13/01/2012 BBC World News

A taste of freedom for political prisoners, released as Burma takes

one more step on the road to reform. Pakistan's prime minister calls for

a vote of support for the system of democracy.

Beware of big breakfasts. New research suggests a link between

processed meat and pancreatic cancer.

Welcome to BBC World News. I'm Adam Parsons. Also in this programme:

Apple stores across China take iPhones off their shelves, after

scuffles at the Beijing launch of the latest model.

And, we're back where the Arab uprisings first began. But, a year

on, have things really changed in Tunisia?

Burma's government is releasing many of its most prominent

dissidents in what's being seen as one of the most significant steps

so far in its moves towards reform. Some 650 prisoners are being freed

in the latest of a series of amnesties. They include Min Ko Nine,

who was one of the leaders of a failed pro-democracy uprising in

1988. The country's former Prime Minister Thakin Kin Nyoon has also

been freed from house arrest. Our South East Asia correspondent

Rachel Harvey's in Bangkok. She says the amnesty follows pressure

from both outside Burma, and from within.

This had been long anticipated, and of course demands for this kind of

scale of release had been growing, not just from international

diplomats visiting, but crucially from the opposition movement and at

Aung San Suu Kyi, within Burma. The pressure had been growing and the

government itself had long promised to do this, privately, and

occasionally in public ministers saying they would do this. They

just needed to get the timing right. Why today, we do not know. It comes

ahead of by-elections on 1st April. It could be a confidence-building

measure. It is up to the Burmese government to explain why they are

doing this. It is a crucial step, significant not just in terms of

the numbers being released today, but the names of those being

released, a prominent political activists, members of the 88

Generation Students. Those involved in the 2007 protests, members of

ethnic minority groups including senior leaders. A broad and deep as

nervily switch is a significant step towards meeting a key demand

of Western nations. Is it you're reading this is a fundamental

change in policy or is there still a pragmatic decision there? It is

part of a process. There are reformers were then the government

that appear at the moment to have the upper hand and who are pushing

his Ford. While they have the upper hand, they want to keep this

momentum going, to push these reforms as far and fast as they

feel comfortable to do. There are others within the government and

the military in the background who may be wary about what is happening,

who may be reluctant to give their blessing at least to this kind of

speed of reform. There are tensions within the leadership, but there is

also a growing momentum for change and an expectation among ordinary

people that this will continue. It is very hard after a certain point

to stop this, that is what people are looking for, when can they say

this is irreversible? When things cannot go back to the way they were

before. We are fast approaching that. Pakistan's parliament has

announced that it will hold a vote of confidence in its political

leadership, and its parliamentary system, on Monday. It comes just

after President Asif Ali Zardari returned from a short visit to

Dubai, the subject of much speculation, given the high levels

of tension between the government and the military. The Prime

Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today appealed to politicians for support

saying they have to choose between democracy and dictatorship.

Our correspondent in Islamabad, Aleem Maqbool, says this is a

clever strategic move by the government.

It is, in effect, a vote of confidence in the current

government. They have done it cleverly, they have tabled a

resolution in Parliament, the Prime Minister and his coalition. MPs

will have to vote on whether they it endorse democracy. The Prime

Minister has said, I represent democracy, my government represents

democracy. If you get rid of us, it set us back democracy. It is a

clever way to get them out of the very difficult situation. That is

what they will be voting on. The promise to came out with a defiant

and bold speech, ending with this very clever move by this government.

But he is under incredible pressure from the Army, which he has openly

criticised, from the Supreme Court which may dismiss this government

Ovett issues linked to corruption claims against the President, and

he is also coming under tremendous pressure from the opposition which

wants to directly hold a vote of no confidence in him. Briefly, what is

your reading of where this is likely to go? He has some say his

critics. There is a three-way stand-off with the Army, Supreme

Court, and the government. Any of them could make a move which

precipitates a crisis. This could rumble on for a while with this

tension. Those three institutions really can't work together.

Stay with us because, later in the programme, we'll be hearing more

about this from Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

The US military says it has identified at least two of the four

marines in a video which appears to show US marines in Afghanistan

urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters. The video, which was

posted online, shows the Marines standing over the bodies of several

Taliban fighters, at least one of whom is covered in blood. The US

Secretary of Defence called the incident utterly deplorable.

A US military tribunal has recommended -- A US military

tribunal has recommended a court martial for Private Bradley Manning,

for allegedly providing thousands of secret documents to the whistle-

blowing website Wikileaks. The tribunal chief said reasonable

grounds DID exist to believe Private Manning had committed the

offences of which he's accused. 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've married in Canada. Under the country's law, gay unions are only

valid if couples can also lawfully marry in their home country.

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, approximately

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. Now

scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden says there

could be a link with pancreatic cancer. Advice experts think we

should take seriously. 8,000 people get this type of cancer every year

in the UK. Because it is hard to treat, it tends to have lower

survival than other types of cancer. If we can find out what affects the

risk it would be really good. report sounds quite alarming. It

says 50 grammes of processed meat, equivalent to two rashers of bacon,

if eaten everyday, could increase your risk of developing pancreatic

cancer by nearly 20%. If you compare that to the risks

associated with smoking, it is actually quite small. Pancreatic

cancer is rare, but often deadly. Craig Wood died 10 weeks after

being diagnosed. His wife Diana says the illness can strike with

frightening speed. It takes hold of you very quickly. Before you know

it, you are diagnosed, it is too late, because it goes far too

quickly and takes over your body. The chances of developing

pancreatic cancer remain low, but researchers say it is such a deadly

disease anything that increases the risk needs further study. Now it's

time for the business news. We are talking about Italian debt.

Yesterday, Spain went to the money markets on a relatively short-term

debt. A very successful bond auction for the Spanish government.

There were high expectations that Italy, doing the same kind of

auction, would seek a similar result. It raised $6 billion on the

money market, but nowhere near as successful, if you compare it to

Spain yesterday. That is a big question. Again, short-term debt.

Italy has to go back on generate 30 to sell long-term debt.

Live now to Milan, and Stefano Cordero di Monta-Zemolo, from the

We have the results, as I said, they raised what they wanted but

nowhere near as successful as Spain. Is this the market comparing and

dredging Spain against Italy? We have to consider the differences

between Spain and Italy. Because, the political situation is

different. Despite the fact that Spain has an even worse situation

than Italy, at economic level, the political situation is more stable.

There is a clear government. And it is going to last. In Italy, the

political situation remains unstable. So, I appreciate this

situation because, the signal is positive in a way. At least,

considering the trend. But, having had a lower result than expected,

it is a sort of pressure for the Italian system, that the situation

has not overcome the problems, and new political changes have to come

if we want to get out of this situation. If the pressure is on

Italy to sell three year debt. On 30th January, Italy has to go back

to sell long-term debt. Always a tougher task to get high investor

confidence. That is going to be the test so far. Yes. This is the test.

In my view, until April, I would say, in the next three months, this

is a key time. In these months, we have the two elements to consider,

that the government has to raise a lot of debt, but also the big banks

in Italy have to raise capital. So, it is clear that if we are able to

overcome this period, probably for Italy, the worst is past.

We will leave it there. Thank you very much, as always, for joining

The worst is past. And then he laughed! Before I move on. I want

to touch on one thing. We have spoken about this in the past. Let

me explain it. Last month, the European Central Bank made

available very cheap loans to the tune of half a trillion Euros to

European banks which are in trouble, they were not lending to each other.

They are scared. That is what created the credit crunch. If banks

are not lending to which other, money is not circulating, and banks

do not lend to consumers. So it made available all this money. The

problem, we are starting to see record highs, last night, of

European commercial banks depositing money back to the

European Central Bank, to the tune of more than what the European

Central Bank lent out last month. It is a net up on the deal but it

doesn't want to be. The banks should be lending to each other and

consumers and getting it out into the real economy, but they're not

doing it because they are so fearful. That one back may go bust.

It is a real problem at the moment. It defeats the whole purpose of the

action by the European Central Bank. Let us touch on the other business

news. Talks continue today in Athens

between Greece and its private creditors. Greece needs to get

private lenders to agree a 50% debt write-off, a vital part of the

country's second bailout. Greece's Finance Minister said he was "very

confident" after a meeting on Thursday. But the Institute of

International Finance, which is representing banks and insurers in

the talks, warned that "key issues remain unresolved - and time. --

time is running short". Nigeria's labour unions will hold more talks

with President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday to try resolve their

dispute over soaring fuel prices. The price of petrol has doubled

since the government removed subsidies at the start of the year

- sparking protests up and down the country. Unions have threatened to

shut down the nation's oil industry from Sunday unless the subsidies

It certainly has been a grim quarter for the Wall Street

financial giants. J P Morgan Chase is expected to report a drop in

profits of around 17%. It has been hit by an industry-wide slowdown

and tougher regulations in the US. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs

will follow with their results. Here is what the American Banker

magazine had to save. We will be looking at whether they can produce

a loan growth, what their expenses are and whether they can bring them

down and how well Investment Banking and trade banking has

weathered that in Europe. In Asia, weathered that in Europe. In Asia,

the markets up up. They were down yesterday. We saw gains in Europe

yesterday. It was off the back of the successful debt auction in

Spain and a relatively small one in Italy. There are the European

markets and what they're doing today. All eyes will be on the

peripheral eurozone economies trying with the amount of money

they need to raise this year. I think you'll clicker froze in

Still to come: How Tunisians are finding life has changed since the

As the US slowly winds down its military operations in Afghanistan

it seems the Taliban could be benefiting from a boom in the

country's opium supply.The United Nations says there was a big

increase in the price of Afghan opium last year compared to 2010

and that poppy cultivation has also The United Nations says there has

been a dramatic increase in the price and production of Afghan

opium. The latest report by the UN office of drugs and crime make

worrying reading. It says opium farmers in Afghanistan probably and

more than $1.4 billion in 2011. That is equivalent to 9% of

Afghanistan's GDP. The UNODC says there has 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. The UN says these have exceeded expectations.

Many farmers say they want to plant more opium poppies because of the

high prices. UN 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. It claims

tens of thousands of lives every 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 on a national day of remembrance. Haiti's government has

said the disaster killed more than 300,000 people and displaced 1.5

This is BBC World News. The headlines: Burma has begun

releasing more prisoners, including several prominent dissidents, as it

seeks the lifting of international sanctions. The Pakistan Prime

Minister has called a vote of confidence in the Government and

the parliamentary system. Let's stay with that story, the political

crisis in Pakistan. The Interior Minister has been talking to the

BBC. He told our correspondent that the Government would survive.

think it is unnecessary. The mandate given for the people of

Pakistan is for five years. It will not affect things. In democracy, we

are in transition. There will be ups and downs. We have a bumpy ride.

I think it is totally uncle full. This government will do the

election in March. We will have the election on time. Aunt to having a

real crisis with the Army? I would not say crisis. -- aren't you

having? We are on the same page. Whatever subject it is, that will

be settled in the course of time. White other statements between you

and the Army so hostile? -- wife are the statements? I do not think

explaining the decision brings the situation up to the level that you

are saying. Do you think this government will still be in

position next week? Not only next week, until 2013. Can you say you

are happy with generals openly criticising the Prime Minister?

will not say whether I am happy or not. I will say what we should do.

It is transition to democracy. Obviously it would take some time.

What is your message to the Army? have already giving you the message

that we are working together. We have no problem. I have been doing

with them for the last four years. What about the Supreme Court? Is

there a risk the Supreme Court Ken decided has had enough of the Prime

Minister? The way that democracy is being backed, I do not think

anything detrimental for the democracy will happen. The US

embassy in Thailand has warned its nationals of a possible terrorist

attack in Bangkok. US citizens in the Thai capital are being urged to

exercise caution and keep a low profile in popular tourist areas.

The Thai Defence Minister has been quoted as saying that the US have

contacted the Thai government informing them that a pair of

Muslim insurgents have entered the kingdom. Apple has said it will

stop the sale of all iPhone models from its stores in China, after

large crowds disrupted the launch of the iPhone 4S. An Apple store in

Beijing, did not open on Friday after a large crowd gathered

outside in anticipation of the launch. Our correspondent Michael

Bristow went to the store. Apple products are as popular in China as

they are elsewhere. The company was due to launch its new model of

phone, but for rest, here in China. Most customers have not been able

to get their hands on them because this flagship store in Beijing

never put them on sale. That is because so many people turned up,

overnight in freezing conditions, to be first in line to buy their

phone. When people heard they were not going to be able to get their

hands on the latest iPhone, they were quite angry. There was pushing,

shoving and eggs were thrown and the police were called. The police

were outside in force. The shop has closed and there is asylum the door

saying that the iPhone were not be put on sale at the moment. -- a

sign. Apple says it had no choice but to close the store because so

many people turned up it feared for the safety of customers and for its

staff inside the shop. It has decided to postpone the sale of the

iPhones in a Shanghai branches. One year ago this weekend Tunisians

overthrew the dictatorship of Zeen al Abedeen Ben Ali in the first

popular revolution of the Arab Spring. There have since been

elections and there's a new interim government. Joblessness remains a

pressing issue. Tunisia today, the shackles of oppression discarded.

People ambling through the capital's streets with smiles on

their faces, they no longer having to whisper for fear of who maybe

listening. On the surface it is a much changed country. If it is a

far cry from the scenes a year ago. Fighting in the same streets as a

dictatorship that had rolled for 23 years was overthrown. -- ruled. A

discussion about politics and the press. Not from a radio station

based in exile but one that is now relocated to the Tunisian capital.

In a country where journalists and descendants -- dissidents were

regularly beaten up, progress is slow but things are moving in the

right direction. We have a new regime. On the other side we have

the old regime. They are existing together at the same time. One is

pushing forward and the other is pushing. One year on and many

things have improved for the people of Tunisia. The freedom of speech

and the ability to criticise political leaders. It is as much

about economics as politics. There are thousands of educated young

people out there without jobs. Long queues at Jobcentres to trade --

showed the harsh reality. For many Tunisians, things have not improved.

After the revolution, the economical situation is getting

worse, so it is harder to get a job. I am really disappointed. It I am

28 years salt, I have graduate -- I am 28 years old, graduated from

university and without a job. winter sun is a big draw for

visitors. Streets and beaches are empty and the number of tourists is