protests in istanbul after police raid the offices of turkey's biggest newspaper. you're watching al jazeera. coming up in the next half hour, gunmen attack a retirement known run by nones in yemen killing 16 people. -- nuns in yemen a ship under new sanctions. a report from south sudan on the water crisis that has put 180,000 people at risk police innise tap ban you

will-- istanbul have used tear gas and water cannon on protesters after an office was raid by police. they said the company should be put under the management of trustees. >> reporter: taking a stand against what people here see as a crackdown on media freedom, hundreds of protesters tried to block entrances to the newspaper offices on friday night. >> translation: we're here to defend democracy and freedom. here to defend our basic rights. >> reporter: police pushed through the crowds with water cannon and tear gas. by early saturday morning they

got into the building. they pushed journalists covering the incident out andy victoriaed the editors. >> unfortunately, it has been a habit for the last easily/four years that anyone who is speaking against the government policies is facing either court cases or prison or such control by the government. >> reporter: the police were acting under a court order to replace the management of the newspaper. there was no reason given for the raid. 650,000 read the newspaper, more than any other newspaper. it is run by the state's cleric who was once close to president erdogan but he has been accused of trying to overthrow the government since 2013 when police and prosecutors launched a case against them.

media groups linked to him have been taken over by pro-government managers. >> translation: such incidents have become normal these days. things you never thought could happen, happen. it's impossible to make sense of it. it's impossible to explain it by legal means. we condemn it. >> reporter: the last headline before the newspaper was raid reads "the constitution is suspended" the raid on the newspaper sparked immediate concern in washington and in brussels. e.u. commissioner said he was extremely worried. a little earlier we spoke to robert pearson, a former u.s. ambassador to turkey >> this move is not unexpected. this has - steps to this point have been taken in the past. i think president erdogan did this for two reasons. last week he said last week he didn't respect the rulings of the constitutional court that

released two journalists who have been imprisoned, and he wants to take this opportunity as well to strike out a former friend and close ally and now enemy and alleged terrorist. the people who follow him. that movement were his closest allies just a few years ago and remained so until they uncovered extensive corruption in the party that mr erdogan heads and tried to bring criminal indictments against some of his own ministers. so that is what has caused the break. now erdogan refers to almost anyone who opposes his rule as a terrorist. college professors, journalists, anyone who disagrees with him 16 people, including four nuns have been killed after an attack on a retirement report.

no-one has claimed responsibility. >> reporter: from a place of safety and care this home for the elderly became the latest casualty in yemen's war. 16 people were killed, including four nuns. the attackers surrounded the home and some asked to be let in to visit their mothers. they handcuffed their victims before shooting them at close range. >> translation: they forced people outside with their hands tied. we heard gunfire and when we came that we saw them all dead in the garden. >> reporter: about 80 people live in the home. missionaries had come under attack in 1998. but it is hard to believe that defenseless old people could be the target of armed groups >> this is really shocking. the details that i get that it happened at 8.30 in the morning, local time, while the sisters were serving breakfast, and there were five sisters.

one of them is a superior who wasn't stopped by the gunmen but the other four were serving at the time and they were shot. >> reporter: aden has changed hands between houthi rebels and pro-government forces. surrounding areas are still held by al-qaeda there our correspondent is following events in japan.

>> reporter: nothing controversial found on board this ship in terms of its cargo. when it arrived in the philippines it was carrying oil palmkernels. they have found various safety breaches in terms of fire safety equipment, electrical equipment and for that reason they decided not to allow it to leave port. now it has been impounded and the 21 north korean crew members who were cooperative in this entire process are now being deported back to their home country. it is a very tough response by the philippines to what seems like a my nor infarction. it operates some 31 ships which are very much much under

scrutiny after these sanctions agreed at the u.n. it is operating the ship which in 2013 was found in panama with various armaments, including two fighting jets, under a big cargo of sugar. again, nothing like that found upon this one. it does seem to be an example of how toughly these sanctions can be interpreted if the country involved wants to do so. the philippines is a staunch u.s. ally, always likely to implement the sanctions to the letter, even beyond perhaps. the question is whether other countries around the world will do the same, most importantly china with which north korea does the majority of its trade. some chinese government has set a high target for economic growth. it was made in a report by the prime minister of the communist party's annual congress.

setting a range is seen of another sign that growth may be slowing. >> reporter: top of the agenda this nation people's congress is the economy. not surprising given all that has been happening here in china during the past few months. the prime minister addressed delegates for almost two hours reading from a 38-page document as he outlined his government's economic and political objectives for the year ahead as well as giving an assessment for what happened in 2015. the premier's message was essentially this. economically it has been a difficult year for china, but we pulled through because of the policies of the communist party. the premier took a swipe at some sections of his own government, though, saying there remained irresponsibility, corruption and incompetence and it couldn't be ignored. also being discussed at this

national people's congress will be the economic blueprint for the next five years. some of the main points of ease. the government wants to increase employment by 10 million jobs a year. it wants to create 50 million jobs by 2020 and it also wants to accelerate the number of people leaving rural areas and moving into the cities. it says by 2020 it wants 60% of the population to be living in urban areas. huge challenges, challenges that the government seems confident it can meet it has been a week since a fragile ceasefire started in syria and since then there have been several violations with each sipd blaming the other the u.n. claims it has been a success allowing humanitarian aid to be delivered. -- side blaming the other. >> reporter: a moment of peace. for many people in syria these scenes are unusual.

life seems normal in this marketplace in the city of aleppo in northern syria. >> translation: our people are out and buying. they're stopping to bargain about the price. before the truce they didn't. they used to be scared. >> reporter: no-one is under any illusion. the temporary pause in fighting could be easily shattered any hunt. the opposition says it has recorded over 150 violations by government forces and russian air force. while the russians accuse the rebels of more than 30 violations. >> translation: the regime is using the truce as a means to regain its strength after the big campaigns it launched and suffered it dearly. >> reporter: in some areas the war never stopped. government forces are trying to advance in different areas. in aleppo's countryside and latakia's countryside and idlib. the government is fighting al-nusra and i.s.i.l.

neither group is included in the ceasefire. the opposition fighters fear the government's recent move is part of a plan to be siege the city of aleppo. russian air strikes and government forces were targeting rebel offences on the main highway. it is not far from the rebel-held town which is the government's target. on the humanitarian front, the truce hasn't made any huge difference. the u.n. wants unrestricted access to half a million people in besieged areas. so far eight convoys have reached the areas of two areas as part of a plan agreed on before the truce started. the world health organisation says it delivered a truck of medicine to two cities north of aleppo. officials in damascus say it is too early what impact the truce has had on the delivery of urgent aid.

the syrian opposition says the syrian army and allies are continuing with their campaigns. whilst the government has been accused of mobilizing groups. the truce is fragile and the success is not guaranteed but so far it has led to a drop of violence and that is good news for many syrians still to come here on al jazeera, anger in brazil as a corruption scandal dents the reputation of a former president. could russia's economic woes help the communist have a come back.

welcome back. the top stories here on al jazeera. turkish police have used tare gas and water cannon against protesters outside a newspaper office in istanbul. it was raided after a court order that it should be put under the management of trustee $. gunmen have stormed a catholic retirement home in yemen killing 16 people including nuns. the four attackers fled the scene. no-one has claimed responsibility for the attack. the philippines has impounded a north korean ship docked near manilla. it is the first time since the sanctions have been enforced. there has been no response from pyongyang. greece's prime minister says

that he will use next week's european summit in brussels to push for a major change in the e.u. border protection agency. he wants a full-blown european coast guard. more than 12,000 refugees are camped along the greek border with macedonia. the living conditions there are deteriorating and it is feared that thousands more refugees elsewhere in greece will eventually arrive. as refugees become more desperate, a growing number are turning to gangs in athens who are selling fake e.u. passports. >> reporter: victoria square, ath ens, a place popular with refugees and migrants stuck in greece. every day they come here to get information about the border, and alternative routes to get out of greece. for some there's desperate people who see a business

opportunity. there are many people smugglers. >> translation: really you can see just five minutes, after five minutes i'm sure about this, somebody said if you want, go to any country. i can't help you. i'm sure this is illegal. >> reporter: with the border effectively closed for most of the refugees, they say they only have two options to either pay smugglers or get stuck in greece. this disaster is booming business time for criminal gangs who will keep making their money as long as war guarantees a steady supply of people uprooted. we were led to a smuggler from south sudan. when i met him he took two passports photos for me and i was asked to wait for his call. later in the evening he turned up with a british passport which he said would cost us 350 euros. before my photo was laminated

into it, the smuggler wanted his money. it is at this point we decided to stall the process. the smuggler kept calling us the next day, but we didn't respond. the smuggling business in athens is a vast industry with different layers. even greek police acknowledge they face an uphill struggle against the smugglers. those who can't afford to pay for fake identification, have to

cross areas that are dangerous. it is a hope closer to a new life that many refugees say keeps them moving. their past as been destroyed and now for their future they continue to seek brazil's president has voiced her dissatisfaction with a police raid on the home of the former president. he was detained and questioned about a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal involving the national oil company. his supporters clashed with police outside his house after he was taken away. a report from our correspondent. >> reporter: emotions are running high in brazil as the corruption investigation into the state-owned oil company takes a turn. early on friday in a massive

sweep that was broadcast live on tv, hundreds of police raided numerous properties across three brazilian states. brought in for questioning the former president, the politician who is known as the champion of the poor. he called it a sad day for brazilian democracy. >> translation: all they had to do was tell me that they were coming but sadly they decided to act with presumptuous ar began. >> reporter: his success or called the action extreme >> translation: i want to express my utter dissatisfaction that he provided information before the competent authorities and is now subjected to an unnecessary coercive condition to provide yet more testimony. >> reporter: over 50 high-level politicians are suspected of

receiving kickbacks and favors from large companies in exchange for contracts with the company. the investigation has been underway for two years. on thursday speaker of the lower house became the first to face formal charges. he is also leading impeachment proceedings against the current president. the turmoil caused by the investigation into the company has paralysed the government and many people are disappointed at the ruling workers party which had brought million of people out of poverty. >> translation: it is a matter of a journey. i think the this is a class vision. you have a traditional middle-class and you have a class. they're contrary to the more popular oriented governments of the left >> reporter: battle lines are being drawn on the streepts and demonstrators are taking sides. the only certainty now is that

difficult days lie ahead american researchers say they might have found a link between the zika virus and birth defects. scientists at john hopkins university in marieland says they're brain stops growing turning to the u.s. now and more than a dozen protesters interrupted republican candidate donald trump's rally in new or leans. they chanted black lives manner and held up banners that said "your hate is killing people". protesters linked arms to resist security personnel. he is there to rally voters ahead of the republican primary on saturday. the number of candidates has narrowed yet again. retired neurosurgeon ben carson has pulled out of the republican

race. he announced he was suspending his campaign at a gathering in marieland on friday. it comes after a disappointing super tuesday finish. he declined to endorse any of the remaining candidates for the republican nomination. the u.s. city of flint has begun replacing led pipes in an effort to provide residents with cleaner work and led poisoning from old pipes had tainted water in homes and schools. led can cause developmental delays and learning disabilities in children. the water supply crisis has become an election issue with the republican state administration blamed for ignoring it. a human rights group have warnlgd that dangerous levels of metal from oil production have leaked in the water. 180,000 people are at risk. our correspondent reports from

pariang county in the north of the country. >> reporter: the people here take groundwater straight from the source. they use it for drinking, washing and cooking, but within sight of this small community is the oil facility. it hasn't functioned for more than two years since the oil company evacuated at the start of the conflict. now broken pipes lie rusting in pools of filthy water and spilled oil covers the ground. the hospital in the nearby town staff see health issues which they believe could be caused by exposure to oil pollution. this doctor says he wouldn't drink it. >> i see for me it has got high [indistinct] when the water

evaporates it leaves white. you can see with the naked eye. >> reporter: oil can be seen all over the county's flat plains. the rebels came through here right at the start of the conflict and destroyed everything that they could. the people for the oil company had to run away. they weren't able to shut down the production properly. much of the pipes have fallen into disrepair. people who live around here fear it is contaminating the groundwater and making them sick. >> translation: the water we drink is right by an oil well. it contains the oil that comes from the wells that have been drilled around here, but we trust god and drink it. i think it causes diseases. if you smell the water that we drink, it's not suitable for humans. >> reporter: al jazeera contacted the government and oil company several times but is still waiting for a response. meanwhile, despite their suspicions about the local

water, the people have no alternative but to drink it to russia where a worsening economy has many russians feeling nostalgic for soviet days. a possible communist party is starting to worry the kremlin. >> reporter: it is often one of the first thing new comers notice in moscow, hammers everyone. communism is a big history of russia. polls suggest hassle of all russians think they were better off under the soviet system. i was told the pride people feel for past laws. >> translation: interest in stalin is increasing. we celebrated the 70th

anniversary of world war ii and we should not forget who was at the helm of the country and under whose leadership the victory was achieved. >> reporter: nostalgia is a longing for the past and the days of the soviet union is gone, but the communist party never went away as a political force. they have consistently come second in parliamentary elections. kremlin has always thought that was a manageable situation, but with elections approaching again, there are signs that the kremlin is worried about the possible communist resurgence. united russia headed by the president is putin's political party. he singed out the communist as the main electoral office.

ultimately, russia's parliament is a tightly managed body with almost no room for genuine opposition. political analyst still thinks russia's poor economic situation can hurt united russia >> the plan is not to make any changes, not to take any risk, to keep very old-fashioned party system, including communist who are pretty loyal to the kremlin, but not to let them to get too many votes which will make them more autonomous. >> reporter: i was told that the kremlin has learned lessons from 2011 parliamentary elections when obvious vote rigging kick started months of mass protests. he said putin would rather lose seats than go through that again. the question is can the communists put a dent on the

parliament. we will have to wait what the consequences will be, but it is certainly something russia's power elite with worried about you can always head to our website for all the latest news and analysis. the address is on your screen at aljazeera.com photos ♪ ♪ ♪ >> thanks for joining us on "america tonight." i'm joie chen. what we want for our most fragile elderly or others who need nursing home care is a safe and healthy environment but too often we've seen that ends up not being the case where care