thanks to all of our guests for a wonderful discussion tonight, we'll see you next time online. ♪ check check >> australia's great barrier reef - is it at risk - the government gives the go ahead for millions of cubic metres of mud to be dumped nearby. >> hello, this is al jazeera life from doha. also ahead - the long march through bangkok - protesters stepping up a bid to topple the government. >> syria accused of delaying handing over chemical weapons - the u.s. asks russia to intervene. >> and dictating terms from

behind bars - where in brazil prison officials are forced to strike deals with inmates in order to maintain order. >> australia's great barrier reef watchdog has given the go ahead for dredged mud to be dumped near the world-fame mouse marine park. it will allow for 3,000 cubic metres of mud, larger than the great pyramid of giza, clearing the way for the world's biggest coal port, locking $328 million worth of coal port projects. the reef is a big tourist attraction, worth $5.7 bill on annually to the economy. environmentalists, scientists and tourist operators forged the plan.

they are fear it will harm the reef. possibly doubling shipping traffic in the area. andrew thomas has the latest from sydney. >> this decision will see 3 million cubic metres of mud and sand dredged from the bottom of the point and dumped at sea within the great barrier green park. the authority that has granted the permission for the dumping says that there'll be no damage to the great barrier reef, imposing 47 strict environmental conditions - including that the spoils are only dumped in the sea above sand, not above the corals themselves. that doesn't go anywhere near forward enough, say environmentalists. the churn in the water will do damage to the fish, the corals, the seabed and the seagrasses that the animals and fish feed on. they point to the churned up water in gladstone, a few hundred kilometres further south, having an effect on the sea life, despite the industry

reassurances there. inquiries are under way there. where this leaves, the great barrier reef as a heritage site is up in the care. unesco is considering putting the great barrier reef on the endanger lift. >> felicity is the great barry reef campaign manager for the australian and marine conservation society and believes the decision will worsen the poor health of the reef. >> we know that the dread spoils, the silt and the sediment is suspended in the water, travelling up to 80km. in that time it's going to land on seagrasses and on the coral reef and cut out the light and make it much harder for those things to survive. the great barrier reef is already suffering from poor health. as a result of historical run-use from the land and

agriculture and farming, from urban development, the reef has been suffering, and it was downgraded to poor condition. to then add sediment from dredging into that situation is adding insult to injury. we will see the condition of the reef get worse, and this is the thin edge of the whenning. this 3 million cubic metres or 5 million tonne of dumping is the first of a number of proposals to expand ports and allow more dredging and dumping across the reef's water. we'll put pressure on the international companies to try to stop them investing in the work, putting pressure on the government to do its job and protect the reef. and looking at legal options. protesters in thailand are marching through bangkok.

pro-government demonstrators cancelled their rally to avoid consultation. wayne hay reports from bangkok. the protesters moves to topple the thailand government have not worked. the party is continuing. it's been three months since they started. at times the numbers looked low, the pressure was enough to see the prime minister call an early election. it was not enough for the protesters vowing to destruct the vote an sunday. >> we could vote against the government. it would not guarantee justice in the next government. in past elections it was clear they bought votes. >> as the days draw to a close many of the protesters settle in for a night on the streets. it's at this time that the protest guards increase security. in weeks there has been several guns and grenade attacks on the rally sites. >> we have to be careful in the nict time because there are

people that try to hurt us. >> some attacks took place in daylight. on sunday a protest leader was killed by a mystery gunman. >> that man what is shot that day, a bullet going through his cheek. he said it will not scare him or others away. >> i'm not scared at all. i will rejoin the protest when i leave the hospital. we have to reform thailand. >> despite the sporadic violence, supporters of the two sides largely stayed away from each other. the fear is if they come together in big numbers, widespread violence will break out, possibly civil war. >> at the moment it's difficult to see how thailand's political crisis will end. it's been dragging on for years. the two sides are further apart now than they have been before. on one side the government believes the election will prove who has the right to run the

country. the people here believe the election will prove nothing. >> for now the two sides sing the same anthem, but have different views on who should be in charge of the country and how it should be run. >> panama ordered the release of 32 crow members from a north korean ship. it was detained last july. three others were accused of shipping weapons, and with instructions on what to do if detected. >> the united states is accusing syria of stalling on the removal of chemical weapons. 4% of the dangerous arsenal has left the country so far. in a statement to the international weapons watchdog,

the u.s. says syria is refusing to commit it a schedule. the assad government believes it's being delayed by the security concern. ban ki-moon has expressed concern at the delay. sharp criticism from the united states over syria's failure to meet a key deadline, following through with promises to meat the chemical weaponsment the u.s. defense secretary voiced his frustration. >> the united states is concerned that the syrian government is goodnight. delivering materials on time, and with the schedule that was great to. there's fear that delay jeopardises an agreement negotiated with the intergs community to see the weapons in the stockpile not just removed,

but destroyed by the end of june. in a statement the u.s. ambassador for the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons said: >> bashar al-assad has blamed the delays on security concerns, saying syria lacks the need the equipment to ensure the chemical agents do not fall into the wrong hands during transport. >> he has to take the agents through the m5 highway through damascus, north through homs and that area is a source of rebel fighting. >> it says armoured jackets and other security equipment are necessary if the chemicals from 12 storage site are to be moved to the port. from there they'll be loaded on

to danish and norwegian ships, where they'll be destroyed in international waters. we know the regime has the opportunity to move the weapons. the u.s. is urging the government to intervene and encourage the government to live up to its commitment. with guarded optimism that despite delays in the timetable the process of removing the chemical weapons can get back on track. >> egyptian court sources si arrest warrants have been issued for 12 people who currently work for al jazeera or have done so in the past. among those wanted are foreigners. the al jazeera network has not received notice from legal authorities. it's been more than a month since the eship shans obtained

three journalists. mohamed fadel fahmy, baher mohamed, and peter greste have been obtained since 29th november. they are accused of false reporting and having links to a terrorist organization. the al jazeera network has not been notified of any formal charges. two more journalists from the sister channel have been delayed without charge for more that six months. al jazeera rejects the allegations before all of them, continuing to demand unkg release of the journalist. >> human rights watch calls n o the ukrainian government to investigate attacks. during protests over the past three weeks, the group's report cams as an activist who went missing in the capital has been found alive. he was kidnapped and tortured. >> a new report from human

rights watch says ukrainian police targeted journalist and medical workers when clashes started in key eave and are calling on the ukrainian government. they don't have a great reputation for investigating such violations. it comes as a prominent activist who had been missing for eight days was found alive, badly beaten and was tortured. he is an activist who has been in the thorn in the side of the government. his demonstrations in the past few weeks targeted government officials' personnel homes and has taken dozens there. he had been abducted - a darker side of what has been going on. there has been a number of reports of abductions and be beatings. the opposition unhappy about an amnesty law, not what they

wanted. so the political divide between the government and the opposition goes on. meanwhile despite the bitter cold temperatures, hundreds of protesters here in independence square, and thousands of protesters around the country remain on the treat opposing the government. >> an italian supreme court upheld a guilty verdict against former exchange student amanda knox. she had been convicted of a murder of her british room-mate meredith kirchner. amanda knox was released from prison after the conviction was overturned and lives in the u.s. lawyers say she will appeal. >> translation: we are in disagreement of the verdict and will fight in the interests of amanda, for whom i am very sorry. >> still to come - why millions of aid money has been wasted in

afghanistan. >> peace given a chance in one part of south sudan, but the humanitarian crisis continues to grow.

>> good to have you with us. these are the top stories - australia's great barrier reef watchdog gave the go ahead for millions of cubic metres of dreged mud to be dumped near the world famous marine park,

clearing the way to bring the world's biggest coal port. >> protesters march through thailand. pro-government demonstrators cancelled their rally to avoid confrontations. >> the united states accused syria of stalling on the removal of chemical weapons. washington says 4% of the government's dangerous arsenals left syria so far. >> south sudan government signed a ceasefire with a rebel group in jonglei site. the announcement was made at the african union summit. the agreement follows two years of fighting in south sudan's largest state. >> meanwhile thousands of people in south sudan are without food for shelter due to the recent wave of violence. 4 million are running out of food supplies. we have this report from a town on the border of uganda, where

tens of thousands sought refuge. >> these people are hungry. they have nowhere to go and little to eat. they huddle under a tree, sheltering from the sun, waiting for their names to be called out. today is a good day for them. aid has finally arrived meaning mother will not have to worry about how to feed their babies, at least for a week. among the half a million, more than 30,000 sought refuge on the border town here. it took the united nations more than a month to reach them. 22-year-old rachel is eight months pregnant and expect to give birth. she has two other children and is taking clear of her three nephews, orphaned by the conflict. rachel fled with little more that the clothes on her back. she travelled as far away from the fighting as possible.

a mother willing to do the impossible to wear her children. these are her only belongings. unable an accommodate her, a family allowed her to stay under their tree. on the ground is where rachel and her children have been sleeping for weeks. >> there's no knowing when we can go. we have no feed and water. we are sleeping on the ground. we survive like this. >> where do you expect to give birth? >> here. in any place, yes. >> this was an impoverished town. the people live in the huts with no running water or electricity. despite this, went the fighting broke out. they tried to accommodate thousands of men and women who sought refuge here, offering what little they had. >> this is the second time he had to flee his home.

in 1991 he was shot when his town was attacked by fighters linked to riek machar. his face was disfigured. he is displaced, too squared to go back. >> today i can eat at the evening hour. some time getting water is difficult. getting water is difficult. >> with so many towns all but destroyed the u.n. realised that many of the displaced have nowhere to go back to. a longer term strategy is needed. >> the initial plan is three months, we are looking to expand it and recognising that there'll be significant needs in the country for six months and a year in the future. a criticise that people have is it doesn't solve the root of the problem. while the people are happy that food arrived, unless their towns are rebuilt and security

ensteward, they will be dependent on handouts for a long time to come. >> now, a u.s. navy sner is to take over as head of the national security agency. vice admiral took the top job at a time when the n.s.a. is under scrutiny. leaks from edward snowden revealed the extent of the electronic surveillance. the agency has come under fire >> the u.s. federal reserve chairman departs the central bank on friday after eight turbulent years. ben bernanke was on the receiving end of one of the america's worst financial crisis erupted in 2007. his successor janet yellen will take over. we examine his legacy.

>> the final few hours in charge of world's most influential bank. when ben bernanke was appointed. he had no idea a global financial meltdown was coming. an expert, he was a key player trying to stop another developingment he knew the things not to do. so i might not tell you what to do, but he could eliminate a bunch of disasers. he was the perfect man for the job. >> with the economy in trouble and credit freezing. banks in trouble, and urging congress to provide money to stop a collapse. with mooedest economic growth it looked as if he knew the way out. >> in retrospect. the financial crisis and the dysfunction of the housing market had been more severe and

persistent than we initially believed. >> interest rates were pushed close to zero, then came quantitative hearing. it heaped the housing market lift the stocks and improve the broader economy. not by a lot. >> severe financial instability can do damage. >> there's issues for the fed, it's running 1% below what is healthy, it's banking off on quantitative easing and liabilities have grown. >> we are not out of the woods yet. if you go between the app illations and the rocky mountains in the great heart land of the country, we see people by a large majority who are concerned about the future. ben bernanke will not know if the actions he has taken will be successful. he hands over convinced he did

what he could, avoiding the disaster. >> the u.s. government is seeking the death penalty for the man accused of carrying out the boston bombings. he authorised capital punishment. three people died in the bombings in april last year, and 200 were injured. police killed his brother in a shoot-out shoot-out. >> an american watchdog claims race and corruption is endemic in afghanistan. it says it's likely to get worse when american forces leave at the end of the year. a report highlights a string of problems, including a billion dollars in missing aid. rosalin jordan reports. >> nearly $100 billion in 12 years, that's how much the u.s. government has spend on

reconstruction projects in afghanistan since the invasion. everything from schools and hospital to roads, power plants and government offices. however, the special inspector general or afghanistan reconstruction and independent assessor says so much of the effort to modernize the country has gone to waste due to corruption and fraud. among the findings many afghan troops can't read or write despite millions spent on literacy. african government ministries can't explain how they spent more than a million in cash grants. a $600,000 hospital was built without clean running water and reliable electricity. the state department rents the notion that a financial tap between washington and kabul was left open. are there not billions of sellers going into afghan coughers. on the contrary, we dispersed

less than $300 million against mechanisms maintaining control of funds. >> some analysts we spoke to say the report is ignoring the bigger problem, making sure afghan security forces can protect their country. whether or not u.s. forces remain there. afghan president hamid karzai has not signed the bilateral security agreement or bsa that would let u.s. troops stay to help with training or security support. whether u.s. troops remain, the u.s. official says the u.s. needs to continue investing in the afghan people. there has been a huge amount of progress. certainly there needs to be better oversight. you can't have oversight if you don't have the people, the political commitment here in the united states. >> the states are high. making sure the $100 billion in afghan reconstruction it money

well spent, and not thrown away. >> now, a new medical report blamed vodka for early deaths in adult men. researchers found 25% of russian men died before 55, due to heavy drinking, cause of death lefr disease and alcohol poisoning. 64 years is the death age, among the lowest 50 countries in the world. >> brazil's largest, powerful criminal organizations was born out of the prison gangs. such groups call the shots. many jaded officials are forced to cut deals with gangs to keep the peace. >> this is the stra prison

complex. it is an area of criminality inside and outside of the walls. guards control access to the prison complex, the open secret is this, security and discipline in the prison blocks are run themselves. police rarely enter. just as officials say it has facilitated the crimes. drugs are sold freely in prison. mothers of inmates receive calls from inside the gaols from gangs demanding they make payment. >> in the past three years, more than 50 kilos of drugs, and cell phones have been ceased. with 2,500 inmates above capacity, prison officials admit they have to strike deals, they say they have the control.

>> the moment we agree on some rules with the leader of a facts, if he doesn't fulfil what was great upon, it will diminish his power. they don't want that, this is a way to control the power. >> the subdivisions between criminal factions within the gaol are stark to avoid gang on gang fighting. >> there are four gangs, each one controls a different wing of the prison, and they are not allowed to mix. >> by dividing the prison and allowing inmates to control themselves leads to ganks extending power behind the prison walls. >> confiscating guns in the jal are not used to confront the guards but maintain the drug trafficking that happens in the gaol. trafficking is profitability and controlling a wing of the prison implicates a control of a

battalion of soldiers inside and outside the gaol. >> this gaol is an amp of how striking deals leads to criminality thick making the gaols overcrowded. >> >> another strong sign that america's economic recovery is for real. it's the biggest sign of all. i'll talk to a guy who says we are not in the clear yet. >> also, how obamacare could close the gap between the haves and have not. and the future of google glass comes into focus - at least for me, i'm ali velshi, and this is "real money." [ ♪ music ]