BBC news 2009-11-21 加文本

BBC 2009-11-21


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BBC News with Jerry Schmitt.

Police in Germany say they are investigating the fixing of about 200 European football matches. An official from European football's governing body UEFA described it as the continent's biggest-ever betting scandal. From Berlin, Steve Rosenberg reports.

"German police have uncovered massive corruption in European football. They have identified an international gang they say has been making millions by fixing matches and placing bets. It's believed 200 games have been targeted in nine countries with players, coaches, referees and league officials allegedly being bribed to produce profitable results. The games under suspicion include three Champions League matches and 12 in the Europa League. So far, 15 suspects have been arrested in Germany and two more in Switzerland."

United Nations Refugee Agency says more than 50,000 people have fled clashes between two ethnic groups in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many of them are reported to be unaccompanied children. The Congolese government has asked UN peacekeepers to help, but so far, only about 30 have been sent to the region.

Health officials in Britain say a strain of swine flu which is resistant to the antiviral medicine Tamiflu has apparently been transmitted from one person to another. A number of people with serious underlying health problems became infected at a hospital in Wales. There have been other reported cases around the world of people developing resistance to Tamiflu while taking the drug. But our BBC correspondent says this appears to be the first confirmed case of human-to-human transmission of a drug-resistance strain. Dr. Roland Salmon of the National Health Public Service in Wales told the BBC he was surprised by the spread of this strain.

"The fact of getting resistance is perhaps not surprising. We see resistance in quite a lot of seasonal flu that circulates from winter to winter, and it reflects the biology of the virus and it doesn't take very much of a change in the virus for resistance to be produced. What perhaps more surprising here is that spread of resistance virus seems to have occurred."

Algeria has asked Egypt to stop what it called a media campaign against it after two World Cup qualifying matches between the countries' football teams marred by violence. Responding to Egyptian protests, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said it will take steps to protect Egyptian citizens and interests in Algeria. Earlier, angry crowds of Egyptian football fans clashed with police in Cairo after they were prevented from marching on the Algerian embassy. This Egyptian man expressed his outrage.

"I see that our dignity as Egyptians has been wounds. I can't believe what's happening. The Egyptian guys are beaten. Our flag is being stepped on with cars and with Algerian fit. It's not a game anymore. It's not a game anymore."

World News from the BBC.

A Swiss judge has ordered the seizure of 350 million dollars linked to Nigeria's late military ruler Sani Abacha. The money is held in accounts in Luxembourg and Bahamas and had already been frozen by the authorities. It's been seized as part of a Swiss legal ruling against the general's son Abba.

Israel has ordered construction work to be halted on an internationally-financed football stadium being built for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian municipal authorities were told that they didn't have the appropriate building permit, after Israel designated some of the plot as being under its exclusive control. If they don't comply with the order, Israel could demolish the stadium whose development is being financed by the governing body of world football FIFA as well as France, Germany and Gulf states.

Britain has apologized to Spain after the royal navy fired shots at a target painted in colors similar to the Spanish flag. The incident happened during a naval exercise off the coast of Gibraltar, a British territory over which Spain also claims sovereignty. The Spanish authorities demanded an explanation from the British ambassador.

The American talk show host Oprah Winfrey has confirmed that her world-famous television program will end in 2011. Making the announcement on a live broadcast of the Oprah Winfrey Show, she said that after 25 years, the decision to say goodbye felt right.

"After much prayer and months of careful thought, I've decided that next season--Season 25--will be the last season of the Oprah Winfrey Show. These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure. And you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens and into your lives." Oprah Winfrey.

BBC News.