'People see the 'guiri' and respond in Spanish or English'
South African Gerhard Kirsten shares his journey learning Catalan on TikTok and Instagram
Society
Current affairs and social issues
Barcelona's Magic Fountain of Montjuïc could reopen in August 2025
City council will invest €3 million to renovate its iconic fountain, closed since 2022 due to drought
Severe weather warnings for cold, snow and wind in Catalonia this weekend
Weather could disrupt traffic, especially on Sunday, as thousands return after long bank holiday weekend
Over 13,000 students attend international schools in Catalonia
Demand for foreign education has grown, driven by families from abroad attracted by Barcelona's high quality of life
Provisional detention for bus driver involved in fatal crash in French Pyrenees
The bus driver of the vehicle that left L'Hospitalet de Llobregat tested positive for cocaine
Barcelona takes first step to regulate short-term rentals
The new law will require landlords to provide documented proof to justify seasonal rentals
Catalonia to hire 3,000 more Mossos d'Esquadra police officers by 2030
Security Council agree to incorporate Spanish National Police and Guardia Civil into 112 emergency number
Tourism sector sees strong occupancy for bank holiday weekend despite lack of snow
Travelers opt for alternative destinations near Christmas markets and rural accommodations
Justice department announces new criminal courts for Barcelona to tackle repeat offenders
Local police to be given tool to identify if detainees are repeat offenders
Catalonia lags behind in maths: 42% of 9-10 year olds have low or very low skills
Average score of Catalan students is 25 points below European average and 36 points below OECD average
Sagrada Família completes 12th level of Tower of Jesus Christ, reaching 142.5 meters in height
Construction begins on final cross terminal, expected to be completed by late 2025
Two-thirds of Barcelona renters spend more than 30% of income on housing
Nine out of ten renters lack protections against 'invisible evictions' and 'abusive' rent increases, report finds
Chemsex surge in Catalonia fueled by dating apps and drug normalization
Experts warn the practice poses health risks, including addiction, STDs and dependency
Government approves 'pioneering' bill to eradicate asbestos in Catalonia
New law will introduce fines of up to €100,000 to help eliminate the 2-3 million units of asbestos still present
Cost of raising a child in Catalonia soars to €938 monthly in 2024, the highest in Spain
Housing, utilities, and food expenses skyrocket, driving Catalonia to lowest fertility rate in Europe
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.