Catalonia

Police launched a manhunt in Barcelona on Thursday for the campaigner for Catalan independence, who made a sensational return to Catalonia — and a getaway after a speech in the city.

Catalonia's separatist parties are in danger of losing their hold on power in the northeastern region after the pro-union Socialist Party scored a historic result in Sunday's election.

Spain has pardoned nine leaders in the Catalan independence movement, who were convicted of sedition in 2019. Catalonia's 2017 failed bid for independence was modern Spain's greatest political crisis.

Leaders in Spain's northeastern region have pushed for independence from the country. Now they want to go their own way in space, launching a first nanosatellite this month from Kazakhstan.

Local media report the club's former president and current CEO were arrested. The raid follows allegations that club officials hired a marketing firm to discredit its critics, including Lionel Messi.

While many Catalans are outraged at the central government's crackdown on the independence movement, the huge demonstrations have obscured deep divisions in Catalan society.

Police and protesters clashed on Monday in Barcelona after Spain's high court sentenced nine leaders for their involvement in an independence referendum two years ago that Madrid says was illegal.

The divisive trial could end with prison sentences of up to 25 years for some of the defendants charged for their roles in Catalonia's 2017 failed independence bid.

Spain had rescinded its European arrest warrant when it became clear Belgian authorities would not cooperate. As a court considered a new warrant, Carles Puigdemont was proposed as Catalonia's leader.

Spanish authorities took the politicians into custody after Catalonia, a formerly semiautonomous region, declared independence from Spain. Catalan's former president remains in exile in Belgium.