the spread of the islamic state, and the c.i.a. believes the group may be three times bigger than previously thought. hello, i'm darren jordan with the world news from al jazeera. he's been cleared of murder but oscar pistorius could face gaol. a final verdict is expected soon. aid is delivered from flood victims in kashmir. hundreds of thousands stranded in pakistan. the secret from the spino-saurus is revealed, a new

meat eating, swimming dinosaur. welcome to the program. the c.i.a. says the number of fighters that have joined the islamic state group is three times more than previously thought. until now, it was estimated the group was around 10,000 strong, but u.s. officials believe i.s. could have as many as 31.5,000 fighters. the group has taken control of northern iraq and syria, some suggesting it may hold a third of syrian territory. more fighters have been recruited since june, following battlefield progressions. we are talking to our guest from the center for violence. >> the americans have been monitoring this group for a long period of time. but in the most recent period

that is in the past six months to a year, there has been a number of intelligence failures, and it is because the u.s. left the ground presence in iraq to better understand and comprehend the group. the islamic state presents formidable, unprecedented threat. it presents a threat not only to the region, but a global threat. >> the french president francis hollande arrives in iraq. france says it will join the international military coalition against the islamic state group. he was greeted by his counterpart at the presidential palace in baghdad. >> meanwhile, arab leaders announced their support for a u.s. plan to combat the islamic state, 10 countries, agreed to

back the movement. >> arab nations play a critical role in that communication, the leading role really, across all lines of support, military, humanitarian aid, the work to stop illegal funds or foreign fighters which i.s.i.s. fighters needs to survive, and the effort to repudiate the dangers, the offensive, the assaulting extortion of islam that i.s.i.l. propaganda attempts to spread throughout the region. >> australia raised a terrorism threat level from medium to high. prime minister tony abbott says concerns have been raised over the impact of answers joining the i.s.i.s. group in iraq and syria. >> the security agencies raised a threat level based on an accumulation of indicators, the numbers of australians in the

middle east, fighting with and supporting terrorist groups. the numbers that have returned from the middle east, the numbers in australia who are known to be supporting the terrorist groups, and exhortations coming from the middle east to the supporters of the terrorist groups in australia, to prepare to launch attacks here in australia. a judge in south africa is due to announce the final verdict in a trial of an olympic athlete oscar pistorius, after clearing him of murder. the state failed to prove that oscar pistorius failed to kill his model girlfriend. paige your joins us live. a day of high drama.

there must be huge expectation over the verdict today? >> absolutely, huge expectation and suspense. you can see across the road lawyers or a family member arriving at court, oscar pistorius not here. mixed rehabilitation to the not guilty on murder charge from thursday. some legal experts saying the judge got it wrong, that oscar pistorius should have foreseen the possibility that he could kill whoever was on the other side of the bathroom door, given his knowledge of guns and how small that room was. we understand oscar pistorius arriving at the court as i spoke to you. on the other handsome legal experts backing the judge and saying that she was right. so real mixed continues here, and something they'll argue about for months if not years to come. before moving on to friday's event, the culmination of a long

trial. let's look back at how the verdict is unfolding on thursday. >> oscar pistorius arrived in court and circled by police and cameras that followed his every move. this was to be his moment of truth. the judge moved quickly, summarising the evidence before lifting a weight from the paralympian's soldiers. >> the state has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder. there's not enough facts to support such a finding. >> he cried at the news. she cleared him of murder two, but the day ended as it began, filled with suspense. it's not until friday that she'll rule on the charge of manslaughter. oscar pistorius is a media darling, a double amputee who took on perceptions.

he was the first double amputee to compete. oscar pistorius admits shooting his girlfriend, but only because he thought she was an intruder. the trial intlaled and intrigued viewers. >> maybe it will be a lighter sentence. you. >> i think oscar is guilty. no one deserves to kill a person. >> it's fair that he wasn't found guilty, but for homicide she'll find him guilty on that. >> there are journalist from all over the world. >> the media's attention was not helpful to the trial. the judge had to rule out several statements key to the state prosecution's case for premeditated murder and murder. neighbours that heard screams followed by gunshots.

although the broadcast added transparency, in a country where the perception is if you are rich, you can buy yourway out of trouble. oscar pistorius's fall from grace from a media darling to a murder accused has been gripping to watch. there were small cheers, but he is not at the finishing line yet. >> oscar pistorius making his way upstairs into that courtroom as i spoke to you. the judge due to resume her ruling at half past, and we'll find out soon, i believe, on the all-important culpable homicide or manslaughter charge. she hinted thursday on the direction, she said he was negligent, acting hastily in firing his gun four times into the bathroom door and overreacted in suspecting an intruder was behind it. >> we'll know soon, but not for

sure until it comes out of the judge's mouth, if she find him guilty of culpable homicide. there's no minimum sentence. he could be finned or get community service or a prison term. she will set a date for the sentencing. >> tania page outside the court in pretoria. we'll no doubt come back to you when the verdict is announced. european sanctions targetting russia have come in effect. sanctions have been put in place over russia's military involvement over ukraine. major oil firms will be denied access to finance in crucial european markets, and banks. >> hundreds of thousands of people are stranded after massive bloods in india-administered kashmir. 450 died there and in neighbouring pakistan. >> we have this report.

>> reporter: it's the only way to get down the road. this is what many areas look like. some people are trapped. days after the rain let up. the indian army has been pulling people out. some of the rescue work is done by locals themselves. this man lost his voice after days of shouting down the streets to help his family, neighbours and strangers to get out. others are locals, flying in from dubai to help. >> the army give it to you. i took my family, and my neighbours, and i go and take all neighbour, every person. >> the power is out. safety takes a back seat. others are trapped. this is one of the most flooded areas. this street looks like a river, and looking at the house you see how high the water level rose.

>> rescue workers arrived for the past few days rescuing people by air and boat. we are on a home made raft. >> survivors are frustrated. the army says they are helping their own personnel, not allowing them to join the search for survivors. >> they will not allow us to save our own people. they save their own personnel. >> some locals were hostile towards us, blaming media for focussing on army rescues, and ignoring kashmiries. the medical staff improvised the free clinic after the hospitals were flooded. with or without electricity, they are treating around 700 people a day with donated medicines. >> whatever little we have, we are trying to give.

rescue efforts continue around the region, and are expected to go on for days or weeks. with more help coming in, more people are rescued. time for a short break. we'll come back, and find out why one of thailand's popular islands is facing a crackdown by the military crackdown.

welcome back. a quick reminder of the top stories on al jazeera.

olympic athlete oscar pistorius arrived in court at pretoria, where he'll learn of his fate on culpable homicide charges. the judge found him not guilty of murder. the c.i.a. says the numbers of fighters that have joined the islamic state group is three times more than thought. i.s. could have more than 31,000 fighters. french president francis hollande arrived in iraq. france says it will join the coalition against the islamic state group. francis hollande's plane was carrying 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid. let's talk to sue turton. francis hollande, we know, is the first head of state to visit iraq since the islamic state group overran large parts of the country. what is the visit all about? >> they would say that he's bringing humanitarian aid. more importantly than that, it's

symbolic. he's the first of the western leaders to come to iraq since the war against the islamic state fighters began. it's him patting the iraqi government on the back, getting a government together a few days ago. it demonstrates how france is at the point, the front, really, of the european nation's backing the u.s.'s broad coalition. you may remember a few weeks ago, the french foreign minister came to iraq and cuttingly said that he could see people dying when the other foreign ministers were out having a holiday. it wasn't until days after the that the foreign ministers rushed to brussels and pledged support. francis hollande, the french president, announced that weapons would be coming to arm the peshmerga here in northern

iraq. francis hollande really sort of showing that he is very much standing firm with the iraqi government, with the u.s. interestingly you may remember that it was a day ago when france opposed the invasion of iraq. >> sue turton there in erbil. thank you. now, turkey has not signed up to the u.s.-led coalition. john kerry is heading to ankara, and we have this report from south-eastern turkey. this might be turkish soil, but it is a border town that looks to the middle east. it's a place of pilgrimage, the birthplace of abraham, a great profit. now, sometimes minigling among the pilgrims, men with different intentions. they are close to the end of a journey taking them to syria and

iraq, joining the fighters calling itself the islamic state. turkey made the final event harder. the plane ahead is syria. it used to be easier to get there. you just cut a hole through the fence. not any more. >> translation: the changes started about 10 months ago. turkish forces have been digging trenches, putting tanks there, increasing guards and use night vision goggles, they shot at people. it's harder to get foreigners across. since jan, fighters have been trying to gross the border east of the river. that's into syria's raqqa province, where they'll be welcomed into an area controlled by groups linked to iraq state. rafah is behind me. turkey doesn't want the complex spilling over here.

the i.s.i.s. is holding more than 40 turks hostage. playing a role in a u.s.-led military campaign to push back i.s. forces could result in the i.s. taking out revenge on the turkish hospitals. they have plenty of reminders of the human cost of the conflict. like dozens of turkish towns and cities, it hosts hundreds, if not thousands escaping from the fighting. >> there's no life in rafah. people are tired. the islamic state took everything and controls everything in the city. there's no money, no work. >> u.s. officials said they understand turkey's unique position as the only muslim majority country in n.a.t.o. being close to the conflict, discrete cooperation is viewed as essential, if the cal pain against the islamic state group is to have a chance of success.

al jazeera continues to demand the release of its three journalists. egypt detained peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed for 258 days. they are accused of aiding the muslim brotherhood, charges seen as politically motivated. they are appealing against the conviction. the latest opinion polls on scottish independence suggests a 4% lead. the survey showed 2% lead for the yes campaign, sparking alarm in london about the braeg up of the u.k. -- break-up of the u.k. banks and financial companies are being accused of scare-mongering. banks are warning they'll move their headquarters from edinburgh to london if the yes vote wins next week. >> thailand's lucrative tourism industry is feeling the impact of a crackdown. marshall law is helping a clean-up in top destinations

such as phuket. >> tourists from around the world have been coming to the shores of phuket for decades. the island is facing a heavy-handed crack down by the military government. for years, paton beach was lined with bars, restaurants and stands, renting umbrellas. they provided the livelihood for these people, and had for years. a few months ago they were told by police that they were set up on the beech illegally. and had a few weeks notice before the structures were demolished. this week they pleaded with the mayor for help from the military government in bangkok, and had not seen job seeking programs. they have no way to make money. because of the big tourism money, organised crimes are prevalent in phuket. from payoffs to local government, extorting from many

businesses, they, too, are part of a crack down. one target is the taxi mafia. fixing fairs, extorting tourists. this man has been driving a taxi for 75 years. >> i feel the honest people can work comfortably and not scared of the powerful people. the work is better, it's enough to make ends meet. >> these not sure if it will be better. that comes once the boats are filled. >> the man behind the clean up was tasked with the job before the coup. he says it wasn't nool he had the influence and force that thee could make headway. >> this police minister was bought to phuket and says marshall law helps him to get his work done. >> i was shocked at the level of corruption, and how daring they are. i'm only a small cop. i'm true to my job.

i studied the case of al capone, the big mafia, and how he got arrested. i use that as a guide for our case. >> this task force arrested paton's former mayor and son. after they were let out on bail, they accused the police of betra. the son may set on cleaner beaches, but they'll be more pleased at people losing their jobs. the task force is a model for more tourist venues across the country. we'll talk to a member of the thai transparency international and chairman of strategic studies. what is behind the crack down on corruption. why now, do you think? >> i think this is the flag of this movement of the ncpa, and

one of the reasons they toppled the former government who was suspected of being corrupt. in 2011, thailand was 80th, 88th in 2012, 2013, 102. we expect to be better this year, much improvement, because there is a political will, and the flag to do so. >> what you are trying to say is it seems politics and corruption have gone hand in hand. let me ask you how corruption impacts on the tourist trade and hotspots like phuket. it highlighted how widespread corruption is, and how tourists are ripped off. >> yes, corruption is widespread before, and this is why the action is taken. i think tourists are ripped off left and right because law

against corruption in thailand is archaic. secondly, there's no political will, and most of the local government that deals with the tourist town is usually corrupted, due to a lot of tourists coming in and wanting to enjoy the night life and enjoy things that are against the law. for example night areas have to be closed at 2am. it is really only the start of the beginning of entertainment. >> what about the new thai government. is this, do you think, an honest attempt to crackdown on corruption can governments gain political leverage by taking on corruption? >> i think the intention is there. i think the intention is honest, but my fear is will the one year

or whatever the period that the ncp empowers, they don't need to satisfy the local voters which means that they can do a lot of things that they can amend a lot of laws against the illegal, illicit trade that is going on in the tourist area. >> okay. thank you very much for talking to al jazeera. mccocoa in nigeria is a slum in northern africa, built on water providing a way of life. the risk of disease is high. >> in the first of a 4-part series, we have this report from lagos. >> with its watery lanes clogged and floating shops, this is macogoa, nigeria's slum on water. 200,000 live here. for them, poverty, pollution and disease is a way of life.

this is a fisherman living with his wife and children. >> we are a fishing community. like the fish, we cannot do without water. some might say we live vicariously, but we are used to it. in islam people do not survive. they thrive to. for the people here, life revolves around the water. they live, walk and shop in the slum. they have a saying that you can find anything except a grave. after more than a century, local officials began to take an interest in the slum. two years ago they sent men with chainsaws to the waterways to demolish the houses, a move leaving thousands homeless. that 6-5-year-old is on the stilts that a house stood on. she lives in a makeshift room with mine children and

grandchildren >> i was born in macoucou and so were my parents. i know nowhere else. that's why i couldn't leave. i would rather die in ma cue cue than move. >> reporter: things have improved. the government abandoned perhaps to evict the residents of the there's a floating school. this man has been campaigning and is encouraged by what he sees. >> the dream is one that, first of all, recognising that these people, you know, have a right to remain in the community. the community that is functional. that is like in the community. that is serviced by the government of the. >> until that happens, the people say they'll live the way their fore fathers did, taking comfort in their communal

existence, something that forces a feel that their home is separate from the jungle beyond it. and you can see the second part of our 4-part special on global slums on saturday. >> i'm rob reynold's in san jose, with a story how this camp full of homeless people exists in silicon valley, a wealthy part of america. scientists unearthed new discoveries about the largest meat-eating dippo saur ever to roam and swim the earth. here is, a 15 meter long spino-saurus a cross between a tyrana saur us rex, a crocodile and a whale. it has a spiney tale down the back, jaws.

it shatters a theory that dinosaurs were largely land-bound creatures. this one spent much of its life at sea. a reminder, you can keep up to date with the news on the website. there it is on the screen. the address aljazeera.com. president obama told the american public while he believes the islamic state must be destroyed and explains how he wants to do it, now they are taking a closer look on if it can work.