Counting has started in catalonia. The polls closed an hour ago in Regional Elections that are, effectively, a referendum on independence from spain. In fact this election is happening after a referendum in october was declared illegal and the Catalan Government was sacked. Well today is close. This is coming in from the Reuters News Agency as saying after 30 of the votes counted, catalonia the socialist parties are on track for an absolute majority in the regional parliament. Secessionist parties. Turnout has been high. This is spains major newspaper highlighting voters, and many of them coming out and where they went looks crucial to the result. We have seen big keys through the day, these were from early on this morning. Reasonably long waits, completely peaceful throughout. That is worthy of note because what we saw in october, will surely remember, these pictures when the Spanish Police try to stop that referendum on independence going ahead. There were violent clashes became a Ma
Plight of yemens children. The worst humanitarian crisis in the world. We have a special report. And meet the blade running dog. We will reveal how prosthetic limbs gave this put a new lease on life. Live from our studios in singapore and london, this is bbc world news. Its newsday. Thank you forjoining us. It it is 8am in singapore, midnight in london, 1am in barcelona, where it looks as though separatist parties are on course to maintain a slim majority in catalonias assembly. With almost all of the vote counted, the Pro Independence bloc is on course to win 70 seats out of 135. The leader gave his reaction. Translation we ask for the restoration of democracy in catalonia, a restoration of legitimate government and the freedom of those put in jail. Legitimate government and the freedom of those put injail. They should not spend another minute in prison. They should come out now, and a legitimate government must return to the palace. This is our place. This is the will of the citizens
Global stories. Lets stop to consider this the american president is accused by the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of such recklessness that it threatens World War Three. Thats what bob corker told the new york times. Remember, hes a republican as is the president. That followed up this tweet in which the senator said ltis a shame the white house has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning. And that was a response to a barrage from donald trump in which he told us senator bob corker begged me to endorse him for re election in tennessee. I said n0 and he dropped out said he could not win without. Also hes responsible for the horrendous iran deal and these guys are supposed to be on the same political side. Anthony zurcher is live with us. What is remarkable is notjust the difference of opinion, but the tone adopted by senator corker. Exactly. Donald trump called him a coward, saying he didnt have the guts to run for election