>> part of our month long look at working in america. "hard earned". desperate journeys nearly 900 migrants arrive in sicily after being rescued by european coast guards. ♪ ♪ hello, i am richelle carey you are watching al jazerra live from doha. also on the program. israel's african community in tel aviv protest against raceism and police brutality. two suspected gunmen shot dead in texas outsides an exhibition of cartoons of the prophet mohamed. plus. >> reporter: i am reporting from

the south china sea. we'll tell you why this is at the center of one of the world's biggest security flash points. ♪ ♪ hundreds of migrants rescued by european coast guards have arrived in the italian port. 877 people who were trying to reach europe by boat arrived shortly after midnight. more than 5,000 people have been rescued from the mediterranean sea over the past 48 hours. stefanie dekker has more from the port in sicily. >> reporter: just under 900 migrants have now arrived in the southern port here on the islands of sicily. we have seen a few people come off. the first people that came off a young mother with her child. we are being told that she gave birth ever soon before setting off across the mediterranean sea.

these people have endured a difficult and dangerous journey. we are being told by medical workers is the try or at this to screen them for any transmittible diseases which is why they have been kept on the boat to sometime. they will be brought to shore we are being told because of the huge number they will be split in in nba two groups, northern taken somewhere else to be processed the other 500 here on the ground. that means medical checks, identification they'll stay here for a couple of days perhaps and then moved on. but we spoke to unof the aid workers and she said it's not really that they need more help in the water international waters with more ships what they need is a real solution on the other side in lib yeah, that's where most of these people are coming from. that's the people in tel aviv protesting and rallying. 46 officers were injured. tensions rose when footage i've jewish ethiopian soldier being

beat edge by police merged last week. mike hannah reports. >> reporter: violence after hours of peaceful demonstration. the square named after an assassinated president who sought unity becomes a flash point in what most here call a jewish nation, one now divided. on the one side, israeli police and special forces. on the other a group of demonstrators led by ethiopian jews who have long argued that they have been marginalized and discriminated against because of the color of their skins. the protest began early in the day at a venue a number of kilometer as way from the square. the group is small but its impact on an already a on the i can tel aviv traffic is far out of proportion to its size no. permission was granted for this gathering, police at this points standing by attempting to

prevent the crowd from moving further in to the traffic. many of these protesters are born in israel. children of those brought to the country in a controversial israeli government airlift of ethiopians who laid formal claim to jewish heritage three decades ago. most here had viewed this video along with hundreds of thousands of others in recent days. it's footage of an ethiopian israeli soldier being attacked by a police officer and his colleague in a suburb of tel aviv. it led to a demonstration from nba jerusalem last week that ended in violence. and to the events in the course of this day. the crowd which had increased in size appeared to be disbursing peacefully. but then a few hours later began gathering again in the square. no more restraint from the side of police. stun grenades.

and officers on horseback attempting to disburse the crowd. too late to stop the events on this night, in coming hours the israeli prime minister will be meeting representatives of the ethiopian community along with the soldier whose assault by police has become so public. anan attempt perhaps to stop jewish unity from being worked away. mike hannah, al jazerra, tel aviv. now, the presence of ethiopian jews in israel dates back decades but the majority arrived in the 1/9/80s and '90s, there are now more than 135,000 living in israel. government statistics suggest they earn 35% less than the national average and fewer of their youth receive high school qualify qualifications. several protests.

in 2006 after blood donations were bans. forcibly administering birth control injections to ethiopian jewish women without their consents. ben hartman a reporter for the jerusalem post says there is a need for more i want gangs of ethiopian juice in to society. >> reporter: ed rider israeli saturday is not intimately aware of that is the racism that ethiopians say they have suffered. the issue you is is not just police brutality it's a whole wide range of social issues and a wider failure to integrate the oath each vinnie community since they began to integrate in the early '80s and it's a failure that's been in a lot of different ways, like you mentioned it, it's largely a social yo economic one and one

that because they are quite a small population don't have a political power, they have been largely put on the sideline. an edges please in kabul the bomber targeted a bus carrying staff from the attorney generals offers, 13 others were injured in the explosion. police in the u.s. state of texas have shot and killed two gunmen who opened on. an an an antis lamb i can accam painer. there was a heavy presence of police before the shooting. >> we prepared for something like this simply because there were additional officers hired for this vents by the school rickdistrict. we have talked with them preparing in case something like

this hand. >> heidi joe castro has more from the scene of the shooting. >> reporter: police have evacuated this large perimeter that's behind me which includes a neighborhood, a high school, as well as a shopping complex. they say more than 200 people were inside this event that was being hosted at this community center. it was a controversial cartoon contest asking for pictures depicting the prophet mohamed. they at the time said this was not meant to be an insult to muslims or an attack on the faith. but rather an expression of free speech in light of events the charlie hebdo attack in france. the police are not linking the shooting to the events that was happening inside. however they say security was already on hand of the shooting

happened. they had officers on scene. saudi arabia denies sending any forces in to yemen. more from the saudi capital recipientstryahead. >> reporter: sources say these men are not what they appear to be although their clothing is similar to the attire worn in this area, they are said to be arab coalition troops in aden to help pro government forces in the fighting against houthi militia. analysts say local fighters don't usually have access to the kind of weapons seen in this exclusive video. >> it's anti-tank weapon. used by light infantry troops. typical weapon that is also used by special operation forces.

but tends of the day, you have to define your objective and find the best way to achieve it. so going with a grants preparation would not be the wisest way to do it. it will be very costly. >> reporter: local forces agree these are special forces forces in a reconnaissance mission. but the saudi forces deny having said any troops. >> translator: i assure you if troops were brought in to aden we would have confirmed it through the daily briefing as was the practice. all options are open think the coalition will not spare any effort backing the resistence and achieve positive outcomes on the ground. i reiterate today. no troop landings were made in to yemen. >> reporter: now, ground troops in em vinnie would be a major escalation in the war. it's a move that saudi arabia doesn't seem to be committed to at the moment that's because once a ground operation starts,

heavy casualties are inevitable. as is a protracted conflict. making ambiguous comments which asked about future missions, saudi arabia and its allies have suggested there may be a ground invasion but appeared optimist optimistic it wouldn't be nets. they have said air strikes will be enough to take down the houthi capabilities. but fighting still raging in the southern city. forces loyal to president hadi seem to be making gains but aren't in complete control. there doesn't seem to be a unified central command to coordinate the war effort of these pro-hadi militia. mohamed vall, al jazerra, saudi arabia. still to come on al jazerra. al jazerra travel to his a remote district in nepal to assess the damage eight days after that massive earthquake devastated the area. plus fears of human rights abuse

ahead of elections in belarus. >> part of our month long look at working in america. "hard ea

>> on al jazeera america >> technology...it's a vital part of who we are... >>they had some dynamic fire behavior... >> and what we do... don't try this at home! >> tech know where technology meets humanity... only on al jazeera america ♪ welcome back. the top stories now on al jazerra. hundreds of migrants rescued by european coast guards have arrived in the italian port.

877 people who were trying to reach europe by bola received shortly after midnight. more than 5,000 people rescued from the med mediterranean sea over just the past 48 hours. thousands of african israelis have protested in tel aviv against raceism and police brutality. tensions rows which footage of a jewish ethiopian soldier being beaten by police emerged last week. police in the u.s. state of texas have shot and killed two gunmen who only fire outside of exhibition of prophet mohamed cartoons a controversial dutch politician who is also an anti islam campaigner was also at the event. syrian government forces have been accused of using chlorine gas in idlib province for the third time this week. paul has the details. >> reporter: no northwestern idlib province activists are reporting regime forces have dropped barrel bombs. women and children in a village

were treated for breathing problems. >> translator: three towns were targeted with barrel bombs containing toxin chlorine gas 15 people herd, civil defense teams rushed to help and set up makeshift hospitals. >> reporter: this follows two similar chemical attacks this week. aleppo was syria's largest and most populous city but this once thriving area and the rebels in control are continuing to be targeted by regime forces. activists are reporting government troops have once again dropped barrel bombs. one of the explosives hit a kinder garden. a dozen people killed include 10 children and one woman. mean mile, damascus forces have been bomb barting the yarmouk camp. it's home to thousands of syrian's palestinians.

yarmouk turned in to an urban battle ground when isil entered it a few weeks ago most of the fighters have withdrawn after fierce fighting with other rebel groups. but despite this, the syrian army hasn't stopped its military operation. >> i am a residents of yarmouk we were sitting in our homes with our children when missiles being rockets barrel bombs landed around us, look around you, they hit civilian and children, we are paying the price, there are no armed fighters here, where is the united nations? >> reporter: the united nations security council has demanded all parties allow humanitarian aid reach without obstruction. >> it's a humanitarian corridor that allows for the movement in both direction is his what we demands. so the residents that would like to leave have the opportunity to leave. for those that like to stay in the camp and receive urgent medical and humanitarian assistance they would receive it. >> reporter: and the palestinian liberation organization, the p.l.o. is sending a delegation

to damascus. the organization wants to find alternatives to a military solution to relieve the suffering of syria's palestinians. paul, al jazerra. in nepal more than 7,000 people are noun known to have died and more than 14,000 injured in last week's devastating earthquake. local volunteers and rescue workers have started reopening roads and providing aid to remote him rain an himalayan regions cut off for days, bodies of 100 trekkers burdenburied in an an laugh have been recovered and a 100-year-old man was pulled out of the debris after eight days, he's in stable condition, he was found in the rubble of his home. i want national aid teams have started reaching some of the more remote areas of nepal that have beens cuts been cut off. now we have an exclusive report. >> reporter: the village is

tiny. the devastation massive. >> translator: i still haven't been able to comprehend what happened he says. and how we'll recover from this disaster. >> reporter: in eastern district approximately 50-kilometers from the end center of the everything quake 74-year-old leads me around his small mountain side enclave. while neighbors pick up pieces of their collapsed homes. so he's telling me there are about 200 people, 90 families in this village. and that 90% of the homes here were destroyed in the quake. he built his home 58 years ago and it's completely gone now. medical aid is finally starting to reach his community. but residents are no closer to feeling relieved. we don't know, he tells me, how we will live through monsoon season in this condition. of far more concern to the world

health organization is what might happen in nepal even before the rainy season begins. >> because of the extent of the destruction we believe that most of the water sanitation facilities have been destroyed and it increases the concern of diseases. >> reporter: w.h.o. workers took our team along as they distributed boxes full of medication water purification tablets and more, they say over 13,000 people are still unaccounted for. that these surprise are needed more than ever. one quick glance around the district hospital proves how dire the situation is. with lines out the door, young and old await treatment. their faces show how much pain they are in. more aid teams have arrived and more medicine is being dispensed. but it's still not nearly enough. under scoring how perilous the situation remains on our way an

after shock struck, it was brief but powerful, causing a lot more fare for a population already very rattled and quite traumatized. she was injured in that tremor. after that, it got even worse. scared weak, and in pain, she was forced to seek treatment on her own. my husband and son are both alcoholics she says, my daughters are married and living elsewhere. i had to walk for half an hour to get to the hospital. the treatment gives her some comfort. but not enough. she has no idea how she will be able to get home. back in the village some residents feel fortunate they are all too aware that other areas were much harder hit. they would certainly love more aids aide and assistance, but say they know better than to wait for it. we can't just sit around expecting the government's help

he says, we all survived the earthquake, there is no casualty in this village. we'll survive and manage somehow, we'll get through this. mohamed, al jazerra nepal. the u.s. second of state john kerry has arrived in kenya for talks to security and cooperation. he's expected to discuss the fight against al-shabab when he means when the president of kenya. the trip is the first high level u.s. visit to 10 i can't since 2012 and comes address of the visit by president obama. nigerian troops have been accused of killing dozens of people to avenge the deaths of six soldiers, community leaders said 80 people were killed in multiple attacks by joels over the weekend in the central plateau state. some claim the killings were in retaliation for the murder and mutilations by six soldiers by trial youths.

military officials deny the tacks. the nigerian air force has released new video showing what appears to be boko haram fighters fleeing their strong hold in the forest. this followed a major operation to push the group out of the country's northeast. more than 200 women and children who were being held captive by boko haram were able to escape. nearly 700 people have been rescued since tuesday. now to the tussle over territory in the south china sea. china is building a runway on the disputed spratly islands which is also claimed by street familiar malaysia and the philippines. we have been to the disputed island to hear more about the claims for control. >> reporter: thitu, one of the largest islands in the south china sea. the philippine government controls it along with eight other disputed islands. in 1956, tomas a pill piano

national discovered it. hitu. he was later thrown in jail by former president ferdinand marcos and was forced to handover the islands in 1974. around 200 people have been living here since the early '70s it's a community that is relatively self sustaining. there is a health center, a school a police station and even an airstrip. and residents say they have been living peacefully here for many, many years. but that is slowly starting to change. these are troubled times. he says fishermen like him are being harassed by much bigger vessels from china and they are inching ever closer. >> translator: they use cyanide so there is no more fish in the area we can't go out far because we were afraid of them. >> reporter: the south china sea is believed to be home to rich oil and gas reserves. it's worth billions of u.s. dollars in annual trade. several countries claim the spratlys. but it's china's actions that

are seen to be the most aggressive. it's claimed at least seven reefs in the area, its practice trolls and blockades of other vessels have been deemed provocative. >> i don't expect immaterial 90 occupation by military force but what they could do is exactly the implementation of what the chinese call their cabbage straight i didn't. for make it more difficult to have more ships fishing boats and, patrol boats go around the area and this is like a trap. the chinese basically are trying to achieve their objective without firing a single shot. this is something they have learned from ancient chinese strategy. >> reporter: the philippines is building closer relations with the united states. which continues to be the biggest navel power in asia. the government has also filed a landmark case versus china seeking to have china's claims declared invalid under the united nations convention of the law of the sea.

>> we must get a favorable ruling in the arbitration case. and we must maintain a credible self-defense force. >> reporter: thitu is called hope here. and that is exactly what people like larry is hoping for. a chance for peaceful coexistence in the region currently lost in the web of claims. al jazerra thitu island at the spratlys in the south china sea. michael is the defense and security expert from tech technological university in singapore he says countries like the philippines are looking for new allies to counter china's aggression. >> a lot of countries like the philippines don't have the capability to match china's miller iterry cape lit so they are looking to the u.s. but the u.s. is reluctant to get involved in

these. but it's important to understand that really this is an issue that will not go way. there are no solutions. only about management of the conflicts. a lot of the other countries in the region are pursuing this despite the fact that they cannot match china but the increasing strategic uncertainty to the territorial disputes and the greater competition in the area will define the future of asia security. to belarus now after elections five years ago tensions and redirection were put in place now with another election only a few months ago rory challe and went to see if the situation has improved. >> reporter: if they come at all, the letters from marina's husband arrive 10 days or more after they were sent. she is sure someone else has already read them. he stood against the president

in the 2010 elections. now he is in a people colony, arrested after demonstrations protesting what international monitors said was a deeply flawed vote. >> translator: i don't have off op atoptimistic expect takeses but i hope for a miracle. the legal changes of the last five years make it impossible to hold lawful demonstrations or any manifestation of democratic thought. he will never allow the events of 20 sen ever again. >> reporter: the human right situation is repeat haded i criticized by by amnesty. the e.u. and the united states have tried changing the ways with a variety of sanctions but the abuses activists say. >> first of all this is the death penalty because belarus still uses the death penalty practice. second this is a political prisoners who are still in

prison and other types of repressions like detentions and limitations of most critical and freedom of rights. >> reporter: this independent book shop and pubbisher has recently felt the heat. it was hit with a fine of $60,000 in january about a year's turnover. the court said it didn't have a license. the book shop's owners say they are applications were repeatedly turned down. >> i think it's the circle of authors we work with they are not loyal to the government. they openly compression their opposition those to what is happening in the county, secondly we are an open space where people can meet freely which is a dangerous suspicious activity accord to this authorities. >> reporter: this launched a crowd funding campaign and didn't take them long to get reach their target. the level of campaign to save

the book shop has received. look up, each one of these stars say thank you to someone that has given them money and it's come from all over the world. but this is a small victory in a contest which, as maria can attest. the state has the upper are hand. rory challands, al jazerra minsk. if you would like to stay up to day on the stories we have been reporting to you, you can go to our website it's aljazerra.com. again, that's al jazerra.com. thanks for your time. keep it here. >> the us is now the world's largest oil and gas producer in part because of what's happening here in north dakota where advances in fracking have unlocked crude oil in the bakken shale formation in the western part of the state. north dakota is now producing more than a million barrels of oil a day.