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reality, and a life. >> the fate of her husband, one of the most powerful men in china. >> welcome to gmt. also coming up in the program, and get back to work call goes on friday. just as the country begins a week of mourning. tony scott, the director of hollywood blockbusters and jumps to his death in los angeles. it is midday in london. 7:00 in the morning in washington and a 7:00 in the evening in beijing. a scandal has taken a new turn.

the wife of bo xilai has been given a suspended death sentence for the murder. it means she is likely to face a lengthy jail term. china will have to decide how to deal with bo. >> china today put on a show of justice. the lawyer arrived knowing the verdict was sound. she was brought to court having already confessed to murdering neil heywood. even the powerful arm above the law here. the wife of one of china's most high-profile politicians found guilty. >> there were careful to be lenient towards her. she did not get the full death sentence.

the judge accepted she had a mental breakdown and was out of control of her actions. she should serve a minimum of 14 years. >> she said the verdict was just an showed respect for the law and for life. she poisoned the businessmen at this hotel. she got him drunk and port cyanide in his mouth. they had fallen out over a failed the property deal. pre-meditated murder often means the firing squad. the communist party said this is a case closed, neat and tidy. >> at the death triggered the biggest political scandal china has seen in decades. the communist party will now be

in china. the bbc news. >> we go live now to our china correspondent. they say it is case closed, but a very different conclusion is under way for the case as we saw it. a very talkative woman working out the best result for her family and her position of .ower >> that is right. and the law is absolutely clear. they want to drop a line under this scandal. this trial was held two weeks ago. and then we have the sentencing today. it lasted a matter of one hour. authorities want to drop a line under the scandal. it does appear that the

authorities want to wrap this up very neatly. the reason is it has exposed corruption and murder at the very heart in china. >> they do not want that to spread in terms of what people do or do not know. he is clearly now the big issue. >> that is right. in many ways, he is in the big issue ever since this case began. indeed, i was down a couple of weeks ago. that is where i want to roll over. most people say this was a political case. it was not a criminal case. they say his enemies have used this scandal to bring him down. he has not been seen in public since march. in his case, it was in april when they said he was being investigated for a violation of party discipline. i think most people think

authorities are moving to wrap up the scandal in with this once in a decade leadership change. i think most people here in china believe that we will learn of the fate in the coming weeks. >> thank you. >> let's have a look of some of the other stories making headlines around the world today. roughly 30% of workers where 34 workers were shot dead five policemen on friday have gone back to work. the miners have been warned that it will be dismissed if they do not end their strike over wages. today marks the start of a week of national mourning. they accused them of insensitivity for trying to force the issue now. in johannesburg is our correspondent. let's start on the numbers who decided to go back. can you give us the latest

update on that? >> only 30% of workers -- they are saying production has obviously not started fully. we understand that thousands of mineworkers have chosen to stay away from worked by opposition to political parties. you mentioned the political parties there. it is very much a political issue, too. what is the president making of this conflict, i suppose, between a national week of mourning? and the mining companies saying, sorry, today is the day. back to work or else. >> the president is in a very difficult position. in fact, a number have a visited the mind this morning. they are meeting to try to assert what is going forward.

there is the issue of inquiry which means that investigations will take place to see who was in the ron. that could mean that people will be prosecuted. >> of course, the timing of that is political. but it does not drag on and on. they will want a decisive you on that, won't they? >> it could drag on because it is only today the people have asked members of the media who were following the incident that the shooting took place. they're asking journalists to bring on for word of the evidence that they have so they can stop the investigation to see who was in the wrong. >> thank you very much indeed. >> the industry says it is ending all censorship of the country's media.

as of monday, reporters will no longer be able to -- have it published. censorship applied to everything from newspapers to song lyrics. thousands of people are being ordered to leave their homes in northern california as authorities try to bring wild fires under control. a number of buildings have been destroyed. officials say is is likely to have been caused by lightning. he was admitted to the infirmary on wednesday during the summer break. he has been in a hospital in the past nine months. tributes have been paid to the top gun director, tony scott,

after he jumped from a bridge in los angeles. he was originally from northern england. he is best known for hollywood blockbusters including "days of thunder" and beverly hills cop ii. he made his name in hollywood. "top gun" launched him into flight as an action movie director in 1986. working with tom cruise again on days of thunder. there were rumors that roman " top gun ii -- "top gun ii" micron to production. denzel washington was another director he worked with. he produced in 2009. >> look at your screen and tell me what you see.

it was producing he had focused on, often working with his elder brother, ridley scott. another famous-named director in hollywood. there was a prime-time tv dramedy as well as a hit. he jumped off of a well-known suspension bridge. witnesses said he jumped to his death in the harbor below. the coroner said he left a note in his car and added there was nothing to suggest there was not -- this was not suicide. >> there were many tributes to his life and work in the film industry. >> he was an incredibly stylistic director. if you look at his movies from his debut to his last movie, the evolution in style is phenomenon. for a director to keep pushing himself stylistically is amazing. >> on twitter, some well-known names.

stephen fry was deeply saddened to hear about the news. a fine -- a fine film maker and a charming man. the american director, ron howard, simply said, no more tony scott movies. tragic day. and there were many more tributes to him. >> rules are not open to interpretation. >> from hollywood and around the world. he was married and had twin boys. he was 68 years old. >> i'll be speaking to the film critic about tony scott's impact a little bit later. stay with us for that. still to come, they look at this. the controversial card that gives the states the control. it is australia taking the lead in the most radical welfare practice in the world?

debate with ecuador over what happens next with the founder of wikileaks has widened. the country says that the u.k. threatens to remove its official status and send police and. now the regional group says that it supports ecuador in the face of british colonialism. >> there were making their feelings known outside of the ecuadorean embassy of london. there is a simple show of unity. foreign ministers from across south america attended a hastily assembled meeting to discuss the threat against the integrity of its embassy in london. that was a reference to an obscure law saying it could

legally enter the embassy. such language deeply angered latin-american leaders who accused britain of colonialism. >> the decision was unanimous. there were just small differences, but countries put those differences aside. it was seen as a heavy-handed approach earlier this year. it has done little to further the reputation in south america. >> the last point causes some members to continue the dialogue in negotiation to find a mutually acceptable solution. the british authorities as saying they will arrest him the moment he steps outside. finding any solution will be complicated. bbc news, ecuador.

-- gmt. the headlines. china's biggest political scandal and is his position remaining unclear. -- south africa striking miners. it is time to get to the business news as well. the political and of the human side of this mining tragedy. it had inevitable prices. >> absolutely. two different prices. platinum is very important in south africa. 80% of the world's reserves.

it hit a six-week high. on the flip side, it continues to fall today. trading here in london. it is now down 5%. actually, and a nut shell, six days of consecutive loss. the experts are telling us there are four key issues with this company. the chief executive is seriously ill. it is prolonging labor dispute. one of the most pressure balance sheets in the sector. it will probably have to refinance its debt. there will have to go back to the markets and try to get $1 billion from investors. that will be a pretty tough task. on top of all of this, looking at labor relations, a bit of a patent at the moment. i have to tell you. it is not just south africa. it is pretty global.

there have been disputes in west africa. east africa. central africa as well. not only south africa. of all of these, the largest, most developed mining industry. probably the mining industry with the most complicated historic relations as well. political complications and intentions as well. it is probably most obvious and significant in south africa. i think is is probably broader in south africa. a lot of the developing world, actually. >> said is a different sector. a lot of trouble, trying to find a way out of the moment. >> absolutely. research in motion, rim, the canadian firm behind blackberry.

it really is make or break week. they will unveil their new device. all in the hope, and i cannot stress how much hope that have writing on this particular product to generate enough sales to turn around their misfortunes. a long way to go in the past year. the research has fallen by 3/4. a 74%, gone. research in motion has dropped from 16% to 10%. this new device, it could not come sooner. >> there are pockets of people for whom the blackberry is very popular. at the moment, you would say a lot of those people, their next purchase will not be a black berry. that is the challenge for blackberry, to have a device that is ready when they come to buy a new mobile phone. to say, i am going to get the new black very for a new samsung

or whatever. >> to protect hundreds of thousands of muslims who have fled their homes -- who have fled their homes. guarded by a heavy police and security forces. people have died between mostly hindu tribesmen. this report. itin a deeply divided land, is a time for celebration. instead, they are mourning their losses. after a cycle of brutal violence, pitting neighbor against neighbor.

they are squeezed into this camp, living in desperation. frightened and angry. >> the guns have destroyed my house. you think our live here if i had a home? >> not too far away, the stock remains of a savage of fact. the homes burnt down by tribesmen. the inhabitants of driven out. suddenly, karoly, uprooted. just across the road, the homes of their neighbors. unscathed. >> there is a stillness in the air here. this was once a thriving community except when you see the scale of the destruction. they have now left and will possibly never return. the divide between the two

communities is sharper than ever before. >> on the other side of the divide, similar tales of brutality. after their homes were attacked by muslims. >> they tell me how they attack his home at night. there were thrown into their burning homes when they looked on. >> our neighborhood is surrounded by muslims on all sides. i still cannot believe this happened. this conflict is now spreading even whiter. an exodus from the most prosperous city. a wave of panic triggered by revenge attacks.

rumors of a fueling suspicions and hatreds. it could threaten pluralism. >> if you are receiving state benefits, should you be allowed to spend that money on anything you wish? or should alcohol and gambling, for example, be off limits? in australia, they have reduced -- introduced a new benefits card. it restricts what people can buy with it. they have traveled to see the cards in action. >> is this the future of welfare payments? the basics card is the new alternative to cash for those on social security benefits. barber is one of those forced to accept the card with three young children. barbour says it is an insult. >> i feel that way.

if you get a basic card you are treated differently. in my case. >> she must now use government approved shops and can only buy essential supplies with the card. everything from food and soap to electricity and rent. no of all or gambling is allowed. she says people stand and whisper when she uses it, knowing she is on welfare. >> how you feel? >> i feel very uncomfortable. the australian government is now rolling out this program across the country. it believes it is leading the world in terms of allocating welfare payments. even if there is some shame attached to it. >> there have been street protests.

they say the card is about a state-controlled the family budget. they have their supporters. a single mother who uses them voluntarily. she says it helps manage her limited income. >> i would have lost my house. we would probably be on the streets. >> the government says it has a duty to put people on cards, especially when children's welfare is at risk. >> i have had a lot of clients where it stopped an addiction. they can decide where their payments are to go. they know they are going to be paid. families still get some cash, but most income comes through the card. reporters say it is the new responsible way of managing state benefits.

but people like barbara think it is a patronizing intrusion. duncan kennedy, bbc news. >> that is a debased -- a debate which will run. has's curiosity rover blasted its first rock since landing on the red planet two weeks ago. it was about the size of a tennis ball. it reveals details of its basic chemistry. over the next year and a half or so curiosity will be buzzing around the planet to determine whether it could ever have actually supported life. now let me just bring you up-to- date on what is our top story here on gmt. the wife on one of china's most prominent politician has been given a suspended death sentence. she admitted that she poisoned

neil heywood. it is a suspended death sentence a suspected to be turned into life in prison. that will mean something like 14 years behind bars. we will have more on that shortly. if that is it for the moment though. stay with us here as we do have plenty more still to bring. plenty more still to bring.