♪ >> security council holds an emergency meeting after north korea's rocket launch that opponents say is cover for a ballistic missile test. hello there. i am julie mcdonald. this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up, turkey says it won't leave the syrian refugees stranded on a border to die. thousands remain stuck in no-man's land. hang on there, rescuers race against time to free 120 people still buried after the

taiwanquataiwan skwaingsquake. >> help for people with disabilities in serbia is facing an uncertain future. hello there. good to have your company. t the the united nations is holding an emergency meeting after north korea launched a long range rocket into space. it's provoked condemnation for many countries including south korea, japan, the u.s. and russia. they say the launch is cover for testing new missile technology. north korea's state t.v. made the announcement saying a rocket carrying an earth operation satellite had been successful put in orbit. the leader reportedly watching the launch. u.n. secretary general ban ki-moon has called the actions dip diplodeplorable. he said it's a violation of security council resolutions. south korea's president says securities council needs to

respond quickly with what she calls strong punitive measures. they say they will talk with the u.s. on a new missile defense system. the latest from that system in new york. here is harry fawcett with the latest from the south korea ian capitol. north korea brought the launch time forward by a day. two hours into the window, the rocket carrying the "bright star" satellite lifted off. all overseen by the country's young leader, relayed by the most famous news reader. >> the complete success made in the liftoff fruition of korea's policy in attaching important society technology, an event in the country's defense capabilities. >> is that the defense capability that so worries regional and world powers. a rocket that can launch a

satellite could also carry a nuclear warhead even if this one, slow to fuel and hard to conceal, is far from the ideal weapon. >> this system, itself, doesn't really have military access, but nevertheless, some of the access, some of the technologies, some of the systems and sub systems, they could use for the military program. >> south korea's president immediately convened her national security council, calling the launch an unacceptable prove occasi -- /* provocation. >> recognizing the threat by north korea as a threat to the international community and world peace, the security council should quickly come up with strong sanctions. >> reporter: seoul announced it would start consultations with the united states on deploying america anti-missile system on south korea ian soil. that's a signal not just to north korea but china. beijing is resolutely opposed to

that solution so close to its territory. they are trying to pressure china to get tough on its ally. >> the pursuit of economic success, the twin guiding principles of his rule. so far, he has proved as immune to beijing's attempt as anyone else's. there was celebration. this launch comes at the start of a lunar new year, days before the birthday of the current leader's late father. north korea's space agency called it a gift to the nation. harry fawcett, al jazeera, seoul. >> our correspondent, gabriel elazondo joins us from the united nations in new york. i know the meeting is understandway. did you get any sense of how the meeting was expected to go as people went in? >> the meeting is underway. it's been underway for about an hour now. it shaould go on for another hor or two if not a longer. it is a closed door meeting.

private. journalists aren't able to monitor asibilities are taking place. as you mentioned, before the meeting began, as diplomats and am bats dors were going in, we were able to talk to a couple of them as they were going in. rafael ramirez, the venzuelan ambassador to the united nations said he is hoping that the security council reaches a consensus for a condemnation of the rocket launch. it's important because they hold the rotating presidency of the security council this month. we also heard from the french ambassador who called the rocket launch a quote outrageous proven indication and said the security council now cannot, he said weakness is not an option for the security council. at this point, the deputy uk ambassador said as he was going in to the meeting that the proof indication in his words merit a strong and swift u.n. security council response.

so, that is what we heard. we also heard from the japanese ambassador to the united nations. let's listen to a little bit more of what he had to say as well. >> using the technology is a clear violation of the u.n. security council. it came after four weeks, after the nuclear missile. today, we hope today at the council, we will make ourselves very clear that we cannot condone the acts of the violation of the security council resolutions by dprk. it went over japan, landed near the philippines, and this is a clear threat to the lives of many people. >> dave, i guess the thing is at the u.n., things do tend to happen pretty slowly. i believe they are still debating what to do after the last missile strike. what options does the u.n. have?

you are right. that's really the key here is china in many ways. as you mentioned a, it was just last month that north korea did a nuclear test and the security council, while condemning that, has not agreed on a resolution based on that nuclear test from a month ago. china and the u.s. would have still been negotiating that. progress has been very slow. as we know, china's the key ally of north korea and while they have a tendency to maybe condemn these acts by north korea going beyond that is sometimes difficult for the chinese. i can tell you the chinese ambassador did not stop to talk to journalists as he went into the security council meeting but just as he walked by said, we are greatly concerned. we are working with the council. that's all we've heard from the chinese ambassador to the u.n. as he went in. so, it's complicated. there are already multiple

resolutions, security council resolutions that have been in place. there are also sanctions. so now, it's a matter of seeing if if the u.s. and its alleys can persuade swu china to go along with something more or to strengthen those sanctions. it's simply unclear at this point if that will happen. i will tell you that while there will be a lot of discussion in this security council meeting and potentially, a consensus for condemnation, getting a new security council resolution is days, if not weeks, away. >> gabe elisandro there live in new york. gabe, thank you. ♪ >> turkey says it is ready to let in thousands of refugees trapped on its border if necessary. they are stuck on the frontier. ankara says it's providing food and shelter.

for now, it's not letting refugees across the border. it says another 70,000 syrians may head for the boarder if the fighting continues. stefanie dekker has more near the turkey vash syria border. >> reporter: the coordiner may be closed for people -- border may be closed for people but we have seen a steady line of trucks coming in and out all day. what we have seen is structures onbam back of trucks that appear to be scaffolding material that appear to be materials to continue building. they tell us they believe around 10,000 people are on the other side of that border. he says they are registering them because there is, of course, a execute concern as well. they want to manage the situation, but they say they are personal well prepared to deal with them there as they are here when it comes to dealing with supplies, relief blankets, but it is incredibly cold at night. so there are no plans at the moment to open this border but we did hear from the turkish president today, he did say that he expected a potential of

70,000 people to come over the next few days or weeks if this offensive continues. that's showing no signs of letting up and that, if need be, turkey would be opening its borders. at the moment, they remain closed. >> well, much of that refugee crisis is being driven by the syrian army offensive trying to cut off the city of alesso. t joining us. do we know how close the government is to fully encircling the city of aleppo? >> reporter: well, they are not far. a few kilometers from the opposition's last line of defense. the town of humra, that lies on the road that leads into the eastern portion of aleppo city under the control of the opinion zip. russian airstrikes targeted that town. there was intense bombardment. the purpose really is to weaken the opposition's defenses before ground forces move in. so, the threat is real. the people inside the city, they are bracing for this possibility. there are no official numbers on

how many people really live in the east of aleppo, the estimates range between 200 to 300,000 people. a few families, a few hundred people have already left but the majority are there. this is what we understand from activists on the ground. the local council in this city is now, advising people to start rationing whatever they have. they are starting to stock pile food, medicine. they are asking doctors and nurses not to leave because they are going to need them. so, the people of the city and the lom council putting on really a brave face, but they all know that if the area of the siege will be a punishing one because already, there is a shortage in fuel, and you need fuel for bakeries, for generators because there is no electricity and for generators to pump the wells for water. people are worried, but they took to the streets today. there was a demonstration in the city. people were calling on the different faxes on the ground to unite and to create what they are calling "the aleppo army" to be able to confronts the

offensive. it's not clear whether the opposition faxes will do that and it's not clear whether or not they can actually confront this assault. >> zeina on that not, the reynolds, themselves, how able are they to bring in reinforcements to confront this? >> reporter: it's getting difficult because the government offensive has cut through rebel-held territory. they aredes disrupting their supply lines, their lines of communication. right now, the government and their allies are advancing toward the turkish border on two fronts. on the southwestern country side of aleppo, they are trying to head towards the proof incident of idlib, a crossing on the turkish border controlled by the opinion zip. it's a long way to go. they are pushing. but on the bevel halal crossing, the regime and their alleys are seven kilometers from the town. it is key. it's a critical juncture. if they are able to take this town, then they will just be 20s kilohm materials to the turkish

border. the town really is almost like the last line of defense. the offensive is ongoing, and the objective, really, is to reach the turkish borders. we heard the foreign minister say yesterday they will not accept any cease-fire unless the border is sealed. that's exactly what they are trying to do on the ground. >> zeina hodr, thank you. the united arab emirates said it is ready to sound ground troops to fight isil. it's the third gulf nation to say so. they are already part of the u.s.-led bombing campaign against isil in syria and iraq. syria has warned it will fight back against what it calls a grand incursion in its territory. in southern taiwan rescue workers say they have found signs of life under the debris of a high-rise building. 130 people are strapptrapped.

24 people were killed in the city, the worst affected area. from there, here is rob mcbride. >> reporter: as they work further down in to the ruins, conditions for the rescue teams are getting harder. >> hang in there, the rescuer shouts. we will seen get you out. >> people are trapped in very small spaces. we can't use big machinery down there. we mostly dig with our hands. >> around the edges of the site, relatives of the missing have been waiting anxiously for news since the earthquake on saturday morning, the caused the entire complex to crumble in seconds trapping hundreds as they slept. >> this man is looking for his father and younger brother. he beliefs rescuers have looked in the wrong place and urges them to look again. jen umae is looking for her baby who was being cared for by her

sister. she still can't understand what happened. >> translator: it's the construction company's fault. other buildings didn't collapse like this one. >> many are now saying the complex was poorly designed and poorly built and the local m mandrin culture it's called a tofu building. it toppled over. now, exposed in the ruins, these are tin cans that had been used in place of concrete on at least several floors. local media have also been focusing on how the building resulted with a ground floor turned into commercial space that may have weakened it further of equal concern is how the authorities in this quake-prone area of taiwan didn't prevent such alterations. >> translator: the local prosecute ors office are doing an investigation and they have

collected evidence. >> reporter: as that investigation ramps up, so the search of the building continues with the likelihood of finding more bodies than survivors. rob mcbride, al jazeera, tie lan city, taiwan. >> ahead on the program, the u.s. presidential race may be underway but could the country get a third political party? how severe drought is bringing misery to five of south africa's nine provinces. we will have all of that and more after the break.

>> even though we're in here, we're still human. >> how harsh conditions affect people on both sides of the bars. >> why did scott take his own life? >> the jail. >> some people might be scared to speak out but i'm not. i'm telling the truth.

rescue workers are race to go free more than 130 people trapped under a collapsed building in taiwan after saturday's 6.4 magnitude earthquake. haiti's president is due to set down on sunday following a last-minute deal with parliament to install a transitional government. the move keeps the country from plunging in to a power vacuum after last month's election to replace march 'til tele.

natasha has more from the capitol port au prince. >> the president and the parliament medical have come to an agreement in the 11th hour but the political crisis here in haiti is har from over. a couple of blocks away from the presidential palace. what you are looking at is the remnant of a massive protest today in the central portion of port au prince. thousands took to the street to voice opposition. police at one point fired a water canon. one person was arrested. this is the agreement that president marteli after a five-year term and the parliament have come to. on april 24thing, there will be a presidential run-off and that president will take pour in may before that happens, though, the parliament, in the meantime, will elect an interim president. the opposition is completely opposed to this. they believe marteli is corrupt and that his allied in the

parliament were elected in a fraudulent manner. one of the ideas being bandied about by the opposition is is that the sfrort president would become the interim president instead we have been speaking to young men who have a lot of pent-up frustrations. they say there was very little progress that trick he would down they are simply fe sdpchlt up. marteli is excited to appear with the parliament to make this announcement of the agreement. big grand stands, marteli said he would appear to say farewell to harris on his last day in. what remains unknown is exactly what will happen more than a third of adults in the u.s. say

they are neither republican accurate or democrat. many have said they want a third political party. in new jersey, in search of some of the alternatives and we have this report. >> reporter: veril with. anyone born in the u.s. has the right to run for president. it's in the bill of rights. this health food restaurant you're in new jersey social security one of the 1500 registered for 2016. >> it's the american dream. you can be whatever you want to be. >> can you become president? >> we have to change the system. if a hard-working can't become president, that eliminates 1%. 1% runs the 99. >> the social mobility promised

in the american dream long ago disappeared. only a few can run for the country's highest? >> we need a new way forward that's not bought and paid for by predatory banks joel stein was the party president in 2012 and hopes to be in 2016. then she was on the ballot for nearly 85% of u.s. voters and 2016, she says it be 95 to 100%. >> even if a third party navigates $0.50 of electoral rules to get on each state's ballot t the libertarian party is alleging in court the presidential debate commission is rigged to ensure only two parties are heard. third parties hope social media which has proved so effective in bringing race inequality will

make a difference with the republicans and democrats. >> we didn't know the berlin wall was going to come down, and it did. we didn't know a lot of things were going to happen that have been in human history. thingse change. >> the sign says the $ic establishment ensure he is not the nominee but even if he is, he would be just one man against a powerful democratic party machinery opposed to his goals. >> it's like helping a friend break up with an abusive relationship. how long will you make executions for someone pushing you over the cliff. >> the mainstream media has been discussing an alternative but it's michael bloomberg, the billionare tycoon. some say a break through is

possible. algeria's parliament aims to reform the political system. the government says the changes will strengthen democracy but analysts have cast doubt on whether they will come to fruition and the president's grip on power. >> five of south africa's nine provinces have been declared disaster areas due to severe drought. the blistering dry spell calls by the el nino weather pattern is hitting farmers hard. a report from one of the drought zones. this farmer has been growing maize on this land in the free state province for more than five decades and his father and grandfather did before him.

>> wiksd not try planting seats. it's been dryer than ever he says he has never seen conditions this bad. it's costing south african farmers more than $600,000,000,000 in lost crops. no rainfall means maize production has dropped by a third. they will have to import 3 million tons of maize to feed the country this year. >> africa is in had a drought due to the exchange rate, it will be expensive to important maize. if we push -- it will push the price up high. people depend upon it for a staple food will have to get -- a stable food will have to get used to maize not being available. >> the government says farmers will need to use different methods to adapt in changing weather patterns. >> we need more funding so we

can be at our capacity to put the country on irrigation. we produce more. dry rivers and dams mean entire communities are affected by the drought. not far is the community of senegal. people here have not had water for more than four months. they rely on these water tanks installed by private donors. people here say they have had no other way of surviving. >> the water we have is not enough e specially for school zones, it's difficult. >> it is painful because we don't with have water. i am comforted by the fact there has been a little rain. >> national water campaigns hope to bring some relief to those affected by the drought. but as dry conditions are expected to continue for months,

this concern that if there is another season of low yields, many will see their looildz disappear. al jazeera,ivelihoods disappear. al jazeera,. >> people with disabilities in serbia have struggled to find jobs but a project in the town of isidz has changed that. it employs people with minor disabilities to help those with severe disabilities. the project has been a defendant major success. funding cuts means it's facing an uncertain future. >> reporter: from making a cup of coffee to helping with the shopping, kanizovech provides much needed help to a couple who suffer from multiple sclerosis. nobody knows how much longer this care can continue. >> i can't believe it will end. i ramey hope it won't because it's really needed. >> she is employed by the city council of the western serbian city, part of a pilot scheme to help people like her with minor

disabilities to find a job. the idea is that she then works for people with severe disabilities who need extra help at home. >> this means a lot to me. i have a disability and doing this helps both me and them. this job is full filling. we feel for each other and it keeps us happy. >> the project is coming to an end in the city -- and the city counsel doesn't know whether the serbian council will provide the money for it to continues. >> a three-month pilot project is not enough because it normally takes a month or so for the serviced users and providers to adapt to each other. once they get to know each other and things start working well, the project ends. >> the serbian government says i it's committed to helping people with disabilities find work. we see plan to hire 1600 people national employment office statistics show 16,000 serbians

with disabilities are unemployed. most like kanizevech say they want to work and offer help to the best of their abilitity. >> that and much more on our website. the address for that is aljazeera.com. aljazeera.com. i'm gits, and you are br -- richard gizbert, and you are at the "listening post". these are some of the stories, iowa, the path to the white house, and what ma