BBC news 2010-09-30 加文本

2010-09-30 BBC

BBC News with Kathy Clugston

An investigation into the trafficking of Nigerian girls forced into prostitution in Mali has found a large network of brothels and slave camps. The head of a Nigerian government agency, which fights human trafficking, says more than 20,000 Nigerian girls could be involved. The agency is working with Malian police to free the girls and ensure their safe return to Nigeria. From Lagos, Caroline Duffield.

Nigerian officials say that the girls and young women were discovered working in brothels controlled by other women. The anti-trafficking agency here Naptip says the prostitution ring was discovered in the Malian capital Bamako and in the towns of Mopti and Kayes. It says the majority of the victims were tricked into leaving Nigeria with the promise of work in Europe. It's understood they are from Edo and Delta states in the southeast of the country.

The United States has placed eight Iranian officials on a financial blacklist for their role in alleged human rights violations following the disputed Iranian presidential election last year. Among the eight are the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Mohammad Ali Jafari, the Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and the deputy chief of the National Police Ahmad-Reza Radan. Iain MacKenzie reports from Washington.

The order signed by President Obama bars the men from holding assets inside the United States. It also prevents US companies and individuals doing business with them. Each of those named is accused of playing a role in suppressing what was known as the Green Revolution following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Although figures are disputed, supporters of the revolution believe that hundreds of Iranians may have been killed or tortured by the ruling party.

Tens of thousands of people in Europe have been staging protests against public spending cuts and other government austerity measures. The biggest protest was in Brussels, where demonstrators from more than 30 countries marched to European Union buildings. From there, Christian Fraser reports.

On buses and trains from every corner of Europe, they have come to air their frustrations. Miners, metal workers, transport workers and teachers, the message is the same in every language -"No to austerity". While the unions marched on Europe's governing institutions, the EU Commission president was setting out plans for greater austerity, rules and fines for countries who don't cut enough. "It's because we don't have the system," says Jose Manuel Barroso, "that Europe is in the massive fines itself."

Portugal has announced new austerity measures to tackle its financial crisis. They include a 5% cut in public sector pay and a rise of 2% in value-added tax. The Prime Minister Jose Socrates said the measures were needed to protect Portugal's international credibility. Correspondents say they are meant to reassure markets that Portugal will not seek a bailout similar to the one needed by Greece in May.

World News from the BBC

A study of the world's river systems has said that nearly 80% of the global human population lives near rivers which are under threat. The study also found that about 3.5 billion people in the developing world lived in areas where access to clean water was not guaranteed.

The latest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has caused flash floods in Jamaica, killing at least seven people. The dead include a family of six, whose house collapsed into a raging torrent in the capital Kingston. Power was cut to large areas of the island. Some bridges collapsed, and widespread damage to crops was reported.

A fight between rival gangs in a prison in Venezuela has left at least 10 prisoners dead. Reports said inmates used automatic weapons and hand grenades in an eight-hour battle for control of the prison in the central state of Aragua.

Here in Britain, David Miliband, who narrowly lost out to his brother Ed in the contest to lead the opposition Labour Party, has said he is stepping back from front-line politics. But Mr Miliband, who was foreign secretary in the previous British government, will remain as a member of parliament. Naomi Grimley reports.

After five days nursing his disappointment, David Miliband has decided not to hang around in the shadow of his younger brother Ed, who now leads the Labour Party. Some had wanted David to stay on as part of Labour's top team, drawing on his experience from government, but the former foreign secretary has told the BBC that his brother needs a clean field to lead the party forward. He also said he'd welcome a break to recharge his own batteries.

The death has been announced of the American film and stage director Arthur Penn. He was 88. Penn is best remembered for his 1967 banned romance Bonnie and Clyde, the story of a notorious bank-robbing couple starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway shattered Hollywood's lingering taboos on the depiction of sex and violence.

BBC News