>> reporter: trying to destroy these talks. if, of course, they leave, then that doesn't solve the problem on the ground they are still going to get this intensification, this bombardment that's underway the u.n. special envoy talking about zero trust. does one have the sense now that he is behind the curve on this now? >> reporter: i think he is in a difficult situation right now. he needs something to give the opposition, something concrete to show that they should stay here in geneva.

i'm told even the government side is also talking about packing its bags and leaving. so to keep this show on the road, he needs something. i think we will be looking first to the opposition and their decision-making, ongoing meetings as we speak, what they're going to do, but then you look from geneva, perhaps, towards london in the next 24 hours because there's a meeting on syria, it's about the humanitarian situation, the appalling humanitarian situation, trying to raise money for that and get aid to syria, but a whole grouping of world leads will be there. if a kick-start is needed it may welcome from that meeting just to be clear on that particular point, so far as what's going on in geneva, are we talking about a potential here for the talks to collapse? >> reporter: the talks are not happening right now. so the talks are stalled and i think it is a pretty series

situation, one diplomat i spoke to, one western diplomat who is following this very closely and dealing with the opposition, told me things are very difficult but not terminal yet in his view thank you. thanks very much. turning our attention to yemen now. where about 40 houthi fighters have reportedly be killed by saudi-led air strikes. it happened north-east of the capital in the mountain range where pro-government fighters are trying to take back control. six yemen soldiers and allied fighters from a popular assistance armed group were also killed in clashes around another camp. further to the south shelling in the city of taiz has destroyed yemen's museum. artefacts have been lost forever. >> translation: i stands here inside the national museum in

the city of taiz. the museum has been underheavy shelling for two days now by the fighters and the ousted president. you can see the fire is in every corner here in the building. everything was burnt down. the manuscripts. the pistol of the leader of the zadi family and the last monacrh in yemen, destroyed. this is yemen's heritage burned to the ground. various belongings of the ruling family that had governened yemen and everything turned to bees. this is the hill where the forces shelled the museum and even from now they keep bombing this area, nothing is left. only pages of old karan from

time to times an egyptian appeals court has over ruled a death sentence to 140 people. they are among thousands. they were accused of killing 13 policemen in cairo in 2013. most defendants are believed to be from muslim brotherhood. japan threat ens to shoot down a rocket if it threatens their territory. leaders are far from convinced about north korea's announcement of a rocket. >> reporter: when north korea says it will launch a satellite, it really means a ballistic missile. in addition to the nuclear tests, north korea testing these ballistic missiles is an obvious violation of security council decisions. in terms of important security

decisions for our country, it is a provocative act back to europe, french ministers are meeting to decide whether to extend the state of emergency. the measure was introduced after the paris attacks. it gives more power to the police allowing searches without warrants, which is due to expire later this month. our correspondent is live from us. they're saying they're going to discuss it. is it really a done deal, though? >> reporter: even ahead of this all important cabinet meeting the government have made it very, very clear that it already wants to extend the state of emergency. the french prime minister has been speaking extensively on the issue. the government is quick to remind the country that it is ain a state of war and that it needs security measures that is proportional to the threat it now faces.

among the proposals that are part of the state of emergency extension it is a continuation of measures that would allow the authorities unprecedented powers to be able to stop, search and carry out arrests without the need for a warrant. showers to shut down web sites glor fighting acts of-- gore fighting acts shall did-- glor fighting acts of government. they want to make it much more easier to introduce states of emergency in the coming future. there is also some suggestion too that a proposal will be put forward allowing french nationals who have dual national status to be stripped of their french citizenship if they are convicted on acts of terrorism. of course, we still have to go through the whole process, the cabinet will make their announcement a little bit later on and then, of course, it does

go to parliament where we expect it to pass without any opposition, really, at all is the government potentially reacting to what it perceives as being a really threat or is it react to how the people of france feel? what are parisians saying about this? >> reporter: i think it's probably fair to say that it's a combination of the both, really. the french government is very aware of the growing pressure in society to get tough on acts of terrorism, as it were. it knows full well that there's a tremendous liar when it comes to right wing and others to talking tough on violence, but also a recent poll suggested that as much as 65 to 70% of the population are in favor of continuing the state of emergency. there have opinion some protests, notably here in the

capital, thousands of people took to the street. many people feel that the state of emergency should be temporary, they are worried that it is becoming increasingly worried that it will be much more permanent. they say the french values, like freedom of speep and the right to protest are at stake. the government has to make sure that any continuation of these measures take into account the need to balance both civil liberties and the need to keep the country save thank you. still to come here on al jazeera, a peace deal between the fill teens government and-- philippines government and the rebels under threat. we will tell you why. anger in pakistan workers against plans to privatize the national airline.

welcome back. a reminder of the top stories. activists say 45 civilians have been killed by russian air strikes in the syrian province of aleppo. delegates say their attacks are undermining their negotiations. 149 people accused of killing people during 2013 have been taken off the death list. a north korea rocket if it threatens japanese territory. the rocket which they plan to lunch this month will carry a satellite. australia's high court today ruling the government's offshore

detention policy is lawful. anyone who tries to reach australia by boat to claim asylum is held on the pacific island of nauru or on mannis aisle in png. it could allow for the rush of 250 asylum seekers, including 37 infrants to the prison camps. at least three pakistan international airlines flows have been killed. several were injured during a second day of protest. an effigy of the president was burned by the protesters calling for his resignation. they are protesting about the airline being privatized. >> reporter: operations by pakistan international airlines remain suspended for a second day after violent protests in which three employees of the airline were killed. the government has been trying to privatize and sell off 26% of

the share of this airline because they say the airline has become a burden on the national country. they say the political parties for the trade unions of the pakistan international airlines. the real problem stems from the fact that they are already running a debt of over three billion dollars and it is costing the country another $300 million annually when the president became so of the philippines six years ago, he promised to end a five-year rebellion in the safe. he also would give more power to the muslim minority. it has stalled in the progress. >> reporter: this was the

beginning of the end for the basic law which would have been the basis for greater muslim autonomy in philippines. 44 commandos killed in an unintentional clash with rebel fighters. it was the largest casualty of government troops. both sides violated a ceasefire. >> i find difficulty in understanding how this peace process will be saved. >> reporter: there was much support for the peace deal between the government and the islamic liberation front when it was signed two years ago after a decade of negotiations and years of fighting. but the killing of the 44 police commandos what was already a fragile trust between the two sides and exposed deep-seated prejudices within the country's christian majority and muslim

mine nort. -- minority. >> reporter: many people say this reflects the erosion of the political capital which began the president's reign six years ago. he was criticized for mishandling the police operation >> a lot of people in congress only work on the basis of incentives that benefit them. that's the name of the game. we all know that, but if you're trying to reform the kind of system, then you can see how congress will not be able to catch up with achieving national unity and reconciliation in the country. >> reporter: the president's term ends in june and there are fears over what could happen should his successor not fulfil the autonomy promised in the signed peace deal. >> there's room for aradicalization.

if there is a splintering, they will shift their alliance to the radical i.s.i.s. group, it is anyone's guess what is coming next >> reporter: if will be at least six months before a new government it can restart the process on muslim autonomy. until then, negotiators on both sides are doing what they can to make sure that at least the peace agreement remains intact the chief ceasefire monitor in south sudan says civilians are dying of starvation while warring sides disregard a peace deal. it will take three weeks and support from the international community to get the troops there. >> reporter: for the third year this country was one of the countries that dominated the african union summit. what started out as a dispute between the president and the

vice president has evolved into an ethnic conflict. tens of thousands of people have since been killed. millions displaced. the two failed to meet a deadline to reach a government and fighting is still continuing. heads of state of the ua summit demanded the leaders formed a transitional government as soon as possible. >> we've got to form the government after the military and we will prepare ourselves now that our troops to joined in integrated police. >> reporter: we were told that with logistical and financial support from the international community, it will take up to three weeks to get his troops there. >> what has delayed the formation of the government is that the president is waiting for the arrival of the leader of the rebel movement so that they

can form the government. >> reporter: do you assure the people that you will go to duba and there will be no more conditions and you will together with the government form this transitional government they've been waiting for, for so long? >> you know, ma'am, i want to be in duba. i want the government of national unity to be formed as soon as possible. all we need is to ensure that the obstacles, which were creating difficulties for us to form the government, are removed. >> reporter: the armed opposition group had pulled out of negotiations after the president decided to increase the country's states to 28 up from 10. mediators agree that the position was not in the spirit of the peace agreement and must be withdrawn from now >> this is a political decision and it is a popular demand of the people. he has formed 21 states and even

appointed ministers. >> reporter: representatives from both sides are now willing to reach a compromise, so with that out of the way, security arrangements demilitarizing the country takes money which both sides need money with zambia is seen one of africa's most stable democracies. some say it is being eroded. it is a big talking point as the country prepares for elections. >> reporter: he is zambia's richest man and now he wants to become its most powerful. hh, as his supporters like to call him, tells me he wants to become president to save his country and its democracy.

he already contested the presidency last year, but he lost by the smallest of margins, less than 2% of the votes. >> there's no doubt that the elections were manipulated at 20 january 2015 elections. there were elements of manipulation in the counting of votes, in the tallying and consolidation of votes and in the announcement of votes. >> reporter: freedom to form political parties was only secured around 25 years ago. zambia took its final steps of becoming a democracy. the united party for notion development please the democracy is under threat. >> we have public rights which is being abused by the ruling party, restricting the opposition from movement, from assembly, from basically a freedom of conscience. >> reporter: it does enjoy a

free press. there are government and independent papers that go to print each day. although there is a notable absence of voices, journalists like those of here, believe that when it comes to democracy there is nothing to worry about. >> you have media on the left that is highly critical of the government, you have a media on the right that oppose the government, and the media in the middle, like ourselves, who are independent. so in my view i don't think there's any object construction to media freedom in this country. >> reporter: in response to public demands, the president signed a series of constitutional amendments earlier this month. they include a revision of the electoral law making it necessary for any candidate to exceed 50% to become president. his opponents describe it as a pr stunt as he starts his

campaign ahead of the poll >> it is a way forward, which we are seeing a new democratic country. i don't think it fits all the people of zambia. it is considered to be one of the most democratic countries in africa. >> reporter: the hope is that regardless of who wins, those elections will further enrich and protect that democracy to the story of job creation at the risk of job lisses. it's the trance photographic partnership. it-- transpacific partnership. it is a pact between these five countries in these north and south america and these seven in the pacific region. it aims to lower tariffs. this could create a single

market much like the european union. the 12 companies have a population of 800 million people. they represent around 40% of gross domestic products. it could cause jobs in the u.s. to move to low wage nations. all 12 countries have to ratify the deal before it comes into force two years from now. mexi mexico, the hopes and the concerns surrounding the pact. >> reporter: by joining this pact, it is a trend of embracing trade agreements in place. it has some 44 agreements in place. that's because mexico and planners are hoping by embracing free trade that will diversify their market. the main partner u.s. received more than 80% of all the exports

from mexico and that's because it's so close and cheap for both mexico and the u.s. to have this huge amount of trade every year. when you talk about free trade in mexico, one of the biggest players are car manufacturers. that's because mechanic co is the 8th --ing - mexico is the 8th largest producers of car. this has helped mexico to see growing areas, mainly in the north and center, and there are new plants opening up all the time. there are some concerns in agriculture and small manufacturing that this tpp like other free trade agreements isn't going to deliver the promises that planners continue to say will finally arrive in mexico because more than 20 years after the passage of the north american trade agreement, millions of mexicans continue to live in poverty and the concern is this new free trade agreement

as big as it is is not going to deliver any more prosperity than the previous ones always good to hear from you. you can drop us an email, follow us on facebook or twitter. that is the website, aljazeera.com. >> we're going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity, but we're doing it in a unique way. this is a show about science... >> oh! >> oh my god! >> by scientists. >> tonight, techknow investigates vaping. >> whoever bought this got way more than they bargained for. >> yes they did. >> it's everywhere... in clubs, street corners and cars.