>> part of al jazeera america's >> special month long evironmental focus fragile planet >> saudi-led airstrikes continue to target houthi fighters as much-needed aid finally aflights yemen. hello. you're watching al jazeera. also coming up in the show. anger and frustration at the polling station in nigeria as people gather to vote in state elections. a new chapter for u.s.-cuban relations p. and an one of a kind view of

earth. >> well, the saudi-led co-alation has stepped up its airstrikes in and around yemen's capital of sanaa. the recent target hit military operations including an arms depo. pakistan voted to stay out of the arabian saudi-led airstrikes. despite the violence planes carrying medical aid have landed for the first time since the saudi-led campaign began 17 days ago. we go to former adviser to the last three yemeni prime

ministers, joining us in studio, thank you for joining us. what does it look like to you? it doesn't look like the houthis are being pushed back? does it look like they'll disarm and go unilaterally to their stronghold. >> that's what it's looking like right now. i think in the south their future is very bleak, and they're on the run now. >> does this mean that we'll soon see talks between perhaps the houthis and some of their opponents? >> it will depend on the iranian stance. the iranians, if they come to the sense now and think that perhaps it is time for them to stoogeys to come back to the negotiating table and agree to the u.s. resolutions the security council previous

resolutions and perhaps those passed today and tomorrow, and then there could be chances for talks to get back again. >> okay, well, why do you say they're losing their appetite for the south. they gained even more surgery. >> yes you're right but this is the eastern flank of the south. the stronghold is aden and they're giving up badly. many people are fighting in the streets. if help comes any troops come to help these young people who are opposing them, then it would be just be an end in aden. but in the eastern side, this

was an attempt by them to try and draw attention to the other side of the former south yemen. >> talking about troops, how much of a set back to any plans to a ground. operation in pakistan's parliament saying we're not going to sign up to send ground troops to this one. >> i think the pakistani understand this--we don't want this to turn in a war between shia and sunni. as long as this conflict continues within the arab league then we have a better position to forward the case of yemen. >> we've got to talk go aid as well. the aid situation. we've seen now for the first time planes coming in. but how easy will it be to deliver that aid from the airports to the areas which really need aid?

>> sadly the aid has gone to the north, to the capital. and the aid is much needed in aden. yesterday they were threatening to starve people from hunger. the planes have arrived to sanaa and we're seeing aid shipped to the sea port and to cooperate with the local assistance groups so this aid could be distributed in the very much needed city of aiden. >> we'll leave it there for now. thank you so much. now final state elections in nigeria will begin in just a few hours. people are angry in some areas of the country because voting materials have not arrived.

police fire life ammunition to control the crowd. two weeks after presidential elections voters return to the polls to elect 36 36 governors and other state representatives. yvonne ndege is covering the polling stations for us. tell us how smoothly things are moving for you right now yvonne. >> well, back to that incident where we herds we heard gunfire. it was an attempt by security in this case and the independent international in favor of the ruling party the people's democratic party. shots were fired to see what was going on at this direction

centers. we wanted to stay there but we were told for our safe and security it was better to leave. we do see many people when are heavily. officials from the independent commission have not been up here. there are supposed to be six polling units where i am. i can see 20 or so voters queuings. what voters are telling us is they feel afraid, insimilar intimidateed that they don't want people to take part of this election and that the ruling party will steal this election. but we're here to see what will happen to see if people will

get an opportunity to vote, at least at this polling station so it's all organized and happening here. >> these are elections for budgets that touch the lives of ordinary nigerians. tell us more about that. >> well, sammy it's worth mentioning. but this election to choose, or the state assembly members as we call them here in nigeria. this is the epicenter facing up against the opposition, which is the all progressive congress party. there is a feeling that it's the richest oil producing state in nigeria and excite hundreds of

of. people think they don't want to let go of this state. as a consequence there has been pre-election violence in which 50 people have been killed. here's the short summary of what we're witnessing today. >> an opposition politician alleges nine people were killed when supporters of the ruling party attacked his room on april april 3rd. >> you can see that itch lost everything. >> vincent believes the attack was planned to stop him and other opposition candidates from running in saturday's election. voters will be deciding on.

people here are afraid there could be more violence. behind the fight something a battle for control between the two parties. it's the richest oil-preduesing state in the country. it contributes 10s of millions of dollars each year. but they have always voted for the pdp since the end of military rule six years ago and dpd won by a lapped slide victory. the opposition are not only acausing the ruling party of political killings. they say they're planning to rig saturday's vote. they say they know they're going to lose.

they know that they cannot win elections. they at any time. therefore they must go all out. >> opposition are already protesting the election and are promising more marchs if saturday's vote is not free and can i. >> it is a sign that police are worried that things are going wrong. >> the feeling here is that the ruling party do not want to let go of river state. they have throw everything securing this state particularly after the last of president goodluck jonathan, who is a member of the pdp. that's his party.

there is a feeling that this is state that they will let go off. the question is if the people will be able to vote freely. we've heard gunfire but where i am things are moving under way. we'll see what is happening as the day continues on. >> u.s. president barack obama has shaken hands with cuba's president. it's the highest meeting between the two sides since a half century ago. in 1957 u.s. 1957 relations between the two countries deteriorated with the u.s. breaking off tieing in 1961. there has been a home for the

cuban academy. it can only be overturned by congress. al jazeera'setered james base explains. >> arriving for a summit president obama started normalization with president raul four months ago. the two men charted briefly and shook hands. but then. a few moments. >> as the united states begins a new chapter in our relationship with cuba. we hope it will create an inenvironment that improves the lives of cuban people. >> the u.s. is keen to portray

the summit with the entire region. but there is one very significant cloud on the horizon. these protesters are angry about an executive order by president obama a month ago places sanctions on senior venezuela and president nick mass maduro. >> he made a point to visit place where citizens were killed more than a quarter of a century ago. >> i will speak about news and how to reach juniors. the haas kneereach. >> it's clear that it's still

alive. these comments from evo morales. >> now that they can't dominate us with military dictatorships what do they do? economic aggressions trying to rebound the anti- and if they can't divide they try to divide us. >> if the meeting between president obama and president cass degree goes ahead it will be an interesting and things will really have changed in this summit. james bays, panama city. >> much more to come, america's biggest group for gun owners. plus. >> i'm andrew simmons reporting on what could be the legacy of

the worst enough disaster in chernobyl.

unfortunately >>...hurricane... >> we can save species... >> our special month long focus, fragile planet >> thanks for joining us again. saudi-led coalition has stepped up airstrikes in and around yemen's capital of sanaa. houthi arms depo is among the targets hit. thawing relations between u.s. and cuba. the two leaders are expected to

hold a meeting at the summit of america's gathering. police in nigeria fire live ammunition to control a crowd angry because voting materials have not arrived. gunmen have attacked a labor camp in western pakistan killing at least 20 people. the attackers overpowed aid stuttgart and no group has claimed responsibility. but there have been several attacks in the separatist in the . lawyers argue that there is not

enough evidence to convict him which is why he's out on bill. that arrived in december, but he was not allowed to leave police cud. at leastpolice. >> they're struggling to defend the area by a push from isil into the neighborhood close by. the fighting comes just days after the military supported by thousands of shia militia took control of the city of tikrit. cross the way is a sunni muslim from that city. despite the fact that he should return he's too afraid to go home. >> i can't go back to tikrit

because of what we saw. the destruction we they caused. >> it is this group that some sunni residents accuse of burning homes looting and ransacking government buildings many sunni militants fled with their families to erbil in the northern northern kurdish region. >> what we see on television is that the shia militia has an impact. >> iraq's prime ministerment visited anbar to congratulation his fops for their victory and he has ordered the arrest breaking the law in areas i couldn't under government

control. it wants to build on the victory in tikrit and push into other isil barriers. but as the fighting intensifyies winning the crust could be difficult. >> in libya nine people have been killed and fighting in bengahzi. it was between bengahzi where they were two rival countries. the courts say it was proven that the two conspired to arrest the judge three years ago.

the jefe was presented 30 years in plus, and about the motivation for the charges. >> in ukraine thousands of children are born every year with congenital heart defects. well since the 1986 nuclear accident in chernobyl that number has grown troopers. >> the baby is only three and a half months old it's clinging ton life. his heart has been stopped, a machine takes over. >> the doctor needs what's become known as the chernobyl heart team. he said that most if not all of his cases relate to the 1986

nuclear accident. >> this baby was so big and so strange, and not usual. there is a high probability that it is relateed toierchernobyl. >> now this tiny heart is beating again and he has every chains to know that this baby will surprise. >> he went on a mission but then the surgeon who carried out the operation leads her patient to healthcare. she reafutures that the baby's mother, you can touch him he says touch him. he'll feel you.

>> he need operation. they have golden glands they may have golden hands but most of the funding for training and equipment have come from oversees. is surgeons are also flown in for more complex operations. but the doctor said that that help may not be enough knew. ukraine's government is making more budget cuts. >> we will not be able to provide surgeries life-saving surgeries. [ baby crying ] >> if this baby waits in line for the next operation the reality is unless there is more funding the life-saving work might be coming to the worse.

>> prosecutors say the scheme involving $800 million in bribes and other illegal funds. india and france has finally struck a deal in the purchase of fighter jets. they have been negotiate other a fighter jet for years. in u.s. state tennessee several republican presidential hopeless have been speaking promising to defend gun rights and fight back against what they see as restrictive laws. >> the 70,000 people who thronged the convention hall,

those who see personal gun ownership as not just a constitutional right but a hallowed tradition. people like this young man from arkansas who knowns four manned cuffs. >> more >> many here complain about what they call the media's distortion of their motives in they don't want to have to use that firearm, but they want it just to take care of their teams. shotting things up, that's not the case. >> while most of them are peer to see the guns and the gather, then i as republican hopers with a be willing to say that they will not preserve their rights but fight to expand them. >> it isish excusable that in washington the constitutional

right to bear arms is constantly in jeopardy. that's why i took action last month to roll back the restrictive gun laws. >> and ear and the others broaden their message to credit restate a central public. theme, that barack obama has been too lenient. >> why don't you focus more on keeping weapons out of the hands of islamic terrorists and less about how to keep guns without of americans. >> they warned the audience that hillary clinton would be worse than gun olders. now nasa and space x are planning to launch an one open year.

now that they prepare to receive the capital they're taking walks. >> breathtaking vase from earth. astronauts on board of the international space station captured the footage with 200-dollar cameras. these spacewalks took place in february and mark. they have prepared it so commercial spacecraft can dark. they're loss making changes to the station's arm which is due to launch from cape canaveral on thursday. now put in space x and electron.

>> go to www.aljazeera.com and all the stories we talked about are offered to you there. www.aljazeera.com. this week on "talk to al jazeera" u.n.i.c.e.f. executive director anthony lake. >> you see children everywhere who have not given up hope. if they haven't given up hope, what possible excuse can we have for giving up hope? as the syrian war enters its fifth year he says critical efforts are needed to stop millions of children becoming a lost generation. >> every one of those numbers is an individual child. but these kids are losing their ch