A new poll and weeks of unrest that has left dozens dead. And activists in paris demand the government do more to combat a wave of deadly Domestic Abuse number of women children france by their partners has now reached alarming levels. Im nick spicer welcome to the program we start in hong kong where record numbers of people are voting in municipal elections the vote is seen as both a test of kerry labs probate government and as a referendum on the prodemocracy movement that has rocked the city for months. Hong kong is a used to queuing for restaurants conventions but not for an election especially not on a sunday morning and even before the polling stations open. Moments after the queues started to form came a familiar face prodemocracy leader aung he himself was spot from running this for a house where your action is that you action in more coverage based on more district constitution issue is that overall hong kong political system reform but i still urge people both in action to show i want this called head to beijing. Many voters see these local elections as a referendum on whether the public still supports the protests hong kong has been rocked by almost 6 months of unrest some of it violent but calm returned in the run up to the election protests his feet the government my call of the vote. We are facing an extremely challenging situation in all the nice thing this years elections but im pleased to say that with the concerted efforts of all parties including of course over 30000 Civil Servants in many departments working today we should have a relatively peaceful and calm and vironment to conduct these elections successfully for now peace has temporarily returned to the city but this could change depending on the results on this im joined by our correspondent on the ground Charlotte Charles until. Youre at a polling station tell us what the scene is like where you are out. Well usually nic District Council elections dont attract a huge amount of fanfare but im sure you can tell from whats going on just behind me this year is very different there are huge queues snaking along this path just behind me with voters hoping to cause that ballots in this vote which is seen by so many as a litmus test of the popularity of authorities here and of the prodemocracy movement the unrest thats been raging for almost 6 months now now weve just heard that by lunchtime the voter turnout has exceeded the total play to turn out the last 6 straight Council Elections in 2015 now its possible that there has been an early search people concerned that the violence of or clashes could stop them causing that ballots but this really is a significant sign of just how many people have been compelled to cast their ballots today on this referendum if you like on this protest movement and. What is at stake here is somalia clearly pure legislative terms. For both sides the prodemocracy camp and the pro stablish macam this is about sending a message now it has to be pointed out the pro standish macam dominates currently the District Council at the moment so theyre on the defensive they want to show that they can maintain that strength of support Going Forward and that there is still support for storage fees here in hong kong they want to defend their seats on the other side the pro democracy camp they want to show a certain support they know that theyre not going to dominate the District Council votes in the same way that the pros tabish mccann has but they do want to show surge and support proof for proof that theyre pro democracy cause these protests are legitimate it legitimizes them on a more practical level these votes do have a scent degree of significance as well thats because sticks District Council is will be awarded seat in. Legislative council that century hong kongs parliament and a number of District Councils will then be put on the body the committee that appoints the chief executive Going Forward so if you speak to prodemocracy candidates here theyll tell you that any gains that they may make will be a more significant step to shaping the future in hong kong the youve been covering the protests and often the violence for weeks and months now do you get a sense that there might be more of that today. With the weeks ahead of this they have been marred by some of the worst violence that weve seen over the last 6 months the days ahead of this vote they have been theres been an easy calm have been hearing on prodemocracy groups and speaking to people who have been saying they want to try and keep this is calm as possible so as not to give authorities an excuse to call off the election they have been threatening to cancel all suspended if violent clashes continued here saying that they simply wouldnt be able to hold the vote as it stands it is extremely peaceful here so far but of course it is carefully guarded by police for the 1st time riot police are gone to all of the polling stations here to ward off any kind of unrest ok diffuse Charlotte Chelsea until reporting from hong kong on this whole vote there. Now to some of the other stories making news around the World Security forces in the southern iraqi city of nasiriya have opened fire on protesters killing at least 3 people the demonstrators have gathered on 3 key bridges in the city demanding the overthrow of a Political Class they see as a corrupt and serving foreign powers while many iraqis live in poverty. Pope francis has called upon World Leaders to scrap their Nuclear Arsenals the pontiff made an appeal during a visit to one of 2 japanese cities devastated by American Nuclear bombs in attacks that brought the 2nd world war to an end. Lawmakers in bolivia have passed a law that paves the way for new elections without expresident. Once formally approved the bill will cancel the results of a disputed poll last month that vote saumarez win an unprecedented 4th term but then resigned after facing pressure from the military dozens of people have since died in clashes finally after weeks of waiting and hours of standing in line natural gas a lifeline for people whove been reduced to using whatever fuel they can find. It is the as it was with been coming here for 3 days and for nothing but now we were still would guess we have very happy. The barricades that blocked this gas facility were put up by expresident a full moraless supporters a way to put pressure on the caretaker government it rules with the support of the military the moraless movement for Socialism Party controls both houses of parliament. Negotiators from the United Nations and the European Union helped craft a law allowing new elections. She can do that without a doubt this is the 1st step for bolivia to change course and to return to democracy to hold credible transparent free and Inclusive Elections a soonest possible. However selfproclaimed interim president janine anya has rejected lawmakers attempts to give morales amnesty her government has accused him of sedition after he urged his supporters to keep up blockades. We have categorically affirmed that my government will not persecute any politico. Union all civically. At the same time we have that he or she who has not respected the neural who has committed crimes will not have amnesty of any kind. Some of his supporters are still fighting running battles with the army 8 soldiers were taken hostage briefly on saturday as they were guarding a caravan of dump trucks in a country where mistrust still runs high. Polls have opened in a president ial election in the west african nation of guineabissau after weeks of violent protests many hope the vote will be a step toward stabilizing the country more than 760000 voters have registered to take part in todays all which is being contested by 12 candidates all men if there is still much uncertainty surrounding the election in a bazaar has suffered 9 coups or attempted coups since independence from portugal in 1904. Once the capital decided to find out what life is like for ordinary people in one of the poorest nations on earth. Schools out for another day in the capital it can be found in west africa. Its fun and games for now. But many of these children move face a difficult. They live in one of the poorest and most volatile countries on the planet. As youth activists sacred to watch in yog explains there are few jobs and virtually no industry. And theres been no stable government for decades only what you wish. For the country is still under construction. There have been cyclical crises since the 1980 s. People have little hopes. For life here in Guinea Bissau out is about survival. Every person here is just trying to survive ive read it. Rains here. But many live from hand to mouth selling things on the street to make ends meet existing on less than a dollar a day. The civil war ended here more than 2 decades ago. But since then Guinea Bissau now has lurched from crisis to crisis as a small political elite compete for power and limited resources. One person desperate for change is tailor. He accuses politicians of aligning their own pockets. Rather than trying to improve the lives of ordinary people. All support Small Businesses such as his tailor shop he says the government often fails to pay peoples wages for months on end. Meaning his customers are not always able to buy new clothes and. The government collects fees and taxes but do absolutely nothing they do nothing to help us there should be support for Small Businesses and more commerce. For the barely 2000000 people who live in guinea to south the lack of Economic Opportunity has led to widespread poverty most people are frustrated with the simple inability to move forward with their lives the road to a better country may be bumpy but activists nuada believes there is a way for weight. That we young people are trying to contribute toward securing a different future. But im going to work hard every single day to help my family and to help young people. And my country to help it achieve the prosperity that each and every one of us wants to achieve. With nearly 2 thirds of the population under the age of 25. 00 hope could lie with the next generation. Activists in paris are demanding the french government take stronger steps to combat deadly Domestic Violence was more than 130. 00 women killed so far this year by their partner france has one of the highest rates of Domestic Violence fatalities in western europe. Was put pressure on politics and solidarity with the women there loud and determined to be heard houses of demonstrators gathered in paris to vent their anger france has been discussing the issue of violence against women for months. So thats what gets her ministers we fight for all the women everyone knows at least one person who is affected but. Were going to just think actually shes here when i am here in memory of my mother who was murdered before my eyes in 1982 when i was 1300 that doesnt appreciate in march our daughter was murdered on corsica by her ex partner was one. Of 121. 00 women were killed in france last year alone by their partner or their ex partner according to the ministry of the interior. Worldwide the u. N. Says that 137 women a murdered every day peace activists are calling for an end to violence against women demanding decisive political action. On the top we demand a rethink in politics as part of the fight against this violence the moment the government must put more money on the table to end sexist and Sexual Violence if you will not be active you know 66 years and their demands are specific better policing judicial protection harsher penalties and an additional 1000000000 euros for assistance and violence prevention. Coming up next shifts living in the digital age looks at how data brokers use your personal information you know we find out more news and headlines 247 on our website dot com up next bicester watch. Is known as the managers do no good today nothing would change you know the banks. And so whats the language of a bank money. For speaking the truth global news that matters g. W. Made for mines. Their wealth isnt calculable. Their egos insatiable. 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