BBC news 2010-09-20 加文本

BBC news 2010-09-20

BBC News with John Jason

China says it has suspended all senior government-level exchanges with Japan after a Japanese court extended the detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain arrested in disputed waters earlier this month. The Chinese foreign ministry said it had also suspended talks on increasing the number of flights between the two countries. With more, here is Martin Patience.

The suspension of high-level exchanges is the latest development in a dispute in which neither country appears to be willing to back down. In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry said Japan had seriously damaged relations with China and said that the country was making mistake after mistake. Japan called for calm and said the captain would be dealt with appropriately according to domestic law.

The American authorities say BP has finally sealed the oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, which exploded five months ago causing the worst oil spill in US history. The official in charge of the clean-up, Thad Allen, said that the well had been successfully capped by a permanent cement plug. Bethany Bell reports from Washington.

President Obama says the sealing of the well is an important milestone. He said his government was now focused on making sure the Gulf Coast recovers fully from the disaster, but he warned the task would not be easy. The oil spill has damaged wildlife, and the seafood and tourism industries among the coast. It forced the resignation of BP's chief executive Tony Hayward and has sparked hundreds of lawsuits and compensation claims.

Pope Benedict has warned that at a time when government spending is being cut, the needs of the poor should not be forgotten. He was addressing Roman Catholic bishops in the city of Birmingham at the end of a four-day visit to Britain. The Pope said Christians had an important role in highlighting needs of the poor which could so easily be overlooked.

German police say four people have been killed in the south of the country in a shooting incident at a hospital and in an explosion. Tristana Moore has the details.

A police spokesman confirmed the shooting took place in the St Elisabethen hospital in the town of Loerrach shortly after six o'clock in the evening local time. A woman armed with an automatic weapon opened fire in the clinic and killed one hospital worker. At least three patients and a police officer were injured. When police arrived at the scene, the woman turned the gun on the officers who shot back and killed her. German prosecutors say they believe the shooting was linked to an explosion at a building opposite the hospital, where they found the bodies of a man and a child.

Defence officials in Tajikistan say at least 20 soldiers have been killed in the west of the country. A defence ministry spokesman blamed the attack on Islamist militants. Reports said the soldiers were going to replace guards at roadblocks in Rasht district. The roadblocks have been set up after at least 25 militants escaped from a prison on the Afghan border last month.

World News from the BBC

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has criticised the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for highlighting the role of the army in Iranian society. Mr Ahmadinejad said it was ironic that a country whose military budget was as high as those of all other nations combine should accuse Iran of being a military state. Mrs Clinton had warned of the growing power of the Iranian military and urged what she called responsible, civil and religious leaders to take control. Mr Ahmadinejad said Mrs Clinton should think carefully before she spoke.

The security forces in Colombia say they have killed at least 22 Farc rebels in fighting close to the border with Ecuador. Police commandos landed by helicopter after the air force bombed a rebel camp in the jungle. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos said it was the biggest blow to the left-wing guerrillas in recent months.

Police in California say 13 members of a breakaway Christian religious sect, who were missing, have been found alive and well. The doomsday cult members were reported to be immigrants from El Salvador. From Los Angeles, Peter Bowes.

According to a spokesman for the sheriff's department, the group was found in a park in the city of Palmdale. They were praying and appeared to be well. The five adults and eight children had been missing for more than 24 hours. A huge search had been underway in the area, which is a desert community to the north of Los Angeles. The authorities were alerted when members of the group left behind letters, indicating they were awaiting an apocalyptic event and would soon see Jesus and their dead relatives in heaven.

Exit polls in Sweden suggest that after Sunday's general election, the governing centre-right alliance will be the largest bloc in parliament, though without an overall majority. They are projected to win 49% of the vote. The opposition Social Democrats appear set to get 45%, with the far-right Sweden Democrats winning their first seats in parliament.

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