325 opened in north carolina at the amusement park. the first drop 81 degrees, almost straight down. it travels 95 miles per hour and the 32 passenger ride has 6,000 feet of track. and the highest .325 feet. it is one of the 10 tallest roller coasters in north america. i can't wait to ride it. that'll do it for this hour. the news continues with thomas drayton. >> you're going to do it. i'm not on it and i can feel it. hi, this is al jazeera america, i'm thomas drayton in new york. let's get you caught up on the top stories. despite three days of air strikes houthi rebels advance on yemen. nigerians vote for a president as they face violence and technical problems. [ singing ] family and friends remember loved ones lost in the

germanwings crash. over a century ago, the triangle shirt ways factory fire changed the political landscape for workers right. and tonight in a deeper look the changes in labour today. great to have you with us. foreign diplomats are shipped out of yemen as saudi arabia intensifies air strikes against targets. the united nations says it evacuated workers from sanaa. the area took numerous hits by a coalition-led air strike. jets targetting a base operated by houthis, and a headquarters near the airport. the air strikes targeted the strongholds of sadr and another. despite the air strikes houthi fighters advanced to the border of saudi arabia. in the south there has been a series of explosions at an arms

city in aden. officials don't know if it was hit by the strikes, it was looted hours before it exploded. thousands of protesters marched the street in taiz. expressing support for the saudi led military intervention. fighters captured much of the city. the fighting in yemen has been dominating the arab summit in egypt. they are calling on houthi fighters to surrender. omar al saleh has more. >> the president gets the critical backing he wants. a rare moment of agreement to curb the rise of the fighters. abd-rabbu mansour hadi is talking tough. >> i call on you to continue operation for the gang surrenderers. leaving state institutions and laying down the arms and returning all the weapons they

seized. >> reporter: leading the war, they were forced to take action to protect yemen. he remains open for dialogue with commissions. >> we wish we didn't have to take the decision. we stress that they are opening the door for political parties. they want to maintain the security. to meet under the umbrella of the d.c. c. rejecting the call against it and stop threats against regional countries. >> the saudis and gulf and arab states are nervous about the rise of iran. they feel the influence is creeping closer closer by way in the north and support for houthis in the south. air strikes are hitting positions on the other side of that border joint by artillery from the south-east side. fighter jets on saturday struck

multiple targets, including command and control centers and weapons depots. the coalition says the strikes were precise. the houthis say the air raids killed dozens including children, offer the last four days. the president who left the capital at the start of the military campaign urged arab leaders to stop the strikes. >> continuing dialogue is the best option to solve the problem, and not the military strikes. i hope arab leaders don't back a losing horse. you have tried the horse for four years. i call on you to take us to dialogue and elections and urge you to have mercy on the people of yemen. it could call on deaf ears. salah is accused by the u.n. and arab countries to cole ab

rament. the outcome could change yemen's political landscape and tip the challenge of powers. >> earlier michael eaves spoke with yemeni analyst, and he said leaders at the arab league summit must work to bring an end to the sectarian division and curb iran's influence in yemen. >> i think what they are trying to do here is stop the violence happening in their own states and that violence basically supported by iran. you can - and to support if to protect their own national security. if you look at yemen, the houthi in yemen, we are supported by the iranian. we never had sectarian war in yemen. yemeni need to pray in mosques toot and the houthis -- together, and the houthis are raising the flags, attacking fellow yemenis, going into tribal areas and attacking them.

there's a technical and logistical support. money and weapons coming in and they are trying to copy the motto, undermining the yemeni authorities, the elected government and also damaging the social fabrics in yemen. for the arabs, it's a matter of existing right now. the sectarian proxy war is across the arab world and iraq and syria and lebanon, and in yemen. it's threatening everyone our conversation earlier on yemen. another major story in nigeria, technical problems forcing a one-day extension of what is expected to be the closest presidential election since democratic rule 16 years ago. the polls remaining open because of issues with high-tech voting cards. on the ballad jonathan goodluck and chief retired general

muhammadu buhari. 56 million are registered to vote. we get more. >> raphael cast the vote for president and parliamentarian at the natural assembly office in abuja. he's one of 60 million taking part in an historic exercise. things wept smoothly. this process is happening in 120,000 locations across the country. >> i believe that it can be close to the level we want the country to go. the issue of unemployment security and structure. as expected there was violence in the north. several were killed when boko haram fighters attacked fighters. thousands were deployed to protect voters much in kaduna

state, where there has been violence voter registration was delayed by hours. hundreds died in fighting during the last election in 2011, voters were under terred. >> i shouldn't be afraid. my hands are there. there's nothing that i should fear for. choosing my leader is on my hands. even though somebody is angry with what i did, well, it doesn't have anything to do with my life. thousands monitored the vote. permanent cards were used for the first time in these elections. >> what they are doing is staking the pvc c and they are making sure it is in line.

it's taking time. until they identify that they are the right person. the incumbent voted. the main opposition did too. it's expected to be a tight race for the top job between the two men. >> voting has been extended. that's according to the electoral commission. it could mean that the final results are delayed for several days. to give you a background. nigeria gained independence in britain in 1960 it's the most populace country, it's a diverse area, with 250 different groups. the north is predominantly muslim the south christian. english is the official language. more than 500 are spoken in nigeria. the oil-based economy is the

largest in africa. the richest country in the continent has some of the poorest people. 70% of name earians live in poverty on $2 or less a day. for more i'd like to welcome paul lovett an associate professor at john hopkins. great to have you with us. >> thank you for having me. >> how would you characterise the process. >> the logistical problems - it's 158,000 polling places and only 300 required to be extended. this is the greatest surprise in nigerian political history. mohammed emerged as a competitive candidate when no one gave a chaps in october. this is a spectacular example of

oppositional democracy in nigeria. one that shocked everyone and i believe led to the postponement of the election for february to today because of the polls showing that the opposition party, the a perform c, was competitive with the ruling party. this is a shock and an example. possibilities of democracy in nigeria. >> it's a close one. do you feel the main issues have been addressed - economy, security corruption? >> this is an election where the major changes in nigeria is the incumbent always wins. this is the first challenge that i have ever observed especially in the republic where the challenger could make a set of critiques, and the electorate shifted. i was there in january, and the

shift was palpable. poem in the southern part of the country where muhammadu buhari was not popular were beginning to say we need a change. we lost enormous territory. and corruption is unacceptable. 16 years of - one party ruling has caused problems. we need to consider it. remember anyone that wins the election. they have to win 25% in two-thirds of the state. 24 states. it's an interesting election. one that is going to make a difference in nigeria one way for the other. >> we are watching in the wst. how will it affect the u.s. >> the u.s. has a family commitment to the stability of western africa. if nigeria goes into crisis

that'll be dens of millions of refugees mass disruption. you have 1.5 million eternally displaced people in refugees. that's the first regional stability. it's a major exporter of petroleum and gas into the markets. it could be disruptive. it is a fledgeling democracy and the americans are committed to supporting it. the american presidency the state department i believe needs to be stronger in making certain this is a clean election, and supporting the chairman of the electoral commission, who has worked tirelessly to introduce a system that will stop the corrupt voting registers. the card readers are used to measure whether someone was properly fingerprinted and registered voter because the previous corruption was based

upon inflated registries that undermined the elections. >> we see the voice of the people. paul a professor and associate director of african studies. great to have you on the program talks in iran's nuclear programme entered a critical stage, high-poured documents are -- high-powered diplomats gathered in bethlehem. >> the talks are at a crucial stage. last week it was the u.s. secretary of state and iranian's foreign minister. now others have arrived. first to get here. a hawk in the negotiations. >> iran absolutely as a right for nuclear power. it's a no as to a bomb. discussions have been difficult.

they are pressing ahead much what is important it the content of the agreement. i insist on the transparency of the mechanisms and controls so anyway agreement is expected. >> germany's foreign minister arrived. the u.k. russia and china are expected here during the weekend for what are expected to be intense discussions. at one secs between the u.s. secretary of state john kerry, and the foreign minister zarif both joked the talks would continue into the day. >> i expect evening night, midnight. >> morning. >> reporter: among the iranian delegation there seems to be a confidence. but the secretary, ernst monez was giving nothing away. >> mr secretary, are things going well? >> are you hopeful of a deal.

>> we are going. >> the hotel where the talks are taking place looks out over the lake and the alps. germany's minister told reporters when he looks at the mountains it remind him the hardest part of any climb is the last bit. that's why we are with the negotiations. >> james bays al jazeera a siege by al-shabab fighters at a hotel in somalia ended. the attack at the hotel in. somali capital started on friday. it took special forces 12 hours to free the hostages and clear the hotel. 24 people were killed including six attackers. among the hotel was the ambassador to switzerland. a 45-year-old somali woman from virginia. the u.s. stepped up a campaign in a battle for tikrit. the coalition forces carried out 18 air strikes. eight of those strikes targeted

tikrit. where the ground forces have been battling i.s.i.l. for control. the military said it took out i.s.i.l. vehicles and a potential car bomb. getting information about the germanwings plane crash, german authorities claim there's no indication that co-pilot andreas lubitz was motivated by terrorism. [ ♪ ] today near the crash site the families of the victims held a memorial. the service in the village of verp was attended -- le vernet was attended by local residents. many say they were deeply affected by the crash and came out in support. it is believed the co-pilot andreas lubitz was suffering clinical depression. he was apparently seeking treatment for vision problems that may have affected his ability to fly. the father of a victim is calling on airlines to check how

they treat pilots. simon mcgregor-wood reports much >> reporter: at the altar there were 150 candles, one for each vic tip. relatives -- victim. relatives and locals coming together to remember them. >> it's terrible. horrible for the families. there's no words for this. i'm broken. >> on the mountainside the tab of recovering remains and wreckage continues. system take another two weeks. a second black box is missing. the need for the data is less urgent now the cause for the crash is understood. trying to understand what drove andreas lubitz to a heinous act is the focus of the investigation. a german newspaper quotes a former girlfriend worried that it would affect his career and he talked of doing something dramatic that he would be remembered for. he was undergoing treatment for

an unspecified condition. he had a history of depression and flew when he was not supposed to. it raised questions about the suitabilitiy to fly. at dusseldorf the destination of the flight passengers paid tribute on saturday and signalled their determination to carry on flying. >> i don't have any concerns. i trust the airlines. i have flown countless times, i don't have a problem with it. it was sad, of course and i shed tears when i heard about it. we have to move on if it's okay to say that. >> on friday europe's aviation agency recommended all airlines adopt a policy of having two crew members in the cockpit at all time. lufthansa, and germanwings, promised relatives immediate examination of over $50,000. given what is known about the cause of that tragedy, the time bill for compensation will be much higher.

>> simon mcgregor-wood - paris. nearly two dozen people were injured in a plane crash. witnesses say the plane struck a silver hyundai near the campus. one person in the car had to be cut out of the vehicle. the train operator was hurt. two of the train's three cars derailed. workers rights - advocates say employees need unions not everyone believes it's the best thing for the economy. we take a look at the labour movement. and the ebola outbreak is not in the headlines often. but in one nation the fight to contain it goes on. >> weeknights on al jazeera america. >> join me as we bring you an in-depth look at the most important issues of the day. breaking it down. getting you the facts. it's the only place you'll find... the inside story. >> ray suarez hosts "inside story".

weeknights, 11:30 eastern. on al jazeera america.

welcome back for more than a century labour unions played an important role taking credit for winning higher pay,

shorter hours and better conditions. the role in american life shrunk dramatically. critics say it's harder for businesses to grow. tonight we look at the labour most today. with membership declining, and rite to work laws in states thought of union strongholds. the movement is trying to change and evolve. nowhere is it more apparent than in the industrial midwest. diane eastabrook brings this report from chicago. >> morning. >> reporter: in chicago manufacturers from around the world checked out supply chain technology at a trade show. >> our system will go through your order. the event held at the largest convention centre for three decades. a few years ago it and other exhibitors threatened to go elsewhere g chicago didn't network rule changes with labour unions to lower costs. the threat worked.

>> what are the exhibitors able to do now that they weren't a few years ago? >> prior to the work rule changes, exhibitors could not work or put anything in their themselves. >> reporter: this is a stronghold in a city with workers battled in the streets for an 8-hour work day and shut down traffic to the west coast for better wages. unions in illinois and of the rest of the nation feel the heat. membership dropped over the past three decades, and 25 states have rite to work laws making it illegal to force private sector workers to pay dues. there's pressure in illinois to become the next. >> we had a new breed of leaders. they see the possibility of a union free america. >> steven ashby teaches labour and relations at the university of illinois. he thinks corporate america has

gotten tougher in the last half century, he thinks unions have gotten softer. >> in the '50s, '60s, request '70s, there was a acial social accord between most agency suggests. that's been gone a long time. there's a lot of union leaders acting like it exists. >> in recent years, big legacy unions negotiate company friendly contract to help corporations compete. the last contract signed with the big three car-makers had a no strike clause and lower wages for new workers. some unions see opportunity in an improving economy and growing wage gap. >> i'm doug a worker at mcdonald's, and we too, have been fighting for $15 an hour and the right to form a union.

>> in chicago and across the nation fast food workers are rallying for a higher minimum wage with support from the union. it is trying to organise workers like nancy, who worked at mcdonald's for 12 years and makes $8.35 an hour. >> when i ask for it we deserve it. >> low-paying industries like fast food and services are rite for organising. but they think unions need to do a better job marketing to the users. >> if i'm in the union, that would be great - that's the attitude. if they are not in the union, they are not doing anything for me. that's a big problem. we'll lose the battle for public opinion. riding to work could be a benefit to unions it could force the labour leaders to be more involved with workers, building union membership.

>> reporter: one of the key events in the growth of american unions was the disaster that took place a century ago. labour leaders and workers gathered to remember those killed in a factory fire changing the political landscape for organised labour. >> reporter: the bells toll. [ bell tolls ] >> reporter: flowers are laid on the side walk and the building where dozens of workers lost their lives 104 years ago still stands. >> my grandmother and two aunts lay dead in the street right here. >> reporter: wednesday, people gathered on this corner of the west village to remember the triangle factory shirt fire. >> it was known as the fire that changed north america. >> joel is part of a coalition working on a memorial to remember the tragic event.

it was march 25th, 1911. immigrant women and children with few labour laws toiled at sewing machine for hours. >> that was where the factory was. >> it started in a scrap bin, within minutes the top three floors were engulfed in flames. the doors were locked. an iron fire escape buckled sending women and children plunging to their deaths. others escaped by parking in a working freight elevator only a few got out. don's relatives were in the fire, his great aunt got out. >> she slid down the elevator cable and landed on top of the people's heads. that was the last elevator to go up. >> many victims burnt to death. others chose another way to die. >> rather than being incinerated in the flames 60 jumped to their deaths. it was open in a few minutes.

146 people, mostly women and children were dead. >> reporter: work place regulations were changed swiftly. labour activists say there's more reforms that need to be enacted today. >> the same unsafe conditions that existed in america at the turn of the 20th century exists around the world. in 2012, a massive factory fire killed 117 in bangladesh. a year later in bangladesh a building that housed a garment factory collapsed, killing 1,000. this month human rights month released a report exposing inhumane conditions for gar workers in cambodia. while the triangle factory fire led to work place safety. joel said many workers are fighting for basic rights. >> if you look at this year's commemorative button we are all workers.

we are immigration justice. raising wages, the right to organise. you know you get the income and equality and safety in the workplace, these are things that my coalition hopes that this memorial will get people thinking about a reason why a century old tragedy was remembered this week. thinking and talking. joining us to take a deeper look at the labour most. is jeffrey, a worker at cornell university. and kirsty, a regional director from the association of american educators. great to have you both with us. as we look to the tragedy of it 100 years ago, what was the lasting impact? >> it shocked the conscience of the nation leading to two things. a fundamental question about unrestrained capitalism and the need for regulation. there were two interventions

that were pursued to deal with the tragedies. one was an active role and the second workers organising unions to protect themselves. it made a lot of progress. it wasn't until the 1970s, when we pass the legislation, that it provided for the occupational safety and health act. 4,000 worker die going to work. there's more work to be done. >> a lot of work needs to be done. here we are 80 years sings the national labour acts. where do we stand in protecting workers's rights. >> if we talk about unions. we can look at unions private and public saying that there are things that we do to make sure the laws are on the books. and workers are being protected. it sounds good. i listen to the 2-part add. it sounds warm and fuzzy,

there's app underbelly to the unions. that is some of the stuff that we are not talking about, hearing about. the pendulum swinging so far. i would agree there are benefits to a union, i would like to discuss the picture. >> what is the conversation we should be having? >> i think we should talk about individual freedoms and rights. workers that you know wan benefits of the union, but not the fluff that comes with it not the political power, money spent on politics inflated you know - i heard the other guest talk about this capitalism. and to be honest. you look at salaries of union leaders and they are far bigger than other, you know corporate big shots. people want protections. they want to belong to an association and be a professional. unfortunately unions put so much more into what they are doing, and people are learning about it

and don't like it. >> does the little guy lose out? >> i think the little guy is losing out because a fundamental problem is an increasingly unequal distribution of wealth that's not related. you made reference to the national relations act. we celebrate the 80th anniversary. when the act was passed. workers had depressed wages, and the act was passed as a matter of federal policy to promote the collective bargaining a way to raise the wam was to give workers the right to organise unionize and enjoy the benefits of bargaining it worked. 30% of the workforce was unionized and it was during those decades when the average wages, not just union workers, all workers wages roses. as unionisation climbs we see

wealth and power rising putting the economy at risk some called 2015 a tipping point. 20 states increased wages, wal-mart announced it would increase its wages, would you agree 2015 as a tipping point. >> i think there is. there's a consciousness of unequal distribution of wealth and static wages, and americans not numbering the american dream. the fact that wal-mart said it would raise wages, it's a result of organising on the part of low wage workers, immigrant workers, organising to raise their wages. it's a tipping point. >> do you agree with the assessment. >> actually, i take issue with the unequal distribution of wealth. our country was guilt on

capitalism. the idea that everybody should make the same wage is ridiculous, and living wage is the new flavour of the week. what is the living wage. it used to be that a mcdonald's worker was someone in high school or college. i don't know that making a burger was necessarily meant to be a career or a job to raise a family of four on. i don't poo poo anyone that does that for a living. it's not sustainable. paying $15 an hour to do a job held by high school students it's not sustainable. it's good and rainbows and yun corns, but if you look at the numbers, it doesn't make sense. it's not possible, that's not what the country is built on the idea that everyone is paid the same goes through life the same. that's the issue i have with the unions. they want everyone the same. doesn't matter if you are exceptional or not exception am you are the same as everywhere else and i have huge issues

with that. >> you were part of the union, what turns you off from the union model. >> for me being part of the teachers union, private sector it's a little different to the public sector. i was involved... >> how so. more accountability in the private sector. >> no collectively bargaining against the taxpayer doesn't make sense. no one is sitting at the table for the taxpayer. you have the in mates running the asylum and it doesn't make sense. there's a finite amount of money going into the public sector for people and employers and employees. to sit and suck it dry. we see school districts that have lost millions have been - you know where they lay off teachers trying to keep the benefits and salaries for teachers so we are seeing larger class sizes and less teachers because they are

maintaining union contracts. there's no one sitting for the taxpayer. the pendulum swung too far. >> you are waiting to respond. >> let me say is few things first. i'm the proud son and father of teachers represented by unions, and i'm disturbed by the demonization of teachers in this country. millions of whom go to work on the front lines, and the unions are the tranningest advocates for quality public education for all students number one. number two the notion that the people working in fast food restaurants are high school students is not true. a large number of people are depending on the jobs making it exceedingly difficult. no one is saying everyone should make the same wage. we have a distribution of wealth that is obscenement more people see that. the five heirs to the wall street empire control about $70 billion.

they have the same wealth as the bottom 30% of the american people. a lot of people realise it's tipping too far in the other direction. if you look at every post war, post recession recovering in the 1940s, and 1950s, 70, 80 90% of growth went to the bottom 90%. the top 10% have a larger share, so in the recovering from the 2008 recession, 95% of gains went to the top 10%. the pendulum is swinging into the wrong direction, society is moving into the wrong direction, and the decline of unions means that working people have stagnant wages, declining wages, less disposable income they can't spend money on foods and

services. it's a problem that can be solved in a number of ways. it nonetheless the benefits of collective bargaining. >> it's interesting. they'd like to join the union, if they could do something. people i think, recognise that unions will help them increase wages, get better benefits, enjoy safer conditions on the job. the reality is that while the national labour relations is bestowed on private sector workers, it no longer exists in the country. it requires an act of the courage for workers to unionize. >> i want to give a chance to respond. >> i appreciate that. it comes down to choice. the idea that you need bravery to start a union, i don't know if you belong to the union, my

counter part that is talking. there's so much said that i take issue with. i have been in the union, it takes bravery to stand up and say what are you spending my money on. i don't agree that takes bravery. that takes bravery. i don't remember what you asked me i'm fired up. >> let me move the conversation... >> i want to say one more thing. i want to touch on this the idea that we talk about demonizing people and i'm glad he stands up for teachers they are good people and we do good things. what about demonizing people. he talks about the waltons, and the family. they donate more to public education. i guarantee their foundation spends millions. when did it become wrong to live the dream. when did it become a bad dream. i'm blown away by that. who is it that enjoys wealth.

what is the cap of that. what are people allowed to make. i never said that everybody that works for mcdonald's is a high school student. i'm saying when i was in high school, that is who worked there. it's recently and i'm 40. i'm not terribly old or young, i'm in the middle there. now you see people demanding $15 an hour. i have four kids. it's not sustainable. it sounds on paper when you give facts and figures, but it doesn't work. >> what is the pathway to a stronger movement. >> the idea is reform. for too long unions relied on the fact that - compelled - this they are not compelled but forced to join. when you have people and money and members regardless it doesn't matter. i understand that we have a couple of right to work states and that movement is growing, in compulsory unionism everywhere

has to join. that money comes in. what is the incentive for doing what is right. there isn't any. we are seeing with the teachers union, because it came through for the right to work. we are starting to see local unions reform. they understand that they had to offer benefits that make sense, compelling people to join it's beneficial. any time that an employee can have a voice in the union, it's a good thing. i think right to work and getting a choice... >> can unions mobilize in new ways. >> i think they can, and there are, there's a lot of evidence that there's millions in motion recognising that the only way for the voice to be heard is if they organise. i just want to reference the notion of wal-mart and the wealth that the walt jobon family

is agrewing. today there are wal-mart workers collecting food stamps. there are such low wages that you and i subsidise the lower wages because the workers require food prices. it's a recognise by wal-mart that they are paying wages that are too low. i think that unions nad to become more creative, innovate innovative. every indication is that that's what they are doing. i think the future is very - to me is hopeful, but it's going to require workers joining together to tip the pendulum in a different direction. most recognise that the increase distribution of wealth upward which is what we see happening, is fundamentally undermining the american dream, a dream of prosperity and democracy. the concentration of wealth translates into a concentration of power.

money corrupts the democratic process, and contributes to cynicism on the part of people that don't feel they have a voice. >> we are running out of time. >> i'd like to say one more thing. >> when we see that there's a shift in our political culture, a time we live in an aspirational culture where workers had good wages, benefits, others looked at that and said that's wonderful, i want it. people say here is a unionized public servant with could becames, they have it i don't, they shouldn't. >> quickly, in fairness. >> two things - as far as the collective. i don't want a part of it. i know my worth. i don't want to be a cog and treated the same as everyone else. that's all i want to say. it's about choice. you want me to join and do that compel me. if unions are great and so

needed everyone given a choice will join them. that's the bottom line we'll leave it there. the conversation will continue. appreciate your time associate director at the cornell university and regional director for american educators, great to have you both. the right to work legislation gives the worker the right to decide whether or not to join or financially support a union. 25 states adopted right to work laws the recent withins being wisconsin. 14 others are considering similar proposals, and half of them are close to enacting right to work laws. michigan is looking into rights to cover firefighters and police. 60 years ago a third of workers in america belon to a union the number is one in 10. union membership has been declining, falling from a peak of 35% to just over 11% last year.

as i mentioned a conversation sure to continue. >> last week we took a deeper look at a question of whether freedom of religion is so important it comes ahead of basic rights. on thursday the religious freedom restoration act was signed. it's feared that it could allow business owners to deny services to gay people on religious grounds. we have an update. >> the backlash was immediate after indiana and arkansas sign legislation. hundreds rallied outside the courthouse against a law. some carried no hate in our state signs. with the 2015 men's final four to start in indiana next seat the n.c.a.a. is concerned about how the legislation could affect student athletes and employees. president mark emmer et is suggesting considering moving event and a major gaming

convention promised attendees discussions on whether to remain or say have become. the christian church disciple of christ may move their convenience. ball mart a large re -- wal-mart, a large retailer, issued a statement saying: apple's c.e.o. time cook expressed disappointment in the new law, and call on arkansas's government to veto in bit. >> thank you courtenay. coming up on al jazeera america - the latest measures taken in sierra leone to contain the ebola outbreak.

police in sierra leone are using force to enforce a lock down. officials say the curfew is

necessary to identify new cases. authorities in guinea are sending police to the border to stop anyone entering their country. the latest now. the only people allowed on the streets of sierra leone are health workers and officers enforceing a lock down to stop ebola spreading. officers are going door to door to it late cases. >> we have been in the fight for 10 months. people are tired, complacent. we want to remind them we have ebola, even though we only have it less. >> reporter: most are going what they are told and understand the need for strict measures. >> it's the right thing to do. the only way for the government to stop ebola. ebola spread from guinea to

other parts of west africa a year ago. dollar border controls on the verge of being declared bowl rr free. >> the only thing we need is international support. if you look at the setup liberia has, that's the same set up we have here. we'll fight the battle and succeed. we will not get any more cases on this side and not get any cases on that side. >> ebola is spread through bodily fluids and causes fever, diarrhoea, bleeding and death. two vaccines are tested in liberia. the head of the u.s. infectious disease center says ebola needs to be controlled across the region. the. >> the numbers in sierra leone and guinea are down from their peak. with ebola, which is an newer infection. when you have an outbreak of ebola. until you have got it under

control control, the last case, and you are down to zero, there's a threat of rebound. >> reporter: this outbreak has a lower mortality rate but has killed more than 2,000 people. it is one of the most dangerous viruses known, and tough action like a lockdown in sierra leone may tip the balance against it. still ahead on al jazeera america - why the empire state building and other landmarks around the world are going dark tonight.

global earth hour is underway. more than 7,000 cities, including new york are switching lights off for an hour to draw attention to environmental issues. you are looking live. the empire state building dimmed the top lights for about 20 minutes now.

in parish the city of lights went dark changing the look at the skyline. paris will host a conference at the end of the year. >> and the lights in tokyo were switched off earlier, allowing residents to enjoy candle light. this is the eighth year cities participated in the global awareness campaign. a check on your forecast. kevin corriveau joining us. i can't keep up with the changing temperatures. >> it's warm. out to the east we are talking about cold weather. we'll break records as we go to sunday. look at the satellite and the radar. i want to take you to mississippi, because we had snow in northern mississippi earlier today. that moved into parts of alabama. we didn't get akum hagsccumulationsaccumulations. that is how cold the air is. hard freeze warnings are nebula. and we are dealing with snow that is falling.

we saw a little over three inches of snow towards boston. to the south. two inches of snow. it will continue tore the next couple of hours. it will not be tremendous amounts, but between 2 and four. a little more towards the west. we are talking about possibly flurries over there. overnight lows 30. new york at 34. and we'll see a little bit of an increase in texture. it's not going -- temperature, but it's not going to make the average. to the west temperatures reaching to the high 90s. we got to 91 - well above average. we will not see much of a change. it's not too bad. it's above average, a high of 71. we are reaching to the 90s. >> summer spring - can't keep up. thank you the col eema volcano in

mexico continues to send a large plume of smoke over the west of the several small eruptions happened this morning. emergency officials warned residents to prepare for evacuation. the volcano is one of the most active in mexico american astronaut scott kelly and two russian cosmonauts are at the international space station, docking with the international space station a few hours after lumping from kazakhstan. kelly will -- launching from kazakhstan. kelly will spend a year, twice as long as any restaurant. scientists are studying how about the body reacts in space. >> we'll be up a long time. i couldn't do it with better guys. >> reporter: back on earth his medical data will be compared to that of his twin brother mark. thanks for joining us. i'm thomas drayton in new york.

i'll be back with another hour of news at 11:00pm eastern, 8:00 pacific. you can get the latest headlines joining us on aljazeera.com. stay with us. "america tonight" weekend starts now.

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