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tv   BBC News  BBC News  June 10, 2019 2:00am-2:31am BST

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welcome to bbc news, i'm reged ahmad. our top stories: clashes in hong kong after one of the biggest marches seen in the territory, against a new extradition law demanded by beijing. at least three people are reported to have been killed in sudan on the first day of a campaign of civil disobedience. one of the leading contenders to become britain's next prime minister admits committing a crime when he took cocaine 20 years ago. and meet the seoul survivors — the dogs whose owners are trying to protect them from the city's choking air pollution.
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hong kong's police chief said his force will bring to justice those who participated in violent clashes that followed one of the biggest marches the territory has ever seen. organisers say as many as 1 million people took to the streets on sunday to protest against controversial new extradition laws. the authorities put the figure atjust under 250,000. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james robbins reports. late into the night, a series of clashes between hong kong police and protesters determined to resist what they see as further erosion of their already limited rights. after a peaceful day, a far more troubled evening. some demonstrators piled high metal barriers, and pushed them towards police surrounding hong kong's legislative council building.
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it is here that a widely despised new government bill will be debated in coming days. it would allow certain suspects wanted in mainland china to be sent across the border for trial. there were injuries on both sides. protesters threw missiles at police using batons, pepper sprays and high—pressure hoses. by contrast, earlier in the day, this was the far, far larger peaceful mass demonstration, squeezing its way through hong kong's streets. 0rganisers say over a million hong kong citizensjoined in. the authorities say it was a quarter of that figure. well, people are afraid. people are also angry about this extradition treaty. mainland china use all sorts of ways to exercise so—called dictatorship in hong kong, to kidnap the people
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they treat as enemy. say no to the evil bill... hong kong officials have said local courts will still have the final say over whether to grant extradition requests, and that suspects accused of political and religious crimes will not be extradited. but that is not good enough for chris patten, lord patten, britain's last governor in hong kong before the handover in 1997. the proposed new law, he says, is a major breach by china. i think it's the most serious challenge to the autonomy of hong kong and to the rule of law in hong kong since we left in 1997, and it flatly goes against all the promises that were made about guaranteeing hong kong's local autonomy. but the sheer scale of protest may not be enough. although opposition to the bill has united businesspeople,
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often pro—establishment, with lawyers, students and shopkeepers, it seems unlikely that china is ready to give ground. james robbins, bbc news. let's get some reaction now from our correspondent in beijing, stephen mcdonell. stephen, it is very rare to see protests like this in hong kong. well, of this scale. i mean, this is a record—breaking protest. i wouldn't say it's that rare to see protest, but the size, you know, the breathtaking size of this protest is what has captured people's attention. it's been described as the biggest protest ever seen since hong kong was handed back to mainland china. and the reason for it is that the hong kong government, which owes its allegiances to beijing, is trying to push through this change to enable hong kong citizens or even people visiting
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hong kong to be sent to mainland china to face courts controlled by the communist party. now, because of the communist party. now, because of the way the system is rigged in hong kong, the local legislature is controlled by what you might call the pro—beijing forces. they can and will pass this bill if they so desire. and so those who oppose the bill think they have no choice but to come out into the streets in big numbers and try and embarrass the hong kong government into either changing the bill or stepping back oi’ changing the bill or stepping back or delaying it. because it's been rushed through, according to them, with considerable haste. and, according to the hong kong government, for example, there will be another reading of the bill on wednesday, meaning that within weeks it could actually be sent through the legislative council, and by earlyjuly, there will be a big change to the legal system whereby you can be sent from hong kong to
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mainland china to face trial. and this is seen as a considerable erosion of the special status of hong kong, because naturally there are... you know, there is a com pletely are... you know, there is a completely independent legal system in hong kong. they have their own system of the rule of law which is quite separate to that which is run by the communist party on the mainland. in the past, when we saw protest like the umbrella movement, we didn't necessarily get a huge change in hong kong as a result. do you think this protest will change things, given the scale of it? well, they may have lost that umbrella movement protest, or series of protests, if you like, which was an attempt to have a direct election for hong kong's leader. but students of hong kong history will know that, in the past, big protest like this have led to a previous leader being toppled. and so if you are carrie
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lam, the hong kong leader, and seeing what — we're talking hundreds of thousands of people in the streets, and according to some estimates one in eight hong kong residents out on the streets protesting against you, you might be a little concerned. strangely, we have not heard at all from carrie lam, andi have not heard at all from carrie lam, and i think it's taken the hong kong government by surprise, the level of opposition to this. because they've already tweaked the bill a few times, making it more difficult for people to be sent back to the mainland, and yet it is still seen as unacceptable, it seems, to the vast majority of hong kong citizens. thank you very much. let's get some of the day's other news: tensions between turkey and the united states are rising over ankara's decision to buy russian anti—aircraft missile systems. washington has given its nato ally a deadline to choose between buying russia's s—400 systems or us—made f—35 advanced fighter jets. it argues the russian systems are both incompatible with nato defence systems and pose a security threat. the us wants turkey to buy its patriot anti—aircraft systems
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instead. protesters took to the streets in the capital of haiti demanding presidentjovenel moise resign over allegations he embezzeled venezuelan aid money. buildings and barricades were set on fire in the demonstrations, spurred by opposition parties and civil society groups. at least one person is reported killed in the unrest. at least three people are reported to have been killed in clashes with security forces in sudan during the first day of a campaign of civil disobedience. security forces fire tear gas and live ammunition at people trying to set up barricades. 0pposition leaders called the strike in response to the killing of dozens of protestors by government—backed militias last week. from khartoum, here is our africa editor fergal keane. the city is lifeless,
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but the revolution still breathes. we went to the neighbourhood of bahari, where silence and absence have replaced the joyous crowds. but they make no less powerful a point. this street should have been full of workday crowds. we met only groups of youths trying to defend the area from the regime's militia. translation: there is fighting here. there are big problems here in sudan. there is no justice, and people want justice. we want our rights. it feels like a state of siege, people protecting themselves from their own government. the military regime has tried to break the back of these protests with killings, with torture, with mass arrests. but still, here on the ground in khartoum, the people are defying them.
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for a week, these men have terrorised the city — the militia known as the rapid support forces. but locals them by another name, the janjaweed, notorious for killing and rape in darfur. as we travelled across the neighbourhoods, people cleared barricades to let us pass. they're desperate for the world to know what the militia is doing. this prominent opposition figure was only released from jail in april. the great fear right now — that is still so many killings, all over. no—one can go outside, outside his home, and feel safe. 37—year—old waleed abdalrhman is pictured here during the euphoric days of the protests. this morning, he was killed by a militia sniper.
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there was a barricade and he talked to his friend there, said his uncle, ismael. there were police nearby, but they had no reason to shoot him. no reasons for his killing. no, at all. just kill him, and that's it. so much has changed for them in so little time. the son that lived this morning is dead tonight. the country they hoped for is being stolen away. fergal keane, bbc news, khartoum. i'm joined now by aly verjee, senior advisor at the united states institute of peace, and a researcher specialising in east african politics. first of all, i just wanted to start with what you might be hearing from your contacts inside the country about what is happening. well, as
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we've just heard info about what is happening. well, as we'vejust heard info bookingwhich began on sunday was largely successful. but again, it is also worth noting that this is a movement which is beyond khartoum, in the largest town, coastal city in sudan, the port is certainly deserted. and so the port is certainly deserted. and so this is a movement which has been able to persist despite the odds, and mobilise people to remain away from work, and heed the call for disobedience. there might be many reasons inside the country for what is happening, but there are regional interests that play as well, specifically saudi arabia, the united arab emirates, to name two. why are they so interested in what happens in sudan? well, there certainly are outside interests, and clearly president bashir felt that the sydney's military has much more closely in the camp of the saudis
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and the immoralities, and both riyadh and abu dhabi would like to keep it that way. there are, of course, sudanese troops also in yemen, so there are reasons that are direct to sudan, there is also a general broader view on the gulf stability is important, and democratic reform and transitional government would be more complicated, and better to have a reliable partner, and that is what the sudanese military provides to those countries. do we have any evidence for how these regional interests, these two countries you mentioned, might be influencing events in sudan as they unfold? well, certainly both countries have contributed financially to the transitional military council, space, in terms of financial manoeuvrability. but also backing to repress protesters as it has. that is the most visible evidence. in the last few days there has been pressure from the us on both riyadh and abu dhabi to make statements and
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to pressure khartoum to show restraint, and both countries have issued statements, but i think these are issued statements, but i think these a re really issued statements, but i think these are really half—hearted efforts, and clearly as the killings continue in khartoum and elsewhere, have not been heeded by the authorities in sudan. thank you so much for your analysis and explaining a lot of those external interests. thank you. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a new way to see london. the annual balloon regatta takes to the skies over the capital. nadal the day the british liberated the falklands. and by tonight, british
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troops had begun the task of disarming the enemy. in the heart of the german capital, this was gorby—mania at its height. the crowd packed to see the man who for them, has raised great hopes for an end to the division of europe. michaeljackson was not guilty on all charges. the screams of the crowd, a testament to his popularity and their faith in his innocence. as long as they'll pay to go and see me, i'll get out there and kick 'em down the hill. what's it feel like to be the first man to go across the channel by your own power? it's feels pretty neat. feel marvellous, really. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: clashes between protestors and police in hong kong marked the end of what organisers say was a million—strong march against the territory's proposed new extradition law. opposition sources in sudan say at least three people have been killed during a day of civil disobedience to protest against the country's
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military rulers. authorities in kazakhstan say they've arrested about 500 people demonstrating against what they said was a fixed presidential election. interim president kassym—jomart tokayev, the hand—picked successor to the long—time authoritarian leader nursultan nazarbayev, is expected to win. exit polls indicate that he has around 70% of the vote. the bbc‘s rayhan demytrie is following developments for us from the capital, nur—sultan. riot police is moving in to push these protesters. many have already been arrested and moved to police vans. they're creating this noise to scare people but nevertheless, they're still standing because people are saying they're fed up.
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for 30 years, they've never seen democratic elections in this country and this time they're saying they will no longer be quiet about the real situation in the country. translation: they spend billions on building palaces but have no money for mothers with many children. there are just a handful of protesters left here in nur—sultan. they are being detained, mishandled by the police and pushed through many numerous of those buses. so far we witnessed dozens of people being detained and the police just warned them through loudspeakers that unsanctioned protests are not allowed. so after this announcement, they're now going and detaining people one by one. but people are saying here that to get permission for peaceful protest is almost impossible in kazakhstan and that they're simply exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
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here in the uk, nominations open on monday in the contest to become the new leader of the conservative party — and the next british prime minister. questions about past drug use have continued to dog one of the candidates. the environment secretary michael gove has admitted he was fortunate not to be jailed for using cocaine 20 years ago, one of his rivals, the home secretary sajid javid, said those who take drugs destroy countless lives. our political correspondent chris mason reports. imagine you are a candidate to be old prime minister next month. you wa ke old prime minister next month. you wake up to frontpage is all about you, saying things like this. and your next appointment having admitted to taking cocaine two decades ago is a t studio — tv studio. a man who used to bejustice secretary. yes, it was a crime, it was a mistake, i deeply regret it. lim should you have gone to prison?
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i was fortunate in that i didn't but ido i was fortunate in that i didn't but i do think it was a profound mistake andi i do think it was a profound mistake and i have seen the damage that drugs do. mr gove had hoped to talk up drugs do. mr gove had hoped to talk up his policy plans by replacing vat with a simpler sales tax but instead he had to fend off questions about whether he had been honest about his drug taking, including when he applied for a visa to go to america. i don't believe that i ever on any occasion failed to tell the truth about this when asked directly. occasion failed to tell the truth about this when asked directlym would be on the form. yes or no. if you said yes, you could be banned for life from entering the united states. i think it would be the case that if i were elected to be the prime minister of this country, of course i would be able to go to the united states and i think that well, it is bullish to suggest otherwise. enter next another studio the home secretary who just so happens to be a leadership contender, too. who could possibly be on his mind when
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he makes this general observation about some drug takers. they have their organic food, they boast about buying fair trade, they talk about climate change and at the same time, come friday or saturday night, they are all doing class a drugs and they should be thinking about the impact they're having, especially on children. and then there is brexit. the front runner, borisjohnson, gave his first interview of the campaign today, saying he would hold onto the divorce payments the uk has said they will pay the eu until a deal on the future partnership is done. watch out, watch out. he also wa nts to done. watch out, watch out. he also wants to scrap the backstop, the insurance policy to keep the border on the island of ireland open in all circumstances. as critics paul —— pointed out, the eu have said no. there are 11 candidates to replace theresa may and among them, the
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foreign secretary jeremy theresa may and among them, the foreign secretaryjeremy hunt who voted remain in 2016. the question now is not how your referendum voted three years ago, it is to have the skills to deliver a deal that is going to get us out of the eu before we have a general election and i have those skills. so here goes, the noise, the flash of the focus, on those who want to be prime minister. south korea has some of the worst air quality in the developed world — according to international figures. in densely populated cities like seoul, it's very common for people to wear masks to protect themselves from the pollution. but now, dog owners are becoming concerned about the health of their pets.
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london is one of the world's great cities. it's famous for — amongst other things — its history, its culture and its skyline. every year — a group of people take the chance to view the capital
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from a completely different perspective — as the bbc‘s tim allman explains. when it comes to ballooning, the early bird certainly catches the worm. # would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon... the son had barely yawned over london's c park when dozens of hotair enthusiasts prepared to take flight. the sounds of gas burners could be heard as silken canvases slowly infant inflated into — make inflated into shape. everyone had one destination in mind and only one direction. # up, up and away in my beautiful, beautiful balloon! the lord mayor's balloon regatta is usually an annual affair but last year's event had to be cancelled due to bad weather. it
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was a very different story this time, though, the perfect conditions to just float away and taking the view. and what a view. iconic buildings, and historic setting, london has rarely looked more spectacular. it is all for a good cause, raising awareness of local charities. the event has already raised more than £250,000. that's more than $300,000. quite a city, quite a sight, especially when you are ina quite a sight, especially when you are in a beautiful balloon. #we are in a beautiful balloon. # we can fly, we can fly! now, how about this to get you in the right frame of mind for monday morning in the office? a spot of chair racing. dozens of competitors have been battling it out in the japanese city of hanyu. the isu 1 grand prix, lasted a full two hours, complete with the thrills and spills of any major competition. these races have been going for ten years
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and more than 55 teams entered this year's event. the winners got to take home 90 kilos of rice. hello there. we've got some heavy rain in the forecast over the next few days, particularly targeting parts of england and wales where there's a risk of localised flooding. that rain has already begun to develop across northern france where an area of low pressure has formed. that wet weather moves into east anglia, southeast england and could be as far west as hampshire by the first part of monday morning. so, something to watch out for. this area of low pressure and this heavy rain is driven by the very big temperature contrast we've got at the moment. with warm, moist air being driven in from north africa, the mediterranean into central europe, that's colliding with much cooler air coming down from polar regions, and it's those temperature contrasts that are making an area of low pressure form and a very active weather front. the amount of rain we get on monday will vary a lot from place to place, but the met office has issued a warning and some areas could see 60 millimetres of rain,
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which is getting on for a month's worth of rain during the day. there is a risk, then, of some localised surface water flooding and through the day, that wet weather will pour its way westwards into the midlands, eventually reaching western parts of england and wales through the afternoon. for the far north of england, northern ireland and for scotland, the weather will be similar to what we had on sunday. sunshine and a few heavy, thundery, slow—moving showers. the forecast as we go through monday night is that area of low pressure stays with us, the rain continues to pour down overnight and will last right into tuesday as well. with the heaviest rain likely across northern england, and across wales, too. but there could still be some downpours elsewhere, perhaps some showers coming into parts of the south—east. northern ireland and scotland at this stage staying clear of the worst of the wet weather but quite a bit of high cloud making for some bright conditions. the only real change is with that weather front drifting a little bit further northwards. the risk area where we could get flooding has moved into parts of northeast england as well. and there it stays, really, through tuesday, wednesday, and perhaps into thursday as well. there is some uncertainty how far northwards this
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band of rain gets on wednesday, it could be that itjust stays across northern england, and doesn't quite reach scotland and northern ireland, so we will be firming up on the details with that. southern england and wales, some very heavy, thundery downpours are quite likely to develop. our area of low pressure stays with us through to the end of the week, it drifts a bit further westwards and fills, so it becomes a little bit less potent but that doesn't mean we're done with the rain. towards the end of the week, that rain will be arriving across scotland and northern ireland where it still could be pretty heavy. england and wales, prone to seeing some very heavy, thundery downpours that continue to bring the threat of localised surface water flooding. a lot of cloud in the sky, limited brighter spells between these downpours. that's your latest weather.
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this is bbc news, the headlines: hong kong's police chief has pledged his force will track down demonstrators who clashed with his officers after one of the biggest marches the territory has ever seen. organisers say a million people marched in protest against a new law allowing suspects to be extradited to the mainland. anti—government groups in sudan say at least four people were killed during a day of civil disobedience on sunday. they blamed the ruling military council for the deaths. many offices in khartoum were closed as the opposition tries to force a transfer of power to civilian rule. authorities in kazakhstan say they've arrested about 500 people demonstrating against what they said was a fixed presidential election. interim president kassym—jomart tokayev, the hand—picked successor to the long—time authoritarian leader nursultan nazarbayev, is expected to win. exit polls indicate that he has around 70—percent of the vote.

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