28/02/2013 BBC World News

Hello, this is BBC World News. The top story: The Pope greets his

cardinals for the last time before heading into retirement

TRANSLATION: Today I promise my obedience and unconditional love.

After ten years of conflicts, the Thai government agrees to talks

with Muslim rebels. European Union votes to cap

bankers' bonuses but will they go elsewhere? And meet the white otter.

Hello. History will be made today when

Pope Benedict XVI flies off to retire ment ina helicopter.

The Pope has been saying farewell to the cardinals electing his

successor. He promised whoever they choose, the next Pope, will receive

his unconditional reverence and obedience.

Jon Sopel has the latest for us in Rome.

Tim, thank you very much. Yes, it has been a two-week long farewell.

Today it cull name -- come United States with his departure to Castel

Gandolfo, where he will still until a new Pope is elected.

This morning in the Vatican he gathered with his cardinals, most

of whom had had appointed. He heard an address from Cardinal

Sardono. We can see where he greets and embraces him. This is the Dean

of the College of Cardinals and will have the responsibility of

organising the conclave to choose Pope Benedict XVI's successor. He

gave an address thanking Pope Benedict XVI for the work that he

had done. Then a short time after that, Pope

Benedict XVI rose to speak. We had been told yesterday that this would

be the last time we would hear from Pope Benedict XVI when he did the

general audience in St Peter's Square, but he rose from the thrown

and he spoke to the cardinals about the work that he had done, that

they had done. TRANSLATION: The Church is a living

thing. It must intervene like a living thing.

Its heart is Christ. The experience yesterday shows the

Church is a living body with the holy spirit.

It is in the world but it is not of the world. We saw the Spirit of

Christ yesterday. We are here overlooking St Peter's

Square with Monsignor Roderic Stranger, the head of the

Pontifical Beda College. I needed to get that in the right order.

Lovely to see you. We can see the pictures of what has been going on

in the Vatican this morning, the Clementine Hall. This is something

personal to each of the cardinals. That he wants to pay a personal

farewell and vice versa? I'm sure he does. Because the Pope is not

dead, there is no official period of mourning but for a while we will

be mourning. That always happens, whether a sharp change in life it

has left a gap. When somebody goes into retirement, we mourn for him.

The other thing that should be said is that the Clementine Hall, this

fabulous Rennes building from the 14th century is where the Pope's

lie in state when they have died. Pope John Paul II did? Yes.

Now, it is a living Pope that the cardinals are saying their

farewells to? Yes, making their farewells to. There is something

powerfully significant about that. I would really hope that the Pope

Benedict XVI has years to come in which he will be able to enjoy

retirement. We understand he is not going to publish but no doubt he

may write and certainly he will be reflecting and playing the piano, I

hear. He is also going to be nearby. I am

not trying to suggest power behind the thrown but he will be in a

former convent in the gardens of the Vatican behind the walls, where

he, presumably, I am sure it will be a source of some comfort to

whoever his successor is, to talk to. If they have a problem they can

ask for advice, counsel? There may be some of that, but I do think it

is important, as you were saying, that we do not try to wrest this

situation into a political situation. I was thinking earlier,

when Margaret Thatcher left office, forced out of office, John Major

became the Prime Minister. People went, "Want he her candidate? How

much influence would she be having "qop we should not see this

situation in those terms it is easy to cast it in those terms as that

is the political scenario. What form is going to take now with

the cardinals? Is it really about what is important to the Church, or

is it about personalities as well? I am sure it is a bit of both. I

think that the first thing is it think about the needs of the Church

at the present time. I expect there to be different views amongst a

large body of men such as this group of cardinals. Perhaps they

want a stronger hierarchal Church, more defendant control from Rome.

Others may say "no", that they need to engage more around the world.

That Rome needs to look, to create that kind of a partnership with

other bishops. The other thought to make, when

over the half of the cardinals PROBLEM WITH SOUND Have been

selected by Pope Benedict XVI, whoever succeeds him is going to be

pretty much in the same mould, idea logically? You can never be sure of

that. Pope John Paul II? 26 years, chose an cardinal a Pope-created

cardinal by Paul VI. That is not precise an analogy but you never

know what is going to happen, what fresh life may come from the new

Pope. That is what the Vatican watchers are so fascinated by,

enjoying what is happening here. Monsignor Roderic Stranger thank

you very much. I have no vote in this conclave!

Thank you very much. Back to you in the studio.

Jon Sopel speaking there. Rome is at the centre of diplomatic efforts

to resolve the crisis in Syria. John Kerry has been meeting key

figures from the Syrian opposition after they dropped their boycott of

the meeting. They have called on Bashar al-Assad to stop the

indiscriminate bombing of populated areas. It includes a Scud missile

attack on Aleppo. We hope to be crossing to Rome to hear a press

conference held by the new Secretary of State, John Kerry. We

are to take you there in a moment, but now onthank Marcus has more

details. -- Jonathan. The new Secretary of

State, John Kerry. This Rome meeting with the Syrian opposition,

it is billed as a moment to see a significant shif in -- shuft in US

policy. Moaz al-Khatib is here to. He had

intended to boycott the meeting, a sign of frustration, among many in

the opposition, who see that the Western opposition is doing too

little to end Bashar al-Assad's grip on power.

The policy is shifting in Rome but probably not fast enough for many

in the Syrian opposition. They want Western weaponry. Anti-tank and

anti-aircraft systems, that they believe will significantly alter

the balance of the forces on the ground.

Without such a military shift in gear, the fighting is looking set

to continue, with neither side able to force a shut down. The stakes

here at the Rome meeting are high, but there is a sense that many

western governments are struggling to match diplomatic action to the

scale of what is unfolding inside Syria.

Well, let's go to Rome because we are told that this press conference,

we think it will be held by John Kerry, the new US Secretary of

State and the leader of the Syrian National Coalition, Moaz al-Khatib.

We think that is about to start in the next few minutes. We are

returning to there as soon as it does.

The reporters were sitting down, the expectation is, was that the

two men would come out. Let's move on, they are milling

around. Let's move on until the press conference starts. 5,000

people have lost their lives in a conflict in Thailand over the past

decade. Now both sides are trying to find a resolution. A deal has

been brokered by Malaysia, to lead to peace talks. Could this be a

break through moment to end years of violence in southern Thailand?

The sides have agreed to start talks to end nearly a decade of

fighting it is part of a peace initiative, brokered by the

Malaysians. It is thought nearly 5,000 people have been killed

during the long bloody insurgent. Ever since 2004, fighting has

become a daily fact of life in Thailand's three southern most

provinces. One of the worst days of fighting

came earlier this month when militants launched an attack on a

thiel military base. 16 insurgents were killed in the -- on a Thai

military base. 16 insurgents were killed, but it seems to have

increased the will to talk on both sides. One of the chief negotiators

for the rebels sounded hopeful. TRANSLATION: In God's will we will

do our best to solve the issue. We will tell our people to co-operate

in solving the problems in the south.

But this is still very much the start of a process untested and it

could stumble on many issues there. Is faction fighting between the

militants themselves. The Thai government has no intention of

granting concessions like autonomy for the southern provinces.

That would upset the thiel Nationalists.

-- Thai. New rules agreed by the European

Union could spell the end of passive performance bonuses for

bankers. A deal reached in Brussels, could mean that the bonus is no

large are than the banker's annual salary. The British Government

opposes the proposals it believe it is will drive trade away.

Let's move on to the City. Chris Beecham is there in London.

Chris, what do you make of the British Government's attitude on

this, their argument it will drive businesses away to Zurich and

elsewhere? We know the importance of the City of London economy. So

the British opposition to the move is expected, but this looks to be

the first time that London will have lost an argument on finances

services with the European Union. So the ram fuductions of this could

be intense. -- Ramifications. you can only get a bonus as much as

your annual salary, surely the banks will raise salaries? This is

a difficult thing for the banks, salaries could go up. The bonuses

could decrease. It, in a sense, although the EU is making the banks

safer it makes life harder for the banking industry to react to

changing forces in the market. The bonus rules, as I understand it,

will apply to all banks that have staff in Europe. So if you are

working in New York for example in Deutshe Bank, the same will apply?

That is the intention of the EU. If you have branchs in New York and in

other parts of the world, how it is placed with financial regulators it

becomes an issue. I don't think that we have seen the end of this

discussion yet. Not within the EU or other parts of the world.

Still to come: Marciano, mission with a difference. -- Mars, mission

with a difference. Why this man wants a couple to spend 17 months

in a capsule, the size of a small bathroom.

President Enrique Pena Nieto has made a televised address in the

hope of heading off the dispute of the country's head who is accused

of diverting more than �200 million in funds.

The President insisted that the case and that of others, was purely

a legal matter. The self-styled Maestra, or the

schoolteacher behind bars. For more than 20 years, she has led

the most powerful union in Latin America with an iron fist, but she

is now facing her biggest challenge yet. The Attorney General's office

accused her of emBusiness Secretarying more than $200 million

of the union's funds to pay for plastic surgery, accounts in high-

end department stores and two luxury homes in San Diego. During

that time she was on a teacher's salary. So significant is she to

the Latin America life, that the President gave an address to appeal

to her supporters. TRANSLATION: I reaffirm my

commitment to the teachers of Mexico. The government will

continue to be your ally and work to improving the conditions, to

raising the education of the citizens of tomorrow.

Meanwhile, her union members are planning the next move.

For now, they have only made a general expression of solidarity

with her. The arrest comes shortly after

President Enrique Pena Nieto signed a sweeping education reform into

law which will require all teachers to under go regular assessments.

The new law is intended to tackle corrupt practises in the country's

ailing education system, ranked last out of the OECD nations.

For years, this woman has been seen as the symbol of all that is wrong

with education in Mexico, but after two decades working alongside

successive Presidents, her fall from grace has been swift and

Let's take you back to Rome. That press conference, with the Friends

of Syria Meeting, with John Kerry has started now. The Italian

Foreign Minister is introducing the two men, John Kerry and Moaz al-

Khatib. Let's listen in.

TRANSLATION: I would like to say what Italy has done up to now. In

the past few months, together with our main part nrs in Europe and

together with the United Nations, with have taken action on a

humanitarian plane in order to alleviate the suffering of 2

million internally displaced persons and throuss of refugees. We

have allocated 30 million euros to help neighbouring countries to

alleviate the suffering and we have supported the components of the

coalition in seeking a leadership and a programme of action and we

want to have a strong convincing alternative to the dictatorship.

Today, the meeting in Rome has given us a new momentum. I think

that we are taking a step forward. Firstly because we are taking the

responsibility to provide not only humanitarian support but material

assistance to the coalition. This stepped up support must be

perceived in the Syrian territory through our support to local

councils in the liberated areas and the possibility of opening

humanitarian corridors and to be closely co-ordinateed with all of

the countries who have met here today. Our friend, Moaz al-Khatib,

has just pro news nowed encouraging words on the work that he is doing

with his colleagues. The opposition must be able to fully play the role

that it has in order to build up a new democratic Syria. He told us

that they are about to establish a provisional executive body which

should be operating within a Syrian soil.

I wish to close with a warning. This was expressed during today's

meeting to the regime in Damascus. They have to clearly show a

democratic swaugs in sura with the exiting of Bashar al-Assad --

situation. Of course, all countries working

side by side are involved, we can say that the Syrian people will

never be left alone. Now it is a pleasure to give the floor over to

the US Secretary of State, John Kerry. After his remarks we will

hear remarks from Moaz al-Khatib. Thank you very much.

Thank you for welcoming us, thank you for hosting this very, very

important meeting in Rome. We are honoured to be here. Moaz al-Khatib,

thank you for joining us today, for being part of this important

discussion. It is a pleasure to be here working with friends on a very

important and consequential issue. We are grateful for the opportunity

to come together with allies, partners, working together in

pursuit of peace. Peace is the first resort.

It is important to be joined here today by our partners, the Syrian

opposition coalition. They are the legitimate voice of the Syrian

people. That stands in very stark contrast to the rule of Bashar al-

Assad, who long ago lost husband legitimacy, who is out of time and

who must be out of power. So with our united voice today, and

the voices of those other minister who is have joined us from other

countries from the Gulf, from across Europe, with our united

voice we express our commitment to helping the Syrian people. We want

to help them to achieve the goal of living in a free, a safe, a just

society. Their goal is our goaled. So we are determined to find a way

forward to a better day that we know awaits Syria. A day that will

not come as long as Assad is in power.

For more than a year the United States and our partners have

gathered now in Rome have called on Assad to heed the voice of the

Syrian people. To halt his war machine.

Instead, what we have seen is his brutality increasing. Just this

week, we witnessed a desperate leader engage in ruthless attacks

on Aleppo with rockets. With the appalling use of Scud missiles,

claiming dozens of innocent lives. I herd the story of the 70 young

men and women taken, whose lives were wiped out.

Even hopts have come under attack in his cold blooded evident to

cling to power. The similar fact is, Assad cannot shoot his way out of

this. And as he deludes himself in pursuit of the military solution,

the United States, our partners, and now the Syrian opposition

coalition make a different choice. Our choice is a political solution.

Outlined in the Geneva communique, which Russia has also signed on to.

It is in line with the opposition's own transition plan. This must

include a transitioning governing body with full executive powers,

formed on the basis of mutual consent. This is the right path to

peace. It is one that can unite the Syrian people, re build a society

that respects and protects them, regardless of their ethnicity,

religion or gender. These are the same standards that we set for our

own countries. So there is nothing different here. All Syrian,

including those who have not yet taken side in this conflict must

know that they all can have a future in a post Assad Syria. The

opposition is prepared to take the steps necessary to get there. The

question we ask today is this, will the regime allow its people this

chance at peace, or is it going to continue its brutal campaign?

Because as we make clear today, the United States's decision to take

further steps now, is the result of the continued brutality of a

superior armed force, propped up by foreign fighters, from Iran, and

Hezbollah, all of which threatens to destroy Syria. The US, and all

the countries represented here, believe the Syrian opposition

coalition can successfully lead the way to a peaceful transition. But

they cannot do it alone P They need more support from all of us, and

they need President Bashar al-Assad to make a different set of

decisions, so today, on behalf of President Obama, who has been very

clear about the stakes in Syria, I am proud to announce that the US of

America will be providing an additional $60 million in non-

lethal assistance to support the coalition in its operational needs,

day-to-day, adds it continues to organise and work for the political

transition we all want to see. I look forward to working with the

United States Congress on this. This funding will allow the

opposition to reach out, and help the local councils to be able to

rebuild in their liberated areas of Syria, so they can provide basic

services to people, who often lack access today, to medical care, to

food, to sanitation. This includes helping Syrians preserve

institutions of state, which are critical, to enabling a future

transition in Syria itself. And also, to helping those who work

within them, those without blood on their hands, to be able to continue

to do their important humanitarian work.

STUDIO: The new Secretary of State announce nouings an extra $60