>> president floodwaters he and widespread damage is expected. -- brisbone's floodwaters have peaked and wide spreads the image is expected. there are warnings there may be more of this to come here ye. >> there are dark days ahead. and >> the army crackdown after weeks of violent protests. >> a russian investigation into the plane crash that killed of poland's president. welcome to "bbc news." president obama pays tribute to the victims of the arizona

shooting, sarah palin goes on line. >> journalists and pundits should not manufacture of blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence that they purport to condemn here ye. >> my mother has lock eyeyes. she got them from my father, too. >> the muslim cosmic who now hol's no-holds or comedy is making jokes at his own expense. >> hello, and river levels peaked in australia's third largest city, flood levels have not reached the level that

government officials predicted. it is 3 feet below the worst projections. the city center commercial area has largely been spare, but around 25,000 homes are partially or totally flooded and dozens of people are missing. the premier is talking about a once in a century disaster. >> brisbone is now being deluged by the river that gave it its name. australia's third biggest city with little to the offense against the surging water. local tv crews spotted the first signs of the central business district finally relenting. >> it is extraordinary to watch the water flow into the city. it is coming up from underneath in the dreams first. >-- in the drains first. >> waters are lapping at the heart of the city. the river has rarely seen

torrance like this. -- currents like this. boats are being thrown against bridges. the city's 52,000 stadium flies in one of the worst affected areas. >> the cost of what mother nature is doing to the country -- what to do about it? it is devastating. >> it is absolutely unbelievable. i have never seen anything like this in my life. >> the main dam is struggling to cope. >> there are dark days do ahead, but australia is standing with you, working with queensland to help queensland through these hard times. >> normally tranquil subordurbs

have become disaster zones. animals and live start are fending for themselves as the water rises. some residents have attempted rescues, but some will have to be abandoned. the shops, cafes, and businesses saved what they could. australian city dwellers showing the same kind of greediness self-reliance that we have seen from those that live in the bush, but this is testing the spirit to the help. presidents are trying to rescue everything -- residents are trying to rescue everything they can. here is the reason why. these advancing floodwaters that just keep on rising. the river has dispersed its bank and inundating the low-line suburbs. in a few hours time the water will be peaking.

the city appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario. authorities are still warning of widespread devastation. >> it is not only ostrow yet that has been hit by floods. at least 139 people have been killed in flooding last night in brazil. about 100 kilometers north of rio, 100 people have died there in landslides. the area has seen more rain in 24 hours than it would in the whole january time period. camps have been set up. this is forcing people to go elsewhere to escape the water. about 1 million people were affected. there is an urgent need for milk and infant food. five people have been killed --

police officers have been killed. armed forces supporting the man refusing to step down as president moved in sunday night. love andebonon's national unity government has collapsed. we have this from the roberuit. >> lies on tv, and now the resignation. breaking down a fragile coalition. athe result is a country in crisis, and at the heart of it is an international

investigation into his father, lebanon's former prime minister. the tribunal is due to announce the results of its investigation into a massive car bomb explosion, which killed him and 22 others six years ago. it looks like the indictment will implicate members of hezbollah. the group's leader has denounced the tribunal, pressuring him to do the same. he has refused. and he was in washington when his government collapsed. for its part, the group blames washington for blocking a deal, which would be made in which some believe could have presentprevented the government collapsed. in >> we gave it our best shot o protect the interests of love and on. unfortunately this effort reached a dead end due to u.s.

pressure and the inability of the other party to overcome them. >> it is troubling news were political crisis are so often happening. >> more clashes are reported, despite a series of measures ordered by the president took well. police had fired tear gas that protesters at the capitol and the army has been deployed there for the first time in living memory. our correspondent is monitoring the situation. >> this is the town of center of days of anti-government protest. in this town alone opposition supporters say of least 50 people have been shot dead by the police as they demonstrated against unemployment. pictures are only slowly

emerging, but there are reports today of another big demonstration in general strike. they're burning with angry -- angry about their lives and the government's response. and this is real. unemployment, deprivation, poverty, poor education. jobs are being sold nowadays and every job has a certain price. >> our lives are worthless. my husband is unemployment. i am unemployed. and my children were lost. and government tv showed pictures of the aftermath, showing citizens it was just mindless aftermaviolence. at the same time, military vehicles and soldiers were seen

on the streets of the capital for the first time. what seems to have unnerved the government with these demonstrations yesterday in the capital itself. the pictures were posted on facebook. the site has been vital in helping governments to communicate. this has now spread to many other towns and cities. after many years he has ruled almost unopposed, the crisis is unfolding with dramatic speed. >> at least 17 people have been killed, many more wounded by a suicide blasts in northwest pakistan. the attacker drove a car laden with explosives into the police headquarters. they said they carried out the attack to avenge american drone it strikes. portugal has sold more than $1.5 billion worth of bonds through part of a plan to avoid a financial bailout. the auction attracted high

demand, but interest rates are hyperion european astronomers are talking -- are making a stunning discovery. the telescope is identified 15,000 new objects. among them, clusters of galaxies from the largest structures ever seen. the crash that killed poland's president last april was partly the fault of officials on the plane pressuring the pilots to land, according to the official russian report. the late president hapresident e report as a joke. >> it was an air disaster, which shocked the world. on board flight 101 of which wae poland president and dozens of

officials. there were no survivors. today russian aviation officials announced the results of the investigation. they held the polish crew responsible. >> among the causes of the catastrophe was the bill your of the crew to make a decision to divert the plane to one alternative it air field, even though they had been notified repeatedly that the air conditions were too bad repeatedly. >> this was flight 101's movement before it hit the ground. the voices are real. the president was heading a large delegation to russia. they were traveling to a commemoration of a world war ii massacre memorial. they believe the crew felt pressure for fear the president

would be angry. they say increase when other high-ranking passengers entered the cockpit. >> the presence of the polish air force commander put psychological pressure on the capt.. in a situation where the risks were unjustified, the gold became landed the plane at any cost. -- the goal became landing the plane at any cost. >> stay with us if you can on " abc world newbbc world news." the nigerian born, comedian that is making jokes at his own expense. a suicide bomber on a

motorcycle killed of these four people and wounded almost 30. it happened during the city's early morning rush hour. >> the minibus was full of members of the afghan intelligence service. there were on their way to work from the suicide -- when the suicide bomber struck in traffic. >> when we arrived we were attacked by a minibus that was carrying employees. there were a lot of casualties. >> i heard a huge bang outside. i hid under the chair. after a few minutes, i rushed to see what had happened. i saw two motorbikes on fire. when they arrived, i was still alive. >> it was not a security personnel who were hurt, and at leasttw two who were hurt were

civilians. they were taken to a nearby hospital. given the size of the bomb, officials were surprised more were not hurt. >> we admitted 29 wounded in the hospital, and unfortunately one of them died upon arrival to the hospital. another one is in critical condition. >> it is the second significant attack on security officials and the capital in as many months. five soldiers were killed and more than a dozen were injured. afghan police and soldiers are critical to securing the country's future. in the numbers are expanding rapidly. at the same time insurgents are determined to do everything possible to slow down the progress. >> let's update you with the latest headlines.

in australia, the flood waters have peaked. widespread damage is expected, but so far the worst predictions have not come true. there has been a nighttime curfew imposed. it is the fourth day of voting in sudan. officials are now sure they will get the 60% turnout, which is needed for the boat to be vali d. there is unhappiness in the north about the imminent split. >> southern sudanese have been waiting for many years to decide their future, some have been waiting longer than most. rebecca is clear about what she wants. >> we are voting for the referendum, that is our goal. there is nothing we need to do but separate from the north. >> that sentiment seems to be

shared across the south. everyone accepts the south will succeed. the one potential stumbling block is turnout must be 60% for the boat to be valid, but voting continues until saturday. the former rebels who now control the south -- >> we have a lot of data to make sure we give you accurate numbers. we feel that by the third day we have crossed the 60% threshold. >> in the north opposition politicians are using the upcoming election to score political points. >> [inaudible] so that people feel they are

part of the country, a sense of equality in one measure. >> this referendum is creating considerable turmoil in the north, but the direction the country is heading in seems clear. >> there are hera huge number problems that are yet to be resolved. but the momentum toward southern independence seems unstoppable. >> president obama has arrived in arizona where he will speak at a memorial service for victims of the shooting in tucson. the former alaskan gov., sarah palin, posted a video offering condolences to the victims in defending herself against the criticism that she created an atmosphere of political criticism. >> gabby giffords husband is

by her side as she lies in her hospital bed. doctors say she is breathing on her own and making a good recovery. in tucson, a mass has been set for all of the victims. sarah palin has spoken out in a video. >> journalists and pundits should not a manufacturer of blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence that they purport to condemn. that is reprehensible. >> she points out that when she spoke here in arizona last year, she even spelled out then that when she said take up arms, she meant at the ballot box. this has unset some -- upset some. >> this dates back to a very dark era in our history. it is inappropriate to use the

analogy is an everyday political discourse. we hope the lessons of the past week will take a step back in their discourse and give more meaning to the implication of our words. >> in tucson people are already paying tribute at the memorial service. what do they want from him? for him to take the lead in an awkward national debate or to rise above politics? >> i really hope he addresses the issues. there seems to be a lot of rhetoric and talk going on. >> i want the president to tell us this is a time when need to come together. >> the leader of the local conservative tea party movement says even political opponents are looking for obama to heal. at the shops where people died

and people were injured, police are still investigating the crime. at the stadium, at the gates are open and many are eager to see if the president can find the right words to make sense of it. it is an important moment. >> a laugh, and the world laughs with you. any person will tell you it is not easy. in france and unlikely figure is helping to banish the austerity blues. >> contrary to what the music would tell you, it is pretty unusual to find a comic hero like this one. he is muslim and algerian immigrant dissent. he lived in the troubled paris suburbs. that means he has overcome more obstacles than most. >> interesting education.

something that makes you a special personality. >> he called themself "the ragged count." he jokes about is gone, his emigre apparent, intelligence on stage -- challenges on stage. >> after i talk g aabout gay, jews, muslim, women, people try to do their best to surprise people. what we have to do on stage is [inaudible] . >> perhaps those social divisions have never looked so stark.

in 2005, his neighborhood has seen some of the worst riots in the country. by that point he was a long way from his humble beginning. he left here for connecticut university to study english. to their surprise he was already fluent in the universal language of basketball. a shoulder injury put a stop to the lucrative contract. he was already trying his hand at comedy. >> we have to joke about that. it was an amazing year. through basketball i have a lot

of experience. i talk about this in my show in india appeared [applause] . [applause] today audiences of every creed and color he switches from french, english, and back again. >> i got my blue eyes from my father. my mother had black eyes, she got them from my father, too. >> in sharing the wit and rare ability to bring different cultures together, he is proof of that old adage would ever we may live, whenever our experiences may be, laughter is the best way. >> let's bring you up-to-date on the main stories this hour. president barack obama and michele just about now are at the university medical center in tucson visiting the congress woman and her husband as well as other victims of the shooting.

he is going on to the service to honor the victims of saturday's shooting. the people of austria's third largest city are witnessing the worst floods in decades, but the latest fears that river levels have peaked and have not reached the high that many officials predicted and beard. -- and feared. the commercial center largely spare. around 25,000 homes partially or totally flooded and dozens of people are missing. they are talking about once in a century disaster. security forces have gone on throughout the day, despite government ministers to quell the month-long unrest. a russian investigation into a plane crash that killed poland's president has blamed polish officials in the cockpit. more on that online at bbc.com. thank you very much for

watching. come again. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the 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. expertise to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you?

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