another rally this time in poland showing support for the e.u. 54 visit on your over it was led by e.u. council president donald tusk poland's former prime minister backing for a few members ship is high in poland as 85 percent is among the union's highest but even here the right wing ruling law and justice party is highly critical of the e.u. and the country is deeply divided i. wonder where al-jazeera. well let's talk about the similar detail with and then that then expert in european foreign policy at the open europe think tank thank you so much for joining us here on out 0 so world war were really a few days before the start of the european elections and now we're seeing this united front led by salvini what do you think of it is a grouping how could he do you think it is now and will remain so their plan is to form a new group in the european parliament in the next european parliament that's possible

the moment they are palling around 70 seats if we take into account all the parties that were there today and who are planning to join the group including pence national there's been a lot of talk about a lot of the you know call them populist far right you know busy the sovereign parties that party calls itself a lot of talk of them uniting but actually we haven't seen a lot of concrete moves towards that so far apart from this what do you think unites them but crucially what do you think divides these parties that's right so they're all advocating for reform nobody is advocating to exit the e.u. anymore especially with bricks at events but what exactly is this reform that remains there unclear so on the immigration for instance they agree that the external borders must be protected but in terms of how to distribute asylum seekers or refugees across the you there's a lot of disagreements about that also they disagree on the budget issues are

a lot of economic issues so indeed we might see more disagreements than cohesiveness in this group in the next parliament and of course we saw something happen also which is linked to it because hans christian struck it the man that had to step out because of this leaked video was actually meant to be in milan with salvini pain how damaging is it do you think not just for the potential grouping but for voters across europe the days before they go to the. how damaging is it to see the coalition government in austria be embroiled effectively in a scandal with potential links to russia which is an accusation that's been made in the past yes i think it will have an effect and partly this video might have been released just ahead of elections for this purpose because these may many of these populist parties claim to work in the interests of the nation of their peoples but yet with this case we've seen that these politicians can also work for their own

interests and that may be affecting how voters see those parties in the next few days ok well i mean everyone will be going to the polls in europe you know 400000000 people or so will vote over the end of next week do you think it is likely that we will see i guess a change in the very nature of the european parliament because of all these parties that are emerging will definitely see different they see more fragmentation that's as a general trend in european politics and not only european but at the national level but now this fragmentation will upload and to the european level in next european parliament doesn't mean that it's going to be populist and far right parties making gains and all across europe it's very different there are various regional variations so we need to be looking very carefully in some countries there will be a rather consolidating their gains from 2014 rather than being

a surge or populist wave coming across in others there will be of course part popular and we need to be to be looking at this but we need to also see that more complicated complex frame frame across europe and in that he buys expert in european foreign policy from the open europe's think tank thank you. coming up on this news hour from london 10 years after he and the sri lanka's civil war families are still searching for justice plus. former u.s. vice president joe biden officially kicks off his campaign for the top job with a rally in philadelphia and it's party time again for byron munich peter has the details of another title. but 1st the syrian air defenses have targeted projectiles fired from the direction

of israel for the 2nd night running that's according to syrian state media the sun a news agency says the projectiles came from occupied territories that's a quote in the airspace over southern syria this comes a day after a similar incident calls that loud explosions in the mosque there has been no comment from israel. explosions have killed at least 20 members of the u.s. backed syrian democratic forces at a police station and military base in the syrian city of dhaka the mostly kurdish led forces pushed eisel out of iraq in 2017 but there have been several attacks since then syrian state media also said air defenses prevent that in the pack at jaime mean that's a major air base which is home to russian forces fighters launched drones and rockets towards the base killing at least one person in a nearby village. let's go to yemen now where survivors of. a coalition air strike say that they want to know why their neighborhood in the

capital sanaa was attacked at least 6 people were killed and dozens wounded at reports. the sounds you eat led coalition in yemen says it's procession strikes on the military positions in the capital sanaa but these pictures of damaged homes tell another story residents of iraq cross say there is no justification for the destruction of their neighborhood. again and i saw the man at 8 in the morning i heard an almighty explosion god knows what kind of rocket it was we don't know why we were bombed they attacked us but we were sleeping in our beds. just. taxi driver he was injured in the attack he's come straight from hospital to see what's left of his home i know i did for. i went to look for my children the stairs were full of shrapnel and blood they got us out and took us to hospital my 3 taxis are damaged we have nothing more than taxis we don't have rockets we're just

ordinary people. this school was also damaged it was close when the airstrike hit and it's unlikely to reopen any time soon the injured are being treated in hospital many feeling traumatized by what. i was with my children. we were hit by an airstrike the ceiling collapsed on top of us. saudi emirates who led coalition in yemen now says it will investigate a possible accidental air strike but for those who survive the air strike it offers very little comfort. and it didn't take long for these residents to protest the attack calling it a brutal crime against civilians not a height of 0. u.s. oil and gas company exxon mobil has evacuated its staff from basra in iraq as tensions continue to mount between washington and tehran behind is also ordering

its citizens to leave iraq in neighboring iran warning of regional instability the pentagon has the put a warship an a b. $52.00 and b. $52.00 bombers to the gulf accusing iran of threatening its troops and interests u.s. airlines have also been told to avoid flying over the gulf due to increased military activity grounds foreign minister has this missed the possibility of a new conflict in the region saying to iran does not want a war. sudan's transitional military council says it's preparing to resume talks with protest leaders on sunday demonstrators hit the streets of khartoum again on saturday continuing their demand for sit for a civil civilian government to go see a chanst to determine a new governing body were suspended for 72 hours of wednesday after protesters blocked roads in the capital world bodies including the united nations and the european union have called for talks to get going again as soon as possible. go to

the democratic republic of congo now where the world health organization says it will move ebola transit centers from the town of bhutan both to avoid attacks by rebel groups health workers have also been targeted by local communities more than a 1000 people have died since the ball outbreak was the clear at last august catherine sorie is in the capital kinshasa. the capital delegation is just back from the capital kinshasa from birth and while we. now the air. enough fighting missions the future of risk the security situation increasingly the treatment centers the. rebel group called. just last week there were 3 attempts on treatment centers so this official saying that the plan now is to move. them where people who are suspected of having a ball off stake and so the plan is to move some of them to mosques

a fire areas and all this will just need money. also saying that they want to go back to the community. of people who live in this area so they want to go back and just continue talking to them because there's been a lot of misunderstanding some people in those areas saying that. this disease is being brought in. for political reasons so there really needs to reengage them and show them just how serious the situation is. we need to give confidence to the local community in everything including the up trust more than a 1100 feet off the now this month this could spread across borders to neighboring countries from the international committee of the red cross officials saying that they've run out of money. so

a very complicated situation in the pockets of eastern. health was having to deal with security problems just acknowledged money problems as well as facing an extremely hostile for me. it's the 10th anniversary of the end of the 26 year long civil war in sri lanka the tamil tiger rebels. 4 to create their own independent homeland made their last stand against government forces on the jaffna peninsula in the north both sides were accused of widespread war crimes and as we now fernandes reports now from. the families of many of the victims are still waiting for justice the pain never stops for jacob. armando laurean now at the u.n. didn't feel as mothers were dying every day we had children bring them up as good human beings for a good life we think of our children 24 hours

a day and die again and again her eldest son ugandan was shot dead in 2006 sickens unca jeevan killed by a shell in the last month of the war she was separated from another son mayan than as the final battle raged and thought he was dead until she saw a picture showing him in a government rehabilitation center. but after 10 years of searching she's never found him. then we don't know where he is but he's not that he's alive i believe what is my child situation the government has to give us an answer we're asking to give our children back let them go or else give us an answer what do they do with our children say publicly. after the civil war government troops battled the tamil tigers who were fighting for a separate homeland following years of discrimination by the majority singhalese population in 2006 then president behind the rajapaksa backed his brother the

defense secretary to launch an all out assault on the tigers in the final stages almost 300000 civilians were trapped in the middle many died in the crossfire sri lankan troops work used of deliberately shelling no fire zones a charge they denied the tigers used to villains as human shields. and they're no longer believe. after the war the suffering continues hundreds of wives and mothers have spent the last 10 years visiting all branches of the police the military government and attended every protest demonstration and vigil they've tried to raise their plight with international figures from the u.n. but nothing. subtle just of a child and who has worked with many of these women says the vulnerable bear of getting income is so important for them. for survival north or there are

for many. and even then they go out to for their livelihood to work. even if they go and work in the how work their fears head us mind because they had everybody knew the never. the present government came to power in 2000. in 15 promising change setting up an office of missing persons has been a key achievement but an office of reparations and truth and justice mechanisms are still pending a fact the senior most government official in the north admit i think governor. something. i do not bring anyone is fully happy of obvious humans we all would say yes we should do more and we could have done more that admission is of little comfort to jacob mari and hundreds like her who just want justice 10 years after

the end of the war there's still a lot of work to be done many families depend on war widows and they're struggling to make ends meet find employment and rebuild their lives hope that this government would help them find answers is fading and patience is running thin but yet the we are desperate for any scrap of information about their loved ones enough and then there's al jazeera killed in a chain. so lots more to come on the news hour including plans for a new austin talks church and depression since you know the catholic church i shall have to protest. we'll look at the new talent lighting up the cannes film festival and then support rafael nadal the lights the crowds in rome the eternal well at all the action.

hello again and welcome back to your international weather forecast or here across europe we're watching 2 particular places that are causing a lot of weather over here towards the east as well as across here in central europe but here in turkey the storms have been quite severe over the last couple of days and unfortunate they are going to continue as we begin the week with very heavy rain across northern parts of turkey as well as into north eastern turkey up towards the north though we are looking at a lot of rain there as well crossing over towards parts of western russia but here across central europe that is where the biggest problem is going to be as we begin the week this area of low pressure really begins to organize and heavy rains can be seen all the way up here towards parts of poland all the way down across parts of italy as well temperatures not too bad with berlin seeing about $25.00 degrees but a little bit cooler out here towards the west with zurich a rainy day for you at 14 degrees well here across the northern part of africa was seeing quite a few clouds not a lot of rain within those clouds though temperatures hover into the low twenty's

for most locations but we are going to be seeing a little bit more clouds and possibility by the time we get to monday of some rain here across parts of central algeria towards parts of morocco they're looking quite nice at $22.00 degrees up here towards algiers it is going to be a partly cloudy day 23 in tunis more clouds in your forecast with a temperature of 23 degrees there. goodbye. remorse. when they're both struck many died and many wrist to end the epidemic. this is their story through the lens of local filmmakers would see people making sacrifices whopping awful mission this is what i want to see survivors a witness documentary on al jazeera one of the really special things about working

for al-jazeera is that even as a camera woman i get to have so much empathy and contribution to a story i feel we cover this region better than anyone else working for it as you know it's very challenging liberally particularly because you have a lot of people that are divided on political issues we are with the people we live to tell the real stories are just mended is to deliver in-depth journalism we don't feel inferior to the audience across the globe. here's a reminder of the top stories on al-jazeera in australia the center right government of scott morrison has the fight all expectations to green another terminal it's the

opposition labor party has conceded defeat after meeting in the polls right up to voting day. chancellor has called for a snap election after he was forced to resign. from the far right freedom party stepped down over a covert video which showed him promising state contracts in return for campaign help. meanwhile italy's deputy prime minister has hosted a rally of european nationalist and far right leaders on the eve of the e.u. elections but there's a venous says the parties have the power to reshape the continent but the rally was called by protesters. thousands of protesters in russia have claimed victory in their campaign to stop a new cathedral being built the russian orthodox church says it needs new churches to replace the many buildings destroyed under soviet anti religion laws but activists say the construction will do it would destroy important open space plans for the building have been put on hold after president vladimir putin intervened

said vasant has more now from the. yeah yeah yeah yeah. it started as a spontaneous protest but quickly grew into a daily vigil against the building of a large cathedral in one of the it at that in books public parks people took out their anger on a fence put up around a construction site tens of protesters were detained so. it's very simple this is the worst price to build any building not just a church because in the city center there are hardly any green areas but many places where people can relax walk around and meet each other. and the president vladimir putin the russian orthodox church has become increasingly influential with thousands of churches rebuilt or new ones built the old st catharine's cathedral was one of many churches that were destroyed during

this opiate regime from the church was demolished during the artist's times of war against legion in the 1930 s. why we would like to rebuild it to show that we are a story for our wrongdoings and return to our historical roots. more than 70 percent of russians say they are religious surveys show that only a small percentage go to church regularly that's why some protests to say that a park benefits more people than another church so much protests are becoming more common here russians have recently rejected several local government decisions after 3 nights of protests here and. the president himself intervened it's a sign that the government is taking this protest pretty seriously but what you do with what you must have to put in order of local authorities to hold a public pool about a new church the mayor opened the doors of the city hall for

a meeting with protestors analysts say these protests show that people don't have. much trust in the local authorities. should be worried that his pyramid of power is in a very bad state is on the verge of collapse because the governors mayors and their deputies are not representing the people. members of the orthodox church are not happy with the belief in the cathedral project they too came to the park to make themselves heard and if the government keeps its promise everyone. will have to see about where st catherine's cathedral will be built step fast and al-jazeera. the eurovision song contest finalists currently underway in tel aviv but it's being targeted by protesters please place the security cordon around the bend to head off attacks and back boycotters who have urged fans to shun the event the 41 country

singing competition has been a focus of propellants thing and calls for an israeli boycott in protest that the israeli government's policies in the west bank and gaza let me force a joins us live now from tel aviv so 1st of all tell us a little bit about what the protests have been like so far and also the stepped up security. we have a security was was pretty significant we spoke to the police spokesperson before the event took place a little earlier this evening and he was saying that there were thousands of police on duty we've seen helicopters overhead and so they've taken it very seriously however it very much overmatched what was a pretty small number of protests there was there were 2 separate protests one against the prime ministership of benjamin netanyahu. on the grounds of the corruption allegations against him and the other more directly targeting the euro vision by those arguing for as you say

a total boycott of the event saying that it's an attempt to try to divert attention away from human rights issues in the occupied palestinian territories towards a narrative of a liberal welcoming tourist city such as television and that those participating were and in essence complicit in the darkest side of the story here in terms of the israeli palestinian conflict we've also heard other activists though arguing for another way of approaching this we went to hebron the other day in the occupied west bank one of the key flashpoints and the former israeli soldiers of breaking the silence an organization of former soldiers who now are against the occupation they've been targeting people here in tel aviv the that's a recent come to your vision advertising that that was and taking them on a tour to try to do what they say is opening their eyes to the wider context of what where this is this concert is taking place and that hey it's not actually the

1st time that israel has hosted these contests and the last time in fairness was 2 decades ago renay at tell us why you think it was maybe more opposition to it to this time. yes that's right israel seems to have a 20 year cycle of hosting eurovision 1st in 1989 then 999 and now in 2019 i think if you think back to where we were 20 years ago in 1909 it was just a few years into the oslo process it was before the 2nd intifada of the early 2000 and so israel i think was viewed in a very different light by many countries around the world and where we are now is we have a pretty organized vociferously campaign of boycott divestment and sanctions which has been gaining traction among. you know certain sections of society in many

countries and that is why they are saying that a cultural event such as this should be boycotted along with it shouldn't just be about for instance economic products coming out from illegal settlements in occupied west bank but israel as a state needs to be targeted because israel as a state is an occupying force and in control of the lives of millions of palestinians and also of course we have in the last year seen the scenes on the border fence in gaza with hundreds of palestinians being killed by live israeli sniper fire so i think the situation now is at a sort of a heightened controversial state and there is this very organized campaign trying to boycott israel in in a larger way i think that's why this iteration of your vision here in israel has attracted more controversy than brasa did 20 years ago have a full 70 latest intelligent have

a thank you. antigovernment protesters in paris have been marking 6 months since the yellow vest protests began a few 100 demonstrators gathered to march through the city significantly fewer than at the height of the protests the protests began back in november when hundreds of thousands of people blocked roads across france over a hike in fuel taxes they quickly spiraled into an opposition movement against president. actors who have held a pro-abortion protest on the red carpet at the cannes film festival it came ahead of the premiere of the argentinean documentary let it be law which looks at the topic of illegal abortion in the country the actors wore green handkerchiefs a symbol of argentina's pro-abortion movement at least one woman dies every day in latin america because of illegal abortion procedures. well it's day 5 of the cannes film festival as the world's largest celebration of cinema winning the pound or

which is one of the most prestigious awards in the industry may bring success for critics are more likely to discover hollywood's next big name among the films selected for the director's fortnight charley angela is in cannes and look who is exciting the critics. a newly discovered voice in cinema celebrated in cannes to preview director molina this is a vital platform for her 1st film. is the heartbreaking true story about an indigenous woman whose baby is stolen a tale of human trafficking told in a unique style but director leone struggled with funding. hard nobody trusts. the director that wants to sit in black and waiting 9 for a free. people i wonder why.

yeah hopefully. they will see that maybe you can work she is now in an illustrious club cannes director's fortnight is credited with shaping cinematic history a 2 week long event discovered director george lucas who went on to create star wars and launched the careers of martin scorsese spike lee and salvia doing saying how the indian director mira nair was another discovery and can we came with 988 i had no problems with the budget i had i would take people's buttons and i would cut out and just base them on these buttons and put them on as you know i mean it was that kind of threadbare existence and after received the care of the war and this kind of a reception it was just that much easier for me to make my 2nd film you know mississippi masala and so on running alongside the main festival taking risks and

balance reasons this is selection includes animation eccentric horror films and she new zealand drama the head of the selection committee understand how screening here can change a career it's not like a place where we just my of the work of course there is that as well but the background is to. market the industry dynamics that will guarantee to the directors. a future and a continuation in their way of exploring kind of the potential of cinema the spirit of directors for now is to give space to visionary new filmmakers and this year they're exploring storytelling in virtual reality artist and filmmaker laurie anderson who's created this installation and is taking these viewers to the moon and back it's another example of how can is pushing the limits of cinema charlie and. former us vice president joe biden has

a. fishley kicked off his 2020 presidential campaign with a major rally in philadelphia the veteran political leader launched his bid last month and used a speech to attack president trump by then says he's best placed to take on the current commander in chief with a message tailored to republicans and moderate voters gabrielle is on the reports who were in the. nation when joe biden announced he was running for the democratic nomination for president 3 weeks ago he began by attacking president donald trump. but on saturday in his 1st big campaign rally officially kicking off his run for the presidency biden tried to present himself as a man who could unify politically divided america to defeat trump this politics is pulling us apart it's written in this country park to see. our politicians our politics today traffics in division and our president is the divider in chief.

choosing pennsylvania for his kickoff rally was not by mistake the state's voters will play a key role in picking the next president in 2016 hillary clinton merely was defeated by trump a mistake by less than one percent of the vote the 20 electoral votes in the state helped trump become president this time around it might be different biden was born in pennsylvania and appeals to the state's white working class voters there. no one no one's going to work longer no one's going to campaign harder to win your heart your trust and your support than the stronger character you dreamed of freddie turned scranton pennsylvania was far brighter her was polls indicate he's beating trump in the state by more than 10 points but before then there are 22 other democrats vying for the nomination is a diverse field that includes 6 women 3 african-americans and 2 people under 40

years old by his 761 but he's familiar to voters and served in washington as a senator since 1973 before being brock obama's vice president for 8 years biden will face questions already being talked about is a controversial crime bill he sponsored over 2 decades ago that even some of his democratic challengers say led to mass incarcerations mostly young black men for nonviolent crime. thank you it's just part of his record that will come under scrutiny coming weeks and months ahead gave rosendo al-jazeera washington in their mind also the amber is a senior scholar at the eagleton institute of politics and associate professor of outdoors university he joins us now from new brunswick in new jersey sir thank you so much for joining us here on out just a rest so do you think that joe biden is.