The Spanish Supreme Court today held a hearing to decide whether it’s competent to judge the Catalan pro-independence leaders, thus starting the initial hearings for a trial with major implications for the long-lasting political conflict between Catalonia and Spain. Meanwhile, the heads of the Catalan and Spanish governments are still negotiating if and how to meet in Barcelona this week, when the whole Spanish cabinet will be there. Huge protests are expected on Friday, so today the business minister sent a message to protesters and reassured retailers that nothing will get out of hand.