Madrid set to impose direct rule on Catalonia as independence deadline passes

The Spanish government has warned Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont he faces his final chance to relinquish independence within three days or it would trigger Article 155, the so-called 'nuclear option' which would override Catalonia's autonomy. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had set a deadline of 10am local time yesterday for Mr Puigdemont to clarify whether or not the autonomous region had made a unilateral declaration of independence last week. The Catalan president resp