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The article provides a look at Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, professional tennis players facing each other in the 2006 U.S. Open. The rivalry that exists between the two players is anticipated by tennis fans to increase interest in the sport. Since 1992, television ratings for tennis programs have decreased, as has the number of Americans who play tennis.

The article assesses the ability of Spain to sustain its economic growth following the decline of activities in the construction industry. The percentage of economic growth posted by Spain's economy in 2005 is revealed. Several Spanish companies that have evolved into global companies are enumerated including Grupo Ferrovial. The factors which contributed to the declining construction industry in the country are cited.

Provides information on the government of Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain. Social changes that the government of Zapatero has initiated within a brief period of time; Significance of the move of Zapatero to appoint equal numbers of men and women in his cabinet; Provisions of the Comprehensive Law Against Gender Violence proposed by the government of Zapatero.

This article discusses Westerners who have converted to conservative Islam. Jamaal Harwood is profiled as a Canadian living in London, England who converted to radical Islam from Christianity. Harwood is part of a Muslim group known for its jihadist views, and the article discusses the trend of converts joining extremist Muslim organizations.

The article discusses the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, an opera house in Valencia, Spain. Artistic director Helga Schmidt, orchestra director Zubin Mehta and opera company music director Lorin Maazel intend to make Valencia into a world-class destination for opera lovers. Comparisons are made to the Guggenheim Museum in the city of Bilbao.

The article comments on the slow transition of Morocco to a democratic society. Political transparency and civil rights has been increased and expanded. Yet Morocco's government still controls the mass media aside from restraining dissent from Islamists. Several cases show that the Moroccan government contradicted many of the important advances it has been making in promoting human rights, such as the case of movement leader Nadia Yassine. It questions whether Morocco is really pursuing democracy.

The article focuses on Francisco Franco, who held his dictatorial grip on Spain for nearly 30 years. Though dead, but Franco still lies in a grand tomb funded and carefully maintained by the country he subjugated. During his rule, he sent political prisoners to concentration camps and homosexuals to mental asylums, and women were not allowed to work without the permission of their husbands or fathers.

This article reports on the increasing number of jellyfishes that have reached the beaches in Europe. There were thousands of bathers who were stung by the jellyfishes. Warnings were made by authorities in several countries in the region. According to Josep-Maria Gili, a marine biologist at the Institute of Ocean Science in Barcelona, Spain, the surge in the jellyfish population is due to overfishing of its predators and global warming.

The article presents information on bull fighter Mehdi Savalli. One day after the second anniversary of the bombings in Madrid, Spain as Savalli worked the bulls, he proved that there is at least one arena in which an ethnic North African can hold his own with native Spaniards. He was born in the southern city of Arles to a Moroccon mother and Italian father.