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small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news. >> the wikileaks founder julian assange has arrived in court for his latest teammate seek bail. and b.p. ando companies are being sued by the u.s. government for the gulf of mexico oil spill. welcome to bbc "world news." i'm david. also coming up in this program, australia's migrant tragedy. the prime minister warns the death toll could rise. also going for gold from gaza. the runner per suing his world olympic dream. -- the runner pursuing his world olympic dream.

hello. thanks for joining us. the wikileaks founder julian assange is back in a london court to fight for bail. this after prosecutors challenged a judge's addition to free him. this was the sight. his lawyer, mark stevens appeared on the attempts of the court to talk about julian assange's punishment regime as he described it in materials of the custody he was being kept in what he calls utterly victorian conditions. i think that would be very much the basis on which they pursue their bid for bail for jewel kwan assange. he was granted that of $375,000 on tuesday. but worth pointing out that was nonetheless blocked as a complaint was put in by the authorities. at issue now. a little while ago i spoke to

john mcgwire who was outside the area where julian assange was being held. >> he was being held for the last nine days since he gave himself up to police in london. response to the european arrest warrant on behalf of the swedish authorities. the reason for today's proceedings is that although he was granted bail including those conditions remain the headlines that of $375,000. you took about that, an enormous amount of cash. so provided that is paid, what we found was the swedish authorities challenged that bail application and said that's the purpose of today's high court application. we have spoken to mr. assange's lawyer, mark stevens. in the last hour or so. and he said they are on target to have raise that had money. so if you like that's one tick

in the box. mr. assange and his legal team feel they have covered. it's now up to today's high court judge to decide whether or not to grant him bail. >> that was john mcgwire talking a short while ago and julian assange is now at the high court in central london. with eel bring you the details precisely as they come to us here on bbc news. now unlimited damages. that's the cost for b.p. after it is being sued over the gulf of mexico oil spill. eight other companies also named as the authorities look to recoop billions upon billions of dollars. b.p. says the claim of negligence is still just an allegation though it will cooperate. here's our correspondent. >> when the deepwater horizon drilling rig exploded, it claimed 11 lives and released a plume of oil for months.

it led to a deluge of lawsuits from local businesses seeking compensation. they have now been joined by the u.s. government. it claims that b.p. along with transocean and its partners caused the disaster through gross negligence by ignoring safety procedures. authorities are pressing for unlimited damages to cover the cost of the cleanup along with lost revenues. there can also be a revenue find of 30 pounds based upon the amount of oil that leaked. it could bring criminal charges in the near future. >> today's criminal action marks a crucial step forward. it is not a final step. both are criminal and civil investigations and are continuing. and our work to ensure the american taxpayers are not forced to bear the cost of restoring the gulf area, and

its economy goes on. >> in a statement b.p. says the government's claim of negligence was still just an allegation and that it was cooperating with the authorities. it's now five months since the oil stopped flowing into the gulf of mexico. although, it could be many years before the deep water spill fallout could be cleared. >> and aaron is with me now. we have to focus on the business. >> basically in hand -- business in hand, the leaders of the european union are meeting today for their summit in brussels. and what a time to meet. we'll get a flavor of what the markets are making of it all any time now, i guess. >> we do know the spanish are trying to raise about $4 billion. they are inevitably going to pay a higher price than yesterday.

we sad here yesterday talking about moody's the credit rating agency putting spain's credit rating worthyness under review. yes, the e.u. guys, the chaps, they all meet today. it's the two-day meeting. it is the final meeting of the year, and boy, the market, investors, they want clarity from this. no more dili dalying, and no more patch work. they want to see the e.u. officials focused on one core measuru will. but that's easier said that than done, because we we've got a division in the e.u. where belgium and spain are looking to pump more money into the rescue pot and germany and france are saying only about 10% is all that's been dipped into. germany's more in favor of giving extra powe to the european central bank to buy more got to the bonds. then the talk and debate over

do they issue single european bonds? one single e. bond as opposed to these individual government bonds? so they've got a lot to talk about. as long as the markets don't focus on the division but the measures announced. >> the -- >> more on that shortly. >> thank you. >> let's take you back to our main story. julian assange, founder of wikileaks back in a london court as he seeks bail. this after prosecutors challenged bail by the judge. well, his lawyer spoke oths the high court just a few moments ago. >> today's hearing is entirely a matter [inaudible] there have been no changes in the circumstances. -- going to be very much --

earlier this week. and it's a matter for his decision and his decision alone. >> that was mark stevens, the lawyer. with me now is greg wood. greg, difficult to get a clear sound of exactly what mark stevens was saying other than effectively this is a rerun of the previous hearing. >> well, it is in the sense that there will be arguments over bail. it's not a rerun in terms of evidence. because no new evidence will be presented here this morning. it's really a question of is julian assange a flight risk? and is that the perception of the judge in court here? i think there's two questions. arguments as to who is exactly driving this appeals process? it was a decision of the british authorities to challenge the release of julian

assange on bail. it was not a decision of the swedish prosecutors. this morning we had mark stevens asserting that in his view it was actually being driven by the swedish authority and the skeleton argument will be from then -- and then we have some saying they were acting on swedish instruction. then there's the issue of bail money. the cash has to be delivered to the courts by the end of banking business today if mr. assange is to walk free, given this appeal goes through. he was confident the money would be delivering in time. making sure that cash is there, and from that they are relying on the banking system here in britain. >> yes. they were on target to get it together which does suggest at the moment they have not done that. >> well, it's a difficult process. as mark stevens said, even

wealthy people can't lay their hands on $20,000 nounds cash at the flick of a finger. they have to liquidate things to come up with that cash. and it does have to be cash. you can't use credit card or checks or anything of the sort. so it's the question of actually translating it into physical money. >> and if bail is granted, is it clear where he'll stay? >> eyes. he'll be staying in east anglya in the east of england. in the home, the manner house of a supporter, a journalist, a former army officer. smith, who is going to put up mr. assange for the duration of his extradition hearing and smith says he feels he needs to make a stand.

he's doing this because he feels the freedom of the press is at stake in this case. and mr. assange, if he is granted bail, will have to wear an electronic monitor and relinquish his cure few and will be subject to eight hours a day in that physical location. >> thank you very much. now aaron wouldn't talk to me about the contradict. but i'm relying on you -- about the contradict it. -- about the cricket. but i'm relying on you. >> australia with 268 all out. and england has just been playing. and currently close play at 29 for nothing. so they are doing -- well, as well as you can really with cook and strouse there. still very much in it. yes. a really good day for england.

stuart with the call, injured and out. chris tremble took his place and had a good day. so it was a really good performance for london looking strong to retain early. of course, time will tell. >> a long way to go obviously. now we're getting to the final world cup. >> milan, one of the most recognized team at the moments because they are the current european champions and up against a side who have never played in a world -- club world cup final, i should say. >> it's a battle to say, isn't it? >> yes. but this is an enter in the semifinal against those of south korea. and they beat them 3-0 in the semifinals in the u.a.e. and now will be up against -- scoring the third and final goal there. and yes.

you kind of would fancy there's pressure to have them perform so well in europe as you would expect from defending champions. but it will be an interesting -- >> something of a surprise, wouldn't it? >> yes. >> thanks a lot. you're watching bbc world news. do stay with us if you can. because coming up shortly. hard enough training to be an olympic runner. imagine trying to do that liveing in gaza. we'll have one man's story. >> the u.s. state department has criticized the venezuelan president hugo chavez for planning to rule by decree. critics say it would allow him to govern as an autocrat. he does have a prickly relationship with -- >> for and against. the debate has been passionate.

tempers have frayed. insults and even fists have flown. venezuelan's plan to rule. he has asked congress to grant him emergency powers saying he needs the power to deal with the aftermath of floods. >> he is likely to get his wish. a preliminary vote went overwhelmingly his way. i'm surprised that the current congress is dominated by chavez loyalists. the final vote on thursday will be one of its last. january it all made way for newly-elected crops of law makers including many more from the opposition. >> this assembly doesn't have ethics or morals. all legitimacy to approve this law. why? because in september's

elections, many venezuelans voted to change -- for change, because i it doesn't presently reflect their will. >> he certainly remains as polarizing as ever. the president insists he will act within the constitution at all times but opponents worry too much power in the hands of one man cannot be good. bbc news. >> now a grand jury in the united states has accepted new charges against the nigerian man trying to pillow up a plane with a bomb in his underwear. he is tew in court thursday to face a number of charges relating to the incident. this being on an incident last christmas. the european court of justice is to stide if they can ban can

bus from its coffee shops. they want to introduce a membership system to keep tourists out. critics say the ban would break quality laws. and blasting off from kazakstan, the space craft is scheduled to reach its destination some time on friday afternoon. the launch came despite concerns about the re-entry knowledge jewel of the craft which was replaced this month after it was damaged. thanks for watching bbc "world news." the main headline this hour. the wikileaks founder julian assange has arrived at a london court to hear if he will be freed on bail or kept in prison. now does ireland have the authority to protect, unconditionally, the life of unborn children?

or does it violate women's rights? from dublin, here's mark simpson. >> the abortion issue has divided ireland. a series of ref ren dumbs over the past 30 years has been to heal those. ire land has strict laws against abortions. every year around 4,000 women travel from ireland to the u.k. to have an abortion. three of them recently challenged the rules. and before the european courts of human rights. they say having to travel overseas damaged their health and their supporters believe the court will today rule in their favor. >> this is a serious human rights issue and within that has not been addressed before this to this stept. and so we're optimistic these women's rights will be vindicated by the court.

>> ire land is no longer the deeply conservative country it used to be. it's more secular and more liberal. but when it comes to abortion, there is still some strong opposition. >> pro life say it should be able to set its own rules. >> we of the people should be allowed to decide. especially something as important as abortion. we the people should be allowed to stide what happens with that. >> it's not nope what the judgment of the european courts of human rights will be. but whatever it is, ireland will be legally bliged to accept it. mark simpson, bbc news. dublin. >> now a bigger, stronger bailout mechanism is is to be discussed in plus bals. now the meeting -- in brussels. now the meeting itself comes

when spain and portugal may need it. >> when the heads of state of the e.u.'s 27 governments meet here later. top of their agenda will be making amendment inserting a line of text which will allow for the establishment of a permanent mechanism offering support to cups getting difficulty which caused greece and ire land to seek bailout. now diplomatic sources say these changes will not lead to competencies and poust being transfered from the parliament to the e.u. and therefore diplomats say it's not going to be the case that ref ren dumbs will be needed in cases -- country that is normally have to have them when changes are made in the e.u. they are to be ratifying the change. the mechanism will be available

for use from january 2013. the exact nature of the mechanism, however, is not being debated but very much being debated what form it will take. will it be the currency of the countries needing it or something else? >> they may actually be more harm than food. if a country is already overdone -- >> the talk that germany would like to see a line inserted into the treaty saying the mechanism, whatever its final form, should only be triggered as a last reshort. but those saying it could leave room for the markets if they fear a delay in the triggering of the mechanism. that said. there doesn't appear to be support for --

>> the australiain' authorities say they expect more bodies to be found after a boat carrying refugees sank off the coast of christmas island. at least 27 people tied. it's not clear how many were actually on the boat. most on the boat were thought to be from iraq and iran. >> more harrowing pictures emerge sowing the desperate plight of the asylum seekers when their boat was smashed against the rocks of christmas island. over 40 women and children but dozens are still missing and feared dead. the australiain' authorities are feared the boat operating by smug lers was carrying more than the 70 passengers originally thought. there could have been as many as 100 people onboard. families from iraq and iran. >> we do not know with any certainty how many people there were on the boat. so we have got to prepare ourselves for the likelihood

that more bodies will be found and that there has been further loss of life than we know now. >> australia's asylum seekers are often -- with boat people almost shorn of its human meaning. many australians will have seen the anguished faces of those trying to reach the shores and witnessed the linux trying to get there. >> we condemn the trade of people smuggling. it is an evil trade. but i believe australiain's are responding to these events today as human beings. they are seeing other human beings in distress and imagining to themselves, how would i feel if i was in those circuses? is how would i feel if i'd lost my wife, my husband or my child in such rough and dangerous seas?

>> some of the more seriously injured were flown to the mainland for treatment. the australiain' government launched an investigation into the ship wreck. questions were also asked about thou boat managed to elude the australiain' sea agencies charged with watching for those boats. >> now any training for any long distance runner is going to be you have to get to the top. but for the competitor, it's all the more difficult because of who he's running for. for the latest on our series of world olympic dreams, we went to gaza to meet with one. >> no bit more important to a runner than his shoes. for the amount he needs to use a new pair every five or six weeks but he has been running in these shoes for a year. he doesn't have a choice.

it's what you do when you can't leave gaza and goods can't come in. >> everything is difficulty -- is difficult here. i don't have special places to run and with four children to support on my salary, i can't even eat enough of the right things. >> the international olympic committee recognizes this, his personal best is about a minute outside qualification standards but the e.o.c. allowed him to compete giving special -- for athletes from disadvantaged places. >> despite all the problems he has with his training, he counts himself as lucky. at least he's able to leave gaza from time to time to compete abroad unlike most of the 1.5 million inhabitants who remain cooped up in this tiny strip of land. >> it was at this school that a

teacher spotted the shh 14-year-old's talent he returns to say he is a symbol of hope and escape. >> he's an idol to these children says his old sports teacher. i asked the class who wants to be like had ina? and all 40 kids raised their hands. 123w4 for most life feels stuck. many people don't have a job and there's the constant threat of volatility and conflict. training may be tough but at least he can focus on his single ambition. in the confined spaces of gaza, it's a release of sorts. tim, bbc news, gaza. >> and good luck to him. now freezing temperatures in the u.s. have been causing misery for thousands. but look at this. the weather managed to produce an unusual work of art.

sprays of freezing water shattered a lighthouse. extraordinary pictures. more of that on the web side. on the web sight. on the website. www.bbc.com/news. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click to play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank.

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