>> it's right for me to be free they be it's right for all of them to be free al jazeera correspondent peter greste calls for the immediate release of his gaoled colleagues in his first interview since being freed by egypt hello there, i'm shiulie ghosh live from al jazeera headquarters in doha also - the head of a u.n. inquiry into the 2014 gaza war quits after being accused of bijudges. over 40 killed in bombings by government forces in syria, and

on a collision course with congress. president obama unveils budget proposals, including a plan to raise taxes on the rich. al jazeera correspondent peter greste is calling on the egyptian government to free our two colleagues still behind bars. in his first interview since being released on sunday peter spoke about his release, and voiced concerns to the men he had to leave behind in a cairo prison. mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed have spent 402 days in gaol. all three were convicted of spreading false news and colluding with the banned muslim brotherhood. charges they and al jazeera rented. peter spoke to stephanie dekker about the moment he learnt he was being released and his feels about being a free man. >> look i can't tell you how relieved i am at being free.

i really didn't expect - we were settling in for an appeared of months behind prison for the retrial. to be out now, today, with a few minutes notice really is just extraordinary. i also feel incredible angst about my colleagues leaving them gnd. i know that there is mohamed fadel fahmy, and baher mohamed, and there are several other people convicted along side us in absentia and four others that had nothing to do with our case who are serving prison sentences. and so amidst all of this relief i feel a sense of concern, a real sense of worry, because if it is appropriate for me rite for me to be free it's right for all of them to be free. and for those convicted in absentia to be free of those convictions. >> i want to ask you about that yesterday, the process for you

personally, how the day evolved, and how it felt for you. what was the last thing you said to your colleagues. was it something you expected. and the emotion that you went through. >> no i wasn't expecting it at all. i woke up thinking about the campaign ahead of us. really feeling as though we were going to have to spend an extended stretch in prison. i went for a run and the prison warden called me over and told me time to pack your stuff, you're going. >> i said "where to another prison?" she said "no, no they are coming they'll be here in an hour, get your stuff and go." i can't tell you the mix of emotions. like i said a sense of relief and excitement and stress at saying goodbye to colleagues and friend that have become family.

you spend 400 days in close proximity with people and you get to know them very very well. it was a difficult moment walking out of the prison. saying good by to the guys. not knowing how much longer they will have to put up with this. and the ride to the airport was a sense of wondering if it was doing to come to an end. we had a lot of false starts with this an awful lot of false alarms moments when we thought freedom was close, if not imminent, only to have it snatched away. i didn't want to let myself believe it was happening until i got my backside on a seat on the plane with my brother mike and we knew then that for me at least this is over. >> i am going to ask you about what it's like living in contained confined conditions with your colleagues friends,

and also how you, in your mind get through every day, and keep going. >> you know you don't spend 400 days in a box with someone, without getting to know them intimately indeed. over that period i have gotten to know and accept baher mohamed and mohamed fadel fahmy as family. they are my brothers. they couldn't be any other fa. mohamed fadel fahmy is an extraordinary professional. very dedicated. passion at. strong character. baher mohamed is one of the most family orientated men i have pet. he has a wife, three children, one of whom was born while he was in prison. it was incredibly tough for him as someone so devoted to his

family to be where he is knowing that he's innocent and that this is a huge mistake and only seeing them on family visits and knowing now that he'll have to spend an indeterminate period behind bars. he was excited by the fact this i'm out, and concerned. we need to keep the focus on him. we don't know what will happen from here on. you know imprisoned on a daily basis, the key is to stay fit physically mentally and spiritually. so i made a conscious effort to deal with all three of those things, to keep fit, running in a limited space, keep up an exercise programme, keep mentally fit, study, and spiritually fit too. through all of that it was a way of enforcing a discipline on

myself. and dealing with each day as it came. and hopefully, touch wood i haven't come out of it too damaged. >> i wanted to ask you now that you are out, and perhaps you are starting to filter through the extent of this campaign that is going on that has reached all kornts of the world from -- corners of the world from schools to the remote areas, have you - has it sunk in. how do you feel about this entire... >> the first thing i want to say about this is that this is - the sense of euphoria of optimism is so overwhelming. i've just been watching some of the headlines in the newspapers and the tv around the world, and what is very clear is that this is a massive step forward. and i think for egypt it's been a big step forward.

everyone acknowledges it's an important moment. i hope that egypt goes down the path with the others and releases not only their own family, but the other four along side us and deal with the convictions. at a wider level there are so many people diplomats, politicians, leading politicians, thousands, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people around the world that support our campaign. also i think importantly our professional community, the journalism community, the media community. we are normally a fractionous, cannes tankerous bump never include to cooperate. but this has brought together people in a way i cannot fathom. i'm overwhelmed by this. a lot of people told me what it was like when we were in prison. we were aware of the campaign. i don't think i understood.

i don't think i really do understand how extraordinary it's been. it's something that i'll have to look at over the coming weeks and months. >> finally, i wanted to ask you, what are you looking forward to most? >> watching a few sunsets, i haven't seep those for a long time. watching the stars. feeling the sand under my toes. the little things. this has been like a rebirth, and you realise that it is those little beautiful moments of life that are really precious and spending time with the family of course too. that is what is important. not the big issues. >> well like peter, there is also calling for the release of two staff members in prison. in a statement it was said:

183 supporters of the outlawed muslim brotherhood have been sentenced to death. they were convicted for playing a role in the killing of 16 police men shortly after the military toppled former president mursi two years ago. the judge sentenced dozens of people to death, and he was the judge that sentenced our al jazeera colleagues to 7 to 10 years. >> the justice system in egypt happens been misused to silence those that criticize the government. >> they are used to silence dissent among the muslim brotherhood members, or supporters. and if we look at this case as well there were measures so

for instance not all the defendants go to the hearings. how, witnesses were all from the police. the defendants were being tried in a police complex which undermoips the presumption of innocence, and also the defendants were behind a large dark screen preventing them from participating in the trial, accordingly defending themselves. the innocence will be appealed who will died whether there's a need to retrial tore not. amnesty international is calling to quash the sentences and order a retrial that needs fair trial guarantees without resort the head of a u.n. inquiry looking into war crimes during the conflict in gaza in 2014 resigned. canadian academic william shave aft was appointed, and has been

accused by israel of bias because of consulting work he did for the palestine liberation organization in 2012. >> i did a legal opinion about the international criminal court when palestinian - palestine liberation organization was vising people on the issue of ratifying the rome statue of the international criminal court. they asked me for a legal opinion, i delivered it. it was a small consultancy. i do it all the time for governments, and of course what happens in the past is put aside when one is worn in as a commissioner. i took an oath to be an independent member of the inquiry, and nothing that has been done has suggested anything to the contrary. this was something in the past and it's out there, and now they are suggesting that i'm in some way beholden to the palestinian liberation organization. that is not the case. i'm an independent commissioner

and the commission conducted its work as all observers saw it work, with great integrity, independence and impartiality. >> in syria, over 40 have been killed and more injured in government air strikes targetting a number of rebel-held areas. fighter jets struck an area killing 12. doumae and ghouta came under shelling. several cars and trucks were set on fire during the attack. you're with al jazeera, more to come on the programme, including lebanese fishermen entangled in syria's war. plus... >> i look to the right and we move right. i look to the left and we move left. >> a new wheelchair bringing hope to the physically challenged and it costs less than an ipad. stay with us.

welcome back. i'm shiulie ghosh. a reminder of the top stories. peter greste is calling on the egyptian government to free his two colleagues still behind bars. in his first interview since release on sunday peter spoke about his release at being freed and his concern for the men he had to leave behind a u.n. inquiry looking at war crimes in gaza 2014 has resigned. he told al jazeera the

commission must continue its twork bring justice to the commission in gaza. 40 died in government air strikes targetting rebel-held areas across syria, fighters jets struck. women and children are among those killed in an attack in italy u.s. president obama has upvialed his proposal to boost government spending to $4 trillion and increase taxes on the rich. 9 billion will be set aside to fight the islamic state of iraq and levant there's very little the president and republican-controlled congress agree on. especially when it comes to money. >> i cannot believe we are here again. >> this place is a mess. >> previous governments have been shut down leading to defaults. it's been ugly. and now it should be worse. that is because president obama wants to increase spending by

7%, about 75 billion. >> and in the hundreds of pages he calls for raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations. before reading one page the republicans said no. and they have shown they are willing to use the budget to force the president's hand saying they will not fund the department of homeland security past february if the president doesn't change his immigration policy. >> the president says he will not change his plan. in a trip to the department of homeland security he warned republicans that they'll take the blame for the fall out. as a republican put it. if they let the funding run out, it's not the end of the world. that's what they said. but, until they pass a funding bill it is the end of a pay check for tens of thousands of front-line people who continue to have to work without getting paid analysts say that doesn't

help pass a budget. >> both sides are angling to do or not do things depending on the impact. they view that the white house is the big enchilada because so much power accumulated in the executive branch to only decide subsidiary issues. >> they decided to fund the government months at a time. in six years president obama signed two budgets, and is unlikely to put his pen down to a third, which will mean economic uncertainty to the country until after the next election. >> venezuela president nicolas maduro spoke against newest visa restrictions on venezuelan officials. it bars disclosing the identities of those affected. the restrictions offer venezuela

deadly protest restrictions. they described the restrictions as legalized punishment of venezuelan hundreds of people marched in yemen in support of the three day political dead line set by the houthi rebels. the ultimatum was announced on sunday. if the power vacuum is not filled, the houthis say they'll take over. the main opposition has not heeded the call instead, suspending participation in the talks. the u.n. envoy for libya say two rival companies will meet for talks. the government based in tripoli told him it wants to achieve peace and continued dialogue. after the fall of the government almost four years ago. libya descended into chaos with

two administrations and militias battling for control libya's internationally recognise the parliament revoked a law which barred those in muammar gaddafi's era from participating tunisia's prime minister designate proposed a coalition cabinet for a second time. politicians rejected a list put forward last week. the latest line-up includes members from a concerted party. finishing second behind the secular needa tunis. parliament will vote on whether to ratify the new government. >> chadian troops operating launched an offensive on a town under the control of boko haram. nigeria said it has retaken five following a joint offensive by

its military and vigilantes along with forces from chad and cameroon. they repelled an attack by boko haram in the north-eastern town of maiduguri. three people have been killed and 18 injured in a car bomb attack in a car rally held by the president. it happened minutes after jonathan goodluck left the stadium in the city of gom bay in the north-east. it's a boko haram strong hold. >> nigeria's main opposition leader says he will make the country a safer place if elected president. he was addressing supporters at an election rally. >> our main job is to improve security. it's a priority because people need to be free to go where they want to go and work day or night to make a living. >> large scale human trials for two experimental ebola vaccines have begun in liberia, one the worst-affected of african

countries. 30,000 liberians volunteered to take part after studies showed the vaccines are safe for human use. it has killed nearly 9,000. >> opposition parties in sudan called for a boycott of upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. they will shun the april vote. the leaders call on all sudanese to join the boycott to end the 25-year rule. south sudan's president salva kiir and rebel leader riek machar signed a ceasefire agreement. the deal was reached in the capital. details have not been made public. >> i'm confident that the two leaders will report what they have signed today. in the coming february will see

that a peace agreement will be signed. this is what the people are expecting. and the people of the region and the international community spects from the leaders. failure to do so will have a doctoring of consequence to all of us. especially the leaders of south sudan. >> pro-russian separatists in ukraine announced a plan against thousands of men. the joint army of two breakaway regions may grow to include as many as 100,000 troops. >> we will mobilize up to 100,000 people to the army. given the situation on france we will have to modernize people that will have to carry weapons. after today it is urgent. it will be a general mobilization.

>> casino operators in china are excited about the year ahead in macau, the largest gambling hub. despite falling revenue and a crackdown by the government. >> reporter: it had the bells and whistles expected for a casino announcement. as one of the largest operators in mccaw unvialed plans to open two complexes. >> these two projects will be officially launched this year and at that time the galaxy expanding will offer $ -- 1.1 million square meters. doubt size at a price of $7 billion. it comes at a time when gambling revenue gel. >> we are sailing through head

winds. if you look at the trends in the mark we are going through a consolidation, we are confident we can emerge a stronger mark. >> tourist numbers last year were up 2.5% to 31 million arrivals. gaming revenue fell. analysts believe the crackdown on the illegal flow of funds to the may land discouraged high rollers. it accounts for two-thirds of the casino receipts. obviously it had a significant effect on macau. specifically because very rich chinese who make up the rules that the junkies bring in are the most honest business me they don't want to be scrutinized. >> john bruce is an analyst monitoring the casino boom for more than a decade and believes the arrest of stanley ho's nephew for a roll in the prostitution ring shows china is

serious. >> people though there are no untouchables. >> mccaw is a place where citizen can bet. it's a main draw. as the government sets up. some believe it will be crucial to avoiding a tougher rear ahead. now to a story of hope for people who are paralysed. a prototype wheelchair is being developed in the u.k. controlled not by the youser's hands, but their eyes. it costs less than an ipad. phil lavelle has the story. >> reporter: steve has been ill for five years now. all he can move are his eyeballs. >> i have motor neurone disease, it has taken over most of my life. i need around the clock care just to breathe. >> this is how steve talks.

the computer tracks eye movement and turps it into a voice. he kept physically move himself. >> i have tried foot controls. i didn't know i was capable of controlling a wheelchair it's different to move myself around without having to book a helper. >> so could this transform steve's life from a lab nearby a creation called revolutionary. an electric wheelchair moved by following the user's eye. >> i look to the right and be move right. i look to the left and move left. >> there's no doubting this is a prototype. spot the sticky tape holding it toot. >> the eye movements we got off the web. the device holding it was laying around the lab. the wheelchair was out of the skip. >> it comes in under $200. >> what is fascinating is not the technology even though eye

tracking is phenomenal. it's the way it's implemented using cheap equipment that any of us could get hold of if we put our mind to it. what it does is open up possibility for millions of disabled people all over the world who ordinarily would not afford this kind of kit. creating a new market known as frugal health care. >> you don't have to learn user technology. you don't have to know where to look to do what. look as if you were normally looking when you walk around or drive around. translating a normal look into the real world. it's cheaper than existing technology it was not done before. >> reporter: this is the start of a long journey for the project. many doors to go through before it can be brought to mark. it fashed so cheaply and by a team reliant on donations, showing where the future could

be. and where otherwise they are not able to move anywhere. >> don't forget. you can keep up to date with all the stories, including the first interview from peter greste released from an egyptian gaol on the website. aljazeera.com. >> the first stop for many child migrants to the united states is this border patrol facility in mcallen, texas. >> "good afternoon, welcome to the rio grande valley processing center..." >> it opened this summer in response to an influx of unaccompanied minors from mexico and central america. >> do you think this is an immigration issue or a refugee issue? do you think some of them will be granted political asylum? >> we're not talking about criminals.