supply business with operations in china. that's our show. i'm ali velshi. thanks for joining us. ♪ good evening, everyone. this is al jazeera america. consequences, vladimir putin promises retaliation after pro russian activists are killed in ukraine. the u.s. skies that will be a great mistake. the suspect a guard, hires to protect them. over, israel declares an end to mideast peace talks. after two palestinian groups join forces. packing up, mountain everest climbing season ends before it opens and

after the disastrous avalanche. and what you don't know about the word's highest mount, mount everest the challenges and the drove in our special report. we begin tonight with the state of play, new criticism of russia, and new threats. secretary of state john kerry says russia is ignoring the global effort to reduce tension in the region. >> the window to change course is closing. president putin and russia face a choice. the international community, all of us, will welcome it. if russia does not, the world will make sure that the cost for russia will only grow. and as president obama reiterated earlier today, we are ready to act.

>> it has been a a day of plead shed in the east. trying to drive out pro russian elements that are still occupying buildings. government troops killed as many as five, -- and the incident angers russia's president says there will be consequences for the military action. russia also says it is holding more defense drills along the boarder. also today, an american journalist who was held in eastern ukraine has been released. but tensions in that city will remain high tonight, barn by phillips had this report from eastern ukraine. >> on the edge, these pictures apparently show ukraine's army doing something new, going on the offensive against pro russian separate itselfs. they advance, and fake over a roadblock that has been abandoned by the separatists.

and the skies above, ukrainian helicopters but on the ground, it's still the separatist gunman who are very much in control. and at least some residents seem grateful for their presence. >> it's just not possible to live with this government. that is passed these kinds of laws. i don't know, people say you don't love ukraine, my dear, everyone who was born here loves ukraine, but that doesn't mean you love their policies. >> but the attack never comes. and by mid afternoon, pro russians have taken back their check points. so, another day of hesitation and confusion. all though the government in kiev continues to talk tough. >> we demand that the russian federation stop interfering. stop permanent threats and black male, and move troops back on the eastern border of ukraine.

>> we found these. their odor redirect examination to fight what the cover calls terrorist but not hurt civilians and it is all the propaganda and misinformation, that's a difficult job. a family in shock, they are mourning a possibility tis who campaigned against pro russian separatists. they say he was tortured before he was murdered. he calls him the aggressor. both sides here, have now lost loves ones. and the danger is that with so much fear, and hatred, and suspicion in the air, that the momentum towards further violence will only increase. >> it's the national anthem, that ukraine's glory shoot noll die,

defiant words but they are sung in sorrow. today they have a martyr. and she steeling themselves for more to come. al jazeera, in eastern ukraine. >> now defiant words are also coming from russia's president, he says there will be consequences for the deaths of pro russian activists. peter sharp reports. >> thursday a day of fast moving developments in eastern ukraine, and the russian defin ministry announced that it was once again calling up it's troops for another major drill or exercise. military exercise. the defense minister said this was a direct response to the nato exercises going on at the same time. it sownes very cold war, i must say. the nato exercises going on, and also the presence of what he described as the ukraine's military machine. this consistents of around 11,000 troops, hundreds of tanks. a couple hundred army

personnel, and a squadron of fighter planes. in response to that, the defense ministry ordered the second major exercise in as many days. and that was proceeded by a statement by president putin warning that there would be consequences, if the russian supporters were in any way involved or injured in clashing with the ukraine forces. uh now to today's deadly attack in afghanistan. three americans were killed including a pediatrician. the white house condemned the attack. police say the gunman was an afghan security guard. carolyn malone reports. >> the shooting happened inside a well guarded hospital. the attacker was supposed to be protecting those

inside. one of the security guard opened fire on three foreign nationals. people outside the compound heard the attack. i heard gunfire, and then i was told that three were shot dead. >> one of the leading institutions in maternal health care. one of those killed was a pediatrician, who had been working in the hospital for seven years. >> they were not carrying guns they did not have military uniforms they came here under immense pressure, this was an inhumane attack. and unfortunately it will impact our health service. >> the motive is not yet known, but there have already been a number of attacks this year. a photographer was killed and another journalist injured after being shot by a police officer earlier this month.

as afghan forces gradually take over control of security, these types of attacks appear to show no sign of ending. carolyn malone, al jazeera. >> republican cazimmermann is a fellow at the trueman national security project. she is worked with the afghan police and military, and she joins us tonight from albany new york, rebecca, welcome. >> how well vetted are the services. >> their vetting requirements have increased in the last couple of years. that's in response to the larger problem of so called green on blue attacks against u.s. and other military fors. but the afghan public protection force of which this assailant was a part, actually is newer portion of the police. and so while they are also vetted some of them

are grandfathered in based on previous jobs they had. what are the biggest issues within that force? >> well, i think it's too early to say right now. this particular shooter, how long he has been in the force and so on. but the force was originally intended to bring in private sector security guards who had been working primarily doing highway security. but who the government felt had gone out of control of government and law enforcement. so by bringing this in, this would allow them to keep better tabs on them. that's a bit of a work in progress. >> as we heard in that report, there's a lot of people suggesting this will have an impact oen the country, and also health care, how security can werners who travel to

that country to work in hospitals feel about their safety? is. >> well, i can say in my own experience, from being in kabul and the rest of afghanistan, in the last year or so, afghanistan and particularly kabul, the mood has changed, certainly, that's true. and people are more inclined to be safety conscious to be a little more weary, a little more concerned, that said, obviously there's still thousands of foreign aid worker other foreigner whose are there working and who intend to continue their work. i know the hospital has said it plans to continue to providing care to women and children. for as long as they possibly can. >> if this is an visible increase toward. >> it's an increase, certainly towards

international civilians. they sort of ebbed and flows a bit, but in terms of civil january attacks. it is increasing but i am not sure we have a great handle on why. is this some orsed effort, or is this just the levy busting on an increasing level of frustration. among certain quarters of the afghan population. >> all right, rebecca zimmermann, rebecca, thank you very much. >> thank you. she knows this hospital very well, she has seen the crucial role that the facility has played. jennifer. >> the hospital is on the outskirts of capable, and it draws 37,000 patients a year, mainly women and

children, it has an intensive care unit for young children, it does turneries on women, and it isn't p just the medical procedures it is also the training. two doctors said that is such a huge part of their program. they bring in a largely american doctors to train afghan doctors in powers because it is so very much needed. the united nations says 30% of afghanistan has no access to health care, and this is a country that is one of the worst places to be a pregnant mother, or a young child, one in ten children will die before the age of five years old, those numbers are better than they were 12 years ago when the taliban felt, but still, a long way to go. s so this hospital is one of the best care that people can come to.

the real question now is can the government protect it's own hospitals. the man that opened fire, was part of the protection force, these are the people charged with guarding such facilities and we have seen over the past couple of year as lot of insider attacks. we saw an afghan army attacking forces that has gottenless and less, as they have increased the security, so now we are seeing softer targets. doctors at a hospital, obviously not wearing any protective gear, and i think that is the real question, the question is how much of the ranks have been infiltrated. the government has over the past year and a half, really beeped up it's prom of security, and how much that extends to the police force isn't clear. it is a hard in a country where there are very few computer records to keep track of who-is-who, where they came from, and

whey they want. so that i think is a real concern, and it is these kind of attacks that just create an aura of uncertainty. an aura of nobody really knows what will happen next, and that seems to be the mow tiff. jennifer, thank you for the insight. an american soldier captured in afghanistan in 2009, could be coming home soon, there are reports the taliban has been talking to the u.s. government about releasing bo burg doll. he may be exchange for five taliban prisoners held in guantanamo bay, the soldier was last seen in a december video. israel ended negotiations after a new agreement. reports from jerusalem. >> israeli prime minister today called on an emergency session of it's security cabinet, and after six hours of

deliberation, behind clears doors they unanimously decide to suspend on going talks. initials say they were blipped sided by the reckon six that was announced on wed. instead of choosing peace, referring to the president, formed an alliance with a murderous organization, that called for the destruction of israel. will response to action with a series of measures referring to possibly implementing more sanctions on the palestinian authority. >> the failure of the talks is a big set back for secretary of state, he has led the effort to try to broker peace. randall has that story. >> secretary of state isn't the first official who trie tries to get themo take steps towards peace, and he isn't the only

official that failed to get the two sides to overcome decades of conflict, and disinstruction. the most recent break down, came as palestinians tries to resolve their own differences. the u.s. led peace talks with steal. israel regarding hamas as a terrorist organization, and refuses to negotiate with them, or with the palestinian authority, should it unite. the developement was especially disappointing to john kerry, who spent nine months trying to get the two to agree to a frame work for patriot. >> we may see a way forward, but they aren't willing to make compromises it becomes very illusive.

we believe it is the only way to go. and right now it is in a very difficult point. and the leaders themselveses have to make decisions. it's up to them. >> but one expert says israel and the palestinians -- he does not expect any property any time soon. >> i don't know whether the negotiations can continue, but even if they do, it doesn't seem as if agreements are possibly. >> if the palestinians proceed with their agreement to unite, the u.s. says peace talks can only proceed if they recognize israel denounce violence, and commit themselveses to carrying out prior agreements. >> climb at your own risk that's the message to

adventure sceningers. the sherpas that guide climbers have gone on strike. reports from cat man due. >> it's nearly a week since the huge avalanche came crashing down, killing 13 guides. it is the worth mountain fatality, and resulted in hundreds of guides refusing to crime, until issues of life insurance, and medical coverage were addressed. there are promly 1500 guides. operators are depending on the climb, as much as 70 fie thousand dollars can be spent by an experienced climber to scale everest. the fall out of a season with no guides would be disastrous, for the climbing industry, let alone it's tourism. the month of may is peek season, and last week's incident couldn't have come at a worst time. all hoping to climb, but

with no guides to help, it is a nonstarter. on tuesday, the government offered to set up a fund. the funds would be financed from the everest climbing. if no solution is found, desperations and goals of many climber whose hoped to scale everest, will fall flat. coming up, our special report on the world's tallest mountain, and it's dangers. that's coming up at 8:30 eastern, 5:30 pacific time. now, president obama is wrapping up the first part of his asia tour tonight, leaving japan, and headed to seoul, south carolina, while in south korea. for disputes with china, over territory escalated, in south korea mr. obama is expected to warn north korea about pursuing a

nuclear agenda. at 1 point, he played soccer with a robot who also spoke english. he said he was impressed but also found it a little scary, because it was a little too life like. coming up, regulated e cigarettes the new rules for nicotine alternatives, plus, teaching old dogs new trigs how canines are helping in the battle against cancer.

>> on the next talk to al jazeera >> oscar winner sean penn shares his views on privacy rights, press freedom and his controversial relationship with hugo chavez >> talk to al jazeera only on al jazeera america

the food and drug's administration would require e cigarette makers to disclose the ingredients of their products. the fda also wants to ban sales to miners. clitics want the government to restrict sales on line, ban t.v. ads and fruit flavors that target the younger user. they are loyal, obedient, and amazingly complex noses. dogs are a lot more than just great pets. they make up half a dog's face for a reason.

the snow is the dog's most valuable tool. now researchers are trying to replicate it. have you noticed that dogs can identify a new cancer or is there something specific to oslavian cancer. >> guarded hospital can one dog detect all of them, is there a universal cancer odor, probably not. and so what we are trying to do is focus on individual cancers and find out what that is. i suspect we probably will always have individual tests for different cancers. >> the working dog center at penn school of veteran marry medicine, has been training dogs since founder, treated search and rescue canines during 9/11. now the wdc is training

ol' land, tsunami, and mcbane, to sniff out cancer cells in tissue and most recently blood. >> for more on these cancer sniffing dogs. phil, welcome. >> what kind of cancers can dogs sniff out. they can detect effectively time they have been testing. as you saw whether there's some universal smell for cancer, i don't think that's the case, so they are trying to specialize these dogs. ovaian cancer, and another target breast cancer. >> are they determining somebody has cancer, or one that might get cancer soon? >> it is mostly whether or not someone has cancer. so they are using tissue samples, urine sanks and the dog is smelling something in there that says there is cancer. >> what about the developement of the so called electronic nose, how close are they.

>> you know, this electronic most is relatively what they are shooting for. basically, take that machine that does so well at smelling things and try to make a machine that does that that's electronic. and really looks like there are a few years away. dogs have a few million years of evolution, and we just have a few years. so they are working on it. >> why an e nose? do they now want dogs in doctor's offices. >> you know, pretty universally no one wants to see them walking up and down the halls of hospitals. for one thing, they need a very controlled environment, additionally, with an electronic nose what they will be able to do is replicate that, and make something that's very reliable, and potentially send it around the world. >> have they been able to isolate the compound, or the odor that they sniff out? >> they haven't yet. they know the dogs are smelling something, but what that thing is they don't know. they don't know if it's

one particular smell, one compound, or a combination. but hopefully they will get there soon. >> in this week's episode of techno, you are also covering an amazing story of one woman's breast cancer story, tell us about it. >> yeah, all of this research in use of dogs came from anecdotes like this woman's. in which the dog was acting strangely, kind of indicates that something was with wrong, and kind of nudging her, and sure enough she went to the doctor and she had breast cancer, so scientists took a closer look. >> an amazing story. yaw can watch techno at it's new time. phil, thank you. >> an ice burg sick times the size of new york city is drifting away from antarctic. since the ice chunk broke off last fall, nasa says right now it is not a threat to shipping. coming up next, what you don't know about mount

everest, and the challenges sherpa's face. plus, the price of reaching the peak, are those taking the most risk, making the most money.

the word's highest peek, hundreds try to concur it every year. >> here we are. sum monthed mount everest. >> it is also a graveyard, passing the bottdys of those that lost those who survived have sherpa's to thank. >> all of the sherpas are taking all the risk, while the climbers are getting the glory. >> now on the of of peek climbing season, they are saying enough. too many risks not much reward. tonight the mountains challenges. and changing environment. what you don't know about mount everest. good evening in new york, it is 60 years ago next

month, that sir edmond hillary reached the peek of mount everest, since that day, there have been a lot of changes at the mountain. more than 4,000 people made the trek. three now of those climbs more than once, mount everest is located on the border of that pal and tribbett. it is 29,000 feet high, about ten times higher than the world's tallest building. the mountain has claimed the lives or more than 2,000 people, and it is not cheap to make this climb. you can expect to pay $75,000, but today some climbers are packing up their bags and leaving. the guide to take them up the mountain, they are refusing to make the trip to the top.

>> now some major expedition teams are calling off their plans. >> the government has been slightly unfair to everybody involved with the mountaineering business. we may a lot of fees and they don't always go to the people that deserve it. >> the avalanche happened. when the avalanche hit. chucks of ice, crash down

on them, aside from the 13 killed three others are zillion missing, presumed dead. >> they are going to talk to them about their countries. >> the business of mountain climbing and climbing mount everest is one of the few sources. a guide can make $2,000

every climbing season. the elite guides can make between four and 5,000-dollars in just two months. that's well above that pal's median income of $540 a year. but western with guys can make much more. they earn as much plus tips. nearly 1500 eckleson pierced mountain guides work here, across the huge him layian range. they have lent their trade over many years. their knowledge of the environment is vital for climbers, yet they have very little life or medical insurance in an emergency. the work is unpredifferentble and often dangerous. >> demonstratedded by the avalanche that killed at least 13. they say they need three more protection for the sherpas. while the climbers get all the glory, reflecting gear up and down, like many have for weeks

before they go up. >> it's not fair. it is height of the tourist season, visitors from across the world. 39.1 million people last year, attracting just under 800,000 that accounts for 4% of the national gdp. very clear as to what the authorities need to do now. primming solutions to implement what they are from, as the compensations. that have been effected by this. they need to act together to protect the guides.

are involved in this system, and who women and childrenned through with the private sector, to come into an activity solution. >> for many year whose meant they risk their live each season, no it won't be the last. there seems no sign that she were is pas want to climb any mountain, government official officie now extended the offer to climb for another three years giving them a validity of 5. so it seems those groups were because the season to potentially climb the world's peek. al jazeera, cat man due. seven times in his

career, he has ha big role in the rescue records. he is in seattle tonight, pete, welcome. very similar to the grief i felt in 96. all of the people lost tragically were all western climbers but it doesn't diminish the amount of grief i feel for the surviving people. they have taken on more

and more responsible, and have done that happily, have done that stoically. and they have accepted this amount of risk some people have called it accepting the outsources of risk of western with climbers towards the sherpas. obviously undercompensation issue, the lack of really superb rescue, and disability insurance. there just needs to be a referendum. and i think people need to stop looking at it through the prism of being a labor dispute. i think you are looking at economies of scale.

there's always been pressure to raise or to overcompensate but when you look at the fact that they are being paid ten times what the average citizen is actually working on. it's there needs to be a discuss about this, what is the proper compensation for them. there needs to be a more urgent discussion. there's no way we can effectively eliminate them, and we need to have this plan in place, to be able to manage the grief, and manage the needs for the families when the breadwinners have been killed injured or disabled. do you believe there's really a turning point. and the climbs. >> i don't think, i believe that this is an opportunity to have a

serious new narrative. for sherpas who perhaps see it as their destiny to go and to climb everest. i think we need to initiate a new one where we with see them in their own communities. while we see sherpa pilots or teachers. that are working in the hills in the southern foothills of everest. we see these different narratives that are taking place all throughout that pal, of course we understand that that pal is probably the second poorest country of asia. >> . where sorry together we are here on a sad occasion, but i'm hoping it does ignite a referendum, on facing all the climbers throughout

the world. >> me too, thank you. >> climbing the world highest peek is an enormous physical challenge, the risks are great. last week's avalanche is just an example. avalanches are most likely to happen after a fresh layer of snow. and open slope is more effective than changes in atmospheric conditions. freezing cold, and dangerous altitude all pose tremendous rest, for some perspective we turn to our science he is on a peek in california, jake, what are the challenges that climbers face? >> over 29,000 feet, with

an average low temperature of negative 31 degrees fahrenheit. we begin to go into death, and begin to slowly die. personally, i have experienced. bridges on a certain

paranoia, and it can also bring on hallucinations i believe things were in my bed, and i had to have people walk me everywhere, i was afraid of the dark. i cannot truly imagine what it is to try to survive at an altitude twice that high. and those athletes are not just trying to survive. they are not just eating and cooking and walking around. they are in fact, doing some of the hardest athletic work that one with could ever do. plus mother nature, and mount everest, concern that climate change is making the mountain even more dangerous.

group living in the himic leah region. the word is tibetan, it means eastern people, some work as expedition marry climbers. they serve as guider, carry supplies set up camps. they are essential to anyone climbing but they are would recollect is extremely dangerous. they are an estimated 150,000 sherpas in that area. those who work the mountain earn about $5,000 during climbing season. nearly 200 sherpas have died. working on that pal's mountain. joins us tonight, he is the president of the united sherpa association

here. ethnic lines' talk about the money. a little more than $400 to the families of the loved ones who were lost, what do you think of that amount. >> even in an animal -- to the base of mount everest, even though the prize of the job that

came out, and the animal, it's 40 to 50,000 group pictures, and they are being on equal to 40,000 ridiculous. it is not only just the amount, it is the not just the money trading we are talking about here. it is the respect that they deserve. to that pal, and to the sherpa community. and they are being treated in this way, just not fair. >> what about the company that planned these trips. what sort of respect do you think they are showing sherpas when they pay them so much less than other guys. >> the operators -- they are the middlemen between the western climbers and the climbing shelters.

so the company employed them, of course, they are business, and they look for the profit. and so they moral responsibility that the climbers that work on this mountain, very very hard, and with all honesty and honor. i think they have to take up this cause, because the garment is more serving to the people. the more association for ten, or like -- and not -- and nepalese. so they have more access to the government, so they should bring up this issue with the government. do you think they have being taken advantage of

for these companies. >> i think to some extent, yes, it is not true to all the companies. and they only try to represent the interest and europe is like the middleman who makes of course is to make a profit, so they will work on that. they have the model responsibility toward the climbers too. >> the climbing season done this year, do you think. >> what i hear from the news i have been told like this year we want to arrest the mountain, and i think many of the expeditions i think has been called off. and recently the ministry of tourism -- the minister, he went off the base camp and negotiate, i think they told them that i think we should rest the mountains this year.

in advantages of the group, and -- like the pulpit that they are for the season should be ready for another five years. clearly the discussion continues. the sherpa, welcome and thank you very much. for speaking with us tonight, we appreciate it. >> thank you so much. mount everest is one of the most beautiful destinations it is also one of the world's most polluted. this left their mark on this mountain. you wonder it would be a pristine environment. obviously they have let behind a lot of garbage, is there any chance of cleaning this up. >> the decades the

climbers have brought to climbing the mountain, doesn't really seem to extend into the sort of care that you would think they would take. everybody is onboard with not littering in the environment. that is try across the united states, you would think people paying five figures would treat it with more respect. well the prop is that it is a matter of life and death. sheaing even a couple of pounds off of your pack, can be the difference between getting down the mountain safely, and dying. the trouble is that when you throw things away in that environment, you are basically throwing it into a low pressure freezer which preserves it for all time. the stuff that comes out of people's hands is exactly as it was, when it left their hands in the 1970's. unfortunately that also extends to a grizzlier artifact, which there are bodies that have never come down, because the resources are not there, and those bodies are

exactly as they were when they let go of their last breath that's just how stark and otherworldly everest is. >> so we with have some is sense, other than the sad body that are left up there, how much garbage is along those trails? is. >> well, according to multitime climber ed byuers it is pretty overwhelming. here is what he had to say about it. >> my first trip to everest were the late 80's and early 90's, and i was with there and i saw what was there already, since 1953, when the first expedition to everest was there. the oxygen bottles that were discarded, the old tent sites that were just complete garbage dumps. and it slowly was building up, until the early 90's and we as guide services and outfitters, thought that we needed to start cleaning the mountain. not only bring down the stuff that we with were with carrying up, but also the kind of help bring down the stuff that was left behind.

that's been going on for a number of years the cleanup of everest. >> the napoli government has said that it is is going to require climbers to bring 18 pounds of garbage down per person, and so hopefully that will put some kind of dent into what is by all accounts absolutely fields of garbage, a place that is overwhelmed by oxygen bottles, wrap errs, food waste, and so hopefully we can put some sort of dent in this problem. >> jake ward, thank you. >> the saying is a native, she was born in the everest region, is is now an anthropologist. in our first person report, she talks about the life of sherpas. >> sherpa is an ethnic group, but the term has been used with porters and trekking guides and expedition workers. because in the past, most of the people who did those jobs were sherpas, the expedition workers

are having to pay most of the cost as far as safety and risk goes. whereas not getting enough insurance coverage and not being protected or supported if something happens to them. >> the region has seen a lot of people coming in, and going out. and it is now one of the biggest industries for the people, in every household in this region is directly or indirectly effected by tourism industry. so it has played an important role today. the sherpas are not boycotting this for good. at this time, they are going through the process of grieving in having to come to terms that they have just lost their friends only a few days ago. so it only makes sense that they don't want to climb at this time, but i don't think they are actually going to stop climbing the mountains.

it seems like they are going to boycott, nothing will happen, and the situation will continue. >> the fact they are saying they are going to boycott is hopefully going to put pressure on everyone to have more for the workers that are doing the real tough job, and putting their lives in danger. the expedition worker whose are working on the mountains make around three to $5,000 u.s. dollars. there is no one looking out for them, as far as safety goes. we fear that the situation is going to continue. are going to face the same kinds of difficulties and at the same time. by the state, or by the expeditions that they are working for. >> this is not the first

time, that they have died on the mountains. but i think this is the first time that they are able to come out and talk about the situation. making sure everyone understands that they are not there because it is their hobby, but rather because they see that as the only option to better their lives, better their families lives and make sure that their children are taken care of. but what happens when the expedition workers themselveses are killed who are going to support the families and take care of the children, i think that's the largest question that we need to talk about, and find answers to. tonight's freeze frame, 60 years ago, is the view of the first team of climbers organized to reach the top of mount everest.

our headlines are coming up right after this.

ukraine forces have killed several prorussia activists. moscow responded to the move with new military exercises along the eastern boarder. it needs to change course, or face more sanctions. the latest u.s. led efforts to broker a mideast peace deal have failed. with the palestinians after a unity agreement.

obama ended his visit in japan. offering security for territorial disputes get worse. those are the headlines, america tonight, with joey chen is up nix, and remember you can always get the latest news on line, at aljazeera.com. only america tonight, threats and more threats. the crisis in ukraine, was again this time the evidence of a russian roll getting a direct slap from the american president. we have seen them abide not by the city of the agreement. >> albuquerque again, days after a scathing report, officers for using excessive force another suspect is shot down killed by the police.