. >> we are not in a position to move on a path towards the future u.s. president obama hails an historic meeting with cuba's raul castro. hello, welcome to al jazeera, live from our headquarters in doha. also ahead - three saudi soldiers killed in fights with houthi rebels on the border of yemen kenya tells the u.n. to

close a refugee camp giving half a million somali refugees three months to lead and we met the best teacher in the world. u.s. president obama says his meeting with cuban president raul castro could be a turning point in u.s. relations with cuba and the region meeting on saturday at the summit of americas and panama as the first formal talks between the leaders of the two countries in two decades. lucia newman has more from pan ma city. >> reporter: it was the summit of profound symbolisms in panama whose country connects two oceans, half a century divide between communist cuba and the united states began to heel. >> we continue to make promise to establish diplomatic relations, and i call on

congress to work to lift the embargo that's been in place for decades. >> immediately after cuba's president recalled u.s. attempts to overthrow his government as he briefed his peers, for the first time since the 1959 cuban revolution. trnchts forgive me passion flows when i think about a resolution. i apologise to president obama who is not to blame for presidents before him. how many were there - 10. in my opinion president obama is an honest man. >> reporter: another first a meeting between castro and obama, both agreeing to disagree on conflicting views on human right and democracy. >> this is an unprecedented attempt to reset relations between 33 latin american and caribbean nations and the united states. relations that for more than a

century have been scarred i u.s. political and military interventions. one of the most recent in panama. that is why president obama's statement that the days are over when the united states couldn't meddle in the hemisphere with impunity resonated. but did not convince left wing peers. >> the u.s. legal interventions continue financing free process, dome okay rahsy and -- democracy and human rights in countries like venezuela, cuba and nicaragua cuba's return to the fold removed a thorn that hindered cooperation representing 40% of g.d.p. the differences between the united states and cuba have not disappeared. only perhaps the method used from now on to confront them

president emeritus believes that the u.s. congress will allow president obama to remove cuba from its list of state sponsors of terror. >> the most immediate thing is the removal of cuba from the black list the list of terrorist supporting countries. that was an item that the cubans insisted on for opening embassies. the state department made its recommendation it's the single most important step and the recommendation, from all reports, has been positive. obama says that he wants to review that recommendation. i think almost certainly within weeks we'll see that recommendation go off to congress for its 45 day waiting

period. and then we'll see. but my guess is that this is not going to be a big hurdle. there's very little argument for keeping cuba on the terrorist list. it's basically particularly when it's hosting a peace process between columbia and rebels. cuba is no longer a terrorist supporting nation that is clear. the saudi defence ministry says three soldiers have been killed by mortar shells happening at the saudi border province. the defence ministry blamed houthi rebels for the attack. our correspondent on the boarder with yemen told us how the death of saudi officers could impact the campaign. this confirms that the/houthis have been able during the last

few days come close to the border, at the border guards and the purpose for one of the major objectives of the saudi led strikes is not only to bring about change but also as they say, to defend the saudi borders to make sure that the conflict doesn't go over to saudi arabia. the killing of these border guards will push the saudis to try to change the tactics in this war in order to prevent concerns or growing concerns in the country. not only about the long-time it has taken them to achieve the goals in yemen, but the escalating dangers on the saudi arabia territory itself and we understand that there has always been a commentary by the saudi spokesman about the fact that saudi arabia will make a ground invasion and they have been

hesitating because they don't want cas umenties amongst the -- casualties amongst the soldiers. let's see how they change their strategies to avoid death among their people and soldiers. >> a second red cross plane landed in the yemeni capital sanaa. the u.n. called for the fighters to pause so that aid workers can deliver supplies safely. there is a shortage of food water and medicine. >> to the syrian city of aleppo eight people are reported to have been killed and dozens injured in the attack by rebel fighters. buildings were destroyed, dozens were trapped under the rubble. >> the baghdad bureau chief for reuters received death threats. he and two colleagues wrote a report detailing human rights abuses. it noted wide-spread looting and

arson in the city after it was recaptured by i.s.i.l. by forces and shia militias. they have been blamed for the damage. the threats were made against facebook and information joe is the deputy director of the middle east and north african area of human rights watch, and says they need to be more open with press freedom. >> it has implications for any journalists working with the media today in iraq. one of the most disturbing aspects of this is the extent to which prime minister abadie when he took office was saying positive things about holding people accountable. and taking militias into the national security forces and so forth. recently he's been moving at a

different, negative direction. on the matter of press freedoms he was making himself, unfortunate remarks about how certain journalists. he didn't name them certain journalists and media outlets were besmirching the honour of iraq and this kind of thing. they appeared to endorse the threats by militias. the kenyan government has given the u.n. three months to close a refugee camp and relocate half a million people. last week the group killed 148 people in a kenyan university. kenya accused al-shabab of sliding out in the refugee camp. >> reporter: the camps were constructed in the 1990s, covering an area of 15km. by 2011 with half a million living there. it was regarded as the largest in the world.

the vast majority are somali. in 2013, a tripartite agreement between kenya, somali and the u.n.h.c.r. agreed a plan for a repatriation back to somali. there has been tensions in the past. kenyan forces have been taking military action against militia for several years, and has adelaide that the camp has been used as a hide out by members of al-shabab. al-shabab gunmen killed 400 people in kenya in the past few years, including 67 victims during an attack and siege in 2013. the tipping point was the killing by gunmen of 148 kenyan students in garissa earlier this month, an attack which the deputy president described as a game changer, comparable to the way 9/11 attacks in new york changed policy. notwithstanding the 2013 repatriation the government issued an eviction notice giving the u.n. 12 weeks to

shift the camp and residents across the border into somali. kenya says if the deadline is not met, forces will move in and dismantle the camp. our correspondent mohammed adow has more from garissa, the scene of the al-shabab attack. >> it's the first time kenya has said that it is going to do their action of relocating the refugees itself in somali if the u.n.h.c.r. fails. it calls for the location of the refugees coming from the kenyan leaders, of a national and local level. it can be facing the brunt of insecurity that is currently going on in kenya, and the deputy president coming out and saying the refugees must be moved and if not kenya will do

it is a big deal. u.n. officials that spoke say it will be impossible to close the camps within the time frame. more coming up on al jazeera. the latest on the sentences in egypt for the muslim brotherhood's spiritual leader and the u.s. national on hunger strike. and why people in sudan's capital are turning their back on the chance to vote.

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these are the top stories on al jazeera. u.s. president obama says his meeting with cuban president raul castro could be a turning point in relation tos with cuba and the regions, the meeting between the leaders of the u.s. and cuba and the first in half a senty three army officers have been killed in the saudi arabia border province. saudis are blaming houthi rebels for the attack. the kenyan government has given the u.n. three months to close a refugee camp and relocate half a million. it accused al-shabab of hiding out in the camp turkey has sent troops to the south-east district follow a day of fighting with the outlawed kurdistan workers party. five p.k.k. fighters were killed and five kurdish fighters

wounded. jets were sent to the region. bernard smith has the latest from istanbul. >> reporter: the turkish military said they were exchanging fire with kurdish p.k.k. the turkish military said about 20 p.k.k. fighters opened fire with turkish forces near the border with iran. it's the most serious since peace with the p.k.k. party. politicians are using the fighting as a campaign tactic. there are elections in june. they believe the hd perform party is trying to take votes. recep tayyip erdogan is hoping

to win enough votes in the election to give him enough votes in parliament to change the constitution to create a more executive presidency an egyptian court confirmed a death sentence to the leader of the muslim brotherhood. it followed the removal of mohamed mursi in a military coup in 2013. we have this report. >> translation: i confirm the execution for a crime they are accused of. >> reporter: the moment mohammed badie, spiritual leader, was sentenced to death in a cairo court. 13 others were spared execution, but given life in prison for inciting chaos and violence. the men were among thousands detained after mohamed mursi, the nation's first democratically elected president was overthrown by the military in 2013.

a dual u.s.-egyptian citizen, mohammed sultan was given life for his ties with the brotherhood. >> i'm defending sultan, not because he's american. that's not the consideration of the defense. he'll take legal procedure to the verdict. other trials believe that he will be found innocent. >> 27-year-old sultan was arrested in august 2013, when security forces came looking for his father, a prominent member of the muslim brotherhood, and among those sentenced to death. the u.s. state department released a statement condemning the sentence, none of the defendants were present in court to hear their fates, read out by the judge that handed down life sentences to three egyptian journalists on saturday for spreading chaos. the committee for protecting journalists slammed the life

sentences calling it the latest in a deteriorating situation for press in egypt a vote to elect state governors in nigeria has been marred by violence seeing nine killed. this was the scene on saturday in port harcourt the capital of river state. police fired live ammunition to control protesters angry because voting materials had not arrived. monday voters in sudan head to the polls for presidential and parliamentary elections. the president has been in power since staging a coup in 1989. we go to khartoum. >> reporter: it's a breezery afternoon along the blue nile in khartoum, and the last weekend before the sudanese head to the polls to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. but politics does not seem to be on anyone's mind. we spoke to more than 30 people. it was hard to find someone

planning to vote. i want the elections to be fair and the ruler new. we are fed up with basheer. >> bash ear seized power in a coup in 1989 and is the only sitting president wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes in darfur. critics say he scratched civil liberties. as we saw at this presidential rally, he is a charismatic man backed by many especially women. they are said to be his biggest supporters. >> translation: we are here to provide a better way of living for citizens, and help the weak and the poor. we don't want anyone to be hungry. >> there are 10 me, one woman running against bashir. you wouldn't know it by watching television. >> i don't see it anything in tv. i see one person. i would like to see more options

so we can no. many say the economy is the most pressing issue facing sudan. the official unemployment rate is 18%, and inflation 37%. >> if the government is serious about dealing with the miserable economic reality, there are two things the government should do. one, cut government spending and, two, combat corruption. >> when elections begin on monday many sudanese expect five more years of the same. even as they long for change. bangladesh opposition leader has been hanged for war crimes committed during the 1971 independence struggle against pakistan. he is from an opposition party - he has hanged at the gaol sentenced to death by a special tribunal to try suspected war

criminals. security around the gaol has been stepped up in anticipation of a backlash from supporters. now, the irish government has been accused of betraying hundreds of women who survived a horrific medical procedure and want compensation. 1500 women were subjected to a procedure that involves cutting through the pelvic joint during

childbirth childbirth. >> this is what it looks like, a woman's pelvis opened with a saw to make childbirth easier. a blunt alternative to caesarian, widely believed endorsed by the catholic church to enable women having more babies, leaving mothers incontinent, act walk. it was declared torture and a compensation scheme brought in by the state on behalf of women crippled in their own hospitals. >> all doctors, consultants, obstetricians... >> reporter: the question is in whose interest has the scheme been constructed. any woman that accepts compensation signs away a right to take access, against anyone in ireland from the state itself to a doctor or religious institution. that looks like protecting the abusers. >> it's extremely difficult to understand why women in their '70s and '80s, who have been abused, and it's been accepted by a retired judge and are offered money should, in addition, be expected to indemnify the people who have abused them, and the institutions that have stood over that abuse. this is the retired judge hired to make decisions on the claims. maureen harding clark has been given an office at the department of health to assess what monetary value to put on suffering. several lawyers for the women

who wouldn't go on camera suggested she thought some victims may have been inventing symptoms to claim money. >> translation: she doesn't believe most of the women. when you have women crying in front of you, talking about sexual dysfunction, how they didn't bond to the children. it was desperate. >>: the department of health said judge clark hadn't raised the issue, and she couldn't speak to us while assessing the claim. it boils down to the accountability of the state. true enough it happened in the 20th century. many believe in ireland is to move forward, there should be a reckoning. and people should be accountable. >> two-thirds of the survivors received the minimum. >> 50,000 euros for women that spent a lifetime, decades of pain, agony, it's shocking.

>> reporter: as it stands, the irish church, state and medical professions protected themselves from explaining why hundreds of women had this done in childbirth. and the victims are the ones forced to offer that protection. for women in the final chapters of their lives, it can hardly feel like justice. now, a minute's silence was held at germany's wall 70 years after a concentration camp was liberated in 1945. survivors were among those that gathered in the former role call square. 250,000 prisoners were held 56,000 people were killed. the u.s. capital building was under lock down after a man apparently shot himself near an entrance to the building. the man was carrying a protest sign before pulling out a gun. it was crowded with courtists

this time of year for the annual cherry blossom festival hillary clinton is set to launch a 2016 presidential campaign according to various u.s. media reports. the former secretary of state is expected to make the announcement. it will be her second bid to be president. and she failed to win this 2008 against president obama now, the teacher named the best in the world doesn't care about test scores. and gives students a say in what they are taught. nancy nancy atwell beat thousands to wib a prize. >> the global teacher prize goes to... ..nancy atwell >> reporter: she has won what is referred to as the nobel prize of teaching. nancy is disheartened by current education policy in her own

country. >> i don't know if americans like children. >> reporter: she was picked from 5,000 international nominees as the first recipient of the global prize and will use the $1 million to enchance the center for teaching and learn, a school she founded not jsut for children and teachers. over several decades she placed an emphasis on giving students the independence to choose which cbooks to read, and the topics they want to write about. >> at other schools i would get a question to explain, and i never really thought about what was behind the math problem, what was behind the literature i was reading. i was finding the facts. >> reporter: it's an approach that contrasts with the prevailing orthodoxy in u.s. education called the common core a set of national standards. states have been given financial inducements to adopt standardized curricular and testing. these teachers contend it has a detrimental impact. >> they don't experience the

pleasure - i know you can't use that word when talking about education in america - buts they don't experience the pleasure of reading. she feels that education has been hijacked by self-interest groups, politicians, and multi technical companies. >> it will be cheaper and more profitable to claim that teachers are not teaching well, and they need different curricula, and only then will we have a high task force like china, and not admit that poverty and segregation are the issues in the country. middle class suburban districts are not in trouble. oush our city schools are in trouble. >> reporter: among those pays tribute to atwell and others was bill gates. >> our foundation believes in the power of teachers.

the power of teachers. he spends $200 million pushing the common core. he demonstrated a fundamental disrespect to atwell's profession. >> i think he believes that, what, school and learning and teaching are commodities like anything else. so you do the metrics, data analysis, find out what works, plug it in. you know, doesn't work that way. atwell's approach to teaching won international recognition, but in the u.s. there are powerful forces at work pushing teaching in the opposite direction. [ singing ]

dickcally any more. we need a nationwide effort. >> many teachers are paid 100 to $200 a month like this teacher in west java. they say more money has been made available for salaries but teachers need to improve their qualities, too. the future of 50 million indonesia school children are in their hands. al jazeera, west java. >> don't forget as always you