Washington  - The United States criticized Spain for its decision Friday to end its role in the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, calling it a disappointment that breaks with an alliance agreement.

The Spanish government announced that it would pull out its 620 soldiers who are part of NATO's 15,500-strong contingency in Kosovo, which declared independence last year but was not recognized by Madrid.

Madrid - Spain's decision to withdraw its peacekeepers from Kosovo was Friday expected to be followed by an increase of Spanish troops in Afghanistan, press reports said.

Spain could increase its contingent of nearly 800 soldiers in Afghanistan with up to 500 more, senior military sources were quoted by the daily El Mundo as saying.

Jerez, Spain - The new rules for deciding this season's Formula One drivers' title ratified by FIA earlier this week have been met with criticism by some of the sport's top names, including defending world champion Lewis Hamilton.

"I don't really like it," the McLaren-Mercedes driver was quoted by Thursday's Bild newspaper as saying while two-time world champion Fernando Alonso also expressed his unease at the new points system where the driver with the most wins takes the title.

Madrid  - Barcelona intend to maintain their six-point lead over historic rivals Real Madrid on Sunday, by beating ambitious Malaga at home.

Easier said than done, really. Malaga are the surprise package of the Spanish season, in sixth place and dreaming of Europe.

Veteran Malaga striker Salva - who helped Valencia win the title in 2001 - said on Wednesday that "no game is impossible... we must be valiant, and make as few mistakes as possible."

London, March 18: Four Spanish students have managed to take stunning pictures of space from 20-miles above Earth, using only a 56 pounds camera and latex balloon.

According to a report in the Telegraph, taking atmospheric readings and photographs 20 miles above the ground, the Meteotek team of IES La Bisbal School in Catalonia, Spain, completed their incredible experiment at the end of February this year.

Building the electronic sensor components from scratch, Gerard Marull Paretas, Sergi Saballs Vila, Marta Gasull Morcillo and Jaume Puigmiquel Casamort managed to send their heavy duty 43 pounds latex balloon to the edge of space and take readings of its ascent.