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corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now bbc world news. >> britain hits back as is health service becomes a weapon over the fight in health care reform in america. hopes of rescue are fading in taiwan, 15,000 my still be trapped. 11 countries in 11 days, what did hillary clinton's african odyssey achieve? welcome to bbc news mixed message just as a new antidrug begins gets underway in afghanistan, the president pardons five drug traffickers. >> funding was made possible b

>> howled the englishow the engr league is cashing in on fans abroad. >> at britain's national health service has moved to the center of a controversy in the u.s. over barack obama's proposed health-care reform. the president tries to gain momentum with a campaign through four american states. the british prime minister and his wife has put on a campaign to defend the nhs. >> she is denied access to treatment for cervical cancer. her mother suffered after renal cancer became terminal. >> a hard-hitting campaign in

the states but it is not there system that they're criticizing but ours. these are sponsored by right wing opposition groups. this woman was misled into taking part. she thought that it was impartial. >> your health-care stocks. >> don't you have to wait six weeks? >> how is this going to help us when people in canada and great britain tell us that the health plan does not do anything. >> stephen hawking had to give a brief history of the health service refusing allegations that it left him to die. this is a well founded a political football. -- well pounded political football.

thousands of people have signed up for a blog in that concentrates on the good aspects of the nhs. the european leader is not in love with the nhs. >> people have been left in pain, positions where they cannot work at the back of the line waiting for permission to get treatment and there's nothing you can do. >> the health-care debate has been brought to this side of the atlantic. the fate over health care has been far less heated in america. they agree with a core principle for treatment based on needs not ability to pay. now, they want to resuscitate clear political positions. >> this is the worst nightmare.

no wonder he looks reynolds. they have been pursuing a strategy of not talking about the and a chess. -- about the nhs. >> we are going to off back it and reexpand it. it is our mission to improve it. >> i don't want the country turning into a socialist country. >> temperatures are rising. people want to change the nhs. the question is whether they can be reformed about these kinds of fights. >> in gaza, islamic radicals are fighting with hamas gunmen. they are fighting in rafah. >> the area around the mosque which is under attack by hamas

has been declared a closed military zone. hundreds of policemen and members of the military wing are firing rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine-gun fire at the mosque. inside the mosque, there are two dozen supporters. they are firing back. at least one rocket-propelled grenade has killed a hamas member. this is a small extremist group, it is obviously extremely well a quick. it has managed to keep up the fight against hundreds of fighters for more than four hours. >> a russian ship reported missing between finland and a jury is believed to be off the coast of west africa. the arctic sea was spotted.

one of the defeated candidates is to be prosecuted for slander in iran. he claimed that some people were raid in detention. officials denied the rape allegations but say there has been some abuses. jim webb is on a visit to burma. he is to become the first senior military official to meet the military leader. opposition leader in burma was sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest. rescuers in taiwan believe that 15,000 people could be trapped and this is a week after the typhoon struck. the number of dead could rise to more than 500 and there is rising anger over the speed and skill of the government response. >> the danger is all too real,

villages hurry to safety. this is the worst flooding in 50 years for taiwan. roads and bridges have been washed away and thousands of people left stranded. it is the fact of two meters of rainfall in less than two days. -- is the effect of two meters of rainfall. people have been brought to the emergency shelters. it is and anxious wait for a family and friends. >> my family is safe, i hope that i can see them. >> the army is doing what it can but many people are now cut off. the government has had offers of help from the international community. it says that they need large helicopters to have heavy equipment. on the death toll was now more than 500. dealing with the disaster

required the efforts of the whole country. this newborn baby is one of the latest to be rescued. some happiness at least amid the devastation unleashed by the typhoon. the rain has abated but the airlift's go on in what has become a national disaster for taiwan. >> at least 600 children are killed with lead poisoning in the north of china. it is thought that the contamination came from a local smelting plant. local officials are talking about relocating everyone within the contamination site within two years. >> parents started bringing their children to local clinics and hospitals last month. four out of every five is now sick and has tested positive for lead poisoning. parents say local smelting factory was contaminated nearby soil, air, water supply according to chinese state

television. the smelter blamed for the pollution was shut down by the authorities earlier this week. the villagers said that local officials promised in 2003 that they would be relocated. the head of the environment protection said that to move the villagers it is a major task. they are still within 1 kilometre and it is not safe to live here. the factory manager opposes the closure of the plant. he says "if our factory shutdown, over 2000 families will lose their livelihood. this will be a huge social problem." the air quality is very boring. chemical leaks are common in china and they are often blamed on lax enforcement and and our mental rules and poor training of workers. docks and lax environmental

rules -- and for environmental rules. >> the iraqi government is considering shutting down access to some web sites. an inquiry is reported that suggests systematic corruption in the island administrations of turks and caicos. they have been suspended for up to two years. searchers in boston believed to have discovered a drug that might help stop cancer from spreading. the compound has killed breast cancer stem cells and slowed tumor growth. mass production is still some way off. seven countries, 11 days, it is quite a rollercoaster. hillary clinton completed her tour of africa today. this was a trip eclipsed at the start by her husband's secret mission to north korea.

then there was the press conference where she lost her legendary cool. >> when hillary clinton stepped off the plane, she was completing the most extensive foreign tour since becoming secretary of state. 11 days, seven countries. as the convoy of the first african american president, people watched for signs of greater american engagement. -- as the envoy of the first african-american president. she went to kenya, the birthplace of the president's father. however, everywhere she went corruption and that government became a part of the agenda. >> we strongly support and a encourage the government of nigeria's efforts to increase transparency and reduce corruption, provide support for the democratic process in preparation for the elections.

>> the gentle chiding echoed remarks from a long line of diplomats. what they need it was a willingness to not get involved in the most intractable conflict. she promised to help with justice in the congo. >> it is crime no matter who commits them and it must be prosecuted and punished. that is particularly important when those who commit such acts are in position of authority including members of the congolese military. >> plenty of strong words from the secretary of state but no big plans. still, this trip as being seen as a sign of conversation that might prove productive. >> good to have you with us on bbc world news.

the world's richest soccer league is beating the recession. >> the u.s. secretary of state has told the scottish justice secretary that a libyan man jailed for the lockerbie bombing should serve out his sentence. abdelbaset ali al-megrahi has abandoned his appeal against conviction. he was said to be released on compassionate grounds. >> like liquid fire pouring from the sky, that is the way this man describes the way that the flight plunged to the ground. this was the biggest act of terrorism in british history, the mass murder of 270 people. now come reports say that the man convicted of this might be freed. abdelbaset ali al-megrahi has terminal cancer and he could be released on compassionate grounds by the end of next week. now he is to drop an appeal

against his conviction. >> very appalled and very angry about what is happening. his idea was to apply for compassionate release. the appeal does not have to be dropped. i am quite taken aback by this change. >> it comes more than two decades after a bomb tore the plane apart over the skies of lockerbie. after years of resistance, the government of libya agreed to release two suspects. al-megrahi was found guilty. the families of those killed are expressing horror at the potential for al-megrahi being released. the scottish government says they have not put pressure on al-megrahi to drop his appeal.

the attack which start this scottish town remains an unsolved crime. -- the attack which scarred this scottish town. >> president obama is selling his form of health care. british leaders are backing their national health service as it becomes a weapon in the american debate. 15,000 people in taiwan appear trapped in remote mountain villages. less than a week before the presidential elections in afghanistan, the main candidates spent the day traveling the country. on the karzapresident karzai is- runner. his main challenger is the former prime minister abdulla

abdulla. we were speaking to him about how he would improve security. >> my first target would be thousands and thousands of people have joined the taliban because of other grievances. all of those that have joined the taliban are not among those that would like to destroy the country. there are thousands of people have joined them because of corruption, because of socio- economic struggles. >> the afghan foreign minister and presidential candidate abdullah abdullah. they also support a new justice system targeting narcotics. afghanistan produces 90% of the world's opium and heroin. president karzai has pardoned five drug traffickers related to a powerful family. >> becoming a counter narcotics

policeman is one of the most dangerous jobs in afghanistan. here at the police academy, officials are trying to combat the drug mafia which produces 90% of the world's opium and heroin. profits are used to buy off police, judges, and other officials. these counter narcotics police are just one aspect of an entirely separate counter narcotics the judicial system that has been built up here and afghanistan. police, special forces, courts and prisons. all of this in a bid to get major drug traffickers off the streets and into detention. this is just a practice raid. in real life, it would be hearing the sound of gunfire. the five drug traffickers who have been pardoned were

wearing police uniforms and were using a police car to ship hundreds of kilograms of heroin. at this drug trafficker was thought of as untouchable and he was convicted. this is a victory for the justice system. this man was the governor of kabul until he resigned to help the president run his election campaign. there's concern within the government. >> we must stand against them not to deal with them. >> possibly president karzai felt that as president of a country with disparate groups, this kind of part in was a necessity. i hope to talk to him but despite repeated requests, no one has been available to speak.

>> tonight, this news of pardon is in the local news headlines. >> shocking news, people are shaken to find out that these men were released in a deal to get more votes. people are not happy. what hope is there for others to behave well? >> this move might have gained the president the backing of a powerful family. there is a danger that the pardons might loosen support on election day. >> pakistani is have been marking 62 years since their state was created. people are celebrating against the backdrop of economic hardship and increased threats from the taliban. we have a report from islamabad. >> pakistan at 62, a nation in

need of peace, security, and an economic miracle. in the back streets, they are weary of poverty. of rushing for water and electricity is on. this independence day, there's nothing to celebrate. >> i have never seen things so bad, we sit idle all day with the customers. inflation is breaking everyone's back. >> on the security front, there is a sense of progress. some feel it is safer on the street since the government to act on the taliban in earnest. >> it has made a difference. >> this woman lost her brother and onto a suicide bomber. she said that people in pakistan can breed a bit easier. >> to see your government doing

something. -- she said that people in pakistan can beathreathe a bit easier. >> has the taliban been seriously weekend? the government believes that their leader has been killed. >> they will definitely try to put someone who has been in control and who can listen to them more. therefore, we understand the situation which is a bit concerned because al qaeda is very much president and they would like to install some one of iran. -- of their own. >> the revelers are out. a show of hope and resilience. the focus here now is on celebration.

for many pakistani people, this is a rare moment. a chance to forget the bloodshed of the past and the dangers of tomorrow. >> whether to call it football or soccer, the beautiful game is loved around the world. the english premier league has become a massive global business. earnings are expected to top one and a half billion dollars. this is from the sports correspondent. . >> it is a familiar football chant in an unfamiliar scenting, the liverpool and some in the main -- liverpool's anthem being played in the main

sports center in singapore. every ticket bought, every shirt sold means a profit for liverpool and raises the profile of the english premier league. >> everyone thinks it is a european game, i think that many people watch this. the figures when liverpool or manchester united is about 500 million. this is incredible. >> when a moment of truth is about to be revealed. >> what a finish that is. >> international demand for television rights of premier league football have never been higher. this is despite the global recession. england's top clubs will be celebrating record-breaking deals with a new round of contracts. there is no doubt that the english premier league has become the global game. international deals will take

its income beyond a billion pounds for the first time this year. the vast majority comes from television deals with 98 broadcasters partnered. it will be broadcast into 500 million homes in countries around the globe. >> when you look international, that is important. you know what football has done since 1888, it has always wanted to attract other players. >> and the premier clubs are targeting countries with no traditional allegiance to football. chelsea made more than 2 million pounds from their tour of the u.s.. it is not just a big club to bell said, hull city is in talks in beijing.

-- it is not just a bitbig clubs that benefit. the sales pitch becomes more complicated. >> we want to come to their country and play games. it is fantastic for the game and for the league. >> from sycamore to baltimore, when the season starts to mark, these fans will be watching their heroes on television. -- from singapore to baltimore, when the season starts tomorrow these fans will be watching. >> finally, you might wear a penguin suit to a wedding but with a penguin where a white suit -- wet suit?

there was a suit made for this animal because he lost all of his father's one day. the suit was made from a suit made for a human. >> funding 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 businesses to major corporations. 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 kerri 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.