Lauren Frayer

Mary Lou McDonald represents a new generation and could appeal to a wider range of voters in Ireland — but critics warn she's still inextricably tied to many of her party's hard-line policies.

The future status of the United Kingdom's border with Ireland is once again proving a huge obstacle in the long process of Britain leaving the European Union.

The U.K. government is trying to cure the divisions in British society caused by Brexit. They're starting by having ministers "reach out" to those with opposing views. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was the first to speak on Wednesday.

Catholics are celebrating the Feast of San Anton this week. He's known as the patron saint of animals, and in Spain the fiesta ends with people bringing their pets to be blessed in church.

In Catalonia's industrial heartland, people who voted for independence from Spain say they're already living in a new country. The mayor took down the Spanish flag. But no other country recognizes it, and there's been an exodus of Catalan businesses.

The Spanish government took control of the Catalan region a week ago. Separatist politicians were jailed on Thursday. On Friday, a judge issued an arrest warrant for the deposed Catalan president.

The former head of the Catalan government is reported to have fled Spain together with some of his ministers, ahead of charges of rebellion, sedition and the misuse of public funds.

The Catalan parliament met in Barcelona after another day of political chaos in the fight between the Spanish government and secessionists pursuing independence for Catalonia.

Spain's prime minister says he's firing the Catalan regional government and forcing elections in six months. Separatists flood Barcelona's streets in protest.

Spain was preparing to impose direct rule over semi-autonomous Catalonia after the region's leader Carles Puigdemont declined to categorically renounce an independence referendum.

Spain is marking the country's national day. It is usually seen as a celebration of national unity — but today's event is being overshadowed by the crisis over the possible secession of Catalonia.

Spain is celebrating National Day, which commemorates Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas. The celebration comes amid turmoil caused by a referendum on independence for Catalonia.

After a confusing speech by the Catalan separatist leader, the Spanish government wants to know if he did or didn't declare independence — because if he did, Madrid is ready to take over Catalonia's autonomy.

The president of the Catalonia region of Spain says he's suspending a declaration of independence to allow time for mediation and talks with the Spanish government.

The president of Catalonia says he has a mandate to declare his region's independence from Spain — but he's suspending the process to allow possible mediation and talks with the Spanish government.

Spanish flags suddenly adorn Madrid balconies. Many Spaniards are rallying behind their government as it cracks down on Catalonia's independence push. Some accuse Catalonia of threatening democracy.

Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards rallied over the weekend against Catalan independence. Will the voice of what some call a "silent majority" sway plans for a declaration of independence this week?

Catalonia already enjoys a great deal of autonomy, so many Spaniards ask why they want independence, and to violate a Democratic constitution that 90 percent of Catalans supported just 40 years ago.

Spain's King Felipe VI has criticized the actions of Catalan leaders ahead of an expected unilateral declaration of independence by the secessionist government in Catalonia.

About 1,000 people were injured during Sunday's voting in Spain's Catalonia region. Spain considers the vote illegal, and hundreds of people were injured when the national police tried to stop it.