<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/first-pictures-from-virushkas-reception-620">In pictures: The Virushka reception</a>

The newly-weds hosted a reception for family at Delhi&#39;s Taj Palace Hotel on Thursday night

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/puigdemont-celebrates-as-catalan-separatists-win-election-27417">Puigdemont celebrates as Catalan separatists win election</a>

Catalan separatists have won a landmark election with nearly all votes counted, separatist parties have won a slim majority in the Catalan parliament.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-general-assembly-will-drive-us-out-of-jerusalem-israel-27421">No General Assembly will drive us out of Jerusalem: Israel</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-votes-128-9-to-reject-trump-decision-on-jerusalem-27409">As 128 nations defied the Trump</a>&nbsp;administration and approved a motion rejecting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, Israel&#39;s envoy to the United Nations said no&nbsp;General Assembly resolution &quot;will ever drive us from Jerusalem&quot;.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-government-approves-1-per-cent-reservation-for-gujjars-27416">Rajasthan government approves 1 per cent reservation for Gujjars</a>

The Rajasthan government on Thursday approved one per cent reservation for &#39;Gujjars&#39; and four other backward castes. With this initiation, the Gujjars can now seek benefits in educational institutions and job opportunities.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ajit-doval-to-hold-border-talks-with-china-counterpart-today-27411">NSA Doval to hold border talks with China today</a>

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart state councillor Yang Jiechi will hold the next round of formal negotiations on the boundary issue later today.

In pictures: The Virushka reception The newly-weds hosted a reception for family at Delhi's Taj Palace Hotel on Thursday night Puigdemont celebrates as Catalan separatists win election Catalan separatists have won a landmark election with nearly all votes counted, separatist parties have won a slim majority in the Catalan parliament. No General Assembly will drive us out of Jerusalem: Israel As 128 nations defied the Trump administration and approved a motion rejecting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Israel's envoy to the United Nations said no General Assembly resolution "will ever drive us from Jerusalem". Rajasthan government approves 1 per cent reservation for Gujjars The Rajasthan government on Thursday approved one per cent reservation for 'Gujjars' and four other backward castes. With this initiation, the Gujjars can now seek benefits in educational institutions and job opportunities. NSA Doval to hold border talks with China today National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart state councillor Yang Jiechi will hold the next round of formal negotiations on the boundary issue later today.

WION Morning News Brief, December 22, 2017

The Catalan regional parliament has declared independence from Spain even as Madrid readies to take control of the region, AFP reported.

The 70-10 ballot was boycotted only by Opposition MPs, BBC reported.

Catalan separatist parties on Friday filed a resolution in the regional parliament in which they declared independence from Spain, a spokesman for Catalonia&#39;s ruling coalition said earlier.

&quot;We declare Catalonia an independent state in the form of a republic,&quot; reads the start of the proposed resolution crafted by separatist lawmakers, which hold a majority in the regional parliament that may later proceed to a vote, said the &quot;Together for Yes&quot; coalition spokesman.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed&nbsp;to &quot;restore legality&quot; in Catalonia after the regional parliament declared independence.

&quot;I ask all Spaniards to remain calm. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia,&quot; he wrote in a Twitter message immediately after the Catalan assembly voted in favour of declaring independence from Spain.

Spanish senators met earlier on Friday to adopt drastic measures to impose direct rule on rebel region which held an unlawful independence referendum on October 1.

The Senate, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy&#39;s Popular Party holds a majority, is scheduled to vote on steps to depose Catalonia&#39;s secessionist government before the week is out.

Catalan bank shares fell after the&nbsp; regional parliament declared independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed?to 'restore legality' in Catalonia after the regional parliament declared independence

The Catalan regional parliament has declared independence from Spain even as Madrid readies to take control of the region, AFP reported. The 70-10 ballot was boycotted only by Opposition MPs, BBC reported. Catalan separatist parties on Friday filed a resolution in the regional parliament in which they declared independence from Spain, a spokesman for Catalonia's ruling coalition said earlier. "We declare Catalonia an independent state in the form of a republic," reads the start of the proposed resolution crafted by separatist lawmakers, which hold a majority in the regional parliament that may later proceed to a vote, said the "Together for Yes" coalition spokesman. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed to "restore legality" in Catalonia after the regional parliament declared independence. "I ask all Spaniards to remain calm. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia," he wrote in a Twitter message immediately after the Catalan assembly voted in favour of declaring independence from Spain. Spanish senators met earlier on Friday to adopt drastic measures to impose direct rule on rebel region which held an unlawful independence referendum on October 1. The Senate, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Popular Party holds a majority, is scheduled to vote on steps to depose Catalonia's secessionist government before the week is out. Catalan bank shares fell after the regional parliament declared independence.

Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain

Catalan separatists Monday threatened &quot;mass civil disobedience&quot; against the Spanish government if it fulfills its vow to depose the region`s secessionist leader to stifle his drive for independence.

Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades.

Madrid has said it will suspend the powers of the semi-autonomous region, where separatist leaders held a banned independence referendum on October 1.

Catalonia`s separatist parties announced they would hold a full session on Thursday to decide their response.

That could be an opportunity for the region to follow through on threats to declare unilateral independence from Spain, a prospect that has raised fears of unrest.

The Senate is set to suspend the territory`s limited self-rule in a meeting expected Friday.

Spain`s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Catalan President Carles Puigdemont will be out of a job as soon as this weekend.

&quot;He will no longer be able to sign anything, he will no longer be able to take decisions, he will no longer receive a salary,&quot; Saenz de Santamaria told radio Onda Cero.The far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), which backs Puigdemont`s coalition, said Madrid`s post-referendum clampdown was the &quot;biggest assault&quot; against the Catalan people since the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Franco -- who ruled from 1939 until 1975 -- suppressed Catalonia`s autonomy, language, and culture.

&quot;This assault will receive a response in the form of massive civil disobedience,&quot; the CUP, a key regional power broker, said in a statement.

Lluis Corominas, spokesman of the Together for Yes ruling coalition, meanwhile urged a &quot;peaceful and democratic defence of Catalan institutions&quot;.

He branded the Spanish response to the independence drive &quot;a case of unprecedented institutional violence&quot;.Catalan firefighters hinted they may offer resistance in the dispute by refusing to obey orders from national authorities. 
&quot;It depends on what they ask us to do. If there is a road that is blocked and they send us to unblock it, maybe we won`t go,&quot; said a spokesman for a firefighter association associated to the separatist movement.

Teachers called a protest march for Thursday, and students said they will go on strike from that day.

Half a million angry separatists took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday after Rajoy announced he would replace Puigdemont and his executive.

To do so, Madrid will use previously untested constitutional powers to stop Catalonia breaking away.Under Article 155 of the 1978 Spanish constitution, Madrid could take control of the Catalan police force and replace the heads of its public broadcaster.

Political analysts warn that Madrid faces a serious struggle in practical terms to impose control over the region, especially if civil servants refuse to obey orders from central authorities. 
&nbsp;

Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades.

Catalan separatists Monday threatened "mass civil disobedience" against the Spanish government if it fulfills its vow to depose the region`s secessionist leader to stifle his drive for independence. Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades. Madrid has said it will suspend the powers of the semi-autonomous region, where separatist leaders held a banned independence referendum on October 1. Catalonia`s separatist parties announced they would hold a full session on Thursday to decide their response. That could be an opportunity for the region to follow through on threats to declare unilateral independence from Spain, a prospect that has raised fears of unrest. The Senate is set to suspend the territory`s limited self-rule in a meeting expected Friday. Spain`s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Catalan President Carles Puigdemont will be out of a job as soon as this weekend. "He will no longer be able to sign anything, he will no longer be able to take decisions, he will no longer receive a salary," Saenz de Santamaria told radio Onda Cero.The far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), which backs Puigdemont`s coalition, said Madrid`s post-referendum clampdown was the "biggest assault" against the Catalan people since the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Franco -- who ruled from 1939 until 1975 -- suppressed Catalonia`s autonomy, language, and culture. "This assault will receive a response in the form of massive civil disobedience," the CUP, a key regional power broker, said in a statement. Lluis Corominas, spokesman of the Together for Yes ruling coalition, meanwhile urged a "peaceful and democratic defence of Catalan institutions". He branded the Spanish response to the independence drive "a case of unprecedented institutional violence".Catalan firefighters hinted they may offer resistance in the dispute by refusing to obey orders from national authorities. "It depends on what they ask us to do. If there is a road that is blocked and they send us to unblock it, maybe we won`t go," said a spokesman for a firefighter association associated to the separatist movement. Teachers called a protest march for Thursday, and students said they will go on strike from that day. Half a million angry separatists took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday after Rajoy announced he would replace Puigdemont and his executive. To do so, Madrid will use previously untested constitutional powers to stop Catalonia breaking away.Under Article 155 of the 1978 Spanish constitution, Madrid could take control of the Catalan police force and replace the heads of its public broadcaster. Political analysts warn that Madrid faces a serious struggle in practical terms to impose control over the region, especially if civil servants refuse to obey orders from central authorities.

Catalan separatists vow disobedience as Spain standoff mounts

Catalonia&#39;s parliament will hold a plenary session on Thursday to decide its response to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-government-call-elections-22701" target="_blank"> the central government&#39;s </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-government-call-elections-22701" target="_blank">move</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-government-call-elections-22701" target="_blank"> to dismiss the region&#39;s government,</a> a spokesman for the ruling separatist coalition said Monday.

The plenary could continue on Friday when Spain&#39;s Senate is expected to vote on measures proposed by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to dismiss the Catalan government, said Lluis Corominas, the spokesman for the Together for Yes coalition.

Catalan separatist parties have threatened to declare independence if the Senate approves the measures.

In a meeting held today, the Catalan Parliament said will hold a plenary session on Thursday to decide its response to the central government's move to dismiss the region's government

Catalonia's parliament will hold a plenary session on Thursday to decide its response to the central government's move to dismiss the region's government, a spokesman for the ruling separatist coalition said Monday. The plenary could continue on Friday when Spain's Senate is expected to vote on measures proposed by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to dismiss the Catalan government, said Lluis Corominas, the spokesman for the Together for Yes coalition. Catalan separatist parties have threatened to declare independence if the Senate approves the measures.

Catalan separatists set key parliament session for Thursday

catalan-separatists

Catalan Separatists, News on Catalan Separatists, stories on Catalan Separatists, articles on Catalan Separatists, Catalan Separatists stories at Wion, Catalan Separatists news, Catalan Separatists latest news

catalan separatists

WION Morning News Brief, December 22, 2017

Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain

Catalan separatists vow disobedience as Spain standoff mounts

Catalan separatists set key parliament session for Thursday