>> taking into the streets. mass protests against spending cuts and plans to raise the retirement age in france. deadlock over. julia gillard clings to power by the narrowest of margins. after the flood, the aid of appeal in pakistan is boosted by help from hollywood. >> is not just at tent washed away. it is a collapse of their entire life. >> welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- man of iron. as -- does it vladimir putin hope for another stint as president? and how the parsis community is trying to secure the survival of

their community and religion. heller to you. hundreds of thousands of protesters have been on the streets of france, demonstrating their anger at government austerity measures. a 24-hour strike has disrupted flights, trains, and closed schools. president sarkozy wants to raise the retirement age from 60 to 6 2, say the changes are unavoidable. we have this from paris. >> choked with protest. a vast crowds have come out against plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to six detail. there was also a major

disruption to transport as workers went on strike. this nurse complained, we worked nights, weekends, public holidays. we do not get a chance to rest. that was the mood of the marches. that pension reform was threatening the french way of life. >> we were of very long time. we have to work along dirt time, and that is completely unfair. >> i lead by example. i go to night shift until 6:55. >> at the union said to let -- the union said 2.5 billion were on the streets. the government said it was closer to 1 million. unrest is growing. in french parliament, the government claimed all european countries are facing higher

retirement ages. disrupted the recession, and eventually it was suspended. back on the street, it was noticeable that families had joined the day of protest. one reason the struggle of a retirement matters so much is that presidents are cozy is expected to announce spending cuts. if he struggles to get pension reform group, he may also have trouble with his austerity package. people know that presidents are cozy will need to find 35 billion pounds in savings -- president sarkozy whinney to find 35 billion pounds in savings. >> some little spending cuts, why not? but the real reform, the real plan for the budget -- it is

impossible. correct what happened in france is being watched closely -- >> what happened in france is being watched closely, because europe faces us see us strikes as governments bareback cherished benefits. bbc news, paris. >> the spanish prime minister and has called on a basket separatist movement to lay down its arms forever. -- of basque separatist movement to lay down its arms forever. mozambique has reversed its decision to raise bread prices by 30%. food riots last week left 13 dead. bread will now be sold at its previous price of 14 cents. every year since 1998, more than 30,000 japanese people have killed themselves.

japan's health ministry estimates cases of suicide and depression caused the economy $32 billion last year. the government has launched a task force to address the problem. more than two weeks of political deadlock have ended in australia with confirmation that labor's julia gillard will continue as prime minister, would be backing, at last, of to independenct mp's. she has been near west possible majority. nick bryant has this. >> it is like the finale of a tv reality show, with the winner kept a closely-guarded secret until announced live on television. it came down to two of the so- called 3 amigos.

>> my vote will be done to the julia gillard government. >> i am confirming for the governor general of australia that i will do today what i have always done, ironically, and give confidence to government. >> julia gillard faced the end of her government and possibly her career. she survived as prime minister by the narrowest possible margin. >> the election in two weeks ago is the closest in modern memory. what the australian people told us, they told us on an uncertain terms -- that we will be held more accountable than ever before. >> the election august 21 ended in deadlock. neither julia gillard's ruling labor party nor tony avant's coalition had enough seats -- tony abbott's coalition have enough seats. yesterday it was neck and neck.

julia gillard had 74 seats. tony had it had 73. it was left to independent mp's. first, of vote for tony abbott. but then when two votes -- but then two votes fort julia gillard. last week, opposition leader tony abbott described himself as the head of a government in waiting. today, he was forced to concede defeat. >> the coalition won more votes and more seats than our opponents, but sadly, we did not get the opportunity to form a government. >> there has not been a hung parliament here since the second world war. the australians are used to strong and decisive government. this one looks altogether more fragile. it raises the obvious question -- how long will it last?

nick bryant, bbc news, sydney. >> some kind in to political uncertainty in australia. in iraq, six months after their election, some of government. gabriel gatehouse reports iraqis do seem hard and to every possible challenge. -- hard and do every possible challenge -- hardened to every possible challenge. >> ouch. that looks like it hurt. iraqi politics are no less torturous. in the back rooms where horsetrading goes on, iraqis have a more pressing business. news been into get this barbershop? people gathered here all day. quite a bit of that the sides

and back, please. thank you. >> poor electricity, and a lack of jobs -- these are some of the things the barber years about from its customers. but a political breakthrough could make things worse, not better. >> we will have more difficulties if the government is formed. the losers will not concede defeat. it could go back to the sectarian violence of a few years ago. >> the months of deadlock have taken its toll on people's faith in politicians -- in politicians. many do not believe that having a government one make much of a difference in their lives. there is one area where the vacuum of power is being felt, security. >> i think this security stability can be handled more firmly. now they are hoping, the

terrorists, by having this political disruption, they can penetrate the cracks, if you like, in the political system. >> on stage in baghdad, actors are rehearsing a new play. it is a new comedy about the relationship between the politicians and the people. >> the fact that the government has not yet been formed is pure comedy. we can make fun of the government, but we would rather not because of the lack of security. >> oday says he has been asked by government officials to turn down his satire of it. even in democratic iraq, people have to watch what they say. better than the old caretaker government you know, then and you cannot. gabriel gatehouse, bbc news, in

baghdad. >> one of hollywood's best known stars wayne -- was in pakistan today trying the the attention on the flood victims. and angelina jolie had a job to do. a u.n. says that aid is already drawing up. orla guerin is there. >> hearing survivors tell their stories, and angelina jolie met the victims of the floods. women robbed of so much. some have lost homes, and some have lost children. the hollywood star came to bear witness to pakistan from latest tragedy and to tour the rubble. more than 20,000 people used to live in this village. refugees from afghanistan, now refugees from nature. >> these people are displaced by the floods, and they have left

their homes. the flood water was as high as the ceiling, when you see the mark. and i was surprised by that. it is not just the 10th that is washed away. it is the home and their entire life. many of them lost their children during the floods. this is terrible. >> the united nations refugee agency hopes our presence will keep the spotlight on pakistan and remind the world to dig deep. collecting needs are enormous and growing. now angelina jolie has had a chance to see the camp for herself. she has seen it families struggling to survive. she has had a glimpse of the living conditions here. and now she is appealing for more help. but those we mets have lost faith in outside help. these men knew someone had come from america, but they did not

know who. >> people, and ago. they speak with officials. but there is no change for us. we are still living and -- we are still living in misery. >> five weeks on, the misery is continuing to spread. for some in the southern province, the nightmare is just beginning. the waters have just arrived. more people in need in a country already unable to cope. orla guerin, bbc news, northwest pakistan. >> still in pakistan, militants have carried out a huge bomb attacks against police in the northwest. at least 20 died when a vehicle exploded. on monday, a suicide bomber killed 19 at up police station. women and child victims of mass rape in the democratic republic of congo has been failed by

united nations peacekeepers. that is according to a u.n. official. over 500 women and children have been raped in the past month. violent scenes in the ukrainian parliament as opposition leaders tried to seize control of the podium. they are angry at the government for increasing the retirement age for women in double in gas prices. do stay with us if you can on "bbc world news." still to come -- the lives of american troops could be at risk. that is the warning from the american commander in afghanistan as a florida church threatens to burn other -- a koran. first, of foreign minister in france and says he will do anything necessary to save a woman sentenced to stoning in

iran. >> our family fears she may only have days up to live. sakineh mohammadi ashtiani was condemned to death for adultery by an iranian court. iran executes more prisoners than any other country except china. but it is the manner by which she is due to die that has caused international outrage. the pictures have ever emerged from a stunning in iran, but these bloodstain rocks show the aftermath. here in rome, of italian politicians have called on iran to show mercy. while the vatican says it may lobby tehran. and in france, the foreign minister was more direct. >> this punishment is an act that is impossible to even imagine. it is the height of barbarity

and returned the middle ages. this sentence should be placed in the context of the oppression, the sentencing, and the execution that followed the reelection of president mahmoud ahmadinejad. >> the execution was put on hold during the holy month of ramdan. with that weak over, sakineh mohammadi ashtiani has been warned she may be killed later this week. i'm in a shot has responded to international criticism with -- on their job and has responded to international criticism. bbc news. >> the latest headlines for you this hour on "bbc world news." more than 2 million people have taken to the streets according to french unions to protest

pension reforms. and julia gillard has managed to hold on as australia's prime minister. two members of parliament decided to back her minority government. the commander of international forces in a pianist and is warning of serious repercussions if of a church in florida goes ahead with plans to burn a copy of the koran. this is to mark this week's anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. >> this is what worries general david petraeus. 500 people in kabul, gathered to demonstrate because of one small church in america that plans to bring copies of the koran. the protesters threw rocks at u.s. army vehicles. >> we are very worried about the implications of a possible koran burning in united states.

it puts our soldiers in jeopardy, very likely. we have already seen the demonstrations here in kabul just at the rumors that this could take place. and that the images from such an activity could very well be used by extremists here and around world and in the same way that they use images from abu gharib and other instances. >> the church says it plans to go ahead. the church only has 50 members and is run by terry jones. many see it as a fringe movement. but right now, this man has everyone's attention. mr. jones justifies his plans in an interview for the bbc. >> is we do not do it, when do we stop backing down? when do we stop giving in to islamiah, or radical islam? when they burn the flag, when

they kill christians, when they burn churches? >> but in washington, religious leaders rejected these thoughts. >> we need to get the message out that this is not a country where these things happen. these are the acts of very small extremist people who feel they are doing the right thing, in short, but they are taking themself out of the mainstream of what is it christianity today. >> this follows the controversy over plans to build an islamic community center several blocks from ground zero in new york. nine years after the 9/11 attacks, the relationship between united states and islam is still unresolved. bbc news, washington. >> whether it is a holiday photographs of him on horseback

or putting out for is buyers, the message is clear. vladimir putin is seen as a strong man, comfortable, in command. all of this is feeding speculation that russia's prime minister would like another go at his old job as president. >> vladimir putin has not spent much time in office lately. russia's prime minister has been busy bear watching. he has been taking it skin samples from whales. and fighting forest fires from the air. images that feed into his reputation as the action and of politics. but the next presidential election a year and a half away, could this activity be the start of a campaign? >> is put more like to become president -- if proven would like to become president, i cannot think why he would not. he is realistically it very,

very popular in russia. people love vladimir putin. he is funny, raising hell. they like him. that is what they expect from him. >> in contrast, russia's president, dmitry medvedev, is rather less flamboyant. there are signs that his prime minister is grabbing the limelight and tension is growing between the two men who run russia. >> he definitely does not want the prime minister to come back. they are thinking what would he do. for them, that is a disaster. >> but does the man who has already been president twice really have an appetite for a third term? when vladimir putin invited guests to a dinner on the black sea, he kept us guessing. men fifth --

president dmitry medvedev and i have an agreement. but we do in 2011 and 2012 will depend on the situation in the country. it is too near to talk about this. >> if he decides to months to return your to the kremlin, that is likely to happen. but the next election is a year- and-a-half away, said the not expect mr. clinton to reveal his plans -- so do not expect mr. pelton to reveal his plans anytime soon. >> a question for you. what does freddie mercury and a conductor have in common? they are descended from the zoroastrian migrants that fled their country years ago. life in this close community has its drawbacks.

>> of fading fay. the teachings of the profit zoroaster. now this religious group fights to keep the tradition alive. young priests are taught special ceremonies. the ceremony is closed to non- parsis. [unintelligible] even 10,000 going down in one year, it is a big number. thrivingndia's financial capital. a city the parsis helped build. this in and helped found ndf's contemporary -- this man helped found ndf's contemporary art

movement in the 1940's. -- india's contemporary art movement in the 1940's. >> india with their country. they put in their best. >> from the time they moved here from burst up 1000 years ago, the parsis hat integrated into india while maintaining their unique identity and culture. faced with extinction, they are using new, desperate measures to keep the community telling. among them, the fertility credit aimed at couples who find it difficult to conceive. -- project aimed at couples who find it difficult to conceive. like this couple, whose twin girls were born after joining. >> it basically creates an awareness. it encourages couples to conceive earlier in their

reproductive age group. correct for the next generation, new ways to reach out and bonds, like facebook and speedskating advance -- speed dating events. >> and no one has time to go on 40 dinners or lunches, what ever it is. >> desperate measures, but these are desperate times for india's 18 parsis community. a ging parsis -- aging parsis committee. bbc news. >> you will find more spot that an international news online at bbc.com/news. you can catch up with me and most of the team on twitter. i'm @bbcmikeembley. and i have my twitter feed working again. you can see us, too, on our

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