the main migrant trail from greece to northern europe is blocked after western balkan nations shut their borders. ♪ i'm loren taylor. also coming up, the surge in violence in the middle east. israeli police shoot dead two palestinians drivers. and safety fears force japan to close two more nuclear reactors. and a total solar eclipse across three time zones. we have a special report from

indonesia. ♪ hello. dozens of refugees are continuing to rife at an overflowing camp on greece's border with macedonia. overnight slovenia brought in strict new entry requirements banning all but those who plan to seek asylum there and those in desperate humanitarian needs. that has lead to a domino effect, saying croatia and serbia saying they will demand legal visas from anyone trying to enter. the bottleneck in northern greece is getting worse. this is the scene at a camp in greece today. about 14,000 refugees are stuck at the border crossing, which has been closed by macedonia

authorities. aid is regularly being delivered, but there isn't enough to go around. we'll be crossing to two correspondents. hoda abdel hamid, and dominic kane. to hoda first. what are people there saying about the closure of the balkans route? >> reporter: certainly it's a huge disappointment, many said the opening of the boarder was their last hope. and now they have no hope anymore. they do have options. the option is to go through the relocation program, but because of all that they have been through over the past two to three weeks, and because of all of the restrictions that started adding up on a daily basis on this border, many are wondering if they will make it through the relocation program, how long it will take, and many of the people here are for example women traveling alone with their children, hoping to join their husband. they are wondering if family

reunification will still be valid? because it wasn't valid at the border when it was open and that trickle of people were going through. living conditions have become more than difficult, probably devastating. it's really miserable for the 14,000 people who are stranded here. and one of them is allah, a syrian kurd. thanks for joining me. you have been here for two weeks. did you ever imagine it could be so difficult? >> no, not at all. if i would have known it would be like this, i wouldn't have come to europe at all. you know, it's raining for two days, and we -- you -- you just can take a look at the situation. everybody is crying, not only children, big men and women, who have old men with us that are very sick, children, babies, everybody here is sick,

hopeless, without money. we are broke. most of us are broke. and now how it will be in the future, i don't know. we have no hope anymore. >> reporter: now you say you have no hope. is that issue -- that option of going through the relocation program, is that something you are considering? >> if i apply to the relocation program and they took me to romania, [ inaudible ]? is romania a good choice for a refugee? really? is it a good choice? i don't think so. a lot of those people, they have -- they have a part of their family in their -- in another countries, like germany, sweden, switzerland, everywhere. so if i go to another country, so how it will be like in the family will be divided into pieces? like my family. now we are in five, six countries? i don't know. >> reporter: so if you don't go

through that relocation program, you don't really have any other choice at this point. >> yeah, i know. now we have no choices at all. we -- we cannot depend on the relocation program, and we cannot go anywhere, accept the legally ways, which i cannot depend on it at all, because it's so expensive and dangerous. i cannot depend on the illegally way. i tried once from the sea between turkey and greece, and i survived, but i cannot try it anymore. the illegal way is not the best way to go to anyway -- anyplace. i don't know. i just want to ask the e.u. leaders just one question, if their children were stuck here in this rubbish, would they make the same decision they made to close the border? >> reporter: certainly it's a question many other refugees have asked us. also saying i don't know is what many of the people told us for

the past few days. some said that they were approached by smugglers, but they don't -- they -- they might have been weighing the option in the past, but they do understand that that comes at a huge risk, and also many say they don't have money anymore for -- to eat on a daily basis. to pay a bus to go back to athens, let alone to pay a smuggler. >> hoda abdel hamid thank you very much. let's cross over to dominic kane in berlin. what are they saying there to the closure of this balkan route. >> reporter: well this is where many of the refugees come to when they first arrive in the german capitol to register. they get food and drink and can stay for a time. the authorities say perhaps 500 refugees arrive every day.

it is quiet now, because most of the refugees have already gone through here. it is fair to say quite a few have come through that bakken route. but for the german go it's clearly a set back. because angela merkel has been clear several times saying she doesn't want fences erected across europe. and that closing borders was not the answer. but there are those who argue that if the borders are closed and it reduces the flow of refugees into germany, then perhaps that might be a good thing. that's one perspective. >> reporter: and what effect might all of this have on elections on sunday? >> reporter: well, that is the question, lauren. certainly from one perspective, germany has become polarized between those who believe there should be a limit on the number

of refugees that come into this country. and there are those who say, the journey needs to remain open. the party that seems to be profiting perhaps from the refugee crisis is a right-wing populous party. they are getting around 10% in the polls nationally. but in the eastern german state they are getting nearly 20% of the votes, and there they are very clear the refugee crisis can only be solved by taking no more in. there are those who say if you opposed refugee pollty of this government, the only thing you can do is vote for a right-wing populous party. the question will be whether the people of the three states on sunday agree with that. we shall find out next week. >> dominic kane thank you very much indeed. a u.n. humanitarian task

force has met in geneva to discuss aid in syria. there are 18 areas in need of humanitarian aid, and six have yet to be reached. the u.n. special envoy for syria was at the meeting. he says the next round of talks on monday won't focus on the humanitarian situation, rather on the political one. >> when we start having the talks on monday, god willing, the focus will be on new governance, constitution, and elections, future election-month's time. the issue about ceasefire and the humanitarian in theory, and we hope in practice, should not be addressed by the talks, because we have the two task forces who will busy mull contain nowsly addressing those. at the end of the day, ceasefire and humanitarian aid alone are not the solution.

the solution is a political transition in syria. our diplomatic editor james bayes is in geneva and says the fou cuss at the u.n. will be on the talks set to begin next week. >> reporter: this is supposed to be the day that those stalled talks, stalled back in february, when -- while people were here in geneva talking about the future of syria, there was actually an intense indication of the bombardment by the syrian government and the russian air force on the opposition in syria. staffan de mistura, the special envoy says the talks technically start today, but the only people arriving are other u.n. officials. he says he is hoping the two main parties to these talks will come in the coming days, and then substantive talks will start at the beginning of next week, the 14th. ♪ several attacks have taken

place across israel and the occupied palestinian territories since tuesday. israeli police shot dead two palestinian drivers after the men allegedly opened fire on a bus. the incident happened in the remote area of occupied east jerusalem. and in the occupied west bank a palestinian was shot dead after attempting to stab an israeli soldier. nadim baba has this update. >> reporter: two palestinian men were shot near a check point that went up on tuesday. that was after reports that at least one of them had tried to attack a member of the israeli border police. now we're now hearing that one of those palestinians has died of his wounds, and he has been named locally, a 16-year-old teenager from the occupied west bank. not long before that, that incident in occupied east

jerusalem. what happened first of all, was two palestinians traveling in a car fired towards an israeli bus in the remote area. no one was hurt, but the israeli police gave chase and during that chase, the palestinians then fired at a jewish israeli, and they actually wounded that person, before then being shot dead by the -- by the israeli police. tuesday there were incidents not just in occupied east jerusalem but other parts in israel itself including in a port city just outside of tel-aviv, where a man committed several stabbings before being shot. and a palestinian attacker responsible for several different incidents, and one of his victims an american tourist died from his injury. and that happens just down the

road where vice president biden was holding talks after just landing in the country. joe biden, meeting with israeli prime minister benjamin netenyahu. he criticized palestinians leaders for not condemning the attacks. >> you never need to doubt that the united states of america has israel's back, and we know eel has our back as well, i might add. it's not a 1-way street. we're committed to making sure that israel can defend itself against all serious threats, maintain its qualitative edge with a quantity sufficient to maintain that. and it's critical, because israel lives in as bibi knows better than anyone, lives in a very, very tough neighborhood. a tough and changing neighborhood. foreign ministers representing the gulf cooperation council are meeting in saudi arabia. it comes as tensions are

increasing between the gcc and lebanon. as our correspondent reports it is hitting them in the pocket. >> reporter: this is the city's historic downtown market area, full of designer stops and luxury cafes. but most now sit empty. ever since war erupted in syria, business has fallen by 50%. merchants worry that a travel ban will make things even worse. >> translator: thanks here are just getting worse. this decision by saudi arabia will affect us even more. we hope things get better, but all we have is hope. >> reporter: saudi arabia has its regional allies told its citizens to leave lebanon, and warned against future travel,

siting unspecified security concerns. and it declared hezbollah a terrorist group. the move was seen as saudi arabia for punishing lebanon, for allowing hezbollah to become so powerful across the country. it's not just the sharp decline in tourists that has leaders worried, they are also concerned that saudi arabia and its gulf allies would impose restrictions on lebanese workers in the region, including canceling their work permits. more than 300,000 workers live in gulf countries. it's a major portion of lebanons economy and foreign currency reserves. >> the one who can be hurt is the people who support saudi

arabia, at least in lebanon. a large portion of the country, at least, the future movement and other organizations, they are big supporter of saudi arabia, and they actually -- they are the one who work in saudi arabia. >> reporter: lebanon has been caught in the regional rivalry between iran and saudi arabia for years. many lebanese politicians argue the recent actions by gulf states is pushing lebanon towards iran. however, it's unclear if iran is willing to step up its economic support to the government. whatever the case, the one thing most lebanese say they are sure of, is that more uncertainty lies ahead. still to come on al jazeera, thousands of child refugees in the u.k. face deportation once they turn 18. and fears that a hunger striking russian pilot could die

before her trial concludes. ♪ v

>> every monday night. >> i lived that character. >> go one on one with america's movers and shakers. >> we will be able to see change. >> gripping... inspiring... entertaining. "talk to al jazeera". monday, 6:00 eastern. only on al jazeera america. ♪ hello, again, a reminder of the top stories. slovenia has become the third balkan country to tighten border controls. to slow the flow of refugees into europe. and three palestinians have been shot dead on the second day of escalating violence in occupied territories. >> reporter: as european nation harder their policies towards refugees, rights groups are

worried about young people being deported to war-torn countries. thousands of unaccompanied minors were deported after they turned 18. >> reporter: this boy was just 12 when the left afghanistan with his brother. by the age of 13 he has crossed continents to reach britain. his mother's departing words still ring in his ears. >> she said no matter had bad it gets can't.com back. drowning in the mediterranean might be better than blowing yourself up as a suicide bomber or being killed by a rocket attack. >> reporter: he was shot at, imprisoned, and nearly drowned. when he finally got to britain, no one believed his story. he fought the system, though to be allowed to stay. >> you are tending me back to a

war zone. and when they go back, they will be threatened. but also they will be the one who will be more at risk of becoming radicalized. >> reporter: figures though that during the past nine years 2,748 young people who sought asylum in britain were sent back to war-torn countries soon after they turned 18. among those, the vast imagine yourty were sent back to afghanistan. others were returned to iraq, iran, libya, and syria. >> when they turn 18, their limbo ends, but their life in many ways ends as well. it's really shocking to see the numbers. >> reporter: the u.k. government defends its recording telling us:

with the refugee crisis in europe showing know sign of abating, the numbers of unaccompanied numbers arriving on the continent's shores is growing. in the final year of a politics degrees, he now campaigns on behalf of other refugee and asylum-speaking children. hoping his story will inspire others not to lose hope in the system. a court in japan has ordered the closure of two nuclear reactors because of safety concerns. the ruling comes days before the fifth anniversary of the fukushima nuclear disaster. before the disaster, 30% of japan's energy was generated by nuclear power, now it accounts for just 1.7 .%. the reactors at fukushima were among 54 in operation before the

tsunami resulted in a meltdown which lead to radiation leakage. just two reactors remain online. the disaster in 2011 forced many to leave fukushima and almost 97,000 still have not returned. >> reporter: this man guides me through the main street of his hometown. passed the shop where he used to get ice cream, so the chinese restaurant that he says made the best ramen noodles in the world. he makes monthly trips here, documenting what has been happening. amid the destruction and abandonment, he finds small signs of hope, like the appearance of a new gate at a shrine in an area designated to store radioactive waste. >> even the [ inaudible ] make this gate.

>> reporter: yeah, yeah. it's a big statement. >> yeah. [ laughter ] >> reporter: his home lies empty, abandoned five years ago, but he is determined to keep a sense of connection to it. his delight is clear when he bumps into an old school friend. his hope is to share this feeling by making a film about his town to show that life hasn't been forever extinguished here. >> if you are watching my film, i will make this a community again, and i want to enjoy the people. >> reporter: the disaster that scattered the population started five years ago, but it's not over. along the coast thousands of workers struggle to stabilize let alone decommission the crippled power plant. the problems continue to accumulate. hundreds of tons of ground water are newly contaminated every day. this disaster still goes on. and it's effects are felt far

away. 40 kilometers away this was a hot spot of radioactive fallout. parts are still under an exclusion zone. this man used to go to school here, now he uses his limited daytime access to practice his art. his music influenced by the disaster and dislocation. >> translator: when i'm performing, i don't think. but even in that state of mind, my emotions, memories, and the future of my hometown, it all comes through as my music. ♪ >> reporter: he too is worried about the effects of five years of fractured life on his community. he is part of a long tradition of drumming here, one he is trying to maintain and pass down to those younger than him. two young men, doing what they can, to hold on to an idea of home. harry fawcett, al jazeera, fukushima, japan.

a ukrainian pilot captured in 2014 is on hunger strike and in danger of dying according to our lawyer. she is on trial in russia, accused of directing artillery fire that killed two journalists. the helicopter pilot was defiant. she faced 25 years in jail if found guilty. rory challands has more. >> reporter: this trial has dragged on months longer than anticipated. many were half expecting a vert on wednesday. that was tonight be, but there was still plenty of drama in the courtroom. her final statement continued a blistering attack on vladimir putin. >> translator: you cannot put all of the people in here. putin will not be able to keep power at the cost of people's blood. this against nature, against people, against god, and against everything in the world. all i can do is show with my own example that russia, with its

regime can be whipped into submission if one is not afraid, and if one is tough. >> reporter: and then to ram home her disdain for the russian courts she did this. >> translator: and now did you want my final statement? here is my final statement for you. >> reporter: her mother and sister were there to support though pilot accused of murdering two russian journalists. and when friends and family started singing the ukrainian national anthem, the court was cleared of cameras. her verdict will now be delivered march 21st and 22nd. prosecutors want a 23-year sentence. but her health is growing concern. she is wowing to continue her dry hunger strike, no food, and no water, dead or arrive, she says, she will return to ukraine. >> reporter: millions of people

across southeast asia have enjoyed a solar eclipse. stargazers in thai lank, malaysia, singapore, and australia witnessed a partial eclipse. but the best know was in indonesia. >> reporter: waiting for that rare moment when the moon is exactly between the sun and the earth. this spectacular solar show brought people together from all over the world. for some it was their fifth total solar eclipse. most indonesians have never seen one before. >> i can see the total solar eclipse for the first time in my life. second, i will share my experience with my -- with all of my friends and family. i will make them envoy. [ laughter ] ♪ >> reporter: traditionally many in indonesia believe something bad will happen during a total solar clip. bfrjs the last big eclipse in 1983, the government appealed to everyone to stay in doors. 33 years later, many came out to

watch how day turns into night for two to three minutes. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: and slowly now night is turning into day again here at the beach. and it seems to be a bit eerie right now, after all of the cheering and excite people are kind of quiet, lie that are in awe of what they just witnessed. >> i cannot express it, but it looks like wow. >> reporter: this eclipse chaser from the united states was worried he would miss the eclipse because of the clouds. the supreme moment for a chaser is when the corona draws a circle around the moon. >> when there's no clouds the corona just goes out and out and out, and it is a amazing. but this was beautiful. i still have goose bumps. >> reporter: indonesia used the total eclipse to promote tourism. the next one will be on august

21st next year, when it's the united states turn to be amazed. and a quick reminder, you can always catch up any time with all of the stories we're covering by checking out our website. the address for that is aljazeera.com. ♪ ♪ a pivotal night in the race for the white house, bernie sanders scores a major upset in michigan while donald trump tightens his grip on the republican nomination. >> go ahead and shoot me! >> reporter: under scrutiny, the fbi investigating one of its own in the fatal standoff with oregon occupier. ♪ shake it up baby >> and remembering the