AP Interview: Catalan head says only talks can stop protests

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Catalonia's leader said Monday that the recent massive protests in the region, which often spiraled into violent clashes with police, won't cease until the Spanish government agrees to listen to separatists' demands. "If we don't sit down to talk this won't stop," Catalan regional...

Spain to exhume dictator Franco's remains to discreet grave

MADRID (AP) — Spain's Socialist government says it will exhume and relocate the remains of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco on Thursday, bringing closer to an end a move that has sparked much criticism and legal battles. The government received court clearance last month to take the remains from the...

The Latest: Catalan leader urges for talks with Spain

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The Latest on the Catalonia protests (all times local): 4:25 p.m. The leader of Catalonia says that the massive protests that have often spiraled into violent clashes with police this week won't cease until the Spanish government accepts to listen to separatists' demands. Catalan...

Spain says ex-dictator Gen. Francisco Franco's remains will be exhumed Thursday

Barcelona mayor pleads for violence in Catalonia to stop

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The mayor of riot-stricken Barcelona pleaded Saturday for calm after violent protests by Catalan separatists rocked Spain's second largest city for a fifth consecutive night. "This cannot continue. Barcelona does not deserve it," Mayor Ada Colau told reporters, adding that Friday's...

Marches and strikes rattle Catalonia amid separatist anger

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Masses of flag-waving demonstrators demanding Catalonia's independence and the release from prison of separatist leaders jammed downtown Barcelona on Friday as the northeastern Spanish region endured its fifth straight night of unrest. Chaotic scenes of violence erupted after more...

The Latest: Protesters battle police in chaos-hit Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The Latest on the situation in Catalonia (all times local): 11 p.m. Police in the regional capital of Catalonia are using water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to repel masked youths who are throwing cobblestones and flammable bottles, building barricades and setting dozens of...

The Latest: Johnson seeks support for Brexit deal

LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Brexit (all times local): 4:05 p.m. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has applied more pressure to British lawmakers to pass Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal, saying there is no guarantee European Union leaders would grant a further extension to the Oct. 31 deadline for Britain...

Timeline of Catalan separatism that has rocked Spain

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Large demonstrations to protest this week's conviction of 12 leaders of Catalonia's swelling separatist movement turned violent at times. The 12 were at the forefront of a secession attempt in 2017 that led to the biggest political crisis in Spain's modern history. Polls show that...

Ex-Catalan leader hands himself into Belgian authorities

BRUSSELS (AP) — Fugitive former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has handed himself in to Belgian justice authorities after Spain issued a new warrant for his arrest following the sentencing of 12 of his former colleagues. Puigdemont's office said Friday that he, "in the company of his lawyers, voluntarily...