>> "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 business to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." >> killed at birth friday prayers. bombers attacked five shia

mosques in iraq. at least 30 are dead. nigeria's interior minister tells us there will be an investigation into the controversial killing of an islamist military leader. >> what is important is that we have acted swiftly, have succeeded. >> a british man loses his latest bid to avoid extradition to the united states. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcasting to our viewers in the united states on pbs and around the globe. coming up, the photographers behind the most iconic shots of the century, who are fighting a losing battle against technology. and baseball on valium or a chance to build bridges in new york? the story of cricket, the nypd, and the big apple's muslims. >> it may be the game's most hallowed ground, but it was

right here in manhattan that cricket's first international match was played way back in 1844. >> there has been a violent end to a friday prayer is in baghdad. the iraqi interior ministry says at least 30 people were killed and dozens more were wounded in a series of bomb explosions. the six blasts at five separate mosques across the capital came within a short space of time as worshipers were leaving. this was the worst attack since the u.s. troops pulled out of baghdad exactly one month ago. >> this was the aftermath of a friday prayer is in baghdad. it was a well-coordinated, well- planned attack. explosions struck at once in five separate locations across the city. all targets were shiite mosques.

iraq pose a predominately shiite government says insertions are trying to reignite sectarian tensions -- iraq's predominantly shiite government. one month ago, american troops left cities across iraq, handing over security. few believe that the iraqi army is capable of taking over. this was the worst attacks since the u.s. troops pulled out of baghdad. people are skeptical, not just because insurgency is still alive, but also because many say the iraqi army as dysfunctional and often corrupt. for people here, every act of violence is a reminder of just how easily their lives could fall apart. >> [inaudible]

war in afghanistan against the taliban. the united nations says the afghan battlefield is spreading to residential areas, and that means civilians are caught in the crossfire. over 1000 died in the first half of this year. in terms of numbers, that is a jump of nearly 25% compared to the same time last year. the sheer intensity of the fighting, which this year did not make its customary breaks for the winter, was the reason for the increase in civilian casualties, and the taliban foreign forces and the afghan army were all to blame. the united nations report says that the taliban had placed themselves in civilian areas to deliberately blurred the distinction between combatants and civilians, military response into areas where there was a high likelihood that civilians

would be killed. at the same time, an increase in u.s. and u.k. forces in the south made the likelihood of civilian casualties higher. the number of casualties was up 24% since the same time last year. the taliban and other insurgents were blamed for 595 deaths. 300 tinwork killed by afghan governments and foreign forces, and of these, 200 died in air strikes. the united nations reports pointed to the increased use of suicide attacks and roadside bombs by the taliban and other insurgent groups, lodged near civilian traffic and marketplaces, but even the large increase recorded is likely to be an underestimate, as many deaths are not counted. there is no formal process for collecting figures. both u.s. forces and the taliban had recently made statements saying their aim is to protect civilians. the issue of civilian casualties

caused by u.s. forces was one of the reasons for a change in leadership in afghanistan. the new commander has put the protection of civilians at the top of his priorities. meanwhile, this week, it emerged that the taliban have issued a new code of conduct, which calls for a minimum of civilian casualties. >> the u.s. president, barack obama, says today's latest economic statistics are an important sign that the united states is headed in the right direction. new figures out today showed the economy contracted in the second quarter by the equivalent of 1%. analysts were expecting a much bigger fall. mr. obama says the government's actions over the past six months helped put the brakes on the recession. >> the economy has done measurably better than we had thought. better than expected. as many economists will tell you, that part of the progress

is directly attributable to the recovery act. >> the spanish prime minister has attended a funeral service for two policeman killed in thursday's bomb attack. the blast followed a similar attack on wednesday. security forces have been on maximum alert to prevent more attacks on this, the 50th anniversary of the group's founding. the space shuttle endeavour has safely returned to earth after a spat -- successful mission. the launch was beset with delays and technical problems, but the astronauts successfully touched down at kennedy space center in florida. the ship had delivered the final pass of a japanese laboratory. the commander of the operation against islamist militants in northern nigeria says the leader of the group was alive when he was handed over to police. that contradicts earlier police statements that mohammed josef,

whose group was blamed for the violence that left hundreds of people dead, was killed in a shootout when he was being detained. secure -- >> security forces battled their way into a compound of the religious sect. their target -- leader of the group that wants to impose sharia law de la nigeria and amid the country of western education. forces were successful. figures emerged of his dead body that a too graphic for us to show. news of his death has shocked the country. police claimed he died fighting. human rights groups say that it was clear he was executed. now, the colonel that are arrested him has told the bbc that he was alive when he was handed to police. >> how he died definitely will

be investigated because the directive from the president was very clear -- he said that the leader should be arrested. he did not say that he should be killed. >> it is a violent end to a bloody week, in which bodies had piled up in the streets in two towns in northern nigeria. nigeria's government insists it does not condone extrajudicial killings, but that is exactly what the nigerian police are now accused up. there are fears now of reprisals. the group is thought to be scattered and on the run. it is unclear how many followers are still at large. there are fears that they could strike again. nigeria's massive oil and gas reserves mean that it should be a wealthy country, but people see a few of the benefits of either appeared corruption and party -- poverty. years of kidnapping and killing in the delta have prompted the government to try to reach out

to rebels there with an amnesty. meanwhile, is is that the attacks of the last five days are an insurrection, and it is determined to show that it will use all means necessary to deal with this new threat. >> the supreme court in pakistan has ruled there before -- that the former military ruler broke the constitution when he imposed emergency rule twa's ago. the court says mr. musharraf acted illegally when he purged the judiciary and secure the constitution -- suspended the constitution to suspend a second term. and tribute to one of the best loved and most respected figures in football. bobby robinson died at the age of 76. he died aof cancer. he was a successful club manager for its switch, porter, barcelona, and newcastle.

click acting beluga whales have saved the life of a diver at an aquarium in china. his leg had been crippled by crams in a free dog competition. the two wells since her distress -- the two whales sensed for distress. a british hacker today lost his latest high court bid to avoid being extradited to the united states. the u.s. want to try the 43 year-old for what it calls the biggest military computer hack of all time in 2001 and 2002. he admits having but denies it was malicious or that he caused damage costing 800,000 u.s. dollars. >> u.s. authorities claim mckinnon was responsible for the biggest military computer hacker of all time. he says he was just looking for information on ufos when he broke into american defense

systems. he has been diagnosed as% from. his lawyer argues that was not taken into account when deciding on extradition and that sending him for trial into the u.s. would be unnecessary, of portable, and disproportionate. he was not in court today to hear his latest challenge dismissed, but his mother described the judgment as heartbreaking. >> i have appealed to obama and gordon brown. do they want the first computer hacker to be extradited to be a guy looking for your foes who has as% from -- looking for ufos and who has asperger's syndrome? >> this was at a time when the u.s. was on a heightened state of alert following the 9/11 attacks. it is claimed he caused damage totaling more than $700,000. while he admits hacking, he says there was no malicious intent

nor extensive damage, as alleged. >> the punishment should fit the crime. i'm not trying to get away from punishment, i'm just saying try me in the u.k. >> supporters come from many quarters, including celebrities who helped make this a video, who argue the process is unfair and has dragged on too long. despite its long history and today's judgment, the case is not over yet. bill mccann has almost run out of legal options, -- though milken in -- though mickinnon is almost out of legal options. >> an american record label has signed up the pole. -- pope. voting has begun in new zealand in a controversial referendum on whether to abolish a law

prohibiting the smacking of children. many parents believe smacking is acceptable, and politicians should not tell them how to bring up their own children, but others feel children are entitled to the same protection as adults. we have this report from television news zealand's one news. >> law and protecting our kids put many parents in the spring when it was passed two zero -- years ago. >> the question on the referendum is -- should a smack, as part of good parental correction, the criminal offense in new zealand? >> the highly contentious referendum raised questions for being hard to understand and held up several parents up to scrutiny.

>> the trouble is that most times, it would happen in anger. >> when parents last out in anger, that is wrong. i use a smack on the hand like that or on the bottom. others are keen on an anti- smacking message. >> i think you should teach them that you can't control them better because you are bigger and can hit harder. >> i the past, these elections have seen low voter turnout, but cheryl believes this time, things will be different. all of visors are eligible to vote. voters have three weeks to have their say on an issue that could affect the next generation and the parents they become.

>> this is "bbc world news." our top story so far today -- bombs have exploded at five shia asks in baghdad, killing at least 30 people. many others were injured. -- five shia mosques. there were lost -- a last-ditch talks at a car company in south korea today. our south career correspondent was there. >> more like a medieval siege than an industrial dispute, the striking workers have been keeping the riot police at bay with the nuts and bolts fired from their giant catapult. in return, helicopters had been spraying the occupied building with teargas. the 600 workers inside are protesting about the loss of their jobs. the-stricken company is in the

hands of court-appointed managers who want to lay off 2500 staff, more than 1/3 of the total. the dispute has divided the work force with those being allowed to keep their jobs still turning up for duty. no food or water is being allowed into the protesters, and waiting outside the factory gates, their families talk of terrible conditions after the 11-day siege. they have cut the water off. as one of the protesters tells me there is little food and the toilets are not working. and there are real safety concerns, as the men are occupying the company paid shop, containing large amounts of flammable liquid. now, last-minute talks are under way. unless a solution is found, creditors say they will push for bankruptcy. you can see the camera crews here, sheltering behind the steel barrier that is being set up to protect them from the

slingshots. we are safe to be out in the open for the moment because there is a kind of cease-fire while negotiations are underway between management and the unions. the talks are taking place in a kind of no man's land beyond the ranks of the riot police, but you can still see here huddled behind their own protective shelters. south korea's smallest car company says the strike has already cost it $200 million in lost revenue. it is the middle of an economic downturn. some observers wonder whether scenes like these will put investors off for good. >> now, here in europe, take photographs politicians, celebrities, and great events, but the recession, combined with competition from tv and the web, are making old-fashioned photojournalist off to expenses -- old-fashioned soda journalists -- old-fashioned

photojournalists too expensive. >> in a vast archive taken by photographers working in the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's for a french photo agency. it ceased to be an active for the agency, commissioning and selling new pitch is almost a decade ago. all that remains is its archive. now, another of the great names a parade of photojournalism, the gamma agency, is fighting for its life. it has come here to a french commercial court to seek protection against creditors. he covers wars for damage. he took these pictures -- shocking, vivid, unsettling -- amidst the chaos of liberia in 2003, but the owners of the companies say they can no longer afford this kind of journalism, for which some photographers have paid a high price. >> damn it is the story of the photographer.

-- gamma is the story of the photographer. some of them die on the battle, some disappear. this is the very high price. >> are around the world, newspapers and magazines hit hard by recession find it cheaper to fill their pages with celebrities. >> the images sometimes come some archives. what place is left for the contemporary photographers doing their job, and forming a citizen on what is going on in the world? >> the archive is now here in a climate controlled building in paris. many of the collections are being digitized. it is costing millions, but bill gates is paying.

>> the idea is not about the short-term. we are preserving this material for thousands of years, so the idea is not to find a business model that will work for the next 10 or 15 years. >> perhaps gamma 2 will become just an archive. >> is it the right place for my archive? >> if it does not continue? >> it is my office. because it is my life. my picture is my life. >> americans may not have heard of it, but one of international sports great rivalries gets under way this year week -- under way this week. the cricket craze is also catching on in new york with support coming from a perhaps unlikely source -- the new york

police department. they are using the game to forge ties with the city's muslim community. >> some americans have likened cricket to baseball on volume -- valium. after all, this is a game that can last five days without yielding a result. in parts of new york this summer, young men are hitting 6 is, sending wickets tumbling, and falling made no verse with gusto, and all under the watchful eye of that most unlikely pair of crickets torch -- the new york police department. -- most berer of -- most unlikely beearer of cricket's torch. officer jeff thompson is a

native new yorker who happens to share a name was one of crickets most feared dollars. this is the second year he and a handful of other new york cops have been running this competition in an attempt to forge better ties with moslem communities from south asia. >> we did not have a particular specific outreach with the southeastern community. we had a report with them but we wanted better. >> in post-9/11 new york, muslim you have often felt a cloud of suspicion hangs over them. like a lot of these players, he lives on nearby coney island. >> standing in the corner, just sitting around in a schoolyard, but we do go up, we got to practice. >> it's showtime here on coney island. >> in a neighborhood famous for

sun, surf, and sideshows, it is now not uncommon to see cricket thrown into this eclectic mix. the local sports store does a brisk trade, and many of the kids buying are playing in the nypd's competition. lords in london may be the game's most hallowed ground, but it was right here on manhattan that for its first international match was played way back in 1844. the match was between united states and canada. the canadiens beat the americans by 23 runs, and the game here has been in decline ever since. next year, the nypd expects the competition to get even greater. >> cricket in the big apple.

from elton john to guns and roses to madonna, one group has represented a group of musicians. their latest addition is said to have a great voice. they're deciding is the pope -- their new signing. after a series of negotiations, the cd is to be released in november. the orchestral parts are currently being recorded. bono was there to explain the concept behind the album. >> i expected music featuring benedict, one of which he sings. he recites prayers' in portuguese, spanish, latin, german, italian.

he has got an incredible voice. >> his vocals were recorded by the vatican as he conducted services or made speeches. previously, the highest album chart placing achieved by a pontiff was john paul ii. his recording of the rosary in 1994. with the weight of a major label behind him, but it xvi now stands every chance of beating that -- benedict xvi. >> the iraqi interior minister says bombs have killed at least 30 people. many others were injured in the blast. plans coincided with cyprus. --iday prayers. >> funding for this presentation

was 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 business to major corporations. what can we do for you?