>> "bbc world news" is presented by kcet, los angeles. funding for this presentation is 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 financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." >> a gloomy outlook at the g-20 summit where there are growing concerns that tough times will tempt countries to put up trade barriers. a day of drama in baghdad. iraq does the new government takes shape among political bedlam. or than 700 have died and thousands of new cases emerging every day. welcome to bbc news. coming up later, the u.s. takes steps toward lifting the ban on openly gay people serving in the military. what price for free speech? russian journalists take to the

streets to protest against a wage freeze on reporters and activists. leaders of the g-20 are locked in a second day of talks at the summit in south korea. they are due to publish a final communique later. tensions are high between some of the world's major economies and distortions in currency and trade. >> we are told that the officials here worked late into the night trying to find a form of work that everyone can agree on. the south korean president has spoken upbeat progress having been made. we will wait and see. the voices of pessimism are

those that are bringing loudest in the media coverage. david cameron, the british prime minister, said that the g-20 is not in an heroic phase. other people have said the confidence and consensus on display at the beginning of the financial crisis is ebbing away. it will be interesting to see what form of work is finally agreed, but at least a few people expect a real breakthrough on some of those corny issues. >> you mentioned currency disputes. the tension is rising between the u.s. and china. >> that has been a very interesting time -- interesting story to watch here. washington has found themselves in some difficulty here. before the summit they were putting pressure on beijing, suggesting that china was deliberately manipulating the currency to help exporters. during this summit, we have seen the same accusations pointed back very firmly at america. countries like brazil, germany,

and china suggesting that america's move to pump $600 billion into its economy will have the effect of weakening the dollar and is therefore also aimed at giving them a competitive advantage. in some ways, there is a feeling that washington on that issue has lost the moral high ground. >> how optimistic are leaders and the delegates around the summit on some resolution between world leaders? >> i think most people expect we will see some form of agreement, a reaffirmation of the commitment made among the finance ministers a few weeks ago to avoid competitive devaluations of their currency. everybody can agree on that on principle. for example, it is very unlikely we will see any agreement on the u.s. proposal to curtail excess of trade imbalances. that appears to have been kicked into the long grass. i think at the moment, most

observers would say we are going to be seeing a statement that is long on rhetoric and broad principle but short on real agreement of some of those very difficult details. >> president obama has urged iraqi leaders to form an inclusive new government after a power shake -- power-sharing deal was thrown into doubt. the incumbent prime minister, nouri al-maliki, was asked to stay on and form a new administration. the opponent walked out of parliament, accusing him of reneging on a power-sharing deal. >> it all started with recitation of the koran, as on all important occasions here.

as it is constitutionally bound to do in its first session, parliament proceeded to the election of its own speaker and its beauty his two deputies. everything seemed to be going according to plan. >> after waiting more than eight months for what is happening here now, the important thing is that it brings on board many people [unintelligible] >> it was an encouraging sign for many people. he wanted the job upcoming nouri al-maliki. it is part of the price of bringing him and inkatha sunnis on board. the honeymoon did not last long. they accused al leakey of breaking a deal that carl --

they accused him of breaking the deal. >> there'll be another 40 years after the previous four years. >> despite the war -- the walkout, the parliament went ahead and reelected the leader for another term. he went ahead and ask nouri al- maliki to form the new government. he now has a month to do that. one challenge will be to try to soothe him and his followers and win them back. everybody is well aware that the marginal as asia and of thesunnis in previous governments -- it the marginization of the sunnis in previous governments. >> a powerful explosion has all but destroyed a police compound

and a high security area and the city of karachi. at least 20 people are dead and many injured. >> this is all that remains of the building housing one of pakistan's premier units. a truck bomb ripped through these premises, leaving ruins in its aftermath. army militants tried to storm the building minutes earlier. >> the workers had just finished and i was paying them. suddenly i heard gunfire that went on for three or four minutes, then an explosion rocked the area. we ran into our homes. >> rescue workers and security personnel were quick to reach the scene. the injured were carried to waiting ambulances. many were trapped under the

debris of the collapsed building. peak reject residents stood by begging for help for their trapped loved ones. there are active operations of recruitment in the city. initially, the militants have hit a soft targets like a shrine in southern karachi. the latest attack shows they are now confident an emboldened. security forces are also firmly in their cross hairs. >> the former israeli prime minister who has been in a coma for the past four years could be made to a family farm before the end of the week. his face has been described by medics -- he has been described

as stable. a fire has killed 10 elderly people in a nursing home in south korea. 17 others were injured in the blaze. those who died were in their seven's and 80's and were asleep when the fire started in the middle of the night. a cruise ship has been towed back to san diego after an engine fire left the boat stranded off mexico for three days. more than four thousand passengers and crew were on board the carnival splendor. passengers said they endured limited amounts of food. cholera is spreading rapidly in the haitian capital of port-au- prince. more than 720 are now known to have died. three people have also died of the disease in the catskills after was confirmed in the city earlier this week. >> the epidemic means that those

who used to make a living from the water are now struggling to sell their fish. a fisherman's customers are terrified of eating fish contaminated with cholera, of waterborne disease that can be transmitted by eating infected food. in the crowded capital of port- au-prince, a widespread outbreak could overwhelm the health authorities. in the sprawling slums of the capital, a medical charity set up a hospital where they are seeing more and more patients each day. >> it has increased every day. today we saw some fish outside of the slums. we don't know where we are going, but it is increasing every day. >> doctors believe the heavy rains in the wake of last week's hurricane help spread the waterborne disease by causing

contaminated waters to flood. haitians in rural villages are struggling to get medical help. it is not clear how many have died in inaccessible areas. this earthquake ravaged nation is now undergoing its second humanitarian emergency within a year. cholera exports are worried about the possibility of the disease spreading to the dominican republic and even the united states. >> the u.s. defense department is expected to scrap the ban on openly gay members of the armed forces. the washington post claims that it is reports due to be delivered to president obama next months and that ending the ban would have minimal effect. the u.s. ministry has followed the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell" since 1993. >> this survey was commissioned by the pentagon some time ago to

gauge how serving in the military personnel would fill about serving alongside gay colleagues. it was really canvassing opinions across all of the 400,000 serving personnel who were asked their opinions. what we have is some leaked early findings. the findings say that 70% of serving personnel believe that lifting "don't ask, don't tell" would have a positive effect or no effect. there were some interesting breakdowns. 40% of those serving in the marines were opposed to lifting "don't ask, don't tell". why is all this important? lots of people believe -- have been saying for some time that "don't ask, don't tell" should be based on what the troops say,

rather than political dogma. remember, president obama has been promising to lift this ever since he was elected. >> i also understand that the obama administration has made no secret of its desire to get rid of this 17-year-old policy. >> it is a very interesting situation. "don't ask, don't tell" was overturned last month by a court in california, but that was overturned again after a rule by the defense department. president obama says he would much prefer it was done through legislation in congress and in the courts, but when that legislation is going to appear, we don't know just yet. >> you are watching bbc news. >> modern problems in ancient world. why italy's rich cultural heritage is under threat from

the government's austerity plans. the journey is hard, or the annual pilgrimage is the most spiritual journey a muslim can make. all muslims financially able are expected to perform at least once in their lifetime. many also go for the business prospects it can bring. >> this is what millions of pilgrims have spent a year saving for. while they make their way across islam's holy city, many see it as a golden opportunity to maximize profits from the hajj season. i am instantly in shopping mode. >> para rugs and prayer beads are everywhere you go, and the customers are ready to shop. there is also the famous market haggling. you can get anything at any price here. it all depends on how good a

negotiator you are. i tried my lack of haggling, and failed. this lady, however, is getting her way. i go to a jewelry shop and instantly i have my eye on something. it has always been a commercial hub in the peninsula, located between two large commercial centers. it was always an essential trading stop. this is still the case today. trade is what the people of mecca at best. all pilgrims congregate here year after year to wash away their sins and star with a clean slate, many now see hajj as a lucrative opportunity where millions of dollars can be made. >> the city is not just dependent on programs shopping for presence at local markets. real estate is a rising contender and is proving to be a

sound investment. >> the headlines this hour, the g-20 summit has got off to a gloomy start in the south korean capital of seoul. there are concerns that countries will put up trade barriers during the tough economic times. iraqi politicians have taken a big step towards establishing a new government, ending eight months of political deadlock. it is reported that the detained opposition leader it is certain to be released in the next few days. the plan comes after the country's supreme court rejected an appeal. she spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention under sentence is due to expire on saturday. the main military-backed political party says it won a

80% of the vote. [unintelligible] is a member of burma's government in exile. thank you very much for joining me. are you surprised about her release? >> we are ready it expected it and the international community already expected. this is the time to be released. the sentence is 18 months only, so it should be ended this coming saturday. she must be released. it would be a surprise if the senior general did not speak up for her release. >> how significant would this release be? >> it would depend on what kind

of release it would be. everybody in our carter -- in our party is expecting that she should be released unconditionally. she would not accept any conditions for release, so that if she is released unconditionally and allow political freedom, that would be very significant for burma. >> in your opinion, how valid is the most recent election result? >> everybody knows, it is full of flaws and complaints from the political parties. i think it is a sham election, not the real one. >> how do you think other countries will be viewing burma at the moment? >> of our neighboring countries as usual will embrace the election results as better than nothing, because the civilian government will change from

uniform to civilian clothes. >> if the release does happen, what you think that impact will have on the ruling body in burma at the moment? >> it depends upon what they are going to recognize the rule of law. they really need a reconciliation process for the sake of humanitarian and other development assistance. >> thank you very much for speaking to me. two years after dazzling the world at the beijing olympics, the 16th asian games are about to open in the southern city. 40 nations are taking part. organizers insist that unlike the commonwealth games in

delhi, this time everything is ready. the bbc is in london waiting for the games to get underway. >> they are promising a glittering event for the opening ceremony. they are keeping it all under wraps, but they say it will compete with that amazing ceremony we saw in beijing two years ago. this is a huge event, the second largest sporting event in the world after the beijing olympics. that actually compete in more sports than they do at the olympics here. it is 42 different sports, which is 14 more than we saw in beijing. >> china looks very hopeful as well. >> china is building 35 olympic medalists. they sent their largest ever delegation to the asian games. china has always dominated the middle table. they usually play off second place between japan and south korea, competing for the runner- up position.

for all the nations here, the importance of the asian games is that it is a big staging plays on the way to the 2012 london olympics. it is the first taste for some of the old -- of the athletes for their first international olympics. >> rahm has gained another tourist attraction, an ancient temple that has reopened. many are angry at the government's plan to slash arts funding. hundreds of museums and galleries will be closed in protest on saturday. >> nearly 2000 years after it was built, rome's colosseum has lost none of its power to impress or draw crowds. now in its shadow, another ancient treasure has reopened. much of its roof may be missing, but the temple of venus in rome still hints of the skill and

ingenuity of a lost age. >> this is an intriguing monument, not just because it was the biggest tumble in the area, but because it is a double one made up of two halves. the party dedicated to venus bases east and the part dedicated to rahm faces west, towards the forum. >> though much of the forum is in ruins, it still draws millions of visitors every year. >> people could not get in here for nearly 30 years while it was being restored. we are determined to open what used to be closed and inaccessible. this is what the tourists coming from all over the world want. >> many in italy accuse the authorities of allowing other ancient monuments to crumble. this is all that is left of the house in the roman era city of pompeii, which collapsed on saturday. opposition parties blame official neglect and you are the

government austerity drive will make it worse. museums and archeological sites are due to strike on friday to oppose plans to slash $380 million from the culture budget. with 48, italy has more heritage sites than any other country, but their fans worry that the majesty of the country's glorious past may suffer in its cash strapped present. >> the strike did -- striking images of space tell the story. >> it was an idea dreamed up in the pubs. blow up a helium balloon, attach an airplane made of paper, find a light weight pilot, and send it up to the edge of space. somewhere over spain, that the

helium balloon pop and see what the camera captures as it glides back down to earth. the results are astonishing. the curvature of the earth, normally seen from rockets and shovels, now shot from a paper airplane at 80,000 feet. the three bridges behind the program are not scientists, and the footage exceeded all their expectations. >> we were amazed. we thought the batteries would pack up after about 40 minutes or an hour pre in fact, they lost it for an hour and a half. >> the question was, how were they going to find the plane once it came back down to earth. they designed a special tracking device device in this house, not at nasa headquarters. it is the home of amateur radio enthusiast steve daniels, who

spent a year preparing for liftoff. >> how did you know what to do? >> a little bit of research. >> the plane was found in a forest 100 miles from the launch site. the team now hopes to start a competition, in other teams to go higher in get even more startling images. >> a chinese vase found when planning our house has just sold at auction for nearly $70 million. it is thought that the buyer is from the chinese mainland, paying easily the highest price ever for a chinese art work. it is a windfall for a small auction house in west london.

leaders of the g-20 group of major economic countries are in the final day of their summit in south korea. this amid concerns of economic protectionism. >> 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 offers unique insight and expertise in a range of industries. what can we do for you? >> there is one stage that is the met and carnegie hall. >> o, that this too, too solid flesh -- >> it is the kennedy center. >> check, one, two. >> and a club in austin. >> it is closer than any seat in the house, no matter where you call home. >> the top of the world, and i'm there, i'm home. >> pbs -- the great american stage that fits in every living room. your support of pbs brings the arts home. wasbbc world news"