>> "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." >> rescue rangers are still waiting to begin the search for 29 miners missing after an explosion in a museum. nato leaders agree a missile defense system for year. and national disaster is declared in colombia. more than one and your people are dead. -- more than 100 people are dead. coming a later, the ripples from ireland's economic woes portugal and any financial help. british government advisor

resigned after he said they have never had it so ago. >> rescue workers are waiting for clearance to go into a mine where 29 are missing after an explosion they are concerned about explosion of gases. the manager said fresh air was being pumped in and is possible that they have reached a safety wrest huge -- refuge. it happened on friday. >> from the air, and hinted the destruction in chaos underground. smoke and coal dust billowed from a ventilation shaft.

it is clear signs of an explosion in the mine below. when that happened friday afternoon, a lucky few miners managed to escape. 29 years still missing below. there has been no sign. it is not known if they have air to breathe. >> we do not know where they are. we have to determine the exhaust. that will determine the rescue teams to get there. we do not understand what the atmosphere is. >> the river is a draft mine close to the surface. a tunnel girls were is not only record jauntily into the hillside. it rises 100 meters to the top. the ventilation system may have preceded the blast. rescuers are waiting for the all clear to enter and search for

survivors. >> we are not going to put people on the ground and risk their lives. there volunteers. it is a fine thing. >> the fear is that a rescue mission might cause another explosion for the relatives and friends on the surface, the anxious wait continues. ? this is a time of huge anxiety. our hearts go out to them. we will provide whatever support we possibly can. >> authorities have pledged to do everything possible to bring them out alive. they will not rush the rescue. that means putting others in danger. >> our correspondent it in

auckland. he says the relatives are growing desperate. >> it is an agonizing wait. they had been missing without any contact or communication with those who made it out or are trying to help in the recovery. it is a time of real anxiety for the friends and family. there is no clear target for when a rescue will be attempted. there are people saying it could be another 24 hours before the crucial people get the all clear. they are not going to risk more lives by going underground while there is a risk of another explosion. >> what do know about the men trapped in the mind? >> more were released within the few hours. they range in the age from 17 to 60. the very number of nationals and

britons. we have four from britain. when did the minors is a scotsman. there are two men from yorkshire. they are traveling on a british passport. the majority are from new zealand. the ages from 17 to early '60s. >> two men did come out after the initial explosion. >> we know that they were apparently closer to the interests of the mind than the others. the real worrying aspect is that as they emerge, they told authorities there were more following. there were at least through four other men behind them. sadly, no one emerge from the mind. and no one has been heard from since. it is worrying for authorities.

>> what is the situation? the information comes forward. they have been quite closely gathered on what they have told them. the information has been passed, but has not been shared predict that the families themselves the man he mentioned they are very frustrated. they are showing some resistance to local media. >> from this particular community, it is a very resilient community. they have had a share in mining accidents in the past. they had a history at accidents, a strong mining community. there was some animosity in the press conference earlier today

with reporters saying they have been told not to speak to the media. that was denied by the company. i hate to say the local reporters feel that they filled the committee is not being open with the media. holloman have to assume that they have been provided with an instruction to do so. if they are not getting it, the management suggests that they have not told them not to cooperate. >> you are listening to the press conference that we heard earlier. how confident do you think authorities are that this will be a successful rescue. >> i would immediately adopt the same town. i would be reluctant to call it either way. they are taking it slowly and carefully. there is no point seen the rescue underground and risking more lives.

you only need to look at pictures at what happened after the first to wonder what could have happened to rescuers. just to recap, today had samples sent away for analysis. three came back with the all clear. they have caused a false alarm. the media read that as an all clear to begin a search operation. police are saying we require 100 some clearance. we have not had that for a test analyzed. until we get consistency, we will not enter the mind. it is frustrating. that is the anxiety. it is a unique situation. >> thank you. leaders have agreed to fund a new missile defense shield covering all 28 alliance countries at a meeting in lisbon.

it is described as realistic. the president will attend saturday's talks to discuss the plans are handing over control of afghan security. here is our correspondent. >> leaders were all smiles as they posed for the photo. they have had much to discuss about the future security. one of the main decisions has been to agree to agree on a high-tech defense shield. it is designed to protect them from state from ballistic missiles. today, nato will seek to build bridges with russia by asking them to join the project. many questions remain about the cost and practicality. and you start with russia could help and afghanistan.

leaders had been joined by president karzai. they want to hand over security to afghan forces. >> success will be to see the afghans become masters in their own house, to seek the afghan security forces tape responsibility for the securities themselves all over afghanistan. they want to rent it from becoming a safe haven for terrorists. and >> it remains one of major's biggest tests. >> more than 10,000 rescue workers who were exposed to toxic dust have approved a settlement with the city of new york they have failed to provide

equipment following the september 111. they receive $25 million in compensation. it has been revealed -- it triggered an international alarm predell it is found in routine checks. it is made by an american company to test security prepare it is not clear to try to put it on a plan. the sri lanka's president has been told about everlasting peace for a second term. the opposition boycotted the ceremony, saying it was a waste of time. a national disaster is being declared in colombia or more

than 100 people have been killed during heavy rains in landslide predict a thousand seven forced to abandon their homes. >> from the air, the flooding is clear. there are miles upon miles in every direction. businesses are submerged. a torrent of rain has overwhelmed the levy. water is spewing into nearby farmland and leaving the animals stranded. it has been raining for weeks. the downpours are causing problems nation wide. >> what can we do when a disaster has been declared in 28? we are going to have to get more help. >> more than 1 million people have been affected by the floods.

they are already stretched to the limit. they wait patiently so what can receive from their homes. in the suburbs, the evacuations continue. there comes the risk of landslides. authorities are taking no changes. they are determined to keep the death tolls as low as possible. >> still to come, it see a dirty old men or a defender? is a possible that at 84, and hugh hefner is done? the head of the u.s. federal reserve has been forced to defend his efforts to boost the american economy. they have spent six and a billion dollars to help economic growth. republican leaders are doubting

whether the measures will work. >> ben bernanke came to frankfort at a time when the united states policies were attracting vocal criticism. at the heart of the matter, it is the u.s. dollar. it is driving down the value of the greenback. it helps american exporters. other countries complain it hurts their own producers ben bernanke enmity was growing worried about the friction. >> have emerged and intensify, threatening our ability to find local solutions to global problems. >> one source of these tensions has been the bifurcated nature of the global economic recovery. some economies have fully recouped their losses while others have lagged behind. no apology.anke made hi

he said a previous for re -- and tim have been successful. >> the committee announced it will introduce additional actions. they seek to support the economic recovery and promote a faster pace. they will reduce the risk of it for the decline in inflation that would prove damaging. >> washington is opening to charges of hypocrisy. the u.s. is frequently criticizing china for refusing to allow the currency to appreciate it has hurt the american business. now stand accused of putting down the own currency even though it could prove painful for its trading partners again. >> let's get the headlines. safety concerns held up the search for 29 miners missing at the new zealand mine.

there was an underground explosion on friday. nato leaders have agreed a defense system for europe. russia will be asked to cooperate in joint. -- and enjoying. president obama has offered support for on european countries. with ireland on the brink of excepting a massive bailout package, experts are warning that portugal and spain could be the next countries to nato. -- next countries to need help. >> portugal is on edge. it is fearful it will be the next ireland in need of a bailout. there is turmoil that has rocked ireland, is nearing another weak economy and wrestling with large debts. president obama's first visit when he arrived was to meet with his portuguese hosts. he knows that the priority here

is the crisis in the year as some predict >. >> portugal is working through the challenges in the market. it is important to know that the prime minister has committed himself to a very vigorous package of economic steps. >> the crisis started in agrees with the large deficit. they had to be bailed out. the turmoil spread to ireland where discussions are continuing over whether to give financial assistance to banks. portugal will be the next country to need bailing out. the biggest concern is the crisis spreading to spain. >> portugal does not ireland. the problems do not lie with the banks but with an uncompetitive economy that sucks in imports. the government is cutting spending. today they have had enough of

sacrifices and actively want a bailout. >> we want them to bailout portugal. >> why not? they have money. they want it. >> there is a big question here. >> i do not think we can grow ourselves added the problem. it to be a major disappointment whether or not we can do it on ourselves. there are debates inside portugal. >> there is growth in the economy. it is weak. right there was a further indication of problems here. one of the reasons is that earlier measures were just beginning to it again. there are more to follow including in january cut and public sector wages. >> next week, workers are

planning the largest general strike in 20 years. one minister has conceded that portugal remained at high risk of needing a bailout. >> a senior adviser to the british prime minister david cameron has resigned for suggesting being the majority of people in britain have never had it so good because of low interest rates. he said he regretted his comments. cracks that are facing the deepest spending cuts since the .970's >> for the past majority of people, they have never had it so good. ever since this recession -- so- called recession -- a room with

a mortgage, most people were paying a lot of money each month. >> it was a conservative prime minister pierre rachael ray said that most people have never had it so good. the current prime minister was assessing flood damage but them. >> and he is apologized for it. he is not a member of the government. >> and no end to the media storm, a couple of hours later, the prime minister has accepted it. >> when he appointed it, he has been to be brutally honest.

>> [unintelligible] >> i think his remarks are disgraceful. many people struggling with the consequences of the recession and the spending are offended by his comments projects. it was a political error that cost him the job. >> a special meeting at the vatican has called for rapid and comprehensive plans to protect children from pedophile priests. pope benedict part in a meeting with 150 cardinals. the groups represented of these victims and expressed disappointment, saying the

church stopped making symbolic gestures. >> it may seem surprising to some california, but the founder of playboy magazine has been given to literary awards. t --wo literary awards. he went to the famous playboy mansion in playboy hills. >> some call it tasteless. the playboy mansion is as infamous as the man who built it. there were party girls, and nightclubs, a corporate debt, all made possible by playboy magazine, selling nudity in the repressed 1950's. their buying0's, playboy. >> it is a public way.

>> are you a happy man? >> yes. >> hello there. >> hello. >> welcome to the mansion. >> of these days he still plays the lead korea -- lothorio. but i think anybody who looks the playboy, they can determine whether that is pornography. there really lost in another center. what they tried to do from the beginning was give set a good name and incorporate it into a men's entertainment system. >> i think one has to understand what the first amendment about its primary. the do not have free speech, you

do not have democracy. >> people come by for the articles today? >> yes. it the only purchase it for the pictures, the most popular magazines would be penthouse and hustler. >> many deplore him. it is a champion of free speech. >> he publicist it. he published an extraordinary range of lawyers. you are not otherwise getting them when you entered the grocery store. who is paying them substantial wages. >> this is dr. martin luther king. >> his widow did the final.

>> he has battled religious groups and politicians agree the years. >> nixon went after you. reagan went after you. >> they are very poor people. >> the entire soviet. you see it very much in politics today. the countries that in half. they have more questions. >> what about the tea party? >> we do not quite know. that is interesting. the tea party is an interesting experience. i think that they have some good things to say. some of them are a little crazy. it is very american. what will come from it is probably [unintelligible] >> the fortunes are declining.

hugh hefner remains a cultural phenomenon but did he tell me he will never move out to the mansion monday is alive. >> 84 years old and still going strong. you are watching bbc news. >> 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.

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