rescue teams struggle to reach flood victims in parts of asia as hundreds of thousands of people are affected by heavy rains and landslides. hello there, welcome to al jazeera, i'm shiulie ghosh. also, defending erbil. we report from a key position in northern iraq pro-russia rebels in donetsk carry out prisoner swap. tensions are high. >> plus, i'm in india where the

national green tribunal banned old vehicles in new delhi in a bit to curb air pollution -- in a bid to curb air pollution. heavy rains caused major flooding across parts of asia, killing more than 30 people. up to 200,000 have been forced from their homes, across three countries, in malaysia rescuers are struggling to reach victims in some of the worst flooding. we have this report. >> people leave their homes as water flows in from every direction. five malaysian states have emerged and days of rain turned roads into rivers. the government researchers sent rescue teems into badly affected areas. for some, it's too little too late. they criticized the government for being slow to respond and

failing to declare a state of emergency. >> we come here after three days. we lost everything. we are here without food. >> the malaysian prime minister cut short his holiday in the u.s. to deal with the emergency. he'd been in hawaii, visiting president obama when the heavily rains began. in statement he said: it's monsoon season in malaysia. the rains have been heavy, and many places affected by the worst flooding in 40 years. >> i found that the water kept rising very fast, and for a few hours. the water rises up to the lels. >> rescue workers are struggling

to reach some of the affected areas, for many, the worry is how to avoid the spread of disease. cases of typhoid fever, cholera increases when flooding occurs. the spread of malaria, yellow fever is more likely. doctors say children and the elderly are at risk, and health problems appear in flood-affected areas after 3-6 weeks. emergency officials monitoring water levels have not yet peaked and with heavy rain predicted conditions can only get worse for those living out this ordeal on the ground. >> in neighbouring thailand 13 people have been killed. the government declared disaster zones in eight provinces. the hardest hit areas are in the south. the provinces are in more flooding as water released from a dam occurs.

and also in narathiwat province. >> 10 people are missing in diswicts in sri lanka. flooding has affected 80,000 people from their homes. >> the ukranian government exchanged 338 prisoners. the rebel held city of donetsk was the area. president petro porashenko greeted the former captives as they touched down in kiev. peace in the bella russian call pal were -- bell awe roourn expected to resume. >> reporter: representatives from both sides make the final check for the handover of prisoners in eastern ukraine. the ordeal is over. and they are able to head home.

>> they picked me up. i came to visit my brother and they picked me up at the checkpoint. they tortured me. >> this is a step forward in hostilities which engulfed eastern ukraine for months. it's taking place against a backdrop in a conflict which left 4,500 people dead. moscow has long denied backing and arming the rebels who are in control of parts of eastern ukraine. kiev says it's fighting against what it believes is russian influence. >> they have brought them from their partners. we will not forgive them. the victims in the east. what is interesting in the doctrine is russia considers social most as a threat to

security. it is transforming into a totalitarian state, putting on record that they are a totalitarian state. the annexation of crimea in march is still then a source of deep anger in kiev. ukraine's state has suspended crimea, citing security concerns. visa and mastercard can no longer support them in crimea because of u.s. sanctions imposed. peace talks started and ended over ukraine. this prisoner exchange signals some kind of progress, and for the families of those involved, a sign for the future meanwhile russia's president vladimir putin signed a new military doctrine naming n.a.t.o. as the number one threat. it says russia could use

precision weapons as part of a new deterrent. peter sharp has more from moscow. >> it's interesting. it gives you an idea of what the president sees as a threat. they are facing his country as we move into 2015. first and foremost, as you said in the introduction, it's nato. since the fall of the berlin wall, n.a.t.o. has added 12 eastern european countries to its membership, and that blue tide is coming closer and closer. russia really - vladimir putin and the kremlin are not happy about this at all. th they see it as a potential threat possibly in the years ahead. that's the first concern. the second is an international matter.

unhappiness with the u.s. global strike programme. this is a conventional programme in which would enable the u.s. to deliver to the world within an hour's notice. the kremlin is not happy with that. finally he's talking about the possibly unsettling destabilizition in russia. he doesn't mention the region, but is probably talking about the caucuses where there has been trouble and warns of a terror attack. >> the u.s. led coalition against i.s.i.l. has been carrying out more air strikes across northern iraq. they happened near sinjar and other areas. kurdish forces are trying to recapture forces. kurdish troops are pushing towards the center of sinjar. there are reports that i.s.i.l. controls neighbourhoods. >> peshmerga forces in erbil, the capital of iraq's kurdish

region say they need more heavy weapons to continue the fight. we report from the kurdish front line in northern iraq. >> reporter: as night falls on the kurdish country side, kurdish fighters take up their position. i.s.i.l. attacks under darkness. they can't afford to lower their guard. this is the most important front line in the flight against i.s.i.l. erbil, the capital of the autonomous region is 30 miles away. >> we love the defending. it's our, you know, big city. we must lead the fight to be safe. >> reporter: protecting erbil is a dangerous task. two days ago they wanted them to carry out a daring attack. using a combination of suicide

bombers and vehicles laden with explosives, they took over before the kurdish forces recaptured it. as the fighting is more intense, tactics are more desperate. it's the first time fighters used a tank for suicide bombing. it's the ability of i.s.i.l. to strike in the kurdish territory that has them worried. body parts litter the camp. the general is a commander. >> it's the first time to have the armour and the tanks with the tea in them. people from the front line. they are trying the last chance to have - to push the peshmerga back. they cannot do it. >> we drove across villages and towns partly inhabited by i.s.i.l. inhabitants have been displaced. kurdish forces made gains

against i.s.i.l. in recent days. they are no match for opponents. >> we need heavy machine-guns, of course, because what we use in the iraq and iran wore, it's old. the newest one is 25 years old. but the ammunition now is good. >> international calls for action grose, peshmerga is the most formidable opponent on the ground. they need meaningful help or i.s.i.l. could come charging again across northern iraq in neighbouring syria governing air strikes in aleppo killed three people in area controlled by i.s.i.l. fighters. it's part of a continuing air campaign there. 36 people were killed in government air strikes around

the same area on thursday. >> in bahrain thousands of anti-government protesters called for reform and the release of political prisoners. opposition and demonstrators marched alongside a prominent activist who spent two years in prison for organising and taking part in demonstrations in 2011 where mass groups led an uprising against the sunni rulers. dozens were killed and thousands arrested during a crackdown. >> in egypt two gunmen shot and killed a policeman and injured another. it happened in giza, the offices were guarding a bank. attackers escaped on a motorcycle. >> people, hundred of anti-government protesters rallied in the streets of cairo. demonstrations were reported in other egyptian provinces on prd. friday -- on friday. they are calling for the release

of political prisoners. al jazeera calls for the release of our three journalists in egypt for 364 days. peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed were falsely accused and convicted of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood. they are appealing against convictions. coming up in the next half hour. how homes in china give hope to children with parents in prison. and why india's plan to clean up new delhi's air could be costing openers of the capital's older vehicles. stay with us.

welcome back. i'm shoedy gosh. the top stories, heavy rains across parts of asia caused major flooding and landslides killing 30 people. more than 200,000 have been forced from their moments in thailand, sri lanka and malaysia. the u.s.-led coalition in i.s.i.l. have been carrying out more land strikes. they have happened near hawija and sinjar. >> ukranian president petro porashenko greeted hundred of freed prisoners as they arrived in kiev. the pro-separatists and ukraines exchanged prisoners. the alleged planner of the school attack in peshawar has been killed.

security forces killed him during a raid in north waziristan on thursday night. he was involved in attacks on polio. workers in peshawar. an arrest warrant has been issued for a senior cleric. he's allegedly trying to justify an attack on the school in peshawar. after protests he issued an apology but will focus on more serious offenses. meanwhile civil society groups have concerns over the peshawar - following a decision to ban executions. activists say some of those convicted are innocent of the crime. >> reporter: they are begging for mercy at the court date. they've been on death row for years. now they could be happened at any moment. >> we knock on every door to

save my brother's lives. there's no hope that my brother will be wrong fully hanged by the authorities much >> reporter: this is one of many families issuing desperate measures during the last few years. with the lifting of the moratorium penalty, the suspects are facing execution. >> they have been selected for immediate execution. they have been convicted of killing a boy. family and lawyers denied a crime. he was 13 at the time. the accusations have nothing to do with armed groups. >> he was coerced into a false confession. it goes the government's decision on lifting the ban on moratoriums and resume

executions. the lifting of the moratorium of executions on the taliban, on an army school killed 149 people, most of home were children, a couple of several death row convicts were hanged. this man was to be hanged last tuesday. they pleaded for a grace period to refuses the sentence. his brother had this to say. >> translation: i can't bear my innocent brother will be happened by the government without trial. and if so, i'll take revenge for my brother, even if i have to join a terrorist group. >> my brother has been convicted. he is not free. there is a law. they are clear on that. justice denied. justice hurried is justice

buried. pakistan is facing harsh choices at the moment. >> an activist and former president of pakistan's supreme court bar association criticized the decision to reinstate the death penalty. >> they carried out a study to show that many of the people who did get the penalty were not given the safeguards and guarantees under international law. this is an easy quick fix solution which is really - this does not end terrorism, because terrorism has roots in pakistan, and particularly its nexus with the state itself. and the way the state tolerated terrorism all these years. it would be very difficult. but this is not the answer.

in mexico hundreds of protesters packed an army base, where 43 students disappeared three months ago. gas was used to disperse the crowd after parts of the bases metal gate was destroyed. the mexican government says the students were taken by police and handed over to members of the drug gang. a body as been identified. >> a catholic priest found where the gunshot wound was straight ahead. abducted by a gang on monday. he's the third catholic priest to be killed. mayor bill de blasio and thousands of police to remember officer rafael ramos. he and wenjian liu were shot dead. the killings happened during a debate over police conduct after two unarmed white police

officers were killed in new york and missouri. china's prison operation was the second largest in the world. children left behind were cared for. not only did they provide a home, but they tried to stop the discrimination. we have this report from beijing, it's called sun village, providing a refuge for the children of convicted criminals. for some. they have only known their own short lives. the twins were rescued as babies from their drug trafficking parents who have been using the baby carrier to smuggle drugs. after years of viability abuse, this girl saw her mother stringle her father. it's estimated there are 600,000 who have a parent in prison and who are trapped in a limbo.

neither being orphaned. they are not entitled to benefits. they realised the scale of the problem when she worked in the prison system and decided to do something about it the nine centers operate across the country thanks to her. not only her home, but help countless prejudice. >> the children can't be delayed. many parents want their children to stay away from their police, they are children of criminals. >> reporter: open days build awareness. and children like this. selling donated its and also fresh produce to support communities. >> i like the days because there are a lot of people, and we can

make money for ourselves. in the process a childhood that parents get away. >> chinese courts convicted and sentenced two in a ceasefire. the fire was caused by a short was china's deadliest industrial action in five years. some survivors said they couldn't escape. chinese factories continue to be criticized. >> fire in india killed eight people on the out skirts of mum buy. they were asleep in the building. india's green vehicles 15 years are being banned from roads in new delhi. an attempt to tackle air

pollution. it found the city had the dirtiest air in the world. we have this report from new delhi. >> reporter: this man and had scooter - he has had it since he married anita 28 years ago. he says it has never let him down. >> i have driven around my kids on the scooter. i have taken my wife for a ride, and my mother, when she was sick, and we had to take her to the doctor. we went on this. india's green tribunal is forcing them to retire their two-wheeler in a bit to hang up. the tribunal banned vehicles older than 15 years. the city has been singled out by the world health organisation as having the world's worst air

galtry. and a recent study by a university of california scientist suggests pollution levels on the road could be eight time higher than reported. >> an important pollutant is a particulate matter. it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and these have major consequences globally and in india. with risks to public health, authorities are under pressure to clean up the air. the government and air pollution is caused by emissions. environmentalists say banning is not going to make much of a difference, what is needed is monitoring and tougher fines. >> four to seven years - we don't expect many vehicles to be

in the age bracket more than 15 years, in the city. if you get rid of them, see that that will have a massive impact on air quality. >> around 1500 vehicles roll on to the capital's roads every year. environmentalists say if authorities are serious about tackling air pollution, they need to invest in public transport. >> prices have hit nigeria's currency. the economy is expected to grow. in one industry in particular - hair. they look at the demand tore extensions, weaves and wigs. >> on the corner of a busy street, the wimenten are in the market -- women are in the market for beauty. it's a common site. a booming demand for all sorts

of air pieces. >> it makes them look smart, confident. we look good when we make our hair. it's carrying your own natural looks. >> evidenter cams -- esth, r comes twice a month. >> the search for hair in nigeria is serious business. there's a highly competitive tree attracting investors. >> it's one of the largest factories producing synthetic hair care. it makes one of two brand. it is deported from japan and processed. the industry runs into hundreds of millions in nigeria. and by some estimates up to $6 billion across africa. >> be happy the nigerian lady and the african lady has to throw it away with a growing

population, your product will grow on its own. you add on fashions in a win/win combination. >> this is the editor of a life-some time magazine and says african women have been keen on glamour the internet and globalisation exposed them to more product. the image of stars is more attainable. >> people perceive you by how well you think you look. you are more respected and more regarded. you are like more in, and everyone wants to be in. being in comes in all shapes and prices, from street stalls to luxury mauls, hair pieces go from $15 upwards. the closer the hair piece look, the pricier it gets. walking on the streets, you would be hard pressed to find a woman without a hair piece.

we get it. it's so innate in the nigerian woman. the industry certainly agreed. and you can keep up to date with all the day's news and sport on the website. aljazeera.com. >> the far north of europe - a place of extraordinary beauty - home to an astonishing arrf