>> announcer: this is al jazeera. welcome to the newshour i'm richelle carey. from al jazeera's news center in doha, these are the top stories right now. rebuilding from the rubble. we report from nepal where a week on from a deadly earthquake 1.5 million are in need of food syrian government war planes are said to have dropped barrel bombs containing chlorine gas on civilian targets overnight rescued from boko haram -

nigerian military frees more women and children, buts no sign of chibok girls. >> and the fight no one thought would happen. floyd mayweather and manny pacquioa weigh in ahead of the sports richest ever contest it's a week since nepal was devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. search crews are looking for survivors - or bodies. the cost of the damage may cost $10 million. some remote towns and villages are yet to be reached to assess the devastation. more than 6800 have been killed, 14,000 others have been injured. tens of thousands are believed to have lost their homes. united nations says 1.5 million are in need of food aid. nepal's minister of information told al jazeera that foreign aid

has been slow to arrive. >> until now, in terms of cash we received only $4 million. we have not received any penny beyond that. we are hoping that we would be able to mobilize as large an amount as $1.8 billion for the reconstruction plans. the u.n. human tri chief valerie amos told al jazeera aid is beginning to get through. >> we have made some progress. i was very concerned at the beginning because of the chaotic scenes that we were seeing. it's always like that at the beginning of a major crisis like this. of course, our hearts go out to all of those people that lost loved ones. it's a terrible tragedy. coordination is the major challenge. getting the supplies in and out. we have one international airport with one run way. so how we organise ourselves, and how all of the different

teams that have come in are best able to make maximum use of their skill and expertise is the thing that we have been working on. just in the time that i have been here i've seen improvement. our challenge now is to get it better andrew andrew simmonds is in kathmandu and joins us live from there. what is the situation new? >> it's hard to take in the fact that it's a whole week ago since that earthquake. when you look around and see how urgent the needs are, how desperate the situation is for the people of this country. there are some tiny signs of recovery now here in the capital. the street cleaners are out, there's a few vegetable stalls opening up there's no normality to be seen overall. it's the remote areas suffering the worst. they are unreachable, sometimes each by helicopter on sheer

mountainsides, and we travelled out to the east where there is a desperate need. >> reporter: through the himalayas through a trading route to the border. national beauty is scarred by what nature inflicted on this country a week ago. for all the ruined buildings, a way of life has been extinguished. without the homes, and farm buildings, how can people plan ahead. that is the question of the girl in the pink quote. her mother and baby brother are buried in the rubble. she is 11 years old. she is standing with her grandparents, wishing her grandmother and brother were alive.

for three days they watched from the pavement. a chinese search and rescue team has taken over the operation. with such an odour in the air they are not expecting to find anyone alive. they fear that all hope is lost. >> my daughter-in-law and grandson was beautiful. the tragedy is unbearable. i'm not sure what will happen now, how we'll manage. we lost everything. my son reacted badly. he does not have work, i feel i have lost him. >> reporter: it becomes too much. her father is in shock and has taken to drink. he hasn't been seen for hours. the searching goes on into the night. the darkness can't fade out the pain. the search team plan how to tackle the next day. her grandfather wants to hear some news. the only development is his son

suddenly appearing. slurring his words because of the alcohol, but clear in his thoughts. >> it's a dire situation. my wife and baby son are buried here. what is the government doing? we have nothing. tell the government we hardly have anything to eat. >> not far away the flames of protest. people demanding food and shelter. she is spending another night under plastic sheeting for her shelter, surrounded by relatives. her grandmother is unwell. what goes through the mind of an 11-year-old in this situation? her cousins try to lighten the mood. but daylight brings reality. it's the start of yet another day, and the chinese search and rescue team are on the ground. it appears they may have found a body. mother and baby son are huddled

together. it was never going to be a rescue. the family moves down the road away from the crowds trying to seek privacy for their grief. this earthquake does not allow dignity with the lives it takes. mother and baby don't get a hearse or a car. their bodies pass a family that can't absorb what the shaking earth took from their lives. the father can't face up to what's happening. and a girl facing an uncertain future. >> unimaginable grief there for the country, that community specifically. is the help that they need finally getting through? >> there are some aid vehicles reaching that area now. there's no reason why they can't get there. the roads are reasonable.

but it's beyond na point now where the problem is and there's a larger volume needed there without any shadow of doubt. tents, basic foodstuffs required. and the appeal - the nationwide appeal going out by the government to the entire international community is that they desperately need tents. the figures i have here suggest that 29,000 tents have been received when 400,000 are needed. basic foodstuffs are needed not things like mayonnaise which one minister said is not helpful at all. the people are in a desperate state. the true answer to your question is they are not getting enough one week on and that supplied to vast swathes of this country, a country with a population of nearly 28 million, and nearly a third are affected, sometimes greatly, by the earthquake. more figures here - 29,000 -

sorry, 15,000 children are in severe acute malnutrition, and immediate need of they are puttic care. that is one snapshot of many of the colossal need which is awe inspiring. >> it's a big gap between what is getting there and what they'll need. we continue to report on that and follow it. andrew simmonds live from kathmandu syrian activists say barrel bombs dropped overnight on friday from government war planes contained chlorine gas. 50 cases of suffocation are reported. children were injured. the town in idlib was the target of the attack the second chemical attack on that town in three days. syrian rebels say the next move is capturing latakia, and a string of military gains and mergers, the fighters are determined to take the stalemate and win the fight against the

regime. >> reporter: this is a military parade on the outskirts of the capital damascus. the biggest show of force by syrian rebels only weeks after they captured the city of idlib. the army of islam is tasked with securing the capital once the regime of bashar al-assad is toppled. the commander tells his fighter that defeating a regime backed by iran will not be easy. >> translation: today we stand united against the iranians they want to spread their influence here, have a persian state established here. i assure you we will fight and defeat them. >> reporter: across the country rebels are shifting tack techs. in the north armed -- tactics. in the north armed factions merge to capture idlib. now their eyes are set on

latakia. the u.s. has, in the past, refrained from arming syrian opposition fighters concerned about weapons landing in the hands of groups like al nusra front, an al qaeda affiliate. nusra is joining groups in their fight to repel i.s.i.l. from syria. saudi arabia qatar and turkey private assistance for rebels. >> in yemen the saudis discover they have power. the united states is following them killing shy its. they can -- shi'ites. they can turn this towards syria the united states is not going to stop them asaad's fighters hold grounds in major cities. more rebel groups are considering joining forces to defeat bashar al-assad. a retired general from the

lebanese army joins us now from beirut. we appreciate your time. i'm not sure if you heard, but hassam was reporting that the rebels were changing their strategy and tactics. can you tells more about that? from what to what and why new? >> yes, it's an important question. they did change their tactics and their strategy and in my opinion, it's a new era. before the syrian regime used to fight many sections and many in deraa and everywhere, and when the syrian regime stopped to fight them they used to fight each other. and what happened in the north of syria, i think there's something new, as we said. so i sponsor it by original countries like turkey for example. turkey used to provide, of

course intelligence services and turkey used to provide logistics. but this time we can say, and many observers say this that turkey played an important role on the battlefield. why and how they did oblige them or or convince them to be united and have a single command or control. that is what happened in idlib. when the syrian army lost idlib, and was preparing to make a counter attack we were surprised that they inhave aeded on three axis using both tactics, win guerilla warfare, including in bombing and drugs and suicide. and on the other side irregular army and tanks and armoured guard and tyranny, and a very

used member of the towel. the syrian army was surprised. it was the only advantage for the syrian army did not play its role and limited capability for tourism. the weather is not clear, and, second when the combat is very close, we call it close combat. i don't think the air force can hit the targets. so for those reasons you find now that they were superior and used the new tactic in offensive. and, okay ask me a question. >> yes, sir. so general, you are saying besides the fact that you think the tactics favour the rebel forces the fact that they are beginning to join together the coalescing, the next step teems to be the movement towards

latakia. can you tell us the significance of that? >> yes, as we said they have - we found something of performance. as we said those elements are well equipped and well trained, and they know the land and also they are well indoctrinated. this is in general. as we said when they had - sorry, when they had substituted weapons, they used - they were professional but you cannot deny that behind them or the top of them you were proficient officers. graduates from schools. who the officers. maybe they are, you know syrian you know. i guess the regime turkish or

iranian inside them. we know that now they are changing and they did succeed. and this battle - maybe they will practice this on other places in syria. anyway. we have to remember that just as it was the first battle and just as sure is the latest one i am sure is not going do be the last one is the latest one. now we heard that iran are loose, has threatened the capital from the eastern side. also behind them many fighters we cement them by 15,000. >> the priorities for the regime. the capital, the syrian course and the road between them. what we see on the military map the capital is on the threat from the eastern side shelling. and important, as we said is under threat. the syrian army is trying to

make hard defensive position and turkman, et cetera, et cetera. >> general. >> the fighting now, is between mountains. but i am sure as we learn in the military school the first important element... >> general. >>..for the defensive is the offensive. i think the syrian are preparing a counter attack the fighting will remain long time. >> my apologies, sir. >> long time they'll be there. >> my apologies, we'll lose the signal. we'll have to wrap it up. we appreciate your expertise, a retired general from the lebanese army more ahead in the newshour including... >> every morning i hope that it's a nightmare. but it's not after the earthquake the personal journey of an al jazeera correspondent who calls

kathmandu home. >> don't tell me to shut up and it's not just in the boxing ring where sportsmen are going toe to toe. andy will be hear with news of the golfing stare dawn. - in yemen 27 have been killed as fighting continues in the southern port city of aden. troops loyal to the president abd-rabbu mansour hadi are battling for control of the main airport. neave barker has more. >> reporter: as fighting escalates in the port city of aden there's few if any safe zones left. in this hospital one of a handful open staff are struggling to cope.

houthi fighters tackle others. news of a doctor killed. two weeks original a doctor was killed. >> translation: the situation here in our hospital is really miserable. we are under huge pressure. staff are also under pressure, we are no longer able to deal with this. there's a shortage of equipment and medicine. >> reporter: this boy is not one year old. he was with his grandfather when a bullet pierced his head. surgeons removed it. the violence remains part of his childhood. his family blamed houthi fighters. >> he was peacefully sitting at home when the incident happened. what do we do now. they have destroyed our home. >> reporter: in yemen's capital sanaa war led to the destruction of nine family homes. a saudi-led air strike reducing them to rubble. >> translation: we heard the explosion. my aunt and i were rescued from under the rubble. we found body parts of my uncle in the street. this is a neighbour's home. the whole family died, and

neighbours - women, children, elderly. >> reporter: saudi military commanders say the air strikes targeted former president ali abdullah saleh supporters. this poor neighbourhood was also hit. there's no heavy lifting equipment. people use their bare hands to look for the dead and injured. >> pro-government forces are backed by the saudi-led campaign to restore yemen's president in exile, abd-rabbu mansour hadi to power. as they battle the houthis for control of sanaa and other cities, ordinary people suffer. saudi arabia and partners said the air strikes will continue until the houthi military capabilities are diminished. at least 52 people have been killed in the last two days in u.s.-led coalition air strikes in syria. the syrian observatory for human rights said the target was an i.s.i.l. held village.

it is in the north-east. the area is close to the city of aleppo where the government and various rebel groups have been fighting fierce battles. the nij jan military released -- nigerian military released pictures of 230 women and girls held by the sergei bobrovsky. -- the boko haram fighters. they were freed as part of an operation in the sambisi forest. we have more from abuja. >> reporter: we have made repeated requests to the military about the identities of people rescued from boko haram, and the circumstances in which they are freed. the military on the 234 people just freed that the circumstances were the same circumstances in which others were freed this week. but there were assaults on boko haram camps in sambisi forest in which they were freed.

there were the intended casualties but no detail on how many fighters were killed but the operation is ongoing. what we can conclude from the statement, from the military, is that those that are rescued are undergoing a screening and profiling process to ascertain who they are, how they came to be in the hands of boko haram, and where they came from. the organizers behind the campaign to find the 219 chibok schoolgirls kidnapped last year and who are captive demand the military and the government release more information about the identities of these people. they have given them an ultimatum by this weekend nigerians must know who those freed are. so far that demand has not been heeded last month rights group binyamin netanyahu said some 2,000 women and girls had been kidnapped by boko haram in 2014. many would be forced into sexual slavery and combat.

a researcher with amnesty international in london joins us now. we appreciate your time. why is it difficult to get information about who the women and girls are that are being rescued. >> first of all, since they were recovered the women and girls remained in the custody of the nigerian military. it matches the experience of others that we spoke to, that were under the custody of boko haram. in one case women and girls spent four weeks in the custody of the government undergoing the screening process. until that is concluded we may not know the details as to what happened how they were recovered or were they came from. we are calling for a priority that the women and girls have access to the medical and psychosocial report that would allow them to overcome

experiences that they would have suffered upped boko haram. >> do you believe or are you confident they will get that help? >> that's what we are calling on the government to provide. obviously with the insurgency now in its fifth year, health services in the north-east have struggled to cope with the demands of the conflict and we have also seen in the last six months or so to a year more than 1.2 million people have been displaced. so the capacity of government services is stretched to the limit. it's essential that the services are provided not only to displace people but those covered from boko haram. >> could you talk about the conditions the factor at play that make it possible for dozens and dozens and hundreds of women and girls to just vanish. nobody know where they are or no

one immediately go rescue them. what is happening? >> well the problem is that for a long time boko haram has been able to move freely in north-east nigeria. and has raided towns and villages in the north-east. we documented since the beginning of 2014 there were more than 300 attacks by boko haram on towns and villages in the north-east where boko haram fighters would turn up, shoot men of fighting age, loot what they required and burn houses and government buildings to the ground. during the attacks they'd round up and take with them young girls and women and take them back to areas under their control. so this has been a consistent part of the conflict now for more than a year, and that is why we are able say that more than 2,000 women and girls have been abduct by the group. >> more than 2,000.

daniel hir, with amnesty international, thank you very much the secretary of state john kerry upcoming visit to kenya and djibouti signal concern in east africa. high on the list of topics to be discussed is what do about the somali-based group al-shabab. >> reporter: whether in somali djibouti, kenya or uganda, people on the horn of africa know the threat of al-shabab. >> it's the biggest security threat in somali an important country in the east african region. we are seeing over the last three years or so, ever since kenya invaded somalia in 2011 we see it becoming a greater threat. >> al-shabab, what the u.s. calls a designated foreign terrorism organization is not as strong as it used to do. it's been forced out of

mogadishu and the countryside. it's been targeted by u.s. drone strikes. it's still lethal. >> reporter: in kampala uganda in 2010, al-shabab set off bombs at two public screenings of the world cup. in kenya al-shabab attacked civilians several times. in september 2013, 62 were killed when the group stormed nairobi's westgate mall. >> and at the beginning of april al-shabab members fired on students at garissa university college. 147 were murdered. when u.s. secretary of state john kerry visits nairobi and djibouti in may. they'll bring a message of economical political support. what will not be on offer is promises of military involvement. washington is reluctant to do

so since the black hawk down debacle since 1991. such an offer would not be popular. >> the u.s. didn't colonize any parts of africa. they are leaders on the continent, the imperialism of the united states. we do that it gets resonance. we have to be careful about boots on the ground. john kerry's visit will be more about showing moral support and the fight against al-shabab, rather than about the u.s. doing the fighting for them. time to check in with everton for more on the weather. specifically the flooding in australia making live difficult for a lot of people. >> i'm pleased to say things have improved. there's a few weather warnings in force for the eastern side of australia. that is because we have the storm very close by. we have got high seas in place

four meter waves is a possibility. brisbane has seen a staggering amount. rain fall over the last couple of days. 131mm of rain in only six hours. you see how the cloud is lingering for over 12 hours across the brisbane area. we were expecting heavy rain anywhere from the sunshine coast to the knoest. that is what we saw. even now you see the area of cloud poking from across brisbane. the area of low pressure is now making its way offshore. things will slowly but surely improve over the coming hours and days. we have still heavy rain around. to the north of that that's where we saw awful conditions. around 40km to the north of brisbane. 333mm of rain in 24 hours. nowhere on earth cap cope with that. look at this. 277mm of rain coming down in three hours.

showers and longer spells of rain making their way eastwards going through sunday and coming into monday. at long last it will be fine and dry. >> everton, thank you. still ahead on al jazeera. we visit a mediterranean island. an e.u. member whose tough stance keeps refugees away. >> plus does scotland hold the key to the outcome of the u.k. election. appear

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much the top stories. one week since a magnitude 7.8 quake hit nepal. the death toll rices. -- rises. 68,000 dead. 1400 injured. syrian rebels say borel bombs have been dropped on a town the third attack in three days. the nigerian military released pictures showing hundreds of women and children more than 680 have been freed this week during the operation to clear fighters from the hideout. >> turning to the top story. al jazeera, sabine shrestha lives in kathmandu and was there when the quake struck. she gives us a first hand account of how the tremor

devastated the neighbourhood. this is what used to be one of the most beautiful places in kathmandu. generations of my family have grown up in this neighbourhood. this is where my family grew up in this neighbourhood. this is where my children come to feed the pigeons, and run around the square, just as i did when i was a child. nobody is here to feed the pigeons now. a few hours before the earthquake struck, i was here talking about the importance of preserving our architectural heritage, and now, as you can see, there's not much left. there has been major temples that have just gone down. up north, the ruins of temples are being cleared. up there is a very good friend responsible for saving many of the architectural sites over here.

>> translation: we thought there was nobody buried, so we just cleaned the roads. now there might still be someone underneath here. >> reporter: my home town is a maze of narrow allies. on the day of the earthquake our team went straight out to shoot in the neighbourhood. these are some of the scenes. my grandmother's old neighbourhood had several people buried in the rubble. we tried to go there now. the alleys are all blocked. we wander through the houses and gardens where people have taken shelter. on every other corner there is a collapsed building, blocking the alleys. they found 10 bodies in the neighbourhood.

here it is really dark and scary. >> translation: there were many people here, including police. our sister-in-law, her arms are full of wounds survived. she's staying in a shed. >> reporter: this 8-year-old is very scared, and huddles with his mother. she tells me she lost her husband and other son. "my aunt, my uncle, my cousin too. they have gone far away", she says. >> and every morning i hope that it was a nightmare. but it's not. i mean you don't wake up. you don't walk up interest this

nightmare. it's just a continuation. nepal has no choice but to rebuild and hopefully i can give a better story next time. >> sabine shrestha there. >> romanian prime minister told al jazeera that europe should do more to solve the ongoing migrant crisis. over 10,000 trying to reach the e.u. have been rescued in the mediterranean sea this year. >> i think that all the european countries can afford to take migrants. migrants within the european union and outside are bringing added value to the society. they are working hard they are adapting fast. this is my experience. politicians and extremists use the migrant theme in the political fight. i think this is against the european values. whoever comes and leave and respect the values it's a good

citizen of europe thousands of migrants make the perilous journey across the mediterranean from each year. cyprus is not a favoured destination. the tough stance means asylum seekers are in detention centers without guaranteed of meaning granted refugee status. hoda abdel-hamid spent this report. >> reporter: they didn't die at sea. they say they have not been alive since arriving in cypress. that man and others are on a hunger strike, after months of protests outside the ministry failed to pressure the authorities to grand asylum. they are syrian kurds that came to cypress 10 years ago. only now have they been given so called subsidiary protection. but for them it is not enough. >> translation: what can i do with subsidiary protection. i don't have a passport. i'm a prisoner. we live in insecurity. subsidiary

protection means they have passport and can work. they are stateless and can be imported at any time. they say their biggest mistake was to apply for asylum. many that apply and unable to survive on their own, end up in detention centers like this. 170 have been here for months, waiting for the application to be studied. we are not allowed to film inside where some 50 palestinians are among those rescued off the coast of cypress now live. they are scared to show their idehntity and worried about the future. >> it's important for me to get asylum or i won't be able to bring my family. it will be a disaster. >> others, men, women and children were given shelter in a church after refusing to apply for asylum. it's been seven months since they were rescued on the way

from italy. >> i didn't apply for asylum. because i know where to get it. it don't want subsidiary protection, because i know i will not be allowed to travel. >> it has a tough stance on immigration and rarely does it grab nationality on refugee status. this is why some say there hasn't been a wave of immigration in years. >> a reason is a restrictive policy. the second is even if you get residence permit and protection in cypress, you can't move freely with visa residence permit in other countries. >> cypress may be a european union member state, but it is not a place for refugees. these people can't return to syria. their travel documents can't get them far. >> for me and my friends it's no good. >> reporter: they tried a number of times, but failed to be smuggled out of cypress. they say they have reached a dead end

assistance the last weekend of campaigning in the u.k. before the general election on thursday. scotland is predicted to hold the key with the scottish national party. more from laurence lee, joining us from paisley in scotland. good to see you, laurence. >> yes, hi there. there's no question scotland has been the story in this election a tale of two countries of different mood. in england a huge amount of cynicism that the leaders of the main political parties heckled by people in tv debates, accused of lying to them, offering giveaways, rarely promising cuts endless photo calls of wealthy politicians dressed in high visibility traffic, pretending to build a brick wall in a metaphor for economic growth. people have not brought it very much. contrast scotland where the

national party, which lost the independence referendum. the new leader galvanized public opinion, and they are striding towards victory in the polls, saying they'll win almost every seat a massive humiliation for westminster. they built it on a central idea of fairness, of what they think is right and just for money to be spent on in particular, that britain, a country that doesn't have that much money shouldn'ted spend money on -- shouldn't be spending money on things like nuclear weapons. >> 6:30 in the morning. people are trying to get off the news. the blockade is outside the home of the u.k.'s fleet of nuclear submarines. the aim is to make the case for a nuclear free scotland, a national election issue.

>> we need to cut trident and human fund needs. we have been campaigning for a couple of years. we started off a couple of years ago with the idea that scotland can lead the way to a nuclear free world. >> those that thought the snp was dead after losing the independence referendum have been proved wrong. the new leader has led the party to a huge surge in support with the antinuclear campaign at its heart. it has potential to cause spectacular upsets. in this constituency a 20-year-old university student leads the poll. if she wins for the snp she would beat the man who would be the foreign secretary. he is for trident, and she is not. >> how can you advocate cutting health care and others. are and all the while spend on weapons. it seems the establishment has its priorities wrong. >> candidates in places like glasgow, the biggest city, which voted for independence now find

their westminster seats at risk. this veteran mp denied her party was too right wing for scottish taste. >> there's an argument about trident, but not an argument about whether to spend money on health and education. we are trying to have an economic plan, grow the tax pace to protect public services. >> reporter: the nightmare scenario is the labor party is wiped out in scotland and has to rely on mps allowing alex salmond who led the independence campaign, the deputy prime minister of the united kingdom. because the snp is antinuclear, the equation between a replacement for trident versus austerity is an important issue in the election in scotland. in england it is not at all. in westminster every political says they are in favour of spending 150 billion on nuclear

weapons. the snp has committed scotland to an antinuclear movement, the like of which has not been seen since the 1980s. that could be the shape of things to come. so what does it mean for the balance of power in the u.k. this tangled web. i'm joined by dr mark webb from strath collide university what do you think about how it can galvanise ism. >> they have a strong leader purchasing well in the debate. there's an intent of trying to drive a message. why spend money on trident. make hep with austerity, education. do things differently. there's a perception after the referendum that labour together with good conservatives in the better together so the perception is that the snp are

to the left of labour. they have almost taken up the old labour message. >> the question comes down to what does the snp do. they said they will not do a deal with the conservatives because they loathe them. the labour party says they will not deal with the snp, so scotland is still locked out of westminster politics what happens then. >> yes, you could argue that. snp is in a bit of a difficult position. it said it won't doe a dell with conservatives. you could argue, because many policies are similar to labour they want 50 p income tax for the higher group. they wanted to end the bed room tax. could be they'll take credit where a policy is like snp won'ted. >> ed miliband the labour leader would not want sal manned as the deputy, but that's how coalitions work. >> we are in a new era, they can

operate in the minority. they don't have to fall if the queen's speech is not passed. they can work on an issue by issue basis. labour is ruling out a former deal but not an issue by issue deal. it would be a deal on an issue by issue rather than a formal coalition. if the snp can't do a deal. they'll say they need an independence referendum. what happens then is anyone's guest. >> laurence lee live from scotland. thank you so much. still ahead in sport - ahead of boxing's biggest night we ask if the sport could be on the ropes thanks to a hard-hitting rival.

guest.

central asian artists rarely receive attention outside the homeland. an exhibition in singapore is attempting to put the spotlight on painters in that region. we look at the event of the new silk road. >> reporter: an inspiration for modern art from history. the silk road was a trade route through asia. it looks to see it through canvas and paint. >> we are trying to bring culture and art into asia. >> the show case includes 30 paintings from uzbekistan, pakistan and turkmenistan giving

a glimpse of light from these countries. >> it's to where artists is, expressions considered that they want a peaceful life. peaceful world. >> reporter: investment in modern and contemporary art is minimal in former soviet states. works are rarely shown outside the region. >> more and more we have artists from central asia. it's kind of new approach to the region. bringing explanation about the culture, about the environment. >> organizers say the 2-day section was well received in singapore, creating another path along the silk road. time for sport. in the event i truly believe 75% of the world will be watching. >> i think so, wanting or trying to find out a way of watching. floyd mayweather and manny pacquioa weighed in ahead of what will be the most lucrative fight in boxing history.

floyd mayweather hinting it could be his final fight. there were close to 12,000 fans to see the fighters take to the scales. manny pacquioa won world titles at eight different weights. maeth -- floyd mayweather has gone through his career unbeaten. manny pacquioa is the smaller and lighter man for the fight. >> i have been fighting bigger guys. >> a lot of people wonder if you can be the dineynamic attacking artist again. how do you feel. >> i feel the lord always with me and strengthen me and deliver him to my hands. >> i have dedicated myself to

the sport for 20 years and i'm ready. >> do you feel manny pacquioa may do something reckless that you can take advantage offism i can't say, but i'm ready to fight the fight will generate $4 million through sponsor shop and ticket sales. manny pacquioa's status as a multimillionaire is a contrast to the circumstances in which he grew up in the philippines. >> reporter: this is where manny pacquioa learnt to box at the age of 12. back then the young manny was selling bread for $2 a day to help his family in the southern philippines. his uncle's prize possessions are manny's first boxing gloves he bought him. >> translation: i started teaching him to box. he trained hard. he was different.

didn't matter if he was under the ring or in torn shorts. he was determined. >> reporter: his rise from humble beginnings is mirrored by his climb through the weight continues. he fought for a prize of $1, and eventually joined fights and made hundreds of millions more. in the city there are signs of the boxer's success everywhere. he has become a legend in a town where majority of the peep live below the poverty line. everyone here wants to be like manny. >> this city produced many of the philippines top bombers throughout history. 14 of them became international champions. not all of them were success stories. the world boxing council ranks him as the ninth best feather wait champion history. he put min dan ou on the world map. he lost everything to alcohol

and drug abuse. >> translation: i look back and regret everything. i wish i could go back to the glory days. but it's gone. >> reporter: manny is one of the richest sports stars. he made the smart move to business and politics and acting. his fight against floyd mayweather has been described as the fight of the century, expected to bring in hundreds of millions. for the peep it doesn't matter what the outcome of the fight will be. manny is a symbol of hope. a living proof that in this poverty stricken country dreams will come true. well while manny pacquioa and floyd mayweather are amongst the famous names in the sporting

world few others compete for global head lines, with mix martial arts growing in popularity it could fight for its future. >>reporter: if this is boxing's big fight, then the gentleman's game is bowing out in a big way. this is a weigh-in for the much-anticipated floyd mayweather-manny pacquioa fight, and the arena is almost full to capacity. some say boxing is losing fans to a relatively new sport. >> i'm going for the shot. >> reporter: these are mixed martial arts fighters training to compete in the ultimate fighting championship or u.f.c. it's attracting younger fans. supporters say there are more knockouts, action and a rising number of stars.

professionals here have doubts about competing with boxing. >> boxing has been around forever. it will be around forever. this is a big fight. i am sure that when ali fought foreman they said it would be the last big fight. we've been through this before, it will not happen. >> the ultimate championship is making inroads. the way boxing is run could be the beginning of the downfall. >> boxing is short-sighted and greedy. never thinking about the future of the sport. what they did with the tickets. a certain amount of tickets were on sale. there are tickets everywhere. tickets for the fight everywhere. they priced the fans out of the fight. so many wanted to see the fight. >> people don't seem to mind the astronomical ticket prices. many believe it could reignite interest in a sport. >> it's a sport that will live on, that brought you u.f.c. boxing will continue.

it's good, but i don't think it will catch up to boxing. not any time soon. boxing is here to stay it always has been and will be. >> reporter: mixed martial arts has come a long way. that applies to the u.s. market. globally boxing is king. you only have to soak up the atmosphere in this arena to know that. >> boxing and fighters like floyd mayweather and manny pacquioa draw big crowds and money. they are approaching the end of their careers leaving many to ask what or who is taking player place. . >> there is other sports. atlanta hawks winning 4-2 over the brooklyn nets. they dominated. top scoring 25 points. cal kau hit 20 of his own, three triples and a run of 23-3. ending brooklyn's chances.

atlanta running outline 111-87 winners, facing the washington wizards in the next round. not just in the boxing ring where sportsmen are going toe to toe. we had a golfing stair down here is keegan bradley and mikkel jimenez at the golfing champ ynship in san francisco. >> don't tell me to shut up it didn't come to blows, but it was not far off. both were knocked out of the event and were arguing obvious a rule technicality. jimenez said he was trying to be helpful. i would take him on points. i don't think keegan bradley would have a chance. thank you so much. all right. we will have much more news for you throughout the day on al jazeera america. do keep it here. thank you for your time. another full bulletin straight

ahead.