>> "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, the 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? >> nl, "bbc world news." -- and now. >> challenging the president. government workers in south africa hold a day of strikes and marches. a warning to iran. israel says all available means should be used to prevent it from building nuclear weapons. economic recovery. china and the u.s. debt to gather in washington for talks. the relationship they say could shape the 21st century -- china and the u.s. get together. welcome to "bbc world news", on pbs in america and elsewhere around the world. it is now nearly 1 months since u.s. forces in iraq officially came to an end -- it is now nearly one month since then.

it has got a distribution deal. you will hear from a young filmmaker behind a new movie. jacob zuma tapped into the mood and took over as president. just a few months in and despite his election promises, he is facing a challenge from constituents. thousands of workers went on strike today, crippling public services. police clashed with some workers who brought city centers to a halt. the protesters are enduring the

biggest economic downturn there since apartheid and say they have run out of patience. we have this report from johannesburg. they walked across nelson mandela bridge, bringing the city center to a standstill. bus drivers, municipal employees, and others have stopped work. they want a wage increase. >> i cannot pay my rent. my taxes. , electricity has been cut off. -- my electricity has been cut off. >> it is wage-negotiation season. many industries are considering action. >it is turning out to be a cold and difficult winter here in south africa. pressure is growing on the new president, and jjacob zuma.

most of today's demonstrations were peaceful, but not in one town. there were echoes of south africa's troubled past. there were rubble barrel its -- rubber bullets. only some of the shots were aimed into the air. as the panicking crowds fled, people were arrested, and it became clear that three people had been injured. south africa is not on fire. all of its townships are not burning, but there is a deep frustration that majority rule has treated some people very well, while changing little about the lives of so many others. jonah fisher, johannesburg.

>> more than 100 people and killed over the past two days when militants who call themselves the taliban began violence. leaders of another militant group were arrested on friday. the prime minister of israel, benjamin netanyahu, is using a meeting with visiting defense minister robert gates to talk about the iranian nuclear program. he said he believed that all available means should be used to prevent iran from using a nuclear weapon. they're talking also about the israeli settlements. here is our middle east correspondent. >> i told you to go out. >> you go out. >> this goes to the hearts of the kind of impasse between

israel, the palestinians, and the u.s. administration. they had just taken over this house. they want to renovate it. palestinians are angry and say they have no right to build here. they say this is theirs and should be the capital of the future palestinian state. israeli authorities disagree. there is insistence that israel halt construction here and in the west bank. they have tried to smith others, but to achieve regional peace, one man said, all parties had quite some work to do -- it was said they were trying to smooth feathers. >> for palestinians, that means

to improve their security forces and to refrain from any words or deeds that may make it more difficult to move quickly to successful negotiations. for israel, that means making possible improved access and movement and economic growth but palestinians, to which you also just referred, and also dealing with difficult issues, like settlements and outposts. >> but it is really -- but one is really community is defiant. the settler-activists say they want to send a clear message. this has caused quite some embarrassment for the israeli authorities. that is why they sent in the army. they have made an outpost after barack obama just to show their contempt, they say.

but israelis want the help of the u.s.. israel sites and nuclear iran as their number one concern. -- israel says a nuclear iran it is their number-one concern. >> there is a growing threat posed by rockets and missiles, and we will continue to ensure that israel has the most advanced weapons for its national defense. >> the string of u.s. officials here continues this week, which talks planned with palestinian and israeli leaders. -- with talks planned. bbc news, jerusalem. >> three people have been convicted in india over a double bombing in mumbai in 2003 in which 55 people were killed. one person pled not guilty to murder and charges of conspiracy, along with his wife

as well as one other defendant. the attacked landmarks, known as the gateway of india, and a busy market -- they attacked landmarks. an intelligent minister has been sacked. there is a report of a resignation. thpresident dismissed his most senior vice president. the north korean foreign ministry has issued a statement that calls for direct talks with the u.s., and it indicates there is no intention to engage with other countries on this issue. now, china and u.s. leaders have been meeting in washington to discuss major economic and political differences. u.s. president barack obama said the relationship between the u.s. and china which shape the 21st century and said the two shared a mutual interest. the meeting is the first formal negotiations between the u.s.

and china since mr. obama took office. we have this report from washington. >> china and america were standing together today, trying to speak the same language. >> yes, we can. >> not much of substance was announced, but there were grand themes. >> the relationship between the united states and china will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as and have bilateral relationship in the world -- makes it has important as any bilateral relationship -- makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world. the current crisis has made it clear that the current choice is made within our borders reverberate across the global economy, and this is true not just in new york and seattle but in shanghai and other areas, as well.

that is why we are committed to strong bilateral and multilateral coordination. >> some are hit hard by the global recession, but china is interested in how the finances of america recover. washington is in debt to beijing to the tune of over $700 billion. some analysts say that limits the amount of influence american has on the chinese. president obama urged china to help in the de-nuclearization of its neighbor, north korea. , a climate change, president obama said both countries are taking steps -- on climate change, president obama said both countries are taking steps. president obama is struggling to get a crime bill through congress. some think america should not reduce their emissions before china does the same.

bbc news, washington. >> it is not nearly 1 months in combat forces -- they are no longer as visible on the streets in iraqi cities. there are still 130,000 u.s. troops in iraq. some continued to patrol areas that they were supposed to have left to iraqi forces. in the northern city of mosul, a reporter has been witnessing a new reality for these americans -- our reporter has been witnessing a new reality. >> this is the most dangerous place in iraq. on average, there are four attacks there every single day, including explosions and suicide bombings. this is the first foreign intermodal itself -- the first foray.

-- into mosul itself. officially, this is not a combat patrol. these soldiers are on a reconstruction mission. here, that are supposed to be overseeing the cleanup of a patch of wasteland -- they are supposed to be overseeing this. >> this is what mission accomplished looks like after a certain date. >> they are not just heavily armed garbagemen. unpatrolled like this, the threat of violence is never far off -- on patrols like this. but every time they want to go in, they now have to ask the iraqis for permission and an escort. both sides are still getting used to this arrangement, and

amid the hospitality, there is much explaining and bargaining to be done. as the americans prepare for a full withdrawal by the end of 2011, much is being made of recent improvements in security. in the villages outside of mosul, where the americans are still free to operate, locals complain not of bombings and shootings but of unemployment and poor infrastructure. >> they have, long way since the beginning of our deployment. their proficiency is going to work me out of a job, which is good -- they have come a long way. >> there is little to do but think of home. as the americans shift their attentions further east to afghanistan, and they are hoping the security gains they have achieved in iraq, will hold the ones they do finally pack up and leave. -- they have achieved in iraq will hold once they do finally

pack up and leave. >> and progress report for the london olympics in 2012. -- a progress report. a mining company says it will create jobs. campaigners accused it of setting out two flats in the heart of a spiritual homeland in eastern india -- sending out two flats in the heart -- setting out to flatten the heart of a spiritual homeland in eastern india. >> the clash between the tribal people and others is about more than mining. for the people in the tribe, it is about carrying out life as they have for years beyond for the miners, it is job creation, gaining access to natural resources.

-- carrying out live as they have for years. for the miners, it is about job creation. they say they will limit any environmental impact and re- house and the people displaced. the jobs will bring much-needed development to the region. to the tribe, this matter as little. they believe gods reside in the surrounding hills and mountains -- to the trot, this matters little -- to the tribe. the tribal people have found support from sun groups -- from some groups, including some celebrities like bianca jagger. critics of the company have had

some success. recently, an investment fund sold holdings, but it is not clear how much the critics will get at the shareholder meeting. bbc news, mumbai. >> this is "bbc world news," and these are the headlines so far. in south africa, services are crippled as a local government workers strike for higher pay. the u.s. defense secretary goes to israel to revive the peace process. there are talks about the nuclear ambitions of iran. a change in the approach to afghanistan. secretary gates says it is time to negotiate with moderate members of the taliban. our bbc correspondent has more now from brussels.

>> operation panther's claw, to clear the area for next month's election. stage one is over. stage two will be to hold the ground. >> what we have actually done is make the land secure for about 100,000 people. what we have done is push back the taliban, and what we have done also is start to break that chain of terror that leads in the mountains of one area it to britain -- that leads from the mountains to elsewhere. >> jeunesse, at a bigger cost. the most deadliest months so far -- it has come at a big cost. dafvivid miligbanband had a

message that military might will not be enough. >> not the force of arms and overwhelming might. normally convert them to our point of view through force of argument and ideological conviction -- nor will we convert them to our point of view through force of argument and ideological conviction. >> what price should it be prepared to pay in human lives? the answer of david mille iband -- there are concerns the public mood is beginning to shift. >> what do we need in order to guarantee that our people in our society will support our engagement? my feeling is the support is more and more decreasing. >> i think that honesty is always the best policy, and we have to be clear about the dangers that continue to endure

and what i think is in the incubator of choice of al qaeda. >> there is alleged being driven between moderate foot soldiers, who can be persuaded and ready to change sides, and others. not a new idea -- who can be persuaded maybe to change sides. whoever wins will rule afghanistan for the next five years. there is a campaign to undermine the taliban insurgency. that may be as critical as stages two and three of operation panther's claw. >> canada says a ban by the european union on the import of seal products is an unfair restriction of trade, and it

plans to appeal to the world trade organization. they say in a sustainable, humane. there were presentations from animal rights groups. president gloria arroyo says she will not extend her term. protesters said they feared the leader may try to hang onto power by revising the constitution. there is a lot of excitement about the olympic games in 2012, and the countdown is well underway. today marks exactly three years until the games begin, and preparations, we are told, are on schedule. our sports reporter spent the day in east london. >> on july 27, 2012, this area will be a hive of activity as 80,000 people head to the opening ceremony.

three years ago and still plenty of work to be done. >> the good news is that this is not your driver speaking. >> he has led the way for several years, and today, he was at the front again. this high speed rail park is part of the plan. i am on the train. it is just pulling out of the platform. seven minutes. we will see how long and actually takes. i have started my watch. >25,000 spectators per hour will be carried between the station and the olympic site. this was the first test, but this was a target that would have been very embarrassing to miss. six minutes 50 seconds, well under seven minutes. the rest of the project goes as well as this, then everybody is going to be happy -- if the rest goes as well as this.

at the moment, is both on time and on budget. 9.3 billion pounds -- it is both on time and on budget. this is what you get for the money, a stadium still two years away from completion but already taking shape. >> what is amazing to me is that although this is a stadium of 80,000 feet, there is a real feel of intimacy. >> there is still uncertainty, in particular when it comes to legacy. the games are meant to drive up participation, but swimming is just one of the olympic sports that has seen a decrease over the past six months. gymnastics is another that has seen a drop in the number of people taking part. in fact, table tennis is the only one that can boast a recent rise in participation. none of that worries this young man inspecting the area today, but then why should anything marries him when he has just become a world champion at the

age of 15 -- why should anything marries himworry -- worry him? it's already had more of him. that is the biggest challenge for the next few years -- if only we had more of him. one of the big debates about the stadium and what should happen to this after the games are over. it is due to be reduced to 25,000 feet, and some say it could be maintained at 50,000 feet. they will have to work at the size of the stadium and who will continue paying for it. bbc news at the london olympics stadium. >> we are used to watching films with multimillion-dollar budgets, and now, there is a film that cost $75. >> it would shot ontario

camcorders -- shot on two camcorders in south london. its entire budget was around the 45-pound mark, which was used to buy things. a man edited it partly in his bedroom and can hardly believe his adventure has landed him a distribution deal, albeit small. he hopes his success will encourage budding film makers. -- filmmakers. >> they can look at what is happening with our film and say, "hey, in the sky made it." -- and this guy made it." i love the idea of that. >> he will get a showing next month. given that there are about 50 new releases every month, which

film gives the audiences is not necessarily about the quality of the film but the quality of the marketplaces -- which fell get audiences -- which film tgegetse audience is. this film has no advertising budget. -- gets the audiences. >> people need to realize that the british film industry and films, especially like these, if we do not vote with our bottoms and get out there and sit in cinemas, these films are not going to get made. >> every filmmaker out there knows it is a combination of good fortune and momentum that can make or break a movie. hear, there is the wow factor of how cheaply and was made -- here, there is the wow factor of

out cheaply it was made. -- how cheaply it was made. >> some workers through rubbish on to the streets. -- threw rubbish onto the streets. >> funding for this presentation was made possible by the freeman vermont, and honolulu, the newman's own foundation, macarthur foundation, and union bank. -- the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. >> union bank.

what can we do for you? >> public broadcasting is my source for news about the world. >> for election coverage you can count on. >> for coverage beyond the sound bite. >> for deciding to vote for. >> public broadcasting is my source for intelligence connection to my community. -- intelligent connection. -- intelligent connection.