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“It means that we are not wanted, we are excluded, we are ignored” stated Artur Mas, President of the Catalan Government and leader of the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Coalition (CiU). It was the first time he has spoken on the Constitutional amendment limiting the public deficit that has been agreed on only between the PSOE and the PP. The CiU has protested against reforming the Constitution solely on the basis of the agreement of only two parties. Members of the PP and the PSOE have been trying to convince the CiU to support what both parties had previously agreed, and PM Zapatero (from the PSOE) asked the CiU to show some “moderation”.

The Catalan Government approves a support program that will advise the promotion and development of activities from the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat, whose headquarters are in Barcelona. It will provide advice on Euro-Mediterranean policy and projects, until the UfM has enough resources of its own.

‘Jo confesso’ (‘I confess’) is the new novel by Catalan author Jaume Cabré (Barcelona, 1947). Seven years after publishing ‘Les veus del Pamano’, which sold more than 100,000 copies in Catalan, 450,000 in German and has sold well in a further eleven languages, the writer returns with a novel about love, lack of affection, guilt and evil.

Isaki Lacuesta will run in the official competition with ‘Los Pasos dobles'. Manuel Huerga will show his movie on the Second Republic and the political fight between Catalonia’s main politicians at the time, Francesc Macià and Lluís Companys.

The new cultural facility explains how was life in Manresa, central Catalonia, during the Middle Age. The new centre aims to generate tourism for the city. It was unveiled last weekend.

The former mayor of Llívia, Josep Pous, has left politics and dedicated himself to artisan beer with his microbrewery. Lybica is the first artisan beer produced in the Cerdanya county, in the Pyrenees. It joins the boom of artisan beers in Catalonia.

Heribert Barrera, who became the first president of the reinstituted Catalan Parliament after Franco, died last Saturday aged 94 years old. He was the oldest leader of Catalan independence movement and a respected figure within the entire political spectrum. The farewell ceremony took place this Monday at the Catalan Parliament.

Lloret de Mar is one of the most popular tourist destinations along the Costa Brava yet some tourists themselves are tearing this beach resort apart. Clashes with police, particularly over the last month, have sparked calls for greater security and a crack-down on the drinking culture that has fostered in the town.

On the 26th, 27th and 28th of August the old streets of Cervera will be filled with mysterious figures, magicians and witches in a colorful dark-arts festivals. The capital of the Segarra county (in Western Catalonia) hopes to have 30,000 visitors between Friday and Sunday.

26 new knowledge-intensive companies have set their offices in Barcelona’s 22@district over the first half of this year. The innovation district has more than 1,500 companies and increased its turnover by 5.4% against the 2008 census.

Seven wineries that are part of the Terra Alta protected geographical indication (PGI) have begun the harvest of white varieties. This is the second harvest with the distinguished Terra Alta Garnatxa Blanca (white Grenache) label in place, to guarantee high quality standards.

The group dedicated to robbing cars and possessions from unsuspecting drivers at the AP-7 highway has been disbanded by the Catalan police. 13 stolen cars have been recovered and more than 90 people responsible for these crimes arrested.

Barça player Gerard Piqué got injured in training and will be out for three weeks. Piqué tore fibres in his left calf muscle and will not play the European Super Cup match in Monaco against Porto next Friday evening.

The project ‘Cultures Trobades’ has already avoided the extinction of 300 varieties of seeds, 50 ancient vineyards and the last living specimens of the Catalan goats. The initiative aims to preserve traditional Catalan agriculture, "the country's cultural heritage."

The Catalan theatre group, internationally famous for their technological, forceful and unusual settings, is preparing their vision of ‘Terra Baixa’, a rural drama from the lat 19th century, written by the naturalist and realist Angel Guimerà. From its first performance in 1896 the play was a great success, even at international level, inspiring operas and movies. In ‘Terra Baixa Reload’ virtual actors appearing on three giant screens interact with the actors on the stage. It was premiered in Catalonia’s National Library.