>> al jazeera's investigative unit has tonight's exclusive report. >> stories that have impact. that make a difference. that open your world. >> this... is what we do. >> america tonight. tuesday through friday 10:00 eastern. only on al jazeera america. >> hello there warm welcome to this news headquarter from doha. coming up in the next 60 minutes, the war in yemen showing no sign of letting up as the saudi-led coalition target houthis. we'll speak to the u.n. envoy to yemen. >> polls closed in turkey, an election seen as a test of the political future of kurds. >> thousands of migrants rescued in the mediterranean sea with

warnings many more could come. >> leaders of the world's richest countries meet, topics expected to be dominated by the ukraine and the debt crisis in greece. >> the war in yemen saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit an army compound in yemen's apartmental sanna. houthi rebels say 44 yemenese soldiers have been killed. saudis say they were linked to houthis. saudi-led strikes and the power struggle between the houthis and government in exile is also destroying the economy. small businesses are shutting down and a lack of imports and fewer jobs are making hive harder for millions of yemenese. we have this report.

>> the simple process of making bread is becoming difficult in yemen's capital, sanna. running a small bakery, this man struggles. it's estimated more than half bakeries have shut down due to a shortage of fuel and power. a basic staple of the yemeni diet now becoming a rare commodity. a kilo of flour has gone from 40 cents to 60 cents. prices are up because of insecurity, hurting small businesses, like this bakery. >> the difficulties we face are mostly shortage of fuel, now we are using gas, which doesn't only make things slow, but also is expensive. even the price of gas is going higher. power outages are another problem. the shortage of water is a difficuly. the workers' spirits are down.

>> petrol used to be 70 cents a liter, now $3.50, on the black market, $7.50 per liter. that is fueling a black market. people wait for days to fill their cars and many fill for a much higher price. it's a sign of how often bad the power shortage is getting. >> first the absence of fuel and power, the biggest obstacles at the time state authority was in place. now there is no state, total vacuum. big malls and companies have come to a halt. citizens' purchasing power has decreased substantially. >> for months, a saudi-led air campaign is targeting houthi fighters and troops loyal to former president ali abdullah saleh in sanna.

the conflict continued since last year when houthis took over the capital, basic services suspended and price skyrocketing due to the fighting. aid has come through. 80% of those in yemen need aid to survive. what was once bustling commercial streets are now mostly empty. with no shoppers, shutters have been closed. >> we are living in a real catastrophe. many of the big shopping centers where hundreds of workers are employed have been shut down. how will all those families earn a living? >> that's a question none can answer. it's not just the dead and injured in the fighting, yemen's war has taken a toll on everyone in the country. al jazeera. >> the u.n. special envoy for yemen joins us here in the standard yo. thanks for coming in. >> thank you for having me. >> how optimistic are you about these upcoming talks. >> i cannot tell you i am optimistic. the situation has been discussed. i have been in yemen twice now and know yemen from before. i'm optimistic because i think as from day one the only solution is a peaceful solution. we believe that the only way to

get this war stopped is by the yemeni coming around the table agreeing to be a ceasefire and agreeing on discussion, what we have been describing from day one. we have been saying that the national dialogue and its outcomes and clear solution. we have been clear about this since day one. when they come together, they will be able to find definitely a solution to this terrible war. >> now it's great that they're coming and they are saying not having they preconditions. what is each side bringing to the table. >> we see what we know is as i said earlier what is the guiding now, i will say factor for coming together is the suffering of the population, which you report has well described and the level of the suffering that we witness today in yemen. for me, what i think has been a

god development is during my discussion with the houthi, i have seen some flexibility about discussion with the safety council solution. they have given us they are ready to deal with the solution, of course they say provided there is no infringement with the national sovereignty but for us, i think that's a good progress. >> the issue of legitimacy has to be on the table because the legitimacy is a factor the international committee recognize. the elected penalty has to be respected now. how are the yemeni going to see a transition, are they going to otherwise new election, are they going to have new political agreement, that's up a the yemeni. for the international committee for the u.n., for the city council resolution, the issue of legitimacy is a factor. >> you've had signs from the houthi that they are willing to respect the legitimacy. >> i have reason to believe that if that's part of a deal, that

they will respect that, yes. the discussion we have had had several times president hadi and the legitimacy being respected. violence has been going on 70 days talks our aim is to succeed. the main expectation about geneva is high, we know it's the first phase of a long term pros. we believe we have to go there to have a discussion on the ceasefire, then have a discussion on the role. we don't want the same thing that happened where we had violations. >> i wanted to ask but that.

we know from history it's very difficult to talk whilst attacks are on going and we've seen a lot of attacks from both sides in the last days. how optimistic that we'll get a ceasefire. >> i think it's an important point. president has been calling for a humanitarian pause to lower the suffering of the population. we believe you are absolutely right, in geneva, we have, you know a war on going but what we have seen is two positions one side, being the houthi and the pro ali abdullah saleh saying we need legitimacy. lets go to geneva with no precondition and have a package on which we have a ceasefire on which we have an agreement to

ensure the return of the government and return of the -- i can tell up the secretary council member have outlined this several times. we need a pause and that is urgent and i've been repeating it. >> ok. great to have you. i hope we have a chance to speak again after these talks. >> thank you very much for inviting me. >> now turkey's parliamentary election voting has just ended choose be candidates for 550 seats. the ruling party wants a big enough majority to change the constitution without challenge but the other party hopes to hamper those plans. we've got reporters across turkey following this vote. first, let's cross over to a polling station in istanbul.

omar those polls closed in the last hours how did the voting go today? talk us through the counts that are going on now. >> the vote went very smoothly. where i am, this polling station behind me had over 6,000 registered voters nearly 80% showed up, apparently. we spoke to a number of observers affiliated to political parties and they say overall turnout they expect in all of turkey could be higher than 80%. turkey is going to have one of the highest voter turnouts in the world. counting has started. it's very interesting. i went there, i was invited and so was any citizen of this country. there are representatives of the old political party there. after they finish counting in the polling station the ballot

boxes will be taking with escort of the police to the main gathering center in istanbul, where they will from there put it in computers connected to the main election center, based in ankara. there are aren't 10 million people voting in istanbul and as this is a big counting process underway. >> absolutely it is. we'll be knowing the first results, i guess in preliminary results, anyway in the next few hours. omar thanks very much for bringing us that from istanbul. let's go now to act party headquarters in ankara. this was a test for the party. what are the main challenges? >> it is a test indeed on a number of fronts. initially, we can begin exploring the fact that this is the first time the party contests elections, involves but

popular. they are hoping that they can still galvanize the same results that they would in the past under the leadership. as you mentioned in the introduction another challenge is the vision of introducing a new constitution. it was introduced in 1982 following a military coup. they want to change that to change the system from a parliamentary one to a presidential one. they need a super majority. to be allowed to do that in parliament even if they get that super majority, they would present this to the people in a popular referendum. they have an economic challenge as well. after the success that they've witnessed over the past 10 years, the economy stagnated somewhat in the past couple of years, unemployment is increasing slowly but steadily, proving a major challenge for them, as well. >> it will. thanks very much. let's go over to bernard smith in turkey. another big threat bernard to

the party is the h.d.p. you are over looking their headquarters. is there much optimism that they can present a decent challenge to the act party? >> there has been plenty of opposition that they can do that. the hdp has to get 10% of the vote. in previous elections they managed 6% or 7%. the party hopes it has done enough during this tougher election campaign to win more support to get them representation in parliament. they've appealed to the no one working class to minority groups. they hope that will be enough to get the 10% threshold to get them into parliament. if they manage it, it will be quite an achievement increase kurdish representation in parliament. for the kurds that they hope will help push along what has been a fairly stagnant peace

process at the moment. it will deprive the act party of that super majority they are looking for that will allow them to change the constitution in favor of a more powerful executive presidency. >> an awful lot riding on this vote today. thank you for joining us there. >> now the afghan taliban said no justification for extending travel restrictions on five members now living in qatar. the men known as the taliban five were released from guantanamo bay in june of last year in exchange for u.s. sash gent bowe bergdahl. qatar announced last week it extended travel restrictions on the men but in a statement taliban said that contradicts the terms of exchange which only prevented the men leaving for a year. it said those conditions have lapsed and men should be free to live where they want. >> the director of south asia

programs institute of peace joins me live from washington d.c. why do you think qatar extended this ban? >> i think this has to be looked as part of a larger deal, letting these taliban go, these are sort of the prized possessions of the qatar government hosting them without a deal in which the u.s. is involved. the afghan government most importantly is involved. what are they going to get in return for letting these people go i think that's the question that hasn't been answered. the afghan president was supposed to travel too qatar recently to cancel his trip because of domestic issues, until and unless they can have a decision i think they can get a quid pro quo from the taliban, i believe that the taliban will agree to start talks. i don't think this is going to be easy for the taliban to get their way. >> if and when the ban is lifted where would these taliban people go? >> well, i think that's the

million dollar question. they may stay in qatar itself, if their so-called office is opened. afghan famously released about eight or 10 afghan taliban prisoners three years back when president karzai was in power and they went back to afghanistan and some joined the fighting. there is that risk if you don't have a deal in place don't know what these people are going to do this may be a negative for the afghan government. i think they're going to be very conscious before such a decision is taken. >> ok, thanks very much for joining us there from washington d.c. let's keep an eye on that on going situation with the taliban being kept here in doha. >> do stay with us here onment news hour. still to come: >> violence and vandalism in mexico ahead of a tense midterm

election. >> we'll have more on one of our top stores, the empire of the g7 club leaving russia out in the cold. >> in sport djokovic bids for his first title at the french open. >> desperate people trying to get to europe continue to be plucked out of the mediterranean sea in the thousands. search and rescue teams from across european countries are scouring the waters off libya. we are live at da tanya on the italian island of sicily where many migrants are taken. we're talking huge in connection of people here. how are the latest rescue

efforts going? >> between saturday and sunday, there have been 31 rescue operations that we know of and the information is still not complete. we keep updating as it comes. some of them are still on going. now, the latest figure we heard today from the coast guard is that at least 1,500 migrants have been rescued. those additional to those rescued yesterday. we've just heard from the british ministry of defense that the h.m.s. bulwark has rescued a thousand people, 2300 throughout the week and the squeezish navy rescued 500. we still don't have all the rest of the information, it is trickling in from the coast guard and at the moment, they are extreme lip busy because all these people will be arriving here in sicily or mainland over

the next 24 hours. they need to find plainses for them to sleep. they need to find the doctors needed they need to find all the facilities need. you have tomorrow that these people come, they've been with the same clothes they're barefoot hungry. it's an extremely complicated operation and i wouldn't be surprised if in the next hours we hear that this figure of 1,500 of today could have at least doubled. >> that's extraordinary. hodor, keep us updated there from italy. thanks very much for joining us. >> leaders from the word seven's biggest economies are meeting at the g7 summit in germany. prime minister david cameron called for a united front against what he called russian backed aggression in ukraine. they are expected to discuss the greek economy and climate change. >> the spring sunshine lights up a picture of bavarian culture

this village transformed into a venue for two world leaders germany's cans lower greeted the u.s. president and spoke of their two countries enduring friendship. >> despite some difference ins opinion that we have today the united states of america are our friend our partner and such an important partner that we closely cooperate because it is in our common interest, because we want it and because we have shared values. >> on sunday morning they shared a sample of the food and drink this part of bavaria is renowned for. despite the good humor evident on both sides these leaders do have serious issues on their plates. >> the global economy that creates jobs and opportunity maintaining a strong and prosperous european union forging new trade partnerships

across the atlantic, standing up to russian aggression in ukraine, combating threats from violent extremism to climate change. >> the situation in ukraine is not the only flashpoint issue facing these world leaders here at the summit. also high on their agenda is the potential of greece being forced out of the euro zone for failing to pay its debts. >> there were stern words over what is called the unjuly filled promisees of reform. >> i don't have a personal problem with alexis tsipras. he was my friend, is my friend, but friendship has to observe some minimum rules. >> while ukraine and greece have been at the fore front of the talks on sunday, dealing with the islamic state of iraq and the levant is scheduled for monday's deliberations. angela merkel is pushing for

agreement on how to fight the ebola outbreak in western africa and for new goals on dealing with climate change. dominic cain, al jazeera. >> demonstrators demanding more action on climate change and vowing to disrupt the talks. more than 17,000 police and military have been deployed. >> one previous member is missing from the summit for a second year in a row. russia has been excluded from the meeting. moscow's absence underscores rising tensions with western nation over the conflict in ukraine. last year, russia was due to host the g-8 summit, but the other seven members all pulled out in protest over russia's annexation of crimea. we are joined live from moscow. what do you make of russia not

being at the summit again? >> if i can just check first of all that you can hear me from doha. unfortunately, we don't seem to have communications with moscow. we'll be trying to connect with him later in the program. do stay with us for that, and also here on the news hour. >> absolutely exciting, thrilling, like i love to do things like this. >> we meet the female marine scaling new heights in the bid for gender equality. >> spinning for spiritual inspiration, we meet one of the devotees attending a religious festival in southern pakistan. >> in sports, european football newest champions head for home with a massive celebration

awaiting them.

>> hello again the top stories on al jazeera saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit an army compound in yemen's capital sanna. houthi rebels say at least 44 yemeni soldiers have been killed. meanwhile, the u.n. special envoy to yemen has told al jazeera that the houthis have said they will respect a deal if one is made in geneva. >> turkey's president has been casting his votes in elections. polls are now closed. >> british prime minister david cameron called on g7 leaders to show a united front against what he calls russian backed aggression in the ukraine. leaders from the world's seventh richest nations are in germany for a two day g7 summit. >> to bring you more on those elections ins turkey, they are

seen as a test for the rule party. turkey has become much more assertive in its middle east foreign policy under the act party. it supported the arab spring movement egypt and backed the up risings in libya and syria. it now supports the u.s. coalition against isil in iraq e. iraq and syria. we are joined by senior fellow in turkey and kurdish studies in the al jazeera center. it's good to have you with us. the act body that put turkey squarely on the international stage, but how much is foreign policy featured in these elections. >> unfortunately as a topic of discussions, it hasn't featured that much. nevertheless it doesn't mean the front isn't important as a domestic policy front because you have two contending, one is

put forward by the government, which is more activist, more pro engagement in the middle east, very much engaged in all the regional affairs and other once by the opposition. it involves a hands off approach adopts an aloof approach towards the middle east. the basic idea is lets not get involved in internal affairs which means let's not take strong sides in syrian crisis or egypt, et cetera. from this perspective the preliminary results show the act party set to win again. that means there will not be major shift of policies. tentatively, let us assume to the opposition won the election, that would have meant drastic consequences for policy, vis a vis syria and the middle east,

as well. >> you say it is likely the act party will win again. we will know a bit more in a few hours. i wonder when sort of battering the party might take, because there have been corruption scandals a dipping economy and it's always ridden on a strong economic ticket. is there a big threat to it? >> well, i mean in terms of economy, let's start with the economy. surely turkey's economy is not doing as great as it used to i had in 2008, 2009, 2010. the context is important and previously cheap money and low interest rates are not there anymore. in terms of context of turkey's me see boom is no longer there nevertheless turkey's economy is not performing badly. growth is still compared to turkey's european neighbors still is quite good. >> let's get on to the corruption scandals and imprisoning of journalists. how are the turks looking at

that? >> those things are not seen as corruption case per se as a corruption case. if it was seen just as a corruption case, it will surely have effect across electoral results. right now majority of turkish see it as a power struggle rather than a corruption case, therefore, it has a very minimal impact on electoral results of this election. >> very interesting to speak to you. we'll certainly do more in a few hours. >> three or four hours. >> ok, thanks very much. >> you're welcome. >> we're going to take you back now to more on the g7 meeting. of course, it was previously the g8 russia excluded again over its its annexation of crimea. we are joined by vladimir, an international affairs analyst in moscow. what do you make of russia again being excluded from this summit?

>> well, actually, i think that russian president putin could be and should be invited as a guest, probably like u.n. secretary general was invited to this g summit meeting. although russia was formally excluded from g8 and this is now g7. the question which is being discussed and will be discussed during these two days is this acute ukrainian crisis, while should be discussed with the russian participation i think. >> realistically would vladimir putin come as a guest? that's still quite a snub, isn't it? >> it is, but actually, i think that because this war actually which is going on in ukraine, it is not profitable neither for ukraine nor for russia, nor to any one party. i think that all parties which

were parties to minsk agreement should consider this and somehow negotiate and make it. probably there should be another negotiated settlement. i don't know, probably that will be the best way to do it. >> in the meantime, it looks like we've got the u.k. certainly pushing and the u.n. pushing for unilateral extension of sanctions against russia. do you think there's perhaps a growing reluctance against some e.u. nations to keep up the pressure on moscow? >> well, actually, yes. we can feel the pressure in russia but i think that that is not the best way to settle things to settle all accounts with russia and to make russia do something. these sanctions actually are counter productive, i think and well because i think that russia should actually survive

and will survive will survive even under the conditions of sanctions, and the question is as simple as that. who is more gaining profit from this sanctions, and the answer is that those who impose those sanctions, they are not profiting very much, i think. >> ok. vladamir great to speak to you joining us from moscow. >> thank you. >> people in mexico are voting this sunday. pollles have opened for midterm elections. even before voting began anti-government protests and riot police fought in the southern city. government f has 40,000 police, soldiers and marines in the southern areas of the south to keep the peace. we are joined live now from the southern city of iguala. this is largely seen as a referendum on the president and scenes these violence seems are

certainly not going to help him. >> exactly. we're here in iglesias, guerrero, you see peaceful voters here, this polling place has been open for a couple of hours, but surrounding this central part of iguala where i am are hundreds of federal police forces who arrived on saturday in tour buses. we asked them if this was seen as a hot spot and the police said yes, it was. that's because guerrero has been the place where a lot of this protest movement got kicked off several months ago after those 47 students disappeared. this is the city hall where a mayor worked, he was linked to though killings be and in prison right now. protestors ransacked and torched this building. no one works here anymore. we have polling stationles outside of it. these protests have been much more confrontational in recent days but with these tens of thousands of security forces on the street at polling places,

the electoral council says they think it's going to be a peaceful day of voting, but it's so early we might be confrontation as this day carries on. this of course isn't the only challenge facing the president now. >> president knee yet toe won office promises to reform mexico and usher in an age of security and prosperity. people have been little of either. oil and telecommunications suffering, poverty remains deep rooted. massacres and corruption candace have made him the most unpopular president in 20 years. against this backdrop, midterm elections, a a referendum of sorts on the president is the first time independent candidates have been allowed to run. the results could show traditional parties have lost their strangle hold on the electorate. >> if the heck treble send as clear cut message that society

is set up with corruption, it would do wonders for the economy. >> mexico has success stories for sure. in the north business is good, pumps out exports mainly for the united states. >> this border state that long been an economic engine in mexico. business leaders here say the country's never met its full potential and they hope after this election, some consensus can be reached that will push the economy forward. >> this plant's owner said reforms alone aren't enough. >> we need to make some of the big structure reforms that have been in past years really become value. we need to make sure we implement them and create value out of the reforms. it is not enough just to change allow, but how does that allow get implemented. >> polls point to the party

winning the most seats in congress. if in the jami rodriguez beats the candidate for governor as expected it could lead to a weakening of pin yet toe's coalition. jam if elections are going to give pointers in what we can expect for the second half. >> campaigning has not been without violence. several candidates across the country have been killed, dozens of others attacked and there is a growing movement led by teachers calling for a boy cut of the election. if the government is unable to hold the election in parents of the country it will be seen as a major failure a failure that pena nieto and his party can do without. >> you also have on going raging drug violence. on saturday night in acapulco, which isn't far from here, lease

said vigilante groups engaged with suspected criminals and perhaps up to 17 people were killed in that confrontation. this is according to local reports. we haven't been able to confirm that. that just shows you that this region is really a tinder box where violence has kicked off political unrest and frustration. that's here in the south. we have security forces here and in the north of the country that candidate threatening the whole establishment because if he wins, the govern ship of and anewevery straily i don't even could impact the presidential elections, making that a wide open race three years out from now. >> a tomorrow is packing winds

of 200 kilometers per hour and expected to make landfall early monday the second to form off the pacific coast this year. >> key opposition leader in burundi urged the president to disarm government linked militias and allow the media to operate freely. protests and unrest began when the president announced he would seek a third term in office. parliamentary elections have already been delayed. we have this report. >> he doesn't want to be recognized afraid he could be targeted because he protested against burundi's president. >> the people are scared. you don't know if you'll be arrested shot and killed. >> despite the fear of some, other opposition members are working out in the open, saying they will keep doing this in volatile areas until he gives up his chance to run for a third term, a violation of the constitution.

>> other parts of the capital are calm, but tense. it has been peaceful since the civil war ended 10 years ago. >> this situation is not like the civil war, where ethnicity played a huge role in the violence. for now, this crisis is political. some think that means it can be resolved through dialogue and that it's not too late for burundi. >> the former president is part of a team trying to get the government and opposition to talk. he was president before the current president came into power. he believes if there is going to be peace, the president must step aside. >> let's hope that the international community, the sub region and demonstration of the people of burundi will make him enough pressure so that he will be obliged to stop his candidacy. let's hope that. if this is not done and if he

don't accept, i can assure you that -- no, i'm afraid that will assist burundi to another war. >> opposition members say they are being systematically targeted by militia from the ruling party. the ruling party says that is not true. >> we saw many, many case of those attacked by some members of opposition. >> elections scheduled for this month have been postponed. despite a security crackdown and several arrests, those say they will say on the street until he goes. this could be a long standoff. jewel people in china are mourning the victims of a cruise ship that capsized last week.

rescuers and government officials pause to remember those who died when the eastern star sank on the yangtze river monday. 431 people are confirmed dead, 14 survived and 11 of still missing. most passengers were elderly. >> south korea said it will track the mobile phones of hundreds of people under quarantine to stop the spread of mers. kindergarten and elementary schools will be closed in two districts in seoul an monday. five people have died from mers and 14 new cases reported since may, bringing the total number of people infected to 64. >> plenty more still ahead here on this news hour. >> the 37 year wait is over, american pharoah is finally the one! >> in sport a pharaoh sits atop the sport of kings as history is made in the united states.

>> a manhunt is underway for two convicts who escaped a maximum security jail in new york. richard mass and david sweat used power tools to cut through the walls of their cell. the pair was convicted in separate murder cases and face spending the rest of their lives in prison. >> united states marine corps is putting women to the test to

determine their availability for front line combat. we have this report. it's a long way to the top but scaling it is in a tapes work for jacqueline. she's part of the marine ground combat unit incident graded task force, experiment into gender integration. 600 marines, male and female train side by side for combat roles never before open to women. >> absolutely exciting thrilling, i love to do things like this. >> she admits it hasn't been easy. >> the hardest part had to be when we first arrived, showing up to a unit full of males that never seen a female marine let alone worked with one. that in itself was a struggle. >> then there's the heavy gear

carried over long decides to answers. carried over long distances. >> in the dessert, we had 100 pounds on our back. i was carrying more than my body weight, now carrying 75 pounds for a total of six miles. your body never gets the chance to recover. >> for eight months, these marines have trained in a variety of grueling environments, the desert, ocean and now mountains. at these altitudes, breathing can be hard. even the most basic task becomes more difficult. >> on every march, heart monitors record vital data. marines are asked to record how they're feeling afterwards. the information collected will be used to set gender neutral standards. >> we have found through looking at these that all of the marines out here are capable of performing the task. what we're tying to ascertain is to what level are they capable. we get to see what type of person actually thrives in this environment, and what do they look like from a physical standpoint, what is their height, weight, lean body mass. >> harder to measure is the

impact of women on what the military refers to as unit cohesion. in this group, they've earned a grudging respect. >> when the going gets tough, i look at someone over my shoulder might be smaller and they keep pushing and i keep pushing on. >> the results will be presented to the commandant of the marines this summer. the women say they will push on to prove they are not only willing, but able to serve. al jazeera, bridgeport california. >> now time for your sport update. here's robin. >> thank you very much. we start at the french open where the men's final is underway right now. djokovic is taking on the swiss opponent. leading two sets to one

djokovic is up a break and leading 2-0 in the fourth. >> a huge parade is planned through barcelona later after the football team were crowned european champions. they won the final. barca completed a treble having won the spanish la liga and copa del rey. this was the coach's first season in charge. they join clubs that won the european cup five times or more. just four other teams have achieved that feat. barca's first cup came in 1992, the so-called green team.

they had to wait 14 years for the next time. barcelona coming from behind to win 2-1. european cub number three against manchester united in 2009. man united the victims again. barcelona won 3-1 this time. four of five titles have come in the last nine years. enreek key refused to confirm he will remain as manager but barca's captain is optimistic he'll stick around. >> he's our coach he's our manager. my hope is that he will continue with us next season. he hasn't said anything to the tan terror, so i really do hope that so again next year, we can face new challenges. we have to make the most of them and the team and of all the work

we've done, we've had a spectacular season in every sense of the word. >> the fifa women's world cup continues in a few hours. canada won in injury time against china. there was a record crowd. >> a huge crowd of more than 53,000 fans here at the commonwealth stadium to watch canada just about get the win they desperately wanted against china. that crowd a record not just for a winning soccer game or men's soccer game, a record for any national team sporting event in canadaed. gives you some indication of the level of interest in this tournament. there were huge expectations around the canada team. they get for mondaying from the men's team from the canada's

soccer association. they had a pretty awful time of it finishing at the bottom of their qualifying group but a year later at the olympics got a bronze medal and something similar is expected this time around. japan, the defending champions get their tournament underway against switzerland. they beat the usa in the final four years ago, the u.s.a. traditional powerhouses in the women's game haven't won since 1999. they find themselves in a tough group alongside sweden, australia and nigeria. germany, the top ranked side in the world, they could become the first country to have both the men's and women's title in their possession. that tournament starts sunday against the ivory coast. >> edmonton has another big event in canada coming up in the next few hours hamilton looking to extend his win atop the formula one standings.

his sixth pole in seven races he be leads by 10 points in the standings. >> i won my first grand prix here in 2007, and that was incredibly special so to be back here and to finally to get another pole here and it be the 44th that's very special for me. once again amazing job by the team by regrouping and pulling together to help keep me and niko up here. it's a great job. >> american pharaoh ended a 57 year drought in the united states. the colt won the belmont strikes in new york to clinch an elusive racing crown. >> belmont park in new york and a sellout crowd of 90,000, hoping for a peels of racing history. all the focus is on a 3-year-old colt by the name of american pharaoh. >> they're off in the belmont stakes, not a great start for

american pharaoh. >> he'd already won the kentucky derby and preakness. victory here would secure the most prestigious prize in american racing, the triple crown. 11 horses had won it previously but not since 1978. this is the moment. >> american pharaoh has a two length lead. here it is, the 37 year wait is over! american pharaoh is finally the one! american pharaoh has won the triple crown! >> it's incredible, such a great day for horse racing! >> 43-year-old victor espinoza becoming the oldest triple crown winning jockey. success as well for trainer bob

and the egyptian born owner who had given the horse a miss spelled name from an on line contest. >> in order for you to come and win the triple crown, you have to define greatness, and as bob said before, he does everything so easy. every jean with us will come out and say they have the best horse. i don't know, god put him in my hands and he is like just an incredible animal. >> a pharaoh on top of the sport of kings. al jazeera. >> the tampa bay lightning leveled their stanley cup seatings with the chicago blackhawks. game two was a rather tense affair in florida chicago drawing things level in the third quarter but a power play goal from garrison of tampa bay clinch a 4-3 win. game three takes place in chicago on monday. that's all the sport for now. >> thanks very much indeed.

>> around a million pilgrims are attending a religious festival in southern pakistan. security has been stepped up in response to threats from violence to those apposed to the some rhines. we spoke with one pilgrim. >> i have been coming here since past 20 years for a spiritual inspiration. the people who are coming here should refrain from drugs and restrict themselves to prayers and follow the teaching of the saint. i frequently visited other shrines but haven't found the true and real essence in the devotees who visit these places.

i never beg or ask anyone for anything, because he finds all his needs are taken care of because allah is the real provider. women are not allowed to visit shrines. it is forbidden in islam. these saints did not have female visitors. anyone who can control his temptations is closest to the saints. those who come here with a pure purpose always take up blessings from him. those who come for just fun go back without anything. they will not succeed in anything unless they come here to seek solace. >> that's all from the team here in doha. do stay with us here on al jazeera. there's another full bulletin of news coming straight ahead from

london.

♪ >> the polls are closed in turkey'sly which will determine whether president erdowan can increase his powers. ♪ this is al jazeera live from donelon. also coming up the saudi-led coalition jets bomb headquarters in sanaa. the u.n. envoy tells us he is opt mistic about next week's peace talks. a summit on a mountain leaders of the g7 countries meet in southern jaerment. crowded