this is bbc news. the headlines. tensions rise after spain begins to impose direct rule over catalonia after politicians there declare independence. pro—unity rallies are being held in madrid as the prime minister calls snap elections after dissolving catalonia's regional parliament. the environment secretary michael gove apologises unreservedly for an on—airjoke about disgraced movie mogul harvey weinstein. warped and degrading — jeremy corbyn says a culture which tolerates the abuse of women is thriving in westminster. the humanitarian crisis affecting almost 400,000 syrians in an eastern suburb of damascus is described as an outrage by the united nations. also in the next hour, the zip—wiring and clubbing glasgow pensioners. the new scheme aiming to tackle loneliness and improve health among older people.

and the biggest match of their lives, england's teenager prepare to face spain in the under—17 world cup final. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the spanish government has begun implementing direct rule over catalonia, a day after its parliament declared independence. madrid has stripped the region of its autonomy and the interior ministry of the national government has taken control of the regional police force. 0ur correspondent gavin lee reports from barcelona in catalonia. squashing the insurrection,

the spread of headlines across spanish newspapers this morning read the same. the spanish government has opted for the so—called nuclear option to deal with catalan separatists after their proclamation of independence yesterday. the reasons parliament has been dissolved, separatist leaders will be removed from office and elections have been called just before christmas. in barcelona, the clampdown didn't stop thousands of catalan independent seekers claiming victory, partying into the night singing songs of liberation. tense moments too with confrontations between those on both sides. it's calm here now in plaza de saint jaume after last night's celebrations, but many on both sides are now asking exactly the same question, how does the government in madrid assert its authority here and separatists talk about protecting and defending the institutions if the spanish government tries to forcibly remove carles puigdemont and his separatist

cabinet. i think that there are a lot of things that we haven't resolved yet from the past and today and yesterday was a very important day, yes. translation: to throw out the government that the people elected and install themselves. this is an attack. they want war. translation: i've lived in catalonia for 11 years, but i'm from madrid. for me, i am spanish. i'm not going to stop being spanish and i have a child who was born in catalonia, but i don't want to stop him being spanish. but i also believe you can't silence so many people. we are supposed to be living in a democracy and you have to listen to the people. it's now emerged that spain's deputy prime minister, soraya saenz de santamaria, has been placed in de facto charge of catalonia and the fate of carles puigdemont, the man who still regards himself as leader, is unclear. it's understood he and his cabinet may be facing charges of rebellion which carries a 30—year sentence for acting against the state. gavin lee reporting there.

joining me now via webcam is dr george kyris, lecturer in international and european politics at the university of birmingham. thank you forjoining us. it's a momentous day, not only in catalonia but spain and possibly the eu as well? yeah, in some ways it's a very significant day and date. in other ways it really is not. so i think it's significant because it's shows, not confrontation, but on the other hand, i guess the declaration of independence is not really significant if nobody actually recognises it. there are... (inaudible) if you say, if it's

unrecognised by key states, key heads around the world, does this indicate that it willjust be — this isa indicate that it willjust be — this is a symbolic move? the reality is it means nothing? yeah, i mean, we can never be sure what were the hopes of the separatists. but the reality is that this is not going to be recognised. so i think the medium to long—term the only viable option for separatists, but also sprain, is to start talking to each other and negotiating some form of compromise. but, crucially, it will have to be a much more consensual process so compared to what bef seen so far. what would this proxies possibly look like? possibly a new discussion of arrangements under which catalonia goes back to spain. here

spain might be under some pressure to try to satisfy some of the demands of the separatists. also because of how assertive or even aggressive was the way in which spain dealt with the referendum so far. we saw yesterday the president of the european council implying that spain should refrain from the use of force. so there might be some sort of compromises that spain needs to do as well. 0k abstaining from force, there is a risk tensions will be rising and will get to this point. but what about the elections? he's very much bargaining on the unionist parties to give him the result he wants but how much of a risky bet is this for mr rojay? it's very interesting, i think it's a very interesting, i think it's a very clever m ove very interesting, i think it's a very clever move from him because actually now the ball in a way is in

the court of the separatists so what will they do? will they run for the elections as if they still are part of spain? 0rwill elections as if they still are part of spain? or will they abstain from the elections but then risk losing power and control over catalonia ? thank you very much for your time. my colleague tim willcox is in the catalan capital, barcelona. you have been there the last few days, a momentous time. bef within hearing from mrpuidgemont, what's he been saying? he gave a prerecorded address, we think from a town where he was mayor from the local mayor's office there. in it really we are in a parallel universe, because he doesn't consider himself sacked from the position as catalan president because he says the referendum on 0ctober ist was legal, 90% of people voted for him on a turnout of 43% so

he carries on as normal. but the key thing he was saying to the catalan people, of course many millions of whom don't support him, they want to stay with madrid, but his message was one of a pacifist response to anything happening now. he said we have our own laws, our system, basically i am still in charge, but when madrid takes over, he's calling for peaceful resistance, so no mass demonstrations called at the moment. i think what will be interesting to see what happens on monday morning when civil servants begin their working week at the local police offices here, because they've been taken over offices here, because they've been ta ken over by offices here, because they've been taken over by madrid, the information or advice they've been given is to stay neutral in this crisis. you with it will be interesting to see whether they follow the orders of the people who put in place by madrid, or whether some of them will carry on listening

to mrpuigdemont himself. he seems very relaxed, at the time that statement was going out he was spotted having lunch in a restaurant with, we understand, his wife and family and friends. so he seems very calm about the situation. i think there's relief after last night, because i was speaking to people close to him, there is relief that madrid didn't come in hard, immediately, and try to arrest them. but that could still happen over the next few days. quickly, do people, to us it sounz confusing, do people in barcelona know what's going on? no. they don't really. i am sorry, there is another demonstration going on behind me, nothing to do with independence. i have been ringing around people close to mrpuigdemont, people close to the close he formed, in fact some members and they still don't know as

well. he seems to be on a tight close—knit band of about 20 people and they're close—knit band of about 20 people and they‘ re keeping close—knit band of about 20 people and they're keeping their cards close to their chest. it's still a game of cat and mouse with madrid and they don't want things to leak, they want to respond in a strategic way with every move madrid takes. thank you very much. the labour leaderjeremy corbyn will use a speech today to warn that what he calls a warped and degrading culture, which tolerates abuse of women is thriving at westminster. downing street has described the allegations of sexual harassment in politics as deeply concerning. this morning the environment secretary, michael gove, apologised for making what he said was a clumsyjoke about the disgraced hollywood producer, harvey weinstein while being interviewed on radio 4's today programme. let's have a listen to what was said. sometimes i think that coming into this studio with you john is a bit like going into harvey weinstein‘s

bedroom. laughter. applause i tell you what. .. applause i tell you what... may have got something else to say there, michael. john goes way past groping! you pray that you emerge with your dig nate in tact. —— dignity. green peer baronessjennyjones has told the bbc mr gove's comments were unacceptable. she's been speaking to my colleague shaun ley. it's obviously completely unacceptable. to be fair to michael gove, he did apologise immediately, i think he understood that it was a ridiculous thing to say. but at the same time, listening to the clip was illuminating, because a lot of people joined illuminating, because a lot of peoplejoined in on it. nick robinson retreated it, neil kinnock extended the joke and a lot of people were laughing, some of that might have been shocked laughter. at the time it does demonstrate that

people still joke the time it does demonstrate that people stilljoke about sexual assault and rape and there is absolutely nothing funny about it. 0ne absolutely nothing funny about it. one of the things that struck me, we seem to be in a situation talking about harassment, on the one hand we will use the strongest possible language about it and yet on the other hand we will make light of it and almost in the same, not quite the same breath, but in a short space of time. why do we struggle, do you think, to talk about these things ina do you think, to talk about these things in a rationale way?” do you think, to talk about these things in a rationale way? i think it's embedded deep in our culture that men get away with a lot of things, just because oh, you know, they didn't mean any harm, and it was just a they didn't mean any harm, and it wasjust a joke. i think they didn't mean any harm, and it was just a joke. i think we have gone past that now intellectually, but unfortunately, we still get stuck in a groove laughing about these things. rape, it happens to women, it happens to men as well, it isa women, it happens to men as well, it is a scarring horrible experience that many people never get over. the

sooner that many people never get over. the sooner that we understand that, the sooner our culture sooner that we understand that, the sooner our culture will catch up. jeremy corbyn today saying a warped and degrading culture, absolutely. and time we learned better. perhaps this incident will send out some very strong signals to all the people who do make these jokes so that we can perhaps have a better culture generally. women experience harassment and mild sexual assault quite often on a daily basis, whether it's on the tube or in the office and it really is time that everybody just realised office and it really is time that everybodyjust realised it can't go on. that was the green party peer baronessjennyjones on. that was the green party peer baroness jennyjones speaking to. on. that was the green party peer baronessjennyjones speaking to. we we re baronessjennyjones speaking to. we were hearing reaction to mrgove's comments. jeremy corbyn will be speaking later today at the unite union scottish party conference. 0ur political correspondent ellie price is in westminster.

what are we expecting him to say? we are expecting strong words from jeremy corbyn when he makes his speech this afternoon in scotland. he will talk about a warped and degrading culture that has allowed such terrible behaviour to be permitted towards women. he will talk about how sexism has become widespread across society. he will also talk about how he thinks that's been allowed to thrive in westminster. he will say it needs to bea westminster. he will say it needs to be a turning point and any mps who have been engaged in any sort of inappropriate behaviour here at westminster will need to be held to account. more broadly, that it should be easierfor women account. more broadly, that it should be easier for women to account. more broadly, that it should be easierfor women to report any allegations of harassment in the workplace. the timing of this is all obviously quite important, given there was that report in the sun newspaper yesterday which said that some female parliamentary aides and researchers had been part of a

messaging group where they had shared stories about inappropriate behaviour among some mps towards them. i think it's important to say no formal allegations are indeed complaints have been made. certainly no mps have been named. but the government say they're taking this all seriously and if any allegations should arise they will take them extremely seriously. thank you. you are watching bbc news. the headlines. spain's central government has taken direct control of catalonia a day after the region's parliament voted to declare independence. the environment secretary michael gove has apologised unreservedly for an on—air joke apologised unreservedly for an on—airjoke about disgraced movie mogul harvey weinstein. it comes on the day that the labour leader jeremy corbyn will warn that a culture which tolerates the abuse of women is thriving at westminster. the humanitarian crisis affecting

almost 400,000 people in an eastern suburb of damascus has been described by the united nations as an outrage. the area of eastern ghouta is the last part of the syrian capital under siege by the government. there's been an increase in military attacks and earlier this week unicef said almost 1200 children were suffering from malnutrition. 0ur middle east correspondent lina sinjab reports from bare route. the main meal of the day. a few spoons of yoghurt and two loaves of bread. feeding a family of seven is a daily struggle. the mother, who is covering herface for safety, says that's all she can afford for the day. "the kids keep saying they're hungry", she says, "my heart is broken. there's nothing i can do." this is seven—year—old mustafa and he is the most in need of food in the family.

weighing only ten kilos, he, like hundreds of children in besieged east ghouta is malnourished. his elder sister can't even go to school. translation: i'm ten years old and i'm in year one. i should be in yearfour. we can't eat or drink and we tell mum day and night that we're hungry. translation: our situation is very bad. my father doesn't have the money. my brother, mustafa, was well and had chubby hands. now, he's very thin. night and day we say we are hungry. my mum says, "god help us. we don't have the money to bring you food". this is the main reason behind their suffering.

the war grinds on. government warplanes continue to target east ghouta. there are at least 350,000 civilians still trapped there and in need of food. the area has been under siege forfour years. this was the last aid convoy to enter the area last month and it's hard to tell when the next one will come. these children are not in hospital because they are injured, but because they are malnourished. the un says there are over 1,200 children suffering in east ghouta and the numbers are rising. translation: many children are fainting, suffering headaches, blurred vision, depression, all because of a lack of essential food. we can only help so many. we don't have the medicines. mustafa and his siblings are trying

to live a normal life, but with the siege continuing, he is unlikely to recover soon. let's speak now to james denselow, head of conflict at the charity save the children. james, just seeing harrowing images there and the voices of the children are telling, speaking of hunger and being powerless to help. how big a problem is this? well, it's a huge problem. it's heartbreaking and utterly outrageous in this day and age we see children dying of malnutrition and children forced to eat water as asa main and children forced to eat water as as a main meal, cats and dogs supposedly being eaten too. i think that we sometimes forget the conflict in syria because seemingly the momentum is going one way, but there are still 800,000 or so people

living under siege across the country. ghouta is the largest single location and millions more in ha rd to single location and millions more in hard to reach areas. it's shocking again that we have had un resolutions, a peace process that's supposedly has agreed to deescalate violence in eastern ghouta and allow aid in yet these are the images we see today, it should spark us all to again do far more for the children in syria. you speak of aid there, what is actually getting in? well, very little. we heard of a convoy getting in last month, we are trying to upscale our programme as we can. but it's a slow death, unlike the sort of barrel bombs and the air strikes, siege and starvation doesn't necessarily make the news in the same way. it takes a long time. if children don't die of malnutrition, they may be stunted and suffer a lifetime of health consequences because of it and the bureaucracy around getting trucks of aid in and negotiations, the time at that takes to do is utterly unacceptable and shouldn't be something you negotiate. you should not have to negotiate to get formula

for young children, food for young children. this should not be a part of conflict, that's what it's become in syria today. let's talk about the help needed. in terms of it having an impact, what scale of action needs to be put in place? well, 400,000 people in eastern ghout, that's a huge amount of people obviously. the first thing you need to do is realise that a few trucks a month or a few trucks every few months simply is not sustainable. there what to be sustainably opened up there what to be sustainably opened u p a ccess there what to be sustainably opened up access with monitored and effective feedback as to what is needed and how people can move in and out, and that's needed urgently and out, and that's needed urgently and right now. again we have more peace and right now. again we have more pea ce processes and right now. again we have more peace processes coming up, another meeting and more meetings of geneva, all these meetings should remember as they speak children are suffering. we shouldn't have to see these images to remind ourselves about it, almost seven years in this conflict and all of the viewers will have seen pictures of two—year—old

children who look one—year—old. that's exactly what happens when don't have anything to eat. that's happening a few miles away essentially from the presidential palace in damascus. thank you. kurdish officials in northern syria say a 21—year—old man from oxford has been charged with membership of the so—called jack letts — who travelled to syria in 2014 — was captured by the kurdish militia, the ypg. mr letts has previously said he is opposed to is. nine sailors from a nuclear missile submarine have been dismissed from the royal navy after failing drug tests. the ministry of defence confirmed the dismissals from hms vigilant, one of four submarines that carry the trident nuclear deterrent. according to the daily mail, the men are alleged to have taken cocaine. a royal navy spokesperson said it does not tolerate drugs misuse. 0ur correspondent laura trant

is outside the ministry of defence. the defence secretary is said to have given the head of the royal navy a roasting after learning that nine members of hms vigilant tested positive for illegal drugs. sir michael fallon has ordered compulsory testing of all crew on board royal navy submarines. the ministry of defence says that the nine servicemen have been dismissed from hms vigilant. now the daily mail has said that the nine crew members tested positive for cocaine which they allegedly took during parties in the united states when the submarine was docked while it was waiting to pick up nuclear warheads. an mod spokesman has said we do not tolerate drugs misuse, those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service. the submarine isn't new to controversy. these latest revelations come after claims that the captain and the second in command were both removed

over allegations of having inappropriate relationships with female crew on board. 0n the alleged affairs a royal navy spokesperson has said an investigation is under way and any allegations of wrongdoing are taken seriously. zip wiring in a scottish forest and dancing at a glasgow nightclub are not necessarily activities you'd associate with pensioners. but a scheme based in the city is encouraging older people to join in and meet new people. catriona renton has been to find out more. hi! not for the faint-hearted. and this is maybe not what you would expect as a typical pensioner‘s day out. but it's all about getting active and experiencing new adventures. it is 70—year—old's helen's first time on a zip wire. adventures. it is 70—year—old's helen's first time on a zip wirem was fabulous! i am doing this

exciting thing today on this zip wire and! exciting thing today on this zip wire and i am going to get all the information and experience home and tell my grand kids and i am going to have a great—grand kid so more to tell them. they'll hardly believe i am doing this. very nervous. but i am doing this. very nervous. but i am willing to give it a go. i want to challenge myself. hold on like that. irene wants to conquer her fears. i have made it! i am glad i did it, though. occupational therapist salas came up with the idea of what she calls weekday wow factors. there are holistic benefits, to physical health, mental health and social health, mental health and social health as well, they're meeting other people and it's feeding everybody‘s souls from the people doing it and for the people watching and it's also reducing ageism in our society. we are going to request the

dj. a man, tom jones! if zip wiring is not your thing, then how about this? it's a monday morning and cathy is getting ready to go dancing. cathy has dementia and her family say it can make her feel very lonely. it's a change from the house and the same routine. day in, and day out. you need to get a break. this is a disco with a difference. held during the day in a real nightclub held during the day in a real nig htclu b instead held during the day in a real nightclub instead of cocktails, there is tea, sandwiches and great company. do you come here often? yes, i come here to enjoy the fun with the girls. are you enjoying yourself? i always enjoy it. everyone's having fun on the dance floor but there are serious reasons behind these days out and are making a real difference for those involved.

do you come here often! england face spain in the final of the under—17s world cup this afternoon. rian brewster is on course to become the tournament's top goal scorer. his said says the whole family are trying to keep their feet whole family are trying to keep theirfeet on whole family are trying to keep their feet on the ground. he just can't wait. he wants to get it on. even after the last game, he phoned us from his hotel room and he seemed so relaxed. you would not believe that two hours ago he was playing in front of thousands of people scoring a hat—trick. he is surrounded by a lot of level—headed people and family and friends, we keep him in check. i am living the dream at the moment, seeing your son in a sport that you love and a team that you adore, i am living the dream. but, at the same time, so long as he is happy, i am happy. 0ur correspondent,

rahul tandon is in kolkata, where the final is taking place. he's been telling us england will have plenty of support among the crowd. thousands of fans have turned up to watch england take on spain. the man in charge of fifa has said forget cricket, football is the future here and many of the fans around me are going to be supporting england because they all love the premier league. i think england is playing a more attacking game. confident about england winning. the last game they played the same football today, they will surely win it. england will start the match as favourites as they dismantled brazil in the semifinal 3—1. there is an opportunity to prove he is the best young player in the world. if england can create history, millions back home will be happy and millions

here. you can watch coverage of the match on bbc two from 3. 20pm this afternoon. now time for the weather. chris, all change? yes, certainly, it's going to be turning colder through this weekend. we still have a lot of cloud in the sky but there are a few gaps in that cloud, particularly across lots of southern england, midlands and a few working towards fife. a blowy kind of day. it's tomorrow you will notice the real change in the air as we start to draw in cold arctic northerly winds. overnight tonight the first signs of that change arrive. most of the night it's cloudy, mist over the hills, spots of light rain and drizzle on coasts and hills as well. during the second half of the night we see that colder air begin to move southwards into scotla nd air begin to move southwards into scotland as the skies hereditary, it

will turn chilly. for — as the skies clear here it will turn chilly. sunday, more sunshine than the case today. but it's going to be feel colder. temperatures staying into single figures but feeling cold in that brisk westerly wind. there will be one or two showers working in across the scottish islands and northern isles and aberdeenshire as well from time to time. for most a colder day coming up. that's the weather. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines at 14.30. the spanish government has taken charge of catalonia's administration, a day after the region's parliament declared independence. the deposed catalan leader, carles puigdemont, has called on people in the region to democratically resist direct rule from madrid.