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>> and now "bbc world news." >> making history, the gulf of mexico oil leak is the worst spillage ever recorded. at least 1 million people made homeless, the scale of the floods in pakistan. an attempt to outdo the 9/11 attacks, two men are convicted of trying to blow up jets at jfk airport. cuba is insisting there will be no major changes for socialists. >> welcome to "bbc world news," broadcasts in the u.k. and around the world.

the u.s. government scientists say the oil leak is the biggest accidental spill in history. the latest estimate puts the amount of oil at almost 5 million barrels. bp has delayed its [unintelligible] to try to form a permanent seal. >> the delays because there has been a hydraulic leak which has affected the potential to carry out this test, which will determine how quickly bp can move towards the pumping of heavy-duty drilling mud into the well. the purpose is to drive any oil back into the reservoir. then bp can think about putting in that segment. this is just a temporary delay

in the tests could be carried out. it is possible the static kill could begin tuesday. >> if that static kill his successful they may not need any relief wells at all. >> for months bp has been drilling two relief wells. they can intercept the damaged well and pomp and cement. -- pump in cement. they possibly may not use the relief wells at all. is government's top man being more conservative. his view is that the relief wells will come into play and this will take longer than bp is talking about. they say this should happen during august. >> the biggest oil spill in

history. how are americans feeling? >> this figure came out from government scientists this evening. they say 4.9 million barrels is the total amount of oil that was released prior to the well being capped. bp managed to contain 800,000 of those barrels, but 4.1 million into the open seat. that represents the biggest piece oil spill in history. there have been bigger ones caused by military attacks, but this does set a record. it is not a record that the u.s. government will want to talk about. >> figures from the un have shed new light on the scale of the flooding in pakistan. humanitarian agency

said a rapid assessment shows almost 1 million people either lost their homes or have been temporarily displaced. that figure is certain to rise as other figures are assessed. >> crossing the raging torrents, this was the only option for some in pakistan today. a place plagued by militants in the past, now terrorized by nature. this is one of the areas worst hit by what some are calling the flood of the century. >> we flew deep into the disaster zone with the army. a helicopter is the only way and in. homes saturated and communities. .

whole villages washed away. it will take months if not years to repair. you can get a real sense of the destructive power of the monsoon rains. this is where the road ends. the concrete crumbled as if it was paper. we can see the remains of a bridge swept away by the power of the water. this is one of 29 bridges that have been destroyed. communities are turning into islands and some areas cannot be reached. troops have managed to evacuate 30,000 people. these are some of the latest, they had been menaced by the water for three days. he escaped with his baby and five children with only the

clothes they are wearing. >> it rained for three days and the water kept rising and became a flood. many people drowned. my cousin fell in and we have not been able to find him. >> at a temporary camp, we met a homeless mother of three alive today because she can swim. >> when the water came in we went out with the children. then the water was up to our next and we managed to get them out. we just wanted to save the children. >> >>, could barely make it to the helicopter -- some could barely make it. there was obvious relief.

but another worry hangs over this valley, the risk that the taliban might try to use this moment to make a comeback. >> two men have been convicted of plotting to blow up jet fuel tanks at jfk airport. the plan was meant to outdo the 9/11 attacks. defense lawyers said there would not have been a case that the government's intervention. >> they intended to send a message by killing americans and destroying the economy of new york city. they plotted to blow up buildings, fuel tanks and pipelines at the busy airport in new york.

a government informant infiltrated the plot and recorded the men who were arrested in 2007. they tried to offer their plot to a muslim group in trinidad. it seems the plot was nowhere near operational. government prosecutors said this was not just talk, it was meant to out do the 9/11 attacks. since 9/11 there have been a number of failed attempts to attack new york city. in may, so one try to set off a car bomb in times square. >> president obama confirmed all american troops will be withdrawn from iraq by the end of the month. he told veterans the commitment to iraq was changing from a military to a civilian effort.

our washington correspondent reports. >> the president of the united states. >> he did not land on an aircraft carrier like president bush, there is no victory sign in the background, but this is the obama version. >> i announced our new strategy for iraq and a transition to full of iraqi responsibility. i made it clear by august 2010 america pause combat mission would end. that is what we are doing. >> when president obama took office in january 2009 america had 144,000 troops in iraq. i may, at 80,000 soldiers remained. by the end of this month only 50,000 soldiers will stay to

assist iraqi forces. by the end of 2011 mr. obama promises all u.s. soldiers will be gone. >> the decision to move to 50,000 troops is reasonable. the idea of going to zero strikes me as problematic. i iraqi politics are very unsettled. we could see a recurrence of the civil war. there was a reminder of the violence that the country still faces. a roadside bomb killed three civilians. last week these car bomb attacks killed 25 pilgrims. iraq officials say july was the deadliest month for more than two years. know people still don't the identity of their next government almost five months after elections were held. none of that will concern

american soldiers. they have been welcome home from a tour in iraq. more than 4400 troops did not come home. we asked a veteran a simple question, did they die for nothing? >> absolutely not. those who have served -- it is important this means iraq is capable of governing themselves. >> america's war has lasted almost twice as long as the involvement in the second world war. that ended with a clear victory. the war in iraq will end with a withdrawal. iraq is not safe, stable, but america has had enough. >> israel says it decided to cooperate with a u.n. investigation into the raid on a gaza flotilla in which nine

activists were killed. the prime minister said his country has nothing to hide. previously israel said there was no need for an international inquiry. >> the deaths of turkish activists when -- led to widespread protests around the world. israel said the activists were committed to confrontation and its soldiers only acted in self- defense. turkey described this as state- sponsored terrorism and israel rejected the idea of an independent inquiry. his real paulson view was sufficient to implicate the community. observers say the decision to cooperate is a significant change of strategy.

the israeli prime minister said his country has nothing to hide and it was in israel's interest to see the truth come to light. having decided not to cooperate with investigations in the past , israel's decision has been welcomed. >> i hope that the peace will [unintelligible] improvement of relationship between israel and turkey. >> perhaps the israeli view is the best way of getting its voice heard. the international panel will begin gathering evidence next week. >> you are watching "bbc world news." proving there is life after politics, the former czech

president turns movie director at the age of 73. the russian authorities say 34 people are known to have died in the wild fires sweeping areas of the country. a state of urgency has been declared in seven regions. thousands have been left homeless. they were sparked by a record- breaking heat wave which is set to continue to the end of this week. >> the start of the working week and the russian capital shrouded in smog has the fires continue to burn. officials responsible for the fire fighting operations see no end in sight. >> taking into account the weather forecasts, we have

nothing good to wait for. that is why i expect local authorities to make extra efforts. >> to the south and east, the battle continues to bring the fires under control. he despite a continuing heat wave, authorities say they are having some success. but for thousands of people, it is already too late. their homes are destroyed and all they can do is sell which remaining possessions. this is villagers says she has not received any help from the government despite being promised money to rebuild homes. on sunday, the head of the russian orthodox church told people in one of the worst affected areas they should pray for rain. a sign there is little belief the authorities can bring the

situation under control. >> you are watching "bbc world news." the u.s. government says they ruptured bp oil well spewed 5 million barrels of oil into the sea, making it the biggest accidental oil spill ever. these it -- disastrous flooding in pakistan has left 1 million people homeless. the u.s. court convicted two men of trying to blow up jet fuel at jfk airport in new york. british forces in southern afghanistan had entered one town on the fourth day of their latest military operations. the operation aims to clear the taliban from the area in central

helmand. our correspondent is the only british correspondents still with the troops. he sent us this report. >> these images show the moment troops entered. the town was in an insurgent stronghold, but soldiers walked in this morning unopposed. the taliban was in disarray. this battle is far from over and winning the support of locals will be much tougher. there has been little resistance elsewhere. if it is hot and grueling work under the helm and son. although resistance has been slight, the taliban is ready to attack. there have been a few battles today. fighters taking pot shots, but

they are out manned and is the troops to have the upper hand. it will be many months before anything approaching victory can be thought of. british forces still face a determined enemy. >> the head of the u.s. federal reserve says america has a considerable way to go to achieve a full recovery. ben bernanke said while the worst of the crisis is over, many americans are still struggling with unemployment and lost savings. the takeover of the swedish carmaker volvo by a chinese company has been completed. it is the biggest takeover so far by a foreign brand. they paid $1.3 billion. volvo has been struggling with

high labor costs and dwindling sales. a federal judge has refused to dismiss a challenge by virginia to president obama's reform laws. that means the obama administration will have to mount a lengthy defense. they argue the law's requirement is unconstitutional. a russian airliner crashed in siberia, killing 11. a spokeswoman says the plane exploded into a fireball while attempting to land. three crew members and one passenger survived. president castro has said he is not planning large-scale market reform to revive the cuban and economy, but the role of the state would be reduced in some areas.

he insisted cuba's social system was irrevocable. >> one man [unintelligible] according to the cuban president, up to 1 million workers are in unproductive jobs. this is akiba's largest steel plant built by the americans -- this is cuba's largest steel plant. it urgently needs to be updated or replaced. almost all factories are state- owned. there had been speculation when he took over the presidency he might open up the chinese style market reforms. instead, he is trying to make these state run the company's work more efficiently.

if 1 million workers need to be laid off over the next five years, something must give. shortly after the revolution, fidel castro nationalized all major banks and farms, many of them american-owned, but he later went much further bringing almost everyone under state control, including carpenters and hairdressers. now his brother has announced the state will loosen its grip on small businesses in a bid to find alternative employment. he makes clear this did not mean a return to capitalism. >> various foreign news agencies were anticipating the

announcement of reform to our system and the application of capitalist rhetoric to revitalize our economy. some even talk of a split over the revolution. we are more united than ever. >> the authorities allowed some hairdressers to grant their shops and work for themselves. this will be expanded across the service and retail sectors. it is as far as cuba's rivet -- leadership is prepared to go. >> charlie sheen has avoided jail after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife. instead of prison he was ordered to serve 30 days at a drug rehab center in and attend anger

management classes. he was arrested after a christmas day argument when he threatened his wife with a knife. what do formal world leaders do once they have handed back the presidential limousine? some start working on their memoirs and others throw themselves into charity work, but there has been none of that for the former czech president . he is directing his first movie. >> it is already impressive, world renowned playwright, revolutionary and president of this country for more than a decade. but now he is adding another string to this bow.

here on a film set the former president is to fill in his lifelong dream of filling the screen version of his latest play that deals with a politician strolling to come to terms with the loss of power. -- struggling to come to terms. >> i come up with an idea, i tell the person next to me about it and the next day we are filming it. it was not my idea when i held political office. >> locked in a battle of wills with his successor. he is trying to force him to leave his lavish government villa. he wrote the main female role, the chancellor's wife for his own wife. >> is -- he wrote the role for

me, not about me. i was there when he wrote the screenplay so i am happy to get a chance to act. >> the former president denies the film is on a buyback for full -- is autobiographical. his colleagues are keen to see the finished results. >> we don't know what to expect, imagining him as a director is something new and a challenge. >> the name is closely associated with a film [unintelligible] now life goes full circle as his multi talented nephew sees his boyhood dream come true. >> our main news, the u.s. government says the ruptured oil well in the gulf spewed almost 5 million barrels of oil.

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>> union bank has put its global 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. [woman vocalizing] >> 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.