>> 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. and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to know your business, offering specialized solutions and capital to help you meet your growth objectives. we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you?

>> and now, bbc world news. >> taste 6 freedom. four political prisoners released as burma takes one more step on the road to reform. pakistan's government denies there's a crisis as it faces a confidence vote on monday. beware of big breakfast. new research suggests a link between processed meat and pancreatic cancer. welcome to "bbc world news." i'm adam parsons. also in this program, apple stores across china take iphones off their shelves after scuffles marr the beijing launch of the latest model. and it's one year since their popular uprising, but for many tunisians, some things haven't improved.

>> hello. thank you for joining under the circumstances. burma is taking a significant step in releasing many of its most prominent dissident. some 650 prisoners are being freed in the latest of a series of amnesty. they include min ko naing, who was one of the leaders of a failed pro-democracy uprising in 1988. the country's former prime minister, khin nyunt, has also been freed from house arrest. we can go live to bangkok and speak to the bbc's rachel harvey. why now and why these people? >> this has been long anticipated and, of course, demands for this kind of scale of release has been growing, not just from international diplomats that have been visiting, but also, crucially, from the opposition movement and aung san suu kyi within burma. so the "why now" is because the pressure had been growing and because the government itself had long promised to do this,

privately and occasionally in public. some ministers have said we will do this, we will free these prisoners, but we just have to get the timing right. why precisely today, that we don't know. but it does come ahead of scheduled elections on april 1. so it could be a kind of confidence-building measure ahead of that, but it's up to the burmese government to explain, really, why they're doing this. it is a crucial step. it is significant, not just in terms of the numbers that are being released today, but the names of those being released. prominent political activists, prominent members of the 1988 student protest, also monks involved in the 2007 protest, former military intelligence officers, members of ethnic minority groups, including senior leaders, this is a very broad and deep prisoner release, which is a significant step towards meeting a key demand of western nations. >> and is it your reading, rachel, that this is a

fundamental change in policy, or is this still ultimately a pragmatic decision? >> it's part of a process, and there are reformers within the government that appear at the moment to have the upper hand and who are pushing this forward. and while they have the upper hand, they want to keep this momentum going, they want to push these reforms as far and as fast as they feel comfortable to do. now, there are others within the government, and, of course, the powerful military still in the background, who may well be very wary about what is happening, who may well be reluctant to give their blessing at least to this kind of speed of reform. so there are pressures, tensions within the leadership, within the burmese establishment, but there is also a growing momentum for change and an expectation among ordinary people that this will continue. it's very hard after a certain point to put the genie back in the bottle, and that is the point that people are looking for. at what point can we say this

is irreversible? things cannot go back to the way they were before. if we haven't reached that point, we're certainly fast approaching it. >> rachel harvey, thank you. pakistan's parliament has announced that the government and prime minister, yousef gilani, will face a vote of confidence on monday. tensions between the civilian government and the country's powerful military had mounted recently after mr. gilani publicly criticized the army chief and sacked the defense minister, who he thought had grown too close to the military. we go live now to aleem maqbool. who is the subject of this confidence vote? >> it is, in effect, a vote of confidence in the current government, but they've done it very, very cleverly. they've tabled the resolution in parliament. this is the prime minister and his ruling coalition, and m.p.'s will actual have the to

vote on whether or not they endorsed democracy or not. basically the prime minister has said i represent democracy, my government represents democrat democracy, if you want to get rid of us, you're setting back democracy. it's been a clever way to get out of the very difficult situation this government has found itself in. but really, the prime minister came out with a very defiant and bold speech ending with this very clever move by this government, but he is under, as i say, incredible pressure from the army, which he's openly criticized, from the supreme court, which may dismiss this government over issues linked to corruption claims against the president, and he's also coming under tremendous pressure from the opposition, who wants to directly hold a vote of no confidence in him. >> and briefly, aleem, what was your reading of where this is likely to go next? as you said, he's got some very serious critics against him.

>> you know, there's a three-way standoff going with the army, with the supreme court, and with the government, and really, any of them could make a move which precipitates a crisis. this could rumble on for a while with these tensions going on. but what's career is that those institutions at the moment really can't work together. >> ok. aleem maqbool, thank you very much indeed. staying with that, pakistan's interior minister has told the bbc that this government will survive. he's been speaking to our correspondent in islamabad. >> i think this is unnecessary. the demand given by the people of pakistan is five years. well, if you're referring to whatever is going on in the country, it will not affect, and democracy, ups and downs will be there. yes, we do have a bumpy flight,

but this is a really nice way, so i think it is totally uncalled for. but this is not going to go properly, and we'll have election in time. >> but aren't you having a real crisis now with the army? there's open speculation about -- >> well, i won't say crisis, no. the difference of opinion is always there, but you can't say there's some kind of distress going on. we are on the same page, and, of course, they were subjected to this, and that will happen in due course of time. >> if you're on the same page with the army, why are the statements between and the army so hostile? >> well, i think everybody has a right to explain the position, so let's put it this way, so i don't think it's a situation to the level what you are saying.

>> can you say you are happy with generals openly criticizing the prime minister? >> well, we say what is dramatically going on and what we should do. as i said, it is a solution of democracy. >> what's your message to the army? >> i think i've already given you this. if it's a media hype, yes. >> what about the supreme court? isn't there a risk the supreme court could decide it had enough of the prime minister? >> well, i cannot predict what they're going to do, but i'm sure the chief justices will, and the way he's backing the democrats, i don't think anything is going to happen.

>> with all the business news, we're going to start, as ever, with debt. >> fancy that, debt. that's right, eurozone debt. actually, another big test. we had a big test, a very successful test, some will say, yesterday for the troubled economies that are spain and italy. they had short-term debt yesterday, and it went off with a rather nice bang, basically, although it was taken up. the interest rate, investors wanted these government toss take on their debt and drop significantly. today, italy goes back to the markets. it toppingts raise around $6 billion. italy only had a one-year debt sale, so very short term. italy is basically repeating what spain did around the three to four-year debt term. but still, it's considered short term, and many will say that's why we saw the success yesterday. it's a lot easier get higher investor confidence to take on board the short-term debt as opposed to the 10-year bonds, the long-term debt, which is coming up for italy on january

30. that will be really the big test. well, unless we've got an outcome or a fix to the eurozone crisis, it's hard to get investors, persuade investors, look, take on their debt, all problems solved. that's really why. we'll expect to see the italian debt auction today. they will probably pay a lower interest rate on it. >> what about the iphones? >> this is a cracker, isn't it? i like iphones, but nobody likes them like in china. let's take a look at these pictures. they're launching the 4s outside of an apple store, and people lined up for, well, the night before, and they had -- now, in china, apparently you can hire migrant workers or middle men, as they call them, if you don't want to stand in line. you pay them to stand in line, and they will buy the iphone for you. so, anyway, huge crowds. apple got a bit worried about the amount of crowds, so they

suspended the sale. they didn't open the doors at 7:00 a.m., the crowd, i'm sure, the crowds went wild. they threw eggs. yes, they got violent, all because they couldn't get their hands on the 4s, apple's iphone. >> have you ever punched anyone for a mobile phone? >> no, no, i don't think i would either. >> i'll have a lot more on the world business report in about 19 minutes' time. >> that's very precise. aaron, thank you very much indied. the u.s. embassy in thailand has warned its nationals of a possible terrorist attack in bangkok. u.s. citizens in the thai capital are being urged to exercise caution to popular tourist areas. the thai defense minister has said the u.s. has contacted the thai government, informing them that a pair of muslim insurgents have entered the country. you're watching "bbc world news." still to come -- he reached the

last two finals, but can andy murray go one further in this year's australian open tennis? as the u.s. slowly winds down its military operations in afghanistan, it seems the taliban could be benefiting from a boom in the country's oakland supply. the united nations says there was a big increase in the price of after afghan opium last year, and its poppy production has also increased. >> the united nations says there's been a dramatic increase in the price and production of afghan opium. the latest report on drugs and crime will make for worrying reading. it says opium farmers in afghanistan probably earned more than $1.4 billion in 2011. that'see quiveleblet to 9% of afghanistan's g.d.p.

the u.n. says there's also been a big increase in opium production. prices began rising in 2010 after plant diseases wiped out much of the poppy crop. as a result, higher prices were predicted in 2011, but the u.n. says these have exceeded expectations. many farmers say they want to plant more opium poppies because of the high prices. u.n. officials say opium is now a significant part of the afghan economy, which funds the insurgency and fuels corruption. around 90% of the world's opium comes from afghanistan and claims tens of thousands of lives every year. bethany bell, bbc news, vienna. >> haitians have been marking the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck the country in 2010.

there have been church services and memorial ceremonies and a national day of remembrance. haiti's government has said the disaster killed more than 300,000 people and displaced 1.5 million. this is "bbc world news." i'm adam parsons. the headlines -- burma has begun releasing more pressures, including several prominent dissidents as it seeks the lifting of international sanctions. pakistan's prime minister, yousef gilani, will table a parliamentary motion on monday, asking for a vote of confidence in democracy. a link between eating processed meat, such as bacon or sausages, and pancreatic cancer has been suggested by researchers in sweden. they say eating an extra 50 grams of processed meat -- that's about one sausage every day -- would increase a person's risk by 19%. researchers have already discovered a link between bowel

cancer and eating too much processed meat, like salami, bacon, and sausages. but now scientists from the institute in sweden say there could be a link with pancreatic cancer. it's a report that experts here think we should take seriously. >> about 8,000 people get this type of cancer every year in the u.k., and because it is hard to treat, it does tend to have lower survival than other types of cancer. so if we can find out what increases the risk, it would be really good. >> on the face of it, this report is found quite alarming. what it says is around 50 grams of processed meat, equivalent to two rations of bacon, is eaten every day, could increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly 20%. if you compare that to the risks associate with something like smoking, for example, it's actually quite small. pancreatic cancer is rare, but often deadly. craig wood died just 10 weeks after being diagnosed.

his wife, diane, says the cancer can strike with frightening speed. >> it just takes hold of you very quickly. before you know it, you're diagnosed, and it's too late, because it just goes fast and takes all of your body. >> the chances of developing pancreatic cancer remain low, but researchers say it's such a deadly disease, anything that increases the risk needs further study. dominic hughes, bbc news. >> taiwanese voters will elect their president on saturday. it's a very close race. the outcome could change taiwan's relationship with china, their giant neighbor from whom it split after a civil war 60 years ago. >> getting a taste of taiwan. chinese terrorist shops at a souvenir shop in tapei.

sales at the store have gone up 10 times since the president opened taiwan's doors to china in 2008. thousands of chinese tourists flood into taiwan each day, triggering much-needed income for the island's lackluster economy. chinese people are now at stores, and taiwan's biggest customers. >> we are worried our whole industry will be affected. that is, if the tourists don't come, the vast amount of money worth investing, this could be just breeding, so we support him. >> mr. ma has adopted a friendly approach toward china, bringing about direct flights, shipping, and trade deals. now he wants four more years in office to further improve ties and possibly reach a treaty.

taiwan is now at a crossroads. his opponents fear it would take taiwan down the path of no return. standing in his way is the leader of the opposition. for supporters, taiwan is its own country over distinct culture. to her, this is taiwanese, not chinese food. she believes he will protect taiwan from being swallowed up by china. >> she makes me feel that we won't become parted of another country. that's what i care about the most. we definitely don't want to be a part of china. >> she's relatively new to politics, but her grass roots campaign has managed to tap into widespread frustration about the economy.

discontent over high wages, coupled with fears about china's growing, could swing votes in her favor. if that happens, she would become taiwan's first female president. >> the u.s. military says it has identified at least two of the four marines in a video showing u.s. marines in afghanistan urinating on the corpses of taliban fighters. the video, who was posted online, shows marines standing over the bodies of several taliban fighters, at least one of whom is covered in blood. the u.s. defense secretary called the incident utterly deplorable. the canadian government has declared all marriages between foreign gay couples as invalid. it's a move that could affect thousands of same-sex couples who married in canada, because under the country's new law, gay unions are only valid if couples can also lawfully marry in their home country. a u.s. military tribunal has

alleged bradley manning provided secret documents to wikileaks. the tribunal chief said reasonable grounds did exist, but believe private manning committed the offenses of which he is charged. sue, we're looking at the australian open tennis. >> we certainly are, because the draw for the first round was made a few hours ago. now, it's fascinating to see how it might unfold if results go as we anticipate. but novak djokovic will start as the favorite. he won three of the four slams last year and was almost unbeatable for a long period. he is up against lorenzi of italy. roger federer and rafa nadal, second and third seeds. nadal two, federer three. they will look to make a fairly sedate start to the tournament. andy murray, still waiting for his first grand slam victory to

come at all, he starts against ryan harrison of the united states. ivan lendl is his new coach, watching him play in an exhibition match against david nalbandian, which murray won in straight sets. he's looked in really good form in the runup to this australian open. i think the big question is going to be how he copes mentally, not just with the new coach, but the prospect of the pressure of having another good run at a tournament he really enjoys, and he does say itself where it will be there. he's got the right coach in that regard, someone who's used to losing at that level and bouncing back. >> but djokovic was phenomenal, but that was the anomaly in his career. but if he carries on like that, it's hard to see past him. >> he has taken tennis to a new level. i mean, i was struck by the u.s. open final last year against nadal, one of the best matches i've ever watched, and

djokovic has just got the edge at the moment physically and in terms of his preparation, mentally physical, so they've all got to climb up to that level to match him. that's going to be the key, really, can anyone do that? we'll have details on that, details on the women's draw as well, where serena williams, who hasn't played much tennis since losing in the u.s. open to is it not so you are. >> and now she says she's not that interested. >> for the last few years, she's had an erratic preparation to some of the tournaments, comes in a little bit undercooked, as they say, but she's such a fenn unanimous athlete. when she gets on a roll, she's almost unstoppable too. serena and kim clijsters will be working there, and caroline wozniacki conscious she end her wait for a grand slam? we'll have lots on that, and also, catch a glimpse of the aussie open. phenomenal, fourth on the all time list.

>> one year ago this weekend, tunisians overthrew the dictatorship in the first popular revolution of the arab spring. there have since been elections and there's a new interim government. this was a revolution fueled by the frustrations of the unemployed. ads we get the report from tunis. >> tunisia today. the shackles of a fresh and discarded, people walking through the capital streets with smiles on their faces, no longer having to whisper for fear of who may be listening. on the surface at least, this is a much changed country. it's a far cry from this scene a year ago. fighting in the same street as a dictatorship has been ruled for 23 years, was overthrown.

a discussion about politics and the press. not from a radio station faced in exile, but one that is now relocated to the tunisian capital. in a country where journalists and dissenters were regularly beaten up or arrested, progress is slow, but things are moving in the right direction. >> you have a new regime, and you have the old regime together at the same time, and you're pushing -- one is pushing back. >> one year on, and many things have improve for the people of tunisia, the freedom of speech, the ability to criticize their political leaders, but this revolution was as much about economics as it was politics. and there are still thousands of educated young people out there without jobs. long queues at job centers

betray the harsh reality, that for many tunisians, some things haven't improved. >> after the revolution, the economic situation is getting worse, so it's harder to get the job, really at this point, because i am 20, 80 years old, they're still jobless. tourism drives the tunisian economy, the winter sun is a big draw for businesses, but streets and peaches are empty, and a number of tourists is down by 40%. tunisia was at the vanguard of the arab spring. there are many political tensions and economic frustrations, but the revolution is still on course. wyre davis, bbc news, tunisia. >> you can get all of your

headlines online with our one-minute news summary or the website, bbc.com/news. >> make sense of international 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. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to know your business, offering specialized solutions and capital to help you meet your growth objectives. we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you?

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