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>> hello and welcome. for growth,agenda french president francois hollande vows to work with germany to resolve the economic crisis. greece heads for fresh elections, still fears of a euro exit. >> rebekah brooks is charged with conspiring -- conspiring to subvert the course of justice. it is 9:00 in the morning in singapore. >> is 2:00 in the morning in london. broadcasting to viewers on pbs in america and around the world.

in just hours after taking off, the french president has held talks with angela merkel. he campaigned to renegotiate the austerity package, told a news conference that europe should consider all possible measures to boost growth. car europe editor has the story of a busy first day in office for the french leader. >> preparations for a transfer of power. elsewhere in paris, an unmarked car pulls out, surrounded by photographers. inside, 57-year-old francois hollande, a socialist leader on his way to be inaugurated. waiting for him, the outgoing president, nicolas sarkozy, who

never imagined he would be beaten by a candidate to head never held a government office. -- who had never held a government office. president sarkozy and his wife held a short conversation with francois hollande and his partner. presidents are cozy leaves the palace for the last time. -- sarkozy leads the palace for the last time. within minutes, and a simple ceremony, francois hollande was sworn in. in his inaugural speech, he promised a dignified presidency and wasted no time in sending a signal to berlin about his agenda. >> i will propose a pact that will tide the necessary deductions to be indispensable

stimulation of our economy. >> later, francois hollande drove in an open top car. he had already set out his -- he headed for berlin for a crucial meeting with angela merkel. but his plane was hit by lightning in he was forced to return to paris. much later than planned, the new french president arrived at the german chancellery. the welcome was cordial, but a little tense. the chancellor had backed president sarkozy in the election. he was greeted with military honors. as the two leaders negotiated the red carpet, they appeared rather nervous with each other. before beginning discussions on what the french president means over making growth his priority.

at a joint press conference, the chancellor warmly welcomed the new french leader and even joked about the lightning strikes. >> even though the lightning hit, maybe this could be a good omen for our cooperation. >> francois hollande vowed to put everything on the table to boost growth. >> when it comes to growth, it is right. so far, the words of not been properly explained. growth is at the heart of our talks. >> with greece and heading for new elections, both leaders expect a wish for greece to stay in the euro zone. >> i want to reiterate, and we agreed on this, we want to greece to state and the euro. the majority of the people in greece and feel that way. promises may have to be kept.

>> both leaders and to act extra measures to help greece with growth. the franco-german relationship is key to managing the deepening euro zone crisis. the challenge is to reassure europe and investors that they really can work together, make compromises, whatever their differences. tonight, they made a start. >> greece is set to go to the polls again after days of coalition talks failed. a final rounds of talks on tuesday morning broke up without a d.o.. the majority of greek voters backed parties opposed -- the greek president. for more on this, we speak to a professor. thank you very much for joining

us. looking at the politics of all this, it is a bit of a mess, isn't it? some are saying that politicians are listening to the greek people. do you agree with that? >> no doubt -- [unintelligible] this has been reconciled in the actual parties. to the economic agencies --

>> i am so disappointed, but we are having sound issues, a professor. we will get a better connection and speak to you a little bit later. thank you very much. news of developments in the uk phone hacking scandal, a significant day. >> one of rupert murdoch's most senior former executives is charged with conspiring to subvert the court of justice in britain. rebekah brooks, her husband, and for other people are to appear in court next month. she is accused of concealing document from police investigating allegations of phone hacking. there is some flash photography in this report. >> when all this started, it

hardly seemed possible. news international's chief executive facing a criminal court. rebekah brooks was formally charged before being driven away. pursued by photographers who might once have worked for her. prosecutors announced six out of seven arrested would be charged. " there is sufficient evidence. i have concluded that the prosecution is required in the public interest. >> tonight, rebekah brooks and her husband emerged with statements that did not conceal their anger. >> i am baffled by the decision to charge me today. however, more importantly, i cannot express my anger in off that those closest to me have been dragged into this unfairly.

one day, the details of this case will emerge. people will see today as nothing more than an expensive sideshow, a waste of public money, as a result of an unjust and big decision. >> i feel today is an attempt to use me and others as scapegoats. the effect will be to draft up the pressure on my wife -- wrap it up the pressure on my wife, who is the subject of a witchhunt. >> the case hinges on july of last year. the news of the world's closed, rebekah brooks resigned come at a massive police investigation. while all this was going on, it is alleged seven boxes of materials were removed from the

-- from news international. computers concealed from the police. the charges of perverting the course of justice -- not just her husband, but also her personal assistant. and three others close to her. her chauffeur, the news international head of security, and a free-lance security consultant. rebekah brooks was well connected. famously family with prime ministers, labor, and conservatives. her travel be uncomfortable for the government. -- her trial will be uncomfortable for the government. whatever past hour, her reputation is in the hands of the justice system -- whatever

her past power, the reputation is in the hands of the justice system. >> asif ali zardari will discuss the future of afghanistan. the invitation comes a day after pakistan said it planned to lift the blockade. soldiers were killed in nato airstrikes. the fbi has begun a preliminary investigation into viet -- into the loss suffered by jpmorgan chase. they have started investigations into the cost of a loss. the fbi has not officially confirmed the probe. you are watching "newsday." a $10 million diamond, one of the world's oldest and famous gems goes under the hammer in

geneva. >> welcome to the white house. president obama kansas host -- pays host. a quick look at what is making front-page news around the world. the first day of francois hollande with angela merkel on tuesday night. the wall street journal reports on the greek crisis. the top financial services regulator told the financial times of his plans to give shareholders in europe a binding vote on executive pay. the gulf news reports that american expatriate have been warned that should be scared of legislation.

the paper says this has great ramifications. >> good to have you with us. president has about to boost growth and resolve the economic crisis. >> greece looks do for fresh elections as there are fears of a euro exit. united nations observers have been caught up in violence. video shows a roadside bomb exploded in front of the u.n. convoy. followed by gunshots in the town

of khan sheikhoun. at least 21 people were killed in the attack. >> the observers were patrolling the town of khan sheikhoun. amid reports of the dublin government attack on a funeral procession. on a funeral procession. people were running for cover and damaged the u.n. vehicles. the monitors tried to organize a safe exit, the insurgents of the government blamed each other for the attack. in damascus, they've waited for news, trying to make sense of what had happened. at least one very important thing was clear. >> all the observers are safe. all of them are safe and i've

spoken to all of them. >> the number of observers has been increasing rapidly. they are deploying more patrols, setting up in more cities. they are powerless to stop the violence. they can only observe a cease- fire, not create wind. concerns about their safety are growing. >> it is obvious that the mission is there to help the people of syria and anything that interrupt their work and endangers the lives of u.n. personnel. it is something we would condemn. >> things do not look good, but the u.n. has not admitted defeat. the monitors argue the situation would be even worse without them. >> just over two months until london host the olympic games.

critics claimed there have been far fewer signs of -- such as semen rights. we look at what the difference the gains made to the chinese. -- and gains made to the chinese. >> legacy from a different age. tai chi has been practiced in china for centuries. the time when this country was less worried about its place in the world. the beijing games were supposed to mark a turning point in history. a carefully choreographed display design to announce modern china's arrival on the global stage. the former gymnast was the man asked to provide the thrilling climax to the opening ceremonies. i ask them why the games were so important. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> these days, this stadium is more prized for its architecture. it hosts concerts' and occasional exhibition matches, but it is mostly a tourist attraction. inside, these children are among the privileged few learning to swim. the aquatic center has been more successful, but it is still -- decked out in 2008 branting.

there is clear evidence of china's -- the beach volleyball or ring is rarely used. it has seen better days. as bird's nest was designed a lasting symbol of china's emergence as a global superpower. china also promised the games would transform the lives of ordinary people. for years on, there are serious doubts as to whether anything has changed all. some even argued that on human rights, china has gone backwards. the artist and birds nest designer is one of the communist government's most vocal critics. his view on the game's? >> a city quickly been forgotten.

>> officials will tell you a different story. one of the men in charge of beijing's legacy planning. he says they had a profound and lasting impact. >> chinese people are still deeply proud of the way beijing used the games to send a powerful message to the world. london will not be able to match that, but will be ultimately judged on whether it can deliver something more enduring than the two-week show. to the situation

in greece. we speak to a professor from the university of massachusetts. thank you very much for coming back to us. we were talking before regarding the political situation in greece. remind us of your opinion on what you believe the elections will do. >> i believe the election will from the greek public is in favor of staying in the euro. they have to be in form, there has to be better debate on whether the costs, and what needs to be gone, in order for the country to be able to stay in the euro. unfortunately, the debate has gone the wrong way. the public sees all the very

painful things that have come with austerity. the opponents of the agreement has capitalized on this. there have been in number of great failures in implementing the agreements. only the bad things have been implemented, the good things have not. the public needs to hear loud and clear what the issues are. the second thing that has that the larger parties, new democracy, came across -- zero minutes of the negotiations have become available online. they came out much more

responsible than the smaller parties. i think the debate is gone to be more substantial -- going to be more substantial one. the very good thing that happened today -- and i >> i am sorry, we are going to have to end it there. it has been great to get your insight and to look at the anklgle. -- angle. thank you very much, professor. one of the world's oldest and most famous diamonds has been sold for $10 million in geneva. the 35 current -- karat is at least 400 years old. >> fascinating, romantic,

dramatic. one by the kings and queens of europe. the diamond was warren -- was warm and she was crowned queen of france. awned to regainon the english throne. it seems to captivate all this set eyes on it. >> its is the most beautiful stone for me. it is the cut, the history. it is the oldest stone we have ever seen. >> if such an unexpected $9.7 million. prepare-- it fetched an unexpected $9.7 million. all that history adding to its

value. >> i have to touch it. >> its new bair remains anonymous. -- buyer remained anonymous. >> it does not get much better than this. president obama has received its own l.a. galaxy football shirt. he played host to the entire team to celebrate their wedding. among those attending, david beckham. >> we also have a young up and, on the team, a guy named david beckham. [laughter] i give david a hard time. half of his teammates could be his kids. we are getting old, david. you are holding up better than me. last year, at the age of 36,

david had his best year. leading the team with 15 assists. injuring his hamstring the week before the championship game. he is talf. -- tough. david beckham is that man. >> you have been watching " newsday." >> francois hollande and angela merkel has shunned unity -- shown unity. more on that to come, stay with us.

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