Latest news with #Galician
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Project to create tidal stream turbine blades in Wales
The Welsh Government has backed the project in a bid to revolutionise the tidal energy industry. The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru, based in Broughton, has teamed up with Menter Mon and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult's Welsh team for this initiative. Their goal is to improve the efficiency and durability of tidal energy blades. This project is one of five in Wales which received a share of £1 million from the Welsh Government's VInnovate programme, intended to encourage innovative collaborations across industrial regions in Europe. The project also has the involvement of two Galician firms—marine renewable energy infrastructure manufacturer Magallanes Renovables and research organisation D3 Applied Technologies. Andy Silcox, interim chief technology officer at the AMRC, said: "Wales is already recognised as a trailblazer in the establishment of tidal energy sites, and a hub for cutting-edge marine energy research, contributing its extensive knowledge and experience. "This collaboration between AMRC Cymru, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Menter Mon will create a strategic partnership among the regions of Wales and Galicia, bringing together a unique blend of expertise and innovation in the field of renewable energy. "Supporting the design and development of the newest tidal turbine blades, the project will lay the groundwork for a lasting collaboration, driving future innovations and projects in renewable energy to contribute to a more sustainable energy landscape." More projects from Wales received funding in the 2024 VInnovate funding tranche than any other region. Rebecca Evans, cabinet secretary for economy, energy and planning, said: "Wales' research and development sector is internationally renowned, with academia, industry and government working together to deliver big leaps in renewable energy innovation in particular. "This culture of innovation has been championed and guided by our Wales Innovates strategy, laying the foundations for a green and prosperous future for Wales driven by collaborative innovation and new technologies that can have a real and lasting positive impact on every part of our society."
Local Spain
3 days ago
- Climate
- Local Spain
The best Galician words and expressions to help you sound like a local
Galician or gallego is one of Spain's four official languages recognised by the constitution along with Castilian (Spanish), Catalan and Basque. It is spoken mainly in the region of Galicia by some 2.2 million people and has a lot of similarities with Portuguese. Here are some interesting Galician words and phrases that you should know. Morriña – To miss one's home or native land. In the dictionary it's defined as "sadness or melancholy, especially nostalgia for one's native land," and it's also one of the most commonly used terms among non-Galicians. Some Galicians also use it when they mean that they miss their friends and family too. Luar – A beautiful word to refer to the light reflected by the moon, similar to moonlight in English. Luscofusco – Another lovely word to describe light, luscofusco is the moment between night and day when all the light has almost completely disappeared and all you can see are shadows. The translation could be similar to dusk or twilight in English. Chosco – This simply means blind. It could be temporarily blind if the sun gets in your eyes or someone who is blind because of a medical or physical condition. Bico – Bico means kiss, like the Spanish word beso, but in gallego. Orballo – According to language experts Galician has around 70 words to describe rain – well it is one of the wettest places in Spain. Orballo is the type of very light rain that drenches you without you even realising it. Other rain words are Battuere used for intense rain and Torbón when rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Malo Ser á – This is the unique style of Galician optimism in any given situation. Literally it means that everything is going to be ok. Foliada – This is a typical type of Galician party or as the official dictionary describes it "a nightly gathering of people to have fun, sing and dance". It usually involves Galician bagpipes and tambourines. Afouteza – This translates as courage, to have the disposition or spirit to do something without fear of dangers or difficulties. It could also be used to describe a person as bold too. Larpeiro – Someone who likes to eat a lot and is gluttonous or a greedy eater who consumes more than they need. Enxebre – This doesn't really have a direct translation in Spanish or English. It means something that is pure, authentic and untainted. It could also be a characteristic of a country or region and that is not falsified, deformed or mixed with anything foreign, similar to purebred. Polbo – This is one word that you might hear in Galicia a lot because it means octopus, which is a very popular dish there. It can be confusing, however, because the word polvo, pronounced similarly to polbo means powder in Spanish. So when someone in Galicia is offering you a plate of polbo, it's probably octopus and not powder. Quérote – No you're not telling someone you want tea, this actually means ' te quiero ' in Spanish or I love you in English. Xeito: xeito, it means doing things well and with artistry and skill.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
New US Senate bill could wreck Russia, but also damage the EU economy
Spain failed on Monday to obtain the necessary unanimity to elevate Catalan, Galician and Basque into official languages of the European Union, as several member states raised concerns over the administrative and legal implications of such an unprecedented move. One of the main arguments against the proposal is that it could set a precedent, leading to similar demands from other countries with minority languages. Across Europe, between 40 and 50 million people speak around 60 regional and minority languages. However, only a handful of countries recognise these languages as co-official, allowing them to be used in government, administration, and public institutions on an equal footing with the majority spoken language. In Spain, Basque, Catalan and Galician, enjoy strong legal protections in their respective autonomous communities and are widely used in education, government, and media. Catalan is spoken by approximately 7.5 million people, primarily in Catalonia and it is one of the most widely spoken minority languages in Europe. It is also spoken, to a lesser extent, in parts of France and Italy. Around 1 million people speak Basque in the regions of the Basque Country and Navarra. It also has speakers in the French Basque country where it is not recognised as an official language, while around 2 million people speak Galician. While Dutch is the national language, the northern province of Friesland is home to Frisian, which is recognised as the region's second official language. Frisian comprises three branches across the Netherlands and Germany, West Frisian, East Frisian, and North Frisian, the latter being most prominent, spoken by an estimated 4,000 to 10,000 people. The German government, however, does not officially recognise Frisian as an administrative language. Portugal also has a regional co-official language: Mirandese. Spoken in the region of Miranda do Douro, it is officially recognised by the Portuguese government as one of the two languages of the country. A 2020 study by the University of Vigo estimated that around 3,500 people knew the language, with only about 1,500 actively using it. In the northernmost regions of Finland, approximately 2,000 people speak Sámi as their native language. This figure includes speakers of Northern Sámi, Inari Sámi, and Skolt Sámi. Sámi is also spoken in Sweden, where estimates suggest that between 7,000 and 9,000 people use some form of the language, although official language data is not recorded in population registers. Indigenous parliaments in Sweden, Finland, and Norway have raised concerns about the endangered status of several Sámi languages, including Pite Sámi and Ume Sámi, each with fewer than 50 speakers. French, German, Ladin, Slovene and Catalan are also recognised as co-official to Italian in certain regions or municipalities of Italy. Many are more widely spoken outside the country. French, German and Slovene are main languages in their respective countries and Catalan is mostly used in Spain. Ladin is mainly spoken in the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy in the provinces of South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno, by the Ladin people. A bill rapidly making its way through the United States Senate and gathering impressive bipartisan support threatens to wreak untold havoc on Russia's economy in a bid to force Vladimir Putin into "good faith negotiations for a lasting peace in Ukraine". But the concerted push, jointly promoted by Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, also risks devastation for roughly half the European Union. "Our legislation will isolate Russia – putting it on a trade island by imposing stiff tariffs on other countries that support these atrocities," Graham and Blumenthal said last week as they announced the text had secured 81 signatures in the 100-seat Senate. Besides a wide range of primary sanctions and duties against the Kremlin, including sweeping prohibitions on financial transactions with Russian entities, the bill also foresees secondary tariffs on countries that still do business with Moscow. In particular, it zeroes in on Russia's energy exports, an indispensable source of revenue to maintain the costly full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The text drafted by Graham and Blumenthal proposes a tariff of "not less" than 500% on any country that "knowingly sells, supplies, transfers, or purchases oil, uranium, natural gas, petroleum products, or petrochemical products that originated in the Russian Federation." In other words, any nation on Earth that consumes Russian energy. According to the senators, the law is mainly intended to "hold China accountable for propping up Putin's war machine by buying cheap Russian oil from the shadow fleet." The critical assessment of Beijing's "no-limits" partnership with Moscow is widely shared in Brussels, where the "shadow fleet" has become a highly pressing concern. "Without China's economic support, Putin's war machine would come to a grinding halt," the two senators said. And yet, given the vast extraterritorial scope of the bill, the no-holds-barred offensive against Moscow and Beijing has the potential to spill over and inflict intense pain on disparate nations worldwide, also in Europe, at a time of sky-high trade tensions. Despite unprecedented efforts to wean the bloc off Russian energy, several member states remain hooked. Last year, the EU spent an estimated €23 billion on Russian fossil fuels, exceeding the military support provided to Ukraine. Gas, consistently spared from any sanctions due to a lack of unanimity, led the chart. Today, five coastal states – France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal – act as entry points for Russian-made liquefied natural gas (LNG), which last year saw a 9% uptick in purchases. Italy, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria receive flows of Russian gas through the pipelines that crisscross the continent. Hungary and Slovakia, meanwhile, get Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, indefinitely spared from an EU-wide ban at Budapest's request. Additionally, five countries – Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Finland – operate Russian-made nuclear reactors that require specific Russian-made fuels. The European Commission has presented a roadmap to phase out all Russian energy by the end of 2027, but the action plan is still in early stages. Hungary and Slovakia have come out strongly against the roadmap, warning it would imperil competitiveness. The state of play means that, should the Graham-Blumenthal bill pass and apply as originally conceived, something far from guaranteed at this stage, up to 12 member states could be subject to a punitive 500% tariff when they sell to the American market. Both goods and services could be targeted, further spreading the pain across the many corners of the economy. The 500% tariff would come "in addition" to anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duties already in place. Primary and secondary sanctions should remain in place until "the Government of the Russian Federation has entered into a peace agreement with Ukraine", the law says. The offices of Graham Blumenthal did not reply to a request for comment. In Brussels, the Senate bill is seen as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is considered a welcome initiative to tighten the screws on the Kremlin, something that President Donald Trump has until now refused to do. On the other hand, it is an explosive gamble that could exacerbate transatlantic turmoil and ravage export-dependent sectors overnight. If introduced, the secondary tariffs would throw a grenade right into the ongoing trade talks between the Commission and the White House. Both sides have set a 9 July deadline to strike an agreement. Otherwise, Trump has threatened to slap an across-the-board 50% tariff on all EU-made goods. "We try to coordinate with the US on sanctions to the extent possible because the more we join on that front, the bigger impact we can have," a Commission spokesperson said when asked about the Graham-Blumenthal bill, without commenting on the devastating effects it could have on parts of the EU economy. "So coordination in that sense, in the various fora, does take place." But there is a glimmer of hope for Brussels: the draft law offers the possibility for the president to grant a 180-day exemption from the 500% tariff to a country, good or service – as long as doing so is justified for "national security interests". The one-time waiver would be left entirely at Trump's discretion: the president would be able to hand-pick whom he saves and whom he punishes. This would give individual member states a chance to visit the Oval Office and lobby for a reprieve, a ritual that Trump appears to enjoy, particularly when cameras are present. The question of enforcement might also dent the impact on the bloc. Maria Shagina, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), believes implementing the 500% tariffs would be logistically challenging, if not impossible, due to the numerous countries that regularly purchase Russian energy. The list of clients features some of America's strategic partners, like India and Turkey. "Would the US monitor exports of these fossil fuels, and if so, how? Would it impose blanket bans on all goods imported from countries that import Russian fossil fuels? How does this square with an all-out trade war against allies and adversaries alike?" she asked. The law, Shagina noted, should be seen in the context of American politics and Trump's much-publicised mission to achieve a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, which has made limited progress since his first phone call with Vladimir Putin in February. "The bill does not seek to put congressional pressure on Russia independently of Trump's actions regarding Russia," Shagina told Euronews. "Rather, it aims to support Trump's rhetoric on Russia." A document going around online alleges that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to take back control of the Tombs of the Kings, a sacred site which is under French control in East Jerusalem. It's been circulating on social media and presents a decision allegedly made by Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister. It suggests that Israel's Foreign Ministry is looking into holding "diplomatic negotiations with the French government," in a bid to transfer the holy site to Israel. At the top of the document, "Jerusalem Day" is mentioned, an Israeli national holiday which marks the moment when Israeli forces took over East Jerusalem, following the 1967 six-day war. Jerusalem Day falls yearly in May or June, in line with the Hebrew calendar's month of Iyar. However, EuroVerify found no proof that the document is real. In a public statement shared on X, Israel's French embassy refuted the allegations and said it deplores such "fake news." "We urge everyone to be vigilant when it comes to unsourced information on social networks," it added. When approached by EuroVerify, France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "We are not aware of any official Israeli approach to this effect. The national domains are the property of the French State." "This ownership is recognised by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority through international agreements," it continued. "In Jerusalem, France has owned, since the 19th century, four national domains and religious Christian and Jewish sites, whose ownership was recognised by the State of Israel in 1948." In addition to various Christian and Jewish religious sites in the region, France owns four heritage sites in Jerusalem, under a treaty known as the Fischer-Chauvel agreement. These sites, including the Tombs of the Kings, are known as the French National Domain in the Holy Land, with some of France's claims over them dating back to the Ottoman era. The other three are the Church of the Pater Noster (also known as the Sanctuary of the Eleona), the Benedictine monastery in Abu Ghosh and the Church of Saint Anne. The Tombs of the Kings are believed to be the burial site of Queen Helene of Adiabene, who converted to Judaism around 30 AD and died sometime between 50 and 56 AD. They were originally thought to be the burial place of the kings of Judah. The French claims are based on the government's purchase of the site from a private owner in 1886. Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Empire at the time and the Ottoman government officially recognised the sale as legal under its law. France continued to assert its ownership of the Tombs of the Kings and other sites during the British Mandate and later under Israeli rule. It and the newly-founded State of Israel drew up the Fischer-Chauvel agreement between 1948 and 1949 to formalise Paris' claim to the sites. However, while Israel acknowledges the existence of the agreement, it has never officially ratified it. Nevertheless, it has generally respected the privileges associated with the sites and given de facto recognition to French control. The tricolour flag flies over them, and they are administered by French authorities, but they conform to Israeli property law.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lav Diaz Opens Up About Rare Acting Role in Psychological Horror ‘The Sacrifice,' First Look Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE)
The first official image has been unveiled of acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz in 'The Sacrifice,' a psychological horror film currently in production in the Philippines. The award-winning director has intermittently stepped in front of the camera before. The newly released still offers a glimpse of Diaz as Pilo, a quiet and enigmatic jungle guide who leads a group of vloggers deep into remote terrain steeped in ritual and folklore. More from Variety 'Anatomy of a Fall' Producer Marie-Ange Luciani Sets Next Projects by Alain Guiraudie, Monia Chokri, Hélène Rosselet-Ruiz, Jean-Gabriel Periot (EXCLUSIVE) Carla Simón Uncovers a Galician Family's Skeletons in the Semi-Autobiographical 'Romería' Kinky Sex, BDSM Alexander Skarsgard and Gimp Masks: 'Pillion' Seduces Cannes With 7-Minute Standing Ovation Known for directing international festival favorites like 'Norte, the End of History' and 'The Woman Who Left' — which won the Golden Lion at Venice in 2016 — Diaz now opens up about his character in the upcoming thriller. 'I love the character. He's a conflicted person — he paints a picture of the type of person we see every day. The greatest struggle in life is how to be a good human being, and I think Pilo embodies that conflict,' Diaz says. 'I loved playing this role.' Diaz, who is currently attending the Cannes Film Festival with his latest directorial feature 'Magellan' starring Gael García Bernal, also shares his thoughts on collaborating with a new generation of filmmakers: 'I love working with fellow filmmakers, especially young filmmakers. You feel rejuvenated doing cinema with young people.' 'The Sacrifice' is produced by C'est Lovi Productions and Kind Hearts Entertainment, with Montgomery Blencowe ('Heist,' 'Marauders') and Mark Stewart ('Escape Plan') serving as producers. Directed by Prime Cruz ('Sleepless,' 'Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B'), the film features Lovi Poe ('Seasons,' 'Guilty Pleasure'), Enchong Dee ('Gomburza,' 'Outside'), and Timothy Granaderos ('13 Reasons Why,' 'Who Invited Them') in lead roles. Additional cast will be revealed soon. The first look was unveiled at the Cannes Film Market. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Real Madrid move closer to sealing major reinforcement this week
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are moving quickly to wrap up the signing of Alvaro Carreras from Benfica, with an agreement already in place between the club and the player. The 22-year-old Spanish left-back is seen as a top priority for the summer window, and the Madrid board hopes to finalise the transfer terms with Benfica this week. Advertisement After securing Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and completing the high-profile signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, Real Madrid are focused on reinforcing the left-back spot, an area that has troubled them for years. Frequent injuries to Ferland Mendy and inconsistent form from Fran Garcia have left the club searching for a more reliable long-term solution. Carreras, with his potential and impressive displays in Portugal, is viewed as the answer. Real Madrid pushing for lower fee Real Madrid and Carreras have agreed on personal terms for a deal that will tie the Galician defender to the club for the next five or six seasons. Real Madrid want to wrap up Alvaro Carreras' transfer this week. (Photo by) The only hurdle now is reaching a final agreement with Benfica. Carreras has a release clause of €50 million, but Madrid are working hard to either lower the final fee or negotiate a more flexible payment plan. Advertisement One challenge in closing the deal is Benfica's participation in the upcoming Club World Cup. Like Real Madrid, the Portuguese side is involved in the tournament and may want to hold on to Carreras until the competition ends. Still, with a special transfer window for participating teams open from June 1 to June 10, Madrid are hopeful they can seal the deal within days. If completed, the arrival of Carreras would be another key move in Real Madrid's push to build a younger, more dynamic squad ahead of the new season.
