23/09/2013 BBC News at One

Large explosions are heard at the shopping centre in Kenya where more

than 60 people are known to have died, including four Britons. The

than 60 people are known to have Red Cross says more than 60 people

than 60 people are known to have are still thought to be inside,

though there are reports many have now been freed in the operation. I

saw about 12 bodies on the rooftop. There was a tent where a cookery

competition for children was going on. There were bodies lying under

there. There's a very famous radio presenter in Kenya, an Asian lady,

she was shot. The scene was carnage. Here, the Defence Secretary leads an

emergency meeting in Whitehall and offers assistance to the Kenyan

authorities. Also, we got things wrong. Ed Balls tells the Labour

Party conference, we've learned from mistakes made in office. Rolf Harris

appears in court accused of indecently assaulting two goals and

making indecent images of a child. England's Ashes celebrations are

barely over before it's time to turn attention to the winter turned down

under, and a new team is announced. In BBC London. A BBC investigation

reveals the pressure on parking wardens to issue tickets. Two London

councils deny breaking the law. And how a 17th century warship could be

built in Deptford. Good afternoon. In the past few

hours, heavy gunfire and explosions have rocked the shopping Mall in

Nairobi, security forces confirm an operation is under way to end the

stand-off between Kenyan security forces and Somali militants. This

morning the Foreign Office said four Britons were among more than 60

people who are known to have been killed in the siege, which began on

Saturday. These are the pictures from Nairobi now, from the Westgate

shopping centre. Kenya's Interior Minister said those plumes of smoke

have been caused by the militants setting mattresses alight as a

decoy. It is thought there are still hostages in the shopping centre.

Many are reported to have been freed. We will have the latest from

the scene, as well as an assessment from our security correspondent,

Frank Gardner, on the background to the attack. Our African Carol --

respondent has just sent this report from Nairobi. Two days into the

Kenyan shopping centre siege, and a tense stand-off continues. Sporadic

gunfire rang out early this morning, but no final assault by Kenyan

troops. A thick plume of smoke could be seen billowing from above the

Westgate shopping centre. It is not clear at this stage if the men set

the place on fire or whether Kenyan security forces are using it as a

tactic to advance. The armed attackers, Somali militants,

possibly more than a dozen of them, are still believed to be holding

hostages. A revenge, they claim, for Somali troops on soil. This is the

scene, terrifying families out for a day at the shops. In a brief lull,

hundreds of terrified men, women and children ran to safety. It is

believed many could be trapped inside, and there's almost certainly

more dead to be accounted for. Witnesses who fled describe horrific

scenes. A grenade was thrown at us. It went off and at the same time

scenes. A grenade was thrown at us. shot at us. It missed my son by an

inch. It bounced off the wall and hit the boy who was next to him.

There was a tent where a cookery competition for children was going

on. There were bodies lying under there. There was a very famous radio

presenter in Kenya, an Asian lady, she was shot. The scene was carnage.

There was a guy lying right in the corner, he was cut to shreds. As the

media and emergency services waited for more news, a certain dive for

cover as a tense moment of confusion in a nation still traumatised by

what is going on. I'm very surprised with the attack. We are very grieved

and offer support to our family, friends and Kenyans who have died,

and even the ones who have not escaped. We are not happy. It is

cowardice, an act of terror. It is really cowardice. Many are praying

for this nightmare to end. But everyone knows a watershed has now

been crossed and, whatever the outcome, Kenya will never be the

same again. The BBC's correspondent has been reporting from the Westgate

shopping centre since the attack took place on Saturday. She is there

now. A very fluid situation, what is the latest? As you can see in the

background, thick, black smoke is still billowing from that building.

We understand from the authorities that this may have been a controlled

explosion, so that they could get in through the roof. The authorities

also tell us that some hostages have through the roof. The authorities

been freed as of this morning. At least ten of them that's according

to the military. It isn't clear how many have been freed this afternoon

here. The stand-off continues, we do not know how long it will last or

Howard is going to end. We are just going to wait. Do not know if these

people have supplies. Both the government and the hostages, having

been there for three days, you can imagine it could be quite a

devastating situation. One person who spoke to us told us that his

wife and child are in there. He doesn't know their fate will stop

but if there is a two-year-old child-bearing who has gone three

days without food and water, that's a very devastating situation. -

match child in there. David Cameron has cut short a visit to Balmoral to

lead a meeting of the government's emergency meeting this afternoon. It

will be investigating reports that Britons may have been part of the

Al-Shabaab group which has carried out the attack, and also to

Al-Shabaab group which has carried establish more details about UK

citizens who have been confirmed to be among the dead. At Nairobi's

embattled Westgate shopping Mall, Kenyan forces have the complex

surrounded but the death toll continues to rise. Britons have not

been spared and the Prime Minister is chairing today's crisis

committee, dubbed Cobra. I can confirm that there is a fourth

British national confirmed dead, and next of kin have been informed. We

are in touch with the Kenyan authorities. We stand ready to

provide them with any additional assistance they require. We will be

monitoring the situation throughout the day and the Prime Minister is

returning to London to chair a further meeting later this

afternoon. The attack began at midday on Saturday at Nairobi's

upmarket Westgate shopping centre. It's a multistorey complex, one of

the newest in East Africa, and popular with both Kenyan and

expatriates. The attackers, numbering between ten to 15 people,

sprayed machine-gun fire and threw grenades. They appeared to target

non-Muslims, even shooting small children. There you can see the

supermarket, which is located over the first two floors. After more

than 48 hours, the attackers and an unknown number of hostages still

thought to be up there. It took the Kenyan authorities nearly 30 minutes

thought to be up there. It took the to arrive on the scene, but they

have since managed to extract most of those inside. Alongside private

security guards on the scene, Israeli ad buyers of -- advisers are

believed to be working closely with the Kenyans. Britain has already got

forces in the country and has offered help, but it's not clear if

that will mean military assistance. This is a Kenyan operation. Our

soldiers and advisers will be advising them, they will not be at

the front of this. The group that launched the attack is Somalia's

Al-Shabaab militants. They are a band, insurgent group linked to

Al-Qaeda. Numbering only a few thousand and with a shrinking power

base, they've carried out numerous attacks both inside Somalia and in

Kenya and Uganda. They've been making frequent media statements

ever since the siege began. There was a rumour spreading round, saying

that American, British, different nationalities... Non-that is true.

There will be non-negotiations. This whole grisly stand-off is painfully

met -- reminiscent of the Mumbai siege of 2008. Counter-terrorism

officials around the world always siege of 2008. Counter-terrorism

feared it would be repeated, it has been. The Al-Shabaab group has said

it carried out the attack because of the present in Somalia Kenyan

troops. They are there as part of African union forces trying to stop

fighting between different warring factions. They were also responsible

for driving out from the port of dismay of a year ago.

I'm at a military base of the African union troops. The high walls

behind me, just a couple of hundred yards from their, the first

positions of the Kenyan and other African union soldiers. Every night,

I've been here for a week, there is a firefight as Al-Shabaab approach

this place and then get driven away. But I have been outside these walls

and into town, driving with the African troops. Armed men have

always ruled Somalia. These African union troops are the latest. But

they have a mandate from the United Nations to be here. Their task? Keep

Al-Shabaab at bay at -- if possible and encourage a Somali government to

emerge. The terrible living conditions upmost Somalis show how

difficult these ambitions. This farmer, whose identity we've

disguised, said he fled his land after Al-Shabaab to control there.

TRANSLATION: If you have a farm, they will take half of it. They will

arrest you all will banish you. The troops do what they can to control

the situation, but they are battling against a long history of unrest.

Somalia has come to this state of affairs because the tribes here, all

plans as they are known in Somalia, have been fighting each other for

years. The Islamist saw this confusion and moved into exploit it.

The local Somali government forces are disorganised. Most people here

think if the African Union soldiers were to leave, the situation here

would get rapidly worse. If they left, how long would you last five

minutes, one hour? I can't predict. It may take long, it may take

short, but what we are fighting is not Americans or Britain. We are

short, but what we are fighting is fighting with the Somalians. We can

persist for a long time or we can... They may defeat us soon. The

international community has tried to bring a new audio -- new order to

Somalia many times. But many times bring a new audio -- new order to

it has failed. Somalia, the cradle perhaps of the situation in

it has failed. Somalia, the cradle neighbouring Kenya. This is a

difficult and dangerous place and it has been for many years. The BBC

News Channel will have more on that developing story throughout the

afternoon. The Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, has told his party conference

that Labour got wings wrong during its time in office, but the new

Labour government would be different. He's been setting out his

plans for the economy, including plans for 25 hours of free childcare

in England. The man who wants to be the next Chancellor of the

Exchequer, Ed Balls, says he is taking a grown-up approach to

politics. His £800 million pledge on childcare will be fully costed with

the bank is footing the bill. It's all part of Labour's message that

they can help out with what they are calling a cost of living crisis. I'm

saying the government shouldn't be cutting taxes for the banks. Raise

the bank levy and make work pay for working families. We will say we

will increase childcare from £15 -- 15 to 25 hours for working parents,

so they can get to work. Labour says 400,000 families in England will

benefit, saving them up to £1500 a year each. But Ed Balls will have to

convince voters that it doesn't he have powered the qualities but he

can pay for them. The message is Labour won't fritter away your cash

if you trust them with power again. They say you don't have to take a

gamble on them because all the spending pledges in the next

manifesto will be independently audited. Ed Balls told his party

conference that the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, or

obi art, would when its rule over Labour's spending plans. That people

want to know that the sums add up. This is the first time a Shadow

Chancellor, the first time any political party has ever said he

wants this kind of independent order. The government accused the

Labour leadership of devising a gimmick, one which they've got no

power to enforce. A former Conservative policy chief says Ed

Balls should be careful what he wishes for. The obi are is a real

constraint. That's why they didn't have an OBE when Labour was last in

government. He won't be able to say, this will bring us in hundreds of

millions of pounds. He will be able to say, this doesn't cost any --

very much. He will have hard figures. Labour believes that it.

Any slide in the polls, but convincing voters they can pay for

their won't be child's play. Let's get more from our chief political

correspondent, also at the conference.

The heart of Mr Balls' speech was the issue of public spending. The

easy part of the conference is to come forward with spending pledges

to ease the cost of living crisis, hence we had that announcement today

of more free childcare. The difficult part is convincing voters

that the sums add up. So Mr Balls has handed over the manifesto to the

Office for Budget Responsibility, which I think trade and nagging fear

in his mind that voters are still do not trust Labour on the economy.

That is why Mr bills' speech was bristling with fiscal rigour. -- Mr

Balls' speech. He said that Labour would not reverse all of the

coalition's cuts, and he floated the idea of not going ahead with

high-speed rail if the bills go up and up. He suggested it was becoming

a vanity project for Mr Cameron, and the question now wasn't whether it

was a good idea, but whether it was value for money. If Labour

backtracks on HS2, that will cause a stink in the Labour ranks and the

business com unity. Mr Balls is under lots of pressure to show he

has got a grip on spending, and it underlines the fact that this

conference is not just about the cost of living crisis, but about the

fact that Labour is trying to reassure voters that it can be

trusted on the economy. Rolf Harris has appeared in court

facing charges of sexual offences and creating indecent images of a

child. It is part of Operation Yewtree, which is examining historic

allegations of child abuse. Rolf Harris has been entertaining

British audiences since the 1950s. He is now 83, and facing a criminal

trial. He entered court, his wife, in blue, by his side, surrounded by

photographers and reporters. At least one supporter mingled with the

media. In a packed courtroom, he walked slowly into the dock, and at

one point, put out a hand to steady himself. After he confirmed his name

and address, the court heard the charges were the serious nature, and

the would be transferred -- the case would be transferred to Southwark

Crown Court. He is accused of an indecent assault against a girl aged

15 and 16 in 1980 -- 1980 and 1981. There is another accusation of an

indecent assault, and also of making indecent images last year. Mr

Harris' lawyers have just indicated here that he will plead not guilty

to these charges. The maximum charges for the alleged offences in

the early 80s will be two years in prison, but in 1985, the penalties

were changed, and is convicted of indecent assault in 1986, Rolf

Harris could face up to ten years in prison. His arrest interrupted a

career that has continued to flourish, on TV, as an artist who

once painted the Queen, and as an entertainer. At a music festival in

once painted the Queen, and as an May, he thanked the audience for

their support. But these charges bring him public attention of the

different nature. He has been given bring him public attention of the

conditional bail, and the legal process continues with an appearance

at Southwark Crown Court on the 7th of October.

The time is 1:19pm. Our top story: Mac heavy firing and explosions are

heard as security forces in Kenya say an operation is under way to end

the siege with Somali militants at a shopping more in Nairobi. And our

science editor on why the pace of climate change appears to Later on

BBC London. Slowing down. The £100 million

office block, and why after just three years the council is moving

out. And howzat for a masterclass? The

world's most famous players gather And howzat for a masterclass? The

at Lords to coach disabled cricketeers.

The latest international report on climate change is expected to

confirm that human activity is behind the rise in temperatures over

the past century, but it isn't so sure why the pace of warming has

recently been slowing. The past decade has still been the warmest on

record, and scientists say burning fossil fuels is the main cause

behind rising oceans, melting snow and ice, and a rise in sea levels.

What is happening to our climate? In America, crops burned last year in

the hottest month in the country's history. Australia also suffered a

record drought. Temperatures reached new heights. Last month in China,

people were desperate to keep cool in heat that no one had experienced

before. Is the world getting warmer? The science on this is still

evolving. The global warming affect is certain. The uncertainty lies in

what the local effects are where we live. In sub-Saharan Africa, there

could be more droughts. Those issues are the ones we are trying to pin

down. Understanding what is are the ones we are trying to pin

happening to the climate is difficult. There are just so many

different factors at work, in the atmosphere and in the oceans below.

The fact is that the climate has always been changing, with us or

without us. The power of the sun varies. There are patterns of

warming and cooling in the oceans. So we are talking about how our

timid teas are adding to that process. How greenhouse gases from

our homes, cars and factories are Excel rating those changes. That is

what the United Nations climate science panel will be investigating

this week. Carbon dioxide all over the world has just reached a record

level, but something surprising has happened. Despite all this, for 15

years, there has been a pause in warming - no rise in the global

temperature of the air. Global warming is carrying on. We see this

in the ocean that continues to warm, and sea levels that continue

to rise. We have always expected to see shorter periods of less warming,

and periods of much more rapid warming. If you look back over the

last century, you see precisely that. The UN panel last reported six

years ago, and there were a few mistakes in their work. This time,

the find his star under more pressure. They must explain why the

warming has paused to convince people to listen to their warnings

of what could be dangerous changes to come.

Even Angela Merkel herself had to admit that her party had done

something fantastic. Last night, the German Chancellor's Christian

Democrats party won an historic third term. The markets reacted

positively to the victory this morning, with the euro rising in

value against the dollar. In the shadow of the new Bunder stag

offices, and election poster flaps in the wind. -- Bundestag offices.

The day after the excitement of the night before. With a hint of a jig,

Chancellor Merkel rejoiced with party workers. She starts her third

term as leader of Germany stronger than ever.

TRANSLATION: Tonight, we celebrate, and tomorrow we get back to work.

This is a big victory for Angela Merkel, no doubt about that. It is a

personal victory as well because the campaign was so closely focused on

her. Now, the negotiations start with her party and other parties,

particularly the Social Democrats. The SPD will now talk to Angela

Merkel's CDU to see if they can work together, but her party is the

strongest. The Christian Democrats 142% of the vote. The centre-left

SPD came second, with 26%. The Free Democrats, Chancellor Merkel's

previous coalition partners, got just 4.8%, leaving them with no

seats in the new parliament. So what changes in Angela Merkel's third

term? It is like Helmut Kohl in his best days, so critics have no say

any longer. In Europe, David Cameron and other heads of government can

say it is my way or no way. It is all about who runs the Bundestag.

There will now be much wheeling and dealing to find a coalition that can

be maintained, but throughout, Chancellor Merkel will be in the

driving seat. It was a rather disappointing night

for British television programmes and actors at last night's Emmy

Awards. The American film about Liberace, Behind The Candelabra,

picked up Best film, and Michael Douglas picked up an award for his

betrayal of Liberace. Downton Abbey, stars like Dame Maggie Smith

and Damian Lewis, came away empty-handed.

Tonight we celebrate the best of television. For our younger

audience, that is the thing you watch on your phones.

A nod to Kevin Spacey's house of cards. It was the first time an

Internet broadcaster won an Emmy. It was amongst some well-known names in

the drama category. But the big prize went to Breaking Bad. Modern

family, one of America's most popular sitcoms, took best comedy.

But the night's big winner, taking best TV movie, was Behind The

Candelabra, telling the life of Liberace, and starring Matt Damon

and Michael Douglas, who beat his co-star to best actor. You were

magnificent. The only reason I am standing here is because of you, so

you deserve half of this. Sir Elton John wrote and performed a song in

memory of Liberace, the man who inspired him and his dress sense.

But there were few British winners. Nothing big for Downton Abbey. The

BBC newsroom miniseries The Hour won Best writer for Abi Morgan. So a

year with no real runaway winner, but lots of Tracy 's and champagne.

-- lots of trophies. The celebrations for England's

summer Ashes victory have barely ended before the team have turned

summer Ashes victory have barely their attention to the tour down

under. We were at the team launch at Lord's. Last week, Australia fly

home. Next week, England fly out to Australia. It is a unique situation,

back-to-back asses -- Ashes competitions. Gary Ballance, who

learnt his cricket in Zimbabwe, has a good record in Yorkshire but is a

surprise selection. Then there is Ben Stokes, New Zealand born and

developed in Durham. An all-rounder, he could develop into the new Andrew

Flintoff. Those players have lots of potential, but none of them were

actually born in England. I asked the national selector if that

matters. They have come into English the national selector if that

cricket and have developed towards what we require of them

internationally, so they have done all that has been asked of them, and

showing the passion to play for England. They have justified being

selected for England. The process has been accentuated by what they

have done in England. A lot of English cricket fans will be pleased

to see Monty Panesar in the England squad. He has had a pretty public

fall from race, released from his county early in the summer. He is in

the squad and says he is thrilled. We can look forward to the Ashes

once again. Time now to take you to the weather, with Phil Avery.

It is a complete change at the moment. The weather fronts that

would normally affect us at this time of year are being held at bay

in the Atlantic. Over the next few days, the high pressure that is

keeping things that they will gradually ease away to the near

continent and lose its influence. That weather front will become a bit

of a bother for northern parts of England. This afternoon, pretty much

what you have got is what you will keep. Perhaps a little bit more

clouds towards the eastern shores of England. Perhaps we will import

drier air across some Southern counties, and where you have had a

faulty start to the day, there is a chance of seeing a bit of sunshine.

With sunshine, things will be quite chance of seeing a bit of sunshine.

warm, around 20 degrees. The Midlands are stuck with low-level

cloud. Western Wales, fine and dandy, the western side of Northern

Ireland around 21 degrees. Then it is all change in the north of

Scotland. Here, you have a weather fronts that is going to be with you

for a while yet. The evening will be a balmy affair. Rather pleasant

while the sun is up. There will be a fair amount of mist and fog, but not

a cold night by any means, although the court -- the fog could be very

dense. If you are travelling across parts of England -- parts of East

Anglia and the south-east, particularly. On Tuesday, something

of an East-West split. The east Coast stuck with a bit more cloud,

which affects the temperatures. We have still got that rain across the

north, which will become more extensive with time across northern

parts of Britain. If you get on the cold side of that weather front, as

the Northern are at the moment, 13 could be yours. Temperatures

elsewhere are at par for this time of the year. Across Scotland, a

north-easterly breeze is putting a dent in the temperatures, but in the

south, nothing like it. There will not be wall-to-wall sunshine, but we

are in with a chance of keeping temperatures up at around 20

degrees. Thank you. An operation is under way

to end the siege at a Kenyan shopping mall, as the Foreign Office

says four Britons are among the dead. That's all from us. More

throughout the afternoon on the News