>> hello, and a very warm welcome to this news hour. an historic post revolution election. [ gunfire ] confronting isil in iraq. kurdish forces fight to hold their ground in the town of sinjar. two new york city police officers are shot dead by a man accused of threatening revenge on social media. and volatile oil markets with prices sinking.

how will it affect the global economy? >> we begin in to you knee, the home of the arab spring, where people are casting their ballots in an historic presidential vote. it is the final step in tunisia's transition in to a full democracy. they're choosing between two candidates. the first is an 88-year-old seen as an established figure from the former regime. his critics say that he is too old for the job, and opponents point to his experience an. the other a well-known human rights activist.

he served tunisia in an interim role for four years. we go to jamal for all the latest. how close of a race is this? >> reporter: it is a very close race. there were over 20 candidates in the first round, and now it has come down to only two. it's representative of how polarized the society here is here, divided in many aspects. you have on one hand as you mentioned someone who served on the previous two regimes who have been in politics for 40-50 years, and then you have on the other hand, human rights activist, a politician who is the current president. throughout the day we have been speaking to the different sides in this political spectrum. we heard voices from each

campaign, and although we were unable to get an official spokesperson, we have with us now a supporters. i want to start by asking you there is a lot of criticism that your preferred candidate, he is 88 years old. he's not young by any means. do you not have an issue about the age. >> i trust him more than the other candidates. the issue of the age is okay. >> i mean, tunisia is now come out of many years of th into a new democracy. many fear that if he wins that tunisia would turn into an one-party state. do you agree with that?

>> i agree with that. but i trust him more than other candidates, so i would be okay with that. >> what is it about him that you trust? what is it that convinced you to support him. >> experience. he has a lot more experience than the other candidate. also his program is clear, unlike the other candidate. this made me choose him. >> are you concerned that his links to the former regime, there was not that much freedom. are you worried if he does come that there would be renewed crackdown on freedom? >> i think, as i told you, i trust him more than the other candidate, and i will be taking the risk. >> thank you very much. that is the voice of one of

those who are supporting the 88-year-old. we tried to get a spokesman from the other campaign, but unfortunately, they were not forthcoming. it is slow. they are still under 40%, roughly 37%, the figures are we're hearing. we're expecting the numbers not to be high for many reasons, there is a bit of tiredness with regards to going to the polls. this is a third time that tunisians are going to vote in the space of two months. not a huge turn out is expected, but it is an historic election number there. >> thank you. well, other our top story in this hour, in iraq military forces have had to retake beji.

there is an ongoing battle for sinjar. we're in erbil in iraq. first of all, a month after taking beji from iraqi forces, they've had to step back. how serious is this set back for them? >> it is a huge set back given the time of the iraqis security forces. they are positioned in and around the town. they have run out of ammunition. also toll their refinery, which is the biggest oil refinery in iraq. they're saying now that they are expecting supplies to get to them, and they will concentrate on defending the refinery from

isil. isil, it will be a huge change for them. now on another front, there is a mountain area of sinjar. what is going on between peshmerga forces and isil fighters? >> the fight for mountain sinjar and the surrounding area has been intense. for almost a week peshmerga fighters have been taking isil isil-held towns around the sinjar mountains. the regional government addressed the displaced families. >> thanks to god we've opened and controlled all the roads and

broken the siege imposed on sinjar mountain. today we've liberated the whole area. liberation of the center of sinjar town was not part of our plan. we he managed to take control of large areas of it. we will not leave an area that we can reach already anyone who dare to attack our people. peshmerga fighters, jets belonging to the u.s.-led coalition are also cutting out airstrikes against isil positions in and around the town. isil fighters captured the towns of sinjar in early august, forcing many yazidi to escape to the mountains. many have perished since. they sustained heavy casualty this is week. they're treating the wounded at

a base on top of the mountain. the peshmerga troops and their allies are forced to travel in convoy vehicles with bright colors to avoid being bombed by coalition aircraft. now, it is important to note that that they succeed in taking over the town of sinjar from isil forces. it would be a while before most people who are still on the mountain can come down and go to their homes because as with every other town kept from isil there will be an issue of unexploded devices an left

behind. there will need to be a cleaning up of the town before they're allowed to go back to their homes. >> thank you. moving to syria now. government airstrikes have killed 11 people in the city of rafa. dozens more were injured by the attack. rafa is the capitol of isil's self proclaimedcal fate. there is pressure to take in more refugees. but settlement is a lengthy and difficult process. many believe they hav they will have a better life if they go to europe. >> preparing for a new life. she is a refugee from syria who moved from lebanon two years ago. her husband has a heart problem and cannot work. that puts the family in the most vulnerable category of refugee, and living in lebanon has not been easy.

it is a country overwhelmed by the burden of refugees and a country caught up in the conflict next door. >> there are no jobs and in lebanon we are paying a price of political differences. we're targeted by the syrian government here. >> it is a feeling shared by many refugees who wait for hours in an u.n. office in beirut. many of them tell you that they have spent their savings and can't find jobs. but it is not just economic hardships. the syrian government has powerful allies here. >> it is a difficult life. people are scared. in europe we would be treated as human beings. but all of the word of accepting countries is not true. >> people are losing hope.

>> in terms of the process it can be lengthy. it depends on the individual country. usually what we have to do is before and determine who these people are and then they go through certain security and medical checks before they're admitted to third countries, but we're also working to improve the processing. >> it couldn't have come any sooner for this family, moving to denmark means his children can return to school. but for these people it is a hard decision to leave the region. >> we have a choice. either we go hungry and live without security, or we will be safe and able to eat. >> you they don't have a third choice even though what they would prefer is to have the option of returning home to syria. al jazeera, beirut. >> egypt's intelligence chief has been sacked and replaced. sources within egypt's military say he was replaced because of health reasons. the national security chief will

be sworn in on sunday. al jazeera continues to demand the release of our three journalists who have been in prison in egypt for 358 days. they were charged on false charges of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood. they are appealing against their convictions. u.s. president barack obama has condemned the murder of two new york city police officers. the man approached the police officers' car and shot them through the window while they were on patrol in brooklyn. do you have any more information here? what prompted this shooting? >> the authorities say they think they have pieced together the chain of events. it happened not far from washington, where they went to the home of an ex-girlfriend and shot her and wounded her. he posted on instagram his intention to kill police officers, quote, i'm putting wings on pigs today.

they take one of ours, we take two of theirs. he invoked the names of michael brown and eric garner, one black youth and one black man who were killed by police officers, who never faced prosecution as a result of it. the gunman shot two police officers and then ran to a nearby subway station and killed himself. >> president barack obama has condemned these shootings. what more can you tell us about his reaction? >> he's currently in hawai'i. he has condemned the shootings, as you would expects the mayor of new york and those who are organizing a nationwide protests since the shooting of unarmed teenager michael brown, and protesting against what they

have seen as police brutality. the killing of black men is 21 times higher than their white counterparts. the reaction from the new york police department say there is blood on many hands tonight. those who incite the violence on the streets in the guise of protest, who try to tear down what the nypd do every day. and then he said the blood on the hands starts at city hall, mayor de blasio, who has been supportive of the protests. he spoke of his son who is black. and the new york police department use this as a way to fight back. to police departments really think that protests are used to incite violence, and then head of the union issued another statement referring to the

police department. we've become a wartime police department, and we'll act accordingly. if the new york police department is at war, with whom are they at war with? >> still ahead, we need a man who has a plan who will take coal reserves to the outside world. we'll look at how the slowing domestic economy is speeding up investment in infrastructure. and in sport boxing great muhammad ali is taken to hospital with pneumonia. we'll have the latest on his condition as well. >> to yemen now where 30 houthiy have been killed. it took place northeast of the capitol of sanaa. it happened when houthiy

abducted more than 40 from the area tribe. the gaz rafah crossing was opened at the gaza stripping joining us is the head of the association for human rights. thank you for speaking with us. can you tell us what this two-day opening at the rafah opening means for gazaens? >> this is the second time of the opening of the crossing to allow palestinians to come back from egypt, or to travel through the border.

i said that all of the gazaens understand the security situation, but at least you should think of more than thousands of palestinian civilians. more than those who want to trouble are patients and students. it is unacceptable to continue

closing the crossing without even finding any solution. the problem is not only egyptians but palestinians. we were expecting the unity government to open the crossing and facility for the gazaens. that's why many of the gazaens think that the main cause behind of the continuous closing is not just the egyptians, but-- >> as you say it's at desperate situation for the gazaens.

rafah is their way to the outside world, but egypt is trying to balance that with their own international consideration. what can they do to encourage everyone to live up to their commitments. >> we should not forget that the israeli occupation is the mere response for the palestinians effort efforts in gaza, and we're not talking about just one main crossing. we have five crossings between gaza and israel. all of these crossings are close to before the freedom of movement for the gazaens. just a few people what can have

go through the crossing. we're talking about a siege, and the international community know this is a crime against humanitarian rights, but in fact, they continue to continue covering israel acting, and they don't at least respect the minimum cry fear i can't of the international law regarding the palestinian crossing at gaza. >> it was certainly good to get your thoughts thon. from the al dameer association

for human rights in gaza. the gulf state energy minister irresponsible output levels of oil are behind the slide. oil is now trading below $62 a barrel. let's take a closer look at what falling oil prices mean for opec. the 12 member state supply 40% of the world's oil and they would like to maintain that market share. other countries like algeria could see unrest and they could suffer from a real decline in their economies. non-opec members, it has

affected the russian ruble. we go to joe from bristol now. why doesn't opec cut production? >> there are increasing questions around why opec continues to produce around this slide. a number of theories have been raised. for example, some have speculated whether this is an attempt to hurt iran or russia, for example. i think more concretely what is clear there is increasing concern in the gulf about the rising levels of u.s. output from shale gas and concern that they will increasingly lose market share in the united states will become oil independent. >> so would you say from opec's perspective the u.s. shale boom is perhaps more of a

consideration, more of a priority in their decision making then, say, the political consideration regarding around iran, and thou this could hurt iran politically and economically? >> i think there are much more economic reasons why opec would be concerned or gulf states would be concerned about north american oil production. with global demand falling at the same time supply rising at a high rate not only because of oil production but other countries coming back on stream, it is more obvious reason for the decision not to cut by opec. >> that's the interesting thing. part of the reason for the slide in prices is that the political situation in places like iraq and libya has not had the impact that you would expect. you still have fairly healthy

supplies of crude coming from those countries despite the instability that we see there. is that likely to continue? >> that's a very good point, and that's what makes it so difficult to predict where this is going. it's clear that many of the projects in north america, for example, production has started. those are not going to come off stream. we'll see rising supply for america for some time to come. it's more difficult in situations like why libya and iraq will be given the situation on the ground. >> thanks. >> let's turn our attention now to a major source of energy. coal. kazakhstan has enough coal to supply coal for centuries but it

doesn't have the infrastructure to bring coal to the markets. >> plead a vladimir smirnoff. his job brought him to the outer states. and what he found was coal. buried under the mountains it's not easy to get to, but it's potential is too big to ignore. the biggest problem, there are no roads. so smirnoff built one. these are the black mountains of southern kurdistan, and it's no mystery how they got their name. this quarry is one of the biggest operations in the area and produces thousands of tons of coal a year with the potential for more. but it's just a fraction of the

amount of coal that the country actually has. >> in the country last year we mined 1 million tons of coal. 20 years ago it was 20 million tons each year. >> as you can see it can be miserable work getting coal out of the ground, but once you have it you can harness its power almost immediately. this is the coal-powered stove that pretty much runs the whole house. >> it is tough work. and when the rain is too much it's time to come in for a cup of tea. this isn't your usual mining operation. it's been profitable for investors, but it's been good for them. everyone here is from local villages. they work and live together. >> i've worked here for one year. everything is perfect. i just miss ice cream, and i send the men to bring it to me from the town. >> the clouds pass, and its time to get back to work.

with more investments, the model built here could be used at an international level. >> our coal, we have a lot of potential. the main thing is if we develop coal mining it will develop industry, improve jobs and give life to people. >> this coal pit is a reflection of his life's work. the mountains are sacred and connect man to nature and god, and what is inside them has the potential to dramatically improve the country's economy. in southern kurdistan. >> still for you at this hour. demonstrators call for the president to step down. plus, w activists in the united states fighting for the rights

of homeless people. and raul will have details for us in sport.

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>> welcome back. you're watching the al jazeera news hour. polls have opened for to you nova'for tunisia's presidential run off. fighters from the islamic state of iraq and levant have taken over beiji from the iraqi security forces. opec members blame non-members for the price of oil. now in other news public support is growing in peshawar for the pakistani military operation against the taliban. the campaign to wipe out the group from the north has come

under criticism because it has displaced thousands of people. but there have been calls for tough action on the taliban. we have reports from peshawar. >> a show of sympathy of children killed. peshawa r.ar. the attack killed 148 people, most of them school boys. parents of surviving children come to pick them up. >> i don't expect anything from our politician who is are making fun while the whole nation is crying. the military is the only way to rid of the country of this menace. >> anger at the taliban and hope that the military will act.

despite the fact that over 50,000 people have been killed in this country over the last 10 years, loyalties have been divided between the two sides. however, after the attack on the school children there seems to be growing support for the army and the government. >> peshawar is one of the country's poorest cities. >> it's extreme brutality killing young boys. islam teaches us to love the young ones. >> fothere is only one course of action to take now. >> serving in the army was my

dream. to avenge for many of my friends. >> the military undoubtedly enjoys more support here. but there are many pakistani who doubt the use of more violence. >> an in protest after one person was killed in anti-government demonstrations. protesters have been on the streets now demanding its president step down. we're joined now by west africa analyst and director of information. can you tell us a bit more about why people are taking to the streets in protest?

>> it's not only that. it's beyond that. the difficulties that the country is facing, has also to do with the lack of political dialogue. his father has been in power from 197 to 2009. these days by changing course elections or rigging elections. no one wants to only go by the rules. >> do people want to see free and fair elections. they want to have their voices

heard. very interesting the political climate in gabon really took the turn for the worst when a journalist, he published a book that accused the president of having falsified his birth certificate, and his diplomas. tell us about the fact that that this has had. >> of course, they knew african affairs. it led to the claim of the optio opposition. the book assures that bongo was from the eastern region of nigeria that tried to secede in

1970. bongo has not responded to all the claims in that book, that is written by a very respected journal. >> he is a great deal of anger on the streets, people with the tensions running high. is there anything that will bring the government and opposition together? how do you see this crisis unfolding in they don't start some sort of dialogue soon? it calls for the opposition toll engage in dialogue. they realize these days you fight for the street.

maybe it will offer them. some how both party are trying to challenge themselves. i think we are just at the beginning of a serious challenge, and i believe that gabon does not need this challenge. >> yes, you have economic challenges, political challenges, protesters taking it to the streets demanding that the president of gabon to step down. good to have your thoughts on this. now south africa has the highest number of aid sufferers.

we have reports from cape town. >> she is not a scientist but she is at the cutting edge of hiv/aids research. it could save hundreds of lives. a scientific hub dedicated to fighting the virus in a country with the highest prevalence of hiv in the world. so far all of her blood tests have come back negative for hiv. it cuts back risk of infection. she's helping because two of her uncles have died from a.i.d.s. >> it's better for those who have passed on. i want to make sure that people who are left.

>> the second phase of the trial involving 200 volunteers starts in january. within two years 7,000 people could be taking it. >> this is the pharmacy where everything being tested at the research center is kept. the vaccine, drugs, and hiv-preventive products. but it's another recent scientific chance that is making a difference in people's lives right now. instead of taking several pills some hiv positive people are on a single dose of anti-retro virals. the doctor said she has seen potential vaccines come and go, but this is the first one that they have talked about seeing licensing for widespread use. the current interventions are our team would be the best thing

that could ever happen to me in my life. >> this woman feels the same. >> i feel very good. >> she'll be back in a fort night for another blood test. with every negative result africa becomes a step closer to finding a vaccine. >> in india a cold snap has government officials working to keep the poor and the homeless warm. officials have been handing out blankets. they've even arranged for bonfires. the sudden dip in temperatures have called for snowfall notice himalayas. on any given night 600,000 people in the united states have no place to sleep except on the street. that's why hundreds of peopl homeless people in the u.s. die from exposure.

that's why there is commemoration of those lives. >> how many nights do you spend in this park? >> countless. >> for six years this is where 29-year-old reggie black often used to sleep. when rent got too expensive, he lost his home and eventually wound up here. >> it was almost as if my life was in danger. i thought it would never happen. the next thing you know, oh man, i'm living in broiler rooms, sleeping in parks. >> fortunately, he's sleeping better. three weeks ago he qualified for subsidized housing. but he worries about the friends he left behind. in washington the temperatures dip well below freezing. across the united states 2,000 people will die, most from exposure from extreme temperatures. that's why these onlyless advocates staged a solemn

memorial for those who have lived and died on the streets. >> but in fact homelessness is a modern problem of cash-strapped states and governments. there is less money for the aged, addicted, the mentally ill. most could not catch a break. >> not enough. the chronic lack of services is what is costing lives. doctors say that hyperthermia can kick in when temperatures drop to 10 degrees celsius. but they won't open for the homeless unless it's minus 3 celsius. and in baltimore it must be minus 10 degrees celsius. this advocate says there are

misplaced priorities. governments are more likely to fund projects that they expect to bring the city revenue. >> the one thing that a mayor can do is to find it a priority. i find it interesting that people get excited about a new soccer stadium or baseball stadium. let's have the same enthusiasm and commitment for housing. >> reggie agrees and says affordable housing is critical to end chronic homelessness in the united states, saving glyphs it is inhumane for people to have to live on the streets. it's inhumane for them to have to die there. it's inhumane not to have ♪ he said even the most challenged homeless person is not looking for a hand out. just a hand up. al jazeera, kimberly halkett in washington. >> we'll have all the sport for you including arsenal's take on liverpool for the first time since the 5-1 flashing last

season. but will it be sweet revenge for the gunners. all the details with raul.

>> you welcome back. china is expanding it's influence by undertaking a number of large infrastructure projects around the world adrian brown takes a look at the man behind the project. >> the businessman behind this deal tends to keep a low public profile.

whehe made his money but has no experience in large infrastructure projects. he said he does not have a political background yet his website boasts of government leaders. whatever the relationship, the deal is very strategic for china. >> this project is not just a canal. it's about airport and tourist resorts. it will create a lot of jobs for the local people. the local people will definitely benefit from it. >> this week china signed another contract that it says will create jobs and help one more small economy. this time in europe. the project, to fund and build the new highway in montenegro. the cost just over $1 billion. small change compared to china's investments elsewhere in the world. only last month a state-owned government signed off on a $12 billion contract to expand

nigeria's rail network with a high speed train service. the problem for china is not money but corporation with local people, says one analyst. >> when china is imposing all of these institutions it has to have the capacity and support of the local people. that's the problem with beijing. >> working with pakistan to create a road the most important of these investments is perhaps the plan to recon tucke reconstruct the trade route.

how does china pay for all of this? it's sitting on savings of more than 4 trillion-dollar. al jazeera. beijing. >> raul is here now with the sport. >> football first and in a few minutes time liverpool and arsenal will kick off the clash. scoring four goals in the first 20 minutes. with their best player were last season, suarez leaving for spain. liverpool did sign alexi sánchez, but they were turned down. >> all i know is he's a world-class player. he was identified as son who will come in perfect for us. >> look, liverpool last year

scored over a hundred goals in the championship. they were very good going forward. they scored 19 until now. they're not on the same trend offensively. but i must say they started off the blocks very strong, and we were late, to late to get into the game. >> well, in the earlier kick off the 90th minute adam johnson goal gave sunderland the 1-0 win. real madrid crowned the best club team in the world. they won the fifa world cup on saturday after beating south american champions. >> well, 2014 has been an exceptional year for real madrid

even by their own high standards. their club world victory is the icing on the cake. south american opponents san lorenzo may have had the backing of their most famous fan, the pope. but they struggled to match the caliber of some of the most expensive players assembled in the game. real's striker gareth bales with the opening goal, by sergio ram mow got it. the spaniard has won every trophy in football, and now he has made the world cup well within his team's grasp. in the second half san lorenzo took their eyes off baelles for the briefest of moment, and it was their 22nd straight win in all competition. >> it's been an amazing season for us.

amazing year. there is still more to come. still lots to play for this season. we're looking forward to it. >> our team is quite strong. i think we deserved to win this title because we can honestly say real madrid are the best team in the world. >> in its 112-year history real madrid has won over 60 major titles. but this was their first fifa world cup. and in this kind of form, ancelotti can expect lots more. >> meanwhile, new zealand's auckland city beat mexican side, 4-2 on penalties in the third place playoffs. they'll keep more than half of their $2 million winnings with the rest split between the other eight teams in the semi professional new zealand football championship.

>> it's unbelievable. new zealand must be buzzing now. when you look at we're going to get a bronze needal, that's unbelievable. probably no one here ever expected that to happen, and it has happen. >> barcelona are a point further back after they won on saturday. villa real moved up to fifth. champions atletico madrid will take on athletic bilbao later. their tenth defeat in 17 league games.

bremen with the opening goal, and they set up for the second final school. >> also on saturday second place wallsberg came from behind. they would win in the 11th minute. the lead only lasted five minutes as they equalized from close range. now they're headed home, the winner from 12 minutes from time. they won this one, 2-1. smash prosecutors have accused the 66-year-old of rigging a game while he was coaching back in 2011. the japanese football association said that he will remain coach of their national team but they sent a delegation to spain to look into the clai claims.

muhammad ali has been hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia. his condition is said to be stable. the pneumonia was caught early and the process gnosis is good. he has battled parkinson's disease after being retiring from the sport in 1981. lindsay vonn will have to wait for a new year for the world cup victory. she was looking to match a record of 62 world cup wins set back in 1980, but she crashed and was unable to finish her last race of the year. the four-time world champion will have another go when she returns to action in austria, january 10th. two bobsled racers compete for the first time in a four-man race against male counterparts. they join two teams in a world cup race in calgary, canada. the governing body only gave the go ahead for a mixed gender team

in september. it is hoped that a four-woman team will be added. now cristiano ronaldo has a statute erected in his honor in his home found upon the portuguese island o. quite an impressive structure. more sport on our website. check out our website at www.aljazeera.com/sport. >> he looked very pleased with that. >> the statute or him. >> perhaps both. raul, thank you. >> i'll be here all week. >> another full bulletin of news straight ahead. stay with al jazeera. i'll be back in a few moment's time.

[ ♪ theme ] hello i'm richard giz berg, and you are at "listening post". here are some of the stories we've been covering. one of the biggest is from sydney.