first to scott heidler, joining us from kmt's headquarters. scott, we have a line here saying that the kmt conceded defeat. this is from the leader of the party. no doubt a sombre move at the party headquarters. >> absolutely, and he just took to the stage. in the last couple of minutes he conceded defeat, he apologised to the members, to everyone that voted for him and the party. in addition to that, he is no longer the chairperson of kmt party. he resigned from that. he bowed and apologised. he is speaking from behind. this is not a defeat that is unexpected. polling numbers went into the election. they expected to go that way. there's an opposition coming out strong and early. that is why we are seeing the capitulation. this resignation as chairman of the party. they are apologising to the supporters. it led to the announcement in a couple of minutes. we heard the country officials come up. the results on the screens behind us. they brought us down with the numbers were up. the party supporters were getting ugly. they apologised and read a

scott heidler, al jazeera al ja, hanoi. >> very good to have you with us. the communist party elected nguyen tu trong, could that build towards a freer more market based economy? >> i don't think it will. if it does it will be marginal. the pressures that will force vietnam to diversify their economy will have little to do with the struggles within the vietnamese leadership. >> how much power does the communist party have? less than cuba, china or the old soviet union? >> i think that actually the reelection of general secretary chufnchung points to leadershipn vietnam, the outgoing leader was starting to become a more political leader, seen as a more individualistic leader, that bucked the leadership within the communist party and one of the main reasons i believe that he was thought given a leading role during this reshuffle that just took place. but that his colleague and erstwhile competitor and newer generation of party people who have a strong reputation for working in the collective style are being promoted into the leadership positions instead. >> a

scott heidler, al jazeera, south korea. >>> global stock markets have suffered a brutal start to the new year. stocks across the world plunged this week. wall street posted its worst-ever start to a new year despite a strong jobs report for december. nasdaq 7% drop, dow 5%. far worse in china. the two main causes of all this china's economic slow down and the slide in oil prices. the week did end on a brighter note in china where stock desms indices were up by 1%, despite desperate efforts by the chinese government to stop the bleeding. al jazeera's adrian brown reports on how chinese investors are reacting. >> in china, red is a lucky color. it tells you shares are up. nine months ago, there was a lot of red, the share market was at its highest level since 2007. but for now, that winning streak is over. the market's in a slump. since june, stocks have lost more than 40% of their value and some small investors are less than happy. >> translator: don't film. we don't want to talk about it. we want to go back to play cards. >> reporter: they blame their problems on foreign speculators,

scott heidler is with us. >> the message is distinct. they are are following what's happening after this very closely. they have condemned what north korea has done as a provocation. they have said they have ratcheted up their surveillance north of the border and same rhetoric coming out of japan as well. both much these nations obviously very concerned about what happens in north korea. now in these two nations that i just mentioned the united states has also become involved and proclaim their support. on three different levels. on defense, on foreign relations, foreign policy, state department as well as executive. president obama has had a phone conversation with both the prime minister of japan and the president here in south korea. so right now, very much concerned about what's going to happen. all three levels of those conversations have pointed in one direction and that is that something needs to be done from the international community. something needs to be done in unity they say and is that going to come from the united nations

scott heidler made the pledge during a visit north of baghdad on tuesday.overnment-backed shia fighters attacked businesses and mosques. civilians are getting caught up in the crossfire. al jazeera's mohammed jamjoom reports from baghdad. the streets look calm. the mood is tense. many schoolchildren are back in classrooms, and take rice are selling bread once more. remnants of violence are easy to spot. from the wreckage of a cafe attached by i.s.i.l., because it was frequented by militiamen, to the burnt-out remains. the sunnis are accused of siding with i.s.i.l., the displaced are not able to return to their homes. >> this family is so scared they asked us to blur their faces and not reveal their names. the last thing they wanted to do was leave. we were ordered to go. we were forcefully displaced by the militias. i took my children out of school and i have the family living in a room that i can barely afford. >> for the timebeing they moved to baqubah city, and have no idea when or if they'll be able to go back. >> many houses owned by sunnis were firebo

scott heidler, al jazeera, south korea. >>> north korea's actions are one of many international factorsto be behind the recent instability of the chinese stock market. it is showing some signs of recovery, however. the chinese markets were twice shut down under the controversial circuit breaker rule, which has now been abandoned by the government. adrian brown has the latest. >> reporter: in china, red is a lucky color. it tells you shares are up. nine months ago, there was a lot of red. chinese investors were buoyant. the share market was at its highest level since 2007. but for now that winning streak is over. the market is in a slump. since june, stocks have lost more than 40% of their value. and some small investors are less than happy. >> translator: don't film! we don't want to talk about it! we need to go back to playing cards! >> reporter: they blame their problems on foreign speculators as well as a measure that was supposed to calm markets but had the reverse effect. >> translator: the government is trying to protect individual investors, but the system is not perfect. the sys

scott heidler has our story. ♪ >> reporter: it's a tactic not used since august, and one the north careen'san act of war. exactly at midday, south korea restarted its propaganda broadcast. >> translator: there are people who defect after listening to the broadcasting. it's the soldiers who are at the front line listening to the loud speakers. these soldiers get a lot of idealogical education, but now they are exposed to propaganda broadcasting. >> reporter: the broadcasts along the border here aren't just anti-north careen government they also include global news, weather, even popular music from south korea. there are more than ten speaker locations and some are mobile. the south korean government says the broadcasts will continue indefinitely. philip hammond urged south korea to show restraint. but it's not clear how north korea will react. >> the north might also respond by taking hostages for example among tourists or the ngo's that operate in north korea. these guys are sometimes taken hostage and picked up for pseudo crimes against the state and stuff like that. so north korea might r

the truth is, tensions between the north and the south have worsened over the last few hours, scott heidlerorts. >> reporter: it's a tactic not used since august, and one the north careens call an act of war. exactly at midday friday, south korea restarted its loud speaker propaganda broadcast. a former north korean military officer defected to the south ten years ago. she says the broadcasts are effect. >> translator: there are people who defect after listening to the broadcasting. it's the soldiers that are listening. they are equipped with armed weapons. now they are exposed to the propaganda broadcasting. >> reporter: the broadcasts along the border here aren't just anti-north korean government. they also include global news, weather, even popular music from south korea. there are more than 10 speaker locations and some are mobile. the south korean government here says the broadcasts will continue indefinitely. the british forge secretary urged south korea to show restraint. but it's not clear how north korea will react. >> the north might also respond by taking hostages, for example, t

scott heidler is there with the latest. >> hyeon chung will be the general secretary for a five year term. it's a term by the communist party. it will be announced at the national congress. and will take part on thursday. wednesday, the important and powerful 19 member pull it busho body was selected. they will continue on for another five years. down the line over the next couple of months, there'll be a selection for prime minister, president and then the chairman for the national assembly will be collected again. that will not come until may. those holding the positions will maintain in their jobs until that announcement. >> u.s. secretary of state john kerry is urging china to take more of a stand against north korea. he's been meeting his counterport and the programme has been described as a challenge to global community, and the actions as reckless and dangerous. >> whether or not he achieved the explosion of hydrogen weapon is not what makes the difference, is that he is trying, wants to do that and made the attempt. against all of the international sanctions and resolutions p

scott heidler was in a place north of baghdad. their government-backed shia fighters attacked sunni owned businesses and mosques. civilians are caught in the crossfire. here is mohammed jamjoom in baghdad >>> the streets look calm, the mood is tense. schoolchildren are back in classrooms and bike ris are selling bred black bakeries are selling bread once more. rem nans of violence are easy to stop. from the wreckage of a cafe because it was frequented by militiamen, to the bournt out remains of -- burnt out remains of a market burnt out in reprisal attacks. >> sunnis are accused of harbouring terrorism and siding with i.s.i.l. >> reporter: this family is so scared they asks us to blur their faces and not reveal their names. the last thing they wanted to do was leave. >> translation: we were ordered to go. i took my children out of school. i'm living in a room i can barely remove. >> reporter: for the timebeing they have moved to baquba city and have no idea when or if they can go back. >> translation: many houses owned by sunnis w

scott heidler, al jazeera, south korea. >>> there's been another volatile day on china's stock market but without the panic that was seen on monday and thursday. beijing scrapped a system that automatically halts trading when shares fell too much. aidrian brown has this report from beijing. >> in china, red is a lucky color. it tells you shares are up. nine months ago, there was a lot of red. chinese investors were bouyant, the share market was at its highest level since 2007. but for now, that winning streak is over. the market's in a slump. since june, stocks have lost more than 40% of their value and some small investors are less than happy. >> don't film, we don't want to talk about it. we need to go back and play cards. >> they blame their problems on foreign speculators as well as a measure that was supposed to calm markets but actually had the reverse effect. >> the government is trying to protect individual investors but to be honest, the system is not perfect. the system needs to be improved. >> the authorities have responded to their criticism, suspending the circuit breaker

scott heidler, al jazeera, seoul. >>> an emergency's been declared in a suburb in los angeles after a gas leak began making people sick. it began in october. thousands of families have been relocated. jennifer london is there. >> this is what an environmental disaster looks like, a massive natural gas leak spewing methane into the air since late act, captured by infrared cameras. down wind of the leak, 30,000 people living in the upscale bedroom community of porter ranch, 28 miles north of downtown los angeles. >> it's just impossible to go outside. we have to close all the doors, all the windows. >> first came the smell. >> i thought that i left the barbecue on, so i ran over to the barbecue because we smelled gas in the air. >> they say in the beginning, the stench was annoying, then irritating, then sickening. >> our 3-year-old, bella, she's had three sinus infections in the last two and a half months. our 10-year-old daughter is continuously coughing, leah. she has very bad migraines. >> the leak is coming from a blown well at the gas storage facility owned by so cal gas company.

scott heidler reports. >> reporter: since taiwan started electing its president 20 years ago, it hasained a two-party island. but now there is a new player. they call themselves the new force. one of the candidates is this heavy metal rocker. the party was born out of protests that become known as the sunflower movement, fronted by students to occupy parliament over a trade pact with china. the mpp isn't expected to come even close to the two main political parties, but with the opposition well positioned to take the presidency and control, it could lead to their favor. the dpp favors interest from taipei, not beijing. their candidate is the first woman to be a front runner in a presidential election. >> i expect she will be happy to have us there, because there are some very conservative groups in this dpp as well, so we can try to balance the atmosphere in parliament. >> reporter: and that includes social issues, such as women's rights, same-sex marriage, and the plight of indigenous people. increasing numbers of chinese tourists are visiting taiwan after more than 20 agreements we

live to scott heidler, in the capital forest, it comes before the ainnocencement on thursday, but it was expected, wasn't it. >> it was. mr chong was expected to be named for a second five year term of general secretary. official word will come out on thursday, when there are closing ceremonies for the national party, congress for about a week. today, wednesday, was the first time the central committee met. that's when they decided who would be on the paul it bureau, within that group, they re-elected mr chong to be the general secretary. there'll be many challenges for him and the new leadership over the coming years, and one that they'll focus on, maintaining the focus on, maintaining relationships and fostering relationships as the nation is more geopolitically important. >> following 2,000 years of confusionism in vietnam historical routes shared with neighbours to the north runs deep. the relationship is unsteady the last few years. this person has been a tour guide in the capital for 15 years. dedicated to confushes the temple of literature is a stop. his cop did suffer a fall

scott heidler, al jazeera, seoul. >>> the victims of a series of sexual assaults in colon are takingsts. >> i thought if we stayed here they could kill us. i thought we simply have to accept this. there was no one around to help us, or was in a position to help. all i wanted tz was to get out. >> translator: i tried to somehow defend myself. i tossed my arm backwards, because of that, i almost fell down the stairs. there was so many people that i no longer was in control of myself. >> translator: they felt like they were in power, and that they could do anything with the woman who were out in the streets partying. they touched us everywhere. it was truly terrible. >>> a leek began in late october in california. here is jennifer london. >> reporter: this is what an environmental disaster looks like. a massive gas leak. down wind of the leak, 30,000 people living in the up scale bedroom community of porter ranch, 28 miles north of downtown los angeles. >> it's impossible to go outside, we have to close all of the doors and windows. >> reporter: first came the smell. >> i thought i left

my colleague scott heidler has been following developments today on what has been an historic day >> reporter: a slight smile from the presidential front runner as she voted saturday morning. opposition candidate tsai ing-wen sticking to her message of independence. >> translation: i believe it was time for us to unite. we need a position that the people have a consensus on the national identity. >> reporter: on his area, he voted and where he repeated his promise to maintain good relations with beijing. >> translation: we will stick to the 1992 consensus which sees both sides recognise that there is one china but agree to disagree on its definition. >> reporter: this is the sixth presidential vote on the island since it became a democracy 20 years ago. they passed their ballot for president. it is a decision about which direction they want taiwan to go, continue to draw china closer or become more independent. directly tied to the relationship with china the economy. the last eight years of rule has seen massive growth of trade and money from the mainland. like what is happening acr