>> "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.

>> union bank offers unique insight and expertise in a range of industries. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." >> the forged british passports allegedly used in an assassination, britain is expelling the israeli diplomat. >> the fact that this was done by a country that is a friend with significant diplomatic and personal ties to the uk only adds insult to injury. >> four german pensioners are

found guilty of kidnapping and beating their financial advisor. coming up later, they are building the tallest dam in the world. what happens to its neighbors downstream? they are enduring the worst drought in a century. now western australia is hit by a hailstorm the size of golf balls. >> hello. for the first time in more than 20 years, britain is expelling an israeli diplomat. it is unusual because britain is such a close ally. they said compelling evidence that israeli agents combed a

dozen british passports as part of their cover for an assassination in a dubai hotel. this is the report from our security correspondent. >> it was a meticulously planned operation. but it was captured on camera. the victim was trailed. 12 of the team carried forged british passports. they stole the identity of britain. >the government expressed its outrage. what the government takes this matter extremely seriously. -- >> the government takes this matter extremely seriously. it represents a profound disregard for the sovereignty of the united kingdom.

the fact that this was done by a country, which is a friend with significant diplomatic, cultural, and personal ties to the u.k., only adds insult to injury. >> this was the team of at least 26 people, dubai police believe were behind the murder. -- 26 people whom dubai police believe were behind the murder. they followed him to his room where he was eventually convicted with a sedative and suffocated. the british authorities have not been investigating the murder itself. that is the job of the dubai police. but the serious crime department is looking at the force documents. the decision was taken to expel

an israeli diplomat, the first one in more than 20 years. it said that it is amending its travel led by as for israel, to one of the rest of identity theft. the israeli ambassador was summoned from the foreign office last month to answer questions. today, his response to the expulsion was brief. >> the relationship between israel and the united kingdom is of mutual importance. hence, we are disappointed by the british government's decision. >> dubai police are continuing with their investigation into the killing. the diplomatic fallout and the pressure on israel is now growing. >> across the atlantic come israel -- across the atlantic, israel faces potentially

annoying another friend. on monday, mr netanyahu reasserted what he said was israel's right to build levirate it wants in its capital city. we hear from washington how far reaching this difference of opinion can be. >> this is the place where 1600 new housing units are planned, turning to put the peace process and to conflict. first of all, give us the lay of the land. >> across the hill is the jewish village of ramat. then we have route 443 and then

tell levy is straight ahead. a -- then tel aviv is straight ahead. i was here 18 years ago. this was their rocky mound. there was nothing here. -- this was a rocky mount. there was nothing here. no one was displaced at all. >> what would people think it mr netanyahu had to give up building 1600 new homes? >> personally, i know that this is the real peace that absolutely everyone was embracing. the democratic government and everybody expects the democratic decisions of the government appeare. >> what if it was the price of just building its proximity talks?

>> we are talking about asking a country to stop building in its own capital. i think it is ridiculous. if you were to ask the british government to stop building in london because someone wanted to make a state there or there were proximity talks, i think everybody in london would be offended and rightly so. this is part of the capital of israel. this is jerusalem, the ancient capital of the jews. i do not think anyone has the right to tell us not to build or expand in a community where we live. >> thank you very much. that is a glimpse of one of the most insoluble issues of the conflict. both the palestinians and the israelis claim as their future capital. the talks have yet to begin. >> let's take you to washington. our correspondent is there.

just how important and how far reaching do you think these differences are? many people listening to mr. netanyahu are hoping that he is talking to appease hard-liners in his coalition to keep this government together. yet he must know that he has a pretty strong hand. the last thing that mr. obama needs is another battle to fight. >> on the other hand, there are people who argue that, after his health care victory, president obama is searching for another win. it all depends on how you look at it. certainly, benjamin netanyahu has come to washington and found quite defiant. he believes, of course, that he does not have to make a concession when it comes to making settlements in east jerusalem. for the obama administration, it looks quite different from here. they believe that the settlements -- the issue of

settlements are undermining progress and peace talks. anyway, they feel that the israeli government is standing in the way of any progress at the moment. the obama administration would really like to see some kind of movement when it comes to the israeli government behavior, perhaps even private reassurances that settlements will not be allowed to undermine the needed trust to start those talks moving forward. >> you know the middle east very well. what do you think the chances are? how does this bode for middle east peace talks? >> that is the million-dollar question i do not think the u.s. has a very clear strategy at this place on how to move forward. the short-term goal is to get both sides to behave, both the israelis and the palestinians, just to make sure that nothing undermines the progress at the talks. the americans wanted to launch in direct negotiations with the two sides and then eventually

move into direct talks. but that is a tall order at this stage. >> thank you very much. four pensioners in germany have been found guilty of kidnapping their financial adviser. the group ambushed him, tied him up, and held him hostage last june after they lost more than $3 million in risky investments on the american property market. >> in court, they look like the most unlikely group of criminals. a 74-year-old architect, his 80- year-old wife, a retired doctor, a businessman -- together, they have been dubbed the pensioner dankert they have been found guilty of kidnapping. -- the pension a ger gang. they have been found guilty of kidnapping. the drama began 8,000 kilometers away in florida.

the pensioners had invested more than $3 million in the property market and lost it all in the crash. they did not blame subprime. they blamed this man and they decided to make him pay. the gang abducted james m. b amburg. he was driven to the bavarian lakes. it is a popular history this holiday destination. he was held hostage in this house for three days. he was eventually forced to sign documents in which he agreed to pay back the pensioners. he was then allowed to send a fax to his bank in switzerland who arranged the deal. remarkably, the financial advisor managed to conceal the

phrase of a " call the police." the lawyers say there has never been a case like it. >> it is unbelievable that such a case can happen. >> they were so desperate that they fetched the man and they would wait until you would give back the money. >> first they lost their money. that two of them have lost their freedom. the ring leader has received the harshest sentence, six years in prison for his role. >> in western australia, a major storm has left many people with no power at all torrential rain, hail, and landslides and millions of dollars of damage. our correspondent has the latest. >> the gathering storm on the

west coast of australia, a country in the worst drought in years, it is about to experience its most violent deluge for decades. it hit during the evening rush hour, pelting heavy rain and hail stones the size of golf balls. it was buffeted by winds of up to 120 kph. the result was flash flooding , a deal of destruction. >> it is pretty damn is that the moment. the wind screen as gagne. >> it was coming down pretty fast. >> this apartment building, 100 people had to be evacuated. a landslide covered much of

what is the story behind the a to misread box? -- the infamous red box? a blast coincided with the second day of the rebels called for a 48-hour shutdown of west bengal. >> the high-speed express had

only just left a local station when this happened. an explosion on the track lead to a derailing. several cars of which will jump off of the damaged rails. luckily, it was damaging -- it was traveling too slowly to create extensive damage. >> i have some injuries. two people or three people also have been injured. mellon has sustained any major injuries. >> -- no one had sustained any major injuries. >> a freight train was derailed leading to major disruption. in neighboring [unintelligible] >> at around 10:00 a.m., a blast happened. a 1 meter stretch of railway track had been blown up. we reached the site as soon as we received the information.

we searched the nearby area, but the most had fled by them. -- but the maoists had fled by then. the indian government has launched a major offensive to flush them out. nearly 50,000 troops have been deployed. the maoists have responded by calling a strike. they say they are fighting for the right to [unintelligible] but the government insists that they are a dangerous insurgent -- they are dangers insurgents -- they are dangerous insurgents. >> the uk is expelling an israeli diplomat. this is over 12 forged passports.

barack obama is meeting with the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu for the first time after the announcement that expanding settlements in jerusalem. the new health care law was signed today. it will cover 32 million americans who currently have nine. >> today, after almost a century of trying -- today, after over a year of debate -- today, after all of the votes have been tallied, health care insurance reform becomes law in the united states of america. [applause] >> today. [applause] >> attorney general's and

several republican states are moving to overturn it already. -- attorney general'ls in severl republican states are moving to overturn it already. president sarkozy has tried to restore his reputation. mexico has prompted a visit from the secretary of state hillary clinton. just a short while low, since three people connected to the u.s. consulate, on the border were killed. women have arrived in yemen against a law about marriage.

it was passed last year. hard-line clerics have blocked its enforcement. it says -- they say it goes against sharia law. at least half of asia's wtewater flows from [unintelligible] >> something big is happening in these mountains. it would solve the energy problems of an impoverished nation. it is a new giant hydroelectric dam. its height would make it the tallest in the world. they have no oil or gas, but they do have water. every year, 20 billion cubic

meters flows down this river. in central asia, water is a precious resource. not every country wants this project to go ahead. this is one of the main rivers, several dams have already been built on it. but the latest one plan will be the biggest one.

>> to help pay the cost, the government has urged the public to invest. every family is expected to buy it to $700 usd worth of shares. but with an average income of only $60 usd per month, it is nearly impossible. water is used by many for cooking and heating. ordinary folks hope that it will improve their living conditions. >> we have just written an essay at school. we were told that, when it is built, there will be enough electricity. >> there is a widespread belief

that it is the solution to many of the country's problems. but in a region where water is in short supply, the country will have to prove that, in its quest to keep the lights on, it will not stop the water from flowing. >> in russia, the former soviet wartime leader joseph stalin has boiled over. many died during his rule, but now some are putting up posters to commemorate the end of his rule. joseph stalin is reviled as a tyrant responsible for the deaths of millions. in russia, there are still some who revere him as a heroic wartime leader. there is the approach of the national holiday that makes rashawn products and any other. to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the soviet union victory over the nazi german,

organizers say his image as a reflection of history. not everyone sees it so neutrally. >> i have never seen or heard of people going to battle in the name of stalling. -- the name of stalin. the only thing i would want to do is to grab the nearest object in hand and crush the poster of stalin. >> it is part of a tendency in modern russia to commemorate the a victorious commander, not a murderous dictator. >> britain's finance minister or chancellor will pose for the

cameras with the little red box. the boxed itself has a story of its own. >> it has become an annual ritual for british chancellors to pose with the red box before telling people what is inside. it is used to transport the details of the budget. this is where they start, at the workshop in london where they have been making many boxes since the 1850's. they are not just use for budgets, but by all government departments to move documents around safely. they are also used in other commonwealth countries. barrick -- they are painstakingly made by hand and it takes three days. they're covered in rams leather. the lock is put on the bottom.

in the design has changed very little sense the 150 years that it was introduced by prince albert. >> they are secure. there are hardly visible. -- they are hardly visible. and they can contain a brief in relation to a particular matter far more efficiently inconveniently than you would be able to do electronically. >> there have been tests in the past two be rid of the boxes in favor of something more technological. in 1997, the government looked into bringing in virtual computerized red boxes. >> you could make government communications quicker. you could make them more accurate. you could make it more convenient to ministers.

thereby, you'd have a better system of government. that is what i was trying to do. >> but the idea was not considered convenient by many ministers and civil servants. it could remain a part of the british government for many years to come. there are some traditions that even technology cannot replace. >> you get more on that and international news online at bbc.com. thank you for being with us. >> 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 offers unique insight and expertise in a range of industries. what can we do for you? >> i'm julia stiles. >> i'm kevin bacon. >> i'm kim cattrall. >> hi, i'm ken burns. >> i'm lili taylor. >> i'm henry louis gates, jr., and public broadcasting is my source for news about the world. >> for intelligent conversation. >> for election coverage you can count on. >> for conversations beyond the sound bites. >> a commitment to journalism. >> for deciding who to vote for. >> i'm kerry washington, and public broadcasting is my source for intelligent connections to my community. >> bbc world news was presented by kcet, los angeles. by kcet, los angeles.