Winner of saturdays election there in the capital colombo for the celebrations and concerns for the future. And in iran traffic ground to a halt in the capital tehran is taking their protest at 50 percent hike in fuel prices around supreme leaders says he backs the decision despite the unrest. Im Rebecca Ritters welcome to the program we begin in hong kong where theyve been fresh clashes between prodemocracy demonstrators and Police Chinese troops have been deployed for the 1st time since they protests began in june activists have dug into hong kongs Polytechnic University and a value to defend it from police is part of a week Long Campaign aimed at disrupting traffic and hitting the local economy. I dont know the result. On the voices of protest Police Fire Tear gas at protesters occupying hong kongs Polytechnic University and blocking nearby roads mass demonstrators hurl molotov cocktails in response the street battle pits water cannon against fire bombs and armored trucks against umbrellas and police claim protesters shot arrows at them injuring one officer in the leg. The protesters are showing themselves to be skillful tacticians this week they moved away from flash mob demos to occupying universities and blocking the citys key traffic arteries the polytechnic is the last University Held by protesters by barricading themselves in they have succeeded in closing down the citys cross harbor tunnel connecting the mainland and the hong kong island. We want the city to go on strike at the Hong Kong PoliceTechnic University we can occupy the cross harbor tunnel so it can help to achieve this goal and we could also book highways and other major roads in the area where the roads are right and the hong kong Polytechnic University our major roads and they could be blown up to help us achieve the strike. The protesters are trying to quote squeeze the economy and its working the city is in recession for the 1st time in a decade but their actions are dividing Public Opinion with many residents irritated by the disruption. On saturday chinese soldiers emerged from their barracks in sports gear to help clear barricades on the streets it was the armys 1st deployment in hong kong since protests began 5 months ago and its both a warning and a p. R. Move aimed at those fed up with the chaos but protesters still have sympathy from some locals angry with the government. And more and more yet. I think no one in hong kong is happy when they see this. All the things are just broken and it affects a lot of peoples daily lives. And its because of this bad government. Otherwise the young protesters wouldnt come out and do these very violent things. To come here with protesters valuing to carry their campaign of civil disobedience into next week and neither side willing to back down normality in hong kong seems a distant prospect. To sri lanka now where got a violent rajapaksa has been officially declared winner of the countrys president ial election well wishes have been congratulating the former defense chief it is hard to pax it took more than half the vote in a south asian island nation which is still recovering from a series of bombings last that killed some 250 people rajapaksa has vowed to restore security and is calling for national unity. Data means animation johns farm has been covering the sri lankan election for us she sent him this analysis of the victor and the challenges he faces once he takes office. Celebrations breaking out here on the street all for lambeau in sri lanka it is official work that it out but so will be the next president of the country the elections which just yesterday but not results have already been announced this is where the Lection Commission is and the crowd behind me is the real thing for their new president to come out and bring them good i mean i just backside is expected to take office early tomorrow morning taking over from president seriously and now we stepped out a few days ago now of course the voters were jubilant but critics have raised concerns about good ill get out the 1st today shows when it comes to supporting the rights of ethnic and religious minorities but it is interesting to note that in this was on twitter declaring victory he called for a united free lunch got a feeling that steers together and does not discriminate between ethnicities and religions hes calling for a celebration that is as simple as the gambian this has been a historically useful election infield on cross what if the new president is stepping back north that could be reason to hope that this is the beautiful feel like god that everybody has been hoping for to morrow but i would doubt that takes office. Now that some of the other stories making news around the world fellow troops is holding a parliamentary election that opposition groups say is neither free nor fair president Alexander Lukashenko dismissed those allegations after voting in the capital minsk many prominent opposition figures were ruled ineligible as candidates critics say the election is vulnerable to manipulation if the u. S. And south korea have agreed to postpone military drills in a bid to move the Peace Process with north korea for would washington deny that the decision was another concession to be on north korea had objected to the drills even though they had been scaled back. Clashes erupted between protesters and police in the french capital paris as demonstrators marked the one Year Anniversary of the Yellow Vest Movement protesters set fire and special windows Police Responded with tear gas and arrested dozens of people. In iran thousands of people have been out on the streets protesting against the governments decision to raise petrol prices by 50 percent and to introduce rationing since the price hike many demonstrators have abandoned their cars along major highways and joined mass rallies in the capital tehran but some of the demonstrations have turned violent and at least 2 people have died as a result of the protests and many more injured. Iranians have taken to the streets in the capital tehran and a number of cities across the country in protest of the governments move to raise the price of petrol by 50 percent the angry demonstrations have seen protesters blocking roads setting fire to tires and attacking public property. Irans leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he supports the price hike despite the unrest so. We have sat down and made a decision for the country based on expert assessments this is a must be executed. The move is in part a response to the failing economy provoked by u. S. Sanctions but how many put the blame for the damage on protesters. Done by the people this is what the thugs do. His words were indicative of a strong line being taken by the government in the face of the rest police have threatened further tough measures and the Communications Minister announced that the internet has been shut down for 24 hours to reimpose control. The Czech Republic has been marking 30 years since the socalled velvet revolution the Popular Uprising that brought an end to communist rule but 3 decades on the countrys leader is contending with a public pushback. Prime minister andre was jammed by protesters in prague as he laid a wreath to mark the anniversary on saturday about a quarter of a 1000000 people demonstrating in the city calling for damage to sell his business interests or resign opposition groups saying the billionaire Prime Minister profiting is from his political office. And joining me from prague the capital of Czech Republic day dont you correspondent Jonathan Crane gentleman todays the 30th anniversary of the socalled revolution whats been happening so far. Well major events on the way across the city not just actually here in prague across the whole country flash point from the protests 30 years ago of course a crackdown on students back then it will culminate i went to square behind me as you can see there will be a concert here later a concert for the future its called featuring some famous czech guy musicians also some political activists but the political events took place earlier today at the National Museum of events hosted by the Prime Minister on trade stands to be dedicated to evening and exhibition to the velvet revolution but of course bobby did acknowledge those protests as you mentioned he was heckled earlier when he laid a commemoration wreath now he basically said look i thank you everyone for expressing your opinions on the future of this country but he said that actually we should be grateful this is the most free weve had in the Czech Republic the most free period in the countrys history and actually things are going very well but he admits to being a member of the communist party thats not a surprise he said he wasnt proud of that he said he wished he had more courage to rise up and protest like some of the other people at the time but obviously he has also been accused of being a secret spying for the secret police back then he accused he denies all those allegations but actually the overall tone of his speech today was quite conciliatory we mentioned some of the protesters we saw about a quarter of a 1000000 and he government protests. On the street yesterday one of the people calling for. Well if they want him to either give up his conflict of interest racing to his big conglomerate agra fair or resign if he doesnt do any of those things they say they will step up their protests they will find more innovative ways to protest because. It is one of the countrys richest people and a day hes put his business into to trust friends his critics accuse mr profiting from that from benefiting from the business being able to influence it as Prime Minister even the European Union is investigating and its expected to release the results of that investigation they said this year now bobbish says this is a witch hunt i think its very poignant 30 years on from the 4 of communism that were having this conversation because for many people this is a bittersweet day you have people who are obviously glad that the communism era is over that chapter in the countrys history is close but they are worried that some of those powerful freedoms are being lost on the other hand you have people who perhaps say that they were better off on the communism they dont feel that actually their lives improved and what theyve been promised hasnt actually met those people that actually vote for bobby shes trying to get them with some of his populist policies and the party is polling around 30 percent so there you have these waves of protest pacifically in prague elsewhere in the country bobbish remains very popular and theres going to be very difficult to dislodge him even if he gives up his business interests as you say Jonathan Crane in the czech capital pronk thank you. Some sport now in germany sealed their place and 2020 on saturday after a 4 nil win of about. The netherlands also confirmed their qualification with the oh i can live side now poised to clinch top spot in change thanks game with Northern Ireland croatia and austria also went through it. Germany had been in the driving seat long before mathias didnt. Opened the scoring in the 41st minute they got back not showing any zone stadium and yogi live sides lead was doubled just off the half time smashing home this time to give germany some breathing space veteran midfielder tony close out of the 3rd in the 55th minute the real madrid filled it with a neat finish from the edge of the area and close out of the 2nd with 10 minutes to go the 2014 world cup winner now has 17 goals for his country. Its great to score some goals but its more important that we can enjoy this as a team you could see that it can get awkward thats the way it is in these types of games until the 1st goal goes in. Jumped on for germany who can now focus on find shooting their preparations ahead of euro 2020 in june. In tenets the finale to the mens tennis season is just hours away austrias dominic tain takes on graces stephanus to to pass as they bid to climb the 80 paint finals trophy tournament debutants had to pass bate the mighty Roger Federer in the semi final in london team meanwhile overcame germanys defending champion alexanders thereof in straight sets his dominant display included his full array of shots the 26 year old prevailed 7563 victory in sundays final of the unofficial 5th major would be tamed career highlight so far. Its a reminder of the top stories were following for you police and protesters have clashed in hong kong as protests in the city enter their 6 month to demonstrators barricaded themselves in hong kong Polytechnic University while dozens of progovernment supporters trying to clear the area. Then got a buyout rajapaksa has been officially declared winner of sri lankas president ial election rajapaksa took more than half the vote in the south asian island nation which is still recovering from a series of dave deadly bombings last easter. Up next shift living in the digital age more News Headlines coming up the top of the hour im rebecca reed is in peril and thank you. Again no we affectionately ration books affectionately as you care. To recruit him in the middle of his Election Campaign in the year 2000 the documentary was filmed for russian television. To turn the camera back on of course the film sicko