>> the battle for kunduz - the coalition battling i.s.i.l. we'll go to some of the front line in a moment. this is al jazeera. also ahead, the russian parliament deploying troops. and fighting to stay on top. south korea's taekwondo has a

new martial arts rival. >> first, in afghanistan - n.a.t.o. says that its special forces have now reached the northern city of kunduz. the troops are there to bolster the afghan army who staged an attack against taliban. one of the few remaining places in government control. u.s. forces launch air strikes close to the airport, trying to keep it in government hands. stephanie dekker reports. >> reporter: there are no government troops left here, taliban fighters are in control of kunduz city. here they are symbolically raising their flag in the city square. >> the battle is not over. the afghan government has announced a major military operation to recapture kunduz. >> in the first place we should take care of casualties.

the enemy conceded heavy damages. i don't want to go into the defail of the operations. >> special forces have been brought in. the u.s. military will strike on the outskirts of the city. this has prison guilt yea because the taliban set up booby traps along the way. as part of the takeover taliban gunmen broke over the prison. releasing inmates. taliban commanders convinced the president not to worry and go about their daily lives. it will be difficult with a major operation under way. it's a significant territorial gain that fighters made since 2001, when the government was deposed by the u.n. led invasion. it coincides with ashraf ghani's first anniversary as president. and the first year afghan forces

are facing the taliban alone. >> a counterterrorism operation remains, but the recent news is the boldest in a long campaign by the taliban to take more control of the country, a strong message to whoever is watching that 14 years after being deposed and battling forces, the taliban can take control of a major city in less than 24 hours. >> why is kunduz a strategically important city? it's one of the largest cities. around 300,000 live there. it's a strategically important hub. it's linked by highways to the south. and with tajikistan in the north. the border is porous, it's used for the smuggling of opium and heroin. control of kunduz carries symbolic bayou, one of the last

taliban enclaves to fall before the 2010 invasion. let's get the latest. we go to our correspond 45km south of kunduz. how are they making progress towards kund us. >> no progress. we are here and are in process from the forces inside kunduz city. the latest that we are getting from kunduz city is that they are telling us the taliban are searching house to house and forcing afghan civilians to join against the government. they are announcing in the last week, to the people of kunduz to condition their normal life, and asking shopkeepers to open their crops and telling, promising

people that they are going for long. as far as we know there's no operation in kunduz city. everyone is waiting for the right description, for the right time. here i'm joined by the captain, and he'll explain why they are stuck and why they are not going further, to kunduz. >> we want to fight against afghan because they want to get to the area we promised to. we started at 4:00p.m. they fell in the area. them had a lot of casualty. one of the important reason, is we didn't wouldn't to bring

them, the generals, the commander is there. he's in - control all of that? >> taliban, they are stronger than afghan forces. how they could manage to stop you going further. >> no, they are not stronger, they are lazy, and we are fighting against us. against us. the taliban want to bring - the tall gan location is the civilian people, civilian rooms, they are fighting against that. the homes in the village and fro shopkeepers and they are from the city and that is the reason we don't want to fight against them. because they are civilian people, and we want to go so slowly. >> when do you think you can retake kunduz from taliban. >> it will be one day or, like, 12 hour, 24 hours.

it will be taken again. after gan governments and the capital kunduz is under their control. they say she have control of kunduz, you agree. >> yes, there are heroes, afghanis, fighters against the taliban. they have fighting with taliban. we are going to slowly see that the taliban location is a civilian home in a civilian place. >> to let you know, it's two days that afghani forces, equipped with army vehicles, heavy machine guns are stuck in the same location because they are telling us that their i.e.d.s and ambush on the way to kunduz. they are the forces that afghan government are relying on to

retake kunduz city. >> one last question before i let you go. we heard that n.a.t.o. special forwardses managed to reach kunduz, if there no operations going on, as you have heard. what are the special forces doing there? >> we heard that this morning they have - they had some movement, but they couldn't manage though go further advance into kunduz city. that's why there's no operation. that's how we are getting from afghan officials. the afghan officials, there could be a heavy casualty. that's why they are thinking and thinking and going slowly to launch their operation, that's what they are telling us. >> thank you so much. live from baghdad. on the fornt line there with the afghan army, thank you. >> in other news, russia's upper house of parliament approved the use of military force.

it comes as moscow deals up its military force. peter sharp is live in moscow. this decision - does that mean we'll see direct russian involved in syria? >> i think we are going to see russian involved. vladimir putin's meeting raved the possibility of -- raised the possibility of russia carrying out air strikes, and it was rubber stamp by the perimeter. russia sent six of sits advanced fighter bombers, su 34 to bases near latakia. they'll be crewed by russian pilots and crew. the syrian pilots are not familiar with the aircraft. we are expecting. this has been raised by russian people in the u.n., that these strikes could come quicker than

you'd expect. but both vladimir putin and the russian parliament spokesman said these would be air strikes, and we wouldn't see boots on the ground in syria. >> you have the russian naval exercises starting off the coast of syria that has a lot in the west worried. >> that's right. the fleet - the black sea fleet has been deploying over the last few days, led by the flag ship of the russian navy, and will have a couple of cruiser missiles and vessels. the exercise is taking place in the waters between cypress and syria. the russians warned off civilian air traffic to stay out of the area. the exercises themselves are not illegal according to the u.n.'s convention of the sea. it is suggested that it is

causing concern amongst n.a.t.o. officials, saying it's taking place in an area that is highly militarized and could affect stability in the middle east. >> in france, prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into french government accusations that the syrian government committed crimes against humanity. the syrian observatory for human rights said 30 people, including child soldiers have been killed at an i.s.i.l. training champ. they are casualties caused by the camps over syria. >> the saudi-led coalition says it seized an iranian boat carrying arms to yemen. it was topped off the armani coast. a boat was manned by 14 iranians, and had weapons, including antitank sells. the saudi coalition are fighting

rebels in yemen. >> a court in india sentenced five people to death for planting bombs on mumbai's commuter trains in 2006. 189 people were killed in the attack. several others have been sentenced to life in prison. we have more from new delhi. >> five people have been given the death sentence, several others sentenced to life for the 2006 blast. bombs were placed in pressure cookers and put on commuter trains. there has been several delays over the past nine years, which is why it took so long to get the convictions. the prosecutor called nearly 200 to the witness stand. then the supreme court got involved. after one the accused contested him leaning arrested. delaying the child for two years. the convicts can appeal to the

highest court and to the president of india. that could take years. >> this case it not closed yet. sa accuse are at large. as to who is the mastermind. many said until those are caught and convicted. they won't feel that justice has been done. >> still on the program, separated from their adoptive parents. while the children are not allowed to go home to their new families. >> i'm daniel schweimler in southern argentina. where satellites are made. we'll blast into orbit, and here they are very excited. >> you have kids here who've killed someone? >> award winning journalist soledad o'brien takes us inside the violent world of kids behind bars.

will a new experimental program be their last chance? >> i have to do my 100 percent best so i don't end up in a place like this again.

>> we're here to fully get into the nuances of everything that's going on, not just in this country, but around the world. getting the news from the people who are affected. >> people need to demand reform... >> ali velshi on target

welcome back, you're watching al jazeera, live from doha, a reminder of our top stories. n.a.t.o. special forces reach the northern city of kunduz. they are there to bolster the army. fighting remains focused around the city's airports. >> russia's upper house of parliament has approved the use of military force abroad, as moscow builds up the presence in syria. the involvement will be limited to air strikes. syrian president bashar al-assad had asked russia for military help. >> and a court in india sentenced 5 people to death for planting bombs on a commuter train in 2006. 189 people were killed in the

attack, several others had been sentenced to life in prison. >> 16 turkish workers kidnapped in iraq almost a month ago have been released. they were potted in the town of badel province, the security forces have taken them to the turkish embassy. two hostages were released this month. the u.n. human rights chief says the latest wave of fighting in the central african republic could prove catastrophic. days of gun battles killed 37 people. >> looets go back and look at what started the conflict. a congregation of groups took over towns in the north and central regions of the car. >> a year later, the christian president was overthrown by muslim rebels, sparking long-running fighters between his supporters, known as the

anti-balaka and the seleka fighters. they have been struggling to stop the fighting, forcing more than 400,000 from their homes. the latest fighting comes weeks before a presidential election. we have this report. >> reporter: the u.n. is not welcome in parts of bangui, all day on tuesday residents put up roadblocks to keep peacekeepers out of their neighbourhoods. and u.n. troops kept taking them down. >> translation: the population is desperate and doesn't believe in the forces any more. >> translation: no, we want the departure of international forces that do nothing. we want those that have committed crimes to be tracked down by the justice commission. >> a u.n. spokesman told al jazeera they could do more, but they are fully engaged. the spokesman said the u.n. is working with community leaders and government officials to put an end to violence in the capital.

over the weekend, a muslim taxi driver was killed, setting off days of the fighting in the streets leaving 40 dead, and tens of thousands leaving the capital. in the chaos, 500 escaped from the gaol. >> as bad as things are, it pails in comparison to what is happening in the easement. hundreds, if not thousands were killed. we are only scratching the surface in documenting that. there's a bush war happening in the easement. >> we are travelling in the bush and coming across villages in which civilians are killed, homes burnt and this stuff is not documented. protesters marched to the presidential palace in bangui, demanding the interim president resign, and the central african army be rearmed and deployed. the u.n. backed group has accused former president and his allies of trying to take her power away.

but when rebels took over his government in 2013, they assassinated democracy and the country is reeling from the consequences. >> staying with africa, in. democratic republic of democratic republic of congo, thousands of legally adapted children have been forced to stay in orphanages for two years, according to social workers. the government says restrictions are because of concerns about child abuse and trafficking. we have this report from the d.r.c.'s capital. >> there is no electricity, something this 7-year-old hopes she will not experience in france. she was adopted. her new parents are not yet allowed to take her out from the democratic republic of congo. >> my father died. i don't know where my mother is. i think i will life in a house, go to a good school and have enough food to eat. >> it's dispimented na hundreds

of children who have been illegally oi dopted are stuck in organizations like this. that's because the government refuses to let them go. they need to adopt them let their family in a good position. some parents are helping children. people who - children whose parents have disappeared. >> cases of child abuse and trafficking forced them to tighten the roles for international adoption. >> translation: it was really getting out of hand. some people saw it as getting out of hand. some were sold for sex and child labour. >> reporter: many children lost

parents to h.i.v. and aids. many parents struggle to make ends meet and a lot of children are there on their own. >> she has only seen photos of the adopted parents. >> in the united states, a leading family planning agency that provides women with apportion and she have access to health care is fighting to keep funding. protesters have be protesters have been speaking out in support. >> reporter: the president of planned parenthood, cecil richards, faced off with lawmakers as she justified why she believes the organization, a network of health clinics, who provides abortions should retain and receive $50 million in

federal funds. this organization became the target as of late because of videos that surfaced recently, that purport to show executives offer baby parts or foetal tissue for sale. potentially profit eting from that. it is outraging lawmakers who are opposed to planned parenthood. in violation of many religious belief. as a result, cecil richards as they made the argument doing more than providing abortion. >> reporter: they came to capitol hill with a message for congress, don't defund planned parenthoods. they say for many, it's the only access to health care. courtney was in graduate school suffering endometriosis. she turned to planned parenthood when she couldn't afford the

medication. >> i worked hard to get into the graduation programme. and then i had to look at getting a job and not study. planned personed hood helped. >> the health clinics provide adortions, violating the religious belief of some members. and the comfort of others. after reports showed the openly discussed sale of tissues for profits. >> many are incensed and are threatening to cut the more than $450 million in federal funding and are demanding answers. >> the outrageous accusations levelled against planned parenthood based on heavily

doctored videos are offensive and untrue. the taxpayers have a right to know how this money is being - how taxpayer dollars are used to free up services that you provide that are aberrant. >> others in congress stay the hearing is nothing more than political theatre and an attack of women's reproductive choices going on since abortion was legalized. >> what is under attack is the right of women to control their own bodies, their own reproduction. >> reporter: courtenay address, which is why she has come to tell congress it is a small part of what they do. because of that her chance of motherhood would never have happened. this debate is unlikely to end.

it is an ongoing debate over how the federal government spends its money. democrats are favouring more for domestic programs, republicans favour spending on defense. as a result, planned parenthood is the latest target. i can tell you that currently 65% of americans believe that planned parenthood should receive funding as opposed to 29% leaving it should be defunded. president obama is backing planned personed hoot. in either chamber, making it to his death. he will veto at least three have been killed and 20 others injured. officials say violence broke out

when protesters encroached on a chinese-owned compromising company. a state of emergency has been involved in the region the typhoon in china is losing strength. it hit with winds much more than 100 k/hr, causing flooding and landslides. more than 320,000 people were evacuated from the homes. three people were killed and 300 others injured when it passed through neighbouring taiwan. >> argentina is counting down, putting a communication satellite into space, allowing the country to convince in the world. daniel schweimler visited the area. >> reporter: it's a dream that's become a reality, a reality that brought vestment and

independence. oorge is launching satellite into orbit. improving mobile fine. while reducing alliance on survivors. it's important for the country not to rely on it. but to do our own technology, and we have argentine label. >> also one was launched into orbit, 36,000 kilometres from earth last year. it will enhance that service after being moved by transport planes. work is under way in here. on sat 3. a private company financed by

$250. with all the excitement and expectation focused on r sat 2 workers are working on this one. from the mount tains, several hundred kilometres into the sky. more than 10km will go into the satellite. they'll operate for up to 125 years. monitored from a control is it. it's a source of employment and a lucrative expert. diversifying what we bruce, and a grate way of refeigning professional talent that they can develop and grow. in that workers wh invested years.

broadcast live on state television. to boldly go where have you have come before. >> more news and analysis on the website. the latest there are, an attempt to take the si of kunduz. aljazeera.com. i'm ali velshi, on target - back fire, dirty secrets exposed in the volkswagen pollution scandal. world powerless, how the united nations failed to accomplish its main mission the fact of volkswagen reprehensible behaviour are familiar but cannot be repeated enough. the german automaker installed software on 11 million cars