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>> and now "bbc world news." >> welcome to "newsday." >> a turning point for the u.s. defense, the pentagon and sells a 10-year plan to slash spending and create a leaner military. face to face with a surprise -- syria's revolutionaries. >> power struggle in papua new guinea, the prime minister says the government has foiled an army mutiny. it is 12 noon in singapore. >> it is 4:00 a.m. in london. we're broadcasting to viewers on pbs in america and around the world. this is "newsday."

>> the u.s. defense secretary has announced big cuts in the numbers of american ground troops over the next 10 years. there would be increased investment in special forces. 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. almost 100,000 troops will go, most from the army. the marines will lose 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. in terms of our capability to respond, we think we have dealt with the risks. 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. 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 opponents say cutting the military puts america at risk, but the president will help a war-weary public will agree his plan makes sense.

>> ben friedman is from the think tank in washington, d.c. he told us the cuts were not that significant. >> they are not that large. it is easy to get caught up in the hoopla. we are spending 3.2% less than we did the year before. we have flattened out spending and it will grow at about inflation starting in 2014. we have slowed the growth down and that is how we get those big numbers. that is a comparison to what they were planning to spend before. plans change all the time. we might have a president soon. we might have a different congress. they can and do these plans quite easily. we're cutting the size of the ground forces significantly. that is the biggest change. 80,000 out of the army, 20,000 out of the marines. there are a few vehicles,

smaller programs that have been canceled. we have pushed back production of a bunch of different weapons systems. bit of the air force as well. it is a training -- trimming. >> the arab league has asked the united nations here in council to back its plan for syria's president to stand down. it will increase the pressure on the syrian leader. rebels have defected from the syrian army ended taken control of a suburb of damascus. our middle east editor reports. >> look at central damascus and you might think this city is calm. when night falls, heads for the suburbs, only 15 minutes away. getting in is not easy.

at end of a muddy lane, there is a checkpoint controlled by free syrian army. locals say they kept the president's men out most of the time for the last three weeks. their weapons cannot stop an assault, but could make a costly for the region's forces to stay too long. the president says they are an armed gang. they say they're 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 in, but we defeat them.

power cuts and fuel shortages. the knights -- nights are very cold. what has changed around here? >> the defectors are protecting the government. inside the city, there are defectors. >> the defectors are fighting for you now? >> yes. >> slowly, people emerge from evening prayers. they had to the place near the mosque, where numbers make them feel strong. we are not identifying

interviewee's at their request. what do you think should happen to bashar al-assad? >> he has to be killed. >> he kills everybody. >> he kills our people. he has to be killed. the young men were full of bravado. the older ones talked about the victory, but they were more conscious of the regime's strength. do you want help from abroad? >> a bit of intervention is good. we are going to win, whether there is intervention from the outside or not. >> their enemy, the president,

also has strong supporters who will fight for him. four protesters across the country, there is no turning back. >> this is all bad news for president bashar al-assad. this city in the hands of the people and defended by men who have defected from his army. the question is how much firepower the president has it -- has at his disposal and whether he chooses to use it here to regain control of these streets. they said it was getting dangerous and they hustled us out. activists said the security forces were back hours later, arresting more people. >> you have news of political conflict in papua new guinea. >> the prime minister says the country has foiled an army

mutiny. rebel soldiers have taken over an army barracks in the capital. the rebels were calling for the reinstatement of the former prime minister. he was removed last year. this latest update in this situation? >> the situation is that the attempted mutiny of yesterday appears to be over. the commander of the defense force was put under house arrest yesterday. he was freed yesterday afternoon. the soldiers are demanding a pardon before they give up their weapons. >> there is no indication of what is going to happen to the mutiny leader. do we know? >> it depends.

yesterday, there was tough talk coming from the government saying what happened amounted to sedition and those involved would feel the full force of law. bringing back their former opponents, your enemies back into the fold, so to speak, and calling them brothers and everybody moving on. that could certainly happen with the soldiers. but perhaps not with the colonel. the government may want to make an example of them and charge him over what happened yesterday. >> there is still a continuing standoff between the current prime minister and the former prime minister. how was this conflict is likely to be resolved? remains theeill

effective prime minister. he has the support of the public servants, the police, most of the defense force. he has the number on the floor of parliament. what the supreme court was try to reinstate a political reality that ceased to exist six months earlier. he no longer has the support in parliament to run the government as normal. it is likely, despite possible attempts to regain power, it is likely the situation will continue until elections are due to be held in the middle of the year. >> officials in pakistan say more than 100 people have died after taking contaminated heart medicine. the deaths spent a three-week period. the drugs are given to 40,000 patients at a government cannot run it -- a government-run

hospital. earlier, i spoke to the general secretary of the pakistan medical association. he said further regulation is needed to prevent this from happening again. >> nobody is treating it responsibly. the people are looking for -- the government should be serious and concerned about the lives. >> in guatemala, the former military leader has appeared in court for a pretrial hearing. that will decide whether he will answer to genocide charges. he was in power between 1982 and 1983 when some of the worst atrocities were committed.

this was such a long civil war. what are the allegations during those years when he was in charge? >> it was a very long period of violence in guatemala. the latest news is that after this pre-trial hearing, he has been placed under house arrest. he is currently under house arrest in guatemala city on those charges dimensions. human rights abuse charges. he will appear in court again at some point in the future. to answer a case about genocide charges and crimes against humanity. >> in much of latin america, a political alliance between left and right are so marked, people have many supporters. does he? >> many people would want this -- i think you are right about

identifying that. the current new president served under him during the period of the civil board. it is going to open up serious whence in guatemala. ounds in guatemala. let's not forget that 200,000 people were killed during the civil war in guatemala. the bloodiest. of that fighting was during his time in office between 1982 and 1983. >> has anything been said about u.s. involvement and support -- u.s. involvement? human rights watch criticized ronald reagan. >> the u.s. involvement during

the cold war in guatemala is well documented. it goes back to the 1950's and the bringing down of the government, which was when he came to the floor. and this particular case, and with this arrest, this is very clearly focused on him. on his alleged culpability for these crimes rather than any relationship with washington. this is much more a domestic issue at the moment. >> thank you so much for that analysis. >> you are watching "newsday." charts in centuries of pilgrim's progress, the museum sheds light on the history. >> cementing a place in pop folklore. michael jackson's family makes its mark on hollywood boulevard. here in britain, the royal bank

of scotland has announced it will pay its chief executive of bonus of almost a million pounds in shares. 81% of the bank is owned by the british taxpayer. the board has been under increasing pressure to curb large bonuses for executives. our correspondent has this report. >> the package has become the focus of intense debate. he heads the bank which is more and 80% owned by the government. it was bailed out by the taxpayer and public feelings about the industry are running high. should he get any sort of bonus? if so, how much? tonight, we had the answer. he is on a salary of 1.2 million pounds. for 2010, he got a bonus of 2 million pounds for shares. in 2011, he will get a lower bonus, but already there has been strong criticism. >> this is a very bad decision. many of public service workers

have been told they will except pay freezes. >> the government appointed him to run rbs after its mirror -- near collapse. the treasury approved the bonus. in a statement, they say his bonus reflects progress in making the bank safer. their son in the industry who argue that given the task he has, this pay package is justified. >> we need to pay him a bonus because we cannot afford for him to leave. a million pounds is not during much to pay to retain him in a very demanding job. >> the rbs shares awarded a year ago are worth a lot less because the price has fallen. he will not be allowed to sell them for a while. that has not stopped the criticism already leveled at the bank. >> you are watching "newsday."

>> these are the headlines. the u.s. defense secretary has unveiled a 10-year plan to slash spending and create a leaner military. >> there have been fierce clashes close to the syrian capital between troops loyal to president bashar al-assad in the free syrian army. the prospects -- the economic crisis will top the agenda at the world economic forum as the need for a third date in davos. they will be debating the future of the euro zone and the outlook for the u.s. economy. one of the questions on the agenda at is, is capitalism working? let's pose the question now to the ceo and founder of the

global institute for -- global institute. he joins us on the line. in your book, you have drawn a very bleak outlook for the world if asia embraces capitalism. >> it is not about capitalism, it is the nature of capitalism. it needs to be redefined for this part of the world. imagine a world where 6 billion asians consuming like europeans or americans, and this is not possible. the asian region must reject the consumption and economic model of the west. it thrives on it promoting relentless consumption. government and the region must step in and not allow a vested interest to usurp the authority in protecting the interest. governments will improve their legitimacy, which they will gain to the support of the majority.

it is not about redacting capitalism, it is about reshaping extreme cabalism -- capitalism. >> you've also said that governments need to step in. during draconian rules will be needed. what needs to be done precisely? >> if you accept the premise about five or 6 billion agents cannot live and consumers like the average customer, i think you would agree that government in this part of the world will stop and. i used the word draconian to make a point we will need very tough rules. the essential argument in my book is that to in this part of the world, we need -- government must make resource management central to all policymaking. if resources are constrained and

you agree to that, economic activity must be subservient to maintain the vitality of resources. resources must be available for current and future generations. collective welfare must take priority over individual rights. that is contrary to the way extreme capitalism works. it flies in the face of liberal democratic views of the world. >> we will have to leave it there. thank you for your insight. you have some hollywood glitz. >> the late pop start is the latest sublet -- celebrity to have been immortalized in hollywood. the landmark or generations have left their hand and foot prints.

>> michael jackson, one of the world's greatest entertainers. on thursday, a tribute to that rare talent. his family joined by a host of stars at this hollywood landmark. generations of celebrities have left their hand and foot. >> my dad won a lifetime achievement award. he worked his hardest to get. for me, this right here is his lifetime achievement award. this is what we are giving him not today. >> his sons pressed their father's shoes into the cement. his daughter with those famous sequence gloves. some of today's biggest stars were there, including justin bieber. >> people are going to remember

him for his dancing, for his singing. you 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 if michael was here, he would agree. to see all the friends and loved ones and especially his fans here to celebrate this with him. >> afterwards, the tribune's continued. after all the controversy about his death, this was a chance to celebrate his achievement. >> an exhibition dedicated to the religious journey which many of the moslem pilgrims make him that the. the museum opens this weekend in london. >> this exhibition has taken two years to put together come up

with objects on loan from 13 different countries. on display at the british museum of art exhibits a better rarely seen in the west. like this ticket issued by thomas cook for pilgrims traveling from india in 1886. >> it recounts the history of the pilgrimage that we do not know much about. it is so beautiful. textiles to a manuscript to contemporary art. it is definitely an exhibition. >> it is one of the five pillars of islam. it is often referred to as the journey of a lifetime. 3 million people descended on mecca last year. this is one of the star attractions. you see it as soon as you walked in.

it is one of the oldest known additions of the koran. it is on loan from the british library and it is thought to date back to the eighth century. >> setting out for the pilgrimage to the holy city. >> this is another highlight. it is the centerpiece of pilgrim caravans. new, as well as old. >> this feeling is exactly the same. >> this unique insight into the -- opened on thursday and runs until april 15. >> you'll have been watching "newsday." >> thank you very much for your

company. i will be back in a couple of minutes with the latest news headlines. >> 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.