counting starts in thailand for an election that's unlikely to solve the political crisis. >> this is al jazeera live from doha. >> also ahead - returning from his sick bed - ukrainon president viktor yanukovych is returning to work as a protestor flies out for treatment. >> humanitarian efforts about to get a boost - we are live in rome. >> tributes pouring in for

philip seymour hoffman, dying at the age of 46. >> hello. votes are being counted in thailand after a general election marred by disruption and protests. turn out was about 46%. results will not be known for some time, perhaps week. elsewhere demonstrators are set to have forced around one in 10 polling stations to close. polling was disrupted in 18 constilt unsies. candidates in 18 were unable to register. the minimum number required is not in place. 95% is needed. veronica pedrosa has more. >> thailand is assessing the

impact of the elections hold on sunday, 24 hours after the ball et cetera opened -- ballots opened. around 90% of polling stations were open. most people were able to vote. the problem is that the people who were not able to vote need to be given another opportunity to exercise their right to vote. so there'll be further elections held. the election commission says, on 23 february. it's not clear whether or not anti-government protesters will obstruct that. i am at a sight for the anti-government protesters at the moment. they are continuing their campaign to ouster the current government of caretaker prime minister yingluck shinawatra. they are regrouping and gathering in larger numbers at fewer places. it is not clear what strategy they are going to undertake. whatever happens as the

aftermath of the election, which was supposed to resolve the political crisis continues, it seems apparent that the caretaker's prime minister's grip on power is likely to weaken. she will not be able to pass laws or get real work done while no parliament is sitting because the elections are still up in the air. >> there have been three large explosions in yemen. the central bank and the former president's home. the plast -- blast happened after a mortar was fired. it's not clear who is behind the attacks. three have been injured. >> two have been killed in protests after a raid on a mosque in kenya. it has been used to recruit al-shabab fighters. one man was shot by police and

an officer fatally stabbed. >> seleka rebels have been forced out of a town 200km from the capital. french troops entered the area, accompanied by human rights investigators, after discovering evidence of atrocities. >> the second united nations donor concert has gotten underway in italy. they'll discuss how to help millions of refugees inside and outside the country. we'll be live in rome for a moment. first we have a report on efforts to improve education for syrian children in lebanon. >> in many parts of the world access to education is almost taken for granted. for syrian refugees, it's a dream. this community got funding for a school four months ago, from a private kuwaiti charity. this man had to drop out of school for a year. his father, a cameraman, was

tortured to death. he learnt to become a pilot, because that's what he promised his father. >> the best gift i have is the gift of learning. >> most of the children are orphans, their fathers killed or detained. most of the teens are widows. it's where the children want to be. the school is more fun. teachers makes us smarter. >> the syrian curriculum is taught, but the students don't receive recognised certificates because this is an unofficial school. for them it's fruitful time spent in exile. some have not been to school for three years.

it's not a formal school, the teachers say any education is to make sure the young generation does not turn out to be illiterate. >> they have spent 30 years teaching. teaching the refugees here is a challenge. >> they didn't know how to rite or read. it's a catastrophe. it's tragedy. >> unheated classrooms, books and stationary are daily issues that students and teachers struggle with. the chronic challenge is helping the students cope with the lose. >> orphans have been traumatised. we feel they need sympathy. some feel their loss is so immense, they have no dire to learn. we have to revise their hopes. >> whatever the students can take from the school, helps them

to pick up pieces of their shattered lives. >> let's speak to jackie roland, covering the conference. jackie is covering it from rome. outside, that's something that is going to be discussed in italy. the delegates of the conference started to gather now in the room behind me. about 20 countries rpted here, major donor nations and international partners in the relieve efforts towards syria. in the one-day conference, there's a lot on the agenda. one of the main priorities is addressing the need for refugees to gain access to safe territory, be it in neighbouring countries - lebanon, jordan, iraq, turkey, countries with a heavy burden in terms of

sheltering providing safe rev um for the people that fled, and planning ahead. according to prediscs the number of refugees, people that fled is likely to double between now and the end of the year. estimates say by the end. year there could be more than 4 million refugees, providing facilities and places they can go to will be a key priority. as you know, aid has been pledged in the past, over the past two or three years. the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. >> yes, and in terms of the scenarios which officials are planning for, they are planning for a grim scenario, as they work out the kind of aid that they'll need to deliver the money they need.

they are planning for a situation whereby we are expected to see continuing violence in syria and displacement of people and a degradation of a situation and the economy inside syria. the bill that the relief agencies expect they'll need to meet is more than $4 billion. just over $2 billion has been pledged. that's half the amount of money that's needed. it's easy at conferences like this to pledge money. the question is whether the money comes through. it's a sad fact, we have seen it in the past that pledges are not always followed up on. another thing which is likely to be highlighted is the small burden of the refugee crisis which western developed nations so far have been willing to soldier. germany, for example, took 5,000 - said it would take 5,000

syrian refugees, france and britain, two major wealthy western countries said they'd only take 500 syrian refugees. when you compare it to hundreds of thousands putting a train on the economies of lebanon, turkey and jordan, i think at the moment it will be one of the key questions asked here. if not in the conference itself, then certainly by many aides officials, and why western nations are not willing to shoulder more of this responsibility. >> thank you jacky rowland reporting from roam. >> it's been 37 days since three al jazeera journalists were detained. mohamed fadel fahmy, mohammed badr, and peter greste have been held without charge, an i accused of spreading if as news and with links to the muslim brotherhood, which is classified as a terrorist organization.

the government in cairo said their cases were referred to the criminal court. al jazeera network has not been notified of formal charges. the ukrainian president is expected to be back at work in coming hours, having been on sick leave for four days. it's been a critical time for ukraine, where the u.s. and e.u. backed demands for democracy. vitaly klitschko, the opposition leader called for a snap precedential and parliamentary election. we are joined from independence square. the president is coming back to work at a critical time. >> absolutely. well, his absence over the last four days seems to have raised a series of questions amongst protesters and supporters of viktor yanukovych. his absence coming at the worst crisis for the country since independence. many feared that he may well have been planning a crackdown.

his first day back at work means he's going to hit the ground running. he has serious challenges ahead of him. the opposition is demanding talks about concessions offered by president viktor yanukovych, focussing on the amnesty war, seeing the release of 100 prisoners in return for the opposition giving up the square. he'll have to face the possibility of constitutional change, handing over presidential powers. later in the day, or possibly tomorrow, we'll see the arrival of the e.u. foreign policy chief katherine ashton who will be here to mediate to make sure negotiations move at this crucial time. >> thank you. >> you are with al jazeera, there's more ahead, including

the not so nice price of rice. we hear why nigerian formers are acting for help and why a canadian family is being forced off his family's land after more than 250 years.

>> z z >> hello again. the top stories on al jazeera. in thailand votes are being counted after a general election marred by the process. the election commission says turn out was about 47%. final results are expected to take weeks. italy is hosting the second

donor conference for syria. >> the ukrainian president viktor yanukovych is expected to return to work after taking sick leave. meanwhile the prominent opposition activists dmytro bulatov has arrived in lithuania for medical treatment. >> more on thailand and the elections there. >> national security advisor to the government says the election is showing promise as it went off without violence. >> overall the government is pleased that 89% of the polling places were open. >> 20 million participated in the election out of 39 million. that's a 50% minus those democrats who did not vote. if they participate in 10 million - 10 or 11 million, it would be a record number.

however, we are pleased that it is done and that there was no violence, no one was hurt yesterday. however, we know that at least it would give this government a sense of consensus in direction of the future, that democracy is the way to go. we recognise that in the long temp we have to wait for the constitutional court, which the democrats say they'll fire. we have to wait for that moment when they file it. nevertheless, it's a good beginni beginning for thailand. >> the japanese government and a group of conservationists. this video of activists ramming the "sea shepherd" into a japanese whaling ship, the conservationists say they want to stop japan hunting 1,000 whales. japan is allowed to do so for

scientific purposes under a ban. >> translation: such access is dangerous and must not be tolerated. >> south and north korea agreed to restart talks on cross-boarder family reunions in two weeks. the last time reunions took place was in 2010. most applicants are in their '70s or older and want to see long-lost relatives before they die. >> farmers in nigeria are suffering losses because of cheap rice being brought in. the government wants to stop all imports. high terrorists led to a rise in smuggling. we have more. >> this man is planting the next crop of rice and hopes for a good harvest.

he's one of many farmers trying to cash in on a government scheme, winning independence by growing rice. farms like his will be supported with improved seed and fertiliser to produce rice of their own. he is worried. >> after all the toil, you hardly make any products. you don't get a good price for our commodity. now we are left at the mercy of the middlemen and smugglers. >> up to 60% of agricultural land is untouched as farmers access fertiliser and money for crops. the minister for agriculture says the government is determined to face out imports. >> we have been able to get $4 billion of private sector investment into that sector. we have 70 companies.

looking at it in terms of what happened to fertiliser manufacturing in the country, we have 5 billion of private sector investment. >> dozens of rice meals are set up across the country as output increases. but the challenges are huge for a country of 165 million people, zernting 4,000 megawas of electricity. >> you see how big the factory is. there's about five. we spend a huge sum of money. >> while the high cost of production and raw material is a challenge, there's a bigger problem. flooding the nigerian market is the bigger threat to local production. there are no reliable statistics recording the amount of rice coming into the country. more than 70% is smuggled through the borders.

>> nigerians import rice and it poses a threat to local production. unless the high cost of production and the smuggling of prices is addressed. the effort may fail. >> an elderly farmer in canada is attracting international attention for resisting the government's plan to take over his farm. the land was given to his family by britain's king george iii 150 years ago. >> tract wheels crunching through icy snow. 85-year-old frank myers drives around land that's been in his family for 215 years. 1798 he fought for the british. one of his ancestors fled. the myers family farmed here. no more canada's government

exercised legal rights to buy the land for an adjoining air base and force frank off. he said he will not go. >> i'm working for the people of this country, for generations to come. but the bullies and bureaucrats want to destroy everything. >> running a social media campaign from an old camping trailer supporters gathered at the site saying they won't leave until the government gives back the farm. >> frank probably knows every inch of the land in and out, working it so hard, so long. it's an emotional tie to the land. you have to love the land. >> silence is a terrible thing. be constructive, speak up, stand together. you night for a good cause. >> for now they delayed demolition of farm buildings. on a hill top heavy equipment is waiting to roll in again when

orders are given. canada can appropriate land. >> the legislation is harsh and firm. it is meant to allow the federal government to get things done. >> this is king george iii >> an 18th century land title is defended with 21st century tactics, combining social media with protests. all around are remnants of one family's history and generations of land given to them before the nation existed. >> david and goliath - one man verses the canadian military. it's a compelling story. the government is determined to proceed with an it calls a done deal, whatever frank myers or his supporters may say. >> the international olympic committee is yurgeing russia to -- urging russia to finish building in the mountains in time for the games. despite this, it will be the

most expensive games, having gone over budget. it's a different ball game to the vancouver olympics. >> the flames no logger leap from the vancouver cauldron, but the city has tangible reminders in the form of sports stadiums, a rail line to the city's airport, housing and community center. vancouver's olympics cost $6.2 billion, a fraction of what russia is spending on sochi. the vancouver chief said his team scrutinized every penny. >> it was blood, sweat and tears, day and night, looking at everything. we simply wanted every account to find a way to get the product over the finished line. we simply have to deliver the came. with russian president vladimir putin punished socially to the

olympic committee, he promised to spend $12 million. since then the cost ballooned to an estimated 51 billion. according to investigations by russian activists, officials and a senior member of the international olympic committee much of the cost of the sochi games is due to corruption. >> various schemes where they inflate the price of project and pocket the difference and running over. it's been far and away the most expensive olympics. these metals are on display. they are a reminder of national pride in hosting the games. >> robert van wines berg who has studied olympic financing said the games have become nationalistic spectacles spiralling out of the control.

>> despite talk of sustainability, they are massive showcases for nations. we are see it with rio, with sochi, and saw it with beijing. now the world cup is becoming like this too. the games are the platform upon which to build an international image. as the trend continues, the games held on canada's pacific shores is the last of their kind. >> an estimated 120 million americans tuned in to watch the seattle seahawks beat the denver broncos 43-8. the game is the biggest sports event of the year in the u.s. for some the super bowl is about the parties, the half time show and creative commercials. adds sold for as much as $4 million this year. >> chinese around the world have

been ridging in the year of big horse. in keeping with tradition, celebrations began with the proassist. dragon and the lion. in paris thousands marched in a parade as people performed the dragon dance, while over in london performers dressed up in chinese opera costumes. it's believed to be the biggest celebration of the lunar new year outside of asia. meanwhile... ..that was the seen inside china where trad ightsal celebrations were held for a third day. the new year is celebrated by a long list of cultural and ethnic groups. the people expressed their best wishes for the country by singing and dancing. he's bean called one of the finest actors of his generation. tributes are poring in from all

over the world for oscar winner philip seymour hoffman. he died of an apparent drug overdose. we report on a man whose work covered black comedy to political drama. >> the cause of death still under investigation. but police officials suspect philip seymour hoffman may have died of a drug overdose. he was found sunday morning in a new york city apartment by a screen writer friend who had not heard from hoffmann and was concerned. hoffmann had many critically acclaimed rolls, appearing in more than 50 movies. hollywood reworded him for "capoate." >> it's a title for my book. i think you'll like it. it's very masculine "in cold blood." >> he won the academy award in 2006 for his performance, and

received supporting actor nominations for his roles in "the master", "doubt", and "charlie wilson's war." >> i have spent the past three years learning finnish which will come in handy in virginia, and i'm never sick at sea. >> more recently philip seymour hoffman had been promoting a psychological thriller called "a most wanted man." he admitted to being treated for a drug addiction and spoke of a relapse. last year it was reported that philip seymour hoffman went through a drug addiction program for addictions, including snorting heroin. >> he had struggle with addictions, and was beating it. he was one of the most talented actors working. >> hoffmann's family released a statement saying: philip seymour

hoffman was just 46 years old. >> just a reminder that you can... the producer is here and bringing in all of the live feed ball parks throughout the show. we are getting a live discussion on this. people are surprised it is unregulated and available to the kids. >> yes, the only a community surprises me. we are starting the show asking whether it is harmful, and that is a major point of