News

Catalonia makes masks mandatory in public

By 967 0

Catalonia, the most popular autonomous region in Spain, has made face masks mandatory in public for all those aged over five.

Notably, the move has come after the region has witnessed a surge in new cases of coronavirus.

The new rule means that anyone caught without a mask faces the serious fine punishment of around €100.

One of the agricultural regions in the region Segrià has witnessed a surge in new cases in the recent past.

Anyway, the national situation is largely under control. So far, the country had recorded 252,513 cases and 28,396 deaths.

It seems that the country will come back to normal soon. Though earlier the WHO contradicted the claims in connection with the usage of masks, now it supports the idea of making masks mandatory in public.

Many countries across the world have already introduced this policy in their respective regions. There is no wrong in trying anything if it can assure some relief from the crisis.

Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright 

News

Deadly blast sends shockwaves to Spaniards

By 973 0

A deadly blast happened at a chemical factory in the Spanish autonomous territory of Catalonia has sent shockwaves to the people of the country.

As per a preliminary assumption, the blast was accidental. Initially, the authorities asked the residents of the area to stay safely inside their homes. But, later, the directive has been revoked by the same authority, as they have found that no harmful gas was released during the blast.

Catalonia is a heavily industrialised region in the European country of Spain. It is an autonomous region. A movement for the independence of this region from Spain is at a crucial juncture at this stage.

The present Spanish government owes the separatist parties in the region for its existence, as these parties form an integral part of the ruling coalition.

It is not clear how this development is going to reflect in the continuing agitation aimed at the independence of the region from the control of Spain.

No region in Spain is as prosperous as Catalonia. The Spanish economy relies hugely on the region for its stability.

The disinterest of Spain to give the region what it wants is linked to the aforesaid fact. The country knows well that losing Catalonia means losing its economic stability.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

News Politics

Spain: PM Sanchez wins support of Catalan separatist party

By 1164 0

Paving the way for the formation of a coalition government, the biggest separatist party based in Catalonia has extended its support to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The move has end the deadlock under which Spain was brought by an inconclusive election result.

The support means Spain can no longer look the question of the independence of Catalonia with disrespect.

At this moment, it remains unclear the new coalition government will agree to conduct a formal Catalan independence referendum.

Earlier, an informal referendum conducted by the regional government in Catalonia was supported hugely by the people of the region.

It even paved the way for the emergence of a confrontation between the regional government in Catalonia and the central government.

Meanwhile, another big question that remains is whether the destiny of the punished Catalonian separatist leader will be overturned.

Several Catalonian leaders have been punished severely as the central government has chosen not to take a lenient stand in the independence issue.

Catalonia is a rich territory in Spain. Its culture is a bit different from that of the rest of the country. A considerable number of Catalonians want to be identified with Catalonia than with Spain.

Anyway, the new political development in Spain is a big boost to the Catalonian separatist movement.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Sports

El Clasico not to take place in scheduled time

By 1213 0

This month’s match between fierce rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is less likely to take place in the scheduled date, as the organisers fear that the match may get disturbed due to the ongoing protest in Barcelona against a Spanish court’s decision to jail certain pro-separatist leaders on the charge of sedition.

The match has been postponed as FC Barcelona has denied the suggestion of the organisers to change venue from Barcelona to Madrid.

The proposed El Clasico is very crucial, as this is the first match happen between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona since the declaration of the controversial verdict by the Spanish court against the Catalan independence leaders.

For the last few days, most regions in Catalonia, including Barcelona, have been witnessing serious protest against the verdict.

It is assumed that the Spanish government does not want to let the game take place in this turbulent time in the soil of Catalonia.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

News Politics

Spanish court awards serious punishment to Catalan independence leaders

By 1217 0

A Spanish court has awarded serious punishment to the political leaders, who led a violent separatist movement in the Spanish region of Catalonia around two years ago.

The punishment has been awarded to nearly nine leaders. Some of them has got thirteen years imprisonment, and the rest has received not less than nine.  

The leaders, including former Catalan Vice-President Oriol Junqueras, have been found guilty of the serious charge of sedition.

The court has acquitted as many as nine other political leaders, who were charged with similar charges including rioting.

All the accused leaders have pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them by the Spanish government.

The court has lent its ears to most of those pleas. In the case of the convicted leaders, the court has found the grounds, on which the charges against them have been erected, relevant.

The Catalan referendum movement is the most powerful political movement the European country of Spain has witnessed in its recent history.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people have gathered in all major Catalonian cities, including Barcelona, to express their solidarity with the independence leaders of the region ahead of the controversial verdict, which has shacked the heart of many Catalonians, mostly those in favour of the separatist movement.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

EuropeTimes Europe EuroepanUnion Italy France Germany Catalonia UK
News Politics

Rightists’ triumph continues in the West

By 1075 0

The demand for snap election is active in Spain, which is at present in the hands of leftists. Hours before, the rights have successfully organised a protest in Madrid demanding the resignation of the ruling leftists. Through it has been triggered by the ruling’s lenient stand towards the Catalonian separatists’ demand (that is, the independence of Catalonia), all efforts have been directed solely towards the destruction of the political base of the leftists in the country.

The tread is not different elsewhere in Europe. It is evident in Italy (with the presence of the Five Star Movement and Northern League), France (with the presence of Marine Le Pen), the UK (with the victory of Brexit), and even in Germany (with the emergence of far-rights voices in the country).

Europe MarineLePen France EuropeTimes

Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK are the four biggest economies in the continent. It is on these economies the entire European Union stands. With the UK’s proposed departure and the ongoing friction between France and Italy, the union at present already has a buddle of problems to deal with.

It is sure that the union cannot survive another big blow. It is high time to articulate a applicable strategy to counter the emerging threat of euroscepticism.

Vignesh. S. G
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright