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hello, and welcome to "tuesnewsday." >> at the un, president obama tells mahmoud abbas that he will veto the palestinian bid for full u.n. membership. the final deal to stop the execution of troy davis and the u.s. >> china protests plans to upgrade taiwan's's f-16 fighter planes. reunited with friends and family, to americans charged with espionage have been released from iran. >> broadcasting on pbs in america and around the world, this is "newsday." the deat hello, and welcome.

president obama has met with palestinian leader mahmoud abbas in new york, where the palestinians are seeking full u.n. membership. the white house says mr. obama has reiterated the u.s. opposition to the palestinian move and told president ossi would veto it. -- and told president mahmoud abbas that he would veto it. >> middle east diplomacy transferred to new york, starling traffic. it still seems unable to match the big challenges of a conflict that is looking dangerous. >> it is time for us to say, not on our watch! >> israel is keeping the pressure on the obama administration to veto any application by the palestinians to the u.n. membership. and pro palestinians pushing for

a seat at the un as a giant step towards independence. even with the prospect of an american vdot, the palestinians are claiming victories. they talk about their eventual independence back on the international agenda in a way that was not there before. a year ago at the u.n., president obama called for a palestinian state within 12 months. if anything, it looks further away now and then. his strong message was that palestinian membership at the u.n. would bring peace no closer. >> it will not come from statements or resolutions at the united nations. if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now. ultimately, it is the israelis and palestinians who must live side by side. ultimately, it is the israelis and palestinians, not us, who

must reach agreement on the issues that divide them, one borders and security, on refugees and jerusalem. >> president obama praised the way arabs in tunisia, egypt, and libya had ceased their freedom. but on tv at the palestinian delegation's hotel, they watched the speech believing the americans are blocking their attempt to do the same thing. >> he talked about the arabs spurring in glowing terms, but when it came to the palestinians, he talked about human empathy for the israelis, who are the occupiers, but for us we're supposed to sit back and take it. >> of the west bank occupied by israel since 1967, palestinians and demonstrated for their un seat. there was a hint of what may happen if the diplomatic stalemate continues, and the president warned a veto could cause another cycle of violence.

but in new york, a grateful is really prime minister went to see the u.s. president to tell him that opposing the palestinian application was a badge of honor. america's president left for his next meetings. the old song about new york says if you can make it here, you could make it anywhere. that does not apply to making middle east peace. there was nothing to say about today. ahead of delivering his speech at the un, the british prime minister david cameron spoke of prisons policy of support for a palestinian state. >> we support palestine having a state next to a secured state of israel, secure in its borders and future. british policy will be completely directed towards helping that to happen, and in the end, we have to recognize that we will get a palestinian state alongside an israeli state by the palestinians and the

israeli sitting down and talking to each other. what matters most of all about whatever goes on at the u.n., whether there is a vote or not, whether application is lodged or not, what matters most of all is will this help contribute to delivering the outcome we all want to see, a secure israel next to a new state of palestine? u.s. supreme court has rejected a last-minute appeal to stop the execution of troy davis. davis was convicted of killing a policeman in 1989, but many witnesses at the murder trial have changed their testimony, raising serious doubts over his guilt. washingtonh to war studio and jane o'brien. explain to us this decision by the u.s. supreme court not to reject the appeal - to reject the appeal. >> it basically means that it is all over. troy davis's execution is not a

minute. we do not know if it has been carried out yet, but half an hour ago, prison authorities said they were making their last preparations. it has been a delay of three and a half, nearly four hours since his scheduled execution at 7:00 tonight, and many of his supporters say this final bill late after 22 years of being on death row amounts to even further cruel and inhumane punishment. certainly, the nature of this case is going to reignite the conversations and debates over the very nature of the death penalty and its appropriateness in the u.s. judicial system. this has been incredibly high profile case as well. it was a very tough one and that all of the evidence rested on eyewitness testimony, which seven of the nine witnesses later recanted. it raised the question of

whether or not troy davis was guilty. that said, in the years that followed, and his execution was halted three times because of appeals in various judicial reviews, he failed to prove that he was innocent. the supreme court's decision tonight, the last-ditch appeals are simply upholding with the various judges -- what the various judges and investigations had maintained of the last 22 years. >> use a preparations are now under way. how quickly could the execution happen? >> it could already have happened, for all we know. we believe that troy davis was prepared for his execution, the intravenous strip was inserted into his are probably an hour before the scheduled execution. it is likely it was kept in his

arm throw out the delay. in terms of the preparations, how long it will take, it is not known, but the estimation was between half an hour and one hour, and we are now simply waiting for a statement from the prison to say that it has been carried out. >> jim o'brien monitoring the events and if we hear anything we will immediately update you. there is tension between china and the u.s. over taiwan? that is right, the mainland has launched a final complaint for the u.s. to upgrade the aging fleet of at-16 fighter planes in taiwan. he said the deal would undermine relations between the countries. taiwan wanted to buy a more advanced version of the f-16, which is considered more of a match for china's latest fighter aircraft.

the deal between the u.s. and taiwan is considered a compromise. >> taiwan's wanted 66-16 fighter jets. that deal is pending. taiwan did not -- china did not want the u.s. to sell taiwan anything, so it could be seen as a compromise because the united states is in a difficult position. on one hand, it supports one china, the idea that taiwan is part of china, but also defends taiwan's rights to exist, and it's lawmakers in sure the country has to provide taiwan with certain defensive military arms against china. this could be seen as a compromise. >> the greek government has announced details of austerity measures to continue asking international creditors. 30,000 civil servants will be

told to stay home and 60% of their salary. if they did not find new jobs within a year, there will be sacked. at the roles of be further cuts of pensions. -- there will also be further cuts of pensions. >> in athens early next week, greece has hours to somehow convince lenders of last resort to keep the country afloat with another 8 billion euros. they have already forecast the sacking of state workers' pensions and wage cuts for civil servants. the danger it is not that the income has been reduced. the danger is not that the pensions have been reduced or the value of property. the danger is not that the real- estate market may disintegrate or we will have problems in other sectors. the danger is for the whole system to collapse. a potential collapse that is

desperately worrying portugal, one of the next in line on the periphery. >> we are on the edge of a situation of great uncertainty. we're speaking about the possible default by european union states. this situation could bring disastrous consequences to portugal, particularly in terms of financed banking and our economy. it is a situation we need to protect. >> back in the greek capital, protesters were out in force, showing that workers are defiant and did not support their government's efforts. >> they are trying to destroy our lives and those of our children. everyone must join the fight. >> later, others marched to demonstrate they will not pay new emergency property taxes, a stark reminder for the greek lenders, public and private, while the government can agree to accelerate its austerity program, history suggests it may not be able to deliver all of it.

you are watching "newsday." still to come, reunited with friends and family, two americans charged with espionage have been freed by iran. >> japan's emergency services warned that a powerful typhoon will bring heavy rain to areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in march. the former south african gold miners -- day alleged that they have suffered problems with their lungs because of dangerous levels of dust. we have this report from johannesburg. >> all that glistens it is not gold. for an industry that was once the mainstay of the south african economy. miners who worked underground exposed for hours to dust and dirt are now left with the grim legacy, crippling lung condition

known as silicosis. the south african subsidiary of anglo-american that once employed them is now being sued for negligence for allegedly flouting safety rules. >> this is a serious public health epidemic in south africa. >> with thousands working in the mines up until the late 1990's, this could have widespread applications. in a statement, the company said that anglo american does not believe it is in any way liable for the silicosis claims and is defending their actions. anglo american maintains the gold company that employed the mine workers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees and took reasonable steps to protect them. as many as one in five former miners have been hit by the disease. and the numbers are rising. the numbers will not be known for decades.

now 450 claims are being presented to a court in britain. the case could turn out to be one of the biggest of its kind. before any testimony is heard, we could well see technical arguments over the legal jurisdiction of the british court. and much more on our website. >> this is "newsday." >> the main headlines -- president obama has told the united nations there is no short cuts to peace in the middle east. he was speaking against a palestinian campaign for full u.n. membership. and breaking news, the execution of convicted killer troy davis has taken place.

the u.s. supreme court rejected a final appeal to stop it. let's update that breaking news. the execution of troy davis has now taken place. he was convicted of murdering an off-duty police officer in 1989. there was a last-minute appeal on the execution, but it was rejected by the u.s. supreme court and he has now been executed. let's go straight away to our correspondent in washington, james o'brien. give us the latest. >> the execution has taken place, confirmed by prison officials. more than four hours after it was due to take place earlier this evening. that delay has really been the final agony for the families of both troy davis and his victim,

mark macphail, the off-duty policemen who he was convicted of killing in 1989. we don't know who was present, whether his family was present at the execution, but we understand that some members of the police officer's family may have been there. it certainly cost a lot of false hope for troy davis's supporters, who gathered outside of the person. 30 vigils have been held across the country, people gathering to show support and opposition to the death, but the supreme court ruling came as no surprise after 22 years of troy davis having failed to prove his innocence at previous hearings, appeals, and they upheld all of those previous decisions and declined to stay of execution. >> troy davis has a lot of high-

profile supporters who he has convinced but cannot convince the u.s. supreme court. >> there is a fine line between proving you are innocent and raising doubt as to whether or not he is guilty. that has been the crux of the case. the high-profile supporters be referred to were the pope and former president jimmy carter. and now we go to the prison. >> basically, at one very quietly. the macphail family and friends sat in the first row. the warden read the order, asked if troy davis had anything to say. it is lifted his head up, looked at the first row, and said he wanted to talk to the macphail family and said despite the situation you are in, he was not

the one who did it. he said he was not personally responsible for what happened that night, that he did not have a gun. he said to the family that he was sorry for their loss, but also said he did not take their son, father, brother. he said to them, dig deeper in this case to find out the truth. he asked his family and friends to keep praying, to keep working, and to keep the faith, and then he said the prison staff, the ones who were going to take his life, he said to them, may god have mercy on your souls. it is last words to them, may god bless your souls. then he put his head down, the procedure began, and 15 minutes later it was over. no.

any questions? >> we are hearing the conference from some quarters of troy davis. -- from some supporters of troy davis. >> he said the incident that night was not my fault. i did not have a gun. that is when he told his friends to continue to fight and look deeper into this case so you can really find the truth. for those about to take my life, may god have mercy on your souls, may god bless your souls. and to the macphail family he said, of course, i did not personally kill your son, father, and brother. i am innocent. >> you have been to an execution.

>> supporters and reporters who were present at the execution, relaying to the public the last words of troy davis. we understand that he maintained his innocence to the last, urging the macphail family, the family of the murdered policemen, to dig deeper into the case, that he did not kill their son, brother, their father, and effectively that he died an innocent man. >> ok, jane, thank you very much about the latest, troy davis has been executed. the top story, the palestinian bid for statehood at the un general assembly in new york, and we will speak with the president of the u.s.-arab institute, who joins us now from our new york studio. explain to us, why will mahmoud abbas not negotiate with israel

behind the scenes, as suggested by the americans? why has he gone straight to the un? >> the palestinians have been involved in negotiations for 20 years. in this current round of negotiations. during that time, i've been to the west bank, i have seen what happened. areas that were green are now literally completely devastated by a piece -- devastated by these ugly settlements that take up so much land and struggle palestinian communities that are surrounded by them. palestinians did not believe in the goodwill of be netanyahu administration and do not believe america has the ability to put any restraint on israel. when netanyahu was first elected with a design to end the peace process, he did back in the 1990's. when he came back again, he learned to say that he supported the palestinian state, but the

terms on which he is willing to accept it are his terms. he wants to define palestinian statehood is way -- his way and has not shown any willingness to bend. you cannot negotiating lawyer negotiating partner is gobbling up your land and humiliating your people. there is no good faith. they decided what they need to do is send this back to the united nations, which began the two state solution back in 1948 and say, recognize our right and give us additional leverage in this equation. the u.s. is not going to help us and we do not believe the israelis have good faith. have the international community give us the help we need. that is why they went to the un. >> ok, we have to leave it there, thank you for your time. you have details of the typhoon that has hit japan?

>> that is right, it is a powerful typhoon, bringing torrential rains and floods, killing six people. it has taught at the country with wind of more than 160 kph, the second big storm to get the country this month after another typhoon hit western japan and left 100 people dead or missing. for more, we are joined from tokyo by our correspondent from the white cross. -- from the red cross. the people in the northeast displaced by the earthquake and tsunami, have they been affected again by this typhoon? >> yes, the 30,000 people were warned to evacuate, and we have confirmed 60 families that were living in a temporary home have fled their home and have asked help from the red cross.

we have sent people for assessment today. >> you mentioned the fabricated homes. these homes are built for evacuees, built near the mountainous area. are there fears that the typhoon continuing could lead to mudslides? >> yes, when the government was building prefabricated homes, they paraded to find a place and built them more that could find. some places are mountainous. after the mountain swallowed a lot of water, there is fear of other mudslides still. >> how are the people they're coping and what kind of help does the red cross need it to be able to assist the evacuees? >> the red cross has dispatched blankets for the people staying at evacuation centers, and our

staff members have talked to the evacuees and they feel the extra burden and anxiety after the earthquake and tsunami and two typhoons. it is giving them very difficult times. >> that was the red cross in tokyo, thank you for joining us. you have been watching "newsday" on bbc. >> and a reminder, the execution of troy davis has taken place after the u.s. supreme court rejected a final appeal to stop it going ahead. we heard from a press conference that for davis maintains his innocence throughout. that is all from us in london and singapore. thank you very much for watching. you can also follow was on twitter.

>> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, and union bank. >> union bank offers unique

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