>> this is "bbc world news." funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. shell. and union bank.

>> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> crunch time for silvio berlusconi as the italian parliament prepares for a debate and a vote on public finances. a great survivor, but not just his political fate that is at stake, but the future of the eurozone. >> if the vote goes badly for him, it almost certainly will be followed by a confidence motion. and then, for silvio berlusconi, the end mayb be near.

>> welcome to "gmt." i'm george alagiah. after another allegation, republican presidential hopeful herman cain prepares to face the media. australia's controversial carbon tax gets the green light. critics say it will cost jobs. it is midday here in london, 8:00 p.m. in hong kong and 1:00 in the afternoon in italy where silvio berlusconi is about to face the battle of his political life. he has survived more threats to his leadership than most, but this time it is different. his top coalition partner called for the prime minister to step down. our reporter is in rome with the very latest. >> hello, and welcome to central

rome. just in front of the italian lower house of parliament, where in just a few hours' time, silvio berlusconi will face the test of his political life. it should be a routine vote in this house of parliament, the financial bill, but this vote has taken on huge significance. everybody is watching what the league does, whether silvio berlusconi can hang in. because within the european union and in the financial markets and there are very grave fears about whether mr. berlusconi can take italy through the reforms it needs to take it out of its crisis. this report from alan johnson. >> everywhere, silvio berlusconi's message is the same. no surrender. i go on. but in the corridors of power, all the talk is whether mr. bruce bowie -- berlusconi can

survive the days ahead. out in the streets of rome, they worry about the way the country is going. more and more, berlusconi himself is seen as a big part of the problem. >> i think this time his moment has come. i have two kids and i am an employee. i want him to go. >> the gathering crisis in italy is rooted in the money markets. isly's $1.90 trillion debt 120% of its gdp, bigger than that of greece, spain, ireland, and portugal combined. now all borrowing costs have risen again. the prime minister is still full of fight. he says he has enough support in parliament to continue to govern italy. but if the vote in a few hours goes badly, it will almost certainly be followed by a

confidence motion. then, ford silvio berlusconi, the ends may be near. veteran observers believe the berlusconi over really is drawing to a close. >> i think by now it is inevitable that his government will come to an end. it might not come to an end to day or even tomorrow, but it will be very soon. >> but it is worth remembering that silvio berlusconi has survived more than 50 votes of confidence in the past. he is a master at political dealmaking. even now, he might just find a way to battle on. bbc news, rome. >> if the reports are to be believed, mr. berlusconi spent the night, along with his supporters, phoning and trying to gather in the vote votes -- votes.

oneus speak to two mp's -- from mr. berlusconi's own party, and another from the opposition party. as mr. bullock's -- has mr. berlusconi got the support he needs? >> i don't know. we will check it out today. it will either be either the numbers -- we could also have on certain numbers, and that would make it longer. i hope he will immediately have enough deputies to hold on. i think he will be somewhere in the middle. >> there have been desperate last-minute phone calls. >> i think so. i am a senator, and therefore i am not involved. but i am sure the contacts are going on even as we speak. >> why must mr. berlusconi go? why is it of anyone else would be any better dealing with the

crisis? >> probably after melissa -- probably after mr. perot's coley resigned it will be up immediately. we need a change in order to ensure the european union, because we need a more stability in that we have to change. today, it does not matter. perhaps tomorrow it matters. >> how would getting rid of the prime minister bring more stability? >> more stability, because now the majority is no more a majority any more. and so, we have to find -- there is no majority in the country, so we have to change. >> you saw what happened yesterday to italy's borrowing

costs when the rumors went around that berlusconi was going to resign. they wanted it to be truth -- the market soared. would it turn out to be true, the trouble started again. you can see the negative effect berlusconi is having. >> i know very well the reaction of the markets. the market wants something that is sure. as long as we are in uncertainty, markets are volatile. i hope that we can have something sure, which is either mr. berlusconi resigned or paywe can implement the measures that are needed. >> it is berlusconi loses this vote this afternoon, judy if berlusconi loses this vote this afternoon, what will happen? >> after the elections, of course, we will have a

government with the majority, which is what they are waiting for in spain. or, the head of state might try to form a greater coalition government. which i do not think will solve a problem because i am afraid it will just be a some of the toes. a dam i agree. -- >> i agree. my first option is to go to vote in january, if possible. but we said also a different government. but with a large majority. it means in this parliament, the number of the majority -- i do not know if it is possible. but we have said both of these possibilities. >> gentleman, thank you very much. what ever happens, something has to bring stability and bring resolution to the fact that italy that a borrowing costs are going through the roof. the ecb has been buying up italian debt but the cost of the

debt is rising two points that are pretty much not sustainable. ireland, portugal, and greece having to seek a bailout. if they want italy's future to be assured by whatever happens today. back to you in london. >> concerns and italy are overshadowing develop its -- developments in greece where political leaders are still wrangling over a new unity government -- imposed austerity measures in return for international loans. mark is in athens. what is holding up the naming of a new prime minister? >> blessing to be concerned how long the next national unity governor the government will be in place. the former government --

governor of the national bank of greecebankpapademos, seems to express doubt that a hundred that the government will be affected. it appears he wants to stay in post a for logger. talks were all through the morning. the continued from yesterday, to try to hammer out a deal. but george, i can tell you there is a sense we are getting very close to a point where we will know the name of the next from it -- and promised. papandreou, the outgoing leader, has begun an urgent cabinet meeting. it that is very much an indication an announcement is forthcoming. as well as papademos, two other names have been mentioned. but there is an urgent need to try to find political stability for greece to get a handle on the debt crisis. it needs a stable government in place.

>> let's take a look as some of the other stories making headlines. in leading republican contender to challenge barack obama in next year's presidential election denied fresh allegations of sexual harassment. herman cain appeared on a late- night talk show just hours after a former employee described in vivid detail and alleged encounter with him 14 years ago. mr. cain's campaign rejected the allegation and he said he would address it personally. steve kingston, from washington's. >> please welcome, the man who but the no. 9 back on the map, herman cain. >> he was appearing on a late- night comedy show. but multiple claims of sexual harassment are no laughing matter. he told jimmy kimmel that the allegations are false. >> the feeling that you have a when you know that all of this is totally fabricated, you go from anger, and then you get

disgusted, and then you try to control yourself to make sure you watch this thing all the way through. and i was listening very closely. and when it was all over what i said, well, i know we got to do, because there is not an ounce of truth in all of these allegations. >> four women say they were sexually harassed by mr. cain, a former businessman and the fast- food industry. this one is the latest and the only way to go public. she told a news conference herman cain " tour when she approached him for help after losing her job. >> i said, what you doing. you know i have a boyfriend. this is not like a mere four. mr. cain said, you want a job, right? >> she said herman cain had stopped when she objected. she insists she has no political motive in coming forward 40 years later, other than to expose a man she says is a liar -- 14 years later. mr. cain has been the surprise package of the republican race.

an easygoing charismatic outsider making the most of america's disdain for career politicians. so far he has brushed off claims about his behavior toward women but these graphic allegations by an accuser will in to face the cameras are a different matter. aides to mr. cain said he will address things further in a news conference tuesday. wherever the truth lies, republican voters may conclude a candidate tainted by scandal is simply not worth the risk. >> still to come ongmt," 9 leonardos in one room. an exhibition of the renaissance master's work. here in the u.k., it is three months since the riots that took place in many cities across england. but while the metropolitan police have been working on bringing criminals to justice, some of the communities involved is a little has changed for

them. >> nights of terror. and for a while, it seems that the mob rule. imagine being caught up in this. scores of people lived in these flaps. they were lucky to escape alive. most, like this family, lost all of their possessions. we met them in their temporary accommodation. everything you see here has been donated by charities or their friends. >> they say because of somebody who died, and started the right. but half of them are looting -- and doing it for fun because it is during the summer holidays. >> there is a sense here that three months on, the story as far from over. many of the people we have spoken to is a little have to take -- has changed. they are still afraid that the riots could simply happened all over again. >> perhaps it is no wonder this

cctv was taken a few weeks ago in a nearby take away. staffers called us up to 15 teenagers gathered outside demanding free drinks. this is what happened when they refused. so many here still wonder why. this store has been in the same family for five generations. it survived two world wars and the great depression but not the riots. >this is supposed to be his retirement. instead, he is working full time to rebuild his business. >> it is society as a whole. >> even so, he and others are determined to rebuild. something is broken, but they say if they work together, they can fix it. bbc news, croyden. >> this is "gmt" from bbc world news. silvio berlusconi faces a krenz

a vote in parliament as fears mounted a leak could be the next victim of the crisis. facing allegations of harassment, scandal threatening to engulf the campaign of u.s. presidential hopeful herman cain. for all the business news, tanya beckett. bennett has taken almost a month but camera maker olympus has shed light on mysterious payments made in 2008. the payments were questioned last month by the then chief executive who was fired. olympus has now given us an explanation of what has been going on. >> the scale of the deception is so great that it puts into doubt whether it can survive. for decades, the camera maker his huge losses. it could be one of the biggest corporate frauds in japanese history. olympus has been in crisis since

mid october, when the british born president and chief executive was ousted after barely six months in the job. he had questioned a series of large and unusual transactions. there was a $687 million paid to two advisory firms during the takeover, $2 billion takeover, of a british company. that a fee, more than 30%, well above the know -- usual 1% or 2% likely to be charged. then the takeover of three small japanese companies. olympus' spent the best part of a billion dollars on them. if only to write off the view of the most of the investments a year later. up until now, all of this has been insisting there was nothing suspicious. now it has admitted the payments were used to cover up big losses in securities investments that dated back to the 1990's. >> since i started writing

letters and the beginning of september, six letters in japanese, and in the pwc report in japanese and english, condemning all of the board, new wing -- knew they deliberately acted this conspiratorial way and thought the world could just washed away. they will not. >> at a stock exchange, and olympus's shares plummeted by 29%, the biggest one-day fall allowed. it has now lost more than 70% of its value since the middle of october. >> we need stability for the 45,000 people who work for the company and also respecting those who invested in it. >> the vice president has been fired. his chairman resigned last month. olympus said it is considering making criminal complaints. bbc news, tokyo. >> the business news this

tuesday -- europe's debt crisis causing turmoil for the region's banks. profits as france that a number to lenders societe generale tumbled in the third quarter and there will be no dividend payouts this year. toyota cut continues to feel the effects of the huge earthquake and tsunami in march. it reported a loss of two engine and $80 million and affected by the flooding in thailand, and because of that it is not forecasting profits -- giving a forecast of profits. an upgrade of this robot. honda demonstrated this in tokyo today. also in treuhand coordination and unrecognized voices. you cannot buy it yet, unfortunately. honda says there is no plan to build a commercial version. no special friends for george just yet. let us look at what is happening on the market.

still focused on italy. and at the moment, any move on from berlusconi would be a good thing, would increase stability in the markets and will fully bring the 10-year borrowing rate down and that would reduce the cost for italy. as you can see, the ftse index -- it had some fairly influential corporate results at the moment. >> it will be long before the boxes try those robots here. the australian parliament passed a law that into this is a carbon tax on the top 500 polluting companies in the country. it has proven controversial. it was broadly backed by environmental groups but opposition and business leaders warn it would hurt the economy. duncan kennedy reports from sydney. >> the australian senate where this landmark law was passed, the five stages of debate as devices -- divisive as

the years of discussion that preceded it. they claim success for the country and the environment. >> it comes after a quarter of a century of scientific warnings, 37 parliamentary inquiries, and years of vigorous debate and division. today our nation has got this done. it has taken the most effective step it can to cut carbon pollution. ma'am australia only produces 1.5% of the world's global carbon emissions. the relative size of the population, the biggest polluter in the world. now with the new law passed, the largest producers of co2 gas is will have to pay a penalty. from july of next year, the top 500 companies will have a fine $24 for every ton of co2 gas produced. it will continue for two years until a carbon trading scheme. it is not just the size of that tax objectors are fighting against, they say it is the principal as well. why, they argue, should a

country that produces relatively little amounts of carbon emissions have a tax against the? the government of julia gillard says australia must move away from the fossil fuel economy and meet its international obligations on climate change. australian opinion polls say most are against the tax but now that it is the law, what is the view? >> i think the carbon tax is great. it is good not only for the country but the environment. >> it will heavily impact the businesses and make small businesses struggle. >> next month's south africa hosts the latest conference on global climate change. the australian carbon tax may be a timely influence on the debate that continues to challenge government policy and resources everywhere. duncan kennedy, bbc news, sydney. >> at least 60 people were killed in a stampede at a hindu religious ceremony in northern india. of the crash was triggered by

pilgrims wishing toward the fire to make offerings. for the first time ever, nine of leonardo de vinci's greatest paintings are going on display together at britain that a national gallery. it is a headline-grabbing display. one of the worst has not been seen outside of france and the other has only recently been declared to be a leonardo de vinci. henne >> the painting -- the drawing that inspired it. the first version of the rocks. the second. the national gallery has brought to the other works from around the world to tell the story of leonardo da vinci, of his 15

surviving paintings, nine that are here. years of diplomacy and negotiation have gone into bringing together the paintings and drawings. this is the "virgin of the rocks" that hangs in the national gallery. you get to see the inspiration's of the painting as well as the original version that hangs in paris. it is something that probably not even leonardo saw. we have twovirgins of the rocks" and one row. will this happen in tenor 20 is? >> this is really a once in a lifetime opportunity. >> we will never get this together ever again? >> i did not think ever again. this is the first time in 500 years and perhaps we should wait another 500 years before i say never again. >> what explains his fame as a

painter is of course of the skill. compare this hand by leonardo to one by his pupil. but it is a faces that really excites the experts. when you do get nose-to-nose, you realize you do not see any brush strokes. you think that it was his figure. it really does look like real skin, real face, really motions. but there is also, in all of this, history. and there is also a new leonardo to see. salvador mundi declared as one of his paintings after years of debate. the gathering we will never see again. >> a reminder of our top story -- the italian prime minister silvio berlusconi is facing

increasing calls to resign. his main political ally umberto bossi of the northern league is calling for and to stop them. later today berlusconi faces a crucial vote in parliament on italy's budget. that is all for the moment. stay with us on bbc world news. there is plenty more to come. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. union bank. and shell. >> this is kim - about to feel one of his favorite sensations. at shell, we're developing more efficient fuels in countries like malaysia that can help us

get the most from our energy resources. let's use energy more efficiently. let's go. >> union bank has put its