>> a shia cleric and leading al-qaeda preacher among 47 men executed by saudi arabia. for terrorism offenses. good to have your company. i'm david foster. you're watching al jazeera live from london. also from this program, fighters kill at least two soldiers at an air base at the border near pakistan. and we meet a farmer who is feeing the bite as russian tanks take effect. and the u.s. worker is beginni beginning 2016 with a pay raise

after a two-year fight. saudi arabia is defending its decision to execute 47 men, among them a leading shia clear, and prominent al-qaeda preacher. both of whom are convicted of terrorism charges. first we look at rob matheson's report on the men's death. >> these are some of the 47 men would who were executed in safer who were accused of convicting and carrying out terrorism attacks. they included this man, nimr al-nimr, who was a figure in the protest in saudi arabia which intensified in 2011. among them was a al-qaeda preacher, human rights criticized the executions, but

saudi arabia said it was after a fair trial. >> we deal with the cases on merit. there is no difference between what a person does regardless of his ethnic origin, affiliation or what he believes. we deal with facts and criminal intent. >> last year a court sentenced nimr to death. did he not deny the political charges against him but said he never carried weapons or called for violence. saudi arabia is about to stamp out terrorism after 15 a people were killed in a suicide-bombing at a mosque in august. many of the others such as a preacher who had been linked to attacks in the kingdom betwee between 2003 and 2006, said to have been carried out by them.

>> in october iran warned saudi arabia of what it called dire consequences if nimr was killed. that warning was repeated as news of his death was released. they said that the saudis will pay a high price. >> iran will try to ignite the soft spots in the region following these latest executions more still may be on the way at least 2200 similar cases are still to be heard in saudi arabian courts. rob math thin matheson, al jazeera. >> in the saudi arabia eastern province there are marchs to show their objections to nimr al-nimr's execution.

and in bahrain police there using tear gas, we understand, to disperse some of the crowds. some would protest the execution of nimr al-nimr according to iranian state television. on saturday the saudi coalition backing the government in yemen declared a cease-fire. >> no let up in fighting. yemen's pro government forces backed by a saudi-led coalition attempt to strengthen their grips on taiz. the city still besieged by houthi rebels and fighters loyal to ali abdullah saleh. the daily violence has left many helpless. many have run out of food.

the world food program said it is unable to reach those in need. the battle lines across yemen continue to shift as they try to hold onto and expand their territory. here in the province members of the popular resistence fighting to restore the internationally recognized presence of abd rabbuh mansur hadi, who called a victory. after escaping months ago residents are slowly returning. >> the markets are new open and public services are now being restored. >> yet, the fear of new attacks are stopping many yemenis from going home. some prefer to remain in camps in the desert. this camp lacks basic services, children are deprived from classroom lessons but at least it's safer. >> i want to go back home to

return to school to study. but many farms have dried up and many schools are destroyed. >> since the houthis overlan the city of sana in 2014, life has been disrupted in every way. so many have lost homes, livelihoods, and a stable means of finding mood. yemen was already one of the poorest nations since this conflict began. war has made things worse. gerald tan, al jazeera. >> two soldiers have been killed in an attack on an india air force base. the heavily fortified facility abou shares about 150 kilometers border with pac pakistan.

>> the confrontation began around 3:30 a.m. with several men addressed in military uniform arrived in an vehicle carrying guns and explosives. soldiers confronted the gunmen inside. after a gun battle which lasted several hours all four gunmen were killed. security forces then began searching for more members of the group. the area was already on alert after a senior police officer was briefly abducted earlier this week. >> after a police officer's car was hijacked yesterday and today's attack, a red alert has been issued. we've barricaded the roads and we're checking vehicles. >> the center is no stranger to attacks strategically located between pakistan and kashmir. in july last year three men armed with guns and grenades were killed when they stormed a

police station. in this latest attack indian officials believe that the men are members of a known armed group. the indian response was cautious and firm. >> pakistan is our neighbor, and we want peaceful relations, not just with pakistan but o. >> security agencies have been on abetter since india's prime minister made a surprise visit to his counterpart in pakistan, which was seen as a huge diplomatic overture. they said that pakistan must take some responsibility for the attacks. >> they cannot abdo kate and say these are forces which are not under other cruel. meaning more state can abdicate from actions of its own citizens whether they're non-state. >> talks between indian and pakistani officials are expected

later this month. scheduled talks have been called off following previous attacks. there is no word yet if that will happen in this case. al jazeera, new delhi. >> the islamic state in iraq and the levant said it would not be giving up the iraqi city of ramadi without a fight. government troops have been killed in the city center after the death of 60 soldiers and allied tribesmen in several days. >> it looks like their fight is not over. nearly a week after the government claimed control of the city center. iraqi troops the suffering new set backs with multiple coordinated attacks with isil on various positions around the city. in a recently released isil video one of the fighters say they're still battling in the center of ramadi.

this appears to show the anbar police. al jazeera is being told there was an isil suicide car bomb attack and intense shelling on iraqi forces near a government compound in the city. and isil fetterers still in control of buildings nearby. isil used another ten suicide-bombers in attacks north of the city destroying army vehicles and taking patrol of the decision headquarters. the army has made big advances in and around ramadi in recent weeks. that progress helped them free hundred families. they're also accused of using people as human shields. >> may god punish them. they shot people in the head who refused to go with them. bodies are still there. you can go and see them. retaking ramadi was the first big victory for the army since they sized a third of iraq

in 2014. but it seems the army is still battling for control of both the city center and wider area and remain under threat from boobie traps and bombs left by isil fighters. caroline malone. age. >> two warring factions within the afghan taliban has agreed to a cease-fire-prisoner exchange. they would reach a deal with pakistan. they've been fighting over the leadership of the armed group. we've been monitoring developments from kabul. >> it's very important for afghanistan agreement or both is important for the future much afghanistan and for the future of afghanistan. now if we take it on the peace talks level now afghan government always said that when asked which faction they should get involved with, they talked about the split of taliban. now it will be easier for the

government to continue to--to do peace talks with one group. now on the fighter. she is an afghanistan and very well-known taliban offensive, which starts for many in early spring and march. now if these two groups get a groove of each other, then the afghan agreement will agree more than they do now. they'll be fighting with each other and it will make it easier for the afghan government. it done piano that they have not reached a final agreement with each other. >> now coming up in just a couple of minutes. setting up a security to its border with mali. head to head taiwan's

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>> the sports story everyone's talking about. >> don't miss the world exclusive undercover investigation. only on al jazeera america. >> saudi arabia executed 47 people on terrorism charges including a shia cleric and a preacher in support of al-qaeda. an area in pakistan has been

attacked. some british soldiers may face prosecution for war crimes according to the head of the investigation into alleged cases of murder, abuse and torture. paul brethren none reports. >> the british soldier filmed here was subsequently jailed, but many other allegations of abuse and murder by british soldiers remain unresolved and unpunished. when asked about the severity of the allegation.

>> now has a caseload of 1500 alleged victims, including 280 said to have been unlawfully killed. the former commander believes that they need more support. >> the office of investigation, there needs to be more far more effective means of screening out. >> but human rights lawyers are bitterly critical that potential war crimes are take something long to investigate. >> they're investigating 45 of those cases. so statistically it doesn't look like they're actually being very effective, and we do have lots of concerns of how effective they can be. >> even though the death of a prisoner revealed systemic

torture by u.k. soldiers, only one soldier has been imprisoned. regarding the latest report the british ministry of defense issued an earlier statement saying that the vast majority of u.s. personnel conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law. the m.o.d. takes all allegations of abuse or unlawful killing extremely seriously yet the number of legal cases continues to grow. and the ability to deal with them is starting to look questionable. >> one clear interference is the complexity and sheer number of cases he's looking at risks overwhelming. that's bad news for the ministry of defense here. the m.o.d. set up in part to prevent the international criminal court from looking at the abuse allegations. if they fail the icc is on stand

by. and we could see british soldiers facing trial in the hague. paul brethren none, al jazeera, london. >> police in israel say they're still on heightened alert after a gunman. >> the ban on turkish goods has come in effect. fruits, vegetables, poultry all included in the ban, and they're stopping chart goods between the countries.

in southern turkey hashem ahelbarra has the report. >> this man owns this farm in the southern turkish city. he grows a variety of fruits such as lemon, lime and manderines, which he ex-other to russian consumers. he had planted more plants in hopes of doubling his profits. recently turkey would shoot down a russian jet near the syrian border. this man now worries what it means for his business. >> people like me will be worried. we hear that citrus prices are falling we fare the impact. >> this is a wholesale market.

citrus is one of turkey's main exports. a business worth almost $1 billion, and a third of these exports go to russia. it's the farmers who are likely to suffer because of the economic sanctions and they're all worried that they won't be able to sell their goods if the political crisis with russia conditions. they all say that the government has to take action or there will be big losses. the farmers are under pressure to finish harvesting citrus fruits before it gets cold. the region produces 75% of of turkey's produce. >> the situation is bad. it's not good. our daily wages are very little,

and we come here very early, 3:00 in the morning until the evening. most of us are in debt, and life is very expensive. >> he was opening to sell this year's harvest, but with the border crossings have been closed. he's now looking for buyers in istanbul. >> it's not my job to find alternative markets. it's the governments or traders. fruits can't wait long in refrigerators. and we have commitments towards workers and fertilizers who we should be. >> the turkish government has promised to compensate those affected by the russian sanctions, adding that there are also imposed restrictions on russian goods. but until this dispute comes to an end citizen truth farmers will continue to worry about their future.

al jazeera, in southern turkey. >> a suicide-bomber killed at least people in somalia's capital. the attacker hid his explosive vest and business suit and set it off at a restaurant opposite mogadishu's national theater. well, on the other side of the continent west african countries are becoming seeingly worried about the movement of fighters across their borders. senegal's president announced several measures which they say will protect their citizens. some say they're going too far. we have reports now on the senegal-mali border. >> along the land border with mali there are only two roads linking the countries. this one is used by truck drivers carrying goods from the port destined formally capital. migrants trying to reach europe travel through here, too. security agencies fear that the

route is also used by armed groups with plenty attacks in the region. we can't show you the board post because the guard manning it don't want it to film. they fear it would compromise their safety. such is the level of concern. west africans can only travel freely throughout the region as long as they have a valid passport but now it is a long weight across the border. some have been here for hours. others have been waiting for days to get into mali. i take this road all the time now there are so many checks. this is slowing down our business. i've never seen anything like this. increased security checks after the attacks on the radisson hotel in november. 22 people died when gunmen stormed the hotel, causing the president to increase security.

and considering banning the burqa. the suggested measures have not made it to parliament yet, but they are already a source of heated debate. islam plays a key role in this country. so does economic ties in neighboring west african countries. these measures are necessary because the threat of attacks on senegal are real. senegal police made several arrests, including the imam of this mosque at a religious school. he's accused of having links with boko haram, a claim that mosque worshipers strongly deny. they accuse the government of trying to destroy islam. >> the state idolizes secularism and republican laws. they're making a big mistake. as muslims we do not accept the law of the state. we only accept the rule of god. >> they have prevented any

attacks. the government said it will take whatever steps necessary to protect its citizens. even if it causes inconvenient for some. al jazeera, at the senegal mali border. >> one of taiwan's presidential candidates said that they need to stop living in fear. relationship with china was a major focus of the debate. beijing viewing taiwan as a breakaway province. adrian brown has been watching that debate from beijing. >> the reason why i think there is so much interest in these elections, the sixth since taiwan became a democracy 20 years ago, the first time a woman is a clear frontrunner. she is tsai ing-wen and leader of the democratic progressive party, which is why china is

watching these elections so closely. if she wins in two weeks' time she would become taiwan's first female president as well as the first female president in a chinese society. she has said she wants good relations with china, but worries that taiwan is becoming too economically dependent on beijing. in saturday's debate one of her rivals said she was becoming an isolationist and was taking eye won--taiwan down the road of uncertainty. opinion polls give they are commanding lead over her two main rival candidates but 25% of voters also remain undecided, which means the election could still be a very close one. >> and low wage workers in u.s. are beginning their new year with a pay raise. after two years of protest and national debate about how much people need to earn to simply stay above the poverty line.

let's here from kristen saloomey in new york. >> jarrell lives with his parents and relies on government assistance even though he has held down a full-time job at mcdonald's for three years. but his pay is going up to $10.50 thanks to a nationwide campaign to raise the minimum wage. >> basically, you know, me and my workers, we got fed up and organizer came to talk to me, and said enough is enough, don't you think? i said yes. >> new york fast food workers backed by labor unions started a fight for $15 an hour two years ago. they walked off the job in protest. some were even arrested. others were home health workers to college professor joined the campaign highlighting the struggles of all low wage earners. they convinced the cities to adapt a $15 minimum wage over time. the increases taking place in 13

states this year. businesses have argued a higher minimum wage will force them to caught jobs. mcdonald's is the largest fast food hamburger restaurant one of the most recognizable global brands yet economists say corporate profits per worker has been rising much faster than workers' raises. almost half of all fast food workers require some form of public assistance to get by. >> what that indicates is that tax payers through the public benefit programs basically subsidizing the low-wage cost model, low-wage model of operating a business. >> jarrell said he's happy to have more money to spend in 2016 even though it will take two more years to reach $15 an hour. >> if you work a full-time job you should have minimum wage,

period. >> he's vowing to continue until all workers reach that minimum wage. >> the news continues here on al jazeera, not just on your screen, but on your laptops and other devices, too. >> s i was the first to have my identity. >> i never felt a connection to anything or anyone. and i was constantly just trying