In brief: Catalans push for independence from Spain

BARCELONA, Spain – Hundreds of thousands of separatist-minded Catalans swarmed Barcelona on Friday, giving enthusiastic backing to independence advocates who are hoping to elect a majority of secessionists in the regional parliamentary election this month.

The campaign for the Sept. 27 ballot began on the same day as the Catalan National Day holiday, which separatists have used for years to rally hundreds of thousands to call for the creation of a new European nation.

Barcelona police estimated “almost 1.4 million” people participated, but the Spanish Interior Ministry didn’t immediately release a crowd count. Last year, Barcelona police put the number at 1.8 million people while the Interior Ministry said no more than 525,000 attended.

Pro-independence parties need 68 seats in the 135-member parliament to push forward their agenda. Polls show them on track to win a slim majority.

Ruling party keeps grip on power in Singapore

SINGAPORE – As expected, the party that has ruled Singapore since it became an independent nation a half-century ago returned to power for five more years following a massive victory in a general election Friday.

The People’s Action Party swept 83 of the 89 seats in Parliament while the opposition Workers’ Party got six seats. In an indication that the PAP has regained some of its lost popularity, it won 69.86 percent of the votes cast, according to the Elections Department, compared to 60 percent of votes in the 2011 elections.

Cuban prisoners freed before papal visit

HAVANA – Cuba announced Friday that it is releasing 3,522 prisoners ahead of next week’s visit by Pope Francis, the third time Cuba has granted inmates freedom before a papal trip.

The Council of State announced in state media Friday that the prisoners to be freed include a mix of women, people younger than 20, inmates suffering from illnesses and people whose terms were coming to an end next year.

The government won’t release people convicted of serious crimes like murder, child sexual abuse or violations of state security. Also excluded from pardon were those convicted of illegally killing government cattle, a crime that often bears heavy punishment in Cuba.