The globe have plunged by more than half in just 40 years. The stark new figures from the World Wildlife fund. Hello, and welcome. The chief executive of hong kong says china will not back down in the face of prodemocracy demonstrations in the city. In the last few hours, he called for an end to the protests. These are pictures of the huge numbers bringing the territory to a halt. They see him as very much the mouthpiece of china. Theyre demanding the Chinese Government gives hong kong a free vote for its next leader, something beijing has, of course, rejected. Lets hear just what the chief executive had to say. Translator the leaders of the occupy Central Movement have repeatedly stated that if the protests go extensively out of control, they will call off the protests. I now appeal to the leaders to carry out the promise they made to the whole society. That is, call off the protests immediately. The decision made by the Central Committee of the Chinese National parliament means that
The hunt for more than 30 missing hikers a suspended. Plus on the program, aaron joins us looking at the market and business reaction to those protests in hong kong, aaron. It has the sixthlargest stock market in the world, the second largest in asia and certainly one of the biggest hubs for foreign exchange. So far these protests have shut down banks and the hong kong stock market has fallen. So were going to take a look at how this city can keep its status as one of the top Global Financial centers. Its midday here in london, 7 00 a. M. In washington, and 7 00 p. M. In hong kong, where prodemocracy protesters are digging their heels in and refusing to be moved. Theyre rallying against plans by beijing to vet candidates for hong kongs 2017 leadership elections. Thousands now are fanned out across the city, choking the streets and shutting down crucial business hubs. We understand about 3,000 people have blocked a major road as a thousand people faced off against police in the busy sho
Checked and rolled back, and thats what were determined to do. The british Prime Minister pays a surprise visit to afghanistan to bolster the new leadership. President ashraf ghani thanked the contribution from british troops. Your presence here has meant that london has been safe, as well as the rest of the world. Also, what does faith mean to families in these modern times . We meet a catholic family in the philippines. Hello, thanks for joining us. Student leaders at the forefront of the prodemocracy protests in hong kong have told the bbc that talks with the government will not be beginning at any stage on friday. The demonstrations go on, despite that offer of talks, over demands for electoral reform. We can give you the scene live in the city center. Clearly, the numbers of protesters have dwindled, but security is still pretty tight. The mood pretty tense. Some angry confrontations between occupy central protesters and progovernment groups. Roads have been blocked here for some
Idea of the peace plan was finally supported by all heads of states without exception. Translator russia will do everything it can for the peace process, if it starts, and we think the process needs to be started as soon as possible. And later on, how californians are digging deep for water during the worst drought in the century. Hello there. Thanks for joining us. Afghanistans disputed president ial election is on a knifes edge today after one of the candidates withdrew from a protest to double check all the votes. Abdullah abdullah pulled out after his Senior Campaign official dismissed the process as a joke. Both candidates claim to have won the election. This audit is part of the u. N. Brokered deal to decide a winner and bring stability to the country. Earlier, i spoke to our correspondent david loin from the Afghan Capital kabul. He tells me the recount appears to have been abandoned and is at a standstill. Reporter well, the u. N. Said last night they would continue it and put
After so many delays, afghanistan and the u. S. Have just signed a deal that will allow u. S. Troops to stay in the country next year. Will this help repair ties between washington and kabul . And we catch up with our popup bureau in colorado, finding out why every vote matters in the upcoming midterm elections. Also coming up, aaron is here looking at apples tax arrangements with the irish government. The u. S. Tech giant has had its European Base there since 1980, but today the European Commission says apples sweetheart tax arrangement with ireland amounts to an illegal state aid. What does that mean . It could mean apple having to pay millions of dollars in back taxes. Its midday here in london. 7 00 a. M. In washington. And 7 00 p. M. In hong kong, where the chief executive is warning tens of thousands of protesters that beijing does not intend to back down on its plan to vet candidates for the 2017 elections. Look at these remarkable pictures we have just received into the bbc. Th