>> forces advance on the center of the city. >> hello this is al jazeera from doha. also on the program the u.n. says it needs another $3 billion to help the people of syria but it makes claims that the u.n. hasn't done its job. >> isil accepts a pledge of allegiance from boko haram in nigeria. >> the car crash outside the white house signals more trouble

for the u.s. secret service. >> the iraqi government is now confident that victory in tikrit is just days away. the iraqi army, backed by shia militia and sunni tribesman have been advancing on several fronts. government troops recaptured western neighborhoods. the fighting against isil is focused on the presidential palace complex and pockets of the city center. we have a report. >> pounding enemy target on the outskirts of tikrit on the fourth day of a huge offensive 3,000 iraqi soldiers and police have been attacking positions held by isil as they try to reach the city center. their backed by 20,000 militiamen known os the popular mobilization forces and sunni tribesman. they've reportedly been slowed

down by snipers, suicide bombers and booby trapped buildings. this footage purportedly shows isil fighters stopping fighters from reaching a barracks in western anbar province. inry mad di city center, the commanders are triumphant. >> isil tried to enter the city from all four sides. the local police force in cooperation with the local fighters stopped them. we detonated their car bomb. >> an initiative is organized by the union of iraqi artists. >> all iraqis including artists should participate in this blood donation campaign. this is a simple thing i offer to my country. >> elsewhere, the prime minister told a crowd of students that forces fighting isil had made huge gains but said they also had to protect civilian life and

property. >> there are infiltrators who want to commit crimes and serious violations. therefore, we have issued strict orders to the police, army commanders and to that popular mobilization forces. >> while the government insists its forces advancing in tikrit, the battle goes on. al jazeera. >> earlier, we spoke to a member of the baghdad local government who told us why he thought the iraqi military has been making progress in tikrit. >> i think this is the first time, this is the testing grounds, important testing grounds where the popular mobilization joined by the sunni bribesman from the tikrit province working alongside each other to liberate tikrit. i think the success of this could indicate the failure of those who tried to show that the

popular forces are having trouble fighting with the fighters. they have achieved successes in tikrit. they were an elemental force in the fight in the battle in tikrit, resulting in tremendous amount of victories. >> the united nations says it needs another three billion dollars to help syrians. the request comes amid criticism that after four years the conflict the u.n. hasn't done enough to protect civilians. part of the problem has been the threat by isil. bernard smith reports. >> from the momentum they are born, most syrians are now reliant an foreign aid. here it means the difference between life and death.

>> now as isil has emerged to take command of some areas in syria, security concerns make it difficult to get aid through. >> we say it's a shrinking humanitarian corridor. it's a common phrase. it's just more difficult to get supplies from here to there and for sure going deep inside syria, where we were able to get fairly easily get in, now that road is treacherous. it's very, very dangerous. >> it's just not the fighting that stops aid getting through. many of the governments and larger charity that is supply smaller aid groups will not allow help to be sent to isil-controlled areas. they fear it will be diverted to isil fighters. hand-in-hand is one group who's warehouse in syria hint at the aid needs of this country. set up at the start of the

conflict, the group's founders thought they'd be needed for four or five months. >> it was just like a really basic help when you say medical aid, they needed bandages or cotton or for really basic needs. >> it's gone from providing cotton and bandages and baby milk to what? >> into providing complete hospitals now. >> nah hand-in-hand is preparing for the next 10 years an alarming prospect not least because of the costs involved. this year, the u.n. is appealing for $2.9 billion to help 12 million syrians, more than half the population. the delivery will cross borders here in turkey and iraq and jordan into territory that's become some of the most differ in the world for aid agencies to operate in. >> last year, the u.n. only got half the money it asked for to

help syrians. donor fatigue is a real concern. without those donors and the aid groups they help. syria's next generation would have no chance. al jazeera on the turkish-syria border. >> isil has accepted a pledge of allegiance from boko haram fighters in nigeria. in an audio message hosted on line a spokesman for isil is heard saying the caliphate has expanded to west africa. we have more. >> in this new audio recording just put up on the internet, it's believed by supporter was isil, a spokesperson for the group welcomes boko haram's like this sense and said we announce the expansion of the caliphate to west africa because the caliphate have accepted its edge. >> lens of our brothers. so far there's been no official reaction from the nigeriaen government to this statement. it is likely to fall on deaf

ears. last week when boko haram announced and pledged allegiance, many viewed this as the last kick of a dying force. the president said boko haram is gaining extinction and they are gaining ground against the group. they said the question of the relationship between isil and boko haram is there's no everyday of any capacity to collaborate or to launch joint operations anywhere in the region and therefore, they see this as just propaganda. meanwhile, efforts to curb the group's activity goes on. there's fighting in the northeast and in the last 72 hours, president goodluck jonathan has said he hopes the end the group's existence within the next two to three weeks. >> a evener member of al shabab who attacked the west gate mall on kenya he and two others were killed when their town was hit

near a town. 67 people died in the west gate attack. >> in africa, an appeal against oscar pistorius's conviction for culpable homicide will go to the supreme court. the paralympic athlete was convicted for killing his girlfriend in cock 13. prosecution lawyers want his sentence increased. erika woods reports from johannesburg. >> december of last year is when the prosecution went to court. they argued that the judge, when she sentenced oscar pistorius for culpable homicide instead of murder that she applied the wrong rule of law to do so. they want him convicted for the bigger sentence of murder, because it would mean a longer sentence in prison. they were granted leave to appeal at the supreme court of appeals. that will be happening later this year. what we heard today was for the defense lawyers saying no, the correct rule of law was applied this should go no further. the justice today decided this

all needs to be heard in the supreme court this cannot be heard in the lower court. later this year, a date yet to be set the judge will hear an argument, an appeal over that conviction. what is not under dispute is the fact that the bullet shot by oscar pistorius led to the death of reeva steenkamp. what is under dispute and what will be argued at that supreme court later on this year is whether it was tantamount to murder or tantamount to culpable homicide. of course the defense don't want this to go any further because they don't want the longer sentence. the prosecution say that the culpable homicide sentence of five years was not enough, it did not send a big enough message for the crime that he committed. they want him ultimately sentenced for murder. >> in the united states, relative calm has returned to the streets of ferguson, missouri after the shooting of two police officers wednesday night. activists held a candlelight

vigil and called for peaceful protest, the latest of many since police killed unarmed teenager michael brown last year. >> the night after the shooting of two police officers, demonstrators returned to the streets outside ferguson police department headquarters. >> what happened last night was kind of like random, so it's not normal, it's not the norm at all. it's usually peaceful at the protest and i'm a little nervous. >> they vowed to continue peaceful tactics like stopping traffic until they get the reforms they want. >> we got some things that are good and necessary but they are not justice. justice is either not experiencing the trauma or experiencing accountability with the people who initiate or pepper pet waited the trauma and we haven't had that yet. >> st. louis county police are investigating the shooting that happened right outside police headquarters. >> this is really an ambush is what it is. you know, you can't see it coming you don't understand

that it's going to happen, you're basically defenseless. >> that night the demonstrators who gathered outside the police station following the resignation of ferguson's police chief had mostly dispersed and then the gunshots. >> a cop's got shot. >> this was the act of a photo journalist. >> we saw the cop shot right next to us. >> two police officers were head, one had the head, one in the shoulder. both have been released from the hospital. >> no one someone trying to bring healing to ferguson, this was a damn punk, punk, who was trying to sew discord in an area that is trying to get its act together and trying to bring together a community that has been fractured for too long. >> the family of michael brown the unarmed black teenager fatally shot by a policeman in

august said: >> a recent department of justice report did find evidence of systemic racism in the ferguson police department. now after a peaceful night of protest, the focus is on the injured police officers and find who go shot them. al jazeera forego son missouri. >> still ahead on al jazeera egypt tries to encourage investment drawing diplomatics and business leaders. >> latin america tells its own stories, we take you to the continent's oldest film festival.

>> the stream, >> your digital community >> you pick the hot topics and express your thoughts the stream it's your chance to join the conversation only on al jazeera america >> welcome back. a recap of our top stories on al jazeera. the iraqi government said its victory in tikrit is just days away. the army is pushing toward the center of the city as it tries to drive out isil fighters. >> the united nations is calling for $3 billion to help syria. the critics say the organization hasn't been doing enough to help the most vulnerable in the conflict. >> isil accept add pledge of edge. >> jones from nigeria's boko

haram. a spokesman for isil has said the caliphate has now expanded to west africa. >> libyan t.v. channel aired a leaked recording suggesting that the egyptian government may have provided arms to libya. the deal is said to have taken place when president al sisi was defense minister. it suggest that is egypt provided arms. after four years of political instability, egypt is pinning hopes on economic survival on a conference hoping to attract billions of dollars of foreign invest. >> this is the image egypt wants

to promote a amongst free country open for business. the economy is in trouble even with cash grants from gulf states it needs $60 billion of foreign money which it hopes to raise at the economic investment conference at coastal resort. >> we are welcoming this source. >> president al sisi has increased taxes. comments that he made earlier this week will do little to convince people he's sympathetic to the struggles of ordinary egyptians. >> even if we don't have to eat even if we starve ourselves we build our nation, and yes we rebuild our nation. >> more than four years on from the revolution, many people already don't have enough to eat. around one in four people live

on less than $2 a day. slums have grown and so has unemployment. tourism used to account for around a fifth of egypt's economy. there are some signs visitors returning, but the numbers of nothing like before the 2011 revolution. this won't help attract tourists or investors. there have been a string of bomb attacks. this latest killed two and injured 30 people. >> when you see that some of these are targeted foreign businesses, telecom operators or retailers, whatever they are so definitely a concern. investors look to the government to get reassurance that that would be a minimizing risk, rather than a rising risk. >> then there's the crack down on dissent. thousands of and got visits and political opponents have been arrested and prosecuted since

the removal of president mohamed morsi in 2013. success at the investment conference could move the attention away from these security and political issues. an improved economy would bring stability and hope, and it could boost the credibility of the sisi presidency both at home and abroad. al jazeera. >> a professor in modern and contemporary history at qatar university said the egyptian government and foreign investors have different agendas. >> the egyptian government says we have a project we want to suggest to those donors, come and invest in those areas. now those donors which surround, i mean from 90 countries and 2000 companies they plan to join this conference. they have their own agenda, as well so it's not clear that,

you know, whether the egyptian government will be able to convince those donors of its own priorities. the priority is now it's employment, to mention that the country is secure, as well, so there are, i would say two different discourse in this issue. the second point in this conflict is that egypt is going to this conference with the rising importance of land and egypt is part of the front and wants to tackle this issue. they want to convince the donor that you are doing this for not for the sake of egyptians for your interests, as well. >> the special envoy to yemen said the company could descent into civil war. houthi rebels control much of yemen. we have this report: >> this video appears to show shots being fired at a

demonstration against the houthi coup in the city of badr. one man was killed and five others wounded. demonstrations like these are frequent after shia houthi fighters took control of the country last month. this is the man tasked by the u.n. to stop the country from falling further into chaos. he says there's a real danger of yemen breaking up. >> the situation can get out of hand and if there is no agreement, the prospects are very bleak with a combination of scenarios it's a horrible scenario. everybody is aware that every effort should be made to promote a peaceful way forward. >> the houthi rebels don't seem convinced about the u.n.-brokered talks. >> we will see a positive position by the u.n., the u.n.

security council the region how indicators of some specific parties and groups. why do the g.c.c. have a negative stance when it comes to the popular revolution? >> the houthi's launched military exercises near the border with saudi arabia. they've strengthened ties with iran. on thursday, they agreed to expand and develop yemen's sea port. developments like these neighbor saudi arabia, which is also a sunni rifle. president addi is trying to rebuild his power base in the city of aden. the u.n. is calling for the release of many. >> we are asking them to play a positive role first by releasing the ministers who are still under house arrest, second, you know, by safeguarding the human

rights of the yemeni. >> thousands of yemenis took to the streets demanding the restoration of democracy. >> a pakistani military operation killed 22 taliban fighters and wounded 20 others. fighter jets carried out the operation in the northern province on the border with afghanistan. several taliban hideouts were targeted. >> the u.s. secret service is investigating two senior agents after a car crash at the white house. the pair is accused of smashing through a security barricade after a night of drinking and partying. alan fisher reports from washington d.c. >> nothing unusual here, all guards in place the secret service doing its job. last week, another embarrassment for the service which attracts scandal like the white house

attracts sightseers. two secret service agents left a party and are accused of driving their car into a temporary security barrier set up because of investigation into a suspicious package. the officers on duty that night wanted to arrest the two agents and test them to see if they were over the alcohol drink driver limit but a supervisor insisted they just be sent home. because of the seniority of the agents, it's been decided that the inspector general of the department of homeland security will carry out the investigation. almost an outside eye looking inside of the secret service. >> the washington post newspaper said one of those under investigation is a top member of the president's protective detail. mark conley is often pictured close to barack obama's side. it's reported the other agent is george ogilvie supervisor in the field office. this is the latest in a long line of embarrassments for the secret service. a woman was shot and killed by

police after she rammed a temporary security barrier outside the white house. the former secret service director resigned weeks after a man jumped the white house fence armed with a knife fought off two dogs and got into the building itself before being stopped. a drone was found on the white house lawn. some say there needs to be a different culture and better vetting. >> they need to get rid of any anticipation of reliving their juvenile teenage years and feeling it's part of their virility. it's not about sex booze it's not about playing football on the lawn. it's about protecting the president of the united states with that kind of dignity and decorum that's fitting of the office. >> the white house said a full investigation is underway. he was appointed by president obama just last month to take control of the secret service this is the first real public test of his leadership and real test to see if things are

changing with the organization that should never attract headlines for doing its job. al jazeera at the white house. >> powerful cyclone pam struck the south pacific nation packing winds of more than 250 kilometers per hour. it's here the category five cyclone could trigger storm surgeries and land slides. the category five cyclone has been described as the most powerful storm in 30 years. >> it might not have the glamour of cannes or venice, but an important showcase of latin american film. we have this report: >> the harrowing drama of a teenager forced to join farc rebels and then hide her pregnancy is an unusual choice for the opening of an international film festival. it brings a dose of reality to the proceedings. the director said it's the

festival's duty to remember the countries brutal history. >> it's our way to contribute to our peace process through cinema. we can't have a long lasting peace or build a different country if we don't know what happened to us, if we don't remember or understand the horrible things that happened and we are all responsible for. >> 54 films are competing in the week long festival in one of colombia's most fascinating cities. latin america's troubled history and struggle to find identity seem to be common themes. while some of the films have been shown in major festivals around the world they often find a hard time finding an audience back home. >> it's differ to imagine anything further apart from war and poverty than the beautifully perfectly restored center of cartagena, but here festival goers are line up for these true

stories. the films often lack distribution across latin america, something that starting this year, the festival promise to say change. >> the festival is becoming a focal point to market latin american films throughout the continent. hundreds of expected this year. >> we want to recognize ourselves as latin america as a gigantic market of 600 million people who speak the same language. it's very difficult to circulate latin american films in latin america. >> the director after a successful presentation at the cannes festival, cut distribution deals throughout europe but struggled to do so in latin america. >> until people understand that cinema is also seeing itself represented, better understand who we are, it is difficult to form that. we need to form a new public.

>> filmmakers here do have an audience keen to discover the stories this continent has to tell. al jazeera at the cartagena film festival. >> you can keep up to date with all the news, the very latest and all of our top stories at aljazeera.com. night. hello, i'm ray suarez. in the 20th century workers marched, fought, sometimes died for the right to organise unions. in the 21st century the flavour is different, rolling back the closed shop, rolling back mandatory dues. states like michigan and wisconsin wants soil for organising right to work states. what was the hallmark, hostility to organise labour is spreading to unheard of faces.