>> this is "bbc world news america." >> funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation, newman's own foundation, giving all profits from newman's own to charity and pursuing the common good, kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs, and hong kong tourism board. >> want to know hong kong's most romantic spots? i will show you. i love heading to repulse bay for an evening stroll. it's a perfect, stunning backdrop for making romantic moments utterly unforgettable.

i have lived in the city for years, but hong kong still makes me fall in love with it time and again. >> and now, "bbc world news." >> this is "bbc world news." so-called islamic state or daesh is committing genocide in iraq and syria, says the u.s. state department. but what was the declaration really change? sec. kerry: daesh is genocidal by ideology and actions. what it says, what it believes, and what it does. katty: political turmoil in brazil. former president lula's warning to be his successor's chief of staff, but is probably suspending the government. saving the art of afghanistan.

one project is preserving the craft which has thrived there for centuries. katty: welcome to our viewers on public television and around the globe. the islamic state is committing genocide against christian and other minorities in iraq and syria, according to the u.s. secretary of state. this is only the second time the u.s. and ministries in made a designation during an ongoing conflict. it will do nothing to change american policy or actions on the ground. the bbc's gary o'donoghue has more. and: summer 14, humanitarian disaster is unfolding in sinjar in northern iraq. yazidis are the

fleeing the islamic state, their men being murdered, their women being taken into sexual slavery. after pressure from congress and humanitarian groups, the state department is prepared to call such atrocities genocide. sec. kerry: daesh kills christians because they are christians. yazidis because they are yazidis. shia because they are shia. this is the message it conveys to children under its control. its entire worldview is based on eliminating those who do not subscribe to its perverse ideology. gary: the u.s. also believes incidents such as the execution of 21 coptic christians in a beach in libya last year was genocide. the only other time the u.s. declared a genocide when it was actually happening was in 2004, when the bush administration determined that atrocities in sudan's darfur region met the test, which describes genocide

as acts meant to destroy ethnic, racial, or religious groups. : what happened to be y -- calling what happens to the yazidis genocide does not imply more u.s. actions. though human rights campaigners say more action is needed. >> the mass graves have not been excavated, evidence is preserved and protected, that we are clicking testimony in which we can see future prosecution. we need to see the duration of an -- the creation of an international investigation. gary: the us-led coalition says it's making significant strides in about two is limited the islamic state group. it will face new pressure to ensure those committing acts of genocide are brought to justice beyond the battlefield. gary o'donoghue, bbc news, washington. katty: for more on this declaration, i spoke with the deputy spokesperson at the u.s. state department. mark, what evidence does the

state department have that there is genocide happening in is-cont rolled areas? mark: we have been compiling evidence through a variety of sources. how we been looking at can document the abuses, the atrocities that we were certain were taking place. that said, when the secretary made his decision this morning, he admitted that it was difficult to acquire all the sufficient evidence. that is why this had to be a very delivered a process. we will continue to compile evidence. in terms of what the u.s. might do to help the victims of the genocide, the implications of the destination seems to be nothing. mark: i don't want to say that. very clearly this doesn't change what our basic calculus is

vis-a-vis daesh or isil. we are out to great and destroy isil. there is a 66 member coalition focused on doingjust that. we recognize that what daesh is carrying out qualifies as genocide does not a change the essential game plan. we recognized way before this determination, a year or so ago, that daesh represented an outpouring of all -- an important -- an abhorrent evil and was focused on destroying ethnic, religious, and minority populations. katty: isn't it even more egregious that the world stands by, does nothing to help these victims of genocide now that you have done as needed there is -- you have designated there is genocide? mark: i reject the premise of the question. we have accepted over 40,000 iraqi refugees in the past 5

years. we will accept many more. many of these refugees are seeking asylum based on their ethnic or religious prosecution. that will continue. we are supporting the return and preservation of these ethnic populations and religious minority groups, identities and towns and communities in iraq and syria. katty: do you think these people ever see justice? mark: the greatest justice we can achieve is to destroy daesh. this decision only bolsters that recognition of what a truly monumental evil it represents. part of the reason behind this decision was to bolster international support that we need to destroy daesh. the secretary was very clear that we support any international court or tribunal

to carry out prosecutions, to hold those accountable for these atrocities. katty: thanks very much. staying with the impact of that war in syria, turkey is warning this will not become a depot for migrants, even if it manages to do a deal with the crisis. negotiations are underway in brussels to resolve the situation, with particular attention to turkey and greece. since january last year, more than a million migrants and refugees have entered greece by boat from turkey. many are now stuck at the border at macedonia. >> the resilience is youth. still able to laugh and smile when this is where you live. imagine the irony of being trapped at a railway station with departures to nowhere.

[train clacking] where mothers cling to their children to stop them running into the line. where thousands not so much live, just barely exist. this is a border town that has become a by word for the interaction of europe and the shame of those called here. many have lost all their possessions. and now they must lose their dignity too as they stand for hours every day, begging for handouts. among them, this syrian refugee we thought had crossed into macedonia earlier this week. he was one of 1500 the native break for the border on monday. slogging through the mud and the rain. carried aloft like a biblical figure. this is how much they want to get into europe.

he was wheeled across the field and on into macedonia. but like all the others, he was rounded up and eventually sent back to greece. >> what is your message to europe's leaders? >> we want humanity. look at how they are treating us here. there is no humanity left. not in the arab countries, not in the west. we are being used as bargaining chips. they are accepting us so they can make money off of our backs. >> if a deal is reached in brussels, everyone here could be sent back, which wouldn't be just difficult, but perhaps illegal. we met three families from falluja, ramadi, and aleppo, 3 cities whose people know all about war and persecution. one says he left home after the thugs of the islamic state group cut him. another says he was beaten just last week, but by the macedonian police.

it's not the welcome they expected, nor the protection they are guaranteed by law. what will you do if these borders stay closed and you are told you have to go home? >> well i can't go back home. i don't have a home. we came here asking for european protection because they said they will open the borders for iraqis and syrians. so why are we sitting here? why? >> everyone here knows about the meeting in brussels. and everyone is waiting for the outcome. if they are not allowed through, some will go back, perhaps to turkey. but don't expect all of them to just disappear. >> it's incredible to think that more than a million people will come this way over the last year. european leaders repeatedly debated and argued about how to deal with the crisis. routes may well be closing down. what we should not forget is that many of these people have

run away from the prospect of death and they will do whatever , it takes to get across that border. this week's breakthrough failed, but it won't be the last. thousands more landed on greek shores this week, and will head here to this strange limbo-land. putting even more pressure on greece or europe. their dream of a new life will have stalled, but it is far from over. bbc news, on the greek-macedonian border. katty: families in an increasingly volatile situation in europe. president putin has warned that russia could build up its military presence in syria within hours, if needed, and urged all sides in the conflict to respect the cease-fire. most of the russian forces in syria left country this week. a ceremony was held for the returning serviceman. steve rosenberg has the details. ♪

steve: he had already declared russia's operation in syria mission accomplished. today, vladimir putin invited his troops to the kremlin. st. george's hall is where russian czars celebrated their military victories. pres. putin: we have created the conditions for a peace process. steve: this road to peace was opened by you, the soldiers of russia, he said. there were words of comfort for the widows of four russian soldiers killed in syria. and a pledge that the war against terrorism would continue. russia isn't pulling out all its troops. and then the medals. russian soldiers made russian heroes. ♪ steve: so why, all the pomp?

well, think of the circumstance. this is a country that lost an empire the soviet union. ,it lost the cold war. that is why the kremlin is seeking new heroes and new victories to send a message that , russia is once again a great power. two years ago, moscow's annexation of crimea was condemned by the west. but the kremlin used it to spark a wave of patriotism across russia. now with russian pilots returning as heroes, syria is portrayed as russia's latest triumph. but is moscow now too reliant on seeking military success? >> we have gone from a country of prosperity to country of war. a country of permanent mobilization. the authority needs new targets and new causes for the rally. steve: if russia is now in a state of permanent mobilization,

you can expect more patriotism at home and possibly more tension with the west. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. ♪ katty: other news around the world -- the office of the attorney general in switzerland says it's conducting criminal proceedings against the former fifa secretary general. proceedings for criminal mismanagement follow an investigation carried out by the fifa ethics committee. the prosecutor said on thursday they have conducted searches and interviews, but no arrests have been made. two people in guinea tested positive for the ebola virus. the news comes hours after the who said the latest flare-up in sierra leone had ended, raising hopes that there were no concerned cases of ebola in west africa. the disease killed over 11 happened people --11,000 people in 2013. you are watching "bbc world news." still to come, relearning forgotten skills.

efforts in afghanistan to restore the country's vibrant artistic traditions. after years of public pressure, the u.s. themepark sea world announced it will stop breathing killer whales. it will also end the theatrical shows which had long been a centerpiece of his performances. its show have delighted millions over the years, but now sea world is bowing to the inevitable. to the surprise of many, is phasing out its live shows, ending its orca breeding program, and joining forces with an old adversary. >> sea world has agreed to stop additional captive breeding of orcas. they had early stop while captures decades ago. this is essentially going to sunset the use of orcas, which have been central to the brand image of sea world. >> the themepark never recovered from a dock entry called -- a

documentary called "blackfish," which raised questions of abuse and neglect. audiences fell, and so did the share price. >> in the case of orcas, it is an attitudinal change that we helped create. now we need to change too. these announcements show that sea world is listening and changing. >> animal-rights groups contend these massive mammals belong not in pens, but in the sea. >> peta has been campaigning hard. today's announcement is a good step in the right direction. bt now sea world needs take the next step, which is immediately funding coastal sanctuaries where these orcas and other animals can be released. world says it's shows will be replaced by what it calls more natural encounters with these majestic creatures. but having spent decades dismissing its critics, it clearly believes change is

needed in order for it to recite. -- it to survive. bbc news, southern california. ♪ brazil's former president luna da silva has been suspended from his government job just hours after taking the with of office. he had been given the post of chief of staff by the woman who succeeded him as president, his ally dilma rousseff. while the signings are my took place, there were demonstrations for and against lula outside the palace imbecile you. -- palaca in brasilia. >> hundreds of people or outside for lula'sng support appointment.they say lula is a fighter. [chanting] >> but other groups are

protesting against the government. they are calling for the impeachment of president rousseff and are angry at the appointment of former president lula. they say is an attempt to shield charges against lula, facing corruption allegations.they see this as a way to avoid him being charged by regular tribunal. thee people have come where president said impeachment proceedings are about to start in the coming days. lots of tensions building in the streets of resilient and other parts of -- streets of brasilia and other parts of brazil in this escalating crisis. katty: for more on what is happening in brazil, i spoke to the associate director of the atlantic council for latin american center. it has been a dizzying week in brazilian politics. where are we now? does lula da silva have this job now or not? >> not now.

this is a temporary decision to suspend his nomination. will probably be overturned. they are intent on fighting to make lula-- katty: why were people so enraged he was given this job? >> the timing of the nomination was horrible. it could not have been worse this happened just days after lula was officially involved in a corruption investigation. there were charges brought up against him. there was a request for his arrest. then the nomination game two days afterwards. the government can't avoid the perception this is being done in order to avoid prosecution. katty: you had a whole load of protesters coming out of a wiretap released saying that the president gave lula this job to avoid arrest. >> yes, the government denies this of course. there is some reason for the government to bring lula in. he is a powerful politician in brazil. there are many in favor of him

being in government. that brings the government some support from the streets, which were lacking. but the timing is terrible. if they were going to bring lula in-- katty: it sounds like you are giving president dilma the benefit of the doubt over the arrest question. >> i personally am not. there is no way to avoid the question that this has been done to shield lula, to make the investigation about him more difficult. i think we have to wait until things are determined. as we talked before, every time we blink, something new happens in brazil. it's hard to have a definitive opinion. katty: after talk about the corruption scandal. i spoke to economist who have suggested that brazil needs this clean sweep. it needed this corruption scandal because it needs to change direction and clean its house. deleting that would do it was an investigation on this scale. -- the only thing that would do it was an investigation on this scale.

is brazil facing up to its political problems? >> i think so. this is the largest investigation in resilient history so far. a lot of businessmen considered the most powerful and politician considered -- in jail. the sweep is happening. it is a painful direction the country has taken. there is a lot of turmoil. but it is a necessary one. katty: economic and political turmoil. do you think it will bring president dilma down too? >> it is more likely that the government will not surprise the process. we had a bet that dilma would make it until 2018. i don't think that is so sure anymore. i think this move accelerates the fall of the government. katty: even if lula gets the job, he won't have it for very long. centuries, afghanistan has been a critical stop on the ancient silk road, a melting pot of craft and culture. in the wars of recent decades, many of the country's artisans have been forced to flee the

country or abandoned their skills. a new exhibition in washington is highlighting effort to restore the country's vibrant artistic traditions. >> in the foothills of the hindu kush, a craft revival is underway. these putters are using their ancient skills to help revive their communities after decades of conflict in taliban rule. they are being helped by turquoise mountain, a british charity that is been helping artisans across the country relearn and preserve their traditions. the organization is also helping to rebuild the old city of kabul, once a bustling craft center. >> it is essentially a derelict slum. it has become a refuse heap in a standing city. over 30 years, we have cleared several thousand tons of garbage. we have dropped the street level by 2 meters. as we dug through the garbage, beautiful pieces emerged.

>> this calligrapher is in her third year of university. her father died when she was a child, and her family, desperate and poor, considerably in the country. but after taking calligraphy lessons through turquoise mountain, she wants to stay. >> after i learned about the art, i changed my mind. and i don't want to go abroad because i want to continue my art. i believe one's art can grow only if the artist is present in their society, fueling their pain. >> 17 artisans will be visiting washington over the next year as part of a living exhibition. afghan caravan has been created. >> you need to know your history. you need to know the roots and preserve your path to look to a future and be proud of your history. it's not just about creating a future for the afghans, but also about creating the skills and

job to be able to showcase afghanistan in a uniform, artistic manner. -- a beautiful, artistic manner. >> the exhibition will highlight craft as varied as carpet weaving ends remix. most importantly it will focus on the people that make them. >> i think afghanistan has suffered from many people over the last few decades telling them what they don't have. and importing ideas from outside. this is a particularly afghan mission of what the country can be in the future. >> the exhibition is also a shop window. turquoise mountain hopes artisans sell their products, so far generating more than $3.5 million. in a nation so often defined by conflict, art is offering a glimpse of what can be done. jane o'brien, bbc news, washington. katty: that brings this program to a close. you can find out much more on

the day's news on our website. from all of us here on "bbc world news america," thank you for watching. do tune in again tomorrow. ♪ >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation, newman's own foundation, giving all profits from newman's own to charity and pursuing the common good, kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs, and hong kong tourism board. >> want to know hong kong's most romantic spots? i will show you. i love heading to repulse bay for an evening stroll.

it's a perfect, stunning backdrop for making romantic moments utterly unforgettable. i have lived in the city for years, but hong kong still makes me fall in love with it time and again. >> "bbc world news" was >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.

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