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A protester holds a portrait of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont during a protest in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

What We're Watching: Catalan separatist off the hook, Biden's special counsel, Oz-PNG deal, Czech election, nukes for South Korea?

Spanish justice gives up on Catalan fugitive

After trying for more than five years to bring fugitive ex-Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to trial for sedition, on Thursday a Spanish judge threw in the towel and dropped the charge. Why? The left-wing government of PM Pedro Sánchez has watered down the crime of sedition so much that it no longer covers what Puigdemont did in Oct. 2017: declare Catalonia an independent republic before skipping town when he was about to get arrested. And why did Sánchez tweak the law? Because he needs the votes of Catalan separatist parties in the national parliament to stay in power (which also explains why he pardoned the other politicians who tried to secede along with Puigdemont.) The judge's decision has big political implications in an election year. On the one hand, it's vindication for the Catalan independence movement, which has been losing steam since its failed secession bid. But on the other, it's a poison pill for Sánchez, whom the the Spanish right has long accused of pandering to Catalan separatists. The PM will get a sense of what Spanish voters think of his Catalonia policy in local and regional elections in late May, a dress rehearsal for a general vote in December.

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What We’re Watching: German coalition talks, India’s power woes, Oz closes PNG migrant facility

German kingmakers make their pick: Despite fears of a drawn-out process that could take months like in 2017, the Greens and the pro-business FDP have taken less than two weeks to decide whom they want to team up with in a three-way coalition government. The two parties are now talking to the left-of-center SPD, which narrowly won the September 26 federal election. Good news for those hoping to have a new government in place before Christmas, since it'll be easier for the SPD to agree on stuff with its two junior partners than for the Greens and the FDP to find common ground themselves. Bad news for the conservative CSU/CDU, which has governed Germany for 16 years under Chancellor Angela Merkel but is likely headed to the opposition after achieving its worst election result ever.

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Gunmen massacre 18, including children, in Papua New Guinea attack

July 11, 2019 6:15 AM

SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Gunmen have massacred as many as 18 people including women and children in a remote village in Papua New Guinea, apparently the latest victims of a tribal feud, and Prime Minister James Marape vowed on Wednesday (July 10) to hunt down the killers.

Papua New Guinea deploys army to help volcano emergency

June 28, 2019 1:28 PM

KOKOPO, PAPUA NEW GUINEA (AFP) - Troops have been sent to help thousands of people displaced by a volcanic eruption on a remote archipelago in Papua New Guinea, the prime minister said Friday (June 28), as a second volcano erupted.

Papua New Guinea PM formally resigns amid political turmoil

May 29, 2019 9:32 AM

SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, has formally resigned, he said on Wednesday (May 29).

7.2 quake hits Papua New Guinea, no early damage reports

May 07, 2019 7:19 AM

PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA (AFP) - A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Papua New Guinea on Tuesday (May 7) at a depth of 127km, officials said, although there were no immediate reports of damage.

British man captured while trying to flee Australia on jet ski

March 27, 2019 2:39 PM

SYDNEY (XINHUA) - A 57-year-old man is in custody on Wednesday (March 27) after attempting to flee Australia on a jet ski.

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