the u.s. says the world must come together to help resolve the syria conflict. this is the al jazeera hour. thousands stranded as the continent in europe struggles with the refugee crisis. the african union issues a deadline to coup leaders in burkina faso much plus... an historic vote - japan allows forces to fight overseas for the first time since world war ii

the u.s. secretary of state says there's an urgent need for countries to come together to find a solution for the conflict in syria. john kerry has been meeting with the british foreign secretary to discuss the situation in syria. let's go live to al jazeera's nadim barr barker, live from london. yen whether you can hear me, not only did the secretary say the countries have to come together. he said something significant about president bashar al-assad's future, and the transfer of power within syria. i'm sorry, nadim baba, i could see im, you couldn't, has disappeared from the shot. i don't know where he's gone, we'll get back to him. meanwhile, inside syria, rebels

say they've made gains in an advance on key villages in idlib in the north-east. dozens of pro-government fighters were killed in those tights. gerald tan has the latest. >> reporter: in the rebel held vollage, the fight is on for two villages under government control. the army launched assaults, hoping to break the line of defense. rebels fired a bar age of mortar shells, unable to take over checkpoints. the national defense committee say the attacks were repelled. this is not the first time they had been targeted. people here are shia, and

supporters of bashar al-assad. the government tried to negotiate, escaping areas in exchange for rebels trapped in the town. talks repeatedly broke down. there are new reports from idlib that rebels have shot dead dozens of government forces captured from an air base this month. elsewhere in syria. fighter jets launched air strikes on the divided city of aleppo. it was aimed at areas under control. the british base monitoring group, syrian observatory for human rights say those killed were civilians. many of them children. >> translation: we want all muslims to see this . look at this. there are bodies scattered everywhere. many neighbourhoods have been reduced to rub. -- rubble. a scene repeated across the country. 4.5 years of war killed a quarter of a million people. 11 million more have been driven

from the homes moist of the refugees are fleeing violence in syria, or most fleeing violence in syria are making their bay to europe. where there's a -- way to europe where there's a bottle neck. countries in the south-east are struggling to deal with the influx. croatia sent the refugees to hungary, which called up military reservists. hundreds are stranded at the croatian boarder with sloughinia, lawrence lee has an update. >> this is one of the new front lines. one of them for the refugees. this is what happened last night, friday night into saturday morning. let me get out of way. hundreds were put in buses by

the croatian authorities, dumped at the border with slovenia. there are families sleeping in the open. the volunteer groups set up from both slovenia and croatia, and have been offering hot soup and blankets. they were shivering with the cold overnight. clothes from the public has been donated. there's a lot of food. they are not short of food and water, but they are clear of answers. over there in the corner where the buildings are are the tents. slovenian riot police are on the other side. families are holding their children up saying why can't be be let through. occasional lay a family is let through. and put on a bus or van to their camps. it is policy, what i can call

people dump, serbia takes all the people from its country, dumping them on the croatian boarder. croatia dumps them on the hungary border which takes them to austria and dumps them or bringing them here. croatia plans to send more buses here today as well. if they could only get them here, it would be a free run. this is pa the start of an area with border less countries, it's five hours from car to here. to where these amazing scenes of people clapping the refugees. it's an extraordinary contrast to a blockage they are having. they are stuck at a border and they have to wait and see if anyone will let them through. here is where the next blockage starts for them now we have re-established contact with nadim baba in london. outside the u.k.'s foreign

minister's residence where john kerry has been speaking saying that countries need to do more to solve the crisis in syria. he said something intriguing, significant about the future of president bashar al-assad, and the transition of power in syria. that's right, john kerry again said that the u.s. believes that president bashar al-assad must go. at least in the long term. in his words he said it doesn't have to happen on day one but said russia and iran can play an important role. ail of them want to see bashar al-assad out of power. it's a sticking point for supporters of bashar al-assad.

conditions of moving them from power. i'm not sure if many will see signs of optimism. he told television that he hopes there could be a coordination between the u.s. and russia to avoid conflict over the goal of defeating i.s.i.l. there is a concern that there could be some find of situation they could try to go after the same people, the fighters getting in etch other's way. it's a complicated situation

russia share with syria. the role has to be discussed. they discussed the crisis, what did kerry have to say about that. >> kerry reiterated that europe needs to do mar over what he calls a humanitarian catastrophe. we have seen those reports in the last few hours, and so many of those came from syria. ultimately the answer is not to let everyone into europe, but tackle the root problem, which is the violence in syria.

they'll push for europe to do more to come up with a quota system. britain will not be part of it, saying it will take in 20,000 syrians over five years. john kerry wants more united action by europe, the european union, because it looks embarrassing on the political side. >> nadim baba in london an israeli air strike damaged a communication tower in northern gaza. it was in response from what israel said was rockets fired in to israel from gaza the african union suspended burkina faso and threatened to impose sanctions on the milty coup, if they don't restore the interim government. soldiers from the presidential guard stormed into a cabinet meeting easting the prime minister. >> reporter: doctors in burkina

faso capital ouagadougo have been treating dozens injured since the coup. >> translation: we have come to see the sick, identify all those injured. we saw bullet wounds, people with crush industries, we have been taking details. >> gunmen opened fire to disperse protesters. >> translation: they were shooting a lot. opened fire. they came into the courtyard. the coup was led by members of the presidential guard, loyal to the ex president. he was overthrown after attempting to prolongities 27 year -- prolong his 27 year rule. >> translation: we'll continue to resist. we'll give the general 24 hours. otherwise they'll hear us, we'll bury his corpse. >> reporter: coup leaders call

the vote unfair because politicians connected to campaore have been banned from running. >> translation: coup leaders say the vote will take place, at a later time. >> we don't intend to expend our power. unlike what some think. >> the united nations condemned the coup and the african union is giving the coup leaders number tuesday to restore the government or face travel banses and asset freezes japan's prime minister says the controversial defense laws will ensure a peaceful solution. soldiers will fight overseas. rob mcbride reports from tokyo.

r >> reporter: after an historic vote, more is coming to mind. >> it's a hard decision. volunteering troops to go overseas is different to defending ourselves. >> security around the world is changing, that is why this is necessary. >> this is necessary for our children, the next generation and for peace. >> reporter: the vote came after

a marathon session in both houses. opposition parties inside, and thousands of protesters outside promised to fight the legislation in the courts and at the next election. >> we have seen million of people on the streets demonstrating how attached they are. >> while the u.s. welcomes the change, china condemns what it sees as a gesture, coming after ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary at the end of world war ii. the pass visit constitution was a result of its role in that war, which blakes it a divisive issue for many japanese. >> for many, it's a symptom of what the change will mean. the futury toornished. the country set on a few course.

>> just ahead, a road to peace and development. many say they paid a heavy price for it. >> the 2015 rugby world cup gets off to a dramaticing start with a dramatic opening game.

>> as the global refugee crisis intensifies... >> they have travelled for weeks, sometimes months. >> and the e.u. struggles to cope... >> we don't know, they stop us here. >> what's being done while lives hang in the balance? >> we need help now. hello again, the top stories - the u.s. secretary of state john kerry says there will

by takes with british foreign minister phillip hammond in london hundreds of refugees are stranded at the border with slovenia, croatia has begun to send refugees to hungary. authorities have called up military reservists to deal with the situation the african union suspended burkina faso and threatened to impose sanctions if coup leaders do not restore the interim government. soldiers from the presidential guard stormed into oo cabinet meeting. >> politicians in democratic republic of congo, who were sacked from the ruling coalition say they are forming their own opposition party, claiming that president kabila is trying to hold on to power by delaying presidential elections scheduled for next year. we have this report from kinshasa members of the ruling coalition say there is no crisis

in the democratic republic of congo. seven people were sacked for demanding president kabila leave office. more are resign. kabila's followers say it doesn't mean the leader is losing support. >> if they become 1,000, it will not change anything. if they think by jumping out of the boat it will sink, they are wrong. we have a good strong person. the country will be all right with kabila. >> the sacked officials will form their own party to stop kabila hanging on to power. >> some of those fired are afraid they'll be intimidated. >> officials say the president will respect the constitution. if the commission delays the polls because the government says it has no money, there's nothing he can do about that.

they stay in office beyond 2016. >> he has to go. and the people of the country, if they don't send him out. as i told you again. we are - we will give them our timetable what we will do every month, every day to send him out. his time is gone members in the ruling party say it could be impossible to hold elections on time. people of the d.r.c. hope there will not be violent. the opposition is planning mass protests egypt's president has sworn in a new government. the former prime minister was set to form a new cabinet. this man is seen as a technocrat. one who cut government fuel subsidies during his tenure as oil minister.

mexico's president pena nieto visited six tourists wounded in an air strike in egypt. 12 people were killed, including eight mexicans when egyptian security forces mistook them for rebel fighters u.s. president obama and his cuban counterpart raul castro spoke by telephone ahead of the pope's visit to cuba, agreeing on new legislation easing restrictions on american companies doing business. the rules to come in effect on monday. pope francis promised to help broker talks. he is due to arriving in cuba for a 4-day visit on saturday. lucia newman has been looking at preparations in havana.

>> reporter: at havana's palace of the revolution, the celestial sound. reversing for the mass on sunday, under the gaze of revolutionary icons, or the separations for the event. it's predicted that it would be marvellous. the pope would leave here very pleased. this is the third visit in 17 years by a pope to cuba. a disproportionately large amount considering the small number of catholics in this country. but cuba's size is not in proportion to the political presence in latin america. and regional politics is something in which the argentine born pope wants to play a role. pope francis offered to mediate in peace talks and offered to meet with f.a.r.c. rebel leaders. it's one of the most significant contributions to the peace process since the talks began.

this papal visit, while pastoral, also has a clear political purpose in this context. >> reporter: pope francis facilitated secret talks, leading to the historical ties between united states and cuba. and the expectation is that when he continues on to the united states from cuba next week, he will again weigh in. >> his visit will help to convince the americans to lift the embargo against cuba. from here the pope will talk to the president of the united states. will the pope delve into cuba's internal politics, and the thorny issue of human rights. >> watching france's message to the cuban people, a leader of the ladies in right. a visible dissident group seemed uncertain. we want and think he should speak out against the violence, against those of us marginalized by the regime. we will continue. even if he says nothing we want

to hear. >> for more than a two centuries, the vatican linked politics, how they will play cards in cuba is something everyone is waiting to see after years of delays and columbia's army said venezuela troops illegally crossed its border, 15 venezuela soldiers are accused of firing weapons and setting fire to a motorcycle. relations have been tense since venezuela closed a major border crossing in recent weeks. myanmar - farmers say they've been forced from their land to make way for a new road, part of the asian highway, making links between thailand and myanmar easier. wayne hay met people along the route who say they have been cheated out of their money. >> for decades. the mountains here were hidden

from the outside world. development is happening, as the country opens up after military rule, it's come under scrutiny. this is a section of the asian highway network that opened. it's part of a united nations project started in 1959 to promote development in the region. for many, the development came at a cost. >> there are good and bad points to having the asian highway, it's good to have the road to people can travel easier, not for my family. we will lose our business. >> the road cuts through the mountains connecting the thai border with a town reducing the journey by several hours. it will be a key trade route that many had to make way for its construction. this farmer didn't want us to use his name, was given a set price and told the government needed more for free.

>> the highway cuts through my land on both sides. the problem is they want to include extra land, and i have to move back further. leaving us with little. >> past the town, the highway is being built. people living in its path is being warned. change is coming whether they like it or not. >> the government had put up signs saying some of the property belongs to the government. we have lived here for a long time. the road cuts through an area that has seen fighting. despite a ceasefire agreement in place, fighting occurs in this area. rebel soldiers watch over a project built by the enemy. >> everyone is hoping for peace. we want people to travel safely on the rod.

we don't want more fighting. it's necessary to protect ourselves. we have to carry our donees. traffic means greater opportunities, in the meantime people want a fair deal it's the start any host nation would hope for, england beat fiji. watched by a sell-out crowd, the homeside got the campaign off to a win. lee wellings reports from london. >> for the first time in the 21st century, the rugby world cup is that sends thousands of fans storming in for the opening

game, despite high ticket prices or where the cheapest costs over $100. >> our daughter brought them. she's at home with the baby. >> we are lucky. >> it's a once in a lifetime. it means a lot to us to come support the team. first the opening ceremony, welcoming 20 nations. to one of the world's biggest sporting events. songs adopted by english rugby, shared with the global tv viewers. by the end of the games, the combined audience is expected to be over 4 billion. they have been given a warm welcome to england. a penalty tri out is the fastest in an opening world cup match. when fiji had a player ruled out. it looks as they nothing would do right for them.

fiji's top player, reminiscent of another, scored their first points. they stayed in touch. brown scored a second try. in added time. they scored a fourth try for england, after a decision using the technology, to earn an important bonus point. england 35, fiji 11. >> they are pleased, obviously with getting the tries and the bonus point. things to work on over all a good first game. >> reporter: england's pool includes wales and south australia. stepping up was not an option. a big nation would fall before the quarterfinals. and and the england fans have hoped it won't be them. the world's number one surfer mick fanning is in action two months after being attacked by a shark at an event in south

africa. the australian beat de-souza in the final of the hurley pro in california. fanning's score saw him replace the brazilian as world number one. with three events remaining. how i wish i could do that. >> this week on talk to al jazeera, renowned architect david adjaye. he's designing the smithsonian's national museum of african american history and culture on the mall in washington, d.c. >> i think that what the world will see is that the african american story is not a footnote, but probably the lens to really understand america, to this day. >> from a cancer treatment center in rwanda to an affordable housing project in new york, plus dozens of projects in development around the world, adjaye says he is trying tke