The Spanish judge investigating Russian interference in the Catalonian independence process has extended the probe for another six months after receiving an anonymous letter containing an article that identifies the Russian who offered Catalonian separatists US$500 billion and a small army if they break away from Madrid.

The nationalist party that governed Catalonia for most of the post-Franco era has been ordered to repay €6.6 million after being found guilty of running a kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.