Spain’s security chiefs are well aware that their focus must be on the internet. Spanish authorities are very concerned about the possible effects of fake news stories, bots, and hackers, all of which could influence the campaign and the vote itself.

Officers with Catalonia’s regional police force on Monday morning clashed with pro-independence demonstrators who were protesting the transfer of 44 artworks from the region’s Lleida Museum to neighboring Aragon.

A new study by the State Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services shows that Catalonia is the region that experienced the deepest cuts to social spending during the economic recession, between 2005 and 2015.

Faced with political and social opposition, the Catalan government was
forced to backtrack on some of its decisions. The ups and downs of the pro-independence drive have affected the quality of healthcare: the system was first hit by budget cuts enacted by former premier Artur Mas in the middle of the economic crisis;

Madrid municipal police officers have begun enforcing controversial new regulations for pedestrians in a popular downtown shopping district.Mayor Manuela Carmena, of the leftist Ahora Madrid coalition, has made two major pedestrian thoroughfares – Preciados street and del Carmen street – into one-way routes over the Christmas holidays.

The measures will be in place until January 7 on Fridays, Saturdays,
Sundays and public holidays during peak times for human traffic in the
popular commercial area. ...City officials say that the measure will enhance security and improve mobility in the area. But the initiative has drawn widespread criticism and become an endless source of humor on social media, where comparisons have been drawn to cattle trails and even to the North Korean regime

Ryanair Pilots are set to strike over the Christmas period in support of their colleagues based in Germany and Italy. The strike is planned for
Wednesday 20th and is pushing for better working conditions.

Chris Froome has been asked to explain a possible doping violation during La Vuelta de España.

In the UK Britain is facing demands to push back the ‘cut-off date’ for new EU migrants to 2021 in return for a two-year transition deal, it emerged last night. Documents show that EU negotiators plan to issue the demand during the next phase of negotiations in return for the ‘transition deal’ wanted by the Prime Minister.

The ultimatum risks infuriating Brexiteers who insist that Brexit should be capitalised on by the Government to regain control of the country’s immigration system.

A gang who murdered three young children after pouring fuel down a
chimney in Walkden, Greater Manchester, reportedly ran to a nearby house to watch the devastating blaze.

Nearly 40 per cent of those receiving jail sentences in 2016 for violent
offences – including murder, grievous bodily harm, assault, kidnapping,
stalking and harassment – already had 15 or more convictions

The North Sea’s most important oil and gas pipeline – carrying 40 per cent of mainland Britain’s crude oil from the North Sea – had to be shut down after cracks were found. As a result, the price of a barrel of Brent crude rose to $65.56 (£49.23), a level not seen since the summer of 2015. Yesterday there was also an explosion at a major gas transfer station in Austria – the main point of entry for Russian gas into Europe. In the wake of the blast, UK gas prices hit their highest level for six years, threatening higher bills this winter..

A burglar alarm advert has sparked fury on Merseyside after showing a
man with a Scouse accent trying to break into a London home.
In the advert for Ring security services a man, dressed in black,
approaches a house before ringing the bell and peering through the window. The homeowner is able to speak to the would-be thief through an app on his phone and when the camera connects he speaks in a Liver(continued)