>> singapore is in mourning after the death of its founder lee kuan yew hello, welcome to al jazeera. i'm martine dennis. we'll be live from singapore in a moment. but also to come on the programme, they defeated muammar gaddafi, but can they defeat i.s.i.l. we are back in the libyan city misrata, fighting for their lives. france looks to the right with conservatives, and the national front coming first and second in

local elections. >> it's like people are changing. >> using politicians to get a laugh in south africa - how that has one cartoonist in trouble. first singaporeans are in mourning for their country's founding father lee kuan yew, who died at the age of 91. he was widely credited with transforming the island. he has been criticized with being undemocratic and authoritarian. >> reporter: without lee kuan yew singapore as the world nose it may not have existed. the fourth generation saw his homeland occupied. first by the british and then by the japanese. after training as a lawyer in

britain, he became leader. a post held for 35 years. he was no independence leader. singapore became independent against its will - kicked out of malaysia against a black drop of racism. a fearful lee contemplated a bleak future. >> people connected by geography, economics, and ties of kinship. >> reporter: sentiment gave way to pragmatism. he was unflimpinging in his determination to bring prosperity to his new country. under his leadership singapore was transformed from a tiny

island to a high metropolis. lee's leadership had a dark shied. opponents found themselves in court, some bankrupt. freedoms micromanaged. famous bans like those on chewing gun were recently relaxed. his action party was returned to power again and again with his older son as prime minister. after stepping down lee kept working in an annex of the prime minister's office in vaguely entitled rolls of senior minister and minister mentor. through it all he was unrepentant. >> if i ran a western style democracy and took a straw poll we would have come to grief. >> while freedoms were sacrificed lee repaid his people with an economic miracle. filling a legacy as one of the 20th century's leaders.

>> reporter: we can talk to eugene tan an associate professor of law at the singapore management university. with three decades in power, two behind the scenes is it fair to say all singaporeans are a direct result of the lee kuan yew model. and if correct how do you characterise singapore today? >> well i think certainly there's no facet of life in which mr lee kuan yew didn't touch on. his influence is pervasive. i would say that singaporeans would have seen their lives from a dramatic fashion, or within a generation. how would i characterise singapore today? we are a confident society. you know the economic progress the societal transformation has given us tremendous confidence to face challenges ahead. it is not a perfect society by

any definition. and so those are areas in which the government is working on. we'll see the government's template, being relevant for some time to come. >> reporter: dissent was not tolerated, political opponents pursued - usually through the courts. how has that impacted on the ability of singaporeans to think for themselves and express themselves and in their creativity. >> well i think there were some who perhaps felt that you know the laws were unfair and felt that it wasn't worth their while to get into the politicals. the times are changing. the style of government has changed, and you see them expressing themselves these days we have protests not the type you see in western liberal democracy. it would be a misnomer for

anyone to say democracy is dead or there's a lack of political freedoms. the reality is the government the party that mr lee founded and is running the government has done a generally good job. but whatever worked during the tenure as prime minister, in the years ahead are simply because the complex of society has changed but the fundamental challenges that face singapore is the same and this relates to the need to be economically relevant, building a strong society from a diverse population, these are some challenges that we still continue to face. we are now in a better position than we were years ago. >> you touch pop one of the points i wanted to raise, because one of lee kuan yew's abiding fears was the state of singapore. would it surprise the passing of him, as the founder of this

modern miracle. do you think singapore can stay the course and continue with this unbridled prosperity the kind of society that is the envy of so many other parts of the world. i'm not sure about unbridled prosperity. certainly there'll be endeavours towards the end. it will be a gentler society. one of economic prosperity. with values and social justice, and we see that change as well. changes as we speak. we have to be economically - that's the challenge. we ate the water, we drink what we have. it is all beyond the control. we are independent about keeping open and relevant. that fundamental would not

change. the principle we made but we remind and adapt to that model to meet the challenges of today. >> thank you very much indeed. now in the united states a senator from texas, ted cruz confirmed he is running for the presidential nomination in 2016. he'll be the first to declare hays candidacy, along with a 30 second add calling for support. he's expected to make a speech on monday. >> the u.n. special envoy says peace talks between the two governments will continue despite recent fighting near tripoli. there could be an agreement on a

unity government within days. negotiations collapsed after the u.n. recognised tab ruck government. killing a senior rival commander. the libyan city resisted muammar gaddafi's force, but finds itself battling for survival again. zeina khodr is in the city where people say they are pushing back on i.s.i.l. onslaught. it was a second bombing of a week. in both incidents security was targeted. early on sunday a car bomb went off in misrata. no one was injured. libya's central city has been spared the violence over recent months. that is why the recent explosions are seen as an attempt to destabilize misrata. misrata is involved in a multifront war. it has been allied to general

khalifa haftar. as of late groups associated the is islamic state of iraq and levant declared war on the city. >> this is the eastern gate. security is tight. 250km from here is certain. it is a city in the hands of groups. misrata sent hundreds of men to the front line. weeks have passed. they haven't repeated the threat. >> people across the world think misrata is home to extremists and islamists. that is not true. we are the ones fighting i.s.i.l. >> i.s.i.l.'s strength is growing. there are fears the group will get stronger if the rival administration was right. i.s.i.l. is a group backed by members of the regime. it's not just that.

people believe the government in the east are financed by regional powers. >> we are fighting forces and we are fighting the regime behind the groups. niger, chad egypt, sudan are needing them. misrata's roll in the 2007 resolution paid a heavy price. today it is the fact that libya dawn alliance - one of the two administrations that claim to be legitimate rulers. since they pointed guns at each other. this city lost 350 me. but officials here are not ready to compromise syrian rebels captured several air men after their helicopter crashed in the

north-west. pictures show the helicopter going down near idlib province. the state newsagency said the helicopter had a mechanical problem. the military is accused of using it to drop bombs on rebel held towns and neighbourhoods. 23 members of the banded muslim brotherhood have been sentenced to life in prison. the case dates back to sit-ins when mohamed mursi were viabilitily dispersed. they were charged with rioting, unauthorised protests and offending the police and army. the u.n. special envoy to yemen is on the brink of civil war. they have addressed an emergency session. urging a peaceful resolution to the crisis. they have controlled the capital and the airport. the leader says they'll sent

fighters to aden where they are taking refuge in yemen, it's going from bad to worse at an emergency meeting of the the united nations security council, that was a key message, the top u.n. envoy to yemen. >> recent weeks and days seems to be leading yemen further away from a peaceful settlement and towards the edge of civil war. >> and he made grave comparisons to what the country could be facing. >> if either side wants to push the country in either direction in the vain of iraq libya, syria scenario. >> the security council meeting comes as tear gas gunshots and anger, in the third largest

city. protesters angry that houthi forces arrived in the city surrounding the barracks of local security forces. >> we refuse we reject and denounce the militias. we surround the police barracks with our bodies until they leave. >> first the houthis overtook the capital of sanaa and are closing in on president abd-rabbu mansour hadi and his strong hold in aden. they called on the huey to halt the advance. the security council condemns the ongoing unilateral elections. it undermines the process in yemen. jeopardy sovereignty, deep concern by the implementation of resolution 22-01 the u.n. council led by qatar, and the u.s. brokered a

peace deal. a leader rejected the efforts. >> the security council usually supports the offender against the victim. it makes an evil conspiring and criminal hands in a dangerous situation. >> the security council left the door open to take further measures in face of non-implementation. they did not specify what they may be. so far no action despite diplomats here has halted or slowed the political crisis a crisis that is getting worse every day we have a lot more to come at al jazeera, including a step to the right. french voters turn away. we report from paris. slowly the economy opens up. the ad man is finding new ways

to make a buck.

>> the new al jazeera america primetime. get the real news you've been looking for. at 7:00, a thorough wrapup of the day's events. then at 8:00, john seigenthaler digs deeper into the stories of the day. and at 9:00, get a global perspective on the news. weeknights, on al jazeera america . hello again. let's look at the top stories on al jazeera. singapore declared 7 days of national mourning after the death of its founding father lee kuan yew. lee transformed the small port city into a major financial and trade center. he'll be laid to rest in a state funeral on sunday the normally stable libyan city of misrata has seen violence in recent weeks with fighters linked to i.s.i.l. the u.n. special envoy to libya

says peace talks between the two rival governments will continue between ongoing fighting between the country. >> the u.n. special envoy to yemen told an emergency session of the council that it's on the edge of the civil war. houthi rebels gained control of the airport and other parts of tiaz which is yemen's third largest city. >> right wing parties won the last seats in france's elections. the nicolas sarkozy party is leading in the first round. the far right national front is it in second place. their leader is hoping to build on that momentum for a presidential bid in 2017. neave barker reports from paris. >> consolidating his political comeback. ex-president sar cosy ump's party edged ahead, weakening the national fronts hopes of a win.

>> i confirm that it's local or national with the leaders of this party. >> they turned the landscape on its head transforming the front from a fringe movement into one of the powerful parties. after their historic win last year. they now want to gain more ground. >> the goal is to demonstrate that the national front is a great strength with local presence, and not only a force to attract people in a national election. >> the latest result has gains for sarcozy's ump party, at the national front. it's seen support for the socialist steadily dwindle. the approval rating is at a low, despite prays for the handling of the paris attack.

>> in january, men and women were killed because they were defending freedom of expression. voting is a victory for many. today we can vote. we will elect as men men and women. issues of islam remain at the fore of the national front's election campaigning. turning marie le-penn into a serious contender in 2017. there's another round of voting of the the results suggest voters they have their doubt over her and her party. >> let's look at some of the stories we are expected to develop on monday. the greek prime minister - the two countries have been at odds

over efforts to renegotiate the terms of the bailout. senegal's court will deliver a verdict. the next candidate for the election, wahd the son of the former president, is accused of illegally amassing wealth whilst a minister in a previous government. and the e.u.'s foreign policy chief is travelling to meet president raul castro. he is the highest ranking official to visit in more than 10 years. she'll discuss growing constellation as she grows up to the west. the e.u. is the second biggest trading partner. >> cuba has been a commercial advertising free society. but with the loosening of the united states that can change. daniel reports from havana the industry is having a growing

presence on the island. >> with no advertising, no classified ads in the newspapers, there's only one way to cubans can sell the surplus toaster or house in the neighbourhood. he passes the message. they transmit the information over the air waves. >> we are people that lost their dogs or documents on the bus. or someone in the family. >> they repeat the ads in several programs supplying a social service for the greater havan e area. this in a country bereft of advertising. the cuban government represents the economy they've been resisting for more than 50 years. cuba combines the same products

but you don't see diving running shoes. it's posters like this one urging people to defend the values of their country. others extol the virtue of the revolution, or criticise cuban's enemies, usually in the united states. >> the government is encouraging foreign investment. allowing businesses to flourish. they prowl the street to promote his restaurant. >> it would be get to put a poster with the name of the restaurant on it. the day they allow advertising in newspapers or television - i'll be ready. >> not exactly "new york times" square or piccadilly services more flashing lights are appearing, greater competition in a nightlife. it's a subtle form of

advertising not seen here before. advertising is starting in a low-key way. restaurants have signs and stickers. we are not talking lobsters that you see in china, we wouldn't be shocked to see them here. >> with the economy opening up if a little cautiously if they choose to and can afford it they experience the same advertising razzle dazzle as the rest of the world. while the internet is sparse and precarious. web designers are poised for a future with for for sale. >> thousands of farmers in mexico are protesting over wages and working conditions. john holman has more from san quinten in mexico's ba har

california. >> reporter: these are some of the thousands of farm workers on strike in the family of san quintin in the northern date of baja california. this region and the huge forms export millions of -- farms export millions of tonnes of fruit for the u.s. these are the workers and they say their salaries have not risen in years, and they work in miserable conditions. all the prices have gone up. we get $7 a day. the producers sell the products we are earn in pesos, that's why we are protesting we want a rise in wages. >> sometimes the supervisors moll eff the women. if the -- molest the women. if they say no they fire her. >> not all are on strike. some are working in the field. workers argue that it's

impossible to earn a decent living. without the workers picking the crops, those lost and valuable profits with them. it's in the interests not just of the farm workers, but producers to bring this dispute to a close sooner rather than later. >> u.s. troop withdrawal will dominate stalks between the president of afghanistan and the u.s. when the two meet in washington. afghanistan's president is on the first visit to the u.s. the u.s. president said all troops will be out of afghanistan by the end of 2016. and an animator in south africa is reaching a huge audience by writing in various languages. the state broadcast ever thinks they are too controversial tore tv. >> reporter: just an advertisement for fish and chips. it lamb poons the south african president zuma.

he is shown eating with his family at his home a controversial property because of millions of taxpayer dollars spent upgrading its security. >> because it was popular, it's going to get people changing advertising. you look at what people think and say at the time. it was hugely popular with the public. someone higher up didn't see the humour. the straight broadcaster - it got plenty of hits online. >> it's awesome. >> cheers. another of his popular animations featuring an african jesus got him into trouble, until he says he's not setting out to offend just to poke fun.

>> the killings in paris and january have only confirmed his views on freedom of speech. >> people will make fun of him. we just need to grow up about it and accept it. until he says animations had around 8 million hits online because he's one of the first south african animators, cultures and issues. >> despite his popularity, he had to struggle to get his work on tv. >> do you feel you are a bit of a ground breaker, a black south african talking to south africans with different languages? >> i can say this. >> there's a lot more ground to break, to make african voices

more mainstream now, there's a lot more on the main story, that of the passing of lee kuan yew, the founding father of singapore. aljazeera.com. . me. >> put your hands up. put your hands up. >> what are you going to do? >> get down on the ground what would you do if you were a cop faced with a split second life or death position. i'll take you inside the cost of injustice in america. from the hands on lethal force training that is unaffordable to many department to the tax-pair funded