fracking waste water >> the stream only on al jazeera america >> hello, and welcome to the news hour. i'm martine dennis in doha. these are our top stories. a massacre in kenya, al-shabab fighters an shoot dead 28 passengers. no. iraq civilians are caught up in airstrikes targeting isil. we have the latest from baghdad. russia accuses the west of trying to topple it's president.

and we go to the arctic. is there a new cold war? >> art sales make records in new york. what is driving up the prices? >> we start in kenya where al-shabab fighters have ambushed a bus and killed 28 civilians. the bus was traveling to nairobi. harry smith has this report. >> reporter: witnesses say that the victims were forced from the bus at gunpoint. they were ordered to read passes from the qur'an to separate out the non-muslims who were forced to lie down before being shot in the head one by one at point blank range. 60 passengers were on board. 28 were killed. 911 women and 19 men. the attack happened near the kenyan border near somalia. the bus was traveling to the

capitol of nairobi. it's believed there were about ten gunmen, kenyan police say they're trying to track them down. >> the kenyan government said it was determined to bring them to justice. >> they have been identified credit they come from, and we continue to make inroads to make sure that we bring to news those responsible. >> the islamic group al-shabab said that they carried out the attack in revenge for a number of raids by security forces on mosques. during the raids one man was shot dead, and more than 300 arrested after police said the mosques were being used to recruit fighters and store

weapons. >> the ones that we killed worked for the kenyan government. this is a war between muslims and non-believers. we're told to fight non-believers. if they want peace they should withdraw their troops from somalia. >> kenya has suffered a series of deadly attacks since it sent troops in somalia in 2011 to bolster the u.n.-backed government against al-shabab. the assault on the nairobi westgate shopping mall resulted in the death of 67 people. al-shabab has also said it carried out other attacks on kenya's coast earlier this year, and 90 people have died. harry smith, al jazeera. >> the u.s. vice president joe biden has been meeting with turkey's president on how to confront the islamic state in iraq and the levant. the u. is trying to get turkey to play a bigger role with the

coalition in fighting the group. >> i was told of impressions of developments taking place in iraq. i had an opportunity to spend several hours yesterday a and again this morning with the prime minister who just returned from iraq, and we're on the same page. we have the same view. i told the president how impressed and pleased the new iraqi government was that the fact that he and his government reached out a hand to the iraqi people, the iraqi government, and they're working in close coordination. >> we would like to continue to strengthen their corporation with the u.s. we discussed issues of common interest. firstly we discussed governments in syria, iraq, and also the threat posed by isil. and we held comprehensive

discussions on this subject. we've seen isil grow from mow cull, grow into syria. we'll continue to have discussions and will continue to do so. >> we have this report. >> reporter: despite four hours of talks between u.s. vice president joe biden and turkey's president erdogan, there is still again no indication that the turkish authorities will allow the u.s. to use air bases in turkey to launch rockets. that means that u.s. and allied aircraft will have to continue to fly their long journeys from the mediterranean and the gulf. turkey insists that the regime of president bashar al-assad

is as much of a problem as that of isil, and it wants the u.s. to take on assad as well taking on isil. but also wants a no-fly zone in northern syria so moderate forces can regroup, and syrian refugees can be housed. the u.s. continues to maintain that it's priority is isil. this is where the divide remains between turkish and u.s. policy. today's visit by biden does not seem to have closed that gap. >> now at least eight civilians have been killed in the iraqi city of heet by airstrikes. it is northwest of the city of ramadi in anbar province. these are the native pictures of the aftermath. we have this update from baghd baghdad. >> reporter: they havmany have

been killed in airstrikes. now it has not been confirmed if these were coalition airstrikes or iraqi army airstrikes, however, through social media, a sunni rebel group has claimed that it was iraqi air force that mounted that airstrike that ended with the civilian casual casualties. it has not been confirmed so far. the coalition airstrikes have hit a train of isil fighters here heet, killing 85. once again that has not been confirmed. all of this comes as an assault has taken place on ramadi, which began thursday night and it's still ongoing. now the assault on ramadi city is taking place in the north and south where iraqi forces together with sunni tribal fighters try to push isil fighters away. this is the biggest assault faced by ramadi since the iraqi army took it over in october. and these airstrikes are trying to back up and disrupt any isil

activity coming through and trying to take over the city of ramadi. >> now syrians living inside the buffer zone along the golan heights are increasingly getting involved in the country's civil war. civilians say despite taking refuge in a so-called cease-fire zone they're still coming under bombardment. >> the fighting is fierce. thousands have fled the area, which borders the cease-fire line, but now villages inside the demilitarized zone are coming under attack from syrian forces. u.n. peace keepers retreated to the israeli side of the cease-fire line in september after syrian rebels took control

of the only crossing. those living or taking refuge inside the cease-fire zone hoped they would be safe. >> i'm a civilian. i lost my eye. i lost my hand. i'm being treated in the hospital, but i need to go abroad so doctors there can do something better for my case. we don't have the medicined here. >> the crossing is a gateway from the west into damascus. it lies just 65 kilometers to the north. the al nusra front controls most of the area, but the regime is not giving up. refugees trying to flee the fighting are forced to the countryside where nothing is easy. >> we need to buy everything. we need to buy water, bread, clothing, everything. we need to buy it, but we don't have money. >> many here don't take sides

and are angry at the regime for the bombardment, and the opposition for failing to keep its word, neither able to help those caught in the middle with the struggle for survival continues. al jazeera. >> now talks on iran's nuclear program are ongoing in vienna. secretary of state john kerry was joined by prime minister. six world powers meeting with iran wanting to limit tehran's nuclear capabilities in return for lifting of sanctions. the deadline for the deal is on monday. >> we're working hard. we hope we're making progress, but we have gaps that we're working to close. >> in libya a fighter jet from an unknown country is carrying out an airstrike west of

tripoli. south of the capitol there has been more fighting between rival militia. the libyan dawn coalition said it's making advances. it took control of tripoli in august, and it's fighting tribes who are linked to the former general haftar. bahrain's state news is reporting the elections have been extended for one more hour. it's a first vote since the government cracked down on shia protesters over three years. nicole johnston reports. >> reporter: the government asked all bahrainis to turn out and vote in the election. many of them did, but not everyone. the largest shia party and three other groups boycott the vote. >> that represents the people and officials accountable, and we cannot participate.

>> in bahrain a sunni muslim monarchy rules over a population that is mainly shia. this imbalance has caused plenty of tension. shia protected demanding greater rights. the movement was crushed by the government, which was backed by tanks by neighboring saudi arabia. this is the first election since those tense days. on thursday in the northwestern village, it was still tense. demonstrators marched through the streets. on friday, instead of voting some people tried to block the traffic and prevent others from voting. they scattered rocks and rubbish across the street, the police fired tear gas in the area. more than 260 candidates are competing for 40 seats in bahrain's election. but more power lies with the

leadership, the royal family. after crushing the opposition in 2011 the king announced an inquiry into human rights abuses. it found detainees had been tortured, and now the government said it wants to reach out to the opposition and it blames iran for medaling in bahrain's affairs. >> the door is open to them. there was an invitation for dialogue. a second invitation to pursue dialogue. they refused to participate. they refused because in their mind bahrain should be delivered to iran. >> whether the people are voting or protesting, bahrain is a long way from national unity. it's a deeply divided country, and the memories of the unrest and repression during it's arab spring are still fresh. so few people are expecting this election to bring the sunni and shia communities any closer together. nicole johnston, al jazeera. >> coming up it's been a year

since the first anticipate government protest in the ukrainian capitol. we take a look at the growing patriotism that is helping to fund the revolution in the east. >> in eastern bolivia where the government is applying economics to the fight against illegal drugs. >> and in sport find out who has got the edge going into the final race of the formula one season. >> the government of sudan has asked the u.n. african union mission to prepare to leave darfur. a foreign ministry representative did not give a reason for the request that said it had been made a few weeks ago. it won't be an immediate departure from darfur, but an exit strategy has been requested. >> well, the sudanese governme

army has been accused of mass rape. the sudanese army denies these claims. >> to get to talbot is difficult. sometimes the only safe way in is with armed assistance. the military escorted the media in to cover a candl scandal of rape. >> we heard about women young and old being raped. we also heard that these people were not there, they were only spreading rumors to give a bad reputation. >> these claims of mass rapes are a big lie, and the village is safe. those members of the army have

married our girls, not raped them. >> but compared those comments with these given by a woman in the village. >> the soldiers beat up my husband very badly and they dragged him out of the house bleeding, and then four others came in and started raping my daughters. they were screaming their father's name to come and rescue them. the rape lasted three hours. they did that to everyone, our neighbors, everyone. >> the united nations' first tried to send a team to investigate the allegations on the fourth of november. it's team it was denied access to the village for almost a week. finally they were allowed in but with a sizable sudanese army present. >> they found no information to the allegations, but there was a heavy military presence during

the visit, while the claims remain unverified, in her mind it was not possible to conclude that the sexual violence did not take place. >> the u.n. team has tried to get back into talbot over the last few days, and again has been refused access. the regional government of darfur denies this. >> we have nothing to hide. we're open to an independent investigation. what happened there did not deserve an investigation because everyone knows that they deny their accusations. if there is an international investigation we will go with it because we have nothing to hide. >> for the moment it's not possible to prove what has really taken place in talbot, but the u.n. seems determined to try to find out. dominick kane, al jazeera. >> now the head of the u.n. ebola mission a has warned that the world is far from ending the

outbreak. he also warned while there is progress, a new outbreak in mali shows that it is still spreading. u.n. general secretary ban ki-moon said that if efforts to fight the virus are not stepped ustepped up it could be contained by the middle of next year. help from china, the first team of 165 chinese healthcare workers who will operate the facility are already there. now the "world health organization" said that 40 people have died from the plague in ma madagascar since august. the "who" warns as the risk of rapid spread of the city in the capitol. so far there have been two recorded cases, and one death. the bubonic plague is spread

by fleas on rats. the new interim president of the burkina faso has officially started his interim one-year term. they have handed responsibility over to kafando who will serve as the one-term leader. general zida will almost the new regional prime minister. >> the army is apolitical and shall submit to the political authorities. nno one in active service may seek political position. this means that military personnel who take on elected positions must sever their ties with the military. >> now it's been a year since

massive street protest began in ukraine, eventually forced president viktor yanukovych from power. there are many who were there at the time who are still deeply involved in activism. we have this report. >> reporter: saturday in this home it's just another day in the office. they run a facebook page in spare time raising money for the war in ukraine's east. he joins the pro european protest movement last november, and his family has not had a day off since. >> this war has really healed ukraine. a lot of people have woken up ukraine and felt the need to take up arms to defend their country and become soldiers.

>> that is the kind of patriotism driving the donations which pay for this equipment. warm clothes, sleeping bags, telescopic sites, and even vehicles for battalions in which so many have enlisted. this commander who lost an eye to a sniper this summer said that the public donations are vital. >> from the first day since our battalion came into existence the volunteer movement has given us a massive powerful aid. the way the ministry helps, i can't say that it helps 100%. they help 50%, and the equipment is old. >> through social media they have helped to race 10s of thousands of u.s. dollars. it's an important contribution to the war effort, and it's going where it's urgently needed, to the front. the funds are still flowing at the spiritual center of

ukraine's revolution, on the maidan. sentiments are shared by many ukrainians. they believe much has been won, and the new president, a new parliament, a new patriotism, but so many lives have been lost. they expect more sacrifices to come. al jazeera, kiev. >> russia is accusing the west of trying to topple it's government by imposing sanctions over that crisis in ukraine. foreign minister lavrov said that the measures are intended to damage russia's economy and to cause public protests. >> as for the concept behind the use of coercive measures the u.s. is making clear it does not want to change the policy of the russian federation, which in itself is an illusion. they want to change the regime. practically no one denies this. >> the prospect of a new cold war is having reverberations

around the globe from ukraine to the arctic. russia plans to build 30 new bases there breathing new life to outposts left on ice during the collapse of the soviet union. ali velshi reports in norway's high arctic. >> three factors mart most in both real state and geopolitics: location, location, location. and for those interested in waterfront property with breathtaking views, plenty of wildlife and potential for future riches this island could be a hidden gem. up here in the high norwegian arctic it seems that there is nothing but land, but very little of it is for sale save for one parcel across the bay behind me. you can't even see it for all the know and fog. what is interesting is a chinese businessman wants to buy that land. there is very little economic

value in owning land up here today. so one wonders if it's a greater strategic value. but this is not the only place here that is attracting interest. as tensions ramp up between russia and the west, an old soviet outpost is also drawing moscow's attention. to find out why we jumped in a boat and headed there by way of the bering sea because there are no roads that connect the settlement. here in this russian coal settlement the marks of a bygone soviet era are everywhere. >> of course our goal is not communism today. it's just a memory for us. >> but like those old soviet days this settlement still

receives supplies and food imports from moscow. that's despite the fact that the amount of coal produced here has declined dramatically over the years. but that does not mean that it isn't valuable. with 13% of the world's undiscovered oil and a third of its natural gas located in the arctic, many here think that russia is holding onto it just to keep its options open. >> the policies to russia when it comes to the arctic, being here is very important for them. >> today only a hardy crop of about 400 russians and ukrainians are left. after conflict erupted in ukraine, new tensions are emerging even here. local officials fear that fights can break out between russians and ukrainians deep inside these mines. >> it's difficult for me because my parents stay there in ukrai ukraine.

this is why it's difficult. >> this new cold war is putting trains on those like con ta constantine, he learned that he could make four times what he earned in ukraine, and he left home to boost his earnings in a frigid region that is shaping up as the next battleground in a new cold war. ali velshi, al jazeera. in the high arctic. >> still to come, we'll have a report from yemen of how the government is able to disarm houthi rebels. >> i'm sitting down to lunch with japanese school children to find out why they're among the healthiest in the world. >> and in sport find out who is leading the way at the world tour championship in dubai.

real reporting that brings you the world. giving you a real global perspective like no other can. real reporting from around the world. this is what we do. al jazeera america. >> a conflict that started 100 year ago, some say, never ended... revealing... untold stories of the valor... >> they opened fire on the english officers... >> sacrifice... >> i order you to die... >> and ultimate betrayal... drawing lines in the sand that would shape the middle east and frame the conflict today >> world war one: through arab eyes only on al jazeera america >> these are the top stories.

al-shabab fighters ordered passengers off a bus and killed anyone who wasn't able to prove they were muslim. the u.s. vice president joe biden has been in talks with turkish president on ways to defeat isil. mr. biden said that he and president erdogan also talked about how to strength the opposition in syria to help bring down bashar al-assad. bahrain's state news agencies are reporting that the parliamentary elections are being extended by an hour until 1900 greenwich meantime. this is the first election since three years ago. the first shia party has boyco boycotted the vote. people in tunisia are also heading to the polls.

tunisians will be able to choose between two dozen candidates. we have reports the poll is important for the whole region. >> campaigning in to you nova's presidential election has been loud. they are looking forward to exercise their democratic right for the first time. >> we want someone who moves tunis forward and to serve the country. >> i hope they will get better, and all tunisians stand united. >> under thafter the president had been ousted by volt in 2011 it would have been impossible to run for the top job. now candidates are free to supporspeak to supporters. >> this is the first truly multi candidate presidential election. every other presidential election.

as for campaigning this time around some of the largest this country has ever had. there are 27 register candidates, but some of them have pulled out. most of the candidates promise to create jobs. and according to some polls the frontrunner, on who won most of the seats last month. he was minister in the 1960's. speaker of parliament in 1990's, and prime minister. in he campaigned for the more experience. second in the polls, a long-time human rights activist, and he

campaigns for the return of the old guard and champions. and despite the competition analysts believe the politics hav have grown. >> they form a national unity government. >> for the first time they can say for certainty there will be an election. an attack happen in yemen,

now a growing number of yemeni are put be pressure on the government to end the fight. we have reports from sanaa. >> popular discontent with armed militia is growing. protesters want shia healthy fight tours pull out of the capitol four years ago these protesters called for the government to step aside. now they feel betrayed. their revolution hijacked by militias. >> security forces must assume their responsibility in securing the country. >> the government said it's negotiating with the houthies to disarm the group as it includes it's fighters. but the houthi insist that it's

presence is crucial. a growing number of activists want the government to reign in armed factions. >> the government must deploy the army and the police to secure the country. we've launched a revolution to build a civic nation, and we will continue our fight until our demands for our country free of militias are met. >> a fight that may not end any time soon. fighting between the houthies and sunni tribesmen are allegedly backed by al-qaeda shows no signs of abating. the houthies have agreed to pull out from sanaa once a government was formed. now that there is a new government the shia maintain that they are the only guarantee against al-qaeda attacks. >> childhood obesity is a growing problem around the world, and it's taking some

governments a long time to recognize the magnitude of the problem and start tackling it. in japan obesity is on the decline, and that's thanks in part to a school lunch program. >> japan is helping children prepare for a better tomorrow. it's an event not just an opportunity to fill the stomach. it's heart of the education process where the children are taught about the food they're eating and where it comes from. >> they having a badge, carats, bean sprouts. >> the nutritionist here is not a special guest. she is a full-time member of the teaching staff. on the menu is rice, fish, and

fresh seasonal vegetables. they try very hard not to include too much fat, salt, or sugar, and the best thing, the children seem to enjoy it. there are no snacks after the meal and no contain for extras. what is served is what they eat. >> i like the vegetables in the toasted soy flour, things we don't get at home but we do at school. >> the meals are prepared on site using fresh ingredients. the cost is less than $3 a meal. schools used to have some of the highest obesity rates in japan until they embraced the government's healthy eating program, and developed it even further. the health of the children has improved now it's the envy of others. >> many come to visit us and ask to explain our program.

>> their meals created such a buzz they decided to publish a cookbook with the recipes, and so far it has sold 70,000 copies. they're also cooking the meals for local government staff to buy in their cafeteria. the health of the japanese children is not perfect, and officials admit its getting harder to resist fast food, but obesity rates have dropped over the last few years. >> books that were once censored are now on sale. >> 20 years ago this book was banned for insulting islam. the author went into exile. but today at the festival the written word is experiencing a

revival. >> all these books that were called controversial are available right here. and on the grounds of the academy, which is an official institution. so we haven't gone into the old way that we did. >> here we get to meet a thursday were other countries. we get to talk to them and get new ideas. this brings fresh perspectives and our country knees them. >> this is an opportunity for book warms to get their first exposure to literature. that includes a native son. in light of what we know, it has been well received internationally. he was born in a village in northeast bangladesh. he reckons he would not have achieved what he had if he

remained there. >> i'm very lucky in life. extremely lucky. my parents moved to britain, and i had opportunity. i'm very conscious of how and how it has shaped human life including mine. >> he admits he's uncomfortable being surrounded by intelligentsia. >> the book market brings books to the masses. the owners of these book stores are fans of the event even though they're not sure about its impact. >> these successful are a good thing, but the benefit are for others. when there is a book fair, it is brought to the public, but then in a few weeks it's gone.

>> many will say that is not bad. it will raise an interest in reading even if for a short time. a lot of book lovers will consider that a success. >> now we are getting news in of an attack b by boko haram fighters in northern nigeria where at least 50 people were killed. it happened in a village in borno state. this is a village often targeted by the rebels, and their latest attack took place on friday. >> a colombian journa general who was captured by the rebel group farc will be released in a week. he was taken on november 9th from a remote area in western colombia. he's the highest-ranking officer ever captured by farc. president santos said that peace

talks will resume in havana once the general is released. bolivia is one of the world's largest producers of coca, a plant used to produce cocaine. we look to see how the program is working. >> reporter: she has farmed this idyllic plot of land since she inherited it from her parents three decades ago. she grows bountiful crops but it is this one that is her favorite. this is coca, the leave that is used for medicinal and spiritual purposes in bolivia and peru for centuries. it is also the raw material for the production of cocaine.

these plants have been at the center of controversy between bolivia and international drug enforcement agencies for years. the drug agencies have enforced sometimes a violent campaign on the plants in the region saying that coca was being sold to make cocaine. until president morales, a former leader of the coca growers union kicked the dea out of the country in 2008. >> the dea wants to fully irradicate everything. the growers were opposed to that because coca is their livelihood. morales put the control of the crops in the hands of the coca grower's unions. they're supposed to self police, allowing individual growers to farm one plant a year, and encourage farmers to plant other types of crops.

but growers prefer coca because it can be harvested up to four times a year. that fact make it a more attractive crop. bolivia's former drug czar who resigned after a year in office said that much of the coca currently being produced in the region is, in fact, being used for illicit purposes. >> coca is up for human consumption but it's not very good. it has a very bad taste and it's not commercial. people don't want it. they don't buy it. that coca is not going to a traditional market. >> but the its government leaves this is the mos the best way.

>> al jazeera, bolivia. >> still to come, find out why this widow in ghana was banned from using eggs, chicken, and beans.

>> ghana's parliament is discussing a bill to protect the rights of widows. they're often discriminated against because of traditional beliefs. we have reports now in southeastern ghana.

>> mary's husband fell sick and died nine years ago. she said her husband's family blamed her for his death, and tried to throw her out of the house. she was told to wear dark clothes and flat sandals for six months and was banned from eating eggs, chickens or beans. >> my husband's family did not see the use in me because i didn't bear a child. they said i was a witch and that is why i killed my husband. that they didn't need me any more. they wanted me to die, but i'm not dead. my husband gave me this room, and it is my right. >> she found help through support group known as the widow's alliance network. like mary these women have all faced discrimination and have been forced to go through what is called widow hood rights. they come together to arrange beads to sell in the local market in the eastern region of ghana. it's run by a won who has

brought 8,000 widows in groups around the country. her foundation supports women to know their rights and to work. >> in some traditions you need to go to the riverside and bathe naked. in some traditions you need to tie something around your waist for years. i mean, these are weird, weird widow rites that need to stop. the gender inequality should be right. if your brother will not go through this, why should a woman go through that? >> widow hood rites are seen as part of the culture. there are laws to protect spouses. they say that the issue is inefficient and it's complicated by the fact that many husbands don't leave behind a will. these women have found each other and the message to other widows is that they should not suffer in silence because they

are not alone. al jazeera, ghana. >> all right, let's go to sport. >> thank you so much, martine. well, the advantage over teammate louis hamilton after qualifying in pole position for the f-one in ab in abu dhabi. hamilton would grab second on the grid. >> of course, it is only one step, a very small step. it's about the championship. it's not about pole position or anything. of course i was hoping, who knows, after he got his perfect lap together there wasn't anything else in that. starting first is a good place

to be and it should an good fight. >> really enjoyed it. it was fantastic. tomorrow is a special day. >> chelsea opened up with a lead. chelsea with a club record.

>> henrik stenson with the world tour championship in dubai. world number one rory mcilroy is suffering back-to-back double bogeys. he's four shots off the pace. ten season surrounded his overnight lead. but he's right in contention for the $1.3 million prize, he's joined at the top of the leaderboard. >> it says a lot about moving forward on a saturday, and you can't win anything on a saturday, but you can shoot yourself out of the tournament, and i kept my position, and even though i'm tied for the lead we're still a few ahead of some of the other players. >> switzerland and roger federer has moved forward of the title. federer in front of a french crowd.

federer can win in the first singles match. manny pacquiao will defend his welterweight title. the filipino boxer putting his belt on the line for a guaranteed payday of $20 million a tax-free u.s. dollars. he has not had a knockout sinc since 2009. pacquiao has announced that he'll retire from the sport in 2016, the record-breaking fighter said that the run for the country's senate after he quits. he has been elected tries to congress. >> taking aim with a keen eye on

his future. pacquiao proofs he is a winner with a pool cue as well. >> it's very important to organize this tournament, and i like billiards but i'm not going to support only billiards but all sports. >> branching out into professional basketball as player and coach he is the ultimate sporting ambassador, supporting multiple causes in his home city. and where he is known as the pac man from the convenience store named after him to his commercial endorsements it is difficult to miss him. >> i think people love him. they arhe is approachable, and an easy go lucky guy. >> and a supporter of boxing. this weigh in attended by his life-long friend buboy fernandez.

>> for me and the people, we're pleased to be part, and because we look back. >> also here columnist, who has followed his career from the start. now a congressman and tipped for the senate or a governorship, there is speculation he could go all the way to the stop. >> he's close to the people. he wants to serve the people. a better way may be to run for governor perhaps? maybe some day. >> pacquiao has been known in the past for a love of gambling. with just a few fights left in his career he faces the biggest gamble of all, taking the reputation he has earned and staking it on the high risk game of philippines' politics. >> we have plenty of more sport, but that is how it's looking for now. >> thank you very much. now new york's auction houses are achieving record prices for

art. just this week a painting by gerogia o'keefe sold for $44 million. that's the highest-ever price paid for a female artist's work. we look at what is driving the market. >> and with that, one lucky billionaire took only georgia o'keefe's painting, the latest of dozens of art work that sold for staggers sums at new york auction houses. where the ultra relinquish throw around a half million dollars as if it were small change. among the other huge sales this month were the red, brown, black and orange from 1953, which southe south sotheby's sold for

$45 million, and this painting went for $69.6 million. and andy warhol's painting just shy of $82 million. sotheby's said that november saw bids come in from 38 different countries. the world's newly wealthy driving demand. >> i heard from other collectors given the high prices is almost not so painful to take one expensive thing off the wall to hedge against inflation. >> with global financial markets uncertain, sellers are choosing to cash in some of their wealth. this art critic says given the head-line grabbing prices has less to do with the art work than making the prices. >> the pitch that galleries listen to most, and artists, creators, middle man, is wealth. if that's the message it doesn't take a genius that art today is going to reflect respicely those

values to the exclusion of others. >> others are critical to the lack of transparency and market. in one week's sales almost half of the lot were guaranteed. that means the auction house underwrites or promises the seller an undisclosed amount no matter what happens with the bidding. >> the item indicates that they can make money on these deals, or indicate that the hawks houses can't consign their best works. >> outwardly auction houses are profiting along with sellers. >> $340,000. >> by relying on those desperate for a painting, prestige and a diversified portfolio. >> well, that's it from me for today. but do stay with us here at al jazeera because philliesty will be here in a couple of hours.

28 people killed in an ambush on a bus in kenya. al shabab says it carried out the attack. you're watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up, eight civilians killed in an air strike in iraq. we'll have the latest from baghdad. talking goes on but what chance is there on an agreement over iran's nuclear program? plus. >>reporter: in