>> these were emotions that i had been dreaming about for so long. >> getting to the heart of the matter. proud to tell your stories. al jazeera america. hundreds the refugees, make more, may be heading for the greek-macedonia border heading to the border to make sure that the border is opened welcome. i'm peter do fwshgs bie. you're watching al jazeera live. also on this program, syrian state media claims government forces have taken full control of the ancient town of p action lmyra. italian police arrest a man

linked to the suspects in the bomb attacks. bernie sanders has a win let's get you up to speed on the developing story. refugees are marching to the greek-macedonia border in the hope it will open for them to be able to cross over into europe. how many people are we talking about here? >> reporter: we saw dozens of refugees and migrants making their way to idomeni. they're heading here and we asked them why. they said we have been told that the border will open. who told them that? facebook. this social media. what they have not been told, we

know there has been no announcement that the border is going be open. what they have been told is that some refugees are planning a march towards the border. they're hoping to break through the fence. people here are desperate, frustrated, they're losing patience. they need the support they can get because what has been happening over the past few days, people have been leaving here, they have been transferred to government-run accommodation centers. some people believe this is the wrong move because they believe if they leave here, or by staying here they're pressuring the macedonian authorities to open the border, the europe peep union to open the border. these people are walking kilometers and kilometers to reach here and they have so much hope. we toll them that we didn't hear any official on announcement but that many there would be a march. they said they will continue anyway because they don't have money left and no faith in the

relocation program of the e.u. we can see over shoulderer what looks like the tent city. juxtaposing that with the people walking towards you now, either the people in those tents behind you or the new migrants, the new refugees when they arrive, their worry is if they go down that road literally of being processed, they will be back where they came from but they will be wrapped up in the paperwork and the bureaucracy and that seals the deal. there's no returning from that process. >> reporter: yes. they believe that the relocation process is going to take time. it has moved at a very slow pace. in fact, over the past few months and the very fact that there is only five hours a week really designated for people to get a skype call, to make an

appointment to put in their request. that is why there is a disagreement. there is some who believe there is no other choice, the border is not opening, they might as well go into government run shelters. these tents do nothing. there are others who believe if they're taken to government run centers then their plight will be for gotten. they believe if they stay here it it will put some pressure on the european union. greece hosts 50,000 migrants and refugees. yelled there way member of parliament mere saying that there are only 2,000 places for the people. there's over 12,000 people here. it takes weeks to prepare these accommodation centers. a lot of desperation, but a lot of misinformation and rumour fours spreading. people have asked who do they

speak to and what do they do. so many have lost hope those people who left the border, they went in the other direction, they're now returning to where you and the al jazeera crew are filming. now where have they been in the interim? have they been living rough in the hills, in the woods? >> reporter: yes. makeshift camps like this one, tents and gas stations. you find them on the side of the roads. that's the way they've been living. they're receiving help from volunteers, from aid organizations, but it's not enough. a young boy told us they don't have any money left. they are being given food but it's not enough. this is why people are so desperate. that's why when they read statements on social media saying the border is open, they pack up their bags and leave.

they hang on to any hope, information, that we know that information is wrong syria state media and monday aring groups say that the army has taken full control of the ancient city of palmyra. there have been heavy clashes in the area. the syrian army backed by russian air power recordly capturing the castle which is a world heritage site. it fell to i.s.i.l. in may last year. the iranian president has call for talks on resolving syria's war to press ahead. >> translation: we hope the ceasefire will continue and pave the way for more dialogue between the syrian government and opposition. unfortunately, the existing relations between iran an saudi arabia do not allow us to draw

closely it has been a month since hostilities ceased. the delivery of aid in the besieged areas. medical help and food have been delivered to nine of the 11 besieged aerials. two cities remain cult off. there has been a pause in fighting, but both sides have blamed each other for sporadic violations. on march 15 the russian president announced the withdrawal of forces from syria. russian jets do notted support the syrian government that's offensive in palmyra. world powers are pressing for a transition of power. joining us our correspondent. getting to the cessation of hostilities in a second, but your sources in or near palmyra

very difficult to know what's going on there. what do we think is going on there? >> reporter: we think it's all over and the area has fallen to the hands of the syrian government. we know that from multiple sources not inside, outside, that the army is trying to clear up a number of neighbors in pal palmyra bplymyra. so the advancing syrian army is trying to be cautious. it is not only the syrian army inside palmyra palmyra but they are backed by militias. fighters from iraq, lebanon, and other countries. we also are getting a third claim that i.s.i.l. are still there.

they are putting some fight in a number of areas. as you mentioned, the situation is foggy, but according to all the reports, they seem to suggest that palmyra has fallen into the hands of the government the importance of the citadel is important. the west views palmyra through the prism of the artefacts that have been destroyed. it was at home a particularly nasty prison run by the regime and when i.s.i.l. took it, they, in effect, opened the doors. >> reporter: yes. absolutely. that happened last year. hundreds of prisoners were there when they took it. the syrian government forces withdrew from palmyra and that was very interesting then.

also the syrian army or soldiers took with them some of the most important artefacts with them. some claim that there were some robbing, some stealing. we are not sure for certain, but that was the claim then t as you mentioned, palmyra has a number of important points, whoever controls it, it is a strategic location, it has history, it's symbolic. it is a big gain for the surgeon government what's your reading from your foint as the cessation of hostilities. one remembers the first couple of days there was a nervousness on the part of people like staffan de mistura, but generally it has held, therefore, generally it has bane success. >> reporter: absolutely. when you talk to staffan de mistura in person he tells you that he thinks the cessation of hostility has decreased the

number of violence by 90%. people remain near vowels and there is deep distrust to the governme government. activists told me there was a plan and that was to adhere to the cessation of hostilities against the rebels who are fighting them. when it comes to i.s.i.l., the government had its own plan in advancing, to take areas like palmyra and then, perhaps, go further to progress towards other areas to the east of palmyra and then to the north. people are nervous. however, they are happy that the level of violence has dropped dramatically thanks very much. in northern iraq turkey has launched air strikes on i.s.i.l. positions. this follows the killing of a turkish soldier in an i.s.i.l. attack targeting kurdish forces.

>> translation: after lee sazing with the chief of staff, , they were gone. turkey's military presence in that area will continue and we will continue to maintain our presence that will respond to possible threats against our borders, even further south italian police have arrested a man on suspicion of providing false travel documentation to people connected to the attacks in brussels and paris. this photo was tweeted of masked officers in a southern town. media reports have identified the man who is of algerian descent. he may be extradited to belgium in the next few days. the third bomber at the airport has been arrested. a big rally planned for sunday has been postponed because of

security concerns. paul brennan reports from brussels. >> reporter: in the middle here is brahim el-bakraoui. on the left is najim laachraoui. the man on the right sfieselc. his device failed to explode and he fled. the belgium media is naming the man. the location of his arrest is extraordinary. this is the man who may be the third airport bomber, with his photo over the region. he was arrested here just outside the federal prosecutor's officers, a place crawling with soldiers and police. there are new names, new connections emerging every day. it is now clear that the paris and brussels attacks were the work of one network, not separate cells. najim laachraoui was connected

by dna evidence. salah abdeslam and these three also. najim laachraoui is a suspected bomb maker an his d.n.a. was found on explosives belts used at the bat theater in paris and the stade de france. the bomber was chal who rented the house used before the paris attacks and also the one where salah abdeslam fled after paris. several accomplices are still being hunted, including this man. 101 casualties are still being treated in hospital. four of those killed in tuesday's bomb attacks have yet to be positively identified. it is a difficult and forensic task. >> translation: you have to understand that a terrorist bomb cames small and larger metal pieces and these hit victims at

high speed. out of the respect for the relatives, we won't release further details. >> reporter: brussels remains tense and the interior minister and the mayor urged the postponement of a big rally planned for central brussels on sunday. policing that gathering, they said, would hamper the bombings inquiries >> for these inquiries we need a lot of police capacity all over the country. it is our main priority to let the police in the best circumstances possible do these inquiries. >> reporter: the organisers agreed. the rally is off. but the grieving goes on. paul brennan to north korea where the government has released a new video showing the laencht exercise of long-rang ar titill training. it shows the leader inspecting

the drill there. tensions have been high since pyongyang conducted a nuclear test in january and long-range rocket laurnlg in february. myanmar's military has been marking forces day. it is the first it has been held since aung san suu kyi up vealed a new cabinet. htin kyaw was elected president and is a long time caste with aung san suu kyi. he will take office on april 1. lots more news still to come to you. more than 100 people under arrest after china investigates an illegal vaccine scandal. >> i loik to save people, frees and nature. i love it the refugees who arrived in australia by boat and are serving as volunteer firefighters. more on both those stories when we come back. we come back.

welcome back. the top stories for you here on al jazeera. refugees are walking towards the greek macedonian border in the hope it will be open for them. rumors on social media have been spreading. many people fled their makeshift homes in surrounding woods for the border. media groups are saying that the army has taken control of the ancient city of palmyra. u.s. democratic presidential

hopeful bernie sanders defeated hillary clinton in the washington and alaska state caucuses. he is also competing against ms clinton in hawaii and we're awaiting those results. this is how the presidential race for the democratic party stands now. it takes 2383 delegates to win the party nomination. despite his wins in washington and alaska, hillary clinton has still a lead of 1234 pledged delegates. bernie sanders is hoping his campaign will pick up momentum with his latest victories as he currently only has 956 delegates. an official says these will keep bernie sanders in the race >> certainly they're significant enough to allow bernie sanders to claim some momentum going forward. most importantly to keep his campaign going. these were not just wins in

washington state and alaska. these were enormous wins. he won over 70% of the votes in alaska winning really large in washington state as well. it allows the bernie sanders campaign to continue to raise money, something they've done tremendously well, and it allows them to essentially saying, you should be liberal democrats out there, you should give pause to others in the party who are still lining up to hillary clinton. hillary clinton still has a sizeable advantage here. the reason for that is sympathy not only has the pledged delegate lead, she has the super delegate lead. these are the party elders, elected officials on the democratic side who are largely with hillary clinton. if bernie sanders is going make this a contest and find a way to compete for the nomination ultimately, he will have to

start changing minds among the sort of elder statesmen of the delegate party, the elected officials that make up the super delegates. that's a tougher road australia has a did you have policy to deter refugees that arrive by boat. some have made valuable contributions to the country and some have become volunteer firefighters >> reporter: every summer parts of australia go up in flames. in hot windy conditions wild bushfires are common. containing them and stopping them from destroying homes or lives generally falls to volunteer firefighters. not many are from iran, but this woman and her husband are. refugees who came to australia by boat. >> the hoses are very heavy. when the water running it gets heavier. for me. maybe not for me, but for me it

is very heavy. but i like it. i like to save people, trees nantd. i love it >> reporter: a few years ago the local fire brigade faced a problem. a dwindling number of recruits. five years ago there weren't enough volunteers to run a training exercise like this one, let alone to have enough people reliably on call for when a real fire broke out. the fires service was becoming unviable. >> we had about 12 members in the brigade. that's not enough for what we want to do in the community. we really had to do something to change that around. >> reporter: the fire service made an active effort to recruit from ethnic minorities, particularly resettled refugees. nowadays australia's government deports any refugees who come by boat, but between 2010 and 2013 tens of thousands arrived who were allowed to stay. a high number settled to the south and east of melbourne, the

very area facing a shortage of firefighting volunteers. today of the 52 based at noble park, half are from immigrant backgrounds. >> they helped us and accept us to be in australia, so i should do something. i want to do something. it's like pay back. >> reporter: the firefighters are more representative of the communities they're serving too. >> particularly in a situation where you've got a fire. it is a bad time for people. english not being a first language, i'm off we have members responding who can speak offer language and offer support to people in their times of need. >> reporter: the focus of australian politics recently has been on how to keep refugees out. sometimes overlooked is their contribution once they're in. andrew thomas pope francis has led easter

celebrations with a vigil at the vatican. in the wake of the attacks, he has urged people not to lose hope. >> translation: may the lord free us from this trap, electric being christians without hope. we see and we will continue to see problems both within and without. they will always be there. tonight it's important to shed the light of the risen lord fon our problems. let us not allow darkness and fear to distract us and control us people in the republic of ireland are marking 100 years since the easter uprising. president laid a wreath. the ceremony was attended by family members who feel at the time. it led to the creation of irish

free state in 1922. more than 100 people have been arrested in china over the past week in connection with an illegal vaccine scam. so far fourm pharmaceutical companies have had their licences revoked. >> reporter: this woman spent days that she could have exposed her son to danger. she became concerned after news emerged of police breaking up an illegal vacuums seen ring that has been in operation for four years since 2011. >> translation: i am worried because i don't know if this is the only case or many cases like this in the whole country or whether it will happen again >> reporter: last april police arrested mother and daughter in relation to this issue. they brought vaccines and the drugs were made by approved manufacturers, but they were not

stored or transported with adequate refrigeration. the w.h.o. and government health bodies said the vaccines are very unlikely to cause adverse side effects. despite the assurances, many parents are angry. one of the reasons parents are so suspicious is because china does not have a good record when it comes to food and drug safety. parents are comparing this issue with tainted milk sold years ago >> reporter: in 2008 six children died and an estimated 300,000 fell sick after drinking contaminated with melonine. questions are asked as to how the over sight could have happened. >> translation: there are supposed to be regulations and supervision of vaccine production and use. why was there a lack of supervision? sometimes laws and rules are not supervised enough >> reporter: over the past week

police have arrested more than 100 people and are investigating dozens of pharmaceutical companies, but parents like lee want to sew more accountability. >> translation: the government supervisors should be held responsible, not just the mother and daughter who have been sending the vaccine. >> reporter: many blame the government for releasing news about this nearly a year after the first suspects were arrested last april finally, the cherry blossoms which draw thousands of visitors to washington every year are out in full bloom. >> reporter: for a week or two each year washington dc is transformed. its cherry blossom time. the legacy of a gift of trees from japan to the u.s. in 1912. metropolitan to symbolise lasting friendship to the two nations. the cherry trees have endured, their blos ams eagerly

anticipated every spring >> there is a sense of serinity to it. it's very peaceful >> very nice. very good >> it's beautiful. we were really lucky to get this beautiful day. it is not too hot. easter weekend. it is a great time to see them. >> cherry blossom makes me refreshed. >> reporter: today the annual festival draws more than a million people. for photographs seeking that perfect panor marks a, there is a message. washington is a no drone zone >> flying a drone in these areas is against the law. >> reporter: in traditional japanese poetry, they're a metaphor for life. overwhelmingly beautiful but fleeting. that's a notion that everyone in this capital, from the poorest

to most powerful might do well to ponder lots more news whoever you want it, of course, on our website, aljazeera.com, including the arm recapturing palmyra from i.s.i.l. you can talk to us on facebook and twitter as well. the headlines are a moment away. ♪ >> they work in the darkest depths of the earth, your honor seen and unheard by the world above.