> hello, welcome to the al jazeera newshour. i'm here in doha and these are the top stories. protests in syria. the largest rebel joins them. >> al-qaeda-linked fighters are creating chaos in iraqi provinces. >> 13 die as a snow storm hits the united states. >> and the war on designer

drugs. can it be won? >> first, there has been an outbreak in fighting between rival rebel group. the largest rebel group, the islamic front, has fought alongside free syrian army, against al qaeda-linked fighters. 16 fighters and the levant for i.s.i.l. were killed in fighting in aleppo on friday. people have taken to the streets in protest against the i.s.i.l. they have been accused of human rights abuses - kidnapping, torture and summary killings. >> the council is expected to confirm that it will not attend the geneva ii peace talks due to be held later this month.

anita mcnaught is standing by in istanbul. >> first to zana. tell us about the protests on the streets. they are intense and widespread. >> exactly. they are growing, becoming more widespread. people are taking to the streets in a number of areas in the rebel controlled area of syria - in aleppo and id lib. people are chanting telling them to leave, and comparing them to the president bashar al-assad's regime. protests are growing. there's fierce clashes and battles in a number of regions, involving syrian-armed rebel fighters. they'd been trying to push al qaeda fighters out of certain areas. the situation is changing. a group of rebel forces formed a

new alliance, and are calling themselves the army and released a statement and called on the islamic state to lay down arms or leave syria, accusing them of creating instability, and wrongly accusing fighters of being infidels or carrying out abuses. so it seems in one way or another, a war has been declared in the al qaeda-linked group in the northern parts of syria. >> what lit the flame for this. effectively it's a movement, a dimension to this conflict, isn't it? >> undoubtedly there was an incident. the commander was a doctor. was kidnapped, tortured and killed by the islamic state. this is what the armed opposition believes and this enraged the rebels and the people. this was not the only incident. there has been many incidents

over recent weeks and months. the i.s.i.l. has been accused of using heavy-handed tactics, of clamping down on so-called circular activist people, those calling for democracy and freedom. they want to create an islamic state, imposing rules on the ground, telling women what to wear, banning smoking. there was a popular resistance. now we are seeing this movement becoming more widespread. it begs the question why now the killing of the commanders, one of many killings. is this related to any international decision to call on the rebels to get rid of al qaeda, because one thing is for sure. the syrian people know that the presence of al qaeda on their territory has been to the detriment of the syrian revolution, the free syrian army, the activists have been saying that al qaeda hijacked and tainted the revolution. now we are hearing this more and

more from western officials, that the war in syria is a war against terrorism and are not focussing on the fight against the syrian regime. >> let's cross now to istanbul, because that is where the s.n.c. are meeting. it seems - there's no statement yet, you are not waving a paper around as yet, even though it's expected in the next few hours - it's expected they won't go to geneva. why have they walked away from geneva ii. >> that is the decision this group, the liberating - i think they have taken a break, some of them are behind me - they are working on the statement, and we are expecting it any moment. it's not out of the blue. this group issued a statement a month ago saying, "we don't think we can go geneva ii but we'll give is a month", they were waiting to see if the assad

regime would make gestures, could they release prisoners, why keep the women in gaol, could they lift the siege on military occupied areas and alleviate the suffering of civilians there. they said they haven't seen any of that. in addition, they were waiting to see the commitment on the part of the global palace, the activists in the middle east and the united states, and russia, about their commitment to upholding the preconditions that all the opposition groups stood by since geneva 1, that there would be no presence of the assad regime, or a limited and transitional one, and the meeting in geneva ii would result in a transitional government, sweeping away all that existed. they don't feel the commitment by the international powers is genuine. they felt railroaded into an event they didn't support. they decided not to participate. >> we'll wait for that official statement.

thanks for joining us from istanbul. >> the i.s.i.l. is fighting in iraq. in fact, in anbar province, it's fighting local police and sunni tribes for control of the city of ramadi. a provincial official acknowledged that the government has lost control of fallujah. 62 fighters are reported to have been killed in and around ramadi, from i.s.i.l. at least 15 civilians have been killed by army shelling since monday. let's look at the underlying issues in anbar province. the area of sunni muslim tribes are unhappy with the shia-led government, and demand a better distribution of power and wealth. they have been protesting for a year. the government sent the army to anbar to break up the protest camps. they broke up one in ramadi, but

not fal -- fallujah. i.s.i.l., which wants to establish an islamic emirate in the region took advantage of the chaos by taking the government buildings in both cities. to talk more about this i'm joined by our correspondent imran khan who reported from iraq. fallujah under the control of militants. is that the case or not? >> it depends how you look at this. yes, there are elements that have taken over government buildings. the iraqi sources said to us, "yes, it's under the control of the militants." what is happening is the iraqi army are on the outskirts, negotiating with the tribes to go into the city to take it over. the sunni tribes of fallujah are sworn to defend fallujah. they know the city and want to the say that we got rid of these

militants without help from the iraqi army. there are those people in baghdad, in the central government. you say, "this is not the case." the army should take the lead in this operation. >> that's the point. why does the army have to take control. >> the army has to take control because the sunni groups there, the sunni tribal groups are stopping the army from going into fallujah, because they say we would like to do this ourselves. the tribes are split. there are those that have some sympathy, that say that these are defending us against the shia dominated government in baghdad. you have a complicated situation, where there are several tribes. some of them affiliated, linked to al qaeda, others saying we are part of iraq and want to go in and get rid of these from our city. we want to do it ourselves, and we want backup from the iraqi army. it's a complicated situation.

my colleague talked about isl becoming unpopular in syria. that situation, where they are under pressure in syria and on the other side of the border in iraq. this is a very unpopular group in large parts of that region. >> the i.s.i.l. >> yes. >> this is the name of al qaeda. >> yes. >> it's an affiliated group with al qaeda. >> as are many affiliated groups. >> is anbar province or region unique or is this sectarian battle happening elsewhere? >> look at the violence in iraq. 7,000 people have been killed as a result of sectarian violence. car bombs are a regular occurrence in baghdad and mosul. the reason this is happening is because of the war in syria. the icl is coming through syria,

into iraq and say the shia dominated government is close to iran and close to syria and is the target. so the whole reason for a lot of the violence we have seen is the i.s.i.l., and groups like that, want to keep the sectarian pot boiling. they want to keep the pressure on. that's why they are becoming unpopular with large swathes of iraqi society. if you look at 2006, 2007 and 2008 when the sectarian violence was at its worse. they were awakening councils to battle the sunni groups. we are seeing them come back into the fore. they come back into the fore, and they are the ones negotiating in fallujah with the army, saying, "we would like to do this ourselves. we were successful in getting rid of al qaeda. you forgot us, al qaeda and the affiliated groups came back, so let us do this." to say fallujah

is under the control of militants is not right. but to say that something needs to be done, and done by the sunni trains of that area is what is happening, and that's why the iraqi army are on the outskirts, not in the city. >> thank you imran khan. >> lebanon's state newsagency report the man suspected of a bombing which killed 23 people has died in custody. mojed , commander of the abdullah azzam brigades is reported to have -- majid al-majid commander of abdullah azzam brigades is report to have died in hospital. they claimed responsibility for a series of attacks, including the embassy bombing in which 23 die. >> 17 people have been killed after protests became violence in egypt. thousands are on the streets in the main cities to rally against a military-backed interim government on friday. 42 people have been hurt.

activists claim casualties is higher. three of al jazeera's journalists have been kelled in custody in -- held in custody for a week. the prosecutor says they are guilty of joining a terrorist group. al jazeera said the allegations are fabricated. mohamed fadel fahmy is on the left of the pictures, award-winning correspondent peter greste is on the right. they are facing questioning on sunday and were arrested with baher mohamed, the middle of the three. they have been detained since sunday. >> we are getting reports of direct talks due to begin between the government of south sudan and rebels have been delayed. officials have met in neighbouring ethiopia. the representatives of riek machar, and his sacked deputy agreed to meet, but neither said when the fighting would end.

>> rebels say they are fighting troops in ahmed al borei. the rebels say they are advancing on juba. the government denies that, saying they'll soon retake bor. >> the united nations says nearly a million people have been displaced by fighting in the central african republic. a fifth of the population is homeless. >> the violence is hampering the work of aid agencies. >> doctors without borders, based at the capital's airport are scaling back efforts. that leaves thousands of civilians sheltering at the airport without aid. >> translation: we suspended our activities this week because there was a lot of violence around the camp and it was dangerous for the team that worked here. in the camp, in the course of a normal day's work, there were many patients that go around and it was dangerous for them. for the doctors, for the nurses

for all the staff. >> you are watching al jazeera, the newshour from doha. i'm steven cole. still to come - security on the streets agrees in dhaka. we'll be live from the capital. plus. >> they dig a hole in my country for their benefit. >> the aboriginals waiting for profits from australia's mining industry. >> one of the mva's top players out of action after suffering an injury on court. simon will have the details. >> to cambodia. hundreds of thousands of clothing workers are on strike in demand for higher winter games. police cleared protesters from a mark in nong peng. four people were shot dead by police yesterday when the

protests became violent south of capital. scott heidler reports from bangkok. >> cambodian armed forces cracking down across the capital. this is where military police fired on protesters on friday. on the streets with ak-47 rifles, clear away people, telling them that there were thieves and looters out there, not helping with the call for better wages. >> this man has a job sewing swim suits and lives in a block of rooms off the street from the protest. she wants to leave the violence and go home to the village. because of the strike she has not been paid and can't afford to travel >> translation: i had never heard gunshots. when it happened i was

frightened. >> opposition leader sam ramsay worked to calm the situation. >> we have made an appeal to both sides - workers and armed forces. to withdraw. to stop using any forms of violence, so that we can find a peaceful solution. >> a few hours later there was more violence, not a peaceful resolution. government forces cleared out an area to become the headquarters for the opposition protest. it was supposed to serve as a starting point for a huge protest planned on sunday. >> they came in fast and with force. capital police sealed off the area around freedom park. they pulled down fences. there were reports of beatings as the parts were cleared. the prime minister lacks muscle and he shut both groups. it was unlike anything over the

past two weeks of protesting. this raises concern of what he night do if the opposition goes ahead with a mass rally as the workers attempt to take to the streets ahead of the factories. >> security has been tightened in bangladesh ahead of violence and mass protests. why have opponents of the government started this 2-day strike. what don't they like about the election? >> they've been doing this more months and months, well over a year. since the beginning of 2013. more than 17 of these strikes have been called, and we sit in another, called by the opposition in protest against an election that they have described as a farce for a whole lot of reasons. i was able to shed light on that

by getting an interview earlier today with an influential person, the son of the prime minister, the most influential political advisor based in washington d.c. he's thought to be waiting in the wings to take over from her as a political successor. i talked about the tense situation that the country finds itself in, the opposition refusing to take part in election or a strike day. reports of violence coming in from around the country. i started by asking him how his mother's government could hold himself up when hundreds of opposition activists were in gaol. many were in hiding. the opposition leader, herself, a former prime minister, is under virtual house arrest. here is what he had to say.

>> well, you look at what the opposition has been doing the past few months, since early this year. they've resorted to terror tactics. they have - this is unprecedented in bangladesh's history. they resorted to firebombing private vehicles, buses, repeatedly, despite urgent pleas to the opposition, my mother's phone call to the opposition. we asked them repeatedly that these elections are a constitutional necessity. 24 january is the deadline, we haven't been able to come to an agreement. let's talk about the next elections. stop the violence. they refused. >> you wrote in an oped in a local media outlet the following words - by voting you send a message that you value democracy above else, an appeal for the lelent rate to come out and --

for the electorate to come out and vote. can i take it from those words, if people don't come out to vote, if there is a low turn out, that you as a party will take that as your answer that people do not believe in democracy conducted in this way. >> if the voter turn out is low because the opposition decided to boycott and terrorized and scared people into not coming out to vote. does that make the elections illegitimate. when does it end. >> are you concerned to look at the popular turn out and take a decision from the mandate. >> our finance minister said, "we can have early elections." but the violence has to stop. >> the violence, of course, has not stopped. on saturday and in the days leading up to the election there has been widespread reports of violence around the country,

polling station, the target of arson attacks and civilians in the transport network attacked with firebombs and the like, feeding into the government's position, and that it is the opposition who is responsible for acts of terrorism. we have done nothing to bring the country to this situation. what he seemed clearly to be saying there is that the government will not look at turn-out as a nearby measure of popular turn out. not by the vote cast by the voters, but the action by the opposition and its decision not to participate. >> thank you to all our team in dhaka covering the election. >> a storm dumped 60 september metres of snow on the east coast of the united states, with officials blaming the weather for 13 deaths. more than 100 million people

braved the freezing temperatures, a third of the u.s. population. a third of flights were delayed or cancelled mainly in new york, washington d.c. the governors of new york and new jersey called a state of emergency to finance the clearing of major roadways. >> it may look pretty but the winter storm packed a punch. subfreezing temperatures, and in the hardest hit areas of massachusetts, more than half a metre of snow. harsh road conditions are making travel tricky throughout the north-east. some new york state highways were closed during the height of the storm and officials encouraged people to stay home. >> we are closing state government and urging private employers to do the same. the point is to keep people off of the roads, and away from the - and indoors and away from the cold.

which is extreme. >> thousands of flights have been cancelled due to the snow and poor visibility. a nightmare for passengers trying to get home after the winter holidays. chicago's airport became a dormitory for people with nowhere to go. the worse may be over. the clean-up continues. the mayor is taking no chances with the weather. >> if you want safe streets stay home and let the folks in sanitation do their jobs to clear the streets. the other reason to stay home is for safety. it's slick out there. >> schools cancelled in many communities, including new york. plenty of children were happy to brave the cold for winter fun. >> right. problem with snow in america, in the u.k. it's rain, i suppose. wet weather, more than 16 flood warnings have been issued by the

environmental agency. on friday sea rals were breached, streets were ipp undated and some coastal turns. so snow and rain - steph, is there a link between the u.s. and the u.k. if there is, what is it? >> yes, they are lipped and the problems stem from what is going on across north america, particularly the temperatures charts for today. there's a maximum temperature in winnepeg. 17 in dallas, 23 in miami. that's a huge range of temperatures. what is the jet stream? for jost of the time we ignore it is existing. the only reason we know it's up high in the atmosphere, it's a lot quicker than if we fly from europe to north america. it has an affect on our weather as well. and the stronger the texture

contrast in north america, this gives us a stronger jet stream. that works across the atlantic and over towards europe, where it has an effect on our weather as well. if we look at the jet stream, it's dipping down, affecting many of us in the western parts of europe. the stronger the jet stream, it gives us more intense storms. so because there's a huge temperature contrast over north america, we are seeing intense storms over parts of western europe. this is the latest picture, a right mess. more rain and strong storm to come. >> it is january. thank you, steph. >> australia's mining industry helped it become one of the richest countries in the world. billions in iron ore is dug up in isolated areas traditionally inhabited by aborigines. some say they are missing out on millions in compensation. andrew thomas has more from the pilbara region in western

australia. >> living in poverty in one of the richest countries on earth. down the road on land this aboriginal community has rights over has fabulous wealth. >> they are digging a big hole for their benefit. the company benefits, the shareholders benefits, investors and the government. but the people don't. it's demoralizing. >> under the earth is a resource the world can't get enough of. this is what the whole operation is about. iron ore. a heavy red rock that is the key ingredient of steel. out here fortescue mining is digging up 63,000 tonnes of iron ore worth $83 million. the traditional openers have rights and are entitled to

examination. negotiations have broken down. leaders of the aboriginal group want a royalty of half a per cent, in line with what others pay elsewhere. that means around 43 million. fortescue offered $4 million. >> we have not conceded in going back to welfare or the payment of royalties which is what the corporation was pushing for. we know that that won't be for the benefit of the community. we don't want to see money going to community controlled by select few in that community. >> deadlock negotiations are not getting in the way of the mining. meanwhile, fortescue says it's providing training and job opportunities. that will make a more long-term sustainable difference than writing a check. >> i'm clean, off the alcohol, off the drugs, and doing all

this for my family as well as myself, as well as my people. >> indigenous people are split. >> back in the old days we have nothing. we have a strong community based on family. i have not spoken to aunties and uncles in the last four years. it's sad. on the mine trucks operate 24 hours a day with no direct compensation >> you are watching the newshour from doha. i'm steven cole. still to come - sent to rescue, and now stuck in the ice as well. another ship in trouble, stuck in the antarctica.

>> now it's time to remind you of the top stories on al jazeera. people living in syria's aleppo province are protesting against the presence of al qaeda-linked fighters, as the largest group in the country decides to fight against western backed forces against iraq and levant. fighters are fighting in anbar province in iraq, from the same group. it's fighting local groups and tribes who want to push the i.s.i.l. out. >> a huge storm dropped 60 centimetres of snow on the east coast to the united states, with

officials blaming the weather for 13 days. 1,000 or 100 million people had to brave the temperatures, and that's nearly a third of the u.s. population. >> more now on the top story. the infighting between rebels and syria. a senior fellow at the international center for the study the radicalisation at kings college london, a busy man. what is icil? >> -- i.s.i.l.? >> sorry? >> what is i.s.i.l.? >> or who is i.s.i.l.? >> it is the islam state of iraq and the levant. it originated out of al-qaeda and iraq, which arose during the iraq war to fight coalition forces and has been re-energised by the syrian conflict. it has seen an opportunity to

move to syria and exploit political stability. it's using it to leverage itself in iraq and to attempt to take over parts of iraq. >> take over parts of iraq and syria? is this an attempt to build some kind of thief dom, mini state across syria and iraq? >> absolutely. that's what the group as pirs to. it has taken over large parts of syria. it is controlling ground in several strategic places there. of course, we have seen in weeks and months, an upsurge in violence in iraq and the sectarian conflict playing out there. it's leveraging and creating opportunities, calling itself the islamic state, which is what it inspires to do. >> there has been a backlash, a

protest against i.s.i.l. is that against the group itself or foreign fighters in syria and iraq. >> no, there has been protests against the group over many months. it is sooup revved quickly. what made the current series of events significant is that there has been infighting amongst different groups, protests organised by the civilian population, and it seams to have been in the last few days, provoked by the killing of a local activist who had been a field doctor, working in many backstreet hospitals, treating revolutionaries throughout the course of the uprising. he was taken in and executed. it annoyed people and it became emblem attic and the hijacking of the revolution by foreigners.

>> that was my point, the majority of the i.s.i.l. are foreign fighters from outside iraq or syria. is that right? >> they are. the fast majority come from iraq. they have been good at attracting broader foreign fighters networks. europeans join people from the gulf, africa. so there's a feeling amongst syrians who might be supportive of jihadists organizations that icl is there asserting their revolution, taking it in a different direction. >> their revolution has been hijacked, that's why they crossed. thank you for joining us. >> the italian navy rescued more than 1,000 migrants in the mediterranean since thursday. the boats were spotted off the

coast of lampedusa. they were from pakistan, iraq and african countries. they are trying to reach the shores of europe for a better life. >> a ship that helped to rescue 52 stranded passengers in antarctic has become trapped. his ship is not in distress, but is unable to steer out of dense sea ice. dominic kane reports. >> after a week on rescue duty, the z "xue long" or "snow dragon" is trapped. its helicopter had been vital and collecting the passengers from the russian research vessel "akademik shokalskiy," and ferrying them to a waiting australian ship to take them to safety. >> 52 journalists, researchers and tourists were airlifted across the thick sea ice. the weather took a turn for the worst. authorities spoke with the crew and gave this update on the

situation. >> translation: we will analyse the information we get around the clock, to make judgments, so as to make proper decisions. we'll keep the communication with "xue long" around the clock and seize opportunities to let them get free. >> as an icebreaker the "xue long" is equipped for these conditions. the voyage to the south pole is to resupply the chinese, antarctica. it is china's only active ice breaking research vessel. the sea ice is shifting, meaning what may be a safe position one day is not to the next. the captain made it clear that the situation is manageable and to the crew, did not need assistance. they are waiting for a change in the weather, so the ship can break free from the ice.

>> ecuador's government is offering a reward of up to $100,000 to catch the killer of a japanese tourist. the man and his wife were on hollywood, when they were attacked. the woman survived the attack and is recovering. they were victims of a so-called express kidnapping. that's when victims are forced to withdraw money from cash machines. >> in chile police used water cannons to break protests. hundreds rallied to remember a 22-year-old student shot dead by police, six years ago, during an attempt by an indigenous group to reclaim farmland. >> on monday the argentinian government will start to control the cost of products in supermarkets, as part of a plan to fight inflation.

>> we have this report. >> 140 items are on the list unveiled by the chief. they range from cooking oil to rice, household cleaners to biscuits. >> this agreement aims to guarantee supplies of all the basic items on the list, which means they will be available on the supermarket solves. >> like every family in argentina, they have learnt to live with rising prices. they cope, but it's never easy. >> i first try to use the credit card and make as many payments as you can. try to pay things in, say, 12 months from now. because a year from now the same amount of money will be less valuable. >> every little helps. growing your own is one way of beating price rises. >> i don't know if prices will

be increased 25% or 30% or 40%. and very difficult to know. >> city bus fairs rose on thursday, taxi prices went up last month. inflation in argentina is a daily reality. yesterday it was petrol and bus fares. tomorrow rice or pasta. shoppers have no choice but to live with it. it create uncertaintiy and anger. >> the government maintains that inflation is under control, at about 10% a year. independent economists dispute the figure, saying it's more than 25%. >> it might work if they were sort of broader economic program in place, such that this were a short-term stop gap measure until the greater environment or policies took effects or went

into effect. since that is not the case, then i'm skeptical about its use. >> the government is negotiating for more providers and supermarkets to join the scheme to keep inflation under control. meanwhile prices continue to rise. >> thousands of union workers at a major boeing plant in washington state approved a crucial labour contract. it means workers have accepted pension and health cuts. >> still in america, around 2.5 million low-paid workers will get better salaries this year. 13 states increased the minimum wage, others may follow. the raise may not be enough. >> the ayes have it. >> the moment the council raised the minimum wage to $11.50 over

the next two years, an improvement on the federal minimum wage of $7.25. across the country local authorities take the initiative. >> even there 11.50 is low when you factor in the cost of living, the amount each worker produces per hour. when you use those benchmarks it should be around $25 an hour. politicians are speaking out about income and equality in the u.s. we have companies with record income. walmart had an income of $17 billion. the ceo makes $11,000 per hour. and you want to hold back the people. >> president obama argued for the need to pay workers a fair amount for their labour and not keep people from utter depravation. >> if you work hard, you should make a decent living.

president obama is only supporting a raise to $10.10. that would not have given stacy a decent living. she was earning $11.50 as an ambulance worker and could pay bills by working hours of overtime. >> important stages in my son's life i missed. i was missing out on a lot because i spent once a week here and six days a week at work. >> the economic policy institute in washington d.c. has an online budget calculator that works out how much one needs to make. >> entering stacy's details shows how far from secure she is. $99,422 annual target. clearly she's nowhere near that. david cooper says if workers are to achieve a decent living the debate has to be broadened. >> do you bargain higher wages.

for too much of the last generation employers held all the cards. >> stacy lost her job as she was trying to form a union. >> i saw them actively organise and go out and campaign. >> she is not going out on fighting on a liveable wage. >> it's a race between chemists and law makers getting high. in germany it's estimated that more than 100 new drugs emerged in the past eight years. nick spicer reports from berlin on the growth of the so-called designer drugs. >> for many people wanting to rave all night in a berlin nightclub a chemical boost is hard to resist. in fact, an estimated one new drug a month is released on the global market. too fast for police to catch up. dealers chit that it's get -- admit that it's getting out of hand

>> translation: there's always new drugs emerging. people are creative, it's taken on new dimensions. it's increasingly unhealthy for mind and body. >> getting legally high is as easy as going online, getting the offerings from chemists in china and india. chemicals are close in a molecular structure to an illegal drug, but different enough to evade the law. this is lsz with the same affects as lsd, but legal in most countries. users of the drug say they can be safer than illegal drugs because they are pure, not cut with caffeine or rat poison. >> translation: if someone takes a bag of that stuff into a bar, people die. drugs have a stigma attached to them. those dealing them don't know a pharmaceutical profile.

>> the european union is trying to cut the time it takes to ban drugs from two years to 0 months. the market is growing rapidly. in germany it's estimated that 120 drugs emerged in the past eight years. and that 4,000 people have taken them. >> more to come on this al jazeera newshour. including the maker of the popular breakfast cereal cheeros say cheerio to some ingredients. >> a familiar face. who will he be facing. details later.

>> one of the most popular cereal brands in the united states has given in to consumer pressure and removed genetically modified ingredients from the product. cheerios is the latest in a string of products that are free of g.m.o.s. >> they are self branded. cheerios are popular among american kids. soon they'll be given another label. free of organise ms or g.m.o.s. >> you don't want to eat things that are genetically modified. >> general mills which makes cheeros admitted it has made its

cereal without g.m.o.s. it's a response to consumer demand. critics point out it could be a financial move. >> when they put non-g.m.o., we say an increase in sales of 15-25%. >> the movement against genetically modified food has been gathering memento online and in the streets. >> we are occupied >> the main target is american biotechnology cap making seed products for numerous cobs. >> avoiding cmos is hard. it's widely used in processed food. in the u.s. g.m.o.s are regulated by three

agencies, and has no requirement to show presence in food labling. not everyone has been scared off. >> from what i understand, genetically modified foods can be healthier. i know some think it's not natural, but i don't share that opinion. >> g.m.o. free cheerios are a good start, and predicts other companies will follow suit as consumers have a greater say about what is going into what they eat. >> now it's time for sport. >> we'll start with the latest from cricket, where england are facing a whitewash against australia after day two of the fish and finals ashes test. england all out for 155 in the first innings. peter sidle mitchell swan and ryan harris taking three wickets. australia adding 140 run, leading by 311 at stumps.

>> tennis. world number one raphael nadal booked a place in the final. his passage into the time was not easy. he was taken to three sets by the german qualifier. he got off to the better start, winning the first three games of the opening set. when nadal got back to his best in the second, winning 6-2. the deciding set then went much the same way, with the u.s. open champion proving too strong for his opponent, winning 6-3. >> i never won the title in the first week i had another opportunity after a lot of time trying hard here, it will mean a

lot to me. >> the final ofont about le gale mon fills. racking up a win. he has beaten nadal only twice. both in the qatar open. >> rafael is solid. i'll recover great and be strong tomorrow. >> in australia former world number one lleyton hewitt was feeling the heat in more ways than one at the brisbane international. the home favourite came back from a set down to beat second seed 5-6, 6-3 to book a place in the final. >> lleyton hewitt will face former world number one roger

federer, 17-time grand slam champion what r -- campion, who was made to work hard and won the match. >> to golf where the first event of the new year teed off at the tournament of champions in hawaii, with a four-way tie for first. >> three of the final four were birdied. 2013, pga rookie of the year had four off the last five to get to the top. >> football - baris gouler lionel messi returned to training after an absence of more than a month. the argentine sidelined with an injury has been receiving treatment in his home country. no word on whether he'll be fit

enough to play in barca's first game. the spanish champions are top. leading on-goal difference. >> the third round of english fa cup gets under way on saturday. tim sherwood takes had tottenham side to north london rivals arsenal. and the first boss believes a win against the 10-time champions will be a huge result. >> we want to go and put a good show on and get the result. it will be the pinnacle of my short career if we go to the emirates and come away with our name in the hat on sunday. >> there are 23 ordinarily cub games on saturday. manchester city kick off the proceedings. another new manager takes his

cardiff side to newcastle. and a tricky tie against a north-west club. one place off the top spot in the second tear championship. >> the n.b.a. with the los angeles clippers point guard chris pole could be sidelined for weeks after injuring himself during the win over the dallas mavericks. he dislocated his shoulder after being tripped by the dallas guard. he scored 19 points and six steps before being out. he scored the game, drew a foul for the winning points. the clippers defeating the mavericks 119-112. the houston rockets struggled against the new york nicks. it took until the last second. the play resulted in a foul sends aaron brooks to the free throw line. he hit the basket giving the

rockets a 102 to 100 win. >> n.f.l. kicks off with four games taking place in the first round. the cold weather could be a major factor in the game. on saturday the first afc wildcard match of up has the city chiefs playing the indianapolis colts. a massive snow removal was undertaken at lincoln financial field. >> cincinnati host the san diego charges and the other afc wildcard game and green bay hosts san francisco in the coldest ever n.f.l. game for the final nfc. >> in the n.h.l. sidney crosby led the way for the pittsburg penn gins. he helped the penn gins to a 4-0 lead with a 23rd goal of season.

spurs won by two. nearby in new jersey chicago black hawks patrick sharp was the star of the night, leading the way with a hat-trick as they beat the new jersey devils 5-3. >> and that is it for me. >> not quite. before you go, amazing qatar open. so many high profile players, casualties. why so many. >> there are so many. >> the most important is... >> andy murray. >> no, nadal coming back on the qatar open, and the final, gael mon fills. some are not good. >> thank you very much indeed. >> stay with us here on al jazeera. another full 30 minutes of news coming up straight after this.

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>> frozen tundra. millions across the midwest and the north-east brace for bone chilling temperatures after digging out from the first major snow storm of the year. wheeling and dealing, boeing lands a 777 x. >> the family of a 13-year-old girl declared brain dead are given the go ahead to move her to another facility >> a rescue gone wrong as another ship is stuck in the antarctica. iranians