syria's refugee crisis back in focus. top diplomats meet in berlin after an urgent call for action by the u.n. hello, welcome to al jazeera, live from our headquarters in doha. also ahead - calls for perspective in the u.s. over the ebola outbreak. the media accused of whipping up hysteria. >> americans are far more likely to get the flu this year than ebola the case against malaysia's

opposition leader anwar ibrahim enters its final stay, in a case many say is politically motivated. >> we'll tell you why it's a good time to be a woman in france, but not when it comes to your pay check. the government ministers from around the world are gathering in berlin this hour to discuss what aid agencies call the worst humanitarian disaster in modern times. more than 3 million syrians crossed the border, millions are displaced in the country, and there has been a huge influx of people into turkey. nearly 200,000 people have escaped the violence and border town of kobane. for more than a month, the border has been the scene of intense fighting from i.s.i.l. and kurdish forces. the turkish disaster and

emergency management authorities say they are providing three hot meals for 60,000 in the area around. >> we'll go to bernard smith, live at the turkish-syrian border. we'll get to the refugee situation, but first, what is the latest on the fighting in kobane? >> elizabeth, good morning. unusually fighting started in the last sort of half an hour or so. it's 9 o'clock local time. there was an enormous explosion over my shoulder, followed by a couple of smaller ones. shrapnel ended up not far from where we are standing, forcing us to put on the flap jackets. a quiet night, we understand, and there were four air strikes, but fighting picking up this morning. >> what is the situation then for people that are fleeing that fighting in kobane?

what options do they have? well, as you say, around 200,000, as many as 200,000 people have fled the fighting in kobane. many leaving it to the last minute because they don't want to leave behind them everything that they own. a lot of people are forced to leave cars and cattle behind because the turkish authorities will allow refugees through, but they don't allow them to bring their cars or cattle with them. people, when they come, don't have anything, and they have to be accommodated somehow. they bridge clothes, they bring a suitcase, and some stuff from their homes. what they can carry, but otherwise they are pretty much without anything. they can be housed either in refugee camps, government refugee camps, another set up by aid agencies. there are a couple of different options. the problem for these people is

they want to go home. the refugee camps are becoming permanent, and people from kobane have seen other syrians in other champs else were in -- camps elsewhere in turkey where they have been, and people are worried it may be that long before they get to kobane. there's a worry for the refugees that the existence that they have in turkey will be a lo long-term one. >> thank you for the update. that's the correspondent bernard smith joining us from the turkish-syrian border the situation in kobane is a small part of the rev knee crisis -- refugee crisis more than 3.2 million syrians spread to the neighbouring countries. 1.1 million live in camps in lebanon. more than 600,000 are in jordan, 200,000 in iraq, and 140,000 in egypt some of those that flee

syria have been injured in the fighting. we visited a rehabilitation center in jordan, run by syrians for syrians. >> it's these people that have to live with the physical scars of war. permanent scars for some. this has been established to help them and it is run by syrians. the bulk of the work is rehabilitation, physiotherapy is essential after operations, but not every syrian who is treated in jordan can get it. an attack killed an 11-year-old and his siblings, it left him with major shrapnel wounds and bone fractures. >> we civilians are not part of the war. the two sides fight and put us in the middle. so many children were killed. the shelling is the civilian areas. not areas they claimed.

>> reporter: many children arrive without their parents. these children were at the supermarket when a barrel bomb exploded. this girl lost her leg, and this boy is suffering shrapnel in his thigh. >> the center provided long-term rehabilitation services to over 200 syrians. most suffer from paralysis or have had amputations. there has been good results. some that arrived here with disabilities were able to walk again. this boy was paralysed when shot in the spine. doctors say his chances of walking again are promising. his brother may not be lucky. both were injured fighting for the free syrian army. >> translation: hansley, it's painful to accept that we both became paralyzed, as long as the goal is to end the injustice, losing the ability to walk is cheap. i accept the injury, but not the pain on my parents.

>> the center tries to improve their wellbeing and psyche during exile. it helps them make a living by selling embroideries abroad. funding is an obstacle. >> we have a lot of services that we need to provide because we can't, funding is not there. we ask any human being, organization or group to understand our problem. >> as the war in syria continues, more and more will come for help. while the physical pain can be healed, the mental scars of abandonment cannot. >> to other news. the u.s. ambassador to the united nations says progress is being made in the effort to stop the spread of ebola. >> samantha power is in sierra leone, an area hit hard. many contract the virus by touching the dead bodies of

victims. >> since president core oma issued his call to have every person in the freetown area buried safely within 24 hours, the burial teams are up to above 95% of the cases buried within 24 hours. that is from what we were told was 30% five days ago. so i think with that example, you not only see an example about how the epidemic can be halted, but the ways in which all facets of the response have to come together. >> in the u.s. a nurse forced into quarantine after returning from west africa has been released. casey hixcox was put in

quarantine. some states have proposed mandatory isolation for those returning from ebola-hit countries. it has been blamed for a growing hysteria in the united states. some believe it is blown out of precautions and there are calls for greater perception on how it is reported in local media. >> as of last week the number of this year's ebola cases stood at 10,141, killing 4,922 people. compare those numbers with four confirmed cases in the u.s., ending in just one death. nonetheless, ebola fever, though not the physical sort, has been rising in america. >> this is something everywhere in the country is thinking about. >> 24 hour media coverage of every case, suspected or actual, elevated the anxiety, to the point that media figures are

calling for more perspective. >> do not listen to the voices in the paper and newspaper. the people that say and write histerratical things are irresponsible. >> reporter: outside a new york hospital where a patient has been quarantined, h.i.v. aides activists protested the response. >> this is an hysterical response. >> a gallop poll found one in every four were worried about getting the disease. it has held stable. confidence in the government's ability to handle ebola fell to 50%. >> i would encourage panicked individuals to consult the scientific fact and understand the risk facing the average american is low. >> ebola has stolen attention

from other deadly diseases. >> americans are more likely to get the flu and die from the flu than ebola. >> reporter: an average of 23,000 in america die from the flu every year a court in malaysia is decided on a final appeal in a long running sodomy case against opposition leader anwar ibrahim. he denies the allegations. the opposition leader was charged with sodomy in 1998, spending six years in solitary confinement after being found guilty. he was acquitted and released in 2004, and charged with sodomy again, four years later, this time after allegations of consexual sex with a former mail aide. in 2012 the high court throughout out the samples saying d.n.a. samples were contaminated. in march, the court of appeal

overturned the ruling, sentencing ibrahim to five years imprisonment. >> reporter: a locked gate was never going to be enough of a barrier to these university students. one more final determined push and it's open. the student council invited the opposition leader to speak at an event pt the university refused to grant permission. students are defiant. >> i believe that we need the freedom, the people to be free to say what they want to say. >> anwar ibrahim arrived. with the barrier cleared. he is appealing a sodomy conviction. a charge his supporters and human rights activists say is politically motivated. >> this event is not going to

alter the course of anwar ibrahim's career, or influence the decision on his appeal. that has not stopped him coming out to plead his case. anwar was a deputy prime minister, but fell out. he was charged with sodomy, and spent several years in prison, before the conviction was overturned. it was seep as politically -- seen as politically motivated and sparked protests. the government is keen to stress it had no hand in the proceedings then or now. >> there's a selective analysis of the judiciary. when a decision goes in favour of anwar or opposition politicians, the judiciary is hailed as being independent and credible yet when the same judiciary decides against them, they are lambasted and

criticized as being under the thumb of the executives of the government. >> reporter: it was under anwar's leadership that the opposition, made up of three parties made its strongest gains in elections last year. there are signs that the coalition is shaky, and supporters fear the group may splinter if anwar disappears from the political arena. the direction of politics in malaysia hinges on a court decision. more to come on al jazeera. facing daily attacks on i.s.i.l. could the internal division in kirkuk be its downwall. >> cleaning up the old guard - a demand for change.

>> it's a chilling and draconian sentence... it simply cannot stand. >> this trial was a sham... >> they are truth seekers... >> all they really wanna do is find out what's happening, so they can tell people... >> governments around the world all united to condemn this... >> as you can see, it's still a very much volatile situation... >> the government is prepared to carry out mass array... >> if you want free press in the new democracy,

good to have you with us. i'm here in doha. these are the top stories on al jazeera much leaders from around --. leaders from around the world are gathering in berlin to discuss the rising number of refugees, more than 3 million syrian refugees have crossed the border, millions are displaced in the country. the u.s. ambassador the united nations says progress is being made in the stopping of the spread of ebola. samantha power is touring three countries hit hardest by the outbreak a court in malaysia is deciding an appeal in a sodomy case against anwar ibrahim, and

he denies the allegations accusing the government of trying to under mine his political means. distrust among different groups is a problem in oil-rich kirkuk, where i.s.i.l. launch attacks on kurdish and iraqi forces, defending the city. charles stratford reports. >> reporter: kurdish peshmerga forces on the front line. nearby the largest oil fields in iraq. the islamic state of iraq and levant, or i.s.i.l., are only a few kilometres away. the vast amount of resources around kirkuk could make the city one of the most prosperous places on either, everyone could benefit. sunni, shi'a arabs, turkmen who have lived here for hundreds of years.

i.s.i.l. is an enemy, many say distrust is growing. this is a sunni leader, showing the shrapnel scars on the walls of his house. he survived an attack by a shi'a group last year. >> it's a big problem for arab sunnis. they suffer from attacks by militia and i.s.i.l. there's justice from the government. sometimes we suffer at the hand of our government, the kurds. the plan is to her ace sunnis from iraq. >> reporter: i.s.i.l. is around 30km from the border administered by the kurdish regional government. the threat is great, that kerredish peshawar is helping the iraqi army defend it. iraq's constitution days the

k.r.g. and baghdad have a role in running kirkuk. the office was set up by the government in kirkuk. the rival wries between turkmen, sunni arabs and turks is deeply rooted. it is seriously jeopardizing the ability to defend the city against i.s.i.l. >> the mission is to resolve disputes between members of different groups. >> everyone is threatened by i.s.i.l. in iraq. >> this office is trying to bring people from all groups together. they are becoming enemies to each other. before, it wasn't like this. there was marriage between the groups, understanding. now it's different. >> political leaders from the turkman population agree. he says the problem is not just in kirkuk. >> turk many are not just in danger here, they are anxious in other areas. they are squeezed out

demographically by other groups. >> the kurdish peshawar, and the army face attacks around kirkuk. tensions among the poem that live here could -- people that live here could make defending it harder. >> lebanese soldiers secured a neighbourhood in the northern city of tripoli, where fighting broke out on friday. the battle between government forces and gunmen forced thousands of people in the area from their homes. the violence is a spillover from the war and neighbouring syria. >> al jazeera continues to demand the immediate release of three journalists who have been detained in egypt for 304 days. peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed are falsely accused of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood. al jazeera rejects the charges against them. >> tunisia's former ruling party admitted its rival will likely win the most seats in

parliament. according to preliminary results, neither party has not run enough votes in the election to govern alone. we have this report from tunis. >> there is a quiet sense of expectation at the headquarters here. the leader will wait for official results before declare victory. unofficial results suggest that the secularist party is in the lead. if it wins, members admit that it can't rule alone. >> we cannot talk about coalitions. we don't exclude anyone. another is the main part of the political landscape in tunisia. >> the rival is waiting. it wants to be part of a new government. it is showing that it is willing to compromise. >> anything we said, we stick to it. this is our country, democracy.

this will acknowledge it. the main thing is the program. the campaigners, the tunisian people, are the real winners. there was unexpected high turn out. and now a change in government, without the violence of other arab spring countries. >> we are probably going through, as the nation of power. this is important for the establishing of democracy. we are not having the same political party winning over and over again. we are witnessing in the next 2-3 days, a smooth acclimation of power. the transition is not over yet. >> the next government needs to get to work quickly, to create jobs and bring a sense of security. it needs to win the trust of people in the democratic system, before going to the polls again. >> in less than a month, tunisians will elect a new

president, an historic moment for the country as it chooses its own path. north korean and jap nice officials are -- japanese officials are holding talks, to resolve a long-standing dispute of north koreans abducted in the "70, and '80s. in may new investigations occurred. talks about the president extending his term has outraged citizens in west africa. there's outrage from the growing opposition. [ ♪ music ] >> reporter: free the presidency. not just lyrics to a song, but a

chant calling for changes. this is the founder of the civic broom, a political force sweeping through the country. >> translation: there's too much trash in the political landscape. we need to clear it up, get rid of the old - starting with the leadership. >> the president came to power in a coup 27 years ago. he's one of africa's longest serving presidents. the supporters say it's too long. tens of thousands protested after the political party called for a referendum to change the constitution, allowing him to run for a fifth term. >> at the presidential palace, the president's supporters played down the protests. >> this citizen's moves is illegal. we want to use a democratic process to let the country to

decide. >> the opposition believes a referendum would be rigged. weeks of tasks for the president's supporters failed. >> the people of burr keena faso have the most to lose. we are are entering a time of great uncertainty. >> this is the biggest political challenge for the president since he came to power in 1987. the crisis captured public interest. opinion is divided. with elections a year away, each side is looking for support. the president has the support of the west, including france, the formalitier colonial power. he's been a naghtor in mali, libya and the ivory cost. but for this movement he needs to go. 60% of the population is under 20, living under one president all their life. back at the studio. this man beliefs he has the

support of the young people to bring change to burke eeno faso a report is naming and chaining countries losing the global fight for gender equality. countries dominate the world economic foreign list, with iceland taking the top spot. the u.k. your failed to make the top 20, just below the u.s. at 23rd, a number of middle income and developing countries ranked above britain, like rwanda. yemen came last in all four categories. >> economy, education, health and politics. >> france is in the top 20, rising by leaps and bounds. as jonah hull reports from paris, there's a long way to go. >> in france, there's never been a better time for a woman to enter government.

in historically one of the sexist realms of french life, women take an equal number of places at the cabinet table as me. there's a ministry for women's rights with brand new laws among the most comprehensive anywhere. is it enough. >> translation: our main message to the government is for them to invest in the rights of women, we have a good law, which is promulgated, and which is progressive. we need courage, and to go further. in other words to attack the inequalities between men and women. >> in august, france passed a bill na in the words of ministers attacks gender equalities at once. it's sweeping leggsation. gender inequality, and it goes further, making it easier for a woman to get abortion.

it bans sism in the media -- bans sexism in the media and beauty pageants. >> it contributes to reforms for gender equality. there's a long way to go. >> women in france earn 25% less than male counterparts. they hold a ca quarter of seatsn the legislature. 3% are women. there may be near parity in government. in the workplace, many women feel outnumbered. >> i think there is a long way to go. if i try to remunerate my women friends, it's difficult to make a list. if i illuminate men, it would go a long way. >> the law may be increasingly on the side of women, but

attitudes will take longer to change headlines in a moment, but a reminder that you can keep up to date with the news on the website that you can see on the screens, at aljazeera.com. >> protecting a vulnerable public or giving in to the fears of a panicking public. ebola, fears and science. it's the inside story. >> hello, i'm ray suarez. after a doctor coming home to