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Germany’s populist anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) pushes Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union into third place in a regional election. Exit polls and early counting in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – the home constituency of the German Chancellor – are will be confirmed later today. We hear from the ±«Óãtv’s Damien McGuinness in Berlin.

In Hong Kong, votes are being counted after the territory held its first major elections since the pro-democracy protests of 2014. At issue is a disconnect between a rising tide among Hong Kong's youth pursuing the once unthinkable idea of independence for Hong Kong and the will of mainland China - represented in the election by pro-Beijing candidates. We ask Prof Michel Hockx is Director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame just how controversial the election is.

As world leaders meet in China for the G20, we hear how global growth and trade will be a prominent feature of the talks. Also, after the bankruptcy of Korea’s largest shipping company on Wednesday, we ask what life is like for the sailors now stuck on board vessels halted at sea. Kevin Vallence – a ship’s pilot with 40 years of experience on board ships, including piloting vessels for Hanjin gives his assessment. And Russia begins annual military manoeuvres – Kier Giels from Chatham House explains how significant KavKaz is.

(Photo credit: Axel Schmidt/Getty Images)