good morning park i am thomas drayton, these are some of the stories we are following at this hour. president obama drumming up support for a strike on syria. >> i didn't set a red line. the world set a red line. >> president obama travels to russia today for the g20 economic summit. but it's the crisis in syria that is expected to dominate the conversation. here at home, the president's team is trying to convince congress to move forward with military action in syria. a key senate committee has approved the use of force, clearing the way for full senate vote next week. facing the possibility of air strikes, millions of syrians have now fled their homes.

the united nations is sounding the alarm over the rapidly growing refugees crisis. ♪ ♪ >> good to have you with us. president obama heads to russia later today for the g20 economic summit. where syria is expected to be a main topic of conversation. the president stopped in sweden in route to st. petersburg. >> i am very mindful of the fact that around the world and here in europe in particular, there are still memories of iraq and weapons of mass destruction accusations and people being concerned about how accurate this information is. keep in mind i am somebody who opposed the war in iraq. and i am not interested in repeating mistakes of us basing decisions on faulty

intelligence. >> meanwhile, the obama administration making it's a case in congress cleared a major hurdle. senate foreign relations committee approved strikes in syria. paving the way for full vote in the senate next week. randle pinkston has more. >> reporter: as the hearing began, antiwar protesters held up red hands, a reflection of the heated opposition administration officials faced from members of the house foreign affairs committee. in this exchange, republican tom marino wanted to know who a strike would help. >> do you implicitly trust these people? >> that's not my business to trust anybody -- >> it has to be the business because you are making decisions to go in to war and put american lives at risk. >> we are not unaware of all of the different groups self interest. our allies -- >> excuse me, sir, with all due respect -- >> congressman, let me respond to that. >> would you do it quirkily, please. >> our focus is not on good guys bad guys, the focuses on a

narrowly drafted resolution asking this is from congress -- >> i wouldn't think good guys would be using gas. >> it was a contrast to yesterday's cordial reception by the senate foreign relationses committee. house members many strident opponents of the obama administration, went on the attack. here south carolina representative jeff duncan jabbed secretary of state john kerry, a vietnam veteran and a former senator. >> you have never been one that's advocated for anything other than caution when involving u.s. forces in past conflicts, the same is true for the president and the vice president. mr. secretary -- >> when i was in the senate. i am going to finish congressman. i am going for finish. when i was in the united states senate, i supported military action in any number of occasions. including grenade, a panama, i can run a list of them. and i am not going to sit here and be told by you that i don't have a sense of what the judgment is with respect to this. when the real issue here is

whether or not the congress is going to stand up for international norms with respect to dictators that have only been broken twice until assad. hitler and sadam hussein. >> reporter: but republicans were not the only skeptics, even administration supporters insist odd limits. >> i hope my clerks will join me in supporting such an authorization. but we should not give the president a blank check. the authorization measure we take up must clarify that any strike should be of a limited nature and that there should absolutely be no american boots on the ground in syria. >> reporter: administration officials again assured the commit that i a military strike would not be aimed at resolving the civil war. foos what it will cost, defense secretary chuck hagel told the committee it could range in to the 10s of millions of dollars. randle pinkston, al jazerra, washington. >> as the obama administration tries to conviction congress to take military action against

syria. syria's neighbors are warning the refugees crisis will get worse if the world does not offer more help. a group of foreign ministers met in geneva to ask for international aid. the u.n. says over 2 million syrian refugees have already crossed the border in to other countries. and if there is an attack many more will follow. let me breakdown the refugees numbers for you. the u.n. says there are now more than 2 million refugees, a 10 account of syria's total population, 500,000 are in jordan. 100,000 in egypt. 400,000 in turkey. 170,000 in iraq. and more than 700,000 have fled to neighboring lebanon. a report from beirut. >> reporter: one in every five people in lebanon is a syrian. many of them have settled in poor, overcrowded neighborhoods like this one, they live among the lollipop layings but can't help escape the feeling of not being welcome.

>> the lebanese feel that we have taken away their opportunities. they feel we are doing jobs that should be theirs. >> reporter: even before the turmoil in their country began, thousands of syrians used to work in menial jobs, but the new arrivals have created competition in an already weak labor market. syrians have opened shops and accept lower salaries. it is something that many lebanese resentment he says the lollipop layings needs help too. >> their presence has changed our lives for the worse. most of them are not refugees but workers who brought their families here, the help knees government is not taking care of us. >> reporter: but not all syrian refugees are able to make end meet and rental prices have increased. a small room in this slum costs around $300 a month. those who cannot afford to pay, live in buildings under construction. it is clear after talking to people here that there are

tensions between the syrians and the lebanese community. and lebanese government officials have said those tensions have reached a dangerous level. the government is now worried that they will have to deal with a new influx of refugees if the west does decide to take military action against the syrian regime. lebanon hasn't only had to deal with the refugees issue, it has seen bombings, kidnappings and other incidents linked to the syria war. this country hasn't been able to stay out of the conflict. lebanon is decided and its people have taken sides in the conflict across their boarder. >> we don't want to make any problems but many lebanese parties are already causing problems and always blame the syrians. >> reporter: some lebanese feel the presence of syrians has contributed to the problems here. lebanon has imposed tighter controls at its borders, not just to manage the number of refugees, but syrians are increasingly being looked upon as a security problem in a country already under threat.

al jazerra, beirut. >> france is still debating what its course of action will be for syria. the from of prime minister says the country will not launch a military i assault against syria by it sill. al jazerra's jackie roland reports from paris. >> reporter: the french president and his german counterpart make a solemn visit to the nazi during the world. this small village was earn tile wiped out. events from 70 years ago which still resonates today n paris parliament has been debating how to respond to atrocities in syria. in particular, the apparent chemical attack last month. the prime minister pressed the government's case for intervention. >> not to react is to let bashar al-assad continue his atrocities, to encourage the

proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to abandon syria and the entire region to chaos, with its partners, france will live up to its responsibilities, this is its honor, this is it's duty. [applause] >> reporter: an enthusiastic response from the ruling socialists. but there was scathing criticism from the right wing opposition. who accuse the president of leaving france isolated and without allies. >> on august 21st, chemical weapons were used in damascus. we condemned the barbaric savage and inhumane act. on august 27th, the president announced that france was ready to intervene in syria. eight days later, we have to admit that the government and france are in a diplomatic and military impasse.

>> reporter: strong opinions were expressed and strong arguments put forward. but france knows it cannot act alone. it has to wait for the decision of the u.s. congress. there was no vote at the end of the debate because in france it's the president who has the authority take the country to war. but pressure is growing for parliament to be given a say. especially if there is a chance of intervening in syria without a u.n. security council resolution. jackie roland, al jazerra, paris. >> members of syria's main opposition group are going door to door on capitol hill lobbying members of congress, they are not only asking them to approve president obama's proposed military strike on syria, but to go even further. kelly reports. >> reporter: he is leading the campaign of the syrian national coalition in washington. his group petitions congress from its headquarters here, trying to swing the vote to authorize use of force in his

homeland. he wants more than just a mission to punish the syrian government. >> we don't need a slap on the hand for bashar al-assad for using chemical weapons we don't need it to be a retaliation effort. we need it to be a complete campaign to did he great the what regime's ability to kill civilians women and children. >> reporter: a message delivered wednesday. >> american values and american interests have both come on syria. and this is about human rights, this is about telling dictators around the world it's not okay to gas your way out of conflict. >> reporter: 100,000 syrians have died in the war. khalil's group says shelling and mortars pose a greater threat than chemical weapons. and also says ending the conflict can only be achieved through the help of the international community. as the debate intensifies here in washington, syrian opposition members say winning approval in the house is going to be a bigger challenge than in the senate. but even if congress does

approve limited military action in syria, opposition leaders say their agenda is broader. they want president obama to end the country's civil war. the coalition understands it's not only up against members of congress, but their constituents. some recent polls suggest that most americans don't support intervention in syria. >> our focus would be more on the house versus the senate. because we believe in the house it's going to be more challenging for us because there are 435 members and the session just started right now talking about the syria issue after two and a half years, we are going to go door to door and talk to key people. >> reporter: while members of congress weigh the impact of strikes on the country, syrians working the hill say it's more than just a political calculation. it's a matter of life and death for their people back home. >> and keep it here on al jazerra for continuing coverage on the crisis in syria. you can also stay up today to

date on our website aljazerra.com. aerial castro's life sentence lasts just a couple of weeks. the man who tortured three women two a decade kills himself in prison. plus how one community is working to get fresh food into the hands of people who need it the most. >> reporter: we have some very wet weather headed into the west and much cooler temperatures, i'll he show you where we have a freeze warning potentially coming up next. ♪ ♪ pm eastern time . we will be right back. ♪

[[voiceover]] every day, events sweep across our country. and with them, a storm of views. how can you fully understand the impact unless you've heard angles you hadn't considered? antonio mora brings you smart conversation that challenges the status quo with unexpected opinions and a fresh outlook. including yours.

my name is jonathan betz. i'm from dallas, texas, and i'm an anchor for al jazeera america. >>my name is ranjani chakraborty, i'm from houston, texas. >>i'm kim bondy. >>nicole deford. >>and i'm from new orleans. >>san francisco, california. when i was a little kid, i just really loved the news. >>news was always important in my family. >>i knew as a kid that was exactly what i wanted to do. >>i learned to read by reading the newspaper with my great-grandfather every morning. >>and i love being able to tell other people stories. >>this is it, i want to be a part of this. >>this is what really drove me to al jazeera america. ♪ ♪ >> the cleveland medical examiner has confirmed that ariel castro has committed suicide in his prison cell, hanging himself with a bed sheet.

castro had just started serving a life plus 1,000 year prison sentence, his punishment for kidnapping and torturing three young women for a decade. there is no word on burial arrangements. first it was fast food workers looking for higher salaries, now wal-mart employees are planning a strike of their own. they are said to protest today in 15 cities across the country. they want the world's large of the retailer to increase minimum salary to his at least $25,000 per year. they also want wal-mart to reinstate 20 workers who were fired after another strike earlier this summer. an estimated 50 million americans are considered food insecure. that means they are not sure where their next meal is actually coming from. often people living in poverty have diets that are high in sugar and fat. now a unique partnership between farms and food banks trying to change that by providing healthy food for the people who need it. rob reynolds has more from sacramento, california.

>> reporter: the rich soil of california's central valley produces a bounty of fresh vegetables. but many of the people who live in the valley are poor and can't afford to buy healthy food. that's where the nonprofit soil-born farm and the sacramento food bank come in. vegetables grown and harvested here by volunteers are sold or donated to the food bank. shawn harrison is the founder of the farm. >> it's this idea that we really need to educate them about why they need to eat differently and then helping them to increase their accessibility to that type of produce. to those types of foods. >> reporter: it's the monthly food distribution day at a church in one of sacramento's poorer neighborhoods and a crowd of people has come to load up on farm-fresh produce. there is a big difference between this and most other food banks says its boss, blank young. >> traditional foot banking is people come, they are in institutional lines, people are checked in through a window and

handed a bag of groceries. unfortunately, most of the groceries that they are handed are things like twinkies, they are processed, they are coca cola. >> reporter: there are no sugary snacks or highly-processed fatty foods here, and that's important. because people living in poverty are more likely to suffer from diet related conditions like lie obesity, high blood pressure and didiabetes, aealthier diet including fresh vegetables can go a long way towards preventing those diseases. the sacramento food bank serves about 21,000 needy people a month. and the goal is not simply to change the kind of food they eat, it's also to help them live healthier lives. food is kind of the gate wait and then we introduce people to childcare, prenatal care. we provide clothing for job skills interviews, we provide technology training and then our goal is to walk hand in hand with them in a very dignified

way to encourage them to take that next step. >> reporter: that is cynthia ryan chopping zucchini in her kitchen. she lives on a small government disability payment. barely enough for her to afford both food and rent. the food she gets for free from the food bank allows her not only to survive, but to thrive. >> as a matter of fact, i lost 70 pounds of unwanted because i am now eating healthy from the food bank. it would be almost impossible for me to buy the quality of food that i receive from the food bank. with my income. it would be almost impossible. >> reporter: creating possibilities and changing lives with the simple gifts of the good earth. rob reynolds, al jazerra, sacramento, california. ♪ ♪ >> hi there, i am rebecca stevenson, meteorologist.

cooler weather is moving in to the northeast and as we get going, low temperatures, mid to upper 40s in some places. especially around new york, up in to maine. in fact, as you get through the day today with the humidity gone and sunshine temperatures just barely reaching 68 degrees for albany. now, we do expect a few spotty scattered showers, a cold front is sweeping through and that is what's helping cool us off. and it's bringing in a few clouds from time to time. but by the time we get to friday morning, that is when we have clear skies and a lot of our valleys any of the heat we get during the day will escape up in the atmosphere. and that is why we have frost advisories in place, friday morning between 2:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and we have also got a freeze watch for northern maine, incidentally, the state of maine has altered its freeze and frost advisory timing, so you may want to check that out. it used to be two vicinities that the state was divided in to, now it is three. but we are definitely going to see the chilly temperatures for

maine. friday morning, otherwise today, most of us to the north cooling off a little bit, but staying very hot in the midwest. especially texas. triple-digit heat expected in texas. so high temperatures today, back to 86 for minneapolis and back in to the low 90s in oklahoma, up in to denver. when we go to the pacific northwest, it's not the cool weather we are talking about so much as the amount of rain just waiting to come in. you can see that counter clockwise rotation of low pressure that will move in to southern oregon, track its way in to washington, it's going to dump a lot of rain. anywhere from a half an inch to an inch of rain. and where it's really going to impact the cascade mountains will be in to the northeast where we have some flood watches in effect for a running down in to the local rivers. we'll keep you up-to-date with the potential of flooding right here. >> rebecca, thank you. firefighters say they are finally getting california's rim fire under chrome. the wildfire has been burning for nearly three weeks in and

around yosemite national park. the flames have charred over 237,000 acres in northern california. at this point, the fire is estimated to be 80% contained. in new mexico, native american officials are finalizing ideal to purchase a cole mine fro cooe leaders see it as a way to create decades of new revenue, but as casey kaufman tells us the plan is sparking intense controversy within the country's largest tribe. >> reporter: sin via dixon lives here without electricity at this or running water. but she feels those are the least of her problems. her closers neighborhood just a mile away is a coal mine and she's con fined it's making her sick. >> sometimes we get run i knees even when we don't have a cold. get run i knows, cold, cough, sometimes knee feels nays yacht.

>> reporter: so when the international company announced they were pulling out of the coal business it was good news for cynthia until she found out there was a new investor, and it was the navajo nation itself. her own tribe. >> it's all about money. nobody cares about whose health is going down or who has health problems. >> reporter: tribal officials say they can buy the mine now for around $90 million, and turn a profit of at least $200 million every year. that's an important increase in revenue no a native government dealing way 40% poverty rate and high unemployment. >> none of the workers at the mine would speak to us on camera. but off camera, they made it very clear that keeping their job is top priority. truck drivers and mechanics make more than $30 an hour. and sometimes extended families of more than 10 people depends on that one salary. lorenzo bates represents the area where many of the miners live. he believes the purchase of the mine is not only important for employment, but also as an investment for the tribe.

>> look at how fast technology advances every day. coal does have a future and at some point that future will be realized. >> reporter: navajo environmentalists disagree. bread isaac studied economics and then started his own solar energy company. he believes coal is dirty, past its prime and also at this time respectful. >> utilizing coal as our means of income kind of counteracts all the things that we were brought up to believe and brought up to actually hold as, you know, sacred. >> reporter: for sin via, her ancestral lands is sacred, she can't forget her father's parting words. >> take care of the land, don't let nobody take the land away from you. that was his last words. and then he passed. and i always remember that. i think that that's why i am here. >> reporter: no matter what happens, cynthia says she's staying put. but very soon her unwelcomed

neighborhood might not be an international energy company, it might be her own tribal government. casey kaufman, al jazerra in the navajo nation. >> going the way of the walk man and floppy disks. those once popular gadgets have quickly become obsolete but there is a place where people are trying to save those tech dinosaurs and all the information they hold. ♪ ♪

this is the 900-

>> floppy disk, vhs tapes, zip drives they are all considered antiques of the electronic age, but sometimes they hold irreplaceable information or precious memories. as technology advances, this old media is in danger of vanishing forever. but as erica ferrari tells us, one knew see up is trying to change -- museum is trying to change this. there is an archeological dig of sorts happening at new york's new me assume artists and the general public are flocking towards a dub transfer station, where they are trying to help retrieve materials trapped on outdated technology. >> zip drives, jazz drives or old floppy differents being we can relates do this problem when we think about vhs and what has happened to those collections

containing hope movies. >> reporter: experimental filmmaker colleen brought in dozens of tapes from a live tv show she helped found 30 years ago. >> we hadn't looked at this stuff since it government shelfed in the late 80 deads. >> reporter: visitors can make a three hour importan appointmente and the service free. it gets archived up on or did is do the argue it's a storage space and way to share their work with others. that sal i didn't is only part of what compelled him to come. he tried to rescue video with students he shot in 1982. >> i took 17 students and schoolworkers to the first american group to china. in 1982. when china was essentially leaving the old china and beginning to develop the new china that we are familiar with today. >> reporter: courtney says there is an educational value to his tapes that would have otherwise been relegated to a trash pile

of history. >> i refuse to see it go in to a dumpster, you know, it shouldn't go in to the dumpster. it's interesting material for today's usage, actually, so it needs to be rescued. >> reporter: the transfer station is an exhibit exhibit as well, you can look at the videos, witness technicians in the respiration process and if they are young enough not to remember they can see for they r themselves the a real live vhs. >> finally two rare gems are hitting the auction block, the first 118-carat white diamond that could fetch $35 million. it's believed to be the largest gem of its kind ever auctioned by sotherby's. the other is a nearly eight-carat round blue diamond expected to bringer in morning $19 million. not a bad gift. that will do did for this edition the al jazerra news, i am thomas drayton, thanks for watching. up next, "well money."