>> the french history had d to endure.. you are watching france 24. these are the headlines -- our voting toits decide whether to stay in or out of the european union. live coverage from london in a minute. rebellious democrats in the u.s. hold around the clock sit in on the house floor demanding a vote on new gun control laws. the republican house speaker calls it a publicity stunt and

adjourns the session ignoring their demands. hascolombian government rebels set to sign historic peace deal after 50 years of conflict. up, the pound hits its highest level in more than six months as traders bet on the u.k. staying part of the european union. we will have the latest in our business update. that and more on the way but our top story first from paris -- it has been weeks of bitter campaigning but now britain's in/out referendum is here and millions of people are voting today to decide the future of their country and the european union. the campaigning on both sides has been heavy and better with the british prime minister

heading up the remain camp. london.wn is also in what more can you tell us? it's in or out of the european union which is a simple question but a divided question. when you speak to people around london or much of the rest of the country, the answer is rapid and clear. there is not that much hesitating from the vast majority of people we spoke to. it is split right down the middle. over the past few months, we have seen an externally divided and close race in the united kingdom. it is hard to get an idea of how close it is going to be when we get to the final results later today.

we have seen a steady stream of voters here and northern and central london. the election over officials who say turnout is already at a high given the dreadful weather before the start of the day. they are expecting turn out to the 47 million registered voters. the turnout is likely to be important. emotional decision and it's raising the likelihood of a high turnout. we are joined by a local resident in northern london. you are a belgian national but you cannot vote today. theare doing your part for remain campaign? what's your personal opinion of how things are going? >> it's very divided.

i have been to several polling stations and i have the feeling that it was mostly in. this one i would say it's a majority out. >> why is it a concern for you? >> i'm a belgian national and have lived here for 26 years. i married an english woman and i have four children. there would be massive uncertainty. would be a it disaster but for the country, it's clear there will be great uncertainty and that's not good for the economy. for europe as a whole, it's pretty dangerous. is the expression of a nationalistic feeling. nationalism should not be encouraged today in europe. and wehave four children are outside the polling place but this is a vote for the next

generation. the people who are voting, are they younger or older? >> the people who i have seen voting, mostly our young people voting. that people voting out are mostly older people. they are also rather prosperous people. background a foreign , they are mostly in. i was talking to women this morning and they were all voting in. they realize the out campaign is anti-foreigner. thehat's pretty much opinion of the remain campaign outside london. the situation is likely to be different. the out camp is stronger there but the issue remains divided.

>> thank you so much and thank you to your guest. a question being debated is what sort of relationship the u.k. would have with europe if they decide to leave. the swedish prime minister has been speaking to us about that. >> it's important that great britain decide what kind of relation they want with the european union. i have not heard so far from the leave side what kind of relationship they are longing for. we don't know that. if you are outside, that is a different thing. agreement --ith an we'd need to work with an agreement between great britain and the european union and we cannot have a situation where it is a benefit to leave. >> that's the sweetest prime minister. -- the swedish prime minister.

in the u.s., democrats in the house of representatives staged a sit into demand a vote on new gun control laws. the images of the representatives sitting on ththe house floor were broadcast live to the world from cell phones after republicans shut down the network cameras. this was a radical the partner from a normal orderly conduct in congress. at 3:00 a.m., the republicans adjourned the house until after july 4 over the protests and ignoring the demands. >> an unlikely place for a protest- >> i asked that all of my colleagues join me on the floor. >> just before noon on wednesday, democrats took to the u.s. congress floor with an impassioned plea. they want the republican-led congress to vote before going on a weeklong vacation on gun control measures. these would look the laws that expand background checks and prevent terrorists from buying guns. >> rise up, democrats, rise up,

americans. this cannot stand. >> after a filibuster last week, 4 scheduled votes failed monday. this is in the wake of the mass shooting in orlando on june 12. by evening, over 200 democrats joined the protesters led by former civil rights leader and georgia representative john lewis. >> what is the tipping point? are we blind? can we see? how many more mothers, how many more fathers need to shed tears of grief before we do something? the republican leaders shut off the television cameras. the independent channel that covers congress, c-span, turned to social media feeds and congressional cell phones. >> help us, america. call up your representative.

get them on the phone and tell them we want a vote. >> this is not the first time there has been a congressional sit in. republicans did it in 2008 over oil drilling rights. with incursion from across the nation including tweets from the president and social media. congressional democrats vowed to continue their fight. government and rebels are set to sign a historic peace deal after five decades of conflict. the agreement on up i lateral cease-fire and the details of disarmament come three years after peace talks started. both sides will sign the agreement in cuba. story,re on that ofafter three years sanctions and five decades of war, the colombian government settlingrebels are

differences to be signed in an accord. >> we have successfully agreed with bilateral cease-fire that includes the laying down of arms, security guarantees, fight against organized crime units. >> the colombian president promised the final deal will be put to the people in a referendum so it must convince those skeptical of the promises. supporters of the former president are concerned the deal will grant rebels impunity for work crimes. >> we hope those who have committed crimes against humanity will be jailed. >> this comes a most one year had athe guerilla group unilateral cease-fire. the latest agreement goes further as it tackles disarming the farc and they will have to trust the colombian military to protect them from other groups. many were cautious of celebrating peace too soon.

arehe fact that the farc laying down arms is not represent progress because there are other guerillas. >> i think there is still a lot to be done but it's a start. touched downn ready to attend the historic signing of the latest agreement in have anna. the colombian press -- in have havana. -- have anna - the thursday accord won't come into practice until later. >> in venezuela, the opposition says it has an talent signatures to kickoff a recall rep -- referendum against the president. the signatures are being validated in opposition critics say the government is trying to stall the process. the timing is important because if the president loses the referendum this year, the electoral council would call a new election which polls say he would likely lose.

losing the referendum after january would mean the president would be replaced by his vice president effectively leaving the socialist party in power. anger has been growing against the president in the midst of venezuela's growing economic crisis. in france, controversial union protest is going ahead after being temporarily banned yesterday. after union leaders and twitter users slammed that move as a clampdown on democracy by the government, compromise was eventually reached. we go to the protest that's about to get underway in the heart of paris. very heavy security surrounding this protest today. yes, it is almost unprecedented security for a demonstration of this size and length. there is more than 2000 police officers mobilized here in astern paris as well

security officers from the various trade unions. security is surrounding the square. streets are blocked off and they have been asking shops and cafes to close down. they have been taking metal trees sofrom around they can it be used of violence breaks out. the french government says they will not tolerate any violence. out in previous demonstrations. the french government wants to crack down on that. demonstrators feel it's excessive but it's unnerving them and it's not necessary. >> there was so much controversy about this march. first it was banned yesterday and i was allowed to go forth today in a controlled way. different government turnarounds -- does the government turnaround come as a surprise? it came as a surprise to a

lot of the people on the street. they said they could not understand what was happening with these decisions. at 10:00 a.m. yesterday, the government said the demonstration would be banned in by 1:00 p.m., it was back on but in a controlled way. surrealve got now is a situation were the demonstration will be allowed to go on, demonstrators are allowed to walk. the trade unions are allowed to move. they will go just about 1.5 kilometers. people are unhappy about that and they say they are being taken for idiots it has stirred up fresh anger. the labor protest was dying down but this government u-turn seems to have put the fire attack in the belly of people and have given them added momentum.

>> we will see how that plays out, thank you. there is good news for some russian athletes hoping to compete in the olympics in rio the summer. instead of a total and it's the ongoing doping scandal, the international olympic committee will individually screen athletes before being allowed to participate. world champion dreams of competing in the rio olympics before retiring. that goal now seems possible. there is hope. we still have to fight to compete at the rio olympics. is that thing for me all athletes that win their cases will compete under the russian flag. >> russian track and field banneds, some have been

due to a massive doping scandal but since tuesday, they have a glimmer of hope. the ioc confirmed that all russian athletes who can prove they were not involved in the state-sponsored doping system may compete. some say the decision will make little difference for the team. , i don'tering the mood think anything will change. from my point of view, this decision was politicized. everything here is politicized. you cannot do anything about it. it happened at the olympics in 1980 and 1984 and we should not have to suffer. the athletics team will face extra drug tests ahead of the rio olympics which begin on august 5. >> its 15 past the hour on france 24. here are today's headlines.

vote today brits whether to stay in or out of the european union. rebellious democrats in the u.s. pulled a sit in on the house floor demanding a vote on new gun control laws in the house speaker calls a publicity stunt and adjourns the session in ignoring the demands. the colombian government and farc rebels are set to sign an historic these deal after five decades of conflict. looking at the u.k. world in the -- looking at the u.k. vote in the business world -- focus has been on currency markets and the sterling in particular. it is at its -- the pound is at its highest level, trading for almost $1.49, its highest level in six months. it is up over 125 percent. there are huge viands of currency being traded today.

giving the polls is remain side. pretty strong gains across the european stock markets. banks and mining firms are leading the gains. there seems to be a particular sentiment on the market. >> what is likely to happen in the coming hours? >> it's a crucial 24 hours for the financial hub. the main focus will be on the currency market and sterling. several hedge funds have commissioned their own exit polls for information so they can trade better and make money. the survey data is being sent on an hourly basis to traders which means they will have up aided information throughout the day.

we may see greater moves in the currency market as the day goes on. thanks and hedge funds have huge amounts of money in this. people are working through the night tonight to cope with what happens on the exit polls are expensive, up to half a million pounds. they have to make sure they have the best information to anticipate exactly what will happen and how it will affect the market. >> what should we expect to see? >> if you look at the value of sterling so far, when this started back in february, we saw a drop in sterling. it has been tracking the polls closely in recent weeks. we saw the leaves side gaining in the polls in the last drop to the right is from those polls. polls that change in the

which is brought things back up again for the end of trading. if you look at the markets today, there is a clear sentiment that investors think it will be a vote to remain they say sterling could hit. remains, it could go to $1.55. one bank says it could go as low as $1.35. this is dividing the business community. there are two companies with different views on the brexit vote. >> to british businesses with completely different visions of the nations future. the summer smoker he has flourished from valuations. >> we buy from turkey. stuff my western design done in argentina and i buy fish in alaska and china. i have never met these people i

trade with because you don't need to in the 21st century. says his business benefits from leaving. >> we had a british rand made in italy. -- brand made in italy. have an opportunity being part of the biggest market. this could be an inhibition for innovation. >> membership of the eu has been plagued by business but -- by lack of business growth. business had to some thousands of pounds for new packaging. packaging soo the that a packet of smoked salmon could have an eu warning sign on the back which says contains fish. >>2 differing views on what it means for british companies to do business in europe. no matter the outcome, the trade

relationship between the u.k. and the eu will remain crucial. >> thank you for that look at this intense referendum. we will take a closer look at the brexit referendum in the press review. claire williams is with us today to take a look at today's headlines. >> hi there. >> it's all about britain today. >> that referendum on the brexit is happening today. the british papers are focusing on that. starting with the sun, the tabloid right wing is very pro-brexit. today, you can make history by winning independence from the crushing might of the brussels machine. that is the pro-brexit son. side?t about the bremain ones saidthe later

which side it was going for. it says day of reckoning. this is william shakespeare -- a drop of water that in the ocean seeks another drop so britain is better off in the eu the guardian says last ditch push to say in europe. it is also pro-europe. if you don't understand how the election will go, it's complicated. there is a nice breakdown on their -- in there. at 10:00 p.m., the polling stations will close. sunderland has oh is the constituency to report first. 2:00 a.m., it will get interesting and that will be when we start understanding -- it will take possibly a while

for us to know which way it is going. around 7:00 a.m. before we will no leave or remain happens. >> we will stay on top of that minute i minutes -- minute by minute. what about newspapers outside the u.k.? >> newspapers across the european union are talking about this. will happens, the brexit affect the rest of europe. union jack and lots of english words. this french paper calls today d-day. happens, thiser is a good thing. not giving the european union the jumpstart it needs to start performing and make changes. another newspaper is trying to play on a shakespeare quote.

another french newspaper is asking in or out. there are five reasons for staying in and five reasons for being out. >> what are those reasons? if it ise wondering bad or good for britain. outside the u.k., some will say is it good for france or the rest of europe. the argument is linked to that. it's as written should leave the britain should leave the european union which will give them a chance to come through because britain keeps acting like up dutch lions child.on the remain side , -- like a petulant child. on the remain side, what if other eu states wonder if they

should have their own referendum. >> thank you so much. that's what the papers are saying about the brexit referendum that is being voted on today. you can check out our website on france 24.com. next, french high school students are breathing a sigh of relief as their final exams are coming to an end. find out about the incredibly difficult baccalaureate exam in the next french connection on the way.

[bells chiming] narrator: on one day every year, health workers in the philippines take a little titime ouout. it's an opportunity to let their hair down, to mark their achievements. [bells chiming] [speaking native language] narrator: but not everyone is taking part. there's one disease that gives no respite. woman: it's a major public health concern. yeah, it's one of the most common cause of hospitalizations in the country.