<p>In this edition: Beijing annoyed by an unofficial referendum on democracy in Hong Kong; a US church giving away rifles as raffle prizes; and an Australian woman dancing with tiger sharks.</p><br />HONG KONG’S UNOFFICIAL DEMOCRACY REFERENDUM<br />Over 700,000 people in Hong Kong have cast their vote over the past ten days in an unofficial referendum organized by pro-democracy activists. Voting closed this Sunday, and saw the people of Hong Kong have their say on the introduction of universal suffrage in the former British colony which was handed back to China in 1997. <br />The referendum, which lays down the gauntlet to Beijing, began as an online vote. Polling offices were then set up across Hong Kong after the purpose built website fell victim to a series of serious cyber-attacks. <br />China which has promised Hong Kong direct elections for the next head of government, known as the chief executive, in 2017, has said the referendum is illegal. But democracy activists want the nomination process for the candidates to be open to everyone and are wary over China's growing control over local affairs, even more so after China's June 2014 “white paper” that appears to emphasize its authority over Hong Kong. <br />The traditional July 1st annual protest rally for democracy will serve as something of a gauge for the opposition. This year the organizers are expecting a strong turnout from Hong Kongers demanding the right to choose their own political leaders, without interference from Beijing. <br />USA: CHURCH GIVES AWAY RIFLES TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP<br />In a bid to attract new members, the pastor of a church in Joplin, Missouri, decided to give away semi-automatic rifles as tombola prizes at the parish`s Father`s Day event. A... Go on reading on our web site.<br />Visit our website:<br />http://www.france24.com<br /><br />Like us on Facebook:<br />https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English<br /><br />Follow us on Twitter:<br />https://twitter.com/France24_en
