>> this is "bbc world news." funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to know your business, offering specialized solutions in capital to help you meet your growth objectives. we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you?

>> and now "bbc world news." >> welcome to "newsday." >> a turning point for u.s. defense, the pentagon unveils a 10-year plan to slash spending and create a leaner military. face to face with syria's revolutionaries. >> libya accused, allegations of torture at detention centers. the breast implant from that sparked a global helped scare, he is charged with involuntary injury. it is 10:00 in singapore. >> we are broadcasting to viewers on pbs in america and around the world.

this is "newsday." >> the u.s. defense secretary leon panetta has announced big the cuts in the numbers of american ground troops over the next 10 years. jonathan blake reports from washington. >> the united states is the strongest military power in the world. these cuts will not change that, but the department of defense budget has more than doubled in 10 years. it faces a cut of $500 billion over the next decade. something has to give. almost 100,000 troops will go, most from the army. the marines will lose over 20,000. the military will be smaller, but according to the department of defense, no less potent.

>> it is larger than we had prior to 9/11. it will be as smaller -- it will be a smaller force and there are risks associated with that. we think we have dealt with those of risks because the combination of the forces we have in place and the ability to mobilize quickly will give us the capability to deal with any threats. >> the changes will see a boost for special forces. their role highlighted by the raid that killed osama bin laden in pakistan last year. just this week in the rescue of hostages in somalia. these changes marked a shift in focus from large-scale ground based conflicts like iran and afghanistan to what the u.s. is calling a force for the future, protecting key national interest. barack obama's upon it said cutting the military puts america at risk. the president will help a war-

weary public will agree his plan makes sense. >> ben friedman has told us the cuts are not that significant. >> they are not that large. it is easy to get caught up in the hoopla. we're spending 3.2% less than we did the year before. what we have done is flat not spending -- flatten out spending. it will grow starting in 2014. we have slowed growth down and that is how they get these big numbers. that is a comparison to what they were planning to spend before. plans change all the time. we might have a different president, a different congress, and they can undo these plans quite easily. there are some differences. we are cutting the size of the ground forces significantly. that is the biggest change. 80,000 cut out of the army and

20,000 cut out of the marines. there are smaller programs that have been cancelled. we pushed back the production of a bunch of different weapons systems. we're cutting a bit of the air force as well. it is a training, it is not a massive strategy change or a massive cuts. >> the arab league has urged the plan for bashar al-assad to stand down. rebels who have defected from the syrian army have taken control of a suburb of damascus. our middle east editor reports. >> look at central damascus and you might think this city is calm. but when night falls, heads for the suburbs, only 15 minutes' drive away.

easy.g an isn't at the candidate -- at the end is a check point. >> army defectors across the country are fighting bashar al- assad's military. >> locals say they have kept the president's men out for the last two weeks. their weapons cannot stop an assault, but could make it costly for the region's forces to stay too long. the president says there aren't -- they are an armed gang. they say they are protecting the people. >> pass this on to the world, our revolution is peaceful. we do not attack the regime. they attack us. >> we are in control here. syria is ours and we will win. the army and security forces keep trying to get into here,

but we defeat them. >> there are power cuts and fuel shortages. the nights are very cold. >> what has changed around here? the three syrian army -- the three syrian army -- free syrian army, inside the city, there are defectors. >> they are fighting for you now? >> yes. >> slowly, people emerge from the evening prayer. too often for them, the knights have belonged to the president are rest squad. -- nights have belonged to the present cost arrest squad. we are not identical doing

interviewee's at their request. -- identifying interviewee's at their request. what do you think will happen? >> he has to be killed. >> you want him dead? " he kills everybody. he kills our people. he has to be killed. >>, the young men are full of bravado. the older ones talk about a victory, but they were more conscious of the origin's strength. >> do you want a foreign intervention? >> a bit of intervention is good. we are going to win. whether there is intervention from outside or not.

cut their enemy, the president, also has strong supporters. they will fight for him. but the protesters said there is the turning back. this is all bad news for president bashar al-assad. this city is in the hands of the people. it is defended by men who have defected by his armed forces. the question is how much firepower the president has at his disposal and whether he chooses to use a tear to regain control of these streets. -- use it here to regain control of the streets. a few hours later, activist say, the security forces were back, arresting more people. >> the medical charity has suspended its operations at detention centers in ms. ronstadt because it says it is having to treat an increasing

number of injuries caused by torture. the charity has told the authorities what is going on, but no action has been taken. >> they began working at this detention center in the summer, treating the war wounded. once the fighting had stopped, medical staff found themselves increasingly presented with other injuries. they could've only been inflicted under torture. >> we have had some unacceptable incidence, especially since early january. we were asked to provide medical care for people who had been interrogated and tortured. they were tortured again even though they need attention from the hospital. >> when tripoli's fell to rebel forces last year, this place was the scene of wild celebrations. but now, three months after the capture and killing of colonel

gaddafi, some of the men who fought and won a lot -- a revolution are resorting to the same methods of torture so, and under the previous regime. the abuse is not confined to the city. this man is a student south of tripoli. when class is broke out earlier this month, a militia group from another town nearby, and he was abducted and subjected to prolonged beatings. >> they tortured me with chains, sticks, pipes. even when i lost consciousness, they kept on. after they finished, they stripped naked and many stand outside in the cold for two hours. >> more than 20 men were captured that weekend, all spoke of similar treatment. one man died of his injuries. a nurse who was present at the autopsy told us he had been tortured with electric shocks to his body. this kind of abuse is creating resentment in a country still

fractured by civil war. lydia's new government said today it was worried by reports of it -- libya's new government said it was worried by reports of torture. the national transitional council is encouraging the revolutionary brigades to disarm. while the militias continue to operate, they are not likely to give up their weapons. " the prime minister of papua new guinea's as the country has a foiled an army mutiny. rebel soldiers have taken over an army barracks in the capital. they seized the leader of the armed forces. the rebels are calling for the reinstatement of the former prime minister. he was removed last year. our correspondent joins us via skype. it has been a tense 24 hours,

what is the situation like now? >> [no audio] >> we do not seem to have you at the moment. apologies for that. you are watching "newsday." we are live from singapore and london. patent and pakistan, -- panicked and pakistan. to under 50 are in hospital. >> michael jackson's family makes his mark on hollywood boulevard. >> here in britain, the royal bank of scotland has announced it will be paying its chief executive a bonus of almost a million pounds in shares. 81% of the bank is owned by the british taxpayer.

our correspondent has this report. >> the pay package has become the focus of intense debate. he heads the bank which is more than 80% owned by the government. it was bailed out by the taxpayer. public feelings about the industry are running high. should he give any sort of bonus? if so, how much? tonight, we have the answer. he is on a salary of 1.2 million pounds. for 2010, he got a bonus of 2 million pounds worth of shares. he will dig another bonus -- he will get another bonus, but there has been strong criticism. >> this is a very bad decision. low-paid workers have been told they have to except pay freezes. >> the government appointed him to run rbs after its near collapse. the treasury approved the bonus. his bonus award reflects his

progress in making the bank safer enter building performance. there were some in the financial-services industry that argued that given the task, this was a pay package is justified. >> we need today and that bonn is because he cannot afford to -- we cannot afford -- we cannot afford for him to leave. it is a demanding job. >> the rbs shares awarded a year ago are worth fell lot less because the price has fallen. he will not be able to sell them for a while. that has not stopped the criticism, already leveled at the bank. >> this is "newsday." >> the u.s. defense secretary has unveiled the 10-year plan to slash spending and create a leaner military.

>> there have been clashes close to the syrian capital between troops loyal to president bashar al-assad and the free syrian army. we can go back to our story earlier about the mutiny in papua new guinea. we're joined again by the abc correspondent via skype. what is the situation like there? >> the situation is an attempted mutiny of yesterday's appears to be over. the commander of the defense force that was put under house arrest yesterday it was freed yesterday afternoon. the soldiers involved are demanding a pardon before they give up their weapons. >> there is no indication on what is going to happen to the

mutiny leader. do we know what his status is? >> that depends. yesterday, there was tough talk coming from the government. what happened amounted to sedition and trees and and those involved would feel the full force of law. -- treason and those involved would feel the full force of law. my guess is that can happen with the soldiers. perhaps not with the colonel. it might be that the government wants to make an example of them and charge him over what has happened. >> there is still a continued standoff between the current prime minister and the former. the supreme court suggested that

he should be prime minister. how is the conflict likely to be resolved? remains theeill effective prime minister. he has the support of the public service, the police and most parliamentarians. he has the numbers on the floor of parliament. the supreme court tried to reinstate a political reality that had ceased to exist six months earlier. he no longer has the support in parliament to run the government as normal. it is likely, despite further attempts to regain power, it is likely that this situation will continue until the elections are held in the middle of the year. >> we will leave it there. thank you. officials in pakistan say then more than 100 people have now died after taking contaminated

heart medicine. the deaths are linked to a faulty drugs given to cardiac patients at a government run hospital. an investigation into the situation is under way. we are meant to be joined on the line by the general secretary of the pakistan medical association. you have been calling for much tighter back government regulations in the distribution of pharmaceuticals. is the lack of regulation a reason behind why this happened? >> it is quite unfortunate.

this is a government run hospital -- this was something that was not exactly coinciding with the existing policy. we have already demanded the government to revise the policy . this has resulted -- >> what does the government need to do to prevent this sort of thing happening again? >> hello?

>> what does the government need to do to improve distribution to prevent this sort of thing from happening again? >> the quality and control of the madison. -- madison. no one is treating it responsibly. the people are looking -- the government should be serious and concerned about the lives. >> we will leave it there. thank you very much. that was the general secretary of the pakistan medical association. there are developments in the breast implant helps care. >> the founder of the french company has been charged with

involuntary injury. lawyer saidmas's his client had been released on bail. our medical correspondent has all but one british went through her surgery. his report contains images of the implants been removed. >> this is a dilemma facing 40,000 british women. what to do about their pip and plants. the decision is simple, because one of them is ruptured. she invited us to film her surgery and explain why she had implants in the first place. >> i always wanted big boobs. i thought to myself, i will treat myself.

i got a credit card and i saved some money and that is how i got it done. >> this is the reality of her ruptured implant. as the surgeon removes it. it is so damaged, the outer shell is in shreds. it looks pretty revolting, but there is very little evidence that this industrial grade is harmful. it is the doubts over its long- term safety which has prompted government and france, germany, and elsewhere to recommend the removal of all pip implants. the second implant emerges on damaged and intact. a reason why the government here says there is no need for routine removal. debbie has had her implants changed before. even these new ones may not last forever. the surgeon says one and three

are replacements. >> would always amazed -- amazes me is how many ladies choose to have a new implants rather than a new car. that is the value they place in them. >> four days after surgery and one credit card bill has already arrived. the operation cost 6,000 pounds. her previous clinic would not do it for free any in the chase in england -- nhs in england will not replace the implants. >> to have to worry about how we can find the money to replace them and reconstruction surgery. >> some private clinics are offering free surgery. thousands of women are in her position, wondering should they pay or ask the nhs to simply

remove the implants. >> michael jackson is the latest celebrity to of been immortalized in hollywood. michael jackson, one of the world's greatest entertainers. on thursday, a tribute. his family joined by a host of stars at this hollywood landmark, where generations of celebrities have left their hand and foot print. >> my dad won the lifetime achievement award. he worked his hardest to get it. for me, i speak for him as well, this is his lifetime achievement award. this is what he's tried to get it. this is what we are giving him out today. >> his son pressed his father's shoes into the cement.

♪ also there, some of today's biggest stars, including justin beiber. >> people have to remember him for being the man that he was. >> michael jackson's mother said the star would have loved the ceremony. >> it is a very good celebration and i know michael were here, he would agree. to see all the friends and loved ones and especially his fans to celebrate this with him. ♪ >> afterwards, the tributes continued. this is a chance to celebrate his achievements after all the controversy about his death. >> you have been watching "newsday." thank you for watching.

>> make sense of international news. bbc.com/news. >> funding for this presentation is made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu newman's own foundation and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to know your business, offering specialized solutions in capital to help you meet your growth objectives. we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations.

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