Catalonia is hugely important for spain. It represents a fifth of the national economy. But it already has one of europes worstjobless rates at over 17 . Since the independence referendum back in october, the vital tourist industry has taken a big hit. And almost 3,000 firms have moved their legal headquarters out of catalonia, including the regions biggest banks caixabank and sabadell. Professorjavier diaz gimenez is professor of economics at Iese Business School in madrid. Thank you forjoining us. The aim of this election was to try to clear things up but itjust caused more uncertainty. Absolutely. Things are muddled up. It is true the not Independence Party got the most votes, but they do not have a majority in parliament. Pretty much it is going to be more of the same, with added uncertainty of having some politicians in jail and with added uncertainty of having some politicians injail and others exiled from spain according to the way they tell their story. It is ha rd way they tel
And hundreds of firms relocating. Catalonias independence vote is taking an economic toll, and the crisis is far from over. Plus, holden on no longer. Australia has just built its last ever car, as the countrys Auto Industry finally shuts up shop. We find out what caused the breakdown down under. Welcome to World Business report. Im rachel horne. In a moment, more revelations about nissans Quality Control scandal, amid claims that corners were being cut for the last two decades. We are also looking at the independence crisis in catalonia. The government says it will impose direct rule on the regional catalonia and suspend its autonomy following threats by the Catalan Leader to unilaterally declare independence. It has been escalating from a business perspective since that referendum on october 1st, and its already taking an economic toll. Let me show you some of the details catalonia accounts for around a fifth of spains economy, despite being home tojust16 of the population. Thats one
Hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. Were covering all the latest coronavirus developments here in britain and globally. First borisjohnsons top adviser, Dominic Cummings, has refused to apologise for taking a journey from london to County Durham in the north of england during the current coronavisu lockdown. At a lengthy news conference, he said he had no regrets and he didnt believe hed broken the rules. Borisjohnson said he understood the confusion and anger caused by the row but is standing by mr cummings. Opposition mps will meet today to discuss the next steps in how to hold both the Prime Minister and Dominic Cummings to account. Our Political Correspondent iain watson reports. Something you dont see every day. Government advisers usually defend their political masters. This one had come to defend himself. Dominic cummings took his family 250 miles from london to durham during lockdown when his wife was already healed. Yesterday he was asked if he now r