Mogadishu - A British reporter and a Spanish photographer were released Sunday after 40 days' captivity in Somalia's semi- autonomous Puntland region, officials said.

Colin Freeman, who worked for Britain's Sunday Telegraph and freelance photographer Jose Cendon were in Puntland covering a surge in piracy off Somalia when they were seized from the port town of Bosasso.

"The two western journalists were released this morning and they are now in a hotel in Bosasso," Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade, a senior advisor to the Puntland president, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Madrid  - Spanish giants Real Madrid announced on Sunday morning that Daniel Parejo would be out of action for around a month after twisting his left knee in training.

Parejo, 19, suffered the injury on Friday, in a training-ground clash with veteran Guti.

Parejo, a Spanish Under-21 international midfielder, has just returned to Real after a five-month loan spell at London club Queens Park Rangers.

He was expected to feature in Sunday's league game at home to Villarreal, together with new signings Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra.

Real have signed Huntelaar and Diarra because of their injury crisis, though only one of them can be registered for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Madrid  - Spanish leaders Barcelona kicked off 2009 with a 3- 1 comeback at home over lowly Mallorca on Saturday, with goals from Thierry Henry, Andres Iniesta and Yaya Toure.

Record-breaking Barca now have 44 points from 17 games - the highest-ever total at this stage of the season - 11 more than Valencia, who moved up to second late Saturday with a 3-1 defeat of Atletico Madrid.

"It was a great way for us to start the year," said Henry, in his best form since joining Barca from Arsenal in 2007.

Madrid  - Spanish leaders Barcelona kicked off 2009 with a 3- 1 comeback at home over lowly Mallorca, a win that leaves them with a 13-point lead.

Record-breaking Barca now have 44 points from 17 games - the highest-ever total at this stage of the season - 13 more than second- place Sevilla, who are at home Sunday to bottom team Osasuna.

"It was a great way for us to start the year," said Thierry Henry, scorer of Barca's first goal.

Barca coach Josep Guardiola raised eyebrows by leaving Lionel Messi - who returned late from holiday - in the stands, and Daniel Alves on the bench. The tight win, however, tends to vindicate his "rotation" policy, though his team did not play particularly well.

Madrid - Madrid's Prado art museum drew a record number of visitors in 2008 despite the economic crisis, sources of Spain's top art museum said Friday.

Madrid - Spanish car sales went down 28.1 per cent in 2008 in t