28/08/2012 BBC World News

The Korean peninsula is hit by the strongest typhoon in nearly a

decade, killing at least five sailors.

The storm approaching the southern United States is on the verge of

being upgraded to a hurricane. The family of the the American

woman Rachel Corrie, crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer

slams the courts after losing a damages claim. A well-heeled system

to protect the Israeli military. Welcome to BBC World News. Also in

this programme: Inspectors are in Portugal to make sure it's sticking

to the terms of its 78 billion euro bail out. And Fords drive into

China. In one part of the world, they're called typhoons; in another

they're known as hurricanes but all across the world they're causing

severe disruption at the moment. Korea has been hit by the strongest

typhoon to have affected the peninsula for nearly a decade.

South Korea's national coastguard says five crew members from two

Chinese ships have been killed and many more missing after their ships

capsized. South Korea has issued a storm warning for the capital,

Seoul, as Typhoon Bolaven pounds the south and west regions. The

storm is heading for North Korea, which is still recovering from a

drought followed by floods. Lucy Williamson told me more. There have

been strong winds here in Seoul but we haven't seen the worst of this

typhoon. There were two Chinese fishing boats off the southern

coast of South Korea which were in the path of the typhoon as it came

in. Those boats capsized, five are confirmed dead, ten sailors still

searched for in those waters. Here on land as well, four people have

been killed by falling houses, falling objects, that kind of thing

and the two main bridge linking Seoul with the main airport here

have been closed. It has caused some damage in the region, but

perhaps not as bad as might have been expected and now the storm is

on its way into North Korea. North Korea's already had an incredibly

difficult time, caused by difficult weather. Very difficult time indeed.

That drought followed by that flooding, which apparently

destroyed a lot of crops, infrastructure, of course North

Korea not terribly well equipped to cope with this kind of thing. The

North Korean state news agency has already put out a news bulletin

saying the storm was entering North Korean territory but beyond that we

haven't heard anything yet. You can see it's starting to get dark here

now, which will make it even more difficult perhaps to assess the

impact. Thank you. Tropical storm Isaac is on the

verge of being upgraded to a hurricane, moving towards the US

with increased ferocity. It's now threatening to reach land, possibly

as early as tonight, as a category one hurricane. That could see winds

of up to 150 kilometres battering buildings and whipping up the sea.

Four states are under threat as the storm travels towards the Gulf

coast. President Obama has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana.

It was seven years ago this week that Hurricane Katrina devasted New

Orleans. From there, Alistair Leithead begins our coverage.

They know how to prepare for storms here in New Orleans. It was seven

years to the day that people were doing a similar thing as hurricane

Katrina was approaching across the Gulf of Mexico.

The city was woefully unprepared back then. The levies, which were

built to protect the people, failed. Much of the city flooded. More than

1800 died here and along the Gulf coast. Since then, the levies have

been strengthened, the storm is not expected to be as powerful, but

they were still putting the finishing touches to the city's

defence as Isaac approached. I am not too worried because it don't

seem like it's a powerful storm like Katrina. Isaac is 200 miles

across and heading at tenmph, strengthening over the warm Gulf of

Mexico waters. It's expected to strike land somewhere along the

coast as a category two hurricane, with winds two thirds the strength

of Katrina. We are battle ready, and we will be prepared to handle

what comes our way. In Mississippi the calm was deacceptive. The winds

will will soon pick up as the first squals reach the coast but a a

surge in the tide could also cause widespread flooding. And in Alabama

people were stocking up and preparing to baton down for the

storm. Some were leaving but many people have died to sit this one

out and hope for the best. The arrival of tropical strom Isaac

couldn't have come at a worse time for the Republican party - it's

holding a national convention in Tampa, Florida. The carefully

staged event, which will formally put forward Mitt Romney as the

party's presidential candidate, will get under way in full later,

having been been delayed by a day. There could be even more disruption

to its schedule and tone, as Steve Kingstone reports.

It's my privilege to proclaim the 2012 Republican national convention

in session and called to order. It was an anti-climatic start. A

half-full convention called to order and then immediately declared

in recess because of the weather. But it will take more than a

tropical storm to dampen the spirits of these Republicans who

are convinced the White House is there for the taking. We are going

to nominate Mitt Romney and Ryan and they're going to win in

November and they're going to turn the country around. We can put the

last four years behind us. This is going to be a more indepth

introduction as to his background, what really makes him tick, his

family. He is really the King Midas of life. Thanks to Isaac this is

not the sunshine Florida backdrop that Republicans were hoping for.

Instead, they'll try to get the focus firmly on their man. Today,

formally nominating Mitt Romney for the presidency and all this week

trying to get a sceptical American public to warm to him, both as a

candidate and as a person. Organisers have turned to the

candidate's biggest fan, Anne Romney has appeared in ads for her

husband. If you can trust they will do the right thing... Painting a

softer portrait as a multimillionaire often seen as

aloof. Tonight, she will take a prime-time speaking slot, telling

America her man is caring, decent, worthy of trust. But the jury is

still out. Over the years Mitt Romney has been a serial flip-

flopper on policy. So another task here is to define what he really

stands for. And to convince America that a businessman is the best bet

to turn the country around. The family of a young American

activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer has

lost a civil case for damages. The bulldozer driver has said he didn't

see 23-year-old Rachel Corrie, a pro-Palestinian activist who

opposed the military's demolition of Palestinian homes. An Israeli

court found the country's Ministry of Defence was not liable for her

death in Gaza in 2003. Our correspondent, Jon Donnison, is in

the Israeli city of Haifa, where the civil case has been taking

place. He gave more details about the judge's ruling. First, he said

that the driver of the Israeli army bulldozer had not seen Rachel

Corrie, he backed an early army investigation that concluded the

same thing and that her death as such was an accident. Secondly, he

said that the area in Gaza, close to the border with Israel and Egypt

down there, was at the time a designated combat zone and as such

was a war zone really and she had taken a risk by going into it and

he said that there was a disparity really between the idea logical of

the activists she was working with, the judge said they were in fact

acting as human shields for terrorists, now that's something

that obviously the family and her supporters would very much dispute.

Their lawyers have said today they will appeal this decision to

Israel's highest court. The Corrie family have been speaking following

that court ruling. Rachel Corrie's mother, Cindy, described it as a

bad day not only for the family, but also for the rule of law and

the state of Israel. She said the purpose of the Israeli

investigation had been to provide impunity for Israeli soldiers.

the beginning it was clear to us that there was a process of

investigation, military police station investigations and it was

confirmed to us today that extends through the court system in Israel,

a well-heeled system to protect the Israeli military, the soldiers who

conduct actions in that military, to provide them with impunity at

the cost of all the civilians who are impacted by what they do.

The mother there of Rachel Corrie. Aaron is here with the business

news. We have had numbers from Spain confirming things are

actually worse than we previously thought and you are looking at

Portugal today. Spain's recession is certainly

deeper than we originally thought and Portugal also in a

considerablably deep recession. Today, the troika, what we are

talking about are the lenders to these countries, the European Union,

International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, they're back

on the ground in Lisbon to basically compile a report card on

the Government's efforts to try and bring in and return its economy on

track. It's the 5th time they've been down there. They've made

reforms, done well in private acation, increased taxes, cut

spending but they've certainly a huge task there.'s been reports

Portugal may do similar to what Greece has been doing of late and

asking for more time, that's a question I put to experts and this

is their answer. A national sentiment that Portugal is a very

different case from Greece and people are prepared for more

sacrifices, not asking more time and money in order - I believe

Portugal has been positive and that's reflected in bond prices.

Portugal has also been tapping the markets, issuing up to bonds. There

is a positive atmosphere regarding perception of Portuguese economy.

Something different, one out of every four cars sold globally last

year was sold in China, no surprises that it's the reason that

Ford is relaunching its iconic luxury Lincoln brand there as it

tries to catch up with rivals in what is the world's now largest car

market. It aims to have the Lincoln on sale in 2014, targeting China's

wealthier consumers. It's also developing a low-cost car to appeal

to more cost conscious buyers. going to be replacing the US as the

largest market in the world and it's right at the take-off stage

and people really do value the mobility that goes with that.

China's growth rates have slowed a little bit, but they were

relatively high and we are very pleased with the lower growth rate

because we think it's also a lot more sustainable. Over time I think

it will keep sorting itself out. There is overcapacity right now,

but we are very pleased with all of the Government actions, trying to

match the production capacity, the production to the real demand.

was the CEO of Ford talking earlier to our correspondent. He was

talking about the second largest economy, let's talk about the

largest, and a key measure of the health of the United States housing

market, it comes out later today and there are hopes that the price

index will show the first signs of a recovery there. Over the past few

weeks figures have suggested that the years of falling property

prices may finally be over. How are you... Kimberley is on the

market, with her current home already sold she's actively looking

for a new place to live. I do feel as though houses are

starting to move now, I don't know if that's because I sold my house

and I am nervous, but it does seem like you see more under contract

signs as you drive along any streets around here. And it's not

just existing homes that are seeing movement. New homes are, too.

Behind this new housing development is the 6th largest home-builder in

the US. We had some of the worst markets in seven decades and the

last four, five years it's been pretty tough but this year for once

it feels like it's not - that we are actually seeing a recovery,

early signs of the beginning of a recovery.

While recent US housing data is positive, the numbers are still at

depressed levels. Also, looming the shadow inventory. There's still a

large pipeline of foreclosures that need cleared. We will be seeing a

steady flow of distressed properties and that's going to

continue to add to inventory. coupled with the fragile US economy,

It has been almost seven years since the housing bubble burst.

People are looking for reasons to be optimistic. Now surrounded by

houses being built and sold, is enough reason for some to cheer.

Let me just leave you with this story that broke an hour ago. It is

about the union representing cabin crew at the German airline

Lufthansa. They announced a walkout at airports where Lufthansa has

star. Talks with the company failed this Tuesday. The strikes would be

staged in the next coming weeks. As soon as we have details we will

make sure viewers around the world know about that.

Just at the end of the holiday season as well.

You are watching BBC World News. Still to come: Mali calls for

international help to defeat Islamist extremists who have taken

over the northern two-thirds of the country.

And escaping a world of car bombs and chaos, we meet Iraq's National

Youth Orchestra. The Colombian president has

confirmed that his government is holding exploratory talks with

Colombia's biggest rebel group. Mr Santos said he was fulfilling his

constitutional duty to seek peace. After nearly 50 years, the FA and

Colombian government origin closer to peace. The two sides have been a

war since 1964 and the last time they came to the table was in the

1990s. The rebels asked for an area the size of Switzerland as a safe

haven and they got it. Drug- trafficking funded their

organisation. But over the last decade, they have been forced to

retreat under fire from the Colombian military. Numbers have

dwindled dramatically. A former commissioner says the glory days

are over. TRANSLATION: The economy is solid, Armed Forces are strong,

the police force is strong, international relations are solid.

I think they have realised they are out of time for the war and it is

time to start thinking about peace. The Colombian president has also

offered to include the country's second biggest rebel groups in

negotiations. But they have said they will not lay down their arms

to sit at the table, insisting that talks are out of the question

unless they are unconditional. Talks will be held in Oslo in

October and there is no doubt that if President Santos were to call

this off, it would be a massive coup. -- pull this off.

There has been a second day of rioting in the Kenyan port of

Mombasa. An eyewitness said youths were fighting running battles with

the police. It comes a day after a Muslim cleric was shot dead in the

city by unknown gunmen which prompted the rioting.

The nine American servicemen are to be disciplined for two incident

which prompted outrage in Afghanistan earlier this year. The

undisclosed punishments are for burning copies of the Iran and

urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban insurgents. They may

involve demotions or loss of pay but will fall short of the criminal

charges being demanded by many Afghans.

More news on our website. Of this is BBC World News. The

Korean peninsula is hit by the strong as typhoon in nearly a

decade, killing at least five sailors. Tropical Storm Isaac is on

the verge of being upgraded to a hurricane as it crosses the Gulf of

Mexico to southern US states. The government of Mali in West

Africa is calling for international help in defeating Islamist

extremists who have taken over two thirds of the country. The

extremists, some of whom have links with Al-Qaeda, took over the

country's elected government. In this special report, Mark Thompson

has had access to the Mali army who are attempting to regain control.

Arm control with the Mali army. This heavily armed convoy of his on

the lookout for Islamist insurgents who have swept Mali's army from the

north of this country earlier this year, behind this show of force

lurks humiliation and shame. Their commander admits the morale of his

men are low but insists his nation will win the fight to come. Even

without any external assistance, we can fully deal with this situation.

Training is being stepped up, but retaking the north, without new

funds and equipment looks way off- target. My patrol has stopped,

north of a town. The reason for that is beyond this point, the land

is under the control of Al-Qaeda linked Islamist extremists. In the

capital, politicians doubt that Mali can face the extremists alone.

We have got to have an army trained to face of this sort of sedition.

We do not have the number, the equipment or the training. That is

why we want assistance from outside. There seems little to sing about

here, but this volunteer militia is driven by revenge. Many of these

400 men and women fled their homes in the north. Now they want them

back. Called death before shame, what they lack in weapons, they

make-up for in enthusiasm. TRANSLATION: I'm here for the love

of my country. I want to help our fathers, mothers, sisters and

brothers. I do not worry about being killed because the blood that

has already been shed is part of my blood. The West African regional

bloc is offering to put 3,000 groups on the ground, but lacks

international funding to get them there. This, its spokesman says,

should worry the world. The problem is not my problem now. All the

region is in danger. I can say that all Africa is in danger. More than

200,000 mullions fleeing to neighbouring countries, this is

already a regional problem and if negotiations fail, military

intervention could soon see that figure swell.

A state funeral has been held and then Philippines for the interior

minister Jesse Robredo who was killed in a plane crash 10 days ago.

Mr Brega was widely admired for his sincerity and perceived lack of

corruption. -- Mr Robredo. A Requiem mash -- eight Requiem Mass

was held in the cathedral. The last time this kind of morning

took place was for the former president. Be Greece propelled her

son into office. It is different this time. Jesse Robredo was the

interior minister and he was a quiet, unassuming man. No one could

have predicted the scale of public grief. But it seems he has caught

the public imagination. He was not corrupt, he was not self serving.

He rose through the ranks of politics gradually, because he was

good at his job, something which is rare in Philippine politics. This

is the end of the mourning period. The politicians here are unlikely

to forget Jesse Robredo's legacy. The people who have been mourning

have shown what they want is a clean, honest government. These

politicians are going to have to live up to that legacy.

Learning an instrument is difficult enough but to do it when you are

scared for your life is a huge challenge. Arts correspondent,

David Sillitoe, has been to meet the group dubbed the bravest

musicians, the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, currently

preparing for their first concert in the UK.

My name is Tu'qa Al Waeli, IMA cellist. Teenagers can get up to

all sorts of forbidden things in secret. She learnt the cello. A

girl playing a Western instrument and growing up in Baghdad, she

lived in fear. TRANSLATION: When I first started, it was very hard for

a girl to play music and I house was very far from my school and a

cello case is very big say people would always notice what I was

carrying. Zuhal Sultan also grew up in Baghdad. In 2003, when Britain

and America invaded, that was the end of music lessons but she

persevered. I'd downloaded sheet music and I practised and played.

No teacher? No teacher. Now, nine years on, she has formed an

orchestra. Auditions are scenting on duty but. -- auditions are sent

in on the YouTube. Because learning an instrument is

difficult enough but learning an instrument in Iraq, over the last

ten years, you can only begin to understand the problems. Some of

them discovered their instruments by watching something on the

television and falling in love with it. They had to ask their friends,

what is the name of that instrument and they somehow got hold of one,

usually a pretty poor instrument. They downloaded the fingering and

notation from the internet and taught themselves to play. I am a

flute player. How long have you been playing the flute? Five years.

Five years? Have you ever had a teacher? No. I am a double bass

player. Again, no lessons. He just watched the videos on YouTube at

home. Been doing a ten-minute break in rehearsals, it is suddenly party

time. To many here grew up hidden indoors, fearful. So this, a chance