hello it it's 1:00 p.m. in the french capital. raise thes ready to curtain on sochi 2014. a lavish opening ceremony is expected. there is no let up in the international criticism. conversationatic about ukraine's future is posted online forcing washington to apologize to the european union. they step on the road to lasting democracy -- tunisia celebrates its new constitution. it hopes it will bring an end to years of political crisis.

>those of the top stories we wil be covering for you. time for some german glitz and glamour. the 64th berlin film festival is underway. the latest from the red carpet. thoughts and prayers are with the family of actor philip seymour hoffman. his funeral is to be held this friday in new york. first, let's head to russia where the winter olympics are officially opening in sochi this friday. security is incredibly high -- some 40,000 security personnel are keeping watch. world leaders will be absent from tonight's opening -- president barack obama, david cameron, and anglo merkel -- angela merkel will not be in attendance.

of some 6000er athletes and team members will come for 98 events. some competitions are already underway. william hildebrand reports. ,> the festive atmosphere flags, patriotic songs, dance. the resistance of pride. it took seven years to get to this point. the hard work is done and it is time to celebrate. >> the olympic games helped our city. there will be more tourists. you have seen the new buildings. it is wonderful. >> even if the torch is not always a flame, people's joy is far from burning out. the official torchbearer midas will be a rock star. everyone wants a photo. it. still cannot get over

this is really surreal am a magical, and incredible. >> the support is evident. putin is as important to russia -- i salute you putin, you are the best. >> critics have blasted organizers, corruption, and the environmental impact. here in sochi there was a different feeling, one of different pride. has hosted any event this large since the fall of the soviet union. >> one leader attending is the embattled ukrainian president. he is to hold talks with the russian president vladimir putin . the east-west struggle over ukraine has turned uglier. russia leaked a recording of

u.s. diplomats talking about key kiev's government. it has put washington in hot water with the european union. is aiming tond help finding a solution to the political crisis in ukraine. she was less than diplomatic and elite phone call. it iso not think necessary. i do not think it is a good idea. when i talk to jeff feldman, he had a new name for the u.n. guy. that would be great. to have the u.n. help glue this thing. e.u.io deleted] the for theembarrassing state department. >> we think this is a in russian low tradecraft. publicizing, posting.

this clearly happened overnight and is relatively new. this is something they have been actively promoting, posting on, tweeting about. we feel that represents a new low. >> the call shows victoria nuland frankly discussing opposition leaders discussing a power-sharing leadership leaving the state department open to charges of manipulating the opposition. >> the ukrainian parliament agreed trying to draft a joint bill drafting -- transferring president -- power from the president to parliament. opposition leader say the president is playing for time. >> after decades of dictatorship in two years of arguments that compromises, tunisians finally have a new constitution. the landmark legislation lays

the foundation for a new democracy. an eruption of joy in the tunisian parliament last month after the constitution was passed. it was a relief following months of debate on the key issues, notably the place of religion in the country. the document opens by declaring islam the official religion. --icle six ensures political religious freedom. and a president must be muslim. while the impartiality of schools and universities are protected, arab islamic identity is also. the interpretation and application of the constitution is key. many female mps are pleased with

revisions for women -- like article 45, which says the state commits to protecting women's achieved rights. the text also promises the state will seek representation between the sexes and work to eliminate violence against women. >> the ceremony is being held at the national assembly in tunis. president spoke at the event and the relationship between france and tunisia is important. what did he have to say? had nothing but praise for the tunisian constitution, overlooking some of the criticism of contradictory articles, which some have said exist in the constitution, but focusing on the strong points --

starting with the structural elements of tunisia's government , the separation of powers, dependence on the judiciary. the moving onto the famous rights and freedoms, highlighting the clause obliging the state to strive for gender parity in elected bodies and touching on the freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. the french president also said that this was more or less proof that he was right last july when he visited and said that islam and democracy are compatible. for him, indeed, the progressivism of this constitution is proof of exactly that. in addition, he called on european leaders in the you -- eu to support tunisia's to mock her say. he reiterated -- democracy. he said that money was now available.

a strong message of support for tunisia. >> it is seen by many as an example of democracy out of the eric's -- arab spring. >> that is right. he called on tunisia to service an example of the positive side. one that will run into the obstacles of divided in complex regional politics. we saw some of that today. a glance at the guest list -- neighboring algeria sent their prime minister, as did lebanon. the room notable absences. -- there were notable absences. egypt did not send any representatives -- a clear sign of the diplomatic tension between the two countries since egypt's cu last summer. -- coup last summer.

and circumstance of the ceremony today, reflections of division that are still present in the world. >> thank you very much. not to egypt, where six policemen were wanted in a, tack in cairo. -- a bomb attack in cairo. egypt has seen a wave of attacks targeting security forces since the army's removal of mohamed morsi. tv is reporting that operations of got under way in the besieged city of homs. fordeal clears the way life-saving supplies for some 2500 trapped civilians. if actuate and of women, children, and the elderly have begun.

homes have come under nearly daily shelling since june 2012. there are fresh protests on the streets of rio de janeiro. 1000 people clashed with police over an increase in public transportation prices. there are simmering social tensions in the run-up to the world cup. widespread public anger at the billions of dollars being spent on the tournament instead of education and health. .> ticket machines the public anger over poor infrastructure and the rising cost of living boiled over. fares due to take effect on saturday. fifa, youed, hey

pay our fares. in protest of the amount of being spent on the world cup. >> this is protest against excessive investments in the world cup and the corruption we live with. tear gas andd batons to disperse the demonstrators. world cupid for the promised improved transportation in the city. it can still be a two-hour suburbs.rom the many of the projects have been abandoned or delayed. commuters cannot coast with the soaring cost of living and they have had enough. about800 800.um salary is the average electricity bill costs between 100 and 130.

food costs between 200 per month. we have to pay for train tickets every day to go to work. recent protests have been frequent. a fraction of the size seen during last year's federation cup. authorities remain anxious that ae world cup could add to bigger explosion of public discontent. >> let's switch gears and talk television. he has been a fixture in american sitting rooms. jay leno said a final farewell to "the tonight show." he took over in 1992 and made the show his own, bringing nearly 4 million viewers per night. thomas waterhouse reports. >> speaking behind his now famous desk for the last time, jay leno could think of no one better as a final guest. please welcome my old friend

billy crystal. the comedian was the first guest back in 1992. 22 years later, he made this very personal tribute. >> you help us through good times and bad. recentlyas announced that america's number one domestic terrorist have been captured, who told us it was justin bieber? you did. >> l's couch has been graced with celebrities and politicians. the final one was a star-studded affair. matt damon, oprah winfrey, even president obama sending video messages. the last show would not have been right without a little song and dance. >> ♪ executives are popping in to say you're through

♪ >> fans turned up to bid fond farewell to their hero. >> there is no one quite like jay leno. he is a total icon. >> he will now hand over the torch and his microphone to jimmy fallon, who will prevent -- resent his first tonight show on february 17. >> here are the headlines. russia gets ready to raise the curtain on sochi 2014. the lavish opening ceremonies expected this friday under the watchful eye of some 40,000 security personnel. diplomatic conversation about ukraine's future is posted online forcing washington to apologize to the european union. the u.s. blames russia for the leak. a step on the road to lasting democracy -- tunisia celebrates its new constitution. it helps the text will bring an end to years of political crisis. with tunisia, where a

ceremony is being held at the national assembly for its new landmark constitution. leaders from france, algeria, and other countries are in attendance. the interim president is speaking at the event now. our ideological and political differences and accept them. we wanted to represent them. this is why we'll were to ourselves and to the rest of the world to succeed. theor more, i am joined by vice president of tunisia's national constituent assembly. think you for joining us. we just are the interim president speaking about transcending differences. how do you feel today as a tunisian? >> it is a great day. it is a day of victory for alternations. -- all tunisians.

contributed in his or her own way to this constitution. i feel it is a tunisian day. >> there is mention of the separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, freedoms of religion, freedom of conscience. in your opinion, what is one of the most important articles of this constitution? >> all articles are really important. one of the main articles for me as article 2, the article that ays that tunisian state is civil state and that belonging to the state is like citizenship and that the rule of law -- it mention citizenship, civil state, and the rule of law. this is very important. i think also, as a woman, important.is very

it pushes even further women's rights and i hope that it gives example to other countries how to promote women's rights. tunisian women deserve this. >> that is the article on gender parity. >> yes. what is also very important is that the state is compelled to take measures to eradicate all forms of violence against women. this is very important for me. >> we had the french president speaking at the event. he was one of the guests of honor. let's take a listen to what he had to say. >> this constitution honors a revolution and it can be used as an example and serve as a reference to many of the other countries.

this constitution guarantees freedom of belief, of conscience , and the right to practice freely one's religion. it confirms what i had said here last july in the same assembly which is that islam is compatible with democracy. [applause] heard the french president saying that islam is compatible with democracy. that is something that is often questioned and criticized. what are your thoughts? >> he has already said this -- when he visited our assembly in july 2013. he reconfirmed it. i think this is one of the main achievements of this democratic transition in tunisia. i belong to a party with islamic reference. this is one of our convictions

and one of our goals, to prove that islam and democracy can meet, can reconcile, and can work together. i think what the president said today is very important. in a way, he said that by reconciling islam and democracy, we can say that democracy is for all people, all cultures, all religions, and this is good news for everybody. beings constitution is hailed as one of the most progressive in the arab world. how will it impact the everyday life of tunisians? >> impacting everyday life i think does not only depend on good constitutional text or on progressive text, it will depend essentially on how to implement this text, how to transform or translate them into laws.

getto appropriate, how to -- assimilate the content of the constitution by different categories of tunisians, use -- workers, citizens in rural areas, urban areas -- and transform them. it is a process that we are to do now, that we start now. >> what are the main issues in your opinion facing tunisia today? >> security. , iyou have seen two days ago want to thank and to express my gratitude to the police force in tunisia. the -- there was the killing of a group of terrorist.

inm not a specialist security, but i know that this is one of the main issues of my country. like many tunisians i would have liked that at least some of the we can know more about political assassination. we have to thank our police force. security is still a challenge, it is still an issue. -- economic issue con him issue, unemployment, also development. by the way, i would headline that the french president promised or committed his country were called europe to counsel that -- canceled a tunisian debt. a young democracy needs such an act from well established

democracies. the economic obstacle, the economic issue is very huge. to help tunisia to overcome this obstacle and i think cancellation of the debt is justice to tunisia, to this young democracy. >> all right. tanisha'sresident of national constituent assembly, thank you so much for taking the time. you are watching live from paris. it is time for a sports roundup. we will start with these opening games in sochi. ceremonies,opening the winter olympics are a matter of hours away. the ioc president has carried the olympic torch to the streets of sochi. the sochi games have become one of the most politicized in recent years.

it is very special and very significant to be able to gather with the secretary-general of the united nations to send our olympic message of peace and understanding, which is also a message of the united nations. >> there is no official boycott. readers of the united states, britain, germany will not attend the opening ceremonies. coine skier didier defile will go in the men's downhill on sunday. bodeat cody miller -- miller fortson is first world cup when -- for his first world cup win. >> i feel good. my season has been pretty good.

i'm expecting a lot from the coming games. i really want to olympic medal and i have a chance to defend my title. i am going to make the most of it. defalco will also race in the super g and the giant slalom , but it is the downhill that he is targeting. he has been doing his homework on the slopes for two years. we will have to take a breather for two minutes. we will have to be committed from the start it to the finish line. when the olympic games come, anything can happen. you have to be there at the right time. twilight of his career, but he will be looking for his second olympic medal in the downhill. china's two-time speeds getting world champion and olympic medal hope is in danger of missing the

games due to a re-occurrence of an old waste injury. yu, who took the gold in 2012 and 2013, had to stay in beijing for final examination. , they seem toands have the world on a string. the first opportunity came from the spots. on target. been two. schiller with the strike. this one rattling the timber. they went in all square at halftime. a terrific strike. that would work again not favoring. early in the second half, another strike -- this time again the bar gets in the way. the wood work

denies. they broke the gridlock. çç

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