Catalonia imposes total cell phone ban in schools
Students under 16 will be completely prohibited from using phones in school, including for educational purposes
Society
Current affairs and social issues
Barcelona tightens restrictions on souvenir and cannabis shops
New restrictions will also apply to mobile phone accessory shops and nail salons
Booking.com warns of rising AI-powered scams in tourism
Scammers exploit post-pandemic travel boom and AI tools to target travelers
Barcelona metro works to shut down section of Line 4 this summer
Service between Verdaguer and Trinitat Nova will be suspended from June 25 to September 7
Barcelona mayor proposes easing affordable housing quota for major renovations
Tenants’ Union accuses Jaume Collboni of acting "under the orders of the construction lobby"
Local-born residents in Girona fall below 50% for first time
Old Town sees sharp rise in foreign-born population, up 10 points in two years and nearing 50%
Barcelona Airport breaks May record with over 5 million passengers
Nearly 22 million people have passed through the airport so far this year
Castelldefels and El Prat voice opposition to airport expansion project
Gavà, Sant Boi, Viladecans, and Barcelona back government's proposal including plans to offset environmental damage
Three out of four Catalans believe tourism's impact on society is positive or very positive
Over half of surveyed say limit on visitors is nearly reached, and residents see activities limited
Finestres bookstore denounces 'attack on culture and freedom of speech' on Palestine books
Visitor pours coffee over several books in 'Israel-Palestine conflict' section, with Barcelona site selling damaged copies
Lloret de Mar fines 23 illegal tourist apartments €20,000 each
Local police and municipal inspectors temporarily shut down the offenders
Police dismantle drug smuggling ring operating via sailboats in Sitges and Manresa
Guardia Civil arrest three people and seize 400kg of hashish and 4.5kg of cocaine
More than 44,000 students in Catalonia begin university entrance exams
PAU runs from Wednesday to Friday with new format and changes to spelling rules
Catalan TV channels have not increased diversity on screen in the last decade
The presence of older people, immigrants, racialized people, and those with disabilities has stagnated since 2013
Dozens kayak Ebre river to demonstrate against water transfer
Protesters claim drought will impact again
Latest updates and breaking news on society, social issues, and current affairs from Barcelona and Catalonia. Keep up to date on protests, the housing crisis, the ongoing drought, the climate crisis and environmental management, urban development and management, the language immersion system, and much more here.