BBC news 2009-06-02 加文本

BBC 2009-06-02


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BBC News with Michael Poles.

An international search is under way for an Air France jet which disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean with more than 220 people on board. Brazilian, French, Spanish and Senegalese aircraft have been searching for the plane. France has asked the United States to use its network of spy satellites. The jet disappeared from radar screens while flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. President Sarkozy of France has warned there's now little chance of finding survivors. Gary Duffy reports.

The Air France plane disappeared over the Atlantic somewhere between Brazil and Africa and it appears the lack of certainty about the actual location is hampering the recovery effort. However, an official from the airline says the search area has now been narrowed down to a zone of a few nautical miles. Air France officials believe the plane may have been hit by lightning after passing through a storm and encountering heavy turbulence. The airline says up to a dozen automatic messages were received, reporting that several electrical systems on the Airbus A330 had broken down.

President Obama has defended his decision to use billions of dollars of public money to save General Motors and Chrysler from collapse. He was speaking shortly after General Motors followed Chrysler into bankruptcy. Mr. Obama said their combined failure would have a devastating effect on the US economy. He said the two carmakers would be restructured, turned into smaller, but stronger firms.

I'm confident that the steps I'm announcing today will mark the end of an old GM and beginning of a new GM, a new GM that can produce the high-quality, safe and fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow that can lead America towards an energy-independent future, and that is once more a symbol of America's success.

A prominent Sri Lankan journalist who campaigns for media freedom has been abducted and beaten up in the capital Colombo. Poddala Jayantha suffered severe injuries to his head and legs in the attack, which happened as he was on his way home from work. Media campaign has accused the government of ignoring attacks on journalists and of failing to bring prosecutions. The government says nine journalists have been killed since 2006. Anbarasan Ethirajan reports.

Poddala Jayantha, secretary general of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, was abducted on his way home from work. His colleagues say a group of men bundled him into a white van and severely beat him up. They also cut his beard and hair before leaving the injured journalist in a suburban area. Doctors at Colombo National Hospital said his injuries were not life-threatening. Mr. Jayantha campaigns for media freedom and is seen by government supporters as an opponent of the authorities. Police say no arrests have been made so far.

Oil prices have surged to over 68 dollars per barrel, the highest point since last November. A White House spokesman says that President Obama is likely to discuss oil prices with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia when he visits the kingdom later this week.

World News from the BBC.

Iraq's self-ruled Kurdish region has started exporting crude oil for the first time. Companies chosen by the regional government of Kurdistan would transport up to 90, 000 barrels a day from two oil fields along the Iraqi pipelines to Turkey. It's hoped the deal will help resolve internal Iraqi disputes over the country's oil wealth. At a ceremony in the regional capital Irbil, a minister in the Iraqi-Kurdish government Ashti Hawrami hailed the event as historic.

For the first time, in Iraq's history, the people of Kurdistan are making decisions on the national resources of the region. With today's announcement, we shall leave the oil curse of the past behind us. Now, oil shall be, can be a blessing for our people and a source of prosperity and stability.

Dozens of Israeli settlers have held violent protests against government removal of makeshift settle outposts in the West Bank. Hardline settlers attacked Palestinians, set fire to fields, cut down olive trees and scuffled with Israeli security forces. Several Palestinians were injured. The settlers say they'll resist the forcible dismantling of outposts erected without government permission.

A left-wing journalist Mauricio Funes has been sworn in as the new President of El Salvador. President Funes heads a party of former rebels that fought US-backed governments for 12 years. The American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was a guest at the swearing-in. She said the peaceful transition to a left-wing government in El Salvador was a testament to the strength of democracy throughout the Americas.

At least 36 miners in South Africa have been killed in an underground fire. The blaze was in a disused gold mine in Free State Province, owned by one of the world's biggest gold producers, the Harmony Company. It's said that those who died had been working in the mine illegally.

And that's the latest BBC News.