Transcripts For BBCAMERICA BBC World News 20141016

Indications from the Oscar Pistorius hearing that it may be several more weeks before the judge sentences the athlete. Reporter im Karin Giannone live outside the court in pretoria where reeva steenkamps cousin has said she wants Oscar Pistorius to pay for what hes done. And continuing our series on the u. S. Midterm elections, we take the blues highway to americas poorest state, mississippi. Those blues is what i play and its what im gonna do for the rest of my life. Hello, and welcome to the program. The World Health Organization has said that a major outbreak of ebola in north america and western europe is unlikely given their Strong Health systems. While president obama also said that the risk of americans getting the virus was extremely low, although he ordered a much more aggressive response. The u. S. Is investigating how a nurse infected when treating a victim in texas was then allowed to travel on a plane. From dallas, this report. Reporter americas latest ebola patient being taken from dallas to a specialized unit in atlanta. Amber vinson, like the other nurse who was infected with the virus, had been caring for thomas eric duncan, the liberian who developed symptoms after arriving in texas. Protective measures were apparently not properly taken. She was infected and developed symptoms of the virus. President obama cancelled a trip to deal with the increasing concern over the way that Texas Health Presbyterian hospital has been dealing with the virus. If we do these protocols properly, if we follow the steps, if we get the information out, then the likelihood of widespread Ebola Outbreaks in this country are very, very low. Reporter this is not a hospital that specializes in contagious diseases like ebola. But so far, its record on the outbreak has not been good. First, a misdiagnosis left mr. Duncan contagious and in the community for four days. Then, a breach in protocol led to two nurses being infected, dozens more now under observation. And whats more, a nurse who is under quarantine was able to travel on a commercial flight. It doesnt inspire confidence in the promise that everything will be done to prevent the spread of ebola. The nurse was in selfmonitoring quarantine, but flew to ohio to visit family. She flew back the day before being diagnosed with ebola, and doctors are trying to trace 132 passengers on her flight for monitoring. The risk of transmission is said to be low. We spoke her family members, and were looking at getting information. Now, the thing is that were looking at being able to construct a good timeline of where the Health Care Worker was when she was here and where she traveled and who she was with, and that takes a little bit of time. Reporter she arrived in atlanta and was taken to the emery hospital, one of four in america which is a specialized unit to deal with highly infectious diseases. A Fast Response team has now been set up for future ebola cases. To ensure the procedures are followed to the letter, to prevent medical workers from being infected and to restore confidence in americas ability to control what began as one single ebola case. An update on the situation in the united states. Here in europe, Health Ministers are meeting in brussels, and our correspondent chris morrisbrussr correspondent chris morris is there for us. On the top agenda is screening at airports. Reporter it is, yeah. But i think there are differences of opinion. We know that britain, for example, has already started screening at Heathrow Airport, and that will be extended to Gatwick Airport in london and to its eurostar train arrival terminal. We understand that paris and france airports in paris will start screening on saturday. But on the way into the Health Ministers meeting today, the Finnish Health minister said finland doesnt believe this is a good idea. People are already screened on their exit from west africa. Its a bit of a waste of time and money to screen them a couple of hours later when they arrive in europe, because the chances of ebola symptoms suddenly emerging in that twohour period are pretty slim. I think the alternative argument is yes, but the useful thing about entry screening is that information can be given. If you experience symptoms after you arrive in europe, heres the number to get hold of. This is what you do. Make sure you know the medical route that you need to take if youre worried about ebola in any sense. So differences of opinion. And i think also a more general focus on the understanding that europe probably can cope with a few cases of ebola and the concentration, the focus in europe needs to be how to get more help to where its really needed in west africa. Exactly. And on that point, eu leaders are under pressure to actually follow americas example and send troops to the affected region. Well, its something people are talking about. I suspect thats beyond the pay grade of a meeting of Health Ministers. Theyre not going to be able to deploy troops from europe. But overall, the eu has already sent about 180 Million Euros worth of material and help to the affected countries. But next week, there will be a meeting of eu leaders. Perhaps that higher level of meeting, there will be a more concerted discussion about what more practically they can do to get medical teams on the ground where theyre needed. Okay, chris morris, thanks for keeping us abreast of that discussion in brussels. Also, you can get much more on this unfolding situation via a new program that were showing you here on bbc world news. At 1830 gmt, we will be bringing a special program with the very latest on this outbreak. That program is going to be on air every day this week right here on bbc world news. I hope you can join us for that. Now, lets get all the business news, because weve had some bad news for stock markets around the world. Lots of turbulence today. Alice is here to bring us up to date with everything. Its been something of a roller coaster, hasnt it . That turmoil on the markets continues today right across the globe. Inflation figures just out in the last hour. Here in the eurozone, indicated in september it slipped to its lowest level in five years, and that sent european stocks plunging, having initially bucked the trend and opened higher. Here you can see where they stand at the moment. The cac in france down over 3 . That is quite a substantial drop. Lets go live now to singapore and talk to our chief Business Correspondent linda yu. A bit of a roller coaster, as i was saying. Things looked like they were improving here in europe and then this inflation data comes out and suddenly were back in the red again. Yeah, very much so, alice. I think what its reflecting is when you confirm inflation is so low at. 3 annual price rises, the specter of deflation arises again. Remember, its about the lowest rate of inflation in five years. And why Global Markets are royaled is because its not just the eurozone, we also see about fiveyear lows for inflation in china, even in india, a country that a year ago was coping with doubledigit inflation in. The united states, inflation is below target in. The uk, its also below target. So what were seeing is a real concern that slow growth is contributing to low prices, but as we know, what we worried about five years ago is that if prices are too low, that means that Major Economies could have to contend again with the danger of price falls, deflation. And you know from japan, it can take more than a decade to try to escape a deflationary trap if a country finds itself in it. And that helps explain why it is, we saw u. S. Stocks really fall dramatically at the open yesterday. Its close down, the main benchmark index , asia followed u. S. , and close lowered today by japan. Stocks are down by more than 2 at the close. And thats the concern that were beginning to see in markets around the world. Can companies and countries cope if deflation and slow growth persist. Of course, other issues like ebola, sluggish data out of china, all weighing on the markets. Linda yeuh, as ever, good to talk to you. That is all the business for now. Ill be back in about an hours time for a little bit more. Thank you very much. Now, Oscar Pistorius is back in court for a fourth day to hear the arguments about what kind of sentence he should be given for the killing of his girlfriend reeva steenkamp. The South African athlete could be jailed for up to 15 years, or he could stay out of jail and be given a sentence in the community. But a cousin of ms. Steenkamp finished her testimony today by saying that she wanted to see pistorius go to prison. Lets cross over to my colleague Karin Giannone. She is outside the court in pretoria. So another day of some dramatic testimony, karin. Reporter kasia, thats right. And today were learning that were unlikely, very unlikely to get a sentence in the Oscar Pistorius trial by the end of the week. Were expecting because simply the amount of time thats been taken with witnesses so far that the court has run out of time this week, and judgment masipa has indicated shes busy for the next three weeks, so then presumably she would have to tomorrow adjourn the actual sentencing itself to november. So well talk more about that in just a second. What weve been hearing this morning so far, the day started with kim martin, the cousin of reeva steenkamp, back on the witness stand. Yesterday, she was talking about the emotional and Financial Impact of reevas death on the family. And today, she talked about the wishes of the family towards what they would regard as an appropriate punishment for Oscar Pistorius. I really believe the accused, mr. Pistorius, needs to pay for what he has done. My family are not people who are seeking revenge. We just feel that to take someones life, to shoot somebody behind a door that is unarmed, that is harmless, needs sufficient punishment. Reporter and after ms. Martin finished on the witness stand, we heard from the head of the prison service. Theyre trying to create a picture of South African prisons being appropriate for Oscar Pistorius and a man with his disabilities to go. Lets bring in a lawyer here in south africa. Manny, why are we going to have this delay most likely . Why wasnt a week sufficient to gate sentencing . I think the evidence was a little bit longer than everybody anticipated, especially the crossexamination and the evidence in rebuttal from the state, with regards to conditions in the prison. They had to call this witness. He had quite extensive evidence painting the picture of what our prisons are like. If somebody with a disability is sentenced to prison, whether theyve got the facilities to provide for that. And also you have to deal with the firearms act, which i dont think should be opposing, whether hes fit to possess a firearm or ammunition. And you also have to deal with legal argument, which theyll be ready tomorrow. And the judge has to consider all of this with the evidence and thereafter consider what is a suitable and appropriate sentence. So in your view, no sentence whatever by the end of the week . No, definitely not. The judge will not be in a position, and theyll argue tomorrow. I think they gave us an indication just now. You have to put up legal argument, consider the evidence, precedent case law, and what your submissions are as to a suitable and appropriate sentence. The judge will have to consider all of this, and then decide in their own mind and arrive to proper judgments, arrive to judgment after taking all the evidence into account, what is appropriate for someone in this position. Mannie, thanks very much for now. The sentencing hearing continues here in pretoria, but were not quite at the end of the process. Indeed, could take many, many more weeks to come. As always, thank you very much. Do follow her and the team in pretoria on twitter. Lots more still coming up on this program, so do stay with us. Hong kongs chief executive proposes talks with students after another night of clashes on the city streets. You love this game. But does the game love you . Who cares . Look where you get to stay booking. Com booking. Yeah guysbelieve this gonna watch this. Sam always gives you the good news in person, then the bad news on email. Good newsfedex has flat rate shipping. Its called fedex one rate ®. And its affordable. Sounds great. cell phone typing typing continues woosh cell phones buzz, chirp and we have to work the weekend. Great. More good newsits friday woo ship a pak via Fedex Express saver® for as low as 7. 50. Hello, you are watching bbc world news. Im kasia madera. Lets bring you up to date with our headlines. The World Health Organization says that a major outbreak is unlikely in north america and western europe, as president obama orders a more aggressive response to future cases. And after an early recovery, european stock markets are falling following slumps in japan and the u. S. Now, blizzards and avalanches in the him leias have killed up to 30 hikers and three farmers. Authorities are still trying to make contact with 70 other trekkers who may have been caught up in one of the deadliest spells of bad weather the region has ever seen. Reporter these mountains attract more than 100,000 visitors to nepal all over the world. But in the high himalayas, weather can be deadly. A rescue operation is now under way after blizzards and several avalanches struck the region. The nepalese government has rescued dozens, but many trekkers are still missing. The mountains that dominate central nepal are the annapurn a m anaslu. Its the most popular time of year to visit the year and weather is usually fine, but freak snowstorms triggered by cyclone hoodhood caught many off guard. A Facebook Page has been set up. Its quickly filled with concerns posts from all around the world as people search for news on their friends and relatives. It comes just months after an avalanche on Mount Everest killed 16 sherpas. Trekking and mountaineering are vital to the countrys economy. Many feel this latest tragedy will badly hurt those that rely on these mountains for their livelihood. Laura westbrook, bbc news. A little earlier, i asked a man from the Trekkers Association of nepal how many people have been rescued so far. Just now, weve got nine of them rescued, to the airport. We have information that a group is waiting in three different places. 24 people waiting, 16 in italy. And we hope to bring them to the airport. If they are in critical conditions, we have asked th them first find out the whereabouts of the people there. So thats an update on the rescue operation there for you. Seven Police Officers in hong kong who were seen on film beating a democracy protester have been suspended. The incident has caused widespread outrage. There were more scuffles overnight, but officers using pepper spray. Earlier, hong kongs leader c. Y. Leung said they are ready to start conversations with protesters. Yes, we are ready. Were prepared to start a dialogue and maintain a dialogue. And this is why over the last few days, and including this morning, through third parties, we expressed the wish to the students that well start the dialogue to discuss universal coverage, and hopefully within the following week. Hong kongs chief executive there. The american envoy coordinating the air campaign against Islamic State militants says air strikes on the syrian town of kobane are being carried out for humanitarian reasons. General john allen said the americanled attacks on the jihadists were intended to relieve Kurdish Forces defending kobane and give them time to reorganize. Meanwhile, the u. S. Says that it has launched five more strikes against i. S. Targets in iraq, north of the capital baghdad. As the fighting and air strikes continues, the iraqi army says its deploying more heavy weaponry to support the military campaign against Islamic State. Reports say that i. S. Fighters in iraq are now in control of towns as near as 40 kilometers from the capital. Our correspondent jim muir is in erbil in northern iraq. He gave us an update on the situation. Since june, theyve taken a lot and held parts of ramadi. Now ramadi is becoming increasingly targeted and theres an increasingly sharp struggle going on for ground between fallujah and baghdad itself. But the americans seem fairly confident that the capital is not actually at risk itself, although theres a bit of anxiety about the isis forces becoming close enough to that, for example, to be able to send rockets or missiles on to baghdad airport, which is on the western approaches to the city, just a little further to the south. So there is, you know, a background concern about baghdad. Anbar province itself has been largely controlled by the rebels and isis for some months, but they do seem to be pressing forward, and that is obviously a source of ongoing concern. And jim, focusing on kobane now, the syrian town that Islamic State have made very apparent that they want to get hold of it. It seems that Kurdish Forces are somehow clawing back control of this particular town. Reporter well, theyre certainly pushing back. Whether theyve actually got full control, thats not clear. They have certainly made some progress in pushing i. S. Out of parts of the city on the west and now increasingly on the east parts of the town or city of kobane. And ive sensed among pyd people, the Kurdish Group defending kobane, are growing confident, that they could actually hold out an enormous win. This has become a symbolic struggle. Its not that strategic, but because i. S. Has chosen to make a target of it, pushed very hard, lost a lot of people in the process. The americans say they believe theyve killed several hundred i. S. Fighters. Because theyve chosen as it were to make an issue of it, its become important symbolically for the two sides equally to win. Jim muir reporting there from erbil. All this week, our north america correspondent has been traveling down the socalled blues highway looking at some of the big concerns ahead of the u. S. Midterm elections. On day four of his journey, hes reached mississippi, the birthplace of the blues, but also the poorest state in america with startling issues of child poverty. One, two, three. Before i was born reporter its day four of our road trip and weve made it to clarksville, which is the town known as the birthplace of the blues. If that wasnt exciting enough, were hear to meet a brilliant blues musician, 10yearold aaron wilkins. When i was around the house when i was little, my granddad just kept playing and then it just kind of caught on. And then it was in my blood. Reporter we were traveling through mississippi, and it was along this route that in the 1930s and 40s there was a mass migration of africanamericans out of this area. They went to try and search for what were there scarce opportunities, and of course, they took with them the music into which they poured all of their burdens, all of their troubles, the blues. Pass the biscuits. Biscuit time. Reporter this is where the longestrunning blues show in the world has been hosted since 1941, and for over 60 years, the man whos been hosting it is right here, sunshine sunny payne. Years ago, your africanamerican people couldnt communicate with white people, so theyd sing about it. Reporter and what about artists coming through . Youve got some great artists today. These kids learned their lesson well from the oldtimers. Everybody knows me reporter people in mississippi today know all about the blues. Theirs is the poorest state. Child poverty has reached shocking levels. Im going to detroit, michigan reporter and there are other problems here. 10yearold aaron lives in one of the roughest neighborhoods in clarksdale with guns and drugs and gangs. The Biggest Issue to me is the stuff that happens in the streets. I want to stay away from that. Youll never see me in the streets no matter what. Because blues is what i play, and its what im gonna do for the rest of my life. Whoo the blues highway there. Lots more, as always, on our website, for me and the team. Thank you very much for watching bbc world news. Byebye. Getting in a groove. Growth is gratifying. Goal is to grow. Gotta get greater growth. I just talked to ups. They got expert advise, special discounts, new technologies. Like smart pick ups. Theyll only show up when you print a label and its automatic. We save time and money. Time . Money . Time and money. Awesome. Awesome awesome awesome awesome all awesome i love logistics. Then give it your all to make a difference. And when you make it to point b, you realize you had even more to give. Capella university can help you do more because our competencybased curriculum is designed for your profession, giving you what you need to get to the place you want to be your point c. Capella university. Start your journey at capella. Edu. Means keeping seven billion ctransactions flowing. G, and when weather hits, its data mayhem. But airlines running hp endtoend solutions are always calm during a storm. So if your business deals with the unexpected, hp big data and Cloud Solutions make sure you always know whats coming and are ready for it. Make it matter. Ur doctor. For free home delivery, enroll in nexium direct today. Im kasia madera with bbc world news. Our top stories. The World Health Organization says a major Ebola Outbreak is unlikely in western europe and north america, as president obama promises a Rapid Response to future cases. Were going to make sure that Something Like this is not repeated, and that we are monitoring, supervising, overseeing in a much more aggressive way. Rescuers in nepal are trying to locate 70 trekkers caught in deadly blizzards, which have killed up to 30 people. Indications from the Oscar Pistorius hearing that it may be several more weeks before the judge sentences the athlete. And with its parliament holed up in a hotel 1,000 kilometers from the capital, is libya on the verge of becoming a failed state . We have a special report. Hello, and welcome to the program. The World Health Organization has said that a major outbreak of ebola in the u. S. And elsewhere in the west is unlikely, given their Strong Health systems. President obama also said that the risk of americans getting the virus was extremely low. Although he ordered a much more aggressive response. Now, the u. S. Is investigating how a nurse infected when treating a victim in texas was allowed to then travel on a plane. From dallas, Alistair Leithead has this report. Reporter americas latest ebola patient being taken from dallas to a specialized unit in atlanta. Amber vinson, like the other nurse who was infected with the virus, had been caring for thomas eric duncan, the liberian who developed symptoms after arriving in texas. Protective measures were apparently not properly taken. She was infected and developed symptoms of the virus. President obama cancelled a trip to deal with the increasing concern over the way the Texas Health Presbyterian hospital has been dealing with the virus. If we do these protocols properly, if we follow the steps, if we get the information out, then the likelihood of widespread Ebola Outbreaks in this country are very, very low. Reporter this is not a hospital that specializes in contagious diseases like ebola. But so far, its record on the outbreak has not been good. First, a misdiagnosis left mr. Duncan contagious and in the community for four days. Then a breach in protocol led to two nurses being infected, dozens more now under observation. And whats more, a nurse who is under quarantine was able to travel on a commercial flight. It doesnt inspire confidence in the promise that everything will be done to prevent the spread of ebola. The nurse was in selfmonitoring quarantine, but flew to ohio to visit family. She flew back the day before degree diagnosed with ebola, and doctors are trying to trace 132 passengers on her flight for monitoring. The risk of transmission is said to be low. We spoke to her family members, and were looking at getting information. Now, the thing is that were looking at being able to construct a good time line of where the Health Care Worker was when she was here and where she traveled and who she was with. And that takes a little bit of time. Reporter she arrived in atlanta and was taken to the emery hospital, one of four in america which is a specialized unit to deal with highly infectious diseases. A Fast Response team has now been set up for future ebola cases. To ensure the procedures are followed to the letter, to prevent medical workers from being infected and to restore confidence in americas ability to control what began as one single ebola case. So alistair updating us on the situation in the united states. Here in europe, Health Ministers are meeting in brussels. The issue of introducing screening at airports is expected to be top of the agenda, but as the bbcs chris morris in brussels says, not everyone thinks that it is a good idea. Reporter we know that britain, for example, has already started skreeting at Heathrow Airport and that will be extended to gatwick and eurostar train arrival terminal. We understand that paris in france, airports in paris will start screening on saturday. But on the way into the Health Ministers meeting today, for example, the Finnish Health minister said finland doesnt believe this is a good idea. People are already screened on their exit from west africa. Its a bit of a waste of time and money to screen them a couple of hours later when they arrive in europe, because the chances of ebola symptoms suddenly emerging in that twohour period are pretty slim. I think the alternative argument is yes, but the useful thing about entry screening is that information can be given. If you experience symptoms after you arrive in europe, heres the number to get hold of. This is what you do. Make sure you know the medical route that you need to take if youre worried about ebola in any sense. So differences of opinion. And i think also a more general focus on the understanding that europe probably can cope with a few cases of ebola and the concentration, the focus in europe needs to be how to get more help to where its really needed in west africa. Exactly. And on that point, eu leaders are under pressure to actually follow americas example and send troops to the affected region. Reporter well, its something people are talking about. I suspect thats beyond the pay grade of a meeting of Health Ministers. Theyre not going to be able to deploy troops from europe. But overall, the eu has already sent about 180 Million Euros worth of material and help to the affected countries. But next week, there will be a meeting of eu leaders. Perhaps that higher level of meeting, there will be a more concerted discussion about what more practically they can do to get medical teams on the ground where theyre needed. So chris morris reporting about that eu Health Ministers meeting in brussels. The situation is, of course, changing. If you want more on the unfolding developments of ebola, do make sure that you do join us on bbc world news at 1830 gmt, we will bring you a special program with the very latest on this outbreak. That program will air daily all this week right here on bbc world news. Do join us for that. Blizzards and avalanches in the himalayas in nepal have reportedly killed up to three hikers and four farmers. The nepalese Authorities Say they have rescued more than 100 trekkers stranded in snowfall in various parts of this mountainous district, but many trekkers and their guides are still out of contact. Laura westbrook reports. Reporter these mountains attract more than 100,000 visitors to nepal from all over the world. But in the high himalayas, unpredictable weather can be deadly. A rescue operation is now under way after blizzards and several avalanches struck the region. The Nepalese Army has rescued dozens, but rough terrain and snow is hampering efforts, and many trekkers are still missing. The mountains that dominate central nepal are the annapurna and manaslu. Hundreds of hikers were trekking on these mountains when all were hit by the severe weather. Its the most popular time of year to visit the area, and weather is usually fine, but freak snowstorms caught many off guard. A Facebook Page has been set up by the brother of a missing hiker. Its quickly filled with concerned posts from all around the world, as people search for news on their friends and relatives. It comes just months after an avalanche on Mount Everest killed 16 sherpas and resulted in a big drop in the number of expeditions to the worlds highest peak. Trekking and mountaineering are vital to the countrys economy. Many fear this latest tragedy will badly hurt those that rely on these mountains for their livelihood. Laura westbrook, bbc news. Lets get the latest update from the Bbc World Service environment reporter. He joins us live. Before we talk about the weather conditions there, just bring us up to date, do we know how many people are still trapped up the mountains . Reporter officials who are involved in this rescue operation tell me that the weather has been favorable. They still are trying to rescue. They said they have rescued 140plus people today and some dead bodies. But the figure is still not confirmed, how many still remain, the dead bodies buried there. Theyre still continuing and we are still trying to get more updates here. Normally this is a good time to do this. I couldnt get you quite clearly. I know the difficulty our viewers appreciate the difficulty with this line. But normally, the weather conditions are okay. This is quite Freak Weather that theyre experiencing there. Reporter yes, the weather has been quite this came all of a sudden. But the bbc has also learned that the office here could not predict this correctly. They thought that this storm would head off further west and to kashmir in india, whereas what happened was it headed to the mountainous region, which is the most trekked region in nepal. Theres been a mistake here, which officials have admitted to us. Now, you mentioned that at the moment, conditions are okay for rescuers to access those potentially trapped. Just tell us and bring us up to date with the rescue operation currently then. Reporter so what theyre doing is using hospitals in the circuit. Theyve managed to get as many people as possible. Other side has been quite tricky. Below the mountain. They fear that some dead bodies are still buried in the base camp there. That has been a challenge. And what is also adding to the challenge is this westerly distance coming from the western side. So they say they better do it as soon as possible before the weather worsens. Yes, indeed. For the time being, navin joining us live. Thank you very much. And apologies to viewers for a slight breakup in the line there. Three years after the revolution that drove colonel gadhafi from power, is libya on the verge of becoming a failed state in the countrys elected parliament was driven from the capital tripoli earlier this year by militants and is now based in a hotel in the eastern port from where it is desperately trying to hold the country together. Here is a report. Reporter libya, a country the world helped free from dictatorship, has now descended into chaos. Just a few hours sailing time from europe, this Navy Patrol Vessel darent venture far for fear of militants. Translator theyre outlaws, extremists, and militias. Reporter this stretch of coastline is one of few bits of libya its newly elected Parliament Still controls. Three years after the overthrow of colonel gadhafi, much of the country is in the hands of rebel militias. Some of them linked to al qaeda. Libyas elected parliament has fled to this remote port, tobruk, a thousand kilometers from the capital tripoli. Its been forced to stay in a huge 1970s hotel. Many here say they had to be smuggled out of the capital tripoli after they and their families were attacked by islamists militias. The militias seized the capital in august after islamists lost the elections and set up a rival government. It says its defending the revolution to stop gadhafiera figures regaining power, but it admits that its allies to an extremely group and sharia, which partly controls the second city benghazi and was involved in an attack on the u. S. Consulate there two years ago. Translator there are two forces in benghazi and they are working together now. Some are alsharia and revolutionaries from 2011. They are fighting together now. Reporter in tobruk, they hope the revolution will bring freedom and opportunities. Now theyre terrified by the growing power of the jihadis. To be honest, i am talking with you, i am afraid for myself. Because i was talking about jihadism. And if they watch, maybe theyre going to catch me. Reporter hes depending on the politicians now trapped in their hotel to save the country. But they in turn are depending on the outside world to come to their aid. Lets look at the worst case scenario. Yes, the islamic militants take over libya one day. What will happen . If somebody has the means to deliver the rockets or whatever, the means to deliver destruction to europe, they can do frit this side if they have control. Reporter in tobruk, they say the threat of extremism in libya is as great as that posed by Islamic State militants in syria and iraq. But the world, busy now with those places, is looking the other way. Bbc news, tobruk. And tim will have more from tobruk in this weekends edition of our world right here on bbc world news. Still lots more to come right now here on bbc world news. Do stay with us, including hong kongs chief executive proposing talks with students after another night of clashes on the city streets. And concerns of Food Shortages in west african countries hit by ebola. 40 of farms in sierra leone are abandoned. Oh no. Who are you . Daddy, this is blair, he booked this room with priceline express deals and saved a ton. I got everything i wanted. Hello. Welcome back to bbc world news. Our kasia madera. Our main headlines this hour. The World Health Organization says that a major outbreak is unlikely in north america and western europe, as president obama orders a more aggressive response to future cases. A search and rescue operation is looking for 70 missing trekkers in nepal after up to 30 are killed by avalanches in the himalayas. Oscar pistorius is back in court for a fourth day to hear the arguments about what kind of sentence he should be given for the killing of his girlfriend reeva steenkamp. The South African athlete could be jailed for up to 15 years, or he could stay out of jail and be given a sentence in the community. A cousin of ms. Steenkamp finished her testimony today by saying that she wanted to see pistorius go to prison. My colleague Karin Giannone is outside the court in pretoria, and karin, its been an emotional time for reeva steenkamps cousin. Reporter it has. The whole steenkamp family. Weve seen barry and June Steenkamp in court in a very advanced state of grief. Barry steenkamp really looking devastated all the way through kim martins evidence. And today kim martin continued on the witness stand. After a day when she outlined yesterday the emotional impact of reeva steenkamps death on the family. Today talked about their view of what sort of punishment Oscar Pistorius should receive. I really believe the accused, mr. Pistorius, needs to pay for what he has done. My family are not people who are seeking revenge. We just feel that to take someones life, to shoot somebody behind a door that is unarmed, that is harmless, needs sufficient punishment. So that was one of reeva steenkamps cousins. Karin, we were under the impression that wed get a sentence by the end of this week, but actually that is not the case now. Reporter it seems that the court has simply run out of time this week. Judge masipa yesterday told both sides shes not available next week, and for the following three weeks. Suggestions are now that we will wind up with all the evidence in this presentencing argument tomorrow, friday, and then the judge will adjourn until probably november. So it seems because the mitigation of sentence has taken so long, theres been such lengthy crossexamination of some of the witnesses by gerrie nel by the prosecution. Now only yesterday afternoon beginning with their witnesses. Still one or two more state witnesses to come in aggravation of sentence. This really is going further than we thought and it will not be wrapped up by the end of friday. Okay, for the time being, Karin Giannone at the courthouse in pretoria. Thank you very much. Its possible to monitor all of the trial on twitter. All of our colleagues out in pretoria are on twitter, and karin there very much. bbckarin, so do follow the team out in south africa. Seven Police Officers in hong kong who were seen on film beating a democracy protester have been suspended. The incident caused widespread outrage. There were more scuffles overnight between police and demonstrators trying to reoccupy a main road Near Government buildings with officers using pepper spray. A little earlier, hong kongs leader c. Y. Leung said that the government is ready to Start Talking with protesters. As long as the students are prepared to focus on this issue, yes, we are ready. We are prepared to start a dialogue and maintain that dialogue. And this is why over the last few days, and including this morning, through third parties, we expressed the wish to the students that wed like to start the dialogue, to discuss universal coverage as soon as we can and hopefully within the following week. Hong kongs chief executive speaking earlier today. Almost 4,500 people have now died from ebola, most in west africa. It is prompting fears of Food Shortages. According to the united nations, nearly half of all farmers in sierra leone have abandoned their land. From there, our correspondent has sent this report. Reporter sewing the seeds of a growing economy, farmers in sierra leone going about their business just a few months ago. Today, though, fear and panic is threatening their crops and the countrys Food Security. The u. N. S International firm for Agricultural Development says because of ebola, fields have been desserted and the warehouses like this could soon follow suit. New guinea, liberia, sierra leone, farmers are leaving their crops to rot as they stay home in fear. In sierra leone, up to 40 of farms have been abandoned in the worst affected areas. Meanwhile in senegal and other countries in west africa there are already Food Shortages because regional trade has been disrupted. Reporter as this epidemic deepens, so too do concerns about a wider humanitarian crisis. Here in sierra leone, though, the government says steps are being taken to shore up food supplies. What we have done is appeal to the farmers, to compel them to go back to their farmers. You can stick with your farm work while you observe the precautions. So we have seen a return to the farm by the farmers, and theyve been working. So some of them are now being attended to and as i am speaking to you, most of the farms are ready, especially the rice farm, a very major source of rice in the country, its now ready for harvest, so the farmers are listening that they can go and do their work despite the Ebola Outbreak. Reporter the security issue and the negative Economic Impacts have hampered the most vulnerable households. This means less food on the plates of many people from sierra leone. Assistance should be given to those who can farm in areas not badly affected by ebola. Unless that is done, the Food Security issue is set to continue. Most of the produce sold in markets like this is sourced locally, but with claims the countrys main harvest is now at risk, they can add feeding their families to the list of challenges this unprecedented outbreak has brought. The parents of the burmese men charged with killing two british citizens in thailand say that their sons are being made scapegoats. Speaking exclusively to the bbc, the mother of one of the men said that stress from the case had made her suicidal. The bodies of the british tourists were found on a beach on the island last month. Our myanmar correspondent jonah fisher reports. Reporter a double murder in thailand has broken hearts, both in britain and here in myanmar. Im showing the families of the two men accused of murdering Hannah Withridge and david miller footage of their sons taking part in a thai Police Reconstruction two weeks ago. Both men faced the Death Penalty and were paraded on the beach where they allegedly killed the british tourists. His mother tells me news of his arrest has broken her heart, leaving her suicidal. You know how much i love you, she says. Tell them the truth. Youre not guilty. The case has been rigged against my son, the others mother says. Its not particularly surprising that the families of the two accused men should think that theyre innocent, but there are plenty of experienced, independent observers, including british diplomats, who have serious concerns about the way the thai police have handled this investigation. This man is part of a burmese support team and he firmly believes the men are scapegoats. He cites the treatment of a witness, mongmong, the man in the blue shirt here. I just spoke to him ten minutes ago on the phone. He says the police stood on his arms and legs and stamped on his chest, but he still refused to change his story. The thai authorities may have thought that by charging two poor burmese men with murder, this case would quickly disappear from public view. If thats the case, they were wrong. Both here in myanmar and furd abroad, efforts are continuing to stop one tragedy beingther abroad, efforts are continuing to stop one tragedy being followed by another. Jonah fisher, bbc news. Queen elizabeth has paid tribute to british and commonwealth First World War dead by visiting a unique poppy memorial commemorating their sacrifice. While the memorial is a sea of red ceramic poppies. The installation is called blood, sweat lands of seas and red and it was created by artist paul cummins. There will be nearly 900,000 ceramic poppies planted, one for each british and colonial death during the war which began 100 years ago. So i can reach ally bank 24 7, but there are no branches . 24 7 its just im a little reluctant to try new things. Whats wrong with trying new things . Feel that in your muscles . Yeah. I do. Try a new way to bank, where no branches equals great rates. Find yourself. In an accomodation where you get to do whatever it is that you love to do booking. Com booking. Yeah so right now if you get the 15 gig plan, well double the data and make it 30 gigs for the same price. 30 gigs . Wow thats a lot. You dont have to do that for me. Oh, thats ok. 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