>> croatia struggles to cope with the refugee crisis and its plan to deal with the problem has outraged its neighbor. ♪ >> hello, welcome to al jazeera. i'm jane dutton, live from our headquarters in doha. at least 40 people are dead after a taliban attack on a former air force base in pakistan. thousands of israeli security personnel are deployed

around the mosque in jerusalem. ♪ croatia is the latest european country struggling to deal with an influx of refugees and it is feeling the strain. this is the scene just a few hours ago scuffles broke out between refugees. 13,000 people have crossed into croatia in the last two days alone. the government says it doesn't have the resources to register people as per e.u. rules. it plans to redistrict them towards hungary and sla vainia. >> reporter: even though the conditions here are frankly

inhumane. it's 40 degrees here at the moment. there are babies and tiny children all sitting in the dirt, waiting for a bus or something to take them further north, but everything is relative at least it is better than it was on the hungarian border, and there has been some movement today, many of the thousands who were here last night have gone already. they have gone either by bus or train in the direction they would hope where it is six hour's walk to the border with sloven slovenia. it's actually quite a major step north to go through what is effectively an entire country. but the slovenias say they won't let anybody in.

the unhcr is busy saying that the european union has got to start getting a grip on this, not just because winter is coming but because of the huge backlog of people clogging up the borders and not able to get through. and they point out that there is no common european policy to sort this out. but in the immediate term at least for some of these people there is at least a little forward month. >> as he mentioned the refugees are being taken to the croatian capitol. >> reporter: the refugees on these buses have been brought by train to here. now what is interesting is that although the border into slovenia has been closed, most of the refugees that i have just spoken to believe they will be taken now into slovenia, they say they have not heard that border has been closed. they don't expect to be taken to

any holding facilities or makeshift refugee camp. it will be an interesting situation in next few hours. many day if they are not bussed to the border, they plan to walk, but that on this record-hot day will be very difficult. that's a walk that will take at least six to seven hours. police in libya have arrested more than a hundred people just as they were about to cross the mediterranean to europe. they were taken by bus to a nearby detention center. u.s. secretary of state john kerry says washington believes military talks with russia on the syria conflict is an important next step. kerry says he hopes talks will take place very soon. rosiland jordan is live from washington, d.c. talk us through the significance of this, rosalyn. >> this is very significant,

jane, because the military to military contact were suspended in march 2014 because of the u.s.'s extreme displeasure with russia's incursion in crimea, and the ongoing military presence in the eastern part of the country. now the ongoing civil war and the resultant refugee crisis certainly has raised considerable alarm here in washington and when the secretary of state noted day before yesterday that sergei lavrov the russian foreign minister had suggested that perhaps some level of military to military contact should be resumed in order to try to deal with the problems of both the syrian civil and the presence of isil in that country, the secretary of state then indicated that he didn't think it was a bad idea, and now what

he is saying after meeting with the former british prime minister tony blare and with the foreign minister, that the president, barack obama, also thinks that this might be useful. so what we need to find out now is exactly under what circumstances these contacts would take place, and perhaps more important, what would be the parameters of this military to military contact, and what is it they would be trying to achieve. now it does not mean that you are going to see a full resumption of that military to military relationship again, because the obama administration does not want to, so to speak, let russia off of the hook for its behavior in ukraine, but given the gravity inside syria, there seems to be a growing sense that something needs to be done, and if it means talking to

the russian military, so be it. >> thank you. the syrian observatory for human rights aware strikes have targeted the city of palmyra which is under the control of isil. government fighter jets carried out 25 air strikes on the city. it contains ancient ruins and was captured by isil in may. this video shows the aftermath of another government air attack. 30 people were reportedly killed in the strike. at least 43 people have been killed in pakistan after taliban gunmen stormed a former air force base. 21 of its soldiers were among the dead in the attack. 14 taliban fighters were killed. nicole johnston has more. >> reporter: this is the air force base behind me, where the pakistani taliban launched its attack against the air force. it is in the middle of a residential area where there are

many officers from the military living. it's a significant attack, because not only did the taliban strike at a guard post, they were able to get inside this compound, into a mosque and kill people while they were praying. lately the pakistani taliban has under a great deal of pressure since it last carried out an attack in december of last year, where it killed 132 students at an army public school. since then the military has cracked down on the group all over the country, and specifically in the tribal belt. in the north, and in the nearby agency which is very close to here. it had appeared as though the group had been forced to disperse, but it has now broken a long period of calm in the city. thousands of security forces have been deployed near the

alquestion and answa alquestion and answa alquestion and answer >> mosque in jerusalem. the u.n. security council has called for calm. stephanie decker has more. >> reporter: there was a very heavy security presence deployed not only here in the old city but also in areas across jerusalem because they were concerned about what they say were potential protests, riots from palestinian worshippers. only men over the age of 40 were allowed to pray. there was one small incident here at the gate after one man had broken a security core done on the other side. it is business as usual behind

me. however, things are tense. if you put it into context of what has been happening here over the past week, and authorities say they will keep an increased security presence in the area that they deem as tension areas in occupied east jerusalem, because they are concerned of a backlash of this increased tension going on because the palestinians here are concerned about what they feel could be the intention to change the status quo as the compound which is known to jews as the temple mount. but again, the message from the government here is that they have absolutely no intention of changing that status quo. in gaza city hamas called for a day of rage to coincide with friday prayer. military leaders who seized power in coup in burkina faso

have now opened the borders. they have released the interim prime minister and two others. they were captured in the takeover on wednesday. gerald tan reports. >> reporter: uproar on the streets. gunfire rang out as people protested against a coup in burkina faso's capitol. >> translator: people started to come out. in front of us we saw a military vehicle that drove directly into the people and they started shooting, killing people. >> translator: if we're here today it's to stand up against the egotistical interests of the presidential guard. >> reporter: it's a dramatic turn of events after a popular uprising last october, after the president tried to extend his 27-year rule. a transitional government had been preparing for elections next month until the elite presidential guard took over on wednesday. the man in charge now says the

vote will take place but at a later time. >> translator: i think we have to discuss it with the concerned actors, political parties, and civil society in order to establish a timetable [ inaudible ] quick presidential and legislative election. we don't intend to extend our power, we don't intend to do more than what needs to be done, unlike what some people thing. >> reporter: the general was chief of the presidential guard and long-time aid of former president. the former president's whereabouts are unknown. many are concerned the presidential guard does not want an election to happen. >> ever since the country came independent in the 1960s, the army has been the main power, so they feel very threatened that real democracy is coming. they feel if they allow good elections to go ahead, they will

be marginalized and they won't play the central role that they play. >> reporter: the united nations has strongly condemned the coup, and with the interim prime minister still under house arrest, the transition has been thrown into doubt. gerard tan, al jazeera. still to come on al jazeera, thailand's military leaders put journalists and government leaders on notice, but some refuse to go away quietly. and millions of muslims arrive in saudi arabia for the pilgrimage.

the top stories on al jazeera. the u.s. secretary of state john kerry says washington believes military talks with russia on the syrian conflict is an important next step. this came shortly after the russian foreign minister said moscow is ready for tucks. croatia is struggling to deal with an influx of refugees. it is redirecting people towards hungary and slovenia. at least 43 people have been killed in pakistan after taliban gunmen stormed an air force base. 21 of the soldiers were among the dead, 14 taliban fighters were killed. the kenyan government has ordered all schools to shut because of a teacher's strike. it says it doesn't have enough

money to comply with a supreme court ruling to give teachers a 50% pay raise. >> reporter: this government directive makes effect on monday. it indicated the reason for the closure is security of the students in schools without proper supervision. this is the second week of the school term. more than 280,000 teachers went on strike at the start of the year, they say they have the backing of the supreme court which ordered the government to increase their salary by 50 to 60%. the government says it does not have money to pay them. about $170 million is how much the government will need to pay them. should the money be paid out, they say other social services will demand for a pay rise, and that is something the government cannot afford. now this is an important [ inaudible ] students get to write their final primary and

secondary. these governments says those completing exams will continue going to school. they have support from students, parents, and many kenyans who say the amount of money that gets lost in corruption can easily pay the teachers. japan's government is making a final push to change the law to allow soldiers to fight overseas for the first time since world war ii. rob mcbride has the latest from tokyo. >> reporter: as this marathon session drags on so the opposition parties are putting forward a number of no confidence motions in the hope of forcing this crucial debate on the security bill out of time. for his part, abe and his ruling coalition is determined that they will be passed by the ingd of this session, and he is now up against the clock. the concern is that if these

bills are not passed in this session, then they will be hanging over into next week, which is a holiday period here in japan. the concern is the kind of protests we have seen outside may well be swelled or become angry, especially if protesters feel they have a way, possibility that they could talk these bills out of the present session of parliament. they believe this is a very dangerous step back towards the kind of militarism that lead to disastrous consequences in the last century. abe and his allies say this meremer merely brings the constitution more up to date, that japan can take a more active participation in security operations abroad, in peace-keeping operations and working alongside american allies. thailand's government has

released an outspoken journalist from detention. it was the second time he was called in for so-called attitude adjustment. >> reporter: this outspoken thai journalist is still speaking his mind. >> i am very cautious and alarmed, but at the same time, i think we need to inform the world and the public as to what is going on. >> reporter: through his newspaper columns and on social media, he has condemned the army's decision to overthrow a democratically elected government last year. it was the second time he has been taken for so-called attitude adjustments, and if the criticism continues he could be charged with sadition. freedom of speech and the right to decent have been curtailed since the coup.

it has been worse since an armied appointed panel voted to reject a draft constitution. that means the they were deliberately trying to delay elections which now won't happen until the middle of 2017, meaning the prime minister will be thailand's longest serving military leader since any 1970s. >> translator: some people tried to distort information by [ inaudible ] on voting against a draft charter. this is groundless information and it's not true. >> reporter: the government has also detained academics and politicians some of whom have had their passports confiscated and bank accounts frozen. at the moment, political gathering of five people or more are banned.

that makes it difficult for people like the red short supporters of the previous government to show their opposition. >> translator: since the coup red shirts have shown discipline. >> reporter: the army says it seized power to return happiness to the people. where are wondering when if ever democracy will be returned. wayne haye, al jazeera, bangkok. indonesia has deployed an extra 1600 soldiers to put out fires. helicopters are carrying out cloud seeding and water-dropping missions. it's caused by the slashing and burning of forests during the dry season. the fires are to clear land for palm oil plantations. singapore is worried about the air quality for the up coming formula one race, while in

malaysia the haze has forced schools to shut. >> reporter: there has been a slight improvement in air quality in most parts of malaysia, a cloud seeding operation, rain, and a change in wind direction have helped displace some of the pollutants from the air. schools have been allowed to reopen. the thick cloud of smog or haze is caused by open burning in indonesia, where fire is used to clear land for farming or panation use. it's illegal, but enforcement is weak. now this is a problem that not only affects indonesia but also its neighbors, where thousands of people complain of respiratory difficulties, flights are sometimes delayed or canceled, there is even talk that this weekend's formula 1 race in singapore could be effected. malaysia has yet been able to come up with an effective

solution to tackle the problem. indonesia has promised to keep fighting the fires. footage obtained by al jazeera shows the start of work being carried out. egypt says the project is to set up new fish farms, but some critics believe the main turn is to destroy smuggling tunnels used to get supplies into the gaza strip. millions of muslims around the world has begun their annual hajj pilgrimage to mecca. >> reporter: the markets are busy throughout the year, but during the hajj season they get

hectic. this man works at this shop. he says business is flourishing. >> translator: on normal days we sell what is worth about 60 to $80, but hajj or ramadan it goes up to $1,600. >> reporter: all kinds of things are available here. >> translator: gold here is pure. the gold we have back home is mixed with copper. >> reporter: the biggest religious gathering of muslims also generates a lot of cash. 43 million people are expected to perform the hajj this year. some estimates suggest that pilgrims will spending more than $4.5 million on gifts, transportation and housing. this will provide a great boost to the saudi economy. revenues will increase once the

expansion of the grand mosque is over this year. although the accident that killed more than 100 people earlier in month could delay the completion. the secretary general insists saudi arabia is not doing it to earn more money. >> we're not looking for the number as significant as the service we are providing to the local market who is the one who [ inaudible ] the government will not benefit from the hajj. we are not [ inaudible ] country, because we are not a tourist place. we're doing what you call a religious tourism. if you are looking for an expansion project, if you [ inaudible ] not get any benefit. it's not economical. but what we're doing for the [ inaudible ] the hajj because we are being honored. >> reporter: there are over 1.5 billion muslims around the world, most of them want to perform the hajj, which means

mecca will remain rich and busy. soviet space artifacts have gone on show in london. the exhibition honors soviet innovation and the cold war space rivalry between moscow and the west. neave barker reports. >> reporter: reunited with her capsule, the first woman in space. it is now a museum piece, but when it took off in 1963 this journey could quite easily have been a one-way trip. i asked her if she was ever scared. it was work, she tells me. if you were afraid, you would never be allowed into space. this capsule is like a close friend, only made from space technology. she returned a hero of the soviet union, and remains to this day the only woman to fly a

solo mission into space. the soviets kick started the space age with a series of firsts, the first satellite, and then the first man in space. and in 1965 the first space walk together with the first space somersault. many of these art facts have never left russia, some needed to be declassified before they could travel. the soviet unions earlier achievements were seen as challenge by the u.s. who eventually beat moscow in putting a man on the moon. there may be a legacy of cold war tensions, but here in the west these achievements were later eclipsed by nasa's lunar landing. but there is one clear winner, the soviet union. >> they landed the first probe on the moon, and the first to

land on another planet. those are incredible scientific achievements. the lunar landing is very sexy and has all of the pr, but all of these other things are just as important scientifically. >> reporter: with the space race long over, tensions have been replaced by cooperation and joint missions. after the u.s. grounded its shutter fleet in 2011, it now pays russia $63 million per astronaut, per trip. this charts man's early cosmic achievements from the spacecraft to the space toilet, meaningful moments in humanity's journey into the unknown. neave barker, al jazeera, at london's science museum. stay with the news stunning images of pluto taken by nasa's new horizon's spacecraft have been released. they show a sunset view of the

planet. new horizons is the first spacecraft to visit pluto, and it's collection of moons. you can find the collection of our stories on our website, the address at the bottom of your screen there, aljazeera.com. ♪ an abface on the refugee crisis, croatia closes its borders, threatening to arrest tens of thousands of migrants trying to get in. one day after offering safe passage >> donald trump under front for not stepping in when a supporter called president obama a muslim. and the message from pope francis, his message of faith one day before he head