hello and welcome to the news hour. with the top stories on al jazeera. voting is over in myanmar's first openly contested election for 25 years. at least 7 people were killed in a new wave of political violence in bur. families flee the capital. the bells of st petersburg cathy drawl are-- cathedral are to ring out 224 times to remember

last week's plane crash. >> reporter: as pressure mounts on chelsea manager after the team loses the seven league game of the season, plus an eye can of motor gp set for his biggest challenge yet as valentino rossi hopes for a win on the opening of the season millions of people have taken part in myanmar's first openly contested election in decades. the leader of myanmar's democracy movement and former political prisoner, aung san suu kyi, kissed her balance alt paper as she voted. queues had built up at holl stations in the country. from yam gon, telling us how this is going, it is being called an his authorizic election but there are concerns

about its fairness. >> reporter: that's right. this is being billed as an historic election. people in myanmar are excited to be a part of it. the election commissioner and deputy director of the show that early indications shows there has been at least 80% of voters turn up. we were at one of the polling stations early this morning, at least half an hour before they were opened at 5.30. already a queue had formed. even before the gates had opened, there were about 100 people waiting to cast their votes. we were at the poll where aung san suu kyi was due to cast her vote. people who had already voted, in fact, sthad back just so they-- stayed back so they could catch a glimpse of her voting. she is, of course, the opposition leerltd. she did not-- leader. she did not take part in the last election in 2010 because she was still under arrest. her party boycotted the election. this is a different election.

they're taking part and being ticked by many to be the winners of this election. this is the report that we filed from the polling station. before day break and before polling stations had opened, voters were patiently waiting their turn for a chance to vote for the government they want. >> it's for the next generation. time for a real change, so that's what we're hoping for and, yeah, hopefully, you know, that will bring good changes. >> this day, we can make a change for the future, for the right of brighter future for our country. >> reporter: for nearly 50 years a military government ruled this country until handing over power four years ago. since then the union solidarity has been in charge. the woman seen by many as most able to bring change to myanmar is opposition leader aung san suu kyi. she was still under house arrest in the last general election was

held, a protest considered fraudulent by the international community. >> reporter: this election is seen as more legitimate and more inclusive compared to the one five years ago. the national league for democracy is taking part. people who didn't bother voting in 2010 are turning up. >> it is a first. this is very positive pause it increases the-- because it increases the transparency of the process. our workers are doing the work and we hope that this transparency will be displayed throughout the counting process and the announcement of the result. >> reporter: irregularities in advance voting. there will be no polling in seven townships in hundreds of villages because of security concerns following fighting between armed ethnic armies and government soldiers. holders of temporary identity cards who voted in the last election won't be allowed to this time.

the move mainly affects more than a million row rohinga. whatever the outcome of sunday's vote, the military will still play a part in government because the constitution gardens a quarter seats in parliament. despite the flaws, this election is a step forward for the demme cease in myanmar. -- democracy in myanmar let's look at how we got here. aung san suu kyi won elections in 1990. the militaria nulled the results and put her under house arrest. in 1991 she wassa warded the peace prize. fast forward to 2007 and buddist monks led the big eft, safhron revolution. following year myanmar's leaders rewrote the constitution that gives them a quarter of all

seats in parliament and ban aung san suu kyi from becoming president. the leader of democracy movement was freed from house arrest in 2010 but her party boycotted elections that were seen as rigged at the time. back to florence. do people believe that these elections are going to chase the face of myanmar? >> reporter: well, the persons we spoke to were quite optimistic. many of them told us that they felt that today is a day for normal civilians to take back a part of the political process, to be a part of the political process, to put in place people they want to in government, but, of course, constitutional change is still - could still well be years away. the constitution guarantees 25% of seats to the military, 25 of seats in parliament to the military, and this, in effect, gives them an effective veto over constitutional changes.

so the military is still going to be a powerful force in politics in myanmar whichever party gets to form the government will have to take that into consideration okay. thank you for that update. crossing over to wayne hay, where many rohinga are not eligible to vote in this election. what are they hoping that will election will achieve for them and what do they have? >> reporter: certainly no celebrations. in the camps around, there are around 100,000 people. most of them are rohinga muslim. they are regarded illegal imdprants in myanmar, from neighbouring bangladesh. they have no rights or citizenship of this country and those rights have been stripped away. they were forced into these camps when violents attacks

began against their communities around the state three years ago. as i say, they have no rights, they cannot leave these camps other than if they take the decision to go to sea to board boats and leave the country altogether, which is what thousands of them do every year. one of their last rights that was taken away by the government earlier this year was their right to vote. so we spoke to a couple of them about how they felt missing out on today's vote. >> translation: i was hoping to be able to vote, but now i can't. our lives are so difficult right now. i'm very sad that i can't vote, but i hope that after the election, the rohinga people will be recognised. that's my one wish. >> reporter: well, certainly there is some hope here among the rohinga people when it comes to the election, even though they haven't been able to take part in this. they have voted in previous elections, but that right was taken away by the government earlier this year.

they say that they have hope, most of them anyway, in aung san suu kyi, the leader of the national league for democracy party, if she is able to win this election, and form the government. they say that hope is based on the simple fact that it will be a change. obviously, they've been treated extremely badly by the current government, by the military as well, and that they believe that a change in government can only be positive for them. that despite the fact that aung san suu kyi has so far, while she has been in opposition, refused to speak out in support of the rohinga muslims and the situation they find themselves in thank you for that update. here is what is coming up on the news hour. another important election, this one in india's bihar state. the opposition parties beat the government. plus [ ♪ ] dancing to a very special tune in sierra leone which is

celebrating after being officially declared as being ebola free. cricket legend shane waun and another in new york. you will be told who came out on top. first if burundi unidentified gun men have killed seven people. security forces are carrying out searches after a presidential deadline to hand in weapons ran out. than ultimateum may push the country to war. a controversial third term in office and his opponents say it was against the constitution, but it was upheld by a special cord. fighting between his opponents have spirald into ongoing battles. around 200 people have been

killed so far. at least 13 people are said to have died in the past week alone. many have been found in opposition strong holds in the capital. people are frightened. >> translation: we just lost loved ones. they have been salveagely killed. we want justice. we want to know the truth and the reason for these hateful crimes. that's all we ask for. >> translation: we are very scared of what is to come. we see our neighbors fleeing and we also decided to leave more would you say this week is a defining point for the country when the president is given an ultimatum to disarm and that ends on sundays? >> reporter: that is very difficult to say, but the situation is very, very critical. there are several signs telling us that the situation might get really out of hand.

there has been than a position saying that weapons have to be handed over. that's the first thing. the second thing is the president of the senate appealed for the presidential party that they have to get the work very soon. that brings back memories of what happened in rwanda earlier. another thing is a statement yesterday of the president of rwanda was warning not to cross the line just back to what you were saying about the situation getting out of hand, what do you mean by that exactly? >> reporter: it's terror at random. last night a bar was attacked in an outskirt of the area. five guys in police uniforms ordered the people who were sitting outside to get inside and then they killed them. this is happening every day nearly or every couple of days.

a couple of days ago another bar was attacked in another very popular area of bujumbura. people are afraid and fleeing the city. they are fleeing the suburbs. they flee. nobody knows exactly what is going to happen and people are very, very scared and it's very difficult to work here what about the opposition group's reactions? >> please? the reaction of opposition groups in the country? >> opposition groups in the country, they're not verbally present any more. most of them are outside the country. the press has opinion been shut down. it is impossible to cover the events in the capital because police don't let journalists in. it's very difficult. also the foreign press has been banned. yesterday we found out that the

institution that delivers to correspondence. it's difficult to talk to political members here itself you were referring to the comments that were made by the rwandan president. how are people reading the significance of significance of his words. he doesn't talk just for the sake of talking. so people take him very serious. i think it's a shot for the regime in place. it's just a last warning. he will never allow that there will be killings at mosques. there will be a lot of killings here, yes thank you for your time with us on the al jazeera news hour. the ends of a nightmare is being

celebrated by some in sierra leone. the world health organisation has officially declared the country free of the ebola virus. almost 4,000 people have died of the disease there and more than 11,000 across west africa. more from the capital freetown. >> reporter: it was a party in sierra leone as people celebrated the end of the worst ebola outbreak in the country's history. the streets were packed as they danced and cheered. for these survivors it was not a time to celebrate but to mourn those they lost to the disease. there were just over 4,000 survivors in sierra leone. this man lost nine of his family members, including his mother and children. >> really, this brings my mind back from what i've gone through. it is a very painful and sad day for me. >> reporter: people now just want to get back to their normal lives. >> translation: we've been suffering. we have no jobs. we ask for help from our leaders

to help bring back the economy. >> reporter: the official announcement ending the outprick was made only after 42 days without a new case can the outbreak be officially over. that's the incubation period for the verse. it has-- virus. it doesn't mean that there cannot be a setback. another country is also free of the outbreak but elsewhere the situation is still concerning. guinea is still reporting case and sierra leone warns people not to relax just yet. sierra leone health workers were some of those who risked their lives battling the virus day in and out of the many of them were shunned by their own family and friends but they didn't give up. >> this is an epidemic and we have already taken an oath to treat and heal patients. so i see no need for me to run

away. >> reporter: this person has been fighting the outbreak. this doctor worries how the health system p will cope post ebola. >> i feel relieved and concerned also. i'm a bit afraid for the future. because the system remain weak. >> reporter: he adds that had the international community responded faster, the outbreak could have been stopped. for survivors like this, it's too late israeli soldiers have shot dead a palestinian who drove a car into a group of israelis in the occupied west bank. at least three people were wounded in the attack. israeli is typically gathered in the area to hitch rides. 77 palestinians and nine israelis have been killed in

violence since the beginning of october. syrian activityists from i.s.i.l. has released christians. the group of elderly people were among more than 200 abducted. the syrian human rights network say talks are continuing for the release of another 124 people still in captivity. russia and jordan revealing little about a deal they reached last month about coordinating military exercises in jordan. >> reporter: the russians and jordanians are not saying much about what they agreed no. they're conducting separate bombing campaigns in syria. jordan is a member of the u.s. led coalition. the officials here say working with the russians doesn't represent a shift in jordanian

allegiances. >> russia has taken april major military role in syria, so it is important and vital for us that we have a coordination mechanism between us and the russians because the safety of our borders and the southern part of syria is of special importance to jordan. >> reporter: in order to secure its front ear with syria, jordan has been supporting and training so-called moderate syrian rebels behind this border. jordan doesn't want russian air strikes to target these rebels, but these fighters say they don't trust russia even though it has offered to support opposition forces fighting i.s.i.l. >> they're target aring the civilians and others. so we describe it as invasion. apart from the problem-- they are part of the problem and not solution for us. how can you trust enemy hitting you and offering help. >> reporter: the understanding is believed to be of great political importance. russia and jordan appears to

agree on the need to keep syria state institutions intact in any final settlement. jordan has ties with the moderate rebels and defectors. russia would like to see reintegrated into the syrian army in the future. former deputy p.m. says iraq descended into chaos what the army was dismantled after the 2003 u.s. led invasion. he thinks the same will happen. >> we would like to look for means to see that the peaceful opposition in syria is integrated into the syrian army and institutions. some of them have legitimate grievances and they must be listened to and their demands must be respected. and if we are to receive at a peaceful resolution. >> reporter: he appears to be personally interested in cooperating with russia. he discussed the partners of the

agreement for jordan security with tribal leaders. this could be an indication that russia seems to be one of the most powerful players in syria right now now the weather. you will give us an update on the latest cyclone that's affecting yemen. >> reporter: that's right. it's another big one. it's a category 3 storm and it's now in the process of running across the far north. we saw flooding here last week and hot on its heels you can see that system circulation dragging its way there. the eye of the storm is now in the process of running along northern parts of the island. it will continue to make its way further west wards. it has currently got winds of 200 km/h. it's a strong system there and it will cause further widespread damage and inevitably we will have the rain. it will continue to drive into the gulf of aden, africa. notice by around thursday the

remnantss of the storm - the winds won't be a problem, but heavy rain will be caused to that western side of yemen. so for monday wetter weather into the gulf of aden and will continue to drive further west as we go on through tuesday. flooding rains, there will be coastal flooding. we're looking at some very heavy sea and much of western yemen will have major problems over the next few days. some major problems in two areas of libya recently. this is around tripoli just through the course of saturday. very, very heavy rainfall here. it doesn't take that much rain to cause widespread flooding in such a part of the world as this. it has caused some pretty big problems. a good deal dryer now i'm pleased to say. we have clear skies coming in, onshore breeze coming in north at around 23 degrees. the recent flooding that we have

seen crow across northern egypt, that has cleared away as well. similar pictures, through tuesday, right across africa and temperatures in cairo picking up to 26 thank you. over to india. the ruling party, the bjp has conceded defect in the election. a major political event in india this year. the vote was held over five phases in october and november. bihar is one of the poorest and most popular states. joining us from new delhi. now that the party is defeated, how much of a setback for the party but for prime minister modi himself. >> reporter: many political p punits and other here thought it was a test of modi.

more than half the seats were won in bihar. they won several major states in what supporters called an modi wave with the exception here in new delhi itself in elections almost a year ago. they were hoping that would give the credit ability to push through economic reforms which have been lagging in the past several months. however, a grand alliance of opposition parties, so-called secular parties, including some bitter rivals, got together to oppose the bjp queueing it of playing politics with religion and saying that their economic reforms weren't doing anything for the country for bihar itself as a state, how important was it for this election? >> reporter: well, it did show what the dividing lines were. there were speculations, even up until today, some polls showing the bhj having majority and others alliance showing majority. showing that was this election was going to be based on

religion lines or caste. it has always been an issue in bihar itself. the fact that the alliance won, shows that caste still plays a bigger role than the actual religious divide in the sthait. the state had previously been governed by some parties in this current alliance right now, so it looks like things will remain the same, but it does set a precedent for the rest of the country, especially for coming elections in the next couple of years thank you. she has been called the afghan milala, a 14-year-old fighting for better education and children's rights in afghanistan. she goes to school in the mornings and runs her own school in the afternoons. now her work is being recognised. she is nominated for the children's international peace prize set to bea warded on monday. >> reporter: she is teaching the

alphabet to children who might never have learned to read. she says knowledge roofs obstacles, and she would know. at first her parents didn't want to send the children to makeshift school in the capital. >> translation: i talked with their families any chance i could get, sometimes by the water pump or wherever i saw them i would talk to them. they liked me and they let their children come to school. >> reporter: that was four years ago. she has been teaching these kids since she was 10 years old. she also advocates on their behalf with the government and education officials. they live in this refugee camp. many can't go to government schools because they don't have fish id-- official ids. others miss out because they had to spend time collecting water for their families. she got water piped in and got them into schools. none of it might have happened without her father. he says he defied his neighbors and relatives to send her to

school. >> translation: i was not et indicated and---ed indicated and my other children weren'ted indicated. she was the only one who was interested. i let her study. i gave her the support that i could afford. >> reporter: that wasn't much. she had to work selling street food. she also got support from a charity that teaches circus skills, something else she shares with the children. she was born here in run of the poorest neighbourhoods of kabal. her house has no indoor plumbing and no running water, but she has big dreams. she hopes some day that every child in afghanistan will have an education. she is nominated nor an international peace prize that could get her an education grant and over $100,000 to fund her projects. she says winning would go a long way to helping her school become a model for the rest of the country. >> translation: i didn't know about thissa ward. i've been helping the kids for four years. i'm very happy to be nominated. my words are more valuable now.

i want to share my message with everyone. >> reporter: the nomination has brought her some attention. if she wins, her voice may be heard by a wider audience. two years ago another girl championing education won the prize, pakistan's girl here is what is coming up on the al jazeera news hour. painful memorandums in the philippines. saving the world's frogs, how scientists are trying to soften a serious disease. a million dollar prize in one of golf's biggest tournaments. naments.

hello again. the top stories on the news hour. millions of people have taken part in the first openly contested elections in 25 years. turn out was about 80% the aung san suu kyi is expected to win. in burundi, a begun man have killed seven people. security forces are carrying out searchers after presidential deadline to hand in illegal weapons ran out. some believe it may provoke civil war. defeat in the key state election in india. losing the election means the

government will struggle to push through key reforms nationally. a memorial service is being held for the victims of last week's plane crash in egypt in st petersburg. [ ♪ ] you're looking at live pictures from st petersburg space pace cathedral. the bells are to ring out 224 times and that is to remember the victims from the plane crash. joining us from moscow, as we talk to you, we were looking at those live pictures from that memorial that is taking place in the church. >> yes. that's right. it's a wonderful church there.

it's huge, it's one of the biggest christian churches in the world. it is fourth largest by some estimates, and this memorial service fits into the general tradition of russian orthodox and remembering the dead on the ninth day is one of the particular days when a memorial service it be held. you get the reading of psalms, hymns and litanies and this is a chance for the families and those who new the people on board the metrojet plane to come and pay their respects and have their loved ones remembered in a fitting way now that some believe that a bomb may have brought down that metrojet plane, what's the reaction to that news in russia? >> well, the russians still

don't consider that to be news. the russians are still looking at what is coming out of their tv screens and by and large what their tv screens are saying is still an open case. it hasn't been decided one way or the other. there isn't a great deal of anger detectible at the moment on the streets of russia. yes, there's a huge amount of sorrow, but at the moment it seems to be more of a sort of fatalistic attitude to what has happened rather than searching around for something or someone to blame. there are many reasons for that. as i've just said, the russian people are saying this is still open, it is not necessarily any kind of bomb or attack, but also russia is no stranger to air disasters. it is comparable - well, in terms of air safety here, it is a great deal worse than it is in other parts of europe. there have been 20 fatal crashes at least in the last 20 years involving russian airlines or in

russia itself. russia is also no stranger to armed attacks. there have been a great many that have come from groups based in the caucases and i don't understand. russia is also a country. emergencies and this is no different thank you for the time being. many questions still unanswered about the fate of that metrojet and just take a look at that scene from the church where the memorial service is being held for the victims of last week's plane crash in egypt. [ ♪ ] other news now. voters in croatia are taking part in the first parliamentary election since joining the union

two years ago. polls predict a tight place between the democrats and the coalition. the refugee crisis is a key election issue. more than 330,000 people have passed through croatia in the past two months alone. protestors in romania have been on the streets again after last week's nightclub fire. seven more people have died from their injuries raising the total to 41. the prime minister has already are signed over the disaster which many blame on lax government safety standards. a march in marid have helped for domestic violence. spanish government statistics say 41 women have been murdered so far this year by their partners or ex-partners and more than 800 in the past 12 years. more than 200 tamal prisoners in

sri lanki are threaten to continue go on hunger strike. >> reporter: this woman is looking forward to her husband coming home. eight years of waiting for him to be released from prison has taken its toll. >> translation: everyone was scared to talk to me. i was rejected by society. people were scared to phone me or meet me or even help. as a result i face a lot of difficulties to make ends meet, but i can't ask anyone. i just can't any more. >> reporter: now aged 61, he was arrested for involvement in the attempted assassination of former president in december 2006. it was six years before indictments were filed. there are more than 250 tamals

such as him who are in prison who either were convicted or their cases are pending. most of them were arrested for the war against the sri lankan government. the basis of their detention is flawed it is said. >> we must act with courage and conviction. the government must see these persons are being killed under laws which are obnoxious and which the government say they will repeal. how can the government keep the people in custody under those laws? >> reporter: the inmates who have been in prison for eight to 18 years say they want a long-term solution. a blanket release of all terrorss and detainees held under the prevention of terrorism act is not an easy task. the government must navigate through cases and investigations

that have dragged on for years. it also must deal with laws that do not allow bail. people have been said they've been tricked by the government and other people who made them end their hunger strike with promises of solutions. they say steps announced so far are unacceptable. they will begin an indefinite hunger strike on sunday. a majority of them voted for sri lanka's new government which promised a new approach to reconciliation. the government has to balance this approach with the sensitivities of the majority. >> the government has to take the population with it. the government has to keep the confidence of the ethnic majority, even while it takes the necessary goodwill measures and accommodations to the tamal people. for this lady, the details don't matter. she just wants her husband home

on the second anniversary of one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the philippines, politicians admit there are delays in rehousing survivors. returning to the city to see how survivors are coping two years on. >> reporter: this was once their home. here she says was where she nurtured her of an hour children for many years-- four children. until the typhoon swept it away. she has been promised a new home but she is still waiting. >> translation: where will we be and end up now? will we ever have a home? there are always questions when it comes to government choice of beneficiaries. we always have to fight from local governments down to community leaders. >> reporter: at least six thousand people were killed and millions more displaced. the president has earlier

budgeted around 3$3.9 billion u.s. if funds for recovery efforts. at least 21,000 homes are needed to be rebuilt. two years on, only around 500 houses are complete. thousands of people here remain jobless. others say they feel grateful for the groups who stayed on to help them. the recovery of the survivors is considered one of the biggest tests for the president. thousands of survivors wrote to him weeks ago. >> unfortunately, for whatever reason, the open letter, if it was addressed to me, never got to me. i never saw it. nothing in the paper, nothing. nothing that i've managed to see. >> reporter: election season has begun and some survivors say they are worried that their stories will be used to further political ambitions here, but no flowery speech can hide the truth that two years on

thousands of survivors are still living in makeshift shelters with no electricity and running water. both national and international agencies put the blame on each other. relief efforts have been marred by politics from the very beginning. >> my husband has been doing his best. the lg has been doing its best. i believe that there is a lot that has been done, but we can always do more. >> reporter: here in this mass grave is where hundreds of unidentified bodies were buried in haste by the government. families desperate for closure marking crosses for their loved ones hoping that even in death they are given dignity. two years on, this mass grave has deteriorated. parts of it removed to make way for new construction. for those still grieving, this is a grim resting place. for loved ones whose stories have already been for gotten in brazil the search for signs of life is continuing for

a fourth day after an avalanche of blood and mining sludge buried a village. two people are confirmed dead and 28 are missing after waste reservoirs at an iron ore mine burst. the wave of sludge continued for 60 km. the mining giant bhp bill tonne says it's often support to the survivors and the be received. frogs are disappearing at an unprecedented rate around the world. scientists say it's due to a fungus that's spreading fast. there's a new push to ensure the amphibians survival in a new laboratory in panama. >> reporter: inside this laboratory outside panama city scientists are working overtime for investigator the motivation is clear, a change to save frogs from extinction. with a deadly fungal disease around the world, it's vital.

>> we are in a race against time because the fungus appears to be spreading eastwards across panama. we have to rescue individual frogs until the fungus gets to them and then use the frogs to establish healthy populations. >> reporter: this is allowing researchers to look at ways to protect amphibians from the fun gas and get them back into the wild. about a third of the world's species is at danger of extinction. scientists say that programs like this are essential to their survival. building a lab in central america brought new challenges. without stores to buy food for the frogs, researchers have to raise the insects themselves. maintaining precise temperatures and humidity is essential giving the amphibians the nutrients they need to survive. >> translation: female frogs need to have lots of fat in

their diet because when they're mating, they hardly eat. we need to make sure they're well fed for the mating embrace which can last from a few days to a month. >> reporter: the lab is home to three species of endangered frogs, more than 300 individuals are separated according to species and gender. little by little staff are increasing this population through selective mating key to the frogs' long-term survival. >> translation: studies tell us that with 40 individuals, 20 males and 20 females, we guarantee that the genetic variability won't be affected in 2 ah to 50-- 25 to 50 years time. this will be important in the future where frogs repopulate areas. >> reporter: searching for clues clues and bringing the species back from the brink before it's too late

still to come on the al jazeera news hour. >> i'm malcolm web on the river niles. people are going to lose their jobs because of the hydro electric dam and jo will tell you why fifa is going up in smoke in antes. england england

white water rafting is going to be washed away by a new hydro

electric dam. from the river niles, adventure tourism business owners say their days are numbered and jobs are about to go. >> reporter: the opening stretch of the river nile in uganda is one of the best places in the world for white water rafting and kayaking. it brings in much needed foreign currency and creates jobs. this man has worked here since he was a teenager, but for not much longer of the the government is building a dam that will flood these rapids. >> that will affect me because this is my job rafting on the river. so when the dam covers it will be gone. >> reporter: the rafting company say that means they will have to close. the rafting is great fun, but that's not the only reason

campaigners say that the tourism isn't the only reason the water falls are important. they say they're ecologically unique and spiritually important. the bank already funded another dam further upstream that was finished three years ago. several rapids disappeared under its reservoir, so the agreement was meant to protect the stretch of river below. the country's demand for electricity is growing and there is money to be made by selling it to neighbouring countries too. the new dam needs to be the largest of three possible sizes proposed. >> the options may not be viable. it would end up delivering electricity to the people which they cannot buy. >> reporter: so construction started by a chinese company funded by china's government. the world bank declined to be

interviewed. a spokesperson wrote the government has promised the bank it will complete an assessment of the dam's impact and that it would not take any action that would affect the conservation area without the bank's agreement. this man says it is already happening. he lobbys for the tourism companies of the he showed us thousands of signatures of locals who were against the dam. he says they're being ignored possibly due to corruption which the government denies. >> there is a lot of business as a result of this dam. >> reporter: it is possible the new dam will help the economy more than the tourism, but campaigners say its impact hasn't been properly assessed. they say there are calls for a smaller dam that would generate power and preserve the rapids are being ignored. on the river nile time for sports. here is jo. >> reporter: thank you very much. this year's motor gp champion

will be grounds in the next few hours. valentino rossi is bidding for a record 8 champion ship. the man standing in his way is lorenzo. he will start on the poll position. rossi fell at turn eight. it was only 12 fastest in qualifying but he has to start at the back of the grid after being penalised for kicking a man in the previous race. let's take a look at the grid for the final race. there are 26 riders who will start in valencia. in the front is jose lorries. going back, you have valentino rossi who has 312 championship points. in orders for him to win the 8th world championship, he has to pass 24 riders and finish at least second if lorries goes on to win. any firsts back then lorries

will ewin the world champion ship. on saturday it's fair to say that lorenzo is confidence. >> i think my best lap in all my life. i couldn't believe when i saw it, i couldn't believe the previous lap i made. i pushed. at maximum i made 30.9. in the second i prove by a second. >> reporter: he is one of the most recognisable figures in football, but the chel sea manager mass hit a low. they were beaten on saturday. he was serving a one match ban after abusing the referee during the team's loss last month. with or without their manager, the champion still struggled. stokes scored what is proved to be the winner in the second half. chelsea now 16th, three points off the relegation zone.

chelsea has suffered three suck saysive defeats. they still have another 26 to play. the last time chelsea lost seven of their opening 12 top flight games was in 1978, and that season they were relegated. >> they're going through a surprising period for them, but not for anybody else. i think the premier league, certainly this year, the middle group of teams is a challenge for the top teams, i think, and i think chelsea, i've read words that he feels maybe the top teams will lose more this year because of the quality of the teams. i have to agree. >> reporter: much better news for a former chelsea manager, leaders man city and arsenal on 25 points, this only after man

united are a force after victory against west brom. >> i'm a very happy manager. i think we have won a difficult game last year we lose against this opponent probably because of death of tony. now we have won. so we have improved again. >> reporter: the best club football team in africa will be grounds in a few-- crowned in a few hours time. from the democratic party, al ji, lead two one from the first leg an hoping to win their fifth championsh championship, the last being in 201 2010. the first leg of the asian

championship final produced plenty of chances but no goal. they're unbeaten in all competitions since may and are hoping to add to their 2013 title, the second test takes place on december 21. australian cricketers have taken a big step towards history in the first test against new zealand. they set a target of 25 for four and there were smashing boundaries to get them over that line. it was caught lbw 15, nine. new zealand were 142 for three when rain wiped out the final session of play on day four. they will have plenty of work to do on monday if they are to save the test. in new york, 36,000 fans turned out at city field to watch the first global cricket legend independencian batting king

sachin tendulkar and spin legend shane warne. the team was off and running. a stint at the crease was ended by none other than warne who took an incredible catch, tendulka ending up with 26 runs. victory in the first of three games by six wickets. the first man to win six masters titles in paris later, the one that clinched his win on saturday with victory in the semifinals. the serb wii wing 6, 3, 63, 6 love. an unprecedented third consecutive title at this tournament that face final on sunday. >> it's always a challenge. i've played an unbelievable match. obviously, i'm hoping i can play

as well as i did there. it's different conditions, playing indoors. he has been playing great tennis this week. well, you know, it's going to be a tough one physically and mentally, but i'm ready for it. >> reporter: murray reached the final. he will guarantee finishing the year second in the atp world ranking for the first time if he wins the title later. a gulfer ranked will 5 in world has beaten some of the best to win the tournament in shanghai and its $1.4 million price. russell knox was in the event after an alternate. he held off a world class field to win his first pga tour title on sundays, two time major champion finished 7th which moved him back to world's number one. for the last six months, the

president has been feeling the heat over the corruption scandal voning football's governing body. a town in england has sent him up in smoke or at least an effagy of the suspended 79 year old swiss fish in 11 metre tall sculpture was set aa a light b fireworks. it is the latest in a series of modern bad guys to be burnt by the town of eden bridge in kent. former p.m. and american psych list lance armstrong. that's all the sport for now we will see you later on. thank you very much for that. thanks for watching the news hour on al jazeera. we will take a short break and we will have a full bulletin of news. everything you need to know on al jazeera. see you in a moment. a moment.

>> tough that the country gave up on me.

voting under way in myanmar in an historic election as the country hopes to make a transition from military rule to democracy. you're watching al jazeera, live from our headquarters in doha. also ahead on the programme - at least 17 are killed in a new wave of political violence in burundi. families flee the capital. mourners gather at st. petersburg