Described as steps and mechanisms regarding the implementation of the deal so it seems as though they mean obstacles blocking the u.s. Taliban deal have been dealt with Islamic state militants are reported to have killed 47 Syrian troops and allied militia men in attacks over the past 2 weeks the British based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 militants had also died in what's been an escalation of fighting in the east of the country world news from the b.b.c. Russian prosecutors have asked the court to strip a couple of custody of their child because they took the baby to an opposition rally they said the parents had put their son in danger by taking him to an unauthorized protest against the exclusion of popular opposition politicians from Moscow's local elections the prosecutors allege the couple allowed an activist who is wanted by police to hold the baby to avoid arrest the United Nations has increased its appeal for Zimbabwe to more than $300000000.00 to help it recover from a severe drought that has left millions needing food aid the worst drought in 40 years cut the maize harvest in half and the crisis was exacerbated by Cyclon that hit the region earlier this year a police department in Texas has apologized after photos emerged of 2 white officers on horseback leading a black man on a rope through the streets of Galveston the images shared on social media show Donald nearly handcuffed and attached to a rope. A Spanish man who joked about recycling as he tossed a fridge down a ravine has apologized after being publicly shamed by police he's been named only as Mario Europe regional editor Mike Saunders has been looking at the Phidias that began the downward spiral model of the club long. Ago. But the island this is the soundtrack of the moment Mary oh he defrayed Joe over a roadside barrier and sent it tumbling down a hillside police from Soprano the nature protection unit in the Alamo area in southern Spain had little trouble tracking him down is vans registration plates were clearly visible officers made them both go back to the ravine and haul the fridge and a discarded washing machine up to the roadside and away to add to the humiliation they filmed them doing it and posted the footage alongside the original video b.b.c. News. Hello welcome to News Hour from the b.b.c. World Service We're coming to you live from London my name's Paul Henley The u.s. Imposes sweeping new sanctions on the Venezuelan government that's our top story today in just a moment we'll speak to the u.s. Special representative for Venezuela also on the program Pakistan vows it will fight India's decision to revoke the special status of jamu and Kashmir Indian administered Kashmir remains in lockdown with almost all lines of communication blocked we speak to somebody inside the disputed territory and the distinguished American novelist and the 1st black woman to receive a Nobel Prize Toni Morrison has died at the age of 88 we hear about and from her later in the program I remember being at the author's event and I think it was Dr Ro is somebody who said turning worse in this wonderful way I don't think of her as a woman writer. I don't think of her as an African-American writer. I think of her as if he passed away a white male. I. So the categories that we were being put it so I claimed it yes I am Eve like woman writer whatever that means that's coming up in about 30 minutes time we'll also speak to the American poet Nikki Giovanni who knew Toni Morrison for more than 40 years. But 1st the White House has said it will use every appropriate tool to end the presidency of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro it follows an order by President Trump to freeze all Venezuela's assets in the u.s. Sanctions have also been authorized on anyone who provides support for the for the Maduro government Venezuela has been in a deep recession for 5 years more than 50 countries now support the interim president one guy I don't know who's campaigning to take over power speaking in Lima in Peru he reacted to Washington's move. There as a result of the protection of assets the 1st thing we should say is that today what we've been fighting for is guaranteed which is saving Venezuela's overseas assets to be able to use them in Venezuela's recovery that's the 1st thing we have to say to the Venezuelan people the 2nd is that these sanctions aren't against Venezuela they are against the regime and against those that do business at the expense of Venezuelans hunger Elliott Abrams is the State Department special representative for Venezuela and he joins me now live from Peru Welcome Mr Abrams what change do you think these sanctions will bring. We are hoping that they will bring more pressure on the regime. Obviously the pressure that the whole international community has marshalled so far is not enough to bring a return to democracy in Venezuela and the hope is that as the Colombian foreign minister said at the gathering here more sanctions more sanctions more sanctions he said it 3 times will produce the effect that we all want which is the beginning of a democratic transition we had one go I don't know that saying that the sanctions will specifically target the regime but it is always a difficult prospect imposing economic sanctions isn't it on a country economically on its knees How sure are you that those on the point of starvation in Venezuela would be among those to pay. First the sanctions only affect. The government the regime and we have very carefully given all sorts of licenses to guarantee that it doesn't affect that that the sanctions don't affect the people there are always exceptions for humanitarian goods humanitarian organizations N.G.O.s the regime it wanted to could buy food and medicine in the United States any time but what we know is that they are misusing the assets that they do have the gold they're selling the oil they're giving to Russia and China instead of using those assets for the people of that as well are these sanctions don't cause them to do that the hope is that they will cause the regime to stop doing that now the u.s. Says this is a final push for regime change that means that you can see do you that all the other pushes have changed nothing. Well you know it looks like you're losing in a situation like that until the day that you're not losing and the regime falls and the transition to democracy begins but we have always said from the beginning of this that our pressure is going to increase you've seen the coalition grow more recently when Greece recognize one why don't we as a legitimate interim president and all that and countries here are talking about in the in the so-called member group talking about how more pressure can be brought to bear and they would especially like European sanctions on the regime and on the people from the regime who use Europe frankly as a playground where they own homes they have bank accounts and they use the money they've stolen from the Venezuelan people so we will keep this up until such time as. There is a democratic transition. Isn't there an argument that the opposition is actually in a weakened state right now than it has been in a long time because there was a botched attempt to bring one why go into power earlier this year I don't think so I think in January for example the regime would never have a Oslo talks I remember hearing in January February you know if things don't happen 30 days you will see the united opposition become completely divided. And it hasn't happened the the opposition is still quite united under the leadership of one why does the international coalition still as we saw today in this meeting in Lima about a letter of $65.00 countries the international community is united we recently have the report of Michele Bachmann let the u.n. High Commissioner for Human Rights about the abuses of the regime so I think this coalition is growing I think the regime is weakening I think the sanctions are reducing its access to money and we will just keep on pushing because this is what we have lots of opinion polls this is what the people of Venezuela want they want a return to the democracy and prosperity that the country used to enjoy you mentioned the importance of Europe coming on board and have you actually had assurances from European governments that they will join these new sanctions. We have heard in one or 2 cases that they will others have said that they will if and when the Oslo talks collapse we think actually that's quite foolish they should be applying the pressure now to make sure the slow talks succeed but you know it's always tough to get 28 countries to agree on anything and we'll see what cunt countries I think in Europe should be paying a lot more attention to at least visa restrictions so that again. Countries in Europe can. Being used as a resort area for people who have stolen tens and hundreds of millions from the people of Venezuela if this last push fails is military intervention still on the table well it's always on the table you know we have the ability to do it so no president is ever going to say it's not on the table but that's not the policy we're following the policy we're following now is a policy of political diplomatic economic financial pressure as part of a very large international coalition thank you very much Elliott Abrams the State Department special representative for Venezuela in the u.s. That's got some more explanation now of how these new sanctions might work Russ Dalen is the head of Caracas capital markets brokerage He joins me now live from Miami Russ what did you make of Elliott Abrams and confidence. I think he has a lot to be confidence about you did not well and too much in the past but. Eliot has been. Seen a lot of political changes in Latin America and has had a hand in many of them from the the funding the Contras in Nicaragua or helping develop that which ended up with Nicaragua returning to democracy to even in Panama where u.s. Force was used intervene and and take out Noriega So I think. You know not really without its controversy as indeed this one might be who will the sanctions target specifically how will it work. So you're targeting basically anything anyone in the murder they're not targeting the private sector they are targeting anyone in the majority him and they have a son as well as the central bank and how important is it that others join them Europe. Well they're going to be very important but the the the point of the sanctions the way this was done to untap slate and in the executive order it's. Secondary and 3rd in income impacts of it in other words if you're a company if you're in or a rogue nation or if you're in a country that doesn't play along with the consensus China or Russia for example and you're doing business with Venezuela and you use a bank that has ties or a branch in America those assets can now be seized so that the long lasting long reach of the of those of these sanctions are what make them critically critically important the u.s. Can only say one last push for a limited time counted it eventually has it just failed No I think you're seeing a ratcheting up of sanctions all of these you know it if we just with you know if it if it went to the armed intervention wouldn't we be criticized for example for not have tried every peaceful method we could to get to the same result is this effectively a a trade embargo is this is this making it toxic for anyone to do business with Venezuela which is presumably the the aim. Yes it is and if Europe joins in that would be helpful the u.s. Of course does have a massive machinery and so much of the world's economy use the dollar and uses American and Western created banking systems that give the u.s. Very very very long arm jurisdiction over. Anyone that chooses n. People want to have access to the u.s. Market so it's if you're a Chinese bank you want to have access to the u.s. Market. You know where you can have a database a bank account or 'd you can have access to the u.s. Market which is more valuable now it's tough economic facts that have reduced Venezuelan citizens to then knees oil production is full and to levels not seen since the 1940 s. But also because of a ban on shipments to the u.s. Imposed this year that robbed Venezuela of its largest single source of hard currency it's the people of Venezuela to a large extent been a paying the price isn't it. And very much so that they were paying that price long before the United States put sanctions on the serious sanctions blocking oil come to the United States only started in January when actually they were initiated in general but didn't really be active until February so don't be in application for a few months however. 20 years ago when Chavez was elected in 1000 then as well as producing a half 1000000 barrels a day last month seeing 700 less than 750021st tent of what it was and that's the result of corruption. Communism dictatorship. Expropriation. Hiring people for political loyalty rather than meritocracy rest then and there you hear such Royds Golding thank you very much from live from Miami then apologies for the quality of the line right at the end of that interview with the b.b.c. World Service live from London this is News Hour. Coming up as democracy protests in Hong Kong become increasingly violent China has accused demonstrators of pushing the territory towards an abyss later we'll hear from the spokesman for the office of Hong Kong and Macau Yang Guang who told reporters the territory stability and prosperity were at stake I must warn all criminals not to misjudge the situation and wrist a cow restraint for weakness they must not underestimate the just power of Hong Kong society to safeguard the stability of the legal system they must not underestimate the firm determination and tremendous strength of the central government the news headlines the Nobel Prize winning American novelist Tony Morrison has died at the age of $88.00 and a confidential un report accuses North Korea of using sophisticated cyber attacks to steal $2000000000.00 to fund its weapons programs. This is Paul Henley with news hour live from the b.b.c. Now the Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has promised to fight India's decision to strip Delhi administrate administered Kashmir of its special status he told Parliament the move could further escalate tensions between the 2 countries and he demanded a response from the international community the end of it ministers side of the disputed region remains in lockdown video images show Indian troops there patrolling deserted streets in Srinagar a former chief minister of Kashmir moved to years a mum's a several politicians in Kashmir who were put under house arrest by Delhi her daughter teacher job it now no longer knows where her mother is following reports she's been moved and detained further as a communications blackout in Srinagar and consequently it's difficult to get any information out but we managed to put questions to a teacher and get her to record her answers this is what she told us currently they've placed my mother Denson in a government guest house and she's been gone since yesterday and I'm hearing rumors about how she might be transferred to an undisclosed location and I'm obviously back with worry because they're not allowing me to communicate with her and I'm not allowed to visit her. She doesn't have access to our loyal she has absolutely no contact with the outside world and I believe the Internet stablish Mint is scared that they're misadventure is obviously going to cause a huge backlash here and they feel like they're not equipped to face that and that explains why they've please the state in arc of you for an indefinite period of time tell me what is life like in Srinagar right now where there's deathly Garm and a sense of irony the car that was at the rally and I don't hear any cars under order. I you know haven't heard any sort of movement and I've been confined to my house like many other Kashmiris in the valley if you know it seems like tough times ahead because we don't know what to expect and we don't know how long there's going to be this mass arrest for you know people had an inkling that this was going to happen but the man other rushed manner in which it was done just is very sedate stick it's callous and it's obviously illegal and it's not constitutional either. After yesterday's announcement there's obviously been a complete clampdown so there's no way for people to express how they feel and. This blackout is an precedented I don't think there's ever been a time in the past 30 years where even landline connections have been suspended so in case of emergencies people don't know what they're going to do and there's you know or a sense of like I mean Reagan and I don't know what's going to happen would you have described yourself as a loyal Indian citizen well as an Indian I feel a. Sense of betrayal I feel like we've been betrayed our trust has been broken I always. Believed in the Idea of India with you know diversity celebrated where people from all religions can coexist and live together in a peaceful manner it feels like we've been stabbed in our back and I want the rest of the country to know that they are being the child the wrong information they are being conditioned in a way that they end up hating and demonizing Kashmiris and that's only going to increase the sense of alienation that our weakest needy whether he's young whether he's old you know those are the kind of the sense of alienation that they feel because of even in a stablish ment in India as such I feel like this is going to have far reaching consequences not only for the people of Kashmir in the valley but also for the entire subcontinent what would you like the outside world to do now whatever has happened in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the past 24 hours is not only illegal and unconstitutional it's also very sadistic the way this entire plan has been executor id short how callous the central government has been towards the people of Kashmir and it seems the only point where they are consistent in their approach towards. That they want the state but they don't want it people so I can only pray that the international community does something and speaks up on behalf of Kashmiris who need a wise to represent them right now I also want everybody to know that like everybody else I cannot make any phone calls I have a restricted access right now I don't know how long I'll have it for and I'm pretty sure whatever few interviews I've given to media outlets is they're going to rile up the Indian government and it's going to I am expecting a very hostile reaction from them and I'm not sure if I'm safe anymore I might be kept under arrest and they might take me as well and give that happens I want everybody to nor that you know we are being subjected to a lot of anxiety a lot of uncertainty and we don't deserve that and if I can't be horrid after this then people should nor that the Royce of Kashmir has been completely suppressed today and anybody who speaks up for Kashmiris all on behalf of Kashmir is going to be punished that was Jahvid the daughter of the former chief minister of German Kashmir men who were moved to speaking to us from Srinagar in Indian controlled Kashmir. Now last year more than a 3rd a vintage Scotch whisky were found to be fake following testing at a specialist laboratory the counterfeit whisky trade is thought to be worth more than $600000000.00 a year but scientists believe that they've now developed a new weapon in the fight against it Jonathan Savage has this report in 2017 a Chinese millionaire spent $10000.00 on a glass of whisky it purported to be a single malt and open since being bottled in 80. 78 unfortunately for the buyer the unwitting Swiss hotel which sold him the drum the whiskey with a fake expert tasters say they're pretty good at telling the difference between real and fake the likes of Annabel Meikle who runs the keepers of the quake a global Scotch whisky society you're looking at the Whisky looking at the color of it you know it is actually the most effective weapon you pick up thousands of Iranians a day and your tongue is relatively blunt because you're really any picking up sweet sour salty bitter no scientists the Glasgow University in Scotland of course have developed an artificial tongue source sensitive it can recognise whether whisky is 1215 or 18 years old it can pick up on subtle distinctions between whiskeys aged in different barrels so should the likes of Annabel Mikal be worried about redundancy Not so says lead researcher Allister Clarke we're not really trying to put anybody out of a job or compete with any of your life risk it if there's really what this is about is a nice optical way to determine the chemical compounds within our complex mixture that we've chosen whiskey to demonstrate that's where we could equally have done it with any soft drink or river water or this we're told means this tongue could also be used in food safety testing quality control even security Annabel Meikle is enthusiastic above all we want to mend tain the wonderful quality reputation it's got whiskey industry has for producing the best spirits unoiled And also you would help to reduce some of the really quite boring testing blenders have to do and I know you may think that tasting whiskies are really nice job but I think consumers would be very surprised to know how many tests the bottle of whiskey had gone through before they were pouring it into this isn't the 1st artificial tongue but the researchers see it's the 1st to use 2 different types of 9 a scale met. Tastebuds making testing faster and more accurate a development to which whisky lovers will happily raise a glass that report from Jonathan savage with News Hour from the b.b.c. World Service. Distribution of the b.b.c. World Service News Hour in the us is made possible by American Public Media producer and distributor of award winning public radio content a.p.m. American Public Media with support from the United States Postal Service offering us postage stamps for purchase at more than $40000.00 supermarkets drugstores office suppliers and wholesale clubs. I'm Robert Siegel during my years in the news business I've seen a lot of improvement in cars better mileage emissions and safety but here's the greatest advance that I've seen yet now your old car can be turned into more of all things considered imagine that donate your car to the station and turn it into the programs you call 186-6789 t.m.c. Take my car please work a r.c.c. Dot org. Coming up on news out in the next 30 minutes Chelsea Football Club apologizes to victims of a serial sex abuser in the 1970 s. a Long time friend of Toni Morrison remembers the writer an activist whose death has been announced and why the bricks it stalemates appears to be deepening that's all to come after this news. B.b.c. News with Julie Candler one of America's leading authors Toni Morrison has died at the age of 88 she won great acclaim for her portrayal of African American life and was the 1st black woman to win the Nobel Literature Prize awarded to have for the visionary force and poetic import of her novels perhaps the best known of the Miss beloved a confidential un report says North Korea is using sophisticated cyber attacks to fund its weapons programs sources told the b.b.c. That Pyongyang had stolen an estimated $2000000000.00 by targeting financial institutions and crypto currency exchanges the Afghan Taliban have confirmed that the main obstacles to securing a deal with the United States about ending the conflict in Afghanistan have been resolved but only discussions about technical details remain it suggest the militants have given up their rejection of talks with the Afghan government Russian prosecutors want to take a charge from his parents because they took the boy to an anti government demonstration last month they allege they put the child in danger by allowing him activists to hold him in order to avoid arrest a peace deal has finally been signed between the Mozambican government and the former Bernama rebel group 27 years after the end of the Civil War a breakaway faction could still undermine the deal police in the Us city of Galveston have apologized after 30 years emerged of 2 white officers on horseback leading a handcuffed black man on a rope through the streets the images have provoked outrage officials in Paris say 16 children who were close to not regard Cathedral when it caught fire in April should be monitored because of high levels of lead in their blood and estimated 400 tonnes of lead in the roof and spy went up in smoke when the blaze took hold b.b.c. News. Coming up next more on the death of the acclaimed American novelist Toni Morrison but 1st Chelsea Football Club in London is at the center of the sex abuse scandal dating back to the 1970 s. An independent report published by the club says a prolific manipulative and sophisticated abuser was able to operate unchallenged their Chelsea f.c. Has apologised unreservedly I asked Natalie percs who's from b.b.c. Sports what this report said look up said this 247 page exhausted review intended to shine a bright light into the dark corners of the club's history I was conducted by Specialist child protection barrister Charles geeky q.c. More than 100 people have been interviewed including $23.00 victims and thousands of pages of evidence looked at and it concludes that some adults at this club turned a blind eye to the reflect sexual abuse committed by the club's former chief scout Eddie Heath in the 1970s he's a man described as a prolific manipulative and sophisticated sexual abuser who carried out of use that was planned and systematic and on challenge now the events took place between 1989 in 1978 victims were between just 10 and 70 years old he was known as The Starmaker at Chelsea but to many boys in the review he's described as being no chillingly as night and day the reports also very critical of former assistant manager Dario Gradi the b.b.c. Approached Mr grotty for a comment didn't it yes and he has declined to respond essentially what the review says is that he's accused him of failing to tell more senior club staff about an allegation of abuse by hate that was bought to him by the parent of a young player it goes on to describe how he went to the players' house met his dad had cake that the mom had made. A century try to smooth over the boys' complaints it's also claimed. Broady then told at the Hague about the complaint which then expose the victim to further bullying and intimidating behavior and it just drives it really is a lost opportunity which stopped it from going on which could have stopped essentially from going on to abuse others now Broady has denied all of this he's annoyed trying to smooth over the matter but the review found his denial to be somewhat unlikely and unconvincing the club Chelsea today's released a lengthy statement apologizing to overextend unreservedly and saying we must continue to challenge ourselves to do better as a club and a sport there were allegations too of racism here one yes there's another set for review conducted by the children's charity Bernardo's about racial abuse from 1902 all right up until the late ninety's and it found overwhelming information that young players in the eighty's and ninety's were subject subjected to bullying and racially abusive behavior it says there is credible proof that former Chelsea coach Quinn William subjected black players to a daily tirade of racial abuse this is something he's denied Chelsea says this alleged behavior took place in an environment where racism had become normalized of course there was an absence of the safeguarding procedures we now see in place today Chelsea went on to say as a club we want to apologize for this deeply shocking behavior that was Natalie put from b.b.c. Sports reporter. You're listening to News Hour from the b.b.c. I'm Paul Henley Toni Morrison was an American novelist civil rights campaigner and professor emeritus at Princeton University she won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for literature the 1st African-American woman to do so she's just died in New York Barack Obama described her as a national treasure and speaking to the b.b.c. The American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson paid tribute to her to all wills not gotten you know very well like. The like again one thing it went over well the road sort of thing as. You well know. Because you know the. My news our colleague power interviewed Toni Morrison a number of times including in front of an audience of 2000 at the Hay Festival of Literature and arts in 2014 she asked her to what extent she embraced the title of female African American writer I remember being at her author's event and I think it was Dr Ro is somebody who said turning worse in this wonderful writer I don't think of her as a woman writer. I don't think of her as an African-American writer. I think of her as if he passed her I think did a white male a I. So the categories that we were being put it so I claimed it yes I am Eve like woman writer whatever that means. As I continued writing the problem became the gays the white gays that was always present in so many books by African-Americans men on the whole. Baldwin Yes it is right yes yes they were not writing to me. And I always used the title of Ralph Ellison's book which I love by the way this is an extraordinary book but the title set me that a little because it was then visible man and I thought invisible to home. To them you know so it was like the even the best of the slave narratives were addressed to the readers were always assumed to be white people and not black people so I was determined not to do that you grew up in in Lorain Ohio and experienced institutionalized segregation as a child where did your sense of your identity as an African-American girl come from did it come more from your father your mother your grandparents because all of them had different perspectives on the white and they would I wasn't I didn't experience a black neighborhood or segregation at all but as one notices that on Sunday. Well you see the divisions there are like 4 black churches and 9 Catholic Church. And then there were the proudest 2 or 3 and so on Sundays we went to our specific ethnic things but otherwise it was fully exchange but to really answer the question about the feeling it was very much family oriented because it was such a family of storytelling and singing. That it was inescapable and it was participatory that is the saide test a child I had to retell those stories to other adults same story over and over again but I was allowed to edit it me and my sister you could change it a little bit you could recite it a little bit but you were very much involved in that process of telling these stories that were pretty much Horace to her kids about life as it had their African American I mean they were powerful and highly metaphorical but that's really what was at the bottom of it Toni Morrison speaking to news hours Razia it pal in 2014 we can talk now live to someone who's a good friend of Toni Morrison for over 40 years she's Nikki Giovanni poet and author and she joins me Nikki welcome all ask you what her last means for literature in a moment but but 1st what does her loss mean for you when her loss for me meant that it's ironic that my latest book was called a good cry because when I received the call this morning that Tony had transitioned tears just flew out of my so. I am incredibly sad and I mean no quarrel I meant no actually just being said but you know Tony hasn't left us Tony has no more left less than Shakespeare has left us then then Jesus is leftist she will always be with us and she will always be allied with us and are her stories will always be a lie because in a great story teller which told me was in a great truth teller which Tory told me was and. In terms of friends one day I too would transition them with any luck I'll get to visit with Tony but because she's going to have an always an hour. He's not going to hell because I dislike so many people but. It is just it she has not left us and so when we say you know what what does it mean to literature what she has given to literature it is a seat that will continue to grow How did you 1st meet. Because she's one of the 2 writers actually that I. Tracked when I read The Bluest Eye I lived in New York I lived on 92nd Street and she was a teacher she was. An editor at Random I read The Bluest Eye and it was like I want to meet this person and I lived in New York for almost 20 years but I never took the subway I never understood the subway system and so I didn't really have a lot of money and so what I did was I walked from 92nd all the way down to Random House and I got there and they had a garden you know wasn't as crazy as it is now but they had a guard the guard is like who do you want what can I do for you and I said I want to meet Toni Morrison and he said she expecting you and I said no you know yes and I don't think so and he said Well can I have your name and I gave him my name and she came down she said you know a letter let terror I'm coming down and she came down on went to a coffee shop and I was thrilled that she actually you know something she knew my work some of my work at least us you successfully stalked didn't you in fact I thought Yeah I actually did and I want my book signed whether they curse edition sign and we became friends because I. Guess the term would be fell in love I just thought most fascinating writer. Not that I didn't like or enjoy other writers but there was something about the bluer side and then when I came out it was like oh my God I mean what a genius we have here and we continue to be to be friends I have daughter but you can probably call anybody who's literate and you're going to get the exact same answer you know we all had you not love Toni Morrison African-American female writer useful tie go not do you embrace it. That's who I am I'm a I'm a black American and you know you won't hear me say African-American because I've been in America people have been in America for years and we're Americans and we are black and I think that's a good thing is a lot of craziness going on now but I'm not in the mood to talk about the craziness and the emotional space right now of missing something that has been taken from me but yeah I'm a black writer and I hope that I'm a good one and I hope that I do a good job and know that when Tony stepped over and went into that other space which she recognized if you read March and you know that she talks about the Dead talk into the living and I know when she made that step over and know that that they all said Good job you did a good job. If somebody wants to read something that really you could recommend what what what should they go to have Toni Morrison's what should be the 1st taste of her Let's see my my my my favorite book and I've read it several times assume I absolutely love sooner and Tony and I would actually argue if you can argue with an Arthur about her book but we would argue when similar I hope you read it but sooner is walking down the road and she sort of flips her hat back and I said to Tony she's going to Fisk University and she and it's like no she's going to Howard and so how do you select Tony went to Howard and I went to this and I said No no certainly it is a 1st graduate you can tell that and Resa talk about that but if you only had one Toni Morrison to read I really suppose the only what if you only had one it should be probably Song of Solomon but I love I just absolutely love to listen to and I have read and read read and I've made a note thank you very much for that tribute to your friend Toni Morrison that was poet and author Nikki Giovanni. Now a standoff between the new British prime minister and Bracks at negotiators in Brussels seems to be toughening in the last few days Brussels has accused the new cabinet in London of embracing a no deal British departure from the European Union as its central plan ministers in London in turn accuse negotiators of being intransigent obstinate Michael Gove's who's the u.k. Minister in charge of no deal planning up held that position we've been absolutely clear that we need to change the withdrawal agreement because it couldn't get through Parliament and we can't have a deal that doesn't come on the confidence of the government the parliament and the country and that's why we've been clear with the European Union that we need a new approach and we stand ready to engage with the European Union to negotiate in good faith to make sure that we can have a friendly relationship in the future and we will put all our energy into making sure that we can secure that good deal but at the moment it's the you that seems to be saying they're not interested they're simply saying no we don't want to talk well I think that's wrong and said it's not in Europe's interests however the Republic of Ireland's prime minister lay over Radko said while the e.u. Had clearly stated its position it was always open to more talks there are many ways by which no deal can be avoided either at the ratification of the withdrawal agreement further extension or revocation of Article 50 So there are number of ways by which no deal can be avoided on the 31st walked over so I'm certainly not fatalistic about that in terms of the position your position is that the withdrawal agreement including the backstop is closed but there is always room for talks and negotiations the B.B.C.'s Aleem Maqbool met the u.k. Foreign Minister Dominic Rob was in the us at the moment with an eye on prospects of trade talks he asked him whether the u.k. Was negotiating trade with the us from a position of desperation with an American president of validly America 1st we've made clear we're not going to engage in a race to the bow. Often on regulatory standards and of course there's always a debate about these things but the reality is we've got a massive consumer market in the u.k. Which is a great export market already for the u.s. And overseas the u.s. Is a big market but if you were not simply large down the pecking order when it comes to the u.s. Into trading what would figure largest economy in the world a massive middle class consumer base there's huge opportunities for when we're trading on both sides and notwithstanding your rather pessimistic or skeptical questions which are in taking talking to us we have got the leadership at the very highest level of the American president saying that actually this is something he really wants to do and that must be an up side so we want to grasp that opportunity u.k. Foreign minister Dominique Robb you're with the b.b.c. World Service and this is news on Live from London. Distribution of the b.b.c. World Service News Hour in the u.s. Is made possible by American Public Media producer and distributor of award winning public radio content a.p.m. American Public Media with support from Home Advisor committed to helping homeowners find and hire local pros for their home projects homeowners can read customer reviews check project cost guides and book appointments online at Home Advisor dot com or on the mobile app. Here's a reminder of our top story this hour Venezuela's government has condemned Washington's decision to freeze its assets in the u.s. And block transactions by the leaders in Caracas the u.s. Envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams told this program he hoped the fresh sanctions would bring down the government in Caracas we are hoping that they will bring more pressure on the regime obviously the pressure that the whole international community has marshalled so far there's not enough to bring a return to democracy in Venezuela and the hope is that more sanctions more sanctions will produce the effect that we all want which is the beginning of a democratic transition that was the u.s. Envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams one news headline the Nobel Prize winning American novelist Tony Morrison has died at the age of $88.00. This is Paul Henley with news hour live from the b.b.c. The Chinese government has issued its sternest warning yet to pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong that they shouldn't underestimate Beijing's resolve in restoring order there at a news conference the spokesman from the office of Hong Kong and Macau yang going told reporters that those who played with fire would perish by it he said the territory stability and prosperity were at stake we are going to hear founded and. Hear more well I must warn all criminals not to misjudge the situation and risk taker restraint for weakness they must not underestimate the just power of Hong Kong society to safeguard the stability of the legal system they must not underestimate the firm determination and tremendous strength of the central government and the people of the whole country to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and safeguard the fundamental interests of the country an independent politician in Hong Kong legislature Claudia Mo told this program that China knew the cost could be very high if it deployed its army against the protesters I should think all the land the people and Beijing should realize it would be such a high stakes game for them to intervene in Hong Kong militarily because the international acknowledge make. The play match it to our political costs would be huge I think as a result the richest school repeating how much they support the Hong Kong police force Claudia Mowen independent politician in Hong Kong for the moment though Beijing seems to have faith in the ability of local police and the administration of Kerry Lam to handle the situation in Hong Kong but how much longer Robert Lawrence Kune is long term advisor to China's leaders and to. The National cooperations operating in China he joins me now live from New York welcome Robert Strong words from China especially since so far they've kept out pretty much of what was happening why no one needs to understand the importance of Hong Kong's a China there are 2 economic reasons and 2 or maybe 3 political reasons economically hunk on has been the window to China has facilitated its grand reform and opening up one of the greatest economic developments perhaps the greatest economic development in history but that is less important today frankly because of the rise of Shanghai and John you know the cities and China however what's called the greater Bay Area the ground on Hong Kong Macau coordinated economic development is exceedingly important it's the it's the the mechanism by which China will transform its economy from our high. Depended upon. Labor and cheap goods to high quality so it's exceedingly important politically. Exemplifies the One Country 2 Systems strategy that China has employed the hope in the future of course to apply it to Taiwan a very dicey issue it also reflects China's national pride and it is this it is a signal of China's soft power how it manages So all of that together makes makes Beijing very careful to abide by the original rules which supports the local government however there are 2 significant red lines pardon the pun that will not be tolerated number one is any move towards quasi independence or any separatism this is a very big deal in China they just published a white paper on China's national defense and in the new era as it's called and separatism whether it's in Tibet or shin John were. Hong Kong or Taiwan is has been elevated in importance so this is this is critical the 2nd red line is chaos riots China says that stability has is the critical aspect for development that's the billet he is critical they certainly don't want to encourage any sort of activity that would that would allow violence or against the rule of law or undermining the economic development and with the worry that that could spread to the mainland if they're not if they're not vigilant somehow try stealing getting redlines on to being cross then when civil servants a saying that they will join an as a citywide strike in Hong Kong on Monday for example it is becoming serious if you track the approach of the Chinese media over the last several months as this has been developing an issue it was not reported at all it just was just with a blank and then it became. Very critical as the as the violence and the riots were occurring as they called them in and in Hong Kong and to where now it is it is it is disrupting the economy the government hopes that the people of Hong Kong government upon con will be strong enough to overcome this for their own for their own good but ultimately if they can't China will do whatever it has to do and with the way I say it is this they will do the absolute minimum in terms of intervention they either with words or with or beyond words that they have to do but they will do whatever they have to do to protect those 2 core interests but if it comes to military action and some kind of crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong by troops from Beijing it would be done right in the glare of the international media would they possibly risk that it is. Absolutely the last thing that they would do they've been questioned about this they say that the purpose of the military and again you could read that white paper just came out it very very clear on all these topics they will that the purpose of the military is to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity so that's a signal at the same time they say that they have absolute faith in the government they do not want Terry Lamb to resign that would be giving in to protesters there supporting her and her government very strongly supporting the police encouraging the people to stop the 2 for their own sake to stop the violence but they're looking at it very carefully so no no move is off the table and in a few woods because becoming to the end of the program how realistic an option do you think Democratic self rule he's from Hong Kong. As close to 0 as as one can going to estimate don't think it will happen I do not I don't think that's in try to centrists whether it's in our concentricity is. A question of great debate of course but that is. That change which is what I would call a move towards quasi independence is where China will not go out thank you very much that was Robert Lawrence Kune who's an advisor to Chinese leaders and to multinational companies operating inside China he was on the line from New York and he brought to an end this edition of News out thank you very much for listening we hope you can join us again very soon for the whole team for now. You're listening to the b.b.c. World news on k. Or c c To southern Colorado's n.p.r. Station Kera c.c. Broadcasts on 91.5 f.m. From our studios in Colorado Springs Colorado you can also hear cares you see in the following communities 88.5 f.m. In West Cliff and Gardner 89 point one f.m. In La Hunter 89.9 f.m. In Lyman 90 point one f.m. In Manitou Springs 91.7 f.m. In Trinidad and return you Mexico 94 point one f.m. In Walsenburg and love Fida 95.5 f.m. In Lake George and Hartsell 95.7 f.m. In saliva universe to end Villa Grove and 105.7 f.m. In Canyon City for questions or comments please call 719-473-4801 during regular business hours you can always become a member of k. Or c c by going to k. Or c c dot au r.g.p. And make. Your financial contributions safely on line. Welcome to News Hour from the b.b.c. World Service I'm Paul Henley Coming up we'll hear from President Trump's envoy to Venezuela on the White House a stronger sanctions yes against the government of Nicolas Maduro a giant of African American literature Toni Morrison has died it was a very avid reader and less than a. Life that had been I think a little getting a little bit just remainder reading other 2 sides in bricks it negotiations just posturing or have things reached a real stalemate and as India ministered Kashmir remains in lockdown we speak to the daughter of the territory's last Chief Minister who says she feels betrayed it seems the only point that they're consistent in their approach towards meter is that they want the state but they don't want its people at all to come. After this news. Hello I'm Julie Kantor with the b.b.c. News the distinguished American novelist Toni Morrison has died at the age of 88 she received huge critical acclaim for her works betraying the life of black America.