by kcet in los angeles. funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe vermont, and honolulu. the newman's own foundation and the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. >> ethnic tensions boil over in china costs far west. authorities are struggling to contain the violence and impose a curfew. >> they are carrying homemade weapons like wooden poles and steel poles and other implements. they're saying the authorities are not doing the job, so they will take into their own hands. >> if a final farewell -- fans, friends, and family patriots to the king of pop. >> daddy has been the best

father you could ever imagine. and i just wanted to say i love him so much. [applause] >> burying our cold war past -- barack obama asks russians to work for common goals. welcome to bbc world news, broadcast on pbs in america and around the globe. coming up later, the cost of living in the city. a new survey reveals where the price is wrong. and a satirical look -- a satirical feeding frenzy. meet the puppeteers in kenya poking fun at their politicians. >> the chinese authorities are

struggling to clamp down on the worst ethnic violence the country has seen for many decades. they have imposed a nighttime curfew and the far western province of xinjiang, where three days of violence have lost it -- have left at least 150 people dead. crowd carrying weapons of been on the streets of the capital. this ethnic violence between the lower -- the local uighur community and the han chinese. we have this report. >> in this moslem quarter, hundreds of uighur women pour onto the streets and rushed to confront the troops who have taken control of their neighborhood. old men and women alike should their fists and demanded the return of their men had that have been rounded up over night accused of taking part in the riots. these defenders of chinese rule rarely come fees -- rarely come face-to-face with such defiance, but they did today and they retreated.

the most extraordinary scenes here are hundreds of local women, many of them uighur women have gathered on the street. despite the fact there are lots of armed police here, they are shouting we want our freedom, we want our men back. >> it would be even better to shoot us and tell us at that -- and then to live like this. the people who protested the other day, men and women, we heard there were killed and died in a very tragic way. >> the women they said would not be arrested. and later in the city center, a body of han chinese men decided it was their turn to take to the streets. hundreds of han chinese have been marching through the center of urumqi all afternoon, saying down with the uighurs and

protect xinjiang. they are carrying wooden poles, steel poles, and other implements. they say the authorities are not doing the job and so they will take it into their own hands. >> at the moment, every country is safe guarding world peace and harmony. we have to do this and our nation should unite. our society is such a good one. why can't we live normally in it? >> han bore the brunt of the attacks during sunday's riots. the violence was sparked by the killings of several thousand miles away in southern china. uighur groups say that video placed on the internet show the man running for his life from the han chinese. they claim he is one of two killed after false rumors of uighur men attacking han women. what happens next is too disturbing to show. this evening, more paramilitary

troops arrived in urumqi to restore the peace. but the two groups to share the city had never seen so far apart. >> which all begs the questions -- why are there different tensions between ethnic groups in china and has the chinese government become more open in its reporting of unrest? our security correspondent has this report. >> that the tensions and a place largely unknown to the rest of the world. uighurs and han chinese have been simmering for years. they uighurs , and has been occupied. >> the oppression has reached an unbearable level. they have and our language from school and transported growth in the countryside to the interior. they have arrested 15,000 people in the last two years and have no access to lawyers.

>> more and more people in the world have witnessed the conspiracy of foreign forces to separate chinese territory and the violent nature of their behavior. >> in china, there are officially 55 ethnic minorities. the largest are in the inner mongolia, tibet, and of the uighurs in xinjiang province. but these of the ones that get the most ethnic tent -- most -- the most international attention. last year, the chinese media said an attack in xinjiang province killed 16 policemen. ethnic uighurs were blamed. separatist uighurs have been imprisoned in guantanamo bay. last summer, that erupted into violence. it was heavily repressed with martial law and journalists were kept out. there is international condemnation. this time, the authorities are

being surprisingly open. >> i think the chinese government has learned lessons from its handling of the right thing in tibet last year. last year, the chinese government did not allow any international journalist in and out strongly criticized domestically and internationally. it met the chinese government position did not gain any sympathy. >> for the chinese premier and the wider leadership, this is largely about damage limitation. later this year, they will be celebrating 60 years of the people's republic, so they want the population to see han chinese as the victims and the instigators coming from outside china. the violence in xinjiang is in the world spotlight. and now the battle begins as to just who is to blame. >> more of the main news for you -- the united nations refugee agency is reporting a huge exodus. more than two hundred thousand people from the capital of somalia because fighting

between government and islamic insurgents has escalated fiercely. the clashes have forced doctors without frontiers to withdraw from the north of city for the first time in 17 years. it has had to close a children's hospital and three health clinics. the iraqi government has banned all organized visits by schoolchildren to the grave of saddam hussein. some iraqi schools have taken people to visit the site north of baghdad. water rationing has been imposed in india's most heavily populated city for the first time in living memory. because of poor monsoon rains, supplies to the 20 million residents have been reduced by 20%. authorities say taps will run dry if the full monsoon does not arrive soon. a training camp used by militants loyal to the taliban leaders in pakistan has been flattened in a suspected attack by u.s. drones. officials say the missile strike in the tribal area destroyed the

camp. they said 14 militants were killed. whenever the controversies of the past, it was by any standard, a fitting tribute to a pop icon. a huge public memorial service in los angeles has been celebrating the life of michael jackson who died suddenly almost two weeks ago. condolences came from far and wide. the words of nelson mandela among them and jackson's 11 year-old daughter. music from stevie wonder, smokey robinson and others. we have this report from the staples center in los angeles as family and friends bid farewell. >> michael jackson was brought back into the limelight one last time. the star who was delighted in publicity and strove to hide from it once again was the focus of the world's attention. his children have been largely

kept away from the cameras since their father's death. today, they mourned with the rest of the family. >> ever since i was born, daddy has been the best father you can never imagine. i just want to say i love him so much. >> this was a public memorial. it was also an intensely private affair. >> i love you michael, and i will miss you. >> mariah carey was the first start to appear. lionel richie. then stevie wonder performed in front of michael jackson's coffin here. late in front of the stage where

he was rehearsing his london concerts in the days before his death. then, michael jackson spoke in a video montage of his life. when they showed the signature moonwalk, michael jackson's fans cheered. jermaine jackson sang his brother's a favorite song, "smile" by charlie chaplin. ♪ >> this was the first we saw of michael jackson's coffin. earlier, just after a short private memorial. the police closed los angeles's highways for the funeral cortege. in downtown los angeles, fans queued up for the public memorial. inside, the next generation performed. a 12-year old, a finalist in

"britain has got talent" seven years older than michael jackson was when his career that started. >> i want to thank him so much for blessing me and every single individual on this earth with his amazing music. thank you very much. i love you michael jackson. >> the ending came steadily in -- this spelling -- fittingly with this. the song for africa which michael jackson wrote. >> it was really interesting. it was really somber at times. grieving the loss. then really joyful remembering everything he gave to his this world. >> everybody is crushed all over the world. >> and and michael jackson left the stage. for many, he was a controversy all, faded pop star. but there have been a few artists like him and today, even

in death, michael jackson was still baffling fans around the world. >> it's time to bury the antagonism of the cold war. that was president obama's message to russian students in moscow today. he offered a more mixed assessment of the russian prime minister, calling in tough, shrewd, and pragmatic. he made it clear that on some issues, he does not expect a meeting of the minds anytime soon. we have this report from moscow. >> president obama began his second day here with the drive outside moscow. to a crucial meeting with the former president, now prime minister, vladimir putin. just a few days ago, president obama accused him of having 1 foot in the past cold war mentality. but today, he switched on the charm. >> i am aware of not only the

extraordinary work you have done on behalf of the russian people in your previous role as president, but in your current role as prime minister. >> while the breakfast meeting look relaxed, mr obama would have been looked from -- would have looked for reassurance from mr. putin on the agreements signed on monday to reset the agreements between moscow and washington. the american president then returned to the center of moscow to deliver his big speech here. it was a chance to address the russian people. it included an important statement on the controversy lachute of georgia and ukraine joining nato. >> america will never impose a security arrangement on another country trade for any country to become a member of an organization like nato, for example, the majority of its people must choose to, they must undertake reforms and contribute to the alliance's mission. let me be clear -- nato should

be seeking collaboration with much -- collaboration with russia, not confrontation. >> but they heard the american president stressed that neither country should seek a series of influence in the world. >> glad to have you with us on bbc world news. still to come, prince charles leeds attributes to the families who lost loved ones in the july 7 bombings. first, in the remote jungle of eastern bolivia, the government has seized and destroyed what it believes is the country's largest cocaine processing plant. the country as the world's third largest cocaine producer. but it stopped cooperating with america's war on drugs last year and expelled u.s. agents. bolivia seize this major raid as a victory and vindication of their decision to go it alone. we have this report.

>> the remote jungle provides cover for one of the poorest south american country's few thriving trades -- cocaine. a huge processing plant was found in march and authorities say they have uncovered a bigger operation. they say could produce up to 100 kilos of cocaine every day. the interior minister flew in to see for himself. >> this is the most important hit against drug-trafficking in a long time. we're hoping the dismantling of these laboratories and industrial plants that produce drugs and produce cocaine will continue. >> until recently, cocoa farmers in bolivia would have had their farms up rooted as part of the u.s. war on drugs. but the current president is a former cocoa farmer himself. he says the traditional use of

cocoa, at dating back thousands of years, should not be confused with the drug trade. that has put him at odds with the u.s.. last year, he ordered u.s. agents out of bolivia, accusing them of spying and destabilizing the country. in return, the u.s. -- the u.s. suspended trade benefits. it explains why the libyans are so keen to trumpet the success as a vindication of its policy of targeting cocaine gangs rather than farmers. >> the latest headlines for you on bbc world news -- chinese authorities are struggling to clamp down on the worst ethnic violence the country has seen for many decades. and a huge public memorial in los angeles has been celebrating michael jackson, who died suddenly almost two weeks ago. a memorial has been unveiled in london to victims of the bomb

attacks on the city's transport system four years ago. 52 people were killed one of four islamic extremists blew themselves up on three underground trains and bus. 52 tall stainless steel pillars make up the memorial in hyde park, one for each victim. >> in a summer deluge on the edge of hyde park, on that july morning four years ago, london had become the latest western target of islamic terrorism. the memorial has 50 two colors, one for each of the victims. some of their families had been involved in formulating the design. >> we want people to walk through it and touch it. we want children to be able to play in it as well. most of the people who died were quite young. we wanted it to be user- friendly, if you like. >> the suicide bombers blew up a bus and three underground trains at the height of rush hour.

several hundred people were injured in this act of mass murder. here for the ceremony, the prime minister and leaders of the other political parties. the prince of wales, who first met the families after the bombings, spoke to them again privately today before the ceremony. the victims were remembered individually, all ages, various nationalities, different religions. the usual cross section of london travelers. with their names in the air, a minute of silence to reflect on what had been lost. >> we have been privileged to be in the privilege of so many dignified survivors and their families of people who were lost. with all the sorrow, there has been a great joy in today as well. >> 52 families changed forever on the seventh of july 2005.

>> hope that it has issued a plea for financial world order that is more socially just. the so-called charity interest calls for an end and the profit at all costs global mentality. the document has been published on the eve of the g-8 summoned and talks about how to tackle the growing disparity between rich and poor nations. if you are next pat looking to get the most bang for your buck, where she lived? the next -- is said to go to johannesburg and steer clear of tokyo. we will hear in a moment from south africa where a reporter reckons he can make the most of his money. but first, we get to our correspondent in japan, where the cost of living is sky high. >> people who live in japan don't need to be told it's an expensive place to be an expatriate. rand is high.

it costs the same to have a car parking space in this city as the best to have a whole apartment in some other places. food is expensive. this supermarket behind me, a watermelon is $15 and a man go is $25. with official confirmation that tokyo is the world's most expensive place to be an expatriate, japan's other great metropolis is at no. 2. one reason why is the relative strength of the japanese yen. it's seen as something of a safe haven in the global financial turmoil. but that is bad news if you happen to be paid in dollars or pounds or euros. >> this is melville, in johannesburg. according to the survey, south africa is one of the cheapest places in the world to live. . take this restaurant.

just under $4. along this street, you can buy a beer for just under two dollars and a bottle of wine for eight or $9. by international standards, food, drink, and eating out is pretty cheap. but it is important to bear in mind, the normal cost of living has gone up markedly in the last year or so. take this loaf of bread. the cost has gone up. internationally, cost of living is cheap here, places like this, like that restaurant, are out of the reach of many normal south africans. >> thank you. cedras in kenya are using the power of television to have a few latex laughs at those who run the country. the african countries widely considered to have a desperate record on governance. a new show is using puppets to have a pot at their politicians.

>> i'm delighted to say we finally got an exclusive interview with the president of kenya. we have been waiting many years. good afternoon, sir. thank you for agreeing to talk to us. me and my producer. and my cameraman. and if you like to take a seat over here. mr. president, can this coalition government altogether? >> welcome to kenya's "political puppets." is a chance for writers and puppeteers to delve into a murky and often dirty world. the characters are based on don't come out of it too well. the members of the often bickering coalition government

show if he signs of gluttony at a recent breakfast prayer meeting. while the team fine tin's the scene, i sat back on the sofa with a famous son of kenya who had just flown in on and air force one. and the man behind the show is east africa's best known cartoonists who has been keeping a satirical eye on the country's leaders for years. he is keen to point out the feuding politicians may have joined hands in a coalition, but corruption lives on and hatchets are hardly varied. do you feel is your job and duty to expose his things the politicians are doing in kenya? >> i think it is everybody's duty. i don't think you can put that responsibility on to one person

or one individual. every individual should contemplate to see we expose what is happening as far as corruption. >> some of the puppeteers are used to working with marionettes, of manipulating latex versions of the political elite has an element of job satisfaction. >> you can control it. it's not the president controlling us. it is good to be the president during >> so you're getting good value from your taxes now? >> yes. i get more for my money. >> while kenyans are getting used to seeing a satirical puppet show on television screens for the first time, the question is how will the leaders react if the script writers start to push out the boats? [laughter] >> a reminder of the main news -- chinese authorities have

reimposed a nighttime curfew in urumqi, the capital of xinjiang province after a second day of serious writing by -- serious rioting by local uighurs. and there has been a public service in los angeles, celebrating the life of michael jackson who died suddenly almost two weeks ago. condolences were read out from friends, including nelson mandela. there was mu>> bbc world news