Mayor Jordi Hereu yesterday joined hoteliers and restaurateurs in calling for a ban on people wearing beachwear in public places and on transport yesterday (article in Castilian, El Periodico). Although he isn't moving to reform the civic regulatory any time soon he did say that did not want to close the debate over the growing trend of tourists walking around the city lightly dressed in bikinis and in the case of men, topless. Hereu was quoted as saying "We must understand that this summer is too hot, and of course, that causes people to remove some clothing. But it is certain that does not work too good image". However the Mayor took a harder line on crime, "We are putting all our efforts to improve safety on city streets."

 
After six years of construction, the L9 metro line was yesterday entering into the final phase of pre-launch tests (article in Castilian, La Vanguardia). The line, heralded as the longest subway line in Europe, covers a distance of 3.9 miles is due to be opened in October this year is no running trains without passengers. The L9 line when complete will be the first fully automatic line in Spain, it will be driverless with a guidance system remotely from a control centre and glass doors on the platform synchronized with the stops. The testing, which has been running since January involve putting trains out every ten minutes in order to check all the mechanisms. When opened in October there will be five automatic driverless trains covering the initial leg of the line every six minutes.

Also in the news: Pep Torres opens Funventions in the Gran Via 2 shopping centre, a collection of new inventions from the artist that invites children to use their imaginations. (El Periodico)