Madrid - Twenty years after internet technology was invented, the web was hailed as being vital for human progress at the 18th annual international World Wide Web Conference on Wednesday.

The four-day congress brought together about 1,000 experts in the Spanish capital Madrid.

Tim Berners-Lee, one of the inventors of the internet, said it would still continue developing for a long time.

Barcelona - Clay-tough Spaniard Tommy Robredo ended the Barcelona Open dream of Gaston Gaudio as he hammered the former French Open champion out of the second round on Wednesday.

Sixth seed Robredo, who trailed 4-3 in a series with the last match played in 2006, piled on a 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 win after being made to work in the opening set.

Gaudio, 30 yearf age and ranked 966th, was on a high after winning his first match since 2007 and now pointing at a wild card request for Roland Garros after claiming the Grand Slam there in 2004.

Madrid  - Spanish football giants Real Madrid announced on Wednesday that Arjen Robben will be out of action for between two and three weeks.

According to the club's website, the Dutch winger tore the triceps muscle in his right leg in Tuesday's dramatic 3-2 home win over Getafe.

Robben will miss Sunday's crucial game away to third-placed Sevilla as well as the home game against leaders Barcelona on May 2.

The injury-prone Robben came off the bench at half-time in the Getafe match but limped off after just 19 minutes.

Madrid - The first pro-Spanish government of Spain's Basque region is to step up the fight against the militant separatist group ETA, regional prime minister-designate Patxi Lopez vowed Wednesday.

Lopez, a Socialist, is to be sworn in on May 5 as the region's first prime minister clearly defending its unity with Spain since it was granted a broad self-government three decades ago.

Lopez will succeed moderate Basque nationalist Juan Jose Ibarretxe, whose Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) favours weaker ties to Spain.

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.