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Catalan municipalities will no longer have to save land for new religious centres

September 13, 2011 10:59 PM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

The Catalan Government approves the modification of the Worship Centres Law from 2009. Town halls will no longer be obliged to save plots for the construction of new religious centres. No architectonical aspects are banned but the law gives town halls the authority to decide on the conditions of construction regarding aesthetics. In some Catalan towns, there have been complex controversies regarding the construction of mosques in recent years. Some Catalan towns have more than a 30% immigrant population, most of who have arrived in the last 10 years. The current approach is to give the authority to each individual town hall to adapt to its local reality.

After the first day of school, teachers and parents gather in front of many town halls to defend the Catalan school model

September 12, 2011 11:24 PM | CNA / María Bélmez / Gaspar Pericay Coll

This Monday Catalan pupils begin their school year. 1,280,232 students from elementary, primary and secondary education returned to the classrooms with normality. However, controversies are lingering over this year. The Catalan language at schools, the sixth hour of tuition and budget restrictions all frame the school year’s kick off. The day finished with teacher and parent demonstrations in front of town halls defending the Catalan school model.

Priorat wines from 2011 will be scarcer but of greater quality

September 12, 2011 09:00 PM | CNA / Núria Torres

The strong heat diminishes the production of grapes of the wine region Priorat, but their quality is better. Priorat’s Protected Geographical Indication, which brings together some 600 farmers, expects a fall in grape production of around 15%, but the surviving grapes will be of great quality. Priorat red wines, produced in South-West of Catalonia, are internationally appreciated and are famous for their strong character.