Transcripts For DW DW News 20240713

Countrys 1st female Prime Minister the early could at chiller in a runoff election. Im headed home for a black you could join me we start in hong kong where record numbers of people are voting in municipal elections the vote is seen as both a test of carried out as pro beijing government and as a referendum on the prodemocracy movement that has rocks the city for months now. On conus are 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. Spot from running district house or your action is that you action in more coverage based on more district constitution issue is that of 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 to 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 organizing 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 subsets the need for now peace has temporarily returned to the city but this to change depending on the results. And for more im joined now by our correspondent on the ground shot it Chelsea Health good to see you charlotte record turnout already what is the latest where you are. Yes this has already been a record breaking District Council election here by lunchtime the number of people who had cast their ballots already surpassed the total number of people who voted in these District Council elections last time around in 2015 now weve been at this particular polling station most of the day today helen aaron throughout the day weve seen long queues gathered behind me people waiting to cast their ballots its quiet down a little bit now but there has still been a steady stream of people coming and going they tell us that they think its their duty as hong kong citizens to cost their vote this after all as youve said is being considered as a litmus test referendum on almost 6 months of unrest here on hong kong both on the prodemocracy movement which is becoming increasingly violent in recent months and on how all stories hes have been handling the unrest here is that that reason that so many people are coming out on to the polls out to the polls they tell us today to cast their votes in what would usually be a fairly low key election these District Councillors who being elected here today dont have a huge amount of power they mainly focus on local issues today though this vote has become very much about the politics here in hong kong rather than those Community Issues as you point out charlotte were talking about local elections that clearly hong kong has a just not wasting an opportunity to exercise democracy so whats at stake here. You know this is the 1st time that people here in hong kong have had the chance to cost their vote since this unrest began back in june for the prodemocracy movement this is a chance for them to take their battle to the ballot box there really will be a sense here from the results that were expecting tonight of how much support there remains for this prodemocracy movement support which she would often see out on the streets a lot of people now avoiding the front lines of these protests as the clashes become increasingly violent now what has to be pointed out here is that the pro stoppers from an parties dominating the District Councils here in hong kong at the moment said they are very much on the defensive they dont want to see huge losses that would be slight for them and the authorities here in hong kong the prodemocracy movement that theyre part prodemocracy of parties arent expecting to make Massive Gains here but any gains that they make will be a signal a sign if you like that there is still broad support here in hong kong for this prodemocracy movement now headed on a more practical level these pro democracy these District Council elections do play a role as well in shaping hong kongs political future albeit slightly a relatively small one for example 6 of these District Councils will automatically get a seat on the Legislative Council thats hong kongs parliament and some say more importantly a dozens of District Councillors will then be part of the committee that will in future select the next chief executive of hong kong so as a pro democracy candidate here they will see any gains that they make in this vote today is a step in the right direction for you know what theyre aiming for here in hong kong our correspondent in hong kong for us thank you charlotte. Well for him a vote is are costing ballots in the 2nd round of president ial elections but they doing so in a climate of political instability and public anger allegations of corruption that have sparked huge street protest as well lurches will be deciding between the incumbent president hu a Prime Minister the already cadential or his government was recent the ousted because of alleged corruption and whoever wins will have no executive power but could have a significant influence over the future direction of the country. A proud romanian staunchly pro europe and a level headed champion of the rule of law. Thats the carefully crafted image of romanias incumbent president Klaus Yohannes hes been in office since 2014 and secured 40 percent of votes in the 1st round of the 29000 president ial election. Im going to wear a little boy in shiny black i have always believed in romanians this is a great joy for democracy. This 60 year old member of the centrist National Liberal party has also presented himself as a vocal critic of corruption the various she that brought his political opponent to her knees. Former Prime Minister have your ticket done sheila and a social democratic government ousted by Parliament Last month following an era of corruption scandals that steered the country onto a collision course with the european union. But done she is hoping for political resurrection shes tried to shift the focus on to economic achievements and social reform. Many of well being of guaranteed rights for a safe and proud romania i voted so romanians dont live in fear of tomorrow when they wont have anything to put on the table and wont have money for medicine or bills i voted against the cutting of the pensions and salaries i voted against austerity. Richard rounds and i was in a country struggling with widespread poverty these are words that could go down well but political observers say the duchess party just doesnt managing to shake claims of corruption the issue that voters of all political persuasions are fed up with. In the past 3 years romania has seen massive anticorruption protests. The weather wins the president ial run a fight will face close scrutiny by voters and the. Now some of the other stories making news around the World Security forces in the southern iraqi city of nasiriyah have opened fall protesters killing at least 3 people the demonstrators had gathered on the 3 key bridges in the city demanding the overthrow of a Political Class seen as corrupt and serving foreign powers while many iraqis live in poverty. Contenders in israels governing like good party are just playing for position after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges former minister gideon starr has called for a Party Primaries saying he would run but israeli nor does not require netanyahu to step down unless he is convicted in. Voting is underway in a president ial election in the west african country of did this now after weeks of violent protest as many hope that the vote will be a step towards stabilizing the country can best sellers suffered 9 coups or attempted coups since independence from portugal in 1974. And west in kenya at least 34 people have been killed in flooding caused by heavy rains most of the deaths occurred when homes what swept away by mudslides the rains are battering parts of towns near as well where 10 people have drowned in a swollen river. Well pope francis has called upon while the latest to scrap Nuclear Weapons the pontiff made the appeal during a visit to japan the only country to south the nuclear attacks. Huge crowds turned out and braved the rain to catch a glimpse of the pope its the 1st people visit to japan for nearly 4 decades and not exactly the pontiff laid a wreath at a growing sea room oriel for the 10s of thousands of people including 8000. 00 catholics who perished in an atomic bombing in the final days of world war 2. Francis told the crowds that he believes a World Without Nuclear Weapons is both possible and necessary and the money spent on them could be put to better use. You know give me children who need it into a days world where millions of children and families live in inhumane conditions. The money that is squandered and the fortunes of my. Age through the manufacture grading maintenance and sale of even more destructive weapons they are now from crying out to heaven nothing of the good nor. Did. The pontiff is also visiting her russia the site of the 1st atomic bombing in 1945 on monday pope francis will meet survivors of the 20 live in Fukushima Nuclear disaster hell also meet japans Prime Minister shinzo abbey and emperor nutter hito and he will be hoping that they and other Global Leaders key to his calls for a nuclear free world. Well to discuss the popes visit im joined by our religious Affairs Correspondent martin get good to see you martin now this is the 1st papal visit to japan in the ca years was it 6 new significance for japans christians well at a time in which got the community of japanese contracting i mean over a 30 year period there was about a 10 percent contraction that is to say 500002 about 450. 00 it is truly representative of whats going to ron going on with the conflict church pretty much where its a world where you know the police are empty now and so i think that in that sense sort of the significant to think that the main point is that. The pope is talking from japan and you need to cut the legs and entire region and very likely you just chinese christians are paying close attention because i could use a way for the vatican to project power thats about to and is about to see that its been very much interested in questions of Global Policy and this is one of the way in which actually presents itself. In that context is that this question Nuclear Proliferation also becomes important towards now ahead of the popes visit the Catholic Church in tokyo actually criticized Japanese Culture for being too materialistic what do you think it was getting us specifically this is been pretty much a position of this pope since day one would you. That there is an e sure of mother and canons of values things that have to do with consumption would competitiveness or competition actually. In japan you see in this sort of a linchpin so say or its in a sort of an example of precisely that kind of economics and that kind of construction of contemporary society which in the eyes of the church sort of moves away from ideas of spiritual growth and importance of the core of christian values. And it moves to questions of you know fulfilling or satisfying needs that are much more material i think that this is an opportunity and sensually to bring the message out that this is something that was really much more street and when it was actually in the very same callers or the same tones in the us which is much more of an example of this kind of economics or of this kind of body all right already just as correspondent thank you very much youre welcome feeling out of this. Well you are watching it d. W. News live from berlin up next weve got wild stories that we can report looking at how hong kongs on arrests is spreading into tourist areas for more news remember you can always visit our website that is d w dot com im headed out trimble and then ill have more news at the top of the hour thanks to a company and see. Every journey begins with the 1st step and every language with the 1st word published in the. Rico is in germany to learn german why not with him simple online on your mobile and free from the d w z e learning course nikos fake german made easy. To show hello halflings this is your new balls speaking welcome to the show with the ding dong. Concerts