>> dozens killed in a suicide talk in a school in northeastern nigeria. >> we have the top stories here on al jazeera. fighting intensifies a day after the new government takes charge. we bring you exclusive pictures. plus remembering the victims of

malaysia airlines mh 17 crash. and when they'll start retrieving the wreckage in ukraine. we begin in nigeria, where an explosion has gone off for the second deer school in the northeastern state. at least 47 pupils were killed and dozens more wounded. the area which is under a state of emergency has seen similar attacks by boko haram fighters in the past. al jazeera's ahmed joins us. >> basically there is no claim of responsibility as of yet, but as you said, yobe has suffered from similar attacks from boko

haram, and this is not the second or third this year alone. there have been other attacks by boko haram, and this area is under the state of emergency imposed by the nigerian government. schools are targeted because it is what they fight against. they don't want children getting an education, they don't like the lifestyles. if you have a girl who is a teenager, you need to marry her off. not send her to school. young boys who are going to schools are probably going to become what they stand against, which is working for the government, or working for institutions of government. >> the government had said it had reaches an agreement with the group. where do those efforts stand now?

>> well, the government issued a statement celebrating a cease-fire agreement with boko haram. apparently they were not talking with the right people. they were probably talking with fridge elements with boko haram. a week ago they came out and said there is no agreement with the government. there is no cease-fire agreement, but the government insists that negotiations are going on. they have contact with boko haram in chad, and they continue to make contact with the group. but so far after the announcement there is no agreement with the nigerian government. the nigerian government came out and said yes, there is no agreement but they're working towards that end. >> thank you. in yemen there has been intense fighting between houthi rebels

and tribesmen. 30 fighters have been killed, and houthies have been expanding in the predominantly sunni region. the area has seen fighting for weeks now. it comes the day after yemen formed it's new government. we're joined now from sanaa. it looks like any hope that the houthi would pull out following the formation of the government seems to be disappearing? >> absolutely, and we expect the situation to further escalate. from the sources we've been talking through, the houthi fighters both in a village today, and prompts to retaliate defense the cease-fire. they destroyed a houthi position, it was a very

strategic area where the houthies have been positioned over the last few days. to say that they had killed fighters today. we expect the houthies to call for more reinforcement in that particular area and to move ahead. the houthies said they would continue in those areas. you're talking about an area which is a predominantly sunni, which ex-asker baits the divide here in yemen. >> now, talking about the new government, is it finding it's able to assert any authority across the country? >> it's a very weak government. very weak in the sense that it has no control over the capitol of sanaa. and it divided along sectarian and tribal lines. just to give you an idea, it has

not happened over some of the units of the republican guards. the most sophisticated and well trained in the capitol of sanaa. we expect to see reinforcements to try t to prevent further escalation. the problem now is that alomide is using this fighting and asking scribes men to join them in the fight telling them, you don't want what's happening. it's a fight between sunnies and shia. you have to fight or you lose more influence and territory. >> thanks for that. the iraqi army said that it has reached the center of the northern oil producing town of beiji. isil captured bei. >> i during an advance across

northern iraq. we have this exclusive report. >> just a day ago isil was said to be firmly in control. today the graffiti tells the story. the flag used by the group has been called by the iraqi security force slogan as the army takes large parts of beiji town. the taking of beiji was an early victory. the rapid deployment squad fighting along side. >> let all the young men join the armed forces. let them come here and join arms with their brothers to defend the country and expel isil. if we don't act now then isil will sweep us so we have to give big support to the youth to funny the fight against isil especially in the province. as it is considered the breaking

point for isil's advance towards baghdad. >> fighting continues, though, for the rest of the town. very early on isil established beiji as a command and control center for all of the territory that it controlled inside iraq. but it wasn't just about military strategy. it was also about business acumen. from beiji they control the oil smuggling operation which net them millions of dollars. iraqi security forces used helicopters to push isil fighters from the center of the town when they entered from the south and the west. the oil refinery has been the next big target. located 15 kilometers away, but their cut off from the town itself and are surrounded by iraqi forces. al jazeera, baghdad. >> activists in local media are reporting five nuclear engineers have been killed in an attack.

fighters ambushed their bus in the capitol of damascus. one of the engineers was an iranian national. according to state media, bashar al-assad said he would study a peace fire plan for aleppo. it's the third time he has visited syria since replacing in july. we have the latest from neighboring beirut. >> well, the syrian president bashar al-assad said he is ready to study the proposal. he made that statement after meeting to push for this initiative. in is about freezing the conflict in certain areas. this will ease the suffering in

certain areas. they believe that there is no peace deal. peace talks, they've tried that before in geneva. they need to find a way to reduce the violence. they need to allow aid to reach the millions of people. mistura is heading to homs to hold talks. this is just a first step. this is an humanitarian intervention, if you like. but groups we've talked to said that this is very important. they need to send monitors and peace keepers on the ground. there is a new initiative on the table. but we have to remember that the war is in its fourth year. >> the final vote in former vote from spain.

it does not show more than 80% favor a split. they have been celebrating the symbolic victory. they hold the rehearsal for the referendum in the future. chinese president ping and japan niece prime minister abe met in talks. >> reporter: the first major development during the annual apec summit did not take place from the scheduled conferences. it came from a meeting on the side line. a handshake two years in the making. china's president and snap japan's prime minister met. putting a freeze on the

relationship between ratio's two largest economy. it's raying global concern over region stability. >> no real efforts have been made by odometer side over the last several years to patch up, to find a compromise, and this is the first occasion where the two will at least shake hands and exchange at least a few words. >> the disagreement between china and japan has its impact outside the a be a thought relief for the ally of the united states which is bound militarily to protect it. but america needs to keep a cordial relationship with china. built back in 2008 for the olympics. more geopolitical discussions on the sidelines are expected over the next few days including the

fighting in eastern ukraine. tony abbott said that he would discuss the downing of the asian airliner with president putin. their leaders will have a private meeting on wednesday plotting out the relationship for the next few years. >> over the next five years nearly laugh of all economic growth outside of the united states is projected to come from right here in asia. that makes this region an incredible opportunity for creating jobs and economic growth in the united states. and any serious leader in america, whether in politics or in commerce recognizes that fact. >> as they pose for the first of two family photos a rare look at some of the world's superpowers together all on one stage. the venue allows them to meet face to face. but many feel it's too big of an event to achieve anything

significant in the name of asia pacific cooperation. >> well still ahead on al jazeera, why non-governmental organizations say they're being targeted by i didn't want ace government. and why u.n. peace keepers from thare pulling out from liberia.

>> welcome back. let's recap the headlines here in al jazeera. at least 47 pupils in northeast

nigeria have been killed in a bomb blast. students were gathering for a mourn assembly when the explosion happened. victims of the plasmati are all thought to be teenagers. no. yemen there is intense fighting between houthi rebels and tribesmen believed to be backed by al-qaeda. 30 people have been killed, houthiess have been expanding in the predominantly sunni area. the iraqi army said that it's reached the center of the oil producing town of beiji. isil captured beiji in june. there has been heavy shelling on the outskirts of donetsk. the violence threatens a delicate two-month-old cease-fire. at least 4,000 people have died

in the conflict in eastern ukraine. in netherlands memorials for the victims of the plane that crashed. ukraine said that the plane was shot down by pro russia separatists. russia strongly denies those allegations. we go to amsterdam. >> the formal part of the ceremony is now over. the dutch queen and king, and various politicians are staying for what is described as a an an informal session to listen to the relatives of those killed on mh 17. it wases a very moving ceremony.

several relatives spoke of their loss and off their grief, including a 13-year-old girl, who spoke incredibly touchingly about the loss of her mother. she said, i tell people that i'm doing okay, but inside my heart is breaking. i suppose the centerpiece of that ceremony was the reading out in very solemn tones of every name of the 298 passengers and crew on board. so an extremely emotional event which is continuing behind the scenes, as i say, with opportunities with those relatives to talk with king and queen and various politicians. >> now can there be closure for some of the relatives who were lost in that incident without real progress being made in the investigation? >> i think that's absolutely right. this may have provided some sense that the people are not grieving alone.

this is a national mourning that they're being supported by everyone in this country. but there are so many unanswered questions on there about what happened that day, and who was responsible on monday today in eastern ukraine. investigators were meant to start collecting bits of wreckage to help them piece together various sections of the plane to start a proper investigation, and perhaps one day find out who is responsible. we all know what the suspicions are. yet again not for the first time. the fighting has made that impossible with accusations, and counter accusations with who was causing the trouble, the shelling and who was preventing the process of thi from getting under way. it seems like a distant dream in terms of the process of the investigation, and trying to get justice for these victims remain

stalled. >> thanks for that. >> now monday is the deadline for human rights organizations in egypt to register under an old law that they say seeks to criminalize their work. over the last few years the government has tightened it's squeeze with a number of offices being raided and workers put on trial. activists say that the 2002002 law brings restrictions and there is concern that president al sisi is rolling back freedoms that formed the up rising against hosni mubarak. we spoke with a researcher at amnesty international. >> it's very clear, the egyptian government is giving human rights the options of handing over their independence or facing prosecution and seeing their organizations shattered.

we've seen the champion of human rights and rule of law shattered overnight. we've seen a campaign of fear and intimidation leveled. just last week we saw several leading civil rights organizations boycotting the review of egypt for fear of repiesals. the fear is that the damage has been done and today egypt has succeeded in silencing egypt's human rights organizations. >> now an armed group which operates in the peninsula has pledged allegiance to the islamic state in iraq and the levant. they made this announcement in a recording on its twitter account.

some survivors of the gas tragedy in india have become a hunger strike. they say they'll fast until the government offers compensation to victims of the industrial accident. a pesticide plant released 40 tons of deadly gas killing 4,000 people. more student protests are expected in mexico on monday. activists are demanding answers as to what happened to 43 student teachers missing since september. demonstrators tried to take over the national pal and tossed bombs. many protesters accuse the government of being involved in the disappearance. >> the chairman of the african union is meeting the new leader.

the west africa nation is under pressure to return to civilian rule after protesters forced president compaore from power earlier this month. leaders met to discuss the details of the transitional government. we have more. >> reporter: ththe president is in mootings in the building behind me. it will contain elements of the military and elements of the opposition and the former ruling party. now opposition parties and other groups met over the weekend, and they put together of our this interim government will look like. they seen have the power to take away things and make changes and hand back the opposition if they all agree then maybe some kind

of name will come forward. they are very adamant and say if they do not sit down they will impose sanctions. people are waiting to see what comes out of this meeting whether the e.u a.u. wins this battle or if they'll hang on to power a little bit longer. >> philippines announced it will withdraw its troops because of the outbreak. james bays reports. >> reporter: keeping the peace in liberia, but not for much longer. for the filipino troops who have been in the country as part of a peacekeeping mission for more than a decade, now because of the threat of ebola they're pulling out, and no other country is offering to take

their place. for now other countries with troops in liberia are staying put, but they are concerned. >> we're warned that 500 troops in liberia. we have the hospital there, so we are not alarmed the way, we have taken adequate measures to keep our troops so that they remain safe. >> all the three countries most effected by ebola are places that were already facing huge challenges. the u.n. peacekeeping mission in sierra leone may have closed over a year ago, but it is a nation suffering from the aftermath of its own civil war,

and guinea is an extremely poor country with coups and conflicts in its recent pass. the emergency created by ebola and the threat of a breakdown in security. >> the crisis of this magnitude, this horrible situation, can at any time give rise to breakage in the law and order. and the stability of the country. as i said, institutions are still not very strong and trains strains are enormous. the u.n. security council and general assembly will both be meeting in the next few days to discuss the ongoing ebola crisis. james bays, al jazeera, of the united nations. a verdict is expected in the case of a south korean ferry that capsized and killed 300

people. many of those who died from school children. we have reports from the court decision, that will bring little comfort to the families of the victims. >> their numbers have dwindled over the months but not the strength of feeling. groups come from all over cook drawn by a tragedy that has touched the national psyche. >> as korean citizens we come to pay respects for the victims and their families and we come for justice. >> these are some of the grieving family members who still make a daily trip to the site of the wreck. for them justice means a guilty verdict for the captain of the vessel seen leaving the ship early. he could get the death penalty: mobile phones recovered from the wreck show passengers, mostly

youngsters, remaining below the deck at the insistence of the crew. the pain has ebbed as families have returned home. just a few relatives remain at the gymnasium that remains as a dormitory. the court case will provide them little consolation. >> i don't think the death penalty solves anything. families who are still here have no emotion left. we are numb to the trial. >> what will ease their pain, the recovery of their loved ones' bodies that looks less likely in time. waters with notoriously strong currents the search of the wreck has to be limited to a few hours per day. but with the seas getting colder and the chance of the vessel breaking up, even that is harder to maintain. there is growing pressure to end

the search and raise the wreck. even that, and the memory of it will remain on the conscience. >> if you want to keep up-to-date about all the news items, www.aljazeera.com. >> close? not even close to being close. in the u.s. senate, in the house of representatives last night a route. it's inside story. >> hello, i'm ray suarez. polling firms and universities public their final surveys before the polls open nationwide. some incumbents were in trouble. the repu