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wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news america." >> the german and french leaders try to hammer out a deal on a budget control for the euro zone. national pride versus european unity. they disagree on who will have the final say on a country's economic policy. hello and welcome. a world of news and opinion. also, the bonn conference, the sequel, is there any more ground for optimism about afghanistan? >> the challenges that remain are significant and have the

potential to dethe real achievements. >> vladimir putin's party still has a majority but only just. it is midday in london, early morning in washington, 1:00 in the afternoon in paris. five days of diplomacy getting underway. there has to be an agreement on how to curb the budget freefall in europe and has led to the crisis. the french president will meet the german leader. there will be rules on who is in charge of national budgets. germany is pushing for automatic sanctions against countries that break the rules. germany wants a super commissioner in charge. nicolas sarkozy and

wants a softer approach with the country's retaining the final say. first to our berlin correspondent steve. how much pressure is angela merkel under to ensure that these rules on budgetary control remain strict? question is under immense pressure because she knows best the euro and euro zone and european project depends on best. pressure that she is under comes from yourself and from the german people. she thinks there should be tight controls, further integration of the euro zone, control of the individual countries' budgets. she says that should be enforced by the european courts. she is adamant that this is the way forward.

no collective bailing out of individual countries. she spelled that out very clearly last friday. >> that prescription for the problem is something that nicolas sarkozy will find difficult to deliver. >> very much so, because he faces an election in five months' time. he asked to listen to the voters. his supporters are suspicious about transferring more powers to brussels. he is in a position of weakness given that there is the election and given the vulnerability of the french economy. there's been a lot of german phobia about their strength in europe and the have the french alongside cajoling. what he would like to see as opposed to the german position is that power rests the

country's, that they would vote as to whether a country has broken the rules. he does not like the idea of a super commissioner if having a say over the budget of governments that have been elected. in the past when there's been self regulation of budgets, it has failed. >> behalf the german position and the french position. is there any room for compromise? is there any way angela merkel penn state you can have a little leeway? >-- is there any way angela merkel can say you can have a little leeway? >> you can have degrees of control. it is about taxation and

spending in different countries. all that will be in the details yet to be negotiated. the real question, if you have a central directives that particular countries such as may be priests and pastors have this much cash and cannot exceed a particular level of gdp, then you have to enforce that. the details will then be negotiated. the difficulty is that this crisis is immediate. and the markets are not saying these treaties will be renegotiated over the next two years, so let's all go home. they are saying there's a problem right now and how do we solve it? >> there is an immediate crisis. where is it that nicolas sarkozy can perhaps compromise? >> he must find agreement

quickly because this is already tough on the current economy. their credit rating is under threat. if they don't find an agreement on friday they will lose out. he must find agreement and must convince his voters that these are steps that have to be taken. that is what he was doing last thursday and spelling out the consequences for them. when they present this in brussels on friday we hope they can find an agreement among 17 countries. >> thank you both. let's look at some other stories making headlines around a world. 10 years ago world leaders met in germany with the hope of ending the afghan war and brokering a post-taliban government. they will be meeting now in

bonn. another estimated 90% of the afghan budget is funded by foreign donors. foreign ministers from 90 countries are attending. neighboring pakistan is boycotting the meeting in protest at the killing of its troops in a recent nato air attack. the afghan president hamid karzai said that his country will need foreign assistance another 10 years, but there has been clear improvement since the first bonn conference. >> the past 10 years have brought opportunity for pakistan and improvement in people's lives on a scale never before seen in our history. we have created an exclusive political forces, brought afghans together in unity, and ensure that afghanistan once again becomes the whole of all afghans.

>> on the ground, regions are being handed over to afghanistan's forces one by one. our defense correspondent is in helmand province where british troops are helping to train local forces. >> british soldiers have been living and working with police officers at this checkpoint for months, training and monitoring them. this afghan police sgt insists they are ready to do the job now without help from west. british troops will still be in this area and on hand if they are needed. aztec point is handed over it will be up to the afghan forces to ensure security. -- at the checkpoint. there is still fighting, a taliban has been driven back.

>> the security that we have provided over the past year has allowed afghan forces the time to learn and understand things so they can respond a little better as to what locals want. >> one of the elders says that security is better now, but he hopes the afghan government will do more for its people in the future. today's conference faraway is not about what this country will look like by the time nato combat troops leave. it will be up to the afghans in 2014 to choose which path to take. >> in the next edition in about 20 minutes, we will the former u.s. ambassador or to the afghanistan and a former u.s. special envoy to the afghanistan. that's in about 20 minutes or

so. the government in peru has declared a state of the emergency in the north of the country which has seen a week of protests against plans for new gold mine. the president said protest leaders have showed no interest in reaching an agreement despite days of talks. security forces have been given extra powers to ensure the schools, hospitals, and roads remain open. the former deputy leader of the khmer rouge have been giving evidence. nuon chea along with another khmer rouge leader have been giving testimony. timid people died when the khmer rouge was in charge of cambodia in the 1970's. -- 2 million people died. a crowd gathered outside the

grand palace on monday waving national flags and chanting long live the king. is recovering well after having hospital treatment recently. vladimir putin's party has suffered major setbacks in russia oppose the parliamentary election. 96 % of the votes counted and 49.5% got 238 seats. the communist party came in second with 19.2% of the votes. 13% for the other party. an embarrassment for mr. putin is this published report. joining me is an independent

election water. he has nearly 50% of the vote. in most countries around europe,% would be pretty good. what is the problem? >> the problem is putin does not have a 50%. real results is about 35% or less. it is a falsification. >> you cannot prove that. you can make that assertion. you say 35%. >> yes, because we have about 10,000 violations across the country. no official reaction to backhand

no official reaction from the electoral commission. we have independent exit polls and thousands of polling station results. if you compare two neighboring polling stations in moscow, 17% in one of them and 59% in another. in chechnya, 99% fopor putin's party. >> what will be the reaction from people in terms of the presidential election? >> he loses its popularity by at least 3% every week. he did not win the presidential election in a first-round.

it is impossible. , an opinion -- common opinion across russia is that it has been told of falsification. massive falsification. there's no way for him to win in march without that. >> vladimir in the past has been hugely popular figure. >> there are two main reasons why i lost popularity. first, economic stagnation. russia has still not recovered after the 2008 economic crisis. second, corruption. there was a big article about corruption and his close circle, close friends.

there are 51 internet users in russia. corruption is spread widely. economic stagnation and enormous corruption are the two reasons on behalf of russian authorities. >> thank you. still ahead, homosexuality in nigeria. amnesty international criticizes a new bill which could put someone in jail 14 years from being, sexual. we have a special report -- for being homosexual. stopping trade in blood diamonds. an organization called " a witness says the assembly process is not working as it should and claims, some governments involved are showing no interest in reforming.

the director says the failure in zimbabwe in particular meant that her charity had no alternative but to withdraw its support. >> the chemical process was set up to break the link between diamonds and violence. we are leaving after nine years because it has not been affected. the most recent failure was in zimbabwe. we are calling on the diamond industry to meet international standards and comply with minimal controls and supplies and for governments to show leadership and to put these bands into law. 80 countries around the world, all the diamonds reporters and producers and wholesalers are in the assembly process. they have collectively failed to take action. many other civil society groups have worked really hard, but we don't have a vote. that is why after nine years we

have thought long and hard about this but the assembly process is out of date and not effective. there needs to be new talent as a ground for violence and during the and that is why we are leaving. >> if you have ever thought someone was lazy because they seem to need more sleep than everyone else, you may have been a little unfair. they could have been born that way. that's the conclusion of a study into sleep patterns and genetics. reports in munich found people with a certain gene need 13 minutes more sleep each night. this is gmt from bbc world news. the headlines, france and germany are meeting to agree on joint proposals to save the european union, the start of a critical week for the euro zone. hamid karzai is in a summit

debating the future of rock and a stamped by asking for international support to continue -- future of afghanistan and. >> the largest tour operator in europe has reported record earnings, up 18% for the full year, despite social unrest in some of the most popular travel destinations in north africa and weak consumer sentiment in europe. if it's is in stark contrast to thomas cook which has had to ask the banks for more cash. >> at this time of year travel agents are usually busy taking bookings or winter holidays. not so now. this one has seen such a lack of clients that business is down by 40%. >> you can definitely feel people are nervous, they don't want to spend money. they want to make sure christmas

is a relatively stress free. >> the year started badly for many tour operators. hotels and beach his relapse empty indonesia and some other areas following the arab spring. many have switched to alternative destinations in spain. but thomas cook was much slower to do that. analysts believe some are much more financially nimble. more customers are booking online. tueey is writing a trend for all-inclusive resorts.

thomas " is expected to report its delay its financial results next week. with a weakening demand across europe for the moment all four operas are likely to find holiday business is rather an exotic game to be in. >> plans for india to open up business internationally. walmart and tesco have been approved. some believe millions of jobs will be lost in india. a lack of priority and concern over how the government is going to deal with foreign direct investment in retail now as lead to a substantial fall in share values of some of india's biggest retail brands. for those following this story, the question is why would an indian company that potentially stands to lose from a big

competition from brands like walmart be so worried if it did not go prthrough. bethsaida these brands will help steal millions of employees and helped unclog the indian supply chain which has been a persistent problem for many years. it is a politically sensitive issue, a foreign companies, but big brands say that if india is to emerge as a global player, it needs competition. we are also seeing the kinds of effects that could potentially unfolds for smaller businesses across the country. we are looking at a substantial debates and conversation about one of india's biggest markets and a very lucrative sector for global brands potentially play a part in. >> the republic remains in an

economic crisis. the government begins delivering a package of austerity measures to better the coalition is expected to increase taxes and cut public spending as it attempts to get a grip on the country's budget deficit in italy. european markets enjoyed their biggest one-week gain since the onset of the euro zone crisis in august 2008. today, gains across-the-board especially in italy. the market is up 3% on the back of austerity measures being announced in italy. back to you. >> human rights groups have criticized the bill in nigeria in the senate with could see anyone in a same-sex relationship jailed up to 14 years. amnesty international says this threatens the basic human rights of a large number of nigerians. our correspondent john f. fischer reports. >> it dispersants as being gay in nigeria is like living without oxygen as she

discovered went out walking with a friend, it can be dangerous, too. >> i was with a group of guys. >> the two men were badly beaten and then he was left with a broken collarbone. , sexuality is illegal in nigeria. simply saying that you are gay takes a lot of courage. -- homosexuality is illegal. >> it makes people go underground. people cannot coeme out. >> the gay people say the pair priority is winning acceptance and tolerance, not the right to get married. but that does not stop politicians at the national assembly. there's a bill that could give them a sentence of 14 years in

prison if they seek to live together. invited to give their views at a public hearing, this was the reception that awaited gay activists. armed security was on hand to protect them, but not to stop the insults. >> they say you are evil, you , and if you are my family, i would kill you. is the think thisi right path for the british authorities. >> lawmakers have not been deterred. it has received backing from the north and south and the christians and muslims.

the british to pull support from nigeria. >> we are processing family values which we are supposed to stand for. >> while nigeria's majority passes itself on the back, the country opposes sexual minorities looks set to be pushed still further into a life of secrecy and fear. bbc news, nigeria. '>> pictures of s newest -- these are pictures of scotland's newest celebrities at the zoo. a grueling 5,000 mile flight from china for the panda bears. they hope that they will be rested enough to go on public display within the next couple weeks before christmas. their names mean sweetie and

sunlight and are all long-term edinburgh.nda stay with us. that's about all for now. >> make sense of t news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global financial strength to

work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news america" was presented by kcet los angeles.