Catalan Protests
Thousands of Catalan pro-independence activists protested in Barcelona yesterday to mark the anniversary of demonstrations that fired up the region’s secessionist drive and brought Spain’s worst political crisis in decades.
The Protesters were demanding the release from prison of prominent separatists, among them Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, the leaders of grassroots organizations Catalan National Assembly and Omnium Cultural. They have received preliminary sedition charges but no trial date has been set.
More protests are planned to mark the anniversary of the Oct. 1 referendum and a subsequent failed declaration of independence.
Another University Scandal
A university is being investigated for allegedly giving away diplomas to hundreds of Italian nationals.
The King Juan Carlos University in Madrid reportedly granted law diplomas to around 500 Italians with limited Spanish language skills.
The university already faces claims of awarding fraudulent master’s degrees to two Popular Party politicians.
A court spokesman said the latest probe was at a “very early stage.”
According to Eldiario.es, the students took trips to take their exams which coincided with Real Madrid football matches.
Cristina Cifuentes, former head of the Madrid region, and ex-health minister Carmen Monton both resigned over allegations the university had awarded them master’s degrees without them completing the work.
Warning Shot
The British Navy was forced to fire a warning flare at a Spanish ship after it got too close to a nuclear submarine which had just been loaded with missiles in Gibraltar.
pictures show HMS Talent, a Trafalgar-class nuclear sub, attempting to leave port on Wednesday along with a police escort.
But just after the submarine left the safety of the harbour, a patrol boat from the Guarda Civil could be seen approaching.
a flare was fired in the direction of the Spanish ship as it got close to the sub.
Traffic Latest
TRAFFIC authorities are considering making speed-limiting technology obligatory in all newly- manufactured cars in a bid to reduce deaths on the roads.
The Leader of the DGT believes the system preventing a car from travelling above the speed limit could prevent up to 400 fatalities a year by cutting serious accidents by at least 20%.
The ‘smart-speed’ system, according to the DGT boss, was the subject of a research project in Norway and found to be the ‘most efficient’ at saving lives.
Fag Buts
Volunteers have picked up 22,500 cigarettes butts from a Costa del Sol beach.
The haul was removed from La Linea’s shoreline during World Clean Up Day at the weekend.
Cadiz-based green group Ecologistas en Action shared a photo of the butts which were collected using empty water bottles.