Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240713

Violence towards women. And a question for many museums should former colonial powers return artefacts they took from the countries they once occupied . Hello and welcome to bbc news. Lets start in hong kong, where polls have just opened in local elections. The authorities have threatened to suspend voting if theres serious trouble, but pro democracy campaigners have told their supporters not to cause any disruption. This vote is the first to take place since protests and often violent clashes with police started back in june. So it will be a test of support for pro democracy and pro beijing candidates. The poll is for the lowest rung of government in the city. More than a thousand candidates are running, competing for more than a50 seats throughout the citys 18 districts. A number of seats currently held by pro beijing incumbents, are being contested by pro democracy candidates, butjoshua wong, one of the prominent protest leaders is banned from running, because he called for Self Determination for hong kong. Lets get more from our correspondent there jonathan head. Jonathan, we would normally probably not give too much time, too much time to local elections, but things are time to local elections, but things a re pretty time to local elections, but things are pretty different now. Well, they are. When you think we have had more than five months of this crippling political crisis, a protest movement that had been challenging the government, this is the first time that ordinary hong kongers will have a chance, quite definitively, to say what they think now, they are local elections, of course, local issues are still really important. But the crisis protest movement, the demands they are asking of the government, overs ha d ow they are asking of the government, overshadow this entire election and there is no doubt people want to come out and vote. At this polling station here, if you look at this line going right the way down there, it wheels all the way round and then comes along here, right down the street, goes right the way down there, and then right the way across, next to that building there. So it is a very, very enthusiastic turnout. People we have talked to say this is unusually large as a turnout. What we dont know, of course, is how people are going to vote. And its not that clear. The opposition pan Democratic Alliance are very clear that public sentiment over the protests will play into their favour. People are very angry with where the government has handled the protest and that will be reflected the vote. They have been controlled by probation parties for the last 20 years. They dominate the local council seen. We have seen rising levels of violence and disruption to peoples lives, destruction of property in what was an orderly city before. In the pro government side, they are hoping that as these protest go on, people are getting tired of them and worried about what will happen to hong kong, and that will persuade people, even if they are uneasy about the governments performance, stick with the government side. The actual result will be seen as an important barometer of where the government stands. And if the government stands. And if the government loses badly in these elections there will be a great deal of pressure on chief executive carrie lam, press on her to change the very rigid approach she has taken so far to these protest. Interesting. Jonathan, the authorities their warning that if there is disruption, if there is trouble at polling stations, we will call off the vote. Any sign of anything like that at this stage was yellow not at this stage 7. Anything like that at this stage was yellow not at this stage . Not at this stage. Nothing we have seen in the past 2a hours or so suggest that this will be anything other than an ordinary election. It is in the interests of the opponents of the interests of the opponents of the government to make sure it is going smoothly. All that terrible violence and confrontation we saw only a week ago, theres no sign of it at all. The University Campus which was under siege still has a small number of protesters holed up. It is still ringed by police. Very quiet. Increasing numbers have left. We think there are very few left there. The warning stands, of course, as it would in any country, if there was significant disruption. I know that some candidates have found it very difficult campaigning because of the polarisation of hong kongs society and a lot of anger, and there have been attacks on candidates in recent weeks, quite nasty physical attacks, that has to some degree inhibited some campaigning. But nothing we have heard of so far that would justify shutting down these polls. From what we can see at the moment it all looks as though it will go ahead smoothly. A fascinating voter taking place right now. Jonathan, you very much. Jonathan head in hong kong. President trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani says hes not concerned about being indicted for crimes now being investigated by the impeachment inquiry. This is after the Us State Department released records relating to the trump administrations dealings with ukraine which show repeated contacts between secretary of state mike pompeo and mrgiuliani. Heres Chris Buckler in washington with the latest developments. During the impeachment enquiry Rudy Giulianis name was mentioned a lot. He has been accused of smearing people and of trying to push ukraine into lodging these politically partisan investigations into Donald Trumps rivals. Well, he has come out fighting. And in a pretty angry interview with fox news mr giuliani has defended himself against any wrongdoing. Are you afraid, mr mamma, that you could be indicted . 0h mamma, that you could be indicted . Oh well. How long have you known me . I have no new several years. Oh well. How long have you known me . I have no new severalyears. Do you think they afraid . I dont know. Aid to the right thing. They represent my client in a very, very fair way. He is investigated because investigated because of his links to two soviet born businessman who are currently facing Campaign Finance charges are completely wrong. He is attacked some democrats, particularly signalling out joe biden, two, of course, was one of the people he wanted to see ukraine investigate. He actually made these unsubstantiated allegations that esther biden was involved in some kind of corruption, was, of course, mr biden denies. He also indicated that the president , in his words, would not throw him under the bus during the investigations that are taking place. But he also said, perhaps pretty intriguingly, that he had insurance to ensure they did not happen. I have seen things written like he is going to throw me under the bus. When icy things like that, he wont, but they have insurance when icy. We are very good friends. He knows what i did was in order to defend him. He has also been mentioned in documents that have been released over the last 2a hours. They have been released by the Us State Department after a freedom of information request from an Ethics Watchdog Group called american 0versight. And in those documents it seems very clear that there was contact and conversations between Rudy Giuliani and the us secretary of state, mike pompeo, at the time he was pushing for ukraine to launch these investigations. Now, up to launch these investigations. Now, up to this point mike pompeo has tried to stay out of this whole impeachment hearing process that has been taking place. But Rudy Giulianis contact with him might just drag him into that Chris Buckler there without round up from 0ssington. Washington. The us Vice President , mike pence, has made an unannounced visit to iraq, to try to reassure kurdish leaders of americas continued support. He flew into irbil in kurdistan in the north of the country. You may remember us troops withdrew from kurdish areas in neighbouring syria last month. That withdrawal was criticised by syrian kurds who say it was a betrayal. After the us military left, turkey moved into the border area around tal abyad and other kurdish controlled towns. Heres what mr pence had to say. I dont think there was any confusion now among the leadership here in the kurdish region that president trumps commitment to our allies here in iraq as well as to those in the Syrian Defence forces, the Kurdish Forces who fought alongside us, is unchanging. Issam ikirmawi from bbc arabic told me whether the kurds in iraq were reassured by what mike pence had to say. I think the whole point of the visit is to send a message to the kurds that their interests in Northern Iraq will be taken care of, following criticism of the United States decision to withdraw its support to the kurds in syria. Although the kurds in iraq have got different interests, however, there are some sympathy with the kurds in syria. Should he not have visited the kurds in syria . Theyre the people feeling that the us withdrawal betrayed them, and yet he hasnt gone and said anything to them directly . Well, its not safe for him to go to syria. You know, that part of syria, eastern syria, youve got the turks there, youve got some of the militias, youve got remnants of isis, youve got the russians, so i presume the assessment was it was not safe for him to go there. Plus the americans have made their position clear vis a vis the kurds in syria and probably felt there was nothing for them to do there now. So, what support do the kurds in iraq want from the us . Well, the kurds in iraq have been autonomous since 1990, following the ousting of Saddam Hussein from kuwait. If you remember, there was a no fly zone in Northern Iraq and the kurds took advantage of that situation and managed to establish themselves as an autonomous region from the Central Government in baghdad. During this time, we are talking about a period of almost 20 years, 30 years, even. The kurds they have managed to establish themselves, theyve also got relations going on with the outside world, including the United States, turkey, and other countries. So, the message is that america will take their interests into account. Ok, lets move on now with the other big, big story happening right now in the country, of course, these protests, Anti Government protests. People have been killed, did mike pence did have anything to say on that . Well, according to american sources, he had phone conversation with the Prime Minister of iraq and he expressed concern about the rising number of casualties. So far, 325 people have been killed since october, almost 15,000 others have been injured. So, apparently, americans have expressed concern about that. Also, he expressed concern about increasing iranian influence in iraq. And just on the protests, it is a hugely serious situation, it seems there is no sign of it dying down, what is the endgame that the protesters are after here . Well, the protesters have been out in the streets for a very long time now, six or seven weeks, so they are not going to back down. They are saying that unless their demands are met, they want the government to resign, they want a new constitution, a new election, a new electoral law. So, all sorts of things have to come into play for them. They have rejected any offer of a truce with the government. They are determined to stay out and about, not only in baghdad but also in other parts of iraq. That was the latest from iraq. Thousands of people have marched in paris and nearly 70 cities across france to condemn violence against women. The marches come at the end of nearly three months of consultations with the government which campaigners hope will produce a set of measures against domestic violence. More than 100 women are believed to have been killed by their spouses in france so far this year. Those protesting say they want to have their voices heard. Translation the government must do something to help us. We get punched, we get humiliated, insulted, raped, he had, and this must stop. The government must really listen to us. The police must. The courts must listen to us, because we are hardly heard. Ronan tesoriere is a reporter at the french newspaper le parisien and he was at the march in paris today. The French Society needs some changes about this issue, this social issue. 130 inch seven women have died this year, since the beginning of the year 130 inch seven. The march was the symbol of the awareness of the french population. And politics, especially oui population. And politics, especially our government, has to be aware of it now. And what response than from the government are you expecting now . We are expecting, there is already a response in our newspaper tomorrow, a tribute from the minister of interior, the minister ofjustice, and the minister of equality between men and women, and they are giving us some solutions that they think will help to fight against violence against. For example, new solutions to the welcoming of women victims of violence in france by the police and the justice. We wait to see what measures are implemented there in france. Stay with us on bbc world news. Still to come jubilation in rio as flamengo win the Copa Libertadores beating river plate, in lima. President kennedy was shot down and died almost immediately. The murder ofjohn kennedy is a disaster for the whole free world. He caught the imagination of the world, the first of a new generation of leaders. Margaret thatcher is resigning as leader of the conservative party and Prime Minister. Before leaving number 10 to see the queen, she told her cabinet, its a funny old world. Angela merkel is germanys first woman chancellor, easily securing the majority she needed. Attempts to fly a hot air balloon had to be abandoned after a few minutes, but nobody seemed to mind very much. As one local comic put it, its not hot air we need, its hard cash. Cuba has declared nine days of mourning following the death of fidel castro at the age of 90. Castro developed close ties with the soviet union in the 1960s. It was an alliance that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war with the cuban missile crisis. This is bbc news. Im Lewis Vaughan jones. The latest headlines voting is under way in hong kong local elections, which are being seen as a referendum on the citys responseto the protest movement. President trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has said he doesnt fear being indicted after impeachment hearings placed him at the centre of efforts to pressure ukraine. To latin america, where the colombian president ivan duque says he will launch what he calls a National Conversation in response to a wave of deadly Anti Government protests. Demonstrators are angry at planned austerity measures and a renewed upsurge in violence. Janey mitchell reports cu rfew, curfew, columbia style. Protesters simply defied it with a noisy picket of president duque. Translation i am of president duque. Translation iam here of president duque. Translation i am here for the same reason all colombians idea, we are tired of mrjaney mitchell, we are tired of mrjaney mitchell, we are tired of mr rebate, they are a pair of liars. The notes i am curfew in the gutter followed classes on friday with billy is dispersing protesters with tear gas amid reports of looting in the south of the city. Hundreds of people, including police officers, were injured. Reworking as protests turned ugly elsewhere in colombia thus smacked three were killed. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets to express fury over rumours to changes of the midget minimal wage, pension and government. They also say they are frustrated with the lack of action to an corruption in the murder of human rights activists. They accuse the government of failing to honour its peace deal with farc rebels. President duque said he would aim to reduce the gap between rich and poon translation i will alliance a National Conversation to strengthen the National Policy agenda, working ina united the National Policy agenda, working in a united way on a medium and long term vision to allows to close gaps in society. Little sign so far of demonstrators being placated as a wave of social unrest sweeps latin america. Janey mitchell, bbc news. In lebanon, widespread protests against corruption, the ruling political classes and the state of the country show no signs of going away. A number of lebanese expats organised a symbolic return to take part of the planned Independence Day demonstrations this weekend. I now have my boarding pass, getting to levin on right now. I cant wait. Levin to levin on right now. I cant wait. Levin to levin on right now. I cant wait. Levin lebanon. Im from france. Ijust came here for this manifestation and im going back on sunday. I arrived, i am so excited. My my name is christopher, im 23 years old. I work here in london as an engineer. I left lebanon after graduating because i needed to find a job graduating because i needed to find ajob in graduating because i needed to find a job in what i do when you cant find this in lebanon. I got to the stage where the situation in the country is so bad. I still have the dream that one day i will go back and have a family there, and have my job there. Ive decided that now i really need to get back for Independence Day and all the expats need to go back and so that we are basically supporting lebanon, all the lebanese citizens. When i landed, it was still in the morning but i can feel the vibe of the revolution. My parents are somewhere. That is what i am hoping for, free education, basic rights. Proper healthcare. I feel like this education, basic rights. Proper healthcare. Ifeel like this is going to last for a while, because we have a very stubborn government and president not willing to take any action. What i hope, honestly, is having a clean country. The middle east has a reputation of violence. Right now were showing the world how to do it, actually. Sport now and we start with football, it was a thrillling final in the Copa Libertadores in lima. Flamengo won the most Prestigious Club competition in south america, beating defending champions river plate 2 1. The brazillian soccer club scored two goals in the last three minutes. And this was the scene in Rio De Janeiro when the whistle blew full time, flamengo fans had gathered at the maracana stadium to watch the final on large outdoor screens. Congratulations to them. Many european museums have traditionally argued that political instability and poor storage conditions mean african artefacts are safer on foreign shores. But a new museum in the democratic republic of congo is fuelling the debate on whether former colonial powers should return items taken from the countries they used to occupy. 0livia crellin has more. Cutting the ribbon on kinshasas new national museum, president tshisekedi brought his country one step closer to reclaiming their past. The museums first visitors got to see some of the more than 12,000 funeral statuettes, wooden masks and initiation artefacts that will be on display in the two storey building. It is an enviable collection of historic items by anyones standard, but even more special for being found in their country of origin. The housing of the countrys heritage on this new site sends a strong signal to belgium, its former colonial power. Translation it is right for brussels to give back these works of art because these works dont have the same significance for them. Its notjust a geographic move, its a cultural move, its about immersing them back in the culture of the people. It is contentious but i think that government will take the necessary measures for us to recuperate most of our works of art that are in europe. Thousands of precious items are still held in belgium with the largest collection found in the royal museum for Central Africa in tervuren, which is in talks with the congolese authorities about restitution. Translation it is one thing to demand the artefacts and another thing to conserve them as well. So the idea is there but it needs to be done progressively. It is the congolese heritage so one day it will have to come back but we must do it in an organised manner. The new building funded by the south Korean International Cooperation Agency took three years to construct. Experts worry that the conditions of the previous museum meant that a return of the historic treasures to their country of origin would put them at risk. Its a concern the congolese authorities hope will now be dismissed, with a new Museum Opening up a way for the countrys past to return. 0livia crellin, bbc news. Staying on the theme of ancient a rtefa cts. Mummified lion cubs and meerkats are thought to be among a trove of artefacts uncovered at an ancient egyptian necropolis. Egypts antiquities authorities carried out ct scans of some of the largest mummified animals. You can reach me on twitter im lvaughanjones. Hello. Theres been more rain today on already saturated ground. And while tomorrow is looking drier, there is still some rain briefly, there is still some rain we have a weak ridge of high briefly, we have a weak ridge of High Pressure extending across the uk, still some rain to talk about it first on sunday, particularly for eastern scotland, still on the heavy side. Slowly that heavy rain pushes its way across northern scotland and manages to become confined to the Northern Isles the other day. Quite wet and windy here. But elsewhere, turning dry across scotland, largely jokers northern ireland, england under, but with a lot of cloud and some mist and patchy fog throughout the morning that will be slow to clear. Poor visibility in places, so any brightness really at a premium on sunday. But away from the Northern Isles it is mainly dry and mild, 9 12 celsius is the top team project. Then our attention turns to the south west. Not getting much further north and eastwards, quite a wet start of the week across South West England and. Mainly dry and mild across South West England and wales. This is the set up england and wales. This is the set up as we england and wales. This is the set up as we go england and wales. This is the set up as we go into monday, the area of low pressure, frontal systems pushing their way north and eastwards. It looks like the heaviest of the rain on monday is probably going to be across england and as it tracks its way north and eastwards throughout the day it sta rts eastwards throughout the day it starts to become part year but there will be some outbreaks of rain in northern ireland, a bit in Northern England for a time in southern scotland, northern lynn mainly escaping, probably dry. Some sunshine behind the rain and also a few showers, but it is a mild day, 9 13 few showers, but it is a mild day, 9 13 celsius. Now, one area of low pressure pulls away into the north sea, here is our next one arriving as we going into tuesday. This has the remnants of what was Tropical Storm sebastian. Keep an eye on the forecast over the next 24 48 hours. Strong winds across wales and South West England, some spells of sunshine following on behind the rain, but also some heavy showers. So, all in all a really unsettled and quite windy day on tuesday. Still mild, 10 13 celsius. Bear in mind there are some warnings in place for the rain on monday and tuesday. All the details on the website. It looks like is the week goes on things eventually do turn drier but also colder again. Bye bye. This is bbc news. The headlines people in hong kong are voting in local elections for the First Time Since pro democracy protests began. Activists hoping to make gains have encouraged voters to turn out in large numbers, but the authorities have warned the elections will be suspended, if there is serious disruption. President trumps lawyer and close ally, Rudy Giuliani, has said hes not afraid of being indicted in connection with the impeachment inquiry. He told fox news that his aim was solely to protect mr trump from what he called a conspiracy. Protests have been held in cities across france, against the high rate of murders of women by partners. Some french groups say at least 115 women have been killed this year alone, and accuse the authorities of turning a blind eye to the problem