31/07/2013 BBC World News

Morgan T Wright votes in his bid to become Zimbabwe's next president.

Robert Mugabe signals he would be prepared to step down.

If you lose, you must surrender to those who have one. If you win,

those who have lost must also surrender to you. Chinese try to

escape record temperatures of a summer heatwave.

It has so far claimed at least ten lives in Shanghai. The American

soldier Bradley Manning faces a lengthy jail term for espionage.

This is a different story, with the footman from Calcutta who has had to

go home because his fees are for working at Buckingham Palace has

Might Zimbabweans vote for a new president? Or will Robert Mugabe be

re-elected? That is what voters are deciding in the fiercely contested

presidential and parliamentary elections. The president is 89, he

once a seventh consecutive term. His party denies accusations that it has

doctored the voter roll. Voting is well under way, with long queues

reported. The main challenger, the leader of the movement for

Democratic change, and current Prime Minister, has cast his vote. Leaving

the polling station, he described the mood and his hopes.

It is an emotional moment when you see these people. After all of the

conflict, the sub struck the stalemates, the hostility, there is

a sense of calmness, that finally Zimbabwe will be able to move on

again. Robert Mugabe is expected to vote at any time.

He has said that after a 33 year rule, he will step down if the vote

goes against him. You must surrender to those who have

one. If you win, those who have lost must also surrender to year. I will

Many Zimbabweans have raved the cold this morning to cast their ballots.

A lot of them did not want to talk about politics, and all they wanted

to do was go and vote. There are queues around me everywhere, a lot

of people woke up and started queueing up at 5am. Tell us how you

feel. I feel very excited about voting. It is very peaceful, there

is no violence. Some Zimbabweans have told us they are relieved that

these elections are relatively peaceful, compare to those in 2008,

which were marred by high levels of violence and integration. More than

9700 polling stations across the country, and 14,000 observers have

been sent through for these elections. The pie minister has

raised some concerns are saying that he believes the voters' role has

been manipulated. But the same time, Robert Mugabe says he is

willing to step down if he loses. We will have analysis of the options

shortly. At least ten people have died of

heat stroke in Shanghai as the city experiences one of its hottest

summers in 140 years. Temperatures rose to 35 degrees or higher for 24

days this month. Even by Chinese standards, it is a

sweltering summer. With record temperatures, everyone is trying to

cool off. At this pool, there is barely enough room to stand, never

mind swim. Not that that appeared to put anybody off. TRANSLATION: It is

like a cauldron of boiling dumplings, B Moore, the merrier.

Force Shanghai, it has been the hottest summer in more than a

century. One local TV station cooked up this stunt, frying pork chops

outdoors. It has gone viral. The authorities have issued a heat alert

in nine provinces will stop for now, there is little chance of any

respite. Forecasts suggest sweltering temperatures for at least

another week. The American soldier Bradley Manning

faces up to 136 years in prison for leaking top secret government

documents to the website WikiLeaks. He has been acquitted of the most

serious charge against him, aiding the enemy. The process of sentencing

him is due to begin on Wednesday afternoon.

Investigations into the railway accident in Spain that killed 79

people show the driver was on the phone at the time of the crash. The

court heard that Francisco's that he was talking to an official of the

National rail company. He faces possible charges of multiple

negligent homicide. A new UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo

has given residents to disarm #48 to disarm.

They warn falsehood be used if they fail to do so. Rebels are accused of

killing civilians in the region around the city.

Violence against civilians in Afghanistan has been rising this

year, according to a report from the UN. 1300 people have died since the

start of the year. A number of children being killed, 30% higher

than the same period last year. I asked our correspondence what else

he was told at a briefing on those figures by the UN. Civilians are

still taking the brunt of the conflict here in Afghanistan.

What will be disappointing for the Afghan government and the

international community is that the number of civilian casualties had

been going down, but these latest figures show a huge increase, around

23%, in deaths and injuries. According to the UN, the country

appears to be becoming slightly more dangerous. The reason is the

handover of security from the international forces to the Afghans

themselves. That transition is proving problematic. Most of the

deaths and injuries are still being caused by improvised explosive

devices, especially roadside bombs. But more and more people are being

caught up in the battles between the Afghan forces and the insurgents,

the Taliban, obviously. What is especially alarming for the UN, more

and more civilians are also being targeted deliberately.

Looking at the data which I am reading, it also talks about

recording a 76% increase in civilian casualties as a result of insurgents

targeting civilian government employees, offices and district

headquarters. It is down to the insurgents. Yes, and what they are

trying to do is create a climate of fear in many areas so that people do

not want to take a public office, do anything which brings them into

conflict with the Taliban, who want to take over. They are killing

judges, public officials, and further down the scale,

schoolteachers, anything like that, there is such a widespread of

targets. What concerns the UN is these targeted killings of

civilians, and the fact that so many are being caught out, by being in

the wrong place at the wrong time. Buckingham Palace footman who played

a starring role in announcing the birth of Prince George last week has

left his job because his fees are to be here in Britain expired. These

are the pictures from last week, he is handing the announcement of the

world baby to the easel. Now he has had his renewal application rejected

was a training in hotel management. What is being said by his parents?

This is where his journey began, he was here for two years, from 2008 to

2009. I spoke to his principle, she said he was well behaved, perfect

for the Royal family, quite quiet, and very serious about his work. She

said when she saw him on TV, she could not believe that one of her

students had done this, but he is not the first from this college to

work for the Royal family, and she said that his parents have said very

little so far, but she believes that he has come back, he will then try

to reapply to go back to the UK. I have spoken to others, that is where

his heart is, to go back and work for the Royal family once again. It

is an amazing story, this boy from Calcutta who became part of the big

as news story of the year. He got training in Edinburgh before he went

to Buckingham Palace, but there is a deeper problem, the tween India and

the UK, about the Indian anger over the difficulty of getting access,

for Indians who want to get a better life in Britain. You hit the nail on

the head, many students who are inside, studying, their dream is to

go to the UK, this city has close links, this is to be the British

capital, they feel they can have a better life, that they can conjure

the British capital, they feel they can have a better life, that they

can cogitate to British society. But that is what is happening here.

Initially, it was a two-year period, but he has had to come back. A lot

of Indian students are angry, but in his case, he is not speaking to the

press, he wants to keep his head down, and be back where he thinks he

belongs, with the Royal family in the UK.

You are with BBC World News. Still to come, after the huge protests

over redeveloping a park in Istanbul, we examine the

authorities' big plans for Turkey's future, as the country's biggest

city. And, we preview the third Ashes test

between England and Australia, which starts tomorrow.

A court hearing in Italy with potentially huge implications for

the government is into its second day. Silvio Berlusconi is trying to

have his conviction for tax fraud overturned. It relates to TV right

ought by one of his companies. If he fails, he could be jailed and barred

from public office. Outside Italy's highest court,

activists urged the not to overturn a ruling that blogs Silvio

Berlusconi from holding public office. The banner reads, nobody is

more equal than others in front of the law. TRANSLATION: We are afraid

that, if he is convicted and blocked from political office, the problem

will not be legal, it will be political, because the committee

must decide if they approve banning him from office or not. The former

Italian Prime Minister was convicted last October of tax fraud and

sentenced to four years in prison. With a five-year ban on public

office. An appeals court upheld that rolling. This is his final appeal.

His lawyers have vowed to deliver a win for him. If his conviction is

upheld, it is thought his departure could destabilise the coalition

government. CANCELLATION: He is powerful, they just him, he has been

holding powerful 25 years, and if his party leaves's loses him, it

loses almost everything. TRANSLATION: Lets hope the judges

know what they are doing. Plenty has been said about the three-time

former Prime Minister, who is facing a criminal case that could also see

him banned from political life. In June, he was convicted of paying for

sex with an underage erotic dancer. And of abusing his power following

lurid tales of so-called bunga bunga parties. There will be more

controversy ahead. Authorities in Panama have found

more parts for fighter jets and military vehicles the in the North

Korean ship seized from Cuba. They have discovered these aircraft

engines. You are with BBC World News. The

latest headlines. Voting is under way in Zimbabwe's presidential

election. Robert Mugabe says he will step down if he loses. China is in

the grip of a heatwave that has killed ten people in Shanghai as

temperatures soared to record levels. Now to Brazil and

authorities in real delusion Nero are trying to work out how a burst

water main killed a young girl. The damaged caused many families from

their homes and injured several others. The water began gushing out

at around six in the morning. The giant fountain crashing into

buildings in the west end of Rio. A pipeline had burst and the jet was

so strong that it tore down 15 houses and turned over cars. Locals

scrambled to get out as gallons of water flooded their homes. The water

was waist high in some places. The neighbourhood is a poor area. The

people who live here have little to begin with. The damage caused by the

burst pipe is devastating. This man is just thankful his family is safe.

We really only last the things inside the house thank goodness.

Workers are doing everything they can to fix the pipe.

investigation is already under way. But that is little comfort to those

who are homeless. In June the Turkish commercial

centre Istanbul sought huge protest over plans to redevelop one of its

most popular parks. But the government is still making noises

about making big changes to Turkey's largest city. What exactly

do they have planned? The many conquests of this city are written

in its skyline. Every leader who rules Istanbul tries to reshape it.

Turkey's government wants to change the way this city looks. Perhaps

more so than any other administration in decades. But

construction is political in this city and so the government's

ambition has run into trouble. The Prime Minister wants to transform

the area into a replica military barracks. He is trying to conquer

this area by means of architect Joe. This city is also bidding for the

2020 Olympics. If it gets the games then this stock will be turned into

the home of a new stadium. It is quite as city for a property

developer. This man says Istanbul needs to more homes and much more

infrastructure. We have two create a lot of new infrastructure and sort

out quality public transportation. For a decade this government has

tried to change the look and the nature of its biggest city. But the

ambition now faces resistance. Imposing that vision become at a

cost. Tomorrow the third Ashes test between England and Australia gets

under way. They're out training today. What about the injured Kevin

Pietersen? There was a concern but he has trained well this morning.

For 45 minutes he batted and walked away with no problem after that calf

strain. So great news for England. It looks as if their top seven will

remain unchanged. But where will Monty Palace Tharp fit in? He has

been called in. The sun is expected to come out on Thursday. I'm not

sure if they would like a baked old Trafford pitch. Here is Jimmy

Anderson and what he thinks about the England prospects for a series

whitewash. There can be extra pressure. But the guys seem to

really enjoy that pressure and thrive on it. It is great to see.

Hopefully they can go from strength to strength. Australian batting has

been a big problem so far. Hoping to recall David Warner. He is rumoured

to be slotted in at number three on Thursday. That will give them some

punch to their batting line-up. He was actually suspended for punching

the England batsman in a bar and also for a night Twitter rant. He is

a fiery character but they will love to have him back on the side. He

brings a lot of energy to the group. He can put some real pressure

on England. Now to the Zimbabwe election. President Mugabe has just

cast his vote. He has already Africa's oldest leader at 89. He is

running for election for the seventh time. Doctor Sue Onslow joins me

from the Institute of Commonwealth studies. Are we entering a post

Robert Mugabe era is like I do not think that he will take the

presidential position. Even if he is voted in? Not at aged 89, he will

not see it out. He is ill and he is old. He has been ill for some time

even though that has been denied. What about the mood in the country?

With the dollar giving a new stability to the country? It is

about the credibility of the African union as well. This is a very

significant election. 64 million could be registered to vote. What

are you detecting in these rallies for Mugabe? I think there is an

extraordinary energy to register the vote. I think it will be judged to

be a credible election. Under the constitution they do not have to

announce the result until the 5th of August. A remarkable film has shown

life inside a prisoner of war camp. The footage was made by French

business during the Second World War. More now from Paris. 1940. The

surroundings of a prison camp in North East Austria holding 5000

French officers. This rarely seen footage is a 30 minute documentary

shot in secret by the prisoners themselves. Risking death, they

recorded it on a secret camera. It was concealed in a hollowed out

dictionary. It is what they filmed that makes it all the more

remarkable. One former inmate was part of the escape committee. We dug

a number of tunnels from the huts and the guards always found them.

They were looking for the earth we dug out. But they did eventually

find a way. The Germans allowed the inmates to build an open-air

theatre. Now they had half the distance to go. The malnourished men

said to work. They were university confesses, geologists and

architects. They made the calculation is exact day. There was

so little space in the tunnel, we were forced to lie in the foetal

position. All the time we imagine the worst, the German firing squad

that would be waiting at the end of the tunnel. Once they had gone

beneath the wire they were still deep inside German occupied