shifts in saudi arabia happen according to the rules of geology that upholds the oil wealth of the country and happen very slowly usually nothing happens for years and years and years and something shifts like in gee logical turblance and stable for years and the current leadership in saudi arabia will continue more or less the same policies that king abdullah had followed but they have to pay much more attention to regional issues than was the case in previous saudi monarchs. there is al-qaeda and arab peninsula and yemen which is in a situation and isis has its tentacles here and there in the region and many young saudis go off and join some of these militant groups these islamic militants groups like isis and others and there is a stress there within saudi society that causes small numbers of saudis

to go off and join some of these militant groups and saudis have an internal problem about 7, 8, 9 years ago with thousands of militants and they were put down by the very able security services. [captioning change] >> stability is guaranteed. there's never been eight doubt about stability in saudi arabia.

they've had several successions after the king was assassinated and occupation of the holy mosque. they've had stress says but made a smooth transition. the real issue is policy and addressing the internal disparities in terms of income, jobs self satisfaction among young saudis. you see on the internet and social media there's a tremendous universe of social media conversations going on. they are not revolutionary but activists. many young saudis expressing themselves and they can only do it on the internet. this is an opportunity for the young king to come to these issues and draw on the strong support that most of so you had rain has for the leadership. this is the chance to perhaps move in that direction. >> you make an important point about that subtle nuanced degree

of consensus that exists when it comes to the decision-making in saudi arabia, of course there is a senior leadership around the king and their opinions matter, as well. we definitely want to come back to you. i want to ask you about iran later. we have interesting points raised about how people are feeling inside saudi arabia right now. it may not be revolutionary but many want change. >> i think it's true that there are people who want change. i think they have to put into context what is happening around saudi arabia with the arab spring a great yearning on the part of many arabs or change, the beginning of the arab spring and concern about the direction change might take. put that go into context and looking internally into saudi arabia, you have in key segments of the population a young

population relatively young population a great move toward education. thousands of students sent abroad to study they pick up different ideas thinking 2012 alone, 130,000 saudi students were abroad studying. that brings demands for change. that brings a different way of looking at the world. all that have trend -- >> they don't stay abroad, they come back home. >> they come back and many were given good, key positions within the state. then you've also got this sort of split and dichotomy going on in some parts of saudi arabia where you have more traditional circles and you have what is being called the more liberal because these are relative terms, you know, actually, i hate to use them, but just to get the idea of what we're talking about, there are different segments of sawed society that have different visions of how their country

should change and how saudis should live their life, how the role of religion is interpreted and what the role of authority and politics should be. >> and i guess how things should change for women in the country well. >> that's one of the issues. the late king abdullah did speak in 2005 about his vision that women would one day be allowed to drive. women in saudi arabia, you know, it's a mixed picture. i think one tends in the media to paint it in black and white terms. there is education for women. there is a great amount of wealth that is owned and managed by women in saudi arabia, but women, many women live largely segregated lives and women are not able to drive. women do need male permission or guardian to do things even like opening a bank account. all of this is a balancing act between the traditional origins

of saudi arabia and the demand for reform and change and how far and how quickly different segments of saudi society want to see change go. >> thank you so much for bringing us a little more context around what we are seeing in saudi arabia right now. >> the former israel penalty said the death of king abdullah is a loss for peace in the middle east. >> i admired his position. i think it has influenced many people all around places and i do hope that his legacy, as well as his person will remain as a good memory for long serving his own people and a long line and important one to bring peace to the middle east. >> let's go back to the university of beirut, you were

speaking about the challenges that saudi arabia is facing in the region when you think about isil in iraq and syria you think about al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula in yemen just over the border from them. let me ask you about iran. how might the new king be sort of organizing or prioritizing right now? does iran top the security threats? >> i don't think iran is a security threat to saudi arabia. iran is a competitor for regional political weight and influence and the iranians have made it clear that they and the so you had des need a dialogue and to come to an agreement. the iranian prime minister was supposed to go to saudi arabia a few weeks ago but postponed it when harsh statements were made

about iran. there is a process of dialogue and coming to terms with each other between iran and saudi arabia. there's no question that that's going to happen very soon. the question is how much will that help lower the temperature and reduce some of the conflicts around the region, which are proxy battles often between saudi and iranian influences. saudi arabia and iran and iraq formerly were the big three powers around the gulf. iraq is in remission right now but iran and saudi arabia will have to fight a modus on a modus oprand. >>. they agree to coexist. >> if anything, you think about developments in the region and

then particularly how this proxy war between iran and saudi arabia that played out over the last few years. if anything, we seem to be looking at a deepening divide, deepening sectarianism. repercussions if these two countries continue poor relations, if you like, or, you know it doesn't seem to be heading towards any kind of helsinki scenario. >> not right now. there has been an exploitation of sect arian fears by all sides leaders have been exploiting sectarianism and people are blowing up each other's mosques and 16 goings and all kinds of crimes being committed and they are losing. isil is the great new threat that challenges everybody. the drop in income from oil

prices is a second threat and third is instability. some of these countries libya yemen, syria, parts of iraq, a lot of countries lebanon to some extent, a lot of countries are showing that they're quite brittle and this only endangers the bigger countries like saudi arabia and iran. my guess that is they will continue to test the waters in terms of promoting an official dialogue with each other, get to go a high level and addressing some of the big issues between them. there aren't really major security threats between them. that's my point. neither of them covets the other's territories but they are both political heavyweights and want to make sure their interests are taken into consideration when the other takes action. i think both have acted quite immaturely or irresponsible in pushing ahead on these issues

and instead, they and others in the region have been promoting conflicts by sending weapons and supporting different people. in lob anyone, we've seen this over the years and everybody loses. nobody gains from this process. ordinary people around the region are getting a bit irritated. >> what is going to be the catalyst to some kind of change? does it have to be a change of leadership on both sides? does it have to be political willingness to try to come to detente or get dialogue going or is it going to be a common threat like isil or al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula that units them both? >> it's going to be a common thing, isil is one the drop in oil prices created is another instability in the region, possible. you have a change in leadership in iran with rouhani as

president. it's an opportunity it's a win to reconsider some of these issues. the main issue is going to come from within those countries when they realize that of course, they are pursuing is not really bringing them the kind of peace and stability and normal life that they want. the saudis spending tens of billions of dollars supporting people around the region, and this is sustainable for a while but not eternally. the iranians don't have that kind of money anymore to support syria and hezbollah and all the other people that they are supporting around the region, so i would -- >> maybe it will be the economics that dictates politics and how the geopolitics play out. the oil prices are falling iran is bearing the brunt of this, but it seems saudi arabia is strong enough economically to weather, to tolerate a sustained fall in prices for the time

being. i'm wondering how that's going to affect what's happening in yemen, for example, when you have saudi funding that's been frozen for the government there as we see the houthi's strengthen that position in the country, and we know that there are accusations of iran backing the houthis, so there the conflict plays out. >> certainly the saudis have enormous financial reserves. they can withstand the drop in oil price that is exist now for two, three years and still not have huge problems. millions of saudis may start quietly asking is this the right policy for the future, if we send $10 billion to egypt every year and three or 4 billion to lebanon and to rebels in syria and other people. this is one of the issues you hear all over the gulf and ordinary citizens asking to please get a better idea of how

their national wealth is spent is the welfare of future generations postponed because current policies require tens of billions of dollars to be spent here or there sometimes in endless wars. these issues are discussed quietly, but not very much in public. yemen is one of the examples of saudi intervention that was very noble in trying to resolve the conflict. they i understander veined, heading the g.c.c., the gulf cooperation council in a very positive way as the saudis have done in other places throughout the region, palestinian and lebanon over the years. the saudis play a very constructive role in some areas of conflict and conflict resolution. in yemen they did their best. a transition started but then fell apart. yemen is an area that didn't as you can sealed as much as they wanted it to. it is a very, very dangerous

situation, because it's in these zones of chaos like in parts of yemen where groups like al-qaeda and isis and caliphatous groups emerge take root and start spreading and mobilizing and attracting people. that is the last thing the saudis want is these groups at their doorstep. >> thank you for putting it in perspective for us. thank you. >> now houthi rebel ins yemen are calling for the formation of military and presidential committee to say run the country after the resignation of the president. they are asking supporter to say stage mass rallies on friday in a show of force. we have the details. >> a down attack, shia houthi

rebels take stock of the damage. they're leaders were targeted in bomb attacks at a mosque and nearby home. across the country people have been react to go what they see as a houthi takeover, some in celebration, others in anger. in the city, they demonstrated a besieged president's resignation. >> he must not run away from taking responsibility, must complete the peaceful transition of power. we the people, will stand with him. >> the decision was made under pressure. he's been holed up in his room singles the palace and parliament were surrounded earlier this week. the houthis sign add broker deal after taking large parts of the area. they are demand ago bigger say in government. >> i want to assert again that the crisis can't be resolved

other than what you agreed about through the peace and national partnership agreement. i call on you all to have wisdom in national spirit and use political action and dialogue to promote the agreement. >> accept are activities in the south renewed calls for a split and some are fighting in the port city of aden. the only line of security against al-qaeda are saying they will no longer take orders from the capitol. some activists view this as the unraveling of hard gained reforms. >> after the militia houthi and counter revolution, they destroy all the news of our peaceful resolution and the most important thing that they destroyed is the peaceful nature. >> the houthis are accused of

colluding with the former president, a confluence of forces showing who now has power in yemen. >> a scholar at the middle east institute in washington d.c. said it will be difficult to resolve these deep divisions in yemen. >> part of the difficulty is that the houthis are backed by the iranians and the eatern tribes by the saudis. this would also be a proxy war that would fuel into it. it doesn't necessarily have to happen that way. i can see other ways. for example, last week, they were working on an agreement between the houthi and eastern tribes in which the eastern tribes agreed to maintain the flow of oil and flow of electricity into the western highlands from the east. they also agreed to not give ref final to al-qaeda. the two interests of the who the

fighting al-qaeda and maintaining the flow of oil and electrical power to the western populated areas of yemen. if a political deal could be reached, then the houthi may suffice with the agreement and not going into the east, but an agreement with eastern tribes is probably going to be an agreement also with saudi arabia because the saudis are playing a role that saudis from the d.c.c. have said the east is a red line for them. >> al jazeera continues to demand the release of our three colleagues imprisoned in egypt for 391 days. the three were falsely accused of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood, charges they deny. an appeals court has order add retrial. >> egypt's president al sisi would like to see the case against the al jazeera journalists resolved. here's what he had to say in davos at the world economic summit. >> we don't have any interest

whatsoever to put any citizen under detention journalists or otherwise, outside the rule of law. there is a point also that i would like to highlight here, which is we are trying very hard after four years of turbulence to regain the rule of law and to uphold the independence of the judiciary. >> the number of people killed in violence in ukraine has now exceeded 5,000 since last april. that's an estimate by the united nation human rights office, that number includes at least 260 people killed in the past nine days. >> indonesia is propping for a second round of executions despite objections from the international community. australia has called on the country to reconsider its decision to execute two of its countrymen for drug trafficking. members of the so-called barley nine it's not clear if they'll be next on the list as the indonesia government is still reviewing executions executed

last week. five foreigners were executed by fire squad monday. >> an attack happened near a village in sudan last week. doctors without borders have stopped treating patients, saying it's no longer safe because of increasing attacks in the area. a hospital was previously bombed in june last year. >> thailand's former prime minister has hit out at the military backed rulers saying the decision to out of the her ends democratic rule in the country. >> the vote that removed one of the most recognizable names in thai politics for five years the military appointed national legislative assembly voted to

indict the prime minister. 190 out of 219 voted to kick her out of office. the base for the impeachment, she ignored corruption within her failed rice subsidy program. it cost the country billions of dollars. defending it to the end she said it was to help poor farmers. some feel it was a move to out of the her from politics, regardless of the process. >> her impeachment is illegal since we no longer have a constitution. the military government did this for political reasons. they want yingluck out of politics and now are working on a criminal case. >> just before the vote took place, thailand's torn general

confirmed he'll file a criminal case over the rice subsidy program to be heard in the supreme court. if convicted she'll face at least 10 years in prison and not be allowed to reenter politics. with the news of the impeachment, red shirts, the supporters of yingluck's party. they still take their cues from the party. >> the party does not want to rock the boat. they want the government, this government the military government to function, because and to elect the people just for themselves but i am sure they are itching to come out. >> yingluck's legal team will protest the legality of the impeachment. the military insists it was legal. >> without achieving accountability and rule of law i don't think reconciliation will come. >> one thing both sides agree

on military rule cannot drag on. a path that returns thailand to democracy needs to be revealed soon. al jazeera bangkok. >> two days of landmark talks between the united states and cuba ended with both sides agreeing to meet again. discussions in havana are on restoring ties. >> the first ebola vaccine shipment is due to arrive in liberia. the first batch has been dispatched to the quest african state. the british pharmaceutical country said the shipment of the first vials of vaccine will be the first to arrive in the ebola infected african countries. >> india is pushing for a new solar energy deal with the united states during an upcoming visit with barack obama. india release on coal for most power and is currently the third

largest producer of coal. the country's already diversifying its electricity supply with large and small solar projects. >> every time he turns on the light, he saves money. he spent $1,500 setting up this micro solar unit, but says it's been worth it. >> to invest in this, you save $400 every year. that means you recoup investment in four to five years. after that, it's all profit. >> not everyone is willing to make the investment. electricity is still relatively cheap with two thirds of india's power needs met by ready available coal. advocates for solar power are convinced that the current preference for coal generated power will change. >> initially there are some technologies. they may have higher preference.

>> the hope is for fields like this become a common sight. the government aim is gore solar energy to contribute 8% of india's tomato electricity production by 2022. solar power generation is set to increase across india as governments and the private sector invest to bring it into the mainstream. there are challenges, including figure out long term effects. >> plants require a lot of land. some worry they'll encroach on agriculturally sensitive land. that's disputed. >> i think there are a lot of question masks.

>> an environmentalist recommends building smaller rooftop units on fall homes and government buildings. >> for india solar energy should be used on the existing land used, which means large solar based plants which requires huge amounts of land is not something india can afford. >> the government is responding with projects like this 10 megawhat the solar plant built over an existing can that will. right now there aren't many plants like it. still, his own experience suggests no matter how small the power plant it pays to go solar. >> world leaders attended the funeral of saudi arabia's king abdullah his body now moved from the mosque to its final resting place. we're going to bring you more on that in a few moment's time. these are the pictures coming to

us now from the saudi capitol. itol. >> every monday night, al jazeera america brings you controversial... >> we have to change those things in order to make our own lives better. >> entertaining... >> there was a lot of laughter. >> thought provoking... >> it doesn't change the world but it does influence the way people think. >> surprising... >> no edits! >> exclusive one on one interviews with the most interesting people of our time. >> if you have an agenda with >> if you have an agenda with people, you sometimes don't see the truth. >> conversations you won't find anywhere else. "talk to al jazeera". monday 9:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america.

>> welcome to the news hour from doha. our top stories leaders are gathering from across the arab world to pay their respects after the death of saudi arabia's king abdullah. the countries new king promises continuity and calls for solidarity among muslims. >> five killed in ukraine since april and the fighting is still escalating. >> all the