Briefs | Spain: Catalan leaders meet central authorities

The new heads of Spain’s central and Catalonia’s regional governments are holding talks for the first time since yearnings for independence in the northeastern region led to an unprecedented political crisis last year. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed Catalan President Quim Torra yesterday in the Moncloa Palace, the seat of the national government in Madrid. Torra says a legal referendum on Catalonia’s independence as the only way out of the deadlock, and he seeks authorization to hold it. But Sanchez’s government has said self-determination is not allowed under Spain’s 1978 constitution. Sanchez is expected to offer to unblock regional legislation on social issues and to promise infrastructure and other investments.

Turkey: 24 killed in train derailment

A passenger train derailed in northwestern Turkey, killing two dozen people and injuring more than 300 others, officials said yesterday. Investigators believe that heavy rains caused the ground under the rails to collapse, causing Sunday’s crash, Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag said. The train was heading to Istanbul from Edirne, on the border with Greece, with 362 passengers and six crew members on board. Five of its six cars derailed. Health Minister Ahmet Demircan said 318 were injured, with 124 of them still hospitalized. A media ban issued Sunday by the government, citing national security and public order, was lifted yesterday.

South Africa: Son of ex-president faces corruption case

A son of former South African president Jacob Zuma has appeared in court to face allegations of high-level corruption during his father’s scandal-tainted tenure. Duduzane Zuma, who returned to South Africa last week after months abroad, was granted bail of USD7,500 yesterday. His case was postponed to Jan. 24, 2019. The former president’s son is a business associate of the Gupta business family, which has been accused of using connections to the Zumas to plunder state coffers. He and the Guptas deny wrongdoing. Jacob Zuma resigned in February on the orders of South Africa’s ruling party amid a growing public outcry over corruption concerns.