>> welcome to "the journal" on dw tv. >> here's a look at the top stories we have for you this hour. >> egypt's highest court dissolved the new parliament. >> across germany, police take down sites related to a radical islamist group. >> and the chancellor defends her policies ahead of the g20 summit. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

>> as the -- has the revolution in egypt been stopped in its tracks? in a move that shocked the world, and egypt's highest court is all the newly-elected parliament calling it null and void. the court also ruled that hosni mubarak's former prime minister can run for president, a slap in the face for forces who have been trying to purge the political system of mubarak relman -- men. >> to some is nothing more than a coup with the military retaking power. our coverage begins in cairo. >> supporters of the former prime minister's presidential bid celebrated. the verdict is a blow to the parties to did well in the poll. the court also decided that a

long high-ranking figures -- that banning high-ranking figures was unconstitutional. he called the constitutional court's decision historic and urged islamist parties to accept the ruling. he said the time for recriminations was over. >> protesters were out in force at the supreme court. >> we have revolution. we do not want to bring back the tyrannical regime. they want us to go back to being subservience. we will continue to struggle. >> the muslim brotherhood says it will respect the decision but the dissolution of parliament was tantamount to a military coup. >> here to tell us a little bit

more about what is happening in egypt, we are joined by a political scientist. we have said here many times, talking about a revolution that has stops and starts. would you say what we're seeing is a military coup? >> is a gradual one. it started with the military intends to amend its powers in the constitution, then letting the elections for the parliament go on, and then giving the country be -- the right to run for the presidency. >> what you were saying is everything we have been seeing is a charade? >> it is. >> that is a strong accusation to make. >>what does that mean for the revolution? is it over? >> i don't think it is over. the revolution is not yet

permanent. behalf to work on a. >> why are we not seeing hundreds of thousands of people on the street? why is tahrir square not filled with protesters? >> it has to do with the political organizations. tomorrow is friday, and then afterwards, if nothing happens tomorrow, then we have to worry. >> ok, before we let you go, what do you predict for this weekend at's presidential election? >> -- >> will would be of free and fair election? >> i think it will be free and fair at this stage, not at the first 1. >> thank you. here in germany, police carried out raids across the country on thursday it in one of the biggest crackdowns ever on the

radical salafist islamists. the government says the radicals are working to overthrow the country fell constitution. >> german police staged the early morning raids simultaneously in 34 different cities. groups under suspicion included groups and frankfurt and cologne. the fall of the teaching of a preacher. -- they follow the teaching of our preacher. earlier this year, they sparked controversy by handing out free copies of the koran. one group, he said, was working to undermine germany's constitutional order. >> we are prepared to defend the freedom of this land and its constitution. this is a signal to those who may think otherwise.

>> the group has made videos. in early may, supporters of the group clashed with police in demonstrations in bonn. salafists attacked officers with rocks and knives. is believed about 4000 -- is believed about 4000 live in germany. >> for more on the story, we spoke earlier with our political correspondent, and young, and i asked why the raids were carried out now? >> there are reports police discovered an explosive best and threatening video messages threatening democracy in a recent raid in berlin. they admit that this triggered it these grades specifically. and the authorities have been under pressure, especially since the killing of two officers last

year by a salafist believer. they are concerned. there have been clashes on the streets, leading to injuries to a number of police officers. i think they are concerned about this type of group. >> that is simon young, speaking to us earlier today. chancellor angela merkel has sent a strong message to her allies saying she needs their help in resolving the debt crisis. >> she warned not to overestimate the strength of germany's economy and made it clear she is not budging on her position -- at the budgets in order first, and then talk about economic growth. >> angela merkel will likely be the center of the attention at next week's g20 summit. many regard germany as an anger of stability in europe -- anchor

of stability in europe. but merkel has warned against expecting too much. >> germany's strength is not inexhaustible and germany power -- germany full power is not unlimited. -- germany's's power is not unlimited. >> merkel says individual country's debt should not be shared in the form of eurobonds. instead she was to encourage austerity and growth. >> both elements are a central. if we are to reach a sustainable resolution, we have to attack the crisis at its roots. the massive debt and lack of competitiveness of member states, as well as the like -- the lack of reliability for europe to follow its own rules. >> but the opposition wants

germany to take the lead. for instance, in regulating financial markets. >> if a country with more than a million people in europe, the strongest economy in europe, if such a country will not take responsibility for a courageous way for work -- who will? >> but so far, mattel -- merkel has stepped to hurt coarse. >> we will have more on the eurozone crisis later in the show. >> but first to this. be with you leaks -- the wikileaks leader julian assange has been fighting his extradition cases 2010. swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape and sexual assault by its

two lead volunteers. they have leaked diplomatic cables. assange claims the charges against him are political in motivated. >> and to europe 2012. >> but first, here's a look at the headlines around the world. >> video posted online on thursday appears to show syrian troops shelling the city of homs once again. the video showed violence on the outskirts of damascus. 14 people were killed and a separate attack, a car bomb. >> burmese opposition leader aung san sui kyi called for

investment in burma. on saturday she will receive the nobel peace prize that she won back in 1991. >> and a court in like six -- in leipzig has fined the ceo of kino.to. the prosecutor says the 39-year- old dirk b. was guilty of infringing copyright laws in more than 1 million cases. >> now spain is leading 1 goal to nil. >> earlier, and italy to on croatia, but neither victory -- neither team could go to victory. >> it was hard fought at the start.

italy's first real chance came after 34 minutes. then on a free kick, one careened over the wall. italy was 1-0. croatia came back on the field full of energy. then in the 70-second -- 72nd minute, the third goal of the tournament. the final score stayed 1-1. croatia has four points after two games. italy must it when it is ireland on monday, or they are going home. -- must win against ireland on

monday, or they are going home. >> well, the euro 2012 tournament is not just about soccer this time. >> one country has drawn a lot of criticism over its poor human rights record. >> some in germany are using the tournament as a chance to gain access to the very people who claim ukraine's government is anything but democratic. >> here is you yet timoshenko -- yulia timoshenko's possible rahm. although timoshenko is weakened by illness, she is still strong politically. >> she campaigned so hard for the european football championships to be held here. is not right she should be in a

prison hospital or behind bars. >> at the germany-netherlands match on wednesday, former ministers went to jail. >> i have to be concerned about everyone who was wrongfully imprisoned in the ukraine now. and they have to stay concerned, long after the tournament. >> the two green politicians say german chancellor angela merkel should also go to the ukraine and show support for the political prisoners there. >> alright. for much more on hero 2012, you can go to our website. you know the address -- it is www.dw.de. if you are on twitter, you can follow our coverage of all the matches. >> when we come back, more on

the situation in the gaza strip five years after the militant group hamas gained power that. >> will be back.

>> alright, welcome back, everybody. on sunday, the greeks will go back to the polls. >> german chancellor angela merkel will be in an airplane headed for the g20 summit in mexico. when she lands, the eurozone could look different. >> it is that uncertainty that has financial markets holding their breath and european leaders urging for calm. ♪ >> the band struck up to greet the french president francois homes -- hollande in rome.

the two leaders say what is needed is a major growth initiative and eurobonds, something the german chancellor refuses to consider. from outside, the rating agencies for making problems worse. moody's downgraded the spanish government bonds almost to jump level. because the bailout has increased the country's indebtedness. investors have demanded higher interest bonds. the finance minister says his government must get its spending under control. >> we must stay calm. we are on our way to doing what has been offered and the markets are influenced by international factors anyway. >> cypress is also looking shakier. moody's also cut the credit rating of its government bonds.

the country's finances are closely linked to those of greece, and everywhere and everyone is on tenterhooks. >> always take a look how the markets have performed this thursday. that start off in frankfurt where the dax finished off down at 6031 point. in new york, the dow jones is trading up considerably. in currency markets, the euro is stronger against the greenback, trading at $1.2632. in order to calm the crisis the european commission has been calling for closer economic ties between the group from members. germany is pushing for a two-

speed eu. >> its a lot to digest. we put that question to our guest. >> i think it is quite obvious. we are at an important juncture we realize for the first time we're in a situation where the eu has problems in one country or a group of member states and the solution in another group of member states. therefore, i think that now clearly the answer should be more europe and much deeper integration, and therefore the european commission believes we have to proceed. and of course, you're absolutely right. we have to very much take care of the potential problems we

might have, the perception that we would be moving. this is the special responsibility of the eu. >> alright, we have to wrap up their. the vice president of the european commission. thank you for talking with us. the swedish phone maker nokia says it will cut 10,000 jobs next year to save money. nokia lost its title as the largest cell phone maker in the world to its major competitor samsung. >> a u.s. finance your -- fianancier has been sentenced to

prison after being convicted of 13 charges of fraud and conspiracy. the court found that allen stanford defrauded investors of their savings through a snowball system. he pled not guilty and blamed the u.s. government for ruining him by seizing his assets. >> don't mess with texas. >> it has been five years since the militant organization hamas seized power in the gaza strip. at the time, they had just won the 2006 palestinian alexians. >> the power grab came after a split that marked the low point from which it has yet to recover. >> the united states and the you call it a terrorist organization, but for many palestinians, the group

represents hope for greater autonomy. hamas has controlled the gaza strip for five years. the group was founded in 1987. hamas carried out violent attacks against israel. in 2006, hamas won for the first time in palestinian parliamentary elections. voters liked their social platform, and hamas appeared free from corruption. but the west criticized hamas for refusing to it knowledge israel for all right to exist. hamas combined later with fatah. but life in the gaza strip became overshadowed by constant

infighting between the two groups which caused an armed conflict in 2007. meanwhile, the conflict in israel also continued. it was one reason why hamas was unable to reconcile with the more moderate fatah organization. the palestinian president mahmoud a boss -- abbas signed an agreement that was supposed to lead to new elections this year, but so far no date has been set. >> the gaza strip is home to one with 6 million people. for five years, it has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world by an israeli blockade. >> 15 international aid groups and international aid agencies issued an appeal for israel to end the blockade. >> israel says as long as hamas

ruled gaza the restrictions will stay in place. >> this means the people who live there have to become very creative when it comes to finding work. >> just in time for summer vacation, gaza city is getting a new beach, not. -- promenade. for the first time in years, jobs are being created. >> we are experiencing a construction boom here. the problem as the upswing could end at any moment. we don't have any guarantee it's going to continue. today there is work. we can take on laborers. it could all collapse again. >> that uncertainty has remained

true -- through hamas's hold on the territory. no policy has been able to we can at. -- weaken it. >> five years of blockade. collective punishment. war and destruction to zionist aggression. but we are the first to make sure our laws are respected. >> hamas has massively increased policing in the strip, creating uniformed and plainclothes services. observers say that has cemented the political gulf between gaza and the other palestinian territory, the west bank. free and fair elections are long overdue in gaza. many have little confidence in

politicians. almost 50% of young gazans are unemployed and social restrictions have increased over the last few years. the locals are being squeezed on two sides. >> five years ago, we still thought we have a future. with our school exams in the hope of finding jobs and being able to fight for our freedom of the same time. instead, we're constantly dealing with internal problems. were having to defend our personal freedoms and freedom of speech. -- we are having to defend our personal freedoms and freedom of speech. in the absence of reform -- >> in the absence of reform, people remained apprehensive about the future. this mechanic is in demand in

gaza. he repairs generators which are essential with the territory for help frequent power test. he has little confidence in the future. >> no one knows what's going to happen next. the only thing we can be sure of is the next day is going to be worse than the day before. no one knows why. what is happening is inexplicable. >> despite outward signs of change, but pessimism reigns in gaza. the people know that violence could erupt at any minute. >> all rights. that will wrap up this edition of "the journal." thank you for watching. >> we'll see you.