Viruses and bacteria live with us, as do doubts about how to prevent them. In Catalonia, the vaccination calendar has been expanding over the years and today protects against 18 microorganisms. However, disinformation still exists about how they work, what benefits they have, or what risks they entail. Today we want to talk about vaccination without alarmism or slogans. With data, real experiences, and clear answers. What is true and what is a myth? How can we make informed decisions? To do this, we are joined by Montse Martínez, head of the Preventive Medicine Service of the Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya; José Ángel Franca, Secretary of Associates of Polio and Post-Polio of Catalonia; Anna Magde, biologist; and Aina Badia, journalism student. A podcast from Diari ARA, with the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

“Demand has doubled, but usage has not”, said Chris Bowen, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, in a parliamentary debate that more closely resembled a farce, were it not for the fact that following the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a liter of gasoline has surpassed 3 dollars (1.80 euros) and more than a hundred gas stations have run out of fuel.

Every winter, the city of Girona reconnects with the deep-rooted pulse of fire. The Foguerons de Sant Antoni arrive in the capital of Girona as a ritual that evokes memory, gathering, and community. This festival finds its symbolic reference in Sant Antoni Abat – patron saint of animals, farmers, and the rural world. His presence transcends mere devotion, conjuring a bond between people and their land.

Zara has announced a two-year creative collaboration with designer John Galliano, whose aim is to reinterpret the brand's archives across various collections with an innovative and contemporary approach. Galliano will work with pieces from past Zara seasons, deconstructing and transforming them to create entirely new designs. As the Inditex flagship brand explained in a statement on its social media channels, the signing of the designer represents a firm commitment to reinterpreting the brand's legacy and identity, which spans more than 50 years.

Denmark's wealthiest businesspeople are up in arms and have fully entered the election campaign for the general election to be held in the Nordic country on March 24. The reason for their discontent is the campaign promise of Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to reintroduce a 5% annual wealth tax as a measure to reduce growing inequality in the country. The new tax, which has become one of the hottest topics of the election campaign, would affect some 22,000 people (in a country with 5.9 million inhabitants), who would pay an average of 300,000 kroner per year (40,000 euros). Frederiksen detailed this in the business daily. BørsenThe state would collect around 6 billion kroner annually (803 million euros), which would be used to finance the ambitious public school reform presented by the Social Democrats before the elections. Just days before the polls open, surveys show that the wealth tax is viewed favorably by a majority of voters, as Frederiksen's party is the most likely to win the election. However, there is virtually a tie between the progressive parties, which have supported the Social Democrats' proposal, and the conservative parties, which completely reject the idea. Executives from some of the country's leading companies have also publicly voiced their strong opposition, making unusual media appearances during the campaign. The CEO of shipping giant Maersk, Robert Maersk Uggla, has stated that the tax "would have very bad consequences for Denmark." Uggla, who heads the largest company in the Nordic country (with a turnover of €52 billion in 2024), expressed his fear that Danish companies will have even more difficulty hiring and retaining top executives due to the tax, as Denmark already applies one of the highest income tax rates in the world at 60.5% on salaries exceeding €348,000 annually. Meanwhile, businessman Henrik Andersen, CEO of Vestas (a world leader in wind turbine manufacturing), has threatened to pack his bags and move the company abroad if the Social Democrats fulfill their election promise. "If it comes to fruition; I can be more clear," he said in an interview with the newspaper. Berlingske

Taking advantage of the Education Fair, the Taller de Músics presents a phase of consolidation and growth that confirms the momentum begun three years ago. Below, Vicenç Solsona and Clara Luna, the center's pedagogical director and head of the Ve area respectively, discuss the evolution of the educational project and the students' professional prospects.

Apart from the 17 higher degrees – four of them also online – and the 10 intermediate degrees that it makes available to students, La Salle It offers the science and technology, humanities and social sciences, and arts tracks in 12 of its centers. This range also includes the International Baccalaureate, the Batxibac, and the Baccalaureate Dual education further increases the likelihood that each person will find their own educational path.

If theater is born from the ancient rituals with which humanity described the world,Theatre Institute Today, it is one of the places where this magic lives on. A unique center that combines tradition and contemporary approaches to train artists and foster new perspectives on the performing arts. Dramatic arts, dance, and performance techniques comprise its educational offerings.

The war in the Middle East has rapidly driven up oil and natural gas prices, with one clear strategic geographic point becoming Iran's primary weapon: the Strait of Hormuz. This maritime passage carries approximately a quarter to a fifth of the world's crude oil and natural gas. Its closure by Iran, aside from disrupting global energy markets, directly impacts the region's economies, as they cannot sell the oil and gas they extract and, in some cases, have had to shut down their refineries and liquefaction plants. Furthermore, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens shortages of crude oil, gas, and petroleum products in many countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, which are the largest buyers of products from producers on the Arabian Peninsula, as illustrated in the infographic.

It's truly difficult to walk past Aribau 84 and not stop, mesmerized, gazing at Fabre's window display. And it's common to hear similar comments: "What a beautiful shop," "Such lovely toys," "Such good taste and such a warm atmosphere." Fabre is a little paradise for those looking for the perfect gift for a child. A perfect gift, and something different. They specialize in children's and young adult literature, wooden and eco-friendly toys, board games, learning aids, and other items related to leisure, recreation, and the all-important concept of learning through play. We spoke with Eugenia Pujol, the current owner, who has been involved with the business since 2011, when they were still located on Rambla Catalunya. Since 2015, they've been in this new, high-traffic location in the heart of the Eixample district, offering an oasis of calm. An oasis brimming with stimuli, of course, with a space that makes the most of its space, where it's hard to find anything that might annoy you. That's what the employees do. They know how to listen and advise. This is very important, Eugenia emphasizes. Keep in mind that being a shopkeeper in a toy store isn't easy, since almost everyone who comes in wants something for themselves, but rather as a gift. And you have to be very precise, patient, know how to explain and listen, and find the perfect piece. That puzzle that's sure to be a hit. The letter game for someone learning to write. The book for someone with learning difficulties. The paper cutout for someone who needs to improve their technique. That dinosaur world map that's sure to be a success. Or the magnifying glass with a built-in light that even the child's father will use.

The grass at Wimbledon is mowed with millimeter precision. It is the summer of 1928, and the crowd, dressed in hats and light-colored dresses, watches in silence. On Centre Court are two Frenchmen. One is Henri Cochet; the other, René Lacoste. The latter wears an immaculate white shirt and keeps his gaze fixed on his opponent. When the ball comes to him, he strikes it with almost mechanical precision. He is not a player of instinct, but of method. He analyzes, waits, and wears down his opponent until the exact moment to attack arrives.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange experienced one of its most turbulent sessions in recent years on Monday. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index plummeted more than 4,000 points, a drop of approximately 7%, amid investor panic over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for global oil trade. This plunge comes just a week after the index reached new all-time highs, a stark contrast that illustrates how quickly the energy crisis can reverse market optimism. Faced with escalating tensions, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that the government is considering tapping into strategic petroleum reserves and implementing measures to curb rising gasoline prices, which could exceed 210 yen per liter, up from 138 yen just a few weeks ago.

Catalonia and Spain are undergoing a profound transformation towards a more sustainable energy model, driven by renewable energies. However, this process, essential for combating climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, is progressing at uneven paces and faces significant challenges.

Climate change, resource depletion, and extreme pollution represent some of the greatest threats we face today as a global society. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is one of the most significant challenges humanity faces in the 21st century. Even greater is the challenge of ensuring this transition is fair and democratic, in a context where large corporations and powerful business groups are already positioning themselves to lead this change: they want to maintain control and ownership of energy production systems and the lucrative business behind them.

Abertis is making progress in promoting the circular economy, one of the main pillars of its sustainability strategy, which will extend until 2030. Following this roadmap, the group already recycles 80% of its waste, thanks to improvements in the sorting and recycling processes resulting from highway management. Along these lines, the company has deployed an environmental management system across all its business units, which allows for monitoring the management of each type of waste and aims to maximize its recycling rate. This has involved installing collection points for conventional and hazardous waste in many of the maintenance areas of the various highways. New contracts have also been awarded to companies specializing in waste management in several countries. Pavement with plastic, pine resin, and other recycled materials

Another of Abertis's key priorities is the use of recycled materials and the reuse of milled material in pavements, without compromising the durability and safety of the infrastructure. The initiative the group has been promoting since 2022 through the JEPL concession in India stands out, involving the use of pavement made with recycled plastic. This option reduces environmental impact, improves surface grip, stability, and flexibility, provides greater durability, extends the lifespan of roads, and reduces the amount of asphalt needed for road construction, thus boosting efficiency.

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The Mobile World Congress is the world's most important event for mobile technology and telecommunications. Every year, companies, experts, and journalists participate to present new phones, networks, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and 5G/6G technology. These are three of the many innovations that were showcased this year.

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This novel was born during a conversation among friends after a meal, inspired by the testimony of one of their mothers. It's an unknown, harsh, and anonymous story that portrays the inner workings of families who "lived well" under the Franco regime in Girona. It also marks the debut in the genre of lawyer Benet Salellas, former CUP deputy and currently leading the defense of Santos Cerdánand a finalist for the 45th Justo M. Casero Short Novel Prize. "I think we all tend to write what we like to read," he explains about the project's genesis. "I love fiction; I studied Greek philology before studying law. I've always had a bit of a cultured side, and I was challenged to try to write a novel. I wanted it to be anonymous, so if it's validated, I'll feel more empowered in some way."

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China has set a growth target of between 4.5% and 5% for 2026. This is the first time since 1991 that the Asian giant has considered GDP growth below 5%.

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"I've always imagined myself as a storyteller. In high school, I was already writing texts, inventing plays, drawing characters as if they were going to appear in a film. It just so happened that the market was difficult in Spain, and I was lucky enough to find an opportunity as an illustrator in the Franco-Belgian market." Jordi Lafebre (Barcelona, ​​1979) is at the top of his game. After an impeccable and, in many ways, enviable career as an illustrator for the Belgian screenwriter Zidrou (pseudonym of Benoît Drousie), with whom he has signed memorable works such as Lydie (2011) or Mondaine (2014), now presents his third solo comic, with his own script and artwork.

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"I think all my books have something related to mythology or some kind of revelation. It's about searching for something that isn't obvious, making a discovery. But I try to make each book very different; that is, I try to do what I don't know how to do. Because I think that in literature we have to take risks, you know?" Anna Pantinat (Barcelona, ​​1977) is a multifaceted artist. She is a part-time high school teacher, a member with her sister Laia of the electro-punk garage band Pentina't Lula, and, until recently, the author of four books of poetry, including Posthuman joys (2025), which is in the process of being set to music. Sumer is here It is the fifth book he has published and comes after 13 years of work.

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