Transcripts For ALJAZAM News 20150117

Breaking news in europe antiterror campaign greek officials have arrested four men at the request of interpol. At least one is believed to be connected to terror cells in belgium a day after authorities in belgium conducted raids that resulted in arizona of at least a dozen in that country. I spoke to our reporter in athens. Reporter we know there have been four arrests middle eastern men following arrest warrants issued by interpol yesterday. Those arrests took place today. One of those men is thought to be the mastermind of operations based out of belgium. This is to be confirmed. One Senior Police force told me he was 80 sure that this is the man belgium authorities are looking for. The main link to this man here in athens from the arrests made in belgium on thursday ri apparently telephone conversations that we want on between the two countries, and that is the result of eavesdropping operations carried out by bell jumz and the cia. Is there a reason to expect there will be more arizona as this Investigation Continues . Reporter its entirely possible because this mastermind, alleged mastermind the chief suspect, has been arrested with a cell phone in his possession which means that further links will now be drawn between the calls in coming and out going and people possibly here in greece and elsewhere. Please are saying this is certainly a possibility at the moment although they havent elaborated on where the investigation has carried them so far. This is an investigation that started greek soil only this afternoon. Reporting from athens greece. Bellium military and police are fanning out to guard potential targets. It marks the first time in 30 years troops were used to reinforce police in belgian city. More from brussels. Belgian is on a heightened state of aletter calling in the army. Around 300 troops will be gradually dmroifd in the coming days. We are already seeing them here on the streets of brussels. They are also expected to be on the streets in the north of the country that has a very large Jewish Population and in the Eastern Industrial town of vervier where authorities staged r where authorities staged a major jonah hull has the latest from paris . In fronts the popularity of Charlie Hebdos First Edition since the paris attacks appears to no to no no bounds. Sold out again at most kiosks despite an increased print run of 7 million copies. In ordinary times, this paper sells just 60,000 copies a week. At the same time, in some of frances former african colonies, anticharlie protests continued for a second day. This was niger angered by Charlie Hebdos front cartoon depiction of the Prophet Muhammad muhammad. Francois hol ande was in the south of france with a message of unity. We are one country, one people, one france, a france where there is no distinction between religions beliefs and sympathies, a france that defiechtly wants to en trench a socalled religious war within us. Reporter security remains tight in the french capital and around the country. Some 120,000 police and soldiers are on patrol protecting sensitive site did. The Investigation Continues with france at its highest state of security alert, Police Continue to question a number of people arrested in what were described as antiterror raids on friday. They believe that the gunman involved in the paris attacks may have been part of a wider network. A week after the unity martha brought more than a Million People and. 40 World Leaders on to the streets of paris, an image of that historic day was hung on the facade of the verbog museum on top of the statute known as triumph of the republic a man brand issues a giant pencil high above the crowds. John jonah hull. Protesters filled the streets to denounce at a time satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Reporter we lost our prophet. Those were the chants by muss let me see who protested against at a Time Magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing a depiction on the cover of its latest issue. It denounced the cartoon as an insult. In pakistans cities protests broke out and continued on saturday. Lawyers across the country boycotted the courts causing the postponement of 15,000 trials. It should be on an International Level on which these people cannot hurt the feelings of muslims. We dont medal in other peoples religious in the same way they should not have the right to say anything about our religion. Similar protests took place in yemens capital. This is a message from the yemeni people enough insults against our Prophet Muhammad if you dont stop mocking our prophet, you will regret it in the future. He done strieingsz express anger at Charlie Hebdo. But the angriest crowds were to be found in frances own former colonies in west africa. In niger participants burned french flags in niger and in the capital, one of frances closest allies in the region. In neighboring moratania, the president showed up to participate in the protests. Last week he refused to join World Leaders in narrows solidarity with france after the killing of the Charlie Hebdo journalists. But perhaps more telling is the wave of protests that took place across syria a country thats been crushed by almost four years of war. The syrians seem to suddenly forget their own miss re seeing in the paris cartoons something much more imports in their lives the message that some muslims seem to be send something that there is no chance they will stand by idly while their most sacred icons are being degraded by western media. Mohammed faht. It may put a dafrner or tourism. Some popular straksz whynub quiet. Troops were on patrol around the eiffel tower. The israeli Prime Minister still denouncing al look into whether his country committed war crimes. The icc began the process to determine if a formal investigation shall begin. More than 2,000 people died in the gaza conflict at the end of last summer. Almost 500 of them children. Prime Prime Minister been min netanyahu said the court had no standing to conduct an investigation because palestine is not a recognized state. He said israel was just defending itself against attacks by hamas. We see here something truly tragic the lofty goals of the icc are being turned upsidedown. The court was found today prevent a repeat of historys worst crimes foremost among them the genocide of 6 million jews. Now, the palestinians are cynically manipulating the icc to deny the jewish state the right to defend itself against the very war kriepz and the very terror the court was established to present. The Palestinian Government prompted the examination when it submitted its application for membership at the icc last month. It is awaiting approval. More now from jerusalem. Reporter he kept saying that its absolutely scandalous and absurd that israel would be dragged to the icc and be probed when israelis with stood hundreds even thousands of rockets being fired by hamas in gaza at the israeli civilians and neighborhoods and he said hamas using palestinians and civilians there as human shields so its absurd that israel which he described as a democratic country and one that is a lighteader in fighting terrorism would be dragged to the icc he said they are cynically manipulating the icc, taking advantage of it and to deny the jewish state its right to defend itself. He stopped short of saying that israel would take any action. We only heard criticism from him. We didnt hear any threats. We didnt hear anything about whether israel would cooperate with the icc. However, since friday since the announcement of this probe, we learned from netanyahu that he considers this decision basically what he says it is is a decision that stems from antiitsis considerations. In the past recently as well we have heard him say israel will do everything to protect and did he haveefend its soldiers and army and will not allow them to be dragged to the icc. I think the israeli did expected the support from the u. S. With the u. S. Condemning this decision to launch this probe as a tragic irony. We do expect him to make more statements like the ones we heard today in order to garner more International Support and, also to try to discredited the icc probe. Reporting there. The African Union is pledging military support to nigeria to combat attacks by boka haram fighters. They are adding support to those mobilized to take out growing threats. There has been an increase in Violent Attacks by boka haram in the northeast and neighboring cameroon cameroon. Up to 2,000 nigh jeers were killed. The Nigerian Government is dispute that death toll. Befores legacy is the subject of tonights deeper look at 8 eastern, 5 00 p. M. Pacific. Another grew of soldiers being sentence to train forces battling isil based in turkey saudi arabia and qatar. The pentagon said they were sending 400 people in the spring. They are saying that number hasnt been finalized and it could be sending more than a thousand. A Monitoring Group estimates more than 1,600 people have died in syria since isil began its assault last spent september. Another eight people died today when a bomb went off in a marketplace outside of baghdad. Despite the threat people are still living in these cities. Mohammed abdul reports they are trying to go on with their daily lives. This report from erbil. On the move against isil kurdish pesh perfect troops on one of their front lines against the armed group. These men are angered and almost daily battles to keep isil away from erbil. So far, their lines have held. A shoprt drive away is erbil. People calmly go about their business almost obvious giveous to the fighting outside their city. Coalition forces the peshmerga have been rearmored and they are fighting very professionally, and have the capability to attack. With more than 6,000 years of history, erbil is one of the oldest cities in the world. Realics from the past are next to the citys modern sky scrapers. Thanks to the regions oil resources, erbil is experience a construction boon. Today, the city wid worldclass hotels and stateoftheart buildings. Numerous malls are full of Designer Stores and cafes where the rich drink expensive coffee and smoke water pipes. Thinks have not been always like this. Our parents and grandparents faced hardship living under conflict. We are lucky and hopefully erbil will remain safe from isil. Eager to show off the new found wealth this is one of many car show roosevelt that they come to buy luxury vehicles range from bmw and rangerover to ferrarri and lamborgini a far cry from its past. Malamach. I owns the showroom. It says the conflict has not affected the luxury car business . For now its good one month because the cars are expensive and they are luxury cars. Kurdish authorities believe the close relationship they have with western powers local only help their long battle for independence. For now, they continue to build what they hope will one day be the capital of their own country. Mohammed adow al jazeera, erbil in northern iraq. Those who have fled the violence face another kind of danger. In the cold of winter, there arent enough supplies to keep them warm and keep them if he had had. There are more refugees than there are lebanese. Reporter abdul is nine years old and does what he can to help. His small feet crunch through the ice. He tells us that every night, the tent is covered in snow. Some people complain they dont have enough heat. Others say the problem is food no. One seems to have enough clothes. At the edge of the camp abu slaymans slaymanstent is cold and damp. He shares one room with nine people, including his mother. I live at the highest point in the camp. When the storm hit, the wind and the snow blew through the door. Everything got wet. Look at the ground. All of it was frozen. My sick mother and the kids. We can handle it, but they cant handle the cold. All we are asking for is help from anyone. Reporter there are around 70,000 Syrian Refugees here the local population is only 40,000. What makes life even more difficult for Syrian Refugees here is that they are not allowed to leave this town. The army has closed it off. It believes there is a Security Threat from syrian fighters who are only 10 kilometers away on the other side of those hills. These fighters are also holding 25 army and police hostages. They captured five months ago. Bur Syrian Refugees say they are the ones paying for it. Honestly last five months, its been like a big prison staying at the camp did, living in constants fear. You are worried the army will come and detain the men. Its for 20 to 30 people. There is no opportunity to work in the rest of lebanon. Their children are getting sick. The only medical collinig is full of parents worried about how to keep them warm. Three children have died from the cold. The sicknesses we have witnessed from this weather, especially with children are flu, bronchitis pneumonia, sore throats along with dehydration, diarrhea and several cases of hepatitis, due to unsanitary living conditions. When the sun comes out and the snow starts to mement, its a chance to lean up and a chance to warm up before night comes in one of the coldest valleys in lebanon, Nicole Johnston al jazeera, arsal. United nations said its growing worried about the Palestinian Refugee camp in syria. Aid distribution has been halted for six weeks because of ongoing fighting. This camp just south of the capitol at damask United States has been cut off from the outside world for more than a year now. Al jazeera got rare access inside the car and erica wood filed this report. Reporter there is no way for them to get in or out. The Palestinian Refugees who once sought shelterser here because of troubles back home are now once again desperate to esc escape. For more than a year there has been little to no electricity. Because of fine prices generators are an expensive luxury they mostly cannot afford. The generator operates but not regularly. My elecyou trick generator operates only every other day, depending upon the circumstances. Every time efforts are made to reinstate power, its cut off again. The Citizen Department has diverted human efforts to offer supplies but the regime has cut the lines. Locals rely on rechargeable batteries but its not a dependable source and its expensive. We need a dollar and 0. 30 every single day to recharge the battery and every single day we need 1 for the laptop and the mobile home but we dont have jobs. The situation very bad. The u. N. Says there are around 18,000 Palestinian Refugees living in the yarmouk camp in an area over two square kilometers. It says 400 food parcels are required each day to meet the minimum requirements of those inside but for months it hasnt been able to meet those needs. The u. N. Has consistently called on all parties to stop hostilities and give it access to the camp. So far, those calls have been ignored. In january last year these pictures showed the level of starvation and malnutrition in yarmouk. Since then little has improved and much needed food and medical supplies still cant be delivered. In december, the u. N. Appealed for 415 million in aid to help Palestinian Refugees caught up in the syrian crisis. They are just some of the millions who have suffered from a war that is now almost four years old. Erika woods, al jazeera. Coming up next in washington, a rally to show support for Police Officers around the country. Many protests have taken aim at polices conduct. Today supporters of the police took to the streets. Officers coordinated the sea of blue. It included officers and their families from across the emphasis. The officers killed in the line of duty. Officers say longer hours and mars against Law Enforcement have dropped police moral. The it alalian coast guard rescued more trying tocross the med trainian sea. They found a second vessel in the water around the it a lotian island of lampadusa. The first had 200 people on board. Rescue workers deployed doctors on board to get the passengers to safety. On the second boat, two needed to be air lifted. Both were over crowd and in distress. Anyone who arrives by boat seeking asylum in australia is taken to Holding Centers while authorities assess their applications. Now, after two days of denying it, the Australian Government is confirming they are protesting at one of these facilities in new guinea. Officials still insist there is no rioting. Andrew thomas has more from sydney. In sydney samar is on the phone to her brother. Its stressful. Her brother is in hospital. He has swallowed razor blades. She is worried he might die. He is not normal. He is not normal. He is not my brother. In december 2013, fazail an eye Asylum Seeker was trying to join his sister and daughter both had flown to sydney in 2008, been given refugee visas and have since become australian citizens but he wasnt so lucky. To deter others from coming Asylum Seekers taking boats are sent to new guinea or to naru. They are kept in camps while their Refugee Status is assessed. Earlier this week protests began and water shortages triggered them. Detainees are taking showers with rainwater. The broad issue is open ended detention and the best Case Scenario is a community that doesnt want them. Other protests led to new begin ians beating detainees. One was killed. On the mannis island some have gone on Hunger Strike and stitched up their lips and fazal swallowed razor blades . He is not like other people. Trust me. He is very kind. He is a very good man. Nos that man. Australias government has described the situation on manis island as volatile but says it wont change its policy. The absolute resolve of me as the new minister and the government is to make sure that for those transferees, they will never arrive in australia. This is the human result of cruelty. Individuals taking their own lives. Riot police seen outside were plea cautionary but tensions are high. Andrew thomas al jazeera, sydney. Coming up next we will focus on two little known conflicts in africa. First, an al jazeera exclusive from the democratic republic of congo, the rawandan rebels who have been creating havon for 20 years. The lords reassistance army now facing more crimes charges. Four men were arrested. At least one is believed to be connected to tear cells in belgum. Issip Prime Minister benjamin net is denouncing an icc examination into possible war crimes committed in last summers gaza war. The International Criminal court began the process. It is the first step in deciding whether the court should formally investigate and press charges. The African Union is pledging military support to nigeria to combat attacks by Buzzard Hollow ranch fighters. There has been an increase of attacks in the northeast and nigerian kamaroon. Last weeks deadly stacked killed up to 2000 people. The con gol congolese offensive is about to be launched to defeat the fd will r. They have been hiding for 20 years. This exclusive report malcolm web we want to meet them. Reporter we have to drive for two days to meet with them. Most have the more contact with armed groups than with their government. The fighters from neighboring rawanda have been hiding in this area since 1994. Some of the hutu members are accused of genocide and mass rapes and killing civilians here in congo. We reach a hilltop village. The groups spokesman shows us around. He says they have laid down arms and dont want to fight. He says they want a dialogue with the rawandan government. They tell us we are criminals. Let them point out the criminals among us and we would sideline them. What about the rwandan armys massacre of our people . The solution to the rwandan problem is truth and reconciliation. There were no fighters or guns on show here instead, we are taken to a meeting with their piefz and children. The fdlr says they will be among the victims of any attack. The rebels were given a 2nd of january deadline to surrender. Few have done so although they insist the process is underway. The United Nations say many of the fighters are hidden in the bush preparing for battle. It says the groups using the families as a human shield. Government troops told us there were fdlr fighters hiddep in the tops of these hills. Mean while, the Government Troops themselves are here in the valley waiting for the orders to go ahead. The terrain is tough. The slopes are steep and covered in bush. So even with the support of the u. N. s artillery and hedge gunships, its going to be difficult for the government to completely defeat the fdlr. Meanwhile across the border in rwanda the ethnic tutsi dominated government says dialogue is out of the question. We sfoebling the foreign minister. The fdlr is a bunch of thugs who committed genocide who have kept civilians, their families hostage. So thats that should be very clear that nobody should even think that there is any kind of political claim that this group can have. Back in congo government soldiers deployed with fresh supplies. Everyone is waiting to see if and when the can bring it could be bi its very unlikely. There have been offensive like that. There have been military actions against the fdlr in the past. There has never actually been a turning point for the military operations. There has been a turning point for the thooumhugh mantarian consequences but in terms of military its really unlikely to be anything very different from what we have seen before. Okay. If a military action is not necessarily the answer and then treating the fdlr is some sort of Government Entity isnt necessarily the answer what is the answer . I wish i wish i knew. I wish anybody knew. What we know is military action is the answer for a very smart part of the fdlr, the leadership. The people who have been involved in the 1994 rwandan genocide and who have absolutely no interest in laying down their arms. So for those people there is not much reason to negotiate again and again and again, but there is not much else we can do. For all of the other people the refugees, the women and children who are part of the fdlr these people need a political, social and Economic Solutions to the problem. On could that mean basically more innocents are going to be killed with this new, this new fighting . Basically whats going to happen. Is possible. Not only people who are the family of the fdlr or the people who are living with them or who are who have been kidnapped or who have held against their will but, also congo lees populations in the surrounding villages all of the people who will be the target of potential retaliation by the fdlr has happened in the past. Last time you remember in 2009, there was military offensive against the fdlr, and more than one close to 1 Million People were displaced. There were entire villages that were burned. There was a lot of killing, looting, horrible tore tour horrible human rights violations. So thats a lot of people who are likely to suffer. When you describe it there, it was actually going to point out the fact that unfortunately, this is not in the headlines enough over the past 20 years. I think some people may not even be aware of some of the atrocat this you just described. Can you put this in a context . Its been said this is the deadliest since world war ii the deadliest conflict. Can you put that in a context for us . Yes. Of course. There is an International War that has been going on for 20s years. So, the experts dont agree on the exact number after the people who have been killed. Some say 1 markos moulitsas. Some say 5 million. But even if its even if 1 million. Its one of the deadliest conflict since ward two war 2. According to the most reliable estimate, it is the deadliest conflict since word war 2. We are not only talking about death but rapes. Babies are raped, like sixmonth old babies raped, granted mothers. Horrific war crimes . And tortures. I cant even think about what is being done to congolese people and looting of villages and massacres and every possible human rights violation that you can think of has taken place in congo. And no accountability. And very little accountability. There has been some attempt at international and domestic gestures but most human rights perpetrators havent been even tried. Now the offense against the fdlr. We will have to see what happens. Thank you so much for coming in. We appreciate it very much. Thank you so much for having me. Absolutely. A Senior Leader of one of africas most violent armed groups is about to stand trial for alleged war crimes. The ugandas Lords Resistance Army has been accused of widespread human rights violations. Donaled unguin will face charges. Caroline has more. Reporter a wanted man with 10 years charged with murder enslavements against other crimes against humanity. He was a rebel leader in ugandas Lords Resistance Army. He surrendered. In the African Republic on january 6th and was handed over to american and then ugandan forces. The u. S. State department has offered up to 5 million for information leading to his capture. An rebel lra original that will killed 2000 people and abducted 3,000 others between 2002 and 2003. He became known as white ant and his troops carried out what they called signature punishment raids. Included mutilating victims, cutting off their lips and ears. He was one of 5 lra commanders indicted by the International Criminal court for crimes against humanity. Lra leader joseph koni is seen here in file footage is still at large. Two others are thought to have been killed in action. The 5th person facing charges was vincent ot tive. Who used to be the lras second be in command and was apparently killed until 10 for attempting to overthrow koni. According to the u. N. Lra fighters have killed more than 100,000 people since the 1980s. They have a track record of kidnap can, including more than 60,000 children over 30 years who have become sexslaves or child soldiers. Onguin was one of those children, snatched on the way to school at the age of 10. Its also the only person to be charged by the icc with a crime that he himself, has been a victim of enslavement. Caroline malone al jazeera. A toll from the e bolat outbreak continues to rise according to the World Health Organization organization, the virus claimed over 8400 lives. More supreme died from ebola in liberia than anywhere else 3500 deaths in guinea and sir e a have lost more than 4900 people. Research into the utes of stem cells to treat a variety of medical conditions has been ongoing for decades. First idea had in myself in 1991 and humans in 1998. Researchers have proposed using them in a variety of wafdz treating people perilized from spinal cord injuries. The latest development from china. Reporter while all operations delicate there is added level of pressure when the surgery is a world first. On the table is a patient known only as mr. Wang paralyze nad car accident two months ago, its hoped this experimental procedure will one day allow him to walk again. Neurosurgeon ons are placing one of these small tubes called stint ins mr. Wangs spine, but its what comes next thats pushing the boundaries of medicine. From the first surgery a scar formed and took up the entire damaged part of the spine. We cut it off entirely and replace it with a stint and planted stem cells on it to grow. These socalled stem cells, its hoped will regenerate in a way heal the spinal. They have been testing it on animals for the past 10 years with some 6. Spinal nerves are a bunch of nerves like what we see in a cable. So we have designed orderly collagenous fibers that nerves can crawl over. Stem cells can produce regenerative elements so they can improve the regeneration capacity capacity. Reporter the stem cell market is a multimillion dollar industry. This surgery has yet to be scrutinized by the International Medical community. Clinics in the parts of asia where Stem Cell Therapy is leg are to promote their procedures which watchdogs say are expensive and probably invective. Surgeons in china will hope to replicate what was done last year after cells from his nose were transplanted into the spine. The surgery was different because of the types of cells used and the way they were implanted. Mr. Wang recovery if it happens, will be slow. Every development watched closely by those hoping for the same kind of cure. Kim zannel al jazeera. Imagine trying to escape a violent relationship and told you cannot take your tep with you, very few shelters will take in Domestic Abuse survivors and their pets. One shelterser in brooklip is leading the way in changing that. Over the holidays, we visited that shelter. Good girl. Let me see. Let me see your sexy cell. Jas min, teresa and tony all three seem happy and healthy. It wasnt always so. Jasmine and her two dogs arrived toe urban institute after years of abuse. What brought you here . I had an incidents at my home, what used to be my home. I was beaten up and then my ankle was broken. I couldnt go back home. Because of tony and teresa options. Subject, sometimes, you are so stressed out, you say, william, maybe if i leave, i will come back but i never saw it like that. A social worker told jasmine about the new program at the urban Resource Institute and encouraged her to reply. She got the response she was hoping to hear. They said, will you be ready to come here tomorrow . And i said, yeah. Of course. Sgra the you are Burlington Northern resorts institute ask only one of a handful in the country that accepts abuse vict ims and their pets. Pals people and animals living safely. Its not uncommon for victims to risk their lives rather than leave without their pets. Nazi have been by their side during some of the worst times of their lives. We wouldnt expect someone to leave a child behind. A pet is a member of the family. We want to help people in crisis and coming together and staying together is actually that help. Now other shelters across the country are using the paals program as a molz for their own transition. The organization has done a lot of the legwork for them like researching permits needed making changes to en insurance policies and modifications that need to be made to the shelters to also accommodate animals. This is not optional. This is not something that we are doing thats just extra. Its necessary in society and we want to make sure that it becomes a topic of conversation everywhere everywhere. Jasmines apartment comes with cages for tony and teresa toys and even donated dog food. Come on. Out back doggie heaven thanks to a donation from a dog food company. Jas min says being in a safe place a place with a dog park has helped her, tony and teresis a, heal and release the anxiety that gripped all of them when they first arrived. Very therapeutic for them and i really appreciated that. Its really something that to this day, i am very very grateful for. Yeah. Good boy. The urban Resource Institute hopes to have the program in all four of its shelters in 2014. When we come back an al jazeera investigation of how some employers are hitting the system to pay their employees less than minimum wage. Also, the debate at Duke University involving Muslim Students and the call to prayer. Dramat vikd yes of a bold experiment last week. Okay. Well an attempt to recover a falcon and top land it off of the florida coast. It came pretty close, but as you can see, not close enough. Not gratefuls enough. Across the country, millions of workers are starting the new year with the rave wave. Not everyone is guaranteed to get a pay race. An al jazeera investigation found employers in new york are taking advantage of a series of loopholes to steal wages from their employees. Whats the point of a minimum wage if the state is not enforcing it . America america tonight crystal hurd hurdsell reports . I imagined the u. S. To be a free andrantic company. I expected to see money everywhere. A 44yearold father and huds came here to new york in 2001 for what he hoped would be a better life . Its not like i imagined. Just like china, the u. S. Has dark sides, a lot of unfairness. Its a society with a lot of inequality. In 2007, he took a job as a driver with an independent taxi company known as yes car working long hours. In 2007, you were making about 500 a week . Uhhuh. Is that right . Yes. Okay. Your pay was 500 . And how many days a week were you working . Six days . Yes. Six days a week. Yes. About 12 hours a day. Yes. Okay. Do the math. He was working set up 72 house aweek senaker thanking 6. 94 an hour. Two years later, yes car announced protection fees they charge their drivers, bringing his pay down to just 5. 55 an hour, well below the legal minimum wage. I rolesed i was working for free. Free. I realized it wasnt enough to make ends meet. He wasnt alone. In 2009, bi sheng and 20 other drivers filed a lawsuit against yes car for wage theft. They said the opener got away with underpaying them for years, by classifying them as independent contractors instead of paying them as hourly workers. We are here at the department of labor in downtown manhattan, which has received thousands of claims over the years from employees saying that their employers have stolen wages from them. Because department is so backlogged, it can take months or years just for these claims to be investigated. We wanted to speak with someone from the state about the unresolved claims. Deputy secretarial fons 0 david would only peek with United States by phone. We asked why bi shengs case has been so delayed. One of the practical realities of litigation is it takes time. I would suspect that the case you reference is actually completely outside of the department of labor and in court. The only part of the process that the department of labor controls is the investigation stage. We also wanted to ask tony the owner of yes car about the wages. Hi is this yes car services . Yes. May i help you . I am with al jazeera. He identified himself as wallace. Al jazeera. Okay. We are running a taxi. There is nobody work for us. Its all independent contractor. You classify them as independent contractorsmentings yes. The drivers, you classify them as independent contractors . Yes. Reporting there, controverse at Duke University over a decision to allow a muslim call to prayer from the chappel tower. This is a scene on friday where hundreds of students gathered in front of the schools chappel. The University Said Muslim Students could use the chappel for the prayer but on thursday they backtracked citing reported threats. We were made aware of serious and credible concerns about safety and security. Theit prompted Franklin Graham saying the church should only be used for christian prayers. Earlier today, Morgan Radford interviewed the director of dukes islamic sent. Would this have been a groundbreaking move for yushts all across the country which are hailed for being precisely places of tolerance . Exactly. I think, you know, universities reflect the Larger Society but can set a higher bar for the level of compassion and intelligent sanity that exists there. There has been a pressdi dent. Four years ago, the same chapel tower was used to proclaim the jewish holy days even the very chapel bells were used to play hannakua song. So you have this precedent for extending beyond the christian tradition in a more pluralalistic direction and we were asking for that to be extended towards muslims as well. I have seen another interview where you made the point, look. The duke quad is laid out in the style of a cross and these church bells have been ringing. I mean its em blam attic. I grew up in North Carolina spent a lot of time on dukes campus. I remember what a prominent position the cross is in. What happens next . After the reversal they said duke is committed to this inclusive environment. Ha have any alternatives been presented . We cant control frank lin graham, and we cant control what happens in muslim countries or other current trees. We control what happens here in america. For us at duke i think the question for us is whats the next step for us going to be . How are we going to demonstrate our commitment to the kind of communicate that we want to be living here. I hope we stand up bravely, boldly and ample the volumes we want to be known for at an enter International Level. As you stands up bravely and boldly in short, do you think the Muslim Students will reach a new agreement with the university . Are you confident that that can happen . I think its unwritten, to be honest with you. What i take heart from is that yesterday, as we have the usual number of 100 to 125 muslims joined up for friday prayers, we probably had three or 400 nonmuslim members of the Duke Community showing up in solidarity with us and thats what i draw my own strength from, the fact that we have so many allies and supporters. I dont want us to lose sight of that fact. That was Morgan Radford interviewing the director of Duke Universitys islamic studies center. Coming up next pope francis speaks with survivors of the storms that have devastated the philippines. Pope franciss travels continues. This report from halo in the philippines. Reporter drenched by unseasonable rain a devout crowd welcomed the pope as he held mass for tens of thousands of people. This was a visit of significance on a personal religious and political level. Pope franciss visit here, an area where people have suffered through intense and frequent storms is part of his avowed hope to push negotiators to reach a meaningful agreement of imports Climate Change talks later this year. Its said the vatican will shortly issue an encyclical on its position on Climate Change. There he is pope francis delivering a message of compassion to the typhoon victims here in the philippines and delivering a message to the world about the devastating effects of Climate Change. Changing weather patterns are part of the reasons why life continues to be difficult in sea side communities here these women survived typhoon hayan in 2013 and have formed an association to try to help themselves. They look forward to the visit as a break from all of this and hopefully, the pope will put some sense into how people understand poverty and the effects of Climate Change on poverty and how it really promotes more poverty in the lives of people like these women. Here, with the help of a priest, they try to overcome their fear of the sea since the typhoon hit. And remember, their relatives and friends who were kid. Pope francis managed to the briefly meet some typhoon hayan sur viefrdz and visit a mass grave. The pontiff apologized for having to cut short his visit. Another typhoon was moving in. Veronica pedrosa the philippines. Its the end of a musical era, the grateful dead is calling it quits. A 3 night fair well jerry impar see a played his concert in 1995 and died a month after the show. The graeme Award Winning group was inducted in the rock role hall of fame in 1994. Talk to al jazeera featuring Chris Hatfield is next from noon around the world, check out or website, aljazeera. Com. Keep it here. Today on talk to al jazeera. Astronaut chris hadfield. Its the raw Human Experience thats at the core of anything that matters. It was a young boy from ontario that became the First Canadian to walk in space. Its hard relentless. The Selection Process to become an astronaut is nearly impossible. The research lab a politically complicated program