Egypt Today’s evening international news

CAIRO – 31 October 2017: Egypt Today briefs top European newspapers on Tuesday for political issues, and others related to accidents and natural disasters.

Spain’s Constitutional Court cancels Catalonian declaration of independence
On Tuesday Spain’s Constitutional court canceled the Catalonian declaration of independence made by the regional parliament on Friday, Reuters reported.


Carles Puigdemont attends a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Vidal

Hours after Catalonia's parliament voted on a unilateral declaration of independence, the Spanish government dissolved the parliament, fired the government and set a date for regional elections, which are to be held on December 21.

On the other hand, sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said he accepted the snap elections called by Spain's central government in Catalonia and that he is not seeking asylum in Belgium at a press conference given in Brussels on Tuesday.
Puigdemont also said that he “will respect the results of the December 21 vote.”

200 dead in tunnel accident at a North Korea nuclear test site
More than 200 people died when a tunnel caved in at North Korea's nuclear test site after its latest detonation, a Japanese news report said Tuesday.


The Punggye-ri test site is thought to have suffered a collapse – AFP

The collapse of an underground tunnel at the Bokjong nuclear test site in eastern North Korea took place in two waves, with about 100 people trapped in the underground tunnel before another collapse occurred during the rescue operation, the British Mirror reported. The casualties so far are reported to be approximately 200.

Earthquake measuring 6 on Richter’s scale hits Indonesia
An earthquake with the magnitude of 6 on Richter’s scale struck off Ambon in Indonesia's Molucca islands, U.S. Geological Survey said on Tuesday.


A man retrieves fans from a collapsed shop following a strong earthquake in Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia December 8, 2016. Photo By Darren Whiteside/Reuters

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which struck at a depth of 110 kilometers (68 miles) and about 38 kilometers (24 miles) west of Ambon.

Explosion in Kabul kills 14
An explosion in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday killed 14 people and wounded others, witnesses and Afghan officials told Reuters. ARE news said that the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the explosion.


ATTENTION EDITORS - VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF INJURY OR DEATH Afghan policemen carry an injured person after a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail TEMPLATE OUT

Last May, an explosion blasted in Kabul which killed more than 150 people and IS also assumed responsibility for the attack.