Politics

• Thursday, October 12th 2017 - 11:39 UTC

  Five days countdown for Catalonia as Spain readies an impressive national unity day celebration

  

  Spain is preparing to celebrate its National Day, 12th October, amid a continuing political crisis sparked by Catalonia's disputed independence referendum. The public display of unity comes a day after PM Mariano Rajoy told parliament the country was facing the most serious threat to its 40-year-old democracy.

• Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 15:56 UTC

  Brazilian Congress seems prepared to again save Temer from Justice charges

  

  A Brazilian congressional report recommended on Tuesday that President Michel Temer should not face trial for obstruction of justice and membership in a criminal organization, arguing that the charges against him were unfounded.

• Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 15:17 UTC

  UK reaffirms commitment to Falklands sovereignty; Argentina insists self-determination not applicable to Malvinas

  

  The United Kingdom had no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Islands, South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, and there could be no dialogue on sovereignty over them unless its people so wished, the UK representative Stephen Hickey said at the United Nations Fourth Committee meetings this week.

• Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 15:09 UTC

  British parliamentarians visit Peru to promote trade, cooperation and security

  

  A group of British Parliamentarians visited Peru during September. The group, comprised of six members of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons, travelled to Latin America to look specifically at parliamentary and bilateral relations between the UK and Peru. The groups´ members were drawn from a range of political parties in Parliament.

• Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 14:21 UTC

  If no deal is reached with EU, “the result would be chaos”; UK government pursuing a “fantasy”

  

  Scotland’s Brexit Secretary has said there is no prospect of the UK becoming a “glorious trading nation” after leaving the European Union. But Michael Russell also said if no deal is reached with the EU, the result would be “chaos” and accused the Government of pursuing a “fantasy”.

• Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 14:15 UTC

  Catalonia president speech on independence triggers elation...and disillusion

  

  Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said on Tuesday he has a mandate to declare independence for the north-eastern Spanish region but is prepared to wait “a few weeks” in order to facilitate a dialogue. Puigdemont told the Catalan parliament a landslide victory in the disputed October 1 referendum on independence gives his government grounds to implement its long-held desire to break century-old ties with Spain but he is suggesting holding off.

• Tuesday, October 10th 2017 - 07:20 UTC

  Macri celebrates victory of staunch ally in Corrientes province

  

  Argentina's ruling coalition of president Mauricio Macri celebrated on Sunday victory in the Corrientes province governor race, a significant boost a couple of weeks before the crucial midterm elections. Candidate Gustavo Valdés supported by “Let's Change” grouping won the Corrientes gubernational dispute with 54.06% of the votes.

• Tuesday, October 10th 2017 - 07:08 UTC

  Support for Catalonia president independence declaration rapidly weakening

  

  Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is facing growing pressure to drop plans to break from Spain ahead of a key address to the regional parliament. There has been speculation that he could announce a unilateral declaration of independence following a disputed referendum. France and Germany have both expressed support for a united Spain.

• Tuesday, October 10th 2017 - 06:38 UTC

  Theresa May tells MPs to be prepared for every eventuality as a hard Brexit looms closer

  

  The UK has set out how it could operate as an “independent trading nation” after Brexit, even if no trade deal is reached with Brussels. Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs “real and tangible progress” had been made in Brexit talks, but the country must be prepared for “every eventuality”. However Labour said “no real progress has been made” since last June's referendum.

• Tuesday, October 10th 2017 - 06:25 UTC

  Bottle with message tossed close to Falklands emerges five years later in New Zealand

  

  Tossed into the sea by a sailor on a yacht in the Atlantic ocean, a message in a bottle drifted across the seas for five years. Some 8000 kilometers later, it washed up on a Northland beach in New Zealand. A couple were walking along the waterfront near their home when the corked wine bottle caught their eye. Inside was a letter thrown into the sea near the Falkland Islands, penned on January 20, 2012.