>> this is bbc world news. funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vt., and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. ♪ >> he union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you?

>> and now, bbc world news. >> hello and welcome. >> the headlines -- a united front, germany and france prepare new measures to tackle europe's debt crisis. but will it work? former "news of the world" hacking by journalists was openly discussed. >> lakatia is under attack for the fourth day in a row. it is a 11:00 a.m. here in singapore. >> it is 4:00 a.m. here in london. we are broadcasting on pbs in america and around the world.

>> germany and france have called for much closer economic integration in europe. angela merkel and president sarkozy's met, but investors did not feel encouraged. >> the two keyed leaders of the year is on met in paris today, knowing they needed to restore confidence in their ability to fix europe debt crisis. but today began with some discouraging news. germany, the engine room of the year rose on with a stellar -- the engine room of the year

rose zone with a stellar manufacturing sector, saw slow- growth period in the past three months, germany only managed growth of 1.1%. and french growth is stagnant. growth is bumping along. when chancellor merkel met with president sarkozy, they spoke about for reaching changes in the year rose on. the also talked about limits on that. eurozone. year rose o they also talked about limits on that. >> the first thing is to create an economic government for the year roseurozone. it will elect a stable president for two and half years.

>> some had argued that the only way out of the crisis was for country debt and to become common european debt with the germany acting as the main guarantor. but angela merkel dismissed eurobonds for the time being. >> the real question is overcoming the current phase of the debt crisis. one fix that will solve everything and left us out of the crisis. that is what people are searching for eurobonds. >> despite the report of greater control, one big question remains unanswered. what happens if a major economy gets into difficulty? how will it be helped? how will it be rescued? the two leaders meeting here today made it clear that there would be no new money of a current rescue fund. make no mistake, these proposals are a step toward a closer

union. sovereignty will be surrendered. but we saw a long term plan, not an answer to europe's debt crisis. >> fresh allegations have been made about the extensive phone hacking at "the news of the world." hacking was regularly discussed at editorial meetings, suggesting that the more senior staff knew more about the illegal hacking that has been reported thus far. >> he was jailed in 2007 for hacking the phones of a royal aides. at the time of his truck, news international said that he was just a row reporter -- a time of his trial, news international said that he was just zero been

-- just a rogue reporter. he said that phone hacking was widely discussed in the daily editorial conference. explicit reference to it was banned by the editor. he says he was promised he could return to his job at the paper if he did not implicate the paper or any of its staff in the litigation plea. they say the letter raises more questions. >> i can only assume that there has been a cover-up. this letter is absolutely devastating. clyde goodman shows that he believes that every member of the editorial team was aware of phone hacking and the police were not told about it after the company released a statement recognizing the seriousness of the material and is committed to working with parliament and

police. >> in a separate news, it seems likely that james murdoch will have to appear for a second time in front of a committee. some of his comments have been contradicted. >> we have more details about the uprising in syria. >> that is right. western governments are talking with the -- they say that the president is losing legitimacy there. the calls, meant reports that -- the calls, amidst reports that -- the calls come amidst reports

that syrian troops are turning and against the leader. >> the regime denied that the navy is involved, but the army as clashing with armed terrorist groups. activist organizations say that the situation is getting desperate, with 100 badly wounded people needing urgent medical attention. part of the area under a track is a palestinian refugee camp. thousands of palestinians have fled here and some are among the dead and injured. >> the shelling is taking place using gunships and tanks on houses built from 1tin. people have no place to run to appear in this is a crime against humanity and we share

the same goals and aspirations to achieve freedom and dignity. >> strong words from the people who called the syrian regime claims to champion. >> we need to be able to attend to the sec, the dying, women and children can -- to the sick and dying, women and children. >> they have been turning a deaf ear to the outside appeals. take foreign minister met him a week ago and said that the violence has intensified. if it does not stop immediately, turkey will take steps, although he did not support. what syria has done to try to ease the pressure is to stake highly publicized troop patrols. these are cosmetic moves. on the ground, demonstrations

are breaking out and being repressed in dozens of places every day. >> forces loyal to colonel gaddafi continued to battle libyan rebels for the west side of tripoli. the rebels said they have cut major supply lines. they say that gaddafi's days are numbered. they have held several days of talks. but neither side appears willing to compromise. our middle east editor says that there is no sign of compromise on both sides. >> there appears to be quite a bit of diplomatic activity, but not a great deal of diplomatic achievement. local media reports and other sources have been saying that, on the holiday island near the libyan border, venezuelan on envoys has sent a delegation.

there are not talking directly to each other. also, the un secretary general's envoy has been here in tunis. i think his performance in the last three months really shows how difficult it has been. he has been shuffling very busy between the two sides. he is no closer to bringing them together. that is because the job is really very hard to do it and the two sides are way apart. it comes down to the same set of sticking points. the libyan government says they would like to have some kind of a deal. they are keen on a deal by all accounts, but one that includes colonel gaddafi staying in power. the other side says that the colonel gaddafi has to go and then they will talk about a deal. whoever rules libya will not be decided by diplomacy. >> in other news, at least seven

people have been killed and eight others injured in a bomb explosion in southern afghanistan. it happened at sunset in the busy marketplace in the province as people were breaking their faster during ramadan. they believe explosives were hidden within a motorcycle. thailand is introducing new measures to protect tourists after five deaths earlier this year. the company's department of disease control has promised to honor -- the country's department of disease control has promised to monitor disease control. still to come on the program -- the veteran anti-corruption campaigner is refusing to leave prison. >> could they leave to higher

bills? >> after weeks of protests, the drill in members of parliament -- israeli members of parliament are discussing economic reform. >> four weeks into this protest, at the height of the israeli summer, tempers are flaring. the israeli parliament, largely middle-class protesters show their anger and disdain toward the politicians inside. internal economic issues -- politicians see soaring cost of living. >> the leadership has to provide a vision.

the nation's elected its representatives, not a committee. the committees need to translate that vision into plans and numbers. that is fine. but that is not an alternative to the leadership that needs to lead this country. >> thousands of protesters have taken to the streets. demanding change, they are fed up with the ruling elite and say their government is no longer listening to its people. just like their counterparts in and cairo's tahrir square, israeli protesters are camping out, vowing not to move until there demands are met. >> israel has the highest projected economic growth out of any country for the coming year. the thing that people would not be protesting in the street? but they are quite upset about it. >> the liberty non-political, they say the country is losing all sense of moral and non-

collective responsibility. the government has promised to reassess its priorities. but even bigger marches are expected. >> this is newsday on the bbc. >> it is good to have you with us. germany and france called for more political integration in the eurozone. >> in britain, a former reporter says that phone hacking was regularly discussed at meetings. the intense standoff between the indian government and a veteran anti-correction campaigner is continuing with the campaigner refusing to leave prison. he said he will continue his

original protests, demanding era overhaul of anti-correction legislation. many of his supporters believe they are close to victory. thank you so much for joining us. there have been protests in india following the detention of anahazari. how much support does he have among ordinary indians? >> yesterday, they showed without any ambiguity that the level of support is quite high. is it high enough to put the entire political establishment on alert? yes. >> what do you think can be done to solve this dispute right now between the activists and the government?

>> i am not privy to that information. it seems to me that this is an opportunity for not only the government, but for the entire political class to rise of to any level of maturity. the political class, including the opposition party, seem to be playing political football with this issue. either they are -- they are supporting the movement of the protester, but they are not moving in the legislation. they need to rise above their partisan political interests and look at the national interest and the entire political establishment should do that. >> in your view, are there good prospects for this anti- corrections bill that is being years -- being discussed right now in parliament? >> this bill being discussed in

parliament has been so for the last 42 years. i am not optimistic that this will come through. but the fact of the matter is that, even if it comes through, it would not remove corruption. but it would be a step towards that. the bill has been a little less relevant. the way that power is distributed in the indian society is currently at issue. the political establishment, at election time, has to be cognizant of people's feelings, which it has not done adequately enough over the past few years. >> professor, what do you think should be the steps? what initiatives or measures should be undertaken by both the government and the private sector to be able to fight serious corruption in india? >> the entire political

establishment, there should be an all-party meeting. there needs to be a change of heart and change of mind of the political class in india. the political parties need to understand that is in their own benefit to take effective steps toward controlling corruption. the civil society movement, the people at large, are expressing their angst. >> we will have to leave it there, professor. thank you so much. meanwhile, the u.s. vice- president joe biden will be arriving in china later today for a five-day visit. his trip will likely focus on ways that the two countries can overcome the recession. manufacturers are worried about the future.

>> merry christmas. >> the makers -- it may be the middle of the summer, but china is gearing up for christmas. buyers flocked here to choose this year's decorations. this saleswoman who shows me her company's best seller. despite the bleak global all look, she says that business is better than last year. >> we have our regular customers. christmas is like a spring festival in china. everyone needs to celebrate. >> christmas is not marked here, but the celebrations are crucial to china. and not just because the economy thrives on selling goods around the world. the u.s. has long complained that beijing is having a party at its expense. china exports for more to the

u.s. than it buys in return. washington wants to reduce its huge trade deficit. >> china has gotten richer and people have more money and more people can start buying goods and services from america, that are made and produced in america. what china would like is for america to get out of recession and for the export orders to come back to chinese manufacturers so they can start making money. >> but the world's largest exporter, many chinese manufacturers are worried. this company found its profits dropped 30% during the global financial crisis. >> we are paying more attention to our domestic market to reduce our reliance on exports. we have seen domestic sales go up by 30%. this way, we can deal with the global downturn. >> but consumers cannot match of

the spending power found in the west. china is hundred for more. it wants to become richer appeared -- it is hungry for more. it was to become richer. it depends on american demand. >> and now, back to london. >> the uk is setting an ambitious goal for renewable energy. putting up thousands of wind turbines out at sea is difficult and expensive. >> the rising of a british shores, this is the government's great hope for grain energy. but building these things is a real challenge. you need a special vessel like this. it can stand on the seabed and

lift itself up. a crane which is each component into place. this is secona segment of the tower. all this makes planting wind turbines out at sea very expensive. the machines are more out of the way than on land and the cost gets passed on to consumers who are already facing rising bills. >> it will come down in 20 years. >> it is late evening, but the work keeps going as they enter a critical phase, lifting the giant set of blades off the deck. they are now angling this huge router so that it is in the right position to be hoisted and fitted to the very top of the tower. >> 100 meters up, it leans out

as the robber gets lifted. the biggest danger, ironically, is a sudden gust of wind. then the final approach. this is one of the largest turbines in the world. just before midnight, the job is done. off the coast of cambridge, this wind farm has 30 turbines. but even when they are this big, you still need two hundred of them to match the electricity produced by conventional power stations. and only when the wind blows. here goes. this is one of the longest of ladders in history, i am sure. inside, it is a very long journey to the top. i am hooked on for safety. the technicians who working here have to be especially trained. when you are this high up and this far out in the ocean, it is generally pretty windy liked

today. it is ideal when this installation is complete for shifting these giant blades and making electricity. when you look at the sheer size of this great structure, i think about the cost and an challenge of building it. is the government right in wanting thousands of these right around our shores? >> let's get serious about climate change. let's really two things about global warming. let's not pretend that we are making a major contribution by building major wind farms of shore. >> the government says it will create jobs, cut carbon emissions. but the price will be high and it has only just started. >> 350-year-old rent sketch has

been recovered. -- rembrandt sketch has been recovered. it was stolen a few days ago. they believe the thief or thieves may have had second thoughts. the pieces called "judgment." >> you have been watching news tip from the bbc. i am in singapore. >> i am in london. germany and france have called for much closer economic integration in europe. in britain, there have been fresh allegations in the phone hacking scandals that brought down "the news of the world." you have been watching you stay here on the bbc. it is good of you to join us. thank you for watching. see you soon.

>> >> make sense of international news @ bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vt., and honolulu. andan's own foundation union bank. ♪ >> union bank has put its global

financial strength to work for a wide range of financial companies. what can we do for you? >> bbc world news was presented