News In Brief

Catalan former leader forms new party
AFP, Barcelona
A year after threatening the unity of Spain with an attempt to declare independence, the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont launched a new party on Saturday, as he tries to rally separatists from his base in Belgium.
The new group, named “The Call”, held a founding congress Saturday evening, marking the one year anniversary of the secession push, but it has struggled to attract a groundswell of support, with some allies languishing in Spanish jails and others choosing a more moderate political path.

Merkel’s govt braces for high-stakes German state election
Reuters, Berlin
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition faces its second test in as many weeks on Sunday when voters go to the polls in the western state of Hesse for a regional election that could torpedo the national government.
Should Merkel’s conservative ally in Hesse, Volker Bouffier, lose his post as state premier, the chancellor’s enemies will be emboldened ahead of her Christian Democrats’ (CDU) party congress in early December and may try to hasten her demise.

Ireland votes to lift blasphemy ban
AFP, Dublin
Ireland has voted to lift a rarely enforced constitutional ban on blasphemy in the latest secular reform for the once staunchly Catholic country, referendum results showed on Saturday.
The ban was overturned with 65 percent of voters in favour, following recent votes to allow abortion and same-sex marriage.

Pak’s SC reinstates ban on Indian TV
AP, Islamabad
Pakistan’s top court has reinstated a ban on the broadcast of Indian TV content following a petition from local producers.
Pakistan’s Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar announced the verdict Saturday, overturning a lower court ruling last year that had lifted the 2016 ban on airing Indian content on TV or FM radio. The regulatory body for electronic media says the court’s order was implemented immediately.

Chinese rocket fails to reach orbit
Reuters, Beijing
A privately developed Chinese carrier rocket failed to reach orbit after lifting off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Saturday, in a blow to the country’s nascent attempts by private companies to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The three-stage rocket, Zhuque-1, was developed by Beijing-based Landspace.

Iran’s parliament okays all 4 ministers
Xinhua, Tehran
Iranian parliament on Saturday approved all four ministers proposed by President Hassan Rouhani to reshuffle his cabinet.
Mohammad Eslami became the minister of transport and urban development with 151 votes in favor and Mohammad Shariatmadari got 196 votes to become the minister of cooperative, labor, and social welfare.