. >> hello, welcome to the news hour. we're live in doha. the top stories on al jazeera. turkey's president demands a just government in syria, an warns he will not sit idle. car bombs in the syrian city of homs leaves 20 dead, half of them children. protest rallies in hong con on china's national day. and caring for aneledderly,

a new report ranks the best and worst countries for the older generation. >> turkish president erdogan gave the clearest warning yet that turkey will fight in syria. al jazeera's bernard smith reports on the turkish-syrian border. >> reporter: turkey's military is just a few hundred meters away from isil fighters. in some places the only thing that separates them are barbed wire. but so far turkey has just watched as islamic state in iraq and the levant advances across syria. turkey has been accused of ignoring the foreign fighters crossing the other way. but speaking to the opening session of turkey's parliament

the president said his government was committed to tackling terrorism. >> they will not receive any sympathy from us. their presence is unacceptable. turkey is not a country that would allow itself to be used in temporary transition. >> turkish government knows isil is a threat. it's hesitation about joining the u.s.-led campaign against the terrorist group was in part turkish hostages were being held in iraq. but turkey is still worried about isis sleeper cells that might nobody turkey, and it's worried about arming the kurds in syria. then there is a risk of pushing back in syria might advertently help bashar al-assad. >> reporter: erdogan told his audience that turkey is not just

in a fight against isil. >> one of turkey's priorities is to have a strong presence in damascus. we cannot be indecisive. we will not sit idle. >> on thursday turkey's parliament will likely approve motionings allowing turkish forces to join the fight against isil in turkey and iraq. it will also allow foreign forces to use its bases. that means the possibility of u.s. jets taking off for iraq and syria from the air base in southern turkey. bernard smith on the syria-turkey border. >> meanwhile, an attack in idlib.

residential buildings in the area have been damaged. 20 people, half of them children killed i in thecy of homs. the attack happened in a neighborhood. >> reporter: the apparent target of the bombings was a school. many of the casualties were children leaving classes at the time of the explosion. a car bomb was remotely detonated outside of the schoo school's gate before a suicide becomesuicide-bomber blew himself up within the crowd. dozens were killed and injured. this neighborhood is controlled by the government, and it is one of many districts where alawites live. they are members of the same sect of bashar al-assad. it was not the first attack of its kind but it was the deadliest in months. the government managed to regain role of th recontrol of the city of homs in may.

we know's bombings were undoubtedly a mention to the government and it's supporters. the opposition has not given up its fight. >> reporter: and neither has the government. it has stepped up an aerial campaign focusing on the city of aleppo. but the government has not been able to recapture lost territory mis. instead dozens of civilians have been killed in recent weeks. helicopters are dropping barrel bombs hazard human rights groups describe as indiscriminate. they are destroying homes. children and women in cars. >> reporter: there is no prospect of a cease-fire. there is no political solution. as u.s. airstrikes against the islamic state of the iraq and levant it is helping them in damascus win the war.

>> in iraq 20 people have been killed in two bomb attacks in the capitol of baghdad. a parked car bomb targeting civilians in a predominantly shia neighborhood. another explosion took place in southern baghdad. in other world news nearly two dozen people have been detained across mai mainland china for supporting the protest in hong song. we have pictures from the main protest site. rego to rob mcbride who tells us about hong kong. rob, tell us about the area. it's very late in hong kong, and yet people are still on the streets. >> reporter: that's right. thousands of people choosing to spend this national holiday on the streets of hong kong as part

of the campaign. this is in the middle of a two-day holiday period of october 1 and second. it has to be said the numbers here have defendelled quite considerably in the last several hours or so. they were part of this holiday period where they expect fluctuations until daylight comes again. october 1st is a national holiday here and marks the people's republic of china. normally a day of patriotic symbolism and it has been in hong kong, but also this has been a holiday with a difference. as my colleague reports. >> reporter: ceremonies hoist flags, but this not like every other national day. for days tens of thousands of

protesters have made the streets of hong kong their temporary home. seeking the resignation and demanding the election forum positive to be reversed. student leaders prevented from getting into the flag-raising ceremony. >> we tried to show our disagreement. >> but it wasn't just the protesters there. those who support the chinese central government in hong kong were out to celebrate the holidays. >> those who were looking for democracy again cited the barricaded streets.

>> reporter: the organizers said that this has grown beyond their imagination but it has taken on a life of its own. >> every is organizing and doing all these things. >> reporter: we walk through the main protest area. >> i just hope that our leaders in beijing will be able to see how determined hong kong people are in seeking democracy. but we can see very good things happening in hong kong. we mention the hong kong people. they're organizing themselves. learning how to practice democracy. >> reporter: standing firm he went on to say that the next move is with the government here in hong kong and in beijing.

the big question is just what move will it make. >> now i understand the protesters have given a deadline for the chief executive of hong kong. that's one of their demands. what's going to happen after that deadline and if that demand is not made. >> that's right. thursday is the deadline day and they have sensed by the end of this week they start to target specific government if that demand is not taken. it is one thing sitting out of the street risking obstruction. it is another getting into a compound and getting into a government building. there are a different set of laws. very questionable with the numbers of people who will take part. also there is this threat now if

they go back to this--if they take this kind of action we'll see a return to the kind of violence we've seen for a few days ago. violent confrontation with riot police, which will take this campaign to a different level. there is a sense of frustration that several days after beginning what have been a massive occupation exercise there has been very little or very little response from hong kong authorities, and they feel they have to take this next step to move forward. >> thank you very much. live for news hong kong. thank you. and thousands of people have been demonstrating in taiwan in a show of support for the democracy rallies in hong kong. these pictures show demonstrations in the capitol taipei. taiwanese leaders have urged beijing to live up to its pledges for risk alienating the public. two suicide-bombings in

afghanistan have killed at least seven soldiers. the blast targeted buses carrying military personnel in the capitol of kabul. they come a day after the government signed a deal with the u.s. to allow its forces to remain in afghanistan afte after 2014. dominick cane has the latest. >> reporter: this is the aftermath of one of the explosions. it happened in the western part of kabul. a busloaded with afghan soldiers was targeted in broad daylight. >> a suicide-bomber on a bicycle detonated the explosion. we managed to take the wounded victims to the hospital by motorbike and vehicles passing by. >> a second suicide-bomber targeted another army bus in the northeast of the city. a spokesman of the taliban said it carried out both attacks. >> this is a direct challenge to the newly inaugurated president

ashraf gandhi. i tall on the taliban the called on the taliban to join in peace talks. >> i pledge the security operation will provide the foundation for afghanistan to continue it's impressive development, and to build on the achievements of the past. our agreement will lead to the stability not only in afghanistan but throughout the region. >> reporter: people in kabul gave that a cautious welcome. >> i'm happy about the agreement if it is under the conditions set in. only then can it bring peace to our country. >> the issues that afghanistan is dealing with, signing this agreement between afghanistan and america is a need. >> reporter: how clear that need is can be seen on the streets of

the afghan capitol. dominick cane, al jazeera. >> former bosnian leader on trail for the worst massacre since world war ii and insists that he is incident. and a new generation of high speed trains? in japan the home of the original bullet train. and we'll have updates for all of wednesday's games coming up later. >> hundreds of people in yemen have been demonstrating against the president of mashaal. it happened outside the capitol. the rebels to the north took control of sanaa. theit's leaders say they will

are draw once a new government is formed. >> we see them expanding their presence, tightening their grip on the city, setting off more check points. we see some of the high ranking officials in the government are still refusing to go to work. amid this houthies are talking about potential pull out when government is appointed, when a prime minister is appointed, but on the ground there is no indication that this is going to happen any time soon. they tell us the peace deal has not been set. it must include a prime minister and new government and the committee who will be appointed in which the united nations is a partner. that in the view of observers here mean the withdraw from the houthies from the capitol of

sanaa will take a long time. >> let's go to the director of gulf affairs. welcome to our program. i want to talk about the crisis, but before we do that, do you see houthi withdrawing from sanaa once a new government is formed or will they consolidate their gains even further. >> i think they will do something in between. they'll make sure that they have control or influence over the outcome, political outcome. i believe the public presence will and. but they will ensure that they play a role in the next government.

>> let's talk about the implications. the regional pow very nervous. foreign ministers talking about accelerating ex-teamly dangerous conditions. what are they scared of? >> the saudis have been running the show in yemen since 1978. so to see a force that is not loyal to them take power and to play a major role in the politicalout come in yemen, they're not used to that there is not a threat because the houthies has stated several times they have no interest in combating saudi arabia, but they're concerned about a us they're used to a yemen that is a centralla centralized state

to saudi arabia. >> what about iran, they're long-standing connections between iran and the houthies. have the houthies in this latest crisis been supported by iran? >> yes, the houthies relationship, they started in 2009 after the houthies or the saudi government attacked the houthies and the crisis lasted a few months between them. the iranians are new players to yemen. they're a genuine part of the yemeni politics, and they must be recognized in that light. the fact that every party in yemen, including the government, the muslim brotherhood and others are supported. houthies are not alone in terms of having outside supporter. >> thank you very much. very good to hear you.

>> al jazeera continues to demand the release of three journalists. mohamed fahmy, bader mohammed, and peter greste. they have now been imprisoned for 2 77 days. they have been convicted for seven years in prison and bader mohammed was sentenced an extra three years for having and a pent bullet in hi his possession. nenetanyahu thanked president obama for the iron dome. >> meetings between president

obama and prime minister benjamin netanyahu lasted longer than expected. they spoke about gas did and rebuilding and changing the status quo for the peace process. for the israeli side the obvious talk for them is iran as the deadline gets closer with a deal with that country. the prime minister laid out what he sees as a good deal. >> the shared goal of preventing iran, and i firmly hope that under your leadership that would not happen. >> the obama administration never said their priorities to leave iran with no nuclear capability. that is a point of tension. the prime minister could go to

congress, which is his power base in the u.s. and scuttle any deal but it's not clear if congress has the authority to really do that. >> a former bosnian president is accused of a massacre where 8,000 men and boys were killed. >> reporter: after five years hundreds of witnesses, he finally has the for himself. he said the prosecution had no evidence of his own criminal responsibility. he accused them of applying, manipulations and at times it got personal. >> since they have no evidence, and chose to tarnish my personty, calling me a liar and mobster, and i believe it was with a heavy heart that he

decided to go with this kind of labeling. he probably wouldn't have done that if he had a single bit of hard evidence. >> the charge sheet is long. counts of genocide, murder, crimes against humanity. the prosecution said that he was the driving force behind a war that drove bosnia apart. they want karadic behind bars for life. he said that the court is a western plot. bad things happen in war, but he was not responsible. the relatives of those who died just want justice. >> we expect to see an adjustment. that means karadic must see life sentence at least.

we expect punishment for all those places where genocide happened. >> the most serious charge of genocide is that karadic plannedplanned for serbs to have an ethnically pure place. his american adviser claims that his case is strong. >> he accepts the executive responsibility, but as far as individual criminal responsibility when there is a person at the top trying to stop these kinds of things, he's not criminally responsible. >> on thursday he plans to deal with where 8,000 men and boys were killed. a crime he's accused of directing. >> the "world health organization" said that the number of deaths in the west

africa ebola outbreak has risen. more than 7,000 people have been infected with the virus. in the united states in texas, authorities are in contact with those who have been in contact with a man who was diagnosed with ebola. the united nations has warned that the world is not doing enough to help liberia deal with ebola. many of those with the disease are dying at home and medical staff are struggling to cope. >> he transports ebola patients to hospitals. to do so, he needs to protect his equipment.

>> they're calling me, but i don't have to-- >> he's supposed to respond every two weeks but supplies are depleted. liberia has been hardest hit. the healthcare system is training to cope with the number of patients. >> there are not enough care facilities in place. unicef is working with the governments of liberia and serie a leone to set up facilities in liberia and for sierra leone to aim to work with survivors of ebola who may be able to treat and care for children who are at the risk of being infected. >> in neighboring sierra leone schools have remained shut to prevent spread of the disease.

>> our system is better. >> the world health organization claims that ebola has infected 6500 people across west africa. half have survived but the fight is ever more difficult. >> ahead, building better relationships. how doctors can be found in indian hospitals. plus find out why this indian doctor was so upset that she refused to wear her medal at the asian games.

>> protestors are gathering... >> there's an air of tension right now... >> the crowd chanting for democracy... >> this is another significant development... >> we have an exclusive story tonight, and we go live... >> welcome back. you're watching a news hour. reminder of our top stories.

turkey's president, president erdogan, warn that turkey will fight against isil in syria. the group has advanced in site of the turkish army on the border with syria. meanwhile, 20 people, half children, have been killed in a car bomb. the target was a school in a residential neighborhood. and protests in hong kong student leaders demanding free elections threaten to occupy government buildings unless chief executives step down. now i'm joined by china expert gordon change, the author of "the coming collapse of china." very good to have you in al jazeera. you've lived and worked in china for two decades. do you think the chinese government was caught off guard?

>> i think everybody was caught off guard. democracy advocates in hong kong were caught off guard. they were talking about how the movement was close to death, and then all of a sudden the students rushed in to fill the void and we've seen protest spread across hong kong, and recently they're in a place which is just on the door step on the border with china. people in beijing right now have to be very concerned. they're worried about the democracy contagion. last wednesday we saw a demonstration in shanghai in support of the hong kong people and the people in shanghai have asked for the vote themselves. >> what is the possible way out right now? is the beijing government in mood to make concessions?

>> i think there can be some small concessions, but it can't make too many because if it does that it will tell the people of china itself that they can get concessions. i think beijing's flexibility the way they view it is limited. this is why this is a confrontation with both sides digging their heels in. this could get very dangerous very fast. just a few hours ago people's daily, the most authoritative publication in china warned of unimaginable consequences, quote/unquote. well, that could very well be the army--the chinese army pooing into hong kong to restore order. >> one of the demands of the protesters. as the momentum continues and grow, will they be made a

scapegoat. >> yes, they'll cut the first chief executive loose. so i'm sure they're willing. they don't like him in the first place. he was not their first choice as chief executive and clearly he has a low approval rating in hong kong, just 61%. 61%--just 5 21%. they answer to beijing and the people of hong kong know that. therefore they don't like their chief executive from the get go. i'm sure he's on the way out eventually. >> thank you for your insight. author of "the coming collapse of china." he's live from new york. thank you very much, indeed. a former guantanamo bay detainee to be released after the court decision to drop seven terrorism charge against him. he was acquitted of all charges

after prosecutors found there was insufficient evidence against him. he's expected to be released from jail later on wednesday. britain's prime minister vow to wrestle power back in the elections. >> i will go to brussels, i will not take no for an answer. when it comes to free movement i will get what britain needs. anyone who thinks i can't deliver this, i will say judge me by my record. i'm the first prime minister to veto a treaty, the first prime minister to cut the european budget, and yes, i pulled it out of schemes as well. around that table in europe they know what i say what i mean and

i mean what i say. we'll fight back for our national interest and we'll put it to a referendum. in or out. it will be your choice, and it is only with the conservatives that you will get that choice. >> germany has accused france of damaging the euro. france said it needs an additional two years to bring debt back within the limits of the european union. >> reporter: this bakery is very popular. two years ago it first opened it's doors. françois hollande had just gun his presidency. two years later. he stands on hold for now. >> the big problem is taxes. in france they're too high. i need to employ one more baker,

but i can't. so i limit my production to avoid any further charges. >> reporter: it's small and medium businesses who carry. on the one hand it is under intention pressure, on the other hand the european union says those measures are necessary to reduce the public debt. it currently sits at $2.7 trillion. but france said it needs to adapt it's budget for the economic pace of the country. it was in 2019 that it will be able to bring the budget deficit below the e.u. limits. >> we can expect some understanding from the e.u. because france is a big member state.

for small business owners credit ratings and public debt are far away concerns. he wants the state to relief his business from the daily burden. but france's economic outlook it seems that he'll have to wait a little bit longer. >> in mexico three soldiers are being charged with unlawfully killing suspected gang members. they were involved in a shootout in june, but investigations into the i want suggest that soldiers didn't follow rules and protocols. it came under scrutiny when victims were executed after surrendering to the army. fears for the safety of 40 mexican students are growing. they have been missing since police attacked them on their way to an exam on friday.

parents are demanding information, but so far nothing. rachel levin has more. >> reporter: singing their school anthem friends and family remember 19-year-old julio. he was found last saturday lying dead in the street from a bullet wound. his face mutilated and tortured. he was killed when police officers and alleged gang members attacked him and fellow students in southern mexico. it took four days for julio's family were able to identify his body. >> they continue to as assassinate human rights leader. they continue to assassinate. >> julio was a student at a teaching college in mexico. it's one of the poorest states in the country in the grips of gangs. family members and dozens of other students are still

missing. many watch and wonder if their loved ones would suffer the same fate. hours later they boarded buses to file missing person's reports with the authorities. many so poor they had to sell whatever they could to pay for the trip. her brother disappeared the same night that julio was killed. >> dead or alive we want them back. >> government authorities have not been able to explain what happened to the students. >> answers. that's what these men and women are searching for. their loved ones have been missing since friday and their desperation is growing by the however. >> they way patiently. while waiting for news they show us pictures of their missing relatives. most believe the local police

kidnapped them. this student was nearly killed in the attack last friday. too scared to reveal his identify he said that the police open fired on him and his classmates without warning. he escaped but others weren't so lucky. >> the police officers forced about 20 of them off the bus and told them to lie on the ground. and then they took them away. >> we won't give up the fight, they chant. holding on to one another as they stand by their classmates, uncertain how many more funerals they may have to attend in the coming days. rachel levin, al jazeera. >> people have died in an volcanoic eruption. it began erupting on saturday. it's the deadliest eruption since 1926.

searchers have resumed their search which was called off earlier because of ash. don etsk has seen heavy fighting between ukrainian forces and pro russian separatists. calling on russia to fly with international law, but interest is now a chance for an improved relationship between moscow and the west. they see n no contradiction with strong relations with russia.

the airplane was crowded in the arrival of president narendra modi. >> it was a checkup with a local doctor in kabul when his mother found out she had liver cancer. aside from diagnose there was nothing that doctors in afghanistan could do. >> in the last ten years the government has not done anything for our people. they don't make any hospital like this. they just waste money. >> afghans with serious illnesses come here and other hospitals in india, as part of an agreement between the two countries to share medical expertise and facilities. >> there are usually 70 afghan

patients at any one time. their treatment, sometimes free of charge, is part of the good will between the indian and afghanistan government. but it does not stop there. their relations extend to training afghan doctors. this doctor one of several doctors training at the hospital. he said that the training and mentorship is something that he can't even conceive of getting in afghanistan. here the doctor has learned important practical skills such as patient management and benefits of new technology, something sorely lacking back home. >> i hope i do a lot of things for my people. i hope i can help. >> that sentiment is shared with other afghan doctors training here. >> there is difference between their training, their facilities, and the facilities which are in india. so for this purpose they have

india and have a historic relation and friendship. >> there is a strategic purpose. this analyst said it wants stability in afghanistan or problems there will spread throughout the copt netanyahu. >> it is part of a larger aims. >> now a new report has ranked bangladesh among the worst countries in the world to be old. it's estimated by 2050 nearly a quarter of the population will be over 60. we have reports from the capit capitol.

>> retirement should have come a long time ago. he's 70 years old and still he works every day in the midday son. his son can't support him and he doesn't have a real roof over his head. instead, he sleeps in the garage where he parks his rickshaw. >> what can i do? i've got to feed myself. otherwise who is going to do that for me? >> bangladesh is getting old. the number of people above 60 is rising faster than the number of children being born. but the country is not prepared. income insecurity is a major problem with the elderly with few having put aside a retirement fund. one of several boat men who are over 60 years old, earning a living through physical exertion. he carries dozens of passengers for 10 to 12 hours a day earning a handful of dollars. 60% of bangladesh is over 60. and almost a quarter of its

citizens will be over that age. the same as japan today. it will be one of the most dramatic population shifts in asia, and it will bring a host of new problems to focus on child and maternal health issues. >> unfortunately, we don't have help in this country. many are facing physical and emotional problems. we're not prepared to support them because we don't have sufficient programs. >> the government is now starting to recognize the magnitude of the problems ahead. >> we can give them senior citizen i.d. stickers that will give them discounts o. >> it doesn't help that many face depression, loneliness and are stigmatized.

>> they started saying you have to end up in a shelter. you see what it's like. i explain over and over, this is a place for people to live in the community but people see it as a shameful thing. >> he said he didn't do enough to prepare for old age when he had the time. question now is whether bangladesh's aging society will be able to do enough while it still can. >> still ahead on the al jazeera news hour, a few days after helping europe retain the ryder cup, rory mcilroy picks up another prize. that's next.

>> welcome back. it's been 50 years since japan >> welcome back. it's been 50 years since japan >> today's bullet trains have

evolved into even sleeker machines and travel times have been further reduced. >> collecting the three metropolitan areas. many customers travel for business and pleasure. i think we're playing an integral role. >> some still long for the slower days. the seaside city is always been popular with domestic tourists who come to see among other things traditional geisha performances. that didn't change with the intersection of high speed rail, but the type of tourism did. >> there are good and bad things from tokyo to here only takes 30 to 40 minutes, and you get the ocean, mountain and hot springs. but visitors used to stay overnight. now they're going home instead. in. >> things may be getting a whole lot quicker thanks to a magnetic levitation train that reaches the top speed of 580 kilometers per hour.

construction on the first line o may begin before the end of the year. it also has opponents who say even though japan rail is a private company, it's inevitable government money will be needed for the project, and japan can't afford it. >> japan's major development projects have almost always cost three to four times more than the original you budget. it's possible that tax money may be used. >> there is increasing pessimism about the future of japan. the pioneering rail spirit continues, but it's unlikely to have the same affect it did 50 years ago when a train named as the super express of dreams was launched. al jazeera, tokyo. >> now for sports. >> thank you very much. just one place to start. the uefa champions league. eight matches, and one game has

been completed drawing a 0-0. the other games have all just kicked off. >> well to the aaron's champions league and the western sydney wonders will face saudi arabia in this final. they won their respective semifinals. in the resulting my may he claims he was racially abused by a player. he had to be dragged off the pitch. and his team are expected to lodge a former complaint. they won the game 2-1, but it was the saudi team that went

through. and the final is october 25th. the world's best golfer rory mcilroy has been named the pga tour's player of the year. the second time in three seasons the northern irishman has been given the title. it's been a stellar year for mcilroy with two major victories. he was part of the winning european team that obtained the ryder cup last week. >> it means a lot. it's that time of year that the awards start to roll in, and this is a very important one to me because you get voted on by your peers and by the players you're trying to beat week in and week out. they appreciate what you've done, and that's something that means a lot a lot now djokovic has made it through the quarterfinals at the china open. the wimbledon champion is still on course for his fifth title in

beijing. >> it was a great match to be proud of. >> joining the serve in the last eight is john, needed three se sets. in a deciding america winning this one. and in tokyo, nishotori playing in front of 0,000. he did not disappoint his fans winning, and looking to win the

tournament for a second time in his career. in the aaron games there are contrasting fortunes for two women boxers, clinching a first-ever goal in india for the flight way category. the 31-year-old of kazakhstan in the final is the first asian games golds will won an olympic bronze medal at the london games. and perhaps all the mother awardin rewarding for the mother of three who has been boxing for 14 years. >> i sacrifice because i left my kids. i left my family. and all this for my training. because of all of my country support, now again after an asian champion. thank you so much. >> but another indian boxer has

refused to accept her bronze medal. she lost to south korea. she launched a protest against the judge's decision, and they went to hang the bronze medal on her neck but they've entered a disciplinary case on the indian boxer. all top three finishers were disqualified. thrown out for obstruction while others were penalized for breaking lane regulation that left the fourth place finisher to claim iraq's first gold medal. >> it was the first gold medal for iraq, and this is why it's important. our mission is happy including the administration of sports and olympic committee and members of the federation. they're all happy with this important medal.

we deserve this medal. >> the san francisco giants will take on the pittsburgh pirates in the world game. in the american league, the kansas city royals beat th win and come back to force the game in extra innings. giving the final win in the 12th. they will now face the los angeles angels in the best of five divisional series. lots for sports on our website. www.aljazeera.comsports. you can get in touch with our team using twitter. >> michael: that's it for this news hour on al jazeera. thanks for watching. i hope you did stay with us.