Transcripts For ALJAZAM News 20240622

Refugees, to keep them crossing into macedonia from greece. American hero, two men, believed to be u. S. Service members disarm a gunman that opened fire on a packed train between amsterdam and paris. Dark and dismal. He tends to be the one sticking his neck out for a political message british street artism banksie creates a theme park of stark and disturbing imagery good evening, im antonio mora, this is Al Jazeera America. We begin on the korean peninsula, where tensions are high over the rhetoric coming from the north. Today north korea said troops are ready for the war in the south, setting a deadline 5 00 p. M. On saturday. Threatening a response. The standoff comes a day after both nations exchanged fire in a dispute over the antagonizing broadcast. The north has issued threats before. Two years ago it announced it entered a state of war with south korea. U. N. Secretarygeneral ban kimoon is calling for restraint from both sides. Harry fawcett reports from south korea, near the dmz in a latenight meeting of the the north korean ruling Party Central community commission. Kim jong un ordered front line areas. And commanders to be ready to launch attacks against the south. Translation the general staff of the cory an peoples army sent an ultimatum, saying the Korean Peoples Army would launch strong reaction unless south korea stops broadcasting towards the north in 48 hours. The loud speaker at the border is the source of that warfare. South korea restarted broadcasts of propaganda two weeks ago. For the first time in 11 years. It was in response for what happened on the Southern Side of the demilitarized zone. Forces planted land mines maiming two soldiers. Landmine explosions and shelling by north korea are illegal and there are grave provocations. We urge north korea to stop its hasty acts. This is the closest civilian area to where south korea says the first north korean projectile was fired on thursday. Hundreds were told to leave the homes near the border. Only here is the advisory in place. North koreas provocation is likely to continue. We are advising residents to stay in shelters, some went out, mostly to carry out their daily business. We will advise them to come back to the shelter this evening. Inside its mainly the elderly and the young who stayed behind. Living in this area, i have seen many drills and herd explosions. In time the sound was louder. There was an announcement asking us to evacuate compared to the past. Seeking refuge is an uncomfortable attitude. They have been firing at propaganda balloons. This time a deadline ticking down to 5 30 sticking down joining us from washington d. C. Keith, good to have you with us. We have seen the games of chicken. Kim jong un, talking about a quazi state of war, seems heated this time. There has been a certain time in office. They respond firmly to any provocation. We have a relatively new leader in terms of kim jong un. Someone who is not yet tested in terms of this type of scenario. As well as national dealings as a whole. So we have a situation where we have a young leader. Who one. Content traits of their leadership. What has been used is elements of surprise, in ways that people anticipate. In terms of the number of north korean elites, that he has purged. That he has removed from their position. Much of that raises a question about his hold on power as well. Could that be an issue here when it comes to his response . I dont know that it is. I simply say that any comment on my part or anyone else in that regard is speculation. It seems to me that the present situation the degree to which he has contributed to it, the degree to which he is of the opinion, south korea has contributed to it, he fined himself in a new change. He knows that this is a litmus test. He knows that a test not only in terms of his domestic consideration. People within north korea, but theres a test for him in terms of International Community. What happens tomorrow if south korea calls his bluff, does it escalate. Well, i apologise for not being a prophet. But i would say its impossible to predicts, one hopes in the past. The two sides deescalate, perhaps with the assistance the United Nations, so that could come about. I would point out in this general, that there is so much at stake, again in terms of the leader in north korea, and how he perceives the worlds attitude towards him. Talking about the world, i do want to bring up a final question. We look at north korea, a crazy place stuck in a different time. The reality is when tensions escalate with the south, people die. Soldiers remain, millions live under the rule of an irrational oppressive regime. The big allies, the north and the south called for a restraint. Do you think the americans and chinese are active trying to deescalate this. Its my personal opinion that theres no doubt that there is response to the government, leaders working overtime. Having said that. I would imagine that as far as kim jong un is concerned. This will be his own decision. Hell want to make that on his own. As you pointed out. This involves not only south korea, china is impacted. Keith, its a pleasure to have you with us, and get your insights. Thank you president obama sent a letter to congress promising continued economic pressure on iran even if the nuclear deal is approved. The president wrote after getting the letter, new york congressman nadler said he would support the deal. The decision was gut wrenching, putting him at odds with his constituents. Two american passengers, and one member of the military sprang into action. The gunman was powered and the high speed train stopped in the french city. French authorities says three people were wounded by the attacker who was armed with an automatic weapon, and a knife. Since we were speaking of that, the greatest caution should be exercised. We have to respect the rules obtaining to judiciary inquiries, which is why im asking everyone to be cautious with the identity and profile of those arrested and in custody. An american was injured in the struggle. The injuries are not life threatening. Thailand authorities tripled the award for the bangkok bombing suspect. Its at 85,000. Progress is being made in the investigation. 20 people were killed in the blast at the shrine. 14 were foreigners, including seven in Mainland China and hong kong. Stock prices around the world plummeted for a second straight day. The stock market closed down 530 points. Traders blamed fear over chinas economy. And a steep drop in prices. Ali velshi explains what this all means. Todays losses were bad. Lets put it in perspective. Ill give you the bad news first, and some perspective. The dow and the s p posted a big one day percentage drop since november 2011. Percentage drops are more important to look at. The dow fell 531 points. Its alarming, theres a board that shows you the point. The decline was 3. 1 for the day. The s p 500, a better reflection of what people invest in, its a 500 stocks, more diversified than the dow. The s p lost more, its down 5. 8 for the week. The nasdaq, which has been moving more this week than the other indicis lost 3. 5 . 6. 8 for the week. The dow is 10 down from its alltime high of may 19th, of this we are. Its a decline of 10 , its the definition of a correction in a market. By the way, markets need corrections. This one hasnt had one for a long time. Some say this is not terrible. A bear market is when a market drops 20 , having people worrying. The dow lost 1,000 points this week. Thats 5. 8 . Same as the s e 500, because china devalued its currencies, sending signals to the world that the economy in china is slowing down more than expected. Likes to control economy. And this is a sign that china has not been able to. Devaluing the currency, china exports more, gets the factories moving. The Federal Reserve has been looking at all the stuff going on in the world, and decided it doesnt have a clear signal about when it will raise from rates. We were specting this to happen by now or the end of the year. Now we are not sure. Its not a terrible thing. Investors dont like uncertainty. Oil prices continue a plunge. Dropping 40 barrels. All of these things are signalling a slowing global any, and that has investors worried. Ali velshi on target airs 10 30 eastern every night chinese officials are taking an unusual approach to calm fears over the warehouse explosion. Small animals, rabbits and chickens, have been put inside the blast site to show that its safe, despite height levels of cyanide. This comes as thousands of dead fish were washed up near the scene. Explosion. The discovery is raising concerns as a military cleanup failed to help chemicals leaking out. U. S. Says an air strike killed i. S. I. L. s second in command. The role played in the armed group, and why some are skeptical. It was a scene from judgment day. Dozens of people, men, women, children, running and falling on the ground, suffocating. Also a survivor shares his story two years after a nerve gas attack killed hundreds in syria. Syria. Now to the fight against i. S. I. L. , the white house says the second in command was killed this week in a u. S. Air strike. This is not the first time we have heard that news. He has been reported dead four times before. We have this report. Reporter he was i. S. I. L. s man in iraq, overseeing all, military, finance among them. His position means his death will be welcome news in the white house, which released this statement confirming a u. S. Military strike he was an al qaeda operative. And when they came into iraq, and then, of course, he joined i. S. I. L. , as did a lot of the al qaeda gripe, and remember that al qaeda and i. S. I. L. Al qaeda told i. S. I. L. Not to be horrendous in the things they were doing, and broke off. He was reportedly killed near mosul, as he travelled in a vehicle with another operative who also died. This is not the first time the u. S. Claimed to have killed him. He was reported dead in a strike in late 2014. People said we have heard a lot before. It said where and how it occurred, showing it had intelligence and a sign of strategy, that it is beginning to work. A former officer that served time said he played an instrumental role in the capture of mosul. That was a big victory, highlighting the army and ability to defend the city. I. S. I. L. Began to consolidate power across Northern Iraq and setting sights on baghdad. His death will not necessarily halt i. S. I. L. s advance or dim in jish its authority. Dim in jish its authority the syrian observatory for human rights is confirming i. S. I. L. Has demolished a Christian Monastery in central syria. Photos uploaded to a site shows militants using bulldozers to lock it down. I. S. I. L. Travelled several christian hostages to raqqa, the groups stronghold. Officials say preliminary tests confirm chemicals were used in an i. S. I. L. Attack against Kurdish Forces on august 11th. Traces of the weapon were found on mortar fragments provided for testing. Further tests show which chemicals are used. Its believed to be attacked the Syrian Government is widely blamed for rocket attacks on ghouta. 14,029 were killed, 426 children. Today many survivors are still waiting for justice. Zeina khodr reports from beirut, and a warning here some of the imagesar disturbing. Reporter the dead and the dying. No blood on their bodies. The attack was different to what was seen before. Rockets carrying chemicals landed in damascus, in august 21, 2013. It was seconds before if lost my ability. I wasnt able to breathe or even to scream to alert my friends, so i have to pound my chest hard just to try to take a single breath. I felt like somebody was pounding on my chest with a knife. Reporter he survived, hundreds did not. Two years later he has a new life in the United States, but remember that day clearly. Dozens of people, men, women, children, running and falling on the ground, suffocating. The terror, the confusion. It was unbearable. I didnt know what to do. This man did. He was a photographer working in syria, and wanted to document the evidence of a crime he believed the world should see. I arrived the doctor about what i need to know. He show me. He show me the dark. The dark blue, the colour that has been changed. The eyes and what is coming out from their mouths. He says that he cannot forget what he saw that day. Im am war photographer. To see a dead body, its normal. When you see them. You think that they are sleeping. Then you realise after like one and two seconds, you reality becomes facing what is really going on. Reality faced him before. He was an activist where he filmed the suffering of people who continued to live under siege. Since the attack he tried to raise awareness. But he says its all in vain. Honestly, i feel like i did nothing. I feel like after all this talking, all the people that i met, not just me, thousands of syrians here, we felt like there is no hope. The u. N. Concluded that sarin gas was used, but didnt have the mandate to blame anyone. Theres a new resolution to investigate attacks in syria. Attacks before april 2014 will not be included. Yet again denying justice to the people joining us is the survivor of the 2013 gas attack outside damascus, and joins us from washington d. C. It is hard to imagine how difficult it must be for you to relive that horror. We just heard you talk about how you felt, that you were facing judged day. What did you think was happening . I repeated the story hundreds of times. Every time i tell it, its hard for me to describe the scene. Again, the closest thing i can use was a scene from judgment day. Its something you can never erase from your memory no matter how hard you try. I can say i relive the day like every single hour, while im awake. Sometimes i wake up from my sleep having nightmares about that day. Especially about the little kid that i was trying to save. This is something that words will fail anybody r while its trying to describe. In fact, the suffering of people who were oiftened has been said to be indescribable. It paralyses the respiratory system. I heard experts say death is a blessing. Hundreds died. Did you aspect a stronger reaction from the World Community . First, ill say that i was one of the people exposed to shelling. I saw shelling, bombardment. The siege, little girls shredded to pieces. There was nothing as terrifying as experiencing sarin gas. I remember watching obamas speech about the red line, i remember how we used to comfort the family of victims, and sell them that they are the war will do something, their both was not for nothing. Then i remember the deal between russia and the United States, how people were crying out of desperation. I remember how we gelt this was a green light from the International Community for Bashar Alassad to use as much firepower as he desires, without using chemical weapons. Wasnt it enough. The deal was Bashar Alassad grade to get rid of chemical weapons, but we have seen other attacksful different types. You testified before the United Nations security council. Do you have expectation that the u. N. Will take stronger action, what do you see as the solution in syria. Nikoloz basilashvili committed committed horrors. But they seem to comit horse of their own. They possess chemical weapons, including the gas. Coring to a report from o. P. C. W. And other agencies. They are still using chlorine gas to attack civilian populations, and they havent stopped until now. Three days there was attack. The inaction from the International Community is feeding extremism. People that are strait they want to seek revenge as long as theres no justice, theyll sikh revenge. The only way to have a solution is through international justice. Its a simply maths, no justice, no pace. People who lost their families. Their women raped. Shelling or suffocating or starving to death. They wont forget what happened to them. They are ready to put their hands with the devil if necessary to get the revenge. Anything will be better. When i hear the brays its the better alternative. Turn syria, 1,000 years, back to the stone ages. It destroyed syria, killing 400,000. Destroying 70 of syria. If you get anyone from anywhere, and again, as long as people inside of syria recognise, theyll never have peace in al jazeera. Revenge is the only alternative even if it comes at the hands of israelis. Thank you for joining us on what i believe is a difficult day. President obama warned the Bashar Alassad regime, that using chemical weapons was a red line leading to u. S. Air strikes. Coming up, the failure to make good on the threat and how it damaged the president s credibility. And will refugees rushing to across the boarder come face to face with riot police. The fallout from a flood of people searching for a better life welcome back to Al Jazeera America im antonio mora. Three years ago president obama drew what he called the socalled red line against syria, promising military strikes should the country use chemical weapons against people. The strikes meefr game and is accused of using deadly chemicals. White house correspondent takes a look at the effect the redline comments have taken on the president s credibility. Reporter the images of suffering scene across the world and inside the white house. The u. S. President warned Bashar Alassad that this could not happen. A red line for us, we start seeing a bunch. Of chemical weapons moving around. That would change my equation. A leer later of the scirian forces Syrian Forces did this. At the last minute decided he wanted to get the approval of the u. S. Congress, it didnt didnt look like hed get the vote, and then an off the cuff remark changed the course of history. He could turn over every bit of weapons to the International Community, turn it over, all of it. Without delay, and allow a full and total accounting for that. But he is not about to do it. It cant be done, obviously. With russian backing it was done. The president s own defense secretary said president obama lost credibility. We have an obligation. The president has an obligation to take action, because its not just syria. If the rest of the world is watching, whether or not the United States will stand by. The president has disputed that. The fact that we didnt have to fire a missile to get that accomplished is not a failure to uphold international norms, its a success. The syrian minister at the time, who quit in protest over the strategy believed if the u. S. Launched strikes, the president would have come to the table and he sees consequences on the ground. The impact, if you look at what is happening on the ground in syria, after that, october, november, des2013, beginning 2014, the Islamic State group in strength and the al nusra front grew in strength. Its not an accident. Part of it was the west, led by the United States lost credibility. Two years later there was bombing in syria and iraq. Opposition fighters are trained to take on the Islamic State of iraq and levant. And again claims are investigated that Syrian Government is using gas. This time the president is not drawing red lines richard, ambassador to syria good to have you here. As we saw, people warned if the United States did not enforce the red line, and syria used chemical weapons, consequences would be terrible. Now that we have seen 2,000 dead, millions taking place, the rise of i. S. I. L. , were the consequences worse than foreseen . The human cost has gone up steadily, dramatically over the last two years. At the statement in these two years, the accusation that if we didnt act or take the lead everything would fall apart has not been proven. What has been established is that, yes, leadership is needed. But the main players in the region, the saudis, iranians, the turks, have not agreed on how to handle the syrian problem. And our influence over them is limited. In the meantime syria is a greater catastrophe, and it extends to iraq, because yil gained strength and moved south. It opens the possibility that didnt exist two years ago of mobilizing a united front, which but the divisions remain. We are ready and committed force through the air force, against targets in syria, but not against targets associated with the Bashar Alassad regime. Marcantoine turcotte is impatient with that. Its only the iranians. Who would be upset. In two years what happened is that they shifted positions. Neither showing an interest in the Bashar Alassad leadership in syria. They have been asking what is the alternative. Each said, barntly to the interlock tours, we dont see it. That is the question. I just arrived it of the man that survived the chemical weapons, sarin attack on damascus, and clearly he has anger at the Bashar Alassad regime, such that he says Bashar Alassad has to go, no matter what. I asked that question. Ill ask it of you. Given i. S. I. L. , and nusra as the main players. Yes and the opponents of the regime range treltsly in their politics. They have not been able to pull together. We dont want to do something advancing the interests of i. S. I. L. Or al qaeda. Its like yellow trying to get a hold on. And take the new leaders. The big issue is the moderates cant seem to gel and get strength, despite the u. S. , and so far its been a failure, what do you think will happen with the iranians, if the deal goes through. The assets that wont be frozen, and selling oil on the open market. Will they find more support towards Bashar Alassad. Not necessarily, but its too early to speculate. The fact that the Prime Minister travelled to moscow and made a tour in the arabian peninsula, has not happened in a long time. Suggests that tectonic plates are shifting. Its in our interests to encourage the local potential leaders to come forward. We tried it three years ago, and it didnt get anywhere, didnt get the support. It wasnt wrong, but it was wildly. The hope is that somehow people will sit at the table and figure something out. Good to have you and your insights. Thank you the massive number of people flooding into europe could cause germany to suspend an agreement allowing passport free travel. Germanys interior Ministry Says the agreement could be in danger and the u. K. Needs to accept refugees and migrants. It was implemented in 1995, among belgium, france, germany, netherlands, portugal and spain. More countries joined, and theres 26 participating countries, including four that are not in the european union. Refugees heading to europe and greece faced a blockade that they were not expecting. Macedonian police fired stun grenades, rushing the border, trying to make their ways to other countries, we explain why macedonia is trying to stop them . They spent a cold night in no mans land, waiting to across the boarder between greece and macedonia. The passage was blocked by riot police. Rocks from thrown, and then this. Smoke filling the air with police using stun grenades to try to keep people out. In the ensuing chaos, there was panic. Most refugees here have escaped conflict, and few would have expected this. They shoot us today. Later more frustration and fear as numbers built up at the border. It was open for a short time, and closed again. Leaving them straight to be allowed through. The heat was too much for some. Tens of thousands crossed the borders heading north in the past month. Authorities that declared a state of emergency in two border regions. The local train station is a transit point for many. Most want to reach serbia, hungary and other parts of europe. The border is closely guarded, main will have to stay and eat where they can on the greek side. There are hundreds of vulnerable persons, children, babies, others with extreme vulnerabilities. Most of them, if not all of them, stay rough in the open air. We do appeal to the group of loyalties to take all measures to meet the humanitarian needs. Macedonia says it will allow them to enter in numbers it can cope and care for. By bolstering borders, the country may create a backlock, a backlog of desperate men, women and children, unsure where they can go next. Knowing they cant go home. A day after greeces Prime Minister assigned 25 members of his syriza party are breaking away. Calling itself popular unity. Pushing an antiausterity message, much the same as the one bringing Alexis Tsipras to power. The split is expected to help the party move to the center, allowing him to implement a bailout plan should he win reelection. The neighbour appears to be headed to snap elections. The president announced hed call for early parliamentary elections. This week, a 2month effort to form a government failed. The new vote takes place on november 1st. Recep Tayyip Erdogans akp party suffered a set back in the uniis elections, losing a majority for the first time in 12 years. Cubas racial divide. Cutting out fears that Economic Reforms creating two economies could widen the gap between black and white. And peru reinstates a drug policy allowing the military to shoot down planes Perus Congress voted to reinstate military authority to shoot down planes suspected in Drug Trafficking operations. The programme was suspended in 2001 after a plane carrying missionaries was shut down. Peru struggled to close the link. The u. S. State department estimates that 400,000 pounds of cocaine was flown out of peru in 2014. Columbias f. A. R. C. Rebels agreed to defend a ceasefire with the government. The decision came as peace talks resumed in havana. The rebels have been fighting the government since the 1960s. They have reached common ground, ending the illegal drug trade. They are working out how rebels will demobilize, and the issues of reparations of victims of the war. The United States, far from the only country instructing to deal with racial issues. A goal of the cuban revolution was to establish equality. Melissa chan visitors a neighbourhood to show us how that dream is far from this neighbourhood. Reporter this person lived on the waters here his life. He tells us before the revolution, this area, known as little swamp, was a docking point for those belonging to dictators and his government. Those were the days of the haves and have notes. The revolution was supposed to change that. It didnt quite succeed here. Translation the revolution came, we have nothing. Reporter this is the savannah most dont see. People tell us for years the government for years promised to improve the neighbourhood. Help never came. And one thing noticed was how predominantly afrocuban it is. Just because we live in a marginalized area, doesnt mean we are criminals. We are normal folks, but perhaps forgotten by the government. One of the things the cuban revolution sought to do is establish equality. This is evidence that this has been a difficult task. With cubas Economic Reforms, there will be more getting rich, and others poor. Its a socialist society, and all are equal. Some appear more equal than others. The economy is split into two parts, one for private enterprise, such as the restaurant business, and the other economy is dependent on the state. White cubans, with a miami connection, people that receive remittances have become the main beneficiaries of a new economy. Our society is multicoloured and multiracial. At the university of havana, a leading authority on race. Reporter in the United States racism it obvious. Its out there, white and black. Here its not. Here its not white and black, its hidden, do you know what i mean. Its in attitudes, prejudice, its hidden. Thats the truth. Thats how it is. In cuba, one of the places where afrocubans see beater representation is in music performance. This is the foundation of cuban culture and music. The african component is the foundation. But they believe that not only is there equality, afro cuban culture remains. Youll have to look for white cubans, here if you dont hail from the congo, you hail from the caribbean. Indeed, some, working out of a garage, dont see a problem. Im a good mechanic. If someone needs a mechanic, im a mechanic. Theres not a white mechanic. As cuba sees the biggest changes since the 1960s. The benefits of equalization will leave those without connections behind. They dont see how his job as a fisherman could benefit in this brave new world, a supposedly Classless Society already producing winners and losers. Only the state can judge who should have more or less, there are social differences. Its heady days for cuba. Away from the hustle our neighbourhoods disconnected from the dream. Skimle surface, and youll find discontent and unease about the future, and whether change and help will finally come. Sunday night at 9 00 eastern for the special cuba, a new era, and therell be more indepth stories in relation to the people and politician of cuba british artist bangui opens a massive exhibit. A theme park deemed unsuitable for children. Now our global view segment. A look at how news outlets around the world are reacting to certain events. The copenhagen post calls for more economies in Northern Europe should take in refugees from the middle east. Danish politicians are out of touch, failing to do more. The korean times of seoul calls on its northern neighbour to stand down, saying threats of war make the young leader look like a child playing with matches, and says its in his best interests not to resort to north Koreas Nuclear arsenal, because it would mean his complete and irrevocable annihilation. The cape times of south africa offers an opinion peace saudis playing a game with oil prices holding it down to make fracking more expensive, driving u. S. Oil drillers out of business. It may backfire, because the saudis overestimated the impact low oil prices have on fracking and the u. S. Could come out on top in the end. A theme park opened today in britain, but you may not want to take the family there. Its called dismal land, and has been described as dark, provocative and challenging. The park is a creation of british artist banksy. We paid a visit. The castle is vaguely familiar. Attractions reminiscent of the british seaside. The artists, creators of dismal land say its a family theme bark unsuitable for children. Closer examination reveals it to show a catastrophic emergency. In another, a grim reaper rides a dodge em car. Outside. Toy boats, models of migrant ships. Banksys overall theme is that theme parks have bigger themes. When it comes to artists. Theyve had a lot of art efforts who are political. Who a lot of people dont know about. To bring them in to the conversation. Banksy is a head line artist. The conversion was completed in kress si. Reactions have been positive. Its been around. Surreal. That is the opening word for it just going downhill a bit. Just what the town needs. Banksy made his name as a street art stencil breakings, groundbreaking artwork in the occupied palestinian area and in new york propelled him to worldwide fame. Dismal lands. Migrant boats, radio controlled toys. More than a financial shot in the arm for a run down seaside report, an unsettling commentary on values, commercialism and celebrity, an interactive exhibition requiring the engagement of the mind and hand. It runs until september 27th pictures at the world tango championship in buenos aires. 4600 documents are competing. The eldest from argentina. She and her partner perfected the regime on subline platforms thank you for watching, america tonight is next. See you in an hour. An america tonight. A look at the world of weed. What the dutch warned could be a problem in the states. Thats a side effect. Thats not what people want loosening up the laws in Al Jazeera America. Could it be a chance to cash in on a green rush. When you l