of his own country. we're nowhere near at the moment. if you want to get the headlines. you want more of what is behind the headlines, too, go to www.aljazeera.com. www.aljazeera.com. we'll be back with the headlines. >> russia launches it's first airstrike in syria. the new worries in washington. the palestinian flag is raised over the u.n. for the first time as the palestinian president blasts israel in the peace process. the status quo is unacceptable. and congress moves closer to holding off a government shutdown, but the short term deal and the harder work with a

long-term budget. >> this is al jazeera live from new york city. i'm richelle carey. russia said that operations against isil in syria. it's supporting the syrian army with airstrikes to tackle the group. but the u.s. said it has grave concerns that the airstrikes are actually hitting syrian opposition forces. let's head to our senior washington correspondent mike viqueira in washington. mike, it seemed as if this day was certainly coming. we're hearing from the obama administration about this move. what are those officials saying? >> well, you're absolutely right. it's not unexpected. especially when you consider the events of the last two weeks and obvious russian build up that caught the administration flat footed. the high profile showdown just

two days ago at the united nations, the dueling speeches before the general assembly from president obama and vladimir putin and talking about the deconfrictioning any military activity that was to take place, making sure that russia and the united states and coalition forces did not come in inadvertent contact there by touching off an incident. the way this happened this morning is being termed by u.s. officials as alarming and aggressive on the part of russia. telling the u.s. embassy in baghdad, a russian general with just an hour before the bombing took place, hey, look, stay out of the way, we're going to be flying these against forces opposed to bashar al-assad, calling for a diplomatic speech that has not gone over well here in the united states in the u upper echelon of government. and it's who are they targeting? they're exclusive targeting isil

forces within iraq and syria. the russians, it has not been clear who they're going to be targeting. it could, for all we know, could be allies of the united states. earlier the white house scrambling to reaction. the spokesman josh earnest, staying that russia is acting out of a sense of desperation. here is josh earnest. >> the fact that russia has to take these note-worthy steps to ramp up their support for assad is an indication of how concerned they are about losing influence in the one client state they have in the middle east. >> secretary kerry was speaking before the united nations earlier today at a conference as it happened convened by russia and it's foreign minister sergei lavrov. he said that the coalition airstrikes will continue,

notwithstanding what russia is doing militarily. >> along with the airstrikes, russia has asked the u.s. to avoid air space over syria, but th they're saying no. why is that? >> basically the u.s. is not saying no, richelle. they want to enter into talks with russia to insure there is no military to military conflict or contact between the united states aircraft and coalition aircraft and russian aircraft, much less thayn assets that may be on the ground. the white house admitting moments ago at that same briefing where josh earnest was speaking, while there were plans for talks to take place, they had not even gun yet. this is something that has taken washington by surprise. vladimir putin and russia continue their aggressive moves to back the assad regime. >> mike viqueira in washington. thank you so much. also at the u.n. the palestinian

flag is flying for the first time. palestinians spoke. let's go to the united nations. about the bombshell degrees. tell us more about what he said. >> well, he did in the end more than surpass that promise of giving a bombshell in his address to the u.n. general assembly. but as always the language is very couched and very careful. let me just first of all give you a little bit of a background. remember that for years when we talked about the middle east crisis we've referred to the palestinian israeli situation. but not any more. no diplomat is really looking that way at the moment. they're all consumed with the other middle east crisis which is syria, iraq, isil, and now

the refugees. mahmood abbas felt he had to do something to get his own situation back on the map, and what better than the 70th anniversary of the general assembly to do that. in one way he's threatening to tear up the oslo agreements, signed back in 1973 in washington, d.c. and again in '95. it was an incredible thing. there were secret negotiations going on behind the scenes. nobody knew it was happening. it took place in the capital of norway. so the palestinian leader yasser arafat was involved in all of. the up shot was that it was signed by israel and palestine and it was supposed to lead to a palestinian state. we know now more than 20 years on that has not happened. what mahmood abbas is saying is over many years israel has failed to comply with the two oslo agreements, so now we're not going to comply with them either, meaning the palestinian

people, and he's handing that responsibility to the west bank to the occupying force for services and policing. all that being said i don't know really--we don't know here exactly how this is all going to play out, and whether he's going to carry out this threat or not. but he's finger pointing to israel, accusing them of not complying with many components of the oslo agreements. he's effectively saying that the palestinians will not be bound by oslo if israel is not committed to those agreements either. in diplomatic terms that is a bombshell. i would note calling for there to be no violence associated with this decision by him. and the final point is you mentioned at the top of this that the palestinian flag has now been hoisted over the united nations. that kind of flies in the face of this threat in many ways. that is seen here by the palestinians and many others the palestinians have many supporters in the general assembly. they can almost get what they want here at the general

assembly. and it seemed like the next step towards statehood of this flag flying over the united nations. the u.n. changed the rules to allow it to happen sow that non-members could fly a flag, and it's hugely symbolically for them and their flag is at the top of the mass here at the united nations as we're showing. >> quite a day and we'll have to catch the ripple effects of this speech will be. >> you got it. >> john terrett at the u.n. thank you very much. 19 countries including the u.s. are now backing a new fund to help the united nations combat the refugee crisis in europe. today they have now pledged $1.8 billion. the money will go to the u.n. aid agencies, including those running refugee camps in turkey, lebanon and jordan. in afghanistan, u.s. military advisers are now on the ground near a strategic city. there are reports that some of those troops are special forces.

afghan forces have been fight to go retake the cities of kunduz and countries north. another airstrike on taliban positions this time aiming for the airport. we talk with afghan fighters on the ground. >> the latest that we're getting from kunduz city, from the civilians, that the talibans are searching house to house, and forcing afghan civilian boys to join them in the fight against the government. also they're announcing in the loud speakers to the people of kunduz, the residents to continue their normal lives and also asking shop keepers to open their shops they're promising people that they won't stay for long. as far as we know there is no operation going on in kunduz city. everyone is waiting for the right decision and for the right time. now here i'm joined with captain

who will explain to us why they're in this location for two days, sir, why are you not going further? why are you not going to kunduz. >> okay, we start with the fight against afghan enemies. they want to locate to the area promised to. yesterday we started at 4:00 p.m. and we've been fighting with taliban, and they have fell in that area, we want to go back to that area. also there are a lot of casualties. one of the best reasons, one of the important reasons that we didn't want to go past taliban because there are civilian people. we want to go slowly. >> when do you think, sir, you can reach kunduz? when do you think he can retake kunduz from taliban? >> we'll go in the 24 hour and retake kunduz province.

>> the u.s. is now reportedly looking at slowing the pace of the u.s. troop draw down in afghanistan. currently about 6800 u.s. members on the ground there. by the end of next week we'll know who the next house speaker will be. the current speaker john boehner released this statement. after consulting with our conference, a large majority of our members have made clear that they want these elections held next week. with their considerations in mind the house leadership election also take place on thursday october 8th. the house today will take up a stop-gap government funding bill easily pass the senate and will keep the government running through december. but the measure does not defund planned parenthood, a demand that some republicans were making. michael shure joins us from washington. does that mean that the government will not be shutting down? >> well, it depends on what your definition of when is.

it will not for now. they'll pass the stop-gap spending measure, 78-20 in the senate earlier today. there are some amendments being floated. they're not even sure when they're going to be voted on. i spoke with nick mulvaney's staff, they'll offer to defund planned parenthood and it may not get a vote. this will be put off, and we'll ask that question again then. >> what happens now between now and september 11th? >> plenty. this is a distracted conference. you mention john boehner leaving and that puts the leadership into flux. they are going to have those elections next week. kevin mccarthy is the frontrunner but also creating distraction as he addressed the bengahzi hearings, another one of those distractions, and he said these were, in fact, political. >> everyone thought hillary clinton was unbeatable. but we put together a bengahzi

special committee, a select committee. what are her numbers today? her numbers are dropping. why? because she's untrustible. no one would have known that any of that had happened. >> already you have democrats reacting to this. adam smith, a ranking member on the committee saying, you know, this is absurd. we know this is politics. eliott, ngheeliott engle saying we should drop it. there are things happening on capitol hill. >> what about the planned parenthood funding. >> i think the funding for planned parenthood will continue. the meeting today said that they were going to put that off. ted cruz and thinks cadres fighting that. they'll need to get a little help from the house, and they will, but they'll see what the new leadership does about that, and they'll bring it up. it will not go away, but it will

be tabled until december. >> thank you. migration is changing politics in florida. how puerto ricans are altering the political landscape going into the 2016 presidential election.

>> protestors are gathering... >> there's an air of tension right now... >> the crowd chanting for democracy... >> this is another significant development... >> we have an exclusive story tonight, and we go live... >> every saturday night. >> i lived that character. >> go one on one with america's movers and shakers. >> we will be able to see change. >> gripping... inspiring... entertaining. no topic off limits. >> 'cause i'm like, "dad, there are hookers in this house".

>> exclusive conversations you won't find anywhere else. >> these are very vivid, human stories. >> if you have an agenda with people, you sometimes don't see the truth. >> "talk to al jazeera". saturday, 6:00 eastern. only on al jazeera america. >> the united auto workers union where ford and workers have beened a outside over a new collective bargaining agreement. if they don't reach a deal the kansas city plant will shut down and the end of the week, 7500 uaw workers would work off the job. the f 150 is the best selling truck in america. tesla is putting a model x up for sale. they showed off the vehicle at the company's francisco factory

on tuesday. it's billed as the fastest suv going from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. the model x with be yours for $132,000. convincing children to learn a new language can be a struggle. with you native american but one native american group has done that to continue their heritage. >> deadly serious about her video games. >> nice, good job, team. >> hmm. >> but during these countless hours on her x-box she's not shooting anyone. she is he battling a blizzard. communicating with spirits. can you save me from a polar bear, duh. she's playing a game called

"never alone" based on the legend of native alaskans who live above the arctic circle. in the game an orphaned girl must overcome a series of obstacles t. the game is a combination of elaborate groups who are using technology to interest a young generation in their own culture. it introduces that culture to a wider audience. >> one day three and a half years ago we were sitting with our team. we said why not video games? why not use the greatest asset that we have our people, our stories, our culture. >> the game is based on this place, the largest of a series of villages above the arctic circle. their culture. their stories are based on a life drawn from whaling, from

caribou, and a life that in many ways is slipping away. >> james is an expert in the language. he narrates never alone. >> is the culture and language in danger in your opinion? >> the way that we live is in the language. >> he says the game could help preserve the language that is spoken by only 2,000 of the 15,000 inuit remaining alaska. >> maybe playing the game will make them interested enough to get really serious about living this way. >> are you satisfied? >> yes, we'll make our money back. not only will we make money, but we had huge impact in the world. huge impact in the industry. >> the polar bear. >> for her father, "never alone"

is sparking his daughter's interest in her culture is all that matters. >> if there is a better way to communicate a message to a certain audience like kids, you know, they like video games, they can actually learn something from and have fun doing it, then we're doing an awesome job. >> it's actually cool. >> jacob ward, al jazeera, alaska. >> we may soon know if quee queen nefertiti is buried in king tut's too many. one theory is that he was buried in an outer chamber what have was nefertiti's tomb. keep it here on al jazeera america. in just a few moments we'll take you live to the pentagon where we're expecting a briefing from

ash carter as the white house responds to the latest out of syria, where russia has begun "g" town carry out airstrikes. much more here on al jazeera america. do keep it here.

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>> you're looking at live pictures at the pentagon where just a few minutes secretary of defense ash carter is expected to give a briefing to discuss the news today that russia has launched it's first airstrike inside syria. welcome to al jazeera america. thank you for joining us. i'm richelle carey. this is a major development in what is a fight against isil and syria. russia announced the first airstrike inside that war-torn country. we're expecting reaction from the obama administration, from secretary of defense ash carter. this conference is expected to start at any moment now. we'll bring it to you l