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>> at shell, we believe the world needs a broader mix of energies. thats why were supplying cleaner burning natural gas to generate electricity. and its also why, with our partner in brazil, shell is producing ethanol, a biofuel made from renewable sugar cane. >> a minute, mom! >> lets broaden the worlds energy mix. lets go. >> and now, bbc world news. >> as the u.n. secretary general warns of imminent civil war in syria, there are protests and demonstrations planned across the country. the u.k. draws up new laws making it illegal to force women to marry against their will. >> my mother sat me down and presented me with a man i was promised to when i was 8 years old. >> a new racism row at euro

2012. the dutch team says its black players were abused by local fans in poland. welcome to "bbc world news." i'm david eades. also coming up -- we'll give you the question nine million chinese students are hoping to answer in their exams today. and we have the answer to a long-running mystery, why so many colonies of honey bees have been wiped out across the globe. >> opposition groups in syria are planning a day of demonstrations right across the country as the diplomatic efforts to stem the violence there just stagger on. kofi annan, international envoy driving the u.n.'s peace plan, is warning of an imminent civil war. he's accepted his own initiative has failed. speaking to the u.n. security council in new york, mr. annan laid the blame for that failure

mostly on the assad regime. steve kingston has details from washington. >> terrified residents in the syrian town near homs. the images filmed yesterday show families running for cover amid gunfire and heavy shelling. little wonder the united nations' own envoy admits his peace plan is failing and that the country is in danger of spiraling out of control. in new york, kofi annan had a blunt message for the security council -- spell out to president assad what will happen if he continues to wage war on his own people and work together with regional powers to forge a diplomatic solution. >> syria is not libya. it will not implode. it will explode and explode beyond its borders and cause real problems in the region that nobody wants. so, if this group can really look at the issues and say

cooperate and probably suggest a road map for the syrians to consider. >> mr. annan's proposed contact group would aim to bridge the divide between the two sides in syria by involving countries like saudi arabia, which has influence over the opposition, and iran, with close ties to president assad. but that idea has left britain and america wary. >> iran is part of the problem in syria at the present. there's no question that it is actively engaged in supporting the government in perpetrating the violence on the ground. now, were it to stop, obviously that would be significant. >> but time is short, as evidence of atrocities mounts. the u.n. secretary general has said the mass killings of the past two weeks may amount to crimes against humanity and that a tipping point in syria now is becoming a breaking point. mr. annan's trip to washington today is a clear sign that the

onus is on government to act. >> there is now a sense of urgency, some would say desperation about these discussions, as the diplomats try to reinvent a plan that has so far failed. tellingly, kofi annan himself is speaking of the need for alternatives. steve kingston, bbc news, at the u.s. state department. >> finding some sort of a solution which involves, of course, russia and china is part of the big issue. joining me from beijing now is our correspondent. michael, the chinese are reiterating their position at the moment. >> yes, i mean, following the latest atrocities in syria, the chinese foreign ministry spokesman has made a statement today saying that they deplore what's gone on there, particularly the killing of innocent children and women. they stopped short though of pointing the finger at anybody for what's gone on over the last couple of days, and it's worth pointing out that there

seems to be some divergence in opinions now. previously the chinese government supported kofi annan and his peace proposal, but just last night, on thursday evening, mr. annan says that now there's some pressure to be exerted on the government in damascus. the chinese government here might have some problem with that, because just a few days ago, it stated that it didn't want any real external pressure or sanctions or military intervention in syria. so perhaps china, whilst condemning the latest atrocities, there is some distance perhaps opening up between them and kofi annan and other world leaders. >> that said, michael, we're just looking at pictures now of demonstrations which are taking place. i think these are going to be the first of many pictures we might see in the course of the day across syria. there's still, as you say, it is a sort of dichotomy, isn't

it, that something needs to be done and yet there can be no external intervention. >> one of the problems china has is that its long-stated foreign policy has been noninterference in other countries' affairs. it doesn't want other countries to interfere in things which are happening here in tibet, places such as that. so that makes it very difficult for china to seem as though it's acting responsibly on the world stage and come up with ideas. it doesn't want to get involved in other people's affairs because it doesn't want them later on to talk about its affairs. it found itself back in the kofi annan peace plan, but if mr. annan goes towards criticizing the governments in damascus, which looks like he is doing, the chinese government might have some difficulties with that. >> michael, thanks very much. i should just point out that the pictures you saw of demonstrations there were not from today.

they were from thursday. just to make that clear, those pictures were from thursday, not today. but we are expecting demonstrations across the country, as i said. let's move on now, because every year in england, thousands of girls and young women are forced into marriage by their parents and their relatives. under new proposals to be announced by the government, it's going to become a criminal offense in england, wales, and northern ireland to do that. the proposals would affect girls from pakistani, bangladeshi and indian communities, as ed thomas reports. >> this is the story of a young british girl forced to marry a man she'd never met before in pakistan. it's an animation for children, but it confronts a real issue, that thousands of people are facing it every year. >> i was 14 when i came home from school and my mother sat me down and presented me with the man i was promised to when i was 8 years old. my family took me out of school when i was 15 1/2, and i was

literally held a prisoner in my own home and was not allowed to be released until i had agreed to the marriage, which in the end i did, but i ran away from home as a young 16-year-old girl. >> her story is familiar. every year, 8,000 women are forced into marriage. in 2008, the labour government did bring in prevention orders, but it still wasn't a crime. >> the new law can help. >> these men say there's also the question of culture. they say they're part of a new generation who are clear that forced marriage is wrong. is it a big problem? >> it is a big problem. forced marriage is not acceptable. >> this is a problem, yeah. some people do have this problem. they want to marry their own family. >> the new law on forced marriage will be brought in next year, along with training for the police and local councils. the hope is this new law will make stories like sara's a

thing of the past. ed thomas, bbc news, blackburn. >> well, this is the president of the national council of women in great britain. they've been working on this issue for the last five years, and sheila joins us via web cam from nottingham. thanks very much indeed for joining us. i just wonder, what difference do you think criminalizing this forced marriage issue is actually going to make? >> it's putting out a very strong message that it's not acceptable and it isn't acceptable in this country, and we have been working with various groups on this issue, particularly freedom charity. because it sends out the strong message that it is not acceptable, and also it reassures the victims that they are working within the law. >> but i mean, you called them victims, understandably. we would acknowledge the reasons why. nonetheless, these victims are the children of the parents who

perhaps seem to be breaking the law. how did they go to the police or to the law and say my parents are breaking the law and something needs to be done about it? that sounds almost impossible to me. >> yes, well, there are various ways that this can be done now. of course, children don't want to go against the parents, but at the same time, if parents in a way are abusing -- i use that word very carefully -- their children, which is a form of child abuse, there's no question about that. but if this is happening, then something has to be done. and where it might be a cultural or thing that's happening in society, nevertheless, society has to take a responsibility for this. we cannot let this go on. we are working with various organizations in the asian community community as well, and they equally believe this is not acceptable. >> can i just ask you what you make of arranged marriages as an idea? >> arranged marriages, that is

a different issue. i've got views on that as well, but there again, that is a different issue. this is with the consent of the children as well. so that's a totally different issue. >> you're happy about arranged marriages? >> i wouldn't say that i am, but it's a cultural thing, and it just depends how and if the individuals concerned are involved in this decision. >> sheila eaton, thank you very much indeed. to china now, as nine million students are facing a dreaded question today. are they smart enough to claim one of the seven million university places up for grabs? they've been pushing themselves to the limit to prove they are, as they take the notorious exams. the bbc's john sudworth is in shanghai. john, i believe just as some of the students are coming out, no doubt gasping from the exam experience. >> that's right, it's all over

for at least another year, david. the school gates opened about 10 minutes ago, and the students poured out to be greeted by their very anxious parents. many he will this had been waiting here -- many of them have been waiting here throughout this afternoon. they've been taking an english paper. that gives you a sense, i think, of just how high pressure this particular national college entrance exam is. the parents feel the pressure. the kids feel the pressure. the teachers feel the pressure. indeed, teachers' salaries and promotions depend on the performance of this exam. but as i say, a lot of relieved students here today, nine million students have now finished the exam for this year. >> john, for now, as those students just have to sit back and sweat it out, i suppose. thank you very much indeed. john sudworth there in

shanghai. get some other stories for you now. the u.n. nuclear watch dog is going to be urging the iranians today to allow it access to sites where tehran is suspected of working on an atomic bomb. the iranian ambassador arrived for the talks with the u.n.'s iaea, the international atomic energy agency, in vienna. that was just an hour or two ago. western powers and israel is suspected of trying to develop a bomb under the veil of its civilian nuclear program. that it is a charge flatly denied by iran. it says it's developing civilian atomic power. thousands of police officers have been mobilized in japan to hunt for the last person still at large from a doomsday cult which killed 12 people in a nerve gas attack in a tokyo underground. the suspect has been on the run since the sarin gas attack by the cult in 1995.

authorities in mexico found 14 dismembered bodies in a park outside the mayor's park in the northeast of the country. reports say that gang-related messages were found on the blankets, which were covering the bodies of 11 men and three women. business time, aaron's here. just as we're getting hints, suggestions that spain is ready to form the statement which says we need some help -- >> yes, yes. >> for capitalizing our banks. all of it rumor, isn't it? >> it is at the moment. let's cast our minds back to before portugal received a bailout, before ireland received a bailout, and greece. i mean, the government comes out, the official line is, look, we don't know why these rumors are circling, we haven't said anything about a bailout for our banks. but, look, let's not hold our breath. this is inevitable. we've got a couple of sources

coming out of the e.u., one in particular from germany, saying that spain is talking about a bank bailout, possibly announcing that over the weekend. but, of course, we still have to wait and see how big that whole problem is. some are suggesting that hole in the banking system in spain could be about $100 billion, and the way spain wants the bailout is also a big question mark. they want to go directly to the banks, the e.u., the eurozone, and leaders are opposed to that, because that's kinds of like a back door bailout. because if it went straight to the banks in spain, they say, well, we don't have to follow the harsh rules and conditions that come with a bailout to the government, so to speak. but look, it is rumored, but we'd probably be sitting here on monday morning talking about it. >> well, you might be. it's going to be a long tug of war, whatever. and there's a sort of tug of war involved in france at the moment if the president is to have his way on economic forums. >> it's all a go.

we had the french central bank coming out and saying that they cut growth forecast. between the months of april and june, the french central bank expects the french economy to contract, shrink, by .1%. but, of course, the french go back to the polls on sunday to vote in a new assembly. it is likely the socialist and left-wing allies will have a majority of that. but francois hollande, they're already doing maneuvers that go against the trend, cutting the retirement age of certain groups, making it more expensive to companies to lay off people, etc., etc. i've been wound up here in my ear, so i want to go. i really want to tell this story, but i have to go. but i will tell it in 20 minutes' time. >> have you ever been told not to go? >> no, daily occurrence. sorry. bye. i'm going. >> see you later. thanks very much. he's still there, actually. you're watching "bbc world news" with me, david eades. a lot more still to come, including an answer for you to a long-running mystery.

it's why so many colonies of honeybees have been wiped out across the globe. >> the parents of triplets killed in a fire at a shopping mall in the middle east pay tribute to their children at their funeral in new zealand. >> at st. paul's cathedral in wellington, the most heartbreaking sight you could ever imagine. three small coffins surrounded by flowers and cuddly toys. three young lives lost. for martin and jane, the hardest day of their lives, a day they have to bury their own children. lily, known as peanut, was 2 years old. she loved chocolate and baked beans and dressing up as a ballerina. jackson, called jackie, was born one minute after his sister.

he was quiet and thoughtful, but mischievous. he had a laugh like dr. evil. wilshire was the dwrungest of the triplets, known by everyone as winkee. he had red hair and blue eyes. he loved hamburgers and loved to run. >> three very special, yet very different little people, all from the same recipe, it each unique, each perfect in their own little way, lily, jackson, and wilshire, mummy and daddy will always love you and the joy you brought into our lives. >> the triplets were just three of the 13 children who died in the fire at a mall. six adults also lost their lives. an investigation as to why it happened is underway. those answers may come another

day. this service was about remembering three little children and saying goodbye. tim orman, bbc news. >> you're watching "bbc world news" with me, david eades. as the u.n. secretary general warns of imminent civil war, syria's opposition groups are planning a day of protests. the british government is putting forward a new law to outlaw forced marriages. euro 2012 is kicking off in just a few hours' time. the tournament, though, has already been overshadowed to some extent by a row over racism, not to mention human rights issues as well. but in the last hour, a number of dutch players say they heard racial abuse being directed at black members of their team as they were training in poland. the boss said referees will be

able to stop play during matches if they were concerned about racism during the games themselves. the bbc's dan rowen at the training ground, and i asked him how the dutch team were taking all this. >> well, the dutch, likening land, are based here. they're using the stadium of the local club. this is england's base of training in the next few minutes, but it appears that on wednesday, the dutch were training. it was an open training session, similar to the one england held here today. you can see some of the local children who have been granted access to this session. the dutch were training in front of a lot more people, around 25,000 people, and it appears, according to their cap taken, mark van bommel, that a group of them directed monkey chants towards the black players in the dutch team. he described it as a disgrace. he said it was unfortunate, given that the dutch squad had just visited auschwitz, which is about an hour's drive away. >> a lot going on certainly

there in euro 2012. right, take note of this -- british scientists say they have found out why millions of honeybee colonies are being wiped out and not just in the u.k. this is throughout the world. varroa are spreading a leeltal virus and injecting it into the bees' blood. as for the virus, it appears to be untreatable. scientists are saying it would help nonetheless if you can identify it, because then perhaps bee hives can be screened. let's have a word with our science correspondent. i suppose there's relief in a way to feel that we know at last what's doing all this damage. >> it is indeed. and i think that kind of specificity about what exact virus is causing this problem has been a big challenge. the reason it's been such a big challenge is because varroa has been so success informal wiping out bees worldwide. it's been very difficult to follow the progress of the

parasite as it hits. so this team went to hawaii, because varroa was only recently introduced in hawaii, so it's only a few years since beehives have had this mite. so they were able to watch exactly what happened to the bees' immune systems as this mite hit. so as the mite got there, exactly what viral strain, what types of viruses the bees suffered from, and that's where they picked out this specific virus called deformed wing virus. >> right, but they can't deal with the varroa mite. >> well, they're very difficult to treat. they change very quickly, so although bee keepers are usually very good, you can't see them, so they work very hard to keep their lives clean, but they're so virulent, such pests, that it's difficult to treat them directly. they seem to be developing resistance to any pestsides.

so an actual fact, what this test shows is because they're carrying such a nasty strain of virus, because they're infecting hives, if we test for this virus and spot this exact strain, it means that perhaps we need to destroy those hives to prevent this virus from spreading, because it's costing global agriculture billions of pounds to treat and prevent this spread. >> it really is, isn't it? victoria, thank you very much. now, it's one thing to be president of france, but quite another to have the necessary power to push through the changes you want in policy. and that's why the legislative elections this weekend are a key moment for francois hollande. if his socialist party can win the majority, then he gets the mandate to bring in his reform program. there's another battle going on as well, between the far right and the far left. the leaders of those parties go head to heads in the northern industrial town, and christian fraser is there. >> on the scarred landscape

surrounding the town are the ghosts of a golden age, the industry that replaced the coal mines is zrapping. this factory employing over 200 people, closed five years ago. jobs went to eastern europe, and half of those made redundant are still unemployed. if you want an image of the economic despair that has fell to this part of northern france, then here it is. it's a story of corruption, mismanagement, perhaps in the charred remains and the broken glass is also the reflection of what damage globalization and foreign competition can wreak in a small town such as this one. it's election territory for the far right, nowhere in france did marie le pen perform better in the recent presidential election. on this weekend she stands for the parliamentary seat, one of a handful where this team thinks it can win. >> i am voting for change, no

to europe. we want to go back to the franc. we've been ripped off by the euro. we don't have the means to live anymore. >> but, also here with an appetite for battle is the champion of the far left, who's sending to shine a light on the vampires and snatch from them the seat that it once looked so assured. >> i'm an outsider, he told me, born and raised in north arrive can a. i moved around like many people in this country. marie le pen stands for a france that no longer exists. but while they divide bitterly from the issue of immigration and the economy, they stand closer than you might expect. both advocate a rise in the minimum wage, and both pledge to defend french industry from outside competition. and yet, marie le pen insists there are fundamental differences. >> only the french people can

guarantee their own prosperity, security, their identity. the far left is opposed to our brand of nationalism. they are not against europe, far from it. they want more europe. >> madam le pen needs to capitalize on her performance in the presidential election. the polls have her comfortable al head for sunday's first-round vote, as she will be defeated a week later if the socialists stand to endorse him in the second-round vote. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newmans own foundation. union bank. and shell. >> at shell, we believe the world needs a broader mix of energies. thats why were supplying cleaner burning natural gas to

generate electricity. and its also why, with our partner in brazil, shell is producing ethanol, a biofuel made from renewable sugar cane. >> a minute, mom! >> lets broaden the worlds energy mix. lets go. >> bbc world news was presented by kcet los angeles.