English Time with Yves

With the exception of last week, it has been three months since we last had an English class together, and a lot has happened in Spain. There have been dramatic events, sporting celebrations, extreme weather, a spectacular eclipse, a major situation in Ceuta and even the return of one of Britain's most famous rock bands. One of the most significant events happened in Ceuta at the end of July. On July 30 and 31, more than 70,000 migrants entered the Spanish city from Morocco in a mass crossing . The sudden arrival created an unprecedented situation for the city. Ceuta's existing reception facilities quickly became overcrowded , and the authorities had to find additional places to accommodate people. The Spanish government subsequently created thousands of additional places for migrants and began moving people away from temporary locations. By September, more than 5,000 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco, while thousands of others remained in temporary accommodation. ...

Deep in the mountains of northern Japan, in the small village of Shingō , there is a remarkable site that some people believe is connected to Jesus Christ . The village is located in Aomori Prefecture, about 30 kilometres west of Hachinohe City. According to local folklore , Jesus did not die on the cross in Judea. Instead, the story claims that he escaped and eventually travelled to Japan. According to the legend , Jesus had a younger brother called Isukiri . The story says that Isukiri took Jesus's place on the cross, allowing Jesus to escape. Jesus then travelled across Siberia and eventually reached Japan. According to the tale, he had already visited Japan when he was young to study. Jesus supposedly settled in the area that is now Shingō. He changed his name to Daitenku Tarō Jūrai , married a local woman called Miyuko and raised a family. Surprisingly, the legendary story says that Jesus became a farmer and grew garlic. He supposedly lived a long life and died of natural caus...

 Jaume Roures is an unusual figure in Spanish and Catalan media. Born in Barcelona in 1950, he grew up under Francoism and became involved in political activism. He was imprisoned because of his political activities, experiences that helped shape his ideological commitment and dedication to political and social ideas. His early alignment with the revolutionary left later remained part of his public identity. In 1994, Roures co-founded Mediapro with Tatxo Benet and Gerard Romy. The company developed from television and sports production into a large media conglomerate , or corporate group , involved in television, film, audiovisual production and sports broadcasting rights . Football became particularly important because controlling valuable rights could generate enormous commercial opportunities. Roures has also expressed support for Catalan self-determination and has maintained strong political views. His political connection to the left and Catalan political issues has some...

Barcelona's El Raval has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last century. Today, the neighbourhood is known for its multicultural population, restaurants, independent businesses, art institutions and cultural spaces. However, parts of the area once had a very different reputation and were widely associated with prostitution , nightlife, crime and poverty. The nickname Barrio Chino was introduced by journalist Francisco Madrid in 1925. Despite the name, the area did not develop around a Chinese or Asian community. Instead, Madrid borrowed the American concept of a Chinatown to describe an urban environment that he considered dense, exotic and socially marginalised . The expression became associated with the darker and more controversial aspects of the neighbourhood. The southern part of the Raval, particularly streets such as Carrer de Robadors, Carrer de Sant Ramon and Arc del Teatre, became known for cabarets , taverns, brothels and inexpensive accommodation. Its lo...