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>> and now "bbc world news." >> hello and welcome to newsday. >> i am in london. the headlines this hour. .he un's 8 chief visits homs tributes to the fall and six british soldiers killed in afghanistan. >> -- to the fallen six but is soldiers killed in afghanistan. >> a man pleads guilty to a touching faith explosives to a woman. it is cocotte in the afternoon. >> it is four o'clock in the morning in london. this is newsday.

hello and welcome. syria paz said that the oil minister has defected. deputy it will buy minister has defected. -- oil minister has defected. the united nations humanitarian chief has described the district of homs as devastated. she visited the area with members of the red crescent. she now reports from neighboring lebanon. >> before heading off, the humanitarian chief held talks with syrian foreign minister. he told her syria was trying to meet all its needs despite the western embargo. it was not clear whether she was helping to see the massive

destruction of the area in homs. the serbian red crescent has just been allowed in, but not the international red cross. it has been waiting nearby while a huge clear up operation has been going on. amos also saw scenes like this, footage that reports to show patience at the military hospital in homs, chained to their beds and showing signs of torture. that is why many people wounded by security forces by not being taken to state hospitals. this clinic has seen a lot of violence. the wounded are patched up as best they can by using any materials that hand. she is not the only on boy in town. the chinese have also sent a high official.

like the russians, the chinese want to see dialogue and a syrian solution, not regime change from outside. as the situation worsens, the chinese do not want to get caught up as they were in libya last year. >> we had a back to it did most of our workers. there are only -- we have evacuated most of our workers. there are only 100 personnel left. we will go back when the situation has stabilized. >> the most crucial will be kofi annan. he has the stature, experience, and balanced approach that might succeed against the odds. if he cannot do it, probably, nobody else can. >> earlier, i spoke to the sunday times reporter who has recently returned from cbs.

-- syria. he began by telling me what he experienced while he was out. >> when we were in homs it was a scene i have never seen before. i have covered many wars. devastation it is an understatement. they have had time to cover their tracks. whom i have no reason to doubt it will continue. this regime knows no limits, has no boundaries, unless the international community acts, pushes with everything they have got, i think we will not be seeing an end to this. this will become familiar scenes as we saw in bosnia. we all know the result of that. it is critical that the pressure is kept on the regime and they are not allowed to hide, destroy

evidence, and continued this attack. >> are you able to be in touch with any of the activists who helped you? you know what the conditions are like right now? >> the situation with regards to contact has deteriorated. at times we had a steady supply of information. that information is drying up daily. i assume that is because the troops are on the ground and going house to house. conditions were almost unworkable. we face snipers' every day. -- faced snipers every day. it is almost unworkable. >> when you hear about the u.s. defense secretary saying u.s. forces will not take action against president assad, how

does that make you feel? >> to be personal, on a personal level, it is devastating. i also, and most people, realize it is too late. this should have been discussed eight months ago. people have said their goodbyes. they have made their peace. they are expecting to die. the world has watched it unfold. it is down to a last-minute attempts. it should never have been allowed to get to a last-minute attempt. it breaks my heart. these people off have faced barbarity. i think it is too late. >> that was the sunday times photographer speaking to me earlier. he has been injured in a cbs.

six world powers have been unable to -- in syria. six world powers at been unable to agree. images of the facility had indicated that they may be trying to discuss nuclear activity. the man who admits carrying out a massacre in norway has been charged with terrorism and homicide. he is due to go on trial next month. last year he killed 69 people in a shooting rampage and eight others in a bomb attack. the psychiatric report concluded he was insane. the head of the national transitional council has said he is ready to defend the countries unity. he made the comment the day at the tribal leaders in eastern libya declared the region to be

semi-autonomous. moved six british soldiers have been killed in afghanistan. -- six british soldiers have been killed in afghanistan. >> the best take the number of british service personnel killed to over four hundred. the blast was caused by a large device planted by the taliban. the attack happened in the kandahar province. >> the flags fly at half mast. six of their comrades killed in a single explosion. it left most in shock. >> you feel it in your gut. it is a sickening below. one thing i have learned is that these young soldiers are tough and resilient.

they grieve. >> the wreckage was quickly secured. the force of the explosion left the vehicle barely recognizable. parts landed over 100 meters away. we traveled along this road before. it is the main road. it is notoriously dangerous. the soldiers were travelling along this route. they were on a routine patrol from a nearby base. it was twilight as they approached. here, they left the road. it is a common tactic. they were traveling in an armored troop carrier. it is heavily armored. the explosion was still able to cut into its underbelly.

the wreckage of the vehicle and the remains of the men have been returned to base. assessments indicate this was a large taliban bomb which was well placed. one officer told me, this is not a change in tactics. it was locked. david cameron paid tribute to the sacrifice. >> it is a reminder of the huge price we are paying for the work we are doing in afghanistan. the sacrifice our troops have made. i do believe it is important work for our national security at home. this work will be carried out by afghan soldiers. we all want to see that transition take place. >> a stop to honor the dead. -- they stopped to honor the dead. in afghanistan, they are handing

over control to afghan forces. most british troops will leave by the end of 2014. today, that seems like long way off. they will continue to fight alongside afghan soldiers and a sacrifice their lives for a far off country. >> opponents of putin branded his election as an insult to the people. this 60% victory still stand. voters say they will press on with demonstrations. tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the street in south africa in protest over more expensive poles on roads. they say they have already paid taxes for the new roads would

quote build for the 2010 world cup -- roads that were built for the 2010 world cup. nicolas sarkozy has put immigration at the center of his campaign. he claimed that there are too many foreigners in france. he is currently behind his socialist rival in the polls. he has to compete with the national front for the conservative vote. an australian man has pleaded guilty to attaching a bomb around the neck of a girl in sydney. he retained the girl in an attempt to extort money. i was told how the family of the 19-year-old had reacted to this news. >> they are very happy that this case is now at an end and he has pleaded guilty.

the girl's father spoke outside court. he said he is relieved that she does not have to go through the ordeal of giving evidence. he also said it was a complete mystery, and remains a mystery, why this the place in the first place. last august, she was at her home when this man confronted her, took her inside, and strapped what appeared to be an explosive device to connect. he left a note demanding money. for the next 10 hours, the police did not know if that the vice -- that device was explosive. they decided it was not explosive. they still do not know why that happened. they are grateful this will not go to a long trial. >> you are watching news day

on the bbc. still to come, residents in fukushima still living in fear of radiation. >> prince henry joined the dominican defense force for some target practice. -- joined the jamaican defense force boresome target practice. people with disabilities face losing their jobs. the government has cut its support saying there are better ways to help. union leaders say it is an attack on vulnerable people. david cameron has revealed that there is going to be a scientific criminal offense. he described stocking as a crime which makes life a living.

an inquiry has called for a new offense to be introduced. police searching for the former east enders actress say that divers have found a body. the 29-year-old was in the program in 2001. a 35-year-old man has been arrested. >> this is newsday on the bbc. >> the headlines this hour. the humanitarian envoy calls for better access for aid agencies. syria's deputy oil minister has defected. >> the taliban have been blamed for the death of six british soldiers. the attack means more than 400 british troops have died during the 10 years of the afghan war.

this sunday, at japan will be remembering the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the coast a year ago. 16,000 people were killed. tens of thousands more were of activated when the fukushima plant suffered a radiation leak. joining me now is the japan watch director. hrw visited to investigate radiation. share with us what these findings are. >> according to our research, we found that the response of the government has not been coordinated and consistent in terms of information, in particular for children, pregnant and nursing women. the government has faced

enormous challenges. however, it has already passed one year. mothers are still struggling to have their children tested. the good news is the government has announced they will test all children under 18 in terms of thyroid gland tests. it has only been a portion of children who have been tested. it takes years to test all children. instead of having a straightforward testing, the government had sent out questionnaires. this is only a questionnaire. we believe testing, in terms of whole body testing, is needed for children. >> in your view, how could the government do a better job with

the situation? >> the government, we understand they have been facing an enormous challenge. i believe they can do a better job. they should do strait for testing of children. they can also do a better job of food testing and monitoring -- a mother told us -- the children are recommended to drink bottled water. there is conflicting information. it is all around. people are having a hard time believing the information of the government. also, many people are still struggling to know how much their children are exposed to radiation. for example, a mother told me

the residential area was cleared. the mud is in a container. she does not know how much radiation is there. some things were never tested. the government -- they need to ensure access to health care and health information. of course, there is a resource needed to do this. in terms of disclosure of information, the japanese government has the obligation to disclose all information. they cannot sensor or withdraw any information. >> we will have to leave it there. thank you for joining us. the human rights watch japan director.

china may be about to issue an order that will have europe quaking in their boots. on friday, a proposal to stop official spending taxpayers' money on foreign cars, forcing them to buy chinese models instead. we have more from shanghai. >> you would be forgiven for thinking there was a gathering of german credit than chinese politicians in the great hall of the people. these days, it is a rare bureaucrat who does not drive and audi. if the president can seem comfortable in a chinese car, why not all officials? for the first time, the list of cars bought with public funds contains no foreign brands. >> it will help our national industry if officials only by

chinese cars. chinese cars are cheaper. officials should drive cheap cars. >> the past 10 years has seen the rise of chinese officials in their foreign cars scattering pedestrians in their wake. it is a reminder for the ordinary pedestrian of the growing wealth and in the quality gap. -- and inequality gap. public consultation and on friday. however, if the new rule is approved, many people believe it will be flooded. -- flauted. >> it is the culture and we can do nothing about it. officials need to keep upgrading. a car with a famous name is a symbol to show your status. >> how hard to enforce, it would

still be an important signal in terms of public patience. china's luxury loving bureaucrats may be running out of road. >> scientists say a solar storm is glenn to strike earth in the next few hours. the storm, which is caused by the sun, is the largest in five years. why not -- a lot harmful to people, it could disrupt satellite navigation and plane readings. >> satellites might experience and upset. -- an upset. you could have a radio black death. -- balckout. some radios have already experienced that. >> the earth will be hit by a stream of charged particles.

one possible benefit for those in middle latitudes is that they could see the northern lights much for the seventh of the poll. -- further south of the poll. one man has scored five goals in the question of the german team, the record for a single match. the efforts helped barcelona win 7-1. he has scored 53 goals in 49 games this season. he is within seven goals of becoming the club record scorer. prince harry has spent the day with the jamaican defense. his activities were scaled-back as a mark of respect.

we report from jamaica. >> this was captain wales at a jamaican army base. he had been told about the latest british losses. at the camp, a chance for a reunion with a fellow attorney. -- trainee. the jamaican army was keen to show the prince their new power. -- tower. prince harry was going to join in. the british deaths have changed the tone. he still went to the firing range. he had this for the media. >> anyone with a camera want to stand at the other end? >> he has recently qualified as a helicopter pilot.

last night at a state dinner, he paid tribute to the woman who is still queen of jamaica. >> she combines all her virtues as a leader with those of being a wonderful, caring grandmother to whom we, her grandchildren, are utterly devoted. >> it was harry representing his grandmother. into the groove, he was soon on the dance floor. bbc news. >> you have been watching newsday from the bbc. >> the reminder of our main store is. syria's oil minister has defected. he is the mohsen -- senior official to abandon the regime. from singapore and london, thank

you for watching bbc newsday. >> 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. >> at union bank, our relationship managers use their expertise in global finance to guide you through the business strategies and opportunities of international commerce. we put our extended global network to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you?

>> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.