>> this is "bbc world news." 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."

>> president obama has a member of silence to remember the dead and wounded in the arizona shooting. and political rhetoric. the divisiveness. and directs. it is counterproductive to a democracy. >> a separatist group declares a permanent cease-fire. do they mean it this time? and protests about rising unemployment. all schools and universities in one area will close until further notice. welcome to "bbc world news," podcast reviewers in america on pbs and elsewhere around the world -- broadcast to our viewers in america. i am mike embley. the crime rate is rising in japan, one surprising age group.

hello to you. as the echoes of saturday's shootings in arizona reverberate still along the edges of the american political debate, president obama led the nation in a moment of silence for the victims. barack's and michelle obama stood with their heads about outside the white house -- barack and michelle. it was also for the critically wounded congresswoman, gabrielle giffords. >> led by the president, americans were cited for a minute, a mark of respect for the victims of the attack -- americans were silent.

flags were at half mast for the six who were killed. they include a nine-two old girl, a federal judge, and one of the congresswoman's aides. congresswoman giffords was shot in the head. the gunman fired indiscriminately before he was wrestled to the ground. the suspect, jared lee loughner, is described as a troubled young man, was on line -- online postings. doctors gave the latest assessment of her progress. >> at this base in the game, no change is good, and we have no change. the cat scans are showing that there is no progression of that

swelling. we are not out of the woods yet, but swelling can sometimes take three days or five days, and every day that goes by and we do not see an increase, we are slightly more optimistic. >> politics is increasingly heated. she has had threats before, after she supported the president's health-care bill last year, her office being vandalize. -- being vandalized. >> this is counterproductive to a democracy, feelings of anger. i think we need to lead by example. civility needs to return. we need to remove much of the toxicity that is part of our public discourse now. >> sometimes, images like this make things worse. this website, backed by sarah palin and the right wing tea party, urged people to use the

ballot box. >> the cross hairs of a gun sight. you have to realize there are consequences to that action. >> there is a big anti- government moved in american politics right now. where the shootings the work of a loan, a disturbed young man, or was the disturbed gun and stirred on by rhetoric? the case moves to court, where jared lee loughner will be appearing. his motives will be in the future. >> the end of spanish rule over the basque region. an organization has announced a permanent cease-fire, but it is not, as many had anticipated, disarming itself.

it will be an internationally verifiable cease-fire. >> this is a statement spain had been waiting for, an announcement saying that this long campaign of violence is over. they declared a permanent cease- fire, one that they say should be verified by independent observers. they have killed more than 800 people in four decades of violence. many have been targeted. but the group has called numerous cease-fires before, and four of them have also been declared permanent. it is little surprise that most spaniards are skeptical that this latest statement actually marks a change. a bomb at the madrid airport and did the most recent cease-fire in 2006. the government broke off peace talks then.

they dismissed a later statement. >> the illegal party has two options and only two if it wants to come back to political life. it either leaves behind violence definitively, and clearly that is not the case today, or in announces its relationship with another group, and that has not happened either. >> they were marching in support of prisoners. they still have considerable support. after a wave of high-profile arrests, the government believes it has the upper hand now, and the only statement it will accept is it denouncing it for good. bbc news, madrid. >> of universities and schools in one country will close until further notice due to current

unrest over unemployment. the recent protests internees were described, and it left 14 dead. -- the recent protests in tunisia. similar scenes have been unfolding in neighboring algeria. days of rioting over soaring food costs have left five dead, hundreds wounded, and thousands in jail. their promise is to reduce prices. our correspondent has been in out years, and she has been monitoring the unrest in both of the countries -- our correspondent has been in algiers. was bringing down the cost of some staple foods that went up at the beginning of the year, sugar, cooking oil. this is what initially took the people to the streets, but the government says now that they will put a ceiling on prices,

and so we have seen come -- calm brought back to the streets. in tunisia, they say they will close all schools and universities until further notice. they are launching an investigation into who is responsible for the unrest that has been going on for almost one month now. it could be dangerous, i think, to draw too close a link to the tune of the protests to say that the same thing is happening. we can say is that both countries have a very large population of young people. those young people are disillusioned with their government. they feel resentful that the governments in both places have not done enough to provide employment, to provide decent housing, that they have raised the prices of food, and that is the reason why in both places,

people have taken to the streets. they are angry. as they see it, their government is not doing enough to give them a decent life. >> our reporter there reporting from algiers, chloe. let's take you around the world again in haiti, the election. it is said to recommend that the government party candidate should be dropped from the runoff vote. the provisional results have its second in the first round, but there were violent demonstrations, insisting there can it got more votes. the former republican majority leader in the u.s. house of representatives, tom delay, was handed a three-year prison sentence. the jury found him guilty of money laundering and conspiracy. he was found guilty of funneling money to candidates in texas in 2002. now, in the words of one police

officer, it is like an inland tsunami, heavy rain in the state of queensland bringing more flash floods, killing at least four people west of brisbane. several people are missing, and in all, 200,000 have been affected in queensland and neighboring new south wales. it is easy the worst flooding in decades. we have this report from sydney. >> this is some of the most violent and threatening flooding that queensland has yet witnessed. we do waters, with the power to overturn cars and vans and to wash them away. this is in the southeast of the state. two women were reportedly swept away in the city center. the emergency services had to rescue others who were clinging to trees. heavy rain has lashed the region over the past 36 hours, with 16 centimeters falling in one hour alone. most of the rain fell in already

saturated areas. dozens of people are said to be stranded at the city center. emergency services are bogged down with emergency calls for help. while some communities are still bracing themselves for the worst, in others, the cleanup is well underway. >> today, i announce a third assistance measure, the disaster in come recovery subsidy. this measure is to assist people who are not able to do their normal income-earning work and get their normal income because of flood and disaster. >> this was a day wednesday as authorities thought they had stabilized the situation. the flash flooding overtook them by surprise. in queensland, at least one town has been inundated twice. the forecast is for still more rain to come. bbc news, sydney. >> pope benedict has called on

pakistan to reveal its anti- blasphemy law. he says its service as a pretext for attacks on religious minorities, including christians. from rome, our reporter has this. >> every new year, pope benedict addresses ambassadors from around the world. this year, his team was religious freedom. he singled out pakistan for criticism. >> particular mention must be made about the law against blasphemy in pakistan. i want that country to take the necessary steps to fabricate the law, all the more so because it shows as a pretext for injustices'. the tragic murder of the governor of punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction. >> last week, the muslim governor of punjab was gunned down for opposing pakistan's

controversial anti-blasphemy law. a christian woman was sentenced to death last november, causing widespread unease among human rights activists around the world. the pope also criticized middle east countries, including iraq, for religious intolerance. >> to the authorities of that country and muslim leaders, their christian fellow citizens should be able to live in safety and participate in the society in which they are fully members. in egypt, too, they struck christians as they prayed in church. this is another sign to adopt measures for the protection of religious minorities. >> last weekend, coptic christians living in europe prayed for those who lost their lives in the suicide bombing in egypt on january 1. in vienna, a cardinal, the head

of the roman catholic church in austria, attended a service, and in rome, hundreds more copts in exile gathered to protest the pope is deeply concerned about the steady erosion of christian presence in lands where jesus himself lived. bbc news, rome. >> stay with us if you can on "bbc world news." still to come, afghanistan, a traveling children's service takes the minds of the wars at home. records at home. -- horrors at home. a trial involving an activist has collapsed. he had offered to give evidence on their behalf. >> from a police officer to a

tattooed and ponytail and a kiko warrior, -- ponytailed eco- warrior, but his loyalties changed. six people were accused of trying to shut down a nottingham power station after an officer who infiltrated the group offered to give evidence. previously unavailable information that the significantly undermined the prosecution's case came to light, not the existence of an undercover officer. the six activists acquitted today were among 100 arrested in nottingham last easter. that was for a planned to attend to shut down the coal-fired power station. -- a planned attempt to shut down the station. one big question is whether he crossed the line from passive mole to agent provocateur.

one was yards away, having chained himself to the gate. he drove protesters to hijack this coal train. he allegedly helped fund some of the protests, as well as offering expert advice into how to break in. violent student protests last month shop -- saw scotland guard having poor intelligence of these groups. there are likely officers working under cover right now, and this is difficult. bbc news. >> let's bring you up-to-date on the latest headlines this hour on "bbc world news our -- "bbc world news." the 22-year-old suspect in the arizona shootings is in court right now, accused of trying to assassinate a congresswoman. and a permanent cease-fire.

the spanish government says it does not go far enough. now, people in southern saddam have been waiting in line to cast their votes on the second day of the independence referendum. this is widely expected to produce the newest state. the turnout was not as heavy as the first day, and there is tension in the oil-rich border region. at least 30 people have died in clashes there over the past three days. a reporter is in the capital. >> they fought against the north for two decades. now, they are voting for independence. >> the north must stay outside. i am from the south, and that is final. i am a southerner. >> but the last few days, there have been clashes between southerners and northerners and eight border region. the military from both sides may have been involved. those tensions along the border

are not the only problems within cells are going to face. after the referendum, there will be some tough negotiations about citizenship, legal matters, and on oil. part of sudan is one of the least developed places on earth, but in particular, its oil has fueled rapid development, at least for the capital in the north. one international observer things those reserves will be some of the greatest strengths for the nation. >> one thing they have not had is a very dependable supply of funding from oil revenue. >> almost three-quarters of the sudanese oil is in the south, but the infrastructures, the pipeline, refineries, the porch, all in the north. there is hope that economic independence will stop the two sides from going back to war. >> the north will have its share

in the revenues of the south. that share has yet to be agreed upon. >> in sudan, this might just up the war. the divisions between the north and south are still huge, particularly in one area, but the message of the southerners is clear. these are the last days of africa's largest country. bbc news, a cartoon -- bbc news, africa. >> there is worry about a rise of criminal activity in japan in one particular age group, the elderly. >> a supermarket in tokyo, but the man in black is not a shopper. he is a store detective, looking out for people stealing. these days in japan, the usual suspects are not the young but the old.

suddenly, they see something suspicious. and chase a customer who seems to have walked out without paying. it is a man in his late and in his bag -- in his late fifties, and in his bag is some fried chicken. "i do not have enough money to live," he says. "i am struggling to get by. please, let me go." but the store detectives think they have caught him again, and they call the police. the manager tells me five or six shoplifters are being caught every day. his company does not want us to show his face. >> over the last four or five years, the number of cases has risen, and the number of old

people who are doing it has gone up especially. i think of a 40% of the shoplifters we see here are over the age of 55. >> economic stagnation is being blamed and the breakdown of the japanese extended family. once, the old were revered and lived with their children and grandchildren. now, many are alone. people come to live to a happy old age, but life does not work out for everybody. some find the end of their lives marked by poverty and isolation. >> it is almost like our society is coming to an end. we know lumber feel the need to care for others. people put themselves first -- we no longer feel the need to care for others. it is very sad.

the japanese need to change. >> but for now, the store detectives must remain on their guard against an unlikely criminal paternity. the growing numbers of japanese turning to this in their old age. bbc news, tokyo. >> now, too rarely, it seems we have said the to celebrate about afghanistan, but this surely hits the mark. there is a young children's circus, with juggling and acrobatics, and they are currently touring italy. we went to watch them. >> it is a big top with a little surprise, lots of little surprises. and it all begins in the wings with a prayer. this is the afghan children's service, mini mobile.

a traveling troupe of afghan lee youngsters -- afghan youngsters. >> this is to put something new in their minds. it >> founded in 2002, the circus trains the children in every kind of skill. juggling, acrobatics, comedy. some of the children are orphans. the show is taken around afghanistan, wherever it is safe to perform. but it became so popular that other countries like italy heard about it and started inviting them. two of the most expensive r fayid and nadia. nadia says she loves making

children everywhere last. "it is fun," she says. fayid is 14 and says he does not like to think about the war at home. "i just like to concentrate on putting on good shows." as you can see, i am just here in observer status, for it has taken nadia to get this a good, and she is one of the 120 children that are part of this. the circus has made its own video of its short stay in italy. everywhere they go, lay let -- they let the world to know there is another side to the afghan people. but it is on stage, there mixture of innocence and innovation that enthralls. it is fantastic.

"thank you," says one of the youngest performers, and another show ends. circus, an international language. duncan kennedy, bbc news. >> the argentine football league, they have named the fifa world player of the year. the award for best coach was also given. just briefly, the main news again. the 22 edition of suspect of the arizona shooting has appeared in court in phoenix to face charges of murder and attempted assassination. much more is on bbc.com. we are on twitter and facebook,

as well, of course. thanks. >> 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, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was brought

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