he's calling for an examination of human rights ryealations in eastern ukraine. a fragile truce is holding despite the loss of lives in debaltseve in the last few weeks alone. 6,000 people have died there since fighting began in april. >> russia's leaders and splittists that they back implementing the full measure of the commitments under the minsk agreements, and to implement them everywhere, including in debaltseve outside of mariupol, and in other key strategic areas, and i underscored this morning that if that does not happen, if there continue to be these broad swaths of non-compliance, or there continues to be a cherry picking as to where heavy equipment will be backed from without knowing where it's been moved to, and whether the osce has been able to gain the access necessary then there would be further consequences that will place added strain on russia's troubled economy. >> sergei lavrov fired back at his american counter part saying ukraine must do more to pursue a course towards peace. >> the grave humanitarian situation should be given highest prior

and a full pullback of all heavy weapons if fully implemented these steps will bring piece to eastern ukrainend allow for the implementation of the follow on steps mainly access for ukraine to its citizens in the east so they can begin a political dialogue. as we have long said the united states we will start to roll back sanctions on russia when the agreements are fully implemented, and implemented, and so will our european partners. we we will judge russia by its actions nods words. they've already begun this week intensive consultations with our european partners on further sanctions pressures should russia continue fueling the fire in the eastern ukraine and other parts of the country. there are others including energy dependence the cancer of corruption, and the kremlin's pervasive propaganda pervasive propaganda campaign for truth is no obstacle or working across all those fronts to hard and european resistance to these new threats. just briefly we are working with the eu in key countries to change the energy landscape and to make it more secure resilient, and diverse. particularly acro

is also embroiled in tensions with russia over eastern ukraine. now that they're seeing i guess the iraqi forces taking of isil, which is something they always wanted to see, how much of a priority do you think they see the fight against isil as? >> well, they still consider it a very very key priority. it's probably the u.s.' top defense and national defense priority right now. just because we're seeing these positive developments happening in tikrit on wednesday does not mean that the pentagon believes that the iraqi military is fully capable of fighting it's fight by itself. they are already looking at bringing in more u.s. forces to help provide training and support for these troops. part of the reason why they need this legal authorization is to basically codify, put into writing exactly what it is that these u.s. forces would be able to do, partly in order to have legal cover and partly to get political cover. they want to make certain barbara, that people here in the united states, who frankly are tired of war under the very limited mission

russia is still in eastern ukraine. and they have over a long period provided substantial support for the separatists. we ask russia to withdraw all forces from eastern ukraine and respect the agreement. >>> joo dwindling supplies of methadone means addicts are not getting adequate supply to clean up. an upsurge in the sharing of needles has led to an increase in hiv infections. ukraine is the worst country affected by hiv/aids in europe. the world health organization says more than 3,500 died in ukraine of aids in 2013. >> reporter: it's a nearly daily ritual, every morning but sunday, he makes the rounds distributing needles wipes and condoms to the heroin addicts. and since the conflict in separatist eastern ukraine there are more than ever. they are running out of drug it uses to get addicts off heroin. >> they promiseed to look after us ask now they have reduced so quickly vihad i have had a fever the past month. we can't afford it, we have no money. there is war. >> reporter: ukraine's government has provided the

see and still is he strong russian support in eastern ukraine. we see the equipment forces training russia is still in eastern ukraine. they have over a long period provided substantial support for the separatist. >> the u.s. has imposed sanctions on eight pro-russian separatists who are accused of causing conflict in eastern ukraine. washington also said it would deliver humvees and drones to ukraine. we have more on this from fred weir. >> it is mostly a symbolic political statement by the americans' message. they're still interested in putting the screws to russia, keeping the pressure on even though the europeans seem to have lost their appetite for more sanctions at least for the time being as long as the minsk cease-fire is in place. the idea is that a rift widening between the united states and europe over the efficacy of the sanctions on russia. but this particular list of sanctions probably won't make a difference at all. >> the peace process in colombia that is been given a past with the president announcing a one- one-month halt in air

in eastern ukraine russia in eastern ukraine, russia and its separatist puppets have unleashed unspeakable violence and pillage. this is a manufactured conflict control by the kremlin, fueled by russian tanks and heavy weapons, financed at russian taxpayers expense. it has cost the lives of more than 6000 ukrainians, but also of hundreds of young russians have also lost their lives in eastern ukraine, sent there to fight and die by the creme lip. when they come home in zinc coffins -- "cargo 200," the russian euphemism for war dead -- their mothers, wives and children are told not to ask too many questions or raise a fuss if they want to see any death benefits. throughout this conflict, the united states and the eu have worked in lock-step to impose successive rounds of tough sanctions, including sectoral sanctionson russia and its separatist cronies as the costs for their actions. our unity with europe remains the cornerstone of our policy toward this crisis and the fundamental sort of strength. and it is in that spirit that we salute the efforts of german chancellor merkel and french pre

. >>> ukraine's government, skirmishes continue on a daily basis in eastern ukraine despite the truce between the government and the pro-russian separatists. john hendren reports. >> as daly daily rifle fire breaks the silence of the ceasefire,. >> we are breaking on a razor's edge. >> provoking a new enslawt. >> in this issue ukraine is culpable. lead the situation to explode in an instant. >> reporter: do you have reason to believe that that might happen? >> translator: yes certainly. it hasn't just happened once or twice over six months. we've had many civilian casualties. >> reporter: so all it would take is for one more mortar to land here in the separatist area of donetsk than a launch of assault. they too expect an assault and they are convinced it is prowrgs separatists who will launch it. are -- pro-russian separatists who will launch it. each side accuses the other of violating the ceasefire and the ban on heavy weapons. but both seem to agree that it is rebel forces seen here training this week, the rebels say they want the ceasefire the ceasefire to hold. the u.s. intellig

independent nation across 94% of its territory, crimea and eastern he ukraine -- eastern ukraine has suffered a reign of terror. crimea remains under eu legal annexation and human rights abuses are the norm, not the exception. this includes tartar's, ukrainians who will not give up passports, and lgbt citizens. russia and its separatist puppets have unleashed unspeakable violence and pillaged hundreds of heavy weapons and troops. a commercial airliner was shot down. the airport was obliterated. ukrainian pilot languishes in a moscow jail on date to of her hunger strike. as of the minsk cease-fire lines, cells of separatist six days after the cease-fire was signed. 1.7 million ukrainians have been

offered the promise of peace and disarmament, political normalization and decentralization in eastern ukraine, and along with the return of ukraine's state sovereignty and border control in the east. for some and ukraine, conditions have already begun to improve. in parts of the east, the guns have been silenced and the osce has begun to gain access. the picture is very mixed. just today, we have osce reports of new heavy shelling from separatist positions around the airport and in the towns outside mary opel, including reports of a new 17th russian convoy going over the border from russia and ukraine with no opportunity for ukraine or the icrc to inspect the convoy, and we all know what they have contained in the past. in the coming days, here is what we and our partners have to see. we need to see a complete cease-fire all along the cease-fire line in eastern ukraine. we have to have full access to the zone for monitoring, and we have to see a full pullback of heavy weapons. if a fully implement it, these steps will bring peace to eastern ukraine for the first time in almost one year. they

i hope to have a discussion that explores the situation in eastern ukraine since the cease-fire was signed and examine why we have failed to provide the ukraine with military assistance and considers additional ways to support ukraine in this. i thank you for being here. i will turn it over to our distinguished ranking member. >> thank you for holding an extraordinarily important and timely hearing on countering russia in ukraine. i appreciate our witnesses being here. let me join you in heartfelt condolences to someone who was a courageous opposition leader. sometimes true patriot pay a price. boris nemsov led efforts he passionately leaved in. -- believed in. i find it outrageous to see the narrative that is being portrayed that it was an islamist plot why he was assassinated. to his family and friends, we have our heartfelt thoughts and condolences. as a relates to the hearing, there are many experts who would contend that the complexity of geopolitics that led to the retreat from europe created an opening for g putin in ukraine. without doubt, we can agree on one point area to the unit

at the treasury department to impose costs on russia for its aggressive actions in crimea and eastern ukraine that exacerbated the challenges facing ukraine's economy. last spring, the united states with the international partners supported an international assistance package totalling $27 billion. this assistance centered on a two-year $17 billion imf program and also included a $1 billion u.s. loan guarantee and $2.2 billion from the european union. the imf and other donors agree that ukraine lived up to its economic reform commitments made in exchange for the support. over the last year, the ukrainian government initiated steps to reduce the deficit and national gas subsidies, improve targeting of social assistance, strengthen the rule of law and reduce corruption, and increase transparency within the inefficient state on energy company and initiate financial sector repair. this is very much the comprehensive approach to reform, chairman corker, you referred to. in support of these efforts treasury advisers are providing the ukrainian government with technical assistance. this was always g

. >> >>> 30 feared dead more trapped by an explosion at a mine in eastern ukraine. i'm jane dutton you're watching al jazeera. also on the programme. >> iran has proven time and again that it cannot be trusted. nothing new and no available alternative - president obama's response to binyamin netanyahu's speech to congress. >>> australia prime minister said he's revolted as indonesia transports 11 to face a firing squad. >>> and a battle to put out a blaze in the minds around cape town -- in the mountains around cape town >>> dozens of miners are feared dead after on explosion in eastern ukraine. it happened in donetsk, over 30 are feared to have been killed. the rescue operation is on going to reach those at the zasyadko mine. john hendren is on the phone from donetsk, with more of what happened. reports do say 30 dead right now. 70 trapped in that mine. it's a coal mine in donetsk, which is a rebel held territory held by the separatists in this part of eastern ukraine. there was a number of ukranian parliament who said 32 people have been killed. i'm not sure where

would hope with decentralization, which seems to be accepted by both sides, that area of the eastern ukraine can remain part of ukraine even though now we have the separatist violence going on, that with promise of decentralization and respect for everybody's rights and an end to the violence weekend and this -- we can and this situation. that should be our goal. i hope we do not get caught up in trying to reestablish a cold war with russia because we have so many people with the grudges. i understand that. during the cold war russian how many ukrainians? but we want to bring peace to that region and i hope we can work together on that. >> we are going to go to mr. gerry connolly of virginia. ambassador nuland: can i just quickly? i think it is important to say the only thing our european partners want with regards to ukraine from russia is to leave with their military advisors. to allow the borders to be closed. to allow sovereignty to return. these sanctions will be eased when they leave. my concern, it is a policy of the kremlin that is hurting the russian people now. having their sons co

russia is still in eastern ukraine.they have overa long period provided substantial support for the separatists. >> frosty relations in moscow's significant fishing port. russia's embargo on imported food has left buyers and suppliers struggling. >> a statue of a young woman watches the ports' cold waters, waiting for her fisherman to return. romansk is's icery grip of sorts has enveloped this trade into a political one. since these pictures were filmed two years ago, the ramansk fish fact riff has stopped operating. buying fish from norway has been banned. that's pretty much all this place did so it was particularly well neryible. not all processing plants were so exposed but supply lines have been disrupted and the effect is being felt in shops and. >> fish gets more expensive every day. it's gone up 20% in price. >> and rising prices mean people buy less. >> the suppliers just called but we reject all the fish now because there is no one to buy. >> two of russia's most popular fish types herring and salmon, were impo

russia's opposition soldiers on. >>> crisis in eastern ukraine has been top of the agenda at a meetingropean ministers in the latvian capitol. they will continue its stance on sanctions against russia for its involvement in the conflict. let's talk now to the ukrainian ambassador to the u.n. thank you very much for joining us on the program. more observers in europe. will this make a difference? >> sorry? >> i'm asking if more observers in your view will make a difference. >> so -- what -- what we have in the security council today, the observations are the following: this regime is very fragile. there is no verification of what the militants, rebels are doing, how they are fulfilling their obligation, so the observations are exactly different. the -- what we are doing on our side is well observed by though oec. what the rebels are doing on their side is not well observed. >> this is the right plan of reinforcing the ceasefire rather than putting more sanctions on russia. >> the european union is welcome to perform two things. two continue sanctions, this is what they deliberated on an

minsk agreement was beginning to have a positive impact on eastern ukraine according to lavrov. >> those who are calling for weapons deliveries for ukraine will bear a heavy responsibility for breaking the peace process. >> reporter: but john kerry said the minsk agreement was being selectively implemented and threatened more sanctions against russia. >> if there continue to be broad swaths of noncompliance or cherry picking then there will be inevitably further consequences that will place added strain on russia's already troubled economy. >> dabilitiesdebaltseve is one of several places that fighting continued after the minsk agreement. john kerry said lack of clarity as to what should happen this this strategic town. the u.n.'s latest report on this area paints obleak picture of the humanitarian situation. it speaks of the credible accounts of heavy weaponry and foreign fighters are continuing to flow into eastern ukraine from russia. i asked the report's author for more details on human rights abuses. >> we had for example serious allegations of people being tortured there was some v

the war in eastern ukraine has claimed many victims including the economy. >> ukraine's currency is on a race to the bottom, teetering on the brink of collapse. now in another drastic attempt the central bank has raised interest rates by 30%. >> signs of a sick economy and hints of how bad it could still get if the war continues. >> it may look peaceful in many parts of ukraine, but the conflict in the east is felt everywhere directly and indirectly. the cost of living is soaring. hyperinflation is looming, and the national currency is in virtual freefall, having lost nearly half its value against the dollar. in a dramatic push to prevent the economy from crashing, the central bank has jacked up its benchmark interest rate hoping to prevent further deposit runs after three banks recently folded. the trouble began in 2013 when ukrainian economy logged a zero growth. last year, the economy contracted seven point 5%. a further contraction of 5.5% this year. but it's unclear what could help drive a turnaround. the country's industry has all but collapsed and is unable to compete. the gover

john hendron reports from the rebel stronghold, dondon. >> as the war in eastern ukraine began, so did olga bliznet's cancer. she was diagnosed for a second time, this time along with hepatitis c but she no longer gets her ukrainian welfare payments or prescrib drug payments for the cancer drugs she needs. even if she could find it here. >> i don't have money to buy them. in 2009 and 2010, the medicine was provided by the hospital which cured me. in 2014, they no long he were had the drug. >> reporter: so what happens if you don't get the medicine? >> well i don't know. if you don't treat serious diseases people dye. >> reporter: she's hardly alone. drugs are hard to find and expensive, with high inflation, unemployment and no functioning banking system. this man relies on donations for his heart medicine. >> there is no place i can get it. the pharmacy is closed. i have to buy less and the prices are high. >> the international aid group doctors without borders, tries to fill in the gaps making regular stops in rural towns, their waiting rooms crowded with the under served but it's not

separatist held city of donetsk john hendren is there and filed this report. >> in separatists eastern ukraine ten suppliers all awl around ukraine have gone to one supplier, here in donetsk. >> we live one day at a time. >> at this grocery store you can still buy meat and fish but since jan prices have tripled. separatists might consider themselves proud reply independent but not happy about rampant inflation. >> prices have increased and salaries and pensions haven't. cooking oil used to cost 19 hryvnias now they cost 32. >> you shouldn't kill your own people. >> reporter: inflation is annual rate of 34.5% but here in separatist donetsk is much higher. that, for people who have access to their money. some have to travel outside separatist territory to collect their money. can take days. with inflation and no real banking system, everyone here is poorer that's turned bustling shopping centers like this one into ghost towns full of shuttered shops. all new republics go through birth pains. >> does that mean things will get better here because of prices? >> of course it will get better, much mo

the quality of electronic warfare capability that russians have employed in eastern ukraine -- this isot something you can create in the basement of your home. when putin s miners and tractor drivers, it is an obvious lie. vago: there are soldiers on vacation there as well. gen. hodges: when you allow a soldier to take a tank with him or his rocket launcher when he goes on lead -- on leave? the russian narrative is, we want peace, and that sort of thing. the proxies are clearly parart of the ukrainian military capability. and what russians are using their -- air defense, artillery rockets, surveillance -- it is significant. there is obvious command and control involvement on the ground by russians. people in uniform wt this to be a diplomatic solution. we wanted to see the minsk agreement successfully implemente one of the keys is monitoring. osce has been denied accent -- access to at lst 30% of the area where they should be able to monitor. 70% of the area where they are motoring, they are constantly under pressure from rebels. they have had rebels point weaponand say they argoing to

merkel and french president hollande in minsk on february 12 to try again to end the fighting in eastern ukrainee minsk package of agreements, the september 5, september 19, and the february 12th agreements offer a real opportunity for peace, disarmament, political normalization and decentralization in ukraine, and the return of ukrainian state sovereignty and border control. for some, eastern craniums conditions of already begun to improve. the osce reports that they are holding on many lines of the contract. there have been significant withdrawals of heavy weapons. although that process is incomplete as is osce access. demining has already begun under osce auspices. the picture is very mixed. yesterday, shelling continued in a key village over the weekend. just in the last few days, we can confirm new transfers of russian tanks, armored vehicles, heavy artillery, and rocket equipment over the border to the separatists in eastern ukraine. in the coming days, we need to see a complete ceasefire in all parts of eastern ukraine. full, unfettered access to the whole conflict zone, a pullback of all

evidence that heavy weaponry and foreign fighters have been crossing the border from russia into eastern ukrainen fact just before i came on air to talk to you, i talked to the head of the u.n. human rights monitoring team for ukraine. and the thing that is concerning him most he says is that now, this shaky cease-fire should hold, give the hundreds of thousands of civilians some space to breathe and go back to their normal life and in the long-term, perhaps, heal very bitter divisions. >> imogen thanks for that. let's look now at what life is like for people in eastern ukraine. the u.n. saying as imogen just said, hundreds of thousands of people have been now for months without power, heating, water, and food. and even where life continues somewhat as normal there have also been significant changes. rupert wingfield-hayes has been one to mariupol's new high schools to find out about newly created lessons in ukrainian patriotic education. ♪ >> reporter: this is the biggest high school in the city of mariupol. we've come here this morning to witness something very new, which is patriotic educatio

john hendren, al jazeera eastern ukraine. >>> boris nemtsov was with his girlfriend a ukrainian model. now on her way back to ukraine. she did not see the shooter because the attack came from behind them. now the white house is weighing in. >> this is an indication of a climate, at least inside of russia in which civil society independent journalists, people trying to communicate on the internet have felt increasingly threatened. >> meanwhile a member of the european parliament from latvia was denied entrance into russia. she was set to attend nemtsov's funeral tomorrow. >> many left flowers and presents on the bridge where nemtsov was shot. >>> garry capsry kasparov sait down with alsat down withrichelle carey. >> when did you last speak with your friend boris nemtsov and when did you fear for his safety? >> i had to leave russia two years ago recognizing that staying there could be dangerous. i know in february, he at least did two interviews, he-he expressed his fear of being murdered. and it was highly unusual. this is the man who was always full of life. >> not a fearful man? >>

period the substantial support for the separatists. >> they are accused of causing conflict in eastern ukraine. penalties have been placed on a russian bank and the u.s. will deliver humvees and drones to ukraine. >>> reports of drug use on the rise. and the sharing of needles has led to the increase of hiv infections. ukraine is already the worst infected of hiv in europe. 150,000 people ages 15 to 49 are infected. john hedron reports from donetsk. >> it's a nearly daily ritual. every morning but sunday bruce will make the rounds distributing needles, antibacterial wipes and con domescondoms. donetsk is running out of the drugs that they use to help get people off heroin. >> they reduced doses so quickly that i've had a fever for the past month. even if we can find it we can't afford it. we have no money. there is war. >> ukraine's government has long supplied the drugs for heroin substitution therapy but in separatist territory that up a stopped. they use two drugs in heroin treatment, and as substitutions run out heroin use rises and since heroin users tend to share needles, so will hiv. >>

john hendon, al jazerra donetsk, eastern ukraine. >>> a lawyer for fugitive edward snowden says the american blower wanting to home. the former u.s. spy agency contractor has been in moscow since 2013. he was granted asylum there after leaking details of the u.s. government's mass surveillance programs. washington says it will welcome snowden home, but he will have to face criminal charges. >>> the trial of the alleged boston marathon bomber is set to begin on wednesday. it's taken more than two months to put together a jury. the attack killed three people and injured hundreds of others in april 2013. ellen fisher has more. >> reporter: 21-year-old dzhokhar tsarnaev looks different now from the police picture that went around the world. he has been sitting in federal court watching the extended process of selecting a jury. it was expected to take three weeks, it's taken twice as long. the weather has been an issue. finding impartial and fair jurors another. now, with the jury in place he will go on trial pleading not guilty to 20 federal charges including the use of a weapon of mass destruct

a rescue mission is underway at a mine in eastern ukraine after a large explosion. more than 30 people are presumed dead. donetsk has been racked by intense fighting between the government and pressure rebels for month. the rebels are accused of holding up the rescue effort. >> the united nations says it's forced to move syrians sheltering in temporary facilities because it cannot afford to keep housing them. >> a lawyer for edward snowden said the american whistle blower wants to return to the united states. the former spy agency contractor has been in russia since 2013 where he was granted asylum after leaking government documents. washington said he will have to face criminal charges if he returns. >> let's get more on one of our top stories. benjamin netanyahu's controversial address to the congress, he had this to say about iran. >> today the jewish people face another attempt by yet another persian poe 10 tate to destroy us. iran's supreme leader spews the oldest hatred, the oldest hatred of anti-semitism with the newest technology. he tweets that israel must

>> >>> 30 dead and more trapped by an explosion in eastern ukraine. hello, i'm jane dutton you are watching al jazeera. >> iran is proving time and again that it cannot be trusted. >> nothing new, and no viable alternative >>> the latest in the battle in tikrit. >> australia prime minister says he's revolted as indonesia have two australians facing the firing squad. >>> a rescue mission is underway at a mine in eastern ukraine, where there has been an explosion. it has happened at the dokor coal mine in the doesn't bass area of doesn't esque. according to reuters, 30 are dead, and dozens are trapped below ground. let's speak to john hendon en route to the scope. what have you heard about this john. >> we are hearing conflicting reports. one person has been killed so far. we are seeing another report where up to seven people have been killed. there are a number of people - i'm sorry, 30 people. there are a number of people trapped here as many as 70 people trapped in that mine. it's been difficult for rescue authorities, first they have to release pois

. >>> clearing a path for the future in eastern ukraine, work start to remove the remnant of war. hello, for the first time in months-- >> tonight family members danger. >> he was staring at space drugs, and from the very people you trust to care for them. >> it's killing people. >> uncovering the fda warning. there were over 60,000 in total sent and received. about half from work-related and went to the state >> iraqi military forces are still not in complete control of tikrit itself. that is expected to take days. but many wire about what will happen after. they fear there is significant destruction in the city, and they fear revenge killings prompted by revenge on those that are seen to be responsible for the execution of more than 1,000 military recruits. the fear is that the military and their participate necessary won't go after just the gunmen but will try to take retribution on those who they accuse to be complicit with isil. >> yemen's former president ali abdullah saleh said that president hadi, who fled to the southern city of aden, should leave the country and go into

so russia is still in eastern ukraine. and they have, over a long period, provided substantial support for the separatists. we call on russia to withdraw all forces from eastern ukraine and respect the agreement. >> south africa's president brushed off calls, millions spent on his private home. >> jacob zuma was heckled in parliament. he refused to plan how and when he paid the money. he was asked to return $20 million. ashton carter said i.s.i.l. military targets may be expanded to include boko haram. in a visit to washington nigeria's intelligence chief said he was confident about the fight against boko haram. i'm hopeful that we shall win the war. i think this will be completely finished with. >> in south sudan, oil production has been slashed by a third since fighting broke out in 2013. many oil wells have been damaged or are under rebel control as kathryn sawyer reports. >> this is how you find the lecture hauls in south sudan. many of lecturers are on strike. they had a pay cut last year. now they want the money back

john hendron, al jazeera, dondon eastern ukraine. >> u.s.resident barack obama has defended the decision not to charge a former ferguson police officer with the killing of unarmed black teenager michael brown. brown's brown's death led to proceed tests against police treatment against african americans. >> we may not know what exactly happened but officer winlson like anyone else who was charged with a crime benefits from due process and a reasonable doubt standard. and if there is uncertainty about what happened then you can't just charge him anyway just because what happened was tragic. that was the decision that was made and i have complete confidence and stand fully behind the decision that was made by the justice department on that issue. >> meanwhile, it's 50 years since peaceful civil rights protesters were attacked as they tried to cross a bridge in the southern u.s. city of selma. the incident which gave momentum to the african civil rights movement. the fight for equality goes on as rob reynolds reports. >> reporter: at the civil r

we'll look at how difficult it is to put food on the table in troubled eastern ukraine. uprooted once again thousands are displaced in the southern philippines as the military launches a major operation against a rebel group. >> the stream, >> your digital community >> you pick the hot topics and express your thoughts the stream it's your chance to join the conversation only on al jazeera america >> you're watching al jazeera. a reminder of our top stories. yemen's former president has spoken out against president hadi. >>> a power base in aden in yemen south. >>> asking for more powers to fight what he calls imperialism. after the u.s. called his government a terrorist threat and sanctioned several officials in venezuela. >>> first lady of ivory coast has been sanctioned. from her violence stemming from the 2010 elections. open letter to iran saying that any nuclear deal wouldn't last after president obama leaves office. iran's foreign minister has criticized the move. he says the politicians don't understand their own constitution and called the letter a piece of propa

hospitals are under pressure in eastern ukraine. everything is harder during a conflict like this. >> there has been no clear winner in the elections. an announcement is expected revealing how many parliamentary seats each party has won. the party would look to enter coalition, and the outcome is who forms part of the government. >> each of the candidates is going to smaller parties to find out who will join them. a coalition government has a rocky history fear. 2012 was the countries's first government. that will be the problem solver solving the infighting. it didn't work we had the alleged coup why we fast-forwarded now tow years early and back are election time again. what is happening is we have comas kobani winning 40, and his closest rival with 4,000 fewer votes, also a former prime minister. the congress party has 37 of its constituencies. that's not enough in the mmb system. what we are doing is negotiating behind the scenes to find out who the coalition partners are. we have fears of what might happen. in the background we

we report from the trenches of eastern ukraine where gunfire and shelling continue to puncture the seatsire. plus a world first test of solar power. high lots try to fly around the plan aetna plane propelled only by the sun. chad and 9 ear have launched a ground and air offensive against boko haram fighters in northeastern nigeria. local media, reporting that a convoy of more than 200 vehicles is headed towards the nigerian border, the offensive comes after the au, the african union endorsed the creation of a regional force of up to 10,000 people to join the fight against boko haram. they pledged allegiance to the islamic state of iraq in the lee vant. nick sheeve iran joins me from karno from northeastern nigh year i can't. i appreciate you are not on the front line but you are not far from it. what do you hear or see about this new offensei? >> jonah, we have been traveling in that region inside nigeria and chad and niger. >> these countries need to go in from chad from niger into northeastern nigeria where boko haram is largely headquartered. none of it, officials i am speaking to wil

foreign fighters are continuing to flow into eastern ukraine from russia. i asked the report's author for more detail on human rights abuses. >> we had for example serious allegations of people being tortured there were some video released that groups were at least threatening or possibly using hammers as well as surgery equipment to make people confess. this is very serious. who's -- >> bhos doingwho's doing this? >> rebel groups. >> a conflict russia and the west continue to interpret in very different ways. barnaby phillips, al jazeera geneva. >> says there is evidence both ukraine and pro-russian separatists are creating abuses. >> in fact you know both of them are firing indiscriminately into populated areas using grad rockets, sometimes using cluster munitions. there have been reports from both sides of arbitrarily detaining people, torturing them and in some cases disappearing people. there's plenty of abuse for the u.n. human rights council to focus on. what we need is passionate reporting on both sides to stop them not the partisanship that both si

since the conflict in eastern ukraine, they are more in need than ever. donetsk is running out of the drugs it uses to get addicts off of heroin. >> they promised to look after us now i've had a fever for the past month. even if we can find t we can't afford it. we have no money. there is a war. >> reporter: ukraine's government has long supplied the drugs for heroin substitution therapy, but in separatist territory that all stopped when the year-long war began. they would use two drugs it ran out of the first drug in january, and without new supplies, which don't appear to be fourth coming it will run out of the second by the end of the month. and heroin substitutes run out the use of heroin rises and since drug users tend to share needles, so does h.i.v. >> patients have to live on minimum doses. some have left the program and have gone on to detoxification to live without substitution therapy. >> 300 patients in the separatist cities of donetsk and luhansk has lost access to methadone since the conflict began. another 150 will run out soon. >> many wil

i don't think he has the same goal in eastern ukraine -- the goal in eastern ukraine is to keep the conflict going in order to prevent the government in kiev from being successful. >> he thinks significant amounts of weapons in the hands of pro-russian rebels are actually starting to be withdrawn from the frontline and that is presumably a good sign. >> that is a good sign and we have a long way to go. the white house was complaining today about how monitors have not and allowed in to verify what is going on. president obama was meeting with the european council president today in order to talk about next steps and confronting russia over ukraine. some of it may be putin's strategy to dampen down any talks of further sanctions or military assistance to ukraine. i think it is a good sign, but we have a long way to go. >> a quick look at other news around the world -- police in france are holding for people in connection with the deadly attacks in paris on the satirical magazine, "charlie hebdo" and are thought to be connected to the man -- republican senators have warned that any deal on tehr

dozens of people are feared dead in a coal mining motion in a rebel held area of eastern ukraine. and two australians in new niche are set to be executed after 10 years on death road -- in indonesia are set to be executed after 10 years on death row. please currently have been ignored. and we will be looking at what is behind the state owned company areva plunging almost 5 billion euros in the red. and the trial of the boston bombing suspects dzhokhar tsarnaev begins today. ♪ first, the hunt is on for three suspects in a deadly terror attack harris that happen -- in paris that happened 32 years ago. rent authorities in a have finally identified three people link to the 1982 attack on the deli that left six dead including two americans. international warrants have been issued for the suspect, now in their late 50's to early 60's. they are believed to be members of a pro-palestinian organization. today, i spoke to the head of the voice of victims tears in group here in france. let's listen. >> now they are going to bring them to justice. maybe they are not responsible for anything.

in donetsk in eastern ukraine where an explosion has left at least 30 miners dead. with poisonous gases escaping rescuers have been held at bay. a local spokesman said seven bodies have been recovered but it is thought up to 50 miners were working underground in that blast area all seven years after previous explosion was left more than 100 dead. we start with this report. >> reporter: outside the mine the families have been arriving desperate for information about the fate of their loved ones. and after hours of confusion it is being confirmed that dozens of miners have been killed. this expert said there had been an explosion around 7:00 in the morning local time and it wasn't known where the miners were. some rescue teams have gone in to try to find those trapped deep below the surface and to retrieve the bodies of those killed. but there are questions whether there will be enough emergency workers to deal with an accident of this scale. the coal mine is in the eastern city of donetsk which is controlled by the separatist rebels. it's a huge complex, one of the b

the outlook for eastern ukraine is bleak. would hate to see what a return to fighting might look like. mark: the top stories. teaming up with google to take on apple. it's becoming the largest brand to make a smart watch. the chief executive told bloomberg the partnership is a big one. >> it's an enormous partnership because we are going with two giants to make an incredible swiss luxury connected watch. >> the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu is pulling back from his campaign remarks and saying he now supports a two state solution with palestine. he told msnbc he remains committed to palestinian status of circumstances improve. the move comes two days after he was reelected as prime minister. a solar eclipse could leave the u.k. and parts of europe in the dark this morning. the move will cover parts of the sun. it was said to be the best solar eclipse in years. the visibility will depend on the weather. you can find more on that story at bloomberg.com. caroline: you can join in the conversation on twitter. to let us

decentralize, which seems to be accepted by both sides, that that strength of those -- that area of eastern ukraine can remain part of ukraine, even though you have the separatist violence going on, with promise of decentralization and respect for everybody's rights and an end to the violence, that we can end this situation and that -- that should be our goal and i would hope that we don't get caught up in trying to re-establish a cold war with russia because we have so many people who have grudges and should, by the way, i understand that. russians during the cold war human ukrainians but our goal shouldn't be right now them pay for that during the stalin era. i'm sorry but they're going to cut me off right now. mr. royce: we'll go to gerry connolly. ambassador nuland: mr. chairman, can i? i think it's important for the record to say that only thing that united states and our european partners want from russia with regard to ukraine is to leave ukrainian territory. leave ukrainian territory with their military, with their advisors to allow the border to close, to allow sovereignty to be restored.

russia, ukraine, france, and germany have held a telephone conversation on the ongoing crisis in eastern ukrainene and the rebels say they are acting in line with the deal made in minute of course last month. but the u.s. says pro-russia separatists have only withdrawn weapons from some parts of the front line, john lend ron reports from rebel-held donetsk. >> reporter: the machinery of war keeps rolling through a fragile ceasefire. >> reporter: the silents is broken baby lie small arms fire and mortars. that's ours he says. >> translator: in principle the ceasefire is holding but there is regular small arms fire so complete ceasefire can't exist. before you arrived here, several small shells land odd our side. before we fired back, there were grenade launchers fire at us. >> reporter: as occasional volleys routinely violate the tenuous ceasefire a report released monday by the united nations found 6,000 people have died so far. separatists say it is ukrainian forces who are violating the ceasefire. >> translator: the ceasefire from our side, we are not just trying, we are upholding it completel

. >>> 23 miners are killed in a mine explosion in eastern ukraine, 10 are missing >>> and the indian government bans a film on a 2010 gang rape that triggered mass protests >>> libya's national oil company declared itself unoperational after a series of attacks. it's a legal move protecting the company from liability in case it fails to filter its contracts. it comes as u.n. brokered talks are set to resume in morocco to end the violence. >> reporter: an attack on libya's oil facility left it inoperable one of several oil targeted in recent weeks, most linked to islamic state of iraq and levant. they destroyed equipment at an

. >> we have seen a russian strong force and presence in eastern ukraine.delivery of equipment forces training, so russia is still in eastern ukraine. and they have over a long period provided substantial support for the separatist and therefore we call on russia to withdraw all of its forces from eastern ukraine and to respect the minsk agreement. >>> south africa's president has brushed off called to payback millions of dollars in state funds spent on his private home. >> you can call the police, there is nothing you can do. >> jacob zuma was heckled in apartment lie opposition members when he refuse today plain how he plan to his repay the money he has been asked to he repay $20 million. >>> in south sudan oil production has been sharks by a third since fighting broke out in 2013. many oil wells have been damaged or are under rebel control. the government relies almost exclusively for funding to run the country. >> reporter: this is how you'll find most university rex true halls in south sudan. almost empty. many of the lecturers are on strike. they had

in crimea and the separatist controlled areas of eastern ukraine, men, women and children are being killed. they are being tortured and being raped and sexually assaulted, detained arbitrarily and abducked for ransom and forced into labor and persecuted and prosecutor because of who they are and who they worship and that is what is happening and it's up to the hrc to shed light on it and to help to hold accountable those who violate those human rights. the bottom line is tattoo many people and too many places are facing unbearable realities. we cannot accept that. we all of us collectively and we do not accept that and this counsel working with governments across the globe can help to create a future that is much brighter than the present or the past. i believe it is fair to say that we are already making historic progress gains and i'm proud to say that since 2009 the united states has been privileged to join with many of you and work hard in order to achieve those gains. consider the unprecedented resolutions, this council has passed to respond to threats facing civil society to better p

. >> while russia has denied allegations that it is sending troops and weapons into eastern ukraine, russia's u.n. ambassador has criticized the united states for a possible plan of training ukrainian troops. >> according to data we have these days, some 300 military personnel from the united states have arrived and they will ukrainian soldiers in the use of northern equipment. everyone knows wherever american military appear expect bad things to happen. >> while the conflict in eastern ukraine is having a dramatic affect on people with serious illnesses. fighting has cut off people's access to health centers supplies and medication is also running low and patients say they can't afford the rising prices for treatment. we have reports now from the city of donetsk. >> as a war in eastern ukraine began, so did olga's cancer. she was diagnosed for a second time. this time along with hepatitis-c. but here in separatist territory she no longer gets her ukrainian welfare payment or prescription coverage for the drugs she needs even if she could find it here. >> i don't have money to buy th

john hendon, al jazerra donetsk, eastern ukraine. >>> new leaked recordings allegedly reveal howie i's military and president discusses way to his take advantage i've low cost housing project. the recordings which can't be verified were reportedly made when el-sisi was defense minister under former president mohamed morsi. speaking to his chief of staff sisi apparently discussed taking commission from a residential project. >> translator: i will collect the fee for the electricity. >> he will take it. >> he will take it but we will take 50% that's the reality you see what i mean. >> the tape is part i've series of leaks said to implement the unitedunited arab emirates in deals with egyptian military a senior electronics type you are on the study of muslim at kings college in london. he said political players could have leaked the conversation to embarrass the government. >> what makes the tapes interesting is, of course, the timing, why these need to come to the surface right now. at this point in time it was already known for quite a while that the uae was a very important player in

john hendon reports now from the separatist' held city of donetsk. >> reporter: in separatist eastern ukrainee of independence is half empty shelves. angela yaps grocery store went from 10 suppliers all around ukraine to one here in donetsk. >> translator: it's impossible to find new suppliers. as for the few he should we just live one day at a time. >> reporter: at this grocery shane not far away, you can still by meat and fish, but the choices are slim. what's left, you can still buy if you can afford it. since january eggs have doubled in price. tea has tripled. this fish was 45 then, 95 now. separatists might consider themselves proudly independent but they are not happy about rampant inflation. >> price have his increased and salaries andsalariessalaries and pensions haven't. cooking oils used to cost 19, now it costs 32. >> translator: things are getting worse and they won't get better until kiev understands you shouldn't kill your own people. >> reporter: the official inflation pays for ukraine is an annual rate of 34.5%. but here in separatist donetsk it's much higher. and that is for

>> more than 30 feared dead and dozens trapped by an explosion at a mine in eastern ukraine. >> welcome to al jazeera from doha. the united nations cannot afford to house thousands of syrian living in temporary accommodation in lebanon any longer. >> edward snowden's russian lawyer said the whistle blower wants to return to the united states. >> a rare exhibition of north korean art on display in south korea isn't just drawing attention from art lovers. >> a rescue mission in underway at a mine in eastern ukraine where there's been a huge explosion. thousands of families are gathered in the city of donetsk. according to reports at least 30 of dead and others trapped below grounds. donetsk has been racked by intense fighting between the government and pro-russian release for months and now kiev accuses the release of holding up the rescue effort by restricting access. we are outside the mine in donetsk. what more are you hearing? >> we are hearing from the separatist government that the cause of the blast was likely an excess buildup of methane inside the mine shaft, that there was no fo