he shipwreck. i'm morgan radford. thanks so much for joining us. ♪ to look >> the fbi fifa investigation is

>> sepp blatter has been back at work a day after he announced he was resigning from the fifa.

>> in this was the first day of a new life for fifa, you wouldn't know it. sepp blatter was still at work. there was a mixed youth game on the grounds suggesting the kind of sporting purity his critics say vanished years ago. the question not as clear as the division between those countries that supported him and those who hated him. >> it's a decision that should be made given what was surrounding him. i'm not in blatter's shoes. but it didn't seem to me to be a good idea that this took place. >> who should replace blatter?

the campaign group knew fifa now need someone with true global significance perhaps kofi annan should act as a control figure within the new fifa to offer reassurance to everyone. >> there was the implementation creation and independent reform committee. mitt romney took on the role in salt lake city with the ioc and did a great job there. >> the trouble for blatter's opponents is that there is no

other obvious world figure in world football to move fifa forward. none of this is going to result quickly. laurence lee al jazeera. >> amnesty international is accusing the nigerian committee military of committing war crimes. it said that the military must be investigated for the murder, torture starvation and suffocation of many people. it said that 7,000 young boys died in detention and 20,000 young men were arrested and tortureed accused of being boko haram member. however, the nigerian military

has rejected the report and calling it bias and concocted. >> what they're basically say something that the amnesty report is bias, their sources are questionable, they're relying on many unnamed sources. they're not giving specific details as to how they came about this figure that over 7,000 men and boys have been murdered at the hands of the military. they talk about missions in the region where they have been fighting. they don't say where those missions were in the northeast. they say they spoke to eight military officials. then there is this line of 800 official documents that were leaked to amnesty. the nigerian military saying

well let's see these documents. now amnesty is standing by their report. they're saying they're not naming some of their sources but the military here are upset and angry. they say that the organization doesn't want the truth. that the organization doesn't want to--how can i put it? respect and kind of understand the challenges faced by the military in operation against boko haram and in the northeast. as you say lauren, ultimately the amnesty international is biased. of course they deny these allegations being made, counter allegations by the nigerian military authorities. >> ukrainian forces and pro russia fighters have fought their first serious battles in more than three months.

the rebels tried to take tanks and up to 1,000 fighters but it was stopped by forces of the government. cease-fire deal was agreed to in february. groups are accused accused of firing at rebels fighters in donetsk. charles stratford is in moscow. charles, it does seem as though things are getting worse. >> well certainly i think it's fair to describe today's events as sudden escalation in violence in the east of ukraine. interestingly we've had reaction here from the russian government the presidential spokesperson saying what russia was closely monitoring the situation was extremely concerned about what is described as provocations from the ukrainian army. he went on to say that the

government was deeply concerned with the shelling of civilian areas. we also heard and certainly reported in the state news agency into facts russia's representative in the organization for security and economic corporation, which is monitoring this cease-fire that was signed in february. said that the fighters were not interested in an escalation and described the situation as critical. but--and could get worse. certainly yes very worrying to elements in eastern ukraine today, both sides blaming each other for starting this fight. the ukrainians saying that the separatists used ten tanks and a thousand fight tours attack positions around the area. the separatists denying this completely. a lot of smoking mirrors and a very worrying situation in eastern ukraine tonight. >> thank you very much for that update from moscow.

now let's return to our breaking news at the top of this program. the fbi's investigation into corruption fifa has expanded to include the bidding process over the next two world cups as russia and qatar have won the rights in 2018 and 2022. this is quite a serious development, isn't it. >> well, yes, indeed, it is. it really complicates things. you'll remember that the investigation up until this point into alleged corruption and irregularregularities around 2022 have been run under the auspices of the attorney general in switzerland. their office based in bern. it looks as if the swiss investigation has been consumed into ache bigger fbi

investigation in a way in the same sense that the interpol red notices. there have been members who have been placed and arrest and requested extradition. the charges. corruption racketeering, so in the end what it suggests is that the fbi investigation is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. i think that it raises really three big questions now in terms. what does it mean forceps blatter? is he in the fray now? two, what does it mean in the world cups. particularly as it regards russia in 2018. three, what does it mean--what difficulties does it create for any potential successor for

blatter to be an unifying figure and build these bridges when to some this is creating more divisions all the time. >> moving forward talk us through the main candidate who is are likely to take on all these challenges? >> well, clearly we know about prince ali of jordan. he got 170 votes against sepp blatter and could have more or less forced a second round of voting last friday. he's pretty popular in europe, got some support in south america. there are others who are quite well-known in football, but do they have the real muscle welcome that's why it's interesting that the campaign group, he's talking about potential new presence of fifa

who comes from inside football. but supported by a real heavyweight who can act as some sort of ballast and transparency in the organization. the sort of status of coffee kofi annan or mitt romney, who was called in to sort out the olympic committee in salt lake city and the corruption there. the fbi investigation could take months and months and months, that's even before a new head of fifa is even appoint. >> laurence lee with the latest there live in zurich at fifa headquarters. thank you very much. still ahead on al jazeera, china puts more resource noose rescuing passengers from a

sunken ship. and we go with italy's coast guard to get a front line view.

>> the top stories here on al jazeera. the fbi investigation's into corruption that it has been expanded to host the world cup awarded to russia 2008 and qatar in 2022. accusing nigeria military of committing war crimes. more than 7,000 young men and

boys have died in military detention. nigeria's military is rejecting the report. all forces fighting isil and iraq should follow the iraqi government that's the u.s. envoy into the anti-isil coalition. >> isil fighters capture a village on the outskirts of aleppo. they say they're determined to expand to the northern part of syria. this isil video is said to show live in the syrian city of palmyra days after it was seized by isil. the group controls huge areas stretching from mosul to iraq.

and from villages in aleppo in northern syria. the former u.s. general in charge of coordinating global efforts to defeat isil knows that taken on isil or daesh as it is known is not easy. >> daesh is not an iraqi problem. it is not a syrian problem. daesh is a regional problem reaching global implications. >> isil fighters ripped through the city of mosul last year. the coalition launched airstrikes against isil in iraq and syria but it's ultimate goal is to help iraqi security forces counter isil drain isil's financial resources. prevent foreign fighters were crossing into syria and iraq, undermine isil's propaganda machine.

in iraq isil took advantage of the growing frustration of sunni muslims with the shia-led government to recruit for fighters. >> people were suffering during years and years from a very sectarian government. >> for the time being fight something escalating in iraq and jaar. two countries divided along sectarian lines. and plays into the hands of isil. >> in syria 20 people reportedly have been killed and several horse injured in barrel bomb attacks by government forces outside of aleppo. fierce shelling in the area added to the destruction in the

town. more than 4,000 migrants were rescued from the mediterranean in one day last week. most set off from the libyan coast fleeing violence in the middle east and africa and seeking a better life in europe. we went out with the italian military place police to get a front line look at the crisis. >> it took 16 hours to reach this part of the mediterranean sea. the crew has no doubt that somewhere in the vast blue there are helpless migrants stranded. it's just a matter of finding them. the camera combs the water and here they are. the commander says there are two boats in the area. it becomes clear that the rubber dinghy is over crowded.

110 people are packed into a small ten meter space. they have been at sea for eight hours. >> they say that they left at 6:00 in the morning, and this skipper abandoned them. they have no water. now the reason we came on this dinghy is because the sea is slightly rough. they would rather escort the dinghy through the main vessel than bring the vessel, which can create more waves. they could panic and then it could capsize. >> as delicate maneuver. slowly pushing it towards the ship. the migrants don't know how to spill. they're tired. the crew needs to act quickly. language can often be a barrier. some asked to help. in arabic i pass on the message.

they are safe, but they need to sit down, above all stay calm. the first off is the only child on board. [ yelling and screaming ] >> at time it's a struggle for the rescuers. >> the last one off was this eirtrean man. he had a broken leg. he was lying on the bottom of the dinghy. it's plywood soaked, and water is seeping in. eight nautical miles further north, another rubber dinghy. here there are 110 somalis. they have little fuel, and it never would have been enough to reach the closest coast. the engine broke down so they were floating aimlessly. there are many women here. some are pregnant.

they have been in the water for around 20 hours. everyone is exhausted and frightened. their legs are numb. some need to be held. others lifted. a little over an hour 234 people were saved. the crew is tired but proud that yet again they saved lives. people here are hungry, but they can't eat yet. the sea is getting rougher and they could get sick if they had food. in the meantime they fall into a deep sleep. their first rest without fear in a very long time. al jazeera, mediterranean sea. >> rescueers in china are planning to cut into the hull of a capsized chip as they search for 114 missing people. adrian brown sent us this report. >> on a day of fading hopes the chinese government is throwing what it can at this rescue

operation. more than 5,000 emergency workers have so far been deployed. on tuesday they heard yells for help coming from within the hull. but nothing since. the most dangerous work has been undertaken by divers operating in the strong currents swirling around the eastern star. this is reportedly the last glimpse of the vessel recalled by a security vessel. access to the site remains blocked by police and paramilitary troops. but on wednesday the government organized a both trip to the rescue area for foreign and chinese journalists. the message the operation will continue even if there is a slight chance someone is alive. >> the focus of the operation is to try to find the survivors. >> moving into position a crane that might be used to support the vessel. if the decision is made to cut

into portions the hull. the government has promised an investigation into why the eastern star sank so quickly but it's clear that what happened here on monday night is turning in to the country's worst maritime accident in recent times. state media say the vessel was hit by a cyclone and capsized within two minutes. still unexplained is how the captain and chief engineer both survived. relatives of the missing are demanding answers as well, and try to stage a demonstration in shanghai. the city where many of the mostly elderly passengers are from. for now they're not allowed to visit the rescue site either. some go further up stream to grieve by the river's edge. adrian brown al jazeera.

>> heading to brussels to bridge a deal with its creditors. many of greece's small- and medium-sized businesses have already gone bust. >> for generations this family would catch fish and sell to restaurants. now now it sells to high-end consumers, but this business is the exception. most small- and medium-sized enterprises don't have the money to invest in their turn around. >> the elections would declare the market began to freeze.

it's been dead for six months. people could rent a film for a week for $1.50. even that gives people pause now. the people elected the government to make decisions. they have to take those decisions so we can make our plans, too. we're in total darkness. >> greece's economy was supposed to grow by 1.5%. but the election and stand off has cut that to just one-half percent. many have lost their income in the early years of the crisis and and that's why this government was elected to bring more growth and less austerity. but the longer talks drag on the further it departs from that goal because people are not spending money and businesses are not hiring or investing as they wait for greece to strike it's new deal. that's. >> that's especially troubling for who create many ever

greece's jobs. it's not all the fault of the greek government. the issue of growth has been ignored since the beginning of the bailout five years ago. >> it was known from the beginning that this program could provoke a deep recession than the europeans were expecting. i think that everybody understands that with further austerity measures we cannot bring back growth in greece. we cannot have any more salary cuts or pension cuts. >> it looks like most folks will not be living off sushi any time soon. >> they call it a traitor's trader's paradise. shoppers can cross over freely without visas and buy duty--free

goods. but not every is happy. >> this is still front tear territory between kazakhstan and china, but it's not the wild west. a free trade zone where old barriers between chinese and central asians are breaking down. >> we used to fear the chinese but for no good reason. now it's quite the opposite. in kazakhstan people became less trustworthy. but you come here and chinese citizens are ready to help with any issue you might have. >> all you can hear around me are the sounds of plastic tape being wrapped around boxes and bags full of everything from bicycles to car tires clothes and building materials. this is a tradeer's paradise. this is the new silk road. china has invested as much as $4 billion in the venture building malls and hotels for people to enjoy duty free

shopping visa free. but on the kazakhstan kazakhstan side they have little consumer goods to offer and so far has spent far less on development. experts believe officials statistics complete the picture. >> if you compare the official trade turnover figures of china and kazakhstan there is a difference of $5 billion or $6 billion. the chinese are counting everything and we're simply not counting part of the trade. they're calling it "unaccounted for trade." it's not unaccounted for. it's corruption. >> the free trade zone is a drop in the ocean. nearby hundreds of thousands of railway cars will transit through this dry port when completed. this is where china's relentless expansion westward into kazakhstan and onto russia and european markets begins.

and there is no looking back. al jazeera. >> and do you do check out our website for analysis of all stories we're reporting on. you can also watch by clicking the watch now icon. >> sweeping changes in how government spies on americans new restrictions on the nsa. plus a man under 24-hour surveillance killedly police. what authorities say he was planning and why you may not be paying less at the pump even though world prices are taking a plunge.