Court annuls Catalan independence bid

Spain's Constitutional Court yesterday revoked a resolution by Catalonia's parliament that declared the start of a secession process in the wealthy northeastern region. In a ruling, the court ruled the motion "violates constitutional norms" which "affirm the unity of the Spanish nation. But Catalonia's regional government quickly rose up in defiance: "The content of this declaration, approved by an absolute majority, is to remain unchanged no matter how many sentences the Spanish Constitutional Court issues".