Hundreds of thousands of people rallied across Catalonia on Sunday declaring their support for the autonomous region’s full independence from Madrid, just as Spain faces the possibility of going to the polls yet again.

Flags used by the pro-independence movement were seen flying at events attended by thousands in five Catalan cities, including the capital Barcelona, reports Reuters. The rallies took place on Catalonia’s National Day, or La Diada, which marks the defeat of the Catalan army by Spanish forces in Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Turnout was estimated by local police at around 800,000, but the central government insisted that only about 370,000 people attended these demonstrations.

Just how should Madrid respond to the increasing sentiments for secession is, in part, causing the continuing paralysis of the Spanish government, according to Reuters. Despite two successive general elections, politics is still in deadlock, with the possibility of a third election looming large.

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The region’s premier said at a press conference on Sunday that early elections next year could be used to gauge the appetite for separation from Spain, unless Madrid would allow a direct referendum on the issue.

In 2014, over 80% of voters in Catalonia said they wanted to break away from Spain in a referendum that was not recognized by Madrid.

[Reuters]

Contact us at editors@time.com.</s>BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona striker Neymar is making a leap into the world of music.

The Brazilian says he will post his first song on his Facebook account on Wednesday.

Neymar tweeted in Portuguese: "Wednesday I start my music career." He referred to his debut as "Neymusico."

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, and Neymar look on during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Alaves at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

The 24-year-old Neymar is an extremely popular figure in Brazil and around the world, and several times he has appeared on stage with singers at concerts, including joining Michel Telo to sing his hit "Ai se eu te pego."</s>BARCELONA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Barcelona supporters plan to display 30,000 pro-Catalan independence flags during their Champions League game with Celtic at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, risking the wrath of European soccer's governing body UEFA.

The club were fined 30,000 euros ($34,000) last July after supporters waved the flags, known as esteladas, during the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin.

They were also fined 40,000 euros ($45,000) in October, 2015 after fans brought the flags to their Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen.

UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body ruled the club had breached article 16(2)(e) of their regulations, which prohibits "the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature".

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is currently studying the case following Barcelona's appeal.

Pro-independence groups including the National Catalan Assembly (ANC) announced they will distribute the flags before the game with Celtic, which comes two days after Catalonia's national day.

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in a pro-independence march in Barcelona on the national day, Sept. 11, which was also commemorated by the club, including president Josep Maria Bartomeu and captain Andres Iniesta.

As is customary at Barcelona home games, supporters will chant in favour of independence during the game with Celtic after 17 minutes and 14 seconds of each half, marking the Siege of Barcelona in 1714.

Spanish police announced earlier this year that supporters would not be able to bring the flags into the King's Cup final with Sevilla in May, although the ban was lifted on appeal. (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)</s>BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish soccer giant Barcelona has opened a second training academy in the United States.

The new academy is in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club founded its first American academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2014.

The new school has programs for boys and girls from 6 to 12 years old and a separate program for boys aged 12 to 16.

The club says the academy's goal is to train young players in the same "creative and attacking style" its top team is known for.

Barcelona's La Masia academy in Spain has produced several world-class stars, including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas.

Barcelona has 20 training schools around the world. It says it plans to open others in Moscow; Mumbai, India; Ottawa, Canada; and Lagos, Nigeria.</s>Seven British and two Irish tourists were among 24 people injured in a bus crash in Barcelona, local government officials said.

Three of the casualties were seriously injured, while six suffered less serious injuries and 15 were treated for minor injuries, according to the region’s ministry of health.

All 23 passengers and one driver were injured.

Nationals from Germany, Spain, Poland, Belarus and Lithuania were also injured in the accident, which occurred at 3.10am local time (2.10am BST) on Wednesday near Barcelona’s El Prat airport.

The bus was transporting tourists from the resort of Lloret de Mar.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: “We are in contact with Spanish authorities following a coach crash in Barcelona and are ready to help any Britons involved.”

Ambulance, police and the fire brigade crews attended the scene on the B-10 highway.

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DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY</s>Lionel Messi enjoyed celebrating his son's birthday as he took time off from his Barcelona duties.

The Argentinian's partner, Antonella Roccuzzo, posted an Instagram photo of their whole family.

Messi is seen holding his oldest son Thiago, while his partner is holding birthday boy Mateo, who has turned one.

Messi celebrated with his family ahead of Barcelona's Champions League clash with Celtic at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night.

Last campaign, Barcelona were eliminated earlier than usual in the quarter-finals after losing to Atletico Madrid.

The five-time Ballon D'or winner will be hoping that Barcelona put the disappointment behind them from last season and can snatch the Champions League title off their arch rivals Real Madrid this time round.

However, preparations leading up to the European clash with Celtic could have run much smoother.

Barcelona suffered a poor day at the office on Saturday, falling to a shock La Liga defeat against Alaves at home.

That disappointing result has left them sitting in fifth on six points after three matches.

Meanwhile their European opponents Celtic will be full of confidence going into Tuesday's match after thrashing Rangers 5-1 in the Old Firm on Saturday.</s>Madrid (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of separatist-minded Catalans rallied in Barcelona on Sunday to show their support for breaking away from Spain, leaving the country without its powerful and prosperous northeastern region.

Barcelona police estimated on their Twitter account that about 540,000 people attended the rally in support of a legally-binding referendum that would achieve an independent Catalonia.

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont said that he plans to propose a government-approved binding independence referendum to secede from Spain by next year. Spain, which opposes secession, argues that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union and left out from using the euro currency.

Catalonia held a non-binding vote in 2014, when around 1.6 million people voted in favor of independence. Most of the region’s 5.4 million eligible voters didn’t participate after Spain’s Constitutional Court ordered the suspension of the ballot.

In June, a Catalan judge recommended former regional president Artur Mas stand trial for staging the vote and ignoring the suspension. Mas claims the vote was carried out by volunteers.

Catalan National Day has long been used to mobilize the masses in support of secession from Spain.

Polls show most Catalans support a referendum on independence, but are roughly divided over splitting from Spain.

Catalonia shares cultural traits with the rest of Spain, but many Catalans feel their customs, especially their language, set them aside from the rest of Spain.

Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, his conservative Popular Party and two more of Spain’s main political parties oppose a Catalonian state. Only the far-left Podemos supports allowing Catalonia to hold an independence referendum.

The economically-powerful Catalonia has a thriving population of 7.5 million and accounts for 18 percent of Spain’s economic output.</s>Hundreds of thousands of separatist-minded Catalans have rallied in Barcelona to show their support for an independent nation that would break away from Spain, leaving it without its powerful and prosperous northeastern region.

Barcelona police estimated on their Twitter account that about 540,000 people attended Saturday’s demonstration in support of a legally binding referendum on secession.

Spain argues that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union and left out from using the euro currency.

Catalan National Day has long been used to mobilize the masses in support of secession from Spain, which has said any referendum on the issue would be unconstitutional. The economically powerful Catalonia accounts for 18 percent of Spain’s economic output.</s>MADRID (AP) — It didn't take long for Barcelona to overcome the disappointment of a rare home loss in the Spanish league. All it had to do was reunite its trio of superstars.

With Lionel Messi, Luiz Suarez, and Neymar making their first start together of the season, Barcelona trounced Celtic 7-0 in its Champions League group opener on Tuesday, quickly putting to rest any talk of a letdown after losing to recently promoted Alaves 2-1 last weekend.

Messi scored a hat trick, Suarez netted twice, and Neymar scored once and set up four goals at Camp Nou, giving Barcelona its biggest Champions League win.

"We all know the quality of the trident," Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic said. "They always turn up when we need them."

The three players hadn't begun a match together since last season.

Neymar arrived late because of the Olympics, and coach Luis Enrique had been rotating his starters following the summer break and a round of World Cup qualifiers.

"We finally got a chance to start together and we were able to help the team earn the three points," Suarez said. "We have scored a lot of goals in the past, but the important thing is that these goals lead to titles."

Since the three players joined forces in the 2014-15 season, they have scored 50 of the club's 56 goals in the Champions League. The shared 131 goals last season, with Suarez leading the way with 59.

"Messi, Neymar and Suarez create a lot of damage when they are together, and we have to take advantage of that," Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes said.

Messi and Suarez came off the bench in the second half against Alaves, joining Neymar on the field, but the trio was not able to prevent the loss.

"We had an opportunity to move forward after that loss and we were able to do it," said Andres Iniesta, who came in as a substitute and scored for Barcelona on Tuesday.

Luis Enrique added: "We practically didn't commit any mistakes. The players had fun, and that allowed the Barca supporters to have fun."

Barcelona won its second straight league title last season, when it also won the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. It was eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions league.

Next for Barcelona is a Spanish league match at Leganes, another recently promoted club, on Saturday.

Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni</s>BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and Neymar excelled as a playmaker to lead Barcelona to a record-setting 7-0 win over Celtic in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Celtic missed a penalty in a miserable night for the Scottish visitors.

Neymar set up Messi to score twice in the first half hour at Camp Nou before the Brazil striker struck from a free kick just after halftime.

Neymar kept pouring it on, crossing for substitute Andres Iniesta to fire in a vicious volley.

Messi took his career tally to 86 goals in Europe's top-tier competition before Luis Suarez rounded off the rout with a pair of goals.

The 7-0 victory surpassed Barcelona's biggest win in the Champions League to date, a 7-1 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.

Long gone was the firepower Brendan Rodger's team displayed in Celtic's 5-1 rout of fierce Scottish rival Rangers on Saturday.

Instead, Barcelona improved on the 6-1 win over Celtic from their last meeting in 2013.

It was the first joint-start this season for Messi and Neymar, after Neymar missed Barcelona's first four matches helping his country win the Olympic gold medal.

The two stars, who played in the last half hour of Saturday's stunning 2-1 loss to Alaves in la Liga, needed just three minutes to link up and put Barcelona in charge.

Neymar used a clever, no-look pass to play Messi clear on the left side of the area. Messi did the rest by sizing up Dorus de Vries before blasting a left-footed shot past the Celtic 'keeper.

It got even better from there.

The second goal was a brilliant piece of shared playmaking that undid Celtic completely, as the ball flowed from Messi to Neymar and back again for him to nudge over the line in the 27th.

Three minutes earlier, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made up for his foul in the area on Moussa Dembele by blocking his resulting penalty kick to deny Celtic its only scoring chance.

Goal No. 3 came in the 50th when Neymar curled a free kick over the barrier. De Vries got a hand on the ball but not enough to keep it out.

Iniesta blasted his volley home in the 59th, seconds before Messi slid to tap in Luis Suarez's pass.

Suarez added a bit of his own flourish to the demolition when he took Neymar's lob on the chest, before swiveling and beating De Vries with a left-footed blast in the 75th.

Suarez got his second from a low cross from Messi.

Five-time champion Barcelona extended its winning streak at home in European competition to 12 straight matches.
In a protest in Barcelona, an estimated 800,000 people (370,000 in the government claim) demand secession from the Madrid-based Spanish government.