>> 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 offers expertise

in a range of industries. what can we do for you? >> so far, so good, the cat in the zero oil well in the gulf of mexico works. the u.s. and britain criticized the release of the libyan bomber. targeting the faithful, suicide bombers attacked a shia mosque. just three weeks after taking office, roger is new prime minister calls -- australia's new prime minister calls for an election in august. welcome to bbc news.

i am juliet dunlop. engineers are now studying the results of pressure test to see along the cat can contain the leak. our correspondent reports. >> is this the moment that the state of bp's oil spill stretched to vanish from the waters of the gulf of mexico? a mile down, this is how it looked last night. the leak was gradually being turned off until the flow was cut to just a wisp of oil and then shut it totally. it is good news, although president obama warned americans to be cautious. >> one of the problems with having this camera down there is that, when the oil stops gushing, everybody feels like we're done and we are not. scientists are doing a number of test.

they want to make sure that, by putting this cap on, the oil is not seeping out in elsewhere that could be even more catastrophic. >> the ships centuries marshall that the site still have a lot of work to do. for the first time, things are going their way. what exactly have the engineers achieved on the seabed? the flow of oil was successful shut off last night. watching for signs of leaks an there are robots down there. if the pressure is too low, that could mean there's a leak from down below. but if it is too high, there's a risk of a structure in the pipes or the well. what is more likely is that perhaps fitted to the cap will now channel the oil to ships on the surface. meanwhile, the relief wells are being heard surfaced 3 miles below the seabed.

the closest is a few feet away. that is the main hope of blocking the leak. and this could be a turning point. images like this have battered bp's reputation. it has are repaid at $130 million pounds in compensation. for three months, this blast of oil has been a familiar sight. compared to that, the scene today was no leak at all. >> it is not just bp. officials in washington -- a lot of residents and businesses on the gulf coast as well. >> early morning in the delta marina and it is quiet as it has been since the oil spill began. the fishermen use to make the

living from their water and have not been able to appear in billy clinton is hoping that the tourists will return. >> is is good news for everybody. we have been waiting to hear it for over three months. >> william and negaunee used to fish for shrimp and oysters there are desperate to get back in the water. >> that is probably the first time in 100 years that nobody fished oysters and my family. when you have a hurricane, you know what to expect after. but in this? you have no idea what is going to happen. i have no idea of the oysters are contaminated. >> is a relief in one way. but it is still not over. there is still a lot of uncertainty. >> relieved that the oil spill may finally be over is a tinge with caution about what it has left behind. it has affected everyone, from

the fishermen here to the restaurant owners in new orleans. kevin reid manages a seafood restaurant where he has seen his business decline and the price of fish go up. >> everyone here thought it would never end. yes, we were quiet it -- we're quite excited. >> everyone here is a longing for live on the water to return to normal. but they also know that the caps on the leaking well are not yet complete. for now, they must watch and wait. >> the u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton says that the british government may want to explain to the american congress and the decision to release the bomber. it was part of an oil deal regarding bp.

he reportedly only had a few months to live. >> here's the problem facing britain and america he is free and he is not yet dead. the scottish and government release him a year ago when his doctor said he had three months to live. but 11 months have gone by and he is still alive. he is the only man convicted of the bombing of pan am flight 103. 270 people were killed when it exploded over the town of lockerbie. for this crime, he was jailed for life. which is why his release last year ended so many in britain and america, despite the objections of the victims' families. the scottish chairman decided to let him go home and died in libya. -- and to die in libya. >> is an affront to the families

of pan am flight 103. >> there are very legitimate questions. there is the medical condition that has mid lead -- has led to the decision. we will look to the british government to help us fully understand the basis of the decision that led to his release. >> in washington, there is real and growing anger over circumstances surrounding the convicted bombers release. but the scottish government insists that it acted independently. the british government says that bp did not influence the decision and bp says that it was not involved in discussions about sending the bomber home. his continuing health has angered groups representing the lockerbie victims.

>> it looks like he made out live all of us. the next book is going to be the anniversary of his release, which is august 20. the pan am families will have to relive this war over and over again and the story that everyone will be talking about is the fate of this man, this miserable little murder. >> the bombers release will be discussed later this month at special hearings here on capitol hill. next week, david cameron will be in washington, facing tough questions on his first trip as prime minister. >> a group -- 27 people were killed in an attack. the group says it was in revenge for the hanging of one of their leaders last month. the moment to the calm of

prayer and a mosque was shattered. -- in a mosque was shattered. another suicide bomb shook this shia moscow on thursday. -- shia mosque on thursday. there are reports that the bomber was disguised as a woman. >> the latest death toll so far is 27. there were killed in front of the moscow and at the entrance. we have 167 other injured were in hospitals. unfortunately, some of them are in critical condition. >> and other insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the attack. this is to avenge the hanging of its leader two weeks ago.

many were worshiping her on the official date. in tehran, the deputy head of the guard blamed the u.s. for the attack. but on the streets of the capital, there was shock. >> shia and sunni have lived together for centuries. we have been living peacefully. we consider our main enemies to be israel and the u.s. >> hillary clinton and the generals have condemned the attack. it is the latest battle against sunni insurgents. >> the who has criticized a report that condemn it a health system. the report was largely based on anecdotal evidence. the first woman ever elected as a lutheran bishop has resigned

fro. she stepped down after reports said she took no action after a pastor abused children. the maximum army says that suspected drug traffickers used a car bomb to attack a police patrol in juarez on thursday. it killed four people. >> this is a new site for mexico's drug war, a car bombing. the mexican military believes that it was set off by a cellphone in retaliation for the arrest of a cartel boss. this is the moment the bomb went off. it is believed that federal police were led here by a phone

call. but it was a trap. the bomb went off and killed to the wheel police officers and two medical personnel. in another mexican state, there was more violence. this time it is believed to be between rival gangs. an armored suv was sprayed with bullets. eyewitness reports said date was shot at while parked outside of a store. they pulled three bodies from the car before making off. the attack in portis is the first time that a car has been used by gangs -- and juarez -- in juarez is the first time that a car has been used by gangs. the way the attack was coordinated shows a new level of sophistication. >> this is bbc news. still ahead, fame, fashion, and high drama.

now to the big business of diamonds. there are limited exports from the zimbabwe after an agreement was reached with the agency that manages the gentry's. zimbabwe could be allowed to resume full exports as soon as september. >> these are the rain gauge diamond fields in eastern zimbabwe -- these are the mirangue diamond fields in eastern zimbabwe. as a result, the organization responsible for stopping the trade of the so-called blood

diamonds and oil exports from zimbabwe last year. after some tough negotiation, they have allowed a limited resumption of sales with the possibility of normal trade later this year. in theory, the should be good news for zimbabwe and its unity government which desperately needs hard currency to rebuild the shattered economy. but the president and his allies stand accused of pocketing the vast diamond profits and there are concerns that that could continue. it is a notoriously difficult industry. for a zimbabwean, there is a lot going on. elections are likely next year. campaigns cost money. diamonds could have a destructive role to play.

remember, you can catch up on the stories and anything else on their website. you're watching bbc news. the cap on the oil well in the gulf of mexico is holding firm. barack obama em has welcomed the news, but urges caution until there is a permanent solution. u.s. and prison -- u.s. and britain have criticized the release of the lockerbie bomber. que.ere killed in dacia mosco the prime minister of australia has called for an election. she was elected by a third-party three weeks ago after ousting her predecessor.

>> this morning, i asked her excellency, the governor general to dissolve the house of representatives so that elections could occur for the house and half of the senate on saturday august 21. this selection presents australians with a very clear choice. this election is about the choice as to whether we moved australia for work or go back. >> she is taking a big gamble calling an election so soon. >> she is australia's first female prime minister. she has only been in the job for just over three weeks. it is a political gamble. she now faces the biggest fight of her political life. this campaign will be fought over the economy, domestic issues, health reform, and education, and border security and the asylum seekers.

this will be a very bruising campaign between her governing labor party and the conservative tony abbott.ed by anothe >> australia traditionally votes on saturday. in five weeks' time, australians will go to the polls. here, it is compulsory. in the next few weeks, we will see some political infighting -- political street fighting. the opinion polls would suggest that the governing labor party is on course for second three- year term. but some analysts say that tony abbott is a skilled political operator himself and he will give them a good run for their money. australia's traditionally have mixed feelings about their

politicians. but i would imagine that the next five weeks would be fairly feisty as australia prepares to go to the polls on the 21st of august. >> the venezuelan demingovernmes recalled their ambassador to colombia. our correspondent is incorrect as. he says columbia seems to have evidence that venezuela will not harbored rebels. >> that have the exact coordinates of several forarc camps. venezuelan beer man says that they have the exact coronets -- the venezuelan government says they have the exact coordinates

of those camps. they have shown those images to a number of colombian journalists and they say they will lobby releasing them publicly for national security reasons. they say they have clear and hard evidence of the presence of farc leaders in venezuela. they are asking venezuelan government to act. >> relations between the two countries are not great. the have not been for some time. is this symptomatic of this bigger problem? >> the year earlier problems were particularly related to a decision by the colombian government to let the u.s. military to have a base on colombian soil.

the two presidents do not get along and there are some personal elements, i would suggest. but this is a new development. there have been suggestions for some time that farc are present in venezuela. this is the first time that the colombian government has come up the strongly to say that specific leaders of that group are there. >> the hope is that the new president can do something to restore relations with cuba job as -- with hugo chavez. >> right. there will be waiting for his replacement. man well -- mr. santos has been tight-lipped on this issue. we will wait to see -- >> the chief executive of apple, steve jobs, says that iphone 4

is not perfect. he made a statement in california about problems that have been reported with the sellout smartphone. our technology correspondent has the story. >> is a market of ever smaller gadgets. but one stands out from the crowd. apple's iphone has transported the entire industry. you could help me out -- >> you could tell miata if you are on wi-fi by just getting off. [laughter] >> while crowds flocked to the iphone, they discovered one little floor. it was not so clever at making calls. some users have found that, if they get their phones like this, the reception starts to melt away. apple's response was to not hold

the phone that way or use it 25-pound piece of plastic to do with it. that has not satisfied everybody. customers recalled the days that they would have to go on the waiting list to buy one. >> the reception goes, this one is fading and reception. it should not be like that. my daughter has an iphone. it has not affected me. >> your help you with it? >> no, i am happy with it. >> steve jobs made a surprising admission. the phone is not perfect. it struck more calls than the previous version. -- the iphone is not perfect. it dropped more calls than the previous version. >> we are not perfect.

we know that. you know that. and phones are not perfect either. that we want to make all of our users happy. >> you only have to look in the apple store to realize just how popular this brand is. something like this is not quite to destroy it overnight. but it could tarnish it a little bit. apple a tracks such devotion from its fans worldwide that it filled able to ignore the calls to respond to criticism. they hope they have done enough to keep them coming. >> for his fans, it was a dream come true. but george clooney had a serious matter to attend to.

he was there to testify in evidence against some offenders. >> the arrival of the star witness, george clooney -- he appeared as cool as his image, despite the blistering temperatures outside, when he arrived to give evidence at milan's palace of justice. he even made time to ask the crowd not to crush his lawyer as he maneuvered his way into the courtroom. clooney was in court in earnest to give evidence away from the tv cameras against three people who tried to use his name to launch a new fashion range. it was exposed when police raided a fashion show at a hotel room in 2008. the actors decision to testify in person suggests just how

seriously he is taking the attempt to use his name. "i came here because i believe in the judicial system and because people were using my name to take advantage of people." the italian justice moves matures leave slowly. but for his fans, it can take as long as it likes it it gives them another chance to see their idol in person. >> bp says that there are no signs that oil is leaking from the cap well in the gulf of mexico. the australian prime minister has called a snap general election held on the 21st of august.

this is bbc news. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news and get the top stories from around the globe. experiencing the in-depth expert reporting on line. >> funding was made popular -- made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vt., and honolulu, the newman's own foundation, the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, and union bank.

>> union bank offers unique insight and expertise in a range of industries. what can we do for you? >> there is one stage that is the mat and carnegie hall. it is the kennedy center. and a club in austin. it is closer than any seat in the house, no matter where you call home. pbs, the great american stage that fits in every living room. your support of pbs brings the parts home. parts home.