tv BBC World News PBS May 9, 2011 6:00pm-6:30pm PDT
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>> this is "bbc world news america." 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"
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>> fresh aire strikes in tripoli as the un calls for a pause in hostilities. pakistan said it was not complete said in shielding osama bin laden. thousands are forced from their homes as record water levels threaten the u.s. city of memphis. welcome to "bbc world news" to our viewers on pbs and around the world. cubans will be allowed to leave the country as tourists for the first time. why big business could lead america's race back into space.
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we begin this hour with breaking news from the libyan capital of tripoli where news services are reporting an eye witness accounts of heavy gunfire from apparent nato missile strikes, some that are thought to be targeting the libyan leader colonel gaddafi's compound in the capital. the bombardments have been a succession of five that have been reported in the capital, which our witnesses are saying is unusual for the it -- for the number to take place overnight. a number of news agencies reporting those eyewitness accounts. we are going to bring you some pictures as well. these were taken at just some hours ago regarding a nato missile strike on a government building housing the high commissioner for children.
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these pictures from the capital showed the aftermath of that bombing, which completely destroyed the old colonial buildings as you can see. the building is situated in tripoli's -- neighborhood. there were no reports of casualties, but we believe that bombing of the high commission of children took place with in the last few hours. and that has since spent preceded by a number of blasts being heard in the capital itself. jets screamed over the skies, carrying out a series of strikes in quick succession. we do not have any details at the moment. there were no casualties in the compound there that you could see. those pictures in the high commission building there. like i said, it is thought that
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colonel gaddafi's compound has been targeted in the latest bombing taking place in tripoli. meanwhile, in new york, stay with the situation in libya, the u.s. humanitarian chief has called for a pause in hostilities to get urgent help to civilians and the country. speaking to the u.s. security council, amos said the destruction caused by the combination of conflict and sanctions was paralyzing the country. we have more details. >> but she was on the one hand talking about the conflict and on the other hand talkingñ about the situation in the country with regard to the general situation. she painted a picture of a country virtually at a standstill. she said the conflict had disrupted supply lines and on top of that, sanctions were delaying the arrival of commercial goods which she said the combination of the two were having a real impact, because
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libya has a centralized distribution system. as an impact on a number of things, including food. food stocks were depleting in the eastern part of the country. they have and the soctock in the west for another three months. they talked about the conflict in misratha. indiscrimate bombing had to stop and mining of the sea and land -- had to stop. the government shelling of the port prevented humanitarian access, which is the key lifelike. the port has been a key lifeline to the beseiged city. un humanitarian workers do not need military help. they were offered military assistance, but they said they had to be careful not to be seen as a choosing sides. this printer, they were not going for that option.
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>> did she talk about rethinking the plans they have said in stone in terms of the sanctions, which they criticize not allowing the eight to get through -- aid to get thruogh. ough. >> nobody mentioned that. that was one of several things she said was creating problems in the country. i do not know that it will be raised in that way. the u.s. itself has not actually issued -- the un has issued sanctions as has the eu and the u.s., but it is not something that she raised as a point of trying to change it. she was describing it. if there is action, if the situation gets worse, then perhaps it will be considered. >> also in the region, the un refugee agency says it received reports that a ship carrying600 migrants sank off the libyan
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coast last week. many of those on board died. witnesses told the agency they saw the ship break apart with many bodies in the water. the european union is imposing an arms embargo on serial following weeks of unrest there. the united nations is worried about the situation. government forces are reported to have killed dozens of people. troops are also thought to be deployed in another city. pakistan's prime minister has rejected claims that his country was guilty of incompetence in the search for osama bin laden or complicity in helping him hide. u.s. special forces killed bin laden in abbottabad. he said it was disingenuous for anyone to accused pakistan of being in cahoots with bin laden. >> a prime minister under
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pressure, defending an army and intelligence agency under suspicion. he said they had done more against al qaeda than armies anywhere else. >> allegations of complicity or incompetence are absurd. we emphatically reject such accusations. we are determined to get to the bottom of how, when and why about osama bin laden's presence. an investigation has been ordered. >> in a tea shop, few understood the speech because it was an english. but this 16-year-old to read the subtitles was not impressed with the military. >> we should ask where was the army when the americans raided the country, he said. where was the intelligence agency? >> in fact, it is not far away.
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this is the glimpse of the local branch of the isi. we had to fill covertly. as a short drive from bin laden's compound. in this military town, experts believe that local intelligence officials must known who was on their doorstep. >> it is unlikely they would have missed debt, said they had to be in collusion. for whatever reason. either it was ideological or financial. >> but this former top man and pakistani intelligence claims the american's fate bin laden's killings of-closer and leave afghanistan. >> it is a very scripted drama and they wanted an excuse to end the war. bring pakistan under pressure, because of our nuclear program. >> there are plenty of conspiracy theories here, and
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one week on, plenty of unanswered questions. osama bin laden's wives could shed some more light on this time in this valley and elsewhere in the country. three of them are in pakistani custody. one is reported to have said he had been in the country for at least seven years. the americans want to question the women directly, but so far, they have been denied access. pakistan may not be investigating bin laden's extended stay here, but some wonder if it wants to find the truth. >> the southern u.s. city of memphis is coping with record flooding that has forced the evacuation of thousands of people from low-lying areas. the army engineers say it is unlikely the levee system in this city would give way, but the water has been rising faster than expected. steve kingston in washington
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says the authorities do not expect the water to breach flood defenses. >> the officials and the city say they do not quite expected to exceed the record depth reached in 1937. nor date expected to reach the height of the levies that were put in place -- nor do they expected to reach the height of the levies that were put in place in the wake of those great floods of the 1920's and 1930's. it is a scary time for people there. some 1300 households have been, the occupants of those homes have been told to leave by the emergency authorities. we've got hundreds of people this evening in emergency shelters. their homes potentially have become a death trap so there were not able to get into them. and there is great concern that further down river, as this great swell of water makes its way south towards new orleans
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eventually. there is concern about the further damage it could do. we have seen pictures today of what is known as a spillway north of new orleans being opened at its allow some of the water to flow into the lake to ease the pressure on the levees further downstream in new orleans to avert disaster there. >> we can see those pictures as you describe that. i am wondering. they have a flood control system in place along the channel you are describing there, but is there a sense that they are workingñ well, even though the threat has not actually got to that stage at the moment? >> officials there say so far so good. they are working well. the levies are higher than the level of the water, and as yet, there is no sign of erosion or leagues, something that would alarm people. and of course the great nightmare and everybody's nightmare is carrying katrina were the levees did break and the water did not exceed the
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level of the levees and the particular case. it was erosion that cost the levies to break with catastrophic consequences. said there is no sense of complacency tonight. people are watching those levees carefully. all the things being equal, memphis and then this should survive intact. the downtown area is protected by those levees. so far unaffected by the flooding. >> you are watching "bbc world news". still ahead, blastoff. why the future of the space race could be in corporate hands. it was a show of military might and national pride and russia's capital. each of the country stops to mark the surrender of nazi germany during world war ii. ♪ >> an entered ballistic
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missile launches its way onto red square. it is the most of unsparing site -- all inspiring sight in the annual military parade. it is when the nazi high command surrendered at the end of world war ii. russia's leadership has made the most a bit in recent years. although may 9 is all about celebrating a victory over nazi germany, even modern russia's leaders still use it as a display of nationalism and military strength. but for the surviving veterans of what russians call the great patriotic war, is a day of remembrance. >> today is very important for me. it's about the memory of those who fought alongside me and were killed and also for those who are simply unable to be here today. >> also invited to this year's parade, ann chapman, expelled from america for being a russian
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spy. >> i am here to celebrate. >> there were 20,000 troops on parade, almost twice as many as last year. and most were wearing a new combat uniforms and berets rather than dress uniforms, a demonstration of russia's drive to modernize its armed forces. the army is full of weapons like tanks, second and third generation. >> the only air power on display was helicopters. this year, there was no heavy military aircraft on grounds of cost and safety. >> you are what "bbc world news". the headlines. there have been fresh air strikes in the libyan capital of tripoli as tehe un call for a
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pause in hostilities to get urgent help to civilians. pakistan's prime minister has rejected claims his country helped hide osama bin laden. police and the western african state of togo say several boats have capsized killing 36 people. the boats were caught in its strong winds and torrential rain as they sailed across the lake. >> it was as dozens of mourners returned from a funeral crossing lake togo that this tragedy struck. heavy rains caused at least one boat to capsize and 36 people, many of them children, were killed in the deep waters. some of the passengers did manage to swim to safety, including this man, but he was one of the fortunate few. >> we were on the water on the
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way back when a strong wind started to blow. was also rating. the water engulfed the boat which made the children go overboard and some adults died, too. a few of us, like me, managed to save ourselves. >> some in this small village have lost almost everyone they hold dear. this the ledger -- villager is still trying to comprehend that all 12 of her children died in the accident. >> they went to play drums and danced during a ceremony, she says. now they are all dead. >> accidents of this kind are commonplace on the lake were rickety boats are the main means of transport across the water. the countries prime minister visited the village in the southeast of the impoverished country and brought promises of government assistance to the relatives and survivors. however, as the people cope and struggle to come to terms with
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the accident, they must prepare for many more funerals around lake togo. >> the government of cuba has announced plans to let its citizens leave the country as tourists for the first time. the communist party approved the measure two weeks ago. one unexpected part of several expected reforms. >> two weeks ago, cuba's communist party met behind closed doors. the president is pushing to the first major overhaul of the state run and restrictive soviet-style system. a lot of the details had been discussed in advance, but there is one major surprise -- the government says it is considering letting cubans travel abroad as tourists for the first time. it is a deeply resented frustration. it is a very bureaucratic system. you have to apply for permission to leave, and it is often denied.
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there are all lot of other performers going through. private property is back. people will be allowed to buy and sell their homes and cars. already, cubans are setting up small businesses. under the new guidelines, some of the state enterprises will be allowed to become workers' cooperatives, setting their own prices and wages. it is still has to be passed by the cuban parliament which meets in two months before this becomes law. >> a leading british charity has warned that forces in afghanistan must do more to prevent a growing human rights abuses by afghan forces. including killings and a child sex abuse. oxfam reports that afghan national police and troops were responsible for 10% of the 2700 deaths that of taking place in afghanistan in 2010.
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to our breaking news this hour. it is reported that a number of blasts have taken place in the libyan capital of tripoli. these pictures have come into us. we are going to have a little lesson. we can hear the succession of nato airstrikes. we'll have a listen in to these latest. [engines roaring] [explosions]
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>> so there is this seen in tripoli. we are not seeing very much, but we are hearing an incredible amount of the nato airstrikes that have been lost within the last few hours. reports that they are five in total. no reports of fatalities, but it is believed from news agencies that are quoting eyewitnesses report steps colonel gaddafi's compound has been targeted. we will keep you updated on the breaking news as soon as we get it. after a series of delays, a target date has been set for the scheduled kickoff of the space shuttle "endeavour." it will be its final mission. nasa would have to find ways of getting its astronauts into
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space. commercial companies are being encouraged to build rockets, but is this the sign of privatize space travel? >> 3, 2, 1. liftoff. liftoff of the falcon 9.. >> a promotional video selling flight into space. it is not from nasa but from a private company. one of a new breed of enterprises competing to reach orbit. and this one is the first to make it. >> now in orbit around the earth. >> a rare claims inside its factory in los angeles. a new generation is working on the rocket. average age? 28. and the atmosphere? it is laid back. the film "iron man" was shot here.
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and it's science fiction here was modeled on the boxx here. -- the boss here. wealthy from the internet firm of paypal. >> we are entering a new era of space travel that is very exciting and is likely to evolve rapidly. >> there is a reason for this. america is retiring its old space shuttles this summer and need to keep its astronauts flying. so it is payo the job. this animation shows how space x plans to do it. this will -- this will not happen for two years. the hardware is taking shape. this is a prototype of the "dragon" capsule, designed to take astronauts into orbit. it is bigger than "apollo"
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and meant to carry more people. let me show you what it is like inside. it feels pretty cramped. when is it about, is meant to take three astronauts and down below and another four up above. they will be the first people to be taken up into orbit not by a government but by a private company. is the start of a new kind of space race. the capsules are meant to make space flight cheaper, 1/10 of the cost of the space shuttle, which raises a question. are you confident you can safely deliver astronauts up into orbit? >> absolutely. moreover, i am confident the system that we designed will actually be much safer than any system in the past and it needs to be. i think we need to be in least100 times safer than the space shuttle paired >> and this comes as space travel is attracting a lot of new players. richard branson is planning
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tourist flights. others are developing versions of the shuttle with nasa urging them on. >> human space flight is one of the most difficult things we have done, but it is something we have done for 40 years. with the retirement of the shuttle, it is time to look to the next phase, allow the private sector to come in behind nasa. >> this capsule has been in orbit, but space travel is notoriously risky. the animation that makes things look easy. it is a new era, but it is very early days. >> you are watching "bbc world news". within the last hours, we want to update you on the breaking news we are getting south of tripoli where nato has launched a number of air strikes against colonel gaddafi's compound and other government buildings. these pictures have just come into us from our target at colonel gaddafi's compound. there you can hear the noise of
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the missiles. let's listen in to what we can hear on these pictures. [missiles whistling, explosions] we believe these are targeting the compound itself and nato lost five blasts in quick succession with in the last few hours. we also understand that earlier on, three-four hours ago, a government building itself and was targeted. these pictures showed the aftermath of the government building housing the high commission for children, which was completely destroyed in tripoli. they're no reports of casualties at this location. in terms of what we know now, it it has definitely been a heavy night of bombardment in terms of nato missile strikes in tripoli. we will keep you updated on that. stay with us. you are watching "bbc world news."
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>> 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?
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