General strike in Catalonia to reject leaders' sentencing - live updates
http://www.catalannews.com
Unrest erupts in Barcelona after a peaceful half million-strong march
Barcelona flooded with over half a million independence supporters
http://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/barcelona-flooded-with-over-half-a-million-independence-supporters
According to the local Guardia Urbana police, 525,000 people have flooded the streets of the center of Barcelona at a pro-independence protest coinciding with the general strike and the arrival of 'Marches for Freedom' from all over Catalonia.
'Marches for Freedom' took off on a 3-day walking journey from various cities and towns throughout Catalonia on their way to the Catalan capital to call for independence and to condemn Monday's Supreme Court sentences for 9 of its leaders.
There were also many students present at today's march, many of whom have been on strike for the past three days.
Pro-independence politicians celebrated the turnout, with Catalan president Quim Torra thanking all those who participated in it.
"Congratulations to the 'Marches for Freedom' that have filled the country! Thank you very much to all of you who have demonstrated the independence movement's civic and peaceful force. We will win and keep on going, always keep on going."
Catalan protests: Separatists clash with police in Barcelona | DW News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eErjtwUy_DQ
Catalonia’s independence movement, explained
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__mZkioPp3E
Catalonia Independence Referendum Explained
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMZXeLbl6eA
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain that has been in the news recently after it held an independence referendum on the 1st of October, despite being ruled illegal by the Spanish courts. 4 weeks later, Catalan unilaterally declared their independence from Spain.
In this video I attempt to explain the situation, by first looking at the history of Catalonia and how it became part of Spain, including its modern history and independence movement, right up until the present day. I look at what would an independent Catalonia look like.
Spain's Sanchez says he will defend food sector against 'unacceptable' US tariffs
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/spain-s-sanchez-says-he-will-defend-food-sector-against--unacceptable--us-tariffs-11972958
MADRID: Spain's acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday he would seek to defend the country's agricultural sector in the face of "unacceptable" proposed U.S. tariffs on European agricultural goods.
The United States announced plans for new tariffs on a range of EU goods on Wednesday after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled this week that some subsidies EU states paid to Airbus were illegal, giving the United States the right to respond with tariffs worth US$7.5 billion.
“We are an administration that wants to maintain the best possible transatlantic relations...but my responsibility as prime minister is to defend the agricultural sector in the face of any attempt to railroad us with tariffs,” Sanchez said at an conference in the southwestern region of Galicia.
Spain estimates the new tariffs, which Washington said it will impose on products including wine and cheese, will affect about 1 billion euros of exports a year.
Although the country hopes to avoid mutually harmful tariffs, it will respond ask the EU to apply counter measures to defend its interests if negotiations fail, the government said in a statement on Friday evening. Spain on Friday summoned the U.S. ambassador to Madrid to express its complete rejection of the tariffs.
"It's something that fills us with concern", Sanchez said of the proposed tariffs.
(Reporting by Sam Edwards; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Pedro Sánchez October 2019
https://www.theguardian.com/world/pedro-s-nchez
Pedro Sánchez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Sánchez
Spanish parliament votes against Pedro Sánchez as PM
https://www.ft.com/content/5b09c276-ad47-11e9-8030-530adfa879c2
Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service.
Ian Mount in Madrid JULY 23 2019Print this page2
Pedro Sánchez has failed in a first attempt to be accepted as Spain’s prime minister and the country faces the prospect of fresh elections if the socialist leader is not backed by MPs in a fresh vote on Thursday.
Mr Sánchez won Spain’s election in April but his party has only 123 of the 350 seats in parliament. He has not reached a deal to form a coalition or persuade other parties to allow a minority administration, though he and his party have continued to govern in a caretaker capacity.
Testing his strength in parliament for the first time on Tuesday, Mr Sánchez had his bid to form a government rejected by 170 votes to 124, meaning only one other MP supported his centre-left PSOE party. There were 52 abstentions.
His chances now depend in large part on whether Podemos — a party of the more radical left, with 42 MPs — decides to support him in Thursday’s vote. The party abstained on Tuesday.
PSOE and Podemos have been locked in fractious coalition negotiations, which have stumbled over the number of ministries and other significant posts that the junior party would hold in the government.