11/04/2012 BBC News at Ten

Tonight at ten - hours away from a promised ceasefire by Syrian

After another day of violence, the man leading the peace talks says

there's hope at last. On Thursday the 12th at 6am, we should see a

much improved situation on the ground. If But there's widespread

scepticism about the Syrian motives - we report from the border with

Turkey. The regime and the opposition believe this is a fight

to the finish. That is the logic that has undermined the an

admission from the start. And we'll be asking what happens next if

President Assad fails to keep his word. Also tonight:

The man who started this fire in last summer's riots is jailed for

11-and-a-half years - the store's owners respond. He's done so much

tremendous harm for everybody. We have to fight back and that is what

we will do. Panic in Indonesia after two major

earthquakes trigger a tsunami warning.

The big energy companies agree to inform customers about their best

deals. And an old man's wartime memories

I'll be here with sport later. A very important night in the Premier

League for the top and the bottom Good evening.

The forces of the Assad regime have agreed to start a ceasefire in six

hours' time. That's the assurance they've given the international

envoy Kofi Annan. But the regime says it reserves its right to deal

with what it calls 'terrorist threats' so there's widespread

scepticism about President Assad's real motives. The BBC's Fergal

Keane has sent this report from the Waiting for news from the country

they fled. This is where new arrivals from Syria are processed

before being sent on to other camps. We did not meet anybody who

expressed optimism, but a few at least were willing to give the Kofi

Annan mission the benefit of the doubt. Do you think there will be

peace? I hope for that, he says, but they have talked before and it

has come to nothing. I just hope for peace. From here you can see

Syria. It is calm, but other parts of the border region have become

Syrian forces have fired across the border, terrifying camp residents

Inside Syria, the last days have seen furious fighting. In Homs,

troops have pounded opposition districts with tank fire and

mortars. No sign here of any military withdrawal. In parts of

the city, there's little left to The activist filming this burning

shopping-centre calls out, are you watching, Kofi Annan? Where is the

international community? Such words and such images have a company Mr

Anand throughout his mission, but he is still insisting on the

possibility of a ceasefire. everyone respects by 6am on

Thursday the 12th, 6am in the morning of Thursday the 12th, we

should see much improved situations on the ground. As tanks were on the

move in Homs, Kofi Annan could only hope and -- hope on the assurances

he had been given. But this evening the government insisted it would

stop fighting tomorrow, there were reserved the right to retaliate if

attacked. I'm confident that my government is fully committed to

Kofi Annan. But since the violence is mutual, I can only guarantee our

side. I can't guarantee the violence stopping from the other

groups. But the Free Syrian Army refuses to believe anything the

government says. Will your forces stop shooting when the deadline

expires tomorrow morning? TRANSLATION: I don't believe our

forces will stop shooting because the other side won't stop. If the

other side stops, the Syrian people would march on the President's

Palace the same day. This means the regime will not stop. It is

possible that the violence across the border might down down -- died

down when the deadline comes. But there's no likelihood of a

permanent cessation. Both the regime and the opposition now

believe this is a fight to the finish. That is the logic that has

undermined the Kofi Annan mission from the very start.

With meat is our diplomatic correspondent, James Robbins.

Reflecting on what we heard, they could be many people who expect the

Assad regime to keep its words. the guns really do fall silent

across Syria tomorrow morning, that will be a good moment, surely. It

doesn't answer the question, how long might any ceasefire hold.

There's a great deal of doubt about that. This is what the Syrian

government said in their letter to Kofi Annan confirming they would

take part. They said, we promise to stop all military fighting

throughout Syrian territory as of 6am tomorrow while reserving the

right to respond proportionately to any attacks carried out by armed

terrorist groups. Well, one Western diplomat said if Assad keeps his

troops just outside the cities, he has the ability to pound civilians

once again at a moment of his choosing, if he can argue some

positive batch provocation. The White House shares that scepticism.

They point out serious troops have intensified their attacks on

civilians in Paris an effort to destroy this revolt once and for

all. The Free Syrian Army says it reserves the right to go on

fighting if the regime doesn't stop. Where does that leave us? Two quick

thoughts. President Assad has only been able to hold on to power for

this bustier also by the use of overwhelming firepower. The logic

of accepting the ceasefire and holding to the ceasefire is surely

that he accepts the logical consequence, which must be that

there might be a future Syria ruled by somebody not called Assad. The

last thought, if the ceasefire doesn't hold, what does the outside

world do? It is surely out of ideas and can then only really

contemplate a collapse into all-out civil war. Thank you.

A man who set fire to a furniture store in Croydon during last

summer's unrest has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years. It's the

longest sentence given so far to any rioter. Gordon Thompson

admitted starting the fire in House of Reeves, which had stood on the

site for 140 years, as Sangita It was this huge fire, deliberately

started at Reeves of Croydon, that gave rise to some of the most

memorable images from the worst night of the London riots. For 144

years, this historic building have housed five generations of a family

business. Today, the man who destroyed it, Gordon Thompson, a

career criminal with 20th -- 20 previous convictions and a father

of two, was sentenced to 11 1/2 years in prison. Father and son

Maurice and Trevor Reeves showed me around where the building once did.

What was left has been demolished. The cost to the business will

eventually be covered by insurance, but the emotional burden still

remains. It was like and losing a member of the family. This has been

here all my memorable life. I played in here as a child, I lived

above here. I worked here as an adult. Thomson's crime was caught

on CCTV. You can see him at the top of the screen approaching the shop.

There is something burning in his hand. He touches it to a sofa which

catches fire. The shop was soon engulfed in flames. The fire so

ferocious it set the buildings opposite alike. It was at this

moment that shop assistant Monika Konczyk was forced to jump for her

life from the flat into the safety of the arms of a fireman. When

faced with the strength of the case against him, Thompson pleaded

guilty. That meant many witnesses did not have to relive the

distressing memories about what happened that night. The sentence

given to Thompson for causing all of this damage is the longest to be

handed out yet in relation to last summer's riots. It means he will be

serving about five years in prison. The Reeve's family it is fair as

long as it is enough time for him to be rehabilitated. -- Reeves. In

the rubble, the Reeves have begun building back their business at a

site across the road. Face-saver a hope today's sentence will be

enough to deter others bent on wanton vandalism. -- they say they

hope today's sentence. An American neighbourhood watch

volunteer who shot dead an unarmed black teenager in Florida is

expected to be charged shortly. George Zimmerman has always said he

shot Trayvon Martin in self-defence. The killing of the 17-year-old

sparked protests across the country, with some claiming the murder had

been racially motivated. The annual number of applications

to take children into care in England has exceeded 10,000 for the

first time. The Courts Advisory Service says the figure is 10% up

on last year. It's thought the publicity surrounding the death of

Baby Peter Connelly in north London has contributed to the sharp rise

in new applications. Two powerful earthquakes in the

Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami warning earlier today. There were

scenes of panic in some coastal areas as people fled to higher

ground, fearing a repeat of the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 in which

hundreds of thousands died. The epicentre of one of today's quakes

was close to the region in Indonesia that was worst hit in

2004. But this time the warnings were lifted and there have been no

reports of serious injury or damage, as Rachel Harvey reports from

The terror on their faces speaks volumes. They know all too well

what an earthquake can do. In Aceh, the 2004 tsunami isn't ancient

history. The memories are still fresh. Still painful. You don't

forget the loss of more than 200,000 lives easily. And today the

Earth issued another powerful reminder of this region's volatile

foundations. The response, visceral fear. But this time, there was

purpose within the panic. A mass movement to higher ground and the

safety of a mosque, one of the few buildings to survive the tsunami

seven years ago. Local knowledge learnt from bitter experience. The

same reaction in Phuket on Thailand's West Coast. Locals

guiding holidaymakers to safety. They heard the siren, followed the

signs, they knew what to do. Lessons have been learned. Today's

earthquake was hugely powerful, felt as far away as Bangkok and

southern India. So why no tsunami this time? In 2004, the one

tectonic plate slipped beneath another, displacing a huge volume

of water. Today's earthquake was lateral, two plates and rubbing

against each other violently, but less likely to spawn huge waves.

Nevertheless, experts say the decision to issue an alert was

justified. When they give the warning, they have no idea what

kind of earthquake it is. We found this out quite recently. This is

when you analyse the data arriving, you can find out what kind of

earthquake it was, what the mechanism was. When they send their

warnings out, they have no idea of that. No room for complacency and

no sign of it in action. For just help for those who couldn't help

themselves, increasingly urgent warnings, a desperate prayer and,

David Cameron says he will look sympathetically at the case being

made by some leading charities about the proposed cap on tax

relief for charitable donations. He made the comments during a visit to

Indonesia on the second day of his tour to Asia, where he welcomed

news about an order for Airbus planes bringing jobs to Britain.

A new country, a different President, another guard of honour.

From David Cameron, the same message. He wants British business

to get its hands on some of Indonesia's huge and growing

markets, maybe even sell them some of our weapons. In the economy

that's growing at an extraordinary 6% a year, is one, he said, that

Britain cannot ignore. This is an economy of 240 million people, it

is going to be a top 10 economy in the next few decades. Britain

should be investing here, selling here. That is why I am pleased to

get on a plane with a bunch of business people, go to the fastest

growing part of the world and drum up British business, because it

means jobs back at home. Some of the people travelling our defence

contractors, how do you avoid getting caught out and some of

these weapons being used by the wrong people at the wrong time.

have strict controls in Britain and strict licensing system for who we

are able to sell these things too. Britain has strong defence

industries to employ thousands of people in our country. A country

like Indonesia, that is now a democracy, a responsible player on

the world stage, that has a right to defend itself, it is acceptable

under the right conditions to sell them some of our goods. Mr Cameron

left Britain with his government on the back foot, after a self-

inflicted fuel shortage, coalition tensions over security and an

unpopular budget that he is still being forced to defend, including

plans to curb tax relief for big charitable donors. What do you say

it to charities to say this is going to cause donations to dry up?

Let's be clear about what we are proposing. Individuals should be

able to have �50,000 worth of tax allowances, or a quarter of their

salary, however high their salary is, going in tax allowances. But we

have got to put to an end to the abuse that some people have been

using tax allowances, to get their effective income-tax rate not at

50p, or 40 p, sometimes as low as 20 p. There is abuse going on. We

need to make sure that the rich pay their share of income tax.

decision to cut the 50p top rate of income tax is what critics say has

lost insomuch trust. Politics has got to be about doing the right

thing for the long-term health of your country and economy. Having a

top rate of tax that has a rate -- that make you a competitive cannot

be acceptable. Do you say we are still in this together? Yes, we are

in it together. What are you going to do to get the government back on

track? These are difficult times and we have to focus on the long-

term good for the country, and get behind hard-working people who want

to do the right things for themselves and their families. That

is what drives me, however thousands of miles away from

Britain I am. I'll only have the thoughts of the British economy,

British jobs and the British economy. David Cameron is clearly

at ease and he insists that these straights boost exports, but they

do not solve all of his problems at home.

Coming up on tonight's programme, a glimpse of life in one of the

world's most secretive states. we will be reporting from the heart

of North Korea's space programme. Never before opened to the world

The Big Six energy companies in Britain have agreed to write to

their customers every year to let them know the best tariffs

available, and how to get them. The move, agreed with the government,

could save some households up to �100 a year, but some of the price

comparisons website say it is a very limited gesture and customers

should still shop around. Energy share, EnergySmart, there

are more than 100 deals and parrot so how are you expected to choose?

The government says suppliers will have to send out letters detailing

which might be suitable for you. get more people switched on to the

energy they use, I can announce today we have secured a landmark

deal with the six big energy companies, who cover 99% of

customers, to give customers a guaranteed offer of the best tariff

for them. That matters, because according to the government, as

many as 70% of customers are on the wrong tariff. It believes

households could save up to �100 by shopping around. The problem is,

three-quarters of us don't tend to switch. The companies say it is not

their fault. Since last autumn's energy summit, they have been

working with the government to make Tariffs and bills simper. --

simpler. In reality, the announcement is not that different

to what the industry has been doing. We have been reaching out to

customers for a long while now, the challenge is trying to get that in

a more consistent, consolidated form. We are trying to adopt a new

norm to approach customers. We all want to cut electricity and gas

bills, but receiving a letter is just the start. You then have to

contact your energy company and agree upon a new tariff. And of

course, you won't be told of another supplier -- if another

supplier has a better deal. Consumer groups have welcomed the

announcement but warned that customers will end up paying for

the cost of this mast mail shot. And point out that many people will

still not have best access to the best deals. The cheapest deals are

for those online with direct debit facilities. If you do not have

access, you will not get the cheapest deals. Labour fanned the

flames today, dismissing the plan and saying the over 75 should be

automatic offered the best tariffs. It will only work if more of a

switch, and that is something which even Nick Clegg says he struggles

to do. In North Korea, as we reported last

night, the authorities are preparing to launch a rocket taking

a satellite into space, possibly as early as tomorrow. The Americans

say it would be a provocative act. They accused the regime of mounting

a missile test in disguise. Our correspondent is the only British

broadcaster in North Korea and he sent this report.

The guards don't smile, but they have never had foreign journalists

here before. And it is not imposing. This is mission control, by the

front door, a cage full of pheasants. Pets, perhaps, or maybe

lunch for North Korea's rocket scientists. This secretive regime,

led by the Kim dynasty, is opening up for the first time. 16

technicians man the satellite command centre. It is not quite

NASA, but on the big screen, live pictures from the launch pad,

showing North Korea's rocket being filled up. This is a satellite

launch, not a ballistic missile. I hope you become the supporters in

showing the transparency of our satellite launch. That is why we

have been brought here. North Korea wants to allay fears it is about to

test missile technology that could deliver a warhead as far as America.

So, this is it, the heart of North Korea's space programme. Never

before open to the world like this. From this relatively modest

beginnings, North Korea says it has big ambitions. America warns a

launch could lead to new un sanctions. The man in charge says

it shouldn't lecture -- UN sanctions. We are adults. Are you

saying the United States is treating North Korea like a child?

America's message, don't do it. What I am saying is, do not

interfere. Today, the North was pressing ahead with its own

business. Kim Jong-un is not yet 30 years old. But he was named first

secretary of the Workers' Party. His father and grandfather ruled

this land before him. While that was happening, we were brought to

see this. I'm not quite sure why. Though the Kim Milsom university

does look impressive. -- the Kim Il-sung University. There is a lift

to get to the diving pool. But the computers in the library don't

connect to the internet. This student is two years older than his

nation's new leader. He says he trusts and believes in Kim Jong-il.

The young Kim is now in charge of the North's rocket programme, and

its nuclear bombs. To many outside North Korea, they find it an

Plaid Cymru has launched its local election campaign, saying Wales

need strong and sustainable communities as a step towards

independence. The party's new leader, Leanne Wood, launched the

campaign at a factory in Carmarthenshire where she said the

priority was on protecting public services from spending cuts. People

are finding it really difficult at the moment and they are worried

about their futures. I hope we can offer an alternative to the

downward spiral that is being offered by British parties.

The BBC has learned that several Formula 1 teams expect this month's

Bahrain Grand Prix to be cancelled, unrest in the country meant the

race was removed from last year's Formula 1 calendar but organisers

had been expecting that next weekend's race would be going ahead.

One of the last great figures of the French Resistance during the

Second World War has died at the age of 97. Raymond Aubrac, whose

real name was Raymond Samuel, led a band of fighters but was captured

by the Nazis. He was freed in a daring operation led by his wife.

He had spoken to the BBC just a few To many in France, they are almost

sacred. The men and women of the French Resistance. Raymond Aubrac

and his wife, Lucie, were amongst its most feted heroes. At the

beginning, resistance was more a matter of graffiti than gunfire.

had no means at all to do that. So we used charcoal, or chalk, to

write on the walls. Then we started with tax, and later on with

underground newspapers. There was hard fighting in the Paris

streets... What began with newspapers and pouring sugar into

petrol tanks then turned into armed revolt against the Germans. Raymond

Aubrac was a military leader. was one of the leaders of what was

called the Secret Army, in founding one of the main resistance groups

in the south. He also set up an armed resistance group to fight the

German occupation. The Nazi no longer swaggers... His exploits are

among some of the resistance's most famous stories. He escaped from the

butcher of Leon, the Gestapo chief, with the help of his pregnant wife.

Late in life, Barbie himself claimed that Raymond Aubrac had

betrayed the resistance. What ensued was a trial by academics

that eventually cleared his name. President Sarkozy led tributes to

Raymond Aubrac's brewery but perhaps not his politics. The

Jewish engineer -- bravery. The Jewish engineer was born a

socialist and it was his signature that sent a number of French

traitors to the firing squad. The myth of the resistance hides a dark

past. Raymond Aubrac, a man whose parents died in Auschwitz, had a

record to be proud of. They may not have liberated France but he and