17/12/2012 BBC World News

President Obama tells a vigil in Newtown, Connecticut, that he will

use all the powers of his office to try to prevent further mass

shootings, but can he really take on the gun lobby? We prepared to

say that such violence visited on our children year after year after

year is somehow the price of our freedom. The funeral of a nurse who

killed herself following the royal hoax call is taking place in her

hometown in southern India. A car bombing in a busy market town in

Pakistan's volatile border area kills at least 17 people. Welcome

to BBC World News. A sweeping return to power for Japan's Liberal

Democratic Party, but can make revive a slumping economy? And the

Swiss bank UBS is reported to be facing a $1 billion a fine for its

part in the libel rigging scandal. -- LIBOR. President Obama has given

the strongest pledge ever made by a US President to take on the gun

lobby. The President was speaking at a service for the 20 young

children and six staff who were killed in a mass shooting at a

school in Connecticut last Friday. Laura Trevelyan reports from

Newtown. A moment but Newtown to come together, after the horror and

the heartbreak. And into fake prayer vigil for the dead. In his

role as the nation's comforter in- Chief, the President offered this

insurance. I'd come to offer the love and prayers of a nation. I am

very mindful that words cannot match the depths of your sorrow.

Nor can make your your wounded heart. I can only hope it helps

when you to roll that you are not alone in your grief. The President

praised the teachers who died trying to protect their charges. As

families held their children tightly, he said mass shootings

couldn't be tolerated any more. can't accept events like this as

routine. Are we really prepared to say that we are powerless in the

face of such carnage? That the politics are too hard. Are we

prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after

year after year is somehow the price of our freedom? As Newtown

grieved for the 20 Lost children, Barack Obama named each one.

Benjamin. Gabriel. Alison. God has called them all home. Newtown is

experiencing heart rending sorrow. Watching the President's speech was

an emotional experience for many. His coming here is very monumental

and I think it means a lot to everyone here. I think he raises a

question that everybody is thinking about. What else can we do? More

should definitely be done. There's too many kids dying, too many

shootings. It doesn't belong anywhere. As this town mourns, the

President's call for meaningful action in the wake of these

killings will soon be tested. A senior -- a senior Democrat Paul

tried to introduce a law to ban weapons. The question is whether

the political climate has changed after this tragedy so that such a

BAM can pass. In southern India, the funeral has begun of the nurse

who committed suicide days after the London hospital where she

worked was tricked by a hoax phone call. The Duchess of Cambridge was

being treated there at the time and details of her condition were

released. Jacintha Saldanha's husband and two teenage children

have travelled to the service in her home town of Shirva. Our

correspondent Sanjoy Majumder is also there and told me how people

have been reacting to news of the nurse's death. There are a lot of

questions being raised here. People who knew and worked with Jacintha

Saldanha when she was here. Other people who followed it very closely

when it was written up in the newspapers will be watched the

reports on television. Of course very saddened by it but wondering

why things came to pass, what has happened. There's been reports of

the three notes she was said to have left behind. People are

wondering if they will get to find out what was written in them, which

would perhaps give everyone an indication of what was going

through her mind just before she died, so that they can have a

better understanding of what events led to her death. Let's catch up

with the business use. Japan, new leader, new economic policy. Yes,

hopefully they will be able to get something to work this time. A

long-running recession happening there. We have big lifts coming

through on nuclear power stocks. We've got a new premier, Shinzo Abe.

He gets a second chance to lead Japan after the landslide victory

for his Liberal Democratic Party. Many are hoping that this new

government will help the world's third largest economy break out of

a 20 year economic slump. Markets reacted well to be news. The Nikkei

is currently up by 1% today. The yen is down Meir A20 month low

against the US dollar. But finding a solution they not be as easy as

many people are expecting. Japan's public debt is more than twice its

economic output and it still climbing. Meanwhile, figures out

last month showed the country has slipped back into recession for the

fifth time in 15 years. The chronically strong yen has

continued to hurt the country's exporters. Now the new Prime

Minister has promised a revival plan which seems seductively simple.

Print lots of money and spend it. But will that do the trick? I was

talking with our correspondent earlier. It is a huge challenge.

Japan's debt is huge. The economy hasn't been grubbing that much an

almost two decades. Even though we have seen it,, it weakened quite

significantly after his victory on Sunday, it still remains rather

uncomfortably high for exporters who tried to sell their products.

They are the backbone of this country's economy. The challenge is

huge. In terms of whether Shinzo Abe can resolve all the problems,

opinions are quite split. Some analysts say he has learned his

lesson since he was once the Prime Minister back in 2006. He will go

ahead with some of these bold measures in order to solve the

issues around the economy. Others say all those talks were just to

win some votes ahead of the election, and Batty would possibly

just go back to the old style of running the economy, which could

potentially mean possibly more debt for the Japanese government.

the political system over there in Japan, over the last 20 years we've

seen lots of the Government's come in. They all seem to come out with,

yes, we're going to do A, B and C. A lot of this doesn't happen. Is

there any indication that this time around it could be different?

least this time around Shinzo Abe' Liberal Democratic Party of Japan

won a rather landslide victory in the lower house of parliament. We

also have the upper house election coming up in the summer. If the LDP

manages to win that election as well, then it will solve what we

are calling the twist of Parliament, where the two parliaments have had

different parties as the leader of the majority. If the LDP manages to

win the next election as well, I guess it would mean more smooth and

decisive actions from the government when they tried to

implement some of the policies. Swiss bank UBS is reportedly on the

verge of paying more than $1 billion in fines to settle charges

of manipulating the interest rate known as the London interbank

lending rate. It will be more than double the find that was levied by

regulators in America than Britain against Barclays for the same type

of the offences. It doesn't bode well for the Royal Bank of Scotland,

which is tipped to be the third bank facing LIBOR rigging of vines

in the next few weeks. Industry expert Chris cava explains why the

find is expected to be so big. Barclays were the whistleblowers.

They were the first to inform the authorities that it was taking

place. Potentially there were issues of collusion taking place

between the banks. UBS is the first now to be fined. They admitted in

Japan criminal wrongdoing, which is quite a significant thing to take

place, if that is confirmed. This is a fine which will be between the

US, Swiss and UK authorities of over $1 billion, maybe as much as

$1.6 billion, which is three times the amount of Barclays. It is

showing there is a real move to get the banking system back to where it

should become an effective system. Meanwhile, the tax row and the UK

is likely to place up again. London's-the Ritz Hotel has not

paid any corporation tax in 17 years, since it was taken over. The

BBC's Panorama programme analysed the accounts of the hotel bought by

We've had a set of declines coming Most of the reason for that being

Greco, this is one of the world's largest portable power supply

companies. They've been doing badly because in 2013, not so many major

events as in 2012, no Olympics, no At least 16 people have been killed

and 70 injured in a car-bomb attack in Pakistan's volatile tribal

region. It happened in a crowded market in the town of Jamrud, near

the Afghan border. Women and We know from police officials that

this happened because a car packed with explosives very close to that

market place went off mid-morning. All of the dead it appears were

civilians, including women and children. There's been lots of

discussion since then through the day on the Pakistani news channels

as to exactly what the target would have been. All of those people

killed were civilians. There were suggestions earlier that it was

close to the offices of a political agent, but that was still some

distance away. There were no security forces or any basis of

security forces closed by. Unfortunately, it's not as if they

haven't been attacks in the past where civilians have very much been

the target. That debate is going on. We still don't know any more about

what the motive was and even who carried this out, because no one

has come forward to say they were responsible.

It seems that periodically we report these incidences. What kind

of reaction does it have amongst the public in terms of course for

this to stop? It appals people every time,

particularly attacks like this where civilians bear the brunt of

the attacks. Pakistanis have gotten used to this over the years, over

the last five years or so. Hundreds of people per year have been killed

in these militant attacks. Sometimes groups claim to have

carried them out as revenge against operations against them. Some time

civilians are just caught up in in fighting between particular

militant groups. That might have been the case in this area.

Pakistanis feel powerless to stop it. But they have been calls

recently for the government to do much more. Not just in reaction to

attacks like this but in terms of putting the people away who

perpetrate these attacks, putting them away in jail. That is seen as

the main problem here. Those who carry out these attacks are not

punished. Those who plan them are not put away in jail. That is

something that Pakistan still hasn't got to grips with.

Overall, the battle in this area has now been going on for years. Is

it possible to assess whether there's a sense of progress or not?

If you want to look at the numbers of people killed in attacks each

year, that has come down over the last 18 months or so, if that is

the yardstick by which you want to go by. But otherwise there are

large areas of the tribal areas that are controlled by militant

groups and while the Pakistani government and the authorities here

don't have control of those areas, and while those militant groups are

able to continue their training, they are recruiting, then of course

the attacks they carry out are Still to come... Fiji is battered

by its strongest cyclone in 20 years. Homes are destroyed and

roads washed away. In Greece, football teams are turning to

unusual sources to get some money A memorial ceremony has been held

at the mausoleum where two former leaders of North Korea are interred.

The country is marking one year since the death of its previous

ruler, Kim Jong-il. His son and current leader, Kim Jong-un,

attended the service with his wife. 17 years in power did little to

lessen the mystery of North Korea's former leader. Kim Jong-il di deary

go with few people even having heard his voice. The country he

passed to his son was starting to look a little better isolated with

the prospect of food aid from the United States. One year on and all

of that has changed. Kim Jong-un has shown a much shorter, more

emotional style of leadership. There's been a lot of hugging and

smiling for the cameras, a new theme park with roller-coaster and

a relaxed and photogenic young wife. There's also been more money from

China, new buildings in the capital and reports of small-scale economic

reforms. In fact, according to analysts in the south, North

Korea's economy grew 0.8% last year, the first positive growth for

several years. But to the irritation of allies and enemies

alike, this is what the new leader spent it on. Estimates suggest the

two rocket launchers he ordered this year may have cost over $1

billion. Enough to buy several years worth of food. There have

also been military reshuffles and it's thought purges and both Koreas

have beefed up their military hardware along the disputed sea

border. So what kind of leader is Kim Jong-un? North Korean

leadership is in dilemma. On the one hand, he should continue the

mandate of his father, Kim Jong-il, the military's first politics. But

on the other hand, he has a mandate to revitalise the economy, feed the

people. But those things can't go together. Kim Jong-un is in a catch

22 situation. In South Korea, the government's hardline policy

towards the north is coming under scrutiny ahead of Presidential

elections this week. If the Liberal opposition candidate wins, there

could be fresh offers Live Aid, economic ties and ongoing talks.

North Korea's new isolation could The headlines:

President Barack Obama, speaking at a memorial service for the victims

of the primary school shooting in Connecticut, says the United States

must do more to protect its children.

The funeral of the nurse who killed herself following the royal hoax

call to a London hospital is taking place in her hometown in southern

Here in Britain, it's emerged that the Queen will attend Tuesday's

Cabinet meeting as an observer. It's the first time it's happened

since Queen Victoria's reign more than 100 years ago. David Cameron's

Cabinet will present the Queen with a gift - paid for by themselves -

in honour of her Diamond Jubilee. She is expected to sit beside the

Prime Minister. Joining me from Westminster is our correspondent

Naomi Grimley. I don't know how many political discussions or

honesty comes through at the Cabinet table any more, but likely

to be very interesting. Yes. She will not be saying much. She will

simply sit down as an observer and she will also receive this gift.

Cabinet ministers are going to be digging deep into their own pockets

to come up with a Diamond Jubilee gift for her. It is a way of

rounding off a year of celebrations. Last week she went to the Bank of

England so it is thought this week would be a good time for her to

replicate what Queen Victoria did and go to Cabinet. For former prime

ministers always say she is incredibly well-informed, but the

key point is the Queen has no political power these days.

doesn't, but she does have an important constitutional role,

which is to advise and warm bright ministers, but she does that every

week behind closed doors at the weekly prime ministerial audience.

She is now on her 12th Prime Minister so she does bring a wealth

of experience to that role. have you spoken to any ministers?

Will they have scripted any comments? I'm sure they will have

to be on their best behaviour. She is not taking the Duke of Edinburgh,

who is well known for being forthright in his opinions!

Coalition government is interesting at the moment. Thank you.

In Syria, the vice-president has said neither the government nor the

rebels can win the struggle for control of the country. Meanwhile,

activists in the country say government forces have continued

their bombardment on the southern edge of the capital Damascus. The

BBC's Jim Muir is following developments from Beirut in

neighbouring Lebanon and says there's been no response yet to

Farouq al-Sharaa's comments. does seem to be the latest sign

that the regime is in some distress. When you have the Vice President

saying openly that the regime can't win this battle, while his bosses,

the President and his coterie, are pursuing what they describe as a

security solution to serious problems, it is quite striking.

Farouq al-Sharaa is a Sunni Muslim, he has obviously been feeling not

very happy because he has been very, very quiet for a long time. He is

not seen much in public, there are rumours he may have defected. They

are untrue, but there's still a feeling his heart and soul is not

with the regime and his declaration that the regime can't win, but

neither can the rebels, and that there has to be a negotiated

solution, is a sign of the times that things are not going well for

the regime. Of course the rebels would take issue with what he is

saying, they think they can win. There's no chance at the moment

that they would want to share power with Mr Assad and his departure

along with at least his top aides is one of their key demands for any

kind of political process and peaceful transition. Briefly, more

fighting on the edge of Damascus? That's right. On Sunday, there was

rocketing by warplanes, allegedly, and according to a video shown on

YouTube of a mosque in the Palestinian refugee settlement on

the southern edge of the city. Quite a number of people were

killed. You could see horrible images of body parts scattered up

the steps up to the mosque. Since then, there has been further

bombardment of that area of the southern edge of town and bombing

and shelling on the eastern side of the city as well, with allegations

of cluster bombs being dropped by planes and video to back that up.

Thank you. More than 3,500 people have been

taken to emergency shelters in Fiji after the biggest cyclone for 20

years swept across the Pacific island nation. Authorities are

warning people to stay in the shelters as Tropical Cyclone Evan

batters the country with gusts of up to 270 kph. Paul Hobbs, a

correspondent with TV NZ in Fiji, said the cyclone has caused

widespread damage. The cyclone struck probably about six or seven

hours ago. When I woke up this morning, there was a very light

breeze but it started to build a through the day and about six or

seven hours ago it was like the flick of a switch and the winds

went from a breeze does something for Russia's. Off it has left this

fragile economy stricken. -- a ferocious. Have people got enough

places of safety? Not at all. Saying that, there are a evacuation

centres set up, but this is a very fragile infrastructure and a very

poor country. There are a number of nice homes and good homes and great

hotels, but the very -- vast majority of Fijians living very

simple homes. We have been driving about and we have seen trees felled,

trees through Holmes, power lines down, no cellphone coverage, the

internet, the power is out. We have seen at a number of very, very

upset and distraught people huddling in evacuation centres in

complete darkness as they have tried to come to terms with the

fact that they might go home in daylight and see nothing of their

houses. The financial crisis in Greece has

hit all sectors, including sport. Funding for amateur football has

been cut, so two teams have resorted to unusual sponsorship to

make ends meet. As Mark Lowen reports, not everyone's happy about

The beautiful game has a colourful new backer. In tough times, who

else to turn to but the local brothel? And unconventional sponsor,

but Villa Erotica has kept the team on the pitch. For matches, the

players must tone down with neutral shirts. But the coach says football

is full of much shadier sponsors. think it is more a moral to

advertise betting companies and alcohol than a sex sells. --

immoral. Most men, especially of a young age, have visited these

houses because it is a human need. A charitable brothel, he would have

thought? Probably not the leggies staff, more focused on other duties.

Inside, kitsch is king. Beyond the unique decoration and pricey girls,

cash spent here now goes towards a new cause. TRANSLATION: I love

Greece and I like helping young people. This brothel is legal. The

government doesn't give money for sport or education or anything so

why shouldn't the poor football team come to me to give them help?

But a warning light from the local Football Union, which says selling

sex should be kept out of sport. is not acceptable to promote it.

Many football players are under 18. We know prostitution is a part of

life, but it is not the right lifestyle for young athletes,

especially amateur footballers. the next-door town, a different

patron. This funeral parlour has given the local team a new lease of

life. They sport black, not pink, and they cross not a brothel.

Another unlikely saviour for cash- strapped football. An amateur and

national level Greek sport has a bleak future, with almost no

investment, budgets slashed and training for Mrs Daley's dash

training facilities crumbling. A few years ago greased hosted the

Olympics and were crowned champions of Europe. Now teams are having to

resort to desperate measures to survive. Which side wins? Both.

Vital money raised to spare these teams and perhaps a little more

custom drummed up for the undertaker and the madam.

Before we go, there is something of a latest news on your revisions.

Few was in Switzerland have picked a group from the Salvation Army to

represent them next year. Switzerland apparently hasn't won

the contest since Celine Dion won in 1988, but the son of a nation --

Salvation Army musicians were chosen at the weekend and will

compete in Melbourne next year. The band includes and 94-year-old