COLU @ CONCEPTS

Image copyright AFP Image caption Catalonia's independence referendum has thrown the country into crisis The Spanish government is holding a special cabinet meeting to approve measures to take direct control of the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia. The meeting comes almost three weeks after the region held a controversial independence referendum, which was ruled illegal by the supreme court. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont argues that the referendum result gave him a mandate to pursue independence. But Spain's government disagrees and is preparing to take back power. How did  we  get here? Catalonia's regional government held a referendum on 1 October to ask residents of the region if they wanted to break away from Spain. Of the 43% of Catalans said to have taken part, 90% voted in favour of independence. But many anti-independence supporters boycotted the ballot, arguing it was not valid. Reality Check: Would Catalonia be a viable country? Cases for ...

Image caption Ibrahim Halawa spent more than four years in jail before he was acquitted last month Ibrahim Halawa, an Irishman who has spent more than four years in prison in Egypt, has been freed. Mr Halawa, who is from Dublin, was arrested during a siege at the Al-Fath mosque in Cairo in 2013. He was accused along with 500 others, including three of his three sisters, of inciting violence, riot and sabotage. Image copyright FREE IBRAHIM HALAWA Image caption Campaigners posted a Facebook message on Thursday to say Mr Halawa had been freed. He was  acquitted of all charges  more than a month ago, but his release was delayed. That delay prompted a former Irish justice minister  to call for Egypt's ambassador to Ireland to be expelled. Who is Ibrahim Halawa? Irishman cleared of charges in Egypt Jailed man writes 'graduation day' letter Concerns for Irishman on hunger strike Campaigners posted a Facebook message on Thursday to say Mr Halawa, 21, had been fr...

Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Image caption Victoria's assisted dying bill has 68 safeguards A landmark assisted dying bill has passed through the lower house of Australia's second-most populous state after a marathon all-night debate. Lawmakers in Victoria discussed the voluntary euthanasia bill for 26 hours from Thursday morning until it was approved 47-37 in a vote on Friday. It will only become law if it is supported in Victoria's upper house. Victoria will become Australia's first state to legalise assisted dying if the next vote is successful. The proposed law would allow terminally ill patients who are in severe pain to request lethal medication from doctors. They must be aged at least 18 and have less than 12 months to live. "It has been a long time and we have brought a seriousness and respectfulness to the debate and now it is done," said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, a supporter of assisted dying. Terminally ill man seeks UK law cha...

Image copyright KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY Image caption Australia says it has received a letter from Kim Jong-un's regime The Australian government says it has received a document from North Korea urging Canberra to distance itself from the Trump administration. The note denounces  the US president's warning  that America would destroy North Korea if forced to defend itself. Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull said the letter had been sent to other nations. He said it demonstrated that diplomatic pressure on North Korea was working, despite the document being "basically a rant" consistent with earlier rhetoric. The one-page letter was sent via North Korea's embassy in Indonesia and attributed to the Foreign Affairs Committee of Pyongyang's Supreme People's Assembly. How to talk to the world's most secretive country North Korea crisis in 300 words How advanced is the nuclear programme? It urges other governments to turn away from the "...

Image copyright EPA Image caption Spain's PM Mariano Rajoy is with other EU leaders - including France's Emmanuel Macron (L) - at a major summit European Council President Donald Tusk has explicitly ruled out any EU action over Catalonia, despite the "concerning" situation. "There is no room, no space for any kind of mediation or international initiative or action," he said. He was speaking at a joint news conference with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Catalans voted to secede in a 1 October referendum, which was outlawed by Spain and has prompted mass demonstrations. Mr Tusk's remarks came hours after Spain said it was beginning the process of imposing direct rule on the autonomous region. "I am of course for many reasons in permanent contact with (Spain's) Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy," Mr Tusk said. "There is no hiding that the situation in Spain is concerning, but our position... is clear." Cases ...