25/08/2017 World News Today

Our top stories: A powerful, life-threatening hurricane bears

As residents prepare for the worst, the state authorities ask

the President to declare a major disaster.

At least 28 people have died in Northern India,

after police used live ammunition on supporters

of a self-styled holy man, who's been convicted of rape.

The US announces tough new sanctions against Venezuela,

branding Nicholas Maduro's government corrupt and repressive.

The United States will target the means with which the dictatorship

can accumulate debt to enrich its corrupt regime insiders and

perpetuate its behaviour. And it's shaping up

to be the biggest money Floyd Mayweather takes

on Connor McGregor in Hello and welcome

to World News Today. Hurricane Harvey has intensified

into a category three storm as it The governor of Texas has asked

President Trump to issue a major disaster declaration,

hours before the state Texas and Louisiana haven't been hit

by a major hurricane Officials say Harvey could also

bring life-threatening flooding As you know, this is a hurricane

that will calm in land and then is expected to hover for a long period

of time. They could be days. During that time, there will be a

tremendous amount of rain. It will be dropped on miles upon miles of

Texas. This is going to lead to what was described earlier in our

conference call as record flooding at multiple locations, ranging all

the way from the Corpus Christi area all the way up to the Houston area.

President Donald Trump has treated President Donald Trump has tweeted

to those in the path of storm to heed the advice

of local officials. Just a short time ago his press

secretary said he will visit it looks like the president will

make plans to go to Texas early next week. We will keep people stood on

details of those as they are formed up.

The storm is expected to make landfall near Corpus Christi -

that's where Don Champion has been watching the Hurricane come

Within the past two hours, we started to feel the tropical storm

force winds move into this part of the Texas golf course -- Texas golf

course to. Hurricaine Harvey is coming into the region. It is meant

to be a catastrophic event. This is the bay at Corpus Christi. This

morning the water is much lower than it is now. I've checked before

coming on air and the storm surge year is already up to feed and the

water is starting to splash over at this wall. By the end of this

weekend, I can guarantee you that this very spot will very likely be

under several feet of water as the storm surge just in on dates these

coastal areas before Hurricaine Harvey makes landfall. The storm is

expected to strengthen even more before making landfall sometime

tonight or early Saturday morning just north of where I am standing.

The big danger that officials are worried about is the flooding that

is expected with the storm. More than 30 inches of rain is quite

possible in parts of this region. Just to give you an idea of how much

that is, the city of Corpus Christi typically gets dirty inches of rain

in one year. They will get that in a matter of the few hours. There are

dire concerns and serious concerns for officials here. As you can see

behind me, remarkably there are still plenty of people here who have

decided to stay put and tried to ride out the storm. A lot of them

coming over to the core still area and taking pictures and ticking in

the site. -- the coastal area. This will become ever more dangerous as

the day goes on. The governor here in Texas has been going on local

media discussing all morning long, telling these folks that time is

literally running out to get out of this region safely. Stay safe. Thank

you. Some breaking news now and reports of a shooting in the Belgian

capital Brussels. Soldiers are said to have shot a man who attacked them

with a knife. The man is in a critical state in hospital. That is

being reported by the Reuters news agency. The man was 30 years old and

not known for terrorist activities. The soldiers were lightly injured in

the attack. We will bring you more from that story when we get it.

At least twenty-eight people have been killed in clashes in India

after a self-styled holy man was convicted of rape.

of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had gathered in the town of Panchkula

Thousands of his devotees went on the rampage after the verdict,

and police responded with rubber bullets and then live ammunition.

The self-styled "guru in bling" is renowned for his flamboyant taste

He was convicted of assaulting two members of his sect 15 years ago.

Violence broke out almost as soon as the guilty verdict was handed

down by the court in this town in North India.

More than 100,000 followers of the self-styled godman Guru,

had flocked to demonstrate their support.

They went on the rampage, burning cars and attacking the police,

who responded with tear-gas and water cannon.

When that didn't subdue the crowd, they fired live ammunition.

And there have been clashes elsewhere, too.

This train was torched by an angry mob here

in the Indian capital, Delhi.

Elsewhere in the city, buses have been set on fire.

The guru has an absolutely enormous following.

He estimates 50 million people and the fear is,

that violence could spread in North India.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is a charismatic figure.

He calls himself the Messenger of God,

sports a huge beard and has a taste for enormous motor cycles.

He has been dubbed "the Baba of bling", and stars in his own

movies and pop videos and, despite his extraordinary

appearance, he's regarded as a living saint by many

This is the latest in a series of scandals here in India,

involving those who claim exceptional spiritual powers.

Guru Ram Rahim says his sect is a social welfare and spiritual

group, but he's been accused of involvement in murder

and it is also claimed he persuaded 400 of his acolytes to have

themselves castrated in order to get closer to God.

It's that kind of devotion that explains the scale and intensity

of the violence here in North India and also why the authorities

A little earlier I spoke to the BBC's Neha Bhatnagar

who told me things were beginning to calm down.

At the moment because it has night-time in India, the situation

is under control but very tense. It looks like there is not any large

scale violence but small instances that are being. Large parts of north

India are under lockdown which has affected the train and bus services,

people were leaving their offices early. The capital, Delhi, which is

not next-door with all this happened. The tension is quite

palpable still there. A lot of security forces on the ground. More

than 2000 people have been arrested in quite a large part of north

India. There is a prohibiting order that means more than 45 people are

not allowed to gather together. We do fear this could lead to more

violence and clashes. We are still waiting for the whole of the weekend

and the sentence will only be given on Monday, that could be delayed. A

lot for the security forces to deal with the given his massive and

future following. He is a very, very popular man, isn't he? Tens of

thousands, millions he says around the world. Was that violence to be

expected in any way? Where the Government for warrant for this?

This was expected. Most news reports start with just as expected, given

his following. There is criticism that the administration where

underprepared. They were not caught unaware that could be have prepared

better? The Prime Minister treated saying he is distressed with that. A

lot of people have said, the Government should have done enough

to make sure that there is enough security on the ground. The Chief

minister of that state has been heavily criticised for this. If you

look at what is happening on the streets and these pictures of

violence, if you turn to social media and Facebook and Twitter,

people are coming out and criticising massively. Here is a

person who has been convicted of rape of two women and this is the

kind of support that India and people in India show for him. There

is anger amongst people. What is the image that the country is

showcasing? What is the Government doing? How come 28 people have been

allowed to die in this kind of perhaps preventable situation?

A court has found two white South African farmers

guilty of attempted murder after they forced a black man

into a coffin and threatened to burn him alive.

The judge said it was clear Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson

had intended to kill Victor Mlotshwa.

The two farmers were arrested after a video of the attack

The video of the assault caused outrage here in South Africa. It

highlighted racial tensions in farming communities. Two white

farmers shoving a black man into a Coffin, threatening to bury him

alive. The accused him of trespassing on their farm. The two

men were arrested after the video of the attack was widely circulated on

social media. We said the only wanted to teach the victim a lesson

and meant him no harm. But the judge is missed their claim, saying it was

clear their intention was to commit murder. In relation to this, I find

you both guilty. With attempt to cause previous bodily harm, I find

you both guilty. I find you both guilty. Shortly after the verdict

was delivered here in court, the visibly emotional victim told me he

was relieved that justice has finally been served. As mother

welcomed the verdict. All I am asking is for harsh prison sentences

for these men. The ordeal left my son deeply traumatised and I am

happy his attackers have been found guilty. Various political parties

supporters protested against racism outside the court. The convicted men

will be sentenced in two months' time. Many he attended the trial are

hoping the judge will deliver lengthy jail terms. Let's have a

look at some of the other stories making the news now.

At least fourteen people, including five children,

have been killed after an air strike hit a residential area

Witnesses said two buildings in the south of the city,

which is controlled by Houthi rebels, had been destroyed.

The former Thai prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra,

has fled the country, hours before a verdict was to be

delivered in her trial for criminal negligence.

She faces up to ten years in jail over a rice subsidy scheme.

More than 20 people have been killed in an attack on a Shia mosque

in the Afghan capital, Kabul, as worshippers gathered

The incident began when a suicide bomber blew himself up

Two gunmen then stormed the building.

They were killed by special forces after a siege lasting several hours.

The United States has announced new financial

sanctions against Venezuela, designed to further isolate

The measure bans dealing in the bonds of some

Venezuelan public companies, including the state-owned

Earlier this month the US imposed sanctions

on President Maduro himself - and some of his closest aides -

A short while ago President Trump's national security

H R McMaster explained the latest sanctions.

This order demonstrates more clearly than ever that the United States

will not allow an illegitimate dictatorship to take hold in the

Western Hemisphere at the expense of its people. Through the President's

strong action, the United States will target the means with which the

dictatorship can accumulate debt to in rich its corrupt regime insiders

and perpetuate this repressive behaviour.

Our correspondent Will Grant has been following the latest

It is a tough one. On the one hand, it is clearly targeted exactly where

it is going to hire the Venezuelan utmost, it's crippled economy and

flailing energy sector. For an oil giant like Venezuela, attacking the

state run energy company is a serious step. Many people have

advised the Trump Administration to not take that route. I am in Cuba

which has been under economic sanctions for a decade and the

argument by the previous administration in the White House

was that it was not working. There are a lot of observers that suggest

a similar thing could happen in Venezuela, in fact what the

sanctions would end up doing is hurting the tourists the most and

conversely strengthening his hand. -- the purist the most. What has

been the reaction? The vice president has come out and say they

are analysing it. There has not been a huge amount yet. That is waiting

in the wings. We can be sure that he will come out with the normal

firebrand vitriol against the Trump administration. We can expect them

to throw it back to Washington and say it as an example of imperialism,

neoimperialism in Latin America. These are the things that have a lot

of weight. Let's not forget that the Trump administration said a military

option is still on the table. These are things that are not taken

lightly when it comes to Latin America, the suggestion of military

option or economic sanctions. We are all been focused towards Venezuela

and it might create some sympathy among the other states in the region

that otherwise might be challenging and criticising them.

Stay with us on BBC World News, still to come

How would you feel driving alongside one of these knowing no-one

Driverless lorries will appear on British roads next year.

The latest headlines for you. 28 people are dead in northern India

after clashes with police and supporters of a holy man who has

been convicted of rape. The worst storm of the decade is about to hit

the coast. Semi-automated, self-driving lorries

will be tested out on British The trucks will be connected

wirelessly with up to three lorries The technology has already been

tested elsewhere in Europe Supporters say it will mean cheaper

fuel bills, lower emissions Our correspondent Richard Lister

looks at how it will work. This could be the future. The driver

in the second lorry is only steering. His speed is controlled by

a computer which is monitoring what the lead driver is doing. These

Dutch trials suggest lorries linked by Wi-Fi can drive closer together

and may have benefits. 10% fuel savings, that is money off the

shopping bills. Goods in shops will go down, 10% less CO2. Congestion,

if we get them doing this running smoothly together, we will not have

the traffic jams. Safety, we can have robots and sensors not looking

mistakes. This is one of the specially equipped lorries that will

take part in the British trials. First on test tracks and then on

2019 the motorway network. This technology is moving fast. Some cars

can steer themselves, too. The haulage industry wants to catch up.

Do sophisticated lorries like this need people at all? The short answer

is yes. Most of British roads are too small and complex. Vehicles like

this could revolutionise long distance haulage. We are going to

jump into the vehicle and start the exercise. Les is training the next

generation of lorry drivers here in Slough. Daniel is about to take his

test. Neither are keen of sharing the driver's seat with a computer.

The machine breaks down, which is my main concern, Wi-Fi connections,

what of that breaks down? Do not think that is a good idea. We should

be in full control of the lorries we are driving. There are other road

users. You have to consider that when you are driving these lorries.

UK waterways are the most congested in Europe. We have more entrances

and experts. If you have a platoon of driverless lorries, it is

difficult to see road signs and exit the motorway. With several countries

now testing this technology, looks like is coming. The UK will have to

decide if it wants it. Conor McGregor will way M4 at this

year's super fight. It will break all paper view records after months

of build ups. McGregor, the biggest star. Former world champion Chris

Eubank thinks the Irish man can cause a big shock that not many

expect. Everything is possible. That man in McGregor has the will. I am a

fan of boxing. I do not choose sides. The one who is willing to

take deepest and shall mean -- show me what Rocky inspired in me. Going

beyond the call of duty and doing what is crazy, insane,

extraordinary. That man is coming from a place of hunger. In McGregor.

If indeed McGregor boxes him and tries to be clever in that, there is

only one winner. To me, Mayweather cannot lose that fight. If you bring

is that Warrior and makes a fight, then everything and anything could

happen. That is why I am here. That is why I have travelled here to see.

It is not a farce. It is a farce if he uses his tools the wrong way. He

is a character, isn't he? Ben Stokes hit a century for England. The story

of the day was the much improved performance from the tourists. I

think many people were expecting to be talking about the decline of the

cricket after day one here, instead they have given a good account of

themselves. After their defeat at Ed Bastin, the bold expertly. It met

none of the batsmen in England wanted to find form ahead of the

Ashes. England once again had to rely on their captain to pass 54 the

12th successive test. That level is a record. Ben Stokes went further,

he made 100. Stokes on two occasions, once online. The West

Indies must be thinking about what might have been. For England, today

was not good enough. Australia will have watched it with some interest.

The last a wicket before the close. Cot by Alistair Cooke and the West

Indies last night workers on the last day of the last test, there

will be a worry there will be another collapse under U2. Strangely

frustrating day for both sides but West Indies much better. That is all

the sport for now. Breaking news coming into us. They are reporting a

man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm on police

after two officers received minor injuries outside Buckingham Palace,

the official residence of the Queen here in London. They seek no other

injuries have been reported and officers remain on the scene at the

moment and enquiries are ongoing. The Queen is usually at Balmoral in

Scotland at this time of year. It is unlikely that she or any of the

senior members of the Royal family were at home at Buckingham Palace.

We will get more information on that. The Press Association are

reporting that a man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous

bodily harm and assault on police after two officers received minor

injuries outside Buckingham Palace here in central London. This is in

to us from the Metropolitan Police. We have no details whether this was

related to terror at all. We have this information at the moment and

we will bring more information to you as soon as you can. You can get

in touch with me on twitter. Stay with us.

It is a bank holiday weekend for most areas of the country. The

forecast is in decent