27/03/2012 BBC World News

World leaders pledge to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism, as a

security summit in Seoul comes to an end. The former head of the IMF

is facing charges over his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring.

Thousands greet the Pope, as he celebrates mas in Communist Cuba. -

- Mass in Communist Cuba. Welcome to BBC World News. Also, tracking

far-right fugatives. Germany clamps down on nationalist extremists.

It's a big year for the Royal Household. They are looking for

more butlers, so what does it take World leaders have stopped short of

calling for concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons at

a summit in South Korea. Instead, they pledged strong action to

combat it. They agreed to minimise the civilian use of highly enriched

Uranium. We have this report from Seoul. The security of the world,

said US President, Barack Obama, lies in the actions taken here by

these global leaders. Speaking at the opening of the summit's main

session on Tuesday, he emphasised the threat posed by nuclear

terrorism and called on nations to work together to tackle it. There

are still too many bad actors in search of these dangerous materials

and these dangerous materials are still vulnerable in too many places.

It would not take much just a handful or so of these materials to

kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people. That's not an

exaggeration. That is the reality that we face. The hosts say they

expect new voluntary commitments from individuals to reduce and

protect nuclear material. They are also hoping to make progress

towards an international agreement on standards for nuclear security.

TRANSLATION: We have done our best to save the world from the perils

that may come. So, in that regard, I think this was a very good

opportunity to reaffirm our commitment that was shown in

Washington and we have taken a big step forward. This summit is taking

place just an hour's drive from North Korea, which, along with Iran,

is not attending the talks. North Korea's nuclear programme is seen

by many as a more pressing issue than rules on nuclear security or

safety and it's been a key topic of discussions, at least in the

bilateral meetings taking place on the sidelines. North Korea is also

more of a headline grabber than the detailed technical discussions

happening here. Senior officials have complained of public apathy

towards the threat of nuclear terrorism. Attitudes towards safety

changed after Japan's Fukushima accident, they say, but nuclear

security is a different game. The costs of waiting for a terror

attack to trigger reform may be much higher. Afghan security

officials say a masseuse side attack has been foiled in the

centre of Kabul. Eleven jackets packed with explosives were seized

and several people arrested inside a security zone around the MoD.

Some of those detained are reported to be soldiers in the Afghan

national army. Bilal Sarwary yoind me from Kabul to give me the --

joined me from Kabul to give me the latest details. Reliable officials

have been telling the BBC that the seizure took place yesterday

afternoon. When members of the Afghan national army shot at two

British troops, that's when we heard about it yesterday. The

jackets were in three separate rooms in the car park. Eleven buses

were supposed to transport around 1100 MoD personnel to their homes,

when what officials say a tip-off came and they went and seized those

jackets. Several people have been arrested, including soldiers who

were supposed to guard the area, which is less than a kilometre away

from where the President lives and works in Kabul. We were talking

this time yesterday about the problems of security and

infiltration within the Army. What can the Government do? The Afghan

Government has simply failed for the last year-and-a-half to prevent

rogue soldiers and Taliban ill filtration. We have had, last year,

a very high profile case of Taliban infiltration into the Ministry of

Defence, when a senior official helped a sow side attacker in army

uniform get all the way to the minister's office. That official

was later put in jail, but it just shows you how much infiltration

there has been at higher levels and across the country. We understand,

from Afghan intelligence officials, now, that the issue of infiltration

is systematic. It's a strategy. It's not a tactic. It's a strategy

by the Taliban and others, they say. China is calling on all of the

countries involved in the conflict in Syria to co-operate with Kofi

Annan's efforts. The UN and Arab League special envoy has been in

talks in Beijing. He told the premier, he can't do the job alone

and needs support. The former head of the IMF, Khan Khan Khan, has

been placed under formal investigation in France, over his

alleged involvement in a vice ring that procured prostitutes for

parties. -- Dominique Strauss-Kahn. He was questioned by magistrates in

Lill efplt. -- Lille. He's been placed under formal investigation

for his suspected involvement with a vice gang, that operated in Lille

and Washington, where he was head of the IMF until last year. It's

suspected that at these parties there were a number of prostitutes,

who were brought in or hired, using co-operate funds illegally and it's

also suspected that Dominique Strauss-Kahn knew about it. That

really is the crux of the case, whether he knew the women that he

was having sexual relations with were prostitutes. There was a

rather interesting line from his lawyer a few weeks ago, during the

police investigation, in which he said, "As you can imagine at these

parties people are roaming around without their clothes on and I

challenge you to identify a normal woman without her clothes on from a

prostitute." That might raise some eyebrows in certain quarters and

prove a good defence, were it not for the fact that there are text

messages that have been exchanged and also evidence from the woman

who took part. Obviously, he was a huge political figure. That is

presumably in tatters? Yes. I was thinking yesterday that at this

time last year he was the front- runner for the elections that are

weeks away. It was quite understandable that he was, because

he was highly respected for the job he was doing at the IMF. Two months

later he was arrested and I wonder whether all the subsequent

allegations that have come out since would have come out had that

not taken place? How things have changed. The press that never use

today Dell of into the private lives, have Dominique Strauss-Kahn

all over the front pages. This is DS K under investigation there, the

headline. The same headline in this newspaper. Front-page news. This is

the right-wing paper and inside on page 14, this morning, a little bit

about the caution he's under. It says he's facing a - he's under

100,000 euro bail and released yesterday after eight hours with

the judges. It says he's not allowed to be in contact with those

who are part of the vets gation. -- investigation. There are eight

others, including a senior police officer. It says the possible fine

and sentence for pimping as part of an organised gang is 3 million

eurosened 20 years in jail. -- and 20 years in jail. Aaron is here. We

have been looking at plane strikes in Germany. Airport strikes. The

ground-handling staff and those who work on the ground at airports in

Germany, we are talking about. This is off the back of the largest

union in Germany. It's one of the largest in Europe. It represents

around two million people in Germany, across local workers and

public workers from nurseries, to schools to public administration

officers and yes, airport workers. Hundreds of flights affected?

believe the latest number we are hearing is 450 have been cancelled.

Frankfurt seeing the biggest impact. It's the largest airport in Germany.

The third largest in Europe. It's a global hub, so about 450 flights

cancelled by several airlines, including the national carrier, but

this is what they call a warning strike. Verdi has been choosing

certain sectors and certain areas and workers and just choosing the

little warning strikes because negotiations start this week to try

to reach a 6.5% wage increase. They've been offered 3.3%. They're

saying it's not enough. Stephen Evans, the BBC's Berlin reporter

gave us the latest. We'll see what he had to say. Latest is that about

a quarter of the flights that might be going have been affected. That's

a substantial impact of the strike and much more than we might have

expected. The way this thing will go is the union, which is the

biggest in Germany, is calling these warning strikes, selected

strikes in selected places with selected pits of the public sector,

the two million you mentioned, in the run-up to negotiations in about

24 hours' time. If that gets nowhere there will be mediation

between the two sides and if that gets nowhere, the union will

contemplate going back to its membership and seeking a mandate

for more strikes and bigger strikes. That's the way it looks like

playing out. They are going into the negotiations saying, "Look,

we've got proper industrial muscle and power. If we choose to flex

those muscles it will have an effect on ordinary people, so you

need to take notice." That will be the message, I have no doubt.

move on. You may remember last week, towards the end, the head of the

ECB, Mario Draghi came out and said that the worst of the eurozone debt

crisis is over. We'll look at the opposing side. It's not over. This

is according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and

Development. The OECD warned the region's banks are weak and debt is

rising and it says the emergency fund should be boosted to one

trillion euros to cope with future shocks. An economist said people

want reassurance about the size of the bail-out fund. What the City

has said that they are concerned about the bail-out fund and the

suggestions from Germany that it would be 750 billion from the

current level. The problem is these bail-out funds the best use for

them, is as a precautionary measure. It's the best when you don't have

to use it, but they're talking about market confidence and if

something bad were to happen then there would be money to protect a

large economy like Spain or Italy. The President of the Japanese money

management fund AIG has admitted to covering up losses of 1.3 billion

dollars in customers' pension money. He appeared before Japan's

Parliamentary committee to explain how the firm lost such a large sum

of money. What we got from the head of AIG was an apology and his first

admission of wrong-doing. He said and admit that had the company had

falsified investment reports, but said there was no intention to

deceive clients. He said all along he had believed they would be able

to recoup the losses that were made. The losses were made and people's

pension funds on risky investment and options, futures, on stocks and

on Government ponds bo. -- bonds. He also said that what was left of

the money, one billion or more lost, would be returned to clients in a

fair manner. Although, he didn't have details of how that would be

done. Other stories now and one of Europe's biggest banks is due to

report earnings. The Italian banker had a difficult year and forced to

raise extra money from shareholders to meet new EU banking rules. Also,

gym conning Kim embarks on a global tour to promote himself. African

and Latin American companies have fielded other candidates. The

Nigerian finance minister and the former Colombian bank chief are

certainly in the running as well. Here's the markets. -- Jim Jong Kim.

Very cheap money in the United States will remain while they are

struggling with the jobs creation. That's it. Don't you hate when

It is reported that Syria has accepted Co fee and an's six. Plan

-- six-point plan. It appears the Syrian government has written to

the UN, except in the plan, and that they have urged the Syrian

government to put these commitments into immediate effect. He views

this as an important initial step that could bring an end to the

violence and bloodshed and to bring aid to the suffering and to create

an environment conducive to political dialogue which will

fulfil the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. This is a

statement we are receiving. It is also stressed that implementation

is keep for all those concerned -- is key all those concerned. More on

that as it comes in. Pope Benedict has urged Cubans to

build a renewed and open society, during a mass in front of tens of

thousands of people. He was speaking at the start of a visit to

the communist country. Among the congregation was the Cuban leader,

Raul Castro, who listened to the Pope stress the importance of faith

and freedom. From Havana, Ian Pannell reports.

Slow steps forward for an unlikely couple. With an unsteady gait, the

Pontiff and President walked side- by-side. There was a time when such

a visit would have been unthinkable. But today Catholics and Communists

co-exist. This is not supposed to be a political event, but that is

not how it sounds. I carry in my heart beat just aspirations and

legitimate desires of all Cubans. Their sufferings and Joyce, their

concerns and noblest desires, bows of the younger and Alderley, the

sick and the workers, of prisoners of their families. -- the young and

the elderly. 14 years after the visit of John Paul II, the economic,

political blockade against Cuba the still in force. That was stated in

the US Memorandum of 1960, the purpose of the blockade was to

cause hunger, desperation and overthrow the government. This is

only the second papal visit to Cuba, a chance to cement relations and

boost the role of the Catholic Church. The faithful flocked to an

open air mass in Santiago. Song, dance and bred in the country's

second city and former capital. Pope Benedict preach a message of

faith and tolerance. But in a nod to the desire for change, he spoke

of the need of human freedom and open society. What he called one

that was more worthy of society. It is 14 years since John Paul II

visited the island and since then there have been small but important

political changes. But for the Vatican, this is a fine line it has

to tread between pushing the case for further and faster political

reform and continuing to build on its fairly good relationships of

the Cuban government. -- with the Cuban government.

You're watching BBC World News. Coming up: Germany clamping down on

a nationalist extremists. The US Supreme Court has decided it can

hear legal challenges to President Obama's controversial healthcare

legislation. Nine judges will hear evidence now for three days. Their

decision is expected in June - in the midst of the presidential

election campaign. Our Washington Passion and politics on the steps

of the US Supreme Court. What do you want? Freedom! When you wanted?

Now! As senior judges begin deliberations, supporters and

opponents of what has come to be known as Dyer Care have come to

debate. Lech him have health insurance. -- let him have health

insurance. I am not supporting him! The battle over the affordable

health care Act was Titanic. It only just passed Congress before

landing on the desk of the President. It was a Bill designed

to extend coverage to millions of At its heart, the so-called

individual mandate. Cities since compound -- citizens compelled to

buy protection or face a charge. One way or the other, the Supreme

Court must arbitrate. Its findings could have enormous political

implications. No surprise to see one of the Republican Party's

presidential hopefuls addressing the crowd. If you really want the

health care law repealed, there's only one person who can make it

happen, and that is someone who makes it the central issue in this

race, and that is what I do. since the 60s has the court spent

three days discussing a single subject. The ruling, expected in

June, will be one of the most -- eagerly awaited in recent times.

It is believed that an accomplice of the gunmen who killed seven

people in southern France to the Alger zero network. It is reported

to show a montage of the shootings accompanied by readings of the

Koran -- algae zero network. Seven people were killed by Merah,

including three Jewish children. He was shot dead by police on Thursday

after a 30-hour siege at his home. This is BBC World News. I'm Geeta

Guru-Murthy. The headlines: Syria says it accepts a six-point plan

from the UN to end the long-running violence in the country. The former

head of the IMF is placed under formal investigation in France over

his alleged involvement in a prostitute ring.

The German authorities are trying to track down far-right fugitives

following revelations that three neo-Nazis were apparently able to

carry out a decade-long series of racially motivated murders. A

parliamentary inquiry is underway as people demand to know whether

nationalist extremists are more numerous and more dangerous than

the authorities had led them to believe. Katya Adler set off around

This was the scene in Dresden last month. The familiar face of the far

right. Aggressive looking young men calling for a Germany for the

Germans. But Germany's intelligence services say the cliches are out of

date. You cannot tell who was a neo-Nazi on the streets any more.

Take the immortals, and the globalisation, anti-capitalist,

anti-democratic and they warn of the impending extinction of the

German people using text messages to organise spontaneous Damos

across the country, like this one in their propaganda video. --

spontaneous demonstrations. They tend not to call themselves Nazi or

neo-Nazi, but rather Free forces. They harness social media and use

modern forms and a means for protest. When it comes to then, one

intelligence agents told me that the security services in Germany

are really out of their depth. Martin is a former neo-Nazi leader.

He asked us to hide his identity. They leadership is always trying to

attract members of the so-called upper classes. Students to one they

can act as lawyers or doctors. They can really do something to of the

movement. You never imagine that those people would support to the

far right and they were denied their affiliation in public, but

they are very much part of the movement -- they would deny their

affiliation. The nationalists want a new order in Germany, non-

democratic, none multicultural. They are establishing what they

call national liberated zones dotted across the country, like

this estate outside Berlin. Years ago we had some clashes, riots,

even some beatings of people. They forced out what they called a

political enemy. Foreigners, left- wingers, Democrats, whatever.

village in north Germany has pretty much been taken over. In its centre

is this the Nazi Germany style mural, proclaiming the villages

free, social and national. Following recent revelations of

right-wing hate crimes and murders, Germany's government says it is

taking action. There have been hints and indications of right-wing

extremism, but it was not taken seriously enough and therefore we

have something now high on the political agenda. It is a minority

Movement, but the so-called German Free forces are a force that need

to be dealt with, but the question There has been an elaborate funeral

for the late King of Tonga who died earlier this month. 1,000

pallbearers took it in turns to carry King George's coffin as it

made its way down a street lined with the grieving people of Tonga.

Half the population of the country lives abroad, the money returned to

pay their last respects. That -- but many return. Part Christiane,

part Polynesian, the state funeral was filled with prayers, hymns and

reflections on the life of the 63- year-old man who transform the

country into a democracy. Derided by some for living a jet-set

lifestyle, most admired the King for his character and judgment.

is very sad for us in Tonga. thank God for the life of the King.

King George was a flamboyant bachelor with a flair for

extravagant military uniforms. He wore a monocle and joked about how

he travelled around in a London taxi. The London Taxi has the right

proportions and makes it easy for you to get in and out whilst

wearing Spurs and a sword. But it was for his democratic reforms he

will be remembered, and keeping up his own powers to meet them at --

demands of his subjects who do not want to be subjugated any more. Now

he has been laid to rest with the former Tongan monarchs. His younger

brother succeed him. King George leaves behind a country with

formidable economic problems but also one with enviable standards of

health and education, and all rooted in a system that majorities

Here is some research which you might find difficult to believe.

Apparently eating chocolate as often as you like could help you

keep slim. Scientists from San Diego say even though chocolate is

loaded with calories, it contains ingredients that may fable weight

loss. A fan knows that a chocolate a few times a week were, on average,

slimmer than those who waited case like -- they found that those who

ate chocolate a few times a week. Syria has agreed to the UN six-