>> the death toll could be much higher than anyone'd known. >> posing as a buyer to get in there. >> 10,000 people are already dead mr. president, who should answer for those people? [music] >> hello welcome to the news hour. i'm jane dutton live from our headquarters in doha. coming up in the next 60 minutes. the houthi leader in yemen defends the group's takeover of the government, saying it was in the people's best interest. and diplomats meet.

and people elect the party. and venezuela's were as a matter of facts say it is not helping the situation. >> we begin in yemen where houthi leader has for the first time addressed his supporters since friday's coup. he justified the takeover calling it a revolution. the houthi criticized former president, president hadi, for stepping down, saying his resignation was a deliberate step to create a power vacuum. the houthi leader warned against those protesting his takeover of the government, saying it was the best thing for yemen. >> the yemeni people have a right to live a dig need life.

the yemeni people have a right to obtain their rights and wants. the historic movement by our people yesterday. this move comes to address the vacuum italy which other forces meant to undermine the efforts of our people, some political forces and collaborators within and outside of yemen fails to understand that the yemeni people are adamant that they will achieve their legitimate lawful and just demands. >> jamal joins us live from aden. you wonder who he was trying to convince jamal. >> indeed, at least those who were attending that speech, they were the if not entirely, almost completely supporters of the houthi minority in this country. he was trying to reach out to

internal players called it a revolution, and belonged to all yemenis, including those in the south, trying to appease those in the south of the country who have always been very angered at the way in which the country has been run in the north. and some of whom have angered to the point that they wanted separation. also regional powers politically the gulf countries and others saying that the revolution as he said this was needed to put an end to the advancement of al-qaeda fighters here in yemen. saying that he was doing yemen and other countries a favor by executing this power grab. he's bringing pluralism to the lateral fight. his only allies have been members of the former regime, the one ousted by the arab spring. right now he is a lonely man. but a lonely man who has a lot

of power indeed. >> it seems that if anything it's further polarized the country. you see a day of protests. >> indeed, we saw protests in the capitol in sanaa, even though they came under fire from houthi. and we also saw thousands of people take to the streets it has always had a strong, civil society there where they demonstrated democracy. we saw demonstrations overnight. last night and we're expecting similar ones tonight and added to that polarization, local

politicians who are responsible for the different cities, like the governor of aden and other places like idb, they said they will reject anything that would come down. and >> the united nations expressed disappointment. jamal had been working with the different political factions to find a solution to the political crisis but those talks failed. the u.n. said it regreats the unilateral statement by the houthies and calls on all matters to find a way forward through dialogue and consensus. let's take a closer look at how much of yemen the houthis control. they took sanaa in september. since then they managed to take

dozens of cities and towns in provinces in the north. they also had taken radaa and they face stiff opposition. these areas oppose the coup. powerful sunni tribes dominate the oil-rich regions in the east and have shut down oil production there. and in the south, they have been renewing their calls for independence. the rebels want maribb for the oil-rich resource there is to finance their government. >> thank you very much for joining us by phone. i'm just wondering what you make of al houthi's comments, and what you read in his intentions?

>> the whole political process started from three years ago. all the political--the whole country is heading towards perhaps-- >> but he says that the former president is responsible for what has happened. he said by him stepping down he commit created a power vacuum. >> well, i think one of the

groups they have disrupted the whole political process we have the army and security forces, and all the time, you know, threatening to hold the world at ransom. >> you're predicting anarchy excuse me talking over you. but i'm wondering what will happen next. you wonder how long the houthies will be in power.

saudi arabia will not be sending money their way. >> unfortunately they don't control 20% of the land. in the south where i come from, they have no power there. now people are just--i don't know where they're going to go from there. no one is going to cooperate with them inside the country or regional partners. they'll run it by hook and

crook, and it will be very difficult for them. the destruction and chaos, it's going to upset the process and now they'll get something out of it. perhaps in return to some concession. >> let's leave it there. thank you for talking with us. >> the crisis in eastern ukraine is the main focus of the security conference being held in germany. after meeting with russia's president vladimir putin to discuss a new peace plan, angela merkel joined other world leaders in talks. the talks of a renewed course of russia to defuse the situation. while russian foreign minister

sergeiv v lavrov the crisis will remain unresolved. >> don't tell us, show us, president putin. too many times president putin has promised peace and delivered tanks, troops and weapons. so we will continue to provide ukraine with security assistance not to encourage war, but to allow ukraine to defend itself. let me be clear. we do not believe there is a military solution in you rain. but let me be equally clear. we do not believe that russia has the right to do what they're doing. we believe we should effort an

attempt an honorable peace but we also believe that the people of ukraine have a right to defend themselves. >> they will discuss the new peace initiative during a phone call this weekend. we have reports. >> reporter: quite a dramatic moment here in munich when ukrainian president petro poroshenko took the floor. he displayed a whole bunch of passports and i.d.s and said that they belonged to russian soldiers and were found in ukraine. proof that russia continues to destabilize ukraine and is a threat for its territorial integrity. ukraine dominated the day. this seems to be a resist between the western allies. the u.s. has signaled more than once that it favored giving weapons to the government in kiev, we heard from angela merkel she did

not agree with that. that would be like adding oil to the fire, and she did not know that actually vladimir putin was saying he's losing in eastern ukraine if such a move would happen. >> the diplomatic push continues, pro-russian rebels have intensified shelling in the country's east. the separatists seem to be amazing fighters for new offenses. >> ukrainian army used to be in control here. these fighters say even in a trust is declare, they will never retreat. >> we need to keep this position because there is a large contingent of enemy forces. there were many ukrainian soldiers here, but we defeated them. >> the fighters say they're preparing to push forward a

kilometer where ukrainian soldiers have dug in. >> the separatests have taken control of the area a few days ago. they tell us they're busy consolidating their position here and removing bodies of ukrainian soldiers and civilians. fighters lead us to a house where ukrainian soldiers used during a battle. they say they'll take this dead ukrainian soldier away later in the day. the separatists and ukrainian military exchange their dead and prisoners increasingly regular largest citily now. on the walls of this room hang pictures that children drew in sport of the ukrainian army. >> we didn't capture this land or seize it. we liberated it. this is our land. >> there are very few people living here now. it's not exactly known how many civilians were killed in the fighting as is frequently the

case in this war. it is the old who are often the most reluctant to leave. >> i prefer to stay here because i don't want to be a burden for anyone. i want to live and die here. >> there are very few buildings unscathed by the conflict. burnt out shells of heavy weaponry. stray dogs that warm the streets. the occasional people have returned. the separatest fighters have cap captured hundreds of kilometers of land since. peace deal. no matter what the truce deal may offer there is no sign that they will withdrawal. al jazeera eastern ukraine. >> much to come on this news hour. the battle for iraq's second largest city, we meet the meant training to take mosul back from

isil. and in sport the president of african football accuses the media of exaggerating semifinal violence at the african cup of nations. >> dozens of people have been killed in two suicide-bombings in the iraqi capitol just hours before longstanding curfew is due to go lifted. one attacker targeted a local restaurant in a mainly shia neighborhood in eastern baghdad. 23 people were killed in that explosion. many more were injured. at least 13 people were killed in a separate attack in the commercial city area. it was a particularly brutal day. do we know what was behind it, what the inessential was? >> no one is really taking responsibility jane, but a lot of these attacks are linked to the fight against isil.

having said that it's very hard to tell--to disentangle really, who is responsible for the violence that plagued this city in this country over the last decade. some of it is political. on of it is criminal. but people out in the streets tonight, and into the next few hours aren't really focused so much on those bombings that took place just across the city. they're out enjoying themselves. the curfew, indeed, will be lifted for the first time in more than ten years. people will not have to rush home at midnight. the iraqi government, the new government said that because things are safer. it wants people to feel like they live in a more livable city and its taking other measures as well, including taking away some of the roadblocks that is snarling traffic around here. >> you do wonder about the timing jane. i know the u.n. released a report saying that some of the deaths in baghdad the most they've seen in years. you just wonder how wise this

move is, how they can promise security to those living there. >> well really, cracking down on the suicide-bomb eggs because that's what they really are is a matter of intelligence, not so much spotting the bombers that are out on the street. by that token they realize this is something that they need to work toward. to increase their intelligence capability. this city as well the city that has been taken over by militias to some extent, so some of these new measures put in place includes cracking down on weapons, heavy weapons as well as limiting security. convoys. right now you often see going through the streets more than a dozen vehicles. it's down to three interest is a determination that they can take steps to make the city feel

more livable. >> well, hundreds of sunni fighters are preparing an assault to take back their city from isil. the town is strategic because of its proximity to mosul damn, which controls most of iraq's water and power supplies. but there is concern over who will patrol the area if isil is forced out. >> they hide their faces because their families live under the rule of the islamic state of iraq and the levant. these men are being trained a few kilometers outside of the stay they want to recapture. they call themselves the sons of mosul. some of them have never been in battle. christians yazidis, kurds, arab

sunnies. they say they have come together to fight an enemy that has destroyed their city's history and the lives of its people. >> mosul is a microcosm of iraq. all of the communities live there. already the people inside are waiting for us to liberate them, and we're going to fight together. >> this general served in saddam hussein's army when it was dissolved in 2003 many iraqi sunnies like him found themselves without a job and without a place. mannedderscommanders and fighters were upset about how they were treated by saddam. the fight to push out isil from the city of mosul may an while away. it's not just a question of being ready militarily. the battle for iraq's second

largest city will require a political decision. >> there is still little reconciliation. the sunnies want to the authorities to speed up perhaps to create an initial guard, steps. >> sons of the city know who is good and who are terrorists. they won't treat everyone badly like they did in the arm. >> they say the national guard are purpose where the shia military army may not be trusted. in the highly symbolic city of mosul may be the beginning of the end and it may be the start.

al jazeera, northern iraq. late last year the uie suspended its involvement in the attacks after a pilot was captured by isil. the group ended up killing that pilot last month. al jazeera journalist mohamed fahmy, baher mohammed have now spend 406 days behind bars in egypt. they along with our colleague peter greste were accused of reporting false news and supporting the muslim brotherhood. charges they and al jazeera deny. peter is back home in australia after being released earlier this week. mohamed fahmy, baher mohammed are still in prison. al jazeera demands their immediate release. =fplt in the territory of delhi

millions show up to vote. it will be the first test of the popularity of president narendra modi's pjb party. we have reports from new delhi. >> reporter: they've been arriving since morning under tight security hundreds of polling stations across the indian capitol have been hope for the region's 13 million voters. they say they want a government that will take care of their basic needs. >> we vote so our roads will be fixed, and we'll get rational cards and creep water. but none of it remains. >> our roads are in bad shape. and there are electric and water problems. these are things that we want the government to fix. >> this ring is where india had

a seat of government. and this is where there is an election. >> the action is delivered to the states. since we have a prime minister who is focused on developing the joint, bringing it back on track, being able to do everything in terms of their dreams. >> the b.j.b. hats has brought in a former police officer they hope she'll have the touch to bring in the struggling party. >> this again i think revives the hope that it first generated

in the country. this idea that politics will no more remain the stronghold. of those who are privileged. >> both parts of have accused the other of violating the code of caught duct. but that didlast time it won enough seats to keep any party from winning an outright majority and could play a key major in this election. al jazeera, new delhi. >> in pakistan people took to the streets to demand a more clear report. most of the victims at the army school were children. parents of the students who were killed called for saturday's rally.

they're demanding that the government award the did with the highest military honers. still to come, bringing pressure on a country's finances. ♪ you're not just supposed to run and play ♪ >> find out one of the controversy over one of canada's favorite past times. wethis is a picture of sochi summer olympics olympics. we'll tell you why it's now being left out in the cold. >>...explosions going off we're not quite sure... >> fault lines

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>> al jazeera america presents a breakthrough television event. >> borderland long held beliefs... >> im really pissed off at the mexican government... >> give way to compassion...

>> if you feel tired, would you turn around and come back? >> our teams find out first hand how treacherous the migrants journey can be. >> we make them take a trip of death >> it is heartbreaking when you see the families on top of the rail car borderland continues only on al jazeera america >> a quick look at the top stories on al jazeera. in yemen the houthi leader has addressed his supporters for the first time since friday's coup. he justified the move calling it a revolution. he also warned those protesting the take over. at least 32 people have been killed in two suicide-bombings in the iraqi capitol just hours before a long-term curfew is due to be lifted. the local restaurant in a commercial area of the city

center were targeted. you as the shelling continues in eastern ukraine trying to find a diplomatic solution for crisis. anglega merkel says she's unsure of the peace will push for work. there has been more fighting in bengahzi. the security situation and plummeting oil prices are hurting the country. it's a worry that libya could face bankruptcy. >> it's these things that have kept libya's struggling economy from collapsing. in light of low oil production libya faces the potential to consume all of its financial assets if the situation does not stabilize. the national oil cooperation

overseas some of africa's largest oil reserves and provides the revenue for its economy. it pays the salaries of 1.7 million public employees. that may be why it's the only place where. works with government hand in hand. this has led to a deteriorateing situation. several oil facilities have had their loading ports oil fields and pipelines closed, and it continues to affect oil production falling from 1.6 million barrels a day to just over 200,000 barrels a day. >> these things are cyclic.

when supply is down demand is up. and now supply has grown. libya has the potential to export more than 1.6- 1.6-1.7 million barrels a di production that had has done before. the international community is not only concerned about the economic impacts of the attacks and oil fields but also the groups attacking them. the u.n. mission to libya has not been able to bring all sides together. it said that the recent attacks on the oil field are undermining the political process which all sides recently agreed upon. on the ground these plumes of smoke are replacing libya's gas

flares. >> venezuela's president nicolás maduro has announced the government will take over a supermarket chain that is accused of hoarding goods. >> people are lined up around the block all this to simply buy groceries. there is a shortage of provisions. now the government is taking over a leading supermarket chain whose stores have been occupied by soldiers in the last week. >> this network of supermarkets goes immediately under control starting tomorrow. the network assumes control of all the services of this chain that was paging a war against the people.

>> it's director was jailed friday. >> before when you needed a product you would go and buy it. now we have to hunt like people before who would have to go out and hunt. >> the lines for milk and everything missing in this country, they start quite early in the day. we check whether something new has arrived. we try to see what we can buy. >> and it's not just food. executives from the largest pharmacy chain are also being investigateed for alleged hoard hoarding. venezuela in the middle of an economic crisis. inflation is high and many staple goods are scarce, forcing thousands of people to spend their days waiting in line

al jazeera. >> joining me now is george, an assistant supervisors at drexel university in philadelphia. thank you for joining us. tell us what you think is happening at the moment. the economy is in at tars, tatters even before the oil you crisis. >> sure. you have an economy that involved as the president said hoarding and the private sector actively undermining this environment, and the massive smuggling of goods and gasoline across the border and the speculation on the currency that has been going on for a couple of years now. >> and they've mismanaged their oil, haven't they? >> i'm not sure that's the case. we're talking about the revolution, a government that has provided the basic necessities for the poor for more than a decade, more than 15 years now. this is not just to be clear in

the terms of this is being that people are not going hungry, but they're waiting in lines and they're paying more than they would like to pay. >> there is a concern of with a the fact on society, it's quite a violent society and people are angry. >> i think this take over of the super supermarket if it is going to engage for the goal of taking over private sector and raining in the private sector, it has been undermining the well-being of the venezuelan people that's a good sign. but if they're not going to tackle the issues that deal with the under lying economic questions, that this this is a symbolic gesture. >> where do you think this

leaves the government, ifings doing the right thing tackling the supermarket. how do you think the supermarket can get out of the problem at the moment. >> we've seen the approval rating of nicolás maduro has dropped, and it seems that no one is popular at this moment. to deal with the black market exchange rate, which is behind a lot of these employeecations and create a new way to import goods and distribute them in an effective way then you'll see the popularity of this government increase once again. >> thank you for talking us through this, environmentalists say an oil spill from a tanker near the galapagos island is a catastrophe. it has leaked more than 560,000

leaders of oil. the spill is threatening the delicate ecosystem on the island known for its giant tortoises birds and plants. a commission is scheduled for february 14th but there are safety concerns for areas where boko haram has been carrying out attacks. they have been having a hard time distributing voter cards. >> officials of the nigerian commission are discussing whether to postpone the elections from the 14th 6 february for a period of six weeks.

the voter card is vital for anyone who wants to cast their vote. they say that many people might be left out of the voting process the other reason is the insecurity in northern nigeria that boko haram instigated violence against people and displace many there. many may feel that they're not secure enough to come out and vote. and many feel in the absence of this voting may may not bring the representative and the will of the people. it would be interesting to see whether they'll have a consensus

on whether to postpone the elections or not. >> transasia has canceled 90 flights after a flight that crashed killing 39 people. the officials say that the pilots turned off the other engine after one failed. taiwan aviation officials con manned checks on remaining aircraft. we this is part one of a three-part series of depopulation. we travel to a town in china to meet two people leading the new trend. >> so much 6 modern china looks like this.

busy cities often indistinguishable from one another and choking on their own success. no wonder they've had enough of urban life.

>> it's a weekday morning in new york city and a line forms well before doors open at this east harlem food pantry. >> a line forms well before doors open at this east harlem

food pantry. inside the pantry the number of people needing food is only growing. congress cut $5 billion from snap the supplemental nutrition assistance program in 2013. because of that the new york common pantry, one of the largest in new york, serving 3 million meals annually reports a 26% increase in recipients in the last year. new york ranked four in a recent survey in cities around the globe with the highest percentage of millionaires. joelberg who heads the coalition against hunger said that as the city get healthier demand of the food kitchens he represents is only increasing. >> if they can't afford to pay represent they can't afford to buy food. >> and with less government aid for food the strain is on charities to fill the void and depend on donations to keep feeding new york's hungry.

>> any problems? >> no, absolutely no problems be but then 2,000 fans made it to the game, which is a 15,000 seater capacity seater stadium. no trouble at all. but there was increased security in anticipation of whatever could have happened. increased kurt more check points. fans were not allowed to bring in water bottles. there was a fear that there would be a re repeat of thursday's scene. but there was no trouble for the increased police presence here. >> earlier there was a press conference, what did they have to say about the events in the past few days? >> well, they had an event earlier, it was essentially to

promote africa football. but fresh on everyone's minds was what happened on thursday. 36 fans injured. 40 of them hospitalized. these images are beamed across the world and journalists were keen to know what the caf stance was on the issue. >> the press always drama advertise, in africa they begin talking about corruption. it's irrelevant that the semi final, it's a football match. >> in the finals due to be played in just under 24 hours between ghana and the rifery coast. but it feel like a record time

in under two months in equatorial guinea and the fans were proud to showcase the country to the world and being able to compete at the africa cup of nations where it must be said that they played incredibly well at fourth place. taking a bit of a shine off but in terms of the security perspective, they expect 36,000 fans. it will be a full house on sunday and there will be increased security for that game as well. >> thank you very much for that. in the english premiere league up against arsenal two

second half goals turned the game in tottenham's failure. >> i think this is special all that means we'll play very well. we show a team of passion and emotion. this is what is important to me. this energy. >> the top four teams in this year's rugby world seven series will qualify for next year's rio olympics. and new zealand second in the standings on home soil on saturday.

mark catchen cavendish has won the dubai tour. he printed to victory on saturday. this is the return to the podium after ashoulder injury. ice hockey great gordy howe, the 86-year-old was attending a celebrity sports dinner in canada showing improvement in his health. he holds the nhl record, he won the stanley cup four times with the detroit red wings. it's been year since the city of sochi has hosted the winter olympics at an estimated

$51 billion. it was the most expensive games every held. but in recent reports the olympics did leave a costly legacy. >> a dazzling open ceremony. president putin splashed out $50 billion, making these the world's most expensive games. but that was a year ago. the olympic torch has been extinguished, and today what looks left of sochi looks tired and empty. for sale signs on homes no one wants. apartments originally built for olympic athletes and guests were expected to be snapped up by the private sector after the games. they lie empty. >> all of this was for the olympics. and no infrastructure for people was built. if you're buying an apartment you will need shops supermarkets restaurant, but you won't find it here. >> and it's the same for the

olympic theme park. virtually gone when he were there. the games changed life forever in towns above the snow line. >> this was a small quiet village. it's all changed dramatically. >> but not all for the best. a car railway was curved through the mountains. at the end of the olympics russian railways, who had been operating free service during the games hiked their ticket prices again and again to try to recoop costs putting the price of tickets far beyond the means of local people, and in the face of empty trains the company canceled virtually the entire service. it was a legacy that they had

not been expecting. and the influx of tourists on the slopes never happened as relations between russian and the west soured. >> turkey is a big market for us. then you have the asian market, which is growing in outbound tourism. those are markets that sochi may be very attractive for. >> and there are attractions. putin's $50 billion price tag for the games will included a few extras. russia now has it's first formula one circuit and a contract to host the motor sport event. thanks to the olympics sochi has

a spanking new airport. now what it needs is flights from hong kong and the east to bring new life to the struggling nation. >> now to jane. >> we can bring you that story. china's population is expected to reach nearly 1.5 billion in in 2030. many people live in cities rather than rural areas because of job opportunities. but many are traveling back. we'll meet two people leading the new trend. >> so much of modern china looks like this. busy cities often in indistinguishable from one another and choking on their own success. no wonder so people have had enough of urban life. the village is now more than a thousand years old and now a focus of a movement drawing people back to the countryside.

>> the rural society is the base of the chinese life. if you want to understand this country, you should go to the countryside. >> ou ning is an artist who left beijing two years ago fed up with the pollution and traffic. since then he has been trying to revive life in this village. >> we opened a shop. >> in addition to the cafe he's paying for the construction of the new art gallery. for the first time in year laborers are actually finding work here. >> i hope that the local village will be satisfied with their income and everybody can commit more money. >> the hope is that tourists will come if they do, then ou will start to make money on his investments. last year he established the village's first bookstore before that it was a barn where cows slept. in 1978 when china began opening

its door to the outside world 80% of the country's population lived in villages like this one. but in the decades of economic development that followed, tens of millions of people moved to the cities, where job opportunities were much better. >> in the town's only shop the shop owner is encouraged by what is taking place. >> sure, more people will be coming back. more people, more customers. that makes my life easier. >> when i told my friends i was coming here their first response was how are you going to make a living? i try not to think about that. >> last year china's president xi jinping encouraged artists and others to live in the countryside. and an echo of the era where intellectuals and others were

sent to labor among the peasants peasants. >> winters in canada can be long cold and difficult. many people will get out to enjoy the snowy weather. city leaders say that it's too dangerous. we have reports from hamilton near toronto. >> it's as canadian as, well, winter itself. all you need is a toboggan and a snow-covered hill, and you're off. >> you spending time with the kids. having a good time. going fast. you guys ready? one, two three. >> maybe so, but here in

hamilton sliding down a hill like this is illegal. several years ago the city lost a lawsuit brought by a man who broke his bag while tobogganing. the local bye law is an attempt to prevent that from happening again. >> we have close to 500 parks in the city of hamilton. some of which present an optimum environment for toe backening. i.e. they have hills. it's an uncontrollable consideration for us. >> on social media and on stage she says it's about much more than restricting winter fun. >> i think it's a bigger issue than that. i think it's something that as a culture we have to stand for and

we have to stand for our rights. we choose to slide down hills as the song says. >> there is no denying tobogganing is risky. two young canadians have died already in accidents on the hill. head injuries are a particular problem. >> this neurosurgeon says that helmets schuster be mandatory. >> if you're a parent out there and you've got kids who are itching to go tobogganing i think as a parent you should do everything you can to keep your kids safe. >> potentially dangerous yes and illegal. but on a cold canadian winter's day like this, there is really only one thing that you can do. al jazeera hamilton. >> we had our moments but thanks for staying with us on this news hour. jenna in london is next. thanks for watching.

there has to be elections >> every monday, join us for exclusive... revealing... and surprising talks with the most interesting people of our time... talk to al jazeera part of our special black history month coverage on al jazeea america

>> the new al jazeera america primetime. get the real news you've been looking for. >> now everybody in this country can hear them. >> at 7:00, a thorough of the day's events. >> at the end of the day, we're going to give you an intelligent, context driven, take on the day's news. >> then at 8:00, john seigenthaler digs deeper into the stories of the day. >> this is a complicated situation. how significant is it? >> and at 9:00, get a global perspective on the news. >> they're sending their government a message. >> organizing themselves.

>> people say they're finally fed up. >> weeknights, on al jazeera america primetime. if. >> as yemen houthies celebrate their take over of government, they say it's in the best interest of the people. this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up. hours after a series of deadly bombings in baghdad iraq lifts it's long-time tour could you as leaders discuss how to bring peace to eastern ukraine. the rebels tell al jazeera it won't give up any of the territory that they hold. venezuela's government takes over a