+ but >> welcome to "the journal." aid delivery is in jeopardy, nato consider sending ground troops to as libya to protect humanitarian help. egypt and's prosecutor ordered the arrest of hosni mubarak and his two sons. the colombian president says that his country is part of the solution when it comes to fighting the drug trade's.

nato has not excluded the possibility of deploying ground troops in libya to protect aid workers according to the german nato geral ian interview. germany has signaled its willingness to send troops to libya as part of a humanitarian mission. the u.s. military is continuing to fly missions in support of rebel forces in spite of their announcement earlier this month they would no longer deploy or pains -- warplanes over libya. and they are getting ready for a major offensive which they believe is imminent. the war between supporters of the long-term leader can rebel forces seems to have reached a stalemate situation.

neither side is capable of winning by military means. the international contact group on libya gathered onwednesday to discuss the situation despite differences, they all agree on one thing. >> libya will only have a successful and prosperous future, a free and fair future without the dictator. >> the politicians are in less agreement on how that should be achieved. representatives of the rebel forces called for more support from the west. >> we think that nato is not doing enough. >> they are preparing to send ground troops into libya. this was confirmed in an interview with dw-tv. >> this couldlead to a temporary deployment of ground troops. this is not an issue at the

moment. as you know, the u.s. has not approached us nor has the european union. in case we are asked, we must be prepared for it and we will be prepared. >> there appears to be differences of opinion among nato members about the best strategy for ending the violence in libya. it appears that natois preparing to intensify with a new air attacks. i asked our correspondent inn brussels why this sudden shi in status. >> i think that nato feels under pressure since yesterday when britain and france said not enough was being done. france always wanted america to lead the way in this mission and was not pleased when the european allies themselves were in charge. i feel that nato is responding to what is seen to be the moodod

we must step up this fight in libya or face stalemate with gaddafi who was clearly not going to step down and be in for a long war. what it means is that those members of the libyan forces are contributing in qatar, i don't know. putting food on the ground is a complete change of dynamic and completely outside of the u.n. resolution which has always been about protecting civilians, not army rebels or anything else. so, i think we are into a new phase if nato is on the record saying this. >> prosecutors and egypt have arrested the former president hosni mubarak and his two sons as part of the investigation into corruption and abuse of power. mubarak is currently receiving medical treatment for heart problemsms. egyptian state media says his

condition is unstable. >> jose mubarak was hospitalized in sharm el-sheikh after complaining of our problems. -- hosni mubarak was hospitalized in sharm el-sheikh. his sons have already been transferred to this prison in cairo. prosecutors say they will make -- will remain in detention for at least 15 days. they are accused of corruption and abuse of power. authorities say the ex president will face questioning over the deaths of protesters during the uprisings that unseated him. egyptians on the streets of the capital welcomed the news of the detention. >> he is the symbol of corruption. he should be tried. that would only be fair towards us egyptians. >> the rest of mark and his sons will help to calm the egyptian people. this is a step in the right

direion. >> nearly all members of the regime are under investigation for abuse of power. the israeli attorney general is looking into corruption charges against the foreign minister. they accuse her of fraud, money laundering, tampering with a witness. she denies all of the allegations. they center on the alleged transfer of millions of dollars from business people. lieberman will have a a chance o argue his case at a final hearing before a decision is taken. the president of belarus has announced that three suspects had confessed to the bombing of the minsk subway station. he also said that the worst

attack in the country's history had been solved all of a motive remains unclear. >> people are still in shock. many have come to the mattress station to express their grief. at least 12 people died when the bomb went off during the evening rush hour. investigors arrested two suspects. on wednesday, and the president announced that the case had been solved. >> they made their confessions at 5:00 this morning. the most important thing is that we now know who carried out this terrorist attack. we do not net k know their motie but we will soon find out. -- we do not yet know their motive. >> this has shaken the confidence and the president to guarantee stability and security. the opposition fear the authorities will use the attack

as an excuse to crack down on them. the president has ordered the interrogation of opposition figures in connection with the attack. >> the ivory coast president the last -- president-elect alassane ouattara said that he will ask the international criminal court to investigate killgs. both troops loyal to the captured leader laurent gbagbo and those that follow alassane ouattara have been implicated in the killings. laurent gbagbo may face criminal charges. human-rights groups accuse both sides of serious violations. some 1500 civilians were killed in the power struggle. more cuts are on the way in the u.s.. >> what a headache for barack obama. >> one weekafter confirming that he will run for a second term in next year's election,

u.s. president barack obama has outlined his plan for the u.s. economy. speaking earlier in the nation's capital at george washington university, he proposed cutting the ballooning deficit by four trillion dollars over the next 12 years through a mix o of tax hikes and spending cuts. the president called for democrats and their political rivals in the republican party to hold bipartisan talks to address the country's financial challenges. the republicans have already rejected obama's plan and say they will fight any tax increases. global soap giants procter and gamble and -- will have to clean up their act. they are facing fines of 315 million euros for running a washing detergent cartel. a german company was listed as part of the cartel but they escaped finds by a cooperative

with the 40's and revealing the scheme. three companies cut prices at artificially high levels for over three years. the european commission is promoting a fuel tax to promote clean energy. they say the current rules are outdated and not taken to look back -- taking account of the environmental impact. >> diesel fuel costs days as a cheaper fuel alternative to gasoline could be numbered if the european commission has its way in the matter. >> all energy products for given use, a subject to the same minimum rateses. >> the plan is to tax by t amount of energy produced. 1 liter of diesel produces more than a set amount of gasoline.

critics say the change in policy will have a far reaching effect. >> this will wipe out the previous advantages including that this is the most efficient motor. >> germany has voiced opposition to proposal and that settles the issue because 27 nations have to sign off on tax legislation. for the time being, the price of diesel soot remain stable. >> onto wednesday's market action, the dax locked in healthy gains to finish the day at 7177 points. the eurostoxx 50 moving up. new york shares went up higher in response to jpmorgan's latest earnings. investors were less impressed after taking a closer look and they put banking shares under pressure. the dow managed to finish up in

positive territory. the euro is trading lower against the u.s. dollar. the time where shares were up by neaearly 4% wednesday on news that -- car sales surged more than 4%. the ceo told those attending the general meeting that diamler was rebounding quickly from the crisis. he said it would be the year of the come back. >> these trucks are made in japan for daimler. they said the tsunami had not taken a toll on their business. >> so far, there has been no signs of a global setback to the

economy. as things stand, we remain of the opinion that the global automobile market will grow significantly in 2011. >> he said even temporary shortatas of components due to the transfer problems would not damage the company's outlook. despite the challenges, they remain confident that they will achieveve record sales and profs this year. >> japan's government is optimistic that the country will quickly overcome the economic impa of last month's earthquake and tsunami. the economics minister said that he expects the economy to pick up pace before the end of this year. for the time being, however, the government has lowered their expectations and downwardly revised their short-term forest. many of the top exporter struggle to rebuild their supply chains and many questions are unanswered about when energy infrastructure will be repaired and be able to facilitate the recovery.

that is your business update. >> the colombian president is continuing his bid to attract foreign investment and change his country's image as a haven for international d drug cartel. he is currently on a state visit here in berlin where he is in talks with the german chancellor on deepening economic ties. >>chancellor merkel and the colombian president juan manuel santos have met before but this is the colombian leleaderfirst official visit to office since taking office. they recently signed a free- trade agreement. the colombian drug trade is seen as a problem despite progress in the country itself. >> the united states and the european union now recognize that colombia is part of the solution, not a problem. +>> we all need to work even

better together to find new ways to combat the drug trade. >> colombian authorities have managed to break the drug cartels but traffic continues with shifts to mexico which is unlikely to change as long as there is a market for the drugs in the u.s. and europe. >> we need to make sure that we do everything to stop drug smuggling and to find and put a stop to those who deal in drugs. >> juan manuel santos says that the best weapon is better education for young colombians, a measure that angela merkel said she would support. >> the culture minister has announced the winner of a hotly debated the new memorial. the monument is to honor the peaceful revolution that led to the fall of the berlin wall and the end of the east german stalinist regimes. -- communist regime.

it partners in cooperation with choreographers. it will rock like a giant see- saw and it bears the text, we are the people. the main chance of the pro- democracy demonstrators at which they took to the streets and that thousands. we all know the feeling, you borrow at penn and accidently walk away with it by mistake. apparently, the president of the czech republic deliberately pocketed a panel on his visit to chile. while on a press conference, he seems to take quite an interest in t the p. if he was using it to sign a transfer agrment. then, his hand slipped underneath the table, the penn changes hands and appears to be t in his pocket. the president seems quite pleased about his new souvenir and then closes the penn case to hide the evidence.

later, he said he takes souvenirs' from summit's and state vivisit l the time. i will be right back, more from cuba which is celebrating 50 years as a communist country.

>> q. but is preparing for celebrations to mark 50 years as a communist country. the first communist party congress in 14 years starts this weekend. it starts on saturday. this is likely to be one of the last large meetings of the old revolutionary genenerati. they will be highlighting their successes, how they drove the oligarchy to florida, defeated the cia invasion, and outlasted decades of u.s. economic sanctions. the leaders say it is time to modernize their system and overhaul the social system.

there will be discussing a number of free-market economic reforms including plans to slash public sector jobs and cut government ssidies. >> cuba can no longer afford the state owned enterprises. most are run down and unproductive. there are too many workers. that harvest and natural disasters have ravaged the country's farms. most food must be imported driving the foreign debt through the roof. that has forced havana to embark on radical economic reforms which includes plans to -- half million employees. -- plans to lay off halff a million employees. thousands of committees are debating the problem. workers at this factory are trying to formulate a petition

to the party congress. they are bracing for a difficult year of change ahead. >> the president has already announced one big reform, allowing laid off workers to become self-employed. the change freeze up cubans to run their own business as long as they have the proper license. >> the government has agreed to allow more private enterprises to create opportunities for redundant workers. new licenses will be granted and some sectors will be commercialized allowing people to hire their own woworker >> the state run newspaper has listed 178 approved jobswhich revolve mostly around trade and

craft but also jobs like cartoonists. up to 250 licenses are up for grabs. -- ought to 250,000 licenses are up for grabs. they will be allowed to get loans but most will have to pay a third of their income to the state. also, social security contributions. >> ahead on the communist party congss, president castro warned either we change course or we sink. it tends to reduce the tight government control of the economy is t without risk in a system that has been highly centralized for 50 years and run by bureaucrats. there is a dearthth of economic and opportunities although the tourist sector does offer some exceptions. >> every day, this man goes looking for tourists down by the beach in havana. he has worked as a tour guide

for the past 10 years, most of that time, illegally. for the past two months, he has had a license. >> this identity card authorizes me to be self-employed and that i can offer my services as a guide to any tourist and show them the city. >> to be entitled to the license, he has to pay three euros a month in taxes and nine in pension contributions. on his earnings, hean afford that. the costs are not easy to bear for other self-employed cubans. there are a lot of them. many people sell goods and services in front of their homes. meanwhile, the state has cut subsidies making subsidies like soap and washing powder more expensive. hundreds of thousands of workers atat sta run firms find that their jobs are at risk.

this woman has already losti+ hers. . recently, she worked in the accounts office at a health center. 80 of the workers were fired. >> i am not doing very well. i was happy at my job. now i sit at home and get bored. >> the cuts have hit women particularly hard. many hold administrative positions, the kinds of jobs that are being cut. only a quarter of the self- employed are female. >> i'm going to look for another job. there are jobs in agriculture and for cleaners and rubbish collectors. but many people do not want to do jobs like that. >> some of the newly self- employed say that attitude is partly to blame for the country's economic problems. this car mechanic says that employees with state enterprises

have become complacent in their jobs. >> nobody wanted to be a technician everyone -- anymore, they wanted to be an engineer. they wanted to thank and tell people what to do instead of getting their hands dirty. there was hardly any workers left to really work. >> fernandezas high expectations for the congress. he is hoping that cubans will be able to own more property. he says that would be good for his business and good for cub. >> -- returned fromuba few days ago. we asked him for his impression on how cubans are reacting to the proposed economic reforms. >> i think that there is a lot of uncertainty. people have been hearing the announcements that 500,000 people will be losing their jobs at the state sector.

there has been some holes opening for them but not five and a thousand people in six months. ere is a lot of uncertainty, people are paying much more for basic staples than before. there is a lot of anxiety, the hope that this would be the kickoff for major reforms. you did not get the opportunity for alternative ways to earn a decent living. >> how realistic is the expectation that people laid off by state enterprises will find other jobs or become self- employed? >> this require a massive change and attitude by the government in this sense that they would really have to open up this sector much more

aggressively than they have done so far. for now, the schedule of the dismissal of the state employees has beenen scheduled and they have taken the stand that this could take more time. it would be very difficult to relocate half a million people in such a short amount of time. there is the danger of maintaining the political order. >> will this be an off or will cubans want more once the process started? >> precisely, the fear of the government. many fear that this would be the beginning of a slipperery sle. the economic logic calls for more opening and for more market mechanisms and the economy --

and autonomy. >> thank you so much. thank you for joining us. u forget it. yourself, so don't fall.

u forget it. now he tells us. how far am i off the floor? about twelve inches. twelve whole inches?