>> "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. 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." >> grounded. the big freeze affects major transportation across europe. is messing up the travel plans of millions. >> i am coming from new york, and i want to go to poland. my flight is delayed for two days already. >> we were not told our flight was canceled. before, it was on time. i am standing here wearing what i have been for three days. >> it seems north korea retreats from its threats to retaliate as the south fires live artillery shells in a military exercise. elections in belarus. seven of the nine opposition candidates have now been arrested or abducted. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast where viewers on pbs

in america and elsewhere around the world. i am mike embley. how safe is iraq now? seven years after the fall of saddam hussein? >> from many dark days, the signs are visible. >> i cannot say how many planes joined the raid, but i counted them all, and i counted them all back. >> our correspondent has died at age 61. hello. if you're watching this at an airport terminal or a rail station, freezing temperatures and heavy snow are affecting

large parts of europe and causing transport chaos. railroads have been badly hit across germany, france, belgium, and others. some of the delays could extend beyond christmas day. >> there was no winter wonderland in belgium today, only cancellations and frustrations. brussels airport has the snowplows it needs and liquid needed to deice the planes. supplies were stopped. >> this country, like much of northern europe, has slowed and stopped. with problems on the main motorways and traffic problems growing. outside because -- the eurostar offices, the lines are getting

longer. >> 8:00 or 9:00 or 10:00. it >> i am not sure. >> it is costing a lot of money. it will pay for them to stay in the hotel tonight if that is needed at eurostar. the costs are only going to escalate. in france, the main airports in paris cancel that least one- third of their flights. more snow is forecast for some of the busiest days of the year. >> our flight keeps saying on time, on time, on time. >> our flight was canceled. we were not told our flight was canceled. before, we were told it was on time. i am standing here wearing what i have been for three days. >> other airports are closed.

even in australia, people traveling to europe for christmas possibly will not make it. perhaps this was a sign of how extraordinary it was, where 90,000 snow plows were out. things had slowed almost to a halt. it has not been a good start to the christmas week. bbc news, brussels. >> artillery shells into the disputed see border with north korea. live fire in an exercise, but p'yongyang says it is not worth reacting to although it is a reckless exercise. american politician bill richardson is traveling. we have this report from seoul, korea. >> it was not just the liberal

threats from north korea. south korea counted down for its live fire exercises. they blamed the u.s. for being a bigger threat on the peninsula and north korea and called for the drills to stop. but despite such concerns of other voices of restraint in the region, south korea went ahead with eli fire drills on schedule. on the island, villagers and journalists were moved to bunkers and the exercise went on for about 60 minutes, and then they asked why north korea has to carry out these at such a sensitive time. some believe it was that they wanted to prove a point. the government here is try not to be prescriptive about when and where military drills can take place. >> the ongoing live fire exercise on yeonpyeong island is

a standard and legitimate defense exercise. the exercise is a matter of national sovereignty. >> earlier, the north had warned that if the exercises went ahead, it would attack the south more strongly and on a larger scale than before. rocket launch vehicles had been reported near the border. through the state media, they say it was a provocation. although they said it was not worth reacting to. it is not taking any chances. bbc news, seoul, korea. >> iranian state tv is reporting an unprecedented number of people -- an unspecified number of people killed.

6.5 was the level. they were devastated by an earthquake in 2003, where 26,000 died. counterterrorism police made a series of arrests today. it was the most high-profile since april of last year. those detained were mostly british nationals aged between 17 and 28. spanish police have recovered all but one of the things stolen from a warehouse in madrid. there was a sketch by picasso. two value together were valued at more than $6 million. the european security organization has declared sunday's presidential election in gandarillas was seriously flawed. observers criticize the vote and a violent backlash against opposition candidates.

seven of nine have been arrested or abducted pre-empt present -- were arrested or abducted. president lukashenko was back in office. >> is seen losing his touch? when the results came in this time, he only got 75% -- is he losing his touch? these protesters believe that mr. lukashenko polls far lower than that. the accuse him of rigging the election. in the center of minced, it was the largest protest they have seen in years -- in the center of minsk. they moved in to break up the crowd. hundreds of people were arrested. among those taken were presidential candidates

themselves pre-empt 1 challenge presenident lukashenko. one was badly beaten and rushed to the hospital. there were plainclothes officers. the president was unrepentant. he accused protestors of being barbarians, but international election observers denounced the poll asked lot. -- denounced the poll as flawed. >> the people of belarus can do better. >> president lukashenko has

been accused in the past of falsifying the vote and has faced opposition before on the streets, but the skill of protest has never been big enough to threaten his position. after sunday's violence, opposition leaders are making demands. they are determined to crack down. it is not clear whether the opponents would dare to continue their protests. steve rosenberger, bbc news, moscow. >> it is now clear about the sanctions, subsidies on food, doubling the cost of bread, fuel prices rising 400%. security forces have flooded the capital. sanctions have been intensifying as part of the pressure to get tehran to stop enriching uranium.

>> drivers in iran already have to put up with some of the worst traffic in the world. now, they are getting quite a shock when they fill up their tanks. in some places, the price of fuel has gone from 10 cents per liter to 40 cents, and that is because government has begun to cut subsidies. in the past 30 years, the state has provided cheap energy and cheap food for all of its citizens. the country's population has grown. the economy is in bad shape. the government decided it can no longer afford to provide subsidies. >> we should support the government. we will still benefit once been the problems are dealt with. we should understand -- we will still benefit once the problems are dealt with. we should understand we cannot keep considering like this. >> there was no consultation. the money they deposited into our camp was just one side of

the story. we do not know by how much by prices are going to rise -- the money deposited into a recounts was just one side of the story. -- into our accounts. >> this is the greatest change in their economy in half a century, but it will not happen in one go. it will take five years to get rid of this subsidies entirely. james reynolds, bbc news. >> authorities in iran have sentenced the internationally acclaimed filmmaker to six years in jail, and they banned him for making films for 20 years, jafar panahi. and one person has been freed, a former presidential candidate, diego fernandez de cevallos.

it is not known if his family paid a ransom. and the ramifications of the pedophile abuse in the catholic church have reached large proportions. there was a ceremony today to turn on the floodlights for the olympics. the much anticipated can down, but the lights fail -- the much anticipated countdown, but the lights failed. stay with us if you can for this historic evening. much more to come. the u.n. security council has urged the ivory coast to recognize their new president. first though, as lanphear prepares to mark 20 years of independence from the soviet union -- as latvia prepares to

mark 20 years of independence, we have this report. >> when running her own fashion label, this is typical. successful, attractive, but single. there are 8% more women here. competition for men is stiff. >> it it is the same as it is between the animals. the strongest wind. hear, we have a war of beauty, right? -- here. >> lackey of-- latvia's answer to "sex and the city" carrie bradshaw says one of the

problems is alcohol abuse. >> we are all proud that we are from latvia. our men compare themselves to europe. >> many of the women, on the other hand, feel that leading soviet communism behind has given them more opportunities than ever. they outnumber men at universities and on average live 11 years longer, the highest disparity in the eu. >> when you notice out in bars, there are more men than women. but there is nothing stopping the ladies from having a good time. >> the latest headlines for you on "bbc world news."

snow and ice has left many stranded in europe. they're trying to clear a backlog of flights. and the north korean decision not to respond to the artillery exercises by north korea -- south korea. >> united nations security council kazakhstan the mandate of its peacekeeping force -- the united nations security council has extended its mandate of the peacekeeping force. in the ivory coast. our bbc reporter has more from oba zsa zsa on -- from one area. >> they certainly do not want the former colonial power to meddle. this is the man in charge of

the security forces. the leader of the young patriots. it is the youth movement that was used as a force in recent years be and he is under u.n. sanctions, as he was accused of inciting mob violence. >> my country as an independent entity. a sovereign country. we do not need to receive orders. we do not need france to put our country under pressure. >> one man was believed to have won last month's election, but his victory was overturned by the council. both men have been elected,

leading to clashes. the ivory coast is the largest cocoa producer. many are muslims and came to work in the vital cocoa industry. northerners felt marginalized, and in 2002, rebels were prevented from taking power. there has been tension between the north and south ever since. there have been people coming to their personal houses and asking them to leave the country. the incumbent president once the u.n. forces out. -- wants the un forces out.

the u.n. has been urged to intervene. bbc news. >> the iraqi prime minister's plans to unveil part of his unity cabinet has been spoiled by a last-minute dispute in parliament. the election nine months ago failed to produce a clear winner, and just for a moment today, and and to the long wait. from baghdad, gabriel gatehouse reports on why the democracy has not meant safety. >> four years ago, sectarian violence drove him out of his home. this part of town is largely sunni, and until recently, one of the most dangerous places. now, he says he feels safe here

again, and he has come back to run his local store. the area is much better than it was, but safe? at the end of this road, there is an armored humvee, specifically there to protect the christian families after recent attacks. this is the result of a car bomb that went off in 2006. attacks of this size are happening much, much less frequently now than they were back then. they still happen. the scars are still visible everywhere in this city, and often, they are still very keenly felt. this woman is a shadow of the woman she was when the bbc first met her, just days before the american invention. she was one of the most famous folk singers in iraq. in february 2006, her son was snatched from the streets of baghdad.

they called, and they made her listen as they tortured him. she paid the ransom, but they killed him anyway. >> i am afraid to step outside my flat, because they might shoot me. i am exhausted. >> shootings, kidnappings, bombings, these are the kinds of crimes that the iraqi police have to face as they go about their daily duties. today's scuttles are part of a training exercise, run by american soldiers. those are the ones in the light green uniforms. they are finding themselves on the receiving end of some rough treatment. there are the rocky security forces. but many privately admit this will be a challenge -- they are the iraqi security forces.

in baghdad, some places of returning to normality. but there are hundreds of police and military checkpoints across the city. people now live their lives surrounded by concrete blast walls. any time you go out in the street, somewhere in the back of your mind, you wonder when the next bomb will go off. many believe it will still be likely for years to come. gabriel gatehouse, bbc news, in baghdad. >> no apologies now for taking a little time for one of our own. he was 61, a pre-eminent broadcast journalist, and he was a household name in britain. he was on a pedestal for many of us and for many viewers. we pay tribute.

>> brian hanrahan was a great journalist, a british broadcaster -- a great broadcaster. in his assignments around the world, he had the trust of bbc viewers and the respect and admiration of his colleagues. his big break was the balkans war in 1982. the navy did not want him to give away military secrets when its carrier jets raided the airfield at fort stanley. but hanrahan had a great step -- skill as a reporter, finding the right words, but not too many of them, at the right time. >> i counted them all out, and i counted them all back. they were jubilant, giving a thumbs-up signs. >> he was a self-confidence journalist, but even in the toughest moments, his ego was never part of the story.

>> it is continuous shelling for some time. that is the british firing. we believe that is in the middle of ford stanley. -- for to stanley. -- fort stanley. >> he was a master of his craft. >> he reported the news that shape our times, like the night the berlin wall fell in 1989. >> i am standing on top of the berlin wall, which, for years, has been a symbol. there could be few better illustrations of the changes which are sweeping across this continent and the party that is taking place here tonight. -- than the party that is taking place here tonight. >> i think bryan's contribution

to journalism was to combine skill as a reporter with the patience and wisdom to really try to make sense it and to, therefore, deliver reports of a depth and understanding as well as being brilliant at the news. >> when britain's jetzer retired last week, their crews sent to their good wishes. -- when britain's jets retired. >> he was going to be here today. we cannot move back, and we wish him a very speedy recovery. >> but he died this morning. the best kind of journalist and a very decent man who will be much missed. >> i will second that. a lovely fellow. much more on all of the international news anytime on bbc.com.

you can get most of us on twitter. i am at bbc mike embley. >> 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. 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. >> 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.