>> this is aljazeera. >> hello, this is the news hour. coming up, suicide bombers are targeting a top commander in lebanon. why a change in leadership in baghdad is the only way to end the bloodshed. plus, a popular senator surrenders to the police live on

television. on the hunt for medical miracles in the open ocean. >> a suicide attack in lebanon and a car bombing in syria and a fight in iraq. in isolation they are incidents of human tragedy. but they are all linked and together tell the story of a middle eastern landscape that is quickly changing. we are reporting from iraq in a moment, first we are going to lebanon and the top security chief is the target of an assassination attempt and he was unharmed but killed at least two people. it happened at a security check on the main highway. we are joined now in the eastern valley, you are at the scene of the attack and tell us about what happened. >> okay, this is the main highway that links to beirut to

damascus. it happened just within a few seconds when the head of the general security had passed from this same check point. hundreds of cars pass through this road every single day. we actually pass through this roadblock less than a half hour before the explosion took place. this attack was not a surprise. the security forces were on high alert and they have been telling us they had tips on a plot by some groups, radical groups, to target today. in the capital already on high alert and they were going after suspects on the streets, the main area in the capital, and they raided a hotel and arrested 13 suspects yet this attack took

place despite the security measures and the security was looking for similar vans like the one that blew up here but as you can see all of the security measures sometimes cannot stop such attacks. >> thank you. reporting there live in lebanon. >> now, over the border, a car bomber kills 34 people in central syria according to the activists. it happened in a government controlled village in the country side and 40 others were wounded in the blast. the front group claimed responsibility for the attack. >> video posted appears to show an attack in the city close to the one center of the revolution now in government hands. >> now, it is friday and

pictures are from iran and the subject is fighting in iraq. the crowd most of the iraqi shiites are protesting the sunni militants. >> i insist with belief that the uae, kuwait, saudi arabia and turkey and egypt will not be safe. i am sure that this fire will spread to those governments. it is not just about isis, it is about america, america equipped a group, this scenario is america's scenario. >> the u.s. president is sending 300 military advisers to iraq. here is a look how the latest

fighting between the iraqi arm and the sunni rebels. the rebels say they made what they called a tactical withdrawal. the fight on the road to baghdad is going on for days. the iraqi government is saying that it is retaken most of talafi. kurdish forces are controlling most of the city. live from baghdad and talk about the reaction to president obama's plan? >> the iraqi government's reaction is muted. no official statements are given and the state television here didn't even run the speech. now we have spoken to a close

politician and saying look, we are able to handle this crisis ourselves. we don't need american help. we are in this process of recruiting people. and we are in this process of getting the iraqi army ready. so a very positive spinning from the people close to the prime minister maliki. that is how it is seen here in iraq. particularly when president obama said it is not up to choose iraq's leaders and maliki is under a tremendous amount of criticism here in iraq and now in the u.s. and u.s. politics are calling for his resignation. >> what about the iraqi's in general and what are they making of the new crisis that the country is facing and the solution is to the crisis? >> if you ask iraqi's general

speaking, the way that it is being spined in the media, a lot of people are nervous about what they call the government inaction. they are worried that the government is not doing enough. it is releasing statements and giving interviews but not putting forward a concrete plan, particularly to take places like mosul. i found that people didn't want to speak about politics publicly, that means they want don't to speak about the state of iraq or iran or the other a rebels. this is what i found. a man who knows how sensitive that the situation in iraq is. on friday at the mosque, he understands that the worshippers here are concerned about what the future might hold and he says that the holy book is the

only a guide. >> my sermon talks about how to maintain one's religion and honor and protecting the country and protecting all groups. >> his words are of spiritual guidance and speaking out could be an issue. >> getting people to speak openly here to us is very difficult. nobody wants to be seen to speaking about anything political, whether the islamic state of iraq or prime minister maliki. but as the mosque empties with people, some want to speak. >> if you ask me if i was afraid before taking over mosul, yes, after no, i'm not afraid. the revolution is bringing security and dignity to mosul. we are living at peace.

>> this mosque is used by sunni and shiites and as the war is continuing the sectarian tension is increasing and a message playing an important role in helping to diffuse it. what we are seeing is a number of neighborhoods, particularly sunni neighborhoods feeling the pressure and embattle. that is the sunni neighborhoods. in the shia neighborhoods they are more vocal in what they want to say and supporting the prime minister maliki and on saturday morning a huge demonstration by the army and they are one of the shii shii shiite armies here. >> thank you. >> with all of the calls for

maliki to resign, who would replace them? there are a number. one is that play add central in the decision to remove saddam from power. one is a leader after the remove and couldn't form a government and lost the job to maliki. and a french economist and in 2006 he failed to win the support to become the prime minister. influential sunni tribal leader is saying that the united states can't rely on maliki and saying that the partnership between the sunni tribes and the al qaeda

off set is short lived. >> the islamic state of iraq is short lived. the problem with with maliki specifically. we don't want to take the clock back and come back to pre2003 and we don't want to built on iranian agenda. we are not isil. they know that the tribes are going to push them out. they can't be any trust given to isil. >> palestine president is saying that israel is using the disappearance of three teenagers to punish the palestines. they have killed a palestine boy. he's is second to be killed in a week. the three teenagers went missing a week ago.

israel is accusing hamas of kidnapping them. >> friday marks the third day of a fighting on the strip. we are in gaza where the hamas is holding demonstrations. >> this is being held by the hamas. they are full support of the prisoners and those men arrested by israel in the west bank over the past few days and a lot of anger here and calls by a hamas. they have neither admitted or denied the disappearance. before the demonstrations started a lot of criticism of the president. but he's perceived cooperation with the security forces in looking for these disappeared three teenagers. >> at least 31 bodies removed

from a mass great in a mexican state. the investigators are looking for more. they made a discovery at a ranch. they have seen years of migrants trying to reach the u.s. and drug cartels. >> the scene of where dozens of bodies unearthed and a number of graves were found on this ranch. the investigators say that some of the victims died at least six months ago and unclear if they were migrants on a the way to the u.s. some of the bodies showed signs of torture. some of the victims with hands behind their back and others dismembered. there is little information about the case. >> investigations are underway. we are releasing the details at the right time. >> the families of missing people in the state are looking for more information from the

government. dozens of people reported missing. going to the forensic office and looking for clues about her husband's case. a taxi driver going missing a few weeks ago. >> i come here for hope and to seeing what happened but at the same time i don't want him here among the bodies. >> hundreds of bodies are unergded in the recent years and vick tips are often kaukt up in raging drug violence. loved ones usually receive little or no information from the government. >> much more ahead on the news hour, including crime gang and talk to the victims of the mafia

violence. >> and we have all the action from brazil as two goals end england's campaign for the championship. championship. >> prompted fever to revamp the security around the stadium. fans stormed into the stadium and that is not the only security problem that the security organizers are facing. >> stampede of fans and arrests of black marketers. fake ticket scams. nothing it seems is too much when it comes to getting into the world cup games. in the biggest security breech so far, the fans desperate to

see their team play spain barged past the guards at the stadium. but they landed in the media center and detained. on sunday, a group of ticketless fans climbed a wall and almost made it into the stands. fifa in charge of the security in the stadium, is clearly embarrassed. >> they are working with the security and the authorities in order to improve the standards and in order to improve this will not happen again. >> the 88 fans have been given until saturday to leave brazil or be deported. >> no one likes to see the image tarnished by something like this. everyone is talking more about the incident than about the fantastic victory of the chile

team. >> the biggest breach of security is doing with tickets. this man was arrested trying to sell what are sometimes fake tickets for five times the official price. but most get away with it. fifa is saying that the tickets are only legal at the official website and yet we have found dozens of a websites selling the tickets to the world cup and some as much at $28,000 for the final game, including parking. a prosecutor is ininvestigating this site after receiving come mrapts some fans have not received their tickets. people are advising not to use the websites, but when it comes to seeing your team playing in the world cup there is little some fans won't do.

>> ukraine is saying it regained the border with russia and now able to get medical equipment across the border this is coming after a round of fresh fighting in the towns in eastern ukraine. we are joined live from the eastern town, just an aways from the fighting taking place and separatists. what is happening in the area in the last 24 hours? >> yeah, intense fighting has been happening just to the north of here in that direction, in fact, from the village from where i am standing right now, 10 minutes ago a short convoy and personnel carrier of pro russian military headed in that direction and intending to engage the ukraine army once again. according to the official forces

from kiev, they are saying seven soldiers killed and 30 wounded. and it is said several hundred militia fighters are killed as well. they are squeezing the separatists out in this area. this particular area is a crucial supply route, it is a link and as a result it has a very strategic importance. so you can see why the ukraine military is putting a lot of resources and a lot of manpower and metal work in this particular area. >> there is talk of a seize fire and how close to that

materializing? >> well, their president has been floating aside the cease fire and saying it is going to be uni lateral and the firers are laughing at it. no cease fire in place at the moment and we are hearing that the official peace plan is not announced until june 23rd. which is still a couple days away. at the moment is fight something continuing as it has been for the past several months. but the prospect of a cease fire is brought closer by the announcement of kiev and they have surrounded the disruptive elements and secured the border, they believe, that was the prereck sit of having a cease. they needed the borders secured. it is limited cease fire.

it is limited opportunity for the kiev says the rebel separatists have to take to lay down the weapons or the otherwise threat is they are hit harder when the cease fire ends. >> thank you for reporting live in ukraine. >> pope francis is visiting the heart of the mafia territory in italy and going to the message of a repent or face damnation and visiting a town where a three-year-old boy was shot dead, the latest victim in the mafia violence. we are reporting where people are taking a stand against the criminals. >> rosa and her son are haunted by her husband's death. an innocent gunned by the mafia in a case of mistaken identity. >> they are worse than animals.

they have no regrets. no hearts. they are destroying the families of innocent people. five years after the attack, still suffering emotional difficulties. they both hope that the pope's visit will mark the beginning of the end of violence. because here in one of the most beautiful parts of italy, and one of the poorest, the mafia killing is continuing. >> just a few kilometers away, in march the priest was murdered. father was beaten to death by a drug dealer demanding money. a dealer on the fringes of a world of organized crime. that murder and the shooting of a local three-year-old boy prompted the pope's latest stand against the mafia. giving the neighboring priests new determination to speak out. >> i never felt danger because

danger comes with fear to test o ourselves. >> the pope is getting a direct account when sharing lunch with this reformed drug dealer after visiting a local prison. >> my life has been a journey throughout bad situations, have touched efl. >> normal life is going on here despite the violence. many vatican analysts doubt the pope's power to overcome the mafia. in the past, the church has turned a blindy to organized crime. >> a popular actor and senator surrendered to police. he and two others are suspected of misusing the state funds.

>> senator and actor and turned politician delivers a speech seen as last minute attempts to seek sympathy from the public. he's charged with corruption and two other senators, including the son of former president and 90-year-old politician believed to be the architect of marshal -- martial law in the 70s. the it is the case that riveted the entire nation. this case has brought down governments and unseated public officials, still not one convicted has spent much time behind bars. when the president was sworn into office in 2010 he promised

to fight the corruption. his government says that the arrests will hopefully pave the way for a long needed reform and denying that justice is selected. >> charges will be filed and all be tried and we have filed a case against him. we are color blind as to cull p ability. >> these three are the one overjoyed because you are now really an example of how government is serious in keeping the standards. they are going to get away with it. in the middle again looking at

government and saying why only them. >> cleaning up the system means over haul of the structure and strong support from the public. many are saying they have groan weiry. this may be a political drama in a country long hardened by the corruption scandals. >> time now for a check on the world weather, seth, you are going to tell us what is happening with the weather. >> yes, in fact, this is the same system causing the flooding in rome, that was three days an ago and the system is swirling around the southeast corner in europe since then. the bright white areas of clouds is the heaviest of downpours at the moment. it is over the region for a couple of days now and that is the problem with the heavy rain. has bulgaria where we are seeing

the worst of the weather. this is along the coast. and here 72 millimeters of rain. you might not think that is too much, but look at what it has done. it is throwing around the cars, and children's toys. over the next few days there is better news on the horizon, this system is clearing. the trouble is it is quite a slo process and working towards the east there, as we head throughout the remainder of the day edging to the east and still with us until saturday. what we can do is completely dry weather and here more showers, actually many eastern parts of europe expect to see the fairly unsettled weather. it is a very big contrast over the western parts of europe. high pressure is in charge and fine and settled. very fine in london there. >> thank you very much. still ahead, one border, four countries, cracking down on the illegal movements and stepping

up operations against boko haram. >> scientists just start add global project and looking at the marine eco systems and the project could have benefits for humans. >> and in sport, 11-year-old golfer made history at the u.s. open. we have the details coming up. stay with us. we'll be right back after a short break.

>> welcome back, you are watching the news hour on aljazeera. lebanon's top security chief has

been a target of an assassination attempt and he was unharmed but the attack on the security check point killed at least two people. >> in syria, opposition activists are saying 34 people were killed in a powerful car bomb near the central city and it happened in a government controlled village. in iran, people are gathering to protest against the sunni gains in iraq. the u.s. president is sending 300 military advisers to iraq. there is a politician close to moll maliki that the arm is gaining control. they are lining up to fight on the government side and here is what they have to say. >> we are all iraqi's and this is our country and we are all going to fight them as one hand

and kick them out. >> i came to serve and volunteer for the sake of iraq. >> well, one of the biggest areas of the region is pushing to visit egypt for the first time since 2001 and the purpose of the visit is showing solid darety with a new government in cairo and a sign of a monarchy consolidating against the rise of the sunni's in iraq. we have a professor of middle east with us at the london school of economics. thank you for being with us. all these events in iraq, in syria, are related, tell us what the common denominator is right now? >> if you listen to the media and telling you that all sunni's

and shiites are killing each other. that is nonsense. there is more happening. you are talking about social and political struggles. you have uprising of op oppression. it is taking the state back from the dictators. that is why you are having the struggles and don't be blinded one facet of the conflict. secreta secreta secreta secreta secreta secretary >> also really a war between saudi arabia and iran and the powers. >> there is a fierce regional

struggle taking place. saudi arabia on the one hand and trying resist the spreading of iran. in iraq and also in yemen. this struggle is taking on connotations. remember, iran is a shiite dominated state. again, we shouldn't be misled by the sectarian struggles and struggle for regional control. iran is trying to assert their influence and saudi arabia is resisting the influence by iran. >> now where do these two powers saudi arabia and iran stand on the idea of intervention in iraq first of all and then to syria?

>> in syria, saudi arabia was very angry with the american president obama because of stepping back against. saudi arabia wanted the united states to strike. and in the case of iraq, today they are saying obama doesn't have the guts to fight terrorism. they want him to intervene in iraq and basically fight. this tells you, it tells you that it is a fierce regional struggle taking place in the middle east and unfortunately the victims of this cold war in the middle east are the syrian people, the iraqi people and lebanese people that this is not about sectarianism. >> it is quite interesting in the question for regional dominance iran is looking for approach from the u.s. and talking about cooperating.

>> this is part of the tragedy, one of the most important elements is the deepening between the iranians and the americans. it is increase intensifying close relationship between the two. john kerry saying we are going to share the information with iran. well, if you are walking about a particular question, that means we are no longer at enemies buttal lies. that is what is developing in the region. >> very interesting to talk with you about this. >> now, a verdict is expected next week for three aljazeera journalists on trial in egypt. the three have been behind bars for 174 days. they have been accused falsely of working with the brotherhood. the egyptians are asking for the maximum sentences and that means

7-15 years. aljazeera rejects all of the charges and continues to demand the release of their journalists. >> now preparing for a presidential election on s saturday. the president is standing again, but facing a boycott. he took power six years ago and won in 2009. >> with just a day before they vote for the next president, so a final chance to gather for those over seeing the election. many opposition parties decided to boycott the poll, and meaning that the results will be questioned and placing a great emphasis on the role of the monitors. >> the national observers recognize that they are not political in any way and guarantee independence and that is why we resorted to individuals that formed the

organizations to use them as monitors. >> but checking every polling station will be impossible. the monitors say they hope to have a presence in and around a quarter of them. it is indicated that the president could win again. so his main challenge is securing a high turnout. the man himself criticized the political rivals and questioned their approach. >> the time has come and justice will intervene. their speeches are considered to be a political failure. >> that is a reference to recent history of sectarian problems with slavery, an issue that is strong in the people's minds, problems that existed between the arab and black communities and inside of the arab community itself and some believe it could

influence the election. >> we are taking a look at some of the other stories making the news around the world. the security is tightened in pakistan. the arm has been carrying out an operation against the taliban fighters. >> hundreds of army officers committed of trying to overthrow the turkish president is released from jail. the top court a ruled that the trial was flawed and the military is hoping a retrial will lead to a fair verdict. the search for the missing malaysia fight is shifting. they are scouring the ocean floor for wreckage. it vanished three half months ago. >> now to nigeria, they have

tightened the border controls. it won't be easy for the government to control the illegal migration. >> there are dozens of them along the long and porous border in the north. there are now more separations and greatest trouble documents. the officials are busy and following a rise in the attacks boko haram. this check point is introduced in february and 900 illegal immigrants arrested or taken away from here. it is points like this the immigration service helps to apprehend the migrants. the north borders four countries and a shortage of men and

material to control all of the crossings and criminals including boko haram is exploiting this. >> increasing the number of bases and reducing the disstances between the control borders and reduce considerably and identify some appropriately. >> disspite that, bormsz boko haram fighters are finding their way into the country. >> what we are doing is seen as inadequate such that the efforts have to be complimented. the military rather than check points suddenly in other towns and cities and it is the whole approach to security strategy that has to be changed. >> a lack of cooperation from

the border communities is also a big concern. some see the controls in place as an intrusion and as long as those feelings remain, the government is going to struggle to prevent the cross border crime. >> there's been a surge in the number of people forced from their home countries by violence or persecution. the u.n. is saying 51 million people around the world considered refugees at the end of last year. that is 11 million more than last year. more than half come from three countries, two and a half afghanistan, syria and a million from so moll ya and they are headed to pakistan taken in the most, 1.6 million and almost all from afghanistan. but the war in syria is driving the people across the borders to turkey, iran and lebanon and

jordan and others and hundreds iraqi's are on the move. >> now, as we have heard, pakistan takes in the most refugees and now afghanistan's turn to help out the neighbor, thousands from the region cross the border to escape pakistani fighting. >> 20 kilometers a new camp is taking shape. the tents are just the beginning. >> we have registered a thousand families and thousands of people are fleeing and they are scattered and living in houses and in the mountains. >> they want them to come here for needs. one died on the journey over the rugged border and one vehicle overturned. trucks are loaded to the brim

with whatever the refugees can carry. many fled before the military operation began in pakistan. >> the military came and put check points around us. they didn't tell us to leave. our elders went to them and told not to worry. stay where you are, but we were scared and we left. >> he says they left the goats, cattle and most of their belongings behind. the village is almost empty. finding a vehicle to get out was difficult. >> the roads are closed. there are curfews. we couldn't find food. it is our fight and we are caught in the middle. >> some of the first refugees in tents and coming here because the afghans are fellow tribesmen. the prime minister is asking to close the borders.

>> still ahead on the news hour, in southwest france where this week's scientist gather to celebrate discovery here against this rock face that forever will change the understanding of human. >> securing a spot in the second round of the world cup. details next. ils next. r

america mobile app, available for your apple and android mobile device. download it now >> welcome back. this weekend researchers are taking ocean samples from 150 sites around the world. they are aiming to put together

the largest set of data on marine bacteria and could be used to fight human disease. >> it seemed a fitting place to investigate on what lies beneath the surface of the world's ocean. the scientists were the first to head out to take the water samples. it was a low tech beginning to what is a high-tech study on bacteria d.n.a. >> the marine bacteria, they have the greatest diversity and growing to evolve into larger d.n.a. and understanding how the bacteria is working is fundamental to understanding the life on earth. >> half of the species are found in the water around new zealand. they are hoping this study gives them answers.

>> they have found a huge diversity in these single places, this is the same all over the oceans or the same bacteria everywhere or different places have unique bacteria. >> the samples are filtered and frozen and sent to germany and the huge task of collecting and analyzing the data will begin. this is generating a great deal of excitement what it could tell us about the marine eco systems and benefits for the medical world. watching closely are the scientists from a number of fields. they say bacteria in the oceans could hold keys to the development of medication for all sorts of conditions and diseases. >> it is often a long pathway. you are not finding a potential drug tomorrow and on the shelves next week. it is a number of years to get

it throw the clinical trials and stuff like that. it is a lot of exciting potential out there. >> when the results are published next year they could take a leap forward in developing the ocean and the organisms that call it home and what they can do for us. ♪ >> all right, from the latest at the world cup. >> thank you so much. in results in brazil, columbia securing a spot in if knockout rounds. followed by japan's draw with greece. >> coming off a los in the

opening matches, england and uruguay both desperate for the wins. header in the 39th minute. with just 15 minutes left, england scores. tapping in the cross from close range. in the 84th minute. shooting the winner straight past. england now almost certainly out of the tournament. columbia's campaign is on track though, may have produced the miss of the world cup but not having any problems finding the

net. ahead in the second half with a header from the corner. another putting them ahead 2-0. the goal of the game though coming from the ivory coast. columbia winning 2-1 and leading group c by six points after two games. >> so columbia is added to the round of 16. the first time in 24 years. greece and japan and ivory coast still have a chance. and in group d italy and costa rica playing. malta is holding great significance for england.

a reporter in rio is looking at the potential scenarios. >> urguay close to a terrible sitation. now they are in a position of challenging and england, well, they have not given up hope, what they need to happen is for italy to win and italy winning again and three things need to go in their favor. it is looking more and more like a team battle between the three. >> knowing the importance of the match between costa rica for england and tweeted if we win i

want a kiss from on the cheek from the queen. costa rica winning. should ensure they are not under estimated from now on. >> our main issue regarding the opposite team is they know us very well. they have studied our plays, and they have three forwards of great quality. >> making a debut is not easy. we have gained confidence. we have learned about each other on the field and what we can do and cannot do individually and as a group. we have a high level of motivation and continuing to do things good or better than now. >> group e is playing on friday.

honduras and ecuador in action. join us for the daily world cup update just under two hours from now. we are live in rio and former african footballer is the special guest. you can also get more on brazil 2014 at website. >> an 11-year-old girl making history in the u.s. open. one of the biggest tournaments on the women's golf calendar. >> with pig tails and decked out in love hearts stars and stripes. but the youngest ever qualifier looked the part of a profession professional golfer and shooting

8 over in the opening round and 11 strokes off the lead and higher than 30 other players on the board and pink ice cream is the reward. >> my score, i'm happy with how i played. it is 8 over. that is not bad. but 7 over in three holes, and one over in 15 holes, so yeah. i just need to get rid of the big numbers. >> she stole the lime night from the leader stacy lewis with opening round of 67. michele is in second. she could offer plenty of advice for lucy that is back to the course on friday. >> i'm glad i got it over with but excited for tomorrow, yeah. >> o what are the plans for the rest of the day? >> eat more ice cream. [laughter]

>> she'll make unlikely bid to make the cut, that would be sweet indeed. >> so cute. >> thank you so much. >> now, a 150 years ago an important discovery on the history of human development is made in southwest france. a group found a piece of tusk engraved with drawings. a revolution understanding of the human species. >> this valley was the scene of a discovery and this week they gathered to commemorate it. here he found shards of tusk. put together they made a whole. today it is rarely seen. on it, a drawing made by human hand of a ma'am mouth. it was a stunning revolution and

proved that man and ma'am mouths walked the earth tame. >> it is not a weapon or a tool, it is object tr for decoration or religious reasons. it is not object for function. it is like a painting by a famous painter or something. it is really an object made by an artist. >> what happened here was a rare moment when science chanced upon a key to help unlock the understands of early human development and a triumph of rational thought and inquiry over centuries and proving beyond doubt that human beings were much, much older than previously thought. the tusk is 14,000 years old. in 19th century thought that the

whole world was six thousand years old. >> if you have an evolution of those people and thousands and thousands of years ago before christ arrived that is the outlook and the church adopted that, but it took a long time. >> at the national museum of prehistory, they hold six million individual finds and showing the picture of early life. the tusk is in a special exhibit and showing the ancestors are older than we thought and capable of expression, of art, of interpreting the world and them and truly human. aljazeera in southwest france. >> that is it for this news hour on aljazeera. from the team here, thanks for watching. jane dutton is up next. stay with us.

>> australia passes some tough gun laws... >> after those laws came in, there have been no more mass shootings... >> should the u.s. take notice? 5 days: guns around the world a primetime news special series only on al jazeera america