beijing warms up that warns of a situation that calls irreversible and unmanageable. just the no camp in turkey are net and neck ahead of the sunday's referendum.

the united system military men -- that states stop -- united states top military commander -- which targeted fighters linked to the islamic state group. of the 36 motives were killed in that strike. a weapon dubbed the mother of all bombs was used. it is the largest nonnuclear bomb ever dropped and con debt combat. the strike had achieved its attendant perp achieved its it -- has achieved its intended purpose. france 24 has more. >> people more than 10 miles away called it an earsplitting glass.

>> everything was shaking. massive ordinance air blast bomb, known as the mother of all bombs. 2003 the in a test in bomb was used for real for the first time on thursday in the u.s.. local officials say dozens of jihadist militants were killed. the u.s. defended the raid. >> this was the right weapon against the right target. before, during, and after the operation and now we have afghan and u.s. forces. nor have there been any reports of civilian casualties. >> we are so proud of our

military and it is a another successful event. angry, he tweeted that this is not the war on terror but the in human and most brutal misuse of dangerous weapons. weapons used nearly 500 on islamic state target's. to the we can speak now brigadier general of the french institute for instant -- for international strategic affairs. thank you so much for speaking to us. let me start by asking about the use of this incredibly powerful weapon.

guest: it is absolutely correct, it is not the first type -- first time that type of bomb has been used. of caveshave a network used by insurgents, there is no other way to get them out of those places. they are already big weapons. it is also -- used to give up nuclear weapons -- you what some of

message does the use of this weapon sent to the wider world. >> it has been included in what is happening on the top level. generals and .resident trump things whend doing the people that were in charge before.

and not exactly sophisticated but a way of fusing weapons -- >> the think this trump administration, which is not iste what hundred days old, just making its u.s. foreign-policy markedly different than that of president trump or is there an actual strategy behind all this? >> i think people are searching and what trump is thinking. he said he was fighting against is --stem and the system he has to try to do something in the middle and try to liberate the sort of strategy.

it is not yet liberating the strategy. >> think you very much indeed. minister isforeign warning the tensions of north korea are getting dangerously close in what he is calling and irreversible stage. washington has what it is running out of patience and u.s. aircraft carriers are heading to the region. is north korea's neighbor and it is its only major ally as well. >> if it did everyone would lose out. that is what the chinese foreign minister said in response to the growing tensions between pyongyang and washington.

we call on all parties to refrain from any provocative comments, gestures, or threats. situation let the evolve into an irreversible or uncontrollable manner. >> the north korean problem would be dealt with, that means stopping pyongyang from developing a nuclear tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching mainland usa. he said he would work with china to do this but if beijing didn't help the u.s. would go it alone. else rich romp took the decision theemove the -- to move carl vincent aircraft carrier fleet to the peninsula. north korea has criticized the show of force. it has also warned it is prepared to defend itself with one of its nuclear weapons. >> if the u.s. comes in with reckless military maneuvers,

then we will confronted with a preemptive strike. >> analysts say and other north korean missile test may come soon and there have been reports of recent activity at one of its test sites. this comes ahead of saturday, the 105th anniversary of the country's founder and grandfather of the current ruler. >> in accordance to the deal struck, more than 7000 people have been a factoid from for besieged towns. the united nations, say they amounted to force displacement. rebecca has this report. >> broken by qatar and iran.

5000 have already been evacuated for you and two opposition held areas in the damascus problem -- damascus province. many aspleted, as 30,000 people have been evacuated. be one of the largest population exchanges in syria. 16,000 residents are being moved to the coastal province, the capital of domestic desk capital domestic debt capital damascus or republican held -- capital of damascus. the siege since 2015, 4 towns have been deemed a humanitarian catastrophe by the united nations. receivedtime anyone you and eight was november 2016.

a spike in tensions had delayed the exchange. >> a referendum which could lead to sweeping changes to the political system. the yes camp will bring about greater stability while the no camp will result in a secular values of the nation's founder and a risk of disappearing for good. >> it is erdogan's greatest project. a mosque visible from almost anywhere in his temple. a congress symbol for the president push for the is the miser nation of turkey. ization ofislam turkey.

-- is campaigning in a referendum that would expand his tower in norman slate. an employee at the ministry of health said it is thanks to erdogan she can pursue a career as a servant. >> i have always worn the veil. studies.t continue my my mother couldn't attend my brother's graduation because she wears the veil. you call erdogan a dictator but he gave us our rights. he never stood in our way. >> other see it as an assault on turkeys secular values. the impact of his policy is already clear and the contrast between images of the city in and the street view today, even in public schools where secularism is meant to be sacrificed, religion is gaining a foothold.

parents say teachers are being hired based on their conservative religious beliefs. >> the first thing they did was cancel the annual school festival. the students invited groups that the powers didn't like. instead the administration organizes a festival to celebrate the path at -- the prophet muhammad. collect certain islamist organizations are allowed to conduct religious assemblies. we don't need every kid to learn the koran by heart. i will my child to have a scientific education. parents havend .een protesting he wants to create a generation of believers. >> people across iran are going

to be casting ballots. today the current president has registered his bid to seek a second reform mandate. analysts are forecasting that voters will back his bid. many complained that he haven't for his promises of social reform. today is a solemn anniversary --mark's three years anniversary that marks three years since -- holding rallies in the capital, as well as the commercial capital, calling on the freenment to do more to those girls in captivity. a look back now at what exactly happened three years ago. years on from their

kidnapping these trees are planted not as a sign of remembrance, but one of hope, a tragedy which shot the nation and was recently branded by nigerian president bukhari as one of the worst crimes against nigeria. in april 2014 276 secondary school girls were up to it by the jihadist group in the northern province of nigeria. then a ransom video was released i boko haram, asking for prisoner exchanges. the video received worldwide attention, and led to the bring back our girls campaign.

also highlighted the ability of the military to find the girls. of the victims complained about the authorities in effectiveness to bring back their children. since the new president had come into power, -- one of the main campaign pledges was to deliver the girls. 21 of them were released. -- the fate of the remaining girls remains a source of concern. used asey may have been sex slaves were confirmed by the testimonies of those who had escaped. but a new report by unicef also alleges the terrorists have been using them as suicide bombers. nigerian authorities are reportedly holding dozens of the girls in fear they have been indoctrinated and likely to carry out terror attacks. that presidentri

-- i -- president anchor: french prosecutors have asked the european parliament -- could be viable for prosecution in her part for the scandal. france 24 has this report. >> her legal woes are mounting. marine le pen has little in what she sees as the destruction of her campaign. >> it is a legal debate. want to talk about it? >> no. >> le pen is accused of using eu funds to pay for parliamentary

assistants instead to pay for national staff in france, including her own bodyguard. the judges request to lift her immunity comes after she and another national mep declined to be interviewed by police. the close aide had been placed under formal investigation in convention with the allegations. allegations she furiously denies. but the european parliament has told her to pay back 340,000 euros or begin docking her pay. this isn't the only legal issue she is facing. listed parliament immunity for another infraction dating back to 2015, tweeting pictures of islamic state group violence, something banned under french law. >> the french government is really trying to protect -- is not expected to be concluded until well after the presidential election.

theor: time for a check of top business news. kate moody joins me now. north korea very much in the news today. see whate a look and kind of state the country's economy is in. >> it is very hard to verify the statistics. imports from north korea to nearly 23% in the first quarter, despite international sanctions. the country sticks to a model of self-reliance that was established by its founder. under his grandson's reign, there are signs that economic shifts are quietly taking place. could be a scene from a propaganda film. this silk factory is the kind of image the north korean regime likes to betray. the materials here are all

domestically source, as dictated by north korea's guiding ideology of self-sufficiency. the ruling workers party line said there is no reason to change. >> we are a socialist country, so we stick to our socialist economic principles. market economy. >> yet economic change is visible in the capital. there were just a handful of taxis a few years ago, now they are common. founded goods are to be in street stores. >> the north korean government has allowed to some extent the markets so as to satisfy the need of their people.

did in the 1980's, north korea has committed itself to a shot of capitalism. where it will lead is up in the air. this picture postcard image of a socialist utopia is likely to be protected by the north for some time yet. >> the stock markets are closed this friday a long easter weekend. that hasn't stopped economic data from being released. retail sales fell slightly for the second month in march. do it forrices also the first time in over a year. americans pulled back on spending and auto dealers at restaurants, pushing sales down slightly more than had been expected. with steady job growth and strong consumer sentiment is unlikely to derail the federal reserve's plans to hike interest

rates in june. moving on to other business headlines, the ceo and board of director for switzerland's credit suisse decided to cut by 40% ahead of an annual shareholders meeting. italian has reached -- which they say will help keep them business. the two sides agreed to limited layoffs. the italian carrier, which is 49% owned by the airways, has urged union members to approve the agreement during a vote next week. fore is considering a bid toshiba's semi conductor unit. , who sayscourt to nhk apple is seeking to buy a stake in the business, lining up with the taiwan-based supplier.

to recoup someg of the losses from the bankrupt nuclear division. the japanese government has concerns about foxconn's involvement and hope to the -- hopes to keep potentially sensitive tip technology under control. tessa blake and -- tesla became the most valuable car company this week, but that doesn't mean competitors aren't hot. a new all electric sedan made its debut at the new york international auto show, set to go on sale in 2019. the car will have a 400 mile range and enough force power to go faster than most models. it is anxious to show what it can do. we don't see ourselves as a tesla killer. we are anything but. dominated huge market by the german cards.

that marketplace is worth $100 billion per year. car which cane a run under auto ground speeds and reach the new set and show its credibility. >> a different kind of easter egg hunt is taken place in egypt. the search for affordable eggs, a favorite for muslim and christian celebrations. >> as christians prepare for easter, muslims do their holiday shopping for a traditional spring celebration. this year, stocking up for this -- for the festivities is proving a headache. >> the price of eggs is so much. many people can't afford them anymore. now i have to walk a long way to come to the shop because it is cheaper here. >> wheezed to get a whole carton of eggs but now we can't buy

enough. we need lots of protein after we finished. >> egg sellers blame the rise in price on the country's reliance on imports. >> other chicken farm essentials are important. >> currently future and pound is less than half its value in u.s. dollars. attempt was part of an to meet imf's demand and secure a huge bailout. in much-needed $12 billion loan to help its aiding -- to help his economy. indeed. you very much kate moody with today's edition of business. i'll be back at half past nine paris time. don't go away.

04/14/17 04/14/17 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy:y: from pacifica, this is democracy now! >> it is a large, powerful gun accurately delivered weapon. united states took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualtieieand collllateral damage as a resuluf ththe operation. amy: the mother of all bombs. that is whwhat the u u.s. j just dropped on afghanistan. it is the most powerful nonnuclear bomb ever, unleashing an explosion equivalent to 11 tons of wi