexus, Toyota, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, U.S, North America, Bengaluru

☆ Shakira reaches deal with tax authorities to avoid $15 million tax fraud trial - judge
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/4] Colombian singer Shakira and her lawyer Pau Molins arrive at court for her trial facing allegations of tax fraud in Barcelona, Spain November 20, 2023. REUTERS/Albert Gea Acquire Licensing RightsBARCELONA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Colombian singer Shakira on Monday reached a settlement with prosecution to avoid a trial over charges she failed to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.74 million) in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014. As part of the deal that puts an end to the trial, prosecution changed jail time for the singer with fines, the judge said during the trial's first hearing. Reporting by Joan Faus, editing by Inti LandauroOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shakira, Pau Molins, Albert Gea, Joan Faus, Inti Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Inti Landauro, Thomson Locations: Colombian, Barcelona, Spain, Rights BARCELONA

☆ Microplastics may affect the weather, new study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Now, scientists have found that these tiny particles might even be able to influence the weather. Microplastics form when larger plastics break down, either by chemically degrading or physically wearing down into smaller pieces. The authors of Wednesday’s study found microplastics affect cloud formation, and clouds are of huge importance to the weather we experience. According to the study, microplastics can now be added to that list. Once the first water droplets cling to microplastics and other tiny particles, more water droplets are pulled together and clouds form.

Persons: CNN —, They’ve, Judith Enck, ” Enck, Microplastics, Albert Gea, microplastics Organizations: CNN, Science, Technology, Beyond Plastics Locations: China, Barcelona, Spain, Tai

[1/2] A Tesla electric vehicle is plugged to a charger in a parking lot in Teia, north of Barcelona, Spain, October 31, 2023. High interest rates and a subdued market are putting customers off, they warned, with Volkswagen's EV order intake half what it was last year. Reuters GraphicsFALLING BEHINDCritics have long warned that a lack of affordable EVs would eventually stall the steep sales growth boosted by early adopters and corporate fleets. A weaker performance in September, consumer sentiment surveys and bleak commentary from carmakers and dealers indicates that low growth era may have arrived. "We call it the valley of death, which we will be going through in 2024 to 2027: low residual values, high supply, and low demand," Nothard added.

Persons: Albert Gea, EVs, Thomas Niedermayer, Flavia Garcia, Tom Carvell, Martina, AutoTrader, Garcia, We'll, Critics, Felipe Munoz, Alistair Bedwell, Langston, Ben DuCharme, Philip Nothard, Nothard, Victoria Waldersee, Nick Carey, Giulio Piovaccari, Paul Lienert, Sumanta Sen, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Tesla, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, Reuters Graphics Dealers, Toyota, HK, Reuters Graphics, Ford, GM, United Auto Worker, JATO Dynamics, Langston, Cox Automotive, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, LONDON, Europe, Germany, Italy, Bavarian, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, BYD, Nio, U.S, Rome, Detroit

☆ Spain's acting PM Sanchez backs Catalan amnesty deal in bid to form government
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/ Albert Gea/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday said he supported granting a controversial amnesty to those involved in Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid, in the hope of persuading the region's parties to back him in government. He needs the backing of Catalan separatist parties, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya ERC and Junts, who have demanded an amnesty law that could potentially cover more than 1,400 people involved in the failed independence bid. "To continue moving forward, we must overcome all the episodes that in the past divided us and fractured our societies," Sanchez said. He said his party "looks at the problems head on", adding 80% of Catalans supported an agreement on the issue. A poll in September showed 70% of respondents - 59% of them socialist supporters - were against an amnesty.

Persons: Oriol Junqueras, Passeig de Gracia, Albert Gea, Pedro Sanchez, Catalonia's, Sanchez, Esquerra, Jessica Jones, Mike Harrison Organizations: Passeig, REUTERS, Rights, Socialist Party's Federal, Catalunya ERC, Junts, Catalans, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Rights MADRID, Catalonia, Madrid, Catalan

☆ Ukraine's Shakhtar support injured soldier treated in Barcelona
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Albert Gea | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Shakhtar Donetsk captain Taras Stepanenko and the Ukrainian side's goalkeeping coach visited an injured Ukrainian soldier recovering at a Barcelona clinic ahead of their Champions League fixture in the northeastern Spanish city. Shakhtar decided to pay for his transfer to Barcelona's Guttmann Brain Health Institute, where he is undergoing a long neurorehabilitation process. I really wanted to cry, because when you see him, he is a really strong guy who protect(ed) our country," Stepanenko told Reuters. In the five months that Shumei has been in Barcelona, his condition has improved significantly, Shakhtar said in a statement, especially after doctors performed a complex brain surgery in June. Shakhtar face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Persons: Taras Stepanenko, Vitaly Shumei, Stepanenko, Shumei, Sergio Albu, Andriy Pyatov, Shumei's, Serhiy, Albert Gea, David Latona, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukrainian, Champions League, Shakhtar, Brain Health, Reuters, Barcelona, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Barcelona, Spanish, Donbass

[1/5] Bass-Baritone Gerald Finley and soprano Julia Bullock perform during an opera rehearsal "Antony and Cleopatra" at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/ Albert Gea Acquire Licensing RightsBARCELONA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Barcelona's opera house has hired an "intimacy director" to ensure performers are comfortable taking part in passionate scenes, in a first for Spain and a rarity for continental Europe. The role's creation comes after the #MeToo movement rocked the movie industry but also the opera world with sexual harassment accusations. Intimacy director Ita O'Brien will oversee William Shakespeare's adapted play, 'Antony and Cleopatra', which opens at Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house on Oct. 28. Lesca said there should be an intimacy director in every opera.

Persons: Gerald Finley, Julia Bullock, Antony, Cleopatra, Albert Gea, Ita O'Brien, William Shakespeare's, O'Brien, Adriana Bignagni Lesca, Charmian, Lesca, Luis Rubiales, Placido Domingo, Joan Faus, Aislinn Laing, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Gran Teatre del Liceu, REUTERS, Rights, Gran Teatre del, HBO, Netflix, Thomson Locations: Gran, Barcelona, Spain, Rights BARCELONA, Europe, Gran Teatre del Liceu, United States, Britain, Spanish

As demand has slowed in countries such as the United States, Nokia and rival Ericsson (ERICb.ST) have tried to offset some of the weakness with higher sales to India, a low-margin market. Nokia is targeting savings of between 800 million euros ($842 million) and 1.2 billion euros by 2026, its deadline to deliver a long-term comparable operating margin plan of at least 14%. Nokia expects at least 400 million euros of savings in 2024, and a further 300 million euros in 2025. Quarterly comparable net sales fell to 4.98 billion euros from 6.24 billion last year, missing an estimate of 5.67 billion euros according to a LSEG poll. "There are signs here and there that demand would start to pick up again but it's too early to call it a broad-based trend," Lundmark said.

Persons: Albert Gea, Pekka Lundmark, Lundmark, it's, Supantha Mukherjee, Anne Kauranen, Anna Ringstrom, Clarence Fernandez, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Mobile World Congress, REUTERS, STOCKHOLM, Nokia, Ericsson, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, American, HELSINKI, Finnish, United States, India, North American, China, Stockholm, Helsinki

☆ Tens of thousands protest against possible Catalan amnesty deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Graham Keeley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] Unionist supporters protest against amnesty of separatist leaders and activists involved in the 2017 failed independence drive at Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona, Spain, October 8, 2023. Pedro Sanchez needs the support of Catalan separatist parties Junts and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, which want the unpopular amnesty in exchange for votes in parliament. An amnesty would put the government above democracy and the rule of law," said Javier Tapia, 55, a chemicals worker. The amnesty could potentially cover more than 1,400 people involved in the independence bid that came to a head in 2017, pro-separatist Catalan group Omnium estimates. Around 70% of respondents - 59% of them Socialist supporters – said they were against the idea of an amnesty in a poll in mid-September.

Persons: Passeig de Gracia, Albert Gea, Sanchez, Spain's, Pedro Sanchez, Junts, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Santiago Abascal, Javier Tapia, Isabel Martinez, Feijoo, Francisco Franco, –, Graham Keeley, Joan Faus, Horaci Garcia, Guillermo Martinez, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Passeig, REUTERS, Barcelona, BARCELONA, Spain's, Socialist, People's Party, Vox, Sale, AMNESTY, European Union, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Catalan, Catalonia

☆ Barcelona under investigation for suspected bribery in refereeing case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Police also searched the offices of the football federation RFEF in Madrid on Thursday, the Barcelona court said, as part of the ongoing inquiry into "possible systemic corruption" within the Spanish refereeing committee. Spanish football and the RFEF in particular are going through a moment of reckoning amid allegations of sexual abuse against former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales. The refereeing investigation has now been widened to include Barcelona as a suspect. Barcelona has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement in February it had paid an external consultant who supplied it with "technical reports related to professional refereeing", which it said was a common practice among professional football clubs. According to judge Aguirre, Negreira was responsible for ranking and evaluating the referees.

Persons: Albert Gea, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Joaquin Aguirre Lopez, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, Aguirre, Negreira, Fernando Kallas, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Football, FC Barcelona, Rights, Barcelona, Reuters, Thursday, Police, RFEF, Real Madrid, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Rights MADRID, Spanish, Madrid, Sydney, RFEF

☆ FC Barcelona unit to list in US via $1 bln SPAC deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A silhouette of a woman walks past behind a FC Barcelona's logo at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, March 24, 2016. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File PhotoAug 11 (Reuters) - Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona has agreed to list its content creation unit Barca Media on Nasdaq through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, valuing the combined entity at $1 billion. The club said on Friday the deal will fetch new capital for Barca Media, a segment that FC Barcelona expects will be "an important source of revenue in the coming years". Barca Media will start trading on Nasdaq after the deal with Mountain & Co I Acquisition Corp (MCAA.O) closes in the last quarter of this year, FC Barcelona said. A special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), also known as a blank-check company, is a listed entity that merges with a private firm to take it public.

Persons: Albert Gea, Joan Laporta, Lionel Messi, Laporta, Niket Nishant, Pritam Biswas, Krishna Chandra Organizations: FC, Camp Nou, REUTERS, FC Barcelona, Media, Nasdaq, Barca Media, FC Barcelona's, Mountain, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Spanish, Bengaluru

[1/2] "Junts x Catalunya" members raise up an "Estelada" flag (Catalan separatist flag) as they celebrate the results of the European Parliament elections in Barcelona, Spain, May 27, 2019. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File PhotoBARCELONA/MADRID, July 26 (Reuters) - Spain may be heading for a repeat of Sunday's inconclusive election unless Catalan separatist parties compromise on their demands for an independence referendum in exchange for their support. After neither the right nor left bloc won enough seats to form a majority, Catalan separatist parties Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and Junts have emerged as kingmakers. However, Sanchez, who rejects Catalan independence, has long said he opposes a referendum or an amnesty. INDEPENDENCE SUPPORT DECLININGEven if Sanchez were willing to concede, a referendum could prove difficult to implement.

Persons: Albert Gea, Esquerra, Pedro Sanchez, Sanchez, Junts, Carles Puigdemont, Ramon Tremosa, mignon, Tremosa, Josep Rius, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Feijoo, Mariano Rajoy, Joan Esculies, Isabel Rodriguez, Yolanda Diaz, Diaz, Jaume Asens, Puigdemont, Wayne Griffiths, Rius, Pedro Sanchez's, Joan Faus, Belen Carreno, Charlie Devereux, Aislinn Laing, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, ERC, Junts, Sanchez's Socialists, Socialists, European Union, People's Party, Socialist, Monday, Volkswagen's, SEAT, Catalans, Vox, Thomson Locations: Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, BARCELONA, MADRID, Catalan, Catalonia, Belgium, Socialist, Madrid, Volkswagen's Barcelona, Spanish

☆ Putellas fit and ready to go for Spain's World Cup campaign - coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"All players are available to play tomorrow," Vilda said via a translator at a media conference in Wellington on Thursday. "In the case of Alexia, it's optimising all the training sessions that we've had to have Alexia with us. "We are very careful with everything that we do and we're trying every possible means so that Alexia would be in condition to play tomorrow." The Barcelona midfielder is expected to be a key cog in Spain's third World Cup campaign where they are favourites to top Group C ahead of Costa Rica, Zambia and Japan. Spain were eliminated in the last 16 by eventual champions, the United States, in France in 2019, four years after failing to reach the knockout phase on their World Cup debut in 2015.

Persons: Johan Cruyff, Sant Joan Despi, FC Barcelona's Alexia Putellas, Ballon, Albert Gea, Alexia Putellas, Jorge Vilda, Putellas, Vilda, Alexia, it's, we've, Ian Ransom Organizations: Soccer, League, FC Barcelona, Benfica, FC Barcelona's, REUTERS, Costa, eventual, Thomson Locations: Spain, AUCKLAND, Costa Rica, Wellington, Barcelona, Zambia, Japan, United States, France, Melbourne

☆ Spain election: Trans youths' families fear for rights under a right-wing government
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Horaci García | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Members of Chrysallis (Association of Transgender Children and Youth Families) take part in a Gay Parade in Barcelona, Spain, July 15, 2023. REUTERS/ Albert Gea/file photo/file photoBARCELONA, July 18 (Reuters) - Ana Valenzuela and her 12-year-old trans daughter, like some other families with transgender children, fear that if Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) and far-right Vox take power in this month's election, they could roll back hard-won LGBT rights. "It's very sad that children are conscious of this," said Valenzuela, who advised the government during the drafting of the "Trans Law". Vox has vowed to repeal the Trans Law and has joined the PP in challenging it before the Constitutional Court, arguing it violates child protection rights and the right to bodily integrity. Olga Nadal, vice-president of trans youth rights group Chrysallis Catalunya, said the community could not afford to see the law repealed.

Persons: Albert Gea, Ana Valenzuela, Valenzuela, Vox, Olga Nadal, Mariano Rajoy, Emi Blanco, Horaci García, David Latona, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Chrysallis, of Transgender Children, REUTERS, People's Party, Vox, Trans, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, BARCELONA, Sunday's, Chrysallis, Catalan

☆ Nokia misses Q2 expectations, lowers full-year guidance
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, July 14 (Reuters) - Finnish telecom gear group Nokia (NOKIA.HE) reported on Friday second-quarter sales of 5.7 billion euros ($6.4 billion), a comparable operating profit margin of 11%, and lowered its full-year outlook. Nokia said it now saw 2023 sales of 23.2-24.6 billion euros ($26.1-$27.6 billion) against 24.6-26.2 billion previously. It narrowed its comparable operating margin range outlook to 11.5-13% from 11.5-14% previously. New Nokia's logo is displayed before GSMA's 2023 ahead of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 26, 2023. ($1 = 0.8906 euros)Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Louise Rasmussen and Matt ScuffhamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Refinitiv, Albert Gea, Anna Ringstrom, Louise Rasmussen, Matt Scuffham Organizations: Nokia, Mobile World Congress, REUTERS, Nokia's Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Finnish, Barcelona, Spain

☆ Verstappen favourite for Red Bull's 100th win
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Red Bull have won 23 of the last 26 races, and 17 of the last 18, and will be only the fifth constructor to hit 100. Verstappen won last year in Canada from pole position ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, the seven times world champion who has won a record-equalling seven times there. "Of course, last year's win is still in my mind so hopefully we can do something similar this weekend," said Verstappen. Mercedes overtook Aston Martin for second place in the constructors' standings after Spain, where they were Red Bull's closest rivals. Ferrari received a morale boost last weekend when they won the Le Mans 24 Hours and enjoyed a strong weekend in Montreal last year.

Persons: Max Verstappen, Albert Gea, Ayrton Senna, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Perez, Hamilton, Toto Wolff, Wolff, Aston Martin, Red, Lawrence, Lance, Jacques Villeneuve, Fernando Alonso, Alonso, Ferrari, Fred Vasseur, Alan Baldwin, Toby Davis Organizations: Prix, Spanish, Prix REUTERS, Circuit, Sauber, Bull, Austrian, Mercedes, CNBC, Reuters, Aston Martin, Le, Thomson Locations: Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, Montreal, Dutch, Canada, Milton Keynes, Spanish, Monaco, New York, Canadian

☆ Verstappen wins in Spain to continue Red Bull sweep
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Red Bull's Sergio Perez, Verstappen's closest rival in a season that looks sure to crown the dominant Dutch 25-year-old for a third time, finished fourth after fighting back from 11th at the start. The victory was Verstappen's fifth of the season, third in a row, third in Spain and the double world champion's 40th in Formula One. TALKING POINTThe form of the Mercedes drivers, with a re-designed car after a disappointing start to the season, provided a main talking point. Mercedes moved up to second in the championship on 152 points to runaway Red Bull's 287 and with Aston Martin dropping to third on 134. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who started from the pitlane after a nightmare in qualifying left him on the back row, finished 11th.

Persons: Max Verstappen, Albert Gea, Mercedes, Perez, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Bull's Sergio Perez, Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Max, Christian Horner, McLaren's Lando Norris, Aston Martin, Hamilton, Russell, Ferraris, Sainz, Aston Martins, Lance, Fernando Alonso, Alonso, Alpine's Esteban Ocon, Alfa Romeo's, Zhou, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Alan Baldwin, Angus MacSwan, Pritha Sarkar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Prix, Spanish, Prix REUTERS, Spain Dutch, Mercedes, Barcelona's, Formula One, Hamilton, Aston, Alfa, Renault, Thomson Locations: Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, Verstappen's, London

☆ Springsteen draws criticism for not cancelling Italy gig after deadly floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] American rock star Bruce Springsteen gestures during a concert of the European tour at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain, April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Albert GeaROME, May 18 (Reuters) - U.S. rock legend Bruce Springsteen came under criticism in Italy for going ahead with a concert in Ferrara on Thursday evening after the northern Emilia-Romagna region was battered by floods that left at least nine people dead. "@springsteen please consider to reschedule your concert today. Representatives for Springsteen did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reporting by Francesca Piscioneri; editing by Alvise Armellini and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Spain to ban some outdoor working during extreme heat conditions
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Spanish farmers in Catalonia stage a tractor go-slow protest against the effect of drought in Lleida, Spain May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Albert GeaMADRID, May 10 (Reuters) - Spain will ban some outdoor working during extreme heat conditions, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said on Wednesday, as the country faces high temperatures more frequently as a result of climate change. The ban will be in place when the national weather agency AEMET issues an alert warning about a severe or extreme risk of high temperatures. The measure will affect outdoors working such as street cleaning and agriculture, the Labour Ministry added. So far this year, Spain has recorded 11 hotter-than-normal days, more than twice the number typically observed during a full year.

☆ Fruit growers arrested for using illegal wells in drought-hit Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

During a four-year investigation, authorities uncovered more than 250 illegal wells, bore holes and ponds in the Axarquia area in Andalusia, which has been hit by drought since 2021. Spain is Europe's biggest producer of tropical fruit, which requires large volumes of water. Producers estimate that avocado production will drop by 25% this year due to high temperatures and a lack of water. Spain registered the driest and warmest April since records began, according to the national weather agency AEMET. The average water level in reservoirs in Catalonia and Andalusia - the worst hit areas - stands at around 25%.

☆ Spain considers ending or curbing controversial 'golden visa' scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/ Albert GeaMADRID, May 8 (Reuters) - Spain could pull the plug on its so-called "golden visa" scheme that grants residency rights to foreigners who invest in real estate in the country, according to the leader of a left-wing party negotiating the issue with the government. "Spanish citizenship cannot be bought," Errejon said, adding that golden visas had led to a "brutal" rise in housing prices and forced locals out of their neighbourhoods without creating any new jobs. Earlier on Monday, El Pais newspaper reported Spain was considering tougher requirements for golden visa applications. From the start of the golden visa scheme in 2013 until last November, Spain issued almost 5,000 permits, with Chinese investors leading the list, government figures show. Errejon said the visas represented a "backdoor privilege" for millionaires, turning Spain into a "sort of colony, often attracting dark money".

☆ Real Madrid's Modric a doubt for Copa del Rey final
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Semi Final - Second Leg - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - April 5, 2023 Real Madrid's Luka Modric during the match REUTERS/Albert GeaApril 28 (Reuters) - Real Madrid's Luka Modric has suffered a thigh injury, and the veteran midfielder could be a doubt for their Copa del Rey final against Osasuna on May 6, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday. Modric, 37, played a little over an hour in Real's 4-2 defeat by Girona over the weekend before he was substituted. Real will be looking to win the Copa del Rey for the 20th time. "It's pending evolution and we don't know if he will be fit for the Copa match. They currently sit second in LaLiga, 11 points behind leaders Barcelona after 31 games and two points ahead of Atletico Madrid.

☆ AstraZeneca confident new COVID antibody protects against known variants
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Maggie Fick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/ Albert GeaCompanies AstraZeneca PLC FollowBARCELONA, April 18 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca is confident that its new version of COVID-19 antibody treatment could protect immunocompromised patients against all known virus variants, its vaccines head said. AstraZeneca plans, pending more positive data and regulatory approval, to make the antibody available by the end of 2023. In January, the U.S. health regulator withdrew its emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca's original COVID-19 antibody cocktail Evusheld, as new dominant variants made it obsolete. AstraZeneca's AZD3152, it new COVID-19 antibody, was acquired through a $157 million deal last year with British biotech start-up RQ Bio. However, demand for COVID-19 vaccines have dramatically declined with competition from mRNA vaccines and given many countries already have an oversupply of COVID-19 shots.

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