to be sure for anybody in the americans british as well as the society and they have air strikes that they will avoid civilian casualty particularly in this case it will be interspersed and related to the question of the effectiveness. i mean air strikes are great if you are going to battle with for example saddam hussein's army to kickoff the tanks and sand launchers and so on but in this case with small bands of fighters interspersed with civilians fighting in all sorts of uniform it's really hard to be effective without some kind of strong ground force and it's the same problem in the united states is facing in iraq and syria that air strikes alone don't get you much without a good local ally. >> bear in mind a spokesperson said it will continue until all objectives have been achieved. does it appear to you that some sort of ground force will need to be used? >> well i mean, they can

obviously they are somewhat subjective when they say all objectives are achieved. people said about the americans in vietnam you can just declare victory and get out. if they do intend to check houthi advance and cause them to go back and leave the capitol, allow the government to take power and so on they probably will need some ground forces and may not be saudi ground forces and societies don't have much experience and they may be able to work with the pakistanis or the egyptians or some of the larger ground force armies to do that but otherwise they can either have to lower their ambitions and goals or increase their capabilities. >> one final thought, a brief thought if you can, a lengthy war surely would destabilize the region? >> yes. but it's a region that is replete with a lengthy war so since you have this in iraq

afghanistan, syria, it's not clear to me how fighting would destabilize the entire region any more than what we have now. i think it's more a disaster for the yemen people. i think that is the main problem. >> richard white we appreciate your expertise and analysis and thanks there for joining us from washington d.c. and just reminder of course you can keep up to date with the latest stories covering on al jazeera going to our comprehensive website, that is what the front page looks like at the moment and address to click on to is al jazeera.com. al jazeera.com for all your international news and sport. ♪ amed widespread criticism arkansas governor says he will

not sign the religious freedom bill on his desk as is and wants changes to make sure it will not enable discrimination. over time with iran some international leaders say a nuclear deal is close but iran sees problems ahead. and minimum wage workers in seattle get a bump in pay but not everyone supports the plan. ♪ this is al jazeera america. live from new york city, i'm libby casey. a controversial bill supporters say is designed to protect religious freedom has been blocked in arkansas. the republican governor spoke a few minutes ago saying he is sending the bill back to lawmakers. he wants changes made amid widespread concerns the law would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. >> it's been my intention all

along that house bill 1228 the religious freedom restoration act be crafted in a way that mirrors the federal religious freedom and restoration act that was passed in 1993 and it was signed by president clinton. i came to congress after that but i sat on the judiciary committee and house of representatives that considered these amendments, had hearings on this federal religious freedom of restoration act and so i'm somewhat familiar with it. and how it's played out across the country, it was my intention because it does not cover state causes of action that we have a similar law in arkansas. and but we wanted to have it crafted similar to what is at the federal level. and to do that though changes need to be made. the bill that is on my desk at the present time does not

precisely mirror the federal law. it doesn't mirror it in a couple of ways. particularly allowing the first amendments to be asserted in the private litigation between parties or the reliance upon the state law and those claims. therefore i ask that changes be made in the legislation and i've asked that the leaders of the general assembly to recall the bill so that it can be amended to reflect the terms of the federal freedom and restoration act. in the alternative, it can be simply have some language changes so that those accommodations and changes can be made. so any of this done by recalling the legislation or having additional legislation that would accomplish those changes. >> reporter: some major businesses in arkansas including walmart, the state's largest

employer, had urged him to veto the measure. the bill in arkansas is very similar to one that is already law in indiana. politicians there are working to fix that law. it's already impacting this weekend's final four basketball tournament in indianapolis and the men's head basketball coach at the university of connecticut has decided not to attend some ncaa events connected with the championship. the university's president says yukon's coach will abide by a travel ban in place for state workers imposed by connecticut's governor. we spoke earlier with sports journalist gerad about the impact of protests and status of gay rights in the sports world. >> the magnitude of progress when a player comes outs of the closet is matched or maybe even surpassed possibly by the statement of the university of connecticut. the yukon huskys last year were champions of the tournament and

coaches do attend this weekend for the national association of basketball coaches convention so i think it's a glaring absence, it's a large statement and maybe connecticut is taking an opportunity here to make a statement at the right time. at some point somebody in a powerful position like the needs to step up and say, folks, come on can we please move on with times? this is a sledgehammer to the wall which still has not come down. we've seen strides made. i think the level of acceptance is there by and large. but by the people who employ those who want to live their lives openly and authentically i think that is where the problem is and the fact we see from a large -- from say the management side here being the state of connecticut and then the head of the university imposing this we are almost seeing a joining of forces and, boy, i think it's a great victory for civil rights for progress and for all of us. but we do have several issues and professional sports where

there are opportunities for cooperations to threaten to pull out from their sponsorships with sports leagues and unfortunately in today's world it seems the only way sometimes to make something happen that should happen is to publically embarrass somebody and i think that's what connecticut here is trying to do to the state of indiana. so if we see anything like that going forward from other sponsors, maybe telling a league, you know nike has a wonderful campaign called hash tag be true and terrific with the lbgt community and nike is supportive of our sports leagues and it's going on both sides, something is not there. there is a reason we don't have one out professional male sports player aside from robby rogers in major league soccer. >> reporter: talking hours after a deadline passed to reach a framework deal over iran's nuclear program and mixed signals if real progress has been made. simon mc-greger wood has the

latest from switzerland. >> it's clear that talks in lozan and stretched from late tuesday and well into the early hours of wednesday morning have made progress on a number of key issues. but it's not clear there has been enough progress for a full framework agreement. leaving the talks the iran foreign minister spoke of his optimism. >> we have been working since 7:30 in the morning and it has been a very long day for all delegations. we have accomplished quite a bit but people needed to get some rest and start over early in the morning. i hope that we can finalize the work on wednesday and hopefully start the process of drafting tomorrow. >> reporter: the russian foreign minister sergei fedorov was also upbeat as he headed out of the hotel in the early hours. he and both the chinese and french foreign ministers are no longer directly participating in the negotiations.

on wednesday morning there was a greater degree of caution from the british foreign minister and a warning that there is still difficult work to do. >> well i think we have a broad framework of understanding but there are still some key issues that have to be worked through, some of them are quite detailed and technical. so there is still quite a lot of work to do but we are on it now and we will keep going at it. >> reporter: negotiations to conclude some kind of framework agreement have continued on wednesday and secretary of state john kerry met one on one with i ran counterpart with a sense that talks are entering their final crucial hours and seems on balance the sides are going to fall short on the kind of agreement that really wanted to achieve her and foreign minister speaking to media saying the sides are working to a release of a press statement by the end of wednesday and also said there are key differences on things like sanctions and on iran's right to research and

development of key nuclear technologies. simon mc-greger wood al jazeera in lozan. we spoke earlier this morning with richard butler he is the former u.n. chief weapons inspector in iraq and says all signs in the negotiations may be too far apart. >> the track record is not good and that is why the negotiations are taking place. one of the key issues that we will need to be clarified if there is to being ament in lozan later today hopefully is they must answer the questions that the iaea the watchdog has been asking for quite some time and enormous incentive on both sides of the negotiations to get it done. on the other hand both sides have got swat extreme points at home and the congress of the united states saying this deal shouldn't be done at all and where the tail might wagon the

dog as it were that is part of the problem that needs to be addressed. >> reporter: in jerusalem today prime minister benjamin netanyahu repeated his view that the talks with iran will only yield a bad outcome. >> conceptions offering to iran would ensure a bad deal that would endanger israel, the middle east and the peace of the world. now is the time for the international community to insist on a better deal. a better deal would significantly roll back the infrastructure and link the eventual lifting of the restrictions on iran's nuclear program to a change in iran's behavior. >> reporter: iraqi officials are declaring victory of i.s.i.l. in tikrit and says the government has retaken the city center there, a major military push underway in tikrit for several weeks and u.s. led air strikes joined the fight in the

city last week and president obama lifted an arms freeze against egypt, he first imposed the block nearly two years ago after the military over threw the government and now clears a way for egyptian leaders to receive weapons from the west and jamie has the details. >> reporter: u.s. releasing additional military aid to egypt as egypt is playing a larger role in battling islamic state fighters in the region and helping out in the coalition that saudi arabia has put together to battle iran backed houthi trooped in yemen. president obama made a phone call to egyptian president al-sisi informing him of the decision. the united states will be releasing to egypt a dozen f-16 fight tear planer planes and 20 missiles and parts for tanks. the u.s. has been holding back on this aid because of the over throw of the democratic lyally

elected government of mohamed morsi 21 months ago but believes it's in the u.s. national security interest to provide this assistance to egypt so it can continue the fight. one thing the united states did not do is certify that egypt had made significant progress in democracy, human rights and the rule of law that was another condition for releasing some of that aid and the white house says president obama expressed those concerns in that phone call to egyptian president al-sisi. >> reporter: jamie mcintyre at the pentagon. nigeria president elect calls it a new day for a new nigeria and muhammadu buhari is making plans to take over power after defeating president goodluck jonathan saturday and spoke a short time ago. >> your vote have changed our nation and destiny for the good of all nigerians and they have

announced that i, muhammadu buhari shall be your next president. >> reporter: if first time the opposition has ever unseated the incumbent president in democratic elections. yvonne is live from abuja and thanks for being with us and muhammadu buhari lost to goodluck jonathan in the last election in 2011 and more than 800 people were killed in violence that followed. but this time it appears the reaction has been far more peaceful? >> that's right, it has been incredibly peaceful. people were really worried about the potential for violence not only because there was violence last time around when elections took place some four years ago but also because of just the close nature of this race. everybody predicted that it was going to be a very very close race between the two and have been flash points of electoral

violence particularly in parts of the north where we had elections and seen post election violence follow. the fears were so much that the two main candidates in this race muhammadu buhari who is president elect and goodluck jonathan signed a peace accord in january promising to run issue-based campaigns, to refrain from any insightful language that could invoke ethnic tribal or religious sentiment and those issues have been a problem before. thankfully things have been incredibly peaceful and a lot of analysts are saying that has a lot to do with the fact that president goodluck jonathan who is still legally the president until the end of may have conceded defeat and conceded defeat in a graceful manner. he has called for nigerians to accept the outcome. he said that he won't challenge the outcome. and that people should accept

that muhammadu buhari is the new president elect. president elect has also been calling for nigerians to now unite. he said that goodluck jonathan has nothing to fear and all of this is designed to you know calm any potential problem over the outcome of this race so thankfully yes very peaceful. >> briefly what is the political significance of muhammadu buhari's ability to win this election? >> well, it's of huge political significance. you know, there is a feeling that in africa you can't unseat an incumbent president. the culture of the president. the potential for election rigging. and what has happened here is historic in the sense that it's the first time in nigeria's independent history, post independent history, that is 1960 that the opposition, the political opposition have been

able to unseat a sitting president and a ruling party. so it's incredibly significant because for the first time in nigeria history there has been a peaceful transfer of power from one democrat to another through the ballot box in an election that many observers called free fair and transparent. so it's an incredibly historic moment in nigeria history and many are saying it's a warning, and a lesson to other african leaders that your people can remove you from power through the ballot box if they are unhappy with your performance and not met their expectations and if you have not delivered on the promises that you have made. >> live from abuja and thank you. well on the way to the highest minimum wage in the country starting today workers in seattle get the first bump in increased paychecks but not everyone supports the plan. ♪

>> part of al jazeera america's >> special month long evironmental focus fragile planet closing arguments will begin monday in the boston marathon bombing trial after defense rested the case and defense

called four people to testify today compared to 92 witnesses called by prosecutors and dzhokhar tsarnaev's attorneys admit his role in planting the bomb and their only goal is to convince the jury that his brother was the master mind of attack and hoping to avoid the death penalty with the strategy. high school graduation rates in america are at historic highs and more than 80% and show a troubling trend and low income minority students don't finish school and america tonight discovered an unlikely sector trying to rescue at risk urban students corporate america. >> reporter: three years of his childhood were spent in motels. stability, nonexistent. education, a real alcoholchallenge. >> i came to school angry and was very angry.

it takes me to a different place, you know. >> reporter: a place she left behind because of unique private school that changed her life. bates graduated from crystal ray in baltimore, maryland part of a network of 28 smile, private high schools across the u.s. the vast majority of their students live in poverty. >> what i'm asking you to do. >> reporter: derrick is dean of students in baltimore. he talks small class sizes, strict discipline and focused learning environment a demanding school. >> who is paying for this? >> corporate america. >> corporate america is putting inner city baltimore kids through school. >> reporter: more than 100 private donors including almost every company with a skyscraper in baltimore have jumped on board the crystal ray program.

and homeless at 14 is now a college senior. in fact, crystal ray's proudest achievement is that 100% of students who finish their program attend college. that is much higher than the national rate of 66%. but there is a snag in the success story, not everybody at crystal ray makes it. in fact, the school's graduation rate is 74%. almost identical to the baltimore city school system. in other words one in four students who enroll here won't finish. we have a radio show host and legal analyst who says the school is skimming the best and most motivated students out of the public school system. >> you take the best and the brightest students you put them into private schools and then the public school system is left to handle the masses.

i think that there needs to be a way for corporations to invest in the educational system across the board. >> reporter: gilbert is a skrr -- junior and family from the democratic republic of congo and a year away from graduation and gilbert is already selecting a college. and he credits the doors crystal ray opened for him, adam may, al jazeera, baltimore. straight ahead on al jazeera one of the most iconic characters from the 80s pacman gobbles his way to google maps.

>> i think we're into something that's bigger than us... >> that's the pain that your mother feels when you disrespect her son... >> me being here is defying all odds... >> they were patriots they wanted there country back >> al jazeera america presents the passion... >> onward.. >> pain... >> it's too much... >> ..and triumph... inspirational real life stories >> all these labels the world throws at you, that's what drives me to push.. >> of ordinary people >> i tasted the american dream, i liked it...

>> living extraordinary lives... >> if we could multiply this program, we could change the world >> from the best filmmakers of our time >> i give al jazeera tremendous credit, because it's not traditionally what broadcast journalism does >> the new home for original documentaries al jazeera america presents only on al jazeera america >> al jazeera america brings you a first hand look at the environmental issues, and new understanding of our changing world. >> it's the very beginning >> this was a storm of the decade >>...hurricane... >> we can save species... >> our special month long focus, fragile planet new york city has settled a lawsuit brought by disabled residents after super storm sandy. the citizens in 2012 complained they never received food stamps they say the city owed them and following the hurricane disabled workers were eligible for a special class of food stamps and

most are getting a raise in seattle and guaranteed $11 an hour thanks to the first phase of the new minimum wage law and this is the first step as allen tells us. >> it starts at this seattle restaurant and thousands of other businesses around the city, the push to a $15 an hour minimum wage this in a state of course that has the highest state-wide minimum wage right now in the country. it started as $15 and that was the campaign rallying cry and it will be $15 gradually and businesses of different sizes with different numbers of employees will phase this in over a number of years. 21 employees here at st. restaurant in seattle and will go to $10 and will be the minimum and everybody makes more than that already and owner saying he is concerned that the boost in minimum wage will start bumping the wages up for others too and he will find a way to

keep the business going. talking later to the socialist member of the seattle city council one of the prime movers to the push of $15 minimum wage and worried about enforcement, is the city doing enough to make sure employees are paying their people more and what it means to workers and businesses, we whether have more on that later and i'm with al jazeera, seattle, washington. in florida worries growing over a nuclear power plant miles outside miami. sea levels at the turkey point facility rising and we report that people are afraid it's a meltdown waiting to happen. >> reporter: miami, world famous for its bright lights beautiful beaches and beautiful people and billions of dollars over real estate. these boulevards are now on the front line of the battle against climate change and rising sea levels. >> it could be 60 or 80 or 100

years but it's guaranteed, the ocean is coming up. >> reporter: on the ocean just 25 miles south of the city lies turkey point nuclear power plant and operators and the government say it's secure against surging seas but critics call it a catastrophe waiting to happen. a potential repeat of one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. >> i'm not aware of anything they have done to harden the site since fukishima. >> rising waters and fierce in south florida. a character taking over your computer screen in celebration of april fool's day and google maps virtually streets has been transformed into pacman chomping ground and can play the game at any location they request in the address bar. thanks for joining us i'm libby casey and more new in a moment and get the latest headlines on our website, al jazeera.com.

>> the sad saudi military say that the attack outy fighters are to blame. you're watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up. nigeria's new president steps forward pledging to heal old wounds saying this is not the time for confrontation. fighting continues as isil storms a palestinian refugee camp in syria's capital. and fighting b