The Catalan Parliament today passed the abolition of bull fighting in Catalunya, by a margin of 68 votes to 45. The ban will become law from 1 January 2012. Detractors claim that Catalans see this veto as just another way of distancing themselves from the rest of Spain, while others applaud it as the beginning of the end of bullfighting worldwide. Many Spaniards, Catalans included, object to the ban as stepping on historical Spanish traditions, citing the age-old argument that matadors are so expertly trained, bulls are killed without suffering; indeed if they suffer the matador is booed. They claim that Spaniards have nothing but respect for these noble beasts. The majority however , are moving with the times and general respect for all life, and while happy to eat the meat; do not want to watch their dinner being slaughtered. The overwhelming support for this total ban throughout Cataluña, proves that at least in this area, voters are against cruelty of any kind, regardless of “traditions”. Although the law is dated from 1 January 2012, many smaller towns have already begun the destruction of their local bullring, most of which have not been used for many years. While there are obviously some dissenters; the majority of Catalans are proud to be the first to put an end to this spectacle.

The streets of Spain are alive tonight, with revelers celebrating the Spanish football team’s  historical win of the World Cup, after also winning the European Cup 2 years ago.

The entire town of Lloret de Mar took to the streets, the majority at the roundabout and in the fountain at it’s centre.

Police closed the streets to traffic due to the number of pedestrians, and the town is one big party!

Similar scenes are reported all over the country, while the celebrations will surely continue for some time to come.

Well done Spain ! 

GOAL !!! from INIESTA !!!!

A nocturnal bus service will begin this Saturday night, and continue every weekend until the end of September. The service will run between Blanes, Lloret de Mar and Tossa.

The idea behind the service is to provide more mobility for young people, as the bus will connect with connecting buses to Tordera, Palafols and Santa Susana via the bus terminal in Blanes.

Six Eastern Bloc Mafia bosses were arrested on Tuesday in Cataluña in a police operation, aimed at the eastern mafias using Spanish businesses to launder millions of euros from their illegal activities. This money was obtained from drug trafficking and arms sales, and large amounts were laundered on the Catalan coast through building societies, and legal businesses like restaurants and hotels created by the group.
Also among those arrested was the owner of a Gestoría (a solicitors/accountants) in Salou, Tarragona: Juan Oyonate, 40, is suspected of laundering money for these groups over a period of 10 years, and was also responsible for the financial engineering of the group. In 2003 he created an independent local political party, but without any success.
The Mafia groups arrested are from different countries: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. They installed themselves in Barcelona and Tarragona with the idea of living a quiet comfortable life with false papers, to launder their money. One, Ladus Unayan, was an ex-commandant of the Armenian police.
One more suspect in the case was not arrested, although officers knew he was in Catalunya during March, he had the foresight to return to Kiev before the operation was put into motion. The six arrested were part of an operation all over Europe against Russian-Georgian Mafia which resulted in a total of 80 arrests, of Mafia bosses between 27 and 49 years of age, all enjoying a high lifestyle.
The arrests in Catalunya resulted in the capture of €42,000 in bills of 500, and 14 high range vehicles; one of the arrested having just bought two Mercedes in recent months.

Lianne Smith sent a package of photos with a letter to a publicist in England, before carrying out the cruel acts which are now known to all of us. The fugitive mother compiled an album of their ‘wonderful holiday’ together on the Costa Brava, then sent it off with a farewell letter before allegedly smothering Rebecca and 11-month-old Daniel with a plastic bag.

The letter and it’s contents make it clear that she planned events well in advance, and this was not a spur-of-the-moment act.

The bodies of the two children are removed from the Lloret de mar hotel

Lianne Smith the mother who has admitted to murdering her two children in a Lloret de Mar hotel, is allegedly refusing food and water in the Girona prison where she is being held.

Last Friday Lianne admitted suffocating her two children with a plastic bag. She then said she tried to commit suicide by using the same method.

Smith who had been on the run with her partner, wanted pedophile Martin Smith since 2007, has claimed she does not want to live, but “wants to join her children on the other side.” Martin Smith was eventually arrested in Barcelona on May 7th, which led to Lianne Smith booking into the Lloret de Mar hotel.

Prison guards have 43 year old Lianne on 24 hour suicide watch.