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hello, and welcome to " newsday" on bbc. britain ordered iranian diplomats to leave the country after yet the attack on the u.k. embassy in tirana. >> quite hopeful, the words of hillary clinton as she starts out talks in burma. >> stock market's surge as the central banks plan to tackle europe's crisis. and the switch from east to west. it is 4:00 a.m. here. about it is midday here in singapore. -- >> it is midday here in singapore. britain has ordered the

immediate closure of the iranian embassy in london and given iran's diplomatic staff 48 hours to leave. the decision follows tuesday's attack on the british embassy in tehran when hundreds of protesters rampaged through the compound and trashed the offices. some countries have recalled their ambassadors for consultations. john simpson has more. >> serious though yesterday's attack was, there have been plenty worse over the years. but cutting off all diplomatic relations is extraordinarily rare in peacetime. perhaps it was to teach a lesson to a country that does not play by the rules, a country which seems close to having nuclear bombs. >> the iranian attache in that london is been informed that we are closing their embassy and that all diplomatic staff must leave the united kingdom within

48 hours. if any country makes it impossible for us to operate on their soil, they cannot affected have a functioning embassy here. -- they cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here. >> so the embassy will effectively be closed it down. it almost at the last moment, iran's foreign ministry put out a statement, seeming to apologize for yesterday's attacks, but it was too late and the apology was not strong enough. it in six years, then, britain has gone from offering friendship to iran, which was angrily rejected, to shutting down all directions altogether. and the basic reason is the political infighting in tehran itself. today, the speaker of iran's parliament, who seems to harbor political ambitions, says the british action was hasty and

criticized british interference in iran over the years. it may be hard for us to understand nowadays, but many people in iran still believe that britain is immensely powerful. perhaps it is not surprising. the century ago, much of southern iran was directly under british control and britain blocked iran's first diplomatic democratic constitution. by 1941, the shah was so pro-not see that the british overthrew him and installed his son instead. in 1953, the british and american staged a coup against the nationalist prime minister. when the revolution of 1979 came, the shot himself believed the british was behind it -- the shot himself believe the british was behind it. to was, this may seem like ancient history, but yesterday's attack shows how to consult stir people up in iran itself.

that when one faction is making trouble for the other, britain seems a natural target. u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton has begun talks with top officials in burma. she has expressed cautious hope for reform and the diplomatically isolated southeast asian country, but she is likely to push for more diplomatic reform in burma during her visit. she will next had to bring good to meet the pro-democracy leader. our correspondent says the u.s. secretary of state -- >> we are told the meeting is underway. it is scheduled to be two hours long. they have plenty of ground to cover. hillary clinton says she will ignite a movement for change, following president obama who said he saw flickers of protest. the united states is acknowledging the changes that have taken place in burma, making clear they want to see much more.

we're just outside of the u.s. consulate, and there is a small rally taking place, a group of burmese protestors and some exiles who are wanting to hand over a petition to the consulate to ask hillary clinton to ensure that she brings up issues of ethnic minority rights and political prisoners. those are on hillary clinton agenda. she will most likely raise them with the meeting with the president. the people want that high on the agenda. >> after her meeting with burmese government leaders, she is heading to bring good to meet with the opposition leader -- she is heading to rangoon to meet the opposition leader. what is the likely agenda? >> tonight, it is a private dinner. it is more of a getting to know you. she has spoken with both sides before, but this is their first

face-to-face meeting. tomorrow, there will be extended political talks. tonight is a chance to talk privately with the president, the women sitting down to try to begin discussions about how the united states can best try to help this process of what appears to be genuine reform, but there are still daughters. there are those who say until there is proper peace in burma, then it cannot be properly called a democracy. at the united states is saying, what can we do to help? how can we keep the momentum going? how can we enforce you and the pro-democracy movement? that will be the substance of the talks and how quickly things should move. this is a packed schedule for hillary clinton, but she has a lot of ground to cover. >> riggle heartbeat in thailand. bank of the central banks have taken steps to support the

global financial system? >> yes, designed to prevent a credit crunch that may have threatened the survival of the eurozone. investors approved of the move after the european banks had stopped lending to each other. >> the reaction was swift. within minutes of the announcement, share prices rose in markets across the world, including the u.s. >> with the news out of europe that the liquidity crisis may be averted for the time being, the financials have led the way today. >> what impressed the market was action taken here inside of america's central banks. the federal reserve said it was cutting the cost of supplying dollars to five central banks around the world, including the ecb, the bank of england, and the swiss national bank. why act now? eurozone banks have been fighting an increasingly -- have been finding it increasingly difficult to borrow money. this should make it easier.

>> we have come to a situation where the banks need dollar funding, this will be there and we will not have the types of problems we had previously and a crisis of recent years. >> while this helps short term, some fear that it will not do much long-term unless there is further action. >> the hope is that the central banks are moving because they feel confidant that the other agencies, which have been steeper than we are coming the other agencies will move. >> regardless, investors seemed impressed. only yesterday, the rating agencies standard and poor's downgraded a bunch of banks. one day later, the markets welcomed a dramatic and coordinated move by the central banks around the world designed to relieve pressure on the financial sector and avert a second credit crisis. a bomb has exploded in the

northwestern pakistani city. the police official said the were no immediate reports of any casualties. but the explosion was big and was heard throughout the city. this is the last major city on the route to afghanistan. the taliban has often launched a suicide attacks near the city in their campaign to topple the pakistani government for its support of the u.s.-lead that war. the syrian president has released 900 people who have been detained. pressure continues to build on damascus, with turkey joining the arab league denouncing the moves. trade unions and britain have staged the biggest private sector. public-sector strike in decades, nearly 1 million workers protesting against the pension reforms which may mean later retirement and higher contributions. the government called it a damp squib and has called for further

negotiations. five somali men have been jailed for several years for taking a couple hostage and the gulf of aden. ddot was hijacked in 2008. it french special forces stormed the vessel two weeks after it was captured. you are watching "newsday." endangering a decade of progress, afghan women were about the withdrawal of western- led forces. >> and is too much a bad thing? supporters of the former president of the ivory coast said they are outraged the has been flown from the country to face charges in the international criminal court. laurent gbagbo was overthrown in an armed civil conflict after he refused to accept feet in last year's presidential election.

-- accept defeat in last year's presidential election. bram>> the transfer to the head became with little warning. laurent gbagbo spent seven months under house arrest on the ivory coast. he is not the first former head of state to be brought to the hague, but he is the first to come before the international criminal court. is a national -- his initial appearance should be within a matter of days. at >> it is a purpose of informing the suspect of his rights before the icc and informing him of the charges that are brought against him. >> laurent gbagbo was arrested in april after refusing to give up power even when his rival had been recognized as the winner of last year's elections. it is thought about 3000 people were killed in the post-election violence. gbagbo supporters out say that he has been unfairly targeted. >> for us, this is a kidnapping.

that shows the brutality of this regime. since april 11, but they have not respected the rights of the defendant. >> the icc's chief prosecutor says the investigation is continuing and there could be further cases irrespective of political affiliation. loren gbagbo was at the center of politics for a decade. his transfer to the hague is welcomed by some, but it could reopen old wounds in a country still traumatized by conflict. this is "newsday." >> these are the headlines -- britain has ordered iran diplomats to leave the country

following an attack on the british embassy in tehran. >> u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton says she is hopeful as she forges landmark talks with burma's isolated leaders. the number of people suffering from hiv and aids has not changed since 2007, according to a new report from the detonations. the number of new hiv cases reported in india has gone down by 56%, mainly because of new measures adopted in the country. at the economic crisis has taken its toll and items desperate -- and resources needed to fight hiv have dwindled. thank you for joining us. can you tell us, how did you achieve these massive reductions in h.i.v.-aids cases?

>> yes, that is true, it is a very successful program we have in india. the national authority has understood that the nature and the man at the appropriate response -- and has demanded the appropriate response. the response that was designed at that time, since early 2000, was focusing on out prevention, with a comprehensive package of interventions. it turned out to be extremely successful, as we understand, leading to a 56% reduction in new infections. >> what more needs to be done from the private and public sector to bring that h.i.v.-aids cases even further lower?

>> there is a need to keep the focus. there is no time for complacency. the data, while some of the groups which were targeted for prevention, we see it is not showing the same effects in other regions in the country or affecting other parts of the population, which have not been the main focus in the national program. now there is great attention being given to those areas, and a good partnership between the national program between the government and the private happening. this is being seen at a lower level and volume.

that leads to normally lower risk in the population through the people who are at high risk. >> there are other countries struggling to bring down their hiv aids cases. what lesson can these countries learn from india? >> the lesson it is not easy. there is a need to focus on where the infections are happening. at that should lead to the selection of the most effective programs is the solution and the key. we know in asia mostly the infections are hoping -- are happening among the high-risk groups.

the most successful response is to provide targeted and comprehensive packages of prevention to those groups which turn out to be the most effective option. >> un aids in india, think before joining us. in women's rights advocates india say they are -- in at afghanistan said it will be abandoned when the u.s.-led forces leave. >> fashioning a new future, for themselves and their country. every stitch it testament to a fragile freedom. under the taliban, afghan women were trapped at home, and get educated -- uneducated and unemployed. over 10 years, they have made up half of the workforce.

at this design company, they toil alongside men. this woman says she is proud to be the breadwinner for hurt two younger brothers. but the company's founder worries about the outlook if there is reconciliation with the insurgents. >> none of the taliban have come forward to say i am a moderate and i believe differently. we are fooling ourselves if we believe that the taliban has changed their mandate, has changed their view or philosophy. they have not claimed they have changed or will be different. >> there are big plans for this business. the hope is to begin exporting to the united states and europe and hopefully create a few hundred jobs here. all of that may be possible in the future, if the future is not shaped by the taliban. in areas under their control, women are still without a voice

and defenseless. this woman is 25 years old. her final moments are captured in this footage, which emerged in january. for the crime of adultery, the taliban stoned her, then shot her dead. this woman is another of their targets. she is a prominent member of parliament who survived a taliban ambush on her car last year. this outspoken activist refuses to be silenced, but she fears that afghan women could soon be abandoned by the international community, which promised them so much. >> they have turned from the women's issues, and they're saying goodbye. we have been an outspoken about what we want. >> her eldest daughter is studying hard.

she wants to be an aerospace engineer, but she and her younger sister are afraid for themselves and their mother. they want a future outside of afghanistan. and heading to hollywood? >> for many indian actors making the move to hollywood has been difficult. a very high-profile indian actor recently made a mission impossible film. he does not have a big part, of being cast in a hollywood franchise is seen as a significant move forward. >> he shot to international fame after playing quizmaster in "slump of a millionaire -- slum dog millionaire."

he was cast in a terrorism from "24," then the new installment of "mission impossible." for this actor, not making headway in hollywood means spending time -- making headway in hollywood mean spending time in los angeles, but that has not bothered him. >> i wait for the call, which for any filmmaker or director to cast me in a film. i am just enjoy it. >> some actors have made forays into movie making and the west, but the flourishing hollywood career could not follow. he maintains without any bitterness there is some opposition to indian actors in hollywood. know, the brown skin, the way that we speak is probably not very friendly for a hollywood audience. >> another possible reason why

indian actors have not made inroads in the west is because they will not play the hollywood game. major indian stars felt uncomfortable having to go before hollywood casting agents to try for a role. >> our mindset is completely different. the way this industry functions, but i think there is a little difference here. think that we are a bit pampered here. mdot resistance to casting it bollywood actor seems to be lessening because the market dictates. at the hollywood studios have recognized that it will bring additional box office revenue note. >> we can act in the business of the film. they are getting aware of that. >> speaking as a veteran of well

over 100 films, this indian actor remains optimistic. it is just getting to the point where he says it would be a smart business proposition to cast a big indian star in a hollywood film. the irish playwright oscar wilde once wrote that a kiss may ruin a human life. hundreds of cases left in lipstick by adoring fans would one day threaten his tombstone. his grave is so popular that a protective glass barrier has been put around it. >> no object is so beautiful that under certain conditions it will not look ugly. so said oscar wilde. it may also be said by those who go to his grave, or the past few years his flying angels statue was stained by the graffiti and lipstick of the legions of adoring fans. such was the risk of irreparable

damage that he was forced to protect the refurbished to with a glass screen. today, on the anniversary of the writer's death, 200 people turned out to mark the official unveiling, including the writers grandson. >> it is sad we had to do this, but the public, regrettably, is a little bit to blame for what we have had to do. >> when oscar wilde died, they could only afford a burial plot and a potpourri cemetery -- in a poll person wrote cemetery. this actor said that british visitors would be shocked at how badly the writer was treated after his disgrace. >> there are tons of witnesses and writings about people who bumped into him in paris, people

who would spit on him or turn to leave a restaurant. he was constantly humiliated by english people abroad. famouse are other tunes and the cemetery, like that of jim morrison which attracts the same graffiti. there is a 9000 euro penalty for those who defaced the tombs, but most of them are tourists who have left country by the time the court system catches up with them. there is one part that is not been repaired, the male anatomy of the angel. that is still missing. some claim it was last seen sitting on the desk of the former cemetery caretaker, who by all accounts used it as a paperweight. you have been watching "newsday" from the bbc. >> that is it from both of us at the moment. thank you very much for your

company. i will be back in a couple minutes with headlines. >> 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 strength to work for a wide

range of financial companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.