the businessman stood out documenting in detail his experiences of every day activities on board the space station. i know in the haunting no, he has the 1st japanese civilian to go to space. i'm very proud of him. he's courageous upon him. what? i think he's rich and amazing. normal people can't do that, but he became the 1st japanese to do so. i'm envious. that's my candid opinion and left off. but if you don't have millions to spend on the trip to the moon, when the billionaire hopefully bless off in 2 years time, he's pledged to take 8 people with him for free. all you have to do is apply to stand a chance, sage i said, bake al jazeera is. ah, it says agitated, get around. now the top stories left wing politician gabriel burridge has been elected chili's next president, polish 156 percent of the vote in the run off on sunday. far i candidate jose

antonio cast congratulated borage and urged his supporters to put political differences aside. in little, you know, our government has the conviction to look forward at the challenges that we have before us. it cannot be just changed by talking to the mirror. i'm not yours to only speak to people who think like me to change the way people who think differently. we are here to assure that once and for all the our courses sufficient for all chileans and we can achieve a wonderful life. new 12 people have died with the alma kron variant of corona virus. in the u. k. deputy prime minister dominic rob is refusing to rule out new restrictions ahead of the went to holidays. britain has reported record levels of code 19 cases with officials warning the full effects of the latest wave are yet to be seen. typhoon ryan, the philippines has left more than 200 people, dead dozens more. still missing. military has been flying into remote towns to help

survivors where an urgent need of food and drinking water. widespread flooding in malaysia has killed 3 people. 21000 others have been forced from their home since flooding started on friday. prime minister, a smile summary alcove, says a month's worth of seasonal monsoon. rain fell in a single day. chinese tennis play a punch. why has denied ever accusing a senior government official of sexually assaulting up? the comments were part of a video interview with a singapore a newspaper. but the women's tennis association says he doesn't believe puns. able to communicate without censorship or coercion. hong kong lead a carry lammas. praise the outcome of sundays legislative election despite low turnout, probation candidates swept to victory, winning a seat in every district about 30 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. those are the headlines were back in half an hour. right now. it's inside story on

edge you ah the election to ensure only those who love china run hung comb, prod, you macros. the activists complain that the 1st vote under china as controversial national security law. further it rose freedoms. bay gene argues the outcome will restore stability. so what does it all mean for hong kong future? this is insights laurie. ah, ah,

hello, welcome to the program. i'm hash m abala. it's designed to ensure only watch i noticed wives as patriots take their seats in hong kong parliament. voters in hong kong have cast their ballots in the 1st election since the national security law was imposed by china last year. leaders in badge in and says, just like the security legislation changes of the election system and needed to ensure stability following boss protests, demonstrators marched in their millions to condemn the erosion of democracy, which was guaranteed in the 1997 hand over from british war. so well, the election here, old and new iraq, or is it a recipe for yet more turned on in one of asia landmark cities. we'll discuss all that with our panel in a moment. first, this report from brett planet giant billboards all over hong kong, urging residents to vote in an election designed strictly for chinese patriots. security was tied to hong kong,

held it 1st paul since china's leaders in beijing overhaul. the electoral system. those changes they said were to ensure only those who love china run hong kong. the new rules drastically limit the number of directly elected seats in hong kong, parliament 4 and a half 1000000 hong kong residents are eligible to vote for members of the legislative council. but their ballots will only decide 20 seats out of 19. the rest will be hand picked by pro aging committees. the leadership in beijing says the new rules will clean up what it calls any anti china elements, and bring com to the once lively ledger suggest in the formats for his calling. that was in regulation. that way, if you get it, you'll have to pay the long pick in august. the basic thing, if you don't want, then don't play the game with my pro democracy figures out as of right. the probate politicians are working ahead without an effective opposition. the question is, how many voters turned off by the lack of choice?

this 20 year old student you asked al jazeera to conceal her identity, said the lack of representation meant she won't be voting. the boss and the election and not trustworthy for me now because they can qualify whoever they will dislike and root. can we change every 2nd side also month to what they say for? so actually this is quite huge. there's an meaning that all $153.00 candidates in the selection were selected. priority is they had the concept of patriotism and love for hong kong. what they want is hong kong to be good. early polling data suggested a lower turn out than previous years. but while casting her balance hong kong leda, kerry lam reiterated that the turn out is not her focus. the government not set any target for a voter turnout, right? or not for this election, not for previous elections. because there is

a combination of factors that will affect the voter turnout rate in any collection, but it does appear to be a delicate topic. the hong kong government threatened the wall street journal over one of the newspapers critical editorials in the lead up to the election. and at least 10 people were arrested for inciting others to cast a blank ballot. exiled leaders of the democracy movement called for everyone to boycott. sunday's election. police responded by issuing warrants for their arrest. brit glenette al jazeera hong kong for inside story. let's take a closer look now at how we got to this particular point in 2019 a proposed law, which allowed the extradition of any one in hong kong to may land china's part protests that was later withdrawn. but millions continued to demand for reforms and more freedoms. in november, 2019 pro democracy candidates, one a crushing victory local council elections in a vote that saw record turnout. but last year,

china's leaders voted to impose national security legislation on the territories white to free speech and political descent says then there's been a major crack down with the arrest of many activists who have been jailed or fled overseas. ah, let's bring in, i guess, from london, nathan law, a former politician and hong kong and pro democracy activists in hong kong. tom grundy, editor in chief of hong kong, free press, and from badging. and d mock senior research fellow or the center for china and globalization thinktank. thank you for joining us. let me start with nathan. this is quite a quick moment for both bay gene was. see, this is going to be the way for patrick to take over the destiny of hong kong and for the opposition seems to be very much concerned about the future. how do you see the outcome of this election unfolding?

so for now, the latest figure that we have is 3 hours before the ruling vote. this is only 26.5 percent of the voting rates. if you compared to the 2016 measure of his coffee lesson, which it was 43.6 and 2900. the local district council election, which was $63.00. the difference is drastic. it really shows that people in the law believe in this election and they view really strong. busy to boy quoted because there are just no untrue represented representative for the candidates are being factored by political beliefs and in the name of getting patriot into the election . but actually the government, just erase the force that they don't like tom when you look at the optics of this particular vote, why is it suddenly becoming about voter turnout? a bigger turnout is an indication that people are happy with

a g. a lower turnout is a massive setback for the chinese government. well, certainly the government needs these polls to look credible, and you can see chief executive, carol, i'm just a week or 2 ago trying to get ahead of the situation by saying that a low turner could also mean that people agree with the governments and don't need to go, but you know it's being described as the quiet election. a subdued election. none of the color drama carnival atmosphere. we've seen in previous holes in hong kong that seem across the city today. basically seen a trickle, mostly senior voters cast their ballot during these newly restricted poles. 10000 police officers deployed 9000 anti corruption officers and certainly a recent weeks, it's been a struggle sometimes to understand what candidates policies are. a few don't even appear to have manifesto the learner social media presence. and i think the only drama we've seen is one who tried to campaign for metro station in the constituency

where there's been one for over 3 decades. one candidate, even standing on a platform of no change. so certainly the, the, the results of perhaps already known in terms of their only being probation and pro stablished candidates. but the question really is about the turn at now, which is certainly on track to be the lowest yet. and it is by the massive resources deployed by beijing. there is a general sentiment that the pro establishment candidates claim to win the hearts of minds of many people in hong kong who remain pretty much concerned about what happens next in the, in hong kong. well, i'm not sure i can we agree with these assessments. so i think 1st of all, bonder turn out of the percentage of voter turnout, certainly is a very good statistic, but it's also a bit of a valid metric as well. so of course, if it's a high number, everyone feels good. it provides good talking,

a good talk for the how got but again, i think it's tom, read it to people vote either because they're dissatisfied with the situation and those that both certainly we know a handful east are unhappy with the system as it exists today. but i would say just as many, if not many, many war are mostly satisfied with the direction and are saying, why do i need to vote if i don't feel like there needs to be any major changes. they'll say i would add to, to tom's point is that there are candidates who have very clear positions, for example, calling for an accelerated and greater integration with a greater bay area, allowing for greater talent ability. because we know one of the sources for the protest was the lack of opportunity or the perceived lack of opportunity for young people in hong kong. and that is a problem that needs to be solved. i think some of the people stand for office,

our records have recognized and planned to do some. okay, nathan from 2019 all the way to was this particular vote. there's been a campaign to clamp down on descent, which explains why people are sent into exile, or jails are pretty much just silenced. they're not really are willing to move forward and express their views. do you think that the absence of a vocal strong, vibrant opposition on the street is an indication that starting from to model hong kong won't be the same? and again, was clear that one of the major reasons why people marched down to st with got more than 2 millions of them more than a quarter of the population protest in 2019 was the increasing erosion of freedom in hong kong and also just beijing government. turning hong kong you to just an ordinary trying to city and duncan,

we used to know are gone. so for now it's really play or that people on and not holding. not because of the sessions with the government, it does not make sense because the government has been appealing people to go out and vote the level advertisement. and that will in the, to ask them to both. if unprecedented. we've never seen so many advertisement put out by the government to ask people to vote. if the government is really listening, it's the people, it's really thing to the government. then they would definitely do it because they know that because i'm a need the 1st aid of hong kong having a successful election to prove that. oh, that is indeed an enhancement in our own system. but the reality is people do not agree with that of the 27. 19 we've seen the implementation of the national, the curriculum, the election overhaul, which makes our total election a direct lesson the increase from around house to less than

a quarter. and these are really size, so turning hong kong to author a, c. c. and people use their feet to prove to say that we, we are fed up, we're not going to vote to lend any legitimacy to the government. so i think the system is clear, people do not agree with the ration of the city. do not agree with those other a terry and erosion of our, of our system. and they are not voting. tom, don't you see that the debate about the outcome of the election becomes a moot point in the sense that since you have the legislation over hole where the proportion of the legislator to be directly elected has been slash from $53.00 all the way towards $22.00 and then the 40 out of the 90 seats are of candidates who are definitely going to be screened more by their committee, which is lawyers to the establishment in beijing. and so by the end of the day, the outcome will definitely be what china expects to happen. right?

so the voting power of regular citizens has been off, as you say, there are 40 seats chosen by a probation committee. and on top of that, you've got another 30 seats that a special interest groups, corporations, even foreign banks, some of them state owned but actually get a vote today was hong kong is becoming more disenfranchised. and as much as there has been some suggestion that there may be some choice of candidates here. the fact is that all 153 have been vetted now since this rebound, by several layers of probation committees. and each candidate has undergone a national security pro. now, despite what mr. mark said about those who have abstained from voting today, for all of those we've spoken to said because, you know, the, the democrats, they usually vote. and some, this is the 1st election. they've not voted and i just not here. most pro democracy figures are behind bars on remand or then sell sex all abroad,

like nathan or bond from running in this election or they quit politics altogether . andy, are the chief executive carry law and the pro establishment candidates are saying basically that the fundamental about this election is the fact that it was stores stability back to hong kong. this slogan that stability is a top priority. do you think that this is something you can easily sell to the people of hong kong? i think it can be people on call. so i think one of the hallmarks of hong kong is pragmatism. and i want to back here that, believe it or not, i actually agree with nathan in that i think the hong kong government is perhaps obsessing a bit with this election participation rate. and again, i think of it as a vanity metrics. if you're running an internet business, you love to see certain numbers, they sound great, but do they really matter?

and, 1st of all, i want to say, let's look at these protests again. i think some of the causes root causes are very legitimate. but if we look around the world, what have protests delivered from the color revolutions to the black lives matter movement in the united states? of course it called attention to some problems, but overall, i think they were destructive the positive. so the question here we have to ask ourselves, is, why do we even have a place versus the state of anarchy wise and self help? well, we can government the monopoly and violence because they can deliver a better lives for the citizens in that particular country. so i think that this really is the metric that matters involve governments, especially hong kong, because i think the, the how could ministration watson way to have it both ways. it was real prosperity, instability for hong kong to be a part of the p r c. but it also was the recognition and the praise from the west

as well. so i think this is the obsession. perhaps with voter turnout is understandable and it be great if they can get it. but 25 percent is bought a bad number. and i think other metrics not more. nathan, or how do you see those democracy, project macros candidates? her said, you know what with think there is an opening here. are wiggle room for maneuvering by joining these elections because if we get elected, we will fight for the rights of people to be freed for people such as yourself, to be allowed back into their homes with dignity. how do you see that justification? what a simple answer is you can never do it because of her now is just using all their resources to crack down all. ready the different boys, even they get into the legislation, then unable to speak up as strong as before. and for now,

even if there are a few of them getting into council with about a few out of 90, lots of faces in toto on this is a rough dam chambers we all know and our protest in $2900.00, they're not looking for an ocoee they're not looking for the spend money on the government. they're looking for waging to keep their promises, which they gave people in 1997 about autonomy, democracy and freedom. and i think, even though you can have different opinion towards what and protest of what that effect ah, but in, in his absence, hunger, people seeking for the system that can represent them. government elected by them. and these are fundamental of, of the one country to system. so for me, it's clear that the government, the home calling, trying to government now is the king's a high turnover rates to land

a legitimacy to election reform to east implementation of the national security at all. and the hong kong city says, the santa clara, the not falling into that line. so if we compare to the final rate, which we say we don't have that one. yes. but we will assume, oh, roughly predict that it will around 30 percent of it. if you compared to 2019 turn out rate, which eventually it was 71 percent. it's much less that half of the people voted in $219.00 came out today and it says really strong sick? no, it is a meaningful indicator, and it is a passive resistance off the whole of the hong kong people saying that we're not align into your so called enhancement narrative. hong kong is not looking good and you're just turning hong kong into another ordinary china city. tom, we might spend quite some time talking about the metrics here,

comparing the voter turnout to 1090 in 2016, 20022002000 sorry. but ultimately, to model where the people of hong kong will wake up to the outcome of the election is don't you see that the fundamental element here is that all those hopes about universal suffrage elections that are vibrant? following the 1997, a hand over from the british rule are forever shattered and that people in hong kong would have to forget about those dreams and ball forward with a system which is modeled around the chinese system you. oh yes, i mean with most po, democracy figures behind bars, it is difficult to imagine the likes of the umbrella movement in 2014, all the unrest in 2019 happening again over 50 civil society groups, including decades old unions and those that organize that huge july 1st democracy march is of the tenement square vigils have been disbanded and on this matter of

turn, as i mean, i agree with mr. mock somewhat, the government have really gone to town. we've emphasizing this and huge spending, as nathan said on our banners everywhere trying to get votes out. and some of these incentives that have been put on today. cove tracing apps are used to using here we've been suspended in polling stations, special cues for the elderly borders own stations. so people can nip over the border if they're eligible for from china to vote. even some setup and counting sensors. and one thing they've been doing that appears to backfire somewhat is free travel and transport on buses on trans, on the metro, and a lot of those he spoke to today, or hiking or shopping. and already you seeing the blame game begin now with some candidates blaming that free transport scheme, or what they see is a lack of promotion for, for this turn,

that situation that's destined to be the lowest yet. and i was going to ask you a question about what's next for china, because it seems that after they introduced the security reform after the introduce the election reform. this still struggling with selling the election to the international community to the point where the chief executive carry lab was, was basically saying, you know what, you have to model people, decide not to vote in large numbers. you should just take it as a positive signal because it genuine democracies people, when they are happy with a government, there is a voter apathy that does not really sink in with a rational because people say, you know what, people don't seem to buy into the rhetoric and the narrative of the chinese government. well, i think the, the challenge that the hoko government faces in want to recognition from the west is to a degree or something, the china with light as well. so i think there is an interest in the elections

in hong kong going. ready well, and being seen as go, but i'm going to go back to nathan about turning hong kong into just another chinese city. so shinji is a chinese in the 40 to past 40 years. it's per capita g, d p increased $10000.00 times. so that means if you were making $10000.00 a year, you'd be making a $100000000.00 a year. now, of course there's much more life than just nomics, but that doesn't sound so bad because just another hong kong city. the other point, i want to respond to that, nathan a, was that he feels that the hung colors are losing the right of representation. but let's look at the numbers. ledge goes going from $70.00 to $90.00 seats. that's an increase. and also we need to ask even more basic question, why do people need to be represented? it's because again, so their government can deliver the goods that they need. were

a prosper, stable one state, right? so if the government is doing this through a single party system, or even a monarchy and the people were happy, why do you need our position voices again? i mean, this is i try to but i'm just posing sort of until you're not you, but i'm d, i'm in but still by the end of the day. but we are we talking about people who have been silent, center j people have been sent into exile. and these people are basic to think if you, if you, if you're saying is, is the wife, then why is the government not allowing these people just to express their views? you know that in a place like home call give you tell people not to vote in the elections. you're rich to spend some time behind by amiga to nathan for this question, nathan, of the same time when you're talking about those concerns, you know that the international community has lost leverage when it comes to china for someone like yourself for the thousands of people had been disillusioned, have been evicted to have been sent behind bars or have lost the right to express

their views. we have to be at the same time, practical and realistic. the opposition is divider than ever. what's your roadmap for the future? mr. moore has been confusing a lot of different contexts when we're talking about one contains a just an ordinary trying to city. we're talking about the political system. which difference of holcomb politic system compared to the trends? one, it guarantees under the one country to, to some principle, which china has fine, the interactive treaty to deliver it. and if you're talking about wine, that is the way to go, then you are saying that try not violate international treaty is fine as long as they want to do. so i think this is not the best narrative to support the agenda. and if you're talking about the election, well, the, the increase of c does not matter because all of the seats are going through the pocket, the trying to mix multi well, much more appointed seat basically than popular contest seats. and we've only got

$29.00 to come back to $55.00 out of 70. these are just not an improvement. if we're talking to position camp for now, i don't think we think it, i think in the united. unfortunately, with that, we'll definitely visit the issue of hong kong in the near future. nathan, low, tom grundy and andy buck. i really appreciate your insight and looking forward to talking to you in the near future and thank you for watching. you can see the program again anytime by visiting our website, al jazeera dot com for further discussion. go to our facebook page. that's facebook dot com, forward slash a site for. you can also join the conversation on twitter. our hand that is jane site 40 for me. how one of our team here in my, for now the ah,

a i've come back to san diego to revisit the fascinating part of calcium history. they were crazy, creative, even visionary. they were top lester, not realistic. i was them as a child during and just pops into people still love them. it was basically too bad to be true. what they were predicting can comma to heal ethnic divisions and national tensions exist in both you today. once upon a time in sarajevo on al jazeera, a,

a with a ah, hello, adrian, something here in doha, with a summary of the news on al jazeera left, his politician, gabrielle borage, has won chillies, presidential run off election, he secured 56 percent of the vote against his far right rival, jose antonio cast. when sees borage become the youngest president in chiles history, a latin america editor to see a newman reports from santiago. oh, the sound of euphoria overwhelmed the streets of central santiago barbara,

vienna. tens of thousands of jubilant support whose and gabrielle but each.