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 working to nurture new ventures and help provide capital for new decisions and we offer tailored solutions in a wide range of industries. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news. >> violence continues in syria as western officials if you

wish u.n. security council to intervene. and what about today's mountain of debt? more than 50 people have died and serbia declares a state of emergency as severe weather streaks across eastern europe. and rejecting calls for them to november israel. and corporate criticism the latest in our series. takes a look at the growing anger at pay. >> western powers are increasing the power on the u.n. security council to take action to try to halt the bloodshed in syria. according to human rights activists, almost 100 people were killed in a surge of violence yesterday.

they want backing to call for assad to hand over power but russia has threatened to use its veto later today. reporting from new york. >> the conflict has once again forced its way on to the agenda of the security council. western states have been pushing for pressure on the government. russia has been pushing for any support of its ally. and the west is hoping this will break the impasse. >> a u.n. resolution stays flow of weapons to syria should stop although it doesn't impose an arms embargo. and it calls on the syrian president basheer assad to delegate power to a deputy to oversee the process.

we have been here before. last october russia and china vetoed a resolution condemning assad. this time around russia said it cannot support any call for the syrian forth give up power. the western diplomats insist they cannot sit silent as the situation deteriorates. >> i think we're at a critical point where the violence escalates and with each passing day more and more civilians are being killed, and that's of grave concern. >> pressure for international action is indeed mounting on the ground with a sharp escalation in the conflict. in recent days the violence has become so bad the arab league says it was forced to defend its monetary mission. further under arabs and the west are bringing in their big guns. western foreign ministers will be here to show support for the

arab plan. they hope to to door to a political deal on power sharing. one responsibility an increasingly bloody status quo where the opposition can't overthrow the regime. another a palace coup. the worst case scenario is a full fledged sectarian war perhaps forcing intervention from regional powers. none of the powers want this measure but between the states that cannot see a solution with the assad regime and those who cannot see a resolution without it. >> behnke moon is due to talk about the economy. and i ask if there's a sense of

frustration given russian opposition deems it likely there will be no progression. >> it all seems academic these discussions at the u.n., but they are following and often holding up plaquerds they are well aware of what's going on in the outside world. what they want from the activists is some form of intervention. some kind of protection for a safe haven and safe zones in parts of the country, perhaps portions on the northern turkish border where they could use that as a spring board for freing the wrath of the country, but we are still a long way away from that even getting a crackdown on the syrian situation halts with the

russian opposing any sanctions or any kind of cover for intervention. so it's difficult to see how all the talking at the u.n. can really bring a practical way forward. >> does that not in effect make president assad's regime seem strong center >> well, yes, indeed, the syrian government does seem to be in a reflective state of media and does seem to be confident that it can rely on the russian support. the relationship with moscow goes back decades well into soviet times and well into the time of president assad's father. it's a very, very long, strategic relationship. and the russians clearly given their somewhat now -- shall we say fairly tense or competitive

relationship with the united states. they are not willing to give that up. however, that means the wakeboard is probably going to be what is happening on the ground with activists there increase ghi perhaps getting more support from regional powers in that. more finance perhaps even guns, because they are me toing across the borders in fact from all across borders. >> angela merkel will be returning from the e.u. summit satisfied that all the agreements will balance the budget. the key demand their unwilling to support the troubled euro without more financial discipline from struggling countries, but as reported, there are major problems. >> it appears to be all smiles though europe leaders gathered for their first summit of the year. even if they don't all agree on the nuts and bolts of how to

secure growth in europe, unity is key, especially with so many e.u. members undergoing painful austerity measures. david cameron wanted to appear anything but isolated. there was even business like handshakes with the other presidents. and the other 25 elt u. members greed to it but what is in it? the document says national budgets must be balanced or in surplus. the e.c.j. will enforce the new rules. sanctions will be imposed on countries which bra breech the deficit limit and euro summits will take place at least twice a year. although he vetoed it in the past, david cameron is under pressure from right wingers at home accusing him of allowing

the e.c.j. to -- >> and because we have reserved our position over the use of institutions, because there are legal questions, we have leverage over that treaty and can do what is possible to make sure that it is restricted to the fiscal union. >> the -- it's now confirmed france will not ratify it before presidential elections take place as the socialist rival in the polls have threatened to renegotiate it if he wins. but it's germany's angela merkel who has pushed hard. she needs convince germany that her strict rules are in place before incurring more money. portugal at risk of needing another bailout, the crisis is far from over.

tom, "bbc news." >> it's interested in connection with a spell of toxic academy yum! in the river of china. they are now redoubling efforts to freent chemical linked to cancer from further tainting water supplies. they depend on the area for their water supply have been stocking up on bottled water. >> we have a mixed picture. you may say who are they? they make the chips that go into 1.2 billion mobile phones and make it for phones and computers and including apple's iphone for which they make chips, they have seen profits for the fourth quarter of last year increase to $110 million. so a strong showing for our holding. >> and a weak picture from some of the japanese companies, these numbers confirm how bad.

>> yes. toe shiba profits slumped. 72% in the last quarter. 2 p.c.'s and televisions not selling so well. its tab let computers have been doing better but it's been affected mainly by the stronger yen and the same with honda. it's also been hit by the disaster from last year the floods in japan and some companies have been affected more than others, honda in particular has seen its profits down 65% in the fourth quarter. >> thank you. >> now, there is a real problem with snow in eastern europe. because more than 50 people have died because of the freezing temperatures. serbia has declared a state of emergency. deep snow drifts, blocked roads and cut off electric tricity and supplies. >> in serbia, they are used to

snow, but it's not this bad every winter. so it's bad the roads here have been blocked. snow plows out in force but there are some roads beyond their reach. days ago the authorities declared a state of emergency but some still need help. the valley is located close to the border with monte negro but the cold weather has affected other parts of the weather,, too, 18 people, most of them homeless are reported to have died in the ukraine. just outside the row mainian capital bucharest, it's the dogs they are worried about. the city is home to some 50,000 strays. the supply roads for these kennels became cut off and prisoners have been helping clear away the snow. >> it's freezing. with the cold winds, we're facing minus 20 degrees celsius and now waiting for a heavy machine to help us dig out the

alleys between the cages. we were here last year, too. >> and the people of eastern europe are getting used to the treacherous conditions. last week blizzards left many in the region stranded as planes were grounded and main roads, blobbled. the severely cold temperatures are due leave later this week, but more snow has also been forecasted. dominick cain, "bbc news." >> joining us a spokesperson for the ukraine emergency situations ministry. thanks for joining us. just how bad is the snow? how bad is the weather there? >> hello. at least 30 people have died in the past five days in a cold snap in ukraine that has brought temperatures down minus 33. ukraine has been experiencing its coldest winter in six years. most of the victims were homeless people. 21 of them died on the streets.

december 27 through january 1 aid for frost bite has been needed more than 500 have been treated in hospitals. more than 1,500 points operating in ukraine. it will be -- over the last 24 hours, some 6,400 people have visited such temperatures and only the first days of cold weather, hot meals have been asked for. it's been known that ukraine establishments of warming for hope les, heat generators operate throughout country from

27 of february in public places. any one of the following camps can get help like nutrition and are able to learn how to behave during the severe frost to avoid frost bite and to get first medical aid. >> thank you. from the ukraine emergency situation. thank you for giving us that report. countries in the eastern europe most affected by the current snow levels. and do we have any clue what's coming up? >> well, a deadline closes in about 3 minutes time. managers like the agents and players will be waiting with passport in hand, because it could be a few hours' time they have to fly somewhere and sign. >> in the summer transfer window, if players are doing well, they don't want to leave a club. r but surely the talks have been if they have been thinking about this, things have been

brewing. >> but nothing of the kind we saw last year when andy carol moved liverpool after fernando torres went to chelsea and they culminated about $135 million. i don't think we'll get something like that this year, but we'll stand by the phone and wait and see. >> yes. they are -- they have not had a whole lot of success in that tournament. but the first time in 42 years after a 2-1 win against -- yes. it's been a lean time. they won the tournament back in 1970. but nothing has been said. this goal scored with a little bit of help from the goal keeper. but they pulled one back in that match. but it didn't matter. they went through. >> lovely picture of one footballing mom. >> this is his mother who is in equatorial get up ahead of her

son's match cooking food for some 60 ivory coast fans. ivory coast one of the favorites to win. they are already through to the quarterfinals. they will play later. >> she did it in the 2006 world cup and so she says it's not about her son. she's thinking of her country. >> lovely. thank you vven. >> you're watching "bbc world news." coming up. our super 8 series has a look at the growing anger over -- >> a quick look at some of the stories making headlines around the world. the front page of the financial times here in london describes the pact agreed by 25 states of the e.u. as a victory for angela merkel. she has long been trying to get tougher fiscal rules and shanghai is set to challenge

hong kong as the global center for yoo wan trading and meanwhile the times here again reports business leaders that politician risk hurting london's reputation. and news on the political ambitions of the former pakistani cricketer saying he'd bring an air of change as f elected his country's leader and it wouldn't deter him from fighting against some of the corruption. >> that's quick look at some of the papers. this is "bbc world news." the headlines for you. western powers step up their pressure on the u.n. security countystill sill to act on the violence in syria. a fiscal pact is signed in a summit in brussels. now spain's supreme court has

decided to put on trial one of the country's most eminent judges accused of breaking a law which bans anyone from investigating alleged crimes during the civil war. despite arguments from both the prosecution and defense to dismiss the charges the supreme court has refused to drop the case. our correspondent joins us from madrid. tom, this is a fascinating case. complex. explain what happened today. >> well, essentially the judges here in the supreme court here more pressure from the people in the background, the judges have decided to go ahead with the case against the judge and try him for overstepping his powers as an investigator when he tried investigate alleged crimes under the franco under the spain's civil war. there were rumors spinning

around this he might drop the case as there were two other separate trials and it was thought this particular trial because of its controversy and real sort of reaching in and as it relates might be potentially embarrassing for the supreme court and the country in general. >> much more on the website on that. if you want to find out more. in the wake of the arab uprising which began a year ago in tunisia, a all of remaining tunisia jues were asked to move to israel. but it's being rejected by many of the jues themselves. we report. a proud tunisian and also jewish. but the area has just undergone

a traumatic revolution. he says he doesn't intend to leave tunisia. >> i stay here because it's my country. why i have to leave this country? to go where? >> this is exquisite great synagogue in the heart of tunisia built in the heart of the community that was then 300,000 strong. today there are so few jews that this great hall is hardly ever used. services held instead in a smaller room. as in the rest of the arab world, tunisia's jewish community crashed dramatically and there are no more than 2,000 jews left here. but when an israeli minister suggested they, too, should leave, it was given short rift.

>> me? i'm a tunisian,, too, says this senior figure in the community. i know my country well, and i'm against the proposition, because no one here is afraid. >> since last year's overthrow of the secular dictatorship, many muslims have also felt able to express their beliefs in what is after all an overwhelmingly islamic country. but when young muslims recently held up posters calling for the killing of jews, at the airport, there was general outrage in tunisia including from a few islamic leaders. >> we have said it's unacceptable not just politically but religiously, because in islam, there's no

discrimination on the basis of faith. >> armed security outside the synagogue shows those few threats are being taken seriously. for those who have been part of this community are staying. >> and 13 al qaeda militants have been killed. local officials say most were gathered in a building for meeting. oneo air strike is reported to have hit al qaeda personnel traveling in a vehicle. after months of political turmoil in yemen. >> near britain. bankers back in the news. the u.k. government is under pressure from critics saying they are not doing enough to curb executive pay. the man who leads the world bank of scotland was awarded $1.5 million under shares but under political pressure he has

decided not to take it. looking at the growing debate over executive pay. >> there a -- is there a problem? there was not so long ago that was language of the revolution. >> those big rewards when people fail i think make people's blood boil. >> taxes are going to have -- >> and i certainly agree they should go up more on the risk. >> there is is disconnect between top pay and company performance. >> the despairties are striking and have increased sharply. in england average pay is equivalent lend to $40,000 and executives get 150 times the average. some say the spay justified. you need to bay the going rate for the best people for the

jobs but it's argued excessive rewards force people to take those jobs. >> those who create great jobs that they retain a vast proportion of the wealth they create however i think there's a big problem with chief executive and the finance sector, because what it's doing is skewing the incentives within society. >> the movements have captured a sense of unfairness around the world. 34 people have stag nated and lost jobs mandatory more feel they might. governments are often reluctant to reform but -- that won't produce quick results and in thement to resentment will probably continue. andrew walker, "bbc world news." >> it took five miles of ski routes and we're not talking

about a ski route, the highest number of water skiers to be pulled by one boat. the boat was had special propelers and the "guinness book of world records" is expected to recognize the record in a few months. >> our top story, the pressure continues on syria and a russian diplomat has said the push for an adoption of the western resolution was a path to civil war. according to -- the western idea for resolution will not be recognized. according to the deputy foreign minister. more on 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 industry and the industry you operate in. working to nurture new ventures and help provide capital for key strategic decisions, we offer expertise and solutions in a wide range of industries. what can we do for you? "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.