>> on the front line, the most violent place in afghanistan. >> the marines were pushed out so fast when people did not in favor could, because there were being so aggressive. >> more than 100 mafia suspects are held in one of the biggest crackdowns in history. googled's fourth quarter profits are over shattered by a force -- by a leadership -- are overshadowed by a leadership shake up. my name is mike embley. coming up later, the world geological organization says 2010 was on average one of the warmest years on record. and it is not easy being green. this family's eco-friendly prize may lack a few comforts.

>> hello, sad to say there is a lot of competition for the title of "most violent place" in afghanistan. many, many afghans have been killed in here. british troops have held it at great cost. now u.s. marines have replaced the british and 26 have died in just four months, but they are also claiming dramatic successes. the bbc correspondent has been embedded with a u.s. marine battalion. >> this was the most dangerous place in afghanistan. four months after u.s. marines arrived, it looks peaceful. it is too soon to see if it will

last, but the marines did it, they say, with a change in tactics. the posts were closed, freeing forces to pursue the taliban. >> i felt that throughout the battle was a change that was needed and that was to free us up to maneuver against the enemy. i wanted to regain the momentum of attack. i wanted to put the pressure on the enemy. the town may be relatively secure, but the surrounding district is not. just beyond this patrol base is territory the taliban calderon. and -- call their own. the marines spend our on-hours on foot patrol every day, hoping to run into the enemy. often, they do.

>> when the u.s. marines first arrived here, they were being fired upon in their main bases more less every single day. now they have expanded a level of security, as they call it, and the fighting is mainly skirmishing out in the countryside. >> started down. -- target down. >> the man they killed was not a taliban gunman, but a spotter. how did they know he was not a civilian? >> he was talking on a radio and then he came back out and presented himself, trying to be inconspicuous. that is when we dropped him. >> on the way back, they burn piles of corn, so the taliban cannot use them to hide weapons. but to be to an insurgency,

often you have to do things which may increase support for it. you burned my mays, says the farmer, now i have nothing left to feed my cows. >> i will file him a claim and he will be able to take it to the district center. >> what kind of farm does he have? >> we need water so i can grow my crop of opium, he replied. victory depends on winning over the population. the marines often deal with those who claim that relatives have been killed by the international forces. we do not want your help, they tell the marines who had just offered compensation. we do not want your money. you should not kill us. you should not destroy our property. you even killed one of our cows yesterday. what singh did the gauck commit? -- what sin did the cow commit?

the marines have had 26 killed in four months. >> the reasons they have pushed out so fast when people did not think they could is because they are being very crest -- aggressive and the high command is letting them be. i do not think they are doing something wrong. >> a taliban sniper. some are irreconcilable, those who have traveled here to fight. [gunfire] most are locals. marines are hoping to demonstrate to them that nato will be the eventual winner here. then it is hoped they might switch sides.

and it will be time to hand mckeown over to the afghan forces. -- to handle the town over to the afghan forces. >> about 110 people suspected of involvement with mafia groups have been arrested in new york and neighboring american states. the u.s. attorney general, eric holder, says this suspects face charges including racketeering, extortion, murder and drug dealing. five families are among those targeted. >> just before dawn, over 100 alleged mafia members were arrested across three states. hundreds of fbi agents swept through the homes of new york's infamous five mafia families. these arrests are the culmination of many years of investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies. >> this is one of the largest

single day's for operations against the mafia in the fbi's history, both in terms of the number of defendants arrested and charged, and the scope of the criminal of activity that is a legend. >> the charge against the alleged mobsters reads like a the -- reads like a rap sheet from a hollywood film, extortion, drug trafficking, ex- racketeering and murder. -- racketeering and murder. the justice department' claims that some have shown a willingness to kill to make money and silence witnesses. and even more of a myth is e notion that the law is a thing of the past. that the cosa nostra a shadow of itself. >> increasingly, the testimony

has led to longer prison terms for mafia figures. but authorities insist it is not the end of organized crime, just one more step in an ongoing battle. >> google's fourth quarter profits have been overshadowed by a surprise shakeup in the boardroom. the company's co-founder, larry page, is taking over for eric schmidt as ceo. the reaction among google watchers is mixed so far. with the company doing even better than expected, some say it is the perfect time to make a change at the front lines. others are skeptical. this has always -- presumably always will be a major company. >> eric schmidt has been at the helm as chief executive for a decade. they have really been making decisions as a threesome, what he calls a triumvirate. but now that he is stepping

down, i suppose they will streamline the management of the company to make decisions more quickly. i wonder if there were other reasons behind it. on the other hand, google is at an important turning point. they are trying to diversify google. they make most of their money from advertising, from search and display ads, and they continue to do very well in that area. their numbers we got today were very strong. but they're also looking for a new way forward for google, and that in -- includes the smart phone android. >> what does it suggest to you that they are most likely to be doing most immediately? >> they have had this huge success and it has been a very unexpected success with the android software. apparently, there are 300,000 androids devices being switched on every day.

a year ago, nobody thought that android was going to be a big competitor in the market. but now, it really is. this is a departure for google and certainly, is successful one. there are other areas of development that allow -- that larry page is supposedly going to be looking at. eric schmidt said his strong points -- said the strong point in his blog today. but he also said there will be challenges for google this year, particularly when it comes to government and regulatory issues. google has become and is such an important website for sources of information not just here, but globally. they're coming under a lot of scrutiny. eric schmidt said those are some things that he will look at specifically now that he is moving on to beat executive chairman with specifically an outward-focused wrotrole.

>> carolina, thank you very much. let's move on to some other main stories. the irish prime minister has called for a general election for the element of march. ireland is facing its most severe economic crisis in decades. there have been a string of ministerial resignations. the chinese president has said america should not see china as a dangerous rival. hu jintao said his country has no interest in pursuing an arms race or exerting military dominance over another nation. he described tibet as core to their interests. ahoy there might -- there might be more natural gas than previously thought. a new technology has allowed access to gas previously dropped in jail rocks. -- trapped in shale rock.

two bombs in iraq have killed at least 51 people and wounded 150. the latest blast were in the south of the country. this is the third major attack in the country in less than a week after months of relative quiet. we have an update. >> i must say, details are sketchy, indeed. conditions here have become very difficult because hundreds of thousands, literally, of people are making their way into the city on foot. as the ceremony has come -- will come to a climax in the middle of next week. roadblocks have been removed from the area. we are told that two bombs, one on the southern approach to the city and another on the northern approach to the city, have been set off. these would have been heavily crowded areas. we are not entirely sure these are suicide bombs.

some accounts talk about one car speeding at a checkpoint and blowing itself up. others are talking about the static vehicles or even roadside bombs. 51 have been killed and perhaps 150 or more have been wounded. there have been other explosions in other parts of the city, too. >> tunisian police have fired shots into the air to try to disperse hundreds of protesters, demanding that all ministers associated with the ousted president leave the government. all eight of those ministers have left the old ruling party, but will retain their seats in the new cabinet. amnesty has been declared for political prisoners. our correspondent is in tunis. >> for 23 years, doing this was a crime in tunisia.

now they are finally free to protest and two nations are making the most of it. -- the two nationtunisians are e most of it. but from up the street, the sound of gunfire as the crowd surges toward the headquarters. >> there are 1000 people here, maybe 2000 of that -- at the most. they certainly do not represent the majority of the people, but they do show the anchor and resentment at the old party here. -- the anger and resentment at the old party here. they will not give up until the everyone from the old party is out of the government. >> these people still fear the party of ousted president ben ali.

>> [unintelligible] and we ask them to go away. >> tear down the signs, the protesters chanted. to their surprise and delight, this is exactly what the army starts to do, another symbol of their hated regime brought down by this extraordinary popular revolt. what do stay with us if you can on bbc world news. still to come for you, the best things in life are free, but would you stay even for nothing out of a hotel maid from garbage? -- a hotel made from garbage? first, though, the prejudice is now widespread and acceptable in britain, according to this woman.

she is also the first muslim woman in a british cabinet. >> she is the most high-profile muslim in public life today. when she makes a speech talking about islamaphobia in the u.k., it is bound to grab headlines. her answer is that it is not just found in headlines and political started on the street. she says it has become socially acceptable in all kinds of situations and now passes the dinner table test. >> what i mean by that is that it has deceived into our society in that it is acceptable are around dinner to have these conversations where hatred and bigotry is openly discussed. >> she also says it is the kind of language that is used. she says that her moderates and extremists -- she says the

terms of moderate and extremist are misleading. >> somehow because there are a minority of people who commit criminal acts, who come from the faith of islam, that somehow means it is fair game to have a go at the community as a whole. i think it is about unpacking and clearly showing that anybody who become so extreme is somehow detached from the faith to which they belong. >> some argue that distinction between moderates and extremists actually helps because it prevents sweeping statements about all followers of islam. >> the latest headlines this hour. the u.s. marines in one of afghanistan's most dangerous areas are saying that they are

making dramatic gains against the taliban. at least 51 cobras have been killed by two car bombs in the iraqi city of kevlar. >> an attack on an army base in southern thailand has killed several. dozens of militants overran the camp. thousands of support -- of thai soldiers are stationed to take on an insurgency by islam separatists. >> the attack began after dark. the small military base overrun by dozens of militants. they threw grenades and set fire to buildings before stealing army weapons and ammunition. some of the survivors were seriously injured. it it was one of the most daring and well-organized attacks by the thailand islamist separatist. almost every day there is violence in thailand, she says.

bombings, drive-by shootings, and by small cells of militants. but rarely have they seen so many armed men. the violence often triggers revenge attacks, ceridian muslims from villages, where the majority in this part of -- sweeping muslims from villages, where the majority in this part of thailand is. government employees are targeted by these shadowy groups who want autonomy in the southern tip of thailand. they have no real link to global islamist extremist groups. talking to the soldiers and paramilitary in the region fighting against -- a counterinsurgency campaign, the troops cleared up after this daring enterprise attack. the army insisted that things are improving in thailand.

>> the european union has suspended its carbon trading scheme, the biggest in the world, because it has been hacked, almost $40 million worth of carbon has been stolen. it is the latest in security breaches and scams against the trading scheme, which is designed to put a price on carbon to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. the u.n. body says average temperatures last year were at least half a degree celsius higher than the average up until 1990. >> europe shivers under ice and snow. but last month freezing temperatures do not change the overall trend. the year by year, the earth is getting warmer. >> 2010 is among the top three.

i shall become the warmest here -- the latest decade is the warmest decade. >> climate experts predict warmer weather will mean more extreme weather, too. in 20 -- and 2010 certainly saw plenty of that. devastating floods in pakistan, 20 million people affected. for the intense heat wave and forest fires in russia, one- third of the country's crops ruined. today, figures showing that 2010 was our hottest year ever, should, the world meteorological organization claims, lay to rest any doubts about the existence of global warming. >> staying with the theme, a swedish family has won a competition. they have been selected for a

six months day at an echeco-houe and drive an environment -- environmentally friendly car. but they will have to change some of their habits. >> me your average family with an average carbon footprint. it was the daughter that spotted this contest to have a six-month stay in an eco-from the house. -- eco-friendly house. they will -- there will be energy left over for a complimentary electric car, but that does not mean that sacrifices will not need to be made. >> the project is called want in life and is about a normal family and reducing the carbon dioxide footprint to 1 ton per

person here. today, normally we have 6 tons or 7 tons per year. >> the food the family eats, the clothing they wear, if all be taken into account in calculating their total carbon usage. some favorite gizmos may have to go, too, if they want to meet their targets. >> we are prepared to do what it takes. it is all or nothing. i do not even know what kind of sacrifices it will be, but we will stop eating meat eddy to vegetables instead. we will not fly anywhere. the we will go by train instead. >> it has left the family with little option but to spend more time together. that means putting up with a rendition of an old rocled zeppn classics. >> if that is too much for you,

how do you fancy a free holiday in spain until january the 23rd? 10 people can stay the night at the beach garbage hotel in madrid for nothing. and what is the catch? it is not exactly a normal hotel. the furniture and decorations are all made from and john gouache up on the beaches of europe. -- and from junk washed up on the beaches of europe. >> it is a hotel maid of trash. as car parts and metal come here, teddy bears and even the olad -- odd musical instrument. it is all don't and washed in with the tide. designed by a german artist, it is a symbol. imrick people must hear us? >> people must hear us because the world is changing so fast and garbage is a part to show us where we are.

the oceans are the biggest garbage dump of the world. >> it is not just for show, though. this is the pile of junk that you could actually sleep in. it has all been disinfected. there is no bathroom and no service to speak of, but there are five double rooms and is free. >> it does not smell or feel bad, so i felt great. not like i was living in russia at all. -- in rubbish at all. it is meant to show the dark side of all of that holiday making, the enormous mess so many of us leave behind. >> many more details on that and all the international news anytime you want it online at bbc.com/news. you can see what is coming up on

facebook. thanks for watching. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click-to-play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. ♪ >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations.

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