it's not easy to leave you have to ask for help and inspire others to turn their lives around i call the straw hat program the dream program my life changed after the course it gave me opportunities for my business women make change on al-jazeera . to. deny me. at least 20 people were killed in equitorial guinea jaring a number of explosions at a military base. hello there i'm how i'm hittin and this is al jazeera live from doha also coming up. another escalation within yemen who sees and saudi arabia energy facilities in the

kingdom are targeted then saudi arabia launches air strikes against son are. reports of 2 more people shot dead as pressure piles on the myanmar military to stop its violent crackdown on protesters. and fears of deportation a $150.00 breaking or refugees in indian administered kashmir could be forced to go back to myanmar. at least 20 people have been killed in a series of explosions at a military base in equitorial guinea when 600 people have been injured the government says negligence caused the blasts in bhatta city al-jazeera snickers huck has more. after the 1st explosion with little. a 2nd what did i mean the then a 3rd and 4th is. stronger than the other. this is where the blast took place

inside the. barracks one of the country's largest military bases. people ran for their lives. others rushed the injured to hospitals still going to live on national television the reporter asked is the baby dead no she replies but her mother and. we don't know what happened to this man says everything is destroyed. the barracks were home to hundreds of families in the rubble people try to pull out survivors many are feared dead including detainees trapped in the barracks prison cells. hospitals quickly became overwhelmed and called for urgent blood donations. i'm asking for your excellent susan assistance from abroad the countries and international organizations to help the republican guinea in this lamentable situation we have we already have the coronavirus health

emergency and adding to that this tragedy in the city of boston on national t.v. the anchor read out a statement from president obiang he says negligence in the dynamite depot located on the base caused the explosion causing it and given the scale of the destruction and in these times of lower oil prices made even worse by the cave in 1000 pandemic a call on the international community to provide all the help and assistance necessary. being has been in power for the last 42 years amassing half a $1000000000.00 in personal wealth in this all rich country but according to the world bank 80 percent of the population live on less than 2 dollars a day his son is the country's vice president in charge of the military and the barracks where the explosion took place last year french court charged him with embezzling state funds with a court seizing his 100 $7000000.00 paris home critics of the regime see in these

explosions as yet another example of the family's continued neglect of the people of equitorial guinea. pig liz hawk al jazeera. well in lawrence is a former u.s. diplomat and regional security officer in west africa he says equitorial guinea is not prepared for a disaster of this scale. highly shocking traumatizing many hundreds injured which means there's probably significant larger number that aren't even accounted for yet and people are frantically looking through the rubble for bodies in some ways worse than a big explosion at least in terms of the carnage and so this is going to have quite a devastating effect on many levels and equitorial guinea is you know this is one of the richest countries in africa with the least distribution of its oil. and most

of the you know many coup attempts and some dependence so this is going to rock the boat but in the short term they're just going to have to account for what happened and so far it looks very bad most of the resources are in the capital which is island off the coast not in the areas where this occurred they're building a new capital city on the mainland but it's not really fully equipped on the u.s. has done a lot of training over the years of military force and that for example but it's been focused on things like human rights which was the big concern of theirs i don't think there's a lot of disaster preparedness training on this scale so i suspect that a lot of what's going on today is winning and already the country's health services are hit quite hard by covert 900 so this will be an added burden there frantic calls for blood donations gone out so and we have pictures of people lying around in hospital floors just not being treated. saudi arabia is promising to take all necessary measures to protect itself after yemen's he's here rebels launched

another attack on its energy facilities the saudi government says confirm the iran go on a plant in tire on was targeted by able to stick missile earlier a drone head for us to neuter ports one of the world's largest oil shipping ports saudi officials say they intercepted the drone and missile attacks and there was minimal damage but the saudis say it was a much bigger assault. her joy in which they are all the artillery and drone divisions were able to conduct a wide offensive in the depths of saudi arabia with 14 drones and 8 ballistic missiles we targeted around cole in ras port and other military facilities and their mom more military sites were targeted in a theater and design and the strike was precise. they say the coalition responded to the attacks. in this way by

hitting say targets capital sana'a a residential area was struck and there are reports of casualties let's bring in our correspondent. right here in doha know he's covered the war in yemen extensively sashing you'll be able to tell us then why this sees the who thinks rather are doing this now because this is a significant parable is it not yes there are 2 things happening here the hope is are saying that retaliating to the latest us collation in the area with. intensive coalition attacks targeting her positions inside but at the same time by the end of this month that went to the 6th of march is going we will be commemorating the 6th anniversary of the saudi led coalition against the who this is remember back in 2015 the narrative by the saudis and the emirate is basically that there will be defeating the who these and reinstating president are double so hardy the attack

yesterday deeper into saudi arabia targeting vital refineries in the hand coupled with the attack in 2019 which stopped saudi production of oil for 50 percent of the capacity of saudi arabia for most for most few days is a message by the who thinks they're far from being defeated that they will continue to gain ground that they will continue to expend their political and military influence. and that now able to move closer to the saudi border the moment they get closer to the saudi border they have been using the same tactic jones rockets advanced rockets particularly and also book and they have some some advanced missile technology that they have been using to show the saudis that they are far from being defeated and so where does this leave saudi arabia it. is going to put huge pressure on society arabia because the the saudi led coalition are faces

a delicate task to go how to tackle the issue of the growing influence of the earth these they have interfered in 2015 what happened next was a disaster by all standards sandy yemenis on the brink of disintegrating the south is taken over by the separatists the president is not able to bring the government back to operate anywhere into yemen because everybody controls an area and rejects the presence of the government the whole things are getting more momentum and the tribesman loyal to the saudis or of the government are not able to get the financial and the military support they need i think in the coming days we're might see saudis to put up their military campaign to try to retaliate against this attack but this is not going to lead anywhere because the indications we're getting on the ground is that the who these are making significant military gains from the north all the way to words. and. where would you say this leaves the overall picture to poor mysie and any attempt to try and bring this conflict in

of course because as you say it's been years. is the conflict still in some kind of stalemates or is there still a chance that an international diplomacy could play a role here where how i remember back in 2015 the battle for ties was was what was crucial it was it was. the moment where both parties were looking forward to take it over if the whole things took over that would be the beginning of the end for the end had it was insisting commentating all his forces around the city because suddenly the flight 0 about power in yemen was centering on terror is today the fight is about the energy which province on the border with saudi arabia the vital stronghold for how the government and for the saudis that's where they have some military bases that's where they have been shuttling weapons to the internationally recognized government and the who thing is. an extraordinary attack to take over the problems if they can manage to take it over it would be the beginning of the end for the internationally recognized government of how it would just mean that

haiti is further explain expanding of the view was what is new today is that the americans are trying to reset relations with the hope these special all voice the maty lend the king has been a man and the earth is have been talking about back channel diplomacy and a time to talk with america's about how to move forward this could be the moment for the americans for the united nations ovoid martin griffiths to bring all the parties to negotiate a settlement here's the problem once again the saudi led coalition does not seem to be on the same page about what to do with yemen because the subtly of the beginning they wanted to defeat the hope is now they are left with 3 key players now fighting for a bigger say in yemen in the north secessionist in the south the internationally recognized government further excluded sidelined and tribal leaders affiliated with the sunni islamic party who wish to remain the most powerful military fashion operating in yemen however the saudis and the americans have been very skeptical over this group because of his affiliation with the muslim brotherhood it's by the end of the day

arctic situation that all the parties will have to grapple with that a solution is not going to happen today or tomorrow it will definitely have to take years and years into the making. can teach especially for those living in yemen hashem thank you so much for talking to see the complexities of the situation in yemen. and separately at least 8 people have been killed in a fire at a migrant attention censor in yemen's capital sana'a the un says 170 people were injured in the cause of that blaze is not yet known that detention center is run by who thier bulls who control the capital since the outbreak of yemen's conflict. after a 3 day tour spreading messages of hope and religious unity in iraq pope francis is heading home so the vatican a farewell ceremony was held at baghdad airport as the pontiff departed cheering

his visits pope francis defied security concerns with a visit see regions devastated by eisel where he met manvers of one of the world's most persecuted christian communities. still to come here on al-jazeera we look at how international women's day is being markets around the world and to millions of children across england scatty to head back to school a summer pandemic restrictions are lifted. it's time for the perfect janet. sponsored ploy qatar airways hello the weather looks set to become a little more mobile across europe over the next couple of days we have got more wintry showers just sliding across the northeast behind this cold front cooler talking about how it is a northerly wind just says you know you have high pressure that's been with us for

quite some time that's beginning to weaken so we will see rather more active showers longer spells of right sliding in from the atlantic and cinco are a few showers recently with hospitals flooding just around the valley areas pushing across into corsica sardinia into west central parts of italy more heavy showers coming in here as you go on through monday with some thunder wintry weather that we have into the northeast that sliding further southeast words still got a few showers just making their way in the cross say the british isles at the moment easing out into the north sea running down towards the low countries but we have got the prospect of some very wet and windy weather destructive weather piling in for the middle part of the week making its way in to the northwest here. that's certainly something to watch out for much about a central past in a few of those wintry flowers in place but the wet weather by the stars will be across italy and the balkans with snow over the high ground somewhat the same across the far north of morocco and with a policy area in the process of easing away.

at ways. to say just say at a time for a different approach one that is going to challenge the way you think on asking the questions now is the new host of the next season of the show that's got no space for sound bites only comedy politically simplicity into the headlines join me as i take on the lies dismantle the misconceptions and debate the contradiction. i'm marc lamont hill and it's time to get up from right here on out to do.

this is al jazeera quick rise of our top stories this hour at least 20 people have been killed in a series of explosions at a military base neck at oriel guinea's largest city of data on 600 people have been injured the president says it was caused by the mishandling of dynamite's saudi arabia is promising to take all necessary measures to protect itself after yemen's he sees another attack on its energy facilities on sunday the saudi aramco all plant in tehran was targeted by a ballistic missile. and after 3 days of spreading messages of hope and forgiveness in iraq pope francis is heading home to the vatican with his 1st ever visit to iraq by a pontiff where he met christian communities who were targeted spy eisel. a local media in myanmar is reporting 2 people have been killed after police fired on protesters in the northern town of maci know this is shops and factories have

closed in myanmar largest city yun kong trade unions have called for a total economic shutdown to protest against the military coup after more than a month large crowds of protesters are still gathering in many cities security forces meanwhile are checking cards cars guarding hospitals and conducts an overnight raids to deter the and c 2 movements at least $59.00 protest has been killed since those protests began well as has added to the international backlash against myanmar is military and saying it suspending its defense cooperation program we have reviewed our military engagement and i announced yesterday that those activities would be suspended we've also reviewed our development assistance because one of the things that i do not want to do and the distributors not want to do is to penalize the people of myanmar the people of myanmar who are amongst the poorest people in as eon and who have been dealing with significant challenges for

a long period of time. let's get more now from scott hind leg he joins us live from bangkok a neighboring thailand and scott the protest is general strike is underway but the death toll continues to mines. it does. this is up and catch in state 2 protesters were killed shot dead according to local media shot dead during the protests by security forces not to much detail about it it seems as though that there was a bit of push back and forth with the protests up there up and cuts in state and then now again images coming out on social media as well as local media reporting that 2 of the protesters have been killed and as you mentioned there's a nationwide strike general strike and prolonged strike is the way they're calling it they're calling people day labor unions at least 9 are calling people to strike not going to work for indefinite amount of amount of time right now you know we've

been seeing over the last several weeks hala that civil servants have stopped going to work shops have been closed generally but now this is. a point that they're making is they want to bring the economy. to a halt and thus put a lot of pressure economic pressure on the jointer that's something obviously it's going to take some time but that is the way they're going about doing it now going to be interesting to see how long it takes for some kind of response from the gentleman it comes to this general strike and this let's let's focus i will note a strangely it said they were at scaling back their military defense cooperation program. significant is this move what do you think it reveals about the action the international community is willing or indeed able to take. i think the significance is mainly symbolic particularly with and the amount of

military aid it provides to me and more it's fairly minimal but they're making a point aren't they making a point that because of what the joint is doing because of these last several weeks because of their power grab they're not going to supply them with any support whatsoever they also met mention the story in foreign minister there are concerned about getting the aid money and programs to those in myanmar that they've been doing and who still need them obviously that's going to be a challenge because most money is will probably be ending up end up going through the joint and now so that's a challenge so you know look at this military aid step cessation by. authorities that is a great again symbolic move but what really needs to happen are the main nations who supply military goods and training to myanmar and that's china and russia and when you look at the international community even the united nations security council hasn't been able to put a strong statement out about what's going on in myanmar because of china and russia's veto powers inside the security council so until you really get some of

the bigger players that have direct involvement with myanmar to do what a stroll is done in other nations have done that's the big challenge. that brady has the very latest from the region scott for life thank you. police in edmonton indian administered kashmir say at least 168 rangar refugees have been sent to a holding center for possible deportation that's up to hundreds were taken to a stadium in germany on saturday officials want to find out if they have valid documents to live there an estimated 5000. are in indian administered kashmir and there are parts of the more than 1000000 refugees who fled me and more since the military crackdown began in 2817 palmar bamberg yes out yesterday when i was at work the police had come and taken my wife away and she hasn't returned my children

have been crying all night we are leaving we have no choice i have a little again on the phone numbers of some of the people taken so i called them but now their mobile phones are going taken away we're unable to speak with them and their children have been left behind and the color that when my son and daughter in law went to buy something only my daughter in law came back he was taken away. today is a international women's day and it's being marks around the world with celebrations honors protests and strikes in the philippines women are marching to the presidential palace to promote their rights and voice their concerns genuine dog and spoke with some of. hundreds. of money. both. here to celebrate. but also.

one of the highest number of. in the world business also in the world work force. also a. number of pregnancy in the region and we're income inequality remains a problem. here. worsened since the fall. we are facing the worst economic crisis in philippine he says. with no. we are facing the worst. the biggest. every economic or this is the speed records.

and are around. the. for good government. the u.s. secretary of state has written to afghanistan's president outlining the bike

ministration strategy to end the conflict and there are several proposals one of which involves a leading role for turkey washington plans to stick to a for troop withdrawal by may which had been announced by the previous administration here's our diplomatic editor james bays. some of the american troops now serving in afghanistan weren't even born when the u.s. 1st went to war there in 2001 the united states currently has 2500 troops serving in the country under a deal negotiated in doha between the trumpet ministration and the taliban they're all supposed to leave by the 1st of may last week zalmay holyfield's that the u.s. special envoy appointed by president trump but retained by president biden was in kabul for meetings with officials including with the afghan president ashraf ghani the u.s. secretary of state anthony blinken has now written to president garny outlining

a new fast track diplomatic process he says we will loss the government of turkey to host a senior level meeting of both sides in the coming weeks to finalize a peace agreement we are considering the full withdrawal of our forces by may the 1st as we consider other options even with the continuation of financial assistance from the united states after an american military withdrawal i am concerned the security situation could worsen and that the taliban could make rapid territorial gains i'm making this clear to you so you understand the urgency of my tone by not taking them a the 1st date off the table the u.s. is clearly trying to kick start a very fast diplomatic process it says it will come up with its own proposals on a ceasefire and a negotiated political settlement which it will. circulate to the taliban and to

the afghan government it's also asking the u.s. and convene a meeting of foreign ministers and boys from russia china india pakistan iran and the us james out zira at the united nations health workers in vietnam have got their 1st job serves the country begins its facts the nation drive more than 100000 astra zeneca doses have been distributed to major cities there vietnam expects another 1300000 to arrive through the kovacs global sharing scheme in april in england nearly 7000000 school students are heading back to class on monday many parents and teachers are relieved after 2 months of disruption but things are still going to be a long way from normal as paul brennan reports from a school in the town of walking. repairing. it's been a long hard winter in the u.k.'s education system but the banners are going up and

the students are going back a horse will see the junior school friends and classmates who've been separated since the start of january are ready to be reunited again and i believe it's strange seeing all my school friends and i mean i haven't seen him in like 6 we and i must've been pretty excited again and i'm going back for a lot more scene school in the be. more flooding because we have we'll have more and then 7 people in the classroom and it's gonna be. it's going to be more exciting and many parents are just as excited this is what we're waiting for honestly i'm with kids all the time my husband he's working all day sell everything he's on my child there so i'm really glad they coming back to school is that good for the future because he's not but i place the school year now and for education so he's amazing yeah i think through just how to emotionally exhausted and we're on our last little nothing all battery of kind of of energy so

looking forward to getting back to normal so if i had to make a lot of changes to the mrs wand i had teachers here has been finalizing her reopening plan so every class 3 house new equipment senate to make sure the children are safe and secure there's been classes run throughout lockdown for the children of key workers such as health care staff but more than 80 percent of the school's pupils have been absent since january the 5th these empty classrooms are going to suddenly fill again for what promises to be an overwhelming return children need to be happy and settled and for some children especially this last bit of luck it's been really tough they've been stuck inside they haven't happened or contact with white or friends and family so i think it's going to be quite difficult for those children to come back and reintegrate into school but we've got lots of things in place for them. in scotland or wales children won't all return to

full time schooling until after easter another month from now but in england nearly $7000000.00 pupils are returning on mass the u.k. government has opted for a big bang return to school bringing all the children back on the same date subject to the school's ability to conduct tests but teaching unions have expressed concerns while the prime minister resisted calls for children to go back after the febrile half term and the extra 2 weeks of closure has allowed the u.k.'s 7 day average to drop from 12000 new cases a day to just 6 and a half 1000 a day but amid all the excitement of friends reunited at the school gates the government's scientific advisors face a nervous wait to see what impact the school's reopening will have on that crucial infection data paul brennan al-jazeera will kick.