Catalonia announces date of referendum

The leader of Spain's Catalonia region, where a separatist movement is in full swing, yesterday announced an independence referendum for October 1 in defiance of Madrid. If a majority votes "yes," the northeastern region's pro-independence government has said it will immediately start proceedings to separate from Spain. Catalonia, a wealthy, 7.5-million-strong region with its own language and customs, has long demanded greater autonomy.