BBC TV News Review - Wednesday 19th September

It was Huw Edwards hosting the BBC News at 10, the leading story the ongoing credit crisis in the world and British economies. The Bank of England announced that they would inject ten billion pounds into the market in an attempt to reduce inter-bank interest rates and this has raised criticism into their actions; some believe that if this had been done earlier it would have negated the Northern Rock run on savings.

Robert Peston, the BBC Business editor, told how BoE chairman Mervyn King, "the grey man of the British economy", had been "thrust into the limelight for all the wrong reasons" and now would have to answer tough questions posed by MP's as to the reasons for his change of decision - previously he had refused to become involved, blaming the banks for their own dodgy lending and as such, viewing them liable for the resulting calamity.

The talk then moved on as to whether, if the cash injection had been carried out earlier, it would have had any bearing on the Northern Rock situation. Mr. Peston seemed to think so, however he confided that he had been in communication with other senior BoE executives and that they were in fact divided on whether or not it would have had an effect. It seems that Mr. King will need to provide some sound rationale for his recent decisions or find himself a scapegoat; we shall see how matters progress.

Migrant workers followed, and in particular, their criminal tendencies. We heard of drink driving, knife carrying and a Lithuanian gangland murder before hearing from the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire police, Julie Spence, who told how she "wants a share of the cake", the cake being the police budget. It appears that the Chief believes that she has more migrants on her patch than some neighbouring divisions, her example was Lewisham, yet does not receive any additional "cake" in respect of this challenge.

The BBC however, had analysed statistics and felt that Julie required to undertake a "reality check". They ran through various types of nefarious crime and concluded that in fact Lewisham was much worse than Cambridgeshire - in fact although migrants had increased in the latter area - crime had actually fallen. To close, a walkie talkie festooned young Romany gypsy community policeman was interviewed, he told how not all Eastern European gypsies were thieves and it was more a bad apple senario.

The McCanns next, no real news really, the judge has reviewed the evidence and it appears that the Portuguese Justice have no more questions for "Gerry and Kate" at the moment. Reporter Richard Bilton is still based in the Algarve though and he advised we will need to "wait and see".

Lebanon - a car bomb has exploded in a Christian area resulting in six dead. It seems that "the deadlock continues over Syria" whatever that means.

A special report from Burma followed, on the ongoing protests and social unrest due to poverty. Reporter Andrew Harding had stopped off there on his way home from Phucket to provide us with a "rare insight" into social conditions. Children scavenging for food were in abundance as images of dire poverty were displayed for digestion before we turned to the protests themselves, - and we viewed a procession of Buddhist monks, other individuals are "too scared to join in"

Consideration was then offered as to whether Burma was "on the edge of revolution" and "is poverty the catalyst for change". It seems that the odds are against this though despite a third of children being malnourished as we saw protestors (not monks though) being battered by paid government thugs and were told of "informers everywhere." We then saw a lady protestor, her husband has already been arrested, she is on the run. The problem is that she didnt take her baby daughter with her and the police have got her, according to the lady - "using the baby as bait". Images of the sleeping infant were shown; somehow.

Our reporter then took the brave step of going to visit an old man, as he walked down the steps he considered whether the house may be under surveillance. It appeared not, "so far so good" and then the old chap was questioned, he talked of "no options" but didnt really answer any questions in a direct manner. It reminded me of the film Karate Kid, even the house was like that. That was about it really.

Coming up - Lost children - is Britain doing enough.

First though, the tragic story of Mrs Joanne Coombs who was found dead yesterday at the same sopt where her daughters body was found on 10th August. We saw the previous floral tribute to her daughter Tasha and a clip of Mrs Coombe was shown when her daughter had initially gone missing. Obviously she was heartbroken at that point. The last images of her daughter on CCTV were shown again to remind us of the circumstances of that case which have not yet been established conclusively. To close we saw fresh flowers and a neighbouring shine in construction.

Foot and Mouth - possible fresh outbreak in West Midlands

As promised, the report on trafficked children. A girl, Sarah, was shown, aged 12 and she had already been kept prisoner, in slavery, looking after a family and being regularly beaten for lack of attention to chores. We heard of other child slaves and were told that "there could be one living down the road from you, there could even be one next door - and you wouldnt know". Absolute fucking nonsense but Cinderella springs to mind, the Prince and all that.

More AFN - Afghanistan. The soldier killed the other day was named and his image shown.

Next up Ming Campbell again. "Totally relaxed" Ming spoke to Nick Robinson, the BBC political editor. Nick asked about "jockeying for position amongst the young turks" in reference to speculation that Ming is too old; Ming laughed it off and told of how his speech today will send home party members "with a spring in their step". Ming believes the main concerns amongst the electorate are Iraq, nuclear power, pensions and tuition fees.

We closed with football, Arsenal, Man Utd and Rangers all won in Europe, six sixes at the cricket, only the 4th time.

cheers

























Pistols reunion - engineered revolution ?