Catalonia

A drought in Spain has dried up all the bubbly

One of the world’s most well-known and prestigious makers of sparkling wine — or cava, as it’s called in Catalan — is laying off 80% of its workforce. There’s plenty of demand for Spanish-German Freixenet’s bottled beverage, just not enough water to get the grapes to grow. They have shriveled on the vine as the lack of rain and restrictions on water use combine. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Sant Sadurní d’Ainoa, Spain.

Protesters hold esteladas or independence flags as they take part in a demonstration during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. 

In Catalonia, ruling separatist parties split, signaling end of an era

Global Politics
Misoprostol drug, the most common abortion pill

Catalonia’s temporary tele-abortion services are a game-changer for women with limited access

Reproductive rights
Members of the Catalonian band, Txarango

Identity politics and music from a band in Catalonia

Music
Demonstrators gather outside the Catalan regional parliament in Barcelona, Oct. 27, 2017.

Catalonia’s lawmakers vote for independence from Spain

Global Politics
Barcelona soccer fans make their feelings known about Catalan independence, at a game on Wednesday Oct 18th 2017

The roots of Catalonia’s differences with the rest of Spain

Culture

With Catalonia threatening to declare independence from Spain, we look into the origins of the dispute between Barcelona and Madrid.

Sound of Thunder

A heavy metal band from Virginia went viral in Catalonia

Music

Lead singer Nina Osegueda inspires A Sound of Thunder to record a version of the region’s anthem.

A pro-union demonstration organised by the Catalan Civil Society organisation makes its way through the streets of Barcelona, Spain October 8, 2017.

As Spain sinks further into instability, the EU remains mute

Global Politics

The situation in Spain puts the EU in a tricky situation — it might be troubled by the violence, but it doesn’t want to encourage separatist forces that threaten many of the nations within it.

The World

Chronicle of a crackdown on Catalonia’s independence vote

Conflict

Journalist Gerry Hadden offers a firsthand look, from a Barcelona polling center, at Spanish police’s violent operations to disrupt the outlawed referendum on Catalan independence.

Riot police grab at a woman near a polling station for the banned independence referendum in Barcelona, Spain, on Oct. 1, 2017.

Spanish riot police fight to suppress Catalonia’s defiant independence vote

Conflict

Thousands of Spanish police fanned out across the northeast region of Catalonia, forcing their way into occupied polling stations, stomping on voters and seizing ballot boxes.