but as rob mcbride reports, making a new threat. >> in the shadowy light of yakuza, it's threatening to be biggest in years. the yamaguci gumi, released from prison several years ago. unhappy the way he is running the organization, it is report ed that a rival faction has now broken away. writer has studied the gang for more than 40 years. the fear is it could have an impact on other groups given the nature of the underworld right now. >> translator: the yakuza's failure has been diminishing. there is a danger it could lead to a turf war between the gangs. >> part of the problem is the link between organized crime and the wider economy. heavily dependent on the jps japanese economy, in these lean years, times are tough. designed to make things even tougher. any companies now found to be doing business with organized crime gangs face being prosecuted and publicly named. it is part of a company wide attempt to crack down on the gangs but mitsuguchi have seen other gangs come and go. >> translator: the fact they still exist as the biggest organized crime syndicate shows how sloppy they

1982, about it won't happen again until 2033, gerald tan with al jazeera. >>> let's go back to rob mcbrideg talking about the turn out of rallies there making one year since police tried to disburse of what has been known as the umbrella movement and you are talking dÉjÀ vu so these are expectations. >> several thousand people there and some radical activists are asking people to go out on the road once more and try to block traffic. you hear constant chants of give way or open up the roads. the police have no intention of doing so. we have a large police presence down here tonight with a police quartered off five or six deep and getting on the highway we now there are 7,000 police in the roads to be kaulted -- called up to the resresor -- reserve and this is meant to be a vigil and the noise is coming from several hundred activistst who are trying to force and get through and standing to see if the police will allow them to get the numbers here and by sheer numbers and gradually will force their way like one year ago on to the road there. there goes an umbrella. what they are commemoratin

rob mcbride reports. >> in the shadowy world of the yakuza, it threatens to be the biggest upheaval in years, and it centers on this man. the boss japan's biggest crime syndicate seen here being released from prison several years ago. unhappy with the way he's running the organization, it is reported that a rival faction has broken away. this writer has studied the gang for more than 40 years. the fear is that it could have an impact on other groups given the fractious nature of the yakuza under world right now. >> the yakuza's influence on politics and the economy has been diminishing. this has been happening in this kind of climate, and there is a danger that it could lead to a turf war between the gangs. >> part of the problem is the link between organized crime and the economy. the yakuza's heyday was in the bubble years of the 1980s. in leaner years times are tough with the number of members falling to an all-time low of less than 60,000. and they're designing to make things tougher. any companies found doing business with organized crime business face being prosecuted and publicl

rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >> coming up in the next 15 minutes. more unrest in burkina faso after a coup. >>> and homes disappearing beneath rising seas. >> as the global refugee crisis intensifies... >> they have travelled for weeks, sometimes months. >> and the e.u. struggles to cope... >> we don't know, they stop us here. >> what's being done while lives hang in the balance? >> we need help now. >> lowell again a reminder of the top stories here on al jazeera. hungary accuses croatia of breaking international law, as eu states continue to lag l over how thaggleover the refugee cri. china criticizes the japanese parliament's decision to allow jps troops tjapanese troops to n foreign soil. >>> .. leopoldo lopez accused of the deaths of wife people. virginia lopez, can you tell us the reaction to the decision? >> people were angry about the decision in general but safe to say not very many were surprised. there are currently close to 40 political prisoners behind bars in jail. so the fact that leopoldo lopez is one of the fiercest critics of the g

rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >>> burkina faso's capital in a third day of unrest after the interim president has been released but the african union is threatening to impose sanctions on the coup leaders. paul tradergian reports. >> we have come to see the sick, to identify all those who have been injured in this deplorable situation, we have seen bullet wounds and crush injuries. we have been taking information. >> coup leaders opened fire, to disperse protesters. >> coup was led by members of the presidential guard whoer still loyal to blaise compaore. after attempting to prolong his 27 year rule. >> we will resist with our bare hands. we will give the general 24 hours and bury his corpse in burkina faso. >> coup leaders are calling the situation unfair, coup leaders say the vote will take place but at a later time. >> translator: we don't intend to extend our power. we don't intend to stay. we don't intend to do more than what needs to be done other than what some people think. >> the united nations has strongly condemned the coup and the african union as giving coup leaders unt

rob mcbride, al jazeera, hong kong. >> it's a special time to gaze at the skies. jerald tan has the details. >> a rare celestial show. when the skylights up with a blood moon. a total lunar eclipse and a super-moon. that's when a full moon is at its closest distance from the erlt, appearinearth, and appeard brighter than usual. >> it is spectacular. >> the moon cast a reddish glow over rio's epanema beach. the event was visible from the americas to africa, western asia and europe. in the french capital those seeking the best seats in the house headed to mon montmarte, e highest part of paris. >> it's very beautiful. >> beautiful and exceptionally uncommon. this double-lunar treat was last observed in 1982. it won't happen again until 2033. jerald tan, al jazeera. >> remember more on that story and everything else we're covering on our website. this is where you need to go, aljazeera.com. >>> hello, i'm dominique gisin, and you are at the -- richard gizbert, and you are at "the listening post". among the stories, syria - television soldiers on. >> egypt - abdul fat

let's here from rob mcbride in singapore. >> reporter: people were already lining up when the pollingons opened. voting here in call pulsery, but the wider choice of candidates has added a new dimension. casting his vote, the prime minister, the son of the founding father of singapore. >> we have had some impact, of course we like people to listen, and -- and absorb more always, but i think we got our messages across. >> reporter: he has presented its people's action party as the obvious choice to manage the economy and provide strong leadership. subtle references were made to the political instability taking place in neighboring malaysia. while the haze that has hung over singapore for much of the election period has been a reminder of the forest burning going unchecked in nearby indonesia. the ruling party has played on the need for unity at a time of regional uncertainty, often portraying this republic as the tiny red dot at the heart of southeast asia, combine that with a worsening economic environment, it takes a strong argument for staying where you know. are people generally ha

they won't want to see giving away to any demonstrations that might happen here tonight, jane. >> rob mcbridea separatist coalition in spain's region won a landmark election and took 62 seats out of 135 in the regional parliament, if they join forces with the proindependent left wing party they will have a majority that will allow hem to pursue independence and we report from barcelona. >> reporter: it looks and feels as if nothing can stand in their way, independence, hungry in full cry. >> nothing like that has happened in europe in the last year. >> decides the future and the future is the only way. >> reporter: who will deliver it for them? a coalition of parties from the right and the left likely to include the far left with nothing in common whatsoever except the promise to pave the way for independence in 18 months time. >> translator: we have a lot of work to do and we are not going to relax, we have a democratic mandate and we know what that means and know how we have won, we have won against the odds. >> there may be trouble ahead on the road to independent ensz and the full way to

growing businesses are banking on their rent coming down before their shutters do, rob mcbride, hong>> columbia president santos is willing to meet his venezuela counterpart on the on going border crisis and comes at a team time when the venezuela president madura is cracking down on drug smuggling at the border with columbia an ordered the closer of a crossing in the state and additional 3,000 troops are sent there. myanmar's opposition leader has called on politicians in her country to ensure that november's elections are free and fair. she says the poll will be the first chance for decades for bringing about real change in myanmar and asked the international community to guaranty a smooth transition after the vote. and we stay in myanmar because you may have heard of thai kick boxing but this is its distant cousin and it's the traditional martial arts called left way and it's less well-known and travel restrictions and sanctions on myanmar said it kept a low international profile but that is all changing as florence reports. >> reporter: it was once considered the marshal arts of

tens of thousands of people took part in huge rallies to demand democratic reform and rob mcbride isthe protesters and joins us from there live now and we can still see some yellow umbrellas behind you in the streets, how strong is sentiment? >> i think several thousand people have turned out this evening and we are probably just passed the peak of 2 protest and a short while ago several hundred protesters bearing umbrellas just as they did a year ago and started moving toward the police barricade and chanting basically giveway or open the road. the police and there are many police here certainly were not prepared to do that. the police quarters are four or five deep and thousands of police in the roads here in reserve and have prevented protesters from spilling out on to this main road here. this is where the umbrella movement began on this same day a year ago and about this time a year ago police wisely or unwisely used tear gas and 87 canisters of tear gas and saw three or four times the number of protests in the street and this is not just about protesting but remembering and one

rob mcbride, al jazeera, singapore. >>> the head of burundi's armed forces survived assassination attempteven others were killed in the capitol and four body guards and a police officer are among the dead. thousands of people in zimbabwe are falling victim to land barrens and forced many people from their homes as we report. >> reporter: the families thought buying land at zimbabwe below market price was a sure thing but the land they built their land on was sold to them by swindlers, individuals who never owned the land in the first place and now the rightful owner and officials want them to pack up and leave, confused and angry many people say they have no where to go. >> i wonder where they are coming from, that is my worry because how can they leave some brothers and sisters. >> reporter: some of those who refuse to leave had their homes demolished by the city council. a bulldozer destroyed this house in minutes. that is what the living room and two bedrooms, over here was the bathroom and the toilet, thousands of dollars gone, the hard work of an entire family now in ruins. it's esti

and that is having a big impact on the economy as rob mcbride explains from tokyo. >> at her home inurb of tokyo she gets a special visit and the message of greeting from the district's mayor. she knows the formula for long life. >> translator: always be tearful from the moment i get up i'm always busy and can't stay sti still. >> reporter: like every senior who turns 100 she also gets a special edition silver saki cup but growing number of centarians they are looking at using cheaper metals because of the cost and this district has 58 people turning 100 this year. >> translator: our welfare team looks after their health and makes sure they get out and join activities and provide transport and facilities. >> reporter: increasingly this is a society being geared to the needs of the elderly. whether it's a shortage of nursing homes or statistics like the number of juvenile criminals being over taken by older criminals for the first time each day seems to bring japan a twist in the aging population problem looking for a solution. and he doesn't have to worry but sadly for future people

rob mcbride, al jazeera, hong kong. ask take a look at these holiday makers in australia.ost likely hoping for a relaxing day by the beach. anything but. it was a nasty surprise, in fact, when a sink hole the size of a football pitch tore through their campside in queensland and down went a caravan, a car, trailers, tevenlts. extra extraordinarily despite not being the best way to spend your holiday, nobody was actually reported as injured or missing. go to aljazeera.com any chance you have. you will get the headlines there and all of the background. aljazeera.com. >> by scientists. tonight: techknow's journey to the arctic. 13 days... subfreezing temperatures... endless sun. >> it is passed midnight right now and the sun just is not gonna set. >> climb on board the u.s.

rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >>> the cabinet of new australian prime minister has been sworn in, fivecabinet ministers are women, more than double in the cabinet in the former prime minister tony abbot and abbot was forced to quit in a contest last week and several of abbot suppoesupee been replaced in the new line up. argentina going to great lengths to get ahead in next month's general election and travelling deep in forests to connect to voters from indigenous communities and we report from the northern province of chako. >> reporter: catalina lives in what is left of the forest in chako and belonging to the indigenous community and says she is tired of politicians promising change. >> translator: yesterday they came and promised us housing if we voted for the ruling party. but i not doing that anymore. they promised us water, a house but they always forget about it. >> reporter: even though many here have benefitted from housing programs until now catalina has not, she is an example of a way of doing politics in northern argentina. we visited the area during local elections, polit

rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >>> there is more real news from al jazeera at our website.com. >> thishknow". a show about innovations that can change lives. >> the science of fighting a wildfire. >> we're going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity, but we're doing it in a unique way. this is a show about science... >> oh! >> oh my god! >> by scientists. >> tonight, techknow investigates vaping. >> whoever bought this got way more than they bargained for. >> yes they did.

rob mcbride, al jazeera, hong kong. >> i want to know what rob mcbride's nickname is.ack to you in london thanks. >>> the institute at new york's metro pom tan of art is hosting the most popular show ever. china through the looking glass explores the asian influence on fashion across the centuries. kristen saloomey reports. >> east meets west when the world's most populace country inspires the world's mostly famous fashion designers. it's the latest exhibit of the metropolitancom costume institto you called china through the looking glass. there is no shortage of people wanting to get a glimpse of the intricate designs. the institute held a star-studded fundraiser to kick off the show. sell wasbrities made it the social event of the year. now, the exhibit, itself, has become a must-see event. >> china: through the looking glass, has already broken attendance records for the met's costume institute with more than 660,000 visitors. that's among the top 10 exhibits of all time. it's so popular, they extended the show through monday, its appeal going well beyond the fashio

rob mcbride, al jazeera, hong kong. >>> well he was driving in style. coming up, pope francis asks for modest means to get around. but we'll look at his choice of fiat. why it's getting so much attention. plus all the lunar excitement. these are live pictures now of an event that have millions of people around the globe look towards heavens tonight. >> al jazeera america primetime. >> well if it's cloudy where you live or you don't have a window, we've got you covered tonight. check out this live picture of a lunar eclip, appearing in conjunction with a super-moon. the climax actually happened in the previous hour, around 10:11 eastern time, when the earth moved directly in between the sun and the moon. and you can see these amazing images of the moon tonight, the fading moon completely disappeared and it emerged as red for a while. the light was refracted off the earth's atmosphere. the last time this happened was 1982. i love this picture here, from the lafayette science museum, the next time this is going to happen isn't until the year 2033. so take

rob mcbride, hong kong. >> a strong typhoon made landfall in taiwan on monday. hundreds of thousands of homes lost water and more than a million were without power. taiwan's government said 24 were injured but no one died or is missing. >>> thousands of refugees lined up in a cornfield along the serbian croatian border. they hope to continue their journey into western europe. 70,000 have arrived over the past few days. germany's officials say there are limits as to how many germany can admit. wants to help as many people as it can but says there are pliments tlimitsto germany's abe people in. no one knows how many asylum seekers the country can absorb. as many as 800,000 are expected this year. german chancellor angela merkel believes the country can support that number. >>> flowing water on mars, life may exist on the red planet. >>> volkswagen's ceo, how much he might have known about the emissions scam that has shaken the german anothe auto maker. >> the former ceo of volkswagen is under investigation. german officials say they are trying to determine whether

following on a course wherever that leads, rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >>> unrest continues in burkina faso. the interim president has been released, but if the former government isn't fully restored by tuesday, paul targetian areports. >> we have come to see the sick, we have seen bullet wounds people with crush injuries we have been taking details and getting phone numbers. >> witnesses say gunmen loyal to coup leaders opened fire to try to disperse protesters. >> they were shooting a lot they opened fire they came into my courtyard. >> the coup was led by members of the presidential guard still loyal to former president blaise compaore. >> we will resist with our bare hands, we wilbury his corpse here in burkina faso. >> coup leaders are calling the vote unfair because politician he connected to compaore have been barred from running. the coup leader says the vote will take place but at a later time. >> we intend to extend our power we don't intend to stay we don't intend to do more than what needs to be done unlike what some people think. >> reporter: the united nations has strongl

. >> let's get some analysis now from rob mcbride in tokyo. >> given what has been at stake there are wide ranging reaction, the government of president shinzo abe is still insisting that japanese troops will only be used in an active pas pacifi. , the opposition has vowed to continual their fight against these changes. they are in law, it will take a change of government to change the laws back again. the next election doesn't take place until a year from now. they are threatening to fight these controversial new regulations in the court. internationally the response will be fairly predictable. the united states will welcome this seeing the strongest reaction is likely to come from china, possibly returning to a more impressive fans but those o take a more independent role in the use of its defense rnl, in build upof.china itself. >> the earlier this week soldiers from the presidential guard of burkina faso stormed into the cabinet meeting and >> injured in protests insistence coup. >> we have come to see the sick to identify all those who have been injured in this deplorable situati

. >> rob mcbride has more from tokyo. >> as you would expect the government of shinzo abe is insistingjapanese troops will only be used in the pursuit of peace, an cavism staying true its pacifist constitution. the opposition has vowed to continue their fight against these changes. now these changes are in law it will take a change of government to change the government back again. the next election doesn't take place for another year, academics and lawyers are promising to fight these controversial actions in the court. response will be fairly predictable. united states will welcome this seeing japan as a more potent ally in this part of the world but of course this part of the world the strongest reaction is likely to come from china in editorials in pronouncements in coming days, china will see this as japan possibly returning to a more aggressive stance but those people who support these changes here in japan believe they have to take a more independent role when it comes to the use of its defense forces in response they believe to a buildup of the military in china itself. >> u.s.

. >> rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >> head to aljazeera.com for all the breaking news and social media update whenever you want them. interi'm ali velshi. toorlgt tonight, the $5 billion boondoggle. the race for the white house. we're following the money to expose a system where anything goes, and the candidates themselves are helpless to control it. >>> there are still 14 months to go before americans vote for their next president in november of 2016. but the television air waves if some key states are already

al jazeera's rob mcbride is there. >> people were already lining up when the polling stations opened. is compulsory but the wider choice of candids for a general election that is usually predictabled added a new dimension and casting his vote of the founding father. >> and we have impact and like people to listen and absorb more always but i think we got our messages across. >> reporter: he presented his people's action party as the obvious choice to manage the economy and provide strong leadership. subtle references were made to the political instability taking place in neighboring malaysia and while the haze that has hung over singapore for much of the election period has been a reminder of the forest burning going unchecked in nearby indonesia. the ruling pap party has played on the need for unity at a time of regional uncertainty often for praying this republican as the tiny red dot at the heart of southeast asia and combine it with the worsening economic environment it makes a strong argument for staying with what you know. >> whether the government is doing their job. >> are peo

sadly for future people it will be a gift a little less special, rob mcbride, tokyo. >>> keep up to date with the very latest news on the website, there it is on your screens, al jazeera.com. >> i'm ali velshi. "on target" tonight. your donations don't always go where you think they do. we're on the money, to expose a system where almost anything goes and even the candidates themselves can't control it. there are still 14 months to go before americans vote for their next president in november of 2016. but the television air waves in some key states are already so inundated with campaign commercials you would think the election is happening tomorrow. all through the 2016 election season al jazeera america is teaming up with the center for public integrity. a nonpartisan nonprofit investigative organization in washington. together we're going to follow the obscene amounts of money being raised and spent on the campaign trail. republican candidates running in their party's presidential primaries have put out an estimated 11,000 tv ads in recent months. at the same time, democrat candidates

rob mcbride has more. >> reporter: it's been a big win foe evere for the pap party. as been very telling i think for voters. for their part the opposition can argue that this is part of their long term strategy of changing the political landscape here. they made big gains in parliament back in 2011. largely over unpopular policies that were in place back then. as if the government has done a lot to change since then, for example, housing and immigration. sadly for opposition, those policies seem to have worked with the electorate winning back a lot of support that the government had lost. >> now six months ago, a category 5 cyclone hit the pacific island nation of vanuatu. several people were killed and the damage was extensive. in march al jazeera's andrew thomas was one of the first to arrive after the cyclone hit. he went back to see the extent of the recovery. >> six months on, kaot sam is reenacting actions he thinks saved his family. how he lifted his collapsed house after the cyclone brought it down on his wife and children. >> translator: somehow i lifted up

rob mcbride reports from tokyo. >> reporter: as the legislation has worked its way through parliament the protests outside of it have become passionate and more aggressive. for protesters like this one, the main fear is a return to the militarization that took place in the past. >> as long as it's [ inaudible ] administration, it's possible that the japan go back to militarism, and there might be another [ inaudible ] more dangerous than abe, so it's a real danger. >> reporter: the legislation will change how japan's self-defense forces can be deployed and used. until now the strict interpretation of the constitution means japan will only use force as a last result if it is directly attacked. but prime minister abe wants a broader definition. a definition that would allow japanese forces to be used overseas in support of an ally like the united states for so-called collective defense is. the prospect of japanese troops fighting overseas once more for the first time since world war ii is opposed by more than half of the japanese public. when abe called a snap election last year, he was

as rob mcbride reports the election was not a walk everyone. >> reporter: victory and relief among p a.p. supporters after facing the uncertainty of a public-wide fight against multiple parties. benefitting from an election called at the 50th anniversary, the ruling people's action party of singapore sees it as a solid endorsement to take it forward. >> i always had confidence in the p a.p. >> for sure. we go for 100. we'll do a better job. mark by words. for the leader, the prime minister this was a personal victory. the first election without influence of lee kuan yew, his father and the founder of singapore who died this year. he reversed gains. >> it's a good result for p a.p. and an excellent result tore singapore. >> reporter: as opposition rallie, the workers party deflated hopes came in. still believing they are changing singapore into a multiparty system. >> they look around here. it's a better place to stay. that is what we want. >> i hope the government will put more effort to take care of us. this is what i want. >> reporter: there is the wider change that many believe is

rob mcbride reports from tokyo. r >> reporter: after an historic vote, more is coming to mind. >> it's a hard decision. volunteering troops to go overseas is different to defending ourselves. >> security around the world is changing, that is why this is necessary. >> this is necessary for our children, the next generation and for peace. >> reporter: the vote came after a marathon session in both houses. opposition parties inside, and thousands of protesters outside promised to fight the legislation in the courts and at the next election. >> we have seen million of people on the streets demonstrating how attached they are. >> while the u.s. welcomes the change, china condemns what it sees as a gesture, coming after ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary at the end of world war ii. the pass visit constitution was a result of its role in that war, which blakes it a divisive issue for many japanese. >> for many, it's a symptom of what the change will mean. the futury toornished. the country set on a few course. >> just

. >> rob mcbride has more from tokyo. >> well, those supporting this change says that it makes the japaneseforces more relevant more potent, that they're no longer restricted by this very limited use of japanese forces only on the event of a direct attack on japan. people use different scenarios, imagining north korea gets a missile which it says it's working towards, with a range to reach an american territory, say for example the island of guam. if that missile was fired if it was going through japanese air space, japan could steal that missile, track it down, would not be allowed to use it. people would argue it is reasonable for a an ally of the united states to take down a missile like that. those who support this legislation says it just brings the powers, the rules for using force up to date in this part of the world but for this area it is symbol of japan breaking away from a path of pacifism i.t. has followed for past 70 years. >>> first talks in more than ayear to discuss the conflict in syria. the phone conversation came when u.s. secretary of state john kerry met with allies in

rob mcbride has more from tokyo. given what is at stake, there has been wide-ranging reactions. shinzo abe insists that the troops will only be used in the pursuit of pews. staying through to its pacifist constitution. they vowed to tnt the fight. now they are in law, it will take a changed government to take the laws back. the next elections don't take place. a number of academics and lawyers promised to fight in the courts. the response is predict ability. the united states will welcome this. of course, in this part of the world the strongest reaction will be china, they will see this as returning to an aggressive stance. those people that support the changes believe that they have to take a more independent role when it comes to the use of the defense forces. in response to a build up of the military of china itself. >> the african union defended the burkina faso, threatening and posing sanctions if the government is not restarted. soldiers stormed into a cabinet meeting, arresting the prime minister. we have this report. >> reporter: doctors in burkina faso's capital have be

rob mcbride has more from hong kong. >> they came to the spot where a year ago thousands forced their way through police cordons to start the occupy movement. in the carnival atmosphere it was a chance to remember the community that flourished here for 79 days. >> the biggest wish is to think about what we should learn from the spirits. >> just remember what happened last year. >> more radical groups called for an attempt to take over the streets. as they surged towards the barricades, it was clear thousands of police would not allow a repeat. there was little appetite from the protesters itself. 12 months ago it was a different story. when a sea of umbrellas became a symbol of the movement. an exhibition of artefacts and what they represent provide a reminder of a movement that drew tens of thousands on to the streets. >> we hope they reflect on some issues raised, to extend the discussion and condition the dialogue. for groups, this is a work in progress. >> it will be better. doesn't mean we have to give up. we have failed already. we have to do what we can. >> even the occupy orga

. >> rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >> head to aljazeera.com for all the breaking news and social media update whenever you want them. interi'm ali velshi. toorlgt tonight, the $5 billion boondoggle. the race for the white house. we're following the money to expose a system where anything goes, and the candidates themselves are helpless to control it. >>> there are still 14 months to go before americans vote for their next president in november of 2016. but the television air waves if some key states are already saturated and inundated with campaign commercials. you would think the election is happening tomorrow. all through the 2016 election season al jazeera america is teaj up with the center for public integrity, a nonpartisan nonprofit investigative operation, we're following the obscene amounts of money that are being spent on the campaign trail, republican candidates running in their country's presidential primaries have put out 11,000 tv ads in the last months, at the same time, democratic candidates produced 4,000 ads. again we are still months away from the 2016 primaries. thes

more from rob mcbride in tokyo. >> reporter: as the legislation worked its way through parliament, so the protests outside it have become passionate, more aggressive. for protesters like this, the main fear is a return to the militarism that led japan to disaster in the first half of the last century. he is the organiser for a student movement that sprung up to fight the changes by prime minister shinzo abe. as long as there's shinzo abe demonstration, we may go back to militarism. >> reporter: the legislation will change how the self-defence forces can be deployed and used. until now the strict interpretation of the constitution means japan will use force as a last resort, if it is directly attacked. p.m. abe wants a broad definition, that would allow japanese forces to be used overseas in support of an ally like the united states. for so-called collective defense. the prospect of japanese troops fighting overseas once more, for the first time since world war ii is opposed by more than half the japanese public, according to opinion polls. when abe called a snap election last year, he

the latest from rob mcbride. >> reporter: voting at this constituency has been brisk. there was already a line of people waiting when the gates first opened at 8:00 in the morning. this is the east coast constituency. it is interesting because it is marginally forced between the p.a.p. party and the workers party. in the last election in 2011 the two sides came within 10% of each other. and this constituency is known as a group constituency. it represents four seats in the parliament. what people are looking for is if there will be another upheaval. during that poll in 2011, one of these groups changed from the governments falling to the opposition in what was the biggest upheaval. the main opposition party, the workers party, has seven seats in parliament. they are hoping to get into double figures, but they are realistic in what they can achieve. in the pollings they have been telling people vote for us, this is what we'll do as a government, vote for us so we can be a stronger opposition, as this system moves slowly towards a multiparty system. >> japan's prime mini

more from rob mcbride in tokyo. >> reporter: as this marathon session drags on, the opposition parties are putting forward a number of no confidence motions, forcing this crucial debate on the security bills. for his part, shinzo abe is determined they will be passed by the end of this session. he is now up against the clock. the concern is that if these bills are not passed in this session, then they will be hanging over into next week which is a holiday period here in japan. the concern is that the protest we have seen outside the japanese parliament may well be swelled, may well become angrier especially if protesters feel they have a way, a possibility they could talk these bills out of the present session of parliament. they believe this takes japan a very step out of passivism. this brings the constitution more up to date and in particular, when it comes to the control of the self-defense forces that japan can take a more active participation in security operations abroad, in peacekeeping operations and also working along side american allies. >> ecuador's capital has been blanke

rob mcbride has the latest from tokyo. >> reporter: as this marathon session drags on so the oppositionties are putting forward a number of no confidence motions in the hope of forcing this crucial debate on the security bill out of time. for his part, abe and his ruling coalition is determined that they will be passed by the ingd of this session, and he is now up against the clock. the concern is that if these bills are not passed in this session, then they will be hanging over into next week, which is a holiday period here in japan. the concern is the kind of protests we have seen outside may well be swelled or become angry, especially if protesters feel they have a way, possibility that they could talk these bills out of the present session of parliament. they believe this is a very dangerous step back towards the kind of militarism that lead to disastrous consequences in the last century. abe and his allies say this meremer merely brings the constitution more up to date, that japan can take a more active participation in security operations abroad, in peace-keeping operations and wo

rob mcbride has more from singapore. >> voting at this constituency - there has been a line of people waiting while they open. it is interesting, because it's marginally fought between the party. in the last election in 2011, the two sides came within 10% ever each other, and the constituency is known as a group constituency, representing four seats in the parliament. people are looking for another upheaval, as in the last election in 2011. during the poll, the group constituencies change from the government, in a big upheaval seen since independence. the main opposition party, the workers party has seven seats, and are hoping to get into double figures and are realistic in all that they can achieve. in all the pollings they tell people to vote for us so they can be a stronger opposition, a check and balance. the system moves steadily but slowly to a multiparty system. >> reporter: security forces in turkey stopped a group of politicians marching towards a kurdish city. a government provision is under way, and they say it killed 30 fighters. kurdish politicians dispute the figure sayi

rob mcbride reports. >> reporter: at 95, this man had to wait much of his life to vote in elections, where he has the choice of one candidate, as the veteran of world war ii, he flew for the army against the japanese. he has witnessed the founding and development of singapore. unlike many of his generation, he welcomes the change. >> people thinking should move on and on. they should have competition. contesting. >> it will be the younger voters who have the most impact in the poll. >> this will see the highest proportion of young people voting compared to other elections. a younger generation who don't necessarily have loyalty to the ruling party. and with different priorities. >> for many, moving out of the family home into their own apartment is the biggest concern in this high priced city. >> i think everyone is concerned about housing, how they'll afford a house, moving out before they are 50. jill and her boyfriend both work, but they live at home with their families. at least now concerns like housing and other election issues can be shared with other voters, thanks to social

rob mcbride reports. >> reporter: at an evening rally for the worker's party many of the candidates likeman are newcomers into politics. the party has become the major opposition voice in a system where once there was little disscent. still the best they can hope for is unsettling, rather than unseating the ruling party. >> we think that it is necessary to entrench a multi-party democracy, by having more mp's elected into parliament in this election and hopefully in the coming hears. in the years to come, the worker's party is able to provide an alternative. >> the party is trying to build on its best-showing yet back in 2011. then they managed to unset two cabinet ministers. the ruling people's action party got 60% of the vote in that poll. their lowest ever. for the prime minister, the son of singapore's founder, it has, at least, made the opposition groups something he needs to take aim at. >> and you should make no mistake about it, they aspire to be the government of singapore, why should they not. they are entitled to. but we are entitled to ask them what do you intend to do? show

rob mcbride, al jazeera, tokyo. >> newly released pictures from outer space shoi china completed construction of a runway on a disputed island in the south china sea. these satellite images show the landing strip in the disputed spratly islands. it's a source of tension between chiez and its neighbors and was referred to yesterday by the u.s. president in his press conference with xi jinping. >>> the spanish region of catalonia goes to the polls on sunday that some see as a referendum on independence. the president is planning a formal split from spain if pro-independence parties win enough of the vote. jenna hall is there. >> reporter: the culture of catalonia, distinct from the rest of spain, suppressed during decades of dictatorship, it's a region that still feels its voice is often ignored by madrid. will sunday's regional election seen as a referendum on independence change all that. >> i will vote yes, because i think it's a great opportunity for us, the catalonia people to be heard. >> reporter: the spanish state has thrown its full weight behind the opposition, warning of the dire con

rob mcbride reports. >> reporter: in the shadowy world of the okuza, it threatenings to the biggest upheaval in years, and it centers on this man. he's the boss of jap's biggest crime syndicate, the yamaguchi gumi, being released pr prison several years ago. unhappy with the way he's running the organization, it is reported that a rival faction has now broken away. this writer has studied the gang for more than 40 years. the fear is it could have an impact on other groups given the fracture yus nation of the underworld right now. >> translator: the ukuz a's influence on politics and the economy has been diminishing. the split is happening in this kind of climate and there's a danger it could lead to a turf war between the gangs. >> part of the problem is the link between organized crime and the larger economy. heavily dependent on the economy is the heyday is in the bubble years of the 198 0s time is tough with a number of members falling to an all-time low of less than 60,000 and more introduced to make it tougher. any companies now found to be doing business with organized crime gangs face

. >> rob mcbride, al jazeera, toke i don't. >>> india's primary is spending the weekend in the home of u.s. technology, silicon valley. 1 in 6 start-ups there are led by indians. john henry reports. >> reporter: they arrived in silicon valley from india in the 1970s, witnesses to birth of the global epicenter of technology. they rode the first wave of engineers to the california coast and came hungry. >> being immigrants, we came with nothing in our pockets, so we're living on a small income or no income and just a little bit of savings was not that unappealing to us because we come from just nothing. >> reporter: both have since been tech ceos. they and their foal le indian immigrants dominate the tech industry, including the top jobs at google and microsoft, now a venture capitalist, narin gupta funds companies here in india. >> it was to help everybody start companies in an effective way. so that's the organization that has done really and has brought indians together. >> he led a stanford university staudy that revealed the astounding influence of indians here. they make up 6% of t

. >> rob mcbride with the latest from tokyo.ou. >>> military leaders who seized power in a coup in burkina faso have reopened the country's borders. they have reportedly released the interim president and two other ministers captured in the takeover on wednesday. but the interim prime minister is still being held. gerald tan reports. >> reporter: uproar on the streets. gunfire rang out as people protested against the coup in burkina faso's capitol. >> translator: in front of us we saw a military vehicle that starting shooting, killing people. >> reporter: it's a dramatic turn of events after a popular uprising last october ousted the president when he tried to extend his 27-year rule. a transitional government had been preparing for elections next month until the reelite -- elite presidential guard took over on wednesday. the man in charge says the vote will take place but at later time. >> translator: we have to discuss it with the concerned actors, political parties and sil society in order to establish a timetable that allows

. >>> there have been protests outside parliament as well as al jazeera's rob mcbride reports. >> reporter: protests have been a daily occurrence outside the japanese parliament here in the run up to this controversial vote. but this is now the climax, the mood here is grim. matched by the weather. what angers demonstrators here especially is what they see as the unconstitutional way that prime minister shinzo abe is forcing through the legislation using his majorities in both houses of the japanese parliament. for prime minister abe and his conservative allies, this is the fulfillment of a long-held ambition, to, as they see it, update the rules by which japan's self-defense forces can and should be used. they want to see, for example, japanese troops working alongside their american allies on operations overseas if it can be shown that that is in japan's collective defense interest. what concerns demonstrators, though, a majority of people here if opinion polls are to believed is any kind of return to the sort of militarism that led to such disastrous consequences in the last century. >>

rob mcbride has more from tokyo. >> reporter: at the end of this marathon session through the japaneseament, finally the vote was taken and carried in favor of these controversial security bills, but not before a fine am round of impassioned speeches where the leaders of the opposition parties apologizing for not having the strength to hold up this legislation. they had been trying for the past couple of days various filibuster tactics, but no to no avail. this will be seen as a personal triumph for the prime minister. he has always made it his intention to bring up to date the rules by which the japanese defense forces should be deployed. he wants to see them take a far more assertive role, working alongside for example their american allies in various operations overseas. the fear for the opposition party and also for the thousands of protesters who have nightly been outside of the parliament is that this is a betrayalal of japan's passist constitution, and that japanese troops may now be caught up in conflict not of their own making, working alongside their allies in different parts

as rob mcbride reports from singapore. >> voting at this constituency has been brisk with other constituencies island republic and a line of people when the gates first opened at 8:00 in the morning, this is the east coast constituency and it's interesting because it's very marginally thought between the workers party. in the last election in 2011 the two sides came within 10% of each other and this constituency is known as a group con -- constituency and looking like 2011 and at a poll and group constituencies changed from the government falling to the opposition and it was the biggest upheaval that this political system has seen since its independence. the main opposition party, the workers party has seven seats out of 29 and hoping to get in double figures but realistic in what they can achieve and in the hostings and polling and they have been telling people to vote for us and this is what we will do as a government and vote for us so we can be a stronger opposition, a check and balance against the government as this system moves steadily but very slowly it seems to a multi-party system. >

rob mcbride, tokyo. >> we have plenty of our top stories at www.aljazeera.com. >> the science of fighting a wild fire. >> we're going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity but we're doing it in a unique way. this is a show about science, by scientists. tonight: trash. it's everywhere. >> what's the out put of this facility? >> landfills overflowing. >> it just smells so bad. >> but some of our trash ... ... could be recycled. >> why isn't it being done more? >> now techknow investigates: the problem with plastic. >> they throw in the street or throw it in the ocean. >> we have the technology... >> i can't touch it? >> no you can't. >> so why don't we use it? >> so you don't know what happens to the plastics you recover? >> dr shini somara is a mechanical engineer. dr. crystal dilworth is a neuroscientist. >> we're standing by a pipe marked heated sludge. >> and i'm phil torres, i'm an entomologist. >> that's our team ... >> it smells very organic. >> now lets do some science. >> hey guys, welcome to techknow. i'm phil torres and today we are going to be talking trash and a

ii and triggered heated debate in parliament and also daily protests on the streets, more from rob mcbridekyo. >> as this marathon session drags on opposition parties are putting forward a number of no confidence motions in the hope of filibustering and forcing this crucial debate on security bills out of time and for his part he and the ruling coalition are determined they will be passed by the end of this session and he is now up against the clock. the concern is that if these bills are not passed in this session then they will be hanging over into next week which is a holiday period here in japan. the concern is that the kind of protest we have seen outside the japanese parliament may well be swelled and may become angry especially if protesters feel as though they have a way, a possibility they could talk these bills out of the present session of parliament and they believe this takes japan a very dangerous step back to the kind of militaryism that led it to consequences and he and allies say this merely brings the constitution up to date and no particular when it comes to the control