everything is online and interactive benjamin tiffany with de gemer you. tube. this is you know reviews life for berlin clashes martin attempted dialogue between spain and catalonia protesters in barcelona scuffle with police that says things cabinet meetings in the city in an effort to reduce tensions with the region's independence movement also coming up calling it quits u.s. defense secretary jim maddest resigns of protest over trump's for broke troops pull

out from syria it's letter of resignation a stunning rebuke to the president's policies and treatment of our lives and in the world just like that dortmund's and glove box because the last match take the head of the christmas break. and dirt bags are all ready it best to emerge and deep down some supporters joined in a single line at the stadium or look ahead to tonight's top at the top clash. with morning. yeah but. don't let her walk a welcome to the show everyone standish police have arrested at least eleven protesters during clashes in barcelona spanish media is reporting dozens of people have been injured in the violence the clashes broke out at a demonstration. organized by radical separatist groups were protesting

a meeting of the spanish cabinet being held in the regional capital demonstrators have been trying to block word since early this morning but the cabinet meeting chaired by prime minister pether sanchez went ahead anyway and agreed new infrastructure spending for the region. all right well joining me now from the news desk is pablo foley ileus to talk about this developing story good to see you pablo new protests in this regional capital barcelona violent clashes with police as well unfolding on the streets there what more can you tell us about that what if you are you're absolutely right there's been also many roads have been blocked across the region it was organized by this grassroots movement the c.d.r. so we saw twenty roadblocks in and around the car. today causing of course a lot of disruption for people let's not forget this is friday just before christmas a lot of people traveling from spain for

a friend who's actually coming from madrid to trains from madrid intercut then you have been at delayed as well so does been a lot of disruption on the streets as well it's caused a lot of concern for people because once again we're seeing violent protests as we've seen at least eleven people have been arrested over twenty police officers have also been injured that's according to the regional police demotions this weather and of course this comes at a time when we've seen a sort of we'll say and nearing or a change of relations between madrid and barcelona so it's a supposed quite shocking for people to see that there remains this sort of level of tension in catalonia and in barcelona and. a solution really does need to be found so it's quite telling i mean it's come from what you're reporting i just want to get this clear that they feel provoked by having this meeting held in barcelona you're absolutely right i mean let. not forget today's the twenty first of december

it's exactly one year since regional elections were called by the previous prime minister of spain. hope you're not lost yet this was following of course the independence referendum which took place a few months before so it's sort of a lot of people in qatar don't yet know i'll give you a little bit of background as to why the cabinet meeting was held there better sanchez who of course is in charge of a minority government in spain has decided to bring in the central government closer to the people this is what he's saying they held a cabinet meeting and on that was the another region and i decided to hold it in barcelona the pro independence movement has seen this as a provocation considering the day that's in it and also the fact that nine of the politicians remain in prison and they're also calling for you know an independence referendum to issues which still remain unresolved for the pro independence and so it was kind of a sensitive choice i know that they held it in a bit of a c.e.o. but they could have been more careful there do you expect him to twenty seconds

that we have left do you expect madrid now to engage in dialogue with these catalan separatist because it has to be resolved sooner or later well there's definitely been a nearing of relations and there's a lot of symbolism involved in this but better sanchez has been criticized on all sides i mean it's definitely a different approach from just what we saw with madea not wholly but once again to two key issues to cotland independence movement want a referendum something that has been completely they've said completely no to that in madrid and also let's not forget that there are politicians who still remain in prison right in the lead of course still and of course assad is in. belgium thank you so very much publicly is for you know for greatly appreciate it. and next a shock resignation in the u.s. that is reverberating across the world u.s. defense secretary jim matheson has quit in protest over president trump's decision to redress all u.s. troops from syria the four star marine general will leave in february after holding

the job since trump took office reports indicate that mattis decided to go after a last ditch attempt to talk the president around failed. u.s. secretary of defense james mattis has widely been viewed as a stabilizing force both within the unpredictable us government as well as internationally the four star marine general has been defense secretary since president donald trump took office but now he's on his way out the door the two reportedly clashed on several major policy issues trump surprise announcement to withdraw troops from syria appears to have taken their differences one step too far in his resignation letter mattis stressed the importance of the us maintaining strong partnerships my views on treating allies with respect and also being clear eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. that is also points to

opposing policy views but the white house press secretary refutes the idea that the two had a strained relationship. secretary mabus has served the president and with the president for two years they have a good relationship i've seen up close and personal on a number of occasions and again they agree to disagree at times but that doesn't mean you can't have a good relationship with somebody he was laying out the reasons that he was stepping down from his post and beyond that i think it's absurd to try to question a fact when they work together to yes their. house democratic leader nancy pelosi said the departure of mattis is a further blow to the stability of u.s. partnerships and also sends the wrong signal to the nation's military. and shaken by the resignation of general mattis what it means to our country for the message it sends to. our troops look. i thought leader

and now he is going to be leaving the second one is very serious for our country. and it appears trump's decision to reduce u.s. military involvement goes beyond syria now u.s. officials say trump is also considering limiting the u.s. presence in afghanistan cutting troops by half u.s. forces deployed to afghanistan after the september eleventh attacks in two thousand and one. since then twenty four hundred u.s. soldiers have died fighting the taliban in america's longest war. the timeline for either troop withdrawal is unclear some officials say a syrian pullout could be completed within sixty to one hundred days but first president trump needs to appoint a new secretary of defense. in his letter outgoing defense secretary mattis told

the president quote you have the right to have a secretary of defense whose views are aligned with yours. and pakistan christians are increasingly the target of deadly attacks partially motivated by a harsh interpretation of blasphemy laws in this islamic republic the most high profile case involves us yeah the roman catholic woman recently acquitted of blasphemy with christmas now approaching we decided to take a look at what life is like for pakistan's christians you have used is a bad american that some of them in islam a lot christmas is a favorite time of year for these christian family in islam about the cougars appreciate being together especially as their lives were completely turned upside down seven years ago the shot of cool kid was falsely accused of blasphemy jailed and acquitted five months later in that time he lost his job and home but he's

grateful he didn't lose his life to live a free man now shot his detention continues to haunt him. we always live in fear because of this we feel insecure. i'm numb as always when we talk about your future i think what kind of future can we have it all explained the law and policies here need to be implemented properly. blasphemy is an extremely dangerous and emotive subject in pakistan and baby's name will forever be associated with it the catholic laborer spent eight years on death row after being accused of insulting islam she was recently acquitted of all charges which sponsored by led protests across the country some hardliners called flossy and the judges involved in the ruling to be hanged. no one convicted of blasphemy has ever be legally bought the star but there are plenty of examples of people in have been killed by lynch mobs just after being accused of it and its religious minorities it

was disproportionately affected by the controversial laws. pakistan's christians make up around two percent of the population and have been the target of escalating attacks in recent he is human rights groups claim accusations of blasphemy to seen as an easy way to settle disputes as a hard to disprove but the acquittal of ossie bibi also provides a ray of hope for this past. the fact that an innocent woman can be sentenced to death has made us it will set a bad precedent to where they can arrest anyone and prosecute them so when we heard that he was finally acquitted you cannot behave how happy we were we were the two churches and offer prayers thanks to god. we were into fearful when we were young but we do have some fears now for example

if there are gatherings we don't go outdoors when children go to church and they see armed guards they do ask why is there so much security security. attacks will continue to happen here no matter what will remain united under the name of jesus. for many christians the facts that he has been freed is a christmas miracle only could not. and even though she remains in hiding in the festive period apply provide some seasonal change and hobson is in for what the future holds. for us now the cigar reaches a crucial point tonight when league leaders force your department to host second placed. it takes also last match say before the mid-season break last for the. first time this term mental dearth on tuesday well what. that means affectively the gap between the two sides has been reduced from nine to just six

points now cut the gap to three with a win endorsement with plenty to play for fans and teams are ready for a festive football treat. dortmund coach father doesn't look too bothered by their first league a loss of the season but suddenly the title race is back on and the swiss can have no time for sentiment against his former side to gladbach. says. yeah. it is a bit special i suppose nothing more than that to say i left a club out three years ago i am a dortmund man now but sure it is a bit strange it on they're having a very good season. and they're a very dangerous club won three nil and byron munich that says everything

that's my dallas. dortmund without three injured defenders against the side who have the second best goals tally behind the hosts fabio ones his players fully concentrated on glovebox threat rather than the festive season all the mnemonics break before their next game. are very well organized they're very compact sometimes they are defending and suddenly the ball goes forward very very very quickly for gladbach meanwhile can move just three points behind dortmund with a victory but they also have injury concerns. do that and we will go there with eighteen guys but we are maybe without seven players but it doesn't matter who starts dortmund our problems too will probably last goldman tell their christmas sing song this week that team will top the table at the mid-season break whatever happens tonight but fans want them to hit the high notes once again.

are undermining free let you go over main headlines this hour. hardline catalan independence supporters have clashed with police and barcelona scuffle to the scuffles took place said that as the spanish cabinet met in the city in an effort to reduce tensions over catalonia independence was bent. on my luck and the n.r.c. been going. sure that the people of the world over information they provide the plans they want to express t.w. blog facebook and twitter up to date and in touch follow us.