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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015 Airliner tragedy As floods hit, Pakistan’s Kalasha people fear for their way of life crushes Egypt hopes on tourism Page 13 Page 8 BARCELONA: Catalan deputies of the PPC (Popular Party of Catalonia) hold up Spanish and Catalan flags following the vote on a proposed resolution to secede from the rest of the country during a session at the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona yesterday. —AFP Catalan parliament kicks off secession from Spain 72 pro-independence lawmakers vote for a resolution to secede BARCELONA: Lawmakers in Catalonia officially Yes told regional lawmakers. “Many people are Wednesday after an emergency cabinet meeting. kicked off a process to secede from Spain by 2017 going to live this day with a lot of emotion.” But those who crafted the declaration had antici- despite impassioned pleas against independence, But Rajoy has the support of the main opposi- pated this, and the resolution states that the in an unprecedented showdown with Madrid’s tion Socialists and new, popular centre-right secession process will not be subject to any deci- central government. All 72 pro-independence group Ciudadanos. “I was born in Catalonia and I sion made by Spanish institutions, including the lawmakers-the majority in the regional parlia- want to keep living here,” Xavier Garcia Albiol of court. The government has also raised the possi- ment-voted for a resolution to secede from the Rajoy’s ruling Popular Party (PP) said during the bility of invoking article 155 of the Spanish consti- rest of the country, drawing huge applause that debate. “While you are spending your time and tution, which allows Madrid to supersede the drowned out opposition MPs holding Spanish efforts to break up Catalonia from the rest of authority of a regional government that is acting flags. Catalonia’s independence movement is an Spain, 600,000 Catalans go out on the street every outside the law or cut off its funding. Catalonia increasingly prickly thorn in the side of conserva- day to look for work,” he told pro-independence tried to hold an official referendum on independ- tive Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who said his lawmakers. “While you are dedicating your time to ence last year, but judges ruled it was against the government would go to the Constitutional Court creating state structures, 1.5 million Catalans live constitution, arguing that all Spanish people have to challenge the resolution. “I will sign a (legal) in precarious conditions.” the right to decide on matters of sovereignty. recourse of unconstitutionality and will ask for... The region pressed ahead anyway and held a the immediate suspension of this initiative and all ‘Illegal and undemocratic’ symbolic vote. Over 80 percent of the partici- its possible effects,” he said in a televised state- Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million people with pants (2.3 million) voted in favor of independ- ment shortly after the vote. its own language that accounts for a fifth of ence. “A referendum would be the ideal tool but Spain’s economic output, already enjoys huge the Spanish government blocked it. We have no ‘Construction of a state’ autonomy in education, health and policing. But it other option but unilateral action,” CUP lawmak- The text calls on the regional assembly to start demands even greater autonomy, particularly er Albert Botran said. While Catalan separatist working on legislation within 30 days to create a where taxation is concerned, estimating that it parties won a majority of seats in the regional separate social security system and treasury, with gives more to the central government than it parliament in September polls, they failed to a view to complete independence within 18 receives. A 2010 decision by Spain’s Constitutional win a majority of all votes cast a fact empha- months. The resolution has the backing of Catalan Court to water down a 2006 statute giving the sized by their opponents. “Everything is uncon- president Artur Mas’ Together for Yes coalition and region more powers has added to the growing stitutional, illegal and undemocratic, because BARCELONA: A screen shows results following the vote on a proposed resolution the smaller far-left separatist CUP party. “With this pressure for secession. they lie when they say the majority of Catalans to secede from the rest of the country during a session at the Catalan Parliament resolution, we are solemnly kicking off the con- Rajoy said the government’s appeal to the back a decoupling,” said Ciudadanos chief Albert in Barcelona yesterday. —AFP struction of a state,” Raul Romeva of Together for Constitutional Court would be filed on Rivera.—AFP Iranian cyberspy group hit in Saudi carries out coordinated European raids 146th execution FRANKFURT: European authorities have taken Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepare an advance copy obtained by Reuters, the report RIYADH: Saudi Arabia yesterday executed on Saudi to abide by “international con- action to shut down a cyber espionage operation to meet on Monday for the first time since the Israeli details how its experts burrowed inside the hacker a citizen convicted of killing a policeman, ventions” governing relationships linked to Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard in the leader lost his battle against the Iran nuclear deal group’s database, giving them a map of malicious the Interior Ministry announced, bringing between countries. first operation of its kind since Tehran signed a and security issues top the agenda. Check Point software tools and remote-controlled computers to 146 the number of death sentences Riyadh on Sunday executed three nuclear treaty, according to security researchers who plans to issue a report later on Monday. According to used by the group. —Reuters carried out in the kingdom this year. Ayed Iranians convicted of drug trafficking after located computers used to launch attacks. The hack- Al-Jahdali was convicted of shooting dead they attempted to “smuggle a large er group - dubbed “Rocket Kitten” by security experts a policeman who was trying to arrest him amount of hashish by sea” into the king- who have been hunting the hacker group since early for drug trafficking, the ministry said in a dom. They were executed in the eastern 2014 - has mounted cyberattacks on high-profile statement carried by the official SPA news port city of Dammam, the interior ministry political and defense figures globally since that time. agency. He was executed in the western said. According to AFP tallies, their cases The action is likely to hamper Tehran’s efforts to gath- Mecca region, it said. bring to 145 the number of locals and for- er sensitive intelligence from rivals including Saudi Saudi executions are usually carried eigners executed in the conservative Arabia, Israel, Turkey, the United States and out by beheading with a sword. According Islamic kingdom this year, compared with Venezuela, which were among the nations targeted. to AFP tallies, his case brings to 146 the 87 in 2014. Researchers from US-Israeli security firm Check number of locals and foreigners executed Under the kingdom’s strict Islamic legal Point Software said the 1,600 high-profile targets in the conservative Islamic kingdom this code, murder, drug trafficking, armed rob- include members of the Saudi royal family, Israeli year, compared with 87 in 2014. Rights bery, rape and apostasy are all punishable nuclear scientists, NATO officials and Iranian dissi- experts have raised concerns about the by death. Iran itself has one of the world’s dents and even the wives of high-ranking generals fairness of trials in the kingdom. highest execution rates, with only China from unnamed countries. The company said it had Meanwhile, Iran has summoned Saudi carrying out more death sentences each informed national computer security response teams Arabia’s charge d’affaires in Tehran after year, according to rights group Amnesty in Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, who in turn the Gulf kingdom executed three Iranians International. Relations between Iran and alerted police in those countries to the locations of convicted of drug trafficking, Iran’s official Saudi are at their lowest for years due to “command and control” servers used to mount IRNA news agency reported. The Islamic disputes over several regional crises as attacks controlled from Iran. republic “strongly protested” the killings to well as the deaths of 464 Iranian pilgrims Europol, the FBI and Israel’s internal security serv- the Saudi official, said a senior diplomat at in a stampede at the annual hajj pilgrim- ice Shin Bet declined immediate comment. The Iran’s foreign ministry. The diplomat called age in Makkah in September. —Agencies actions come as US President Barack Obama and.

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