The Spanish central government said it will challenge in court plans by Catalonia to hold a symbolic vote on whether the wealthy region should be independent.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he was "confident" his asylum status will be resolved, as he awaits an imminent ruling on his case by a Swedish court.
Women exposed to high levels of traffic pollution during the second trimester of pregnancy are at higher risk of giving birth to a child with weak lungs.
Thousands of pro-independence Catalans rallied, demanding snap elections after the region's leader Artus Mas watered down plans for a referendum on separating from Spain.
Punk legends The Clash were packing overflow crowds in the early 1980s but as his band disintegrated, Joe Strummer showed up disheveled at a bar in Granada.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for calm and dialogue as Catalonia leaders pressed ahead with a vote on independence in defiance of Madrid.