Latest: The president of Catalonia arranged and then hastily cancelled an official address today amid speculation that he might back off a full independence bid by calling a snap election.

Mr Rajoy said he hopes the measures planned, including the sacking of Mr Puigdemont's government and curtailment of the Catalan parliament's powers, will be brief.

Catalonia's government is appealing against plans by Spain's central authorities to directly run the troubled north-eastern region.

Spanish government bonds and stockmarkets are not panicking over Catalonia because any secession by the region would have limited effects on Madrid’s finances and economy, a leading analytical firm has said.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has said Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's attempt to "humiliate" Catalonia is an "attack on democracy".

Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy has said he wants the country's senate to give him direct power to dissolve the regional Catalan government and call an election as soon as possible.

The Spanish government is preparing to activate a constitutional article to take control of the Catalonia region in a bid to stop a rebellion from separatist politicians.

Spain's King Felipe VI has spoken out forcefully against Catalonia's independence drive, saying all Spaniards must respect each other and the law.

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy said his government will announce specific measures tomorrow to take control of the Catalonia region, now that an agreement has been reached with the country's main opposition parties.

Spain is to hold a special Cabinet meeting at the weekend to activate measures to take control of Catalonia's semi-autonomous powers after the region's leader threatened to explicitly declare independence if no talks were offered.

Spain cut its economic forecast for 2018 as the costs of the Catalan crisis begin to mount.

Output will grow by 2.3% next year instead of the 2.6% previously projected, the economy ministry said, citing the impact of the political standoff in Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spain’s gross domestic product, and the related struggle to approve a budget.

Update - 5.43pm: The Spanish government has given Catalan leaders a Monday deadline to clarify whether independence has been declared, an official said.

Spain's prime minister has described this month's referendum in Catalonia as part of a strategy "to impose independence that few want and is good for nobody".

Spain's two main parties have agreed to renegotiate laws governing autonomy amid Catalonia's independence bid, Madrid's opposition leader said.

Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy has formally asked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to clarify whether independence has been declared, saying that is needed before he can decide what steps to take.

Spain's Constitutional Court has ordered Catalonia's parliament to suspend a planned session next week during which separatist lawmakers wanted to declare independence.

Catalan separatists called for international mediation with the Spanish government.

Barcelona's mayor Ada Colau has demanded "an immediate end to police charges against the defenceless population".

Spain's central government and regional Catalan authorities argued on Saturday over who controls the regional police force that is considered key to the success of a planned independence vote for the north-eastern region.

Spain's state prosecutor is investigating more than 700 Catalan mayors for cooperating with a referendum on independence that has been suspended by a court.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has told the country's National Court he did not know anything about the ruling Popular Party's accounting practices when a corrupt scheme allegedly helped fund it.

French President Emmanuel Macron has promoted his pro-European views in a series of meetings with leaders of The Netherlands, Spain and Estonia in Paris, with Brexit negotiations due to start next week.

Thousands rallied in Madrid on Saturday to support a no-confidence vote against conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy brought by the far-left Podemos party.

Gardaí are to increase co-operation with Spanish police in a bid to tackle the escalating gangland violence in Dublin.

An election in Northern Ireland could clash with Brexit negotiations, the Taoiseach has warned.

Spain's Parliament has voted to approve acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy's bid to form a new minority government, putting an end to the country's 10-month political deadlock.

Spain’s liberal newcomer party Ciudadanos (Citizens) agreed yesterday to back acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in a confidence vote, but the support is not enough to end an eight-month political stalemate.

Spain's conservative Popular Party has signed a deal with the business-friendly Ciudadanos party that could pave the way for the formation of a new government and avert a possible third round of elections.

Spain’s interim prime minister may end an eight-month legislative stalemate today. His party is considering an offer of support for a new government, in exchange for political reforms.

The number of Spaniards registered as without a job fell to the lowest level since 2009 in June, bolstering Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s pledges on job creation.

Spanish government bonds jumped, pushing the yield down by the most in two years after acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy defied opinion polls to consolidate his position in the country’s general election after Brexit rocked the world’s financial markets last week.

Spain posted its biggest fall in unemployment ever recorded in May as resorts hired staff ahead of a record influx of tourists, a potential boost for acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy in an election rerun in three weeks.

The leader of Spain’s opposition Socialists has said that he will not support any effort by the acting prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, to stay in his post via a coalition or a minority government.

The leader of Spain’s opposition Socialists has said he will not support any effort by acting PM Mariano Rajoy to stay in his post via a coalition or minority government.

Spain’s major parties, taking stock after the most fragmented national election result in the country’s history, have embarked on potentially long and arduous talks to form a coalition government.