Catalonia launches countdown to independence vote

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont announced Friday (9 June) that the region will hold a much anticipated and controversial binding referendum on independence from Spain on 1 October, despite strong opposition from Madrid.\n \nCatalans are set to answer the yes or no question: "Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a Republic?"\n \n"We have repeatedly pursued a deal," said Puigdemont. “We have communicated directly to the Spanish government and its president our fi...