Spain ready to revoke Catalan autonomy amid independence bid

By ARITZ PARRA and CIARAN GILES
BARCELONA, Spain  — Spain’s government on Thursday immediately rejected a threat by Catalonia’s leader to declare independence unless talks are held, calling a special Cabinet session for the weekend to activate measures to take control of the region’s semi-autonomous powers.
Catalan president Carles Puigdemont’s warning came in a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy with minutes to spare before the expiration of a dead