tv BBC World News PBS January 10, 2011 6:00pm-6:30pm PST
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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> appearing in court in arizona, plans to assassinate a congresswoman in a shooting that left six people dead. with no end in sight, more flooding in the australian state of queensland. and the worst violence how the country has seen in decades. welcome to bbc news. coming up later on, the second day of the referendum. and a former u.s. republican majority leader sent to jail for money laundering.
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the man accused of killing six people and trying to assassinate the u.s. congress woman in arizona on saturday will appear in court for the first time. he will be facing five charges, a couple of which include the death penalty. president obama has made a nationwide tribute. >> she was to meet business leaders. >> normal politics has come to a halt here. instead, they had a minute of refraction and player -- reflexion and prayer.
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silence at the hospital. at the new york stock exchange. and even in space. the congresswoman's brother is an astronaut at the international space station. >> we're reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence that we can inflict on one another. not just with our actions, but also with our irresponsible words. we are better than this. >> had a sudden stop to the ferocious clashes that are so typical. this week, business as usual is cancelled. president obama is the main target of the harsh terms of american politics that what has become the national debate. >> right now, the main thing we
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are doing is to offer our thoughts and prayers. we make sure that we are pulling together as a country. >> of the secretary of state has a question about terrorism. >> the extremists will sometimes get on the tv and that is not who we are. we have to get through that and make a clear that that does not represent either american or arab ideas. >> there is only one debate. most politicians are still very wary of having their say. the focus is on the crime in the tragedy itself. >> the man accused of the shooting has appeared in court. he had a grievance against the congresswoman, answering a
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strange question about grammar and government. a local share of blamed the political climate. >> people like him who was mentally problematic are susceptible to a lot of the anger and vitriol that exists in our country today. >> it is not just sarah palin's web site or her language. the tea party movement can be vitriolic for portraying opponents as energy -- enemies of america. >> it is a means of political exploitation and some people will take any circumstance as an opportunity to condemn their political opposition. without any vestige of proof, people use it as an opportunity
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to bash those on the political rights as if they were somehow responsible for this event. >> of the present -- the president is bringing america together. >> eight people have been killed and more than 70 reported missing after torrential rain caused flash floods in queensland. rescue workers and helicopters have been air lifting people trapped on the mohawk. we have been devastated by weeks of downfall. we will speak to a reporter with the australian broadcasting corp. who joined as on the line. i understand that you are very concerned about the forecasts of
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storms? >> it is really quite an unbelievable situation. there is a severe weather warning. it is one of the latest areas that looks to be a little bit of trouble at this point in time. we had the massive flash flooding just to the west of the city yesterday afternoon. they just washed through -- a people have been killed. this is still about 72 people unaccounted for at this point in time. many are families and young children. we heard from the police this morning that the death toll will almost certainly why is -- rise as the water subsides. they can look at what damage is being done. it was an amazing sight to watch.
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the weather today is hampering the search and rescue efforts. there were a number of helicopters over night. people were simply stranded and the water was coming to the top of the roof and i am not sure if you are aware, but a number of homes were built in preparation for some of these conditions. one that we spoke to have 14 steps going up to his house. he was lucky enough to survive overnight. many of his neighbors had houses washed away as the water went through. there are fresh evacuation's almost minute by minute. they are on the evacuation and stand by. water levels are starting to rise as conditions are expected to not be too bad.
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we had a devastating floods in 1974. the prediction will come up close to what happened then. there has been a major dam built in the region since then. >> thanks indeed. the government has ordered the closure of all schools and universities until further notice. clashes between police and demonstrators are at record levels. at least 40 people have been killed by police in the last few days. >> of the dangerous streets. this is where five people have been killed during the latest unrest and where a hospital official says it is like a war zone where snipers shoot at people in the streets.
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this is one of their victims' house. the loss of their son is palpable. his father says that whoever pulled the trigger was deliberately shooting to kill. the president singled out those to blame. >> these events were the work of gains that attacked government buildings and civilians inside their homes and a terrorist act that cannot be ignored. >> at the root of the unrest is the lack of jobs and opportunities for young people. this is the western town where a lot have gathered outside the police stations where men held without charge were held for two weeks.
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in this agricultural region, economic prospects are slim. he and his eight brothers and sisters are all unemployed graduates. they have been out of work for eight years. >> is there any work? are there any jobs? every month, there is no response. >> is merely a ticket to unemployment. by closing down schools in universities, authorities hope they can contain popular anger. >> there is the side of a permanent solution. >> people have been waiting in line to cast their votes on the second day of the independence referendum. turnout was not as heavy as the
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first day, and at least 30 people have been killed. the oil reserves are coveted by both the north and the south. >> and they fought against the north for 20 years and now they're voting for independence. gosh the north must stay outside. >> there have been a string of clashes between the southerners, northerners, and the key region. at least 30 people have been killed. those tensions along the border are not the only problems they will face. after the referendum, there will be tough negotiations for citizenship and legal matters.
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>> is one of the least developed places on earth, but the natural resources in the oil have had a rapid development. those reserves will be the southern nation's greatest strength. >> they have had a very dependable supply of funding from oil revenue. >> at least three-quarters are in the south. the refineries and the ports are all in the north. let's of the economic independence will stop the sides from going back to war. >> of the indications show that corporation -- cooperation will continue. the north will have its share. it is yet to be agreed on.
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>> it might just stop the war. with the message clear, these are the last days for africa's biggest country. >> is all there in black and white. a multi-billion dollar trade deal. trading has been halted at the main stock exchange until tuesday. this is over violent protests of a record fall. they demonstrate to attacked government buildings. that sparked a wave of anger.
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>> they were building outside and did not want to see another day of losses. tensions ran high. >> in three days, the rate has fallen and the small investors are losing. all the rich people are buying shares. we can't do any business. >> of the stock market soared in recent years attacking millions of small investors. regulators brought a series of measures late last year after concerns that the shares were overvalued. it triggered panic among individual investors. it is a popular investment for ordinary people providing a higher return. >> many are afraid that the
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downward trend of the stock market will continue and they will lose their savings. >> the spanish government has rejected the latest cease-fire statement. the only acceptable an ounce from the group was the one they are carrying. a defective and. we are joining -- [unintelligible] this is bbc news. the headlines this hour. u.s. president barack obama will travel on wednesday for the victims killed in last saturday oppose the attack. the people are dead and more than 70 reported missing after rains caused flash floods in
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queensland. the u.s. congressmen gifford is in critical condition after surgery. many local residents have been expressing shock. they have been talking to some of them. >> it looks like a shrine. an outpouring from the city she represents a after the attack that targeted her. the congresswoman was shot through the head when meeting local people. the gunman fired indiscriminately before he was wrestled to the ground. >> he got it out of his pocket and ended up on the sidewalk. i was able to grab it. how can somebody he that much --
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hate that much? >> he had a troubled past. the shock of the attack is still palpable. we noticed a few homemade signs that seemed full of anguish. >> bid politics have something to do with the shooting? >> i think that sarah palin putting the cross hairs of our district didn't help matters at all. this man was disturbed. and unfortunately, he added up in this way. russia will have a wonderful community. -- >> we have a wonderful
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community. [unintelligible] i think it is bringing people together, which is what typically happens in a tragedy. this is a very bitter campaign. gosh shooting attacks are not uncommon in america. an attempted assassination of a political figure. people will wonder haw haw to what extent was politics itself to blame. >> waiting to talk to us is the state senator, a friend of the congresswoman. she is on the line. many thanks for joining us. perhaps you can tell us if there is any news. >> there is a new development.
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she has been in a medically induced coma since her surgery on saturday which allows her to rest and heal. every few hours, they will reduce to check her vital. this evening, she actually gave a thumbs-up. her eyes are not open. when her doctors were speaking to her, she responded with a thumbs-up which is incredible and phenomenal. it means she is not only hearing and understanding, but able to make complex actions with her hand. this is incredible news. >> thank you for letting us know. how is arizona coming to terms with that? >> there are a lot of different actions happening. many of us are trying to find
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solace and make sense of what happened and it is difficult. it is really a senseless act. it was the opening day of the legislative session. each of us were inaugurated today and we dedicated our inauguration not only to her, but to the other eight people fighting for their lives and to honor the six that lost their lives. there is a great sense of unity in real compassion for those that are fighting for their lives. at the same time, we are seeing from individuals that are engaging from an unfortunate rhetoric. they are saying bad things about each other, and i think it is reacting in different ways. my hope is that we move forward. and in a way that isn't blaming
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each other and saying hurtful things about each other. >> there are many thanks for your time. a former senior republican politician is being sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of money- laundering and conspiracy. tom de lay channel the money to political candidates in 2002. >> he was sentenced to three years in prison on a conspiracy charge and the the judge could impose an extra five yeras -- years for laundering. a total of 3 years behind bars. he was convicted last november when a jury found him guilty.
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$190,000 worth of the nation's were made to lobbyists to a fund that he was in charge of. and eventually, it was used by local politicians in texas to see collections to this day. the house of representatives in texas and subsequently passed legislation that proved to be beneficial for the republicans and beneficial for mr. de lay. >> a report haiti's disputed election says one candidate should be dropped from the runoff vote. the opposition candidate had more votes and should be in the
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runoff. britain and china have signed a trade deals. >> he is the most senior member of the type of leadership to visit britain since the coalition government came to power. that needs china to have an export-led recovery. it was very welcome. >> the priority of around the table was cleared. selling more to china and getting them to invest more in britain. >> it was a milestone in a great collection. the united kingdom and china. >> from products like whiskey and high-tech energy projects. companies are setting up shop.
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britain exploited goods and services. china signed business deals of around $2.6 billion. >> china-u.k. relations should go beyond it. we look forward to foster in the partnership. >> research for low-carbon technologies, brazil will receive a pair of white of's giant pandas. >> if you really want to see how his future is tied to china's the big spenders are chinese.
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>> over 1,000 pounds? >> britain wants to sell to china whenever it can. the international tourists are almost 50% of china. >> it is young chinese that are shopping the hardest of all. >> and a reminder of our main points. the u.s. president barack obama will be coming to arizona on wednesday to attend a memorial service for the victims killed in the attack on the u.s. congresswoman. meanwhile, the man alleged to carry out the shooting has made his first court appearance. that wraps up this bulletin of world news.
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