Diego Torres

Beijing’s Confucius Institutes are part of its plan to become a top world power

Spanish PM says he’ll talk with new Catalan leader but they cannot push for secession

Spain secures EU assurances that a post-Brexit transition deal won’t affect the Rock

Ciudadanos and Carles Puigdemont have reasons to celebrate. Mariano Rajoy does not

Unionist political parties hope the drama of the past few months will boost their support

With pro- and anti-independence parties neck and neck, economic scare stories are at the heart of the campaign

If economic power has a face in Spain, it’s Ana Botín’s

With polls predicting a neck-and-neck result, it’s anyone’s race

Ex-leader Artur Mas issues plea for calm ahead of regional election next month

If Catalan leaders want support from the other Spanish regions for greater autonomy, they may be disappointed

The capital finds itself on the front foot for a change in its dealings with the rebelling province

Early election changes dynamics in the battle over independence

The Spanish government has hit back hard in its battle with Catalonia’s pro-independence leadership.

Catalonia’s push for independence has reached a Western-style stand-off, where Spain’s Mariano Rajoy and Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont have both drawn their guns but neither dares to open fire.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont tried to pull off a sophisticated act of political acrobatics Tuesday — and ended up upsetting or confusing both rivals and allies.