Pope Leo XIV publishes first encyclical and visits Catalonia
Pope Leo XIV, identified as Robert Prevost from Chicago, has published his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, stating that Christian tradition has never recognised the right to private property as absolute. During his visit to Catalonia, the pontiff visited the Sagrada Família, Montserrat, the Brians prison and the church of Sant Agustí, declaring that peace must be 'unarmed and disarming'. Leo XIV is also scheduled to visit the crypt of the Sagrada Família to see the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, a candidate for beatification.
Salary agreement between Catalonia's Education Department and teaching unions
Catalonia's Department of Education and Vocational Training reached a pre-agreement with unions USTEC and Aspepc.sps, including monthly salary increases of up to 599.50 euros for primary teachers and 633.58 euros for secondary teachers. The deal ends a conflict that had accumulated 23 days of strikes, protests and road blockades. The CGT walked out of negotiations and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Esther Niubó. USTEC will hold a ratification vote among its members, while a territorial strike had been scheduled for Monday 1 June.
Congress validates Royal Decree-Law 11/2026 on pharmaceutical co-payment
The Congreso de los Diputados has validated Royal Decree-Law 11/2026 of 12 May, which modifies the co-payment by users and their beneficiaries for outpatient pharmaceutical services. The validation agreement was published in the BOE by order of Congress.
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Thalidomide victims in Catalonia demand tax exemption on received aid
Thalidomide victims in Catalonia, including Josefina Mompeo and Sofía García, have described the physical after-effects and the legal and fiscal difficulties they have faced decades after the drug was marketed, having caused malformations in approximately 10,000 newborns across some 40 countries. The Spanish state approved aid of between 30,000 and 100,000 euros per affected person, but victims have had to return 47% of the amount as income tax. Junts per Catalunya has registered a bill in the Catalan Parliament to exempt the regional IRPF tranche on the aid received, while the Basque Country, Navarre and Galicia have already fully or partially reimbursed the taxed amounts.
Zapatero case: PP leads the popular prosecution and judge schedules testimony for mid-June
Judge José Luis Calama has granted the Partido Popular leadership of the popular prosecution in the case against former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, a decision accepted in writing by the defence. The judge also ordered the parties to coordinate positions and unify requests for investigative measures. Zapatero is scheduled to testify in mid-June, in a case in which the US National Security Agency has provided messages relevant to the investigation.
Barcelona Court orders return of 128 properties stolen from elderly people by a fraud network
The Barcelona Court has ordered the return of 128 properties stolen from elderly people by a real estate fraud network involving lawyers and notaries who used financial products such as reverse mortgages. Suspect Artur Segarra, serving a life sentence in Thailand for the murder of David Bernat from l'Albi, has been declared a fugitive in this case.
Informe Fènix warns of Catalonia's economic lag behind the European average
A group of prominent economists has published the Informe Fènix, analysing Catalonia's economic reality and warning that the country's growth model creates jobs but not progress, as Catalan income per capita has fallen from 6% above the European average at the start of the century to 6% below it. The report asks why economic growth is not translating into better wages, greater well-being and more social cohesion.
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US federal judge temporarily blocks $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies
A US federal judge has temporarily blocked a fund of nearly $1.8 billion that the Trump administration intended to allocate to victims of alleged political weaponisation of the justice system during Democratic administrations, including those convicted for the Capitol assault, which resulted in five police deaths.
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Isak Andic case: fall video submitted to court and Jonathan Andic remanded in custody
El Periódico newspaper accessed a video of Isak Andic's fall at the Mutua Universal headquarters, which lawyer Cristóbal Martell submitted to the Martorell court. Jonathan Andic, son of the Mango founder, was arrested by the Mossos d'Esquadra and the judge ordered his provisional detention with bail.
Junts loses parliamentary support and calls for elections; ERC rules out internal vote on PSC pacts
Junts spokesperson in Congress Miriam Nogueras declared that Pedro Sánchez's government 'has come to its end' and demanded general elections, a position echoed by the PNB's Aitor Esteban. Meanwhile, critics within ERC failed to gather the signatures needed to force an internal vote on whether to break pacts with the PSC and Salvador Illa, meaning the consultation will not take place.
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Economic and social impact of the Gulf war: Catalan testimonies from Dubai
Catalans living in Dubai have described the impact of the Gulf war on tourism, trade and daily life, with estimated losses of $600 million per day during the first weeks of the conflict according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Bahrain intercepted more than 400 missiles in a single month, and a drone caused a fire in central Dubai. Dubai Basketball club temporarily relocated to Sarajevo but has since returned to the UAE.
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Fundación SM study: nearly 70% of young Spaniards dissatisfied with democracy
An annual Fundación SM study based on five thousand interviews with people aged 15 to 29 reveals that nearly 70% of young Spaniards report little or no satisfaction with how democracy functions. A portion of this group considers an authoritarian regime acceptable under certain circumstances to maintain social peace, and a fraction self-positions politically close to Vox.
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TSJC annuls the modification of the Metropolitan General Plan for Gràcia
The Tribunal Superior de Justícia de Catalunya (TSJC) has annulled the modification of the Metropolitan General Plan for the urban and environmental improvement of Barcelona's Gràcia neighbourhood, approved by Barcelona City Council and challenged by the business sector. The ruling is not final and the plan remains in force while the City Council prepares a cassation appeal before the Supreme Court.
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Messer Ibérica case: testimony before judge on payments to Equipo Económico
A representative of Messer Ibérica testified before the judge to justify payments made to Equipo Económico, a firm founded by former minister Cristóbal Montoro, in a case involving charges of influence peddling and other offences. Other suspects, including Karl Andrea Hauck, invoked their right to silence.
Trans woman murdered in Figueres in an alleged femicide
A trans woman has been murdered in Figueres in a case that news outlets have reported as an alleged femicide and a new episode of gender-based violence.
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Scientific report warns New Orleans could be surrounded by sea before end of century
Nature Sustainability has published a report warning that New Orleans, with approximately 360,000 inhabitants and up to 99% of its population in high flood-risk zones, could end up surrounded by sea before the end of the century without a planned retreat strategy. The report notes that other cities such as New York, London, Venice and Jakarta face similar risks from rising sea levels and land subsidence.
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EU condemns Russian drone crash in Galati and calls Russia 'reckless'
Representatives of European Union institutions have condemned the crash of a Russian drone in Galati (Romania) and called Russia 'reckless', declaring that Moscow 'crosses yet another line in its war against Ukraine'.
Major anti-drug operation in Girona: six suspects remanded in custody
Girona's investigating court number 2 has remanded six suspects in custody following a major operation against marijuana trafficking that dismantled eleven plantations and led to 26 arrests. Four of those arrested were remanded without bail, two with bail, and ten were released with precautionary measures.
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Plataforma per la Llengua warns of Catalan language decline in Poblenou due to expat arrivals
Plataforma per la Llengua has published a report on the impact of high-income expat arrivals in Barcelona's Poblenou neighbourhood, where the arrival rate is double the city average. The Sant Martí district has seen its Catalan-speaking population fall from 45% to 31.8% over the past twenty years, with 10% of residents speaking a language other than Catalan or Spanish. The Minister for Language Policy, Francesc Xavier Vila, acknowledged in a VilaWeb interview that government members use Spanish at public events and defended the need to gain natural spaces for Catalan.
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Flakka: Civil Guard links drug to at least three deaths in Valencia
The Civil Guard has stated it is beginning to see the shadow of flakka, also known as alfa, behind at least three deaths in Valencia over the past year, including a toxic shock and a young person falling from a 14th-floor balcony with no apparent history of suicidal intent. The Sagunt Investigation Unit conducted an anti-narcotics operation and observed the physical deterioration of detainees two years after their police photographs.
UPF research: women older than their partner face higher risk of repeat intimate partner violence
Research led by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra concludes that women more than ten years older than their partner have a protection period without new violence 41.8% shorter than the reference group, while women more than ten years younger than their partner have a protection period up to 57% longer.
Lleida City Council unanimously demands Adif take action on high-speed rail vibrations in l'Horta
Lleida City Council unanimously approved an institutional declaration demanding that Adif and the Ministry of Transport recognise and assume damages caused by high-speed rail vibrations to 42 homes in the l'Horta neighbourhood, quantified by an expert at 879,665 euros. Adif has acknowledged that vibrations exceed established limits.
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Mossos d'Esquadra launch Pla Bastió with extraordinary street controls
The Mossos d'Esquadra have launched Pla Bastió, establishing extraordinary police deployments with controls on streets, public transport, commercial areas, leisure zones and parks.
Extreme temperatures in Lleida schools: one secondary school exceeds 35°C indoors
The Canigó secondary school in Almacelles recorded indoor temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, and five school buildings in the Lleida region exceeded 32.5 degrees. The Manuel de Pedrolo secondary school in Tàrrega filed a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate, as the occupational risk prevention law sets a maximum recommended temperature of 27 degrees for sedentary work.
Local police of Ciudad Real and Las Cabezas de San Juan join the gender-based violence monitoring system
The Secretaría de Estado de Seguridad has signed agreements with the city councils of Ciudad Real and Las Cabezas de San Juan to incorporate their local police forces into the Comprehensive Monitoring System for gender-based violence cases, published in the BOE.
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Smoking ban on Barcelona province beaches extended to 90% of the coastline
The Diputació de Barcelona has announced that 22 coastal municipalities have approved or will approve smoking bans on their beaches in 2026, a figure set to reach 24 between 2026 and 2027, covering 93 beaches and 48.6 kilometres of coastline, close to 90% of the province's total. The goal is to reach all 26 coastal municipalities by 2027 and extend the model across Catalonia.
Canal d'Urgell modernisation: new sector-based approach from 2028
Agriculture Minister Òscar Ordeig has announced that the Canal d'Urgell modernisation is changing approach: it abandons the idea of a comprehensive intervention and will adopt a voluntary, sector-based model on demand from irrigators, covering 10,809 hectares from 2028.
ICASS care home in Reus closed since 2024: Generalitat seals building to prevent squatting
The Generalitat de Catalunya has sealed access to the ICASS elderly care home in Reus, closed since July 2024 due to structural problems. The Government has announced the demolition and reconstruction of the building and signed an agreement with the State and Reus City Council; the Department of Social Rights explained that the sealing is intended to prevent illegal occupations that could delay the process.
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Single-person households in Spain and Portugal have grown 81% since 1991
According to data from the Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics, single-person households in Spain and Portugal have increased by 81% since 1991, while large households of five or more members have decreased by 73% over the same period. The average number of people per household has fallen from 3.3 to 2.4. In the Lleida region, single-member households are already in the majority.
ADIF–Principality of Asturias–Gijón City Council agreement for Gijón's new intermodal station
Public entity ADIF has published in the BOE the agreement signed with the Principality of Asturias and Gijón/Xixón City Council for the execution and financing of works on Gijón's new intermodal station, Phase 1, covering the urban redevelopment of Calle Carlos Marx, works management, technical assistance, occupational health and safety coordination, and environmental monitoring.
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Junts prepares for 2027 municipal elections with Vilafranca event and Eduard Pujol candidacy
Junts held a municipalist gathering in Vilafranca del Penedès, governed by the PSC, announcing senator Eduard Pujol as its candidate for mayor. The party, which holds the most mayoralties in Catalonia, faces the municipal elections of 23 May 2027 with up to five candidates interested in leading the Barcelona list, after Josep Rius withdrew his candidacy to avoid a confrontation.
Public utility declarations and authorisations for several renewable energy installations
The Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines published several BOE resolutions on renewable energy installations: it granted public utility declarations to the FV Cofrentes I photovoltaic plant (154.665 MW), Helena Solar 12 and Helena Solar 2; granted prior administrative authorisation to the FV Ahigal-Cerezo project; and accepted the withdrawal of applications for the Raposeras and Mazo (62 MW) wind farms. Additionally, the Directorate-General for Environmental Quality issued an environmental impact declaration for the Perdiguero storage plant (100 MW) and an impact report for the BESS Hibridaciones FV Arenales module.
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Champions League Final: PSG vs Arsenal
PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, and Arsenal, managed by Arteta, will contest the Champions League final. PSG seeks a second consecutive title, while Arsenal aims for its first ever Champions League trophy.
Camp de Tarragona tram works advance into urbanised areas
The Camp de Tarragona tram works have expanded into urbanised areas, specifically a section of Avinguda Alcalde Pere Molas on the border between Vila-seca and Salou, after previously focusing on the sections occupied by the old coastal railway line between Salou and Cambrils.
Collective bargaining agreement for the Spanish General State Administration modified by the General Negotiating Table
The General Negotiating Table of the Spanish General State Administration has adopted an agreement modifying the pact of 18 June 2025 on the organisation of collective bargaining and the allocation of union resources for negotiations within the General State Administration, published in the BOE.
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FC Barcelona signs Anthony Gordon until 2031
FC Barcelona has officially announced the signing of Anthony Gordon, who has signed a contract until 2031 and expressed his ambition to win the Champions League with the club.
Catalonia records record enrolment for the 2026 university entrance exams (PAU)
Catalonia has recorded record enrolment for the 2026 university entrance exams (PAU), in which students from the province of Tarragona will participate.
Vegetation fire closes the N-230 between Areny and Pont de Montanyana
A vegetation fire caused the closure of the N-230 road between Areny and Pont de Montanyana. According to Heraldo de Aragón, the fire originated from a truck tyre explosion that scattered fragments on both sides of the road.
Catalan Water Agency puts to public consultation a €1 million+ Topograpo network rehabilitation project
The Catalan Water Agency has put to public information the rehabilitation project for the Topograpo network, with a budget of over €1 million including VAT, which will secure water supply to Gratallops, Torroja del Priorat, Poboleda and Porrera, municipalities that suffer from supply shortages especially in summer.
Dog-friendly beach zones on the Catalan coast: 50 spaces enabled for the 2026 season
The Catalan coast will have 50 beaches with dog-friendly bathing zones during the 2026 season, spread across the Alt Empordà (11 beaches in seven municipalities), the Baix Empordà (3 beaches) and the Costa Brava (14 beaches). The Maresme has the highest coverage, with 80% of coastal municipalities and 13 enabled beaches. La Selva remains the only Catalan coastal comarca with no urban beach open to animals during the peak bathing season.
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Renfe to triple the number of Rodalies stations with graffiti-cleaning tunnels
Renfe plans to triple the number of Rodalies stations equipped with graffiti-cleaning tunnels in the coming months. It currently has facilities at Sant Andreu, França, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Ripoll stations, and plans to add them at Mataró, Sant Vicenç de Calders, Reus, Móra la Nova, Lleida, Manresa and Vic.
Stabilisation of rocky slope in Corçà (Àger) due to rockfall risk
The Àger town council will carry out the stabilisation of a rocky slope in the Corçà hamlet, where a rock fell and damaged the remains of the castle and endangered a house below. Mayor Mireia Burgués noted that, as it was a second residence, no evacuation was necessary.
Mossos d'Esquadra report 69 vehicles in a road safety check on the C-462
The Mossos d'Esquadra reported 69 vehicles during a road safety check on the C-462 road as part of the PREMOT operation, during which they detected 28 motorcycles performing prohibited overtaking of an undercover police vehicle.
Municipality of Ràfol de Salem officially renamed to exclusive Valencian form
Decree 55/2026 approves the change of name of the municipality of Ràfol de Salem to the exclusive Valencian form el Ràfol de Salem, published in the BOE.
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Spanish artistic swimming team debuts at Pontevedra World Cup with gold in technical team
The Spanish artistic swimming team debuted at the Pontevedra World Cup and won the gold medal in the technical team final. Swimmer Txell Ferré participates as a reserve for the national team.
Mossos arrest two people for cocaine trafficking and find marijuana plantation in Lleida
The Mossos d'Esquadra arrested two residents aged 32 and 52 in the Secà neighbourhood of Lleida as part of a cocaine trafficking investigation, and found a marijuana plantation in a flat.