>> "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 financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news."

>> korea's cold war gets hot. the north veirs ybarra raj of artillery shares at the south, which has about two retaliate -- the north fires a barrage of artillery shells at the south, which has bowed to retaliate. >> we cannot tolerate unconditional attacks against civilians. >> 10 people are accused of planning an attack in belgium. a note for your social diary -- britain's newest royal couple choose april at westminster abbey for their wedding. welcome. "bbc world news" broadcast on pbs in america, also or around the globe. coming up later, a mother and child reunion. burma's pro-democracy leader meets her youngest son for the

first time in 10 years. >> and i'm in stratford where they are unveiling their brand new auditorium. find out whether it is a radical innovation or much ado about nothing. >> hello. it is the most heavily armed border anywhere in the world, and today, it was the scene of some of the most serious clash between north and south korea for 50 years. so serious that president obama was awoken in the early hours for an emergency briefing. north korea is accused of firing dozens of artillery shells at an island near the disputed frontier between the countries, killing two people. >> from nowhere, the mid-

afternoon calm shattered. people run for cover. dozens of north korean shells fired into a south korean village. the korean war was fought 50 years ago, but memories among those who saw the conflict have been stirred by today's images of burning homes and destruction. south korea moved fast to evacuate over 200 of more than 1000 civilians from the island after its own military have fired back and scrambled fighter jets. >> i was lying down and watching television, and i heard the bang, bang. i thought that i would die when i stepped out of the house. >> fires were everywhere, and it was chaotic. i tried calling my wife at home, but i could just hear, " darlene," and the phone went dead. >> south korea's president in a

fortified bunker underneath his office meeting his military chief. since coming to power, he has taken a tougher line with north korea. >> i think it is a duty of the army to respond with action. we can never tolerate unconditional attacks against civilians. >> this evening on the mainland, fire engines and supply being dispatched to reinforce a sudden presence on the island as power supplies have been cut. north korea is just 40-odd kilometers from here to the south korean capital. south koreans have long grown used to living under the threat of north korea's guns. they know it could pulverize this prosperous city in hours, but they have always believed that north and south have as much to lose from the conflict. feeding into security is the sense that north korea is becoming more reckless, more provocative. >> on north korean television, they were showing their leader today.

kim jong il, bizarrely, was out and about visiting a fish pond. many believe he is ailing, trying to engineer a succession of power to his son. north korea blamed the south for firing first and promised merciless military actions if southern forces there intrude on its territory. in all, today's artillery fire lasted an hour or so, long enough to ratchet tensions and sow fears here. no one knows exactly what is driving north korea down this dangerous path. >> today's clash has sparked international condemnation. the white house has blamed north korea and demanded a halt to what it has called belligerent actions. why has this happened now, and could escalate? our correspondent has this assessment. >> the reclusive communist country, are to the teeth with miss stiles, a land army of

over 1 million soldiers, and a nuclear weapons program. and with a leader who is in failing health. indeed, in recent pictures, you can see him holding tight on to the handrail. perhaps a show of military might is a way of keeping its grip at home, at a time when kim jong il's youngest son is still not established as his successor. but whatever the reason for today's clash, global powers are desperate to prevent an escalation. >> the u.s. strongly condemns this aggression on the part of north korea, and we stand strong with our allies. the subject did, of course, come up in my meetings with the chinese minister of foreign affairs, and i think we both share the view that such conflict is very undesirable. >> the problem is this is the most militarized border in the world. not just north and south troops

trained their weapons on each other, but tens of thousands of american troops are on the south korean side. unresolved territorial disputes are already pretext for flareups. there have been clashes between north and south korea for years, but in recent months, there has been rising tension. in march, a south korean warships sank, killing several sailors. a panel will that it was signed by north korean torpedos, but they denied it. last month, fire was exchanged across the land border, and last week, north korea proudly revealed a new nuclear facility to enrich uranium. >> today in washington, that scientists said it was time for the united states to reevaluate its north korea policy. >> the most important thing is to try to cap the nuclear program, and what i indicated i would like to see is no more bombs, no better bombs, which

means no testing, and no export. >> paradoxically, saber rattling by north korea could just be to strengthen its hand with an eye to diplomacy, but second- guessing this regime is always difficult. >> much more, of course, on our website about that crisis in korea. there is a time line on how the conflict has escalated. analysis from top correspondence and a look at analysis from south korea as it ponders retaliation. all that and more on the website, bbc.com/news. for months, european security forces say they have been investigating a militant cells linked to an islamist website. 10 people were arrested in belgium, germany, and the netherlands on suspicion of planning an attack. some, is alleged, were recruiters for a chechen extremist group. >> coordinated early morning raids by heavily armed police in

germany, the netherlands, and here in belgium, led to the arrest of 10 young men. police say the raids are part of an investigation into islamic extremists. belgium may have been a target because it is one of the first countries to introduce a ban on wearing a beeper in public. the suspects are also thought to be connected to organization advocating the introduction of sharia law in belgium. >> the inquiry shows that on the one side, they were using an extremist website, featuring a plan for a terror attack and on the other side, the inquiry was also about retreating to harvests -- retreating jihadists. >> no details have yet emerged as to the possible target of the alleged attack, but this investigation has been going on for months and has already led to arrests in spain, morocco, and saudi arabia.

>> more top stories for you this hour -- afghanistan select your system is again under the spotlight. bbc has learned that the afghan attorney-general has suspended two senior attorney general. their spokesman for the electoral commission and the electoral complaints commission. both men were featured in the controversy over invalid votes. brazilian police have launched a major operation to try to stop a new wave of violence by criminal gangs. for three days, suspected gang members have been blocking roads, setting fire to cars, and shooting at police stations. officials of the u.s. central bank, the federal reserve, are sounding more cautious in their economic forecast for the next year. they say they expect growth of 3% to 3.6%, which is down from a

previous estimate of 3.5% to 4.2%. the first apple computer that company founder steve jobs sold has fetched $210,000 at auction in london. the original apple 1 was a forerunner to the various max, -- macs, ipods, and iphones. britain's prince william and his fiancee had decided on april 29 as their wedding day. government ministers have agreed it will be a public holiday. the ceremony will be at westminster abbey, scene of several such events. as you would expect, this report has some pretty intense belts of flash photography. >> it is a place woven into the history of this country. william and kate are said to

have chosen -- said to read joe's in westminster abbey for its beauty and history. it was described today as the royal parish church. the clergy are preparing for an event which will be both a national occasion and a family wedding. >> perhaps the middleton family there, family and friends all around, and then here, this is the point at which the marriage will take place, and the blessing. >> this is said to be the end to read part of the vast abby. >> it does feel into bed, and it is very important to the couple, as to any couple getting married, that it is their commitment to each other -- it does feel intimate. >> the abbey became the eighth occasion when kate middleton was spotted their last week. according to their spokesman, william and kate are mindful of the current economic situation.

security aside, the wedding will be paid for by his and her family, a precedent set by three previous royal marriages. william is falling in his grandparents footsteps by choosing this church. his grandparents were married here on november 20, 1947. she was then princess elizabeth, and this was the first royal spectacle after the bleakness of the second world war. >> on the left, the two youngest ones on the way. >> prince andrew married sarah ferguson at the abbey. behind the newlyweds, four-year- old pageboy, prince william. his parents were married in the larger st. paul's cathedral, but for centuries, westminster abbey has been the setting at key times in the nation's history,

including the funeral of williams' mother. >> there have been 38 coronations here since 1066, and william and kate's wedding will be the 10th royal wedding says princess of, was married here in february 1919. there is an enormous amount of tradition associated with westminster abbey. >> they will be married on the friday before the may 1 bank holiday, and for many, it will be a long weekend. >> we discussed it at cabinet this meeting, and we decided to hold a bank holiday so everyone who wants to take part in the celebrations or have a day off and what is the celebrations will be able to do that, and i think that is absolutely the right thing to do, so we are all looking forward to the happy day. >> william and kate are said to be calling the shots with the wedding plans. now, we know there are five months to go. >> stay with us on "bbc world

news" if you can. still to come, a stage for all the world. we take you inside the newly renovated royal shakespeare theatre in stratford. first, the united nations' global assessment of new hiv infections shows the number has dropped. deaths from aids have also fallen. >> 33.3 million people worldwide live with hiv. last year, there were 2.6 million new infections, far too many, but still a 20% drop from the number two years ago. death rates are falling as well, and treatment rates are rising. some of the biggest improvements are in sub-sahara africa. >> the investment we have been making is paying off. we are seeing fewer new

infections, and we are seeing also fewer deaths due to hiv. >> but the picture is not positive everywhere. eastern europe and central asia showed sharp rises in both new infections and age-related deaths. the key cause is drug users sharing needles, but a needle exchanges like this one are few and far between, and the united nations says bad laws and discrimination, particularly in relation to drug users or homosexuals, continue to hamper the fight against aids, which means that despite signs that in some countries at least the of aids epidemic is in decline, the united nations' vision of zero new infections and zero deaths remains a long way off. >> just a footnote there -- it seems that drug use by gay men to fight the virus may offer

some protection against contracting it. research in new england journal of medicine suggests a drug can reduce the charges of mail to mail hiv infection by 44%. latest headlines for you this hour on "bbc world news" -- after an exchange of fire between the two koreas, the south korean president has ordered the army to strike back against north korea if there are what he calls additional provocation. 10 people describe as islam must have been arrested in three european countries on suspicion of planning an attack in belgium. cambodia's prime minister has announced a day of mourning after the deaths of more than 370 people in yesterday's stampede. he also promised to investigate the disaster the saw victims crushed as they left the water festival. on the scene of the tragedy, we

have this report. >> the heartbreaking cries of the grieving. today, terrible scenes of loss repeated over and over again. parents searching for children. she was one of three sisters from the same family to perish. 100 dead. -- hundreds dead. hundreds more injured. harrowing stories from those who survived. "there were many injured people, many dead people all piled on top of each other." she was trapped beneath that. "i could not breathe and was losing consciousness, close " she says. they pulled her out just in time. the crowd surged on this narrow

bridge and people panicked. bodies were crushed and smothered in the stampede. some jumped to their deaths from the bridge. ambulances carried a constant stream of injured to overwhelm local hospitals. in daylight, it was hard to comprehend how many died here so quickly. prayers were said for them. this was the footage. cambodia has suffered a huge amount of loss over the decade. the prime minister says this was its worst tragedy since the khmer rough era of polpot many years ago. preparations have begun for the first of many funerals. so many lost friends and relatives. so much grieving still to be done. >> ireland's prime minister is under get more political

pressure. an opposition party has tailed -- submit a motion of no- confidence. >> the people of ireland are preparing themselves for another dose of bitter political medicine as the government prepares to announce its latest austerity measures. they are looking to make savings of some 15 billion euros. that is around $20 billion -- over the next four years. the irish have already endured two years of austerity measures, but they are now looking at perhaps more public sector pensions being reduced. there is also talk of reducing the minimum wage by one europe, which would mean cuts of about 12%. on top of that, there could be property-tax and rises in income tax. it all leads to a very hard picture and a hard winter ahead

for the people of ireland. >> i increase, there have been protests. the government has been told it will make an extra effort to reduce debt next year. -- in greece, there have been protests. the eu is impressed with the work so far, but they say that profound structural reform is still needed. the burmese pro-reform leader has been reunited with her son after 10 years apart. she lives in britain, and -- he lives in britain, and he are ripe 10 days after his mother was released -- he arrived 10 days after his mother was released from house to arrest. >> though she's never really alone these days. every public appearance, even a meeting as personal as this, attract the crowds. the moment approaches. she sees him coming.

a touch, a briefcase, and a gentle embrace. after 10 years apart, mother and son together at last. understandably reluctant to let go. she is renowned for her fortitude, her determination and courage over the long years of her struggle for freedom and democracy in her homeland. she has made huge personal sacrifices along the way. separation from her late husband, two sons, and grandchildren included. this is what opened the door to today's reunion. released from seven years of house arrest, greeted by thousands of adoring supporters. but her son missed all this. he was still in bangkok. all that is for now forgotten. the very public displays of emotion on show since the release are focused on a very personal, intimate relationship. they may struggle to find the

privacy they crave, but the word on the lips of the mother is the same -- happy. >> tributes have been coming in from many of you out there to the actress who has died at the age of 73. polish-born star is seen by many fans as the queen of horror films, including "contest -- "countess dracula," where she took the starring role. the royal shakespeare company has been steadily spending over the past few years of your over $157 million. the result now unveiled, a complete redevelopment of the theater at stratford on the lawn. -- at stratford on avon.

some of the greatest actors in modern times performed on that stage. 1932 roseeth scott's shakespeare theatre was no longer considered fit for purpose, so three and a half years ago, this happened. the theater was demolished, leaving some our walls and other lifted parts. today, the curtain was raised on a dramatically changed the accomplice, including a new exhibition spaces and restaurants. the focus of the developments have been here in the main theater. gone are the traditional arts that used to frame the play, and instead, they have built a stage that thrusts out into the middle of the auditorium, making the audience twice as close as they were. they hope that will result in more intimate and dramatic experience for all involved. it is an approach that has won the approval of leading actors. >> it is a very worthwhile and,

i'm sure, a brilliant investment to bring our audience and shakespeare together. anything that brings us closer to shakespeare. he is our drool. he is wonderful. he is it. he is our language, our culture, our oak tree on the horizon. he is everything. >> others, though, have reservations, thinking some of shakespeare's plays need more flexibility in the way they are states. >> my feeling is it can result in poor sightlines for members of the audience. it can result in for our ability as actors turn their backs on the ideas. >> elsewhere, the renovation has some nice touches. there is what they call a flying box office and a tower from which viewers can view stratford. the royal shakespeare company think this new theater is just as he would have liked it.

>> let's just remind you of the main news. it is the most heavily armed border anywhere in the world. today, it was the scene of some of the most serious clashes between north and south korea in 50 years. it was so serious that president obama was awoken in the early hours for an emergency briefing. north korea is accused of firing dozens of artillery shells at an island near the frontier between the two countries. south koreans say they returned fire. the president in seoul is threatening retaliation if there are what he calls additional provocations. another series of terrorist across three european countries. 10 people have been accused of planning an attack in belgium. just a notice for your social diary -- britain's newest royal couple had chosen april in westminster abbey for their wedding. stay with us if you can on "bbc world news." there is much more online at bbc.com/news.

you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter. we are on facebook as well. >> 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.

the union bank has put its 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. >> 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.