Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took formal direct control of Catalonia on Saturday a day after Catalan lawmakers passed a declaration of independence for the prosperous northeastern region. The Catalan regional parliament passed a motion on Friday to establish a new country. (The Canadian Press)Spanish prosecutors say that top Catalan officials could face rebellion charges as soon as Monday. Vice-President Soraya Saenz de Santamaria will be Rajoy’s point person in running Catalonia until the new regional election. Trapero’s boss, regional police director Pere Soler, said in a statement that he accepted his firing by central authorities in Madrid.

Source: thestar October 28, 2017 14:06 UTC