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>> somewhere in america, there's a doctor who can peer into the future. there's a nurse who can access in an instant every patient's past. and because the whole hospital is working together, is a family who can breathe easy right now. somewhere in america, we've already answered the nation's toughest health care questions. over 60,000 people are ready to do it again. >> cuba announces plans to play off half a million state workers by march in the biggest economic shake-up since the revolution. the u.s. is set to announce its largest ever arms deal, $60 million worth of weapons could be heading to saudi arabia. belgium's catholic church promises help for victims of

sexual abuse. they call him elle grande, one of mexico's biggest drug bosses, but now he's in jail. everybody's business. >> i won't mention the woman, but i was going to a skin doctor. i signed in. and i saw this actress' name, who i was very hot for. and i turned around and there she was. i would have seen her, though. but still, i was figuring out what i was going to say. and i went over to her and i said -- i can't say who it was. but i went and i said, i just came out. and for some reason, the doctor and i -- i blamed it all on the doctor. we have the same disease. >> did you know that? >> no. i didn't. we have the same prescription. >> was it venereal? >> no. >> but the point is, she got really upset. >> and i apologized to her when i saw her about 25 years caugh your office by somebody. >> there's always space in andy gallagher gave me more details. >> i have tried this back in the

1990's when the soviet union ran out of money. i think this is quite different. not just economically, but i also think psychologically. remember the communist government of cuba runs just about everything. 95% of the people are working government jobs. years past when you were waiting to go into another job, the government would pay you more than half your wages, so this is a huge shift. half a million at least by march will be laid off. they are, then, expected to either go and work for themselves because the communist party there will loosen up its wlaws about private enterprise. they will issue licenses for people who own small businesses. but the big question here is where is that private sector to absorb all these workers at the moment. raul castro has been experimenting by giving why acceptses to people like taxi drivers and people like lair dressers, but that's a small change when you think about the sheer number of workers who will be laid off. perhaps all in a million.

>> the former leader fidel castro was recently quoted as saying that the cuban model doesn't even seem to work for them anymore. what did he mean by that? >> he said he meant it not literally and as a joke. but the fact is that the cuban economy has been suffering a great deal over the past couple of years. tourism is down. one of their main exports, nickel. the price has fallen there. so they are in a lot of trouble. i think this is a shot of reality. certainly raul castro has hinted at these changes, but i don't think anyone was expecting quite on this scale. it's huge economically, huge psychologically. but it's imp leapting it that will be a problem. the private sector suspect there. there's a huge black market in cuba where people work illegally and try and earn dollars. the average salary is something like $0 a month. this will be very difficult to implement.

meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people will lose their jobs. >> andy gallagher. reports from washington say the u.s. administration is expected to announce an arms deal with saudi arabia worth $60 million. -- billion. the deal, would include advanced fighter jets and military helicopters. any sale will still require approval by the u.s. congress. steve king ston says the details have yet to be officially revealed. >> it certainly looks to be a megadeal. the details of which are not being given on the record by the administration at this point. it is yet to notify congress about this. but off the record, defense officials saying that there will be, for example, 84 and 15 fighter jets. 72 blackhawk helicopters. 70 apa chih helicopters. saudi arabia will later have an option on naval technology from

the united states. it will also get an upgrade of its missiles. and the deal initially worth $30 billion. those unnamed officials say. but it could rise if saudi arabia takes up the various options as part of the agreement to double that to $60 billion. >> now, this potential sale is unlikely to meet much opposition, steve. why is that? >> well, in the past, sales to saudi arabia -- and they have been considerable on sales to saudi arabia by the united states in the past. but they have been controversial throughout the 1980's and the 1990's. israel, through congress, through friendly members of the u.s. congress, opposed and scaled down earlier packages. obviously 9/11, saudi arabia, the birthplace of osama bin laden, the military connection became controversial. but i think what has changed now is iran, perceived to be a major and growing threat in the region by israel, by the united states.

and what the united states is trying to find is a long-term strategic partner in the gulf with whom it can have a military relationship over the next 10 years or so. it's a kind of deterrent to iran. and iraq is not going to be that country at the moment. u.s. combat troops recently pulled out. there is no stable permanent government in iraq, so they're looking, instead, to saudi arabia and the signs are that this will be a long-term commitment. >> steve king ston. japan could have its third prime minister in a year, as the governing democratic party votes on tuesday on whether to oust the current prime minister. the current one has been in power for three months and is battling with a sharp rise in the yen, which is damaging exports. he is facing a challenge for the party leadership from the veteran politician. if he wins the leadership group, he is almost certain tosh the next prime minister.

belgium's catholic church has promised to help victims of a massive sexual abuse scandal by listening to them, setting up a center for recognition, reconciliation, and healing. last week, it was found that there had been abuse in every belgium diocese over decades. christian frasier reports now from brussels. >> roger was belgium's longest serving bish shop. for years, he abused his new year's eve you. almost 500 witnesses have been interviewed by the special commission. there are appalling stories of rape and molestation dating back over 40 years. the abuse was widespread in almost every boarding school and institution with victims as yupping as 2. 13 later committed suicide, at least six others tried. many felt ignored. he was abused at his catholic

school by two different priests, and his brother by a third. >> one priest invited me to his room and he started touching me. he went into my trousers. tried to open my trousers. and he fondled my genitals. i didn't understand what was going on. i didn't understand what was going on. i was 11 years old. >> the belgium arch bish shop promised new flishtives to present further cases. the crit ins say the church is yet to deal with those cases already uncovered. those implicated still live under church protection. >> the problem is the church did seek to avoid the problem in the past. >> maybe there was that culture. now we denounce it in the strongest terms. >> it's far too late, though, for many of the victims. some priests have died. the statute of limitations means many will never face court. church says it's cooperating. victims groups are not convinced.

>> we do not want the church to start a new investigation into the crimes of its old institution. and further more, especially since the pope is deciding on what's happening and the pope is not the head of the democratic state. >> this is now an exercise in damage limitation. in all likelihood, the abuse stretches far wider than is outlined in this report. today the arch bish shop has -- bishop has reiterated his pleas to come forward, which means they believe there are others hiding dark secrets within the church. christian frasier, bbc news, brussels. >> one of mexico's most wanted men, a drug lord, has now been paraded by the authorities who captured him. the arrest is being seen as a major victory in the government's war on drugs. and a big blow to one of the country's most violent and feared drug cartels. jack explains.

>> an intelligence tip-off led them here to a palatial home in the city of puebla. when they landed, they took no chances. 30 heavily armed marines sent to arrest one man. but in the end, not a shot was fired. minutes later, their target was in custody. who is this giant of a man? at two meters tall, his nickname of el grande is enough. the reward for his capture was big, too, more than $2 million. a former policeman. he is thought to have risen through the ranks of organized crime to lead a fraction of the drug gang. the authorities say he's a delta cartel, a major blow. >> the cartel is greatly

weakened. the three main operators have now been arrested. we expect this will lead to a reshuffling of leaders, but nevertheless the weakening of the group will be substantial. two weeks ago, the leader of a rival faction within the cartel was arrested and last december, its former leader was killed in a gun battle, but these are only small victories in a long war, with fire power rivaling that of small armies. most clashes with the drug gangs lead to there. and the government's attempts to crush them and claim 28,000 lives since 2006. as mexico begins celebrations this week, to mark the 200th anniversary of its independence from spain, he has a long way to go to be free of the violent influence of its drug lords. >> venezuela's transport ministry now says 15 people were killed in a plane crash in the southeast of the country. 36 people survived.

the flight was traveling from the popular tourist island of margarita in the caribbean sea. from the venezuelan capital caracas, will grant reports. >> looking at the wreckage of flight 2350, it seems almost miraculous that most of the passengers were pulled out alive. the survivors are being treated in local hospitals. the plane belonging to the state-run airline was servicing an important route from the caribbean beaches of margarita island to the jungles of the river. it is a trip which is often popular with tourists, but this particular flight was mainly carrying venezuelan citizens. the state governor francisco gomez praised the energy si services for their quick reaction and said he had received logistical support from the national government and president hugo chavez. an investigation is urpped way as to what caused the crash which took place minutes from its final destination.

this was the second such air disaster in venezuela in the past two years. in 2008, the plane belonging to a private company, santa barbara airlines, crashed, killed all 46 people onboard. the venezuelan government is increasingly identified tourism as an important area for economic expansion. but critics say an improvement on the safety record of internal flights is urgently overdue. will grant, bbc news, caracas. >> you're watching "bbc world news." still ahead on the program, saving the har test, why french champagne growers are turning to birds of prey. >> here in the u.k., the prospect of severe cuts has galvanized the trade union movement and planning widespread industrial action. congress has voted overwhelmingly in favor of coordinated strikes to protect

jobs, pensions, pay, and services. >> all those in favor, please show. >> the unions are gearing up for a fight against what they call attacks of jobs, pensions, pay, and public services. >> what we've now got is not just a coalition government, but a demolition government. >> most of this conference talked of protest, some of strikes, a few of civil diso'bead -- disobedience. >> they see public sector workers, you know them, we'll be forced not to coordinate interaction. there needs to be a concentrated response from this congress. thank you very much. >> they did vote the jobs union industrial action, and felt out exactly what they were doing. for now, all it means is the beginning of a campaign leading to a mass rally in london next

march. the t.u.c. wants to prove that david cameron is right when we're all in this together, but wrong to say that that means accepting drastic spending cuts. every time the unions talk about striking, someone somewhere predicts another winter of discop tent. they've been doing it for more than three decade. in truth, that's not what's on the mind of most people here at the t.u.c. what they want to do is head up a coalition against the cuts of the government coalition. the coalition against the cuts has not yet got someone to lead it. in manchester tonight, there was a last for those vying to take on the role as leader of the opposition to persuade union member that they're up to the job. nick robinson, "bbc world news," manchester. >> you're watching "bbc news." a reminder of our headlines. cue be has announced plans to lay off half a million states and employees by march in the biggest shift to the private sector since the revolution. the united states is reporting

to be close to announcing a $60 billion arms sale to saudi arabia. the muslim cleric behind the controversial plans for an islamic community center near ground zero in new york has set -- said extremists of any faith must not be allowed to hijack the discourse. he wants to resolve a crisis between islam and america. many americans are opposed as it would be two blocks from the site of the twin towers. laura has more on the ongoing issue. >> the message couldn't be clearer. after saturday, september 11 anniversary, these demonstrators gathered by ground zero to make their point. the imam signaled that he's working to diffuse the tension. >> we really are focused on solving it in a way that will create the best possible outcome

for all. i give you my pledge. >> is compromise one of the tools you're prepared to deploy? >> everything is on the table. >> ok. >> does that include moving the islamic center from its proposed location, a block and a half from ground zero? the imam didn't elaborate, and the site's developer has said repeatedly the project is not moving. this isn't just a clash between america's commitment to freedom of religion and those who say that right shouldn't be exercised here so near to where so many died. it's also about the growing number of muslims in city and their need for somewhere to pray. muslims on the lower east side celebrating the end of ram dan had to pray in the park. their mosque wasn't big enough to house all the worshipers. the imam here says what's important is a new prayer space in lower manhattan. >> it doesn't matter to you where it is as long as it's built? >> yeah, yeah.

because many offices in this area. many muslim people are working on that area. that's why it would be good for them to pray. >> at the other end of town on the upper east side is one of new york's more ornate mosques. this imam feels the location of the planned islamic center so close to the site of 9/11 is precisely the point. >> we won't to show the opposite of the radicals' teachings. we want to say we oppose you from the very best way based on your understanding of our religion. from the very place we attack this country, we want to oppose you. that's why we want this location. >> despite that intention, opinion polls continue to suggest that most americans aren't convinced and see an islamic center so close to ground zero is provocative. supporters of the project feel it's become a test for whether

muslim-americans are chosen into their selected society nine years after september 11. >> it's now been more than a month since pakistan was delve stated by the country's worst floods in nearly a century. millions still remained homeless and aid organizations are struggling to help those affected. among the hardest hit areas were those along the river where the waters are now starting to recede. all this week, the bbc's correspondent is traveling along the river to see how the country is recovering. here's his first report. >> extraordinary as it may seem now, just a few weeks ago, flood waters filled this valley. they surged through it with enough force to remove a huge bridge right here where we start our journey. works under way to rebuild a bridge and reconnect tens of thousands who have been cut off on the other side, but it will

take many months. in the mean tile, we found that people have come up with local solutions to get food aid across the valley where it's so badly needed. the ricketty cable car are up off a car engine, makeshift, not to mention dangerous. these are desperate times. as we began traveling south, we saw more and more evidence of just how brutal it had been. the swath valley has some of the most spectacular scenery in pakistan, but it is also an area that's sustained some of the most dramatic damage after the floods. it is extraordinary to think that water caused so much destruction, for there are building just behind this one that were completely washed away by the floods without leaving a trace. >> we were shown where a six-story hotel and a marketplace once stood that are now gone. all this in a place where people

have just returned after fighting last year between the army and the taliban. >> we go from here to different places. we finally came back to our houses. we first came in, there's no hotel. there's no road. there's no bridgings. there's a lot of problems. >> there are many here who feel the infrastructure damage done now is far worse than after the massive earthquake of 2005. >> there are over 300 bridges that have been washed away or damaged, of which at least 150 are reinforced concrete structures. so there is no comparison. >> we have stark images in our minds illustrating the power of our floods, and also of people's resilience, coping from one disaster to another.

>> it's the most important time of the year for champagne harvesters in france. as the farmers prepare to collect the fruits of their labor, they can reflect on a harvest. it's all because six years ago, they implemented a new technique in protecting their crops to stop them from falling into the mouths of hungry starlings and other birds, that unlike other pest seeds, -- pesticides, this wasn't doesn't harm the environment. >> late summer in northern france, air patrol over the vineyards of champagne. these are farmers from america, especially employed to keep these precious feels free of grape-eating predators. the bird's task is not so much to catch the prey, but to create stress so that they instinctively stay away. they used the use nets to protect the vineyards, but that

was impractical and expensive. so six years ago, they turned to birds of prey and it worked. now is moment the falcons are most needed, because the grapes are at their tastiest. >> it's a period exactly when the grapes take on the sugar and a moment when there's less acidity. they're more tasty to these little birds who want to eat them. >> any day now, it's harvest time in champaign. not until then can these vigilanties of the vine relax their eagle eye. >> one of the greatest roman treasures to be unearthed in britain in recent years is to be auctioned at christies in london. it was found in northwest england and thought to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. but as david reports, a campaign has been launched to prevent its sale to a foreign collector. >> this face, those eyes, beaten

out of bronze 1,900 years ago, were made to impress. all these years later, it's lost none of its impact. >> i just couldn't believe what i was saying. it was just extraordinary, that the face had survived in such extraordinary condition. >> there has been some restoration work. its survival was extraordinary. this face has been underground in a field for nearly 2,000 years. >> it was discovered some 60 miles by a man with a metal detector. he, though, has chosen to remain anonymous. >> he's a young guy. and i think for him it's really the discovery of a lifetime. it's an extraordinary thing. he'd been detecting on the land for seven years and had found nothing. >> it was never meant for battle. it was for showing off at a ceremonial cavalry

demonstration, and so offers a little glimpse of one life of roam consumer bree ya. that's where local museum would like it to stay. >> it belongs in cumbria, and we'd like to retain it in cumbria. we've got such a fantastic heritage, roman heritage here. >> but it doesn't qualify as official treasure, so it will go to the highest bidder. the most is arpped 300,000 -- around 300,000 pounds. >> some tennis news now. rafael nadal has joined the ranks of the all-time greats, beating novak djokovic in the final of the u.s. open in new york, thus completing the grand slam of all four major titles. play had to be postponed from

sunday due to bad weather, and nadal took control early on. the serbian number three seed fought back leveling the match, but nadal always looked the more likely and wrapped things up in four sets. he's only the seventh man to win the major titles, in australia, france, the u.s., and wimbledon. a reminder of our main headline again. cuba has announced the biggest shivet to the private sector since the revolution. massive numbers of state employees will be laid off. bye-bye for now. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, the john d. and katherine t. mcarthur foundation, union bank.

♪ >> youn-on bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> somewhere in america, there's a doctor who can peer into the future. there's a nurse who can access in an instant every patient's past. and because the whole hospital is working together, there's a family who can breathe easy right now. somewhere in america, we've already answered some of the nation's toughest health care questions. and the over 60,000 people of siemens are ready to do it again. siemens, answers. >> "bbc world news" was presented by