pass announcer: this is al jazeera. welcome to al jazeera coming to you from doha. kurdish peshmerga forces in northern iraq are launching an offensive to cut off a crucial i.s.i.l. supply line. stabbing on a bus in tel aviv. israeli police call it a terror attack the french prime minister announces new security measures as charge are filed against four men accused of involvement in the paris attack.

plus... >> i'm from the world busker's festival in new zealand, where artists are searching for weird and wonderful ways to entertain the crowds we begin in northern iraq where the kurdish peshmerga are launching a major offensive against i.s.i.l. cutting off a route. supplies from its base in araka, in syria, to mosul - the second largest city of iraq which is under the armed group's control. the i.s.i.l. stronghold is one of the towns along the route. peshmerga forces which control the dam. what they are trying to do is take those another to the area

and cut off the supply routes. zeina khodr is there for us. >> reporter: we have been talking to commanders they say they've pushed approximately 25km south of mosul dam, and have taken over a number of towns and villages. we saw for hour how the islamic state of iraq and levant is fighting back, using heavy weapons. they are firing rockets landing close to peshmerga positions. peshmerga commanders said this will take some time. the way i.s.i.l. operates they plant explosive devices, and have to advance slowly. this is a strategic battle and the peshmerga may be alone on the ground. they are getting support from the air, from the u.s.-led coalition. we saw jets up in the skies

carrying out air strikes. >> how much of a setback would it be to i.s.i.l. if they were to lose the supply route coming from i.s.i.l.? >> that would be a setback. we know i.s.i.l. has strong holds in syria, and get supplies, bring them into iraq and vice versa. mosul is not far from where we are, 30-40km. if they are able to cut the supply line sure on i.s.i.l. in mosul. it controls another center. what we have been seeing over recent months is that the peshmerga, or the iraqi army - it is a difficult fight. densely populated areas. you know tal afar the peshmerga have to think twice

about moving into that area. it has a turkman population and there are ethnic sensitivities in the country. it's a difficult fight, but a strategic one. if i.s.i.l. loses control of the road it will put pressure on the forces in mosul. >> thank you zeina khodr reporting from near the mosul dom the japanese government will not bow down after two nationals have been taken captive. we are joined from tokyo by harry fawcett with how he is planning to deal with the difficult situation. >> it is an extremely difficult situation for the government the administration wanting to play a bigger part in the world stage, world affairs, and timed, it seemed for shinzo abe's visit to the middle east. and two japanese hostages in

captivity, and a demand for $200 million in ransom of their lives, within 72 hours. it is down to 44 hours. it will expire at six g.m.t. on friday. the prime minister arrived in tokyo, talking to reporters, saying that they were engaged in a tough race against time to get the two men out, and ordered the government to pursue all diplomatic channels. that reflects what his chief cabinet secretary told reporters, when he said that the $200 million that japan promised to those fighting i.s.i.l. was not intended for a military purpose, but for assistance with refugee crisis on the border of iraq and syria. he wouldn't answer directly when asked would they consider paying the ransom but given the fact shinzo abe put so much stake in

being a responsible player on the world stage at a time when the united states and the copying dom of telling the allies not to pay ransoms like i.s.i.l. the chances that japan would pay a vast figure are unlikely. >> domestically what has the effect been on shinzo abe, and how many pressure is there on him from home to negotiate release and do it quickly. ? >> certainly there is a lot. >> i do apologise for the technical glitch. harry reporting from tokyo into japan. we move on 13 people have been wounded in a knife attack on a bus much the attacker is a 23-year-old palestinian. he was shot and apprehended by police. well the attack happened at 7:15am local time in tel aviv

when the attacker ordered a bus on the bagan road in the heart of tel aviv belonging to the company. stabbing the 55-year-old driver in the chest before moving on inside the bus to stab other passengers, and then he fled. the bus ran away but was apprehended and caught by israeli security forces. he now is in - he is being interrogated. >> we understand from the security minister that the attacker who is a plainian man, from the occupied west bank was inside israel without a work permit or visa to be in israel. the stabbing attacks have been happening very often. they are instigated from tensions between palestinians and israelis in the west bank

and jerusalem. the last time we heard of a stabbed attack in tel aviv was in november when an israeli attacker was killed who struggled with him before being stabbed to death. >> the leader of houthi rebels implemented political and security reforms. rebel fighters took over the palace tightening their grip on the capital after months of a political standoff. gerald tan reports. >> they are facing an uncertain future. the capital sanaa a battle ground after the troops fought sunni rebels. they attacked the president's residence and the palace. the leader of the movement blamed president hadi to fail to

come to a deal. it's an historical point in time. when conspiracy was plotted against the company. nothing will stop us recognising the peace treaty. the issue is crucial. in the town people demonstrated saying that what the houthis are doing is a coup attempt. there's an attempt to draft the constitution. they appear to have power, coming near to the control of large parts of sanaa last september. but the international community sees the president as a legitimate leader. >> the member of the security council condemned those in recent days. it urges all parties in yemen to

commit to established processes of dialogue. >> attention is now turned to president hardy himself, and what he will do next. . he has not been heard from since the assault on tuesday. >> hadi is the legitimate leader of the country, he has no power or control over the event. at the same time the houthis like to point to their willingness to take part in the political process for whenever anything happens that is not to their liking they respond with force and try to force the president's hand. >> foreign ministers from gulf country are expected to haul an emergency meeting. and how they will react to another deteriorating security situation in their backyard. gerald tan, al jazeera boko haram claims responsibility for the attack in the nearby town of baga that

killed hundreds. in the attack rebel fighters burnt large parts of the town displacing thousands. people were shot as they fled. in a video statement the armed group threatened attacks in niger, chad and cameroon. >> there has been violent protests in the democratic republic of congo, over a delay to elections. at least in my opinion people have been killed in running battles with police. local human rights groups say 28 have been killed since monday. mall come webb reports from the capital. >> crowds of angry people from the streets. they are undeterred by a crackdown on protests. they are demonstrating against the plans that could delay elections. they think it's an attempt for job eff cobb illa beyond two

terms. down the road he met protesters carrying a body. then our cameraman was hit on the leg by a rock. they shout at the man who threw it. many are angry that they want journalists to hear their message. >> the modification to the law saying there must be a sensis to the election is not a good thing. we don't want to were the to continue until 2016. it is for the advantage of the president person. he's not doing it. >> in some suburbs people took advantage of the situation, the property. chinese traitors saw the scapegoat. others keep trying to earn a living. this market was open for business in spite of the unrest. >> people on this street told us that the car worked for the

judiciary. soldiers from the presidential guard were sent in. the car's owner pleaded with people. but he was identified as a government workers, so they changed his car. the opposition are provoking the violence and should let him finish his second term. >> we asked the opposition to leave kabila alone. to bring our country the way it promised us. the company mutt be open to congo. our country must be good and clean. >> the economy has grown on kabila's rule after decades of stagnation. for many change is not coming fast enough. protesters wrote that they want the national football coach to be in charge. >> many lost trust.

malcolm webb kin shazza. >> initial results are coming in after tuesday's presidential election in zambia. voting was extended to wednesday, after rains delayed the deliver of ballot papers. >> where is the best place to find out what people are thinking? in africa it's the market. there's always newspapers around. people are reading the newspapers trying to get a sense. the headlines tell a terrory, but they say things like washing away. they failed to open on tuesday. people couldn't get to them. people say perhaps there was apathy. people thought there was no need to come out with numbers to vote. each person that wins the election have only been in power in 18 months generally people are trying to get as much as they can about how the election

went the way things are going, and are excited about results and can't wait for is to be announced. >> people - the winner should be declared. the loser should go. >> this is what i want to know who is the coming next president. >> reporter: a lot of zambians struggle to make ends meet. a lot look at women, it's cheap, simple cloth, it is affordable. the real issue is making money to look after the families. people say they are voting for a better life. they want to know when they'll be able to afford the basics. when the price of food mr come out, where a loaf of -- food will come out. where a love of bread - a woman

wants to know that it will be out and they can afford it. they say the winner is someone that puts the needs through still to come on the al jazeera newshour the political and business elite are in davos for the world economic for up. and one of the hot topic oil prices. journalists say freedom of expression is under threat in kabul in sport - former world number one maria sharapova receives a scare at the australia open. the latest action from melbourne is coming up. first, france's prime minister says the country will be giving its police force stronger weapons, and hiringeing more than 6,200 counter-terrorism agents as

four men were charged in paris in connection with the attacks in the french capital leading 20 peel dead. the men were accused with having spies. the prosecutor was handed preliminary charges in association with terrorism and are suspected of providing logistical support. amedy coulibaly shot a police woman dead, and then shot four hostages in a kosher supermarket. >> let's talk about bernard cazeneuve announced a short while ago. >> he announced the spending of half a billion aed proved by some 2500 police officers as well as judges and people specialising in the fight against terrorist. these people will be hired over

the next few years. saying there had been more hiring of police officers and that would be accelerated now. he said that there would be new powers to swire tap suspects whether or not the police think might be involved in preparing some kind of attack. and it would be overseen by a special court. that would go before parliament. the debate should begin in march. it's safe to say that both the right and the left the french national assembly has approved of the idea. there will be a crime called national indignity. if anyone joins the fighting in iraq or syria, and comes home and participates in a terrorist episode, they won't be allowed to vote. there'll be measures to fight

radicalization as the prime minister put it. it will include those that work in the prisons of fronts and bringing together all the militants, if you will prisoners, in relation to some kind of attack on french soil or association with organizations deemed terrorists. a whole series of measures. some will involve parliamentary debate and some are ready to go. >> nick spicer reporting from paris. russia's foreign minister says he'll seek a ceasefire in eastern ukraine with peace talks due to take place in berlin. foreign ministers of russia and ukraine. germany and france are due to take part. dozens have been killed or wounded in eastern donetsk as well as in luhansk. and russia has denied

accusations from kiev that it is responsible for the upsurge in the violence. the foreign minister says ta russia will do everything it can to resolve the crisis in ukraine. crossing to moscow and peter sharp to tell us what sergey lavrov has to say. and whether he put anything forward that was concrete to bring an end to the hostilities. >> well there has been as you know a savage increase in the fighting in eastern ukraine, starting off a few days ago with a major offensive by the ukraine forces and a counter attack by the rebels. ukraine called up 50,000 volunteers and reservists. the death toll there now is approaching 5,000 since the fighting started about a year ago. good reasons why sergey lavrov the russian foreign minister is

anxious so he says this conflict to bring it to an end. to that end he'll meet with the foreign ministers of france germany and the ukraine in berlin, in a few hours time and i think really the objective in this is before you do anything is to come up with a ceasefire that will at least hold and let the leaders gather and chart some path to the future for ukraine. >> peter sharp reporting from moscow. the u.s. president obama struck a defilent top in his annual state of union address, setting out a vision for a more equal america. the president may struggle to deliver his promises. a white house correspondent patty culhane has more. >> the president of the united states. [ cheering and applause ] >> reporter: u.s. president obama used his speech to the nation to highlight the areas where he and the republicans in

charge disagree the most. the hostility became blatantly clear with this exchange. >> i have no more campaigns to run. [ clapping ] >> my own agenda... [ laughs ] >> i know because i won both of them. [ cheering and applause ] >> reporter: republicans cheering his final two years in office. for his part he spent the vast majority of his time on domestic issues, disagreement with the republicans, putting a new name on economic policies. >> that's what middle class economics is. the idea that this country does best when everyone gets a fair shot. >> promises of free college, paid sick leave, paid for with higher taxes on the rich. republicans that that will not happen. >> let's iron out loopholes to lower rates and create jobs not pay for government spending. >> the people we talk to focus

on the disagreements, saying they don't expect anything said here to become reality for them. >> i think he's proposing a lot of things that will not happen. these things will motivate the 2016 campaign. >> we are in a moment of hyper partisanship and gridlock. the president got both parties to voice their approval on the issue of terrorism. >> we stand united from people around the world targeted by terrorist. >> reporter: he asked for congress to give hill authorisation to fight the islamic state of iraq and levant, a fight he promised the u.s. would eventually win. he targeted a diplomatic outrage to cuba and promise said sanctions on iran. the speech made one thing clear that even though there's talk of working together there's few issues that the two sides are remotely part of.

>> obama called for the u.s. trade embargo on cuba to be lifted in his state of the union address. improved relations between united states and cuba are stepping up. talks are expected to focus on future trade deals and making travel to and from cuba easier. as reported from havana folks are high for real change. >> reporter: this is the capital building in havana. it was inaugurated in 1929 and modelled after the u.s. capital. we came to talk to regular cubans about backgrounds that they hope to get out of the knew relationship between the country and the u.s. >> a grammy award winning

musician splits his time between homeland and new york. >> i would like to see a real change in which people can travel without restriction, and see what united states is about. and americans will come and see what cubans are about. he said hs like two neighbours that haven't seen each other. they haven't seen each other for many years. and maybe they are doing this but they don't know actually. >> and rodriguez was proud of his 15956 chevrolet taking tourists on trips around the city. >> translation: my expectations are ambitious. this agreement is good for us. in the united states there are more than 35 or 50 million tourists that want to come to cuba. to me this is it a benefit. the second they are in havana i

can take them around the city. for me this is money. i don't care if i have to pay toms. i will have work. then there's a 29-year-old ph.d. student and blogger. >> i don't like change i prefer things not to change. i not worried about that. i worry that doesn't happen. we have to embrace the things that are changing right now. we have to embrace that. we have to behave responsibly. so many things are going to change. everyone knows that in cuba. how do you change the country and improve what you need to improve on in cuba. lots of people know. how do you do all that preserving things like health in cuba education, public safety. >> no one can predict economic

change. everywhere agrees this is a country entering a new era in isolation from the united states let's get a check on the weather. we'll look at the weather blowing across afghanistan and pakistan. >> it's the same disturbance bringing us rain. this area of cloud around pakistan easing out of afghanistan. throughout heavy rain 26mm of rain in the south-west of pakistan. it will make its way to the east. we are talking snow over the higher ground and talking a fair bit of rain over the lower ground. across the plain there. 16 celsius for new delhi, heavy amounts of rain coming through. it will be on the cool side. we had that cold wave of mist and fog. fog delays causing big amounts

to fall. for a tuesday, around 100 cancelled as a result of dense fog. hopefully as the system makes its way through, it will pick up. it mixes things up. slowly but surely it makes its way further eastward. they'll find brighter skies. it's a great improvement in the temperatures. 17 celsius. it made its way across us earlier in the week. we have temperatures in doha. they'll pick up by next week to around 25 degrees. >> thank you very much. still to come on the al jazeera newshour. venezuela's economy facing a rough road ahead as the president prepares to deliver a key policy speech and the ivory coast got off to a shaky start at the african cup of nations. rahul with all the information in sport.

hello you're with the al jazeera newshour. a reminder of the top stories. kurdish peshmerga forces in iraq are launching a major offensive against i.s.i.l. they are trying to push down across the i.s.i.l. stronghold in tel afar. if they proceed they cut off a supply line from syria. 13 have been stabbed on a bus in the city of tel aviv. the attacker is a 23-year-old palestinian shot and apprehended by security forces.

france's prime minister says the country will be giving police force stronger weapons, hiring 6,000 counterterrorism agents. the announcement came as four men were charged with paris. four men were charged for an attack leaving 12 people dead oman's oil minister criticized o.p.e.c.'s policy. in november the oil cartel decided to keep the output under changed despite sliding prices. they said the move is creating volatility in the market without benefitting oil producers. amman says it is suffering as a result of that. >> oil prices slumped nearly 60% in the last six months the most since the 2008 financial crisis. in june oil was trading at 158 a barrel. o.p.e.c. decided not to cut

production. it was down nearly 6 declaration. prices stabilized. but the outlook remains bleak. it's due to oversupply. the world's political and business elite are in davos for the world economic forum, but comes amid a global economic forecast. the international monetary fund flashing the target. bringing in adrian finighan. it sounds like they have to talk about the meeting in davos. >> we are here at davos, where the meeting is under way. it's a good idea to give you the scale of the meeting and the accompanying service and the view behind us. i'm standing on top of the main conference center. china's premier will be here

talking about china's role. he'll be here to talk about his view of the g20 and we'll talk about ukraine's president petro porashenko. a lot of the talks going on behind here is off oil. the damage in particular to oil producing nations like venezuela. i spoke to russian banker and here is what he had to say about what oil is doing to the russian economy in particular. >> i think it's - the russian economy a heeled. price of oil is one of the problem for the russian economy, but on the other hand i think we can cope with this. i think the price of oil around - between 60 to 80 per barrel. it should cope with this. sanctions imposed by the west is also - adds to this problem, but

i don't think it's the end of the world for us. >> what is the price of oil towards russia. i mean it has failed to diversify, hasn't it. >> well i think - like the human body. there's a virus which is a world - oil prices and sanction, but there's structural problems which is some kind of clinical disease. we need to restructure our economy. we need more investment for this. we need many structural changes in our economy. i think we should work more on this. >> the russian government began to bail out russian banks last year is there a banking crisis in russia. >> i think they have supplied support. russian central bank is cleaning

up. it is numerous. we still have about 900 banks in russia but the russian banks are stale, providing enough lending for the russian sector. it's not a big problem. >> it has to. you mentioned the sanctions. you can't look to market elsewhere, can you? >> no. i mean for russia's own bank replaced the external market for russia. it provides more than 11% already of the liquidity for russian banking sector. that is adequate support, and capable as well. >> andre speaking earlier. there's a session on the geoeconomics of energy later here at davos. that's highly anticipated. in the next newshour on al jazeera i'll speak to the head.

o.e.c.d. about what the price of oil is doing to the global economy, and how some countries are being held by it. >> we'll check in with you later. thank you very much. adrian adrian finighan reporting from davos. >> president nicolas maduro is set to deliver a state of union address. his speech was postponed while he was out of the country discussing oil prices. the economy shrunk by 4% inflationing crying to 65%. 95% of income comes from revenue. oil prices have dropped, hurting the economy, and venezuela only has $20 million in its reserves and owes $20 million to china. shortages are left on the

street. with some grocery stores reporting an 8-hour wait never ending queues for essentials. double digit inflation. foreign currency restrictions shortages of imports, and the nation's income cut by half because of the plummeting price of oil. venezuela is struggling to stay afloat amid the perfect storm. in caracas's industrial area most car part shops are closed because of uncertainty about the exchange rate. a critical consideration. it's in context that venezuelans who distribute spare parts for cars are anxiously awaiting president nicolas maduro's state of union speech. he needs to speak to us freely. we need to know if he can access foreign currency.

under the current rules it's impossible to work here. >> the president is back from a high stick tour of china and iran. they failed to convince o.p.e.c. members to raise the price of oil. he came home with what he called fresh oxygen. >> translation: if the president needs to bring oxygen from abroad. what happens when the dank runs out. we need to resolve problems rather than look at oat it abroad and know -- look at it abroad and in exchange for what. >> reporter: with his popularity dropping the president is anxious to convince country me that he can avoid a slide for which he takes no brain. the opposition has a sale objective. it's to destroy me. isolate me from the people. their campaign is directed at doing away with me. we think it will allow them to

defy the resolution. >> sources are unsustainable. the measures to make the lines go away is hard to swallow, and comes with an a price tag. how much of a price is the president willing to pay right now. >> it's a fine balancing act, certainly. venezuelans make it clear they can't afford to wait for solutions. some in china have been sacked over a stampede with new year's eve celebrations in which many died. the police chief and deputy police are oi monning those losing their job. a huge crowd had gathered for the countdown. the pakistani government began to round up illegal african immigrants for possible deportation. this could affect up to a billion refugees.

as many as 1.5 million who are registered. >> reporter: this is how the majority of afghans would live. water contaminated by sewerage. most are jobless, they can hardly feed their children. there is millions that have registered with the u.n. and half a million who have not registered. they may be forced to leave. >> translation: search and combing provisions are under way in afghanistan. some orders have been issued to all provinces to undertake actions against them. the u.s. says it can't help them until given illegal status which has not registered new arrivals for the past 10 years.

things have grown worse since the attack in peshmerga. pakistan thinks some may be a security check. >> there's a climate of uncertainty at the moment. we have to remember that the minister categorically stated that not a single afghan refugee is involved in the terror attack on the school. we have to remember that refugees are also victims, fleeing terrorism, fleeing war in their own country. >> pakistan has set october 2015 as the deadline. until then, they may be denied the freedom to leave their camps. pakistani authorities say the people have become a burden. the refugees consider after

three decades, they are part the economy. >> for the children that were born and raised here leaving is not an option. we don't recognise what is between afghanistan. after living here for decades it won't be easy to force us to leave. >> like many. they believe the refugees have no safety or hope. any amount of misery is better than what awaits afghanistan a report by human rights watch says 20 sh was the worst year for threats and violence against afghan journalists, despite a war signed in to protect them. h.r. w frirched that most of the threats against journalists were by mps, local officials.

journalists admitted their work rather than offend official sources. 2014 was the worst year for losses for foreign journalists working in afghanistan. jennifer glasse has more from kabul. >> on january 17th. there was an afghan journalist the pierce to be murdered. odds are it will not be the last. being a journalist here is an a dangerous job. ask this investigative reporter. he was assaulted. he wrote about corruption. the biggest threat for journalist in the north comes from war lords, smugglers and on par for elders that cannot accept criticism. >> the emergence of a free media, with dozens of newspapers, websites has been hailed as a success of

afghanistan. >> freedom of speech is under threat. they are increasing cases by the government and the taliban. it's particularly challenging for women. conservative believes mean many object. this woman used to anchor a radio news but her parent found out. >> translation: i still would like to but only if my family give permission. >> reporter: other ladies change their name for broadcast so they won't be recognised and are under constant pressure. >> translation: i have been threatened by the go. . they warn me on the phone i shouldn't continue and threaten me if i act. >> reporter: there were 125

cases against journalists, making it the worst year since 2001. attackers usually go unpunished. splits told the men he was too power of to be prosecuted. the reporting is passion, the best thinks he can give his country. >> still to come on the al jazeera newshour... >> a top subdivision club takes the step of saying to fans - pay whatever you can to come and watch football.

time for the sport of the roger federer, number two seed is through to the third. the swiss is going for a fifth title. he perceives a care in a second-round encounter. italian win ghts the first set 6-3, before roger federer came back to win 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 also through 3-time finalist g andy murray booking his place in the third round. in straight sets. >> on court now, in rafael nadal, the spaniard is in trouble. kim sim check took a 2-1 lead mented earlier wins for mack av

obviousa and eugenie bouchard. maria sharapova had to save two match points over alexandra panova. the russian beating her compatriot 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. >> i think i was drawing too much on my mistakes and what i cas doing wrong. something i'm usually good at. when you are behind and feel like you are making a lot of errors you don't feel like you have a good rhythm. i tried to you know tried to take it apart, thinking positively and change my thought process a little bit. >> to the african cup of nations, despite boasting big-name stars, the ivory coast could only score with guinea shocking the elephants by taking the lead in the 36th minute. it was worse for ivorians after the break. they managed to get a share of

the points through a goal. the other group saw a 1-1 draw between cameroon and mali taking the lead on 71. ambrose equalizing in the dying minutes for cameroon. >> wednesday sees the host ek wattor wall guinea against burkina faso. they are ranked low and the only time they feature is when they host aesent. >> reporter: this country with limited footballing history finds itself at the center of the african game in a second side. equatorial guinea shunt be playing in the cup of nation kicked out in qualifying caught out trying to field an ineligible foreign-born player. only when they stepped in as hosts were they given a second chance. >> in 2012 home support swept

them through to the quarterfinals with unlikely wins against libya and senegal. they started with a 1-1 draw. they could and should have won. game 2 saw them taking off the finalists. burkina faso hit back. under normal circumstances burkina faso would be favourites to win the game. equatorial guinea players hoped a full stadium could push them to victory. >> seat the faces of people supporters. it's an amazing situation for the players. we want to do a good competition. we want to win the matches. >> translation: we are guests at this event. we didn't qualify. so we have to enjoy it. the coaches and players clicked. there's a sense of unity.

this is the begivening a long-term project. and i would like to take the team into the world cup qualifying. >> the coach has only been in the job a matter of weeks and admits he has not had the job to get his team in a physical shape that he'd like and they haven't enjoyed coming through a qualified campaign. the or groups is gabon taking on congo, gabon was unbeaten. the russian dortmund striker was a star of the tournament. another win should be enough to see them in the quarterfinal. >> a club in scotland is the first top tear side to allow fans to what they want. the tendency inverness, thistle. lee wellings was there. >> inverness sits near the top of the scottish premier league.

that doesn't mean the club would expect a large crowd. for a midweek match. crowds across scotland's highest division have been worryingly low. the club decided to produce a radical scheme inviting fans to play what they can. >> the normal price is 5 pound. it pays 10 pound. which is about 40% off the price. >> i never used to get to it at the weekend because i'm working. >> it's a good idea to get bums on seats. >> not putting the value up. reasons behind is pure and simply to get folk through the doors. hopefully capture them. fans of the team also benefitted from the deal and the club agreed the initiative is worth

trying. >> it's a great idea. at the end of the day it's a long month. we have six games. others have seven. it's a big ask to follow the team home and away. >> it's a peculiar team. with three clubs not in the subdivision, after suffering relegations. creative marketing was required. inviting fans to pay what they wish is a concept unusual for footballful as when the english band tried it with in rainbows programme. that outsold the record. there's no guarantee there would be a crock of cold at the end. >> the attendance was over 3,000, and over 10% more than usually expected. despite the freezing conditions. inverness won the match. success on the pitch is not guaranteed to keep fans coming.

it's a small step forward, but in this part of scotland they won't give up trying to make it affordable for the fans. >> first and last time radio head gets a mention in a sports bulletin. three olympic champions have been banned by the country's anti-doping agencies - london 2012 gold medallist sergi is among those. he has been banned for three years and two months and will be eligible to defend the title. 2008 olympic winner banned for eight years, and one athlete for life. the bans don't expect an olympic medal. more sport on the website. details on how to get in touch with the team using twitter. that's all in sport for now. >> some of the best street performers have been gathering

in new zealand. for the first time since the earthquake performers have returned from christchurch. wayne hay reports on the whacky and the wonderful from christchurch. they come in many forms and go by many games. you can call them buskers. street performers. >> ladies and gentlemen, that there, is it. fringe artists. >> very circusy stunts in the theme of indiana jones, once more fortunate, second cousin removed. >> or you can call them a little different. artists know where they are at their best. on the streets where there's nowhere to hide. >> often you say i'm a street performer, people are like oh. i'm more proud to be a street performer than a stage

performer. stage stuff is brilliant and fantastic. it's easy compared to this. >> the colour of the world busker's festival is held in a park. the main venue was a cathedral in the heart of the city which is largely deserted following the earthquake in 2011. this year the festival has taken a step towards its home with the stage set up by the art center. the local performers mullet man, it's good to be back on the streets. they would have been humming tourists and locals. the arts is a place people meet and drink coffee and eat food. the festival has been running for 22 years, one of the most respected in the world. >> it's good for me good for you. it's the best show in town. >> people have been recording on

the streets. musicians, dancers or mime artists, there has been an element of the bizarre. that is alive and well. inside that tiny surks us tent people to see the unexpected. on this occasion the main attraction is rubber backed boy, claiming the world record for putting rubber bands had been his face. >> take a photo, otherwise you'll try to explain it and you'll look like an idiot that's it for the newshour. thank you for watching. for our viewers in the united states it's back to your regular programming next on al jazeera america for the rest of us international viewers, more news in a moment. stay with us.

>> saturday. >> visibility was 3 to 5 nautical miles. >> weathering the storm. >> we want to show people how to replace property against the worst mother nature has to offer. >> experts forecast how to stay safe. >> i'm standing in a tropical windstorm. >> in extreme weather. >> oh my god. >> techknow's team of experts show you how the miracles of science... >> this is my selfie, what can you tell me about my future? >> can affect and surprise us. >> don't try this at home. >> "techknow" where technology meets humanity. saturday at 7:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america.

kurdish peshmerga forces launch an offensive to cut off i.s.i.l. supply lines. france announces it is to create over 1,000 new jobs dedicated to fighting terrorism. >> that is what middle class economics is the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their shot. >> a defiant president obama sets out