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In Spain, the economic crisis is hitting small towns particularly hard. Many villages got rich during the country’s housing boom. And they assumed they’d keep getting richer. So they borrowed lots of money. But then real estate went bust and their collateral, undeveloped public land, lost its value. Now, basic public services such as trash pick-up are going neglected in places such as the tiny mountain village of Collbato, in northeast Spain. The World’s Gerry Hadden just returned from Collbato, and has the story. Download MP3 (Photo: Gerry Hadden)Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
For more than 180 years, if you wanted to buy an “Evening Standard” paper in London, you had to pay for it. No longer. The paper is now free. Is this a sign of the economic times? On this edition of the global economy podcast, the view from Western Europe: Stories from Spain, Italy, Germany, and England. Download MP3
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Written in the fifteenth century, “Celestina” remains a classic work of Spanish literature that, in a lively new English version by the acclaimed translator Margaret Sayers Peden, proffers all the sex, drama, and violence necessary for an HBO mini-series.
It’s your move for today’s Geo Quiz. The city we’re looking for has been called the “birthplace of modern chess.” That nickname stems from the fact that the rules on the movement of the Queen were first documented right here. And so it’s fitting that this city is hosting an exhibition rematch between two former chess greats…
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Download MP3For today’s geoquiz we were looking for Barcelona’s most popular beach. The answer is Barceloneta. Many tourists who visit the Spanish city of Barcelona strip down, because it’s hot and – well – they’re on vacation. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports that the bare-it-all atmosphere is upsetting some Barcelona residents.
We’re looking for the name of Barcelona’s most popular and crowded city beach. It’s just a short walk from a subway station by the same name. And there are lots of restaurants and nightclubs there too.
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Finally, in our Global Hit today is from a Spanish singer who was thought to be a flash in the pan after her successful first recording. But as The World’s Marco Werman tells us, some pop stars work better when they take the time to create.
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The new U.S. unemployment figures came out this week. The good news: The rate of job losses is slowing. The bad news: Unemployment is at a 26-year high.
It’s not just Americans who are feeling the pain. In parts of Europe, unemployment is well above 10 percent. This is forcing some people to look for jobs thought unimaginable just a few months ago.
The World’s Gerry Hadden has details on a major sweat shop bust in Barcelona, where Spanish authorities freed more than 300 Chinese immigrants working in appalling conditions. But the immigrants are protesting the move.
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The World’s Gerry Hadden reports on how Spaniards are dealing with their loss to the United States in yesterday’s Confederation Cup soccer match. Listen
The World’s Gerry Hadden reports on the Catholic Church’s efforts in Spain to remain a political force as its membership wanes. Listen
