more than 60 female prisons freed in syria as part i've three-way deal with its neighbors. ♪ ♪ >> hello, i am jonah hul hall in doha. the u.s. is accused of spying again, and germany says this time it's personal. calling for change, thousands protest against cambodia's ruling party. but. >> reporter: i am enter mart ent smith ibernard smithinky just a.

it's the start of tourist seem but trouble means there is almost no one here. ♪ ♪ the syrian government has freed 62 female detainees as part of a an ambitious regional prisoner exchange, the agreement involving three neighbors countries illustrates how far syria's civil war as spilled out across the middle east. most of the women were released at the border with with a border crossing with lebanon, many have returned home as part i've deal brokered with syrian rebel fighters. the deal began on saturday. which nine lebanese hostages were released by the syrian opposition. they were held for more than a year on suspicion of supporting hezbollah. two turkish airline pilots were freed in lobe no one, the leband to help turkey free the hostages. now 62 female prisoners have been released by the syrian

government. our correspondent joins you now live at the crossing. on the syrian border with lebanon where the women were released. good to see you. thanks for joining us. i want to talk to you in a moment about the significance overall significance of this deal. but for now, let's look at the mechanics. 62 women released. out of i believe a total number as per the agreement of 126 female prisoners, does this suggest that the syrian government isn't stick to go the letter of this agreement, or does it suggest that there are more releases to come? >> reporter: well, should be expecting more releases to come, but we don't have any confirmation that that will happen. from what we understand, when this swap deal was happening, the brigade had asked initially for about 370 female detainees to be released and then that list was brought down to about

120. so from the number that we have, as you said 62 so far, at least half of them. another half should be released pretty soon within the next few hours. now, we don't know if that will happen or not. or where it will happen. last night they were -- the 48 that were released were actually brought to this side of the border as you said. but from what we are understand, most of them, if not all of them, decided to stay in syria and not cross in to lebanon. and now we don't know the reasons for that, some of our sources tell us that they decided to stay in syria because their family lives in the government-controlled areas damascus and they prefer to go back home. >> an incredibly complicated deal this carried out, brokered in very complicated circumstances. what is the significance of all of this? we are looking at channels of communication betweenbly between

the government and opposition forces on the ground and between three neighboring countries. does it suggest, perhaps that, other deals are possible? >> reporter: well, it could suggest that there would be other deals this, deal was important for all of the parties and actually qatar and lebanon that brought it together. now, everybody won out of this deal, there is more to come. there is these -- the fate of the two bishops that were kidnapped back in may that is still hanging in the air. we do know that lebanon and qatar are putting a lot of effort for those two bishops to be released. there are some indications that they are alive. even though we don't have a confirmation that have. so certainly the fact that ideal is happening, the fact that the syrian government is also holding its part of the deal so far, is giving a lot of hope that you could see more of that happening in the next coming

weeks. >> thanks. there for us in lebanon. now, staying with syria. an explosion near the airport in syria's capital damascus has been followed by a blackout in parts of the country. this video which cannot be independently verified was posted on youtube showing the aftermath of the attack. state media says power was cut after rebel artillery hit a gas pipeline. residents say the entire capital was plungeed in to darkness. germany has become the latest in a long line of countries demanding answers from the u.s. over its surveillance program. the national security agency is now being accused of tapping the german chancellor angela merkel's mobile phone. the u.s. president obama has told mrs. merkel that she isn't being identifie spied on but the house didn't rule out that it didn't happen in the past. >> reporter: the german government in must have been

pretty sure going public with allegations that the american spied odd angela merkel's mobile phone a spoke maps described the idea as completely unacceptable. the chancellor kerr herself called the white house and that brought this response. >> i can tell you that the president assured the chancellor that the u.s. is not monitor and and will not monitor the communications of the chancellor. >> reporter: listen to that again. >> i can tell you that the president assured her that we are not monitoring and will not monitor the chancellor. >> reporter: missing are the wo*rdz have no, did thwords hav. when al jazerra asked if it had happened in the past. they repeated official line but added: >> reporter: the german claims come just days i've french newspaper accused the american spy agency the nsa of hacking diplomats computers and recording data from 70 million calls in france over a 30-day

period. just after edward snowden revealed the size of the u.s. spying program, barack obama made a foreign trip where he was asked about the extent of operations abroad. he was in berwyn, standin berlin effect to angela merkel. >> this is not a situation in which we are rifling through, you know, the ordinary e6789 e-s of german citizens or american citizens or french citizens or anybody else. >> reporter: so now the germans join the french, mexicans and md brazilians among others who have been upset by a edge haded u.s. spying creating deep suggestion sponges and international tension. >> it sent shifts down my spine when we find out that the u.s. is spying on all of us through brazil's information services. >> reporter: u.s. officials have start today review how and what is collected because of growing international anger. allen fish he should al jazerraa washington.

pakistan's prime minister is urging barack obama to end u.s. drone strikes in his country. they met at the white house they they promise today cooperate on security issues. patty has this report. >> reporter: the usual words of friendship, cooperation and commitment often pledged in the oval office but this meeting, this handshake, could symbolize much more. pakistan and the u.s. had barely been on speaking terms since the unannounced raid that killed osama bin laden in pakistan more than two years ago and nato killed 24 pakistani troops. that led to roads being closed, u.s. aid being cut off. but the traffic and the aid now flowing again. but it was evident in this meeting that there is still a huge source of tension u.s. drone strikes. >> i also brought up the issue of drones in our meeting. emphasizing the need for an end to such strikes. >> reporter: the president didn't talk drones, but when the national security advisor of pakistan talked to al jazerra,

he seemed to indicate the president did give reassurances behind the scenes. >> they said that we have largely accomplished our targets a key figure that we want to target. and now they have tapered off and they probably once the remaining few targets are met. >> reporter: he wouldn't go any further and spell out exactly what promises were made, but experts say with the deadline quickly approaching for u.s. troops to leave afghanistan, both countries have little choice but to try to find a solution. for the u.s., it's all about security. >> it's afghanistan and pakistan's help in h reconciliation, it's counter terrorism both in pakistan and within groups operating across the region but using pakistani soil. it's the pakistani nuclear weapons and their safety and security and it's overall stability in pakistan which means some economic help. >> reporter: but the u.s. aid that has been promised each year

has been on a steady decline, 2,104.5 billion, then 3.6, the next year two if the six it could total eventually within .5 billion this year and 975 million is pledged for next year. pakistan clearly needs not just aid, but trade and help with development especially with its energy sector if its economy is going to recover and if foreign investments is going to return. this meeting, the show of respect, may mark a knew new beginning for two countries with a complicated relationship. sometimes allies, occasionally angry, but both know that they need each other. patty, al jazerra, washington. thousands of opposition supporters in cambodia have march today the u.n.'s human rights office in the capital urging it to intervene in the country's political deadlock. they are protesting for a second day against the ruling party and what they say was a stolen election. they are calling for an investigation in to poll results in july.

rob mcbride is in the capital. >> reporter: a second day of protests here, several thousands protesters camping out overnight in this park despite honored that they should not do so. the organizers say some 20,000 0 demonstrators many from provinces outside across cambodia have turned up call for an overturn of the controversial election of three months ago, today they are taking tear campaign to various e embassies calling for international help. three days of protests have been peaceful. previously these protests have resulted in confrontations with at least one demonstrator being killed and others injured. so far, the demonstrators have been peaceful. and the security forces themselves police have kept a low profile, really giving space to allow people to take to the streets and protest. for their part, the cambodian

people's party, the ruling party here, the party of the long-time prime minister, so far they have refused for budge, they have said that the wil election resut stands although talks are planned between the two sides after this demonstration it's difficult to see how they will prove and indeed their own m.p.s taking over in parliament and having controls over the ministry, the government and the armed forces it's difficult to see how they will be moved in their position. >> still to come here on al jazerra. we visit a garment fact lip rostislav i in bang los angeles dish where the them rift worst collapse is inspiring a new generation of owners. plus. >> reporter: i am rory on the island of mallorca, changes to the way spain uses languages in schools aren't going down very well here at all. ♪ ♪

all next week america tonight investigates the campus rape crisis. >> serial rape is the norm on college campuses. >> i know that when i did report, i was blamed. >> then on friday, november 1st at nine eastern, we open up the conversation in a live town-hall event. sex crimes on campus, a special week of coverage and live town-hall on america tonight nine eastern. only on al jazeera america. [[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.

hello again. the top stories on al jazerra. syria has freed sick two female prisoners as part i've 3-way exchange deal. nine lebanese hostages were released on saturday after being held by syrian rebels. two turkish pilots were freed in lebanon the same day. german chancellor angela merkel is demanding officers from the u.s. over allegations it tapped her mobile phone. the white house has denied any ongoing spying, but hasn't ruled out that it may have happened in the part. that's of people gathering

protesting a stolen election they want an independent investigation in to poll results earlier this year. thousands of tunisians have been demanding the government steps down. prime minister says he will resign, but only after a caretaker government is formed. on wednesday, six national guard members were killed during fighting with armed men. here say report from tunisia. >> reporter: protesters try to enter the office of to true neai can't's prime minister. they are stopped by the police. opposition coalitions behind the demonstrations says the government must go. they say it's not just about politics they are out the work. like half. >> unemployment has increased the and the cost of living has gone, we'll continue to fight until we get rid of this government.

long live tunisia we won't give up on it. >> reporter: the economy is one of the many problems, the government says it's fighting a war against an armed group of extremists. it says members of the group are hiding in this mountain us area in the northwest of true near i can't and also in the center the country the prime minister sayse people behind these attacks will be defeated. >> the tunisian government is winning over terrorism and will track the remaining pockets no matter what sacrifice. this is not just the determination of the government alone, but it's the determination of all of our military and security institutions and all of the apparatus of the state. >> reporter: but even the security forces are angry, last week the prime minister, the president, and the head of parliament were forced to leave this funeral the police killed by an armed group. the government says the priority now has to be national talks and

a new constitution and an election date. and only when that is done, will it do what the protesters wants. and resign. two years ago to you near an tuo the polls in a fast, free elections in the country's history. the people are frustrated now that the promises made by politician on his all sides have not been fulfilled. pro testers say they'll now begin a sit in physical get what they want. tunisians have been through mean crisis, but never expected this. the celebrations have turned to anger. and people are wondering whether the dreams of the revolution will ever be achieved. al jazerra, tunisia. russian prosecutors have dropped piracy charges against the 30 green peace activists who were arrested last month. instead they'll be charged with hooliganism which could result in a lesser sentence.

david has more from moscow. >> reporter: president putin had already publicly admitted the green peace activ activists were obviously not pirates that charge carries a maximum prison term of 15 years. the criminal authorities in moscow now seem to be towing the kremlin's line. they have replaced them with charges of hooliganism, for attempting to climb aboard a gas pump oil rig in the baron see last month. that means they could face up to seven years in a russian jail instead. reacting to the news green peace's spokesman in moscow said the arc at thi 30 were no more hooligans than pirates he said it is wildly disproportionate for a peaceful protest the charges have no bearing to reality. green peace organized a worldwide practice test to mark the o activists 30 days if

descension. they say they should be released immediately and will fight what they call the latest trumped up charges. all requests for bail by the activists have so far been did he bid the courts. the latest refusal came on wednesday. >> i did not come here to go to president. i didn't come to russia at all. [inaudible] >> reporter: it was charges of hooliganism that were brought against the members of the campy try the band for their punk protest in moscow's main cathedral last year them received a two-year sentence in prison. some members of the arctic 30 have bitterly complained about the conditions they are being kept in. no date has yet been set for when their trial will begin. david, al jazerra, moscow. in the u.s. state of california, a 13-year-old boy carrying a replica gun has been shot and killed by police.

the boy's father says he was returning the plastic toy to a friends in santa rose a the incident took place a day after a 12-year-old boy shot a teacher dead at a school in nevada. violent protests have broken out in haiti after a prominent lawyer was arrested. there were scuffles with police and his supporters shot down several blocks of downtown port-au-prince with burning barricades it's not known exactly why andré michelle was take then to custody on tuesday, however he is known for bringing corruption cases against the government and the president's family. the instability in egypt is having a devastating effect on the country's tourism industry. visitor numbers fell by an estimated 80% after the july coup. bernard smith reports now from luxor. >> reporter: it's a tourist's dream. but luxor's nightmare. this is high season. the few visitors have got these

ancient sites to themselves. >> it's nearly disaster, you know, looks here better than -- it's safer, you know, that moment of the year we are in season, we are in the beginning of the winter, and to see this is empty and a regular place for the tourists, it's absolutely something very very bad for us and our economy and for our future. >> reporter: on a normal day, thousands of people would be walking through the funeral temple of the queen. just two turned up while we were there. >> we was very worried before to come here. we asked a friend and a news to see if we decide to come here before we come here. but now we are very -- we are happy to can see the monument alone. >> reporter: it's a unique experience, you are lucky. >> we yes, we are very lucky to

see it without people. >> reporter: luxor hasn't been touched by the violence affecting other parts of egypt by most of the tourists have been scared off. devastating the local economy. this is the entrance to it the valley of the kings. in there amongst others, the tomb of toot uncommon this is the top of the tortist must-see list but the car park normally full of tour coach is his pretty much empty. luxor's hotels are deserted. occupancy rates are around 4%. they are usually more than 80% at this time of year. the nile used to be clogged with cruise boats, now they are moored and mothballed. the government says morning a billion dollars in tourism revenue has been lost since the mass demonstrations in july that prompted the military-led coup. >> since we have like this problem actually like between the new government and the muslim brotherhood, i expect

there will be like no stability, for a longer time. like i don't know when they will come to sit together and then everything stop. >> reporter: while the sides remain apart. u.s. and european countries will advise against travel toy jim. no distinction is made for this peaceful, breaths taking city. japan is bryce pwra*euzing fobraising itself foranother tyk after one. it's not as powerful but packing strong winds and heavy rain. it's on course for 120-kilometers from tokyo by the end of the week. >> it's been six months now since one of the world's worst industrial disasters in bangladesh, the plaza factory clips killed more than a thousand garment would beers. the disaster blighted the industry but the tragedy has

become a source of inspiration for some. from bangladesh, we have more. >> reporter: six months ago she wasn't sure she would work in a garment a factory again or visit one without having a panic attack. she used to be a garment factory worker. more than a thousand of her co-workers died when the building collapsed. experience left her scared and fearing for her future. >> i didn't think that i would be able to do this again. when the generator starts i get scared. but then i think that this building is only one floor and maybe i can do this. >> reporter: that's when samuel and his friends stepped in. shocked by the death and devastation they set up a facebook group to help. they tracked down victims and supported them. then they had the ideas to set up a fair labor factory where the workers are paid decent wages and shared in the profits. >> we sought hor are of the collapse and realized

contributions have to end with just donations. great tragedy because of one man, the rest of us step up and help out. >> reporter: people like samuel are trying to insure the industry's future is better than its past. but problems remain. working in the garment industry is still dangerous work. just this month a fire killed seven people in this factory. it raises the question of how much things have really changed since the disaster. the government says it's trying to make sure the disaster is not repeated. >> accidents are accidents. the latest fire was an accident. these things will happen. but we are becoming more careful, we are taking more measures. >> reporter: the plaza will be a tragic reminders of the industry's problems fo for a log time to come but they are hoping for a reformed tkpwafrlt garmen. giving them a safer and more

secure fewer. ireland's justice minister have confirmed that police shouldn't have taken two roma children away from their parents. dna test have his confirmed the identity of the children who have been returned to their family since. it following the discover of a girl in a roma camp in greece last week. and the arrest of the couple she was living with. schools in -- schools in spain islands have been order today stop teaching some subjects in a language nate i have to many of the children some see it as an attack on culture. a report from a school on the island of ma yor mallorca. it's play time at the school in the hills of mallorca. most of these children are bilingual speaking mainly catalans but also spanish. as they head back in for lessons, their teachers will be preparing classes in both languages, but that system is on the way out and soon they will be caught in ting lur english t,

catalans will no longer be dominant. >> we have decided art will be caught ta*ut in english, math and signature sciences in catalans with some bits. religion will be caught in catalans. >> reporter: the try lingual model is both hugely my indicated and hugely unpopular here. plenty of parents think the governments in madrid is conducting a damaging nationalistic experiment on their children. >> they want to spanishize the students, which is what the education minister said in apartment that he wanted to do. for that reason, a lot of people relate the new reforms with other times from spain's past. >> reporter: these lake willing reforms poke at two of spain's raw nerves, one old, and one new. firstly, messing around with regional languages here always rewake ens memories of the dictatorship of general franco. but secondly, there is

embarrassment that most spaniards don't speak good enough english to compete in the modern world. the ruling popular party didn't have anyone available for us to interview. but the justification it gives for all of its education reforms is spanish students aren't employable enough, they muff get better at languages. >> i agree with this goal, but i don't agree in the way they are doing that. there are not enough too much teachers that's the first question so if this language reform is being applied with not enough english level. i don't think it will help improving our students english levels. >> reporter: spain's children clearly face a tougher job market than those who graduated before the crisis. youthful skills will be crucial

for their success and that's true whatever language you say it in. rory, al jazerra, mallorca, spain. >> and here is a reminder that you can keep up-to-date with all of our stories and all of our news on the website aljazerra.com. that's a aljazerra.com. nations questions of sovereignty and legality get in the way of good relations. drones in pakistan. that's tonight's inside story. >> hello, i'm libby casey in washington. pakistan and united states have a complicated and often strained relationship. the two countries share vital