>> "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? >> and now "bbc world news." >> corruption undermining security in iraq. insurgents make their way through checkpoints.

the war is over. the head of international peacekeeping in darfur gives his verdict. israel's prime minister meets with germany's chancellor. very warm welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast on pbs in america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- china expresses its strong opposition. it does not like tie 1's invitation to the dollar llama. and he sailed around the road, but he is not old enough to drive. a british teenager complete the voyage. -- and he sailed around the world, but he is not old enough to drive. hello to you. bbc has discovered many cases of corruption involving iraqi security forces. the police and army are widely blamed for failing to stop the

current wave of bombings. there is concern that there is endemic corruption undermining their efforts. two months ago, they took over responsibility for security in iraq as american troops pulled back. the life-and-death question now -- can they prove they are up to the job? we have this report from andrew north. >> the attack on the foreign ministry. a suicide bomber last week. seconds before it detonated it right outside. the foreign minister tells us the iraqi army, police were partly responsible. >> the iraqi security forces should have done a better job because there were clear instructions. no trucks should move in certain parts of baghdad. >> do you think there is more to come? >> i think there is more to come unless the government shows it is up to this challenge and take

some measures. >> it is fear corruption has left iraq's security forces full of holes. this businessman told us he often pays brides at police checkpoints to get his trucks through quickly -- paid bribes at police checkpoints to get his truck through quickly. >> the police let them go without searching them, which is a big mistake. this is common all over the country, not just baghdad. >> bombs could have been hidden under all that equipment? >> yes. the problem is the police do not live up to their responsibilities. >> we have heard countless other examples. i driver who takes four separate bribes -- a a driver who takes four separate bribes. and man who had money and jewelry stolen when iraqi troops

did a search operation. it never happened here -- at least at this checkpoint, but off camera, they accepted the problem is endemic. it is telling just how easy it is to find stories of corruption, especially involving iraqi security forces. they can tell you that this is just part of daily life, but as long as that kind of loophole exists, the bombers can make use of it, too. the americans are taking a backseat now. >> last week's event was a total breakdown. there is no denying the fact. but also, you have got to look at the longer-term. we have had the lowest level of violence in this country since we started keeping the statistics. the iraqi security forces, again, are doing their part. >> now the iraqi security forces

have taken over, there is hope they could offer lessons for afghanistan. while things have gotten worse there and better here, twice as many iraqis still die each month. andrew north, bbc news, baghdad. >> after six years, and the deaths of perhaps three dozen people, the war in darfur is over. that is the starling declaration from the outgoing head of the joint united nations-african union peacekeeping force. he says that there is now nothing but low-intensity banditry. we have this report. >> for many, it was the world's most horrifying conflict. the militia swept through villages. the rape and murder of civilians, large-scale fighting

-- both of these make darfur a household name. but now the united nations says that darfur is no longer at war. >> this is a significant reduction in the level of violence. this is a contribution in the area of humanitarian prevention. >> the key and now may be the political process, which involves getting rebel groups -- some little more than gangs -- to negotiate. even if the fighting has died down, the region faces huge challenges. the u.n. estimates that 300,000 people died because of the war and others have been displaced. there are still groups with

links to the government operating in darfur, but peace initiatives are on the way. it would be unacceptable to many activists in america who find it difficult to swallow general martin agwai's verdict. his words are controversial. whether you agreed with them are not depends on how you define a war. but no one is saying that the problems are completely over. bbc news, khartoum. >> the u.s. special envoy richard holbrooke has been involved in a serious ro withw president karzai. senior officials -- richard holbrooke has been involved in a serious row with president karzai. he stressed to the afghan leader that there were reports of fraud and settling the reports

was essential. no one from the afghan government will comment, but the u.s. embassy is denying that richard holbrooke stormed out after the meeting. guantanamo detainees are planning to sue the united states for compensation. an afghan national was held without charge for nearly seven years. he was put on a flight home this week. from the afghan capital, chris morris. >> this is where this boy has spent seven years -- in guantanamo bay. he was accused of throwing a grenade, which injured two u.s. soldiers and their interpreter in kabul in 2002. he was repatriated this week after an american military judge said he had been forced to make a full confession. now he is back in kabul again, and according to his lawyers, he is deeply traumatized. they allege he was only about 12

years old when he was sent to guantanamo. >> the rule of law is what makes, i believe, the american legal system one of the best in the world. when i encountered this particular case and dealt with the resistance of the u.s. government's you -- to recognize the error of their ways, it was deeply upsetting. >> now, he plans to sue the u.s. authorities for compensation in an american court. the obama administration says it will close down guantanamo bay, but hundreds of afghans and remain detained without charge. the u.s. military says the background is in kabul. chris morris, bbc news, kabul. >> a suicide bomber has destroyed a pakistani checkpoint on the border with afghanistan.

at least 22 people died. police say the bomber approached on foot at sunset. he approached as the guards were celebrating the end of the ramadan fast. there has been of a train accident in northwest turkey killing passengers and injuring others. it derailed in istanbul. russia has charged eight men with kidnapping. this is over the apparent hijacking of the cargo ship last month. the arctic sea disappeared, only to reappear on the west african coast three weeks later. there is suspicion it was carrying an illicit cargo. german's chancellor is calling for a freeze on israel's the building of settlements. angela merkel was speaking to the israeli prime minister,

benjamin netanyahu. they also discussed iraq. netanyahu called for sanctions. we have this report from berlin. >> netanyahu came to berlin with a clear message for angela merkel. he said that it was time to get tougher with iran about its nuclear ambitions. >> there is not much time. i think the most important thing that could be put in place, what the u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton called " crippling sanctions." it is important that real pressure on this regime. we can do this in the major powers of the world unite. >> angela merkel threatened tougher sanctions, but she also addressed the dilemma of the

middle east peace, calling upon israel to stop the construction of jewish settlements in occupied territories. >> we believe that the progress on the issue of settlements -- a halt to israeli construction is an important element to the new peace process. i am deeply concerned that the possibility of such a process is at the moment very good. >> this visit was not only about the least politics. it was about the past. israel's leader was handed original blueprints of the auschwitz concentration camp. it had been discovered in a berlin apartment. 21 of diagrams illustrating the killing machine in minute detail. over 4 million people were killed here. most of them were jews. >> perhaps unto this moment, we

would tell people who denied this happen should come to berlin, and look at these plans. these plans for this factory of death. this is a very important historical documents. it documents -- these documents will be kept by as. -- will be kept buying us. >> bbc news, berlin. >> still to come for you on "bbc world news." 150 years since the start of america's oil rush. can pennsylvania offer new and cleaner energy? first, mexico's government has promised to beef up its forces in the battle against narcotics, but the vineland's links to cartels plagues the country.

-- the violence linked to cartels played the country. at least 800 have been killed in a related crimes this year. >> each of the killings resemble organized crime heads. 13 people were killed in just 24 hours. police could give a little information about motives or suspects. no one has been arrested. nestled along the american border, the city has mexico's highest rate of drug-related murders. this year, more than 800 people have been killed. the government plays the violence on turf wars between rival smugglers battling. nationwide, a staggering and 11,000 people have been murdered in less than three years. that is a terrifying average of nearly 11 of violent deaths a day.

the mexican government has increased its efforts with only moderate success. they showed off some of their spoils in mexico city, where they began destroying more than 79,000 guns seized over the last decade. more than 35,000 weapons are being kept as evidence in criminal investigations. they came to show off their good work, and the mexican military to journalist to a remote part of the peninsula. they found a drug can complete with 72 kilograms of the drug methamphetamine. a liquid quantity of the drug was also found. bbc news. >> see the news unfold. go to bbc.com/news to experience the expert reporting of bbc news

online. it is easy. click here to which the one- minute world news summary. you can read the latest headlines, get the top stories from around the globe, and click to play video reports. discover more about the subjects that really interest you and find out what the world is talking about right now. go to bbc.com/news and watch the news unfold. >> the latest headlines for you on "bbc world news." the bbc has uncovered many cases of corruption involving iraq's security forces. the war in it darfur is over, according to the outgoing he head of -- outgoing head of peacekeeping. a funeral cortege carrying the

body of senator edward kennedy has left his home in massachusetts. the 77-year-old died of a brain tumor. he has been hailed as one of the most influential lawmakers in american history. our special correspondent is in washington. is it sensible to see people morning -- fanciful to see people mourning here? >> people have gathered along this route in massachusetts, i think they are also grieving the end of a line. he is the last of his generation, the last surviving kennedy's son of that generation. people are thinking very much about what the kennedys meant to american history and what he meant to massachusetts. boston is the city that is still

strongly associated with the kennedys. they all loved it. the city and state reelected kennedy sometimes to be set by overwhelming majorities. we will see a lot of emotion in the next few days as people pay tribute as the body lies in reposed at the kennedy presidential library. of very public tribute. that funeral service where president obama himself will be delivering a eulogy, and we expect the four living ex presidents will be there, too, to pay their respects. it will be quite an occasion. >> phillippa, are you getting a sense of what this may mean it to health care reform? >> it depends on who you were talking to. democrats were quick to say that they should name the health care reform bill in his honor.

they say that now is the time to redouble our efforts to get president obama's legislation through now. opponents of this overwhelming health care reform, this ambitious plan, do not see it that way. there is still a huge political battle raging in america about whether it is too expensive, and frankly, whether the american government should be in the business of providing health care in competition, if you like, with private insurance companies. ted kennedy said time and again, very publicly and famously, that health care -- universal health care for americans was the passion of his life. they might have needed him, the democrats, to shepherd this through congress. this will be a very tense time as senators returned from their summer break and look at the sheer challenge of trying to get a bill like this through. >> many thanks indeed for that. it is a visit intended to bring comfort to victims of the

typhoon, but it jeopardize is improving relations between taiwan and beijing. the dalai lama has prompted criticism from beijing. we have this report. >> taiwan says the reason for the dollar lama's visit is to comfort the living and pray for it -- the dalai lama's visit is to comfort the living and pray for the debt. but the landscape has changed. the last time the tibetan spiritual leader was here, taiwan was under the role of reject rule -- rule of a different government. now the focus is totally different -- reducing tensions and building closer ties with

china. but his approval rating has plummeted. people accuse him of not acting quickly enough. >> we have decided to invite the dollar llama to pray -- the dalai lama to pray for the dead. this is our decision. >> if he does not allow the dalai lama to visit, there would be a backlash against him from the public. now he seems to be trying to placate the public. losing the support of china, their biggest trading partner, would be a blow. bbc news, taipei. >> america's first oil well was drilled in pennsylvania 150 years ago today. now natural gas is bringing prospectors to the area in droves. we are looking at how the nation may be moving to break its

addiction to foreign oil. >> beneath the rolling hills of pennsylvania law is what some see as a solution to america's growing energy needs. a mile and a half down is the largest natural gas field in the entire united states. it can, they believe, help to break the country's dependence on foreign oil. >> natural gas is our cleanest- burning fossil fuel. it can be used in cars, to generate electricity, liquefied and used to create aviation fuel. this is really -- the natural gas that is being developed at this point in time -- it could give us energy independence. >> pennsylvania was the center of another energy become 150 years ago today. the oil rush. since then, the u.s. has become the world's biggest consumer of

energy. a century and a half later, this country desperately needs a new energy solution, and that is causing a growing political division between those who believe that the future lies in gas reserves and those who feel the country needs to move in an entirely new direction. at the university of pittsburgh, they are looking into alternative sources of energy. natural gas burns cleaner than oil, but it's still releases greenhouse gases. >> the most important thing is we have to stop looking at the short term. what happens after 10 years when we have not built up our alternative energy technologies that's what will we do then? what are our options? >> you feel that natural gas is diverting attention at the moment? >> i do. it is not the be all and end all of energy exploration. >> many doocy natural gas as a

realistic alternative. -- many do see natural gas as a realistic alternative. it is cheap, available, and it may be how america chooses to meet its energy needs. matthew price, bbc news, pennsylvania. >> in malaysia, the american pop group the black eyed peas is causing controversy. they are supported by the beer company guess. people are being for bad for from going. >> at the tender age of 17, mike perham has become the youngest person to sail solo across the world. allison harbor reports on his epic, record-breaking voyage. >> of sense of relief and celebration.

at 9:47 this morning, 17-year- old mike perham silda to the guinness book of world records. -- sailed into the guinness book of world records. ahead of him, a 30,000 mile voyage taking him through the toughest and profits and oceans in the world -- the toughest and roughest oceans in the world. >> it is 40 degrees. >> he tackled 60 days at sea. he was sleeping in catnaps of just half an hour. >> sometimes i thought, what are you doing? you just have to handle it. >> he intended a non-stop voyage, but repairs forced him to stop in portugal. he made good progress, but there

were problems. a writ sale near panama, and then hurricane whether -- a ripped sail near panama, and then hurricane weather. saturday, he will return, celebrating being a record breaker. >> police in california believe they may have found a woman alive 18 years after she was kidnapped from her home as an 11 year-old. jaycee lee dugard is seen here. she was opposed it and abducted by two unidentified people in 1981. she then walked into a police station and claim to be who she was. thank you for being with us. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new 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 kerry washington, and public broadcasting is my source for intelligent connections to my community.

>> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles. presented by kcet, los angeles.