Barcelona, Spain – The president of Spain’s powerful northeastern region of Catalonia on Saturday formally called an independence referendum, the latest secession push in Europe and one of the most serious challenges to the Spanish state in recent years.

Catalan leader Artur Mas signed the decree to call the referendum in a solemn ceremony in the regional government headquarters in Barcelona, flanked by most of the region’s political leaders who support the vote.

“Like all the nations of the world, Catalonia has the right to decide its political future,” said Mas.

Two hours after Mas spoke, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the Spanish government will hold an emergency Cabinet meeting within days so the referendum can be challenged before Spain’s Constitutional Court.

Pro-independence sentiment in the economically strong region, where the Catalan language is spoken side-by-side with Spanish, has surged in recent years, fueled by a sense that the region deserves better fiscal and political treatment from Madrid.

The announcement came a week after Scotland voted against breaking away from Britain.

U.S. governors make surprise visit to Afghanistan

New York – Four U.S. governors made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Saturday as part of a delegation to receive counterterrorism briefings and greet troops stationed there.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, along with Brian Sandoval of Nevada, William Haslam of Tennessee and Jay Nixon of Missouri, traveled with officials from the U.S. Department of Defense, which sponsored the trip, Cuomo’s office said. They were invited by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, his office said.

About 270 members of the New York National Guard are deployed in Afghanistan, and about 900 members of Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division based near Watertown are stationed there, one of the most frequently deployed during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Crowd cheers Ford at annual barbecue

Toronto – Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has jumped back into the spotlight for the first time since being hospitalized for cancer, receiving a boisterous welcome.

Supporters chanted “Rob, Rob,” as he took the stage Saturday at an annual family barbecue.

Ford told supporters that he loves them and vowed to beat the cancer he was diagnosed with earlier this month.

Ford refused to step down as mayor despite months of scandal and an admission he used crack cocaine while in a “drunken stupor.”

But he bowed out of the race for re-election after doctors detected a tumor in his abdomen. Ford is still running for a seat on the city council. The mayor’s brother, Doug, entered the race to replace him.