Spain

State-of-the-Art Desalination Plant Opens in Spain Using GE Technology

TREVOSE, Pa.—May 19, 2009—Spain, one of the most arid European countries, has a long-standing water supply strategy to desalinate and use brackish river water. That effort has just taken a giant step forward as GE and Aigües Ter-Llobregat (ATLL) have announced the opening of one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced river water desalination plants, near Barcelona.

The plant employs advanced electrodialysis reversal (EDR) technology from GE to tap the Llobregat River and to ensure a clean, reliable water supply for Barcelona and the surrounding Catalonia region.    » read more »

Consumer Confidence Weak but Optimism Exists

New York, NY, April 22, 2009 -- Global declines in consumer activity appear to be moderating or bottoming out, according to this month’s Nielsen Economic Current scorecard of consumer behavior, a regular report from The Nielsen Company. The report found that out of 11 major GDP countries, only one country – Germany – changed positions on the Nielsen scorecard, showing an uptick in consumer behavior during the month of February.    » read more »

21 August 2008 -- Authorities are investigating what caused a Spanish passenger jet to crash on takeoff from a Madrid airport, killing 153 people in the country's worst air disaster in more than two decades.

The Spanair plane was carrying 172 people, including the crew, when it veered off the runway during takeoff Wednesday, broke into pieces and burst into flames.

Spain's Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez said most of the 19 people who survived the accident were injured.

It was not immediately clear what went wrong, but investigators ruled out foul play. Alvarez said the plane's two black box (flight data) recorders were recovered, and that they should help determine what caused the crash.

The plane was bound for the Canary Islands.

Source: VOA News

Disney Channel Spain Set to Help Drive DTT Platform

London and Madrid, May 28, 2008 -- In a global first, Disney Channel Spain will launch on free Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) on Tuesday, 1 July, 2008, with the ability to reach all television viewers in Spain. The most popular kid’s channel in the country, Disney Channel debuted on pay cable in 1998 and will now launch on DTT as an ad-supported channel. It is expected to be a key driver of the adoption of Spain’s DTT platform, which will replace analogue terrestrial television and become the standard in 2010, reaching all Spanish homes. The announcement was made today at a presentation to advertisers and media in Madrid.    » read more »

Mar 18, 2008 -- ROTA, Spain — Sailors aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville (LPD 13) visited the port here March 3-6, while transiting through the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).

The Sailors enjoyed three days of liberty in the city, and also took the time to help the local community and improve international relations.

Amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville: Department of Defense official file photo of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville (LPD 13).    » read more »

14 February 2008 -- Iron Maiden’s year has got off to a roaring start with the February 4th release of the band’s long-awaited DVD Live After Death smashing straight into the UK music DVD charts at Number One not only outpacing its nearest competitor by three to one, but outselling the rest of the Top 6 combined!    » read more »

29 January 2008 -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today held a productive meeting with a number of EU Sports Ministers and their representatives at its headquarters in Lausanne. Aimed at fostering stronger dialogue between the governments and the Olympic Movement, this first gathering was a concrete step towards closer collaboration now that sport is mentioned in the EU Treaty - agreed upon by heads of states in Lisbon in October last year.    » read more »

13 December 2007 -- A Spanish court has rejected a bid to have Cuban leader Fidel Castro charged in the deaths of nine prisoners in Cuba during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion.

The court in Madrid ruled Thursday that Mr. Castro is the Cuban head of state and, therefore, immune from prosecution in Spain.

A Miami-based group called the Committee to Aid Dissidents-2506 filed the lawsuit. Spain allows the prosecution of crimes against humanity even if the alleged offenses occurred outside Spanish territory.    » read more »

November 8, 2007 -- The FBI today announced the return of two 15th century maps that were stolen from the Spanish National Library in Madrid, Spain, earlier this year. The FBI assisted in the recovery of the maps at the request of the Spanish National Police and Civil Guard. The two maps, from an edition of Ptolemy's Geographia, were recovered by a special agent assigned to the New York FBI's major theft squad and the FBI's Art Crime Team. Director Robert S.    » read more »

09 November 2007 -- Defending champion Justine Henin of Belgium and former champion Maria Sharapova of Russia have scored wins at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid, Spain.

Justine Henin, who had previously qualified for the semifinals, did not lose a game in routing Marion Bartoli of France in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. It was the Belgian's third win in round-robin play. Bartoli was a last-minute replacement for American Serena Williams, who pulled out of the event Thursday because of a knee injury.    » read more »

16 October 2007 -- Irish writer Anne Enright has won the 2007 Man Booker fiction prize, one of literature's most prestigious awards, for her novel about a family's reaction to a suicide.

The head of the prize committee, Howard Davies, called Enright's novel The Gathering, as powerful, uncomfortable, and at times, angry.

The story focuses on an a family trying to come to terms with its troubled history following a suicide.

Enright was considered a long shot to win the $100,000 prize, which is open to writers from Britain, Ireland, and former British colonies.    » read more »

Washington, 28 September 2007 -- On September 28, Bruce Springsteen kicked off a North American tour in support of his new album Magic. He launched the 23-date outing in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

After wrapping up concerts in Boston, Massachusetts on November 19, the band will head to Europe where 13 concerts are scheduled in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, the U.K. and France.

Bruce Springsteen's "Magic" hits record stores on October 2.

Source: VOANews.com

18 September 2007 -- Colombian cyclist Leonardo Duque has won the 16th stage of the Tour of Spain while Denis Menchov of Russia retained the overall lead.

Leonardo Duque edged Russia's Alexander Kolobnev and Joan Horrach of Spain to win Tuesday's 161.5-kilometer stage, from Jaen to Puertollano in 4:39:00. Alexander Kolobnev was second and Joan Horrach took third place, both credited with the same time.    » read more »

12 September 2007 -- Spain's Prince of Asturias Foundation has announced that this year's award for promoting peace and human rights will go to Israel's Yad Vashem holocaust museum and memorial.

The foundation cited Yad Vashem's determination to transmit to future generations the need for preserving human rights and respect for life, following the horrors of Nazism. It said the Jerusalem museum has become the most important repository of information, and an education center on one of the largest genocides in the history of mankind.    » read more »

05 September 2007 (By VOA Sports) -- Seven-time Formula One driving champion Michael Schumacher of Germany has been named this year's winner of the Prince of Asturias award for sports.

The retired 38-year-old German, who finished his career with Ferrari in 2006, was chosen out of 18 candidates from 10 countries. Among those considered were Russian pole vault world champion Yelena Isinbayeva and tennis aces Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland.

The award, given by Spain's Prince of Asturias Foundation, named for Crown Prince Felipe,l lives.    » read more »