what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." >> some are rescued, many more are not. hundreds of thousands are left homeless as pakistan reels from some of the worst flooding in living memory. the huge oil spill cleanup in china. we are out with the locals, gathering up oil with their bare hands. >> it is unfair and iran. their livelihood is this. they have to be involved in the cleanup. >> wanted and eliminated. one of the top drugs mothers in mexico is killed in a shootout. -- one of the top drugs smothers in mexico is killed in a shootout. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- how hard will it be to reform

benefits in britain when dependence crosses generations? and paintings of a 7-year-old are selling for thousands of dollars. hello to you. at least 300 dead, hundreds of thousands forced from their homes, many trapped by rising flood waters or buried under mud slides. the heavy monsoon across northwest pakistan and across the border in afghanistan is creating some of the worst flooding in the region's history. and the rain looks set to keep on falling. lyse doucet traveled to the worst hit areas. she sent this report. >> of landscape of destruction and sorrow. entire villages have disappeared under water. houses have been swept away in

rushing torrance. even children were carried away by natures of brute force. the pakistan army is in action, trying to move people to hire and safer ground. provincial authorities are asking for help in the rescue operations. there is not enough to save everyone. the biggest market in the region is flooded. >> it was unprecedented. in my whole life, i had never seen this kind of devastation. people were already worried about their lives, you know. >> pakistan faces on monsoon season every year, but many say this is the worst flooding they have seen since the 1920's. growing numbers are losing their lives. more rain is forecast. this northwest area is now cut off from the rest of pakistan. he approaches to the two main highways are blocked off. -- the approaches to the two

main highways are blocked off. outerbridge is broken. no. pakistan lies close to of volatile -- a volatile tribal belt. now nature poses a major threat. this area could remain cut off for weeks. for many people, their lives will change forever. bbc news. >> at china's worst oil spill is far more serious than the government is admitting according to environmentalists to it and to the scene. a fire on an oil depot sent crude leaking into the sea. all of that was a fortnight ago. volunteers are trying to clean it up without gloves, masks, or any protection. we have this special report from chris hogg. >> these boats were built for

fishing, now correcting -- collecting oil. the oil was spilled when two pipelines exploded. china says the spill is under control. the cleanup is like a scene from the 1920's. this man is exhausted. >> i did not sleep last night at all. >> no wonder. -- no gloves, goggles, or masks for protection. the fishermen complain of headaches and rashes on the skin. getting this stuff out of the sea is a horrible job -- dirty, difficult, and dangerous. but everyone i have spoken to has told us the same thing. this is their environment, their livelihood at risk. they have to be involved in this cleanup. this beach was of shellfish farms.

they must get it clean if the family is to work again -- this family must get it clean at the family is to work again. those who have seen the spills before it said this could turn out to be the worst this country has surface -- suffered. >> a lander standing this is the largest oil spill in china's history. -- my understanding is this is the largest oil spill in china's history. i do find it ironic that the biggest oil consumers on in history, the u.s. and china, had oil spills at the same time. i hope this helps people realize the hidden cost of oil spill -- of oil consumption are there. -- who will put pressure on them? the pollution will harm our business for a long time, at

this person and grumbles. "but i cannot do anything about it." this family struggles on it through the toxic sludge. they have no choice. they have to make a living. they must wait and see if their livelihoods will ever recover. bbc news, northeast china. >> israel has launched air strikes against targets in the gaza strip. palestinian witnesses report numerous explosions in gaza city and several people injured. the rockets were fired -- and rockets were fired by militants earlier on friday. police investigating the bomb attacks in uganda have charged three canyons on multiple charges of murder, attempted murder -- three kenyans on multiple charges of murder, attempted murder, and terrorism.

and islamist militant group has said they were behind the attacks. there has rejected allegations that he has blood on his hands. he says there is no evidence that anyone has been killed as a result of the leaks. the mexican government is claiming a major success in its country's war on drug cartels. security forces have killed ignacio coronel, a top member of a powerful cartel. it is believed he was right-hand man to mexico's most-wanted drug lord. humphrey huxley has this. >> ignacio coronel was one of the most dangerous drug warlords in mexico. he died in a firefight in a wealthy suburb in the west of the country and ranked no. 3 in a powerful cartel led by mexico's most wanted man.

ignacio coronel specialized in methamphetamines, said to be more addicted than cocaine in an industry worth billions a year. >> during this operation, ignacio coronel tried to avoid the action by attacking military personnel with gunfire. responding to the attack, this capo died. >> mexico is fighting the drug barons with all the hardware of the civil war. millions of dollars worth of narcotics have been seized and destroyed. opium, hair when, cocaine, methamphetamine -- heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine. >> several thousand have died this year will love. it is worse in the border towns. in tijuana, more than 50 law- enforcement agencies -- agents

have been arrested for narcotics involvement themselves. the fbi had a $5 million reward for ignacio coronel. his death might make little long-term difference in mexico's drug war. bbc news. >> greece is to use the army and navy to restore fuel supplies cut by a lorry driver strike. it this strike has led to petrol shortages and badly damaged the tourist industry. an architect and retired office workers have become the first gay couples to marry in argentina under a new law legalizing same-sex marriages. they have been living together for 27 years. paris has one, barcelona has one, and london it now has a

pay-as-you-go cycle scheme. organizers hope many will be encouraged to ride two wheels. two heads of state are making an unprecedented joint visits to lebanon. they were trying to ease tension over the investigation into the killing of 11 non-'s former prime minister. syria has been blamed for his death. -- investigation into the former of lebanon's prime minister. >> these are images that would have been unthinkable two years ago. the saudis and syrians were backing different sides in the lebanese fighting. there were not on speaking terms. but all of that is forgotten now. the saudi king and the syrian president, but hugely influential but different factions here, have come to

persuade their respective lebanese allies that whatever comes out of the international tribunal, peace and in the region must come first. it is highly unusual. two powerful regional leaders, themselves rivals until just two years ago, coming together but a common message. -- coming together with a comment message. it is the first time the syrian president has been here since before it the assassination five years ago. the international tribunal is rumored to be close to indicting members of hezbollah, and fears over an explosion of sectarian violence. the syrians seem to be as keen as the saudis that that not be about to happen. >> the interest of unstable lebanon -- a stable levon non-

should be paramount. this is the message that the syrians and saudis are trying to get at the summit. >> the immediate danger that the two powers are trying to head off is a repetition of the sectarian violence of two years ago. but tension with israel is also very high. hezbollah that triggered the war in 2006 by capturing israeli soldiers in a cross border raids. any new work would be hard for syria to stay out. that is why the summit has stressed the need for lebanese state institutions to be the arbiter. in other words, no more freelance activities that could provoke an unwelcome war, whether it's internal or with israel. coming from two such influential regional figures, it is a message that is bound to resonate long after the

leadership has departed. bbc news, a writ. >> still to come for you -- the unexpected discovery in this tokyo house. when officials went to which this man and a happy 111th birthday. first though, well fires are raging in central and western russia as a heat wave grips much of the country. reports suggest at least 20 people have died. richard galpin reports. >> and desperate struggle to save towns and villages in western russia. already, more than 1000 homes burned to the ground, and still no sign of the fire's been brought under control. -- being brought under control. the flames being fanned by high winds.

>> the situation is very difficult. there are strong winds and hot temperatures. these negatively affect the situation with the fires, which are fast turning into large, uncontrolled bleeding channels. -- blazing channels. >> the order has been given for the army to help. the arrival of prime minister putin -- another sign of serious the situation has become. all these villagers have lost their homes and are desperate for help. mr. goodman promising the village will be rebuilt before the winter -- mr. clinton promising the village will be rebuilt before the winter sets in -- mr. putin promising the village will be rebuilt. how many more promises like these before the fires are finally extinguished? bbc news, moscow.

>> parts of the states also in flames. firefighters in california are battling fast-living places in the hills of los angeles. already 2000 homes have been evacuated. the wildfire broke out in the rural foothills that connect los angeles to the high desert. the causes under investigation. -- because it is under investigation remain headlines on "bbc world news." flooding from monsoon rains have left hundreds dead in northwest pakistan and across the border in afghanistan. people in china are taking matters into their own hands, and to clear up oil from the country's biggest ever spill. in afghanistan, hundreds of british soldiers have begun one of the biggest assault against the taliban this year, trying to drive insurgents out of helmand province. our correspondent and cameramen with onion with the first wave and found out that people would

like to see the -- went in with the first wave in front of the taliban -- people would like to see the taliban in control. >> phase one -- an audacious assault behind enemy lines. it is a high risk mission by land and air. and these are the elite troops at the spearhead. they know the ground will be into theillied's, -- ground will be built with -- riddled with ied's. yet another dangerous battle in a war they are struggling to win. this is one of the towns nearby that is already clear. the army says is proof of progress. >> this is a success. there is economic regeneration taking place daily. you have been around the district yourself.

u.s. seen a normal pattern of life. the people feel safe. -- you have seen in a normal pattern of life -- you have seen a normal pattern of life. >> this is the sixth time i get into this area. this village is alive and working very well. the problem is the security is only skin deep. if you talk to local people, there are still problems in this area. the shopkeepers say they are caught between troops and the insurgents. they want peace talks, not fighting. the old man says war is not the answer. i asked them who they would like to see in charge here, into a man, they said "the taliban." the real battle is to win the support of the people here. there has been progress, but it is limited. once again, troops are on the move against the taliban and the

fifth bloody summer is under way. bbc news. >> masked men in sri lanka had attacked an independent television station coming to an opposition candidate. -- linked to a former opposition candidate. >> the attackers struck in an ultra-secure area close to the army headquarters. it was after 1:00 in the morning, and it seemed meticulously planned. they had masks and armed with assault rifles and handguns. three staff were injured, including an elderly guard. >> they were held at gunpoint. after that, there was a blaze of gunfire. there were bombs being from. the whole building has been destroyed.

>> and one of the victims related his ordeal, nursing a wounded are. >> we tried to close the door, but we could not. then they came in, and they destroyed everything. then they insulted us. one shouted "fire! fire!" and everyone came out of the building. >> and equipment was destroyed, running radio and tv broadcast. the government has ordered a special investigation. -- the equipment was destroyed, grounding and radio and tv broadcasts. there are reports that the owner was once a a close confidant of the president, but fell out with them and founded his presidential opponent in january. before this attack, he returned from self-imposed exile abroad.

journalists campaign groups rank sri lanka as a dangerous country for reporters. will anyone be apprehended, or will the attackers, as ever, remained unidentified and and point -- unpunished? >> british -- the british government is about to overall a complex system of welfare payments where they say idleness is institutionalized. >> this is an estate which relies on benefits. its residents are an obvious target for what the government sees as a culture of worklessness. 900 of these people are claiming benefits. some families here are dependent on the money, and in a time of

cutbacks, that are deeply worried about what any shake-up will mean. >> people who are poor, you know, it is not easy to just go about, go get a job. >> there are people who believe reform is long overdue and in some places, any work ethic has been lost. >> that is the case right there, the people abuse the system. personally to someone who works, to see that they are getting more in benefits more than i get in a wage. >> the government believes it can achieve huge savings by combining benefits and tax benefits in one payment. >> the system is hemorrhaging money. in all the wrong places. >> it is not an official, no way. i pay, what? 575 pounds myself.

i am not going to get that in a wage. >> the problem is unemployment across generations. of the chef's son wants to work rather than clan, but he cannot find a job. >> i have been doing this for two years, and i am on calls bill. it is not working out. >> is the surprise some workers have had to claim in recent months. >> we signed on to the wage. >> added you feel claiming benefits? >> embarrassed. >> the benefits system is not always an easy option. the attack on the claim culture could prove to be difficult and expensive. bbc news, manchester. >> now a story really stranger than fiction. an man was believed to be 111 years old and tokyo's oldest

man. when officials went to congratulate him on his birthday, they found only mummified remains in his bed and his family a lot better off than they used to be. >> even by the standards of japan's rapidly aging society, he stood out. the official record shows him to be extremely long left. in fact, he was formally recognized at 111 as the oldest man in all of tokyo. that was until the police forced their way into this house this week and made a shocking discovery. inside they found a body of the man lying on a bed. from the state of the courts and the date of newspapers and iran, they believe -- from the state of be corpse and the date of newspapers around the room, they believe he died 30 years ago. local welfare officials tried to

go around, but every time they went, the family said the old man was out of town or lock himself into his gramm. they said he wanted to be a living buddha. authorities are investigating whether financial frauds took place. despite being dead, he has been drawing attention for years. some of the money, over $20,000, has been withdrawn from this account early this month. >> roland kirk, keeping a straight face. this at 7-year-old has the art world buzzing. his paintings are selling for as much as $15,000. our regional tv program discovered him early and went to his first show. >> they began arriving. some flew from as far as france. at the center of attention, a shy 7-year-old and his family.

his talent was first discovered when he was 5. >> we went on holiday. we went down to the harbor and got back anti to the back and went to bed -- we got back and he took a bath and into bed, and in the morning he had drawn the harbor. he progressed quickly from then on. >> he has mastered oil, pastels, and watercolor. >> normally an artist country someone style or medium, but he is able to encompass all three into this worked. he spends a lot of time on the coast. >> some of his paintings have sold for 10,000 pounds, an investment buyers can enjoy it while his talent matures and his reputation grows. bbc news. >> from 17-year-old to 7000 children in gaza, -- from one

seven-year-old to 7000 children in gaza. thank you for being with us on "bbc world news." >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold. get the top stories from around the globe and click to play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, and union bank.

>> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> there is one stage that is the met and carnegie hall. >> o, that this too, too solid flesh -- >> it is the kennedy center -- >> check, one, two. >> and a club in austin. [woman vocalizing] >> it is closer than any seat in the house, no matter where you call home. >> ♪ the top of the world, and i'm there, i'm home ♪ >> pbs -- the great american stage that fits in every living room. your support of pbs brings the arts home. >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles. presented by kcet, los angeles.