Police launched a manhunt in Barcelona on Thursday for the campaigner for Catalan independence, who made a sensational return to Catalonia — and a getaway after a speech in the city.

Catalonia's separatist parties are in danger of losing their hold on power in the northeastern region after the pro-union Socialist Party scored a historic result in Sunday's election.

Leaders in Spain's northeastern region have pushed for independence from the country. Now they want to go their own way in space, launching a first nanosatellite this month from Kazakhstan.