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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> the headlines. the greek government survives the confidence vote as it struggles to stop the company from responding. >> the second night of violence in northern iran. >> an undercover report. we find out what life is like in the capital of damascus in syria. >> ban ki moon is unanimously elected for a second term in office. it is 11:00 a.m. in singapore. >> it is 2:00 a.m. here broadcasting to viewers on pbs in america and an the world, this is news desk.

>> the greek government has survived the confidence vote. a crucial vote. more than half of the members of parliament voted in favor of the government. international critics feared that if the government failed to get the parliamentary approval it would not be able to pass the new austerity vote as set by the international monetary fund and the world community. >> the greek government has lent its backing to goff papandreou. there was fierce debate before the crucial vote of confidence. in the end, it was the result which the prime minister wanted, and one which his government needed to survive. outside, the news was met with anger.

protesters tried austerity measures and massive unemployment and turned out in force to show their discontent against the government's latest austerity plans needed to obtain billions of euros. >> we need to tell everyone that we cannot stand it anymore. we cannot stand any other measures. >> but greece is dependent on bail outs. greece is in deep turmoil. some protesters say they should default on the debt and leave the euro all together. the e.u. is adamant only if the cuts pass next month will the bail-out funds be approved. >> my message today is clear. there is a plan. i urge everybody to now act upon it.

i think it is better to act than just to talk. >> mr. papandreou has achieved the first step. many greeks feel any further cuts which would see large-scale privatizat ion and many more thousands of greeks out of work must be avoided at all costs. that's a debate which will be set to be closer and even more tense than this vote set for next week. will grant, bbc news. >> our correspondent is in athens and he said the vote of confidence had been crucial to greece's stability. >> if they had not won the vote of confidence, there would have had to have been elections, and that is something the european union didn't want to see at all. and also it was an important step along a road which will was

saying will end next week with the passing of the european union with the passing of these austerity measures. then greece will not get the next traunch of aid from the bail-out that was agreed to in 2010. they need that money to pay off debts and not default. there was a foregone conclusion that this fway debate was going to end in a vote of confidence because the rebels that had previously existed came off the fence on the side of the government. they were satisfied by the reshuffle because they think that there will be a more caring approach to government. it is difficult to see how that can happen, given that the e.u. and i.m.f. is inassistant on the course they are demanding. >> petrobombs, missiles, and fireworks in an area of belfast

with -- where hundreds of people had gathered. mark simpson is in belfast. he describes what happened. >> this wasn't a huge riot. it was a pretty serious disturbance involving at one stage around 700 people, and as night went on, the worst of the violence is gone. it started off with some sticks and some stones and bricks, and then the pictures you've just seen of a man appearing throwing stones at the police and throwing stones at what is a catholic part of east belfast. the pictures we're looking at now are the mainly prod student part of east belfast. over the years there have been clashes only involving a minority of people. clashes they have been. perhaps the most serious development came around midnight

local time here when gunfire was heard in the area and in fact one man was hit. he was a photographer. he was part of our media contingent of around 20 of us who were following and reporting on the riot situation. the good news is that photographer, although shot in the bottom of his leg, his injuries are not life-threatening. >> more details on the -- in the ongoing violence in syria. >> reports from syria say at least seven protesters have been killed in clashes between anti-government demonstrators in cities -- neighboring cities. but the bbc managed to send a week under cover meeting people in the capital of demath damascus. this is her exclusive report.

>> the road from damascus. i'm traveling without permission. syria is a dangerous place to be, particularly among those asking for a change in regime. i found a man, a 26-year-old journalist, hiding in a friend's apartment. just released from prison after criticizing the president, he was writing his will. >> the prison experience was terrifying. they tortured me. they beat me. when bashad al-assad took over in 2004, he asked for reforms.

when some suggested introducing genuine democracy, they were promptly arrested. >> syria belongs to the syrians. syria does not belong to this family. let's say this family should have been stopped. the syrian would never have acksemented it. >> life in syria is dominated by the weekly friday protest. who will go? who will risk being killed? will they survive to return home after wards? it is thursday evening, the eve of what has become protest day here in syria, and people are dashing home before the road blocks are set up between the suburbs of damascus and the city itself. the last thing authorities wanted was for feem people to converge on the city recreating the damascus equivalent of thank

you here -- of tahir square. people here say it wouldn't be like egypt, it would be a massacre. a syrian soldier explained what was expected of minimum him by those in command. >> they gave us the orders to fire heavily at unarmed people. we were surprised to be told to shoot randomly. many, many were killed. all unarmed civilians. >> this week saw the biggest protests in damascus yet. not on the scale of egypt, but people here say the fear barrier has been broken. lloyd roberts, bbc news, damascus. >> colonel gaddafi is still clange clinging to power in

libya. opposition fighters have suffered heavy losses as gaddafi forces keep up the pressure. they are struggling to push forward. the bbc's andrew harding is there, and he sent this report. >> silence. on the frontline, outside a place -- some of these rebel fighters have families trapped inside the town. >> i've got nine. >> i've got 13. >> i've got six. >> they are highly motivated, but also worried about their faces being photographed. that was close.

>> for libyan's barefoot volunteers, this has become something like trench warfair. deadly, deadlocked. the front barely inching forward. rocket fire. again, it will be very difficult for them to endure this. >> gaddafi is pounding us, he says. the result is a chaotic stalemate. the rebels blame nato for their air campaign, but those dug in here want fighting to be much more.

it is a struggle -- we secured a late-night call to a rebel in hiding. >> hello. it is andrew from the bbc. can you hear me? there is nothing good. >> rebels have run out of ammunition and supplies. what are gaddafi's forces doing in the city? are they in complete control? >> they are meeting in public places for military proposals. >> outside the town, it is the

same. a frenzy of skirmishing. no hint of a breakthrough. and another surge of casualties. andrew harding, bbc news, libya. >> you are watching "news day " on the bbc. still to come in the program, a report from the chinese mega-city that's getting bigger every day. >> and michelle meets mandela. the first lady takes a visit to south africa's former president. >> a british teenager suspected of involvement in -- has been arrested in coordination with an investigation by the scotland yard and f.b.i. ryan cleary was questioned about serious breeches about the crime

agency, the senate, and the c.i.a. our report. >> secret government data under repeated attack over the internet. bombarded with messages in an attempt to stop them functioning . they believe they have caught a ring leader. they arrested a 19-year-old man. police say it followed a number of cyber-attacks on businesses and agencies. they seized a significant amount of material. the man has been named as ryan mccleary. the u.s. central intelligence agency. it was a unit. they believe that suspect is linked to those attacks. they have also been forensically

searching his computer for any recent attack of sony corporation. they say these attacks are real and highly devastating. >> it is like being in a roosm with no windows or doors. as you introduce human interest actions, you introduce vullnerability. >> the police have up to 96 hours to charge or release their suspect. but the battle will continue. bbc news. >> the headlines. the greek government has survived a crucial confidence vote and seeks to push through further austerity measures

needed to receive a second bail out from europe. >> several people have been involved in violence in the capital of northern ireland. >> ban ki moon has been voted on unanimously to be given a second term at the united nations. >> as you said, he was reappointed. i asked him why he thought that was. he said he thought it was because he had worked hard at being a bridge builder at trying to connect countries and his interest. i think he is seen by diplomats here as someone who is hard working, serious, diligent, and determined. and crucially he has managed to keep the support of the five top powers, the permanent five

members of the security council because he needs the endorsement of all of them to get the second term as attorney attorney. having said that, he has come under harsh criticism, and also those who follow the u.n. and n.g.o.'s and watch what it does. he thought the fact nobody disagrees with him is maybe a weakness. that he's too timied to challenge the big powers and big human rights abusers. that's a criticism he has also been getting. >> china has over 150 cities with a million residents. there are five urban centers, and one of those has a population of 13 million. it is expected to rise by five million over the next decade.

our correspondent has been finding out how local authority -- >> this is one of china's fastest growing cities mixing the old with the new, the traditional with the ultramodern. for centuries, fishermen's routines have barely changed here. they man their nets before heading out to sea. all around them, the horizon is rapidly changing. off in the distance, a city has reached the shore. >> i feel shocked by all the changes. we used to have old houses and muddy dwellings. now we have highways and say skyscraper. >> as a major industrial center, it is a magnet for migrants.

the officials want to make sure it remains a live yble place. that means developing the city at breakneck speed. they are building one of the greatest railway systems in the city here. they want to be sure the -- >> the rush to the city is putting an enormous strain on china's resources. this city play may have the solution. it is building an eco city. >> if this model and this kind of cooperation is successful and more importantly economically

vieable, it could be replicated to the other parts, especially the new developments in china. >> this is a place where the trains never sleep. it is one of the country's most important cities. how it develops will be watched by the rest of china. >> many are enjoying the benefits of a growing economy. with high inflation rates, they are hoping to roll their businesses with afwordable cash. -- affordable cash. >> come to vietnam's ha hanoi and you can see the way economy's change. sales of luxury car sounds. people are acting richer. but you don't need to travel too far from here to witness the

reality for many. about 30 kilometers from hanoi is one of those places. people feel the threats of rising inflation more than most. for the poorest in stote, it can be nearly impossible. what can they do to borrow money to make a living? one idea being tried is mike crow credit. -- micro credit. >> i recently borrow money from them because it is easier to get money this way than go to a bank. with a bank loan there are all sorts of paperwork. so i'm not keen on borrowing money from the bank.

>> in are three million house holds living in poverty in vietnam. the number is expected to rise. >> micro finance is probably the best development scheme for vietnam because it has dropped not only money but also knowledge of the poor. it is this knowledge that serves as a tool to help them to do their own business, build their lives. micro credit here in vietnam, its merits are still up for debate. but for people like single mothers, having an opportunity to borrow even small amounts of money to run a business, is a help for their lives.

>> michelle obama has made an unscheduled visit to someone special. >> the first lady is on a week-long visit to satisfy -- south africa and botsuwana. >> photographs pr rarely this symbolic. michelle obama, the wife of the first black american president and south africa's first black president. the 92-year-old rarely sees visitors these days. the visit kicked off to an inspiring start with a history lesson. nelson mandela's -- guiding them

through personal archives. south africa's struggle is a backdrop to the visit. these streets many of them young children. in the township which offered sanctuary to men and women fearing the aparteid police. >> it was chaos. breem coming here looking for a place to hide because of the police. >> today the commoich is a living monument to south africa's recent park. it is here michelle obama is expected to deliver a keynote address. michelle obama will walk the streets with nelson mandela and dezzmond tutu. this was their political

background. this is finally focused on the future, growing new generations of african leads erds. mrs. obama is coon to champion the rights of women. she >> mrs. obama is keen to champion the rights of women. >> and you have been watching "news day." >> the greek government is one a vote of confidence in parliament. it was a crucial step needed to receive payment on a default settle many. president papandreou needs parliament to deliver a

austerity payment. that's it. you are watching the bbc. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank.

>> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> garrison keillor: martín espada was born in brooklyn, new york. he moved to massachusetts; worked as a tenement lawyer in boston, teaches at the university of massachusetts, amherst-- creative writing, latino poetry, and the work of pablo neruda. he's published 16 books, and his collection of poems, the republic of poetry, was a finalist for the pulitzer prize. >> at 16, i worked after high school hours at a printing plant that manufactured legal pads-- yellow paper stacked seven feet high and leaning as i slipped cardboard between the pages, then brushed red glue up and down the stack.

no gloves-- fingertips required for the perfection of paper, smoothing the exact rectangle. sluggish by 9:00 p.m., the hands would slide along suddenly sharp paper, and gather slits thinner than the crevices of the skin; hidden. then the glue would sting, hands oozing till both palms burned at the punch clock. ten years later, in law school, i knew that every legal pad was glued with the sting of hidden cuts; that every open law book was a pair of hands upturned and burning. ( applause )