borderland only on al jazeera america the white house confirms the death of u.s. aide worker kayla mueller held hostage by isil in syria. ♪ hello, i'm darren jordan in doha. also rockets hit the eastern ukrainian town killing at least three people. ♪ pomp and circumstance in cairo, as egyptian president, welcomes the russian president. and [ inaudible ] get on

board with ethiopia's latest mode of transport. ♪ well there's intense fighting between government troops and pro-russia separatists in eastern ukraine. kiev says at least seven people have been killed in a rocket attack meanwhile ukraine is denying the report that the separatists have surrounded a key town that cuts off the main supply road from government forces. >> reporter: we were earlier today close by in a town which is as the crow flies around 10 kilometers away. the spoke to rebel commanders who said that their fighters had surrounded the town. it is particularly significant because in the separatists were to take control of it from the

ukrainian military then it would link their territory to russia. this rebel commander told us he has no communication with fighters close to that front. he didn't believe there were fighters in the city. the ukrainian government denying that separatists has surrounded the town. certainly here this morning there was a lot of sholing and outgoing and incoming selling, a town as i say that was taken over by the separatists only a few days ago. we were on the other side of the front line yesterday, in a town that has the single route that goes in and out, and that was used as a humanitarian corridor to get civilians out. certainly the ukrainian military that we saw down on that road were pulling banks back and setting them up digging them in

fields and basically the soldiers that we spoke to seemed very panicked by the situation. the u.s. president has confirmed that kayla mueller is dead. she was a hostage held by islamic state of iraq and the levant. tom it is the news that nobody wanted to hear but what more have you been hearing now? >> reporter: well first the president's statement went on to say that after confirming her death; that she -- her legacy enduring inspiring each of those that fight for what is just and decent, and went on to say no matter how long it takes the united states will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible. her parents put out their own statement saying our hearts are

breaking for our only daughter but we will continue on in peace dignity and love for her. we remain heart broken for the families of the other captives. we pray for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in syria. neither the parents nor the president made any reference to isil's claim that she was killed as a result of a jordanian air strike on a location in syria and of course the jordanian government says they highly bought that that was the case. an aid worker has come out to say that kayla's parents who tried to keep her case out of the media until the very end, actually had been told in a letter from isis or response to a letter that she would be executed unless a pakistani woman who has been convicted of

terrorism and serving time in an american prison would be released. so this was a hostage claim, which we did not hear any details about up until -- up until this aid worker made that announcement. right now, we don't hear any further developments about whether the body had been recovered. no further details also from the defense department which also put out a statement of sympathy and condolence and also made no reference about the circumstances of kayla's death. >> thank you. russia's president has been holding talks with his egyptian counterpart in cairo. it's vladimir putin's first visit there in ten years. they vow to work together in their fight against what they call terrorism, as well as the ongoing conflict in syria. president sisi spoke of the

importance of russia's help during difficult time. >> translator: we have agreed to establish a free trade commercial zone to expand egypt's economic relations with russia and other countries. we have also agreed to boost nuclear cooperation and the peaceful use of nuclear power. it's important to our energy development plans. >> he received a royal welcome in egypt. and this plays a major role for how putin would like the world to see him. this is also for the domestic audience in russia itself. russia is not isolated. russia has mayor allies. egypt being the most important and most populous arab state

plays a critical role for the russians. egypt is a very important country. in the heart of the middle east. it expands russian influence in the region because russia only has major relations with syria, and syria is in a state of all-out war. egypt would serve as a major economic base in terms of arms energy economic ties as well. i mean economic relations now more than $5 billion annually between egypt and russia but also as a card to tell the americans and western powers that russia is not isolated. particular after the latest rounds of sanctions against russia by the americans. police in egypt have arrested 21 football fans foling sunday's stampede at a stadium in cairo.

meanwhile new video has emerged. >> reporter: these are supporters of the football team waiting to be allowed in. to enter they have to pass through a narrow metal passageway but the metal structure collapses. fans are trapped. people panic. with no barrier in place to stop fans from getting in. the police has to decide do they allow the crowd to enter the stadium or force them back. they decide to fire tear gas at the crowd. fans rush to escape and it sets off the stampede. security experts say the police should have handled the situation differently. >> they need to pick out ringleaders that are causing trouble. if they have got to show a use of force, show it but in an

unaggressive matter. the moment you start using batons or bullets, you are adding flames to the fire. >> reporter: officials say the police officers were overwhelmed. this is not the first time tactics used by egyptian police have been questioned. last month protests to mark the four-year anniversary of the egyptian revolution were met with force by the police and army. at least 25 people were killed. egypt's prime minister has called the stampede a tragedy, but also said it is being used to damage egypt's reputation. the egyptian president seen here with president putin at the opera has offered his condolences and promised an investigation. the public prosecutor ordered

the arrest of the head of the supporter's group, and the football league has postponed all league matches indefinitely. the canadian government is calling for the immediate release of mohammed fahmy. he has been in jail in cairo for 409 days, along with producer baher mohamed. they are accused of supporting the outlawed muslim brotherhood, charges they and al jazeera deny. the earlier conviction had been and the two face a retrial on thursday. peter greste has been released and is back home in australia. still ahead here on al

jazeera. ♪ anti-corruption supporters celebrate after routing the ruling party's elections in dehli. stay with us.

♪ welcome back. a quick reminder of the top stories here. u.s. president has confirmed the death of an american aid worker

who was being held by isis. obama vows to find and bring justice those responsible. intense fighting between government troops and pro-russia separatists in eastern ukraine. at least seven people have been killed in a rocket attack. the government is denying report business the separatists that they have surrounded a town. russia's president has been holding talks with president al-sisi in cairo. now u.s. commanders have carried out air strikes against al jazeera america fighters near the iraqi city of mosul. kurdish peshmerga forces have also reportedly retaken areas nearby. the nearby mosul dam controls the water supply for several large towns. imran khan has more from bagdad. >> reporter: what we have seen in the last 24 hours is

coalition air strikes, mainly the americans and the british, help kurdish peshmerga forces take over three key bridge heads. we're seeing a big push now between -- from the kurdish peshmerga fighters and the isil fighters being put under pressure in mosul, and it feels like there is a preparation for a ground offensive going on now. iraqi officials say they expect a ground offensive to take place within the next three weeks. we have also heard one of the top u.s. military commanders say the taking of mosul will be a key morale boost for the iraqis and the kurds, and when that happens they will need ground support. so there seems to be a real push now to take back mosul city which was taken over by isil in

june. in syria we're also seeing the jordanians mounting at least 67 different air strikes on -- isil. however, critics say the sunni tribes in particular need to be brought much into the political process here. however, it does seem there is going to be a push towards mosul in the next few weeks and the ground is being prepared for that. the united arab emirates has resumed air strikes against isil. united nations envoy to

syria is in the capitol of damascus to speak with the bashar al-assad government. aleppo is at the heart of intense fighting tween government forces and opposition groups. >> translator: i clearly say that we are keen and defending syria's sovereignty. we won't allow anyone to infringe on our sovereignty. the syrian army is carrying out its mission with courage. millions of people have fled syria to escape the war. the u.n. office says more than

12 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. earlier i spoke to valerie amos. she says there has be a shortfall in donations to help. >> when i first went there, we were talking about 1 million people in need and now it's 12. if you look at what has happened to essential infrastructure healthcare to roads, to the economy, it means the majority of syrias are actually impacted by this crisis. it's a terrible thing. we have lots of checks and balances in place to make sure the aid that we deliver gets to the people that need it. we use all kinds of things like photographs of deliveries and make sure that the people who are meant to get the aid report

back that they have received it but there are times when aid will go missing. we saw this in somalia with al-shabab. we are very worried that there are reports that this is happening in syria, and these are currently being investigated. last year 90% of what was pledged at the kuwait conference in january 2014 have not only been pledged but committed. so we have received the money. i think it's important to look at time. the pledges are made in january last year. this year the conference is in march, so sometimes it takes donors some time to go back and say this is how we would like the amount we pledged to be divided up. the kuwait funding that we receive doesn't cover all that we ask for. so last year we raised about

55% of what we asked for syria and neighboring countries. so the shortfall wasn't because of kuwait. the shortfall was overall because of a lack of funding. it feels very very pessimistic right now. but we have to have hope for the people of syria. they are suffering this reality every single day. my colleague is doing his best. we are doing our best to get to as many people as we can. and we have to continue to put pressure on the leaders to come to some kind of resolution of this. it's more than four years without a resolution peace, and stability, more people will suffer. let's bring you some checking news. the yemenny employees are saying that the u.s. ambassador is informing staff that it is closing down completely and the

ambassador is to leave by wednesday. the u.s. ambassador in yemen has informed staff that the embassy is closing down completely. and the u.s. is asking turkey or algeria to look after its interests in yemen while the embassy remains closed. more on that story as we get it here. the common man party has swept the delhi state elections. the results were a blow to the ruling party. faiz jamil has more. >> reporter: the party is enjoying a second win in these state elections. last time around it formed a minority government but stepped down after only 49 days. it failed to keep its promise to

pass anti-corruption legislation. now people are expecting action. >> translator: we have done our duty. we voted. now it's up to them to do their jobs. >> reporter: the party was able to gain such an overwhelming majority by appealing to a brood range of voters. its leader thanked the voters for putting their faith in him and his party. >> translator: we have to serve people of delhi. i cannot do anything alone. i am a very small man. [ cheers and applause ] >> translator: i believe together with 20 million people of delhi, we can make it a city that both the rich and the poor will be proud of. >> reporter: he also thanked his wife for his support, but it was women who were thanking him. that's because the party has promised to keep them safe in a city where women are attacked on a daily basis.

>> we are feeling safe right now. [ inaudible ] not even a single guy has tried to touch me. [ inaudible ]. >> reporter: over at the bjp headquarters supporters of the governing national party were shocked. they swept delhi in last year's elections and won several state elections. but this defeat is the first serious election setback for the prime minister. voters in deli say they still want development, but they expect better from their politicians. >> translator: this is the victory for the people of delhi. this is a victory for honesty. and the thought of delhi is now with the honest people. >> reporter: the next step will be keeping its campaign promises. now the real work begins. gaining votes from different sectionings of society is one

thing, but the party says they are ready for the challenge. now the greek parliament is expected to vote on a new economic policy. the party was elected after promising to end years of austerity, and vowing to increase government spending despite the threat of running out of cash soon. barnaby phillips reports. >> reporter: this family live in gloom. a single light connected to the neighborhood's electricity supply. their own cut off when they didn't pay the bill. the father a businessman reduced to looking for food in dust bins. if it wasment for the children, he says he would have killed himself. this is the kind of family that alexis tsipras says he will help. >> translator: i believe in him

because he is young and has a future in front of him. whatever he can do. >> reporter: also on the prime minister's side journalist at the national broadcaster. it was closed down by the previous government to save money. but some journalists carried on working anyway. and now syriza claims it will start paying them. >> we have been waiting for that for 20 months and we are working for that for 20 months. we're here without money. we're working in order that democracy will come back to greece and to us. >> reporter: but who is going to pay for a all of this? economists warn without help greece could run out of money within weeks. >> it seems that the government have promised a lot of people. in my view i do not think that all of the fiscal costs of what

the government has promised can be met with. >> reporter: the port here is one of the biggest in europe. the previous government planned to privatize it but syriza says the port will not be sold. if the greek government is going to stop the privatization of the border well that will be a major statement of a new direction in economic policy and it would have repercussions with greece's relationship with europe and with investors around the world. the dockers are happy. most voted for syriza. but tsipras has to balance their demands with the need to keep foreign investors happy. barnaby phillips al jazeera,

athens an electrician in france is accused to stealing hundreds of works of art from picasso. but he says it was a gift from the partest around 45 years ago. the state prosecutor say he is lying. the artworks have never been own public display and have been kept in a garage for decades. ethiopia is testing its own light rail system and china is financing the bill of almost $500 million. katherine soy has been for a ride. [ applause ] >> reporter: this is the newest public transport. the government has just completed the light rail connecting ethiopia's fast expanding capitol. for many people here the transit system is a marvel and a milestone. many ethiopians came to see the

trains being tested. they will be ready in about three months. this man says he won't miss the fast trip. >> translator: i'm old and i will only use the train for a few years, but i'm glad my children and grandchildren will benefit. >> reporter: the chinese built light rail trains will have capacity to carry up to 60,000 people in peak times, and that will reduce the overburdened road transport system by almost 50%. this model is definitely big progress for a country that has been trying to shed off the image of starvation and death. there is construction everywhere most backed by chinese investment. the government is building highways connecting the country to its neighbors, dams, and huge

housing states that says that ethiopia wants to develop like china did. but some analysts worry that the country is relying too much on china. >> you have to be very very careful and strike your balance. what happens is not the loan but your own domestic capacity to generate savings and revenue. >> reporter: government officials insist that the country is well within its means and has been taking manageable low-interest long-time loans. >> we are not only taking the loan, we are taking the technology also our people our own contractors are working with chinese. so then we are going to construct by our own terms. >> reporter: they hope the

benefit of this growth will soon trickle down to them. katherine soy, al jazeera, ethiopia. and you can keep up to date with all of our news on our website. there it is on your screen. the address. aljazeera.com. >> as the world's most elderly nation - japan is dancing with a demographic disaster. people are living longer and birthrates are falling fast. no other country has a greater percentage of old people. the government has responded by raising taxe