>> welcome. these are the top stories this hour. eu leaders meet in bulgaria as they try to sign a united front on the iran nuclear deal. president macron has called on companies -- hundreds of venezuelans, opposition supporters take to the streets in caracas, calling for a boycott of national elections on sunday.

outbreak has entered a new phase after the case of the deadly virus is detected. first, our top story. eu leaders are meeting with their counterparts in bulgaria, where they will try to forge a united front on the iran nuclear deal. this is following the u.s. decision to withdraw from the accord. the block is concerned about the repercussions of trump's move. president macron says that you must protect companies doing business with iran from u.s. sanctions being reimposed. angela merkel says the deal is in perfect. -- is not perfect.

>> the agreement must be supplemented by a post 2025 nuclear agreement. an agreement on nuclear missiles and their presence in the region. france --ermany and britain, germany and france are united on this. there was a european commitment -- >> everyone in the european union agrees the agreement isn't remain inut we should this agreement and conduct further negotiations with iran. >> to bring us more, i'm joined in the studio by our europe editor. today? the latest >> in the last 30 minutes or so, we've heard from theresa may via her spokeswoman, we've been

hearing more determination from her, similar to what we've been hearing from other european leaders. she met with angela merkel and president macron privately on the sidelines and said the u.k. is committed to supporting the iran nuclear deal. all three agreed that it's important that iran continues to meet its side of the deal as well. we've talked a lot about the european response, these leaders reiterating that iran has to stand up to the nondevelopment of ballistic missiles. we will be hearing more within the next hour from the european council president, donald tusk, and hopefully emmanuel macron. so far, we've only heard determination from a leaders to keep this deal alive. as long as iran sticks to the deal, europe sticks to the deal, it's good for european security, good for global security.

all heads of state were briefed -- what they can do to keep the deal alive and protect european companies. they jointly agreed that they will take a united approach. what that approach might constitute yet to be decided. the commission working on some action plan, ways for european companies to keep doing business in iran without facing fines from the u.s., criminal charges and prosecution. these are real dangers for european companies. some people talking about the allowng statutes that european companies -- it's never been used before. hasof the commissioners admitted today that this could be of limited use.

united, it is working hard to find ways around this, but time is tight and it's extremely competent it. that's complicated -- extremely complicated. >> companies aren't so convinced. >> a lot of the companies that have gone in to invest in iran, haveames, car names established factories there -- another oil and gas company has a huge investment in the south saying yesterday it could pull out if that project -- of that project unless it got a specific waiver to continue that business. today, a shipping company has said it is preparing to eventually call a halt to its business with iran. the chief executive saying you can't do business in iran if you

also have business in the u.s. emmanuel macron has said today that these are big companies, but there are small and medium-sized companies that don't have that u.s. aspect, we can probably protect them more simply. >> the whole iran deal hijacked this summit. >> this is taking place in bulgaria, bulgaria holding the presidency of the european union at the moment, it was supposed to be about the western balkans, the former yugoslav countries, some of them have applied already to join the eu. this is a region that is of interest to the european union. it is surrounded by european union member states. donald fisk yesterday talking about the facts that he wants these countries to see a

european perspective for the future. what with the alternative be? a russian perspective, looking to moscow. this is a very strategic region for the eu. at this summit talking about connectivity with the western balkans, instead of using the words "enlargement" or "adhesion." >> thank you. seoul has vowed to mediate between the u.s. and north korea after pyongyang threatens to cancel a summit between kim jong-un and donald trump which is scheduled for june 12. south korea announced on wednesday it might not attend -- north korea announced on wednesday it might not attend if washington demands they abandon their nuclear arsenal. saying he hasn't

received any inclination on the talks being in jeopardy. israel says it has launched an overnight air raid on a hamas facility in gaza after gunfire in the territory covered soldiers and damaged a building. mass protests saw 60 palestinians killed by israeli forces. hamas has claimed that most of the palestinians killed were members of the infamous group. netanyahu has responded saying israel will continue to protect itself. spokesman said today 50 of the 60 people killed were hamas' people. israel will continue to defend itself as much as necessary. anyone who threatens our communities, we will defend the state of israel.

ramadan,e start of palestinians are struggling to keep their spirits following one of the bloodiest weeks in recent memory in gaza. low on provisions as the month kicks off. >> ramadan is here. in gaza, plantings are usually a big part of the festivities -- this year, spirits are low. >> it is sad and depressing. in every home, there is an injured person. all the mothers are said. -- are sad. this year, there is nothing. may god be with the people. how will they afford food? fresh, theef still move is bleak. ramadan is time for celebration.

yet, with the recent violence against gaza, palestinians are struggling to stay positive as the holy month begins. >> usually, people wait all year for ramadan to come, hoping it will come with all of its blessings. this time, ramadan has arrived alongside massacres, martyrs and sacrifices. that's why ramadan this year will be miserable. >> israel has blockaded gaza for over a decade. 1.8 million palestinians remain trapped. trade is affected. for many business owners, staying afloat here is never easy. finding a reason to celebrate is another bailey struggle. -- daily struggle. >> the country's ebola outbreak has entered a new pha after a case of the deadly virus was detected for the first time in

the northwest city -- 44 cases have been reported. three of those confirmed. thousands of doses of the ebola vaccine arrived in the country on wednesday. to tell us more about this, william is standing by. re authorities telling us about the country's ebola outbreak at this stage? >> the health minister has been clear that the confirmation of the case of the virus in a city connectedlion people by the river to the capital is a worrying development. this outbreak was declared by the minister just over a week ago. until now, it was centered on two confirmed cases in the rural town 150 miles from the city. was seen as remote and

considered easier to contain. spread to at it has big city has certainly put the country and the authorities in th government and the population on edge. >> what exactly is being put in place to stop the stem of this virus -- to stem thspread of this virus? >> once the epidemic was confirmed last week, the world health organization responded pretty quickly. byms were sent there helicopter. mobile laboratories have been sent to test samples faster. they are also launching this vaccine program for the first time. the six berman told vaccine -- experimental vaccine. they are hoping to vaccinate several hundred people who've been in contact with the confirmed cases. urgingernment is

behavioral changes on the affected population and has launched awareness campaigns to stop people touching the sick and watching their bodies and things of that nature -- washing their bodies and things of that nature. >> thank you. rudy -- a referendum on constitutional reform this thursday. the reform could see the president remain in power until 2034. it remains steeped in political turmoil. here's what voters have been saying today. >> i arrived very early to vote to amend the constitution. i voted yes, 100%. >> i voted yes. the constitution gives us even more independence. venezuelanhundred

opposition supporters took to the streets in the capital caracas on wednesday to demand the elections be suspended. protesters have been calling for polls to be boycotted after their leaders were barred from the ballots. wednesday,as hundreds of demonstrators out in the streets to denounce a rigged election. sunday's presidential vote is expected to deliver nicolas maduro a second six-year term. the country's mainstream opposition is calling for a boycott. two of its most popular leaders were barred from the election. >> there won't be a real election. venezuelans should have the right to choose to vote for the candidate of their choice. nicolas maduro's's rating

approval rating hovers around 20%. scores of civilians died in violent street protests last year. current opposition is divided, with some arguing a boycott only plays into maduro's hand. >> if we truly come together and message,ized with one one narrative, instead of discouraging people, we call on them to vote, this government will not defeat us. >> nickless maduro stands to benefit from his election machinery and food handouts voter to participation systems stocked

with loyalists. has imposed sanctions on the maduro government, saying it will not recognize the results. 1:15 in the french capital. eu leaders meet in bulgaria as they try to find a united front on the iran nuclear deal. president macron has called for the eu to protect companies doing business with iran from u.s. sanctions. congo's health minister warns the ebola outbreak has entered a new phase after a case of the deadly virus was detected in a northwest city. time for our business update. --france'sby president says eu companies must be able to make their own choice about business with iran.

>> that came as total announced it would withdraw from in if it couldn't get a waiverrom washington. they became the largest investor in iran's energy sector after the deal was signed in 2015. it'also exposed to u.s. sanctions. they are far from the only firm worried about the fallout. will leaveys it iran. they would be forced to unwind all operations related to a major gas field project before november unless washington gives it a special waiver. in july 2017,rk two years after western countries signed a nuclear deal with iran. the project has been coordinated with china and iran. total has a majority stake in the project, investing less than 40 million euros.

be french oil company could hit hard by u.s. sanctions should it continue to do business in iran without a u.s. exemption. u.s. banks are involved in 90% of total's financing. emmanuel macron said it was important to protect the rights of private companies to do business in iran. >> international companies who have assets in several countries make their own choices which depend on their own interests. it's essential that that freedom of choice remains. > total isn't the only company facing an uncertain future in iran. others could be subject to secondary sanctions from washington. the french ecomy minister called on the eu to guarantee european economic sovereignty. >> we are waiting for the commission to take some very concrete steps to ensure

european sovereignty and economic matters. >> following u.s. threats of reintroducing sanctions on iran, you leaders -- you leaders said they would try to keep the economic cooperation with iran. >> signing a pulmonary deal with iran to develop an oil field in a southern province. the first such contract since washington pulled out of the nuclear agreement. >> as geopolitical concerns continue to push oil prices up, brent crude jumped above $80 per barrel for the first time since november 2014. european stock markets are all in positive territory. an argentinian president says the country currency crisis is over after stocks and bonds recovered.

he announced he was seeking help from the imf following a drop in the currency. they raise interest rates three times recently. has been retailer asking investors for 28 million pounds to keep operating. the chain is shutting down 50 stores. the former head will become ceo again, a month after he was displaced. an 88% jumpported in its first quarter profit. the firm met with difficulty after going public last year, the sequel tos of and thery birds" game

film have helped turn things around. >> that brings us to the end of our business roundup. time now for our press review. we have a look at the papers. we are starting out with reactions to north korea, threatening to pull out of an upcoming summit with the u.s. >> they are threatening to do joint military drills between the u.s. and south korea that already led pyongyang to cancel a planned summit with its southern neighbor. the official communist paper says even before the ink was dry on that declaration, south korea and the u.s. have reacted to the peace loving efforts shown by north korea with rude and wicked provocations. we are seeing anger in the north korean paper.

this about-face is a return to outliningis article, all the other times north korea has backed out of its commitments, showing a pattern by an unpredictable regime. post is sayingon this should send alarm bells for the u.s.. >> the washington post seems to believe this is all a bluff. they say it should serve as a wake-up call for the white house, saying it appears kim jong-un is following in his father's lead from the 2005 nuclear weapons deal, agreeing to denuclearize and then pocketing the short-term economic gains to only violate the agreement later. should be considering a partial or phased deal. >> moving on to more news, venezuelans heading to the polls for general national elections on sunday. nickless maduro

is widely expected to win because the opposition turnout is expected to be low. we too many people claiming they a voteycott the vote -- that nicolas maduro is widely expected to win because the opposition turnout is expected to be low. we have seen many people claiming they will boycott the vote. de woman says she had one ay of water per month. diseases like malaria and hyperinflation -- even if maduro wins on sunday, he faces a far bigger test, maintaining his grip on the country that is quickly becoming a failed state. >> in malaysia, the former prime minister was raided by police. >> this raid comes a week after

his defeat in national elections to his former mentor in the early hours of thursday. new malaysian prime minister says there is sufficient evidence to investigate a multibillion dollar international money-laundering fundal linked to a state founded by the former leader. tackling corruption will be his biggest challenge as prime minister. even if he himself has been called into question over corruption scandals in the past. >> next, jubilation and joy in madrid, but tears and heartbreak in -- >> this is the front page of the french sport paper. this is a play on the word "tears." favorites didn't disappoint

their fans. they won 3-0 in the europa league final. it's going with a heartbreaking picture of dimitri in tears. he was injured during the match. the paper says he suffered a heavy loss, calling the match a great tragedy. we've seen a lot of happiness from the spanish papers. they have a picture of the victorious side. >> they've come such a long way. finishing off with a simple audio recording. it was posted on twitter, but it has left the internet complex and divided. >> this comes three years after that infamous dress color debate. this time, we are talking about an audio clip. i'm going to play this clip.

i want you to tell me what you hear -- yanny or laurel? take a listen -- >> that's really weird. i heard it once and i heard yanny the first time. that time, it was clearly laurel. >> there are people who hear yanny and then laurel. it has roped in many twitter users. salon has interviewed audiologists to way into the debate. the brain decides within a fraction of a second what it will hear, even before the ears have had time to register the full audio clip. the scientists conducted an

experiment that showed when people heard yanny, it's because the brain registered the y sound first. the same with laurel who here the --ççzñvpx]

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