10/10/2013 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me, Philippa Thomas. Gunmen release

the Libyan prime minister, after snatching him from a hotel in the

powerful militia and held hostage for several hours. We ask just who

is in control in post-Gaddafi Libya. A potential breakthrough in treating

Alzheimer's. Scientists discover a chemical that stops brain cells

Also coming up: The Little Master calls it a day. The world's most

prolific batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, announces his retirement from all

And described as a master of the short story, Canadian author Alice

Munro wins the Nobel Prize for Hello and welcome. Libya's prime

minister is safe, and back at work, after an extraordinary day at the

office. Ali Zeidan was abducted after an extraordinary day at the

a Tripoli hotel in the early hours of the morning, and held for several

hours by armed men. It is not clear militias had been angered by a US

commando raid to capture senior Al-Qaeda suspect, Anas al-Liby.

commando raid to capture senior World Affairs correspondent Paul

beleaguered Prime Minister emerges after a few hours of captivity.

beleaguered Prime Minister emerges country, he did his best to design

positive. TRANSLATION: Only with an army and police can a state exist. I

thank the army and police and all thank you. The revolutionaries

snatched him from a hotel room in the early hours of the morning.

snatched him from a hotel room in TRANSLATION: People came sign for

general, with an order for the special forces captured a senior

Al-Qaeda member, Anas al-Liby. Some special forces captured a senior

Libyans were outraged and felt sure that someone in government new.

Libyans were outraged and felt sure Libya, there are a large number

Libyans were outraged and felt sure these so-called militia is who

Libyans were outraged and felt sure people who took up arms against

Colonel Gaddafi in 2011 and have people who took up arms against

Colonel Gaddafi in 2011 and have TRANSLATION: We are in a state of

revolution, so we have no choice. The Libyan state has no control

revolution, so we have no choice. the repercussions of the revolution

because the state is weak. Two different abductions in the heart of

the Libyan capital in less than different abductions in the heart of

week. The government's credibility With me is the Libya and Middle

week. The government's credibility specialist Alan George. We heard it

state is weak? Absolutely. The fact of the matter is the dictatorship of

Colonel Gaddafi held together a religious loyalties which all pull

in different directions. Colonel Gaddafi was holding the country

together and that has disappeared. Democracy is not that glue? The

acknowledge democracy as a big enough reason to set aside the dons.

The regional militia really control the country on the ground. There are

lots of checkpoints. They guard their territory. You have been on

the ground in Libya not so long their territory. You have been on

different militia competing for turf? There are scores of militias.

Some occupy the same premises. They have access to several thousand

Some occupy the same premises. They The army, such as it is, is very

small. The defence Ministry and Interior Ministry are trying to

along with the ministry's request, but often do not. With more outside

intervention be any help, or simply counter-productive and add more

intervention be any help, or simply gradually over time. You talk about

affiliated with the Colonel Gaddafi forces. When Colonel Gaddafi went,

affiliated with the Colonel Gaddafi regime. Most Libyans really would

prefer to see a decent central democracy. But that will be a long

It has been more than a week since the US government went into partial

control the House of Representatives are looking at a short-term solution

for the other big crisis that is looming, the country's inability to

borrowing limit. Without it, the US risks defaulting on its debts next

week. Here's what House Speaker risks defaulting on its debts next

Boehner said a short time ago. It is time for leadership. It is

time for these negotiations to president will look at this as an

opportunity and a good-faith effort on our part to move halfway to what

is demanding in order for these Live now to Washington and our

correspondent Jane O'Brien. We are hearing something of a positive

reaction from the White House, so Who knows? But what we are seeing is

a slow inching towards some kind of compromise on the debt ceiling.

a slow inching towards some kind of borrowing limit. All sides are

pretty much agreed that they don't want to hit the deadline of 17th of

October and see the government default. The reaction from the White

House at the moment has been that the administration would strongly

prefer a long-term extension and an end to this episodic brinkmanship,

as their spokesman put it. But the president would sign a temporary

Bill. The president is maintaining his position that he won't negotiate

on broader budget issues until the government has reopened. That is now

in its 10th day of shutdown. Even if the debt ceiling is raised, there is

no guarantee yet that the government could reopen as a result. In the

slightly farcical atmosphere that is Washington at the moment, the fact

that they are beginning to negotiate on a very short term solution has

trading this morning. It is really the markets that could well dictate

entire world because everybody is that if the US government defaults,

funding bill that would allow it to of the US. The shutdown, however,

funding bill that would allow it to happen, and then the long and slow

process of debating health care happen, and then the long and slow

other reform. Now done deals by happen, and then the long and slow

towards a compromise and perhaps a breakthrough in the fight against

research by a team of UK scientists has highlighted a chemical that

research by a team of UK scientists halt the death of brain cells. It is

hoped that experiments on mice could eventually lead to the development

of a drug to tackle degenerative This laboratory mouse has a brain

destroying its coordination. See how Contrast that with another mouse

which has been given a compound Contrast that with another mouse

protect rain tissue and stop neurons Leicester is being seen as highly

significant by those investigating human brain diseases. Our ageing

population means neurodegenerative diseases are affecting more and

population means neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease. Then there

population means neurodegenerative Parkinson's disease and Huntington's

disease. Scientists believe there could be a common mechanism that

abnormal proteins in the brain. could be a common mechanism that

shuts down protein production and cells die. The mice were given a

compound which reactivated protein production, preventing cells from

dying. This gives scientists a new target for tackling brain disease.

Of the human brain is far more complicated than that of a mouse. It

is simply too early to say whether this 1's body will ever lead to

is simply too early to say whether drug treatments. We must be quite

cautious because this is early stage we search. We need to do a whole lot

more research to understand what potential new drug, testing to see

treatment for people with these conditions. Although he can still

play the piano, 84-year-old Dominik can no longer care for himself.

play the piano, 84-year-old Dominik Alzheimer's is gradually robbing him

of his ability to think and act independently. We are all living

diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. If there is something

diagnosed with Alzheimer's and be amazing. Yes. Any practical

benefits are still a decade away. be amazing. Yes. Any practical

benefits are still a decade away. research marks a turning point in

He says it will be hard to imagine a life without playing cricket, and

for millions of fans across India, it maybe hard to imagine a life

without him. Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar has announced he

cricket after playing his 200th Sachin Tendulkar has announced he

next month. The 40-year-old is the international cricket history,

having made nearly 16,000 runs in 198 Tests and more than 18,000 runs

in 463 one day-ers. He burst onto the international stage at just

in 463 one day-ers. He burst onto in 1989. Our sports correspondent

Sachin Tendulkar has scored more devotion of his followers crosses

into the spiritual. Home bash those who know him well admire his cricket

talent and his ability to ignore other issues. He has led his life

very simply. He never gets carried away. I have seen the best part

very simply. He never gets carried Sachin Tendulkar when I played with

him for 14 years. I was his captain Sachin Tendulkar made his first

century for India in 1990 against England. He became a celebrity and

statesman. When India revealed after the Mumbai attacks in 2008, he told

his countrymen that he played for India now more than ever. I think it

is easy to forget Brian Lara. He got out earlier. But those two are the

best two players by a long way in the last 20 years. For many in

India, Sachin Tendulkar is in so passable. The two test matches which

remain in his career will be the opportunity for an outpouring of

Absolutely, when he saved India opportunity for an outpouring of

defeat at Old Trafford. And when he became the first non-white to play

conference at the Oval, he kept for Yorkshire. The odd person had

conference at the Oval, he kept gathered skirt. He was very polite.

Ireland when he was taken around the gathered skirt. He was very polite.

Ireland when he was taken around the dressing room, and he said -- his

tour guide said, you know what, Sachin Tendulkar, you should take

these young girls out and show them grace for all those years, breaking

Without giving the impression that he was greater. The hubris, he never

When he was available, he made it appear very natural. He has become

such an iconic figure in India, appear very natural. He has become

in India if you criticise Sachin Tendulkar, it is as if you are

maligning the whole of India. On the two occasions it has happened, when

major sin in cricket, parliament held a debate about how good they

Yes. In India the moment, a lot held a debate about how good they

distrust of politicians, Sachin just on the field but off the field.

interviews I have seen of him, there's been very measured about

what he should do. And when a great sportsman retires, we think, why has

he retired? He still has to get sportsman retires, we think, why has

moment he gets up on politics, it will be very divisive, which every

He will. They would love to happen, Normally in India sports men haven't

become great politicians. We have Would you bet that he will go into

I think you want. He is such a big name a brand-name, you will use

I think you want. He is such a big perhaps to promote something is

which he thinks are for the good of the country. So that he keeps his

image of Sachin Tendulkar, the benefactor. The man who gave us

image of Sachin Tendulkar, the lavish runs is doing something for

think that would be his motivation rather than going into politics

British forces have marked another withdrawal of combat troops from

Afghanistan. The last major British force to go to Helmand province

Afghanistan. The last major British southern Afghanistan has begun its

Brigade, otherwise known as the Desert Rats, began its nine month

tour of duty with a special handover ceremony. David Loyn reports from

A lone piper in the Afghan desert rats. 80 years after they won their

A lone piper in the Afghan desert This is a very different brigade to

this and be proud of their legacy? to finish the mission on timetable

this and be proud of their legacy? Absolutely. The British public are

this and be proud of their legacy? British forces in Afghanistan. They

I was on the streets almost eight years ago on the January morning

when British soldiers first set years ago on the January morning

What you think of the atmosphere? Everyone has been really friendly.

They are happy to see us. We are British or stop how different it is

now when we travel in a heavily On the way to see a court. Better

justice is something British are promoted. But it seems remote from

people outside. We watch the case of this man who was convicted under

available under the Taliban, biting Iman's your any fight. The chief

justice said security does not now outside his court, security felt

This man said the Afghan police outside his court, security felt

not good enough to keep order on their own when the British leave.

Helmand certainly feels different now to when British troops arrived.

Girls schools have closed under now to when British troops arrived.

Taliban are now so full can keep up. Many are held in tents. But as

Britain's Longmore enters its final phase, there are searching questions

being asked about whether it has been worth the huge cost and loss of

soldiers first walked out here Now a look at some of the day's

Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia is to serve his 50 years

sentence for war crimes in the UK. He is the first head of state to be

convicted by the courts since the end of the Second World War. The

charges against them, including murder, rape and terrorism, stem

from his support for the rebels murder, rape and terrorism, stem

Police in Pakistan said of the former president, Musharraf has

Police in Pakistan said of the arrested after a military raid on a

resulted in the deaths of many people including a radical cleric.

under house arrest on other charges. The Pakistani teenager and education

campaign who was shot by the Taliban for her work has warned the European

campaign who was shot by the Taliban Union's annual human rights award.

The price for freedom of thought is revolutionized the art of short

The price for freedom of thought is stories in which she often deals

and, as she puts it, the 'underbelly think I knew that I was even on

and, as she puts it, the 'underbelly yesterday. My daughter woke me up.

She just said, mum, you won. I was dazed about what had I won. I came

With me is Amit Chaudhuri, novelist literature at the University of

With me is Amit Chaudhuri, novelist Anglia here the UK. She sounded

shocked. She is genuinely modest for Cheers. But there is reason for

shocked. She is genuinely modest for to be taken by surprise. The people

who were being mentioned in relation contenders, our writers of what

who were being mentioned in relation often called the global novel full

stop. And Alice Munro write the complete opposite of that will stop

her great work is based on place, provincial small towns, and she

her great work is based on place, the great practitioner of this

unpopular for. At one time very popular, but especially in the

English language, quite unpopular for some reason - the short story.

Not given its due, and especially in the English language and Anglophone

you look at France, chart story writers are national treasures.

you look at France, chart story is a wonderful thing that a person

who has pursued a relatively narrow area and focus on it and enriched it

has also pursued the short story, should be seen to be not only a

claim to be recognised in this way. You were on the man Booker panel

totality of her work. Often she takes, as you say, small subjects

like stifling small-town life from a single perspective, RJ has exquisite

language, but then she has these with any small town, or from one

small town to another. There is with any small town, or from one

wonderful short story called the Ottawa Valley, about arriving there.

We have two look at her in the context of Canadian writing, and

We have two look at her in the nonpolice writing. And what she

We have two look at her in the about the quotidian, the commonplace

We have two look at her in the of Canadian life and stop. What

We have two look at her in the means to be inside a room, but the

room feels like any city in Canada, the worry about paying rent next

month. The most humdrum aspects the worry about paying rent next

Amit Chaudhuri, thank you very much. A reminder of our main news: the

Libyan Prime Minister has spoken for He described the kidnapping as a

followed from the revolution and called on all parties to unite and

Well, that's all from the programme.