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coporations. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." no more meltdowns, e.u. leaders agree on tougher regulation to protect the eurozone from financial crisis. could this blowout have been prevented? an official inquiry finds false used in the cement to seal the bp oil well. rescuers finally arrived on the indonesian islands swamped by the tsunami. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcasting in the united kingdom and around the world. it also ahead, taking aim at the white house. republicans have victory in their sights as the midterms loom. and interruptions on the red carpet, protesters appeared at the rome film festival.

hello, thank you for joining us. the president of the european council has announced that eu heads of states have agreed to establish a permanent crisis mechanism to safeguard the financial stability of the eurozone has a whole. speaking at a summit in brussels, he said the absence of such a mechanism during the great financial crisis -- during the great financial crisis threatened the eurozone. >> mission accomplished for france as president nicolas sarkozy may be languishing and the polls at home, but in brussels thursday night he felt like a winner. his campaign for tough new rules to protect europe's single currency appeared to have paid off. >> today, we took important

positions to strengthen the euro zone. we have endorsed the final reports of the task force. we have also found an agreement about the procedure to decide and mechanism for the eurozone. >> when he says crisis, this is what he means. this spring, greece was almost swamped by its national debt. europe's single currency nearly cracked under the strain. now the person at the helm of europe's most powerful economy is determined never to let it happen again. >> in germany, we believe and i am pushing for this that we need to change the treaty so we are able to react to any future crisis that puts the euro in danger. >> the german chancellor had called for countries to break eu rules on deficit to face of tough sanctions, including losing their voting rights, but

most other leaders and found that too draconian. in the end, they agreed to a system of fines for serial spendthrifts and to create a safety net to stop eurozone from being dragged down by one member states's excessive deficit. so far the announcement has been bigger on symbolism than substance, a designer to show the eurozone will be protected from a repeat of this year's chaos. the details of the crisis mechanism could take years to hammer out, but the stakes are high, no less than the economic stability of millions of europeans. a commission appointed by president obama to investigate the gulf of mexico oil spill said cement used to seal the well may have contributed to the blowout that caused the disaster. the commission claims halliburton and bp were both aware of the cement used to seal the bottom of the well was not stable but they still went ahead with the job.

>> the deepwater horizon oil rig exploded into flame in april, 11 people died. many things went wrong, but investigators say they have discovered what may prove to be it is -- proved to be a mistake that was crucial in precipitating the disaster. on the seabed, will implored -- oil poured into the gulf of mexico. it should have been secured in a secure concrete casing. the concrete was supplied by the company halliburton. we have known for a while the concrete casing must have failed in some way, and now investigators say their own tests show that the concrete mixture was not stable and that halliburton knew it may not be stable but used it anyway to try to secure the well. neither halliburton or bp, said the investigators, acted on data from tests showing that the concrete could be unstable.

the oil slick has blighted the gulf of mexico, dennis the local economy, and upset the americans. they say it was not only the concrete's the failure that brought about the disaster, but how britain has already attracted controversy with its relationship with american -- but halliburton has already attracted controversy with his relationship american politicians. these findings will bring more scrutiny. a fresh round of protests and strikes over pension reforms in france have been causing problems for travelers using airports and train services. even though the number of protesters was lower than on previous condition -- occasions, union leaders say a majority of their members still object to plans to raise the minimum age for retirement from 60 to 62. french parliament has approved the pension bill and nicolas sarkozy plans to sign it into law. the ambassador from syria to

the united nations has dismissed allegations that syrians have been smuggling arms into lebanon. the ambassador has accused hezbollah and its allies, syria, and iran, of endangering serious independence. gunmen have shot dead six teenagers in mexico city which may have been related to a feud between criminal gangs. mexico is suffering criminal violence, but such mass shootings are rare across mexico city. ships carrying emergency aid have reached some of indonesia's's remote islands. they were ravaged by monday's tsunami. it is confirmed around 370 people have died, but hundreds more are still missing. indonesian authorities are struggling with another repeated disaster, the volcano in central java killing 33 earlier this

week, and now it has erupted again. >> one mass grave. one shared the motion. itgrief. -- grief. each coffin was gently laid to rest. another cemetery, another burial. the crowd here gather to pay their respects to a man known as the gatekeeper. in a land steeped in mysticism, his job was to appease the volcano's angry spirits. he died trying. now merapi is a few kilometers away, but the volcano has been relatively quiet today so people here are taking the opportunity to lay the victims to rest and to mourn. the images of the volcano's destructive power are now etched on people's minds. once fertile farmland, covered in a ghostly gray shroud of ash.

as one community barry's their dead, another is still searching for bodies. on these islands, it was the water that did the damage, a tsunami. there is supposed to be a warning system in place, but it did not worked. the government admitted that motion sensors which monitor water levels have been vandalized. no mention of that as indonesia as president with is the destruction first hand, but better planning is on his mind. we need to relocate residential areas that are prone to natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides, he said. communities here on the edge of the sea were completely exposed. entire villages washed away. indonesia has suffered its -- more than its fair share of tragedy. now a double disaster has left it creeping once again.

-- not a double disaster has left it grieving once again. aid agencies in haiti are warning that an epidemic of cholera is moving closer to the nation's capital. so far, most of the deaths have been in remote areas, there is a fear the disease could spread to the densely populated capital port-au-prince. >> the poverty and squalor is quite simply breathtaking. so far, the slums around the capital have largely escaped the outbreak. in the optimistically named city, sun city, there is no sanitation. this is the only toilet they have, he says. conditions like this would allow cholera to spread rapidly. this woman says they have no choice but to watch their food in dirty water.

official warnings about the importance of hygiene fall on deaf ears. >> the government talks on the radio, but they don't look at this. they don't bring us things to protect us. >> for now, the front line against the disease is here, 30 kilometers away. if treated quickly with rehydration and antibiotics, cholera can be beaten. this cuban doctor hopes that the outbreak may have leveled off. >> last night, things got more stable. five people came in last night, but today there were no patience. >> but if even fewer new cases have been reported, the authorities are determined not to let down their guard. >> the numbers are going down, but this does not mean we have reached the peak. this outbreak is not over. >> across the country, thousands of people have been in fact,

though the number killed remains in the hundreds. the bacteria reaches the slums, it will most certainly spread rapidly and claim many more lives. a hotel has apologized after european couple who thought they were renewing their marriage vows were in fact being subjected to abuse. a clip posted on youtube revealed a staff member who pretended to bless the couple had in fact unleashed a string of sexual and religious slurs in the local language. the maltese foreign minister expressed horror and officials have launched an investigation. you are watching "bbc world news." there is plenty more still ahead, including -- faking it, jail for the man who forged art

and sold it on ebay. that is ahead. the head of mi-6 has defended the way the secret intelligence service works and has given a warning that the safety of the united kingdom would be put at risk if its secrets were compromised. and the first public speech by serving head, he declared his organization had nothing to do with torture but acknowledge british agents had to work in a world as it is. >> the british secret intelligence service mi-6 normally operates in the shadows, keeping away from the light. but today for the first time, a head of mi-6 stepped in front of the tv camera. he offered a glimpse not just of himself but of his work, but insisted it was just a glimpse. >> secrecy is not a dirty word. secrecy is not there for cover.

it plays a crucial part in keeping britain safe and secure. >> it may seem strange that the head of a secret service talks publicly about the need for secrecy, but the aim of today was to explain what mi-6 really does and does not do and deal with some of the controversy that has surrounded it's worked. more than 1/3 of mi-6's efforts are directed towards terrorism. but this has taken it too difficult places and onto difficult moral to rain, not least of which allegations that british intelligence may have worked with countries that torture. today's source said there were limits beyond which mi-6 would not go. in the cold war, mi-6 was not even acknowledged to exist by the government. in the modern world, the public expects a degree of accountability and transparency. today was about moving in that direction, while cautioning of the risks of moving too far out

of the shadows. hello. the very latest "bbc world news" -- e.u. leaders agreed on new measures to protect the union from the initial crisis. and the u.s. government inquiry into the gulf of mexico oil spill has suggested that cement mix used in the well may have been partly to blame for the disaster. let's get more on the situation in indonesia. philip charles is with the international red cross in jakarta. that little earlier, i asked how the survivors are coping. >> i think starting from the west, the survivors are having it tough. the difficulty is not so much the aftermath of the event

itself, but the weather has been atrocious. and has made their lives more miserable, if that is possible. if has also affected the ability to respond directly to the event, and at this stage the red cross has three recovery teams on the ground with a comic relief supplies and there wishing to get into the area to continue with the assessment process and assist the government's search and rescue teams. that is problematic and there is need for more relief to get into the area as quickly as possible. the only way at the moment is by sea and with high seas and strong wind, that it is difficult. as soon as there is a break and the weather, we also plan to put in light aircraft, probably helicopters to assist in the ongoing assessment to reach the more outlying areas where there perhaps has not been a presence in the last couple days to assess how those communities are coping.

>> in so many natural disasters, there is often the threat of disease spreading. but has been done to combat that? >> the health team, part of the third recovery team, has gone in. they have doctors and limited medical supplies, but clearly, yes, there is a need for some sort of health intervention on a large scale, and this is something we will be looking at when we assess the area more thoroughly. the immediate need includes clean water and food, not to mention shelter. but most of the infrastructure, health infrastructure that was part of the villages has been destroyed. there is a need to be there and we're doing what we can at the moment with what we have on the ground. >> we were hearing earlier that aid has begun to arrive. is it your sense there is enough to go around or is their desperate need for more? >> it is difficult to say

because the information is sketchy. we have consolidated reports on the number of casualties and the broad extent of the damage that has been sustained, but until we get more detailed information on what is we're seeking to support, we can only make an assessment based on our previous involvement in similar events such as the 2004 tsunami, on a smaller scale. that is the way we are preparing our relief shipments at the moment. with the tenuous communication we have with teams on the ground, we are able to get small packets of information that we can respond to immediately. a jury has found the light playboy model anna nicole and doctor ofend conspiracy charges. she was found guilty of fraud. her doctor was cleared.

all three have denied supplying smith with drugs. just five days from now, american voters are poised to go to the polls in the midterm elections, but support for mr. obama and democratic candidates has taken a serious blow things to a faltering economy and high unemployment. we have this report on the uphill climb on election day. >> it is his main campaign event of the week, a spot on a liberal comedy show where he is still adored by the audience. but did he raise hopes to hide? >> it would not be asked, we given certain conditions? >> i would say, yes, we can but -- but it is not going to happen overnight. >> obama has done lots of campaigning, but in some states he is not welcome, like west virginia.

>> i will get the federal government off our backs and out of our pockets. i will cut federal spending and repealed the bad parts of obama- care. >> opponents have taken aim at the president, but this is from a fellow democrat. >> i will take dead aim at the cap and trade bill. >> the marksmen is joe manchin, a popular democratic governor who should be a shoe in, but the race is neck and neck, so he is one of the many democrats who have become distinctly on friendly towards obama. why? >> we are a little different and western virginia, but you will not funny more patriotic citizen than in west virginia. >> does this put distance between you and the president? >> i don't look at it that way. i just look at what is good for west virginia. if we have differences, they are respectful. >> bill clinton, rehabilitated,

once again a major democratic asset. also still popular, the man who lost the presidential election, john mccain, has been in west virginia campaigning for the republican candidate. this is not the only state where obama is seen as an albatross. the senator says this election can send a message. a m unemployment 9.6%, houses on the water. all of the things that are the legacy of this president and i think will be a strong repudiation with the election. >> victor is typical in this state, kean hunter and a former miner, just the sort both parties want to track down. as a registered republican, used on to vote democratic this time. he says he likes the display of independence. >> you have freedom of choice. if you want to distance herself from a particular party, you

can. i am a registered republican, but i will vote for whoever i think does the best job. >> obama has never been wildly popular here, but the nature of this campaign is a measure of his fall from grace. a animosity towards the president is likely to cost the democrats seats and undermine his ability to govern. a man who forged works by the british artist tracy emin has been jailed 16 months. he made 11 fake pieces before auctioning them on ebay for more than 25 pounds. >> just some of the deeply confessional pieces that have earned her international fame and at times six-figure sums. but jon rayfern went from collecting her part to faking it and saw these forgeries -- and sold these forgeries as originals.

>> they were skilled, but it was accompanied by lots of other details, provenance documents and his association with tracey emin. he was able to convince these the list of items they were purchasing were genuine. and he admitted selling 11 fakes. tracey emin's studio alerted the police after spotting the forgeries. she said it hurts and distresses me to see these fakes and forgeries that have no regard, respect, or understanding of what i do. purchasing art is becoming increasingly popular, and fares like this deal only in genuine works. but for those buying elsewhere, there are warnings that although it may look legitimate, the buyer should check and check again before handing over any cash. >> the art work and the u.k., they're getting more aware of fraud. 10,000e targeting 5000 to

lb range, with a quick deal on the internet. the only way to prevent this is to go straight to the artist or the studio. >> tracey emin's genuine work is very personal, from the heart, and popular, and she is upset that some admirers have been conned. these forgeries are likely to be marked as fakes, impossible to sell as originals again. it wasn't exactly the premier they were hoping for. the international rome film festival has just opened, but it could be overshadowed by protests after receipt on the red carpet. what was it all about? -- protests after recede on the red carpet. it was all about? >> rome. the perfect setting for -- a protest.

around 1000 screen writers, directors, and technicians came out from behind the cameras and put on their very own, very vocal performance to try to steal the show. they claimed the government cuts and culture funds are putting their jobs in jeopardy. >> the government disrespects our industry, which means culture, entertainment. they disrespect the people who work in the industry, and it would be enough to protest about that. they call us names. that would be enough to protest. but that is not only. they have a cut our funds for the film industry. they have cut tax shelters, tax credits, which were our only hope for independent movies to be made. it is a farce. >> berlusconi's government has already responded, claiming the action could backfire on the workers by discouraging international investors.

but back to what should have been the main event, the festival opened with this. it is a film all about love, lust, and infidelity. and it stars some of the most glamorous women in the business. >> i think everyone recognizes the scenarios. i thanked some people -- i think some people have been one person in this film. >> the organizers had to cancel the red carpet parade. protesters blocked the entrance. beside the disruption, even the lead actors joined in the in a show of solidarity. still, stars are hoping the world will be talking about this, rather than these. that is it from us before

now. we hope to see you again very soon. >> 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.

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