are a fantastic biological indicator to tell us how clean our rivers are. ♪ >> entering a a new era. the number of people who are displaced because of war and persecution approaches 60 million. >> hello there i'm felicity barr. this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up. tens of thousands take to the streets of lone do to protest against government austerity measures. and taureg rebels sign a peace deal with the government. will it end decades of unrest. and artists in myanmar

tackle its authoritarian past. hello, the united nations is warning that we're entering a dangerous new era for refugees. by the end of 2014 almost 60 million people were forced to leave their homes to escape war and persecution. the u.n. said that there are now 19th million refugee it's worldwide. another 38.2 million people are displaced within their own country. 1.8million people are seeking ray sigharing asylum. and syria's war is the single largest driver ever displacement with 7.6 million internally displaced people and more than 3.8 million refugees. well, many of those who have been forced to freedom fighting are seeking refuge across the

border in turkey. >> the shade of a park tree and the blankets. that's what ahmed and his family have for shelter. the fighting in his hometown of tal abyad have forced him out but he's finding it difficult to feed his children. >> we have suffered so much that it's impossible to find milk for my baby. there is no work for me. how am i meant to find work to buy food for me and my kids. >> there are hundreds of families camped out in the turkish border town. yet another addition of the millions of syrians who have lost their homes because of the war. back in the town of tal abyad they have captured it from the control of isil. buildings used by isil still

have its signs on entrances. this one reads islamic state membership office. even though the expulsion was welcomed by many there are reports that some kurdish fighters are now targeting arab residents in the area. at least two arabs were killed on friday and several homes have legendly been loot: the situation is similar to that crass syria. fighters from different groups together with the syrian army battle it out while families are displaced, left to seek refugee in a foreign land not knowing if or when they will return. >> well, the united nations said that the crisis has reached a tipping point. >> we have reached a moment of truce. world stability is falling

apart, and leaving a wake of displacement on an unprecedented scale. and the spreading global violence has shaken the very foundations of our international system. what is more dramatic is cha the international community has failed large this large number of refugees. failed first because it was not able to prevent conflicts or timely solved them, and then failed a sect time because it is not providing the resources necessary to assist them to guarantee their human dignity making them suffer a terrible second tragedy after the first tragedy of displacement. >> and special envoy for special issues angelina joe jolie. >> our world has never been richer or healthier or more advanced yet never before have so many people been dispossessed

and stripped of their basic human rights. we should call this what it is, this is not just a refugee crisis. but but crisis of global security and governance that is minifiesing itself in a world refugee crisis that is the worst ever recorded. this is a time we are living at a time of mass displacement. >> the u.n. also appealed for money to avert a humanitarian di seaster in yemen. it's asking for for $16 million to help food supplies for those desperately in need. >> suffering in place of celebration this is ramadan in yemen. we're supposed to feel joys, to relax with our families. but look at us. the holy month starts with a

string of car bombs and dozens dead in sanaa. we're living in pure horror. we are terrified. in geneva peace negotiations between yemen's government in exile and the houthis were supposed to yield a cease-fire. instead, they resulted in successful. at the talks ended with an agreement to stop the fighting. the situation is so dire that the u.n. launched an appeal for $1.6 billion to help civilians in yemen. >> on the evidence of our own eyes i am deliberately raising the alarm about the looming humanitarian catastrophe facing yemen where 80% of the country's population are in need of some form of aid to meet their basic needs. >> severe water, food and medicine shortages are but a few of the many reasons that the country's health system is close

to collapse. millions of families no longer have access to proper sanitation, which means that a recent outout of dengue fever may put more people at risk. unicef said that millions of people are in need of healthcare. now it seems that this holy month of ramadan is not enough to convince the warring factions to take a humanitarian pause. al jazeera. >> staying in yemen, two people have been killed and six wounded after a car bomb bomb flowed near a mosque in the capital of sanaa. the islamic state in iraq and the levant has claimed responsibility for the attack as many attendant the mosque. it's twitter account said that they were targeting houthi fighters who often use the

mosques. >> tens of thousands of people have rallied against the newly elected u.k.'s government austerity plan. they have won an outright majority general election after leading a coalition government last term. they have brought extra cuts to government departments and will reduce spending on security benefits close to $19 billion. we have this update from the rally. >> joining me on parliament scare, an end of protest where tens of thousands of people have marched through the capital. the heavens have just opened. and people are darting for cover. there is a live stage behind me and we've been hearing from a range of political speakers and celebrities as well. people have come all over the country, students, activists civil rights groups, and all united in one key demand.

they are against the new conservative government. they're deeply concerned that after winning a majority in last month's election that the conservatives are now in a position to be able to introduce much harsher laws than previously under the last coalition. we're talking about cuts to public spending, cuts to welfare and the introduction of new surveillance law and restrictions on the groups that want to strike. now, the main belief here is that the people who should really be taxed are the super rich the super wealthy. that's half the reason why the day's march began in the heart of london at the bank of england. despite the fact that the conservative government's majority are in power they will continue to challenge the status quo over the next five years of their leadership. >> the website featureing at racist manifesto.

the pictures appear to show 21-year-old dylann roof posing with a handgun burning and spitting on u.s. flags and christing a confederate cemetery. he said he had no choice. roof has been charged with the murder of nine black members of a church in south carolina. taureg rebels have signed a peace deal in mali. it focused on better representation in the north. but it failed to give the autonomy that the rebels spent decades fighting for. we have more from the border between mali and mauritania. >> they repeatedly said their goal is an independent state. now they'll try to convince it's people to accept much less than that. they have a tough task on their hands. >> we believe this is the most

we can get in the current context and with the world communities' world of readiness to accept our demands. i think this is what is available to us for now. >> these are the leaders who announced the internet republic independent republic several years ago. they signed a deal waiving their claim of independence for limited self rule, but the though treaty will only allow the right to form local institutions in the mouth more parliament reputation, and a road in the region's security for armed movements. more economic and social development in the area. the rebels have demanded mali's government spend 40% of its budget in the north. the current agreement is similar to previous agreements signed in 1992 and 2006. most retalk to in this meeting are dissatisfied. >> it's clear that we've been forced to sign this agreement.

but i don't see a single point in it that serves our interest. it is not good for the people. it is not good for our leaders either. >> the year-long negotiations involving ten rounds of talks have been watched closely in this refugee camp in southern mauritania. however, only a few thousand turned up to hear the agreement. many stayed away in protests. others expressing their rejection. >> the document is not respond to our demands. if they want the final solution they should separate us from mali. let us remain here in our drought-stricken area. >> they arrived here a quarter of of century ago. an entire generation has not seen their homeland in northern mali, and they're not expecting to return there any time soon. al jazeera mauritania. >> still to come on the program returning home to the ruins left by isil. the first families make the

journey back to tikrit to start rebuilding their lives. >> under communists orthodox christianity like all russian religious religions were oppressed. but no longer. i'm rory challands to explain why some are not happy about this.

>> welcome back. a reminder of the top stories of al jazeera. in 2014 almost 06 million people

were forced to leave everything behind to escape war and persecution. syria's war is the single largest cause of refugees. the u.k. plans to reduce spending on social security benefits by an extra $19 billion. and a website has surfaced showing photos of dal dylann roof, who has been arrested in the killing of nine people. these pictures show damaged buildings following battles between rebels and government forces in aleppo city. rebel groups, isil and the

government are all battling for control of the province. residents of the iraqi city of key treat have started to return home three months after pro government forces recaptured it from isil. the two sides were engaged in a month long battle. even though the fighters were forced out much of the city has been left damaged and deserted. >> for displaced iraqi families there were few occasions to celebrate. this trip home was one of them. 200 families who found refugee in samarra boarded these buses for tikrit, the first of what local leaders hope will be a wave of returning residents. >> my children didn't sleep yesterday out of joy when they heard we were going back. we don't want anything from the government except stability and peace of mind. >> tikrit is less than 50 kilometers from samarra. a journey that families have not been able to make for almost a

year. iraqi forces and rebel fighters recaptured the city from isil fighters in april through there has been so much destruction that some people don't have homes to return to. for the rest there is not much except for a roof over their heads. there are shops no bakeries. this family is the only family on the block to return so far. they admit if is difficult. >> we could not stay on the move forever. we spent an entire year not knowing with to go. the people of is a march ray need all the people in the neighborhood to return. >> city workers have restored electricity but tikrit needs a lot of expensive reconstruction, and no one is offering to pay for it. it is not just rebuilding that is needed, of course, 3 million iraqis have been forced from their homes over the past year because of fighting. most of them won't return until they're reassured that isil won't come back again. >> it's not an easy promise to make. the front line has shifted time

after time with isil retreating then returning. near samarra these iraqi forces make a point of rehoisting a flag on a ridge last week. with so much commitment seized by isil the iraqi security forces have started designing their own armored vehicles. in desperation this union has rigged up a remote control rifle to spray covering fire without putting a fight center danger. the u.s. has responsed by cautiously increasing its presence sending in more advisers to send recruits in anbar. these are the sons of tribes. they're not new to fighting but it's a different battle. >> we fought in the old army and then we fought al-qaeda in 2006, '07, and '08. we were victorious and we smash smashed people completely because we had the equipment and

support. but now they're using armored vehicles and filling them with explosives. how am i going to fight them? >> without the confidence that they're going to be able to defeat isil, fewer iraqis are willing to take the chance that they will a go home. >> a vehicle struck a roadside bomb. it happened in helmand's district. the civilians were all from the same family. well, the many with regarded as the most powerful afghan politician outside kabul says his northern region is now route for weapons and fighters who want to attack central asia. the government has sent his security forces to clear the taliban from his provinces. now he's offering to help neighbors do the same. nicole johnston reports on the man leading his region's fight against the taliban. >> this is the governor and some people call him the king of the north.

walking through his photo gallery you can see why. he started out fighting with the mujahideen against the soviet occupation 35 years ago. when the taliban was defeated hey trimmed his beard and became a politician. people travel from all over afghanistan to meet him. these tribal elders and businessmen are hopeful that this governor rather than the government in kabul will solve their problems. >> if you are committed to go to the center of government, and take the time, it's going to be more than weeks or months to wait to take the time with the president, with other senior officials in kabul. >> right now the big issue in afghanistan's north is security. they believe that the north is being destabilized to create a route for weapons and fighters from groups like the taliban and

the international movement of uzbekistan to attack central asia and south china. >> a new geography of war has been created. new tactics. it's an obvious change. we try to be secure but there are threats in these new movements that are aimed at central arab asia and south china. >> the governor has taken the security of the province into his own hands. he went to afghan security forces into the districts to clear out the taliban. this has fortified the most important capital in the north. [ gunfire ] >> in may taliban fighters addressed in police uniform stormed the attorney general's office. 18 people were killed. it happened 500 meters from the governor's office. >> yes, we are worried. that's why i put on a military

uniform and went to the front line and we started sending forces to clear the taliban. >> the war with the taliban has crossed the border, and many people here have begun to worry that there could be dark days ahead. nicole johnston, al jazeera. >> india's authority have issued a high tide alert for the financial capital of mumbai. a deluge of monsoon rain has been falling since friday, and residents have been asked to stay inside if possible. public transport has been badly affect: the national weather service in the u.s. has warned more rivers may burst their banks following widespread flooding followed by tropical depression bill. three people have been killed since the storm made landfall on tuesday. oklahoma and missouri were among the states of the hardest hit. some areas have seen more than 30 centimeters of rain. russia is a secular state

according to its constitution. but the orthodox church is wielding increasing power over the country's spiritual cultural and political life. the conservative values appear values aa natural partner with vladimir putin's stand against western liberal lymphism and politics. we have reports now from moscow. >> in the year 988 vladimir baptized his people and the lands of ruse became christian. since then for more than a thousand years years mongol invasions the orthodox church sometimes thrived sometimes survived. today it's thriving. the patriarch called the putin area a miracle from god. >> we need each other because

patriarch and church to give putin an additional, additional authority. and patriarch church needs state because of the participating in political life. >> under this patronage the church has influence is strengthening flexing both hard and soft power using laws that criminal eyes religious freedom. leaders had a production that banned symbols. the theater's director was fired. in august certificate seriphma's journey tells the wartime story of a girl's conversion. and then vladimir himself a controversial 24-meter statue

taking shape. a powerful church-sponsored symbol of unity of orthodox christianity and the state. >> prince vladimir intines two sides. on one side he is a saint and baptizer of russia. on the other hand he is a prince collector of lands. he unified two lives, a spiritual life and governmental military life. >> so a statue to a collector of lands who happened to be chris christened on crimea's rocky shores. this easter putin thanks the orthodox church for boosting patriotism, a sign's returning russia to an age old model where kremlin an church work together to shore up state power. >> it is impossible to divide russia and orthodox christianity. i don't know what was the first but actually i think the whole basis of russian civilization is

orthodox. orthodox remains tradition religious tradition. >> now, russia today is very different for the russia of the 18 30's but it remains. >> now the art scene is making something of a come back in myanmar. artists are enjoying new found freedom. one art recognizes the contribution of hundreds of political prisoners. >> gloves, blast plaster powder.

he this man spent 17 years in prison for political activities. >> the former political prisoners, as a whole opportunity. >> there is no bitterness when he recounts his detention. just acceptance and human. >> sometimes prisoners and authorities become friends. sometimes become foe. >> this this is part of an artwork by thein lin. >> right now, we are in transition. i wanted to create a kind of piece of work that is part of the history. then also other things that is

important to increase. >> to date he has made nearly 500 models. he started in 2013 not long after the country started moving away from the military government towards a semi civilian one. even then, he says, somewhat initially unsure whether they should participate in his project. but those fears are going away. the line between art and politics blurring. a few years ago no gallery would openly display these portraits. they're symbols of resistence to a former military government, but recent events have also caused some to wonder whether the government is back sliding on promised reform. in february police violently dispersed a student demonstration. dozens of protesters were arrested and now face trial. lin said it it's as if the

government supports his project by constantly putting people away. he's joking, of course, but there is a worry that he could be right and his cast of hundreds may grow. al jazeera. >> much more on most of the stories we're covering on al jazeera are on our website. the address to click on to is www.aljazeera.com. >> i had an american sitting here and he said to me are you actually running a holiday camp for criminals? and my answer to him there immediately was 'so what'?