President Mohamed Morsi was ousted last july. We begin tonight in ukraine where 35 Million People took to the polls to leect new president. Veteran politician and candy tycoon, petrro poroshenko. Jackie roland has the story. These are not official figures. All the same three suggest strongly that the billionaire may be poised to win this election outright. Translator you see that all exit polls without exception were held by the most incredible, the country has a new president. Reporter rarely have ukrainians gone to the polls with such enthusiasm. Long queues waiting for the casting of votes. Translator i expect life to be better. I expect peace and unity in the country. Petro poroshenko, presents himself as a unifying candidate who can reconcile the east and the west of the country. Prorussian separatists say they wont accept the result. Only one quarter of polling stations were able to open here and separatists intimidated election officials. Hes not our president. We didnt hold the election as far as i know. The problems of the east may not have been solved. They have likely realized that their territory has already shrunk. New president after a single round of voting. That would be a relief for people who feared that waiting four three weeks for a runoff would simply add to the insecurity and instability. Right now poroshenko looks like a winning candidate. That was al jazeer al jazeere roland reporting. f . The election of Petro Poroshenko, one person we spoke to said did he not interfere into the issues of the country. The man had little political experience and, quote, obamas man in kyiv. None of these saiments are surprising. They staples are surprising. Very clear that no one here could vote, simply paws it would be like casting because it would be like casting the ballot in another country. Now Petro Poroshenko says one of his challenges is to come, separatists leaders are not interested in negotiating at the moment. If we look at those who were willing to vote and got intimidated and couldnt find a polling station open in their district, they put the blame of much of the chaos on this part of the country. They said they should have reached out much earlier as the crisis in crimea was unfolding. So certainly it is a priority of the ne new leader to stabilize t certainly a difficult one. Thats h oba hamid reporting. f president obama stopped by bagram air field, are exerl harkett reports. Its an unexpected visit. President obama touched down at bagram air base. Closed door meeting with top commanders and advisors. The troops were entertained by a popular Country Music singer while they waited. The conflict has lafsed more than a decade. Announced he would soon decide just how many u. S. Soldiers will remain in a supporting roll, after the planned withdrawal at the end of the year of the bulk of u. S. And nato forces. For bulk of you this will be your last tour in afghanistan. And by the end of this year, the transition will be complete and afghans will take full responsibility l and our combat mission will be over. Americas war in afghanistan will come to a responsible end. Reporter the pentagon has indicated it would like to see approximately 10,000 soldiers in afghanistan after 2015. Afghan President Hamid karzai has refused to sign such an agreement. Americas commitment to the peace of afghanistan will endure. There are approximately 3 34,000 forces in afghanistan. Its a decision the white house promises will be made soon. Kimberly halket trveg, al jazeera, washington. Join obama at the air field and jim walsh, a Research Associate at the mit studies program says its not a surprise that either president fell compelled. He isnt the First American president to find a lack of relationship here. There will be a new guy in office, the white house has responded saying, we dont want to get involved in the elections, we dont want to interfere in the domestic politics. If i had to guess id guess president obama is done with karzai. Hes a lame duck and doesnt want to deal with him if he doesnt have to. Very first election since the ousting of former president Mohamed Morsi last july and this time around, two competitors are in the race. Lets back up a minute here and lets look at just whats happened in egypt in the past two years. February 2011, jeentian president ial hosne mubarak, are was why removed from office. Military of any and all say in the legislation and even drafting the country an entirely new constitution. So by december of that very same year the constituent assembly approved that constitution and that was after the public approved it in a referendum. But following even more protest the military kicked morsi out in july 20hav 2013. Reinstating a nationwide state of emergency. Then fast forward to march of this year. Thats when army chief abdul fatah alsisi was elected. The on day 2 of the popes visit to the holy land, he met with five palestinian families who say they have been harmed by israeli politics in bullpen mafia. He also held a mass outside the church of the 9 nativity. Al jazeeras Nick Schifrin has more. Morgan, pope francis says he has been astonished by things he has seen. Not only at bullpen mafia with that unscheduled stop, but this evening historic leader with the are world leader of the palestinians. In the cradle of christianity, pope francis walks into the crowd of the faithful. Seems to stop in shock. Then walking past the palestinian flag he looks somber by what it sees. A 25 foot high wall separating israel and palestinians. My interpretation, let god bless the palestinians and israelis in order to destroy this wall. Reporter pope francis promised this trip would not be political, but recognition of the palestinian cause. He was the first pope to arrive in bullpen mafia without First Arriving in israel. And his agenda repeatedly referred to the state of palestine over objections. He met with the children of Palestinian Refugees including 7yearold raha. The west bank refugee camp. Neighborhood that was supposed to be temporary. We struggle with the occupation. Whenever it wants, youll find them in any street. For raha this is the only life she has ever known. Be. Reporter its a song about peace. Pope francis says he hears the refugees message. And then after all of those politics, pope francis came here to jerusalem to focus on the spiritual and to continue the reconciliation that began exactly 50 years ago behind these walls. In 1964, the heads of catholics and christians ended a rift. Pope francis renewed that unity, francis and ba bartholomew prayd together. At christ tomb they lit candles together. What the pope wants to show people is there is will, there is interest, there is the spirit to foster unity, to foster a influence relationship among christians. Reporter foster new relationships across the nation by tearing down walls for christians and israelis. In fact israeli officials are exciteabout what is on francis agenda. Including mount herzel, an doarmt of their rights to the land, just like palestinians felt franciss trip was an doarmt to their state. Intoarmendorsement to the state. The last three were the three that were stabbed to death in Elliot Rodgers apartment. 19 to 20 years old. Bryan it appears that we lost you. But lets take a look at bryans report from isla vista. Near where three girls were shot and two of them killed. Veronica and katy cooper who were supposed to graduate in a few weeks. Its kind of weird to think that a couple of days ago, she was here and then my life is going to continue and hers isnt. Liked to smile and have fun. Katy was one of the most loving people. The young women were two of the six People Killed by 22yearold Elliot Rodger who killed himself at the end of the shooting spree. Whether they visited rodger april 30th to check on his mental health. Told them he was having some social problems and some school issues and that he probably was not going to continue in school. And are told them it was all a misunderstanding, that his relative and this other person had taken things the wrong way and he really wasnt you know going to hurt anybody nor him severely. They left but rodger had three guns and 400 rounds of ammunition. Why do girls hate me so much . His friends and neighbors knew he was troubled. He was really, really upset about why was the world so unfair to him. Was it like a nice face, he didnt even say hello or anything. Elliot rodger was a Santa Barbara student. His family revealed he had aspergers syndrome. He had plans for retribution. A lawyer spoke for the rodger family. The rodger family, their deep is sympathy and compassion to the families involved. We are experiencing the most inconceivable pain and our hearts go out to everybody involved. Memorial service, among the pictures was the young man who died, who killed the others. Rise above us and somehow find meaning through tragedy. That this doesnt mean the earned of your faith. It doesnt mean the end of happiness. Morgan, weve mentioned earlier that rodger left a 140page document thats been described as a manifesto. I read the whole thing. Its more of an utah biography an autobiography. Its very intelligently written, very precisely written but it does reveal how disturbed he was towards the end of his life. Morgan. Thank you so much brian rooney live for us in isl isla vista. Well tell you now why they have to go back for a doover. And the elections dont stop. Mandatory minimums are routinely used to coerce plea bargains mandatory minimums the whole goal is to reduce gun crime, now weve got people saying this isnt fair. Does the punishment always fit the crime . Had the person that murdered our daughter got the mandatory minimum, he wouldnt have been out. The system with Joe Burlinger only on Al Jazeera America every saturday join us for exclusive, revealing, and surprising talks with the most interesting people of our time. Rosie perez i had to fight back, or else my ass was gonna get kicked. A tough childhood. There was a crying, there was a lot of laughter. Finding her voice i was not a ham, i was ham cheese. And turning it around. You dont have to let your circumstance dictate who you are as a person talk to al jazeera only on Al Jazeera America in colombia president Juan Manuel Santos has been forced into a runoff election. Nearly 30 million cast their vote for president but neither candidate got enough votes to win the election outright. Quite the drama, with pretty serious mud slinging and accusations of corruptions. Im outside Juan Manuel Santos campaign headquarters. As his supporters gear up for another battle for the hearts and minds of colombians. President santos have appealed to the other three candidates who took part in the election to join him for the second round to support him in his peace process. He says quote im calling upon you to join my crusade for peace in colombia. Thats not the only thing that concerns cloa colombians. The next round would be three weeks from now when its going to to be a very tight race. The votes are also in, in europe where 28 countries have chosen a new European Union parliament. The vote was open the eu crits s have made some major gains. Simon mcgregor wood reports. France scratches the head liedges of course with the National Front winning that by such a significant margin. The u. K. Independence Party Repeating the act, but all across europe, small radical parties mostly of the right with being an agenda fiercely antiEuropean Union, if you recall, the poster child of bailouts, and austerity, that party again aggressively 18th European Union, topping the polls there. What it means is so many european voters have had enough of the European Union, as far as they see it because they blame it for the ongoing economic tribulations and trials. The center level and center right will remain the dominant part in the government, but to plifn tlisten to the discordant, trying to do something bit. I think the big challenge for those proeuropean parties, to push the european agenda forward, to create real growth and real jobs, unemployment unprecedented highs throughout the European Union, to prevent a like vote happening in the next five years, that will be the challenge for the center. Thailand the king is expected to endorse the leader of the military coup. Last remaining democratic institution. Hundreds taken to the streets of bangkok facing soldiers for the second straight day. The military is cracking down on those criticizing the coup including members of the press. President obama right at home is dealing with a growing scandal with the department of Veterans Affairs. A vai va official filed a complt with the inspector general. Then in 2013, sam foot retired in his position and said records were being manipulated. Then in february of this year the phoenix va was officially accused of misconduct. Earlier this month as congress placed subpoena on veterans air force secretary Eric Shinseki now there are calls for him to resign. But obama has defended him throughout and shinseki says he has no plans to resign. Now the head of the agency says the department is enhancing its clinic capacity so it can help vets get care sooner. Richard allen smith served in the Afghanistan War and worked for the Veterans Affairs administration and despite those conditions, he says care has improved under general shinseki. I also work for the department of Veterans Affairs until legs than a year ago. And from what i saw in there theres sort of a cowl clash that creates problems like this. And its between folks who are used to doing things the old way when va was mishandled over a decade ago. Under shinseki the quality of veteran care has improved greatly and received higher marks on paste satisfaction reports. Some outliers where like i said for decades this department was mismanaged. Its going to take a while to turn the ship around. Almost 2 million new veterans are enrolled in va care that werent enrolled when general shinsekishinsekis leadership. That have been really amped up over the last five years from president obamas request. Coming up on Al Jazeera America our sunday segment, the week ahead. Plus we have rebecca. Weve had a lot of flash flood aring in places. Wind so strong. And thats coming up next. Fp the Performance Review. That corporate trial by fire when every slacker gets his due. And yet, theres someone around the office who hasnt had a Performance Review in a while. Someone whose poor performance is slowing down the entire organization. Im looking at you phone company dsl. Check your speed. See how fast your internet can be. Switch now and add voice and tv for 34. 90. Comcast business built for business. Good evening and welcome back to Al Jazeera America. Live from new york city im Morgan Radford with a look at tonights stories. More than 35 million ukrainians went to the polls to vote for a new president. Petro poroshenko ahead in the vote. The official count is due tomorrow. Troops in afghanistan. Bringing along Country Music singer brad past paisley one ofy favorites. Telling the troops the war in afghanistan will end responsibly at the end of next year. Pope francis made a surprise visit to the wall that separates bullpen mafia. Separates bethlehem. In is as many look for new leadership, questions still remain as to whether these elections will in fact be free and fair. So we begin with this report from al jazeeras courtney keely. For abd fatah alsisi, victory is a near certainty. Security concerns kept the defense minister from making personal Campaign Appearances around the country. But he gave an address urging people to vote. The mood is rather jubilant. They are happy to go to the polling stations and cast their ballot for s sisi. There is a collective spirit of mass conformity around sisi. Reporter alsisi and another candidate, it is an indication that alsisi doesnt have the nationwide support that many assume. Among the revolutionaries around tahrir square, some will go and vote for sabahi but many will stay home. In. Reporter its been almost a year since memo morsi was ousted in a coup. More than 1,000 people have died in protest and clashes. The Muslim Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist organization. Hundreds of its followers have been killed and thousands have been arrested. Foreign observers remain doubtful had a a Fair Election is possible. The European Union will have advisors at polling places. Carter said in a recent statement that he is gravely concerned that egypts democratic process has fall terd. The democratic process is pretty nonexistent. Especially since we declare that the leaders have compiled the Muslim Brotherhood and allied islamists who were even a part of political life under hosne mubarak. Eight airports and 20,000 new schools along with investments in health care and agriculture. He has made it clear that there will be no Muslim Brotherhood during his tenure. Courtney keely al jazeera new york. Met with egyptian Prime Minister nabil fahmi. Muslim brotherhood band in egypt even designated as a terrorist organization. To discuss the upcoming election, i talked to azra gahli, and if the election will in fact be free and fair. I think you have to look in two directions. The first direction is wha