>> the syrian government takes a rare step of denying the president's motorcade was hit by the rebels. the opposition says it rockets -- it's rockets struck the convoy. as international diplomatic efforts fail, egypt vows to remove protest camps by force. today marks the 25th anniversary of the failed student uprising in burma that left thousands dead. first up, the syrian government has denied the president came

under attack this morning. earlier reports from the rebels said their fire had hit bashar al-assad's motorcade as he was inhis way to a mosque damascus. syrian state tv was quick to broadcast images of the -- of was shot -- of assad at the mosque. they did say mortar shells did hit an area of damascus near to where bashar al-assad was attending prayers. for more on the situation, let's bring in our serious specialist. how -- a syria specialist. how unusual is it for the government to come out and comment on these reports that the rebels fired on the president? >> it is unusual. alas -- last week, a new front was opened. plus, the progress of the opposition in aleppo and around damascus itself pushed probably the television to deny this

wast and to show that assad praying normally in a mosque. it was serene. that they show the picture was, by itself, an important fact. >> what if the report is confirmed that this was a direct attack on assad? it would be the first time that had happened. how damaging would that be for the regime? >> we know there have been some explosions in an area that probably the free syrian army suspected that assad might be in . if this is confirmed, this is kind of an important development , regardless of the efficiency of the attack itself. it shows there is some information about his convoys and where he might be. regardless of that, i think there are some new developments in syria now for the first time this year.

assad is not any more on the offensive, except in the area of homs. he is on the defensive everywhere in the country. that is why there is this psychological war, the media. the pictures of the prayer in the mosque, we don't know if it was today or the four. -- or before. syrian presidents used to pray at a small mosque in the capital . there are a lot of elements showing that this psychological imperative was a new development .n the revolution on the ground the situation has been -- since they took the city of to say or had shown thend capacity to take over areas they lost before. ziad -- you, ziad.

to egypt, where the pro-morsi citizens continue -- sit-ins continue. foreign efforts to end the crisis have failed. the u.s. says there is still time for dialogue. in a joint statement with the eu, it called the situation very fragile, warning against what he called a dangerous stalemate. are tired of u.s. involvement in their country's affairs. >> anti-american slogans have been evident in the streets since mohamed morsi was deposed on july 3. the u.s. media agencies have left. negotiations with the army and muslim brotherhood have failed. this policy analyst does not find that surprising. >> the u.s. does not have great credibility with any of the sides. the muslim brotherhood accuses the u.s. of betraying democracy and supporting a coup.

the army and new government accuse the u.s. of being supportive of the brotherhood. so, that does not put the u.s. in a very good position. hashe administration stopped short of calling for the removal of the army in the two. if they did, they would -- of calling the removal of morsi by the army a coup. if they did, they would have to rescind the aid. >> this is my country. i don't think they should interfere. this is not a coup. this is us, the people. if they want to cut the aid, they can cut the aid. >> the views are also shared by the rebel campaign that sparked morsi's outste -- ouster. they refused to meet any of the mediators. they say they are siding with the muslim brotherhood.

>> [speaking foreign language] >> egypt is preparing for another bloody confrontation, between the protestors and army. >> u.s. president barack obama has pulled out of friday's summit in russia, a new low in the growing tensions between washington and moscow. the main conflict has been over syria. at that is just one of several issues pulling the 2 -- but that is just one of several issues pulling the two countries apart. >> of all the things they have -- washington and moscow have clashed over, none has been more divisive than syria. a steadfast ally of syria and has continued to sell arms to damascus throughout the conflict as western support for

syrian rebels has gained momentum. it has colored all relations between russia and the u.s., which were not great to begin with when barak obama took office -- barack obama took office in 2009. the missile defense program based in europe also raised moscow's hackles. that was finally shelved in april of this year. the obama administration has regularly criticized the russian government on human rights, including anti-gay legislation. after the president was reelected, the russian government has been basically told by the obama administration, let's frame a common agenda. it has been a series of milestones with the russians trying to do that. they have gotten nowhere. >> the decision by vladimir putin's government to offer u.s. whistleblower edward snowden

-- um there has been little effect on u.s.-russian trade, which has continued to grow steadily over the past decade. >> zimbabwe's robert mcgarvey -- old, wasthe 89-year- voted in last week, despite allegations of massive vote rigging. ofslammed the allegations former prime minister morgan tsvangirai, calling him a puppet. foreign language] [inaudible] the british and their allies. those are the ones who were the real -- [inaudible] >> news in brief --

international flights are once again landing at nairobi airport, the first and the massive fire wednesday destroyed terminal -- the first since the massive fire wednesday destroyed the arrivals terminal. the fire forced the delay or conversion of scores of flights at the biggest hub in east africa. a new u.s. drone strike in yemen has reportedly killed at least six al qaeda militants. half a dozen drone strikes have hit the country in less than two weeks. that follows yemen's announcement that it had foiled a plot by al qaeda to seize two major oil and gas export terminals as well as a provincial capital in east of the country. warning of attacks by militants pushed the u.s. and other western nation to shut missions -- western nations to shut missions across the middle east.

several major parties now agree that early elections are the best way forward. japan has summoned the chinese ambassador to tokyo after a chinese coast guard vessel entered japanese waters near islands that are at the heart of a bitter fight between the two asian giants. the chinese vessels stayed overnight. the longest incursion since the dispute erupted again last year. some observers say the tension could lead to an armed conflict. >> it is only the latest flareup in a long-running row over the disputed islands, which are rich fishing grounds and also rich in natural resources. they are contested by both japan and china. they are currently under the control of japan. these coast guard ships enter the waters at 7:30 a.m.

yesterday morning. by 9:00 a.m. this morning, they had yet to leave the waters. that is the longest duration that chinese ships have incurred in these contested waters since february. this follows japan unveiling a $1.2 billion warship, which they say they plan to use in rescue operations, the largest warship that japan has had since world war ii. there is also talk of japan revising its constitution that was imposed on the country after world war ii. so, tensions are always high about these islands and these waters, and this is only the latest flareup in the dispute tween the two countries. -- the dispute between the two countries. >> today marks the 25th anniversary of the uprising in burma that left thousands of students dead. there was a huge popular uprising against the regime. democracy activists, including aung san suu kyi, turned up to

remember one of the most violent crackdowns in the country's modern history. our regional correspondent has more. >> it is a somber mood in yan gong -- in rangoon. a reasonably small marched through the center of the city. there was another sort of unofficial march which was watched by the police from the sidelines. they did not stop them. of there taking note people involved in the march. there was also a three-day activity going on led by these people now known as generation 88. this was 25 years ago. this was the genesis of the democracy movement that has led us to today, where we have this normally democratic leadership in the country. thousands were brutally killed by the military in a time of the dictatorship. many have returned to the

country for this commemoration. the mood is somber, but there is a certain defiance in the air as well. >> how have things changed in burma since that crackdown 25 years ago? >> it has been 25 years. it has been a long and bitter struggle for a lot of the advocates in the country. it has been a couple of years. 2010, there were elections held that were largely seen as fixed i the military -- by the military. there were some other elections in 2011 where aung san suu kyi, the de facto leader of the democracy movement, came into power. ,t is sort of unthinkable unprecedented that people would be allowed to commemorate this event even four or five years ago. there are certainly -- have certainly been a lot of changes came president thein sein into power. a lot of those people in the government now are accused of abuses in that crackdown. it is still run by the military,

25% of the seats in the parliament reserved for military members. a lot of changes, a lot of prisoners released, there are free-speech laws, the press seeing certain freedoms. way tos still a long go before burma can call itself a democratic country. the president promised the release of all political prisoners. that has yet to happen. new activists have been put in prison. certainly, a long way to go before the country gets to be what you call a true democracy. >> reporting from bangkok, thank you. thanks for watching "france 24." stay with us. >> welcome to this edition of the week in the americas. here is what is coming up. have what -- does he it takes to save the ailing newspaper business?

plus, one month on in québec, we revisit the town almost completely destroyed by an exploding fuel train. and meet the would be martians. the curiosity rover marks one year on the red planet. we meet the eager volunteers selected to be the first to visit. we begin with a deal aimed at ringing the newspaper business ash bringing the newspaper business into the 21st century. jeff bezos says he wants to ensure the paper's survival in the digital age. >> 49 49 years old, the world's 19th richest man, worth over $25 billion. in 1994, jeff a's owes took the biggest decision -- jeff bezos took the biggest decision of his life, snapping up the rights to amazon.com. the rest, as they say, is history.

it is one of the internet's biggest success stories. why has the technology mobile paid $250 million for the newspaper? even the washington post co. reporters failed to see the deal coming. just as mysterious as the deal itself are the motives behind it. >> i was surprised. it does not fit that comfortably into the framework of jeff or hisother investments work at amazon. he is someone who has disrupted industry. "the doll use of the post do not need changing -- the values of the post do not need changing." >> yet, bezos' letter acknowledged the internet had upended the newspaper industry. the amazon boss said change was inevitable. the entrepreneur told the jew --

a german newspaper last year -- >> in 20 years, we will not have printed newspapers anymore. >> despite fears over the post's print edition, many staff say they relish the thought of an online entrepreneur revitalizing their offering. many feel that he can bring tools to a newspaper that has failed to find a viable business model in the internet age. >> there's a lot of excitement that a guy who created amazon out of nothing to its $25 billion may come and kind of rescue the industry, because the whole industry is having problems. >> uninterested in fads and not aiming to make a quick buck, bezos says he hopes to build a lasting company. he says his own vice -- his own work is far from over. vote uruguay, where recent

in parliament means the government is one step closer to controlling the production and sale of marijuana. officials hope that this will move tens of thousands of smokers from the black market and bring revenues to the state coffers. >> uruguay's president is gambling that legalizing cannabis will allow his government to keep the more effective check on it. jose mujica says this -- argues that this is a more effective way to bring drug trafficking to a halt. the number of people using canada in uruguay has doubled to 4% of the population. the government move is an experiment. it could be scrapped if it does not work. >> as with every experiment, there is an inherent risk. we need the intelligence to take a step backwards if it does not work. >> we do not have to be fanatics. >> cannabis consumption is not

illegal in uruguay. trafficking is. current legislation allows registered users who need it for health reasons to get 40 grams per month. production of cannabis for personal use is allowed, but not on an industrial scale. six plants per-person maximum. >> this measure is aimed at an existing market. we are not promoting or inventing a market. it is there already. the conditions of current cannabis use are not appropriate. >> mp's gave the ok after 13 hours of tense debate. 50 were in favor out of 96. not everyone agrees with the move. esther j suggests -- a survey suggests 2 of 3 uruguayans are not in favor.

>> we do not support this in place of pharmacies. >> this will go to the senate before the year and. -- end. if passed there, it will be the first country where the state is in production of the -- is in control of the production and sale of cannabis. >> now to the town almost completely destroyed by a fuel train. residents were allowed back in for the first time since the accident on july 6. 47 people died in that accident. hard sloghave a long, to rebuild their homes. >> they have come from across québec to see the damage. even electricians stop to take photos. one month after the train accident, quebecers find a

destroyed downtown quarter. >> it will be a long time to restore what happened. >> he has just been allowed to return home. the façade and windows of his house did not stand up to the extreme temperatures. >> the doors and windows were really hot. >> he and his wife are happy to return home, but they will have to face the view from their second story and their memories of what was there. >> there were three houses here, three buildings. this one was on the corner. there was a big two-story househ here. >> for me, it is all those who died. caféis is where the music once stood, where half the victims were on the night of july 6. it was the only view of its kind in lac megantic.

these women are opening a temporary stage for the summer at the edge of town. >> we expect 3000 people on the site. we are not panicking. we are happy to be able to get back together after everything we have lived through. >> this is group therapy. >> the smell of gasoline affects us differently now. we are more nervous. many people, they don't eat very much. it is such a traumatic experience. 2,000 spectators are here in solidarity. 47 candles symbolize the lives lost. the music brings solace. one of québec's biggest stars is performing for free. >> there is compatriot is him --

compatriotism. the vibe is not affected when things like this happen. the feeling of being part of the group is strong. >> there will be 23 concerts. the proceeds will go toward the fund to rebuild. that already promises to be a long process as the city is still soaked with oil. landmark now to a anniversary for science. nasa posterior acid the rover marked one year on mars this week. rover markediosity one year on mars this week. >> it hurdled down to the mars interplanetary cruising speed of 21,000, terse kilometers21,000 an hour.

the nasa team dubbed it seven minutes of terror. [cheering] over the last 12 months, curiosity has scoured the crater, finding a streambed and the presence of key chemical ingredients for life. one of them is this environment that we landed in could have supported some type of life. that just boggles the mind. we have two planets in our own solar system that could support life. birthday forpy curiosity, which even plays happy birthday to itself and so, one a tweet to say of about 3000 tweets so far. these are among the images sent at it -- as it has trundled around. these images show that the

desert once had water running through it. mud.s like these formed by astronauts say a mission to mars is still a distant dream. the work we are doing on the space station, just running the space station on a day-to-day basis is a good test bed for what we are going to need to go to mars. but i think there is still work to be done. i am confident we will get there, but i think there are a lot of things to think about. >> next up, mount sharp. ablehopes that they may be to establish when mars was able to support life. >> a group of would-be martians are making plans to be the first to set foot on the red planet. the mars i planet wants to settle people on mars by 2023. tens of thousands of volunteers have already signed up, but

scientists have warned their plan