"In this photo taken on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, people hold a huge ""estelada"" flag during a pro-independence event in Barcelona, Spain. After years of mass protests by Catalans demanding the right to decide whether they want to break away from Spain and form a new European nation, the wealthy northeastern region's lawmakers vote to ask permission from Spanish authorities to hold a secession referendum in November. The request eight months ahead of a Scottish independence referendum is certain to be denied by the central government in Madrid but is virtually guaranteed of generating even more separatist fervor.  (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)"
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