>> "bbc world news" is presented by kcet, los angeles. funding for this presentation is 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?

>> and now "bbc world news." >> but toxic sludge that spilled out of an industrial plant in hungary threatens one of britain's biggest waterways. a double suicide attempt in the pakistani city of karachi. a surprise winner for the nobel prize in literature, a peruvian writer, mario vargas llosa, winds for his stories about power and struggle. welcome. coming up later, nine years after the u.s.-led invasion of afghanistan, the daily cycle of violence. we have a special report. and a look inside what could be circus.s impaclast gypsy

>> there are worries and fears that they toxic sludge in hungary could cause an environmental catastrophe. it burst out of a plant on monday. it has now reached the river danube. it could affect half a dozen countries, if it contaminates the danube. the prime minister of hungary has called it an ecological tragedy. >> after the duluth, the cleanup. hungary is throwing everything it has at this operation. the fire brigade and police from many counties, the army, and countless volunteers. coordinating the effort was not easy. the government has ordered a criminal investigation. the prime minister says everything possible will be done to help the victims and find those responsible.

>> the pollution is the more serious thing after the losing of human life. we do not know exactly what the size is and the seriousness of the special material. i think it is a serious ecological catastrophe. >> in the ruins of places, people are still searching for anything that can be salvaged from the ruins of their homes. >> we have lost everything. my mother, unfortunately, has no insurance. our whole life, the house, the furniture, the groceries, our pets -- everything is ruined. >> four people were killed on the first day of the accident. three elderly people are still missing. hope of finding them all life is almost zero. local people say this was a disaster waiting to happen. 50 years of highly toxic industrial waste waiting to

inundate the village. as time goes by, the issue of compensation is raised more and more forcefully. in the emergency services have confirmed that traces of pollutants have now reached the river danube. there has been the first reports of fish dying in the river. clay is dumped in the river to try to neutralize the the toxins. monitoring is going on constantly. >> pakistani officials say at least nine people have been killed in a double explosion at a prominent shrine in the city of karachi. the country has recently seen an upsurge of attacks. >> the killers came at a time they knew would cause maximum mayhem and death. thursday night is the biggest night at the shrine.

many come to pray. food is distributed to the poor. reports from the scene say security was lax, even though shrine are a target for the militants. >> it seems that these are suicide bombings. one of them rushed through security and that guy exploded in the area we are standing. the other one -- they were up thereim and dathe blew at the gate. >> he was quick to condemn the blasts. he blamed the violence of people hewho want to impose what he calls an extremist lifestyle on the country. it is the latest in a growing number of attacks on shrines, especially in the northwest of the country. the islamic extremist of

pakistan have a long history of targeting fellow muslims. through the 1990's, hundreds were killed in attacks on mosques. the vast majority were shia, but sunni groups have also been targeted. they attempt to deter people from worshiping at the shrines in the way that they have for hundreds of years. . >> the head of the international monetary fund has warned about the danger of what he calls a currency war breaking out between china and western nations. he said that he took the threat very seriously and the imf would put forward proposals to avoid such a conflict. the united states has said the yuan is undervalued. it has been nine years to the day since the u.s.-led invasion

of afghanistan. since then, there have been promises of better government, more security, and improved lives for the people of afghanistan. have any of those promises come true? ian is leaving kabul after reporting from all over the country. this is his final report on the lives of afghans living in this area. >> in the country plagued by war, life is a daily struggle. afghans are tough, self- sufficient, but they need two things most of us take for granted, peace and prosperity. one last journey to the north to seek what is happening to the country and the people who live there. this is the city's main bus station. it has long been one of the safest parts of afghanistan, immune to the violence

elsewhere. even here, things are changing. the drivers complain the words the north are not safe. >> we decided to come to this bus station because this is how most afghans get around the country. as you can see, a large crowd of people is waiting to take this bus. this is a good indication of how security has declined across the country and how violence has grown. you can see that people and the driver are taking a risk. this pattern is pretty much repeated across the country now. >> in the last two years, i've watched violence spread. thousands of innocent people killed. families driven from their homes, caught in the middle of a battle they do not choose or want. the people who should be keeping them safe are struggling. i joined a police convoy headed out of town.

i wanted to meet the new police chief, a fighter, who spent much of his life on the front line, and now faces a growing battle against insurgents in the north. >> the taliban in the north, as you know the security situation is not as good. >> the military say they now have the right strategy and forces to win the war. the fight has been far harder than any ever expected. there are too few signs of progress. the story of the last two years sounds bleak, but it is not the whole picture. despite the dangers, many say that they are better off, even women who have suffered horrific abuse. prostituted by her husband, pierre for live, imprisoned by her brother, forced to be a

second wife. four women now living in one of the city's secret shelters. >> our lives are full of violence and problems, even from childhood. there's a lot of violence in our life. >> incredibly, they all say they are still better off now. at least they have courts to appeal to and shelter to hide in. amid the chaos and fear, like still goes on. a final stop at a wedding party. men and women dancing and celebrating, albeit in separate rooms. the groom told me proudly his was an affair of the heart, not an arranged marriage. a young man starting a new life in a troubled country. he has faith things will get better. >> it will take 10 years, maybe

15 years. the future of afghanistan is bright because we have the support of the international community. >> this is a country of come to know, a wild and beautiful land. blighted by poverty and the wars. parents still dare to hope that their children will live in peace. >> or watching "bbc world news." still to come -- >> happy birthday to you have a birthday to you have a birthday, prime minister. >> birthday greetings for prime minister putin. you give the man who has everything? we will tell you on this program. >> a russian spacecraft preparing to blast off to a trip

to the international space station. it will carry two russians and an american. >> there it is, the sillier space rockets -- sawyer space rocket. behind it, all the left over things from more than 50 years of the soviet space industry. this involved in industrial building. it is quite an industrial wasteland. it is extraordinary to think that this is the future of the american space program for the next few years. when the space shuttle program ends the 1960's russian rocket will be the only way for american astronauts to get into space. this is the rocket. at the back end, there are the four booster rockets, which get the thing under way in the first

place. and then there is the main section of the rocket -- again, in two parts. at the top, this is where the astronauts will be sitting as the rocket blasts off into space on its way to the international space station. this will be the 464th launch from this pad, the very same platform sputnik was sent into space. the same place where the first man to go into space started his great adventure. dawn on friday morning, this rocket will be launched to the international space station with an american on board. very soon, it will be the only way for an american to get into space. >> this is "bbc world news."

these are the top stories this hour. authorities in hungary say traces of the toxic sludge that came from eight -- have now reached the danube river. at least nine have been killed and two explosions in the pakistani city of karachi. >> the government of canada says it has banned more than 1000 teachers -- kenya has banned more than 1000 teachers for sexually abusing girls. some of the abusers have been jailed, and a nationwide health plan has been set up. earlier, we spoke to the head of the service and ask him about the reaction in kenya to this news. >> it has brought an amount of shock. one, do we think this has been going on or not? to what extent, nobody knows.

soon, there will be shot in the country that we did not know this scale of crime was going on in schools. that raises another question. how do schools -- how are they able to investigate and detected these kind of cases before they reach these kind of levels we're reading about? >> it is archbishop desmond tutu's birthday, and he has decided this is the right age to about out of public life. karen allen reports on his departure. >> we will be freed. >> a man described as the conscious of the south africa, archbishop desmond tutu. the icon is now stepping down. he was a key player in this country's long walk to freedom,

thrusting himself into the front line of the struggles against white minority rule. remember this moment when he intervened as a township mob tried to lynch a suspected undercover policeman. he pleaded to the crowd to leave the man alone. >> the commission is not in session. >> it was that sense of compassion that saw him chair the truth and reconciliation commission one year after the arrival of democracy. a testament to those who suffer the evils of apartheid, often seen it too hard to bear. >> we held recently wanted to look the beast in the eye. it must have meant a lot to people that they could tell their stories. >> with the leadership of president nelson mandela, and archbishop desmond tutu, south

africa has started a unique course. now the cleric, adored as much for his infectious laughter as he is admired for his smallish stance, is stepping out of the limelight to allow a new generation to glow. >> one month from today, burma will hold its first elections in 20 years. the country's military rulers have banned the opposition leader from running, and her party refuses to stand without her. the bbc is banned from firmer, but one of our correspondents managed to gain entry. >> burma is shrouded in mystery, run by a reclusive the general. the rules of the game are changing. its long-suffering people have been asked to vote in the election for the first time in 20 years. in 1990, they handed victory to

aung sang suu kyi. is currently under house arrest. her party refuses to run without her. political discussions are held cautiously, but one question dominates -- was the party right to opt out? we went undercover to meet one of the leaders of the party. >> complying with the new election laws would have meant abandoning the leader and hundreds of others who sacrificed their freedom to fight for democracy. the election has been meticulously planned by the man who has controlled burma since

1992. this is a game played by his rules, according to his timetable. western governments say the election will be neither free nor fair. despite the flaws, some respected opposition figures are throwing their hats in the ring, including a breakaway section of her party. we went to meet the new group's chairman, who is now in his seventies. >> it has been difficult, he says, not least, because of sharp criticism from colleagues. >> others say it betrays the democracy. >> a division centered on a dilemma. does it offer people the chance

of something better, however small, or will it leave them as powerless as ever? >> whether the world, people should be evicted from france is causing huge -- roma people should be evicted from france is still causing a huge controversy. >> with trumpets and violence, jugglers and dancers, they have been entertaining paris for decades. they are from all over. earlier this year, they were paid to represent france at the world expo. suddenly they find themselves in the midst of the government's campaign to expel hundreds of illegal roma gypsies. he has been refused the work permits he needs for two of his top musicians.

>> my father had a big circus in france. i should have a smaller service. i want it to stay that way, keep alive the gypsy tradition. >> at the end of each show, the musicians retired to their caravans. anyone who lives here works hard for their money. the violinist fled romania in the 1980's. his family has known nothing else but the circus. >> what is happening? i don't know. all these things about work permits. we need more musicians to survive. for the atmosphere, for the people -- what can we do with just the four of us? it is not an orchestra.

>> the immigration minister denies there's any political motivation. he says he is responding to a labor ministry report. they also questioned his use of child performance, including his daughter, rose, who loves to dance. in response, the service has begun an on-line petition. so far, they have gathered 30,000 signatures. this is the last gipsy circus in europe, possibly in the world. unless the labor ministry looks more favorably in their cause, the big top of the circus may be lowered for the very last time. >> the nobel prize for literature has been awarded to the peruvian writer, mario vargas llosa, a former journalist and presidential

candidate. he is one of the most respected authors in the world. >> for almost half a century, he has been one of the most prolific writers in latin america. for many, his victory is long overdue. >> the nobel prize in literature for 2010 is awarded -- the peruvian author, mario vargas llosa. >> at first, he thought the call from the swedish academy was a joke. >> it was totally unexpected. it was really a surprise. i think it is a great encouragement, a recognition a work of life.

>> born in peru in 1936, mario vargas llosa first burst onto the literary scene in the 1960's as part of a new wave of latin- american writers with his debut hero.""the time of the zer he followed this with other acclaimed work. once seen as politically radical, he ran unsuccessfully as a presidential candidate in 1990. he will now receive the nobel medal with just over $1.5 million. >> the russian prime minister, putin, is celebrating his birthday today. what do you give a man who has everything? 12 students at moscow university think they have come up with the right answer.

>> the prime minister of russia does get odd birthday presents. he was once given this replica crown. he has been presented with a siberian tiger cub. this year, one of his presence is more practical. it is this 2011 calendar. inside, "we love you. happy birthday, mr. putin." 12 moscow university students have everything -- for example, she writes, "all women need a man like putin." she says she wants him to be president again. >> it is his action matt image that makes some russians -- on russian tv, he is more indiana

jones then david cameron. positive coverage like this has turned him into the pen up of russian politics. there are even pop songs about him. the girl band sings of their love for him. >> he is an intelligent man. he is smart and attractive. >> ♪ happy birthday to you >> they are not in the calendar. they have their own presencts. bbc news, moscow. >> a reminder of the main news. but toxic chemical plug that burst out of the plant in hungary has now reached the river danube. it could affect half a dozen countries. if it contaminates the danube,

the second largest river in europe. the prime minister of hungary has said this is in ecological tragedy. >> 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 financial strength 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. >> 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. stage that fits in every living room. your support of pbs brings the arts home. >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles.