life from berlin.. lifesaving aid to s syr hits a roadblock. vito of the security council effort to continue sending food and supplies to civilians in rural -- rebel held territory in

syria. aid workers were this will spell disaster for millions. also on the program, its tendrils hail sophia becomes a game though the president erdogan says all are welcome. others described the move as provocation. and venice tests out its flood defense system but critics say the engineering marvel maybe to fail -- maybe doomed to fail. >> i am phil gayle and welcome to the program. russia and china have vetoed an attempt by the unc critic counsel to continue humanitarian aid the liveries -- the un security council to continue humanitarian aid to syria. friday is the last day allowing food and supplies over the turkish border to a love and aleppo. countries voted in favor of

extending aid. but permanent members russia and china posted resolution. humanitarian groups say cutting off the aid could spell disaster for millions of civilians. >> food deliveries, a lifesaver for that 40 families who found shelter here on the turkish border. they fled homes destroyed by airstrikes. few of them have enough money for food. they would be lost without help from outside. >> itit is onee thing to be bombararded by fighter jets. but to be locked-in without food is worse. it is a slow, but let -- bloodless death. >> almost 3 million people in northwest syria at on food aid like this. truck spring it over the border between turkey and ad lib., the last let rebel stronghold in syria -- idlib, the last rebel stronghold in syria, without

protection from the regime but protected by a u.n. resolution. >> resolution is virtually impossible, they have nothing besides these eight deliveries. if they stop it will be a catastrophe. i'm sure of that. >> famine looms if food liveries are cut off. as the coronavirus pandemic spreads in the region, medical supplies and eight are needed here and northwestst syria more than ever. [children playing] >> kevin kennedy, assistant u.n. secretary general is the region's core nader for the crisis in syria and joins us -- regions coordinator who joins us on dw. extending humanitarian aid to desperate civilians seems like a no-brainer. whwhat did russia a and china he against it? >> i cannot s sak for russia an chinina. obviously y i think theyey are,n our viewsws, protecting the sovereigntnty the s state off syria.

we have the security council resolution recognized in 2014 that people residing in non-governrnment controlled aras need assistance. providining that from m the government side is difficultlt o do, next to impossible. only through cross-border aid from turkey into northwest syria can we meet ththe needs of the 4 million people living there, 3 million of whom we assist every month. >> just to be clear about how the process works, russia and china do not have to say why the object. that can just say we object a ad then e everyone moves on, is tht how it w works? >> ththat is correre, simply pu. i'm sure they have their views. >> so outlined to us what happens to the people in idlib and aleppo if this eight stops. >> it will b be a disaster. it alreadydy is. a major r humanitarianan crisiss not begin to describe the scale

of neeeeds in northwhwest syria. of the peoplple thehere, 2.7 min people are displaced and many yf them moved 2, 3, 4, five times in the course of the war. about a million and a half are living in the tent cities, very poor hygiene, pooror sanitation, little to no education for their chilildren. they are d doing it allith the assistance we can provide. and it is a struggle to prorovie in the b best of circucumstance. where the cross-border assistance from the u.n. to be lost, this would be a d disastrs momove for the w welfare of thte people. let me bee clear, the you and work in syria, along with our nongovernmnmental organinizatioe work with, is provided aid to syrians wherever they live. government or nongovernment areas, it makes no difference to us. but the people in northwest airr arare the most v vnerable -- northwest syria are the most vulnerable, totally reliaiant oa that comes across s the border.. so if the border were to o

closed to you and shipments, we feed 30 million people a month there and it would be catastrophic -- we feed 3 million n people per month and t would be catastrophic. >> it seems in t this circumstse thatat to countrieses can overre the will of 13. is it time the theater powers were scrapped?d? -- is a timime of the veto powes were scrappeped? > one has to wononder. there is a humaninitarian imperarative here that w we tryo apply worldwide. it is ththe you enrollll to rese and maintain pepeople'ss dignit- it is the role of the u.n. to restore and maintain people's dignity, that they have sosomething toto eat, health ca, to educatete their children. thesese are in desperate neeeed throughout syria but paparticularly in nonorthwest s. it is only through cross-border access that can be reasonably and safely supplied. >> good talking with you, thank you for joining us, kevin kennedy,y, the regionsns jill

humanitarian coordinator for the syrian crisis. here are other stories making news around the world. if you open authorities have arrested two suspects in the killing of a popular singer, whose death sparked protests in which 160 people were killed. the arrested men are alleged to be the shooter and a complex -- and an accomplplice, with thirdt large. u.s. p prosecutors h have fileda new indictment against ghislaine maxwell, the former girlfriend of jeffrey e epstein. the indictment in n new york accuses her of six criminal counts. maxwxwell has been chargeded wih gritting and grooming under age girls -- with recruiting and grooming underage girls with epstein. she is seeking bell citing risk of cover 19. -- seeking bail.

in singapore, and early sample of balallots in the election showing the opposition workekers parlor -- party gaining seats and what could be their best ever performance with the final results expected saturday. turkish president erdogan announced his stumbles famous highest sophia will be reopened for muslim worship, the country's popular tourist destination, which comes after the high court its status as a museum. dozens of people gathered to celibate the president's announcements. -- to celebrate that present's announcements. it is a you and world heritage site. unesco and governments around the world have condemned the change to its status. president erdogan address the public after the ruling saying that the doors would remain open to muslims and non-slums and that purse would start this month. >> we will perform friday

prayers together on july 24, 2020, and reopen haia sophia to worshiping. two istanbul rejoin our correspondent. the first prayers in two weeks. why is this rededication so important for the president? >> in his speech he made it clear this conversion back to a mosque is central and important for muslims in turkey and also much about reclaiming turkey's national identity. he referred much to sultan who conquered constantinople and converted haia sophia into a mosque. tellingly, he said he hoped the decision would unlock the handcuffs on people suffering from oppressed feelings and that very much is acknowledgment of the economic malaise turkey is suffering.

it is an economy hit hard by covid-19 and it has resulted in in his ruling akp party sliding in opinion polls. this is a way of galvanizing his religious and nationalist base back to support his party. >> we will take a look now at the historyry of this unesco wod heritage site and come back to you. stay with us. >> emempires have fallen, religions have been replaced, the city itself has changed names. but the dome of the haia sophia has withstood all. built in the sixth century as a byzantine church it was the world's largest christian. cathedral a millennium later it was c converted into a mosque doing ththe ottonn empire. in the 1930's, it was turned into a museum under the founder of the modern turkish republic ataturk, a symbol of the new secular state, inclusive of all religions.

since then, it has been a meeting point of many faiths, held by none. a place where popes, and presidents, have come to pay their respects. and marvel at the architecture. but religion is a tool for president erdogan who has overseen prayers in the museum, and raraised its status at lococ election r rallies. >> as you know, they converted it from a mosque to a museum a while ago now we hope to be able to call it a mosque again after the election. islamic groups have fought to pray at the hagia sophia, angry greece which is the billing as part of his orthodox christian history. >> unesco has warned turkey it's

conversion to a mosque could violate t the world cultural ritagege conventioion. [explosion] a flashpoint of religious and natialal struggle,e, ththe hagia sophia will remain n icon of istanbul. >> back to istanbul, talk us through reaction to today's decision. >> international reaction has been swift. the great cultural ministry described this as a provocation against double is asian -- against civilization. the russian orthodox church said they were deeply disappointed and it could lead to deeper divisions. in days before the decision was made, washington and moscow, and rare, and ground worn and correct not to convert it into a mosque. that played into argon's hands and his agenda -- president erdogan's hands, that he sees as

consolidating his support against opponents. that this was not seen as an attack on other people's face he said he was determines to respect other people's beliefs and that it would be open to all. >> what happens now? >> that is the big question. particular the concern about what will happen to the magnificent mosaics that depict christ, the virgin mary, the byzantine kings, considered some of the world's greatest. under islamist doctrine you cannot perform prayers inform of -- in front of figurative representations. in the past when it was a mosque they were covered by plaster. it is unclear whether ankara would take such a step and we have been hearing from state new sources they are going to use some sort of mapping lighting technology. but if that has not been confirmed, this undoubtedly is a big concern going forward given the importance of these images, not only to christians but also to lovers of the hagia sophia.

there will be a lot of attention on this. wed president erdogan was speaking tonight he said the conversion will be done carefully and he warned against pepeople trying to make controversy out of it so he is aware of the challenges ahead. i'll look to july 24 when it opens as a mosque. >> thank you for that, dorian jones in his temple -- in istanbul. nephew molly were at least one person has died -- now to mali, ere at least one person has dieied in protetest. fofour weeks,, m mass demonstras have called upon p president abraham to resign. public anger has broken out of a host of issues. pepele a are f frustrated b by e country y struggling economy and widespread corruption, and many wanton and to islamic extreme violence and conflict. >> these people left let

conflict tearing apart mali's countryside. it is setting farmers and hussman agaiainst each other, survival and predators. this refugee camp has become home to herdsmen, mostly muslims. they camame with what cattle thy could rescue, the families victims of the tit-for-tat attacks between their people and the open farmers. hundreds have been killed on both s sides and hatrered runs . >> there was a dispute before, that people sorted out. now the p people in our midst hs reached the village children. their own parents can a longer control them. the young people have taken up arms. also the soldiers do not drive sanction anymore. they see every single fulari child as a jihadi. >> the prejudice that makes people see children as jihadis because of their muslim

background is widespread. extremists exploit the mistrust and hatred for their own ends. this cap looks the same. but itit is on the dogen part of town. they have been caught on the side of the spiral of violence. one lost everything when attackers came to her farm. >> they killed 1010 peoplple ina single day. the next day, , they killed fiv. on the third day, thehey came bk and tookok our livestock, cattl, goats, everything. [crowd] >> many people in mali are more concerned with the government they see as corrupt and incapable of fixing a week economy. tens of thousands of people have demonstrated for an end to conflict.

a muslim cleric is a member of the leading opposition. >> this is what we have denounced. we cannot be complacent about the government leaders who got us into the situation. . it has to stop. the head of state is mainly responsible. >> markley? will play a -- mahmoud will play a key role in supporting ringing french to mali. troops and others need his help. >> let's look at the coronavirus pandemic and we start and france, the sixth country to report a death toll above 30,000. the world health organization reported an increase friday with the global total jumping 228,000 and 24 hours. the colombian capital of bogotá will begin a two-week rolling quarantine in neighborhoods

monday. a sharp increase in infection threatens to overwhelm the city health system. israel is battling a second wave of covid-19 infections. last month the country is being held as an example of successful containment. things are so bad now israelis have been left off the list of people allowed to travel to the eu and tourists are not allowed to enter israel. >> the new normal. first r register your details ad then takake a temperature check before you can enter a café in jerusalem. a stutudent is worried the numbr of corononavirus cases is again risising sharply. she lost her part-time job during the locked ininarch and apriril. now s she is facing r renewed uncertrtainty. >>i'm afraraid of the healalth issuesesnd the ecoconomic situation. students are gettiting i infect. people my agege. itit i is not only y those over. soso it is frightetening.

financially, i'm still unemployed andnd still havave to pay my r rent. >> early on, israel and closed its borders and impose a strict lockdown for weeks. at a cost. unemployment rose from 4% to 24%, but city sisince school started to r reopen in mayay. a few weeks ago it l looks l lie israel navigated well througugh the coronavirus pandemic, but that has changed dramatically. corona wards and hospitals and drive-through testing centers had to be reopened. >> these testing stations had closed because there was no demand. now w cars are lining up again. experts are discussing what went wrong. >> there were no strarategic prepeparations, what will happen after the l lockdown? and what we have seen nowow, the secondnd wave, is reaeally the result of an action during g e

first wave. it is unfortunate because we were one of the e few countries which ended the first wave with 300 deathths, few infections. and we could have revived the economy very well. >> prime ministerer benjamin netanyahu was widely praised for his handling of the crisis the first t time around a and that s chchanged. people are worried about the second wave. the restrictions were announced this week including increasing fines for not wearing masks, limiting the number of people in public areas and resestaurants. it feels like a deja vu for one who i just reopened a fish restaurant in tel aviv. >> youu do not know if you're going t to work tomorrow are no. last night it happened it was very surprising. this time, we are more readydy r

that. still,l, the uncertainty is confusining. >> another prolonged lockdownwn might still be on the cards, a dismal process -- prospect for most israelis who thought the worst was already over. >> here are other stories making news around the world. lawmakers voted to close the philippines'biggest tv network. president duterte had often threatened the station over its critical coverage of the administration. the station was one of the philippines' main news providers. what shockcks h he condemnened e shutdodown is a blow to mea frfreedom. serbia's president has said efforts by germany and france to restart talks bebetween his country and kosovo are already paying off. the negogotiations about normalizing their relations are due to resume sunday. kosovo declared independence from serbia in 1999.

the dutch government is taking russia to the european court of human rights forests alleged role in the downing of malaysian airlines flight 17 over eastern ukraine six years ago. the foreign minister says his country wants justice for the 298 victims killed in the plane was hit by surface to air missile. free-speech campaign in russia feels authorities are extending a cracked on critics. agents have search homes and offices of opposition activists who spoke out against constitutional changes that would allow president to extend his time in office. protests planned for next week in moscow and st. petersburg have been banned. >> russian investigators searched the offices of and became media in moscow thursday -- mbk media. they outlet is funded by kremlin opponent but the journalists

working here can only speculate for the reasons behind the red. >> and the area could be anything, some article someone did not like -- in theory it could be about anything. they seized our quitman and refused to return it. -- they seized our equipment and refused to return it. it is a way to disrupt our work. >> earlier this week and respected journalist saffron off was arrested and charged with treason. the most recent he worked as an advivisor to the h head of rus's space agency and he is accused of spying for an unspecified nato member which he denies. the 30 year old faces 20 years in jail at convicted. at a closed heaearing, a court decided he must remain in custody. >> reviewed the decision by the district court as unfair and in violation of the law. we plan to launch an appeal within the legal deadline. other journalists and former colleagues are shocked. >> they have protested against

saffron ops arrest and started a petition demanding allegations be made public. they fear there could be a new campaign to silence journalists in russia. >> i think he got in someone's way and now they framed him. it is worrying that this is happening in our country. >> protesting his arrest also comes with risks. 25 people were arrested. the demonstration ending in a police van. this is happening at a time when president vladimir putin has cemented his grip on power. he cannot remain in office until 2036 - -- he can now remain in ofoffice until 203036 after wing a referendum to change the constitution. ♪ >> when putin set everything back to zero he up a time window to russia's security services. they now feel even more empowered to settle old scores. >> critical media voices never

had it easy in russia, but igor recommend a can is believes this knocks a troubling milestone. >> it started when the putin regime destroyed the news broadcaster ntv. now we are expanding the final phase, the total destruction of journalism. it is impossible to become involved with journalism in russia without being charged, locked away for long time, or killed. >> so the difficult job of being a journalist in russia is now even more uncertain than before. >> after a decade of delays, ventas has successfully tested a new flood barrier system to save the sinking city. the italian prime minister giuseppe conte, was on hand for the test run of the six plane dollar construction. but the project may be doomed to fail despite today's success. >> out of the water they race like a hidden treasure from the bottom of the ocean.

but the 78 mobile barriers are not the treasure but may to protect it, designed to protect the lagoon city of venice from high tides. the project has seen unexpected costs and political corruption and delays. >> we will finish what we have prpromised and the horriblble ss we witneness will be p part of e past. >> disastrous flooding in november it how vulnerable venice is, the floods the worst in 50 years. global warming and rising sea levels and venice is sinking foundations are not likely to improve the situation. a fortress of steel is now supposed to protect the lagoon city. despite the photogenic ceremony today, it is not expected to be fully functional until next year. >> it is a project that was born from many controversies, and designed to protect venice from high water. a concrete objective met an imaginary one, however visionary and might have seeeemed when it was desnened. >> 1984, that is when it was

designed, and it has been under construction since 2003. now part of the underwater project is already corroding and experts fear, depending on the pace of sea level rise, these yellow barriers might soon be obsolete. >> the world's top tennis players are in for a windfall despite disruptions to the sporting calendar after organizers of wimbledon announced they will pay 11 million euros in prize money for this year's tournament. ththe all england c club says sr 20 players are line to receive pliers from 5-28,000 euros and they are distributing thee money even though there is a cancellation because of coronavirus. the finals of wimbledon were originally set to take place this weekend. i will have "the day." in a moment and more woworld news of f the p of the hour. ♪

twowo eighty two. turkey's recep tayyip erdogan reaffirms hi yes i hear museum for muslim worship the move comes after a court ruling angering it made they were neighboring greece and- christian leaders. the state of healalth emergency ends here in front of the stroke of midnight this is coronavirus cases continue to drop a sororities however. will keep the power to limit gatherings on the freedom of movement for at least another four months. was it coming up on a program of the south highlands presidential races down