France is bracing itself for a widespread transport strike starting on Thursday, December 5. This looks set to be the most comprehensive strike the country has experienced in decades. Many are predicting the country will be forced to a standstill. It is possible the strikes could last until Christmas. France may be a country with a reputation for protest, but… Read more »
Since October 27, 2017, the majority of Catalans have strongly pushed for Catalonian independence from the rest of Spain. On the 27th, a resolution was passed with 70 in favor, 10 against, and 2 blank votes. However, the resolution failed to gain international backing, and was ruled illegal by the constitutional court of Spain. The government of Madrid dissolved the… Read more »
The European Commission has accused the UK of breaching EU rules by not putting forward a new commissioner. The EU executive has asked the UK to nominate a member for the new Commission, due to take office next month. But the UK has said it cannot put forward a name due to rules governing December’s general election. The move is… Read more »
The violent standoff over Catalonia’s independence drive has fostered a new far-right surge in Spain’s latest general election – and exacerbated the divide between Spanish nationalists and regional separatists. Barely six months after jumping from 0 to 24 seats in April’s inconclusive general election, Spain’s far-right Vox party picked up more than twice as many seats – 52 – in an… Read more »
French riot police are forcibly removing Catalan pro-independence protesters who are blocking both sides of a motorway linking Spain and France. Demonstrators camped overnight on the AP-7 highway at a north-eastern border point near the Spanish city of Girona. Officers used tear gas before physically clearing protesters almost 24 hours after they had arrived. It comes as the Catalan parliament… Read more »
Severe flooding in Venice that has left much of the Italian city under water is a direct result of climate change, the mayor says. The highest water levels in the region in more than 50 years would leave “a permanent mark”, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro tweeted. “Now the government must listen,” he added. “These are the effects of climate change…… Read more »