>> announcer: this is al jazeera. hello there. this is the newshour live from london. coming up on the programme - peter greste freed, but two other al jazeera journalists remain behind bars in egypt nigerian security forces say they are facing fresh attacks on boko haram on the capital borneo. shia militias drove i.s.i.l. from the village. umbrella movement -

hong kong's pro-democracy protesters take to the streets once again al jazeera journalist peter greste is free. he was released from an egyptian prison a few hours ago and deported. he flue to cypress where he is expected to continue to australia. he is said to be in good health. his colleagues mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed are still in gaol in egypt, where they have been held for 400 days. al jazeera welcomed peter greste's release, but said the campaign to free journalists in egypt will not end until all three have been released. gerald tan respects. this was the most recent protest against the detention of al jazeera staff in egypt. at the end of the december marking a year since arrest journalists rallied in london

and around the world - sydney the hague, sarajevo. it's been a year of agony for the men. peter greste's parents were in cairo, hoping for the release by christmas. >> to me giving him a hug at the end was difficult just to say goodbye and leave him for the rest of the day, knowing that you know it's not the best place to be. >> no one expected it to go on this long. there's a misunderstanding. it needs to be corrected. >> i'm still hopeful and fighting with mohammed for his freedom. >> the arrest of peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed on december 29th, 2013 were initially assumed it be short-lived, a mistake over media cred takes, as time passed

it was clear that the egyptian authorities under the new government had other intentions. those that know peter greste a veteran correspondent and african specialist but about little experience of egypt made little sense of the charge that he was linked to a charge of terrorists. the same could be said of his colleagues. by mid january much of the media demanded his release. the hashtag free aj staff went viral. it was said that the incarceration of al jazeera journalist was a threat to all. the trial failed to produce credible evidence. there was evidence on the laptop news lips from different channels. adjournment after adjournment followed and in june the men were convicted and gaoled - the lowest point of a desperate year

for all involved. world leaders, including president obama denounced the court ruling. egyptian government stood behind it saying it was not a political decision and it was up to the appeals process. hopes were raised in november a new law allowing abdul fatah al-sisi to deport foreign nationals. on 1st january the court threw out a retile. after 400 days peter greste is free. the ordeal conditions for mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed al jazeera said the campaign to free its journalists will not end until all three are released. peter greste is out of the country. but mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed are behind bars. the network says all threes have

to be ex-ownerated and convictions against other journalist tried in absentia have to be lifted. the managing director of al jazeera english says although the network is relieved to hear about the release of peter greste it demands the release of other journalists held. >> we spoke to peter this afternoon, after he was released from detention, and i can't tem you how relieved we are that peter left egypt and is on his way to bereunited with his family. tas day of mixed emotion, and we have to focus on the fact that baher mohamed and mohamed fadel fahmy are still behind bars 400 days after being taken in to detention. that injustice needs to come to an end. they are guilty of nothing, apart from great journal. >>. -- journalism australia prime minister

welcomed what he assaulted -- australia foreign minister welcomed the release. >> i'm here to announce that peter greste has been released unconditionally from gaol in cairo and has departed from egypt. he was escorted by australian consular officials, and at the airport he was with his brother michael and australia ambassador to egypt, dr ralph king. i spoke to peter greste shortly after his release and before he departed egypt. he was immensely relieved and desperate to come home to australia and reunite with his family, his parents, and his brother michael who was with him and his other brother andrew. he expressed his heart felt thanks for the support he received in australia during the ordeal and thanked the

australian government the public of australia and the journalists particularly who rallied to his cause and told me that it had subpoenaed him through the very long time that he spent in gaol over 12 months. she in cyprus. he was met by australian consular officials there. and will make his way home to australia to be with family and friends once more. on behalf of the australian government i would like to thank our consular staff who demonstrated throughout the lie level of service that australia is able to provide to its citizens in trouble overseas. but i particularly want to thank a number of other governments around the world who supported the cause and made representations at our request on peter greste's behalf to the susan shaprio government.

i -- behalf to the abdul fatah al-sisi government. we had many governments, including in the region make representations on peter greste's behalf. i particularly mention the government of latvia given peter's family background the latvian government was of great assistance. it is about great relief i can confirm peter greste is on the way home. a white house security council released a statement urging egypt to continue with positive progress saying.

well joining us in the studio is aiden white, director of the ethical journalism network, promoting ethics and good governance. interesting, strong statement from the u.s. and president obama mentioned the fate of our three journalists. we are not completely happy, one release, two in prison. how important do you think the pressure from the international community was on the release. >> i think it was vital. in the end it was an irresistible force. we are delighted that peter greste is released. all around the world there was a great deal of solidarity and his family and colleagues are happy. but we need to see the release of mohamed fadel fahmy and baher

mohamed as soon as possible. this is a start. the job has to be finished. the pressure from the international security that secured peter's release intensified to ensure our two other colleagues be released. do you think there's a danger that peter greste more high profile, working at other western networks do you think there's a danger the opposite may happen there'll be less pressures. >> i hope not. certain not from the community i represent. press freedom groups media groups international groups of media professionals have been strident in their demands that egypt shapes of regarding this case. it exposed the frailties of the justice system in egypt. it showed the dangers of the using journalists as pawns in political disputes. the opening of the door with the

release of peter is very very important. we have to push through, and i think, therefore, there'll be a redoubling of efforts in the coming days to make sure hour two colleagues are released as soon as possible. >> the australian foreign minister said it was an unconditional release. the convictions were overturned when the court asked for a retrial. al jazeera is asking for a full ex-owneration of them and others tried in absentia. if deported they'd technically be guilty men. >> one can demand it. this case has shown how the system of justice in egypt was badly flawed and was recognised as such in egypt. i think we are looking at face-saving, i don't think the government will want to be seen to capitulate to demands from al

jazeera or anyone else to provide an exoneration. we can be safe in the knowledge that the original convictions were not correct, they were flawed, based upon a trial which was ab cert and laughable. and to main outside observers. from our point of view this is not so important as securing the release of our colleagues and the quashing of the convictions of those journalists and media people tried in absentia aide ep white a director of the ethical journalism organization. the nigerian military is trying to repel boko haram fighters. the military says it has driven the fighters back but there's fresh fighting starting in the past our. two blosts in gom be city killed

five. one of the attacks targeted a military checkpoint and a suicide bomber targetting a political meeting killing seven people. it come two week before the elections akmed idris has been following the latest and has more. >> the nigerian military deployed in large number to condane an onslaught by boko haram fighters, it is coming hours after vigilantes from the city chased boko haram from the city after they launched an attack on four fronds on the city of maiduguri. they were conducting operations before news got to them that boko haram launched fansive on the city trying to -- offensive on the city trying to enter

maiduguri. it is strat eeg yik us of military and air force and other establishments in the city. it is considered as the birthplace of boko haram. elsewhere two bombs went off in the city of gombe and another town a bomb blast killed seven. all this happened as the boko haram fighters are facing a lot of pressure from multinational soldiers from cameroon chad nigeria and niger. as they coordinate effort in an attempt to take back territories seized by boko haram in the north-east of the country the greek and french finance minister met in paris. it's the first meeting since the party took power in greece. the french finance minister says the country will rep greece find a solution to economic woes saying the new greek government had legitimate concerns over the size of its debt.

the greek finance minister has called for a fresh approach to repayments. >> my concern as a european first, is that the present bailout programme is costing the rest of europe not just us too much. we are interested in minimising the loss to our partners. >> still ahead on the newshour. - running for cover. we meet people in eastern ukraine hiding from the fighting in makeshift shelters. i'm rory challands on a russian shore line. a film has been made that upset russian authorities. keep watching to find out what the locals think. >> it's the biggest day in u.s.

sport with the super bowl about to get under way. details soon. to syria, the al nusra front claims responsibility for a bomb placed on a bus transporting lebanese pilgrims in damascus. seven were killed. stephanie dekker has more from beirut in neighbouring lebanon. . >> this is a rare attack in damascus. on a bus carrying pilgrims to a shrine. this happens every weekend, pilgrims go do damascus to visit them. a number are dead and wounded in the attack. very unusual. the center of damascus the syrian capital is relatively safe. there is fighting on the

outskirts, when it comes to the center we have not seen an attack like this for at least a year. and this being a target the lebanese armed group hezbollah, based in lebanon is fighting on the side of the syrian rooej eem in damascus against the rebels a complex web of allegiances to show you who, and why they are targeted. the significance and attack on this scale and a bomb in the center of alabama is rare. japan ordered heightened security precautions at their airports after the release of a video appearing to show the killing of kenji goto jogo by the islamic state of iraq and levant. prime minister shinzo abe condemned the killing calling it hinn us and despicable. according to friend and family he travelled to syria to try to save another hostage following the apparent killing jordan renewed the offer

to i.s.i.l. to change an iraqi prisoner if a captured jordanian pilot is free. i.s.i.l. demanded the release of sajida al-rishawi, a prisoner facing death for her role in triple bombings in imam in 2005. andrew simmonds has more. >> reporter: she is a would-be suicide bomber virtually unheard of for years. sajida al-rishawi has rarely been mentioned by al qaeda in iraq who sent her and her husband on a bombing mission to jordan. it was in 2005 there were three separate attacks. she and her husband entered a wedding ceremony his suicide vest detonated, hers failed to explode. she ran away and was later arrested. jordanian investigative journalist linda meyer interviewed the woman through her lawyer saying she lives in solidary confinement on death

row, hasn't had visitors and describes her as illiterate little motivation and no apparent value to i.s.i.l. >> translation: if sajida al-rishawi was important to them they would have asked for her before now. why ask to wait for her belief. if they had not captured the jordanian pilot, would they have asked? i don't think so. >> reporter: the question is why would they ask for the release of sajida al-rishawi when there are more fire-brand operatives in jordan. that question and other crucial ones, like whether the pilot is alive. is unanswered. they are convinced that the motivation is to cause trouble in jordan. >> i think that the aim and purpose of i s i.s. is to improve jordan and create as much internal difficulties for the political decision-making

process in jordan. >> reporter: there have been protests against jordan's role in the fight against i.s.i.l. they have been toned down in the hope that negotiations for the pilot's release are happening. the issue has not gone away. and the lieutenant has been killed protests are sure to resume. in iraq the province of diyala was declared liberated from i.s.i.l. last woke. reports emerged of a massacre carried out by shia militias against unarmed villages. a warning some viewers may find this report disturbing. >> bodies of young men on the ground after fivers ashia militias and security forces raided the area. these men were not killed. they were shot in the head.

families searched for husbands sons and brothers. "where are you?" a man cries. he tells his mother he has found him. human rights watch says it's unclear how many were killed but it appears to have been a massacre. it started when iraqi security forces told villages to come to the mosque to get food. from there groups of me were taken away and shot. the survivor in a nearby city tells us the men went willingly at first. >> translation: the army took our identification and gathered us together and we saw other forces dressed in black. we opened fire. >> there are few prisoners in the fight against i.s.i.l. in diyala shia militias believe sunni militias supported the group. in this village houses and the

mosque were left in ruins after fighting between the iraqi forces and i.s.i.l. shia militia said after the battle they had liberated the remainder of diyala held by the group. >> a survivor told us that he and the others ran to the field and hid in the mud after they opened fire. the village is surrounded and running out of food. the prime minister is trying to contain the fallout, telling the conference that those responsible would be punished. >> those conducting killing and assault on properties areas liberated from i.s.i.l. are no less dangerous than terrorists. >> the government is upped pressure to prove it is in control, and not its partners. iraqi government forces and the kurds and militias have taken back a lot of territory from i.s.i.l. over the last few months. some of the fooerest fighting is in volatile areas.

along the fault lines of ethnic rivalry and sectarian ambition. it led the government grappling with how to win a war but keep the country intact liam black is a middle east editor of "the guardian" and joins us in the studio. thank you for joining us on al jazeera. let's assess the situation with the fight of i.s.i.l. let's start with this report. we focus on the fight against i.s.i.l., not that it's overlooked, but it's spiralling or reopening into sectarian wound that are rife. what do you make of the report? >> the sectarian underpinnings to this conflict that is how it's seen in large parts of the country and across the middle east in the west where it's so focused on i.s.i.s. oilbut on the ground in the middle east it looks different.

what you have in the story is allegations, looking convincing. a massacre is part of the fight back in iraq against i.s.i.s. people fighting back are no angels. we focus on the group with the horrible beheadings and the way in which they are threatening the west. the fact is on the ground this is the agony of the arab world, divided along sectarian lines. you have a government in baghdad pledging to reduce the degree of sectarianism a prime minister more ready to do so than his predecessor who had to go after the fall of mosul, but the price is the kind of violence that we are more accustomed to focussing on when it's carried out by the jihadis. violence is violence whatever the label of the group that is carrying it. it is an ugly scene. >> absolutely. key to a u.s.-led coalition is

some arab countries in which jordan is a member now we hear that they are renewing their offer to i.s.i.l. to get their pilot back. jordan is a difficult situation. this pilot seems to embody a lot of discontent that the people across the middle east have with some of the members of the coalition. >> there's a great ambivalence. i was in jordan and it's easy to see that people are angry over what happened in syria. i.s.i.s. however brutally it behaves, and it behaves brutally to everyone not just the westerners but however badly it behaves, it is seen in large parts of the world, including in jordan as a fight back against sectarianism. i don't know how to put it - there's sneaking admiration distain for its cruelty.

a couple of thousands of jordanians have gone to fight with i.s.i.s. as have a few thousand saudis and tunisians. jordan's decision to join actively and publicly in the coalition fighting it was risky. and disaster struck when the young pilot from an important tribe in a tribal society had the ill luck not to be shot down but to crash and be captured. sadly it's a pawn in a high stakes game. for a while it seemed to be part of an exchange including a japanese journalist who we believe was killed and was shown on the video. every country, when they see the hostages beheaded it is shocked. what would to do to jordanian public opinion if we see a video of the pilot beheaded. what do you see the

rehabilitation in jordan as being? >> first of all, i think it would be a human tragedy as all these things are, and the specifics circumstances of jordan, people would be angry and outraged. i think the voices who are calling for an end to participation in the war on i.s.i.s. would feel that they had a stronger case than before. if it were to happen perish the thought, it would be a dramatic and volatile moment in the story. >> we have not much time left. briefly, do you think the fight against i.s.i.l. is going to the way western countries would want it to. >> the problem remains that there's a false separation between iraq and syria, and the idea that air power alone will be enough to really dislodge it. the results have been uneven so far, and as everybody says if this is going to go on it will be a long hall.

ian black, middle east editor from "the guardian." thank you for joining us. still lots more ahead on al jazeera, including a medical milestone for the developing world. doctors in india carried out a successful double hand transplant. plus... >> i'm in venus, where two city tried marks carnival and high tide happen on the same day. >> in sport novak djokovic wins a record fifth australian open title.

pash-

a reminder of the top stories here on al jazeera. al jazeera journalist peter greste has been released from an egyptian prison and is on his way home. he has flown to cypress and is expected to continue to australia. his colleagues mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed are still in gaol in egypt, where they have been held for 400 days. the nigerian military is trying to repel boko haram fighters from the eastern city

of maiduguri after a series of blasts across the north killing is it. in iraq shia militias are denying claims that they are preventing sunnis returning to their homes once areas are cleared of i.s.i.l. fighters. the release of our colleague peter greste. our correspondent in france spoke to the human rites lawyer jeffrey robertson asking why the egyptian authorities finally freed peter greste. >> international pressure had some impact. it's been 400 days one down, two to go. indeed 16 journalists banged up in egypt for the foreseeable future tens of thousands of political prisoners. this has been a very successful campaign to chill criticism - certainly in egypt and to an extent abroad - of the abdul fatah al-sisi dictatorship.

it has stopped the coverage who afrl democratically elected. al jazeera closed a channel covering them. so it's been very effective and in other dictatorships are taking notice that the way to avoid criticism is to arrest journalists on trumped up charges. >> it caused immense embarrassment. do you think it backfired? >> not really. i don't think the embarrassment is great, i don't think it's had a great success within egypt of preventing criticism. no one sends journalists to egypt now to cover the opposition. so this talk of international pressure brought about, enormously embarrassing i think it's pie in the sky. i think it's a carefully thought out process of ensuring that you

are not criticized and i think the international pressure has been fairly mild. there was a comment by president obama, diplomats of western nations have not really pressed hard. egypt has not been called to account at the united nations. where is the support for freedom of speech. i think this is - and, of course, there is still two journalists in prison for heaven nose how long. -- heaven knows how long. >> that leaves another question. how will it play. two journalists are in gaol. >> yes, and he is not free. under the agreement he is in cypress on his way to australia. but the agreement, apparently says that he should be kept in detention in australia until the trial. well australia won't stand for that though. probably they'll baleil him to

bondi beach. it is part of the farce. he will be tried in absentia as the other two may well be tried in person. although they have not been convicted, the last trial was a farce, maybe there'll be fresh and fabricated evidence to keep this show on the road. it helps the egyptian government which has avoided criticism, by frightening international journalists and particularly local journalists human rights lawyer jeffrey robertson speaking to us. tens of thousands rally in hong kong in the first major demonstration since mass protests last year. it won three elections in the 2017 election. sarah clarke reports from hong kong. unlike the last protests this rally was not just for students. this was a civil movement united under its symbol the

umbrella. >> freedom of speech in hong kong is shrinking. i will do what i can. >> the rally started in cause way bay, before people marched 5km back to where last year's protest began. traffic was stopped and police on stand by as up to 10,000 reclaimed the streets in the heart of hong kong's city center. >> occupy hong kong ended a while ago, this is a chance to reunite the people. organizers say the demonstration shows there's support for the campaign for greater voting rights in the 2017 election. >> the people involved in the demonstration show our persistence at the outrage and urge the government to relaunch the public consultation against the art and society. >> reporter: china is standing by its plan to screen all

candidates for the chief executive election triggering 2.5 months of protests last year. the rally avoided a repeat of the violent confrontations. the complaint is the same. >> we are telling the hong kong government and people that we need to change the current constitution. >> this is a first rally of the new year. after two rounds of public consul stations failed to find new ground. demonstrations like this may be the only way to put pressure on the government. >> at least 13 ukranian soldiers have been killed in the past 24 hours. they were fighting pro-russian separatists, a spokesman confirmed that 20 soldiers were wounded in the clashes. >> a town has been the scene of intense fighting.

we have this report. >> reporter: they run for cover, clutching shopping bags. what sound like artillery and mortars are landing close by. it was unclear build the separatists or the ukranian military fired first. >> we are in the town where there has been a lot of incoming shelling in the last few minutes. it's going on sporadically. the streets are deserted. those that can are hiding in their basements. under this block of flags we find alexander and his family. it's cold damp and the souped of the shelling reverberates through the walls. >> translation: we constantly have to come down because of what is going on. you can see what is happening now. how can we stay in our apartment? >> during a lull in the firing we head into town to where we

heard the shells landing. relatives have pulled 86-year-old woman from her basement minutes before the house is destroyed. they lead her to a neighbour's home and medics arrive to treat her. >> i was trem bling. i live alone. i was sitting in the corner. and i only just survived. the force of the blast smashed the windows of this home. shrapnel is embedded in the walls above the bed. >> why do i have to live like this. why are they killing us? why. outside another neighbour appears from her damaged house. >> translation: how can they do this? what am i to do now. i don't know what to do. i think i just saw my own death.

>> reporter: the repeated failure of troop negotiations means that community and others crossing will have to continue to live in fear. as we drive out of town separatist's heavy weapons pass us heading to the front line surgeons in the indian city have performed a double-hand transplant. it's the first in the country. doctors say it's significant because in additions with many people living below the poverty line and those endureing conflict tend to have large numbers of amputees. two weeks after surgery manu is back on his feet making history with his hands. he does not have complete feeling, and some tasks are a little awkward. his rehabilitation is monitored

and being able to feed himself is life-changing progress. >> translation: after i lost my hand i was very scared. i'm happy that my hands have been operated on and restored and i can do my regular activities. >> manu was thrown out of a train for trying to stop a group of men accosting a passenger. 20 surgeons spent 16 hours. it is a complex procedure. taking the donor hands, surgeons have to connect bones, blood vessels. the patient has to a take drugs so the body doesn't reject the hand. 107 surgeries have been done none in the developing world until now. that is important. the developing world has a high number of amputees. countries at war have land mines and bomb attacks.

those in poor countries where medical resources are scarce face a bigger risk of infection and disease. >> the big advance is that first of all it is certainly cheaper to perform a transplant in the developing country, than what it has so far hostels respect. >> -- so far elsewhere. there's another reason it is important. if a hand changes colour it means it's being rejected. >> this is the first time a hand transplant is done in an asian continent and probably the first with known white skin. we have to have - to document everything so that it will be a lesson for the world. >> a lesson this young man is thankful to be a part of

amazing. with one of the most acclaimed films of last year and is in the running for an oscar. the russian feature "leviathan" is only now being released in the country where it was made. it caused controversy with a picture of the corruption and modern russia. rory challands travelled to the north-west where it was shot to gauge rehabilitation to the film. >> reporter: take the road east out of mum anof course and head north. you find a fishing village huddled on the rocky shore of the barrents sea. two summers ago a film called "leviathan" was made. a film making waves. it's the story of a mechanic father and husband who falls victim to a corrupt local mayor. it's won award at the golden

globes and cannes and is nominated for an oscar. domestically praise is less forthcoming. "leviathan"'s themes are relevant yirp in the world, where ordinarily people can be affected by corruption. it's in this is made in russia this made the authorities uncomfortable. it's not accurate they say, because the character swear and swig vodka doesn't make them russian. the cultural ministry suggested it will not give money for cloomy projects again. the initial head here spoke against the film but is giving measured statements. >> translation: this is artistic. it's not about this area it's only filmed here.

>> reporter: as we left another film crew arrived. people here had to get used to cameras and questions. the film has not been properly released but villagers were given an advanced screening. >> translation: this is a good film about life. they showed it as it is. this is what's to people. they get cheated on. >> reporter: it's a truthful film a woman shouted. this is how we live we are lied to. they say one thing, but do differently, look at the houses we are life in. >> it's easy to film in run-down corners of the remote regions. the film has, however, briefly blasted away this villages anonymity. not all here welcome that. for many a little attention is

what it needs. still ahead on the programme - we'll have all the sport, and we'll tell you who has been crowned to 15 world handball champion.

fleeing? >> your children will be a part of my group or killed... >> fault lines al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> today they will be arrested... >> ground breaking... they're firing canisters of gas at us... emmy award winning investigative series... fault lines no refuge: children at the border high tides in venice have not damped the spirits of visitors at this year's festival. it is famous for the revellers

masks and costumes. we have this report. >> reporter: high spirits and high water on the day carnival and flooding came together. the carnival of venice kick started with a parade of costumes on the city's canals. cannes val goers were caught by -- carnival goers were caught by surprise. there is another event that is ven eastern - high tide. on sunday venice got both. a meter high tide flooded st. marks' square. but it's not a little bit of water stopping venetians from partying. sunday's show started with a pi jpist flying -- pianist flying over the lagoon a grand piano for a grand opening. >> reporter: nothing can stop us water, air, from enjoying

life. >> typical boats from gondolas to water taxis took part in the parade. the main attraction were the great masks and the lavish costumes. >> food is like carnival. it's a celebration of life. the first carnival in venice was held in the 13th century as a street party. rich and poor look little even if for a few days. for the next two weeks it will be less about hiding behind masks and more about dressing to impress. amazing costumes. let's go to andy for all the sport thanks so much. we are building up to super bowl sunday. the biggest day in sports. the new england patriots play the seattle seahawks at the

university of phoenix stadium in arizona. over 100 million set to watch. the league has never been more profitable with revenue around 25 million. it's been a hugely controversial season off the field. 50 n.f.l. players arrested in 2014 for various offenses. we go to rob reynolds in glendale. two hours before the game. give us an idea as to what it's been like around the stadium. >> that's right the kick off is in less than an hour. it's a buoyant, happy, excited atmosphere in glendale arizona. let's show you the crowds streaming in to the stadium in the afternoon sun lyings at city. you can see people lining up to go through security and get the tick eds stamped. some spent as much as several

thousand for the tickets and people are offering $10,000 for two tickets. that's the university of phoenix stadium, 63,000 capacity. people are wearing team colours, the bright neon green and the dark blue of the seattle sea hawk and the red, white and blue of the new england patriots. around the country people are gathering in front of their tv sets in the living room getting ready to watch the game. it's been 49 years now since the first supergoal, and this is a yearly tradition that many americans look forward to. it's a lot of - a lot of family friends, a lot of beer chicken wings and a lot of corn chips. >> we are looking forward to chicken wings, even here in doha. the n.f.l.'s off-field problems

have been well documented. has it in any way impacted on the public's interest in this game? >> i think marginally. perhaps some are a little disgusted by the before of some players who have been involved in well publicised scandals. certainly there are many women who were very displeased with the way that the league handled the punishment of a player caught on tape punching his fiancee into unconsciousness and then the league gave him a light punishment for that. but in general. this is a very very popular sport. as i mentioned, super bowl sunday is a yearly tradition, almost a cross between a carnival and a religious observance. the n.f.l. is something that is powerful brand. many people look forward to it and so no the popularity of the sport is intact.

>> rob reynolds at the super bowl and we'll here for from rob as the game gets under way ivory coast beat algeria and will play the democratic republic of congo in the last four. a moment chosen to open a goal-scoring account. manchester city's 40 million signing, scoring twice against africa's top-ranked side. a late third scored. ivory coast aiming to win for the first time since 1992 ghana beat guinea taking the lead 4 minutes into the game. the advantage doubt before the break. atsu doubled. they'll play the hosts equatorial guinea novak djokovic won a fifth

australian open title, taking on andy murray for the third time. he won the previous two, and won this. tie breakers needed to separate the pair. after two tense sets novak djokovic ran away. taking the match 7-6, 6-7, 3-6, an i think career grand slam. australia was once a dominant figure in global tennis it's been 39 years since a home player lifted the trophy. with declining participation figures and tennis courts disappearing. there are concerns the glory days may remain in the past. >> reporter: another year another australian open with no home-grown winner. it's been 10 years since an australian played in a singles final in the women's or men's event, you have to go back further to find the last australian to have won the open mark edmonton in 1976. >> the semis against rows wall -

i just - he's like playing god. i think it was the best win of may life. and once i got through him. i just thought well this is fantastic. >> is it more accurate to say there's basically more things competing to kids attention than back in the day? >> in my view yes. when i was young there was four sports football - wrafr variety, cricket, tennis and swiping. >> reporter: a reason for the lack of success is not enough are playing tennis. in 2002, 18% of teenagers were registered players and has gone down to 8% and 3%. this year's open saw 19-year-old nick kyrgios reach the quarter files, the first time an australian did that since lleyton hewitt in 2005. the white city tennis club in sydney is almost a symbol of the

decline of tennis. built in 1922 it hosted five davis cup finals and used to be the home of the sydney international until 2000. a lack of funding saw the iconic venue fall into disrepair. good news with the owners wanting to redevelop the site with a multisports facility and tennis will play a large part. if the sport can be accessible and affordable to all, maybe australia long wait for a singles champion at the australian open could come to an end. and the world handball champions have been decided, france beating qatar. the european and olympic champions took a lead winning 25-22. the first team to win the world title five times. qatar are the first non-european nation to secure a world championship medal. richard parr was at the final. >> reporter: qatar's amazing run

at the world championships came to an end. beating austria, and pollen and germany, they loft 25-22 to france. france are the greatest ever handball team completing the triple crown. the olympic champions, european champions - are now the world champions. it's a fantastic performance. and it underlines a fantastic event in qatar. they had to use musical acts like gwen stephani jason derulo and others to attract interest but the 15,000 behind me in the arina were here for the handball. unfortunately for qatar, france are the world champions. that is how sport is looking. i'll hand you back to barbara in london thank you very much that is it. more on our website. and i'll have more news in a few minutes.

bye-bye. bye-bye.

handball. few minutes. w minutes.

people in the industry tells me that it will start to go higher. >> it hasn't helped many countries out of an economic func. i spoke about what the world really needs to do to turn economies around.