[♪ music ] >> a warm welcome to you from me, david foster. here are some of the stories we're looking at in detail for the next 60 minutes. rebels who kidnapped school girls are now blamed for hundreds dead. the first to the polls at the end of apartheid. several escape after three

years of resistence. >> we have the top stories from europe. including nothing but hot air, the call to postpone a referendum of independence. and the dangers of too much tv. the new health warning of increased blood pressure in children. >> boko haram fighters have attacked, gun men's stormed a town on the border of cameroon. the attack was on monday.

>> they attacked that city for over 12 hours. they did not leave until 1:00 in the night. the city was hit by the military and according to the locals a day or two to the attack the military and the civilians vigilanty moved when they heard that some of the school girls who were abducted was hidden around that area. so the insurgents took advantage of the situation and they came in to the city. and actually when they came to the vehicles and so now they attacked the area, and then

anybody hiding in that area were shot and killed. they moved into the city. many were killed. according to the residents, they told us not less than 300 people died. >> nigerian troops are said to be on the search. for more than 270 girls who are kidnapped i, the united states s offered it's help in the search.

>> the state department of the united states of america offered to put in place technology for surveillance at our borders using satellite surveillance, they accepted the offer. surprising the officials of the united states of america unde. that offer was gladly accepted. >> voters have been heading to the polls in the south african general election. the first time that people born after the end of white rule have a say. the win by the ruling africa national congress is widening expected, but the party is being threatened. >> many of these voters' families have worked on this land for generations, but they don't own it. 20 years after the end of the

apartheid and most of the land is still in white hands despite promises of reform. these farm workers keep fruit and vegetables on the ti dinner tables of white south africas and in the united states even though they don't have enough for themselves. last year they protested and won a promise that the government will investigate bringing in a minimum wage. there is still no signed of it. >> most voters here support the democratic alliance. most people are not black but are mixed race called colored under apartheid. >> what i can say, look around.

many don't get jobs under the anc. the only person they're interested in are the blacks. >> there are not enough jobs, and many believe that th land landownership is the way out of poverty. >> the greed and inability to restore land is one of the stumbling blocks. >> reporter: wendy used to be an anc member but she is going to spoil her vote this year. >> many things in the current manifesto are from 20 years ago. >> she's using her experience on the farm to teach he's women to grow their own food. they're tired of waiting for the government's help.

but it's expected that most south africans will vote. many ar believe that things wile better in the next 20 years, many are hopeful. >> let's go to ash har quaraishi when s-- >> to most people the anc is still the party of liberation and still the party that brought them relief from apartheid. even though many have not seen changes in their living standards, the grants they get in terms of child support, disability grants, etc. are being used as a carrot and a stick for them. it's a carrot in that they're told this is what we brought you, but there is a threat there as well. if you don't vote for us you might have go back to a

situation where you don't even have this. that's one of the messages that this is the party that my parents spoke for, and many survives lives and livelihoods for. there is this feeling, this hope that the anc, despite the gross corruption within its leadership will still reform. that is the hope of many, many people who fought for liberation in this country. >> i want to talk to you about how south africa has 25% unemployment, and yet southern africa, which has the youngest population of anywhere in the worlds has an average unemployment rate of 6%. what's going on there?

>> reporter: the economy is stagnant. civil servants are inflated, bloated, and there are no jobs being created. many jobs were lost due to the ending of the gas agreement in the world trade organization system where a lot of textile workers, leather workers, clotting workers lost their job. that was a huge set back in this country. in the mining sector we've seen unrest, unemployment consequently soar in that sector, we've seen strikes in that sector. as a result the economy has not grown as one would have wished it to do. there has been a global recession. but as you point out the u unemployment is relatively better. this is one of the frustrating factors for the young workers in south africa who have not come

out in numbers today. the number they have seen today have been far less than expected. a lot of old people. my 81-year-old mother voted today. but many young people are apathetic only about 30%, 34% of the 18- to 20-year-olds actually registered to vote. that percentage of young population is down. i think we're going to see that.

>> away from racial discrimination by and large, there was a senior analyst called umbecki, who said it's not south africa at the crossroads, it is the anc who is at a crossroads. this is it's last chance to get things right. >> yes, that is my former boss, yes, he's right. the anc is at a crossroads. it's currently headed by demagogues, the old supporters of the anc are tired of this demagoguery, they want change, but they see very little viable alternative right now. >> thank you very much.

from johannesburg. >> thank you. >> escape made possible by a cease-fire deal between the rebels and the government. >> after more three years of fighting, syrian rebels have had to evacuate their last stronghold in the country's third largest city. now under full control of president assad's forces. brokered and overseen by the ambassador to syria with the help of the united nations. hundreds of rebels were allowed to leave the old city of homs. those who agreed to lay down their arms were allowed to stay.

the rebels will allow aid to be taken to those in aleppo. it was intense where the armed rebels started their fight against president assad. also here the government used all weapons at its disposal. odd neighborhoods were destroyed and thousands of lives were lost. it's a major setback, the government wassed was adamant. it is not just the loss of a strategic city but a moral blow for fighters all over syria. some rebels are already valued and will come back to homs. but with the way the battles are going in the country it doesn't seem that they will be able to

do so in the near future. >> a moment on the news hour. tie land's prime minister is forced to step down after being convicted of violating the constitution. making gains in the fight against al-qaeda we have a report from inside yemen. and players brazil hope will win its country's sixth world cup. >> ukraine is dismissing a call by vladimir putin to abandon a rereferendum. >> reporter: well, david, vladimir putin made the comments during a meeting with the organization in europe about the

ongoing crisis in ukraine. it also said that they have withdrawn troops from the border, but nato has not seen any sign of this and asked for him to are draw them. >> reporter: what about the pro-russian separatists if we're going to call them that, in eastern ukraine. what reaction to these comments? >> reporter: this announcement by president vladimir putin has taken everybody by surprise. the ukrainian government, the separatists. this came from the talks he had with the occe in in moscow, and frankly the separatists have been caught unawares. they were relying on russian support in order to go lady with this ref--to go ahead with this referendum that they were planning this weekend, may

11th, and frankly it came as a shock to them. this announcement from moscow. >> we call on the representatives of southeastern ukraine the supporters of the federalization of the country. but necessary condition for the start of this dialogue is the unconditional stop of this violence. the planned presidential elections in kiev is the right direction but it won't solve everything if all the citizens of ukraine don't understand how their rights will be guaranteed after this election is held. >> reporter: this is not just a subtle position change by the russian president. to call the elections on may 25th a step in the right direction is fundamentally different from what he has been saying. he had called the election absurd previously. in the donetsk, the people are

surprised. here is heavy declared governor of the people of donetsk. he has taken over the administration building. frankly what he said was that mr. putin is not the president of the donetsk people of republic. the people of th people's repubt tomorrow. they'll consider his opinion but they're no bound by it. >> what does it mean supporting or not supporting. he knows what we stand against. even if the majority decide to oppose the referendum, this is no longer than a week because later there will be on the 25th attempts to have those

so-called elections so it will get legitimatized some way, some how. we intend not to participate in the elections. >> a pretty confusing suspect for all those concerned. do we know if there is going to be a referendum over the weekend or are they going to decide that tomorrow. >> there's not going to be a referendum this weekend. we were further east, and we could find nobody. we were going to the streets talking to people, we spoke to members of the administration there, and nobody knew where they were going to vote. where the ballot box was going to be positioned. there simply wasn't the organization there. the referendum planned to the east was going to put off if not abandoned all together.

>> thank you. for more on this we go to the in-studio ukraine specialist. thank you for joining us. painting a pretty confusing picture, what do you think is behind it. >> i think its important to make it lear that everyone is pretending to be a putinologist, they think they know what he's thinking. putin is closed. no one in russian high finances knows what putin is about to do, and that's what makes it so frightening. the second thing we have to remember is over the last two months putin said he would never interview in ukrainian politics, he would never send troops into crimea he would never annex

crimea and in this statement, why should we treat it as any other statement. >> because it's the first time there is a conciliatory tone? >> no, he has made statements like this before. let's have a look at one of the trends we've seen in the way that putin has dealt with ukraine, which is to raise russia's demands to such astr ao astronomical heights that it looks like a compromise, and this leaves them feeling satisfied and, indeed, grateful to putin and areas that are pr pro-russian, and now it seems like not a very serious demand. >> of course the government in kiev, they are saying its still

full of hot air. >> the government in kiev is totally financially depend on the west. the government in kiev would collapse in five minutes if american financial loans from withdrawn and e.u. financial support was withdrawn. when putin says the west is the paymaster of the government in kiev, he's correct. and nobody knows that better than those in kiev itself. >> we have to leave it there. russian and eastern europe specialists. thank you. >> thank you. >> meanwhile, ukrainian forces continue their push against anti-government troops in the southeastern toons of slovyansk. their efforts have been behind lack of manpower and lack of money. nick spicer reports from kiev.

>> reporter: the government is looking ahead and sees the need for a stronger fighting force. there aren't enough bullets to tract shooting today and training takes only two weeks, but many already feel that already. after holding their ground during the previous government's violent crackdown in kiev central square which killed over 100 protesters. >> people who are fighting here have very valuable national experience. that's why they should join the national guard. right now we need those with experience. it's something that we have not had before. >> reporter: the armed forces are broke. the interim government accuses of previous administration for stealing much of its budget. when asking viewers to send

donations to a text number here in the outskirts of kiev they're demanding barricades to demand people from getting in. this retiree is one of them. >> i'm here to protect my motherland and the government is doing nothing, so we have to do it ourselves. i have two kids and a grandchild. >> the government said its volunteers are under the orders of a sovereign government allowed to bear arms by the constitution. but civilians else with where e country say they, too, need to establish law and order setting the stage for what some fear is the next stage of civil war. >> let's go back to david in

doha. >> thailand's prime minister shinawatra's career has been cut short at a constitutional court. she has been found guilty of violating the constitution. the commerce minister will now replace her as prime minister. and interim government will move ahead for plans for general elections in july. >> dismissed after a thousand days in prime minister. shinawatra is mobbed by supporters. she's the third tie premere linked to the shinawatra family to be removed by the constitutional court. >> i insist that we have used honest to administer the country, and we've never done anything that conveys any dishonest actions as accused. >> the court ruled that she abused her power by transferring a stop security officials i in 2011. nine other cabinet members have

also been removed. her party said it rejects the court's position but the verdict cannot be appealed. >> it creates certain satisfaction for those who oppose the government, and frustration for those who support it. but still i would not suggest that we are going to have a street fight any time soon. >> reporter: thailand is in the grips of political turmoil with anti-government protests in the capitol of bangkok. they are now celebrating the court's decision. >> she has never shown any prime minister of prime minister. she should have left a long time ago. >> reporter: but she is not without her supporters. >> it looks like that we have

judicially acquitted her. judicially acquitted can help pave the way for military coup d'etat, and create that situation in this country. >> pro government protesters have held occasional counter rallies in the last few months and are due to hold a major one on saturday. >> leaders say this one will be no different. but the risk of confrontation still remains with both sides unwilling to give up their fight. the court's verdict has thrown another twist in the crisis. >> coming up on the news hour confronting a president, victims owith grievances.

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>> good to have you along for this hour of al jazeera news. the boko haram fighters have attacked and killed hundreds of people. gunmen stormed the town near the border with cameroon on monday.

>> ma hihamid karzai went to the policplace where many were disp, and many were killed. >> reporter: northeastern afghanistan karzai traveled to the remote area. ha man threw his turbine to the ground which in afghan culture signifies a loss of dignity before god.

karzai said he would be taken care of but did not say how. we asked what the government intended to do. >> of course many people here are still i needing help. what have you promised them head. >> one, emergency assistance of which there is a lot, unfortunately. second, the--those who wish to have their loved ones, relatives taken out from under the soil, and then to give them new homes. >> for those living in tents and those receiving little aid say they are not convinced. the man who confronted president karzai, he lost ten members of his family in the landslide, his home and farmland are also

buried under mud and rock. this tent is the only shelter he has. >> i threw my turban in front of president karzai because he knows that god is a witness to our suffering. we can't even get a bottle of water here. for god's sake, what is going on? >> reporter: it's clear that the government has a long way to go to help those who have been displaced by the land side. not only would they receive aid but that they would help them rebuild their lives. >> the army in yemen said it has recaptured a major al-qaeda stronghold. more troops have been deployed in what the government says is a decisive battle. we are in the capitol with this report. >> reporter: yemen's army commanders visit territories claimed to have been captured

from al-qaeda. the minister of defense is seen here known as major al-qaeda strongholds. fighting continues in the mountains. al-qaeda has an extensive network of hideouts. the group enjoys protection by powerful tribal leaders. the army said it's determined to defeat al-qaeda. >> we're tightening the noose against al-qaeda fighters. but we're not fighting against a regular army. al-qaeda is using guerrilla tactics. >> reporter: but it's a delicate mission for the yemeni government. the security forces have been weakened by years of internal and armed conflicts. in a country like yemen, foreign

support is widely seen as an attack on islam. >> if foreign troops are deployed, popular support will drop significantly. we know the americans. they don't want peace for yemen. >> reporter: this isn't yemen's first war against al-qaeda. each time the government has claimed victory. but months later al-qaeda and the arabian peninsula, al-qaeda's most active branch in the world, would emerge stronger and more organized. al-qaeda has become a major source for concern not only for yemen but oil-rich saudi arabia, and the u.s. which worries that yemen is becoming a platform for al-qaeda forming attacks that could destabilize the whole region. >> the spirit leader of the muslim brotherhood has appeared in an egyptian court. he said accusations against him and a thousand others have been made up.

>> they accuse me while they don't have any evidence. i and about 1,180 individuals have been sentenced to death, this is an insult to egyptian judiciary. we ask you to bring you our right and we ask for retribution as my son and thousands like him were killed in a peaceful demonstration. who killed my son and thousands of people in these peaceful demonstrations. who burned the houses, mosques and who burned injured people to death. no case has been brought against the killers. we the victims have been turned. >> al jazeera journalists are still being held in egypt. they have been held for over 10 days. they are pulsely accused of conspiring with the muslim brotherhood, a movement declared

as a terrorist organization by egypt. al jazeera rejects the charges and is demanding their immediate really. abdullah al shamy is said to have been on hunger strike for 107 days. he has lost more than a third of his body weight. backs to europe now with more news with barbara. >> reporter: david, thank you. let's start in northern ireland where political wrangling has blocked victims from justice of past violence. >> the historical troubles and residual risk for further violence to see the peace dividing opposing communities

and the murals still demanding justice. as jerry adams over 1972 ira murder revealed the victims are still hungry for justice. but so far they've been denied that by political squabbles. victims commissioner katherine stone is about to send new proposals to you the minister and his deputy. >> where we are and the events of the past week show there is a momentum that is building to the urgency of how we deal with the past here, and how unless we deal with the past it will continue to infect and poison the present and the future. we must deliver these things to victims. >> in the absence of an agreed alternative wave for helping the victims it will be left to the police to pursue individual cases running all the risks of a fresh rupture in the peace as illustrated by jerry adams'

detention. before mr. adams' release on accusations she denies, sinn fein and others traded insults. many believe it's becoming increasingly urgent to concentrate on the victims. >> what is clear we certainly achieved a political settlement. we did not achieve reconciliation, and we have not achieved yet truth and justice for the victims. >> previous efforts to achieve justice have failed. the fall out from mr. adams' arrest might give the latest move fresh impetus. al jazeera, belfast. >> the french engineering group has announced it's profit has plummeted by a third in the last financial year. the company has blamed the 28% drop on difficult economic conditions and restructuring costs. considering takeover bids and

also u.s. giant general electric for its energy assets. and the german firm seimens. an election comes after a deadlock over the kosovo h's national army. they want guarantees before they go ahead with a vote. children who spend too much time in front of the tv screen have more than double the chance of high blood pressure. it suggests that children are encouraged to be more physically active the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease in adults may be reduced. we have been investigating. >> reporter: hooking up to a video game, a pastime many kids

are happy to do. something parents conside may ca necessary evil. but many say it's not the be thing for a child's development. now the latest study from canadian scientists show sitting for hours in front of a tv screen playing games can cause hypertension in children particularly those who have at least one parent suffering from obesity. it's not necessarily that children are spending time in front of a tv or playing computer games that are harmful but it might be the amount of time that they spend doing it. in this study children spent two hours or more in front of a screen had increase of blood pressure. that was evident in kids who are over weight. while none of the kids had serious issues of blood pressure a there was a concern of

unhealthy snacks, and that has scientists question how their health would proceed. >> me certainly have the environmental factsers that will push them in that direction. if parents are seen to be inactive themselves or overeating and not enough exercise or there is an a lot of fattening food around all the time kids will go in that direction. >> too much screen time may mean too little time spent outdoors. and the average eight-year-old spends eight hours on a mobile phone or in front of the tv. they say it's contributed to problems such as childhood obesity. their recommendation is to get them to spend less than two hours a day on screen time. for children under two, no screen time at all. a challenge given the constant presence of smart phones. given half the chance it would seem that children embrace being outdoors rather than playing inside. >> i prefer to invite my friends over to kick a ball over.

i do like screen time but i know that if i have too much, it makes my eyes. >> not everyone agrees. >> i like playing on the ipad because it makes me feel chilled out and relaxed. >> perhaps it's a question of striking a happy medium. >> you should be chilled out at seven. with that you're up-to-date with the latest from europe. now it's back to david in doha. >> david with the square eyes, it's not from watching it, it's from sitting here. now we'll go to india's election. it's entering it's final stages. only a week left in the nine phasephases. the issue of better roads has been debated.

>> transportation has grown significantly. he began with five trucks now he has 200 trucks and 300 staff members. >> the roads used to be very bad with potholes and i couldn't get any drivers to do long journeys. they've improved now and a trip which would have taken 15 days now takes seven. >> reporter: the indian government says it has laid over 200,000 kilometers of new road, but commuters travel this every day. >> reporter: you don't have to travel far to discover trouble on the roads. the route to luxury complexes is tough for owners who live in places like this. >> investigating in a new home five years ago but he still can't get to it. >> i was hoping that i would be living here in two years, but

there is no proper road network, so i can't even reach high property let alone live here. and also i can't sell it because the people who would want to buy this property, they can't see any good infrastructure here. so it's a bad investment for them. >> reporter: row after row of blocks are empty. experts say while the government has done well to develop public-private partnerships the relationship has not always been perfect. >> they were expecting private sectors to deal with these, it was a big challenge for private sectors. >> whoever wins the general election will have to keep in mind the public's transport and business needs. roads like this will have to be improved to show that india is on the right track. all parties have promised to invest in ente better infrastru.

it's a promise they'll have to keep to continue their support. >> we'll return in just a moment. we'll tell you about a country that is a breath away from realizing marijuana. we're off to mexico for that. in sport we report why a top european football team is going in business with an indian cricket. stay with us. way to you.

al jazeera america,o you. take a new look at news. >> qatar has handed over its own assessment of how it handles

it's works. this is after reports have criticized the country's labor laws. qatar has been in the spotlight since it's bid to host the world football cup in 2022. >> reporter: the united nations human rights council convened it's report of the state's human rights on wednesday this time with its focus on qatar. they would take part in human rights in member states with dialogue between countries and allowing governments to point out shortcomings and look at ways to enhance freedoms the world over. the main criticism has been the mistreatment of migrant workers. rights groups such as amnesty international came that many foreign laborers have died as a result of this. also the issue of qatar work

sponsorship where they're only allowed to leave the country with their employer's permissi permission. >> we urge qatar to reform the current sponsorship system as a priority and ensure labor laws in place are effectively in forced. >> the recommendations made at the united nations are not binding but qatar insists it is taking the concerns of the international community regarding it's human rights record seriously. officials point out that the country is moving in the right direction by implementing everything, banning human trafficking and comprehensive round of the country's labor laws. head of qatar's delegation to the u.n. session. he said while there is room for improvement qatar has achieved a great deal when it comes to issues of human rights. >> we've issued a law banning human trafficking.

this law penalizes many crimes that could occur particularly against domestic workers. we also adjusted the labor daughters making it illega--adj. >> officials point to the fact that when it comes to women's rights qatar is ahead of many of its regionable neighbors with women up ain up occupying many t positions. qatar has found itself under the spotlight. the country depends heavily on migrants and domestic workers. rights groups and the u.n. wants them to move just as fast when it comes to safeguarding human

rights for all those living there. >> for some politicians in mexico have introduced a number of bills to legalize marijuana. if the bills go through mexico will join uruguay in controlling the drug. >> reporter: an evening ritual. she said smoking marijuana helps her relax. >> i don't think i'm doing myself any harm. i have never really considered quit smoking marijuana because it does not interfere with my daily activities. >> reporter: once a fringe movement, such moves are becomingrowinggrowing. >> reporter: prohibition has

generated too many widows, orphans in mexican society, it has not achieved any of its goals. don't cry over prohibition. >> some 100,000 people have been killed or gone missing in mexico's drug wars since 2006. a war that has cost the country billions of dollars, a war that many think is being waged just to keep drugs from reaching the united states. >> when the united states is the greatest consumer of marijuana legalizes it, it will free up its use and commercialization in other countries while still respecting international treaties. >> reporter: those in favor of legalizing pot are not advocat advocating bans on harder drugs. by legalizing marijuana it would take millions of dollars from drug cartel. still, pot has a negative image in this country.

there is little chance that a national bill will pass considering two conservative parties control congress. but mexico city has long been ruled by leftest governments. abortion and gay marriage have become legal here in recent years. lawmakermany hope that if it bes legal here it will only take time if it's legalized across the country. time will tell if it's just a pipe dream. >> david, sports. >> reporter: just naming the 23-man team that he hopes to win the world cup. some of the big names included.

it will be played in sao paulo on june 12th. >> tomorrow i'm looking forward to play in the world cup. it will be important for our generation to play the world cup at home. so we're looking forward. >> we looked at the barcelona striker will be crucial to the country's chances. >> he's only 22 years old, and he has the world on his shoulders during the world cup. people are making comparisons to him and messi and cristiano ronaldo. there is a lot of made of the world cup. at 20 it's a big responsibility for him. they'll go at least to the semifinals. there are only six players of the 23 actually played in the world cup before, so it will be

interesting for an experienced team to go to the semifinals and see what happens then. i would say if they reach the semifinals, already a big achievement for such a young group. >> well, match is just under way. a point for manchester city in their game against aston villa will be enough to take them to the top of the table. still scoreless in that one. the spanish title race also picks up in the next few minutes. real madrid hoping to lead by a couple of points atletico madrid. a fan threw a banana at barcelona's danny alves, it's sparking a world wild public social media campaign against racism. the nan involved was given a lifetime ban by villareal.

one of the stand out teams of the season reaching the champions league final, now the brand is branching out to the club becoming co-owners of a new team in india to be named atletico calcutta. it will be competing in a football-style competition. atletico sharing ownership. well, japanese champions has taken a big step towards the quarterfinals of the asian champions league. scoring two second hole goals lead to go a 3-1 win over th ine first leg. a two-goal cushion heading to the return that is coming up in australia next week. average late win in the kawasa

kawasaki. rafael in a del to win his fourth madrid title. the spaniard coming off the back of back-to-back quarterfinal defeat in the barcelona competitions. 6-1, 6-1 love. and serena williams was also in easy form. the defending champion progressing for third round with a straight set victory. more on our website including that news of french football club claremont who has named a female manager as their coach for next season. check that out. www.aljazeera.com/sports. okay, more from me later on, but that is all. >> for those who warmed up to the minute, manchester city with only 12 minutes gone. that's it from us for now.

>> maman bashir alex niev camila karamova di dai jin peng pan sunatillo i am sorry if i pronounced your name wrong. >> it was not a choice for us, for the children to come here.