rob matheson, al jazeera. >>> and two u.s. astronauts began a risky spacewalk to complete the repair of a cooling system for the international space station. they will repair an ammonia leak in what is expected to be a six and a half hour job. they aim to complete the final rye pairs to assist them that broke down three years ago. it's 190th spacewalk outside of the iss. >>> go to our wks, and -- website shgs and the address is aljazeera.com. jazeera.com. >> this is "techknow". 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, saving the macaw. >> i'm in the peruvian amazon and we're on the search for endangered macaws. >> now techknow is on a one of a kind mission. >> look at those wings. >> the macaw; graceful, elegant,

the election as a milestone on the roadmap to democracy and seeming me egyptians don't agree, rob mathesoneera. >>> palestinian woman shot dead and another wounded near a market in west jerusalem and roberting that the report tried to stab israelis with knives and many have died in months of violence and one u.s. sit zen and araatrea killed. military commander says control of thai is on a main road linking sanaa and aiden and both controlled by the warring sides and gerald tan has more. >> reporter: the push for tires, it has been a week since pro-government fighters launched offensive for the third largest city supported by the saudi-led coalition on the air and on the ground trying to capture control but people loyal to the old president saleh are digging their heels in. >> translator: this is support of houthis and planted many land mines which slowed progress and caused casualty among soldiers. >> translator: we say to the houthis you will leave this sprays and we strike you and evict you from the city of thai and we will strike you voluntarily or forcefully this week. >> reporter: the

in this report now from rob matheson. >> a russian jet fighter plunges to the ground. turkey's government says aircraft shot it down. close to the syrian border. >> this is a stab in the pack, the pilot did not threaten anyone, and the plane was shot down in syrian air space. working with us for turkey, this tragic event would have serious consequences for relations. >> both pilots ejected and parachuted to the drowned. russian military helicopters are reported to be searching for them near the border. the syrian opposition says it has the body of one of the pilots and that the second one is also dead. the fact that turkey is feeling bold enough to take this action, i think speaks actions about the new political confidence in this context. >> the jet is a 24, the russian built all weather attack aircraft that has flown in almost all conflicts since it was first introduced in 1967. turkey says aircraft have crossed the border several times. last month a plane flew into the air space close to syria and the prime minister described the incident as a mistake. he backs by n

rob matheson, al jazeera. >>> more news in just a few minutes, hope you'll join me then.lion fields will lie fallow. >> if we had another year of this severe drought, i'd say all bets are off. >>> >> al jazeera america brings you independent reporting without spin. >> not everybody is asking the questions you're asking me today. >> we give you more perspectives >> the separatists took control a few days ago. >> and a global view. >> now everybody in this country can hear them. >> getting the story first-hand. >> they have travelled for weeks, sometimes months. >> what's your message then? >> we need help now. >> you're watching al jazeera america. >>it's crazy money that you can make here. it's a ticking time bomb. >>do you know what chemicals have been in that tank? >> my big brother didn't wake up the next day. al jazeera america's... >> today they will be arrested. >>they're firing canisters of gas at us. >> we have to get out of here. russia is blamed for an air strike which killed at least 44 people in a crowded marketplace in syria >>> hello, i'm barb barbara sara,

rob matheson has more. >> reporter: the streets may be noisy as usual, but campaigning is over.the egyptians abroad are already voting. in egypt itself polling takes place on sunday and monday. a key question is how many people will cast their votes. during the first round in october turn out was just under 22%. the number will be low this time too as too few believe their vote matters. some people there is little difference between the parties >> the parties have joined forces with the current regime. for me this next parliament is not something i recognise at all because in my opinion this is the return of the ndp symbols. their political return once again. >> reporter: in 2012 with the turn out of roughly 46% the muslim brotherhood freedom and justice party won what was regarded as free and fair elections. a little 12 months later if sdoefd the free dram and justice parties. support from other parties were promising to hold parliamentary elections within months. it has taken two years for that to happen. tens of thousands of activists are still in jail, dozens of journalists

as rob matheson reports, sudan has been offering them a warm welcome >> reporter: the story of this man is similar to that of many who have fled syria. >> translation: in the morning we heard shelling. my son, a young man of 25, was sleeping in his bed and a shell hit the front of our house. he almost died but got protected him. >> reporter: she made up her mind to escap aleppo and to join thousands of others heading for jordan. one of her sons who was working in sudan said syrians didn't need visas to go there. she doesn't want to be identified. in this quiet courtyard kitchen she gets paid for preparing traditional syrian stuffed vine leaves, chicken and sweets. most customers are sudanese. she gets food parcels and support from a local project set up to help people like her. >> translation: syrian businessmen in sudan met and decided to set up this office and a fund to support the syrian families there entering the country. an syrian ends so much per month. we try to pay the extra amount. >> reporter: it's a sharp contrast to the reception of many refugees are getting in europe. fenc

the pet warning the police will take suf action, as rob matheson reports, many are leaving because they are scared of being targeted. >> people in the capital run from their homes taking only what they can carry or stuff into a cart. >> translation: this fear is caused by what the leadership said. we are scared they may come down with all the military might. >> the president issued an ultimatum. aum illegal weapons she we handed in. many feel it will push boourned where are close to -- burundi close to civil war. >> when the senior officials use terms like exterminate. when members of the opposition in the dark of night throw grenades at police officers, this brings us to the brink. we need to pull back. >> the president won a controversial third term, saying it was against the constitution, a special court was reporting hymn. he was picked by parliament. fighting and protests followed. now the united nations and a group monitoring the conflict said the situation is deteriorating. the army has the potential to stop the fighting. but the military is fractured and near breaking pointed. s

rob matheson has more on what has been done to lure them back to the sanctuary in mexico >>> a sanctuary after a journey of thousands of kilometres. these butterflies flew from the cold of the winter to the warm temperatures of mexico. >> this is a pilgrimage. it crosses 5,000 kilometres from canada to here. we are taking care of them so this continues. we protect the areas here. >> in the last 20 years, the butterflies numbers have gone down, in 1996, one billion made the flight to mexico. there were around 35 million last year. >> the job has been blamed on illegal tree cutting and increased use of pesticides and climate change. large areas of milkweed plants have been destroyed. mexico, the u.s. and canada have been planting more trees and tightened controls and logging in the use of foreign chemicals. >> it is our responsibility to take care of these places. there are few places in the world. two or three maybe it's amazing to see the butterflies arrive. >> changes mean millions more butterflies. and more tourists. >> thank you for joining us, i'm randall pinkston in new york. next,