neave barker, al jazeera, in north yorkshire. >>> the final touches are being put to a center for uping singers and song writers in south africa. it is aiming to make high-quality recording facilities accessible to all. here is tania page. ♪ >> reporter: this is a kind of folk, it is one of the most popular genre's in south africa. christopher indulges his position for the music at this music hub. it is one of the best recording studios in the country. >> to bring my voice to the people, when persons listen to what i'm singing [ inaudible ] proper, because now i'm work with the professional people today. >> the building has been associated with the music industry since the 1970s. the government bought it seven years ago, with the idea of making word class recording facilities accessible to the general public and at a cheap price. the studios are busy with budding artists. >> it has always had a developmental agenda, and access has always been a core issue. so our aim is to keep our prices at a level where everyone can come through and record their music. >> reporter: this building ha

neave barker, battaglia, london. >>> lots more to come on al jazeera.e's government threw white farmers off their land now the beneficiaries of that are feeling the squeeze. >>> a street artists turns to unconvention the techniques to portray the consequences of urban development. when you're on hold, your business is on hold. that's why comcast business doesn't leave you there. when you call, a small business expert will answer you in about 30 seconds. no annoying hold music. just a real person, real fast. whenever you need them. so your business can get back to business. sounds like my ride's ready. don't get stuck on hold. reach an expert fast. comcast business. built for business. to discover the best shows friends together and movies with xfinity's winter watchlist. later on, we'll conspire ♪ ♪ as we dream by the fire ♪ a beautiful sight, we're happy tonight ♪ ♪ watching in a winter watchlist land, ♪ ♪ watching in a winter watchlist land! ♪ xfinity's winter watchlist. watch now with xfinity on demand- your home for the best entertainment this holid

from berlin neave barker reports. >> arriving in court the last survivor of the most violent neo-nazi gang in post-war german. she has remained silent until now. also in court, relatives of some of the ten people the national socialist underground are accused of murdering. eight turks a greek, and a policewoman was shot dead. she is is accused of being involved in two bombings in cologne and 15 bank robberies. >> i would hope that she will give answers to key questions such as how big the neo-nazi terror network was, what role did the service play and most important for my client why did my father, our brother, our son have to die? why was he chosen? >> in a statement read out by shaefer's lawyers, she denied any involvement. she apologized to the victims' families, but said she had nothing to do with the killings. she said that they were carried out by her two lovers, men she became emotionally dependent upon. they were found dead in an apparent suicide pact. shaefer is believed to have set fire to the flat where the three of them lived. there were weapons and video evidence linked t

from berlin neave barker has more. >> arriving in court, the alleged last survivor of one of the mostlent neo-nazi gains in post-war germany. in two and a half years that she has been on trial she has remained silent until now. also in court, relatives of some of the ten people the national socialist underground are accused of murdering. eight turks, a greek and a german policewoman were shot dead. she's also accused of being involved in two bombings in immigrant areas and 15 bank robberies. relatives of the victims are demanding answers. >> i would hope that she will give answers to keep questions such as how big the neo-nazi terror network there was, what assistance there were and most important for my client the question why did my father, our brother, our son have to die? why was he chosen? >> in a statement she denine involvemendenied the accusations. the two men were found dead four years ago in an apparent suicide pact after a failed bank robbery. they are said to have set fire to the flat where they lived. if convicted she could face life in prison. the trial continues. neav b

neave barker has more. >> in high winds and rough seas a major play engulfs the platform. some managing to escape into life boats. the government has yet to confirm casualty numbers. but an independent report says that dozens of people have been killed. last year 14 workers were killed in accidents in platforms. the country has some of the richest oil fields in the world. three more workers are missing and another battered by the storm. >> prosecutors say the two men who used false i.d. papers were armed and dangerous. they helped the paris attackers travel last september. since the investigation began last month belgium has charged eight people. >> 23 nahimi gonzalez was killed in a restaurant in november, in total 132 people died in the attacks. now delegates in paris have approved a draft text. earlier an u.n. chief talked about the importance of goals on climate change. >> strong climate action provides a catalyst for global sustainable development. there is a necessary a for achieving the agreement, it is part of the outcome of the outcomes here in paris. they have co

neave barker reports from london. >> as more and more countries crackdown on smoking, many of these iconic logos will vanish from the shelves. australia led the way three years ago with stark warnings and brand names written in standardized lettering. the government said that the moves cut rates by 16%. and 65% of each cigarette packet will be covered in warnings, leaving much less room for logos. >> there is good evidence that health warnings do work in terms of deterring young people from taking up smoking and helping adult smokers to quit. but picture warnings are much more powerful. >> but the u.k. ireland and france are going beyond the directive. something that tobacco giants are ready to fight. >> all ready to go to the high courts of london, and verdicts are expected in january. they appeal to the justice in luxembourg claiming that it the change of the packaging violates freedom of expression. >> loyal groups say that the changes will have little effect. >> as far as i'm concerned its medical pornography. some images are quite gruesome. we know the health risks. we know what we're

from berlin, neave barker reports. >> reporter: arriving in court.ed last survivor of one of the most violent neo-nazi gangs in post-war germany. in the two and a half years she has been on trial, she has remained silent, until now. also in court, relatives of some of the ten people the national socialist underground are accused of murders. eighty turks, a greek, and a german policewoman were shot dead. she is also accused of being involved in two bombings, and 15 bank robberies. >> translator: i would hope she would give answers. the most important for my client is the question, why did my father, our brother, our son, have to die? why was he chosen? >> reporter: in a statement read out by her lawyers, she denied in i involvement in the ten murders. she apologized to the victim's families, but said she has nothing to do with the killings. instead she said the crimes were carried out by her two lovers and fellow gang members. the two men were found dead four years ago in an apparent suicide pact after a failed bank robbery. searches of the property r

al jazeera's neave barker has this report. >> reporter: the european court's decision is another blowhe tobacco industry has more and more countries try to force cigarette grants to cover up their logos. australia lead the way three years ago. the australian government says moves cut smoking rates by 15%. and from next year under new european union regulation, 65% of each cigarette packet will be covered in warnings. >> there is good evidence that health warnings do work in terms of deterring young people from taking up smoking, and helping adult smokers to quit. text warnings are fine up to a point, but picture warnings are much more powerful. >> reporter: but the u.k., ireland, and france are also introducing plain logo-less packaging next year, something that tobacco giants are determined to fight. several leading companies all filed lawsuits here at the high court in london, a verdict is expected in january. they also appealed to the european court of justice in luxemburg, claiming the labeling of cigarette packages even violated freedom of expression. but now luxemburg has ruled

neave barker now reports from nort north yorkshire. >> in its heyday, 2,000 people would work.now with little ceremony the last 451 miners are saying goodbye to a mine known simply as big k. >> i feel teary eyed, this is big. >> it's been coming for a while, and i don't think you can prepare for itness. >> once the largest deep mine in europe it's a 11 kilometer journey to the coal face it's dangerous work, jobs that coal miners hoped to hold on to for life. it's called power to the evolution. there is 30 million tons of it still underground a decade more of digging but the price of coal has crashed. as the u.k. tries to reduce carbon emissions they will move to cleaner energy. but the u.k. will rely on cole, cole imported from outside of the country from as far away as australia, colombia, russia and the united states. it is cleaner and cheaper than british coal. u.k. companies just cannot compete. >> at the working men's club many find distraction preparing for the final christmas dinner together. >> i feel that not giving it a fair chance. >> some miners have been forced to

neave barker is in london for us. it's one month of rain still to come in the period of 24 hours or so? >> it's been a business mall seen. it has been happening largely in the north of england. in the last 24 hours the government has issued more than 250 flood warnings across england, wales, and scotland, and a string of red alerts largely in the counties of lancashire in the northwest and yorkshire. this area is known as the backbone of england. according to the environmental agency these red alerts are only issue first degree there is deem to be potential loss of life, and people there have been warned to evacuate quickly if ordered to do so. according to the environment agency within the course of a day, 13 inches. 33 centimeters of rain. that much rain is expected to fall within the counties of york suryorkshire and this is making life for people miserable, indeed. according to the meteorological office, it looks that things are set to get even worse before they improve. >> this is a damage limitation exercise now

neave barker has that. >> in high winds and rough seas, a major blazen gulfs the platform. it's believed more than 80 workers were on the oil rig when the blaze started. some escaped into life boats. the government is yet to confirm casualties, but an independence report said dozens have been killed. the oil rig has been owned by the state company. 14 workers were killed in accidents. the country has some of the richest oil fields in the world. in incidents. three workers are missing, and another oil platform battered by the storm. you rescue operation has been launched >>> the waters of south-east asia has more incidents of piracy than any other part of the world. it overtook somali as the main hub. the malacca strait is a strategic sea lane, and one of the most dangerous. since 2010 attacks doubled every year. in the first 10 months of this year, there were 174 reported incidents of piracy, and 12 attempts, that's more than a number of 2013. most of the targets are oil and tankers. pirates seem to be joint ventures between freelance pirates waiting in the harbour for jobs

neave barker is live for us in berlin this hour. why was she allowed to stay [ inaudible ] for two and a half years? >> reporter: that's a very good question. she had been repeatedly asked by the court in munich to deliver evidence, but it was something she flatly refused to do from day one. and it has now been 250 days of the active trial that has gone on for more than two and a half years. but it was announced that this week she would indeed break her silence and answer some of the allegations and charges that she faces. ten accounts of murder, two bombings, and also a string of bank robberies. she is accused of being a member of the far-right-wing movement described in germany as one of the most violent groups since the gang in the 1970s. in this written statement that was read out by her lawyer, she said she had no involvement in the ten murders. she also gave an apology to the families of some of the victims, some of whom were in the court in munich listening in this on this. she said she has no direct involvement to the killin

neave barker, al jazeera, london. >>> crawford moody is a senior fellow at the university of sterlingnd, he says the warnings may not stop smokers from lighting up, but they could stop non-smokers from starting. >> it's quite difficult to disentangle the precise role of the warnings. it would be difficult to find evidence that would actually satisfy critics, but there is a body of research across the world that suggests that there are multiple studies from multiple continents suggesting that they do have an impact. they do deter youth. in fact the main effect of the -- the warnings may actually be in putting people off, or encouraging occasional smokers not to progress. and it's not really until this century that most countries within europe and across the world have started to seriously tackle the harms of -- that tobacco causes. we're talking 6 million deaths globally. and that number is expected to go up. >>> millions of people in the u.s. are still feeling the effects of the global financial crisis back in 2008. many families were forced to give up their homes when they couldn't a

neave barker went to north yorkshire to meet the men and hear about their machines. >> reporter: emergingmost a kilometer underground. the final shift in britain's last deep coal mine. in inheyday more than 2,000 people worked here. now with little ceremony, the last 451 minors are saying good-bye. >> i feel teary eyes. to be honest. it's a sad day. >> it's emotional for everyone. it has been coming for a while. you think you are prepared, but i don't think you are. >> reporter: once the largest deep mine in europe, it's an 11 kilometer journey to the coal face. it's noisy dangerous work. jobs the minors hoped to hold on to for life. but 56 years after it opened, it's the engineer -- end of the road. it fuelled the british empire. there is 30 million tons of it still underground. but the price of coal has crashed. as the u.k. tries to reduce carbon emissions. coal fired power stations are closing or moving to cleaner forms of energy. the u.k. will rely on coal for at least another decade, imported from outside of the country. it's cleaner and cheaper than british coal. u.k. companies just