>> voting in burundi. in a presidential poll the u.n. has condemned. hello. you are with al jazeera live from doha. also to come on the program. >> make no mistake the process of fully normalizing relations between the united states and cuba will go on. >> after more than 50 years the cuban flag flies again in washington. but differences remain on both sides. turkey says isil is behind the

suicide bombing which killed 30 people on the border with syria. seibing alien life, well known scientists get behind a multimillion dollars project to see what's out there. first, voting has started in burundi's presidential election. the poll is being boycotted by several leading opposition parties and the u.n., the eu as well as the african union have said they won't recognize the results. there's been months of violence since the incumbent president announced he would be standing for a third term. critics say it violates the constitution. gunfire and explosions were reported around the capitol. >> reporter: i have covered a

lot of elections in africa. i have to say this one in burundi is interesting. i have never been at an election where there is so much international pressure for one man not to run for a third term, for one man to step down. they insist he's running for a third term despite violating the constitution. he says he has his supporters who wants to keep ruling the country as long as possible. the election is going ahead. and the people who are waiting at the polling stations, say they are voting because they are hoping for one thing for their country. el. >> translator: i have voted with hope we will be united as one people with no differences. we want peace in our country. >> reporter: there was gunfire and explosions, some people were killed. but voting is still going ahead anyway. you cass your vote, you come

here and give them your i.d. card and use this ink to show you have voted. now, there is a lot of fear and tension. some people when they get the ink put on their fingers like this, as soon as they leave the polling station they rub it off. there is a concern they may be targeted for people that think they shouldn't have voted. there is a lot of fear. whether you want to vote or not people are concerned about the repercussions. it's either if you voted those who don't want this election to go ahead will an taking nice you or attack you. if you haven't voted why don't you have ink on your finger, why didn't you vote. a lot of tension in the country at the moment. but people are waiting to see the outcome of the vote. more importantly what's going to happen after. some people say they won't accept him getting another term in office. >> we can speak to angela from

the nordic-africa institute joining us from sweden. we have got a highly questionable election, haven't we with results being decreed by the international community where this election take burundi? >> thank you for having me on the program. i think that the election itself is very important to the president. i think this is where he has to go and the country to go over the last six months or so i think he's hoping that if there is an election, however discredited within the international community or decreed amongst society and boycotted by the opposition, at least he can say he participated and contested for his seat as president in an election. i think that's very important.

i don't really anticipate that the crisis that's facing burundi will end as a result of the election. that's wishful thinking on the part of the ruling party. i think there will be more tensions within the country within the region, the national community will have to respond. it isn't in the interest of any country or organization to intervene militarily. there will be a stalemate for some time to come. >> so we have alarm bells ringing on several fronts. there is a growing refugee crisis, there is fears about human rights being respected within burundi and it's a poor country. where does this leave the mediation process that's being led by uganda? >> as i understand it, uganda said they will come back, that

there will be -- they hope to have a continuation or a restart of the dialogue that was aborted on monday. and i think that there will be a long process where they will try to get the government to sit at the table with opposition leaders and the opposition, however, was very, very adamant that a third term was not allowable, or they voled have negotiatedshould havenegotiated on it. i think that the international the regional leadership, the government of uganda and the eu will be trying to pressure the government and return to a dialogue to stabilize the situation. >> good to talk to you. thank you very much, indeed.

thanks for talking to us. >> thank you. the u.s. and cuba have restored full diplomatic relations after decades. the u.s. cut off ties with cuba in 1961, two years after the communist revolution. last december the two countries agreed to reestablish relations after long talks encouraged by propose francis. an embargo banning most u.s. companies from doing business is still in force and travel restrictions imposed by both countries will remain in place. we report there from washington. >> reporter: the u.s. broke off diplomatic relations with havana 54 years ago. finally, the u.s. government has accepted the cuban revolution. the cuban foreign minister was clear as far as the two years of sometimes secret nearbiation the u.s. and cuba still have

further to travel. >> translator: only the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade which has caused so much suffering return of guantanamo will lend meaning to the historic event. >> reporter: the vast majority aren't protesting against the flag raising ceremony, but demanding closer negotiation and ties between the u.s. and cuba. >> you will continue to see push back from congress. if anyone thinks that the sanctions are going away, that the so-called embargo is going to go away, they have not been paying attention. >> reporter: however, it was notable the congressional opponents were unable to derail diplomatic normalization when they had a chance. and growing pressure from

business interests may blunt opposition to lift the embargo. after talks with the cuban foreign minister, the secretary of state will travel to cuba. >> translator: the united states welcomes this new beginning in its relationship with the people and government of cuba. we are determined to live at good neighbors on the basis of mutual respect and we want all our citizens in the united states and cuba to look forward to the future with hope. >> reporter: those who studied this relationship were reaching reaching sporulatives. >> there has been a war between cuba and the united states for 56 years. in effect, cuba won without giving up anything, really. and people who long said that fidel castro didn't want relations, they were wrong. he wanted this kind of relation

this recognized legitimacy of the cuban revolution. >> monday was the day the u.s. ended its international diplomatic isolation on cuba. scepticism about this on both sides here's what fidel castro had to say. he says i don't trust the policy of the united states, but that doesn't mean i reject a peaceful solution to the conflict. let's hear from our latin america editor who is in havana. >> reporter: it may look the same but this is no longer a u.s. intersection under the care and protection of the swiss embassy. that is now gone. the building you see behind me that was construct in 1953 is now once again the u.s. embassy it was always meant to be. the american flag is not flying here, at least not yet. that will have to wait until u.s. secretary of state john kerry comes to oversee an

official ceremony. but there are changes from the tiny american flags at the embassy staff were carrying to the number of tourists and americans carrying their passports and flags to mark this day. >> it's a historic event hoping this brings about changes. >> reporter: cubans who went inside for a visa say the requisites have not changed. according could this woman on this day the staff was more friendly before when they denied her a visa. the reestablishment of diplomatic relations has a bigger impact here than in the united states. generations of cubans grew up preparing themselves for a possible u.s. invasion. now u.s. staff will be able to travel around this island freely. of course, both countries have a long way to go to really normalize ties. but it has been an exciting day here. in fact, many are probably remembering former president fidel castro's words, he was asked when he thought the united

states and cuba would restore diplomatic ties. the answer, when the world has a latin america pope and the united states a black president. he didn't believe it himself but that day has come. the turkish police fired tear gas to break up an antigovernment rally in istanbul istanbul. they say turkey isn't doing enough to stop attacks by isil. the demonstration comes after a suicide bomber killed 30 people close to the border with syria. another hundred people were injured. >> reporter: the explosion happened in the garden of the cultural center in a turkish town. most of the victims were volunteers, due to travel to the kurdish town across the border in syria to carry out. it's not known what caused the

blast. turkey's president said it was a terrorist attack by a suicide bomber. minutes after the explosion there was another blast. isil laid siege to the town last year prompting tens of thousands of people to escape to turkey. by january a combination of air strikes, they defeated isil. much of the town lies in ruins. many blame the turkish government for not doing enough to protect kurds who fled the war in syria. >> many accuse their own government of taking a proactive stance in favor of isis, particularly at the time of the siege, the turkish government seemed to have the attitude the enemy of my enemy the enemy of assad was my friend. therefore, they sat on their hands during the siege. >> families are mourning their dead. after escaping the war in syria

many hope they will be safe here. this explosion has proved them wrong. a link to isil claimed responsibility for attack on a mosque in an area close houthi rebel homes. five others are dead after a car bomb exploded at a police station. in the southern part of yemen an international aid group says 100 people have been killed by houthi shellings. this in the port city. doctors without borders say many civilians are among the dead including women and children. the rebels and their allies attacked a neighborhood on sunday. houthis have been losing ground in hayden.

we have more to come. we talk to children who have lost their parents in in the ebola outbreak.

>> government committees. >> they're spending money, they're not saving it. >> costing millions and getting nothing. >> it's a bogus sham. >> america tonight investigates. money for nothing. >> they've gotten away with it for years. >> hello again. you are with al-jazeera. these are our top stories. one person has been killed in violence in burundi as people vote in a controversial

presidential election. the incumbent is running for a third term. but the african union condemned the poll. cuba and the united states have restored diplomatic ties. a monday a cuban flag was raised outside of washington. there are still sanctions in place. there have been wide antigovernment protests in turkey following a suspected isil suicide bombing. the demonstrators say they aren't doing enough to stop attacks by the group. at least 30 people were killed in the blast near the border with syria. iran's foreign minister has been defending last week's nuclear deal with world powers at home. he's told the iranian parliament that the country will closely monitor the implementation of the accord. a diplomatic editor has more. >> reporter: this was the moment

the iran deal was ratified by the u.n. security council. the vote will make it binding international law. it starts the clock on the program for the implementation of the deal known as the joint comprehensive plan of action. sanctions imposed in six previous u.n. resolutions will be lifted once the nuclear agency, the iaea, confirms that iran scaled back its nuclear program. >> 90 days from today when our respective capitals and legislatures have reviewed the deal's provisions, the commitments should take effect. sanctions relief will begin only when iran completes the initial steps necessary to bring its nuclear program in line with the deal. >> reporter: iran's ambassador to the u.n. made it clear the deal could have positive repercussions beyond his country's nuclear program. >> we ernestly hope that it helps turn the page in our

region enabling countries to close the ranks and fight against violent extremism and to move towards more cooperation for our region and the world face. >> reporter: israel's ambassador to the u.n. was not invited to speak in the security council but he made sure he briefed reporters the moment the meeting ended. >> today you have awarded a great prize to the most dangerous country in the world. >> reporter: there's also been angry reaction to the vote on capitol hill. the u.s. congress has 60 days to review the deal with iran and u.s. diplomats had hoped that the u.n. security council vote would take place at the end of the review period. but the timing of the vote itself was one of the concessions that needed to be made. israel has warned the u.s.

defense secretary that it fears the deal with tehran will mean more money for hezbollah. ash carter is in the middle east to reassure regional allies about the agreement. speaking about the talks he says the u.s. will continue to closely monitor iran. but he said the deal will strengthen groups hostile to israel. carter is meeting with benjamin netanyahu saturday. a top aide has been arrest in a corruption investigation. he has also been expelled from the communist party. he's accused of accepting bribes keeping mistresses and stealing secrets. he wants to restore public confidence in the ruling party.

the u.n. has warned the ebola outbreak has not yet run its course. more than 11,000 people have died since the outbreak began in late 2013. its created around 5,000 orphans in liberia alone. we report now on one family that's lost more than ten of its members. >> reporter: like many teenagers, even when she is doing her chores, she's inseparate from her mobile phone. she's grounding to go into a meal for the large extended family that lives in this one house. later, as she prepares to go out, her older sister does her hair. but ask her about her parents she breaks down. her mom and dad along with eight other adults in the compound

died from ebola last year. the sisters haven't just lost their guardians the community has lost some of its main bread winners. now food comes from charities and neighbors. >> there is no food. >> reporter: this isn't one of those days. chatter and laughter fills the kitchen before the family meal. behind it is grief. most of the people who died were brothers. living in such a close-knit unit is what made the tragedy worse making it easier for them to pass the virus to one another. with more than 20 children to feed, their aunt is finding it hard to cope. >> translator: thank god for the

president who helped us fix the leaking roof. we still need help. we have the youngest orphan here. people talk about how he's the youngest survivor, he's still here with no aid. >> reporter: matu needs regular meals to be provided and wants to send as many children as she can to school. for now, sher getting by as best as they can on the support of an extended family circle. the president has been removed from the courtroom during his trial in senegal. he's accused of crime its against humanity. he shouted the trial was farce. >> the former president is in

the dark. a small army of lawyers and people who say they were tortured under his rule. this is an unprecedented trial never before has an african been charged by africans for crimes against humanity in africa. after years of intimidation this lawyer walks into court. >> it's a big day. there is all sorts of emotions going through me, pride joy relief that a dictator is finally in the dark. >> reporter: he was celebrated by the united states and france for successfully fighting qaddafi's libyan troops in the 1980s. western powers turned a blind eye to the atrocities he committed at home, using henchmen trained in the united states.

200,000 were tortured before he fled. >> we made other mistakes, no question about that. we need to recognize that and go forward in one of the ways we can deal with it is by those that committed the horrible crimes alleged to have committed torture and crimes against humanity should face justice and face their accusers. >> the big question was will he show up to his trial. he is here under -- result it's his supporters. they are threatening the lawyers and witnesses. he joins in. the shouting in french, it's a masquerade. as he's removed from the court

he shouts god is great. then he adds the court is in your colonial tribunal. trial will continue without him. for the victims and human rights organizations, this is history in the making. the moment he has been waiting for. one of the perpetual questions facing humankind is whether there is life out there in the wider universe. now a russian billionaire is paying some of the world's leading scientists to find out.

>> reporter: that's a question that humans have been asking for thousands of years now science 'tises have launched a huge new fund worth a hundred million dollars. they hope in the next ten years we can get answers but there are no guarantees. >> come with us. >> it's important to know we aren't alone in the dark. there are so many world. >> reporter: the project is being funded by a scientist. the idea is to use existing technology, but far more efficiently. operators have agreed to give the scientists thousands of hours of telescope time.

it will cover ten times more sky. they will be able to listen in on the planets and the hundred nearest galaxies it our own. they are offering a million dollars in prizes for digital messages that represent earth. >> a civilization want to know if they are billions of years ahead. they may not see. >> i don't go along with those people like steven hawking it could be draws. if there are aliens out there they probably have been watching us for years even millions of years. they know we are here. >> reporter: there were celebrations when a nasa spacecraft sent back pictures

showing ice on pluto. it the project detects intelligent life, that would be out of this world. you can find a lot more on all the major stories on the al-jazeera website www.aljazeera.com. david schuster in for ali velshi. "on target," clouding the nuclear negotiators and bernie sanders fall. political hot potato known as iran, the nuclear deal started ticking on