20/09/2012 BBC World News

Mass protests across India against fuel prices and a move to allow

retail giants like Walmart into the country.

Syrian activists claim rebels have shot down a military helicopter in

the town of Douma, not far from the capital, Damascus.

Spain goes to the bond markets in a further test of confidence - as it

resists calls to seek a financial rescue. Welcome to BBC World News.

Also in the programme: It's back to work for South

Africa's miners as they accept a big pay rise at the mine where 44

people died in a protest over wages. Born on a battlefield - a British

soldier who didn't even know she was pregnant has a baby on the

Afghanistan front line. Hello. A day of strikes and protests have

been taking place in India as the government seeks new ways to

stimulate the economy. The key point of contention is the decision

to allow global giants like Tesco and Wal-Mart to enter the country's

retail sector. Sharp rises in diesel prices have led to strikes

by truck drivers and a key ally of the coalition government is

refusing to support the Prime Minister.

Venting their fury, against the supermarket giants.

These protestors want to keep them out of India. It's a political back

lash against the government's plan to bring in more investment and to

boost the economy. It is also giving the opposition a

platform. Political parties from the left and the right are united

in protest. This is one of several protests taking place across India

today. This one is being addressed by the President of The main

opposition party. He is joined there by a number of smaller

political parties. Politicians, trade unions, businesses, they are

all taking to the streets to oppose the recent economic reforms

announced by the government. They are also building political

pressure on the Prime Minister. Across India, shops and businesses

shut down as part of a strike call. Otherwise, bustling markets,

completely deserted. The police were out as well to keep

things in check, but they had little to worry about. Disbite all

of this, the opposition plans to keep the pressure on.

The people continue to suffer because of their malgovernance. We

are not to be blamed. As a prince yipal in position, if they were

entrusted by the people to govern, the people have been trusting them

the duty to ensure that the government is done.

The Prime Minister, has spear- headed the reforms, but one of the

biggest partners in the coalition government has pulled out, he know

-- now face as serious challenge. Despite the protest calls not that

many came out on to the streets. A sign, perhaps, that not everyone in

India is unhappy it is the one thing that the government will bank

on to see it through this crisis. Now to Syria. There are reports

saying that a military helicopter has come down in the town of Duma.

That is close to the capital, Damascus. The government has been

using helicopters more and more with other aircraft against the

rebel forces. Activists in the area say that the aircraft was shot down

by rebels. Diplomats and financial experts

from more than 50 countries are meeting in the Netherlands. They

are looking at ways of putting economic pressure on the Syrian

regime. I spoke to Abdo Husameddin, a former Syrian Oil Minister. He

defected from the regime back in March. He explained that Bashar al-

Assad's extended family may have huge amounts of financial resources,

assets, hidden abroad. Bashar al-Assad himself is

supported by his cousin. They are talking about probably the fact

that more than $so billion is kept by them. There are other faces,

they are hidden beside the regime itself. -- $10 billion. All of this

money is not directly under the names of the Bashar al-Assad regime,

but which other names. They are family members. There are

are trying to make transactions for the family money.

Right, you defected in March, it was a big step for you to take. Do

you believe that there are colleagues of yours also ready to

follow? Are you in touch with any of them? Yes. I am still in touch

with some of them inside, of course outside the country too, a lot of

people. Now it is more difficult to defect.

The regime has made new steps, there are many guards with each

official now. They are there to protect them, but

they also account for their place and to know exactly what they are

doing. So I believe at the moment it is very difficult for these

people to defect. Now, we are picking up on the business. Jamie

is here with a lot to get through. It is all gloomy! You didn't have

to say that, but it may depend on how Spain gets on with the bond

auction? It was a success today, but still people believe that they

are going to need more money. Let's talk about the gloomy stuff.

It has deepened amongst European business. This is according to a

company called Markit. Its index for the eurozone includes

manufacturing services, showed the weakest readings since June, 2009.

France saw a sharp downturn in business activity. Chris Williamson

is the chief economist, I asked him about German's performance.

It was a good result compared to what we have seen. More signs of

stabilisation and growth returning, but a big contrast to the previous

months where we saw Germany sliding into the depths that the rest of

the eurozone is in. But this is a bad picture

everywhere? Pretty much. We don't break out for all of the countries

at this stage. This is a preliminary estimate, but we break

out for France. There was a strong downturn there, the fastest rate of

contraction since early 2009. France is joining the other

countries in the worrying state of contraction at the moment. Germany

is riding through it more resiliently.

Now, Spain has successfully auctioned 4.8 billion Euros worth

of debt. More than we would have thought.

They have borrowed at 57..%. So it has been a success. Spain is being

helped by the European Central Bank. It promised to buy Spanish debt if

it needs to keep borrowing costs low. There are question marks,

though, over Spain's general finances. Many believe it will have

to ask for a built soon. Nick Parsons, the Head of Research at UK

& Europe at National Australia Bank in London, I asked him if and when

Spain is likely to ask for that famous bail out.

Probably for the next five or six weeks, teleare good reasons to

believe that the Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, will not be asking

for a formal bail out package. That is interesting, the virtues

catch-22 situation. What will change it? You say you give them up

to six weeks of grace. What happens to change the situation? We point

to two things. The first is the Echo Fin meeting on the 18th and

the 19th of October. The European finances ministers will be putting

pressure on Spain to do the necessary thing. To finally succumb

to the conditions that the ECB is demanding. To put a formal bail out

request in. So there will be a lot of pressure from the fellow

Europeans. Then on the 21st October of there are regional elections in

gal itcha. That is Mariano Rajoy's Homebase. We don't think he would

want the perceived iingnom any of requesting a bail out prior to

those elections, but with that out of the way, we are thinking that

the middle or the second half of the fourth quarter, that is when

Spain will step up and will, I think, agree to the conditionallity

that is necessary for the ECB's rescue package.

Nick Parsons there. There could be a round of job cuts

at bank of America it is reported that the bank plans to cut 16,000

posts. Part of an efficiency drive by Brian Moynihan who took over in

2010. 200 branchs are to be closed, adding to 170 closures that took

place in 2011. A panel of US judges to hear how investor lawsuits

against Facebook can proceed. Dozens of prosecutions have been

made after accusations that the company selectively disclosed

negative information about its prospects. The stock has fallen as

much as 50% since. Japan's experts fell 578% since

August. This is according to data just released. They have been

pushed down for a third month by the eurozone's debt crisis

The markets: The European markets are all down. There are worries

about the economic figures. They are not official economic figures.

It is a survey, a Purchasing Manager's Index Survey. It is the

effect of its promise to buy bonds in the markets of dispress --

distressed markets, but even with that, with the bond sales, the

grass roots level feel that the grass roots level feel that the

economy is not performing. Jamie, thank you very much. More to

come, including convict cuisine. We tell you how the inmates are

offering fine dining to paying customers.

The Burmese opposition leader, Aung Sang Suu Kyi has finally received

in person, the US Congressional Gold Medal. She described it as one

of the most moving days of her life. She also met President Obama. He is

said that she was happy with the lifting of sanctions.

Aung Sang Suu Kyi and President Obama, two Nobel Peace Prize

winners at ease with each other in the Oval Office it is a measure of

Aung Sang Suu Kyi's power, that she was received in a room normally

reserved for visiting heads of state.

Congress did not hold back either when it came to welcoming her.

Several of the dignitaries sounded almost amazed that she was really

there. We are joined not only by a

fearless champion of human rights and democracy... But a member of

Parliament. It's almost too delicious to

believe, my friend. I might have hoped, but I'm not

sure that I expected that one day I would have the honour of welcoming

my personal hero, Aung Sang Suu Kyi, to the Congress of the United

States. Aung Sang Suu Kyi was given the

Gold Medal in one of Congress's most ornate rooms. On its walls,

large paintings show the key stages of America's struggle for freedom

and democracy. In her speech, Aung Sang Suu Kyi said that the struggle

was not over in Burma. She thanked the Congress for its steadfast

support. From the depths of my heart, I

thank you, the people of America, and you, the representatives for

keeping us in your hearts and minds during the dark years when freedom

and justice seemed beyond our reach. Aung Sang Suu Kyi has urged the US

administration to ease its sanctions against Burma, saying it

is time for the Burmese people to take control.

It is not clear whether the politicians here are ready to do so.

Now residents of a shanty town in the Philippines have failed to stop

the demolition of their homes. It was a sad way for them to lose

their community. They threw rocks This is BBC World News, I'm. The

headlines: Millions of Indians are being affected by an opposition-led

strike against the prime minister's plans to raise fuel prices, and

open up the economy. Syrian state television says a

helicopter has crashed in the town of Douma, near the capital,

Damascus. Rebels claim they shot it Thousands of miners at South

Africa's Marikana platinum complex have returned to work. The mine was

the scene of violent protests in which 44 people died. The striking

miners reached a wage agreement with the mine owner, Lonmin,

earlier this week, though industrial action is continuing at

mines elsewhere, with workers demanding similar pay rises.

Speaking from Johannesburg, the BBC's Andrew Harding described the

miners' mood. For they all seemed quite keen now to get back to work,

after six weeks without pay. They have been offered up to 22%

increases, with a bonus for returning to work today. That

agreement appears to be standing. People flew into the minds complex

today but it will be a few days before proper mining resumes after

such a long stoppage. The real concern now shifts from Marikana,

two other mines, with concerns there may be copycat illegal

strikes. We are seeing signs of that in one gold mine and one

platinum mine in the area. It will be difficult for other vines to do

something which is other than matching this action? People are

feeling there will be big pressure now on wages, on companies to meet

that 22% pay rise. Whether that happens will be interesting to see.

The real difficulty at the moment is the question of what happens to

collective bargaining and unions which were sidelined during the

Marikana negotiations. Will workers at other mines now turned their

backs on their unions and go it alone? If so, we could see more

unrest. If the unions managed to regain their credibility, things

should stabilise. More now on the strikes taking

place across India. Alpesh Patel is a financial commentator, and CEO of

Praefinium Partners. He joins me now from our central London studio.

This notion of foreign direct investment, particularly those

terrifying words like Wal-Mart and Tesco, which bother a huge sector

of people in India. Do you think, in spite of these protests, this is

the inevitable unfolding? I don't think those words terrify people in

India at all. Words like Coca Cola, McDonald's, Pepsi, are very much

welcomed. They have been there since liberalisation in the early

90s. So smaller shop owners and businesses say it is the last thing

they need, Giants taking over. doubt there are that many shop

owners say that because India with its 1.2 million people -- bn people,

live in small towns and villages, whereas these big corporations want

to go into big suburban areas to compete with the mid-size retell

outlets, of which there are relatively few. These areas are

comfortably middle-class. The workers going around with their

trollies, door-to-door delivering fresh produce, will not be out of

work at all, because it would be inefficient for big companies to do

that. This is political opportunism by the opposition. It has been

going on a long time. The LEAs have been allegations of corruption,

increasing food inflation -- what has been a long -- what has been

around a long time has been these allegations. Hikes in fuel duty,

because of subsidies being taken away. That is what is hurting the

people and mass population, which is why you have these protests. The

trigger point, the Tesco point, is because you can galvanise people

around a lightning rod issue. The protests are for something far

wider and more deep-rooted within Indian society, high food costs,

corruption across the board, that is what they are protesting about.

Do you think this time around, this will get through Parliament? The

government will push it through? do not think they have the majority

for it, they're technically a minority government. In the spirit

of political opportunism, there will be a vote of no confidence and

it will be difficult to see how the government will be able to kick

this without bribing small parties together in coalition. I do not

think they can pass this but they will be able to say, we tried,

because, at the moment, the biggest criticism of the government other

than corruption is they are not passing any legislation. They can

say they are trying to be bold and take the initiative. But they have

been halted. A British soldier who didn't

realise she was pregnant has given birth to a baby boy at Camp Bastion

field hospital in Helmand Province - the base that was attacked last

weekend. The MOD says both mother and child are doing well. She is

serving with the 12th Mechanised Brigade, who are currently

returning from Afghanistan. The BBC's Defence Correspondent,

Caroline Wyatt, has more. The soldier has been serving in

Afghanistan since March. Two days ago, she complained of

severe stomach pains, and was astonished when medics said she was

about to give birth. Her son was delivered safely at Camp Bastion

Field Hospital, prematurely, in the 34th week of pregnancy. The gunner

had conceived her baby before being sent to Afghanistan. A specialist

paediatric team from John Radcliffe Hospital will travel to Camp

Bastion to help provide care for the soldier and her baby on the RAF

It adds it is not military policy to allow women to deploy on

operations if they are pregnant and, in this case, they were not aware

of her pregnancy. It's thought this is the first time a British soldier

has given birth on the front line, although up to 200 servicewomen

have been sent home since 2003 from Iraq and Afghanistan, when it was

discovered they were pregnant. Military rules ban pregnant

servicewomen from frontline duties, although last year another female

soldier gave birth two weeks after returning from a six-month tour of

duty. This unusual case may well fuel further debate over whether

more medical checks are needed for the Armed Forces deploying women to

the front lines. A pre-inquest review is being held

into the death of Alexander Litvenenko, the former Russian spy

who died in London in November 2006. He was killed after being given a

radioactive cup of tea at a hotel. Our security correspondent Gordon

Corera reports. Alexander Litvinenko, a former

Russian security officer, and fierce critic of the Kremlin, who

met a slow painful death in a London hospital. At first, his

illness was a mystery, before tests showed it to be the result of

radiation poisoning, with the rare substance polonium. Police began

following the trail of polonium across London. They found traces at

a sushi bar in Piccadilly he had eaten at. At offices in Mayfair he

had visited. Crucially, at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair.

Alexander Litvninenko drank tea at this hotel with some Russian

visitors, the moment police believe the radioactive poison was

administered. The trail led the Crown Prosecution Service to say it

had enough evidence to charge this man, Andrei Lugovoi, now a Russian

MP, who has denied any role, and who remains in Russia. With no

suspect to go to trial, Litvinenko's widow has pushed for

an inquest in the hope this will find answers. I would like to know

who killed him, and why? Six years ago. I hope I will know this

finally, after this long six years. Today's hearing is designed to set

the guidelines for the full inquest. The central question is how far it

will go in investigating this most unusual and controversial death.

If you thought prison food was just porridge and watery soup, think

again. A restaurant inside a prison has opened in Wales. It's run by

the inmates, but open to the public. Hywel Griffith has been for a taste.

Meet the chefs serving a long stretch. At the Clink, they offer

everything from fresh crab ravioli, to goat's cheese tarts. Hardly a

diet of porridge. They will learn the skills of fine dining to help

prisoners like Kenyon Reid prepare for life on the outside. The first

time I've had a proper job, so it is a good experience at the end of

the day. How is it different from the life you had before you came to

prison? It is that different. Before then, I had an easy life.

Here, you have to work for it. project started life at High Down

Prison in Surrey, but this will be the first prison restaurant fully

open to the public, walking off the street. Inmates are paid �12 a week,

leading to accusations of exploitation. A charge strenuously

denied. Would you rather be banged up 24 hours a day, feeling sorry

for yourself? Or in the community, working, training, learning? I know

what I'd rather do. The food at the restaurant is a

world away from what the inmates eat themselves. It gives them a

taste of a normal working life. All the prisoners who work in the Clink

are category D, the lowest risk. Most within months of finishing

their sentence. The Ministry of Justice insist they are not being

given an easy time, or unfair advantage when it comes for

competing for work on the outside. Prisoners are here to be punished,

they are in custody to be punished. We are not in the business of

running a luxurious regime in British prisons. But this isn't

just about punishment, but about public protection, rehabilitation.

If it's to survive the fickle food business where restaurants open and

close in a matter of months, the Clink will need to be more than a

novelty. One guest who knows all about building a catering empire is

impressed. Everything, including the dessert,

it is fantastically made. I would say it is more laudable to find

food like this in a situation like this, than pay a lot of money for

something you know is commercial. The Ministry of Justice already

plans to open two Clinks a year across the UK. Fine dining behind

bars could be on the way to a town near you.