>> prelude to the summit. >> this is a theatrical farce, where they think enemies will talk and sing a song of piece. unacceptable. havoc and chaos rule as the nations of the americas gather for an historic meeting a break through hint. >> as circumstances change, that list will change. >> president obama singles change in the status of cuba as he prepares for a face to face with raul castro

deal or no deal a powerful man in iran takes his silence on the nuclear deal and takes a hard line. the u.s. is not backing down erasing the past as monuments to colonial leaders come down south africans look to the future lethal weapons that function autonomously. human rights groups target killer robots - saying the risks outweigh the rewards. good evening, i'm antonio mora. >> i'm barbara. we begin with the summit of the americas. president obama arrived in pan ma an hour ago. the historic gathering is bringing together the leaders of cuba and the u.s. for the first time in more than half a century. it could see a breakthrough in relations between the countries.

>> a major issue is whether cuba will be removed at a terror list. president obama today hinted at a change in cuba's status. >> it's a powerful tool to isolate the countries that genuinely do support terrorism, when we make the designations we have got you will strong evidence that that's the case. as circumstances change that list will change. >> tensions rising the vice president criticizing washington for calling venezuela a national threat. >> lucia newman is in panama city with a free view of the summit. >> reporter: shouting matches and squirmishes. a warm-up for the much anticipated handshake between

u.s. president barack obama and cuban leader raul castro former u.s. president bill clinton praised cuba's presence, calling it a historic move to reconciliation, cuban government supporters chanted anti-u.s. slogans, like echos of the cold war. they had pulled out from a social forum after cuban dissidents described as mercenaries were allowed to attend. >> this is a theatrical farce where they think enemies will talk and sing a song of peace. >> reporter: two opponents had been invited to parallel forums. in part, under washington's insistence. >> in the next few days leaders of the americas will be able to show courage, to support and hold free and multi-party elections in cuba. >> reporter: for the first time

since it was expelled from the family of americas, 53 years ago communist cuba has been invited to sit at the same table as the united states, an invitation issued by panama's host and president. >> there are just two places and all countries share a commonplace. commonplace.the united nations building in new york and panama canal. that is panama. a country uniting people. >> reporter: this was more than a personal decision. inviting cuba was a regional ultimatum by president obama, issued by latin american and caribbean peers. >> this is a first step by the obama administration to show their willingness to have a cordial relation with latin america. president obama hoped to announce the establishment of full diplomatic relations with cuba ahead of the summit.

allowing cuba into the fold is a gesture of enlightened self-interest, helping washington recover lost clout in the region at a time when china is making unprecedented inroads in what was considered the backyard of the united states. while the ideological divide between cuba and the united states is enormous, a gathering of all the neighbours of the americas for the first time represents more than a photo opportunity a policy analyst from latin america at the center for global liberty and prosperity joins us in washington d.c. sir, thank you for joining us on al jazeera america there are reports that the state department recommended that cuba be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. do you think if and when that is made official that will be enough for president obama to remove cuba from the list and

will we see that removal in the next few days. >> indeed. the president has to notify congress and congress can review the recommendation for 45 days. they can move to block it if they wish by enacting legislation that will have to be signed by the president. it's unlikely that the congress can have the power to block the removal of cuba from the sponsored terrorism. it's imminent. the decision is imminent. whether that will readlead to a formal establishment of diplomatic ties remains to be seen. >> republicans like marco rubio opposed the removal like human rights concerns so how difficult do you think this will be to held up in congress? >> the public opinion is in favour of pap -- president obama on the issue.

two-thirds of americans support the president in his decision to engage cuba and there was a poll showing a majority of cuban americans support the president. they are open to re-establish diplomatic ties with havana and remove sanctions that have been in place for half a century. republic as in congress senses that public opinion is not behind them and will ease the opposition to the move. the majority of republicans, whatever respect marco rubio has with the deal. the rest of his caucus is going to not be as adamant in their opposition to president obama's engagement of cuba as one bilateral relationship gets better another is worse. do you think the deteriorating relationship between america and venezuela will make it difficult for raul castro.

>> i don't think cuba is interested in engaging the united states. it's wonderful for them to have an enemy in the united states. by presenting itself as a victim cuba have exponentially used the economic sanctions and the opposition of diplomatic isolation from the united states in the latin american stage. so we have seen for example, in the last few months since president obama announced his desire he desired to restore diplomatic ties with cuba that the president has come up with many excuses to make it difficult for president obama to make the move. for example, he gave a speech in january, where he mentioned that guantanamo had to be returned to cuba and the united states should pay compensation for sanctions and so on. he doesn't seem interested in engaging the united states. by doing this president obama

is calling cuba's bluff. >> what can we expect from the face to face meeting between the two leaders at the americas summit. >> i expect handshakes smiles. i don't think there'll be a bilateral meeting. one hasn't been announced. no more than that. there's still serious differences. i think the president of cuba is not as interested in president obama in moving forward with the reproach. we may see raul castro denouncing the united states for sanctions against some officials of the venezuela government. that may happen juan carlos thank you iran's supreme leader break his silence on the nuclear deal with the u.s. ayatollah khamenei saying he's in the optimistic a deal will be used referring to parties as stubborn and stretchous. erica woods has more.

>> reporter: any final approval has to come from this man, ayatollah khamenei. that's a way to go before it's a done deal. >> translation: what has been achieved so far does not guarantee a deal and neither do the talks leading up to the deal. it doesn't guarantee the peace talks will continue to the end and lead to a deal. >> reporter: the hardline talk will be disappointing for the p5+1 parties involved in the marathon talks in switzerland. the iranian president was part of the nuclear negotiation, he, too, is talking tough. >> we will not sign any agreement unless all economic

sanctions are lifted at once sanctions are lifted at once on the first day of the implementation of the agreement. >> he has a fine line to walk politically - both internationally and at home. so far he's managed to remain popular with conservatives and moderates in iran, and he must convince skeptics of the deal, that his country is not bowing to western pressure. u.s. president obama has to convince his own skeptics, mainly in congress. >> and i am convinced that if this framework leads to a final comprehensive deal, it will make our country, our allies, and our world safer. >> reporter: but the deal has critics, including israel. france and saudi arabia are also cautious. a deal between iran and the west is always going to be about more than just the nuclear issue. it marks a change in relation after decades of political hostility.

no doubt the next few months will bring more hard bargaining and tough rhetoric before the final deadline on june 30th senior washington correspondent mike viqueira joins us now. some of the words sound like decades of hostility, it cannot be encouraging to hear the man in iran that has the last word talking in this way. how has the administration been reacting? >> it's clear since the deal was signed between both sides that they have different interpretations as to what was greed to. president obama and ayatollah khamenei challenge two of the pillars of argument that president obama is making to his own opposition chiefly the congress. first is the inspection. the white house says intrusive inspections can happen anywhere any time will go forward most

likely by the i.a.e.a. but iran insist it will not happen at military sites. u.s. says yes, it will transparency and sudden intrusive inspections are essential. the second thing from president hassan rouhani and erica's piece is they are denying the sanctions will come off slowly. they want them off quickly instantaneously once a deal is signed. the white house insists they'll be taken off in step with the steps iran takes to comply with the agreement. president obama was travelling in jamaica for a regional summit and he was asked about it at a forum. here is how he responded. >> this is not done until it's done. the next next 2-3 months of negotiation are critical to make sure we emortalize an agreement

giving us and the world confidence that iran in fact is not pursuing a nuclear weapon. >> >> reporter: now the problem with the white house argument is that they admit the details have not been nailed down by the sanctions. the schedule is one of the decades left for the final stage of negotiations. >> you mentioned the somewhat bipartisan opposition from congress is this more fuel to the fire of the potential to the deal? >> well you know everyone recognises that there are politics in the united states. obviously there are politics in iran. there are hardliners that have to be abeefedppeasedappeased. having said that that nuance will not be granted by republican opponents - and there are democrats - they'll seize on this to drive a wedge.

tuesday, the senates committee will take up a bill to allow congress to give a thumbs up or down. that effort is gain strength ayatollah khamenei made news for his opinion on the strikes in yemen. he called them a mistake, and went on to say they are murder and genocide that could be prosecuted in international courts scribing them as saudi aggression and said they would not succeed. in yemen, houthi rebels make gains despite the air strikes by saudi-led coalition. the rebel fighters and military forces loyal to the former president ali abdullah saleh overran the oil-rich city. they took control of the government officers and security force compounds. u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon is urging all parties to reach a solution to the crisis. >> the air raids and continuing

attempts by the houthis and allied forces to turn power have turned an internal political crisis into a violent conflict that risks deep and long-lasting regional repercussions. the world health organisation says at least 643 civilians and combatants have been killed and 2,200 injured. pakistan is calling for an end to hostilities, the prime minister nawaz sharif met with iran's foreign minister in islamabad. pakistan's parliament is debating whether to join the saudi arabia-led collision backing the iranian backed houthi rebels in yemen. thousands rallied in support of joining the coalition, filling the streets, warning the pakistani parliament that the wrong decision would not be tolerated. many demonstrators belonged to an outlawed charity in pakistan,

and they say protecting holy sites in yemen is the collective duty of all countries. a dance for president obama and next a warmer meeting with president raul castro but a possible cold shoulder from venezuela president nicolas maduro greece makes good on a promise. can athens keep its word again?

tonight we are putting u.s. relations with venezuela in context. president obama will likely have a challenging encounter with venezuela's president tomorrow. nicolas maduro is expected to hand president obama a petition at the summit of americas in panama. 10 million signatures condemning the white house labelling venezuelan a threat to security. it was a justification for u.s. sanctions.

against seven accused of human rights abuses. >> president obama responded by promoting two of those officials. is washington doing anything to smooth things over before the two leaders come face to face? >> the situation is the contrary. the obama administration essentially called on leaders throughout the region in this summit to not sit bias human right abuses or alleged human rights abuses takes place in the country. we travelled in march, and you can see the claims in the reports that we show you of clashes between opposition groups and pro-nicolas maduro forces. in the wakes of those clashes opposition mayors and leaders were detained across the country. nicolas maduro is coming to the summit to deflect the criticism he faced and garnering and putting pressure on the obama administration, which essentially is having a kumbaya

moment between cuba and the united states two countries with these ties. venezuela the sharpest thorn in the bush when it comes to the u.s. foreign policy here. >> the u.s. says nicolas maduro is trying to silence the opposition. how does that play out of the summit? >> well you know it's interesting. when you come down there's within a series of protests taking place throughout the course of the vehicle. you have cuban protesters nicolas maduro and they make high drama that is taking place. the nicolas maduro administration is trying to silence critics in the past. nicolas maduro for his administration doesn't have the flare that chavez had in the past. he coming trying to garner support that his predecessor had. venezuela is a state that provides cheap subsidised oil.

but when you look at what is taking place this his country, it's an economic situation, political situation, and that is playing out the summit of americans. we have an opportunity to speak with the wife of an opposition leader that was gaoled. take a look. [ gun fire ] >> reporter: about a year ago this is what caracas looked like. a deadly mix of molotov cocktails in the capital. protesters and government forces clashed across the country. as a nation's economic woes and an epidemic of crime prompting thousands to take to the streets. in response the president clamped down on dissent, arresting and imprisoning those who opposed him. today, 33 mayors across venezuela are facing charges, including the major of caracas,

charged this week with conspiring to orchestrate a cue. i sat with his wife who travelled to panama the summit of americas to confront the man who many believe put her husband behind bars nicolas maduro. >> reporter: if you had a message for president nicolas maduro what would that message be. >> he these be open to that part of venezuela that thinks different. we want a democracy in that country. i tell you, if it keeps like this it will be much much much worse because venezuelan people - we can't stand any more. because when you go out in venezuela from home you don't know if you'll be back now, your husband was arrested about a month and a half ago. his only charge the past week - he's been in prison this whole time. how does it make you feel. how do you cope with that?

>> they are suffering so much. i couldn't tell you anything different. my family our daughters. the venezuela government did not immediately return calls for comment. like hugo chavez before him, he long accused washington of meddling in his country's affairs and called on the u.s. to drop sanctions against top venezuelan officials, a move likely meant to rally support from venezuela's neighbours who rely on cheep, subsidised oil, but runs the risk of exposing nicolas maduro's deeper problems at home. >> now, when it comes to what we are talking about here at the summit of the americas i think the undercurrent that you have to pay attention to is the merge politics, the price dropped by half in the past year.

critics say that - well analysts say that venezuelan in many ways is a single commodity economy. that makes this country and nicolas maduro wield less influence as he comes to the summit and tries to get leaders like ecuador and nicaragua this his corner as he goes up against the united states in the 2-day summit thank you to look at the role venezuela will play at the summit of the americas we are joined by a contributing writer that focuses on latin america for the online publication "global forces." two former prime ministers of spain and some others got together to issue a declaration calling for the end of human rights issues. current leaders silent. is it thought that venezuela

bought off the leaders? >> there's complicit silence. that's the argument for many months. we had former presidents from latin america. we had one from columbia from schille chile, calderon from mexico brazil and gonzalez from spain... >> not all were conservatives. phillippe gonzalez is a socialist. >> the argument is venezuela is latin america's lone wolf. we have seen nicolas maduro this year trying to garner money from china, russia and basically came back empty-handed even though both his administration are touted as wonderful and successful trip. >> he's doing this because venezuela's economy is a basket case. it has the worst inflation, there's shortages of goods leading to rationing. one of the world's worst homicide rates in a country that despite the fact that oil came

down has the largest oil reserves. so he tends to blame the united states for anything. is anyone buying it? >> i would say that the people - i mean people inside venezuela are buying it. >> fewer and fewer, because his poll numbers are terrible. >> correct, but he has a powerful platform. he owns tragically every media outlet in venezuela. we have seen the sanctions that the united states imposed an seven venezuelan officials, and venezuelans using that. >> did the u.s. make a strategic mistake by issuing the sanctions a few weeks before the summit of america, especially with the language about them being a threat to the united states - something that the white house walked back. >> that's a yes and no answer yes, the obama administration administration imposed sanctions on seven officials, doesn't mean he's imposing sanctions on

venezuela, or 7 million that live in the country. but they are imposing sanction and that's how he turned it around in his favour saying "i'm the one protecting you." that is the rhetoric for months. >> as david ariosto said venezuela will play a role because of its relation with cuba it subsidised cuba with oil, and will play an important role. one thing we learnt was a high level state department official. counsellor and secretary of state john kerry was in venezuela this week with high-level talks. what is going on? >> let me add one more thing. a couple of minutes ago we heard the state department recommended the administration remove cuba from the list of terrorist countries. they see this coming that you know the fact that they have you know eroded relations with venezuela can trump profits with cuba.

venezuela and cuba are close, ever since chavez took power in 1998 on behalf of the revolution and as we heard were beneficiaries of fuel. >> do you think we are trying to remedy things? >> they can try. i think this is - this is something i argue elsewhere. i say the united states has taken the first step. i don't think they should go it alone. i think all of the members should be in unison and really point something to venezuela, saying you are in a situation and difficult situation that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. >> the organisation of american states has been silent. good to have you with us. >> thank you documenting the horrors of syria's civil war. the journey of two men from revolutionaries to rebel fighters. family members of dzhokhar tsarnaev react to his death

sentence.

welcome back to al jazeera america, i'm barbara. >> i'm antonio mora. coming up in this half hour i.s.i.l. is complicating the civil war by bringing the fight to the bashar al-assad regime and the opposition. plus a warning of legal concerns about killer robots. first, a look at the top u.s. headlines. investigators released dash cam video from the cruiser of a south carolina police officer that shot and killed a black man last weekend. the video shows michael slager pulling over walter scott. moments later scott runs away. the video does not show the shooting. michael slager has been charged with murder and fired from the force. we heard he was accused of using excessive force in 2013 but was

exxon rated. >> storms are hitting parts of the u.s. a toronto touched down. there's no reports of fatalities. we are seeing damage from wind and hail. >> another american attempted to join i.s.i.l. joshua from maddison wisconsin could face 15 years in prison and was arrested at o'hare airport after returning from turkey. the justice department claims he intended to across the boarder into syria and iraq. he is charged with providing resources to a terror group. >> nowhere is the conflict more complex than aleppo. syrian rebels are trying to throw off bashar al-assad and fend off i.s.i.l. they are as big a threat to the rebels as to the government. >> reporter: this is all that remains of syrian opposition headquarters in northern aleppo

province. a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into the building and detonated the explosive device. dozens of civilians and two opposition commanders were reportedly killed in the attack. >> reporter: the northern side of aleppo is steadfast, we will never allow i.s.i.l. to advance. >> reporter: the war involves many armed groups trying to remove bashar al-assad from power. it's complicated by the i.s.i.l. offensive. further reports of some cooperation between i.s.i.l. and some groups. i.s.i.l. wants control of syria, and the removal of bashar al-assad. a school was destroyed by an i.s.i.l. suicide bomber. it's believed the attacker was targetting a syrian opposition base close by. more than 15 civilians and

opposition fighters were killed reportedly, in the attack. >> translation: i.s.i.l. don't have the ability to send fighters that's why they send car bombs. the aim is to kill off fighters. >> reporter: over 200,000 people have been killed and millions of others forced to flee from their homes, since the war in syria started four years ago. the fighting between i.s.i.l. and syria's opposition groups makes a prospect of this conflict ending soon seem more remote conditions at the yarmouk refugee camp in syria are getting worse by the day after i.s.i.l., known as d.a.e.s.h. assaulted the camp. u.s. secretary ban ki-moon spoke about the situation today. the yarmouk refugee camp is a circle of hell.

after more than two years of siege 18,000 palestinians and syrians are held hostage by dash and militants. it is beginning to assemble a death camp. the residents, including 3,500 children are turned into human shields. they face a double edge sword inside the camp and government forces outside the secretary-general warne reports there may be another assault on the camp and its occupants a documentary has been attracting attention, called "return to homs", highlighting a battle of homs, and showing a soccer player turned anti-government fighter. some of the footage was shot by the subject and smuggled out when the conditions were too

dangerous. return to homes has won several awards recently the the george polk documentary. the director joined us earlier and we asked why he wanted to make the film. >> i believe, like a lot of film-makers, that the art of documentary should be followed

this strong movement of the syrian people after 40 years of dictatorship. because of the documentary, it can be eternity and give the moment along, and can be go through the minds and hearts of people around the world. i believe that this is our duty to do it. >> it's interesting, you are a syrian but the went to homs as the revolution to train the local people to use cameras to document what was going on. and you decided to make the documentary yourself. you chose as a main character, a 19-year-old, famous as a soccer player. tell us how important it is to have a personnel point of view in something as huge and disastrous as was the siege of homs. >> yes, i think as a start of a famous football player he take the hearts of people give in

spirition. it's important for syrians that everyone focuses about fighters or anything you know the biggest propaganda for us. this is a struggle of the syrian people. bashar al-assad and his group, protecting the neighbourhood, until the end, without support. to put the sin mow in the thing, they don't care about the destruction of cities about what happened to the syrian people. this is the role of cinema to be there. >> as a syrian man yourself how do you see this developing. >> one day it will end and people can return to their home. we couldn't leave without

optimism. this is the only solution. it's so dangerous for journalists in syria, has been since the start of the crisis. dangerous as well for local journalists who have families there of easier targets. do you think there's a danger that a lot of stories and the news updates that are coming out of syria? >> there's a lot in homes. 70% get killed. our colleague - he get killed by mortar making the films. he couldn't know the continuity with the story. the camera was good for the regime he doesn't want anyone to know what is going there. it's dueties, it's everything. this is the way, the message of the people that give advice for

their homeland the documentary is successful. it's gotten lots of awards. what message would you like it to send? >> the message that this is syria, those syrian people. they do not go without principles. we have a struggle an aim, we give all the sacrifice for best of our country, for dignity, for democracy for freedom. this is how we start. this is the story. we hope people will be in touch with it. >> thanks to him. return to homs makes a broad cast on pbs "point of view" series in the summer relatives of dzhokhar tsarnaev are speaking out against his conviction. he was found guilty on 30 counts related to the bombing.

prosecutors say, and his brother tamerlan tsarnaev planted home made bombs near the finish line. three killed, 254 wounded. relatives in chech nia offered a theory as to who was responsible, saying the brothers had no reason to carry out the attack. >> from the first day i've been thinking this was the doings of the secret service, that the boys have nothing to do with the terrorist attack. when something happens, the first thing you have to do is ask why? who needs this? the boys didn't need this. they didn't live here they never saw war. they knew nothing about war. they were little when they arrived in the u.s. and grau up there the boston jury will decide whether dzhokhar tsarnaev should get life in prison or be sentenced to death. >> concerns about killer robots. >> coming up well they are saying not so fast to automated warfare

and the protests in france creating gridlock and chaos across the country.

today the emperor and em-peres in japan visited an island nation of palow and laid flowers in front of a memorial for japanese soldiers and prayed at a separate memorial for americans. nearly 12,000 died in the battle. one of the final conflicts of the war since may 2014 the misty upham grappled with -- the u.n. has grappled with what to do with autonomous weapons systems. >> it translates as robots designed to kill. in off the radar jacob ward displays the moral dilemma and how far the technology has

become. >> reporter: human rights watch has shown a loophole in the system - there's really no rules as well. if a commander accidentally set one of these lethal robots loose on the wrong people and people died - there would be no one to blame. we would live in a world where you could simply casually activate a robot a bunch of in the people would be killed and no one would be held accountable, no one would be punished. let's look at how close we are to a world like this. all branches of the u.s. military are trying to figure out how to use robots to be more efficient. the navy ran this exercise in virginia in which a single highly valuable boat was protected by 13 smaller boats that carried weapons, sirens and lights. no people. they are autonomous robot boats.

when the convoy encountered an enemy vessel they were detected and surrounded. coming closer to opening fire. they are often the weakling in air combat which is why the navy commissioned the x47 b. a jet that can not only take off on an aircraft carrier, but land on one too. it's a hard thing to do. the idea is that a group of the aircraft could be dispatched. very dangerous missions carrying bombs bigger than drones and flying as fast as regular aircraft. you wouldn't have to worry about using aircraft. there's no worry about g-forces causing the pilot to blackout. the line that everyone is worried about crossing is the pulling of the trigger. right now the robots can guide

themselves to the battlefields and may make recommendations as to which robots to engage. they are not pulling the trigger. next is a robot that does everything all the way through with the killing, with the human sitting there being a veto vote at the end of the process. it's sticky enough when you have a robot that can do everything except actually pull the trigger. what human rights watch and others are worried about is that we are entering a new world, a world in which the robot takes care of everything in the kill change including the killing itself. human beings state there, half awake with a finger over a button saying "cancel." thanks to jacob ward bonny is a researcher with the arms division at human rights watch. and rights us from massachusetts. good to have you with us. human rights watch issuing a report calling for the ban of autonomous weapons. as far as we know there's not really any in use.

c is there a need to -- why is there a need to regulate and move on something that doesn't exist yet? >> well the technology is moving towards greater autonomy and we feel it's important to stop it. the more countries invest in the technology the less likely to give it up. they could start an arms race. taking action now, pre-emptively is the time to act. how different would the fully autonomous killer robots be from what we see now. drones or anti-ship and dank missiles? >> the fully autonomous weapons as you said will be making a decision, a determination to fire. they'd make the final decision to kill. there are ethical concerns about whether machines can make life and death decisions and legal concerns about whether they cap comply with international law and accountability if there's a

violation. >> we are not talking about armies of robots. wouldn't humans have to be involved in deploying the weapons? >> they would be involved in deploying. we are not talking a sci-fi terminator situation here. how far, once they deploy the weapon the weapon's designer makes determinations without human control. it could be unforeseeable what actions would be taken. it may be distinguishing between a soldiers and a civilian. if it happened no one would be held responsible for the failure. >> wouldn't humans have the ability to recall them? >> that is up for debate. with the weapons we are concerned about, are the ones fully out of the loop. there's questions about whether they would be able to call them. >> the u.s. is on its way to having fully autonomous aircraft. on the positive side couldn't these save military lives by not needing pilots to go on long

trips into dangerous places? >> well we certainly support efforts to save soldiers' lives, that's a goal. there's other technology that can do that. existing remote control drones protect soldiers. while they raise their own issues that is not the technology we are concerned about in this campaign. we believe the benefits of the weapons are outweighed by the legal. ethical and technological concerns. >> what about the idea that the weapons could be more precise than humans and limit deaths. >> we don't know that that will happen. it's a hypothesis that can't be proved. we believe the concerns are so serious that it should be taken in precautionary situations. even if there's scientific uncertainty, the threat to civilians and society is so great that action should be taken pre-emptively before it's too late to stop it. >> do you think you'll be

successful in a full ban. there's a bunch of countries believed to be developing these technologies. >> we are optimistic, and the issue gained traction in the international community. it will not necessarily happen tomorrow, but we believe that down the road in that direction, and some states like the u.s. have policies that prohibit it. it's a good first step. >> good to have you with us. thanks. >> greece made a $500 million payment to the international monetary fund but it's in the red. athens has six working days to provide a package of reforms to european lenders. greece announced that it would begin to sell off assets. negotiations resume on april 24th. >> a nation-wide strike is causing havoc in france. thousands of workers hit the streets demanding better pay. almost half of the flights into

the country have been affected. french president francis hollande promised to cut the budget to levels permitted by e.u. rules by 2017 focussing on the future by tearing down the past. >> why some say the move to wipe away south africa's racist history is the wrong thing to do. a cultural icon is a new ambassador for japan. japan.

in our global view segment we look at news outlets around the world - how they are reactingment. >> today the unarmed black men shot by a police officer. >> "the times" in india reads another white cop kills a black man in the u.s. the murder of walter scots is called the murder of white cop excesses. an editorial points out that the man who shot the video came forward when police reports

didn't match who they witnessed. it was not an isolated incident but a case of structural violence. >> britain's "daily telegraph" takes on the history of race pointing out that robert e lee vendors, 150 years ago after a battle. one of the last battles of the civil war. the telegraph says race divides the u.s. citing as evidence the recent deaths of black men at the hands of white police officers. caving to pressure and protests a university in south africa removed a statue of british colonialists. sue turton reports from cape town not everywhere is pleased with the move. sue turton reports. >> reporter: an unceremonial end to cecil rhodes, as his statue was removed from the university for safekeeping after weeks of protest led to a vote for its removal. most of the students were born

after the fall of apartheid. to them this british colonialist represents a university system failing to decolonize or embrace african knowledge. >> is the university trying to protect itself or funding or is it not interested in integrating into the greater conflict of redressing and transforming redressing and transforming and decolonizing, it's a cecil rhodes has been gazing out from here for a long time. historians say we should learn from the statues.

>> reporter: similar protests targeted the president kruger's statue and the war memorial in pretoria, with a countering demonstration at the afrikaans museum. other effigies of british going george v and the prime minister boffa have been defaced. in the vaults of the heritage foundation in pretoria row after row of artworks from afrikaans history. busts and paintings removed, from public buildings that the curator is committed to protecting as she believes they hold historical significance. we have to cherish the diversity of the culture. it will take a while. i hope they are not thinking by demolishing or scrapping evidence of the past that erases the past. you can't. we are all the products of centuries of predecessors, and what they did and accomplished. >> reporter: the final destination for cecil rhodes statue is up to the south african government. the zimbabwean president on a state visit here said he had

decided exhuming cecil rhodes remains from his grave in case the spirit rises. after decades of destroying tokyo on film godzilla is playing a new role. he's been named as a tourism monitor for tokyo. they unveiled a 171 foot model of his head in a place believed to be destroyed by godzilla on film, is sure to prosper in real life president barack obama is in panama flying there from jamaica. after meeting with dig yit ris and taking in cultural site he toured the bob marley museum he toured and is the first american president to just jamaica in three decades. form the effects of the chern oble nuclear disaster. they are fighting for money to

treat thousands of children born every year with complex heart problems. that is it for this edition of al jazeera america. . >> thank you for watching. "america tonight" is next. i'll see you again in an hour. on "america tonight" - can you pray away the gay? the fight again conversion therapy has a new advocates, and our correspondent reports. >> reporter: we knew there was a black l.g.b.t. in the black