♪ one of the syria's most powerful rebel leaders is killed by an air strike. ♪ ♪ you are watching or live from doha. coming up in the next half hour. the first visit to pakistan by an indian prime minister in a decade. more than 100,000 people are forceed from their homes by severe flooding in south america. plus. >> no place to call home. aid adam raney on a camp on at haitian-dominican border where hundreds of people have settled after having to leave the

dominican republic. ♪ ♪ one of syria's most powerful rebel leaders has been killed in an air strike. he was the leader of [ inaudible ] he was killed along side five of his commanders in an air strike east of du damascus. his croup is the largest rebel faction around the capital. they are backed by said saudi arabia and attended a meeting in reariyadh earlier this month. >> reporter: he was the most powerful rebel commander in the damascus suburbs. his head quarters were only a few kilometers away from president bashar al-assad's palling. he was released from prison by assad after the start of the

syrian uprising. he rose to pro prominence in 203 when he convinced many armed groups to form an army of more than 20,000 well trained and armed fighters. a few months ago, he attended a military parade. it was the biggest show of force by the syrian opposition. unlike most rebel factions with units a cross country, the army of islam has one base on the outskirts of du damascus with oe task, waiting for the government to collapse to march in to the capital and secure it. this is where he was killed. he was meeting with military commanders. the syrian army says he was killed in an air strike carried out by a syrian fighter jet.

the syrian opposition says the death may undermine the chance for internationally brokered talks between the rebels and the syrian government. he was not only a military commander, he was also a prominent preacher with many followers in the damascus area. with his death, the future of the army of islam is uncertain. in 2013, the syrian government killed a charismatic commander. a year later, many leaders were killed in idlib. the key rebel groups never recovered from the loss of their founders. >> he was a major figure. he was a commander that really built the organization from a small company back in 2011, in mid you want 2011 to now an

organization with 26 command centers, 64 battalions and more or less somewhere between 25,000 to 50,000 fighters. >> reporter: this is his successor. who has been in charge of an elite unit in the army of islam. the opposition says that he should also be remembered as the man who prevented isil and the al-nusra front and al qaeda a fail item from expanding towards damascus and his death could pave the way for isil and the al al-nusra front to launch a an offensive to catch true the capital. i am on turkeys' border with syria. >> russia says it will wok can tar to encourage a dialogue between the syrian opposition and the government. meeting with his counterpart in moscow they emphasized the need

to implement the u.n. resolution to end the conflict, but there was no agreement on the role president is sad would have in a transitional government. >> we discussed in detail what is necessary to be done. to implement the agreement on the syrian settlement. that was reached within the framework of international support group of syria and thein' security council. >> we agree with the russian party that the worsening of this crisis doesn't benefit the interests of either party. and it's harmful to all of the parties and most of all to the syrian people. iraq's prime minister has promise today liberate mosul from isil fighters wince the army has defeated the group in ramadi. mosul is iraq's second biggest city and was seized by isil over a year ago. the local council of anbar province has admitted that ramadi will take time to be recaptured. the army says roadside bombs and suicide attacks are slowing

their progress. some civilians are still trapped in their homes. in yemen, more than a dozen houthi rebels have been killed and fighting with pro-government forces. houthi fighters have been trying to reinforce their positions east of the capital sanaa. rebels have held the city since september last year. the turkish military has bombed the south eastern town as part of an operation against kurdish separatists. six kurdish fighters and one turkish soldier were killed in the attacks near the sore syrian board herb. turkishs tanks have surrounded the town in an 11-day operation. peace talks with the group collapsed earlier this year. indian prime minister modi has made a surprise visit to pakistan think it's the first by an indian leader in more than a decade. some are seeing it as another side of thawing relations

between the two rivals. >> reporter: neighbors not friends is perhaps how the relationship between these two nations could be described. this was not age a surprise visit to the indian prime minister to pakistan. but an historic one. no indian government has visited the neighboring country if more than a decade. back home one of mode's political allies sees this as a pivotal moment. >> the. >> translator: the prime minister says that if pakistan takes a step purchasing they were india was ready to take two steps forward. the steps will come. because if ties between i understand i can't and pakistan improve it will benefit both nations. the surrounding regions and also the world. >> reporter: that is a large the rivalry dates back to the days of independence. they have fought three wars since they were split split in for two countries back in 1947. two of of the conflict were about the himalayan region.

which they both lay claim to. and over the years each has accused the other of supporting or harboring terrorists. not everyone thinks this meeting arranged a short notice is a good idea. >> translator: if the decision is not prepass trust, it's utterly ridiculous. did you not discuss this in such a cavalier manner. >> reporter: skip tiff civil is not unexpected considering the history of discrust. but the two leaders looked relaxed. as they met at the home of the prime minister. the building had been colorful i decorated for his gran grand dot air's upcoming wentin wedding. >> two have died trying to enter morocco. hundreds of people try to reach the city by swimming or climbing

barbed wire fences. 185 migrants succeeded in getting to in to the territory and they were treated for various injuries. greece says it could spends over half a billion dollars on the refugees. but the real cost may come in the form of lost tourism. from the islands of lesbos john psaropoulos reports. >> reporter: he used to be at the bottom of the hospitality industry. she parkedded her food van beside highways and waited for business. the refugees crisis has now put her at the top da. >> translator: in summer weigh mate you to 200 euros a day. now up to about 500. before we mate just 5067 her van is one of several outside the refugees camp. here refugees can warm themselves by her stove, eat and retheir cell phones others have sensed the opportunity.

refugees and migrants have set up a at the present time city. with vendors supplying the hardware, those with money have moved in to small hotels dotting the close which would normally be closed in december. breakfast with police and aid workers n town they buy credit for cell phones here too they can buy boat and bus tickets for their journey out of greece. the refugees windfall is evident all over town. but city fathers worries this may prove only a partial and temporary replacement of the tourism industry that migration seems to have chase ahead way. an industry greek islands spent decades building up. lesbos hotels experienced a 3 1/2% drop in business for the first time last august. charter companies cut down flights and cruise ships took lesbos of their eye fine ai iti. most pictures a drop in business. >> translator: it depends on how visitors will react. will they come as volunteers for

helpful will they feel put off and worried that they will see sad things here then we'll take a loss. >> reporter: and there are official crofts. the e.u. defrays the government's migration costs, that's not only true for local government. >> translator: this month i won't pay all the salaries. nine burden is he mo enormous. the taxes paid by nineties thousand people are covering the cost of 440,000 migrants arriving. >> reporter: there is no doubt that lesbos is seeing the losses and benefits of becoming a global refugees capital. at the end of the day, people here say it's the loss of life that touches them. and that is the main reason they want refugees flows to end. john is rob us, a psaropoulos, , less bon. lesbos. >> as 2015 comes to a close al jazeera looks back at the lives of five families who lives have been afternooned by some of the most significant events. that includes the war in syria

that has forced more than 1 million refugees in turkey. bernard smith has the story of anker determine company. >> reporter: just 50-kilometers from this church in turkey across the border in syria, christian worship is now impossible. there isil is in control. so he and his family fled here. seeking refuge with its small community of fellow severe vinnie christians. his wife is bed writ en. getting treatment is getting harder in a place where they don't speak the language. >> when any came to turkey we stayed in the mon tear foy four months. but it was too crowded with refugees so they put us in this house. gave us blankets, pillows a fridge, everything we need.

>> reporter: with little work in turkey two of their sons have gone to europe. >> translator: we were working here for just 15 euros a day. it wasn't enough for the cigarettes and phone credit. let alone something to help us. with so we sold our home and used the money to sends the boys to europe. >> translator: every day just 15 lira, how can you live on that. >> translator: now they are in a refugee camp somewhere, mor we e not sure where. >> reporter: too sick to get the priest he now comes to see her. >> translator: i used to walk a little, but now it's difficult. now i can do is go to the bathroom and back with this frame. there is only us we have no friends here and no family. >> reporter: a proud couple they

now face a retirement dependent on charity. >> translator: we want to go back to our life as it was before but it's hard. >> translator: believe me, there is no place in all the world better than sear ye. rich or poor, everybody had a life. there was work. now syria is destroyed. >> reporter: but still he says he praise that next year he will be able to take his family back to a peaceful syria. bernard smith, al jazeera, in southeastern turkey. and in the secretary part of the series, katherine soi meets family in kenya struggling to move on from april's al-shabab attack in karissa. you can catch that on al jazeera on saturday from 1500 g.m. it. turkey's president erdogan has apparently talked a man out of jumping off a bridge in istanbul. this footage has emerged of

their he can change on the bridge. the aids can be seen talk to this man there. who was parentsly contemplating sued side and then escorting him to his car. the turkish president doesn't leave his vehicle but is seen talking to the man in his car. still to come here on al jazeera, rickety but still running, we brave the daily commute in a georgian mining town. plus. we'll tell you why the new film concussion has america's national football league worried.

♪ ♪ whowelcome back. the top stories here on al jazeera. within of the most powerful rebel leaders in syria has been killed in an air strike. he was the leader that controlled large areas of the damascus suburbs. the syrian government says it carried out the attack. indian prime minute officer mode has made a surprise visit to pack stark it's the first bine an indian leader in more than a decade. some are sealing it as a sign of improving relations between the two rivals. two african migrants have ground trying to enter the spanish territory near morocco. hundreds of people tried to reach the city by climbing barbed wire fences and then swimming. dozens of people are feared dead in a christmas eve exposition in southern nigeria. they were trying to collect cooking gas from a truck when it exploded. we have a report.

>> reporter: this truck was discharging butane gas when it exploded starting a huge fireball that lasted for hours. some bodies were charred beyond recognition. >> translator: some people came to buy gas but a lot of people that were affected were people that were outside. many people escaped. >> i saw. i told the people that we should run, this is very dangerous, so we were running, i started falling down, that's [ inaudible ] >> reporter: the ferocity of the blast damaged nearby buildings as well. according to local media sources, the explosion was triggered which a truck began discharging cooking gas before waiting for it to cool down. the nigh year vinnie express expressed his sorrow over the industrial accident which happen ed in nigeria's predominantly christian south. many of the victims would have been collecting gases to prepare meals for christmas

celebrations, a mother of child are among the dead. nigeria's is africa's biggest gas ex-partyer but poor regulations have been blamed for a serious of accidents involving tanksers and pipelines. dozens of people have been injured after a 6.2 magnitude quake hit northern afghanistan on friday. strong shocks were felt in the afghan capital kabul as well as pakistan and india. the injuries occurred in pakistan before klee hundred kilometers from the quake's end center. parts of brazil, argentina and uruguay are bearing the brunt. >> reporter: severe flooding in the southern part of south america, driving more than 150,000 people from their homes and spending christmas looking for higher ground. in the city northeast argentina

is being called the worst flooding in a half seep true i as nonstop overnight rains forced the river to flood its banks. thousands forced to evacuate. >> translator: the water level was really high inside my house winds to check it out and found as much as 20 or 30 centimeters 67 the nearby dam was nearing capacity as it tried to contain more flood waters. >> above all the priority today is related to getting control of the situation. helping the 6,000 evacuees and particularly containing situations like that in concordia. which is more effected by the flooding. >> reporter: and the state of emergency and neighboring paraguay as water nearly covered buildings, evacuees cram ed in to shacks not yet engulfed by watering they tried to support each other as best as they could. >> we have already run from the water four times. now we don't know where we will go. the water reached the place where we had escaped to.

we are now on the side of the road and the water keeps coming. >> reporter: armed the capital. at one point more than 100,000 people were without power. the afternoons of the flooding reaching far and wide. >> the situation is very bad. the children and also us, we are all sick. all week we have had diarrhea and in the medical centers there is no medicine. >> reporter: weather forecasters say the exceptionally high rainfall is due to an el nino weather pattern but few here expected it to be this bad. gabriel elizondo, al jazeera. >> tornadoes and storms have swept across the southern united states killing at least 15 people. the bat weather has caused significant damage in the largest city birmingham. the twister damaged houses, toppled trees and knocked outpour in the area. dozens of houses have been destroyed by a bush fire in southern australia. thousands of holiday makers and residents were forced out of

several coastal towns in the state of advantage tour i can't on friday. hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze. southeast australia has faced record heat waves. deported from the dominican public six months ago for not having proper documents, adam raney went back to a camp he visited in july where conditions have worsens. >> reporter: close quarters for those stuck at this camp in haiti near the dominican boarder. six months after fleeing or being deported they have received no help to resettle from the government of either country. hungry and pennyless they wait for help while chirp here keep their spirits up somehow. many now are weakened of being struck by cholera. >> translator: i was vomit, i had die roo a went to the clinic for one or two nights and they gave me medicine. i got out but now i feel weak

when i walk even slowly. >> reporter: manuel, like many here is more fluent in spanish than haitian creole. hhe says he was born in the dominican republic, he left a home and horse behind. here he has nothing. he showed me a me are packet of rice that the local priest sometimes gives him and his family to eat. we first filmed here in july a month after the dominican republic began a swing track down on migrant workers who lacked proper documentation. and many long established residents of haitian did he dect appear to have been caught up in the sweep some feared for their lives and came here on their own, others say they were deported. things were are even bleaker than they were when we visited in july. dozens of cases of cholera. nine people have died here in this camp. they sleep in the dirt, breathe in dust that makes them sick. they have little to eat or drink, despite that every day there are signs that people keep

showing up. this woman survived cholera too. alone here her husband and son are back in the dominican republic. >> translator: i hope the government helps me move to a better place. that's what i am asking god for. >> reporter: the camp is known as gift park. there were no signs of presents, though, on christmas. a water filter supplied by the haitian government arrived just a day ago. we were here in july it's now six months, why has it taken six months to bring these people water? >> translator: we thought this was temporary. now we have to do something. >> reporter: other projects like a reception 70er on the border has been promised but so far, have not been built. back in the camp, cleaner water should arrive soon. but what people are really looking for is a way out of

here. adam raney, al jazeera, haiti. emergency teams in china are working to save 18 people trapped under a collapsed mine. they have been stuck since friday night. so far 11 people have been pulled out from the rubble. and four others have managed to escape. it's unclear what caused the mine to collapse. a mining town in northern georgia and it boasts one of the oldest aerial tram ways in the world. the rusting cable cars are still used to ferry commuters and miners in and out of the city center. robin took a ride in one. >> reporter: this is the daily commute here. in what are little more than rusting boxes sus spend the from steel ropes. it's not for the faint hearted. >> translator: i would be delighted to go with you. but i am afraid. >> reporter: for those who live

above the city, it's the obvious choice. >> translator: you just need two minutes to come here by cable car, butt bus takes an hour at least. >> reporter: marina has been operating cable cars for the past 17 years. >> translator: it's the fastest and most comfortable transport. >> reporter: mag nice was discovered in the hills. the cable car systems was installed in the 1950s to ferry workers and orr from the mines. it no longer resembles a socialist utopia, but 11 lines still operate and the rides are still free for everyone. >> reporter: this is the public transport for this city and this one white sox built win built in 1952, it' and it's been running7

since then. they keep them running with a lot of royal and a system that was built to last. >> translator: i think the machinery will out live me. mits metal and who knows i might die tomorrow. >> reporter: they are promised a new network of cable cars until then they continue to depend on soviet engineering, evening nearing harassed out lasted the soviet union. al jazeera. american football is in danger of losing potential players if isn't made safer. that's the warning from the director of a new movie called "concussion." the film stars will smith as a forensic pathologist trying to expose the dangers of brain damage suffered by football players, his efforts are challenged by the national football league. director peter lanceman says the concussion crisis has led to

more parents stopping their children from playing football because of concerns overhead injuries. >> the big number is that pop warner football which is little league football where small children join it's down as high as 35%. with that says -- what that says is those kids, those elite athletes at sick, seven, eight, nine years olds they are not playing football, they are wrestling, baying baseball, run, playing lacrosse, so those kids will not show up in the nfl. that number will get bigger that. tells me that there is a size mick change coming for the sport. >> now, minute can dial a wrong number, but it's not often done from outer space. british astronaut tim peak has apologized for accidentally calling the wrong person from the international space station. well, he insists that it wasn't a prank when he asked her if he had reached planet earth. it's not peak's first phone interim defense from space.

he tried calling his parents to wish them a merry christmas instead he had to leave a message because they weren't home. all the latest news and analysis on our website the address is on your screen there at aljazeera.com. on "america tonight" the mother church. >> this is the fist catholic cathedral in the united states, so every catholic church throughout the united states are daughters of this church. >> adam may on the baltimore beauty hidden by history but resurrected for the faithful. down to earth. >> is this what the pope should be talking about? >> he has no choice but to speak out on that. >> in the heart of coal country, what does it mean when the pope speaks of heaven and earth?