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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> on the front line, the most violent place in afghanistan. >> it is happening so fast. people do not think they could. they're being very aggressive. >> car bombs in iraq killing least 51 pilgrims in the holy city of karbala more than 100 and mafia suspects are held in one of the biggest crackdowns in history. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also on their round the globe. coming up, the meteorological organization says 2010 was on average one of the warmest years on record. it is not always easy being green. this family's ego-friendly pride may lack a few basic comforts. ♪

>> sad to say there's a lot of competition for the title of most violent place in iraq. but this area has learned that description. many afghans have been killed there. british troops held it a great cause. at least 100 have died there in four years to deny u.s. marines have a place. 26 of died in four months. now they are claiming dramatic successes. our afghanistan correspondent has been embedded with the u.s. marine battalion. this was the most dangerous place in afghanistan. but four months after the u.s. marines arrived, the town looks peaceful. it is too soon to tell of this will last. if the marines did it, it is a

change in tactics. the many small patrol bases established by the british were closed, freeing forces to pursue the taliban. >> i felt that throughout the battle space, there was a change that was needed, and that was to free up forces to maneuver against them. i wanted to regain the momentum of the attack and dictate the activities. i want to put pressure on him. >> so the marines keep pushing. the town may be relatively secure, but the surrounding district is not. just beyond this patrol base is territory the taliban call their own. mortars are firing in support of a squad which is come under attack outside the wire. the marines spend hours on foot patrol every day, hoping to run into the enemy often, they do. >> when the u.s. marines first

arrived here, they were being fired upon in their main bases more or less every day. it is now expanded the bubble of security. in the fighting is mainly a skirmish on the countryside. >> 700 meters out. >> they're shooting. >> the man they killed was not a taliban gunmen but a spotter. how did they know he was not a civilian? >> he was talking on a radio. then he came back out and presented himself, trying to be inconspicuous. that is when we dropped him. >> on the way back, they took this away from the taliban. but to beat an insurgency, often

you have to do things which may increase support for it. >> you burned my mays, says the farmer. now i have nothing left to feed my cows. >> he i will give him a claim, and he will be able to take to the district center. >> what kind of does he have? >> we need water so i can grow my crop of opium, he replied. >> victory depends on winning over the population. but the marines often need locals who complained that their relatives have been killed by the international forces. >> we do not want your help, they tell the marines. we do not want your money. you should not kill us. you should not to destroy our property. you even shot one of our cows is today. what did the how do? >> the marines avoid the pathways strewn with improvised

bombs. controlled detonations. this marines battalion has had some 26 killed in four months, a quarter of the more than 100 kurdish deaths here over four years. >> the reason the marines have pushed up so fast and people did nothing they could is because they're being very aggressive, and because the high command is letting them be aggressive. >> a taliban a sniper. some taliban are irreconcilable. here to fight. [gunshots] >> most are locals. the marines are hoping to demonstrate to them that nato will be the eventual winner here. then it is hoped they might

switch sides. and it will be time to hand and the town over to the afghan forces. bbc news with the u.s. marines. >> two suicide bombs in iraq killed at least 51 people and wounded 150. the latest blast were in karbala in the south of the country, near the site of a shiite shrine. it is the third major attack in the country in less than a week, after months of relative calm. we got this update from baghdad. >> details are very sketchy. conditions in karbala are extremely difficult, but there are hundreds of thousands of literally making their way into the city on foot as this ceremony comes to a climax at the beginning of next week. roads have been blocked. traffic cannot move. we're told that at least two bombs went off, one on the

southern approach to the city and the other on the northern road leading into the city. police checkpoints, which would have been heavily crowded as these pilgrims are being checked on their way into the city. we're not sure these were suicide bombs. their conflicting reports. some talk of one car speeding at a checkpoint in blowing itself up. some are talking about roadside bombs. the details are sketchy, but we believe around about 50 people were killed, maybe 150 others wounded. reports show that there were perhaps several other bomb explosions in different parts of the city. >> tunisian police fired shots into the air to try to disperse hundreds of protesters, demanding that all ministers associated with the ousted president leave the government. state tv reported that all the ministers have left the old ruling party but will retain their seats in the new cabinet.

all banned political groups are granted ammunition. amnesty has been declared. we are in tunis. >> for 23 years, doing this was a crime in tunisia. now they are finally free to protest. they are making the most of it. the anger is not that the army. they got roses. but from up the street, the sound of gunfire as the crowd surged toward the headquarters of the hated group. >> perhaps 1000 people here, maybe two thousand. they do not represent the majority of tunisian people, but they show that there is still real resentment at the old ruling party here. with a small vocal and determined minority, they will not give up until everybody from the old ruling party is out of the government.

>> the headquarters may be broken and empty, but these people still fear the party of the ousted president is plotting to steal their revolution. >> we had the political and minister -- [unintelligible] we ask them to go away. >> pared down a sign, the protesters chanted. to their surprise and delight, that is exactly what the army starts to do. another symbol of the hated regime brought down by this extraordinary popular revolt. bbc news, geneva. >> the irish prime minister has called a general election for march 11. ireland is facing its most severe economic crisis in decades. the prime minister has been

under pressure over his handling of a string of ministerial resignations. a business forum in washington, the chinese prison is that america should not see china as a dangerous rival. hu jintao said his country has no interest in pursuing an arms race or exerting military dominance over other nations. he described to bed and taiwan as cortez interest. lebanon's harry will try to form a unit -- a new unit of government. his left coalition collapsed a week ago when militants from hezbollah and their allies resigned. in a televised address, he said his opponents with to keep him from the premiership, but he will not given to the threats. and there may be twice as much natural grass in the world as previously thought. a technical break through in the u.s. allows guests previously trapped in shale rock. experts said world reserves may

last 250 years or more. gas producers at the greenhouse emissions of coal. about 110 people suspected of involvement with mafia groups have been arrested in new york and neighboring american states. the new york attorney general says the suspects face charges including racketeering, extortion, murder, and drug dealing. prominent members of new york's five families are among those targeted. >> just before dawn, over 100 alleged mafia members were arrested across three states. hundreds of fbi agents swept through the homes of members in new york infamous five members family. these arrest of the culmination of many years of investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies. >> this is one of the largest single day operations against the mafia in the history of the fbi, both in terms of the number of defendants arrested and charged and the scope of the

criminal activity that is alleged. >> the charges read like a rap sheet from a hollywood film. extortion, larceny, racketeering, drug trafficking, and murder. several people have been charged over the imposition of illegal fees, so-called mob taxes in new york's waterfront and construction industries. the justice the parma cleanses some defendants have shown a willingness to kill to make money in silence witnesses. >> the notions that today's mob families are more genteel and a less violent than in the past is put to live by the charges contained in the indictment unsealed today. even more of a myth is the notion that the mob is a thing of the past, that this is a shadow of its former self. >> in recent years, the fbi has seen an increase in informants, and the testimonies that led to long prison terms for mafia figures. of 30 instances that today's arrests are not the end of new york organized crimes, just one

more step in an ongoing battle. bbc news, washington. >> stay with us if you can. still to come, a deadly raid, dozens of militant attack an army base in southern thailand. first there, anti muslim prejudice is now widespread and socially acceptable in britain. that is accord being to the conservative party co-chair. the party is the first muslim women -- muslim woman in the british cabinet. >> british born but a pakistani descent, she is the most high- profile muslim in public life today. so when she makes her speech, talking about islamophobia in the u.k., it is bound to make headlines. the most eye-catching argument is that anti muslim bigotry is not just found in the literature and slogans of far- right political groups from the street. she says it has become socially

acceptable in all kinds of situations. and now passes the dinner table test. >> what i mean is that it has seeped into our society in a way where it is acceptable around in a to have these conversations. hatred and bigotry is quite often discussed. >> she also talks about the kind of language used in the media about muslims. she says the terms moderates and extremists are misleading. >> sadly, one of the concerns that have been raised as a traveler in the country is that somehow because there are a minority of people who commit criminal acts to come from the face of islam, that somehow means that it is fair game to have it on the community as a whole. i think it is about unpacking that and clearly showing that anybody can become extreme. it is about how detached they are to the fate of which they belong. >> that in the age of violent

attacks like those on the london transport system six years ago, some argue that distinguishing between moderates and extremists actually helps, because it prevents sweeping statements about all followers of islam. bbc news, westminster. ♪ >> the latest headlines for you this hour. u.s. marines in one of afghanistan's most dangerous areas said they're making dramatic gains against the taliban. at least 51 pilgrims have been killed by two car bombs in the iraqi city of karbala. an attack on an army base in southern thailand has killed four soldiers and wounded several. troops at the base say dozens of militants overran the camp. thousands of thai soldiers are stationed in the seventh tackle an insurgency by muslim separatists. here is the report from bangkok.

>> the attack began after dark. this small military base overrun by dozens of militants. they threw grenades and set fire to buildings before stealing army weapons and ammunition. some of the survivors were seriously injured. it was one of the most daring and well-organized attacks by thailand's is lemay group. almost every day there is violence in thailand. bombing, drive-by shootings, as small self-contained sells the militants. but rarely full on assault with so many armed men. the violence often sparks revenge attacks. muslim villages,. if it encourages a vigilante's, adding to and securities. some teachers have to be escorted to school.

government employees are targeted by these shadowy groups. there is the meles muslim culture. they have no link to global islamic extremist groups. tens of thousands of soldiers and paramilitaries are based in the region, fighting a counterinsurgency campaign. but as troops cleared up of this daring and surprise attack, the army's insistence that things are including in thailand's b itself is in question. bbc news, bangkok. >> the vatican has voiced its concern about the sex scandal surrounding the italian prime minister. silvio berlusconi denies allegations that he paid for sex with underage prostitutes. the vatican statement urges more solid morality in says the church must distance itself from silvio berlusconi of the accusations are confirmed. from rome, years the report. >> tens of -- still prime

minister. silvio berlusconi taking time out to reflect on the events that are swirling around him. told by reporters, the opposition into should resign. mr. berlusconi says i am having fun. later, the prime minister comes back out to repeat his message. someone else must think about their resignation, certainly not me. i am the person with been offended. prosecutors say the prime minister paid this girl, known as ruby the heartbreaker, for sex. she was to 17 years old. ribby in mr. berlusconi both deny it. but the prosecutors say she was one of a number prostitutes used by mr. berlusconi. they said that have wiretaps proving the girl tried to blackmail the prime minister.

the vatican has now made its first comments on the scandal. >> the catholic church must distance itself from berlusconi if news concerning his stories of prostitution's will be confirmed. >> silvio berlusconi has been here many times before, involved in scandals with young women. but this one feels different, concerning as it does, allegations of underage sex with prostitutes, even the abuse of power. rarely of the accusations been more serious and the denials more vociferous. bbc news in rome. >> the european union has suspended its carbon trading scheme, the biggest in the world, because it has been hacked. almost $14 million worth of calverton -- carbamide permits are missing and believed stolen. the scheme is designed to put a

price of carbon and encourage firms to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. it has been seen as a model for other possible schemes around the world. 2010 was one of the three warmest years on record, according to the world meteorology organization. the u.n. bodices average temperatures last year were least half a degrees celsius higher than the average of until 1990. here's more from the briefing. >> europe shivers under ice and snow, but last month freezing temperatures do not change the overall trend. year-by-year, the earth is getting warmer. >> 2010 ins among the top three as the warmest year. the latest decade is the warmest decade. >> what is more, global warming does not seem to mean higher temperatures. climate experts predict the warmer weather will mean more extreme weather, too.

2010 certainly saw plenty of that. devastating floods in pakistan, 20 million people affected. her the intense heat wave and forest fires in russia, a third of the country's crop ruined. so today's figures showing that 2010 was our hottest year ever showed the world leader electro organization claims, laying to rest any doubt about the existence of global warming. bbc news, geneva. >> let's stay with that thing. a swedish family won a competition. the have been selected for a six-month stay in an eco house with an electric car waiting for them. the family will also to change their ways in reduce their carbon footprint dramatically. our science reporter has the story. >> meet this family, your average swedish family with your average carbon footprint.

the daughter spotted an advertisement offering a six- month stay in an eco house, and now the whole family is moving in. the house outside stockholm comes with triple-layered walls, massive installation, and it is supposed to provide all the power needs. the roby energy left over, too, for complementary electric car. that does not mean sacrifices will not need to be made. >> the project is about a normal family learning how to live for the climate and reducing their carbon footprints. today, they are normally near seven per year. that is the challenge we're taking on. >> the food the family eats, the clothes they wear, and the furniture they buy will all be taken into account in calculating the total carbon usage. some say that gizmos may have to

go, too, if they want to meet their targets. >> they're prepared to do what it takes. it is all or nothing. i did not even know what kind of sacrifices it will be. maybe we will stop eating meat indeed vegetables instead. that sort of thing. >> it may leave the family with little options. it might mean putting up with their rendition of an old classic. >> harvey ashworth is only 3 years old. but when his mother collapsed in the kitchen, he knew what to do. he fell and emergency services and stayed on the phone until paramedics arrived. he is given the hero of the year award by the ambulance in the north of england. here is the report. >> what is the address of the

emergency, please? >> my mommy has fallen down. >> when harvey's mother collapsed in the family kitchen, the 3-year-old knew he had to get help. >> can you get the phone to mommy? >> yes, mommy. >> is mommy awake? ok, we're going to get some help for your mommy. how old are you? >> 3. >> what is your name? >> harvey. you are a clever boy. >> harvey's mother has fallen sick before but never like this. >> my husband was working. he knew to do something. >> you must be proud. >> yes, i am proud. >> harvested in the phone for 13 minutes into the paramedics arrived. >> we talked him into unlocking

the door. he was a very brave. >> his family says he is a little life saver. he still knows who to call if there is an emergency again. >> 911. >> would you do it again? >> yes. >> doctors are not sure why she collapsed. if it happens once more, at least hardly knows exactly what to do. >> cool kid. well done. you will find much more on that story and the international news online anytime you want on bbc.com. you get in touch with me in was the team on twitter. and you will see what we're working on and what is coming up on facebook. briefly, the top story, u.s. marines in afghanistan are saying they're making dramatic gains against the taliban. released 51 pilgrims have been killed by car bombs in karbala.

>> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click-to-play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you?

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