18/11/2013 BBC World News

but it is going to stay cold. Goodbye.

Hello. You are watching BBC world News. Our top stories: More than a

week after Typhoon Haiyan laid waste to much of the central Philippines,

the president criticises authorities in some areas for not being fully

prepared. When the backbone doesn't exist,

what do you augment? The national government had to fill in on so many

routes. At least six people are killed as doesn't of tornadoes sweep

through the American Midwest. Banking on the baby being - after

China has a rethink on its one child policy, sales in baby products saw.

We start in the Philippines, where the misery goes on for the victims

of Typhoon Haiyan. We are hearing there are still pockets of survivors

who have not been reached, even though a massive operation to

distribute food and water is beginning to pick up pace. The total

number of people killed is now close to 4000, and another 1500 are

officially missing. Meanwhile, there is something of a blame game

walloping. The Philippine president, Benigno Aquino, has faced criticism

for the time taken to get supplies to people who need it most, but he

has blamed local government. I would like to ask these critics what else

we could have done, given the resources we have, and given the

magnitude of the problem. I have spoken to people in Tacloban who

have told me that they were without fresh water for a week, and without

food for a week, and they were getting no supplies. Is that an

appropriate response? Perhaps you should ask the local government in

Tacloban and the first responders. The response of this country is

geared towards the end powered local government, who is supposed to

provide the backbone for the national government. The national

government comes into augment that which local government does. We have

to admit, there was a breakdown in terms of government. There was a

cascading effect. When you say you want to understand the shortcomings

of the municipal government and the local authorities, it sounds that

you are saying the ultimate responsibility for this does not lie

with you. Eventually it does. I have general supervision over all. But

the system has to rely on the local government systems already in place

to provide help, so the responses are generated by the local

government. When the backbone doesn't exist, what do you actually

augment? The national government feed in so many ways. For example,

we had to bring in policeman all over the country to augment what was

there. We had to clear the airport to transport all of these people.

Ultimately, responsibility for this disaster lies with you. Well, I am

the Chief Executive. Therefore, everything that happens I am

ultimately responsible for. But if you look at the figures, the

overwhelming bulk of them has been in this region, and you have to ask

why. Why in this particular region? We are talking thousands already.

What is the difference? Everybody was basically given the same bits of

knowledge and information. Let's now take a moment to look at some images

which give a fresh sense of the sheer force of the storm. This is

the moment that a storm surge ploughed into homes in a town to the

west of Tacloban. It was filmed from the second floor of the nearby

building. These pictures were filmed by a staff member from charity Land

International. One of his colleagues joins me from Manila by Skype. Good

to talk to you. Could you tell me the story behind these images? In

terms of finding these images, we have a staff member who is based on

the ground. We have got 270 to 300 staff based in areas that would have

been directly affected. So our staff would have been affected

themselves. This footage was filmed by one of our team in a small town

with about 9000 people. He was on the second floor of a boarding house

which was the strongest structure they could find. He started filming

at about 4am, and carried through until about 8am. This happened at

about 6am, with the devastating storm surge. You can see that it

literally wiped out a house. It really did wreak devastation across

that area. These pictures giving us a very graphic sense of the

destruction caused. Tell me how the town is faring now. Have rescue

efforts managed to reach that bit of the Philippines? It is not like

other provinces where we are working around the clock to get aid to these

communities. We have worked with communities for a long time, but the

scale of this emergency means that life-saving goods and services are

being delivered to this community. There are areas across the affected

region which have just been devastated. We are focusing on

children and their families. These are children who have lost

everything - their homes, their possessions, and for their parents,

their livelihoods. There is a huge amount for us to do. A huge amount

still to do. Thank you for joining us.

Let's talk about China now. The country announced last week it is to

relax its policy of restricting most couples to having only one child. In

future, families will be allowed two children if one parent is an only

child. The Communist Party leadership has for -- has promised

even more reform to tackle the economic issues China is facing in

the next decade. Let's get the broader impact of these reforms.

Let's talk to our chief business correspondent in Singapore. It seems

as if markets have been react thing pretty positively to the reforms

announced in Beijing so far. They certainly have. There is a real

sense that the decisions of the third plan, which were released more

quickly than many had thought - I hear that social media leaked it

online! It came out late on Friday, and there were 60 different reforms

in 15 different categories and announced. It is the sheer scale of

it that has caused some to be optimistic that the president can

deliver. You have mentioned the one child policy. Other eye-catching

reforms on the social side include relaxing the household registration

system, and allowing more migrants to settle in small and medium-sized

cities and towns. That is intended to help boost the numbers of

consumers in China. One of the most significant things about the reform

was the ability to tackle state owned enterprises. They are dominant

in China, but they will have to hand over 30% of their dividends, and

that will help fund social welfare programmes. That is one indication

that Xi Jinping may have a little bit of power to wield yet. For these

changes to happen, we are going to see -- need to see staggering reform

of local government within China. Who is going to insure that those

changes are actually implemented? Absolutely. That is probably where

the decisions from the third plan were slightly short. Now, in terms

of detail, but even in terms of intent. The ability for local

government to implement the wheel of the centre depends on how much they

get in terms of transfer of revenue. This is a system that Americans will

recognise, because it is similar to the Federal comment in the United

States. It has been said that they will look at the revenue split

between local and central governments, but until they make

that split, so that local governments have an incentive to

implement central government dictates, it is hard to see how

these will be implemented. This system has been loosened for some

time, but their children were not given the benefits. It was said that

central government did not give the money to do it, so it would not be

implement it fully. But one thing that was highlighted is that they

are going to set up a committee to oversee implementation. That is

certainly worth watching. Thank you. A powerful tornado and thunderstorm

has swept through the northern eastern United states, destroying

buildings and overturning cars in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Authorities suspect several hundred people may have been injured and at

least 60 people have been killed. A man says his prayers as the

tornado sweeps in. Too close for comfort, too fast to run from.

Beneath menacing skies, there was little time to seek shelter. I saw

debris coming towards us, so I went inside and shut the door. My friend

yelled, get down, and the roof caved in. We stood in the hallway and just

held each other. We ran in the basement, and ten seconds later, I

felt the house shaking. Dozens of tornadoes tore across the midwest,

sweeping through parts of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and

Kentucky, moving at almost 100 kilometres per hour. They brought

hailstones said to be the size of tennis balls, tossed cars into the

air like toys. They ripped buildings apart. Communities in central

Illinois have been the hardest hit, particularly Washington County,

where houses have been flattened. Rescue efforts are under way, but

many roads have been blocked, making it difficult to reach the injured

and establish how many lives have been lost. Police say a number of

people may still be trapped in basements. Above ground, people here

are reeling. Rebuilding their lives is a daunting task. It is hard to

see where to start. Stay with us. Still to come -

embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he will challenge moves to

strip him of some of his powers, after he admitted smoking crack

cocaine. We have the latest. The deputy head of Libyan

intelligence has been freed a day after he was abducted by gunmen near

Tripoli airport. The capital has been tense since 43 people were

killed and hundreds of others injured in fierce clashes on Friday

between militias and protest is trying to evict them. Militia

brigades from the western city of Misrata have been given a deadline

to leave. The Army has deployed, in some parts

of the capital, in a bid to assert a sense of control by the state. They

are now securing the district in southern Tripoli that witness the

most deadly violence since the end of the war in 2011. Libya's deputy

chief of intelligence was kidnapped by unknown gunmen at the weekend

from near Tripoli's International airport, after he had arrived from

his latest troubles. An uneasy calm is returning. Tripoli is observing a

three-day general strike announced on Sunday by the city's local

council. Most shops are closed. The streets are deserted. Protesters

gathered on Sunday, demanding all militias from other parts of Libya

to leave the city. TRANSLATION: E1 everything to be

civilised. We want everyone from any part of Libya who wants to visit

Tripoli to feel free, but to come to form a militia, this is not

acceptable. The demonstrations look as if they have been partly

successful. A joint statement by the local council of Misrata and the

council of Elders declared a 72 hour deadline for all brigades to exit

the capital and returned to their city. Emotions have been running

high injured police following the killings on Friday, when some

militiamen from Misrata based in the capital opened fire on protesters

trying to drive them out. April after minding the government, seen

as weak in the net -- in the eyes of many, to take control across Libya

and disarm the vast number of militias in the country. You can get

in touch with me and the rest of the team on Twitter. It is always good

to hear from you. You're with BBC World News. The

latest headlines: As the official death toll from Typhoon Haiyan

reaches 4,000 people, the President of the Philippines tells the BBC

some areas of the country were not fully prepared.

At least six people have been killed after dozens of Tornados sweep

across the US Midwest. There are fears several hundred people may

also have been injured. First came the spying scandal

involving the United States and some of its closest allies. Now

Australia's involved in a similar espionage. It is alleged in 2009,

the Australian spy agency tried to listen in on the mobile phone calls

of the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Indonesia's

recalled its ambassador. The Australian Prime Minister Tony

Abbott had this to say. All Government's gather information and

all Government he is know every other Government gathers

information. The Australian Government never comments on

specific intelligence matters. I can speak now to our journalist Ian

McPhedran, the defence writer for News Corporation's newspaper in

Australia. It is taking the issue rather seriously? Absolutely. This

has really hit big in Jakarta. There are calls for our ambassador to be

expelled. Calls of breaking of relations from some of thest more

radical elements. This will play very big in Indonesia. It is

damaging the relationship, no question about that. This isn't the

first time allegations of spying between these two countries has come

to light, is it? No, that's right. The difference here is there is very

specific proof in the form of these dockments leaked by Edward know

done, the National Security Agency whistleblower. These show

specifically the Australian electronic spy agency targeted the

President's personal mobile phone and that of his wife and several of

his inner circle. This sort of proof in the form of these slides that

have been leaked, is very damaging. And it is damaging because Australia

needs Indonesia's co-operation with regards to the asylum issue in

particular, doesn't it? Absolutely. There's been so much work put into

this issue over the last few years. In recent times with the change of

Government here, this Government got off with the wrong foot with

Indonesia on a whole lot of matters. It has put a lot of effort and is

just making some progress and now this. Relations have been set back

considerably. Indonesian Government will take retall Tory action.

Australia will seek a lot more asylum seekers coming through the

southern ports of Jaffa over the next few weeks. It will problemry

playout in the up coming elections in Indonesia as well. Thank you very

much. Now the 'em battled Mayor of Toronto

says he'll challenge moves by the city council to strip him of some of

his powers. Rob Ford admitsed smoking crack cocaine whilst in

office. On Sunday, the mayor went to watch his home town team in a

Football League play-off game ignoring requests by the

commissioner to stay away. This is the wall outside Toronto

City Hall. As you can see, it has become a chalk board for people

looking to express their views about the string of scanned articles

enveloping the mayor's office. Resign there, sorry I'm your mayor.

The slightly more forthright "get out." Overwhelmingly negative. Rob

Ford continues to refuse to resign. That's left the city council with

very little option. They don't have the authority to sack him. They've

set about pairing away at his responsibility. Later today, they

are expected to transfer the bulk of his remaining responsibilities to

his deputy. Rob Ford has vowed to fight these moves through the court.

Something he conceded Khost taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Meanwhile, a new chatter's written in this ongoing saga tonight when

Rob Ford and his brother Doug, also on the city council here, appear in

their own show on Canadian TV. David Willis there.

Leading internet search companies like Google and Microsoft have

agreed to measures to block access to child abuse images. New software

will be introduced which will automatically block unambiguous

content. David Cameron called for action last July and welcomed the

announcement. Among the safety measures, 100,000 unique search

terms will be blocked yeti UK to begin with before being expanded

into other English-speaking countries. Over the next six months,

the blocks will be #r08ed out in 158 other languages as well. Some child

safety experts say few child abuse images are found with the majority

on hidden networks. I asked the NSPCC's Claire Lilley how big a

difference the measures will make? We are impressed by the leadership

the UK Government's shown on this. We are encouraged by the focus the

search engines have put on the issue of child abuse images. This is a big

step forward in terms of deterring and preventing offenders who are

casual or curious offenders. And those who are looking for images for

the first time. We think this will have a key role in deterring new

offenders getting online and looking for images. It also sends a message

to those more committed paedophiles who are looking at images -- images

through hidden networks, the extent to which nobody in society wants

these images to play any part in our society and on an internet which is

suitable for everyone to see. You say will act as a deterrent, help

deter those curious offenders. But what about those persistent

offenders who, primarily, as I understand, search for child abuse

images on hidden networks which will not be picked up by these changes?

We've seen today the result of some impressive work Wye Google,

Microsoft and others where Nev they've put the best technological

brains in the business on one particular issue. We are not saying

this is a silver bullet which will solve the problem of child abuse

images online. We need them to put that same focus on a range of other

issues which will help to stop child abuse images spread online. Some of

which may be the hidden internet. Up to 12,000 Afghan Taliban fighters

have been killed, wounded or captured this year according to

latest figures from the UN. The report also says violence in

Afghanistan is at a three-year high. This week, tribal elders are

preparing to gather for a grand assembly to decide on the future of

US troops in the country after 2014. With me now is alley Alyan from the

BBC's Afghan service. 12,000 Afghan fighters have been killed. Is that a

number were expecting? According to UN, 10,000-12,000 Taliban are

killed, captured or wounded. So they are not all killed. According to UN

reports, from the past three years, fighting in Afghanistan, violence is

at a highest level. It was expected that lots of Afghans from both

sides, from Afghan security and the Taliban, are killed. Fighting is

going on in Afghanistan and it is tense, these days. In this report,

it is stressed that 8 because 80% of the casualties for Afghan force

taking from home-made bombs from the Taliban. It is stressing that the

Afghan Government should take measures to prevent some home-made

bomb-making. Things should not be in the hands of Taliban which is used

in the mining industry. Is that one of the measures which will be

discussed at this assembly? What kind of decisions do you think will

be taken? The main thing the assembly will do is decide about the

future of the US forces in Afghanistan. Whether US forces

should remain after 2014 or not. This is what the assembly will do.

It will start in two days. Around 2,500 people around Afghanistan are

gathering in Kabul. It is a big event in Afghanistan. Security is

very tight in Kabul. They are deciding, the Afghan people are

deciding about the security argument between Afghanistan and the US which

determine the future of US forces in Afghanistan. They are deciding. From

speaking to your contacts on the ground in Afghanistan, is there any

sense of what they think will be decided? Will US forces remain on

the ground in Afghanistan after 2014? There are different ideas. But

mainly Afghans in the Parliament, in Afghan Government, there are some

signs this security agreement should be signed because it is very crucial

and important for Afghanistan's future and for Afghan people. But

there are still some complaints and groups who are saying, no, there's

no need for this security agreement. It will intensify fighting in

Afghanistan. Most Afghans think this security agreement should be signed.

This grand assembly that will decide these key decisions will begin on

Thursday. Thank you for coming in and speaking to us from the BBC's

Afghan service. A quick reminder of our top story

here on BBC World News. The President of the Philippines Benigno

Aquino has told the BBC there was a breakdown at local government level

in Tacloban province.