that's the show, i'm david schuster in for ali velshi thanks for watching. syrian kurdish fighters say they have driven out ice isil from an porn base north of its strong hold the raqqa. ♪ ♪ hello there, i am laura kyle in doha. the world news from al jazerra. also on this program. at least 400 people in southern pakistan died in a heat wave. >> we are close than we were ever before. >> european leaders say they are hopeful of a deal on a greek bailout within this week. and seven indicating smog in santiago. cars are banned from the streets of chile's capital and people

are told to stay indoors. ♪ ♪ we begin in syria where kurdish fighters say they have driven out isil fighters from a base north of the armed group strong hold of raqqa. the kurdish people's protection units have taken control of the 93 base. they were backed by the u.s. air strikes. the syrian observatory for human rights said the kurds have pushed isil back to the outskirts of rack actual the base is important because it links raqqa to other isil outposts in the provinces of aleppo to the west to tottenham east. fighting still ongoing to the isil held town about 50-kilometers north of raqqa city. for more on this, we are join ed by charlie winter a researcher at the quill yum foundation a

london-based anti-extremism think tank, good to have you with us. two strategic gains in one week. why is it that the kurdish front are succeeding in northern syria where others are failing? >> it's very structured in eights command and control and we are seeing a lot of structure between the coalition and local brigades from the free syrian army. they have made a very effective fighting force. for example, in iraq where there hasn't been quite as much progress in a continuous manner least, that's largely because the leadership the command and control isn't as well honed i think. >> what do the -- what are the kurds' end game here? >> well, they have said that they don't want their zone own state it's something that is very controversial and something that the turkish government is very worried about. but i think that at least at the

moment, the kurds are saying that they want to have an autonomous rule in northern syria. i think that at this stage at least they are not going to try to make any claims for a state because that would only plunge them -- well, plunge the area for to more disarray. >> there have been accusations that the kurdish fighting force the y.p.g. is driving arabs and turk men from the place these take over, is there any actual evidence of systematic abuses that might amount to ethnic cleanse something. >> there has been a lot of accusations not only from islamic state you but other fighting groups if syria itself. we have seen a number of statements and quite a fair amount of video footage. but it's very difficult to make out what is happening in the video footage it's just pictures of a lot of people near the border with turkey and that is what is being used by islamic state and these other groups as evidence of ethnic cleansing.

now, since the city on the turkish border, since that was liberated by the kurds last week, we have seen a steady stream of people return there. so these are the very people that the islamic state was accusing the kurds of ethnically cleansing. we need to be very careful not to let anything go here. i mean, there is a lot to be optimistic about here. so we just need to watch very closely and insure that the kurds do hold true to their words. >> would you say isil is now on their back foot in northern syria. >> given the nature the islamic state it's a very nebulous structure, it doesn't have borders like a normal state does and doesn't have the same conventional capabilities as a normal state does as well. it will be pushed back in various places but at the same time, as it's pushed back we have seen this a lot last year, it can expand elsewhere. that said, i mean, the kurds are

now unprecedentedly close to raqqa. and that will have islamic state worrying, especially given the time of year, i mean we are in ramadan now and they really need to be looking as powerful as possible in order to insure the momentum narrative keeps up a strategic did he fight right now is very important. >> very interesting indeed, charlie winter thank you very much for joining us from london. >> thank you. u.s. air strike in iraq has killed a person linked to an attack on the u.s. consolate in the libyan city of benghazi. he was an isil fighter. the pentagon says he was killed in a strike on mosul last week. the am bass don door to libya and three other americans were killed in that 2012 attack. a scorching heat wave gripping pakistan is showing few signs of letting up with the death toll surging towards 450. most casualties have been in the

southern port city of karachi with temperatures have reached 45 degrees celsius also on being swammed with heat stroke and dehydration, leaves many without air-conditioning or running water. kamal hider joins from us islambad. it's a huge leap in the death toll from yesterday why? >> reporter: it's not entire surprising because on that day saturday when the temperatures went to a record high, breaking a 10-year record, hundreds of people were hospitalized, some were, of course, brought dead to the hospitals. others were taken to the morgues, spread across the city. so it was already anticipated that the number of people dieing from this particular heat wave was likely to rise anyway. so not surprising entirely. however, it is indeed a large number. >> it is. kamal what is being done to try

to help these people? >> reporter: well, the offer of relief has come a bit late. what the government has done now is it has instructed the national disaster management authority to set up relief camps. it also asked the paramilitary forces, which is the rangers to set up relief camps. the opposition on the other hand, is accusing the government of excessive power outages which it says is deliberate. so while the war of words is going okay the government is finally moving in with offering some sort of relief. although late. at the same time the meteorological department also has some good news saying that the monsoon season now entering the country. karachi is already seeing some rain so there will be at least some temporary relief. >> okay, mccall hyder many thanks from that update from islambad. euro zone leaders say they are hopeful a deal on the greek

bailout could be sealed this week saving the country from economic disaster, greece has submitted a new budget one it hopes will be accepted, giving it access to desperately-needed funds. prime minister alexis tsipras says the ball is now in the court of the european authorities, phil lavelle has more from brussels. >> reporter: the perfect way to start the day. it seemed greece's prime minister alexis tsipras had a lot to grin about first thing. this was a man with a plan. to get his country that next chunk of bailout cash it desperately needs. but the smiles weren't to last. first, his finance minister turned up 45 minutes late. and then greece's creditors said they couldn't accept the country's proposals yet because they had not been given enough time to digest them. although the euro group's president put it as positively as he could. >> it's a welcomed step and we consider it a step in a positive direction. so i think it is also an opportunity to get that deal this week. and that's what we will work

for. >> reporter: two people at that press conference, but christine los angeles guard stayed behind the scenes, the boss of the i.m.f. the international monetary fund, one of those greece has to pay. at the last meet on the ground thursday it descend ed in to something more heated. she kept out of sight this time. theo visuals were keen to play down her know show. as evening fell the euro zone leaders arrived. they had to the cameras were waiting while they catch up over dinner they won't be able to toast any lasting deal. >> translator: trap whatwhat greece presented is today was a step in the right direction. but there is more to be done. >> we need to continue the negotiations for the next days, hours. we are seeing a compensation i have and viable solution. >> reporter: this is about showing solidarity.

being slight bullish convincing the world the euro zone is strong. dissuading speculators from pulling out of greece. phil lavelle. at the european council in brussels. >> john, what is the response to this tsipras proposal? [ audio difficulties ] >> reporter: those greeks who were demonstrating in the square behind me last night then the proposals that have been made by greece's creditors are the ones that have to be followed. in other words another $3 billion extracted from the economy in taxes this year over and above what's been already predict ed in the bum pet another 5 1/2 billion dollars next year. but others macon tend that that isn't a plan that will save the

greek economy it may prevent it from default this is month and may prevent from dropping out of the euro zone but a step back in the extraction policy that his we have seen flat two years under austerity governments if implemented. in other words, of exacting more taxes out a failing economy because greece is still predicted to go in to recession in year. to the opportunity of a half a point to a point of gtp and we haven't moved on from roughly two years ago when greece last risked fall out of the euro zone zone. >> how much much more can greece take? there has to be a points where greece just can't take anymore >> well, tonight you will see pensioners marching in the square behind me. making sure, if they can that the government doesn't take anything more out of their

pensions than previous governments have done in the last four years. at the same time as them, the communist party of greece will be out there on the square saying we told you so, staying the course to remain within the euro zone isn't the solution. it involves more austerity and more recession. the communists now emerging as the most vocal critic of the left wing government trying to raise their stakes in the electoral game. on the on the other hand hand, you've got the civil service which was down here on the square on sunday night. warning the government not to fire any of them. and last night, you had pro european greeks who want greece to stay the course and remain within the euro zone but they mostly belong to the private sector not exclusively. they want a more competitive and progressive economy but they don't feel they can take anymore astare at this either because they have seen their salaries cut, they have seen their pension ages rise, and they have

also seen a lot of their businesses go under and they, of course, taken the brunt of unemployment which still stand at 25%. so you have now got different sections of society all being against austerity from a different point of view. but the government still hasn't really presented a plan for how to help this economy to grow and therefore to overcome the particular difficulties of greater tacks and of recession. >> tense times indeed. john thanks very much for that update there from athens. still to come here on al jazerra. [ chanting take it down ] >> controversy flares over the u.s. con federal flag with calls for its complete removal. plus exiled indian ocean islanders go to a top u.k. court in a bid to get home.

♪ ♪ legal hell owe again think the top stories here on al jazerra. kurdish fighters say they have driven out isil from a base north of the armed group's strong hold of raqqa. the kurdish people's protection unit backed by the u.s. have taken control of the 93 base. the scorching heat wave gripping pakistan is showing few signs of letting you. the death toll now surging towards 450. most of the casualties have been in the southern port city of karachi where temperatures have reached 45 degrees celsius people suffering from heat

stroke and dehydration are swammalling hospitals. closer to a debt deal for greece. a proposal was submitted by ago edges, they need to repay $1.8 billion by end of the month. fighting in libya has killed the at least seven fine forces loyal to the internationally recognized government of the tobruk rebels from the council of benghazi has been launching attacks in the north and west of the city. two rival governments one in tobruk and the other in tripoli. al jazerra journalist has thanked all of those who campaign odd his behalf during let detention in berlin, he was freed on monday after spending 48 hours in police custody at the request of the egyptian government. 20,000 people signed a petition for his release. the berwyn property cares office says as well as legal objections it took political and diplomatic

concerns in to account. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has slammed the u.n. report on last year's war in gaza as flawed and biased. investigators say both israel and palestinian groups may have committed war driems crimes during the 50-day conflict. our diplomatic editor james bays report from the u.n. in new york. >> reporter: should there now be war crimes charges following last summer's gaza war? that's the key question posed by the release of a report by the u.n. commission of inquiry in to the war. a conflict that killed well over 2,000 people. the pam's finding criticized palestinian armed groupings for execution of clap those claimed to be collaborators but there was particularly condemnation of israel's bombardment. >> the attacks on homes and family that his led to large numbers of family members dieing together when their homes were struck in the middle of the night, or as they were gathering

for the meal. these attacks had particular consequences for children. approximately 551 children died last summer. >> reporter: the ins israeli parliament. prime minister benjamin netanyahu attacked the commission. >> the united nations human rights council has a singular obsession with israel. it has pad more resolutions against israel than syria north korea and iran combined. it's in this it's passed more resolutions against israel than against all the counties of the world combined. so israel treats this report as flawed and biased and it urges all fair minded observers to do the same. >> reporter: in gaza, there was criticism too from hamas. >> the fatal mistake that all the time they try to be balanced and tried to make kind of quality between the killers and the victims. and this is something that's

currents know accepted. >> reporter: this latest report comes just two months after another internal u.n. report which said israel was responsible for attacks on seven u.n. buildings. the timing of all of this is significant. earlier this year palestine became a member of the international criminal court. chief prosecutor has already launched what is called a preliminary examination, a process to decide whether to launch ape formal investigation. and in the neck few days, she'll have everyone more evidence to sift through as palestinian dip nats are expected to hand over a batch of documents to the court in the hague. james bays, al jazerra, at the united nations. rwanda's foreign minister is calling for the arrest of the country's spy chief an outrage after british police act on a european arrest for war crimes, he's accused along with 40 other political leaders of engaging in reprisal killings after the genocide in 1994.

he is expect ed in court in london on thursday. a group of indian ocean islanders who were forced in to exile are appealing to britain's top court from nba their long-running campaign to go home. they were made to leave the islands 50 years ago to make way for a military -- u.s. military base almost 10 years ago, it was ruled that they could go back but that decision was over turned and they have been fighting it ever since. >> reporter: their legal battle has already lasted nearly 20 years but they refuse to lose hopeful the entire population lives in exile. the campaigners say they are confident of overturning a decision seven years ago that they did not have the right to return home. >> we have had studies done. [ inaudible ] by k pmg proposed by. [ inaudible ] that clearly say there is no legal barrier to allow us to return.

79 at monday's supreme court hearing in london, lawyers for the islanders including on the left here rejected the idea that returning would endanger a project to create a marine protection area. twine 1967 and 1973, britain forcibly removed around 2,000 people from the indian ocean including the main island which was lease today the united states to build an air base. they were taken to the say shells more than 1500-kilometers away. some still live there in poverty. but the largest community now lives here in the town in southern england, also home to the office of alan, who heads what he calls a professional island government. he says his community feels let down by britain. >> we recently had this an verse rift magna carta and the magna carta didn't apply to us at all. so i believe it's high time that this country do the moral thing and that moral thing is to

return to the citizens back to their country. >> reporter: the islanders and their supporters say they could easy makely living if they returned either working at the air base or in tourism. presence of such a well known face among their legal term won't have hurt their case in terms of media coverage, but there have been many twists and turns in their bell fight to go back home and it could be a long time before they get a definitive answer. nadine barbara, al jazerra london. u.s. retail giants wall mar says it's removing all items that are the confederate flag from its stores and website. controversy is brewing over the flag following the nine people in charleston. the alleged gunman poseed with the flag in pictures posted line. south carolina governor says it's time to remove if the ground of the capital. the battle flag is associated with the american civil war but

it has a more modern hits tour cal resonance the original flag of the con fed wasly was based on the flag of the united states the flag that we see today white sox revived in 1962 by southern states as a symbol of southern independence. and as a rejection of northern pressure for racial i want gangs. in 2000, the con federal flag was moved from its position on top of the state capital building after pressure from civil rights groups but flies on groinlsdz of the war them on memorial. >> the flag, the con federal flag is a symbol of hate, it's a symbol of racism and white supremacy and quite flankly flankly it's aa symbol of terror for people that believe in racial equality and human rights, it's -- it's -- it's a shame that we are

still flying this flag. this is a flag that was used by white supremacist groups and it symbolizes a path that the united states should be moving away from. it symbolizes slavery in the united states, and it continues to be used by hate groups, by extremist racist groups to put forth an idea of why supremacy. police in mexico have discovered the bodies of 10 people buried in several graves near the resort of acapulco. the identities of three women and seven men are not yet known. many mass graves have been found across mexico in recent years. the country has been plagued by drug gang violence that's killed around 100,000 people since to thousand seven. a thick blanket of smog over chile's capital santiago has forced authorities to declare an environment medical. half the cars have been taken

off the roads to relieve pollution the worst to hit the city in decades lucia newman reports from santiago. >> reporter: it looks just like what it is, a thick cloud of soot suspend ed in the air. chile's capital santiago? a valley and the driest june in 40 years plus unusually poor air circulation has driven pollution level to his hazardous levels . >> this bad quality of air has a cumulative effect on people's health. it impacts the respiratory system can provoke heart problems and even lung cancer. >> reporter: for the first time in 16 years authorities were forced to declare an environmental emergency. 40% of vehicles were banned from circulating. 90% of heavy industry was forced to shutdown. using firewood for heating was forbidden and people told not to exercise outdoors. >> translator: my eyes are burning. my. [ inaudible ] is hurting and i am having a hard time breathing.

>> reporter: high levels of nothing are common in santiago, especially during the winter months. but the timing of this emergency could mott have been more inopportune. chile is hosting the copa america. or america cup football championship. one of the most widely viewed sporting investments in the world. and the poor air quality is a concern for the quarter final match. due to be held here on wednesday. what you should see behind me, but cannot is a stunning view of the snow-capped an keys mountains which on a clear day provides a picture postcard frame of the city. another thing that's missing from this picture are clouds. which would indicate that desperately needed rain is on its way. >> translator: even with the massive restrictions of vehicles we see the air qualities is not improve substantially. we need rape examine more wind. >> reporter: with neither in sight there is no telling how long this emergency will last.

lucia newman, al jazerra santiago. apple has reversed it's policy on music royalty payments after singer taylor swift wrote a flog flogging the company. she refused to allow them to play her album 1989 after it want to the give subdescribers of its new online music channel a preview for three months. she said it was unfair to give her money to them without being paid. they have decided to pay for all music streamed during the period. they said it's a publicists disa as it ter for apple. >> i think residents in silicon valley might have felt a small earth waying today and that was steve jobs rolling over in his grave. this is the second big p.r. black eye that apple has experienced in terms of digital music in the past couple of years, you'll remember that you two gave its latest album to people and a lot of people were

offended that there kind of threw the album at people. here you have a thing where apple did not have all of its ducks in i row and enabled taylor swift to give it, which on one level was a well deserved black eye for not paying artists. on the other hand, in the larger picture, taylor swift is still wrong. because the music industry has to do whatever it takes to get people in to these streaming services and it's crazy to be making these big p.r. blow ups because it just tells me, hey the music not there, go ahead and get it illegally, go ahead and get it on youtube, which is bad for earn. it's crazy, this should be one massive streaming system that everyone can get all the music on but again that ship sailed a long time ago. steve job should have got then together 10 years ago and he didn't before he passed away. so i think we have already had a generation now, 15 years of kids growing up getting their hughes music free knew we have a new generation hearing that the streaming service are confuse arguments, people that are popular aren't on it. why should i pay for something

that doesn't have all of these stars in it and that is the thing that i think will hurt the industry even more going forward. well, you don't have to pay to stream the news on our website, there it is, aljazerra.com. you can watch the news live and catch up with all the programs. this is techknow. a show about innovations that can change lives. the science of fighting a wild-fire. we're going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity and we're doing it in a unique way. this is a show about science by scientists. tonight, techknow investigates the ivory trail they've tried to seize it, burn it,