part of an armed struggle between muslim insurgents and the philippine army that has marred this part of the country for fifty years. as in many areas of southern mindanao here in the village of two cannot leave how the majority of the population is muslim in a country that otherwise is almost completely catholic. in the among the main reason for the conflict is oppression we're defending our rights our land we feel that we're being occupied by outsiders nothing is ours they're taking away what's ours and they're not giving it back we always lose out and this is our home and we have nothing. now many here have real hope that could finally change. in a referendum the people of muslim mindanao are voting to ratify a law that would grant them more autonomy. in return the rebels have to give up their fight like these two gentlemen here many in this rebel camp have been fighters for all their lives often it's the only thing they learned how to do but if the autonomy law gets passed they'll have to take off their uniforms lay down their arms and start a new life as civilians. the deal has been in the making for decades but in the end it took this man to make

muslim and. to many here in mindanao he's a beacon of hope for. we take him by his word we trust him on television we see how he handles the drug problem in the philippines offenders are either killed or in prison that shows that he really means what he says. football men and women but success is not only in the hands of the president the new law for seems that muslim mindanao will be governed by the rebel leadership but feuds between powerful family clans rampant corruption and islamic terrorist groups could undermine the fragile peace deal. a peace many of abdul's comrades have sacrificed their lives for. their i don't want my children to experience what i've been through all i want for them is to get a good education to learn to read and write for fighters like me there is only violence and war i want my children to have a peaceful future. but abdul is also wary if the agreement fails he says everyone here is ready to go back to war. on to sports starting with football sunday saw a visit to new york backside struggling to keep their heads above

muslims. to many here in mindanao he's a beacon of hope for. we take him by his word we trust him on television we see how he handles the drug problem in the philippines offenders are either killed or in prison that shows that he really means what he says. but all money. but success is not only in the hands of the president the new law for seize that muslim mindanao will be governed by the rebel leadership but feuds between powerful family clans rampant corruption and islamic terrorist groups could undermine the fragile peace deal a peace many of abdul's comrades have sacrificed their lives for. a year i don't want my children to experience what i've been through all i want for them is to get a good education to learn to read and write for fighters like me there is only violence and war i want my children to have a peaceful future. but abdul is also wary if the agreement fails he says everyone here is ready to go back to war. millions of stargazers got quite a treat overnight thanks to a rare lunar eclipse calling it the super blood moon and wh

muslims. to many here in mindanao he's a beacon of hope for. we take him by his word we trust him on television we see how he handles the drug problem in the philippines offenders are either killed or in prison that shows that he really means what he says. but success is not only in the hands of the president the new law for seems that muslim mindanao will be governed by the rebel leadership but feuds between powerful family clans rampant corruption and islamic terrorist groups could undermine the fragile peace deal a peace many of abdul's comrades have sacrificed their lives for. i don't want my children to experience what i've been through all i want for them is to get a good education to learn to read and write for fighters like me there is only violence and war i want my children to have a peaceful future. but abdul is also wary if the agreement fails he says everyone here is ready to go back to war. so earlier we spoke with boston harm to our correspondent in the philippines we asked him why this referendum is so important for the first ti

part of an armed struggle between muslim insurgents and the philippine army that has marred this part of the country for fifty years. as in many areas of southern mindanao here in the village of two can only power the majority of the population is muslim in a country that otherwise is almost completely catholic. the main reason for the conflict is oppression we're defending our rights our land we feel that we're being occupied by outsiders nothing is ours they're taking away what's ours and they're not giving it back we always lose out this is our home and we have nothing. now many here have real hope that could finally change. in a referendum the people of muslim in the now are voting to ratify a law that would grant them more autonomy in return the rebels have to give up their fight. like these two gentlemen here many in this rebel camp have been fighters for all their lives often it's the only thing they learned how to do but if the autonomy law gets passed they'll have to take off their uniforms lay down their arms and start a new life as civilians the deal has been in the making for decades but in the end it took this man to make it happen internat

capital of sulu province while its south of mindanao island is considered part of the predominantly muslim mindanao region and included in the new bangsamoro autonomous region as. linda going now in manila for as jimmy as we've heard there no claim of responsibility seo but we know that several on groups are active in this area who could be behind this and what message are they trying to send to the philippines government. well fully the message is quite clear whether it came from a private armed group or than authority is i will say our group known to have exit given similar attacks like this the message is strong that no effort of the government for peace building that this fight the entire region of b. of mindanao be under marshall rule for more than a year and despite basically efforts to add more boots on the ground of state forces and the ground the region that the whole you are remains to be a powder keg that it's not going to be very easy for civil society groups for the more islamic liberation front in partnership with the philippine military to impose what they want basically in her law i

the the the current government the correct me if i'm wrong but is that the autonomous region of muslim mindanao they are double m. many have looked at us and said it was a failure do you agree it and what lessons could be learned from that experience. well the m.i.l.f. chairman himself had said that the biggest hurdle that are the biggest challenge that they are facing is actually of the issue of corruption and many see that they are a member of failed because of the corruption and so many levels that were seen in fact the previous era member of governor was being had had face jail time for that and some therefore that is a big question can the can these secessionists the leaders of the censors movement once they move into arm a governance role and together with other ma leaders or so is that will they be able to break that of that. affliction or that that that the problem of corruption or will they be sucked up into the system also because it's not just a conflict that this a problem there but also a lot of social injustice. sample jamila had said the while ago that their existence of private

for him and to maybe fifty years of unrest muslims in mindanao and southern philippines of votes in the referendum. we'll hear from separatists who think fighting lockers. of blood will smooth in the blood red last night we'll have more on the spectacular and there are events. welcome to the program well today is another big day for britain's prime minister is due to announce a baby for leaving the european union after lawmakers last week overwhelmingly rejected a original deal with the tories amazed proposals that are expected to focus on winning more concessions from europe and. particular on the so-called facts this is a political insurance policy too to avoid a controlled hard border between northern ireland and the irish republic in you however since this is not really go sation the prime minister's usual dress the house of commons in about half an hour and we'll bring that to you live. ahead of that let's look ahead to what we can expect with the w.'s of alex forrest a whites here in the studio and the biggest mass in london. welcome welcome bigots are welcome alex let's start wit

of sulu province walid south of the mindanao island it's considered part of the predominantly muslim mindanao region i think looted in the new bangsamoro autonomous region agreement. that is covering this for us from the capital manila let's just start with an update of what we know. or what we know is at least twenty five people were killed many of them state forces the first bomb exploded inside the church where mass was ongoing early sunday morning and as survivors and panicked worshipers rushed out they were met by a a military army military truck that was responding to the first that the nation that's when the second bomb was detonated and it was placed inside the container box inside a mortar cycle right outside the church you know this is not the first time so here that this church has been attacked if you've actually been inside many parts of of the roof has been caved in for many years there was an attack in one thousand nine hundred ninety seven bishop was killed there was an assassination shortly after the peace agreement was signed with a more national liberation front and this co

and to me the fifty years of a rest muslims in mindanao in the philippines a vote in a referendum. will hear from separatists who finds an old ally.

they the the current government the correct me if i'm wrong but is that the autonomous region of muslim mindanao they are double m. many have looked at us and said it was a failure do you agree it and what lessons could be learned from that experience. well the m.i.l.f. chairman himself had said that the biggest hurdle that are the biggest challenge that they are facing is actually of the issue of corruption and many see that they are a member of failed because of the corruption on so many levels that were seen in fact the previous era member of governor was being had had face jail time for that and some therefore that is a big question can the can these secessionists the leaders of the censors movement once they move into arm a governance role and together with other ma leaders or so is that will they be able to break that of that. affliction or that that the problem of corruption or will they be sucked up into the system also because it's not just a conflict that this a problem there but also a lot of social injustice. sample jamila had said the while ago that their existence of private armed

the current government the correct me if i'm wrong but is that the autonomous region of muslim mindanao they are double m. many have looked at us and said it was a failure do you agree it and what lessons could be learned from that experience. well the m.i.l.f. chairman himself had said that the biggest hurdle that are the biggest challenge that they are facing is actually of the issue of corruption and many see that they are a member of failed because of the corruption on so many levels that were seen in fact the previous era member of governor was being had had face jail time for that and some therefore that is a big question can the can these secessionists the leaders of the censors movement once they move into arm a governance role and together with other ma leaders or so is that will they be able to break that of that. affliction or that that that the problem of corruption or will they be sucked up into the system also because it's not just a conflict that it's a problem there but also a lot of social injustice. sample jamila had said the while ago that their existence of private a

majority catholic country the incident happened going to a city it comes just days after some muslims in mindanao got more control over their affairs in a landmark deal with the government. well that follows a bombing at a cathedral on the southern philippine island of holo president roderigo detergent has ordered an all out war against those responsible but despite the violence muslim and christian leaders say they remain united from jamil and the. roadside bombings abductions and people displaced from their homes it's all part of daily life in hello it is one of the poorest provinces in the philippines and has long been held back by fighting between government forces and the various armed groups bravery is says growing up in this whole town always meant living in fear but as a christian you know where the majority of the population is muslim he always kept his feet until now his spare is from me and leo were killed when two bombs exploded at the cathedral where they had gone to pray. a place of worship now was seen and destruction we strongly believe that. whatever religion you're living in a l

people in the southern philippines are voting on a plan to give great autonomy to the mainly muslim region of mindanao it's part of a deal between separatists and the government to end a four decade conflict china's announced this week its growth in nearly three decades the world's second biggest economy expanded by six point six percent last year slowing global demand and the trade war with the us are being blamed a libyan photojournalist has been killed by shelling near tripoli thirty five year old mohamed bin khalifa was one of sixteen people killed since fighting broke out on wednesday he had worked for al jazeera the associated press and others those are the headlines we're back in half an hour right now it's hard earned on al-jazeera. previously on hard earned last week my total income was less than three hundred dollars you know i live off my credit cards when i don't make enough money how do you feel about. a big purchase this is the fresh relationship i mean i doesn't take two cents now that you don't buy a house for somebody but we need this house right now we're living paycheck to paycheck

muslim dominated parts of the southern mindanao island in the philippines overwhelmingly approved self rule at a five percent of voters back the formation of a new autonomous region called bang as a model monday's referendum was held after an agreement signed five years ago between rebel leaders and the government deals designed to end decades of fighting at least the poorest area in the philippines. well the rebellion in mindanao started in the nine hundred sixty s. with the killing of at least twenty three filipino muslims by the military since then more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions forced from their homes by fighting the more islamic liberation front or m i l f as a major force in the start which is movement a peace agreement was reached in two thousand and fourteen following two decades of negotiations with the philippine government that's led to a new law paving the way for the creation of the bungs more government in return the m.i.l.f. will it give up its weapons and demobilize thirty thousand fighters graham on where the rajaratnam school of in

capital of solu province comes six days after a referendum on the neighboring island of mindanao that is in the muslim dominated region overwhelmingly approved a deal for more self rule eighty five percent of it is back to an agreement between muslim fighters and government leaders in manilla for a self administered area in mindanao which will be named bangsamoro. but voters in neighboring salue province where he is rejected it there are attempts to stalk up of communal conflict but the thing is that so far none of these attacks on the churches have resulted in such type of hatred between muslims and christians. the predominantly catholic philippines has been plagued by decades of separatist conflict in mindanao more than one hundred thousand filipinos have been killed and millions displaced by the fighting despite the reconciliation process attacks like this show armed groups still pose a threat to peace in the region victoria gate and be al jazeera brazilian fans monitors a warning that a second mining dams at risk of rupturing close to a dam collapsed on friday in both with geno thirty four bodies

last few years all the time comes just days after voters approved self government for muslim dominated parts of mindanao in the southern philippines which includes the island of your low this part of the country has been plagued by decades of separatist conflicts more than one hundred thousand people have been killed in millions more displaced by the fighting the plan to create a new autonomous region called by some morrow boosted hopes for peace hollow was among only a few areas which rejected self governance. in the referendum but it will still become part of the new region let's speak some more about this now to wholesale antonio custodial who is a defense and security analyst and former consultant of the philippines national security council thank you so much for speaking to us all or as we've heard from jamila is one of the most militarized places in the philippines where several armed groups including i will say after operates who do you think could be behind this attack and what message are they trying to send the philippines government. well it's difficult to ascertain right now who is behind it

muslims and christians. the predominantly catholic philippines has been plagued by decades of separatist conflict in mindanao more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions more in displaced in the decades long conflict in mindanao and despite the rican silly asian process attacks like this show that armed groups still pose a threat to peace in the region dogon al jazeera manila. plenty more still to come including. zimbabwe baris jazz legend the national he will all of it in front of thousands of adoring fans. in st petersburg russia formally leningrad and it was seventy five years ago today that one of the most brutal exercise of the second world war came to an end the nazi siege of the city the last of nearly nine hundred days.

a referendum in the southern philippines is underway to create a new muslim autonomous region in the volatile area of mindanao predominantly muslim region are voting to ratify the law. after years of conflict, it would give closure to a peace deal signed between the maw—roh islamic liberation front and the philippine government. the bbc‘s howard johnson is in manila. this has been going on for decades, this armed conflict between the philippine army and the moro islamic liberation front. it went all the way back to the '60s. even colonel gaddafi, the former leader of libya, intervened to try to bring around peace. successive governments here in the philippines failed to do that. thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced, but president rodrigo duterte made it one of his campaign promises, and he brought about the referendum injuly last year. now, what we see today are people coming out to vote for what is ultimately an autonomous region, with greater self—determination, the right to set its own fiscal rules, to govern itself through a parliamentary system, and also a budget to spend on tou

interim president but russia and china support nicholas mature oh voters in the muslim dominated parts of southern mindanao island in the philippines have overwhelmingly approved self rule eighty five percent of voters back to the formation of a new autonomous region called bangsamoro following decades of fighting donald trump has backed down and agreed to temporarily and the government shutdown without getting the money he wants for a border wall the us president signed a bill little fund the government for the next three weeks. reuters news agency is reporting that the european union has added saudi arabia to a draft list of countries that pose a threat to the block the list includes countries seen as having lax controls against terrorism financing and money laundering saudi arabia is already under international pressure over the murder of journalist tamara sure she other countries already on the list include iran iraq syria yemen and north korea researchers who reported on the israeli software used to spy on murdered journalist jamal khashoggi say they're being targeted by international undercover agent

in a muslim autonomous area in other parts of the mindanao island group which includes humble the referendum was overwhelmingly approved. writes let's cross straight to our southeast asia correspondent dusty and. other any more details that you can give us about this attack. what we do know as you said and you know that there were two bombs that exploded in that church or other one inside of the church as that mass was going on and then the other bit later outside probe presumably in the parking lot of the church just as security forces and rescue workers were rushing to the scene to secure the perimeter and to help to help the victims so we know that there were a couple of soldiers posted outside of the church who may be also among the victims most of the victims are civilians but there are some some troops also among those victims we know that some victims have been airlifted out of the out of the holo to go which is on the main island in the southern philippines on mindanao and yeah that's it is there any indication yet who might be behind these bombings. oh so far no group has claimed re

of comes less than a week after voters there projected its inclusion in a muslim autonomous area in other parts of the mindanao island group the referendum was overwhelmingly approved. our south east asia correspondent boston hartzog joins me now with more boston what else do we know about this attack or we know karl that this wasn't the first time that this particular church was targeted we know as you said that there were two bombs one going off as the mass was going on and then the second one about a minute later near the entrance of the church as the people were fleeing the building and security for forces were coming in to secure the perimeter is now we understand that the majority of the victims are in fact civilians although there are some army personnel among the wounded as well most of the casualties were taken to the local hospital and holo some however were also airlifted out to zamboanga city which is on the neighboring island of mindanao which is the main island in the southern philippines karl. president. is calling this an act of terrorism but what do we know about who might be behind the bombin

muslims and christians. the predominantly catholic philippines has been plagued by decades of separatist conflict in mindanao more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions more displaced in the decades long conflict in mindanao and despite the reconsideration process attacks like this show that armed groups still pose a threat to peace in the region dogon al jazeera manila. now the unrest in the mindanao region began in the by nine hundred sixty s. when the killing of at least twenty three muslims by the army triggered a separatist uprising there since then more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions displaced the more islamic liberation front or m.i.l.f. as a key player in the separatist movement a peace agreement was reached in twenty fourteen after two decades of negotiations with the philippine government and that's led to a new law which paves the way for the creation of the bangsamoro government in return the m.i.l.f. will give up its weapons and demobilize its thirty thousand fighters so ahead on the news hour we'll have the latest on sudan's bread protest

in a majority catholic nation it happened in zamboanga city and comes just days after muslims in a part of mindanao got more control over their affairs in a landmark deal with the government and that attack follows a bombing at a cathedral on the southern philippines learned of holo president rodriguez deterred today has ordered an all what he calls an all out war against those responsible but despite the violence muslim and christian leaders say they remain united from the hollow al-jazeera jamila in dog report. roadside bombings abductions and people displaced from their homes it's all part of daily life it will it is one of the poorest provinces in the philippines and has long been held back by fighting between government forces and the various armed groups briery is says growing up in his home town always meant living in fear but as a christian in the law where the majority of the population is muslim she always kept her faith until now her parents around me and later were killed when two bombs exploded at the cathedral where they had gone to pre a place of worship now with scene of death and d

led to our very loud voice by the majority of solvent filipinos and in particular muslim sort of filipinos in mindanao bearing a few of the provinces that will have to vote in the coming days and are of the opinion that what is being proffered by the manila government is as feasible as it can be right now one of the big changes or what the previous agreements which failed is and you want to watch to resource sharing and wealth sharing and equals of these mechanics will have to be worked out clearly but i think the spirit of it seems to be going in the right direction did you say the spirit of the agreement is going in the right direction yet in the back of everybody's mind that always the this this nagging doubt about whether pieces achievable and is there a way forward. for all of these groups in terms of saying it's through the ballot box is one thing implementing it on the ground is a very different task i mean i've been to mindanao i've seen those differences between the urban areas and the rural areas of the island and there is a huge disparity between those that do have and those that don't. you

referendums been held on a new law and granting greater autonomy to the island of mindanao the vote follows decades of war by muslim rebels against government rule from a no result is expected in a week's time if the vote passes the b o l or bangsamoro organic floor will create a new autonomous region along as the result of a comprehensive agreement to end decades of fighting between muslim separatists and the philippine army the lore identifies the bangsamoro people as native for the original inhabitants of mindanao also paves the way for the creation of the bangsamoro government led by a chief minister the regional parliament general allen dorgan is following developments from in the now where tension is high. when polls opened early this morning there was a sense of calm all across the city we accompanied the leaders of the more islamic liberation front chairman were. both for the first time together with. submitting themselves to the country's democratic process something great that they have never thought possible after decades of fighting the philippine government were closing at around three pm local time th

referendum last week that showed overwhelming voter support for increased autonomy for the muslim-majority region of mindanao. in thailand, hundreds of schools have closed through this week as toxic smog fills the air of the capital bangkok. the smog comes from vehicular exhaust, construction, agricultural and factory pollution. high levels of fine particulate matter in the air have been found to cause premature death and are particularly dangerous for young children. over confidential files from 1000 special counsel robert mueller's investigation were leaked and later uploaded to a filesharing website, according to a new court filing. the filing by mueller's office said the documents were shared with the lawyers of indicted russian hackers and are believed to have been leaked by individuals in russia. taiwanese electronics manufacturer foxconn is reconsidering its plan to build flat screen tv panels at a wisconsin plant in the latest blow to local workers who were told the electronics giant would create 13,000 jobs. former wisconsin governor scott walker, who was defeated in november's midterm elections, of

muslims and christians but. the predominantly catholic philippines has been plagued by decades of separatist conflict in mindanao more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions more in displaced in the decades long conflict in mindanao and despite the reconsideration process attacks like this show that armed groups still pose a threat to peace in the region jim duggan al jazeera manila. roger stone a longtime ally of donald trump has told us media he'll consider cooperating with special counsel robert mueller as russert investigation stone is denying charges of lying to congress obstruction and witness tampering if there is wrongdoing by other people in the campaign that i know about which i know of no one but if there is i would certainly testify honestly i'd also testify honestly about any other matter including any communications with the president it's true that we spoke on the phone but those communications are political in nature there but now i and there is there is certainly no conspiracy with russia diane estabrook joining us from washington so is this is a change from what stone wa

muslims and christians. the predominantly catholic philippines has been plagued by decades of separatist conflict in mindanao more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions more displaced in the decades long conflict in mindanao and despite the reconsideration process attacks like this show that armed groups still pose a threat to peace in the region dogon al jazeera manila. in yemen dozens of mothers have been protesting in the southern port city of aden calling on the government to give them information about their missing sons the women have been demonstrating almost daily rallied outside the home of the interior minister refuting claims that yemen has no secret jails that most of the man are being held in detention captured since the outbreak of the ongoing civil war aden is under the control of the un recognized government led by president months or hardee. the next round of talks between the u.s. and the taliban have been tentatively set for the twenty fifth of february that's according to qatar which is been hosting talks were draft pact was reached earlier this week on potentiall

muslims and christians. the predominantly catholic philippines has been plagued by decades of separatist conflict in mindanao more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions more displaced in the decades long conflict in mindanao and despite the reconciliation process attacks like this show that armed groups still pose a threat to peace in their region in dargon al jazeera manila. hope is turning to anguish in brazil over the increasing likelihood that hundreds of people are missing after a dam clubs will be found alive so far thirty four bodies have been pulled from the muddy disaster zone and foreign fighters are warning that another day may also be on the brink of failing. reports from the town of blue bunting york the heavy rain only makes moretti fraught rescue operation much worse many have been saved being cared for at the center relieved distraught concerned about their missing loved ones. the feelings that you're going to die are the end of everything you don't know which way to run. president visited the disaster area but didn't stay long his ministers are overseeing the rescue

been held on a new law aimed at granting greater autonomy to the island of mindanao the vote follows decades of war by muslim rebels against government rule from manila the result is expected in a week's time if the vote passes the b.-o. l. or bangsamoro organic law will create a new autonomous region the lore is the result of a comprehensive agreement when decades of fighting between muslim separatists and the philippine army the war identifies the bangsamoro people as native or the original inhabitants of mindanao it also paves the way for the creation of the bangsamoro government led by a chief minister and the regional parliament general allen dougherty is following developments from in the now where tensions are high. when polls opened early this morning there was a sense of calm all across about the city we accompanied the leaders of the more islamic liberation front chairman rod chance to vote for the first time together with his supporters submitting themselves to the country's democratic process something great they said that they have never thought possible after decades of fighting the philippine

muslims and christians. the predominantly catholic philippines has been plagued by decades of separatist conflict in mindanao more than one hundred thousand people have been killed and millions more in displaced in the decades long conflict in mindanao and despite the reconsideration process attacks like this show that armed groups still pose a threat to peace in the region dogon al jazeera manila. people have been back out protesting against the government in sudan they marched on the capital against rising prices and demanding an end to the thirty year rule president bashir at a press conference in cairo where he's been holding talks with his egyptian counterpart the shared knowledge the ongoing on west but accuse the media of exaggerating the size of the protests will be daily you do. there is a problem in sudan we cannot claim that we don't have a problem but some media take it out of size and dimension what it is an attempt to close is being called the arab spring in sudan it has the same slogans programmes and requests but it also has the same use of social media however the sudanese people have learne

they are being asked approve a new muslim autonomous region in the volatile area of mindanao.e outcome could give closure to a peace deal signed between the moro islamic liberation front and the philippine government. earlier i spoke to the bbc‘s howard johnson, who is in manila. i asked him to explain the significance of the referendum. this has been going on for decades, this armed conflict between the philippine army and the moro islamic liberation front. it went all the way back to the ‘60s. even colonel gaddafi, the former leader of libya, intervened to try to bring around peace. successive governments here in the philippines failed to do that. thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced, but president rodrigo duterte made it one of his campaign promises, and he brought about the referendum injuly last year. now, what we see today are people coming out to vote for what is ultimately an autonomous region, with greater self—determination, the right to set its own fiscal rules, to govern itself through a parliamentary system, and also a budget to spend on