from washington, i'm ray suarez. holding to the battle ground account iraqi curds are off to northern syria a to help in the fight against isil. hello and welcome to al jazerra. live from our head quarters in dough uh-huh. also coming up. a call for the international community to help. millions displaced by the war can the countries displacing them. seeking to strain then ties with china. beijing is the first official foreign trip. the u.k. bows out of search and

rescue from migrants risking their lives to get to europe. kurdish peshmerga fighters are on their way to iraq to help defend kobane against isil. a convoy of heavy weapons is already on its way to the northern syrian border town. a 600-kilometer journey by road. peshmerga fighters traveling by air are expected to land in kirby in the next identify hours. few hours, charles stratford joins us live. give us an idea of what happened when they left. >> reporter: well, it was about three hours ago now that a convoy from erbil here start today move north. it was around about 60 vehicles, including four-wheel-drives, pickup trucks with heavy machine guns, personnel carrier and even

buses carrying kurdish fighters. these kurdish fighters were wearing the traditional kurdish dress, carrying weapons. it's difficult to estimate how many men were in the convoy. we hear now that they are in and around the area, which is as i say around about three hours from here. we are also hearing from peshmerga sources that the plane that is here at the erbil air party that will be flying to turkey has yet to leave. but we hear that that plane will be carrying peshmerga forces and taking them to turkey. >> now, charles, just explain to us how will these extra fighters actually help secure kobane? >> reporter: well, there has been this cry out certainly for help there in kobane by forces they are fighting against isil. certainly the krg here are very proud of the contingent of kurdish fighters that they are sending there to help.

but these come with very strict conditions. conditions such as saying that they will not hand these weapons onto that syrian kurdish faction which turkey believes poses a risk for those weapons then being handed onto the p.k.k. but as we have seen continuous air strikes over the last cup of weeks still unable to really change the game there in kobane. and push isil out of the town. so there is this hope that certainly this contingent, though small it may be, and we are hearing figures just over 150 peshmerga fighters with those weapons moving off to kobane, this is hope that at least they can make the difference, certainly for the krg here, it's something that the government here is very proud of. >> charles, thank you. charles stratford speaking to us from erbil. the situation in kobane is just a smart part of the greater syrian refugees crisis.

mean 3 million syrians have fled to neighboring countries. 1.1 million of them are living in ref gentlemen camps in lebanon. another 1 million are in turkey. more than 600,000 are in jordan. while around 200,000 are in iraq. and 140,000 are in egypt. nick spicer is in berlin where representatives from 40 countries are meeting to discuss the syrian crisis. nick, just give us an idea of what's actually come out of the conference. >> reporter: well, no hard pledges in terms of money. there was an announcement by the german foreign minister that germany would be spending 500 million euros more than the 630 million american dollars approximately in the region to help the host countries on -- to develop their infrastructure. above all, i think it was about sort of changing the way the international community is viewing the crisis with the

german foreign minister saying it was time for the international community to show solidarity. several representatives called it the biggest humanitarian disaster of our time. and the flow of refugees from syria is threatening more disaster. political and economic in the neighboring countries where they are sheltering. for example, the syrian conflict has caused lebanon's population to jump by a quarter, putting a strain on water supplies as well as schools and hospitals. >> translator: unfortunately, part of the whole truth is that the civil war in syria is not yet over and people keep fleeing from the country, that's why today's conference in berlin intends to send a message of solitaire at this to the refugees but also the countries accepting them, especially 11 no 167 the consensus was that humanitarian aid was not enough. a political deal was needed in syria. there was concern because the

conflict has changed seem. seeing the he american jersey of isil spilling the violence over the border in to iraq. this is a refugees treatment center in berlin. it can house up to 500 people fleeing co conflicts from around the world, around 100 now have fled syria an increasing number have come from iraq. this kurdish grandmother remembers when isil came to her village in iraq. >> translator: we had a peaceful life in our village and then the war broke out ask isil came. they forced us to convert. sense we didn't want to they killed people in front of the children, shooting and decapitating them. >> reporter: as the law stands now, refugees fleeing isil from iraq will have a harder time getting asylum in germany than syrians moving the same group. proof, if it was needed that politics are struggle to go find a solution to a crisis with no end in strike. >> so, nick, the question is, what's going to happen to these

refugees? are western countries in europe or north america willing to take on more syrian refugees? >> reporter: no. i think the -- the message really from today is that the refugees who have fled syria and iraq to a certain extent from the spreading conflict there should stay in the area so that they can actually be reparticipate rated when the conflict end. should it end in the near future. and the discussion was really about reorienting the money that the western countries are spending and other countries, gulf countries, for instance, australia. so that it just doesn't go to aid, if you will, in a short of term basis, tents and so on, but infrastructure, development aid to help jordan and lebanon in particular have the water supplies they need, schools, and so on, highways that work well in order to deal with a big jump in their populations and the possible continuing presence of the people there. so no promises from western countries to take on more refugees from syria here, although germany came not

surprisingly under -- was targeted on, forgive me, isolated for special praise, for hosting the conference and for taking in some 80,000 people. but the answer is no, no more refugees to western countries just a reorienting of the money already allocated. >> interesting. we'll see what that actually results n nick. thank you very much nick spiker speaking us to from berlin. >> reporter: thank you. intense fighting in libya continues. the lick i can't dawn coalition is trying to take a crossing near the a town there. they are fighting a group mostly linked with the general cousins have been killed and the u.n. is calling to a she's fire. in lebanon soldiers say they have contained a town. at least eight civilians and 11 soldiers killed. some of the thousands forced to leave are now returning.

tunisia's former ruling party has at admitted that its main rival will likely win the most seats in parliament. the islamic party still describing sunday's election as a success. preliminary results show the party that won the most votes but still needs to enter in to a coalition to form a government. the final results are expected on wednesday. afghan president is in china on his first official visit since taking office. he is traveling with a large delegation for the four-day visit. afghanistan is looking to broaden international partnerships as foreign forces with dre. jennifer glass has more from kabul. >> reporter: china is afghanistan's biggest business invest or thanks to the $3 billion deal to this copper rich area outside kabul. there are no chinese miners here, the promised roads and railways haven't been started.

security concerns have stalled the project. the in china the afghan president is hoping to revive this deal and chinese investment in his country's minerals worth an estimated $1 trillion. a kabul businessman says those minerals mean the two countries need each other. china wants raw materials and afghanistan wants chinese products. he travels to china once a year to buy goods that are shipped through neighboring pakistan. he hopes some day they will arrive by truck. >> we can't make a street, make a route from there to china. this is the first we need and we hope in the future. >> reporter: by the border is in a remote corner of afghanistan and it could be 10 years or more before any road is built. this used to be kabul's version of china town with dozens of chinese business and workers

here. they left last year over the uncertainty of the election. the president is looking to chinese for help with security. the chinese government has a strong relation shoeup with relh pakistan. >> we are seeking the chinese support to use. [ inaudible ] is in the interest of all countries in the region. >> reporter: afghans are hoping their new president will deliver security and prosperity. they will be watching this visit to their asian neighbor to get a sense of his foreign policy and whether it can bring them the changes they want. general tkpwejennifer glass al . a repeated did he panned to release the three al jazerra journalists from prison in egypt. they have now been detained for 304 days on charges widely regarded as politically motivated. these comments follow interpols

rejection against another al jazerra journalist. al jazerra's actin acting direcr general says the decision sends a clear message to the egyptian justice system. >> since he has been found to have been sentenced on political reason, not for any crime he committed, it also means that the kinds of accusations that journalists are having all over egypt are baseless. they are politically motivated. therefore it makes the whole world understand that the egyptian authorities are looking for ways to imprison journalists in order to oppress the media in order to frighten journalists by accusing them of all kind of things. like what happened with our three journalists that are.

[ inaudible ] it means that the accusations are these three are the same thing, they are politically motivated. we always felt and we are conferenced that these accusations are false. our journalists have been doing their job. only their job. not more. and none of them have committed any crime. we hope the egyptian authorities realize that the rest of the world is understanding what's going on and reacting positively to al jazerra and certainly the egyptian authorities have to rethink what they are doing in order to keep the -- their legal system in particular clean, away from any political pressures. still ahead on al jazerra, we report from madrid on what's being described as the biggest anti-corruption investigation in spanish history. plus. >> kind of like a horror show

happening in slow motion. >> precedents flee as the molten lava creeps towards their homes in hawaii.

welcome back, let's take a look at the top stories on al jazerra. kurdish peshmerga fighters are preparing to deploy to help the conflict in kobane against isil. a convoy has already began its journey by road. jordan's foreign mintster has told the international community his country is struggle to go

cope with the highing number of syrian refugees. government representatives from 40 countries are in the german capital of berlin to discuss the growing humanitarian crisis. al jazerra's acting director has welcomed a decision by interpol to reject egyptian charges against one of the network's journalists. he once again called for the release of al jazerra's impressed staff in egypt. a court in malaysia is deciding on the long running sodomy case, he denies the allegations says he has accused the government of trying to destroy his political influence. when the opposition leader was first charged with sodomy back in 1998 and spent six years in solitary confinement after being found guilty he was then acquitted and released in september of 2004 after a successful appeal. he was charged again four years later.

this time after allegations of consensual sex with a former male aide. in 2012 the high court threw out the charges saying dna samples provided by the prosecution were contaminated. in march this year the court of appeal overturned that ruling and sentenced ibrahim toy five years in prison, a report from wall lala pour. >> reporter: a lockedded gate would never be enough of at a barrier to these students. one more 90 push and it's opened. the student council had invited the opposition leader to speak at an event. but the university refused to grant permission. the students are defiant, viewing the decision as a denial of freedom. >> we need the economic freedom. we need the people to be free say what they want to say what they are thinking. not what they are forced to think. >> reporter: he arrives and with the barrier cleared, he and his

followers enter the university campus, a h he is appealing the charges. a charge his supporters and human rights activists say is politically motivated. this event will not on ter his political career or influence the federal court's decision on his appeal. but that hasn't stopped him from coming out to plead his case in public. anwar was once the deputy prime minister but fell out with the then leader in 1997 and was dismissed. he was charged with sodomy. and spend several years in prison before the conviction was overturned that case was also seen as politically motivated and sparked huge anti-government protests. the government is keen to stress it had no hand in the proceedings then and now. >> there is a selective analysis of the jew dish a a i jew dish n malaysia whenever the decision

goes for these people it's hailed as being independent and credible. yet when the same je judiciary decides against them they are lambasted and criticized as being under the thumb of the executive -- of the government. >> reporter: it was under anwar's leadership that the opposition made up of three parties, made its strongest gains in the general election 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. florence louie, al jazerra. spain are questioning dozens of politicians, bureaucratses and business leaders arrested in a $300 million corruption probe. it's the string of scandals that hit spain. banks, football clubs and even members of the royal party.

tim friend reports. >> reporter: it's almost a daily event here. another high-ranking politician in court. this time it's the former general secretary of the ruling popular party. accused of corruption while in office. across the street, angry pensioners make their feelings known. they have suffered personally from the misdeeds of banks and politicians. and their frustration is clear. >> translator: we are the leading country in the world for corruption. >> translator: there are 5 million people unemployed. mothers have nothing to feed their sons with, people are being evicted from their houses, and meanwhile the government is stealing money. >> reporter: detectives are still questioning francisco, another prominent conservative. and the latest high-profile arrest. he was among 51 people taken in to custody across spain. police raided town halls and company offices. corruption are now among the

main concerns in spain. second only to the country's high unemployment. it's a volatile cocktail in the run up to next year's regional and general elections. the ruling popular party has been swift to respond. >> the party feels indignant and condemns any type of corruption, secondly all party members involved will be suspended immediately and we will demand public officers as well quit. >> reporter: the crisis is almost now beyond politicians' control. the prime minister has tried to play down the extent of corruption. but senior conservatives and social assists are now accused of trading influence for favors. tim friend, al jazerra, madrid. the u.k. says it will not support u eu search and rescue operations it says it only a

prompts more crossing. amnesty international has condemned the decision as a very dark day for the moral standing of the e. the u. it's estimated three had you migrants have died on the risk i journey this year alone. earlier i spoke to nathan gill a member of the european parliament for the right wing u.k. independence party and he believes european countries need to deliver a consistent message to potential migrants. >> well, you know, we believe it's the job of the government to do just that. to govern the british people. and every single day the british government is giving 21 million pounds in aid. foreign aid, but where is that money going to? so the fact that they are saying now that they want to stop financing and helping with search and rescue in the mediterranean seems like it's probably the wrong decision. ultimately the government represent the british people and our ethos and our take on the world and we are a companionate

people. we always want to be able to say as a first world country we can help people in need. but the reality is at the same time, we have to make sure that the message is strong to people who get on the boats in the first place. that there is no place for them here. the reality is australia, make it very clear to anybody who tries to enter australia illegal theyly will not ab loud to stay there, they are stopping people from getting on boats in the first place, need for be very firm with our message to people if you enter europe illegally, you will not be allowed to stay. up until now, the message is blurred. people know that if a boat gets in to trouble, they will be helped and they will be taken straight to italy and then be allowed to enter europe and stay there. hundreds of mourners have lines the streets of the canadian town of hamilton to pay their respects to corporal nathan cirillo. he was guns down while standing guard at a monument to canada's

war dead in the capital ottawa last week. the attack came after canada's decision to step up its involvement in air strikes against isil fighters in iraq: world leaders, including german chancellor angela merkel have gathered in belgium to commemorate the sen tear air i e first world war. the events marked 100 years since the first battle. and the flooding of the coastal plains that blocks the german advance in october of 1914. mexican authorities investigating the case of 43 missing students have found another mass grave. 56 people have now been arrested in connection with their disappearance. the students are feared dead after going missing following a confrontation with police in the

state. drugs manufacturer glaxo smith kline has received the green light to test its ebola vaccine, 120 volunteers will receive the experimental vaccine in a hospital in switzerland some of those receiving it are health workers heading to west africa where the virus has killed the largest number of people so far. it's based on a genetically manufactured chimpanzee seen virus. wall to wall coverage of the outbreak is being blamed for the growing hysteria over the disease. some believe it's being blown out of proportion and there are calls for greater perspective in how it's being reported. tom ackerman has more. >> reporter: as of last week, the number of this year's confirmed ebola cases worldwide stood at 10,141. killing 4,922 people. compare those numbers with four confirmed cases in the u.s. ending in just one death. none ofless, ebola fever, though

not the physical sort, has been rising in america. >> this is something that everybody in the country is thinking about. >> reporter: 24 hour media coverage of every case suspected or actual, has elevated the anxiety. to the point that even some media figures are calling for more perspective in the reporting. >> do not listen to the hysterical voice on his the raid your or television or read the fear-provoking words online. the people who say and write hysterical things are being very irresponsible. >> reporter: outside the new york hospital where one person has been quarantined hiv aids activists protested what they called the excessive concern with ebola. >> this is actually an extreme exaggeration, it's a hysterical response quarantining people who are not symptomatic with he bowl 567891 in every four americans were worried about getting the disease, a percentage that's held stable over the last month. but confidence in the government's ability to handle ebola has fallen to just 50%.

>> i would encourage panicked individuals to consult the scientific facts and understand that the risk that is facing the average american as the doctor said yesterday, is vanishing low. >> reporter: meanwhile, ebola has stolen attention from a much more contagious and deadly illness in america. >> americans are far more likely to get the flu than they are to get ebola. and far more likely to die from the flu this year than to die of ebola. >> reporter: an average of 23,000 people in america die from the flu every year. tom ackerman, al jazerra, washington. lava from an erupting volcano in hawaii is now only meters away from buildings in one town. does ins of people have been forced to leave as the mountain threatens their property. >> reporter: a molten river creeping slowly but ever so surely towards people's homes. this lava flow first used out of the kil volcano four months ago,

it's now crawled its way to the remote town. >> it's kind of like a horror show happening in slow motion. >> it's now or never, you know, you pack and you gotta get out. >> reporter: civil defense officers have been going door to door encouraging people to heed evacuation warnings. >> we did want to make sure that the residents down slope from the flow were prepared because we had seen a change in the flow rate advancement over the last day and a half and we want to make sure that they are ready. >> reporter: several roads are now closed. and crews are work to go protect power poles, by wrapping them in concrete. but some people are hoping they will be spared by the red hot lava now wider than a football pitch. >> i have my trailers ready but i am not putting anything on them until the guy across the street's house is burning. >> reporter: the volcano has been erupting for more than 30 years. typically the lava has flowed towards the south and ended up in the ocean. this time, though, it's moving

north and people are i its path. gerald tan, al jazerra. of course you can always keep up-to-date with all of the latest news, analysis, and details on our website. that's at aljazerra.com. can we teach robots morality? the u.s. is betting millions on the prospect. later from catching criminals to reading emotions, mind-blowing advances in facial recognition software, bringing computers frighteningly close to mind-reading.