Catalan Parliament Votes To Declare Independence From Spain

Catalan separatist legislators have passed a motion to establish a new republic independent of Spain, in a vote boycotted by opposition members.In Madrid, Spain’s Senate is meeting and is expected to vote to remove the region’s autonomy and subject it to direct rule from the Spanish Government.The independence motion was passed in the 135-member assembly with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and 2 blank ballots, the assembly’s speaker said.Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont left th