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Solucar is a Spanish company that is harnessing one of the most powerful forms of renewable energy — the sun. Although it’s a bit expensive for now, the technology used in this solar tower is expected to become cheaper and thus make it a more feasible replacement for current power sources like fossil fuels.

They’re doing it by means of a steam turbine. The intense Spanish sun (if you’ve ever been to Spain you know what I’m talking about) heats up water, which is converted to steam, which then powers the turbine. It seems like there would be a more efficient means of doing this, but apparently that is what’s most effective at this point. So what happens at night? Read on to find out:

Solucar Solar Power Station

Valencia were confirmed to have verbally agreed an €18million fee with Boca Juniors for Banega on Sunday, but doubt was cast over the move when it emerged that Real Madrid hold first refusal on the young midfielder, as part of the deal that took Fernando Gago to the Bernabéu.

However, Banega himself seems unperturbed by this development and is keen to move to Ronald Koeman’s side as soon as possible.

“It would be a great opportunity and a challenge,” Banega told Radio Punto.

“Valencia are a great team that I like. So far I am happy at Boca, but if something plausible for me and the club arrives, then I shall go.”

He also spoke of the previous interest of Atletico Madrid in securing his signature.

“I want to play in a great team over there [Spain]. Atletico Madrid were interested in the beginning, and I like them but did not feel compelled to move. Soon Valencia appeared, and the sound of that interests me just a little bit more.”

Banega was unaware of the current stage of negotiations between Boca, Valencia and Real Madrid, stating that his agent was dealing with this. He did say that he hopes there is progress over the next few days, as he is keen to sort out his future as soon as possible.

“Hopefully I will soon be in Spain, but so far I do not wish to confirm things that are not complete.”

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=531686

LONDON, Dec. 31, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) — Pliva DD said it has divested its Spanish commercial operations to Biomedica Foscama Industria Chimico-Farmaceutica SpA, in line with its intention to streamline European operations and to focus on specific key markets.

Financial details were not disclosed.

As part of the agreement, Biomedica will acquire Pliva’ three Spanish units — PLIVA Pharma Iberia SA, Laboratorios Edigen SA and Uso Racional SL — as well as the right to use the trademark ‘PLIVA’ in Spain for a transitional period of up to 18 months.

Pliva, the European generic pharmaceutical unit of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc (NYSE:BRL) , said the transaction will have a positive impact, and successfully completes the divestment process of its non-core operations.

On Oct 1, Pliva had announced that it had sold its Italian commercial operations to Biomedica describing this as the first step in divesting non-core operations.

Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s Santander >, which owns British building society Abbey National, was in talks to buy another UK mortgage lender until the price derailed talks, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people close to the bank.

The euro zone’s biggest bank, Santander (SAN.MC: Quote, Profile, Research) also turned down the assets of Britain’s Northern Rock, which ran into trouble with the credit crunch, the newspaper reported after an interview with Santander Chairman Emilio Botin.

Botin told the newspaper Santander wants to grow in size in the UK and United States and is looking for buying opportunities during current turmoil in financial markets,

“We are very close to our ideal size now,” Botin told the Financial Times.

Santander wants to be a big player in a few key countries, Botin said. “We want to be in important countries with sizeable stakes and always in retail banking,” he said.

The group has ruled out any significant acquisition in Asia.

In the absence of an acquistion in the UK, Santander plans to begin expanding its branch network in 2009 after the integration of its IT platform is completed, the FT reported.

In the United States, Santander has an option to make an offer in 2008 for 100 percent of Sovereign Bancorp (SOV.N: Quote, Profile, Research), a small lender in which it currently holds a 24.9 percent stake.

Botin gave no indication whether Santander was planning to exercise the option.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay; Editing by Rory Channing)

A group of Borehamwood teenagers claimed they were assaulted and robbed by Spanish police when holidaying in Majorca.

Police armed with guns and batons forced their way into a hotel room in Magaluf and stole £2,000 in cash and jewelery, according to the teens.

Spain’s King Juan Carlos has paid a surprise visit to his troops in Afghanistan. It is extremely rare for heads of state, especially monarchs, to go to war zones, but as Commander-in-Chief, the King was happy to review Spanish soldiers at their base at Herat in western Afghanistan. He also spoke by radio to troops elsewhere in the country, wishing them a good 2008.

The King will turn 70 on Saturday. He paid a similar trip to Spanish troops in Bosnia ten years ago, and to those serving in Kosovo in 2002. Spain has around 700 troops in Afghanistan; more than 20 have been killed on duty.

By Jason Webb

MADRID (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards demonstrated in favour of the traditional family in the centre of Madrid on Sunday, in a show of force by Catholics in what is now one of the most liberal countries in Europe.

Organisers said more than one-and-a-half million people packed Colon Square and surrounding streets for the event, which was addressed by Pope Benedict in a live video link.

While they said they had no political motives, the huge demonstration came just over two months before general elections in which a Socialist government which has legalised gay marriage and made divorce easier bids for another term in office.

Under the shadow of Colon Square’s huge Spanish flag and just a short walk from the gay bars of Madrid’s Chueca district, families and churchgoers bussed in from all over the country heard speakers call for the defence of the traditional family.

“Founded in the indissoluble union between man and woman, it is the place in which human life is sheltered and protected from its beginning until its natural end,” said Pope Benedict.

Speakers attacked the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who has an opinion poll lead of two percentage points over the strongly Catholic and conservative Popular Party ahead of the March 9 elections.

Spain was long one of Europe’s most conservative countries, but has undergone a remarkable liberal transformation in the three decades since the death of former dictator General Francisco Franco.

Studies show Spanish social attitudes are now among the most liberal in Europe. Church attendance has fallen steeply and families are shrinking due to one of the world’s lowest birthrates.

It was young, liberal voters who gave Zapatero a surprise victory in the last general elections in 2004, and many of the government’s social policies have been calculated to appeal to the same demographic.

But Socialist party bosses are now worried that young people, whose wages and job opportunities have not kept pace with Spain’s economic boom, might abstain rather than vote for them this March.

At the same time, liberal social policies enrage conservatives and help mobilise PP supporters, analysts say.

“These atheist, irreligious governments want to make us believe that our life has no meaning and that isn’t true,” said Kiko Arguello, a well-known Catholic activist and organiser of the event.

(Reporting by Jason Webb; editing by Sami Aboudi)