>> these people need help, this is were the worst of the attack took place... >> and throughout the morning, get a global perspective on the news... >> the life of doha... >> this is the international news hour... >> an informed look on the night's events, a smarter start to your day. mornings on al jazeera america >> >> afghanistan goes to the poll in the first election marking the democratic handing over of power. >> you're watching al jazeera. our coverage is dominated by the vote in afghanistan. >> polling stations opened to long queues and what looked like enthusiasm. >> also ahead - palestinians protest as israel suspends the rl of prisoners. >> thousands holeless in the

solomon islands as thousands of communities are washed away. >> security is tight across afghanistan as voters choose a new president to take over hamid karzai. despite threats of violence, there has been a steady flow of voters turning up at polling stations. it represents the first democratic transfer of power. the encincumbent, hamid karzai,s been in power for 12 years. eight candidates campaigned. including abdullah abdullah, who ran in 2009 but lost. another is ashraf ghani ahmadzai, a formier finance minister and world bank figures. and zalmai rassoul, serving as foreign minister, and has been one of hamid karzai's closestal

lies. >> well, many afghan came out to vote, despite the threat of violence. here is what some had to say? >> i voted for the welfare of my country, the future and the rebuilding. i'm happy, and now i'm going back. >> as an afghan woman, i've come to cast my vote. i ask all afghan women to come and vote. >> the police are providing us with security. happily we have dom cast our votes. >> if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, a second round must be held between the two top contenders. results will not be known until mid may. the new president is unlikely to be in place before july and august. there are an estimated 12 million voters, and around

12 million voter registration cards are in circulation, raising concerns about fraud. there's 6,800 centres. for many casting a vote, it was hours travelling. >> let's go bernard smith, standing by in kabul. how is the big day shaping up? >> elizabeth, it's pouring with rain, we've had thunter and light -- thunder and lightening and the threat of taliban violence. kabul is almost locked down by security forces. despite all of that there seems an enthusiasm to vote. there has been long lines at polling stations. people getting drenched. taking a turn to vote. the first time in 5,000 years there'll be a democratic transfer of power. many afghans want to be part of

that, despite the taliban's threat to target those taking part in the election. joined by a mayor monitoring the vote. haroon, indications are that there has been a good turn out. how important is that? >> it is important for us. it will help to improve the legitimacy of the election. we face challenges and deadlock. this is a good indication that participation will remove doubt that existed in 2014. also, there's the pressure on the independent election commission, because the voter turn out will make sure that all the fraudulent votes will be discounted and everything xble will be down. >> also, the government is under

pressure. this time the government will not be prim tifs to favour a candidate. all is good for us. now the challenge is the rain rather than the taliban. we are happy that by the end of this day, the voting process will have scopd and a majority participating in the process. give us n indication of the challenges of the next president. >> i think in 2014 there'll be challenges, political because of whoever win, the country may be divid divided. the election decision will be made based on ethnicity. the level of international assistance will be reduced and

we are facing challenges because in 2013 the growth rate has fallen from 10% to 4%. we see already a number without jobs. challenges are tremendous. we hope the next government will be inclusive. this is what we have heard. it will be an incruisive government that everyone should be part of. hopefully the taliban will accept the olive branch extended by hamid karzai, and the peace process. >> thank you for joining you. >> polls close at 4:00 pm local time. i've been reminded that in this normally dry country rain is a blessing, although it doesn't feel like it when you have to stand out in it. >> that's bernard smith covering the afghan election for us from the capital, kabul.

>> to other news. the number of people killed by flash flooding in the solomon islands is expected to rise. 10,000 are homeless. 16 are known to have died in the capital honiara. aid agencies described it as the worst flooding in the pacific nation history. heavy rain is threatening more flood damage. >> a number of my staff witnessed dead people and particularly children have been washed away by flash floods. the water has come up so quickly at times. >> mohamed morsi is back in court. mohamed morsi and several other muslim brotherhood members are accused of in sitting the murder of -- inciting the murder. 11 were killed in the protests, triggered when mohamed morsi decreed himself above the law. >> al jazeera is demanding the

immediate release of journalists who have been in prison in egypt for 98 days. the trial of peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy, and mohammed badr, has been adjourned until 10 april. they are falsely accused of providing a platform for the outlawed muslim brotherhood. a fourth journalist, al jazeera arabic's abdullah al-shami has been detained without trial since last august. after 75 days on hunger strike his health is deteriorating. al jazeera is rejecting all charges against its journalists. >> thousands have been demonstrating in bahrain where the formula 1 was held. the mass rally coincided with the practice session. protesters marched in the capital, demanding political reforms and the release of prisoners. many belonging to the shia

muslim majority want more say in the country. >> syrian activists report an air strike in aleppo. more than 45 have been killed. al jazeera cannot independently verify the pictures. activists posted video showing what they say are rebel attacks on forces in latakia and idlib. >> 13 protestors have been injured, demonstrating against israel's refusal to release prisoners as had been promised. it was part of an agreement aimed at kick starting peace talks. >> stefanie dekker reports from outside a prison near ramallah. >> before the protests had a chance to start. israeli forces made sure it didn't get out of hand. 13 were injured in the occupied

west bank. it was a protest against releasing a fourth and final batch of prisoners. >> israel wants to use the prisoners as a blackmail card, forcing leadership to extend the talks and accept the framework. we do not accept it. >> israelis insist palestinians are not honest, not a partner for peace. palestinians do not agree, sparking standoffs like this. israeli forces are firing tear gas at a group of protesters gathered on top of the hill. the - there we go, they are trying to disperse them. a sign that the talks are not over over. >> every effort is being held to make sure that the aim is the

aim. to achieve two states where the state of palestine can live in peace and security with israel. the united states is assessing its role in the talks. u.s. secretary of state john kerry invested a lot of time and effort in moving them forward. the reality dawning this a decades-long conflict cannot be sold in nine months. >> there are limits to the time and effort that the united states can spend, if the parties themselves are unwilling to take steps to move forward. many think that israel do not compromise, and that there is no ground. this protest was preticketed to draw thousands. there is a feeling that they are powerless to end israel's occupation of palestine land. >> still ahead on al jazeera -. >> i'm john hendren in dayton

ohio, where chinese investors are setting up shop. >> bush art with a difference. this is how the former u.s. president sees other world leaders.

>> good to have you with us. these are the top stories on al jazeera. afghans are voting for a new president to replace hamid karzai. the taliban threatened to disrupt the polls. security is tight across the county. >> deposed egyptian president mohamed morsi and 14 muslim brotherhood members are in

caught, accused of inciting the murder of opposition protesters in 2012. >> the number of people killed by plash floods in the solomon islands -- flash floods in the solomon islands is expected to rise. 16 have been confirmed dead. whole communities have been washed away in what has been described as the worst flooding in the pacific nation's history. >> more than a million afghan refugees live cross the border in pakistan, and they are not allowed to vote. >> it's another day of life in this refugee camp on the outskirts of peshawar city. most of the refugees living here will not be able to take part in a crucial general election in afghanistan. now, in 2004, most people here in the camps did want the crucial vote that helped hamid karzai win the election.

this time when a president hands over power to a newly elected president the afghan refugees will not be able to vote. predominantly these are pashtun groups, the majority in afghanistan, and they say will not be heard across the border. the pakistanis stepped up border patrol, but here at the refugee camps, as you can see, most people will be interested to see the outcome of the general election, but they do have mixed feelings. >> it was our wish to participate in the election and cast a vote for a leader. we are deprived of the right. >> how can you call it fair and free when so many cannot choose the head of state because they are refugees? >> it's not just afghans going to the polls, india's general election begins. the opposition leader looks

likely to become the next prime minister, but critics are concerned by the hindu ideology. we have this report from new delhi. >> with fists in the air, these children begin their day pledging allegiance to mother india. they live in the hind u heartland where religion and national pride go hand in hand. this ritual is organised by a conservative group to boost religious faith and nationalism. >> i'm proud to be a child of mother india. we are praying to help retain pride of place in the world. >> with elections around the corner, people are coy about who they'll vote for. they say there is one man that can bring pride and prosperity. the opposition candidate.

a self-proclaimed hind u nationalist enjoying support amongst conservative hindus. he's a front runner. he's strong against terrorism on national security. we are proud of the cultural heritage. >> the ruling congress party have been plagued by corruption scandal and policy inertia, its candidate rahul gandhi failed to provide confidence. india's economy was growing at 10%. today it dropped to less than 5%. voters were concerned by high inflation, looking for reform, and that is what they were promised. >> but some servers are worried that the ellageous nationalism

will marginalise hindus. >> hind use are a fractured society. if you have that vision that we are one, will be one, i will make you one, i will give you an identity, then you are making a big mistake, which is why mohamed morsi is dangerous. many indians are likely to vote for mohamed morsi, because of hindu nationalism. >> an indian court sentenced three men to death for the gang rape of a photo journalist. it's the first time an execution has been ordered in a case that didn't involve the death of the victim. it raised concerns about women's securities. the men are guilty of a separate gang rape committed several months earlier. >> now, a 9-month-old baby in pakistan has been charged with

attempted murder after being accused of attacking policemen. the baby and his family were summoned to a court in lahore. police had gone to the family's home it disconnect the gas supply after they failed to pay their bill. they said the baby attacked them by throwing stons. >> chad has begun to withdraw 850 peacekeepers from the central african republic. the soldiers stand accused of opening fire. the government accused anti-bell abbinga rebels of amburning the soldiers. it's the latest in a series of incidents involving chadian troops. it appears they would have come in to evacuate people of chaddion troops. other people had been attacked

by anti-balaka fighters, so the chadian army evacuated people, saving lies, taking people out who were in danger. this time, for some reason, they started to shoot civilians, men, women, children in the marketplace on a sunny afternoon. >> a group of people in guinea attacked an ebola clinic accusing them of bringing the virus to town. it's run by doctors without borders. 90 have died. mali is the latest country to support suspected cases. protesters in kenya defied warnings. abu bacar denied recruiting gunmen to fight in somalia.

break the camera was the instruction from the dead sheikh's mosque. there was a moment of tension and rocks were thrown. not everyone wanted to fight. they were told to go home. for most that didn't. the police fired tear gas. he was accused of recruiting somali fighters. he denied it, and is the third sheikh shot dead in two years. the son of one sheikh killed was accused of recruiting for al-shabab. but he says he's a chicken farmer. >> translation: it's a sign they are looking for a reason to eliminate someone. this is how they start, accusing you of being an al-shabab supporter. >> we asked the man in charge of security for the county if police were involved in any way. >> i think it's not true.

we have had muslims who have been killed. quite a number. so as a country we should be condemning this as a criminal act. >> there's mounting pressure on the government to improve public safety. attacks increased since kenya sent authorities. 12 have been killed, and explosions at a restaurant. >> there's a lock of trust between some muslims and the ken can authorities. during the sermon, the imam voiced concern that the kenyan authorities are involved in the death of the sheikhs. efforts to prevent riots appear to have succeeded. people want to know who is killing their leaders. >> hundreds of pro-government

protesters rallied outside the thai capital to show support for yingluck shinawatra. the red shirts avoided gathering in bangkok. the prime minister is struggling to stay in power after five months of protests calling for her to step down. >> the gaoled venezuela opposition leader leopoldo lopez has been charged with inciting violence. hours later supporters gathered in caracas. and focussed on the plaza where presidential candidates vepded to police in february. >> towns in the u.s. midwest harmed by years of economic decline are getting a boost from china. john hendren has more from dayton in ohio. >> for years this vacant factory stood as a monument to ohio's economic dysfunction. they were so dependent on

automakers that when general motors pulled out in 2008 it was left with cracked ash fold, and 4 uns unemployed -- 400 unemployed autoworkers. a chinese auto glass maker is reopening an ageing eyesore with $280 million, and 800 jobs. >> you can't not welcome foreign investment. if you want to grow your cities, your communities right now, you have to be open to foreign investment. our country was built on immigrants. if you are not hope to immigrants now, where was your family 200 years ago. >> chinese conglomerates are the newest investors in the u.s. from toledos waterfront hotel to a copper tubing factory. >> the largest business in ohio

was here in dayton, there was 200 chinese students eight years ago. locals hope it both well for foreign investment by the future cap taups of chinese -- cap towns of chinese industry. >> my dream is to bring the business together. people in china love america. i hope the two countries can work good together. >> the tiny town lured them by offering the chinese what it had in excess supply - workers and factory place. >> we are the advantageous because of blank, we have 400,000 available and folks with a skill set. it's a great win. a lot of us see the opportunity to capitalize. the prospect has towns hoping to

reopen gates like these. >> a chicago train driver has been sacked for falling asleep at the wheel, causing the train she was operating to crash. these pictures show the train jumping the tracks, travelling across the platform and coming to a stop on top of an escalator. 32 were hurt at o'hare international airport last month. >> mazda recalled 42,000 cars because of a fire risk caused by spiders. the yellow sac spider made a home for itself in the mazda six. in 2011 mazda found the insect were building webs causing fuel lacks. >> now, could former u.s. president george w. bush be the modern picasso. he unveiled an exhibition showing paintings of world

leaders. patty culhane explains more. >> when he was president gush had trouble -- gurk had george w. bush had trouble expressing himself. >> fool me once, shame... >> so out of office he's taking art less jog. >> she said what's the goal. i said "there's a rem brant trapped in the body, your job is to unleash him." >> in an introduce with his daughter turned reporter he gives an interview. >> art critic says these saying everything he couldn't when in office. on hamid karzai. >> indesuggests. hamid karzai's face is not fixed. >> farmer french president nicholas sar cosy. >> sour. >> angela merkel. >> bitter. >> likely the most telling -

take a look at how he sees russian president vladimir putin, whose soul bush once said he could see. >> it's not a friendly painting. he seems to have changed his mind. wherever he saw, he was wrong. >> started with a self-portrait. >> he turned the art op himself. >> is that confidence. >> i think so. >> neck fat. >> neck fat - will dot date >> there's a big proportion of neck fat. >> it's real. >> takes confidence for any artist to expose work to the crit. this is a former president who has more than a few of those, and could be seen as bush responding. >> he's been reluctant to make a statement about his administration. like the rest of the world he's wrestling with what it meant. >> is he painting or sending a message. people will likely be polarized in their opinions.

>> now, a salvadorian fisherman who claimed to be lost at sea for 13 months passed a lie detect yore test. he claims to have survived on turtle blood, fish and birds he caught with his bare hands. >> too many americans have been out of work for too long. there's a silver lining. i'll tell you about it and look at the controversy surrounding a job creator in this country - fracking for natural gas and oil. mining the tall int pool that a -- talent pool that a lot of employers overlook. how one employer is unhandwritten asking the unique skills of autistic workers. i'm ali velshi, and this is "real money".