01/07/2011 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me Zeinab Badawi. The former head

of the IMF Dominque Strauss Kahn has his bail relaxed. At the same

time there's speculation that the sexual assault case against him

could be collapsing. Today it is a giant step in the right direction.

The air-defence that Dominique Strauss-Kahn has is that this

sexual encounter was consensual - that is alive.

-- a lie. Colonel Gaddafi gives a chilling audio message to his

supporters in Tripoli. He warns NATO to stop its strikes against

his forces or he'll carry out attacks on Europe.

Venezuela's President Chavez reveals he's being treated for

cancer in Cuba, he insists he's still running the country, but

doubts rise. Give young Britons a chance - the Work and Pensions

Secretary urges UK businesses not to rely on foreign workers.

Xenophobia or sound economic sense? Celebrating Canada Day - the fans

turn out once again for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

And are 3D movies beginning to lose their audience appeal? Why

Hollywood bosses are getting Hello and welcome. Whatever the

outcome of the sexual assault case against Dominque Strauss Kahn, he

is now at liberty to move freely within the United States. A judge

in New York relaxed the terms of his bail, which had seen him

confined to his daughter's apartment in Manhattan since his

arrest in May, over his alleged rape of a chamber maid. Also, media

speculation is mounting about the viability of the case against him,

after the New York Times newspaper reported that the prosecution's

investigators had questioned the maid's credibility. This report

contains some flash photography. From New York, Laura Trevelyan

reports. Another turbulent day in the life of Dominique Strauss-Kahn

- the former head of the IMF was back in court for a hastily

scheduled appearance, looking confident and relaxed. His wife was

there in support. As media gathered outside, inside the court the man

accused of raping a hotel maid heard the prosecution admit they

now had doubts about her story. Although it is clear the strength

of the case has been affected by the substantial credibility issues

relating to the witness, we are not moving to dismiss the case this

time. We are consenting to the defendant's bail application.

case still stands, said the judge, but he freed Dominique Strauss Kahn

from bail. He can now travel around the US. His former lawyers are

delighted. We have maintained from the beginning that Mr Strauss-Kahn

is innocent of these charges and these recent disclosures reinforced

our conviction that he will be exonerated. But lawyers for the

chambermaid insist her story is accurate. The medical evidence

supports the victim's account. The forensic evidence supports her

account. She was taken from the hotel to the hospital in an

ambulance. A grand jury has already found her account credible. This

all began at a hotel in the heart of Manhattan on May 14th, when a

maid accused Mr Strauss-Kahn of attempting to rape her. He was

arrested on an plane bound for Paris. Five days later, he resigned

as head of the International Monetary Fund. Today, in a dramatic

development, the New York Times reported that the prosecution case

against him may collapse because of doubts about the credibility of the

made. She reportedly has links to drug dealers and money laundering.

In France, this is headline news. Mr Strauss-Kahn was a contender for

the French presidency. Supporters are already hoping he could return

to political life. He would be welcome in France. I think the

people here will have for him greater admiration than before

because he has shown during this period great qualities of courage.

It has been a gruelling six weeks for Mr Strauss-Kahn. From top

global finance official to criminal defendant, now he is hoping to

rehabilitate his reputation. And Matt Wells joins us from

outside the court now. The defence say one thing, the prosecution say

another. Is there a case against him or not? The case still exists

and the charges are still there. He left court a lot freer than when he

went into court but the charges still stand and he will be back

later in the month to answer to them. The entire credibility of the

case relies on the good character and the believability of this woman,

and that has been severely tested in the last 24 hours by these

reports leaked to newspapers from law enforcement authorities. It is

the prosecution itself that is expressing these doubts. The

defence all along was saying she had questions to answer and was

going to be an unreliable witness potentially, but the power of her

testimony will be the thing that that is brought into question,

there will be further erosion that will be difficult for these charges

to stick. The Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi

has threatened to carry out attacks in Europe unless NATO stops its

campaign of air strikes against his regime in Libya. Colonel Gaddafi,

whose voice you can hear, delivered the warning on Friday in a message

played to thousands of his supporters gathered in the main

square of the capital, Tripoli. It was one of the apparently largest

pro-government rallies in recent weeks. Our correspondent is in

Tripoli and joins us now. This is the first time, it would seem, that

Colonel Gaddafi has made this direct threat to the West. Yes, I

think it is and it was, as far as we can tell from this speech, which

was made by telephone life to the square this evening to tens of

thousands of his supporters gathered in the middle of Tripoli,

during that live speech via telephone he made some very direct

threat to NATO and European countries taking part in the

campaign. He said "we will take this battle to Europe to target

your homes, offices and families. We can move on you like locusts".

This is the first time we have heard from Colonel Gaddafi in quite

some time and it is the largest rally we have seen here in Tripoli

for some weeks. The regime is claiming there were up to 2 million

people, that seems a large exaggeration, but there were tens

of thousands of supporters out here in what was clearly an attempt by

the regime to show it still enjoys widespread support in the Libyan

capital. Thank you. In Syria, tens of thousands of

people have again taken to the streets calling for President

Bashar al-Assad to leave office. Demonstrations were held across the

country after Friday prayers. According to one human rights

agency three people were killed during a military operation near to

the Turkish border. Moroccans have been voting in a referendum on a

draft constitution put forward by King Mohammed in response to pro-

democracy protests. The king says the new constitution would give

more power to the prime minister and parliament. Critics say it does

not go far enough and called for a boycott.

The Chinese Communist Party is marking its 90th anniversary. Gala

performances and special television programmes have been part of the

celebrations. In an address, President Hu Jintao has warned

Party members that they must fight corruption to retain the support

and trust of the people. The mystery surrounding the health

of the Venezuelan President took another twist when he revealed he

is being treated for cancer in Cuba. Previously he had said he had been

operated on for a pelvic abscess. His government insists he is fully

it's a rat -- exercising his authority but his opponents are

questioning his ability to do so and the constitutional legality of

his actions. Since President Hugo Chavez was first sworn into office

over 12 years ago, he has been the strong man a Venezuelan politics. A

charismatic talker who understands the power of publicity, the

President has remained the one and only focal point of the government.

Potential rivals from within his own party have been kept from the

limelight by regular cabinet reshuffles. Those who have retained

their jobs are completely loyal, but his announcement that he is

being treated for cancer has shown a chink in his armour. TRANSLATION:

This is a major intervention performed without complications,

after which I am recovering successfully while I keep receiving

complementary therapies to combat the various types of cells found,

and so continue on the path to my full recovery. Opposition

politicians have called into question his ability to govern from

abroad while he is recovering. But the President insists he has been

able to carry out his duties as head of state while he recuperates.

A top military official went on Venezuelan television to give

assurances that the President had the full support of the army, and

that President Chaves remains in charge of the country. After the

President won a pivotal referendum in 2009 to scrap presidential term

limits, many thought he would be in power for years to come but his

ill-health now calls that into question.

With me now from Washington is the President Emeritus of the Inter-

American Dialogue, Peter Hakim. Taking the President out of the

equation, what does that mean? means you have no leader, no rules,

and after 12 years of Hugo Chavez, no real institutions in the country.

You have a classic political vacuum and very difficult to predict how

this will work the room. Does the Venezuelan constitution have

anything to say about whether her head of state can perform his

duties from a different country? Whatever the constitution says on

that, I think that no one would take that as a terribly strong

restriction. The rules have been broken so often, and what Hugo

Chavez says is what is taken as the rule. With his control over the

judicial system and virtually every other source of power and decision

in Venezuela, I wouldn't think that would beat any obstacle. If he can

sit up in bed and communicate orders, he will essentially try to

manage things from Venezuela, less well than he would obviously from

Caracas. Was it 2002 when there was that failed coup attempt against

him? You speak of this vacuum - could his opponents try to mount

something similar again? I suspect not. A lot of time has gone by. For

the first time the opposition really has been able to organise

itself. They are promising now to run a single candidate. There are

elections next year. I don't think they will want to do anything that

will upset their plans for contesting the 2012 elections.

about other people trying to fill the vacuum in his absence? Isn't

there his older brother? Isn't he already a governor in the country?

Could he exploit the family name at this moment? That is a clever

Association of Venezuela's and Cuba, Fidel Castro's brother took over

from him but I think it is a stretch in Venezuela. He has

occupied very secondary positions in the government, rarely mentioned

as a successor. In fact nobody is mentioned as a successor to Hugo

Chavez and he doesn't really have any strong institutional base, the

brother. I think what you will be seeing in Venezuela or effete Hugo

Chavez remains outside the country for much longer, you are going to

see the beginnings of a struggle for position, for striving to put

one's self- in the position to replace Hugo Chavez. This has

happened in numerous other situations and I think it is clear

that the people in the top Tia of the government will be jockeying

for position with each other. Thank you for your analysis. Kate-

mania has broken out in Canada, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

embark on their first official tour overseas as a married couple.

Prince William, who's second in line to the British throne, had

lasted visited Canada as a young teenager with his mother, the late

Princess Diana. But this was his wife, Catherine's first visit to

North America. At some point today he would have thought of her. The

mother whom he lost when he was 15, and his 50th birthday would have

been today. So much has come into William's life since then, most

importantly, this woman, Catherine. On this second day of their first

overseas tour together on Canada's national day, she was dressed in

Canada's national colours of red and white. They went first to a

ceremony to grant Canadian citizenship to 25 people from

countries around the world. Each one was presented with Canadian

flags by the couple. Then into a horse-drawn carriage. What memories

that may have evoked of central London two months ago, for the ride

to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, where every year Canada's National Day is

celebrated with an outdoor pageant. This year the crowds were possibly

bigger than ever before. There to celebrate their country's 144th

birthday, and to welcome the guests of honour. While Canada's Governor-

General concentrated on the guard of honour, but -- the crowds

shouted for Will and Kate. The couple made their way to the stage,

where they stood together to sing the British national anthem, and to

celebrate the nearly 150 years of Canadian heritage and a crown which

is based across the ocean. According to opinion polls, around

50 % of Canadians think the monarchy is a relic from colonial

times. So, a question. Can William and Kate make the monarchy seem

more relevant to people here? think William and Kate can put a

new face to the monarchy. They are very approachable, they are young,

vibrant. I think they are a lot like all of us. That's what

attracts people to them. They remind me of a Lady Diana. They

carried the same charm and dignity that she carried, and the way they

are able to connect with the people. On July 1st, 2011, the day Diana

would have been 50, her eldest son can reassure himself that judging

by this crowd he and his wife, Catherine, are ensuring her legacy

lives on in today's Royal Family. From the newly wed British royal

couple to another Royal Wedding. The principality of Monaco saw its

ruler Prince Albert marry his bride, the South African Olympic swimmer

Charlene Wittstock. The couple had a civil marriage today, and on

Saturday they will have a Church ceremony. Lavish celebrations are

planned for the weekend. Here, a senior cabinet minister has caused

a bit of a stir by calling on businesses in the UK to take on

more British workers rather than hiring from abroad. The Work and

Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, says young people here

should be given a chance. But business groups insist that firms

need the best people and that migrants often have a better work

ethic and skills. Give the Brits a chance. That's the minister's

demand. He's promising we will get the workless of benefits, but

British businesses need to help get them out of the jobs queue by

actively looking for UK employees. What Iain Duncan Smith wants is

this. An immigration system that gives the unemployed, particularly

the young unemployed, a level playing field so they have a chance

to take the work when it's available. If we don't get this

right, I think in our country and I suspect here as well, then we risk

leaving our citizens, particularly young people, out of work.

Duncan Smith made this beach in Spain. 1000 miles away in York, he

reached a supportive audience. shouldn't be able to come in our

country and get a job what people like me, other people like me in

York need jobs desperately. I don't mind them coming over here, I've

got nothing against them coming here. But I think it should go to

us first. So who gets the extra jobs created in the UK? Last year,

an extra 416,000 people were employed in Britain. Of those,

77,000 were born in the UK. But 334,000 were born overseas. Over

half of those were from the EU, partly the result of the decision

to allow the new eastern European members of the Union the automatic

right to work here. But as Polish supermarkets appeared in Britain,

one reason there were more jobs is that more migrants were here

looking for work, and doing the jobs that Brits wouldn't do. Having

lunch at a Polish cafe in London, his accountant is here. Her clients

are mainly small, Polish run businesses. Far from taking jobs,

she says... Of they employed people, they create jobs. English people

demand quite a lot because they feel they can. I understand that is

fine. But the Polish people are coming over and having a job, they

are very happy they've got the job. The Polish builder has firmly

entered the popular consciousness. But businesses have got used to

looking for employees overseas. Clearly, when you have these bright,

young Eastern Europeans who really want to work, have very good

customer services skills, employers are going to turn to them. Quite

rightly. These businesses are competing in a globalised economy.

The government has introduced a new cap on skilled workers from outside

the EU. Labour says that policy is in disarray. But today's speech

seemed designed to convince businesses that home-grown is

better. Joining us to talk about the global workforce is Jonas

Prisin, he was born in Sweden and has worked for Manpower all over

the world. Does it make sense when a country is in top times, high

unemployment and that kind of thing, to say, let our own people get the

jobs even if it's at the expense of other European workers? It's a

challenging paradox because we are coming out of a recession with high

unemployment in particular in developed countries. But at the

same time, an increasing number of employers are finding it difficult

to find the right talent. And talent mobility in general, and we

believe also strategic Migration in particular, is a good idea to fill

some of that gap. But you know some people say that immigrants,

particularly those from Eastern Europe, have a stronger work ethic

and perhaps they do jobs that the locals don't want to do. What do

you do - forced the locals to do those jobs even if they don't want

to? I think that the aspects of... Do have a number of different

things happening. You have a talent and skills mismatch a caring, which

means there are not enough people with the right skills who are able

to do the job that companies want them to do. And you also have

aspects of the local labour force, who may choose not to do some of

the work. You have to approach this with policies that clearly

encourage the local labour force to want to and to have to get into

those kinds of positions. But at the same time, allow companies to

access talent pools where ever they may be, within a country or outside

the country if that is a requirement. You've worked in

several continents, is there any country you can think of that

really says, we are going to pick the best people for this job

regardless of class, colour, race, ethnicity, nationality - we're just

going to pick the best people for the job? There are a number of

countries that have a very clearly articulated strategic immigration

policy. If you think of countries such as Australia, Singapore... But

also within Europe itself we have a great deal of mobility. A mobility

of skills that are in need, where for various reasons they cannot be

filled locally. I think the European Union in itself is a very

good example of what labour mobility can do in terms of

allowing individuals find gainful employment whenever they wish, as

well as companies attracting talent that have the right skills as well

as the predisposition to go and work in those positions where ever

they may live or come from Wateridge any -- originally. This

weekend, Hollywood studio executives will be closely

monitoring the box office returns of a newly released 3D film -

Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Although they're expecting ticket

sales to be strong, the interest of American audiences in most 3-D

movies is down, so the big studios are worried. Talking Movies' Tom

Brook reports. Transformers: Dark Of The Moon was just one of 163 D

pictures being released by the studios during Hollywood's

blockbuster season. Here we go! Everybody involved in the film has

been relentlessly touting its 3D credentials. I don't like 3D, I

haven't yet to see a movie that has enhanced the medium. But this is

different. I'm not just saying that because I'm in it. This is the

perfection of 3D. The reason for the hype, an attempt to overcome

audience apathy. When James Cameron's 3D Avatar arrived 18

months ago, audiences were damp -- ballast -- dazzled by its imagery.

But since then most 3D films have disappointed. The special effects

on worth that much more money. think it's a waste of money. People

are being robbed. Declining interest in 3D films has made the

studios nervous. I think that the honeymoon for 3D is over. The

percentage of gross coming from the Prix de Ski -- screens is getting

less and less with every film. What was a novelty and interesting a

year ago was now becoming commonplace. Part of the problem

has been too many 3D films not conceived in 3D but converted up

from to be in post production as an afterthought. I think 3D as a

format has been hurt by a lot of mediocrity. It's important for the

industry that this format gets to see it handled the right way.

Strangely, while interest in 3D is winning in the US, its flourishing

in many countries outside America where exploitation of the format is

at an earlier stage. Analysts think interest could soon dwindle.

people see up to five bad 3D movies in a row, no matter what country or

continent you live on, you are going to get sick of 3D. Industry

insiders see Transformers: Dark Of The Moon as a significant movie in

the evolution of 3D. The film's director boasts his film will

reacquaint audiences what the full potential of 3D not witnessed since

Avatar. To do 3D well costs a lot of money, takes a lot of time and

takes a lot of people. Many of these movies, they are doing this

as an afterthought. This movie is doing it from the beginning.

even a 3D ticket sales for Transformers: Dark Of The Moon are

very strong, experts say it's going to be the exception rather than the

rule. Three-day -- 3D they say is I must go and take a look at one

myself and put those spectacles on. We've got a very settled spell of

weather currently with most places being dry, fined and with more

sunshine around. As we look to the weekend, that will continue with

the dry theme, some sunny spells, or due to high pressure which is

well and truly in charge of our weather. The cloud is picking up

across Eastern Counties and there's the risk of a few light showers.

After a sunny start on Saturday, again the cloud does tend to

increase. We can't rule out a light shower across eastern counties of

England. They are very few and far between, they will be short-lived.

Most places will be dry Anne Fine. Temperatures in London on Saturday

a bit like Friday at 22 degrees. Most places having light winds but

through the afternoon we will see some sea breezes developing around

the south coast. Temperatures in Barnstaple about 19 Celsius. The

afternoon is looking a bit cloudier but the sun is still quite strong,

so it's going to stay bright through the afternoon. But Northern

Ireland, the best of that sunshine across the south-east corner. It's

day is always more of a cast through north-west Scotland with a

few spots of patchy, light rain. Further south across Scotland it