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what can we do for you? >> and now, bbc world news. >> hello and welcome. the headlines. president obama says that the shooting of 16 civilians by an american soldier is heartbreaking but u.s. troop withdrawal plans will not change. >> it makes me more determined to make sure we get our troops out of there. it is time. now that we have osama bin laden, we are in a stronger position. >> the cease-fire has been agreed to this week -- between israeli forces and palestinian militants after four days of clashes. >> more bloodshed in syria. 47 women and children are killed. they do not agree on a way forward. and the internet company yahoo sues facebook over a patent

violation including privacy controls. it is of a clock in singapore. >> 3:00 in london. krupp costing on pbs and america, welcome to newsday. >> president obama has described as heartbreaking the killing of 16 civilians by an american soldier. he also warned against a hurried withdrawal of u.s. troops from afghanistan. most of the victims, including nine children, were killed with a single shot to the head. the soldier is in custody. >> in kandahar, there has been an uneasy silence.

people see what happened to the unnamed american soldier who carried out this massacre, shooting children in the head and beating and killing women. most afghans seem to want him handed over to afghan justice. it will not happen. >> i feel very sad, and even i am ready to go to the side of the taliban to fight against these foreigners. >> president obama knows an apology is not enough but from his limousine he got straight onto the president to try to limit the damage. it will not be easy. the massacre came just as the protests over the burning of the koran was starting to die down. in january, these pictures emerged of american soldiers urinating on the bodies of dead afghans. the massacre is far worse. it is already causing nervousness in washington. >> we recognize that an incident

like this is inexplicable and we will start -- and will certainly cause many questions to be asked. >> one question, will president obama managed to get hamid karzai to agree about nato's role in afghanistan after the combat troops leave? if obama does not get this, the danger is that nato could look very much like to defeat. uncomfortably reminiscent of the soviet withdrawal back in 1989. in previous wars, massacres like this have had a big effect on public opinion. the vietnam war and others in the iraq war, before this latest massacre, american polls indicated that over 50% of people wanted troops pulled out quickly.

tonight, president obama said he shares that view. >> it makes me determined to make sure we're getting our troops home. it is time. it has been a decade. now that we have a osama bin laden, we are in a stronger position to transition then we would have been a few years ago. >> as for britain, 73% a people want to withdraw. david cameron says that the british troops have a job to do. we are there to train the afghan army and the police so that that country can look after its own security and make sure it is not a haven for terrorists. that is what we all want. >> in britain will have to take account of whatever the americans do but with france pulling its troops out by the end of the year, the public opinion in the west pardoning, with straw is likely sooner than later. whether it looks like a defeat

or not. >> a cease-fire has been agreed between israel and palestine after four days of clashes. the deal was brokered by the egyptians. 25 palestinians have died in air strikes since friday. israel says 35 were injured in attacks. the bbc is in gaza as more details. >> from egyptian sources, representatives from all actions were involved in the meeting. the announcement came after the meeting. shortly after that, a senior official told the bbc that a cease-fire has been reached between the militants and israel.

all military activity needs to stop. he said of militants have agreed to stop the rocket attacks into israel. the cease-fire has been declared for three hours. no rocket has been fired. >> we had a response about this saying that a cease-fire has been agreed. but has there been any response from israel? >> it is too early. no comment from the israeli side. hamas said one interesting thing, that israel has made an unusual promise not to target any of the militants that are a

part of the cease-fire. we have to wait until we hear from them whether it is true or not. that is what we heard from hamas. >> in other news, armed robbers have a talk to the gold market in iraq. police say two carloads attacked shops in a shia district. they manage to escape after an exchange of fire with security. one man has been arrested. more than 200 people have been killed and hundreds more are missing in south sudan african violets. young men stormed several cattle camps on friday. attacks have killed thousands of people last year. hundreds of mourners have paid their respects to one of the most celebrated war

correspondents. she was killed last month in the syrian city of homs. services were held in her home state of new year. -- new york. >> hillary clinton said that violence had to shock the conscience of the world. she said that the security council should not remain silent when government's massacre their own people. syrian opposition groups have accused them of killing up to 47 people in what they have called a cold-blooded massacre. our middle east editor reports now from the united nations. [gunfire] >> a year up debbie force since the uprising started. this is where it began. it appears to show demonstrators

running around from bullets. elsewhere, it has become an armed insurrection against a regime. rebels are getting more skillful. the president post some men are still much stronger. -- president's men are still much stronger. this was the aftermath of a massacre of civilians, including children. the man filming this burning building asks if the world is watching. save us, he says. an envoy is watching and was perceived by the president over the weekend. but the president and the army believes he is in a fight he can win. in turkey, on his way out, anger was voiced, and

frustration. the killing of civilians must end. the world must send a clear and united message that this is simply unacceptable. >> here in new york, it is still that this united nations. russia and china are watching his diplomatic back. >> they so far have failed in its responsibility. it does not mean we have stopped trying. we need to keep talking. >> no change in the council. the west blames the syrian regime for the killings. russians say that is only half- truth. -- half-true. the russians also say that hasty attempt at regime change would make the middle east more dangerous. not less. well the -- while the regime is

united, and nothing is going to change in a hurry. longer term, it is hard to see how the assad regime can survive. for now, they seem to think they have this crisis under control. >> yahoo! is suing facebook in the united states. yahoo! claims the social networking site which enables users to connect with each other is based on systems it developed. facebook denies allegations. let's get more from our correspondent in los angeles. this lawsuit comes at a crucial time for facebook. very soon, they will have their massive ipo. >> that is right. it revolves around the complicated computer code that

goes into making a website, very complicated social networking site like facebook. according to yahoo!, these are patented technologies they have held and facebook has used them to develop their site. things like messaging, and a news feet, or security, parental control. according to yahoo!, these have been used without their permission. >> and what our legal analysts telling you? could this be a long court case or will facebook settle its differences with yahoo!? >> there was a similar situation in 2004, before google went public. there was a similar dispute between yahoo! and google. that was resolved to days before google went public.

they gave them 2.7 million shares. a similar situation this year with facebook about to go public and the process of doing that will generate huge amounts of funds and revenue and there will be a shares for the taking. there has been a suggestion that this is what yahoo! is hoping to happen again. as far as-legality of the case, it could be complicated. it is a new area of looking at these patients, these complicated patents' around technology that goes into building a complicated social networking site. >> thank you for that update. you are watching in newsday on the bbc from singapore and london. still to come, fast food forward. while these issues were hidden during the 19th century-- shoes were hidden during the 19th

century. >> could a masterpiece be hidden behind this fresco? a serial sex attacker was traced through his dna. the old bailey was told that he went on to commit seven more raves, crimes for which he was convicted. the 57-year-old denies the charges. the 17-year-old has admitted killing a pensioner during riots in west london last august. the teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, knocked into the ground. he banged his head during the attack and died in hospital three days later. the mp who assaulted four people has resigned from the labor party. he said that his behavior was

below what was required. he has been fined 3,000 pounds and given a community order. >> this is newsday on the bbc. >> the headlines this hour. president obama has called the shooting of 16 afghan civilians by an american soldier " heartbreaking" but says withdrawl plans will not change. >> a cease-fire has been agreed in gaza after four days of violent clashes. senior politicians are vying to secure promotions when the top leaders will be shuffled this year. some are using the parliamentary session to push their competing claims. for more, we are joined by our

beijing correspondent. tell us more about this conference and what does it hoped to achieve? >> it is just why did up. it is an advisory body to the national people's congress, the annual parliament. this body sits for about 10 days. there are 2000 members from all walks of life. one of the members is an olympic ping-pong champion. what they do is they discuss issues of the moment in china. often, you see some of their suggestions in the media. a couple of them, to give you a flavor, or that officials should pay for private use of vehicles. another member suggested that young people who rely upon their parents for financial support should have their benefits cut in order to make them work harder.

these are just to suggestions. it is the national congress which is finishing tomorrow that actually makes and passes the laws of china. >> as you say, the precursor to the most important event is the closing tomorrow of the national people's congress. what is likely to happen? >> wen jiabao, who hold -- will hold a press conference. at the beginning of that session, he delivered the annual work report which laid out to the agenda for the next 12 months. this is a chance for the premier to have the chinese media and foreign media put questions to one of the most senior leaders. >> the big question, when are we likely to see the leadership change in the china when wen

jiabao steps down? >> that transition will start taking place later this year. what we will see is the communist party. people will start assuming senior positions within the communist party. we know that china's next leader is going to be him. there are nine people on the committee, seven seats will become available. senior officials behind-the- scenes will be jockeying for position in order to get a place at the top table of chinese politics. >> thank you for the update. an imam has been killed in a mosque in what is believed to have been an attack. he died of smoke inhalation and

that one other person was injured. >> according to the belgian newspaper, a man entered the moscow shortly before 7:00 p.m.. the newspaper said he was armed with an ax and a molotov cocktail and a can of gasoline. they say he broke windows be throwing the in sender device inside. a man has been arrested in connection with the attack. police say the imam, 47 years old, died on a second floor of the building. >> tonight there has been a criminal arson in this building behind me. one person died because of inhalation a poisonous fumes. the person responsible has been arrested. we can now know that justice is doing its work and has started an investigation. i hope we will have a conclusion

on the circumstances in the next few hours and days. >> a crowd shows their anchor of what has happened. one resident told reporters that on hearing of the attack, he had gone to the mosque to see what blind hate can do. another said that imam was liked by everybody. he was smiling and happy. >> matt joyce story of a magic. howard t. ward off evil spirits-- now to a story of magic. how do you ward off evil spirts? the artifacts came to light during modern renovations. >> a world famous bridge. an ancient country house.

and in old convict prison. what links these things? >> the probe -- practice of folk magic in australia. >> the story begins here in tasmania. it is where a historian was invited by the owner to give his opinion on some strange discoveries. >> you have been doing some work. >> during some renovations, they came across some remarkable items. dozens of shoes, toys, and close dating from the 1820's. for ian, it is an investigation in the hiding of artefacts to ward off evil spirits. >> of objects related to the people would decoy the bings' away from the people and into the -- the beings away from the

people. >> they have more than 100 sites. they have not found any in this one yet, over here is a different story. under the famous landmarks, workers dug this tunnel. they need another fine. >> there is. a shoe. a fragment of a shoe. discovered in 1998. it is certainly not an adult. >> he believes it was put here during construction of the bridge to fight evil spirits. here, too, under these stairs, yet another revelation.

>> this is it. a convict shirt, every kind of artifact hidden by all kinds of people. a practice brought by settlers from britain to protect their families. >> they did not have the medical practice and knowledge which exists today. nor the medications. they were in constant fear of an illness that would take their child away. >> emigrants relying on familiar practices to find comfort. >> and controversial art historian has said he found encouraging evidence that could lead to a lost masterpiece by leonardo davinci. not everyone is convinced. here is our art correspondent. >> the walls of the town hall. everywhere you look there is a

masterpiece. it is claimed there is one behind this awning. they have been putting cameras into this fresco and have discovered fragments of paint. similar to that used by da vinci. might this be the lost leonardo? >> having found these pigments, organic material, it cannot be a coincidence. >> this image gives an idea of what he painted before he abandoned the work. at the press conference, it was claimed the painting was hidden behind a wall. then added clues, such as the phrase, seek and ye shall find. it sounds like a detail from a dan brown driller. many historians are far from convinced.

>> i do not wish to pour cold water on the thing. if it is discovered, it is one of the biggest things of all time in the art world but it is a bit hyped up a moment. >> it lost painting, hidden messages, it seems too good. all of this in a place that is the renaissance in one room. even down to the man behind the contracts. machiavelli himself. >> you have been watching newsday from the bbc. >> let's bring you a reminder of our main news. president obama had said that the killing of 16 afghan civilians by an american soldier makes him more determined to get u.s. troops home. he will welcome the british prime minister david cameron on tuesday to discuss a new timetable for letting troops

take charge. more on that to come. stay with us. >> make sense of international news. 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. >> at union bank, our relationship managers use their expertise in finance to guide you through the strategies and opportunities of international commerce. we put our extended global network to work for a wide range of companies, from small

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