18/09/2014 BBC World News

Hello. This is BBC World News. Our top stories.

Voters in Scotland are deciding whether to

remain as part of the United Kingdom or to become an independent nation.

Australian police arrest 15 members of an alleged Islamist extremist

group in the country's biggest ever anti-terror operation.

Sierra Leone asks its residents to stay indoors for three days

as part of its strategy to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

And could the club which calls itself the home

of golf be about to ditch hundreds of years of rules, and finally allow

Polls have opened in Scotland, where voters are deciding

whether or not they want to remain as part of the United Kingdom,

Doors opened four hours ago, and it's expected to be the largest

Almost 4.25 million people have registered to vote.

The doors to polling stations across Scotland opened at 7am this morning,

and the first voters arrived to make their choice. In Edinburgh, votes

will be cast -- in all, votes will be cast in 2500 areas. Scotland's

First Minister Alex Salmond was voting near his home, while Nicola

Sturgeon voted in Glasgow. Alistair Darling, leader of the Better

Together campaign, was in Edinburgh, and Gordon Brown cast his

vote in North Queensferry in Fife. More than 4 million people are

registered to vote, that is 97% of those eligible. For the first time

anywhere in the UK, people under the age of 18 will have a say. More than

100,016 and 17-year-olds are registered. They will be answering

yes or no to one single question, should Scotland be an independent

country? We want every vote to count, and the best way for people

to ensure that counts is to put one cross in the box next to the answer

that they choose. If a voter signs the ballot paper and can be

identified, there are faults cannot count. If they put across in one box

and detect in the other, it would have to be rejected because they

would be voting for both options. It is important that voters focus on

one cross in the box next to the answer they choose. Ballot boxes

have been distributed by road, air and sea, and will be collected after

the polls close at 10pm. Allitt papers will be counted in each of

Scotland's 32 local authority areas, adding votes already cast by post.

The results are expected to be announced at the Royal Highland

Centre tomorrow morning. And we'll have the results

of the referendum as they come in. That's in a special programme live

from Scotland, starting on Thursday And there's full background

and analysis, Just log on and take a look

for yourself. Police

in Australia have carried out one of their largest ever anti-terrorism

raids, after allegedly receiving intelligence that militants

connected with Islamic State were planning to kidnap

and behead a member of the public. Details of the operation,

which involved hundreds of police officers in Sydney

and Brisbane, were announced by the Prime Minister Tony Abbott,

who said his country was at "serious Australian police are calling this

the biggest anti-terrorism operation the country has ever seen. In the

early hours of the morning, more than 800 officers raided dozens of

homes in Sydney and Brisbane. Police believe that this group had the

intention and had started to carry out planning to commit violent acts

here in Australia. One-man has appeared in court charged with

conspiracy to prepare a terrorist attack. It is believed that involve

the plot to behead a member of public, drape them in an Islamic

State flag and video the attack. The prosecutor says it was clearly

designed to shock, horror fire and terrify the community. It comes less

than a week after Australia raised its terrorism threat level from

medium to high, meaning intelligence officials believed an attack was not

just possible but likely. Are quite brash quite direct expectations were

coming from an Australian who is apparently quite high up in ISIL,

connecting to killings here in this country.

There are around 60 fighting there already, and they are offering

support from within -- with support from inside Australia.

The concerns about Islamic State are also being felt in the US,

where President Obama has welcomed Congress approving his plans to arm

But at the same time, Mr Obama said American forces "do not

and will not have a combat mission" in the struggle against IS in Iraq.

Jane O'Brien reports from Washington.

President Obama as commander-in-chief. Addressing

troops in Florida, the command post, where the military strategy to

defeat Islamic State is being thrashed out. After his top general

raised the possibility that US ground troops might be needed in

Iraq, the president was keen to get the message back contract. As your

commander-in-chief, I will not commit you and the armed Forces to

fighting another ground war in Iraq. After a decade of massive ground

deployments, it is more effective to use our unique capabilities in

support of partners on the ground so they can secure their own country's

futures. His assurances came as Secretary of State John Kerry

outlined the and the station's strategy to Congress, debating a

$500 million spending package. That will include arming and training

moderate Syrian rebels. The administration wants them to be the

bits on the ground, along with Iraqi and Kurdish forces. From the last

decade we know that a sustainable strategy is not US ground forces. It

is enabling local forces to do what they have to do for themselves and

for their country. But they do still public opposition to any involvement

in the region, as well as criticism that the US is not doing enough.

Meanwhile Islamic State issued another sophisticated propaganda

video online, into clearly at the US, -- at the US. As Congress

debates how to tackle the group, the militants seem in no doubt of the

course of action. -- the course of action.

President Obama, of course, does not just have Islamic State

Later on Thursday he will host Ukraine's President Petro

Poroshenko, as the government in Kiev seeks further support to

tackle what it describes as Russian aggression in its territory.

Earlier I spoke to our correspondent David Stern

in Kiev on what Mr Poroshekno hoped to achieve from the visit.

It is difficult to say, but I guess the short answer is he hopes to get

as much support as he can. It should be said that Ukraine is getting

support from the West, from the United States. They are receiving

non-lethal military assistance. They are also receiving financial aid,

but they hope to receive even more. The economy is in very dire straits,

it is shrinking by as much as 10% this year, and they are facing a

bitter winter without gas supplies. They are hoping for more military

assistance. Perhaps lethal weapons, as opposed to Jack and other things

they are receiving at the moment, or perhaps even more sophisticated

non-lethal assistance. They are receiving from the United States,

and the government here says they are receiving weapons from NATO

countries individually, which they are denying. Western officials and

reporters and experts on the ground say that Russian forces are in

Ukraine. Let us focus on events on the ground. Very fragile cease-fire

seems to be holding, but for how long? Exactly. It is holding, but

you can say just barely. Davis fighting going on especially rent

Donetsk, as we have been witnessing fighting around the airport. That

said, it is a better situation than we have seen previously. We do not

have the massive loss of life we saw in August and September, and the

Ukrainians hope this will give them enough breathing space to perhaps

push against a bigger cease-fire and addressed the deep economic issues

that they are facing. The World Bank has warned that

the Ebola outbreak could have a catastrophic effect on

West African economies. It says the economic impact

of the virus could grow eight-fold in what it described

as already fragile states. Sierra Leone meanwhile is asking all

its residents to stay indoors for three days as part

of its strategy to stop It is one of the worst affected

countries in West Africa, where more than 2,400 people have

died after contracting the virus. Many people in the capital Freetown

have now started stockpiling supplies ahead of the lockdown,

as our correspondent Umaru Fofana 6 million people from Sierra Leone

are ready for a three-day lockdown, seeing them stay at home from the

19th to the 21st of September. The other oddities say it is necessary

to stem the spread of the Ebola virus. Nearly 30,000 young

volunteers have been recruited to move from door-to-door throughout

the country, to educate people about the Ebola virus, but also to look

out for signs of a fever at illness. Head of the lockdown there's a lot

of shopping going on, stocking up on food. Majority of people here earn

less than one US dollar per day, and survive from hand to mouth. Some of

them have expressed concern that this poses a serious threat to their

very survival. But the authorities say that desperate situations

require desperate measures. We have lots more still to come. Do not go

anywhere. A synagogue without people. And we report from Cairo

where the Jewish community is on the verge of disappearing.

The controversial Mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford has been diagnosed with

The 45-year-old will now undergo intensive chemotherapy.

Mr Ford made headlines last year when he confessed to taking

He has faced a difficult year. Yes, I have taken crack cocaine. He's

become instantly recognisable for the wrong reasons. In his fight for

political survival has turned personal, after doctors diagnosed

him with an aggressive type of cancer. The diagnosis is a malignant

sarcoma, a few things I would like to see about that. It comprises

about 1% only of all cancers. It has 60 different cell types, and that is

what makes it a very rear tumour and very difficult -- rare tumour and a

very difficult one. He told the newspaper he was shocked and

devastated by the news full stop he will now undergo aggressive

chemotherapy. The diagnosis has led to the dramatic end of the election

campaign he had doggedly pursued, despite calls for him to step down.

His brother has now announced he will run in his place. And months of

negative media attention and criticism have been replaced with

heartfelt sympathy and messages of goodwill.

Japan's computer gaming industry has been unveiling its new offerings

in Tokyo, with a stress on games played on mobile phones.

There were several headsets which hold the phone's screen in place

A spokesman for Microsoft's XBox said it was now looking

into developing smartphone games for a global market.

Voters in Scotland are deciding whether to

remain as part of the United Kingdom or to become an independent nation.

Australian police arrest 15 members of an alleged Islamist extremist

Group apparently planning to carry out public executions. Expected to

pledge billions of dollars in investment including plans for

Chinese funded industrial parks. He said he is determined to bridge

differences over its disputed border with India. Basically, this is an

attempt to reach reaching out and resetting the relationship. They had

signed several agreements. China will invest $20 billion in the

Indian economy over the next five years. There are a number of areas

they will focus on. They will try and build industrial parks and help

develop India's rail network to get a system where India can get trained

at much higher speeds. China has a massive high-speed railway network.

India is quite keen at trying to replicate some of that. A number of

other areas, agreements on that. Including space, civil nuclear

cooperation. Quite wide-ranging talks. Both sides hoping this would

push the way forward for much stronger ties between these Asian

rivals. Something they need. Talk us through this disputed border region?

This is a very old border dispute, effectively China and India claim

parts of each other's territorial. The dispute we are looking at, the

flare-up we have had over the past few days centres on an area which

China claim as its own in the region of India. The Chinese and Indian

president and the Indian by Minister made references to that. The Indian

Prime Minister saying there has to be peace along the border if the

relations need to progress. The Chinese president agreed with him

but also said that since the border between these two areas was

disputed, China and India do not see eye to eye. That was the reason you

had incidents of this nature but he basically suggested that the two

countries are mature enough to handle it. A realistic look at what

is a very old dispute. They had once fought a battle over this dispute

but that was way back in the 1960s. They do have these frequent

exchanges along their border but the suggestion very matches that they

are keen to put this behind them and move ahead.

On Sunday it will be one year since the siege on the Westgate

Sixty seven people were killed when when Al-Shabaab militants

attacked the smart complex in Kenya's capital.

The BBC's Anne Soy was one of the first journalists on the scene;

here, she describes what it was like to be go there and cover the attack.

It was from here that we reported about the siege and the shopping

maul that is behind me. From the early hours last year. Nothing could

have prepared us for the shocking, horrific and sometimes scary

experiences. We have seen many people, casualties, we have been

asked to rule I down. We don't know what is going on. Ordinarily this is

a very busy shopping area. You would find shopping people. On that

fateful Saturday everything changed. It was more the ambulances carrying

injured people from the area. We also saw trucks carrying bodies and

later on when it became clear that this was not a robbery as many

people had felt, initially, this was a more serious attack, the military

armoured vehicles that took over the street. The most difficult story for

Mika Kallio was about children. Dozens of them were on the rooftop

attending a cookery competition. At least 15 people died there. From

there we saw the war unedited CCTV footage. Footage of people killed

that point blank range, some of which is too horrific to show. We

also met the survivors. Some of them were too traumatised to talk to us.

They pushed my microphone away. There were also uplifting stories.

Like that of the mother of two who lay on the floor for hours waiting

for help to come. I raise my head up and asked him if he is one of the

bad guys. He said he is one of the police. He said he is here to rescue

us. The attack generated a sense of solidarity. A year on, many have

moved on. This building is currently being repaired. But then there are

still many questions unanswered. Why did that operation last four and a

half days. How many gunmen were there and what was the endgame?

These questions still linger. Security is still a concern.

Relatives of one of the British tourists murdered

in Thailand have met the country's deputy police chief in Bangkok.

The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, who was 23, and 24-year-old David Miller

were found with severe head injuries on the island of Koh Tao on Monday.

Officials in Indonesia say they have delayed all flights in and out of

a regional airport indefinitely while heavy smog reduces visibility.

The airport, at Pekanbaru in Riau province,

is being affected by what health officials say are unhealthy amounts

The referendum isn't the only vote taking place

of one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs

in the world, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrew's,

are expected to pass a motion admitting women for the first time.

For 260 years, it's only been open to men.

I asked Alison Root, the editor of "Women and Golf"

magazine, whether this was a decision which was long overdue...

Very much longer overdue. Hopefully the vote will go ahead with flying

colours this evening. Then we can move on. Unfortunately this issue

surrounding equality, that is when women's golf coverage gets the most

attention which is a shame because there is a lot of good things that

happen with women's golf so we need to move forward. This vote going

through will hopefully mean that it is a positive step forward and men

and women golfers canned Unite at golf clubs. Do you think there is a

reason why golf has gotten away with this for such a long time? The

problem is it is historical, we are talking about 260 years. Therefore

it is all about tradition. We do have wonderful traditions of the

game of golf in this country. But, times move on. It does have two

change. It is no different to how Lords Cricket ground voted to allow

women in. The loyal yacht club voted to allow women so now it is golf 's

time. It has two hoof with the times. Put this into context, how

important and significant that it is leading the way here? Very

important. The problem is, this is a vote by the members of the Royal and

ancient golf club at the Gulf 's governing body is also called the

RNA so there is slight confusion. -- golf. By this vote going forward, it

would take away the negative perceptions that surround the goal.

That is what they had been hearing that they are not welcome and it is

a fuddy-duddy sport. Not excessive and it is elitist. -- golf. It is a

game that can be enjoyed by everyone. This is what we wanted

going forward so that everyone, whatever age or whatever gender you

are or ability, everyone can play golf. It should be Premier could --

it should be promoted as a family game. They will vote in favour? I

think they will. the verge of disappearing. Up until

the 1950s, as many as 100-thousand Now, just 12 remain,

from Cairo our correspondent She comes here with a heavy heart.

The synagogue without people or prayers. As the elected head of the

Jewish community, she considers herself the guardian of the Jewish

legacy in Egypt. These ancient scriptures are just one example of

the cultural and religious heritage she fears will be lost for ever. We

are finished. My first duty is to take care of the human beings. The

old ladies which have no families or who are alone. This is my first

duty. I second duty and most important one is the thing that

never die. In the home for the elderly, we met Lucy. One of only 12

Jews still living in Egypt. All her family members and relatives are

dead. None of them thought about leaving Egypt and neither did she.

TRANSLATION: I had friends here and I used applicable with my

neighbours. I had a knife -- I had a nice life, why should I

leave? At the headquarters of the Jewish community there are relics of

the happier times. Around 100,000 Jews in Egypt. Most of them were

forced to leave in the 50s and 60s. Egypt was at war with Israel and the

government suspected many of them of being spies. This is the Jewish

Quarter downtown in Cairo. More than 100 years ago a lot of poor Jews

used to live here. Most of them were low-wage workers. There were also

Muslims and Christians. Today the place is more crowded but less

diverse. Nothing remained of the once Jewish community but a couple

of closed synagogues found this narrow street. For the remaining

Jews, this is their last resting place. In 1000 year old Jewish

cemetery, now surrounded by slums. Her father is buried here. She cries

out of grief for herself and for her community's lost future. Day I leave

you with live images from Scotland, one of the 2600 polling stations

where voters are choosing whether Scotland