Spain

Zapatero expected to reshuffle government in response to crisis

Zapatero expected to reshuffle government in response to crisis Madrid  - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was Monday widely expected to reshuffle his government at top level this week in response to the country's deepening recession.

Pedro Solbes, who has held the economy portfolio since Zapatero became prime minister in 2004, will probably be replaced by Public Administrations Minister Elena Salgado, according to several media, including the daily El Pais, which is seen as being close to the government.

Villarreal keen to take revenge on old enemies Arsenal

Villarreal keen to take revenge on old enemies Arsenal Villarreal, Spain  - Villarreal are out for revenge when they meet old enemies Arsenal in a Spanish-English quarter-final duel in the European Champions League on Tuesday.

Three years ago Arsenal edged past Villarreal into the final of the elite event on a 1-0 aggregate, when Villarreal's Juan Roman Riquelme had a late penalty dramatically saved by Jens Lehmann.

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini - a man rumoured to be on Real Madrid's wishlist - said that "we were really unlucky in that game, we could have reached the final."

Villa takes resurgent Valencia up to fifth in Spain

Villa takes resurgent Valencia up to fifth in SpainMadrid - Valencia moved up to fifth Sunday in the Spanish Liga with a 4-1 thrashing of lowly Getafe.

Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa put Valencia on the road to victory by calmly putting away two penalties. Fellow Spanish internationals Juan Mata and Raul Albiol scored Valencia's other goals.

"It was important for us to win tonight," said Albiol, "in order to keep our Champions League chances alive."

Albiol and company are now just two points behind fourth-placed Villarreal, who crashed 3-0 Saturday at Almeria.

1ST LEAD: Valencia thrash Getafe and move up to fifth

1ST LEAD: Valencia thrash Getafe and move up to fifth

Study says marijuana chemical has anti-cancer properties

Study says marijuana chemical has anti-cancer properties According to a study released on Thursday, Spanish researchers from the Complutense University in Madrid, together with scientists of other universities, found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the main chemical in the infamous narcotic agent, marijuana - likely helps the annihilation of brain cancer cells.

The research, which proposes to bring to improve the prospects of anti-cancer therapies, said that THC causes cancer cells to go through a process called autophagy - the breakdown that takes place when the cells fundamentally self-digest.

Villarreal's Cazorla out for season after breaking leg

Villarreal's Cazorla out for season after breaking legMadrid - Villarreal and Spain winger Santi Cazorla will be out for the rest of the season after breaking his right leg in Saturday's 3-0 defeat away to Almeria.

Cazorla, 24, suffered the injury in the 64th minute and was immediately stretchered off.

He has become a key man for Villarreal in recent seasons, thanks to his hard work, his crosses from the right and his important goals.

Pages