this is bbc world news today. i'm lewis vaughan jones. our top stories... pro—democracy candidates are on course for an emphatic victory in local elections in hong kong. the result would be a humiliation for the territory's pro—beijing chief executive. leaked documents reveal china's systematic brainwashing of hundreds of thousands of people in a network of high security prisons. britain's governing conservative party launches its election manifesto, promising to get brexit done. we are now we a re now less we are now less than three weeks away from the most critical general election of modern memory, where the sta kes for election of modern memory, where the stakes for this country have seldom been higher and the choice has never been higher and the choice has never

been starker. and coming up.... the billionaire former mayor of new york michael bloomberg announces he wants to run for president. hello, and welcome to world news today. the first results from hong kong's local district council election are coming in and they show the pro—democracy parties making big gains. they're on course to all but wipe out their pro—beijing rivals. there's been a huge voter turnout in comparison to elections in 2015. with slightly more than half of the count complete the numbers just a few minutes ago showed pro—democracy parties have already taken 196 seats. while pro—establishment parties have just 27 so far. these are the numbers being reported by local media and there is still a way to go yet, of course. now, some notable names ran in the elections, including pro—beijing lawmaker

junius ho. he's one of the most controversial politicians in the city and is reported to have suffered a shock defeat. our correspondent stephen mcdonell is in hong kong. stephen, this could be, it looks like, an extraordinary set of results 7 like, an extraordinary set of results? yes, this is an absolutely thumping victory for the pro—democracy camp, for those who support the activists, and a total wipe—out for candidates supporting carrie lam and, indirectly, the government in beijing. i mean, the numbers are still coming in. ijust saw one set of figures, 284 to 32. i mean, he would have expected this? i think many people thought the pro—democracy camp might do well, given how unhappy people have been

in hong kong. but thisjust smashes one of the lines we are getting from the government here, that there is this silent majority of people in hong kong who disapprove of the protests a nd hong kong who disapprove of the protests and actually support this government and its policies, and the way it has handled a political crisis in its sixth month. well, if there is a silent majority, i don't know where they were, they didn't vote today, that's for sure. i mean, incredible result here. it is the highest voter turnout of any election we have ever seen in hong kong. and it is going to bring enormous pressure on the hong kong government to explain why there is this result and, in fact, why it shouldn't now adhere to some of the demands that the protesters are making. why shouldn't there be a push towards genuine, one one—vote democracy? why shouldn't people vote for her position, for example,

directly? why shouldn't there be an inquiry now into the police force. this is something that has been rejected by the government and by the police. as i think we can see from these results, the vast majority of people in hong kong seem to wa nt majority of people in hong kong seem to want this. 0k, stephen, thank you for bringing us up to date. we will keep everyone informed as the results come in from hong kong. leaked documents reveal for the first time how china is running a network of high security prisons designed to brainwash hundreds of thousands of people. china has consistently claimed the camps — in the xinjiang region — offer education and training. but official documents leaked to the international consortium of investigativejournalists and seen by bbc panorama show how inmates are locked up, indoctrinated and punished. china's uk ambassador has denied the bbc‘s claims. richard bilton reports. this is a journey thousands have

been forced to make, into china's internment camps. now, we know what's happening inside. this document contains orders written for those who run the camps. this is an actionable piece of evidence, documenting a gross human rights violation. this should be sitting, you know, in the files of a prosecutor. in the last three years, china has built hundreds of camps across the remote province of xinjiang. they hold at least a million people, mainly uighur muslims. china says they offer training and they stop terrorism. but the document shows why a superpower is really locking up so many people.

make remedial mandarin studies the top priority. encourage students to truly transform. inmates are imprisioned until they change their beliefs, their behaviour, and their language. it's very difficult, on that scale, with more thani million people in those conditions, to view that as anything other than a mass brainwashing scheme, designed and directed at an entire ethnic community. the chinese ambassador in london refused to answer our direct questions about the camps. good morning. last week, he called a press conference about hong kong, but i wanted to know about the camps of xinjiang. i wrote to you this week, sir, actually about the camps in xinjiang. i know that they are prison camps, why won't you tell me the truth about those camps? first of all, i have to say there is no so—called labour camps, as you've described, this is what we call vocational education and training centres.

they are there for the prevention of terrorists. with respect, sir, what you're telling me, there is no relation to what i've seen. the so—called documents you are talking about is pure fabrication. don't listen to fake news. don't listen to fabrications. the documents are not fake news. they are evidence of crimes against humanity. china is caging hundreds of thousands of people and brainwashing them in camps, and now we know how. richard bilton, bbc news. richard is here now. extraordinary details, extraordinary documents. how much of a game changer do you think they will prove to be?” how much of a game changer do you think they will prove to be? i think they are a fundamental game changer. inasmuch as, up until now, we have

seen the snatched footage of the walls, satellite images of these places being built, there has been lots of data research in terms of the scale, we know the figure is beyond i million people. in terms of knowing exactly what these things are forand knowing exactly what these things are for and how they work, this is all new. because this is what the chinese state says to the chinese officers that are running it. it is a prison, no blindspots, discipline. but it is also transformation, that behaviour should change, that you should amass points. when they can prove you have transformed, you might be released. in that sense, it changes everything. i'm sure a lot of people watching will think the nature of those documents, they are so confidential, for want of a better word, people will be wondering how they were leaked? they are stamped as a secret, and i think it is the third tier of secrecy. we have had these verified. they were lea ked have had these verified. they were leaked from inside xinjiang and

passed on to dissidents outside, who passed on to dissidents outside, who passed them onto the consortium of investigative journalists on the bbc asa investigative journalists on the bbc as a partner to that organisation, that organisation, that is how we are able to look at them. we know they were written at the start of 2017, and they coincide with the building programme, and signed off by the regional head of security. these were signed off at a high level and passed out. the big question is what impact this will have for the people actually affected. we saw a bit of the chinese reaction in your report. do you see that budging or change at all? no, i went you see that budging or change at all? no, iwent to you see that budging or change at all? no, i went to that press conference and the same message, it is fake news, they are training camps, vocational camps. ithink is fake news, they are training camps, vocational camps. i think it makes a difference to the people inside, predominantly uighurs muslims, it is proof this is much more fundamental and significant. if you talk to uighurs groups, they will say that some villagers are empty, while they still empty? we can see from the document that people have to stay in there for at

least a year, when they are released, they go into a labour camp, released, they go into a labour an released, they go into a labour camp, many of them, they have to stay in line of sight for another year. these are people that have been chipped away for years at a time. for those people that are trying to say to the world that there is a big issue going on, it is some facts from inside these camps. extraordinary details. thank very much. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. the president of the philippines, rodrigo duterte, has fired the woman he appointed as his drugs tsar earlier this month. leni robredo, who is also his vice—president and political rival, has been dismissed afterjust three weeks in the post. ms robredo has been an outspoken critic of the president's heavy—handed war against drugs. officials in the democratic republic of congo say at least 27 people have been killed in a plane crash in a residential area in the eastern city of goma. the small aircraft crashed a minute after taking off. several of those killed are said to be members of the same family.

exit polls in romania point to a comfortable win for current president klaus iohannis. the former leader of the centre—right national liberal party is promising to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. britain's prime minister boris johnson has launched the conservative party election manifesto, promising to spend more money on public services without raising income taxes. he repeated the central message of his campaign, getting brexit done. 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg reports. ahead, but far from clear and away. are you feeling optimistic, ministers? tories out, tories out! the tories know it's theirs to lose. but who would bet on much these days? this time last year, borisjohnson wasjust a controversial backbencher. now, defending his own position as prime minister.

boris! and with a list of promises he's making new, trying to secure the conservatives another five years in charge. how's that? can you see that? his number—one rallying cry — to move on and leave the eu in january. do we want more delay? do we want more dither, and drift, and deadlock and division? do we want 2020 to be another year of defeatism and despair? no, we don't. get brexit done, and we can restore confidence and certainty to business and to families. get brexit done, and we will see a pent—up tidal wave of investment into this country. get brexit done, and we can focus our hearts and our minds on the priorities of the british people. the conservatives had already vowed extra money for the health service, but there's a new promise to recruit more nurses. today, in this manifesto,

we pledge 50,000 more nurses and their bursaries and 50 million more gp surgery appointments, and today we make this guarantee... cash to scrap hospital parking charges, taxpayers' money for more childcare, and an infrastructure fund — all, he claims, without raising taxes. we can do all these things without raising our income tax, vat, or national insurance contributions. that's our guarantee. and in this manifesto... applause. ..there is a vision for the future. borisjohnson says he never wanted this election, but it's both a huge risk and a huge opportunity for him and his party. let's go for sensible, moderate, but tax—cutting one—nation conservative government, and take this country forwards. thank you all very much. you won the leadership of your party

by making a big promise on brexit that you then broke, despite saying the buck stopped with you. now you are trying to win the country with a whole list of promises and significant extra spending — do you accept that beyond this room, and beyond your party, this is a big leap of faith for the country to trust you with a majority? the biggest issue at this election is really whether people have any confidence in politics any more. and i think the reason that confidence and trust in politics has been so undermined is because for three and half years, they have seen politicians engaged in constant prevarication, procrastination, dither and delay, when the people of this country voted to get brexit done. the tory leader is now right in the fray, right in the middle of this campaign. but none of the steps spelt out today are designed to create the fireworks he's famous for. there's no doubt people are asking politicians, will you stick to what you are saying you will be doing? we couldn't be clearer

about getting brexit done. we do want to spend more money on our priorities, the nhs, more on the 20,000 police, more on our schools, but we can do that if we keep the economy strong. compared to the labour manifesto, this is a pamphlet rather than a phone book, but it's a document designed to keep the tories out of trouble, rather than shake up the fundamentals of the campaign. is this a winning manifesto, mrjohnson? well, we're fighting very hard, we're fighting very hard. it's like gold dust, getting these posters. the big contrast between him and his rivals has been there since day one — borisjohnson would take us out of the eu in less than 70 days. that's the choice — vote to leave at speed or vote for the chance to stay. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, telford. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: the former mayor of new york michael bloomberg announces he's running for president.

president kennedy was shot down and died almost immediately. the murder ofjohn kennedy is a disaster for the whole free world. he caught the imagination of the world. the first of a new generation of leaders. margaret thatcher is resigning as leader of the conservative party and prime minister. before leaving number 10 to see the queen, she told her cabinet, it's a funny old world. angela merkel is germany's first woman chancellor, easily securing the majority she needed. attempts to fly a hot air balloon had to be abandoned after a few minutes, but nobody seemed to mind very much. as one local comic it, it's not hot air we need, its hard cash. cuba has declared nine days mourning, following the death of fidel castro. he developed close ties with the soviet union is in the 1960s, an alliance that brought the world

to the brink of nuclear war, with the cuban missile crisis. this is bbc world news today. pro—democracy candidates are on course for an emphatic victory in district elections in hong kong. britain's governing conservative party has launched its election manifesto , promising to get brexit done. one of the richest men in the world has entered the democratic presidential race. billionaire michael bloomberg joins an already crowded field of candidates who want to take on donald trump in 2020. the move is a u—turn for the former new york city mayor, who said in march he wouldn't run. in a statement, mr bloomberg said the us "cannot afford four more years of president trump's reckless and unethical actions". let's take a closer look at who michael bloomberg is. he has a net worth of $52 billion —

according to forbes — making him nearly 17 times richer than mrtrump. he made his money first as a wall street banker, before going on to establish a financial publishing empire. he was originally a democrat. he became a republican to serve as new york city mayor from 2001. but he rejoined the democratic party last year. he's considered running for president in the past, but ruled himself out because he thought americans wouldn't vote for a billionaire new york businessman. clearly that concern no longer applies. here is a short clip from his campaign video. where the wealthy will play more in taxes, and the struggling middle class will get theirfairshare, and struggling middle class will get theirfair share, and jobs struggling middle class will get their fair share, and jobs thatjust allow you to get buy will become jobs that let you get ahead. michael bloomberg for president. jobs creator, leader, problem solve. it's going to take all three to build back a country.

0ur washington correspondent chris buckler has more on why mr bloomberg is running for president. at the heart of this is a suggestion from michael bloomberg that he doesn't believe that the democrats who are currently standing have a chance of beating donald trump. he think there is a danger that they could be another four years of president trump in the white house. if you look at his advert campaign, it is very clear that he doesn't wa nt it is very clear that he doesn't want that to happen, describing it asa want that to happen, describing it as a risk, and even a menace at certain points. and certainly it feels like it is getting somewhat personal between the president and michael bloomberg. if you take a look at some of the campaign literature, he says that donald trump isa literature, he says that donald trump is a failed businessman whose companies went bankrupt and his reckless actions in office have harmed americans and weakened our country. make no mistake, if he is lining upfora country. make no mistake, if he is lining up for a battle of the billionaires, i suspect president trump will come out fighting, too. he said in the past there is nobody he would rather beat than who he

describes as little michael. those personal insults traded, i am sure we will hear a lot more on both sides from now on. what does this mean for his chances, though? we have already mentioned that it is a big, crowded field. how good are his chances? it is worth pointing out that he has also led to the stage. we have already had democratic debate taking place. in which, each of the have had a chance to set out their stall. there is another one thatis their stall. there is another one that is planned for next month, and that is planned for next month, and thatis that is planned for next month, and that is just the latest of several that is just the latest of several that have already taken place. so, he isjoining that that have already taken place. so, he is joining that field a very, very late. what he does have on his side is money. and, fundamentally, in america, these election campaigns are extremely expensive, and wealth can makea are extremely expensive, and wealth can make a huge difference. it is worth pointing out that he has launched this announcement, that he is going to run for the presidency, with a $13 million advert campaign. now, that would be very expensive for some candidates, but it is a

drop in the ocean for michael bloomberg. at the same time, though, he has name recognition, but he hasn't been part of the field so far and he has got to start selling himself to america. take a look at some of the big issues, there is no doubt he is trying to set himself against donald trump, suggesting, for example, that the president has not been good on issues like climate change and gun violence, and that he can makea change and gun violence, and that he can make a difference with his experience as a new york city mayor. but it's going to be a tough fight, even among the democrats. now the sport. spain have won the davis cup finals to send the home fans into a frenzy in madrid. having won the first set against canada's denis shapavalov 6—3, nadal fell to the ground as he took the second following a tense tie—breaker. it's spain's first davis cup title in seven years and perhaps most emotional roberto bautista agut,

who won their first match against felix auger aliasimme, was playing just three days after his father's death. in the english premier league, manchester united came from 2—0 down to lead 3—2 at sheffield united — but had to settle for a point in the end, after the home side scored a last minute equaliser. 0ur football correspondent john murray was at bramall lane. what rattling good entertainment this was, as manchester united's floors were laid bare by sheffield united, who were outstanding for the first three quarters of the match. at that stage, they led 2—0. john fleck, scoring in the first half, and then mousset with an excellent effort in the second. then out of nowhere, three manchester united goals in seven minutes. brandon williams, his first for the club. mason greenwood's first in the premier league and marcus rashford scored to edge the visitors in front. in the 90th minute, sheffield united still had just enough left to respond, as only mcburnie's control and finish survived a var check for

handball and insured honours ended even. when you are to have zero down, you fear the worst. you do. as a coach, you think back to last year, games like everton away, when we lost 4—0 in the end. this group will not give in, they don't give in. it is such a big difference from last season until now. they have made massive strides, and i think they would have learned a lot from today as well. winners, after beating japan's 0orawah diamonds saudi arabian side al hilal are the asian champions league winners, after beating japan's 0orawah diamonds 2—0 in the second leg of the final, 3—0 on aggregate. boasting a squad featuring former italy forward sebastian giovinco and france striker bafetembi gomis, it was giovinco who set up salem al dawsari with 15 minutes to go for the opener, before gomis added gloss to the scoreline at the death. the win means al hilal are now three time champions, equaling the record set by south korean side pohang steelers.

england's cricketers are in a battle to save the first test against new zealand after bj watling scored a double century on day four in mount maunganui. the hosts declared on 615 for nine. england will have to bat for the whole of the final day with just seven wickets in hand if they're to force a draw when they resume on 55 for three. i am concerned. no doubt about it, because i have seen england in this position before and it is a mindset and it is a case of application and discipline. not something that a lot of the modern day players enjoy. sibley and burns, that is their natural game to play in that fashion but a lot of the other england players want to be aggressive and positive so it will be a real challenge for them to show the necessary discipline, and basically take a leaf out of bj watling's book of denial, and backing their defence, leaving the ball well. of course it is important that they rotate the strike and that they don't just get stuck blocking the ball all the time. but it is low—risk batting, that is what we want. building some partnerships and getting england to safety.

spain'sjon rahm has won the final event on the european tour — the world tour championship in dubai and in doing so finishes as europe's number one golfer. it's only ever been won by one other spanish golfer and that was seve ballesteros. imean, i mean, there are so many european tour players that could have done that, got close and didn't do it. to think of that list of seve, and then jon rahm, it is hard to believe. such a big part of spanish golf history, it is really unique to put my name on something that only seve has done. and in the last hour south korea's kim sei—young has won the season ending group tour championship and with it the biggest prize in women's golf. remember to keep it on bbc world new

for the latest from hong kong. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @lvaughanjones. as we head into the final week of metrological autumn, there is more rain in the forecast. some of us were lucky enough to see some brighter skies, generally the brightness has been at a premium. 0ur brightness has been at a premium. our next spell of rain is already making its presence felt across south—western parts of the uk. some gusty wind associated with this, 40 or 50 gusty wind associated with this, 40 or50 mph gusty wind associated with this, 40 or 50 mph across parts of south—west england and south wales. rain tracking its way north and east woods overnight, getting as far north as the north midlands, southern parts of northern ireland. further north, mainly dry, mist and low cloud, temperatures well above freezing, 509 celsius is the overnight low. an area of low pressure to deal with tomorrow. this frontal system continuing on its journey north and east woods. the

heaviest of the rain towards england and wales, met office weather warnings in place. the rain becoming more patchy as it pushes into northern ireland and scotland. the far north of scotland staying mainly dry, still a windy day for the shetland isles and a stronger wind across south—west england and south wales. mild again, 913 celsius is the top temperature. we get rid of one area of low pressure, here is another weighting in the wings for tuesday. this has the remnants of what was tropical storm sebastien embedded in it. that is going to pf°p up embedded in it. that is going to prop up the rain, and the wind up to 50 knots per hour in south—west eglin. heavy rain come on top of already saturated ground. 15 or 20 millimetres quite widely, even more ofa millimetres quite widely, even more of a higher ground. millimetres quite widely, even more ofa higher ground. most millimetres quite widely, even more of a higher ground. most of us will see spells of heavy rain through tuesday. not raining all the time, in between, some brighter interludes. generally a breezy day, the strongest wind is across parts of south wales and south—west england. in the moist, tropical air,

temperatures are widely in double figures, ten or 14 celsius on tuesday. we still have this area of low pressure to deal with on wednesday, gradually tracking its way eastwards. a very messy picture on wednesday. further spells of heavy rain, strong wind as well, particularly for northern scotland and southern england. as we going to thursday and friday, we pick up more ofa thursday and friday, we pick up more of a north—easterly wind, which will pull much colder air across much of the uk. by the time we get a friday morning, most of us will wake up to an overnight frost. wet and windy for a time an overnight frost. wet and windy fora time in an overnight frost. wet and windy for a time in the week ahead, dry and cold later.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. hong kong's opposition pro—democracy movement has made strong gains in the chinese territory's district council elections. voters turned out in record numbers to cast their ballots. leaked chinese government documents, seen by the bbc, have revealed that a network of high securityjails in western china are intended to brainwash hundreds of thousands of people from the mainly muslim uighur minority. beijing has always said the camps are for education and training — but the papers show that they exist to indoctrinate uighurs. britain's prime minister boris johnson has launched his conservative party's manifesto for next month's snap general election, promising to "get brexit done". mrjohnson is hoping for a majority after the previous parliament