Politics

Tuesday, October 17th 2017 - 11:35 UTC
Two Catalan independence leaders remanded and charged with sedition

A Spanish judge has remanded two key members of the Catalan independence movement in jail. Jordi Sánchez, who heads the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), and Jordi Cuixart, leader of Omnium Cultural, are being held without bail while they are under investigation for sedition.
Tuesday, October 17th 2017 - 11:26 UTC
Argentina's Macri Let's Change coalition “clearly predominant” ahead of Sunday's midterm elections

There is a “clear predominance” of president Mauricio Macri's “Let's Change” coalition in Argentina and in the crucial Buenos Aires province, ahead of next Sunday's (October 22) midterm elections, according to political analyst Sergio Berensztein.
Tuesday, October 17th 2017 - 11:23 UTC
Political killing of investigative reporter and government critic in Malta

A prominent blogger in the Republic of Malta, who had accused the island's government of corruption, has died in a car bomb attack, according to police. Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53, was reportedly killed when the car she was driving exploded shortly after she left her home in Bidnija, near Mosta.
Monday, October 16th 2017 - 11:26 UTC
Madrid open to dialogue but Catalonia must first reject independence: clock ticking on countdown

The Spanish government will seize control of Catalonia if regional leader Carles Puigdemont gives an ambiguous reply to Madrid’s question about whether he has declared independence from Spain, the interior minister warned Saturday.
Monday, October 16th 2017 - 11:10 UTC
Maduro declares victory in 17 of 23 states; opposition demands a recount of votes

President Nicolas Maduro’s government won a landslide victory in closely watched regional elections in Venezuela, according to official results that the opposition said were “suspicious” and rejected results. Maduro’s party on Sunday apparently won governorships of 17 of the 23 states with the opposition Democratic Union Roundtable (MUD) coalition taking only five, according to the results announced by the National Elections Council.
Saturday, October 14th 2017 - 20:42 UTC
IMF: Latin America must crack down on corruption and improve governance

Latin American and Caribbean governments need to crack down on corruption in order to make their economies more durable and the benefits of growth more widespread, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday.
Saturday, October 14th 2017 - 08:30 UTC
Catalonia's leader under mounting pressure from separatist allies and Madrid

Catalonia’s leader faced mounting pressure on Friday from all sides, with hardliners in the separatist movement demanding he declare independence from Spain once and for all. Spain’s government and the European Union, on the other hand, want him to abandon the secession plans altogether.
Friday, October 13th 2017 - 15:41 UTC
Thousands rally in Barcelona: “Don't be fooled, Catalonia is Spain”

Thousands of people rallied on Sunday in central Barcelona to protest against the Catalan government’s push for secession from the rest of Spain, with many in the crowd carrying Spanish and Catalan flags.
Friday, October 13th 2017 - 14:56 UTC
Swiss prosecutors will help with 2016 Rio Olympics corruption investigation

Federal prosecutors in Switzerland have agreed to help Brazilian authorities investigating Olympic official Carlos Nuzman, who is suspected of vote-buying in a corruption conspiracy linked to the Rio de Janeiro Games.
Friday, October 13th 2017 - 13:55 UTC
Falklands' democracy and coming elections praised by FCO minister

The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Alan Duncan has expressed his admiration for Falklands democracy. Speaking of the Islands General Election to be held on November 9 he said: “From many years of personal experience I can attest to the significance of democracy in action. Election Days are both exciting and purposeful and should provoke both qualities.”