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>> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." >> hello, we have a special edition appearing "gmt." -- special edition of "gmt." . but you live from pakistan. one of the key military figures speaks you live from this base, saying that there can be a cease-fire and nato with draws. why are taxpayers in the west paying for schools and hospitals thousands of miles away in afghanistan? >> there is a powerful national security imperative to help afghanistan get to the point where it never again becomes a refuge for international terrorism.

>> also coming up in this program -- cholera reaches crisis in haiti. attacks on relief workers are hindering the aid effort. pressure on the islands to except the bailout to restore market confidence in the euro zone. we report live from the summit in brussels. >> it is early morning in washington, midday in london, 4:30 in the afternoon in helmund province. in a rare interview, a spokesperson for one of the insurgent leaders has told the bbc that the group could offer a ceasefire if foreign forces withdrew to their base if it is

a credible offer. it was made from pakistan, where the group fighters retreated after the coalition meeting. support for islamic militancy across the board in pakistan will be a crucial part of the solution to the crisis. >> we followed a route into the street. this is the gateway to afghanistan invading armies have come this way for centuries. today there is chaos and conflict on both sides of the border. the people here blame one thing. there will be no peace there or here. the fates of these nations are

intertwined. for many pakistani is, they believe it would have a calming effect, reducing the blood shed on this side of the border. it would probably have to run through here. afghan insurgents come through the border area and the tribal belt. allegedly they still do. here in pakistan that we manage to contact one of the three main insurgent groups fighting across the border. we met a son, his father has been branded as a local terrorist. the group is now maneuvering for influence and talking of a

cease-fire. >> talks can be held on the timetable for foreign forces. they agreed to be confined to their base and give us a timetable for leaving, we can get a cease-fire. pakistan is battling its own taliban. a massive blast aimed at the anti-terror police. military bases here are the biggest threat to the west. >> it does not mean that there is an end to these global jihad groups. back at the border, a passing out parade.

they pledged to defend their country with their lives. pakistan has paid a high price for supporting nato in afghanistan. it could jeopardize a deal. >> pakistan would be excluded and there may be implications for america, as well as afghanistan, which no one would want. >> pakistan is eager for the end game. but forces know that if they go too soon, there could be greater instability. >> the political foundations of this $1 trillion conference are as build on the idea that soldiers can improve the space,

water, schools, hospitals, and respect for human rights. the insurgency is an alternative for local people. i have been speaking to the british head of the reconstruction team here. i began by asking what has been achieved so far. >> in the last year of the progress in economic terms in political terms, more schools have opened. more children are going to schools. more girls going to schools. you can see that in the capital. people continuing to do that worked and it is not irreversible. key card is not to hinder the consolidation of this progress. >> back home knowing other

people that face cuts in their services, explain to them why so much money should be spent in this place. >> the government, as you know, has gone through a major public expenditure, including defense. defense is not immune from those pressures. like previous governments, this government has taken the view that there is a powerful national security imperative to get afghanistan to the point where it never again becomes a refuge for al qaeda. if we can show people that we are making progress, it is a goal that people would be ready to support. >> support for the hundreds of millions of pounds spent in afghanistan by the taxpayer, how

much of that is for development? >> ridgell -- british sources contribute about 135 billion pounds. a key part of the effort and a key element to success in the progress is the approach. it must be a comprehensive effort where the security of the government is what you would accept. >> is this a small portion of the spending in afghanistan? >> for british national security. >> that was michael o'neill, head of the provision of reconstruction team responsible for construction. clearly that is what this conference is really about.

we have heard that time and again. the other thing that of military commanders and civilian chiefs tell us is that we perhaps did not come here to observe the conflict and we should look more at the local level rather than concentrate on the political shenanigans that go on their. local teams and local civil servants, that is where some of the real progress is being made. the other real point that i would draw from the last few days in afghanistan is this culpable move towards the idea -- excuse me, i do not know if you can hear that but we are in the middle of a military camp. if this is some sort of culpable moved towards the idea of we are talking about. -- palpable move toward the idea

we are talking about. >> thank you very much, george. quite a cacophony of sound. not quite sure what that was. let's take a look at the other stories making headlines around the world today. the cholera epidemic in haiti is getting worse. efforts to contain it are being hampered. attacks on relief workers are hindering the international response. locals blame un peacekeepers. >> anger erupts in the second city, although not so badly affected by the earthquake, there is alarm over the spread of cholera. anger is directed at these peacekeepers in relief workers.

>> early in the early morning hours they began looting food from the warehouses. >> the caller is related to restrain from south asia, but none of the nepalese have tested positive. it has not stopped the rumors or the anger. >> if they have come to the conclusion that troops are responsible for spreading cholera in this country, they shall leave. it is important to stand up to the troops out. wanting to prevent the presidential election plan for the end of the month, warning that chaos will worsen the epidemic.

the first case of cholera has been confirmed. >> germany has raised its security level. the interior minister said that there are clear indications of a tax being planned for this month. airports and train stations across the country from unspecified planned attacks at the end of november. the israeli government has decided to fallout from the village on the border with lebanon. the u.n. says that the line runs to the middle of the village but for several years israel has occupied all of it. the airplane that crashed last may in india killing 160 people, the pilot was asleep for much of the flight according to an official inquiry that was leaked to the media.

ignoring warnings to abort the landing in approaching from the wrong angle. still to come, we will be looking at how and why general motors is speeding ahead with a sale that could cost billions of dollars. what has the mediterranean diet, the spanish flamenco, and chinese acupuncture got in common? they have been given special protected status by the united nations. added to the so-called gang " -- heritage list. italians have been trying for years to get the mediterranean diet officially recognized. >> the mediterranean diet is now protected.

pasta, potatoes. for years they have championed the health benefits of their food. the diet has now been given special recognition. it has been added to the intangible heritage list, elevating the lifestyle to world class protected status. >> what the board is saying is that when it comes to protecting things, cultures are just as important as ancient monuments and buildings. >> key to the diet is a polyunsaturated fat. made from olives, it is essential part of the diet, many believing that they protect

against heart disease and cancer. other ingredients include fish, tomatoes, vegetables, and poultry. although the scientific benefits have been disputed, they believe that the tradition is worth preserving. world heritage stated that with typical structures or outstanding natural features, like stonehenge in britain or the temple complex of cambodia, as well as the barrier reef in the australian. they began the intangible heritage status two years ago. adding french cuisine and the spanish flamenco. you cannot quite visit. but you can still favor. duncan kennedy, bbc news. let the trial of a well-known

chinese artist has begun in beijing. after four hours, the court did not issue a verdict and the trial has been delayed. accused of attacking an officer after the mobile phone was taking -- taken away. you are watching "gmt." from "bbc world news." one of the three main insurgent groups in afghanistan has told the bbc that a ceasefire as possible. a rare interview across the border in pakistan. the financial crisis in the euro zone is focusing the minds on the financial crisis.

dublin has insisted it would work with members to overcome huge budget deficits but has so far resisted pressure to accept a rescue plan. jonathan joins us live from brussels. you give us an update. >> i can tell you that finance ministers are meeting in the building right behind me. this is also where members of the group met last night. certainly it is a matter of if, not when this bailout is going to happen. whenever ireland might say, the banks have to be bailed out. the debt being carried by ireland in the banking sector has been declared unsustainable. by a land -- ireland is not in

the crisis done yet but many members are worried that this will happen. >> europe's finance ministers are in brussels. a possible bailout of the irish government is foremost on their minds. >> [unintelligible] assessing the situation of the banking sector. >> we will do what i it -- what is in britain's national interest. ireland is our closest neighbor and it is in our national interest that the irish economy is successful. britain stands ready to support ireland in the steps that need to take to bring about that stability.

>> the irish government has repeatedly denied it is seeking outside support, but the groundwork has been laid for a bailout of the banking sector of ireland asked for help. doblin fierce economic autonomy being lost. >> leaving the stable when we said yes to the lisbon treaty. so much was handed over that many on the other side are now realizing that the promises and guarantees that were made to protect tax compensation are not being respected >> there is pressure on other euro zone countries at the moment. government budgets are also under strain in portugal. european ministers want to stop it from spreading. >> how is all of this going to unfold? jim higgins joined me, a member of the irish parliament. any doubt in your mind about

this bailout package? >> what happened yesterday was not the effect of what was to be the case in the euro zone. they had enough for them last few weeks and months. looking at it in terms of the bailout to the banking, the european central bank said that they would start no further. >> there will be conditions attached? >> of course there are conditions attached. the fact of the matter is that this should have had in ages ago. especially in relation to what would happen. because of the massive bank bailout, the banking sector is not tied into the general economic that the pilot --

ireland has. we are not talking about four or five years. >> that is for ireland. if this is the result, the entire crisis? >> that is the reason for the effect. the general consensus was that unless the commission came in on the terms of the bailout, effectively what would happen is spain and portugal would go under economic chaos and it would be huge possibility that the euro would be dislodged. effectively talking about removing one brick. >> thank you very much indeed. it is just a question of timing

now. technical discussions are under way in the government tomorrow on that irish bailout. >> thank you. that is jonathan charles, live from brussels. half time for the business news. aaron, you have news of big money? >> turning into a real whopper. we have just had confirmation that general motors has increased the number of shares making it the largest initial public offering in history with as much as $22 million. jacob, welcome to the program. how remarkable is that, in terms of what we are seeing that the 60% owned by the u.s. government, are wrapping up

billions of dollars in debt before this bailed out? >> clearly it is tied up in balance sheets. the point of the ipo is that it was priced when it was first announced that so low. one of the most pessimistic forecasts, it seemed the logical thing to do to increase the share price. >> the best of it -- i guess that the big question for potential investors is whether or not the company is fully fit. >> really, the jury is still out on that. it will be up to general motors over the long term to show that these financials were not simply a blip. they will have to keeps showing and delivering, underpinning the

share prices as we look to see what happens on the ipo as the u.s. treasury speech to the bailout money. >> there has been a lot of interest in this possible chinese in said. why would they be keen to of chinese investors involved? >> i do not know. the interest from asia would be that they might take a $1 billion stake subject to regulatory approval. let's all right, we will watch this space. markets off the back of that euro zone debt issue, concerns

that china might be making or taking a step to curb that the inflation in question from beijing, will they raise interest rates? that is what europe is doing at the moment. >> thank you very much. that is "gmt." our top story, one of the three main insurgent groups in afghanistan told the bbc that a cease-fire is possible. they fell out their terms to the troops in a rare interview across the border in pakistan. coming up later on world news america, the fears of a young african-american girl made history by attending an all white elementary school. that is on world news america. for me and the rest of "gmt,"

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