Strasbourg, France | AFP | The European Commission said Wednesday it was “time to talk” to resolve the escalating political crisis in Catalonia, while defending Madrid’s right to use “proportionate” force to maintain law and order. “It’s time to talk, finding a way out of the impasse, working within the constitutional …
Read More »Catalan crisis: what happens next?
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spain moved into uncharted waters after leaders in the wealthy Catalonia region signalled they may declare independence following a banned secession referendum which was marred by police violence. Catalonia’s leader Carles Puigdemont said the region had won the right to break away from Spain after 90 …
Read More »Barca board members resign over closed doors decision
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed on Monday two of the club’s board members resigned in the wake of his decision to play a match behind closed doors after a violent crackdown by police of an independence referendum for Catalonia on Sunday. Police fired rubber …
Read More »EU breaks cover to urge Catalonia crisis dialogue
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | EU leaders on Monday called for dialogue to solve the crisis over Catalonia’s banned independence referendum and urged an end to violence in a cautious first reaction to a thorny subject for the bloc. Breaking weeks of virtual silence on the subject after scores were …
Read More »Scores hurt as riot police crack down on banned Catalan vote
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Spanish riot police used batons and rubber bullets to storm polling stations in Catalonia on Sunday, triggering clashes as thousands turned out to vote in an independence referendum banned by Madrid. At least 92 people were confirmed injured out of a total of 761 who …
Read More »Catalonia: Tearful Pique haunted by ‘worst experience’
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Gerard Pique broke down in tears describing Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Las Palmas in an empty stadium as the “worst professional experience” of his life on a chaotic Sunday in Catalonia. At least 92 people were injured as Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets and …
Read More »Police seize millions of ballots ahead of Catalan vote
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Police on Thursday seized more than six million ballots and envelopes and 100 ballot boxes in a Catalan town, in the latest bid to block a banned independence referendum, a police source said. The seizures are the latest in a long list of items confiscated by …
Read More »Police ordered to seize ballot boxes ahead of Catalonia vote
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Prosecutors in Catalonia on Tuesday ordered police to seize ballot boxes, election flyers and any other item that could be used in a banned independence referendum called by the Spanish region’s separatist executive. The vote is set for October 1 and the northeastern region’s separatists are …
Read More »‘Goodbye Spain’: Huge rally for Catalan independence before vote
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Hundreds of thousands of Catalans rallied on Monday to demand their region’s secession from Spain, in a show of strength three weeks ahead of an independence referendum which has been banned by Madrid. Draped in red, yellow and blue separatist flags — with one banner …
Read More »34 nationalities among Spain attack killed and wounded
Paris, France | AFP | The vehicle attacks that killed 14 and wounded over 100 more in a bustling tourist area of Barcelona and another Spanish seaside resort affected people of at least 34 different nationalities. The dead and injured came from countries as varied as France, Venezuela, Australia, …
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