thnouncer: this program was made possible by: >> ♪ i'm a whirlibird... >> chuck e. cheese's, proud supporter of pbs kids, solutes all the parents who know staying active with their kids is fun and healthy for them. >> ♪ i'm a whirlibird. >> pbs kids, where a kid can be a kid. rainforest cafe, proud sponsor of curious george, reminding you that anyone can make the world a brighter place by conserving our natural resources. when you're saving one can... both: you're saving toucans! (toucan squawks) to your pbs station and from: ♪ you never do know what's around the bend ♪ ♪ big adventure or a brand-new friend ♪ ♪ when you're curious like curious george ♪

♪ swing! ♪ ♪ well, every day ♪ every day ♪ ♪ is so glorious ♪ glorious ♪ george! ♪ and everything ♪ everything ♪ ♪ is so wondrous ♪ wondrous ♪ ♪ there's more to explore when you open the door ♪ ♪ and meet friends like this, you just can't miss ♪ ♪ i know you're curious ♪ curious ♪ ♪ and that's marvelous ♪ marvelous ♪ ♪ and that's your reward ♪ you'll never be bored ♪ if you ask yourself, "what is this?" ♪ ♪ like curious... ♪ like curious... curious george. ♪ oh... captioning sponsored by nbc/universal what has sanctioned and

president obama's called for the president to step aside actually achieved? >> this is the third time we have tightened -- essentially, with the president did yesterday was to close the u.s. financial system to syria. it was not only the united states adopted yesterday. all of our european partners and european union made a strong statement. we had a strong statement from japan. other leaders continue to speak

out. we believe these moves are pending -- pinching the regime. they add that a good effect on the opposition and syria. they have been encouraging. this is an opposition that is growing by the day. >> why did it take so long for the u.s. to toughen its stance? >> this has been a steady campaign of increasing the pressure. our hope had been when the president first to warn them in may that he should lead the transition or get out of the way, and others joined us in that comment he would heed the call of the international community did not only did he not do that, but the campaign of

brutality has only increased. during this month of ramadan. we have steadily increased or pressure. we moved from saying that he could leader get out of the way to saying that he had lost its legitimacy and that syria would be better off without him. it was coupled with strict sanctions, which are now being matched by other international commodities. >> thank you before boarding house. >> thank you. >> -- thank you for joining us. >> a suicide bombing destroyed the compound walls of the british council allow when gunmen to storm the building. 12 people died in the attack. most of them were asked and police. indeed gun battle that

followed, all of the attackers burst killed. from kabul, this report. >> moments after morning prayers, the attack began with a huge explosion. the taliban blew a massive hole in a fortified wall of the british council. at least half a dozen suicide attackers armed to the teeth. inside. >> i walked outside and that is all smashed windows. i saw the second bomber. >> the fighting continued throughout the morning. three of town guards, in number of police were killed. >> o we heard -- two of them were suicide bombers. one of them is still hiding.

>> you can hear gunfire. heavy explosions. behind me, you can see -- it is believed that six suicide attackers made inside the compound. the siege lasted a hours. s in is the attack began, staff headed to the underground safe from. they stayed there a terrified as the gun battle waged around them. new zealand special forces and afghan commanders can to their rescue. >> the staff that were in the compound to who were in the safer and for most of the day, and we were in contact with them, have been extracted safely. they are shaken, obviously, but not injured.

>> as the cleanup began, the attackers had disguised themselves in burke says. it allows them to evade police checkpoints. >> this is a vicious and cowardly attack, but it is an attack that has not succeeded. >> afghan celebrated the anniversary of freedom from british rule. that is why the taliban said it targeted the british. the council promotes beauty, culture, and education, who was seen as an easy target. as those combat troops go, these soldiers will be left to face the taliban alone. >> for more on today's deadly attack, i spoke -- thank you for joining us. is there any further news on how exactly these people got into such a secure area? >> they disguised themselves.

they were all male attackers. they were wearing -- they were dressed as women. as a result of that, it allows them to evade a number of police checkpoints and get to the british council compounds. the first vehicle went up, suicide bombing inside, designated the car bomb. that ruptured the parameters security. suicide attackers just swarmed inside and that is when the battle began. >> what does this say of the capability of the taliban? we keep being told that they are on the defensive. >> the number of attacks in kabul have fallen, there is no doubt about that. however, that there has never been foreign troops here. there has never been more money thrown at afghan security forces. the taliban can get into what should be the most secure place

in the country, the capital city, and they are consistently able to do it. you could look up on the hill and see the intercontinental hotel, where the taliban recently launched a complicated attack, which killed a number of people. the other challenge facing the afghan security forces is that the helicopters that were flying overhead, and the new zealand special forces, all of them will be leaving. british and american troops will be leading some. the afghan security forces will be left facing the taliban on their own. >> thank you very much for joining us. in neighboring pakistan, a deadly attack left at least 40 people died and 85 wounded. the assault took place inside a mosque in the northwest region. a suicide bomber struck. the indian anti-corruption campaign has begun a two-week

fast in the capital. thousands of supporters shower time with rose petals as he arrived. the 73-year-old activist was arrested earlier this week in an attempt to prevent the fast, prompting angry demonstrations across india. the financial markets are drawing a sigh of relief that friday is finally here. this week provided no reprieve to the volatility, which has shaken investors. there were further losses in europe. the united states, the dow jones closed down more than 170 points. for more on what is driving it all, i am joined by adam johnson. what triggered this latest sell- off? >> -- we are all in the same boat. think of it in these terms. if there is some sort of natural disaster or around the world, the red cross comes then, helps

everyone. other countries come in and lend support. the problem is, everybody is starting to recognize that every country around the world is suffering from some sort of national disaster. we are in the same place. our growth is not what we thought it was. our unemployment is a lot higher. no one seems to have a plan as to how we are going to turn around. as a result, it is very hard to get excited about buying stocks. >> shares in banks also took a hit. how were reading is that? >> the concern is -- the s&p 500, the financials account for 18% of the index. the second-largest group. it the second-largest group in the index is having its own problems, it is very difficult to see a way forward and to get

excited about stocks. there is this contagion concern that somehow europe still has not figured out how to -- all the banks are interconnected. all of these countries do business with one another. if you are an american company trying to sell products in europe, you have to have letters of credit to go back and forth between the banks. they are based upon the balance sheets of the banks. if they are brought into question because the underlying assets may not be quite what we thought, that is what creates the concern and the angst. >> adam johnson, thank you very much. you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come, getting connected with comedy. social media is part of the act.

relatives of norwegians shot dead by a lone gunman had been visiting the scene for the first time. 69 people died on the island. family members were accompanied by psychologists and investigators. >> it is nearly one month sense the gunmen murdered their loved ones. relatives of the dead were allowed to visit the island, where the massacre had taken place. over the next two days, hundreds of family members of victims and some survivors will come here to the holiday island, which became a killing ground. to offer support, there are teams of psychologists and counselors. the authorities hope these visits will bring some degree of peace. >> it is difficult. it is hard for them. nevertheless, they need to do

this. >> they need to know, they ask for details. this is where they can learn more about the details. >> in oslo, the killer was back in court today. at a closed hearing, a judge ruled that he should continue to be kept in total isolation for four more weeks. he has admitted carrying out the shooting spree on the island and detonating a bomb that killed 8 people. he has denied criminal responsibility. earlier this week, he was taken back to the island. he spent hours walking around the island showing police how and where he planned out -- the gun down his 69 victims. this weekend, norway will honor the dead at a special memorial service. one month after iraq's september left the nation in mourning. -- after the act left the nation

in the morning. >> russia quietly marked the 20th anniversary of the events which forever change the region and the world. two decades ago, communist hard- liners failed and their attempted coup. not long after, the u.s.s.r. collapsed. many hoped for freedom and democracy. 20 years later, they have been speaking to our moskow correspondent. >> on a warm august evening, the russian capital since wealthy, sophisticated, and free of fear. life has been transformed since the fall of the soviet union. surrounded by luxury cars, it is easy for to forget that 20 years ago, the impoverished city was in turmoil.

tanks rowling down at the same street. -- rolling down on the same street. with him on the tank was a scientist to become a parliamentarian in the days of reform. today, he is still proud to have been part of those momentous events. he has left politics, disillusioned with the modern russia of billionaires' and corruption. >> unfortunately, what but ended up with was what we were fighting against. a population that has separated the extremely poor and the extremely rich. >> one critical moment during the failed coup was when this squadron what tanks was persuaded to switch sides. the commander made a brave

decision that morning as he drove into moscow. >> i am from moscow myself and i decided, i would not shoots and drive over anyone. what i was hoping for in 1991 did not materialize. but life is much better now. it is not quite what we expected, but is better. >> it was vladimir putin that ultimately undermined the high hopes of that day. the dominant figure on the fiscal stage, he brought much- needed civility, but it came with a price. an erosion of human rights and overcrowded security services. the standoff at the russian parliament 20 years ago was a key moment in russian history. it was the end of the communist hardliners. bolstered by money from oil, gas, and minerals, russia is am

much wealthier place. >> after this long wait, we are in need of comic relief. the edinburgh festival is offering of some rich material. it seems every aspect of life is influenced by social media and cutting edge technology. comedians are getting in on the act. ♪ >> the largest arts festival in the world, this year's festival is the biggest yet, with more than two -- 2500 shows. to pull in an audience, you have to stand out.

new media is the latest weapon. twitter, facebook to help you choose what to see. the use of technology is not limited to promoting a show. with digital media at such a big part of our lives, it makes sense that there are oscar- winning films about facebook, it is no surprise that many supporters are using it as a way to interact with their audience. >> come on in. >> buy a ticket for this show and the main character will be friendly and facebook. inviting you to a party at their house. half are in the kitchen. half are in austin, texas. the internet links the two sides. the comic story of a couple's long distance relationship is played out by skype. there is also a third audience, on line. you can watch the show and

interact with the actors on twitter. >> i definitely feel that shows are incorporating technology on the way that we use it on a daily basis. >> when people ask questions by skype, it progresses the plate. they find out -- they discover more about the characters. >> i am not the edinburgh festival. send me an e-mail. all of us have smart phones and we can access the internet adds another new possibility for performers to get their work to an audience. "ghost city" is part of a new trend. each recording is tethered to a specific location >> one person

who is no stranger to integrating technology this stand-up comedian. for this year's show, and he googles and audience members live on stage. >> you do not exist. >> what possibilities are opened up to comedians? >> you can use it in your show. that is what i do. you can use it as a way to publicize a gig. >> with digital media developing all the time, it is producer in the over the next few years, performers and audiences will be interacting in ways we do not even know about yet. >> speaking of interacting on line, you can get constant updates on our website. to see what we are working on, visit our facebook page.

thank you for watching and have a good weekend. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank.

>> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news america" was presented by kcet los angeles. : this program was made possible by: >> ♪ i'm a whirlibird... >> chuck e. cheese's, proud

supporter of pbs kids, solutes all the parents who know staying active with their kids is fun and healthy for them. >> ♪ i'm a whirlibird. >> pbs kids, where a kid can be a kid. rainforest cafe, proud sponsor of curious george, reminding you that anyone can make the world a brighter place by conserving our natural resources. when you're saving one can... both: you're saving toucans! (toucan squawks) to your pbs station and from: ♪ you never do know what's around the bend ♪ ♪ big adventure or a brand-new friend ♪ ♪ when you're curious like curious george ♪ ♪ swing! ♪ ♪ well, every day ♪ every day ♪ ♪ is so glorious ♪ glorious ♪ george! ♪ and everything ♪ everything ♪ ♪ is so wondrous ♪ wondrous ♪ ♪ there's more to explore when you open the door ♪