>> "bbc world news" is presented by kcet, los angeles. funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank.

>> union bank offers unique insight and expertise in a range of industries. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." >> allawi'saids killer coalition wins the slimmest of victory -- victories. the u.s. and russia reached agreement on reducing nuclear weapons. the but israeli soldiers and 11 palestinian militants are killed.

ed welcome -- coming up later for you -- would you pay $1 to read the news online? and we meet kabul dreams, afghanistan's first rock band you are dreaming about international stardom. welcome. the official results in iraq's parliamentary elections have given a surprising narrow victory to the former prime minister iyad allawi. it is feared this will trigger up. of uncertainty. -- triggered a time of

uncertainty. >> it is a dramatic upset. but delivered in un dramatic style. as officials read out the results province by province, showing allawi had just beaten nouri all maliki. he immediately said he would challenge the results. -- nouri all maliki. there are concerns of renewed violence. the last elections held tear iraq apart. some of the heaviest fighting was in this mainly sunni part of the capital. this is the same place today. the middle of haif streeta , once one of the most -- the middle of haifa street, once one of the most dangerous parts of

baghdad. it is feared that places like this will become a flash point again. some things have changed. we would not be having tea on haifa street two years ago. it was allawi who got most of the results here. the civil servant says that people will not try to get dragged in. we'll come to a shi'ite neighborhood to see how people see things here. most back in nouri all maliki -- nouri al maliki. the country is more stable, according to this man. the days of sectarian violence have gone. the american eyes in the sky are watching baghdad, knowing their withdrawal plans depend on how the result is received.

andrew north, bbc news, baghdad. >> at least 40 people were killed just before the election results were announced when two bombs exploded north of baghdad. between bombing happened outside a restaurant, wounding a further 60 people. -- the twin of bombing happened outside a restaurant. israel says it will not change its policy of building homes in east jerusalem. mr netanyahu said the policy had been missing for 42 years and would not change. 300 have marched on kuala lumpur protesting. the demonstration after friday prayers represents a protest against a controversial cartoon in newspaper earlier this month. a chinese student who murdered his remain because of excessive snoring has been given a suspended death sentence. he confessed to slopping his

roommate to death in november. the tension between the two spiked when he posted a video of his remains storing on a website. being called the most comprehensive weapons control agreement in nearly two decades, the united states and russia agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal by a third. it is the culmination of intense negotiations and is a step toward president obama's aim of a world without nuclear weapons. >> and in many ways, nuclear- weapons represent one of the most troubling threats of our time. today we take a step forward in leaving behind a legacy of the 20th-century while building a more secure future for our children. we have made progress that is clear and we have demonstrated the importance of american leadership and american partnership on behalf of our own security and the world. broadly speaking, been new start

treaty makes progress and several areas. -- the new start treaty. it cuts by a third the new weapons the united states and russia will deploy. it's significantly reduces missiles and launchers. but the same place and new verification regime. and it maintains flexibility we need to protect us to advance our national security and guaranteed our unwavering commitment to the security of our allies. with this agreement, the united states and russia, the two largest nuclear powers and in the world also send a signal that we intend to lead by holding to our own commitments under the nuclear non- proliferation treaty. we ensure that other countries meet their own responsibilities. >> how is this being seen in moscow? we have this report.

>> russia still has the most fearsome nuclear arsenal on the planets. nearly 3000 warheads mounted on intercontinental missiles like this that can strike anywhere in the world. today, it agreed to get rid of it least one-third of them. at such an historic moment, you expect russia's foreign minister to sound more excited. >> during today's telephone conversation between the presidents of russia and the u.s.a., we are satisfactorily expressed an and the outcome of the negotiations. >> russia's motivation for signing the treaty is rather different than america's. these monsters rolling across red square on victory day look impressive, but most of russia's

nuclear arsenal is ancient and replacing it would be very expensive. >> russia does not have enough money to sustain the current stockpile or even to expand it. that is why russia cannot keep up in any way, and now it got the figures that serve the impression cause. -- that serve the russian cause. >> so is this really a new era in u.s.-russian relations? last year when he met president medvedyev, the u.s. president was hopeful. russians are not quite so sure. >> this is a very limited. it serves the -- russia is used by the united states to implement the broader american agenda. >> the kremlin would not be

signing the treaty if it wasn't in russia's on interest. russia wants to cut its nuclear arsenal. once you have better relations with the united states. but there is of fear here that once the treaty is signed in washington has what it needs, it will go back to treating russia like a second-rate power. bbc news, moscow. >> two israeli soldiers have been killed and two others injured in clashes in the gaza strip. the militant group hamas said fighting took place after an israeli military incursion into its territory. two palestinians who were trying to take explosives over the border were also killed. our correspondent says israeli tanks have now entered gaza. >> with the israeli military is saying is they were carrying out an operation several hundred meters inside gaza. they then say they saw a number of militants who were planting

explosives and a firefight erupted, and our sources inside the southern gaza strip say the palestinian militants then attempted to capture at least one is really soldier. as you say, in the clashes, two israeli soldiers were killed. these are the first israeli soldiers to be killed in hostile fire in or around the gaza strip in over a year. as you say, a hamas has claimed -- hamas has claimed responsibility, but they say it was a defensive action. incidently, another group islamic jihad has claimed responsibility for the deaths of those two soldiers. >> the vatican has attacked the media over allegations it but failed to take actions against an american priest accused of sexually abusing hundreds of boys at the school for the death. the accusations have scandalized many catholics including in the boats on a downtown.

we have this report. -- including in the pope's own home town. we had this report. >> pope benedict was celebrated like a superstar at this year's gathering. the spiritual leader of more than 1 billion catholics. but the abuse scandal is damaging his church and his papacy. even in his hometown. this picture postcard place onion bavaria is his hometown. the holy father is their most famous son. but the pope is being openly criticized here. >> people were definitely proud of having a german pope. that has gone. >> people are very shocked. a lot of people leave church. >> the german pope was a source of enormous pride, not only for catholics here, but the whole

country. but -- is seen to boost the standing of germans on the world stage. surveys show only one third of german catholics not trust the above. they revere him here though. -- surveys show only one-third of german catholics now trust the pope. >> the head of the seminary says they are very proud one of their former pupils month on to claim the top post in the catholic church. but there are a german victims of abuse, like the composer who accused pope benedict of covering up the pedophile priests and the catholic church. >> i think everybody has a question, whether he knew it at

this time. i am really sure he had to know it. i cannot imagine he did not know it. >> pope benedict has to apologize to the catholics of ireland about the abuse and the church. now german catholics are winning for apologies from the vatican. bbc news. >> you are watching "bbc world news." still to come -- silvio berlusconi's popularity is put to the test as italians get the polls. -- go to the polls. the former first lady of the philippines, and all the marcos, has launched a campaign for a seat in -- imelda marcos, has lost a campaign for a seat in congress. she says she is running to uphold political integrity and the truth. our south east asia correspondent has this report. >> 80 years old, but still going strong, imelda marcos hits the campaign trail.

44 years after her husband was forced from power by popular revolt, the former first lady is bidding for a seat in congress. the late president is still revered and the families stronghold. -- family's stronghold. >> it was only then we had territorial integrity, freedom, justice, democracy, and human rights. >> some might argue with that, but few -- the marcos legacy is tainted by allegations of corruption. but this is marcus territory. she is running to replace her son. her daughter is replaced -- her daughter is running for governor. >> it is good but they are running in this election. they are able to build a lot of people, especially if they win. during the time of marcos, farmers and made a lot of money.

tickets sell their produce at good prices. >> locals issues -- local issues for a local constituency. >> it is put up or shut up. you have to do things, not just promise things. >> imelda marcos is a seasoned matriarch. rachel are becoming bbc news, bangkok. >> this is "bbc world news." the headlines -- iyad allawi wins the slimmest of victories of any parliamentary elections. south korean sailors are missing after a ship was sunk on the disputed border with north

korea. the were earlier suggestions that there was an attack from the north, but the government in seoul is playing down reports. >> as the reports began to reach the government here in seoul, the president called an emergency meeting of his security advisers and the police force and the city was put on a heightened state of alert. but that seems to have been purely a precaution. the government says the priority for the moment is the rescue operation which has continued throughout the night. with 40 or so from members built missing and water temperatures said to be just a few degrees above zero, and of course with the darkness tampering search efforts, things look very ominous indeed. this disputed it border has been the scene of clashes between northern and southern navies on a number of occasions in the

past. in november last year, an exchange of fire but to the deaths of at least one north korean sailer. it is not surprising there is speculation that north korea may have been involved in the sinking of the ship. the government is remaining cautious, leaving open the possibility this was simply a dreadful accident. >> the world trade organization says it expects a big jump in global trade this year as the global economy rebounds from last year's downturn. they forecast an 9% rise in 2010 compared to the 12% contraction seen in 2009. regional elections and become a test of the popularity of prime minister silvio berlusconi. his popularity has slipped in recent months following scandals. from rahm, we have this. -- from rome, we have this.

>> silvio -- silvio berlusconi has turned the regional ballot into a test of popularity. he has again been on the attack in the final days of campaigning. it is the opposition and the judiciary heat accuses of trying to undermine him in office. -- he accuses of trying to undermine him in office. >> you must be aware our democracy is seriously ill. >> election campaigns have been fought on many bitter fronts, including tv studios, leaked a wiretap transcripts, and mr. berlusconi has allegedly tried to get some political talk shows off the air. ed a european union commissioner is running for the opposition against mr. berlusconi and the rhone area.

she says mr. berlusconi and others are the only ones able to run in an election campaign. these are not democratic elections, she says. silvio berlusconi's party is in only two of the region's being contested. but they are being closely watched to see if support holds. their concerns about his personal scandals and his brushes with the courts. his supporters insist his only concern is with italy, not himself. they include this woman. she downplays the influence of the media. she says all means of media are important. so it's human contact, to meet people.

some commentators -- so is human contact, to meet people. by the way, when voting finishes monday, silvio berlusconi will still be prime minister of italy. but could he be damaged by the elections? he could be, if they go badly. but at the national levels, the opposition parties remain weak. it is its coalition partners he may have to watch. duncan kennedy, bbc news. >> would you pay to read your newspaper on the internet? the times in london think people will. 2 pounds a week will soon get your both papers. we have this report. >> time was when just about everybody seemed to buy and read a daily newspaper. now with news available for nothing on the internet, the industry is in crisis, but one

group says it can change all of that. for years, the paper has been putting just about all of their journalism on the website for free, and that included the "*." -- "times." in june, entry will cost 1 pound a day or 2 pounds a week. the editor of "the times" says there is no guarantee they will succeed. >> i think it is risky. it is asking people to change their behavior. we've seen them do that in the music business. it is less of a risk than the one we are currently taking. >> it is his boss who is behind the plan, arguing quality journalism should not be given away. >> right now i can choose to pay 1 pound for "the times," or go

to the website and get it for nothing. come june, i will have to pay to get on the site, but i can get news from the telegraph or the daily mail or the bbc for absolute been nothing. one paper has started charging for access to its website, with its of market leadership. but how many readers will stick with the times? >> the overwhelming experience is that they will go outside. the key question is are people going to stay and pay? that will make it financially viable. >> all whole industry will be watching to see if they can really attract a paying audience. bbc news. >> an addition is a group of young musicians are creating an exciting new sound of rock in

afghanistan. they are called kabul dreams. there also bringing in new identity to their war-ravaged country. -- a new identity to their war- ravaged country. ♪ >> as music from afghanistan, but not the music of afghanistan. >> ♪ i am, oh, i am >> echoes of britpop, the remarkable new song from kabul dreams. they claim to be afghanistan's first rock band. >> it has been my life's dream

to set up a band. we realized we all wanted the same things. we set up kabul dreams. soon will be releasing our first album. -- we will be releasing our first album. >> with afghanistan plunged into political turmoil, all three band members come from neighboring countries, and they were influenced by the western music they heard there. >> we are from different ethnicities in tibet. i am uzbek, he is pashtun. we sing in english to show that afghanistan is not just a war- torn country. >> the lyrics say so.

they are written deliberately in english. the band say it is important to counter the claims of nationalism in their country. kabul dreams have been together for just one year, but they are making an impact in the region with a concert in india. >> identity is important for us. identity has always beenmisusedd message for afghan years. we want to be known as afghan. -- this is a good message for afghan youth. >> the message of the band could come from the 1960's. peace and love. >> in our songs, we use words of

love and peace which does not necessarily refer to girls. it is our country. we want to live in peace. >> ♪ come on >> couple dreams was to bring a cosmopolitan flavor to afghan music, to keep -- kabul dreams wants to bring a cosmopolitan flavor to afghan music. bbc news, afghanistan. >> you can find the story and much more at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, andthe john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank.

>> union bank offers unique insight and expertise in a range of industries. what can we do for you? >> i'm julia stiles. >> i'm kevin bacon. >> i'm kim cattrall. >> hi, i'm ken burns. >> i'm lili taylor. >> i'm henry louis gates, jr., and public broadcasting is my source for news about the world. >> for intelligent conversation. >> for election coverage you can count on. >> for conversations beyond the sound bites. >> a commitment to journalism. >> for deciding who to vote for. >> i'm kerry washington, and public broadcasting is my source for intelligent connections to my community. >> bbc world news was presented by kcet, los angeles. by kcet, los angeles.