The unrestrained action of Nicolás Otamendi and Giovani Lo Celso displaying a banner with the slogan “The Malvinas are Argentine” after winning the 2026 World Cup semifinals against England (1-2) has ignited the fuse of a tense diplomatic controversy between the two countries, which is on the path to flare up.
“It is a huge team, with great players, with skill… a team that I know very well,” praised Leo Messi about his next opponent in the World Cup final this Sunday at Metlife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. The Argentine star analyzed La Roja and did not hide his excitement about facing many of those who were his teammates during his long time at FC Barcelona, a club that he “always loves and follows,” he said in statements to FIFA after being named MVP of the semifinal against England.
The amnesty law approved two years ago has benefited a total of 403 people, of whom 181 are protesters or pro-independence activists, 158 police officers, and 64 political officials, according to data from the lawyers’ platform Alerta Solidària. Two years later, a total of 93 political officials are still awaiting its application. These are the cases that were pending resolution by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which ruled in their favor this Thursday. Among them are Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín, and Lluís Puig, declared in rebellion and with an arrest warrant issued by the Supreme Court; as well as Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Turull, Raül Romeva, and Dolors Bassa, who were pardoned from the prison sentence for the crime of sedition for which they were convicted, but not from the sentence for embezzlement, which involved disqualification from holding public office.
The first time Leo Messi played in a World Cup, back in 2006, Lamine Yamal was not even a life project yet. 20 years later, the two latest great idols of Barcelona will have the opportunity to meet on the pitch for the first and, presumably, last time, no less than in a World Cup final. The photo between the two main representatives of Argentina and Spain will be the most sought after for its exceptionality, but it will not be the first.
Thomas Tuchel is in the eye of the storm. England’s elimination at the hands of Argentina (1-2) in the World Cup semifinals has triggered a wave of criticism in English football. Former internationals, analysts, and media all agree in pointing to the German coach’s ultra-defensive approach after the 1-0.
“The services have continued to be the great engine of the Catalan economy.” That is one of the conclusions of the Annual Report on the Catalan Economy 2025 presented this Thursday at the Palau de la Generalitat. With a “gradual recovery of the agricultural sector,” the Catalan economy shows that new face in which the industry has not quite regained the brilliance of previous years. “The weakest increase has been recorded in the industrial sector,” the report states.
The Plenary of the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) has approved this morning to extend the activity of the Almaraz nuclear power plant for three more years, until 2030. This is what the owners of the plant, Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy, had requested. This position of the Nuclear Safety Council was mandatory, but it does not yet represent the final step for the plant to extend its operational life. From now on, it is the Government who has to make the final decision.
La Audiencia Provincial de Madrid has confirmed that it sends Begoña Gómez, wife of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to trial before a jury court for the crimes of embezzlement and influence peddling, both subject to being tried by a popular jury.
The PP has reacted immediately to the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the Amnesty Law by showing “absolute respect.” “The PP does not interpret rulings based on whether they like them more or less,” sources from the Popular Party say. However, the PP leadership warns that this is not the “end of the debate” because now the Spanish courts have the power to directly apply the Amnesty Law. Additionally, the PP maintains its rejection of “criminal privileges” for the separatists.
“It was worth it, it is worth it, today is a great day,” said the Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, after the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) endorsed the Amnesty law this Thursday, thus taking a step further to pave the way for the return of Carles Puigdemont, almost ten years after the Catalan independence process began.