>> palestinians gather at the al-aqsa mosque compound after clashes with israeli security forces. >> hello, you're watching al jazeera. the u.s. and european union lead a diplomatic push for a syrian peace deal at the u.n. voting is under way in landmark elections which could see catalonia on the road to independence from spain. and thousands march in mexico to demand justice for 43 missing students a year after they

disappeared. israeli security forces fired stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at the al-aqsa compound. hundreds of palestinians gathered outside the mosque. imtiaz tyab has more from east jerusalem. >> the situation at the al-aqsa mosque compound is currently calm. it's a different situation to what we sue a few hours oo when israeli police, border police, began confrontations. security forces use stun grenades and rubber coated steel bullets in the confrontations. there are no reports of injury or property college, but it

underscores tensions at the holy site. over a week ago that was bitter conflicts between the palestinian worshippers, resulting in damage to the al-aqsa mosque compound and many are worried in the coming days. we will see more confrontation the united states and european union launched - approached iran to help find a solution to the syrian conflict. the u.n. secretary of state and e.u. foreign policy chief discussed the issue with the iranian foreign minister in new york. talks are expected to take place in russia. the diplomatic editor james bays reports all eyes will be on russian president vladimir putin when he makes a whistle-stop trip to new york, spending less than a full day in the u.s. to attend the united nations general assembly.

>> everyone wants to know what his intentions are regarding syria. on one hand a russian military build up, vladimir putin sent marines, helicopters and tanks in latakia on syria's coast. on the other he says he wants a political solution. in an interview with "talk to al jazeera", i asked the e.u.'s high representative, federica mogherini if she had been given any idea what russia was up to. >> i was talking about that with our russian friends, and last time i talked to him about this, his fear was as a collapse of the state structures. this could be one of the reasons why russia is acting in this way. but it could also be a

willingness to show the fact that russia is an important player in this crsis. >> syria was on the agenda too when the u.s. secretary of state john kerry met iranian foreign minister in new york, but neither was prepared to discuss what was said away from the cameras. >> i view this week as a major opportunity for any number of countries. to play an important role in trying to resolve some difficult issues. in the middle east. >> president obama will address the general assembly on the same day as vladimir putin on monday. he'll be aware of recent setbacks with u.s. policy. the pentagon admitted that some of those they are training, moderate rebels have handed over equipment, to the al nusra front. another development involves iraq, a key member to i.s.i.l.

according to russia, iraq will join it, iran, and controversially, the bashar al-assad regime in setting up a coordination centre. to be based in baghdad. you can watch james bays full interview with frederica mogherini on "talk to al jazeera" at 14:30 gmt on monday france launched air strikes against i.s.i.l. targets. until now france flew reconnaissance flights over syria but only took place in strikes over iraq. it remained committed to fighting the group. iran's supreme leader is demanding saudi arabia apologises for the stampede during the hajj, in which more than 1700 people were killed. the victims should not be blamed and their families deserve an

apology. saudi arabia opened an investigation into thursday's tragedy and is reviewing safety voting is under way in elections, way could lead to catalonia breaking away from spain. the pro independence party say victory in the regional election would give them a mandate to declare independence. the government opposes a move, which it regards as illegal. jonah hull reports from the kata lan capital, barcelona. >> reporter: the culture of catalonia, distinct from the rest of spain, suppressed during dictatorship, a region that feels its voice is laud. will the referendum on independence change that. >> i will vote yes.

i think it's a great opportunity. the spanish state has thrown its full weight behind the opposition, warning of the dire consequences of catalan independence, expulsion from the euro and the european union. >> translation: we don't want to leave the european union, we want attentions to be guaranteed and a future for our children. industrial power, tourist hot spot. and export hub. catalonia accounts for a fifth of the gross domestic product. the region would pay in more than it gets back. >> given the stories coming out of madrid and elsewhere, is catalonia rich enough to survive as an independent state. >> if the question is would spain impose heavy costs in catalonia, in the dramatic break-up, let's say. the answer is yes, as well. of course it may not be free for spain, because it has hard times

coming back. >> if catalonia does become an independent state. if catalonia becomes an independent state. maybe this will be its army, in red and blue. barcelona football club has deep nationalist pedigree, a place where for years the banned catalan language was spoken safe from general franco's police. when barcelona play here at the home ground at campagno, the fans go wild. they scream for their idols. players like lionel messi. something else happens here as well. they boo the spanish national anthem, unfurling spanners that say catalonia is not spain. they use this space and those occasions to cry for independence. the spanish football federation says barcelona may be banned from la liga.

another establishment scare tactic perhaps, or an added layer of acrimony between two separate sides an investigation is under way into the cause of the fire at one of europe's largest mosques. nobody was hurt at the morphing in south london. more than 70 fire-fighters were sent to the area. the mosque serves the muslim minority. thousands of people marched in mexico city to demand justice for 43 students that went missing. an inquiry blaming corrupt local police. >> it's been exactly 12 months since 43 students depicted in the photographs disappeared without a trace. and their families supported by thousands are here to sigh say

they will not rest until they get satisfaction. >> i am so sad, i want my son returned to me along with all the others. >> reporter: the students were attacked and left about the local police and believes given to drug cartels. in the country, shell-shocked by violence, it's a crime that outraged mexicans. scandalous international opinion, and embarrassed the government. it's become a symbol of the degree of impunity. corruption and brutality from which defenseless mexicans suffer. >> translation: this is systematic of what is happening throughout mexico, where 25,000 have disappeared in recent years. >> reporter: this was not just a march to remember the missing students. it was the latest opportunity to express anger at the government. accused of covering up the crime with an investigation that authorities acknowledge was

flawed. >> translation: it's unacceptable that this is happening. any of our children could be next. >> reporter: president pena nieto who met with the families agreed to reopen the investigation, and vows to keep it open as long as is necessary. the parents do not trust authorities and demand that independent investigators from the inter-american human rights commission remain in mexico for as long as it takes to find the students. the commemoration of one year will continue over the weekend. underscoring the anger and the impetus felt by millions of mexicans, who cannot believe so much time has lapsed without the whereabouts, or, at the very least there remains

there's more to come on al jazeera. making gains against boko haram. the nigeria military has retaken another town in the group. al jazeera is on patrol with the army in borneo state. plus... >> >> translation: i'm ready to go home if possible. i don't know where to find my family yemeni children flee the war to seek safety in somalia. and... get high. >> i have prostituted. >> for drugs? >> for drugs, yeah. >> we're dealing with the worst drug epidemic in united states' history. >> she said "dad, please don't leave me here". i said "honey, i don't have any choice".

>> what do you want american's to understand? >> there's so much injustice. >> workers are being injured constantly.

. >> let's recap the headlines. israeli security forces fired stun grenades at the al-aqsa mosque. the u.s. and european union approached iran to help find a solution to the syrian conflict. u.s. secretary of state john kerry and e.u. foreign policy chief discussed the issue with iran's foreign minister in new york. voting is under way in elections in calais lonia. victory will give them a mandate to declare independence from spain. the government in madrid says such a move would be illegal as many as a million people are expected to attend pope francis's last mass in the united states. during his whirlwind vision the pope endorsed religious freedom and called for americans to welcome immigrants.

alan fisher reports from philadelphia. >> reporter: for the 78-year-old pope the last leg of an exhausting trip. the final stop philadelphia. the greeting as warm as any. the first engagement in the city of brotherly love, a papal mass. this was about pomp and ceremony, a reminder of francis's role as leader of the world's 1.2 billion catholics, for the pope, politics is never par away. so there was a speech, and in his native spanish, at the hall where the american constitution was tweeted and adopted. founded by immigrants. >> when a country is determined to remain true to its founding principles, those principles that were foundational based on respect and human dignity, that

country is strengthened and renewed. >> reporter: for some in the crowd this was the francis to be expected and revered. >> it was a deep message for us, and knowing that the pope is talking about it is giving us more hope and hopefully it will make a lot more changes to us immigrants. >> i think it's wonderful. we can't hear it enough. immigrants have continually brought so much to the country and especially our church, and we continue the need to welcome immigrants who do so much for this country. >> away from the smiling faces and some distance from the pope, angry voices, anger that he failed to address the issue of

child sex abuse in the church, some believe that is troubling. >> it's not part of message, really. >> i think what a lot of folks want to hear, i don't think he's addressing that. >> some believe the pope is too political. that he doesn't fully understand the country. it is clear that pope francis will use the goodwill he enjoys to make political points about issues he believes are central to his faith. gunmen killed 21 people in the capital of the central african republic. gerald tan has the details. >> reporter: taking whatever they can carry, residents of this mainly christian neighbourhood tried to escape the attackers, saying muslims came at them with automatic weapons, grenades and knives. houses and cars were burnt. according to witness, the assault was in retaliation to the killing of a muslim man, whose body was dumped in the streets. >> what we are seeing right now

at the moment, is a replay of what we were seeing last year in those tit for tat violence and attacks between communities, and that really highlights the fact that in car now, the situation really - at the death of the - the depth of the problem has not improved. >> reporter: violence divided the central african republic since saleka rebels overthrew the president was overruled. this gave rise to christians who fought back. a conflict stepping from poverty is being fought along religious lines, thousands have been killed, hundreds of thousands more driven from their homes. despite a deal signed in may, violence persists with u.n. peacekeepers and troops trying to keep them apart. >> the government is challenging. the country is meant to hold

presidential and parliamentary elections next month and the head of the interim parliament says it's likely to be postponed again al jazeera's correspondent is travelling with the nigeria army and sent an update. >> the nigeria military is gaining ground on boko haram. it captured one of the last town in their hands, bangui town, and is conducting clean up operations. it's easy to see relief on the faces of nigerians. coming up, hundreds drove 16 hours. people are relieved and are coming back to their forms, their homes. some of the areas are not particularly safe for people to return. that's why, as the nigerian chief of army said, mopping up situations are being conducted. people that fled the homes

because of attacks. right now the nigerian military is saying that boko haram fighters are surrendering in their hundreds because of pressure applied on them, and troops from neighbouring countries, cameroon, niger and chad, also contributing to the effort to crush boko haram. the chief of army stafr said, they are gaining much more on mikael backlund through intelligence, to defeat boko haram. it is very high. probably in the next one month it will end the insurgency in north-east nigeria. the military launched an assistancive against boko haram in -- offensive against boko haram in the north. nigeria's military says more than 200 boko haram fighters surrendered. bangui was used as a staging post for cross-border attacks into cameroon.

iations says 2.3 million nige -- united nations says 2.3 million nigerians have been displaced by violence yemenis fleeing the war crossing aden to reach camps that are crowded and there are fears that somali could struggle to cope. >> reporter: it's meal time for the yemeni refugees in the port city. this is all they will get today. those here are the latest to arriving. this person is one of them. he was injured in fighting in the yemeni city of aden. >> translation: i was driving an ambulance when i was hit by a mortar, i had three surgeries on my leg. i was forced to flee with my family as i feared for my safety and couldn't provide for them. >> there's no let up from those

escaping somalia, hundreds have been moved to the town, 4 hours drive. the town's only universities are home. >> officials from the yemeni embassy in somali comes to check on them. he is unwelcome. refugees are desperate. and tempers are lost here. >> translation: we want to be taken out of the country, somali is not safe. we can't live her when we don't feel secure. somalia has no capacity to care for us. >> reporter: among the refugees are unaccompanied children separated from their families in a rush to escape. many don't know the whereabouts of their relatives. this 12-year-old is one of them. >> we eat sometimes, at other times we don't. we have nothing, no milk, juice. i'm ready to go home. if possible, but don't know whether to find my family. >> the flood is overwhelming

agencies and local communities. thousands have been living in yemen as refugees, returning home to escape the war. >> it's a situation made worse by more than a million people displaced across somalia by conflict, drought and hunger. the u.n. says at least 3 million in somalia are in need of aid. despite their own problems, the local community gives to the refugees. this tribal king has been leading efforts to feed them. he has brought them a fresh supply of food. >> what we give the refugees is not enough. they require urgent and adequate help and importantly shelter. >> reporter: most people here are happy to have survived. they say life in somalia is hard, but it's better than being trapped in the violence in yemen

cuban leader raul castro spoke at the united nations for the first time, following the thawing of diplomatic relations between the u.s. in july, including the lifting of travel restrictions, he used the speech to drop economic and trade embargo on cuba. preserving the world's oceans is a goal discussed at the u.n. secretary general assembly. it poses a threat to marine life. our environmental editor reports from the south-west of england where scientists are trying to work out the long-term impact, and what it will be. >> reporter: plymouth, a city that lives and breathes the ocean. it was the home port of famous explorers like sir francis drake. from here they left to discover and settle now lands from australia to america. the fishing boats come and go. what they bring to market is changing. >> because of the liability of the cycles that we thought we

understood has changed. so when he viewed certain seasons of the year, he would see certain species in abundance, that goes out of the window. these days they are exploring what lies beneath. week in, week out. fair weather or foul, a team from plymouth monitored the waters of south-west england, and feed the results into a global network of data. to get to grips with what is happening in the world, scientists under the difference between change, cha change brought on by humans, to achieve that, there was long-term consistent observations. >> these waters have been monitored for 100 years. now, how climate change is affecting marine species. >> this is unique in the terms of the parameters measured.

life in the water, and that is comprehensive. how things occur naturally and climate change. >> whileal crew is dispatched to conduct a maintenance check, it's monitoring ocean conditions. it takes data below and above the surface every hour. >> over the 100 years, there has been about 0.8 degrees centigrade temperature rise. the seas around plymouth, above the base lining average. one of the main things that the boy does is allowing it to take out the variations to look for long-term trends. >> back on shore, they are looking at the intense co2 concentrations we might face in the future, and what the effect are on organisms. >> if you spend more energy

dealing with the acidification, it has left available for growth and reproduction. they can affect its success into the long term, and the successive generations to follow. the work done by laboratories like this across the world may not provide a solution, but it will help to get to grips with what lies ahead gender inequality is another issue. projects aimed at supporting women and girls brings about improvements to entire societies. as part of our women make change series, al jazeera speaks to a woman who leads a water access programme in kenya. >> men do not feel the pinch of going to get water from the river. this is a village.

odessa village. the only source of water is the river. when we train and test the water, it was full of equal life. i had a programme. that's how i met rose. her mother was sick. they were told if we get water in the facility. most didn't have water, that's how i learnt to conserve. >> water for women, by the women. to me, what it was like, there was water in the house. the time to get water is reduced. they reduced team, development

and the development activities within the community, entirely changing the county, and the county figures, kenya changes the world. if you want to keep up to date with all the stories, head to the website at aljazeera.com. >> gang rape, among the most shocking of violent crime is stirring a global outrage. throughout asia, it is believed to be far more common than most people think. >> rape is a major problem in all countries across this region. >> women's experiences of violence are well documented, but the motivations of men have been largely in the dark.