polls have closed in mexico, in the biggest and deadliest election in the country s history. more than 21,000 seats are being contested for mayors, state legislators and the entire lower house of congress, where the morena party of president andres manuel lopez 0brador is hoping to retain its two thirds majority. we re expecting initial results in around two hours from now. but the vote has been marred by some of the worst violence in mexico s history. 89 assassinations of politicians recorded from september to the end of may, 35 of them were due to be standing for election. 0ur correspondent will grant is in mexico city for us and says the violence also reached some polling stations. although it wasn t a tax with necessarily with guns, with saw videos of polling stations being attacked by unknown activists from one side or the other, voting being shut down in oaxaca at one point, so sporadic elements of electoral intimidation or violence but by and large this has been an ele
hello, thanks for joining hello, thanks forjoining us. votes are being counted in mexico after midterm elections seen as a test of support for president andres manuel lopez obrador. he s hoping his party will retain its two thirds majority in congress to continue his programme of social and institutional reforms. mexicans were also electing local mayors and half the state governors. our correspondent will grant is in mexico city for us and says the violence also reached some polling stations. although it wasn t attacks with necessarily with guns, with saw videos of polling stations being attacked by unknown activists from one side or the other, voting being shut down in oaxaca at one point, at one polling station there, so sporadic elements of electoral intimidation or violence. but by and large, this has been an election day that has passed off peacefully and most voters sort of turned out because they were angry about a variety of things or very much behind president manu
they ll try again on sunday. the lights on famous buildings around the world are switched off for an hour as part of a campaign against climate change. hello and welcome if you re watching in the uk or around the world. the united nations has led international condemnation of myanmar s military rulers over the killing of dozens of pro democracy protesters. the us secretary of state antony blinken said washingon was horrified by what he called the reign of terror . there were similar statements from britain and the european union. but in a sign of how difficult it will be to agree international action its emerged delegations from china and russia were among those attending a military parade. our correspondent in bangkok, laura bicker, is following developments. she said the likelihood of un sanctions is slim due to the security council vetos held by russia and china. when it comes to any kind of action from the united nations within the security council, it is worth notin
report from japan. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it s newsday. we begin in greece, where pope francis has criticised what he says is the narrow self interest of european countries in the way they are responding to the migrant crisis. he spent time at a refugee camp on the greek island of lesbos. his verdict on the way people there are being treated it could lead to the shipwreck of civilisation. our special correspondent fergal keane travelled with him and sent this report. they embrace the man and the message because, at this moment, he is their most passionate advocate. pope francis arrives at the time of renewed political crisis in europe over the issue of migration. since his last visit, fences have gone up, there have been pushed back of migrants in land and at sea and globally there s no coherent political vision to tackle the problems of poverty and war that are driving people from their homes in their thousands. the pope spoke to an audience l