Madrid - Spain has allowed genetic screening of embryos to prevent cancer as one of the first countries in the world, press reports said Wednesday.

Two decisions by the National Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction allowed two couples to select embryos to make sure they were free of genes predisposing them to breast or thyroid cancer.

The decision on breast cancer was seen as making a liberal interpretation of the law, which only allows screening on the conditions that the disease is hereditary, appears early and cannot be treated.

Madrid, Apr. 22 : Visiting Indian President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil has expressed hope about the relationship between India and Spain getting a new face.

“We are keen to strengthen our bilateral relations with Spain and I have no doubt that the city of Madrid will play an increasingly larger role, be it in the trade, economic and financial aspects or in the cultural, educational and scientific spheres," Patil said.

Madrid - In 1788, Spanish master Francisco de Goya depicted a popular celebration in honour of Madrid's patron saint in La Pradera de San Isidro (The Meadow of Saint Isidro).

The painting, now at the Prado art museum, shows in the background a view across the Manzanares river of a wide green slope topped by the church of San Francisco el Grande and other white buildings.

The leafy area located between the church and Las Vistillas gardens still forms part of the Spanish capital.

Madrid  - Defiant Real Madrid moved up to within three points of Spanish leaders Barcelona on Tuesday, with an astonishing 3-2 comeback win over naive Getafe.

With just four minutes remaining in the Estadio Bernabeu, with the score at 2-2, Getafe veteran Francisco Casquero missed a penalty in the most absurd fashion possible.

And in the very last minute of injury time, Gonzalo Higuain punished Casquero for his stupidity by making it 3-2 with a left-foot drive.

Cordoba, Spain - Ten western Mediterranean countries Tuesday urged Israel to open the frontiers of the Gaza Strip and to stop illegal Jewish settlements.

"Israel may have rights, but above all, it has duties towards its neighbours and the rest of the international community," Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri said in the southern Spanish city of Cordoba.

Madrid - Spain's government has approved a royal decree allowing the nation's athletes to refuse anti-doping controls in the country between 11 p. m. and 8 a. m.

The decree also applies to foreign athletes training in Spain or resident in the country, El Pais daily reported Tuesday.

The ruling is in contravention of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code which stipulates that athletes must in principle be available for doping controls 24 hours a day.