>> russia carries out a series of new air strikes in syria. questions remain over who they are targetting live from al jazeera headquarters in doha, also ahead - doctors without borders calls for an independent fact-finding mission into a strike on the hospital in afghanistan trade unions across south africa hold rallies calling for a boost to the minimum wage, and

marine life in the waters off hong kong. why scientists are baffled. first to syria where russia carried out more air strikes as part of a campaign it says is targetting i.s.i.l. there are reports of civilian deaths. zeina khodr has more from beirut. >> what we saw over the last week is russian air strikes trying to weaken the defenses of the opposition, to stop a rebel advance towards the countryside. today that air power is being used to provide support to a ground operation on the ground. this is what we understand from activists. there's intense military activity in the southern idlib province, northern hamas countryside. a strategic corner in western

syria, because it is situated on a main highway that links the southern city of damascus to the northern city of aleppo. now, activists are reporting intense air strikes, they are talking about surface to surface missiles. what we do understand is that the government did give a warning to people in the village and understand that thousands of people have started to fully as of yesterday. they told them they had to push into the town. the russian aerial campaign is helping to capture territory. russia is calling it or using i.s.i.l. as a blanket term. for most of the opposition groups, most on the ground are terrorists. so the russian strikes stopping the advance, weakening the

defenses and now being used to help the russian advance. the question is will it succeed. it has just started and we have to watch the developments closely the worth is watching syrians inside and outside the country. oxfam has released a damning report. they say a handful of countries have been providing support, iran, qatar, russia, saudi arabia, turkey and the united states are fuelling violence through arms and ammunition transfers, and aid is failing. evidence points to a deepening humanitarian tragedy. >> if you look at the number of people, there has been 2 million more displaced this year.

one million fled the borders, and there's less money nan there was last year -- than there was last year. it's a drop off from some of the countries in the gulf, saudi arabia, it's providing less than last year. i think the thing to emphasise behind the statistics in the report is that this equates to a deepening human tragedy. this means less aid for - less aid for refugees for those inside syria. it's a combination, like you say, of potentially the length of the crisis, and other priorities on government's minds, which is causing this crisis to deepen. >> and the president of the aid group doctors without borders or mfs has requested an independent investigation into the bombing of a hospital in afghanistan. 22 patients and staff were

killed in the attack in kunduz on saturday. the top u.s. demander acknowledged the strike was a mistake. while mfs wants the inquiry to be carried out by the international fact-finding commission, it was set up by the u.n. to monitor war crimes. it needs one of 76 signatories to request an investigation. >> it is unacceptable that states hide behind gentlemen's agreements. in doing so, create a free for all in an environment of infinity. it is unacceptable that the bombing of a hospital, and the killing of staff and patients can be dismissed and brushed aside as a mistake. today, we are fighting back for the respect of the geneva convention. we are fighting off for the sake of patients, we need you to

spend with us, to answer this wars have rules. >> afghan forces have been fighting taliban forces in the residential areas on the outskirts. we go to the city. >> it is a fragile situation. no one knows who will be in control of where and when. afghan residents were stuck there. they are telling us, like every five minutes has changed. now afghan visitors are out to do shopping. i have some of them, why they are taking the rest to go out there, telling us they don't have a choice - food, water, no electricity. they have to take the rest and go and find an open shop to find something to survive in jerusalem, an israeli police spokesperson says a jewish policeman was stabbed by a woman, according to police the

man pulled out a gun and shot the woman meanwhile, israeli prime minister binyamin netanyahu dismissed allegations that his country was trying to change the rules at the al-aqsa mosque. jews are allowed to visit. men under 50 were prevented from entering the site. which it has now lifted. >> using additional security forces, they have clear instructions to act against any danger to life, and to innocent people, and taking other steps. a lot of this goes back to excitement from hamas, the palestinian authorities, from the islamist movement, and israel is trying to change, and they want in any way to hurt the

sites of islam, we are the reasons the sacred sites of islam and judism do not look like palmyra israel imposed security measures in the occupied west bank after a series of attacks with deaths on both sides. >> the crackdown in the occupied west bang occurred before down. at least two were arrested in the city of nab lass. the resistance was fierce. then in occupied east jerusalem, two men involved in attacks were demolished. leaders say it was an act of calculated cruelty, given that the attacks occurred nearly a year ago, the p.l.o. described it as an act of collective punishment. >> translation: yesterday at midnight army forces came,

raided houses and assaulted residents. it hit people and ordered evacuations. without prewarning. they were evacuated to the street. >> while in bethlehem, the funeral of a 13-year-old, shot and killed by the israeli army at a nearby refugee camp, his family adamant that there were no protests taking place at the time of the shooting. >> my son went to school like all the other kids. he finished school, but never came home. they shot him. there were no clashes under way in cyber camp. >> in ramallah protesters dispersed by rubber coated bullets and tear gas. >> as frustration mounts, so, to as to the leader, the nature of security cooperation with israel, and questions from

within his own p.l.o. factions as to whether he intends to abandon the oslo accords or not, the fundamental framework for whatever relationship exists with israel. >> they made clear that under occupation, palestinians are forced to defend themselves. >> when a group of settlers come and attack a village, what do you expect the response to be, leave us alone, we are not the ones that started it. israel has to stop and accept our hand has reached out for a political solution in another way. >> another day of rage, another day of israeli occupation. at least 18 people have been killed and eight injured in three separate suicide bombings in nigeria, they happened in the town of damatool in the north-east. the national emergency managements agency said two went off on a housing estate outside

a shop and a mosque. a third on the settlement of the city's outskirts. >> south africa's biggest trade union organized marches in cities across the country. a recent report by the university of cape town found they are 5.5 million people who worked full time and can't afford to keep their families out of poverty. tania paige is at one of the rallies. >> aid workers demand a national minimum wage of between $213 and $240. that is the bare minimum someone should earn from support with all their basic needs. at the moment there's 5.5 million working poor. there's people that work full-time, 35-plus hours a week, but can't afford to cover all their family's basic needs. i put the proposed minimum wage to the c.e.o. of the national

employment nation which represents 23,000 more medium sized businesses and said it was unaffordable and would kill business. >> millions more jobs created, intervening in the mining sector with tens of thousands by a rising price. people in a difficult position. they need jobs and need to pay them a wage. >> still ahead on the programme. the future of europe at the top of the agenda. francis hollande and angela merkel are due to make an historic address. the economic outlook - peru says it's feeling confident.

>> 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. a reminder of the top stories on al jazeera. russia is carrying out more air strikes in syria, as part of an air campaign targetting i.s.i.l. there are reports of civilian deaths. >> doctors without borders is requesting a u.n. backed investigation into the bombing of one of its hospitals in afghanistan. 22 staff and patients were killed on u.s. air strikes on saturday. in jerusalem, a jewish man was stabbed by a palestinian woman in the old city. according to police the man

pulled out a gun and shot the woman. she's been taken to hospital now, the european union is launching a military operation to catch refugee smugglers, european warships will patrol international waters on wednesday. six ships have been placed off libya. the departure point for many. thousands have been rescued from waters in recent days. europe's refugee crisis is one of many issues which have been discussed from european parliament. the german chancellor lee merklinger and francis hollande are due to make an visitic address. it will be the first to the assembly since 1989. >> reporter: when the leaders of france and chermy address the parliament, they place a continent under scran. conflict in ukraine created moral and constitutional

dilemmas. the last time the leaders gave a joint address was in 1989, two weeks after the warning. now it faces deep divisions. nearly half a million refugees arrived in europe. many heading for germany and other states. the crisis opened up fault lines between countries willing and able to accommodate refugees. hungry responded by fortifying the borders. the country says it threatens the christian identity. hungary, the czech republic, romania and south africa were hit hard. authorities found themselves overwhelmed. >> the syrian conflict, the eurozone crisis, youth unemployment still in southern

european democracies, not to mention the prospects of major players is contemplating leaving. at the moment there is one specific crisis bearing down on the e.u., which is the current refugee crisis, posing the biggest challenge to the e.u. for a generation. when german chancellor angela merkel and francis hollande address the 28-nation assembly, they'll want to put aside differences to champ yog european unity and reforms, including the possibility of a larger budget to spur on growth and changes to reduce the differences between economies. as germany and france push for greater integration, limits are tested australia highest court is to consider whether the country has the legal rate to detain asylum seekers offshore. for five years the back bone has about to send them to the island

of nauru for detention. the high court will spend two days examining if this is in breach of the constitution. police in australia have arrested four people in connection with a killing of a civilian police worker. the arrests were made when 200 officers raided homes in western sydney. on friday, curtis cheng was shot dead by a 15-year-old iranian, who was shot dead by police. it's believed it was politically motivated andlinged to terrorism. >> prisoners overpowered guards. 10 people have been taken hostage. we have this report > they are supposed to be serving time for crime. prisoners are in control of the unit. they are armed with knives and sticks. and have threatened to throw hostages, fellow inmates, off the roof if demands are not met.

complaints have been heard, conditions are inhumane and prisons notoriously overcrowded. there were nearly 600,000 in prisons across the country, in cells designed to hold less than 300 thous. many have not seen a judge, and have not been convicted of a trial. >> these prisons are full of people waiting for trial, held together with convicted prisoners. that is a violation of international law. >> the riots started on tuesday, at a section that houses sexual offenders. prisoners smashed windows and set parts of the building on fire. others were injured trying to run away from the mob. feeling they'd be taken as hostage. >> members were gathering outside, while many other major issues carried on inside

the u.s. secretary of state stopped off in haiti on the way back to the u.s. from chilli to discuss preparations for an election. speaking in haiti, john kerry said there's no place for violence or intimidation on a vote. a vote in august was disrupted by disorder and voter intimidation. >> volkswagen will recall cars affected by the emissions scandal from january. vw's new chief executive said they'll be fixed by the end of next year. 11 million diesel cards are said to contain software that cheats the test now, international monetary fund predicts economic growth in latin america will shrink .3 of a per cent. while the economic outlook may be grim, the economic economy may be strong, so strong it takes part in the world's

biggest free trade deal. we have this report. >> it's the first recession in latin american and the caribbean. after years of growth, the international monetary fund says this region, and other emerging economies are at their lowest point. >> commodity price balls have an intense effect. these are more than half of g.d.p. and the world growth. 2015 is projected to be the 5th straight year in which emerging and low income growth declines. >> but the bed was different. it is recovering from the slowdown. the economy is expected to grow six times the average. it has the lowest insulation in the region. in the last 15 years, poverty

has to reduce by 15." the gap has shrunk. the minister said the i.m.f. was too pessimistic. it's celebrating includes in the transpacific partnership or ttp. many say the new trade deal will help to expand the exports. >> we celebrate with two other countries in the region, which agreed to a commercial treaty. the critics believe that they have free trade agreements and a new one will not turn into an engine to reactivate congress. >> the treaty will diversify production. if they would have been the panacea, it would not be a crisis. i'm not against them. they are not the panacea. >> some believe the 308 sis are

not strong enough. the improvements in the livelihoods of thousands of perusians in a decade of financial perversity may be lost botswana's diamond industry is losing its sparkle. there are too many of the precious stones on the market. we have the story. >> botswana's bread and butter. diamonds contrib ute. sales are down, and so are prices. >> clearly it's a challenging period for everyone, us as well, manufacturers and the retailers. and that imbalance will pull through, and we are working hard to ensure that consumers desire diamonds. >> sales reached $80 billion for the first time last year.

this year the slow down in growth in china is damaging the industry. demand is strong, despite a more than 20% drop in sales. >> we are investing heavily in the long term. >> for jobs lost in botswana and other countries, which cut and polish diamonds. a third have lost their jobs. two companies have shut down with others cutting down production. this year's christmas period, they hope, will help it recover. >> now it's trying to improve the skills of the workforce so they can cut and polish the stones. >> it is the lifeblood of the economy of botswana. a lot of life size. the offspin of it, we are talking about people in the

government, employees, people in hospitality, education. >> the trade union says diamond need to be marketed differently to appeal to buyers. executives are urging government leaders to make concessions. >> they wanted to buy diamonds, shift them out of the country, they called it flexibility, and wanted to have services removed from the diamond. they have all sorts of things. there are those which we have. >> they cut to almost half. many say it's a wake up call, to make sure it diversifies from an economy. it looks like it's losing the sparkle for now. now u scientists in hong kong made an unexpected

underwater discovery. marine life is thriving, despite major developments at the busy harbour. sara clerk reports. >> cranes and construction sites circle the hong kong harbour front. and the city expands the footprint. scientists are keeping a close watch on what is happening on land, and a closer watch on what is going on beneath the water, and what might be happening to the coral. >> we have pollution that derives from development. particularly from sewerage. industrial effluent with heavy metal contamination, and sedimentation. so all of these things sinner gifticly affect coral in a negative way. >> david baker is leading the team. they are diving, logging coral

species, and how they are faring in the face of tough conditions. >> i'm surprised because we have the numbers of water quality and there should be equality in hong kong. a few miles from the ports. major construction sites and 7 million people, divers have found coral not just alive, but thriving. we can dive in places where you think no coral could survive. polluted harbours, areas close to waste water, and you still can find coral relatives. >> reporter: the team have recorded 80 different species of hard coral. >> it's clear in hong kong. at this site we saw a diversity of coral, and schools of fishes.

it's a nice day today. >> like any other marine environment around the world. this region is feeling the impact of climate change and development. the stronger types types of species are holding on. scientists are trying to establish how they survive. on each dive the scientists collect fragments of coral. >> we can throw them, fragment them, create baby corals. eventually the goal is to put them back in the site. the fact that the coral is thriving is leaving scientists battling. they have been selected for the strongest. only the strongest survive. it could be the corals we have in hong kong are supercorals, that may hold a secret for global survival. >> it's an underwater mystery offering a glimmer of hope for

habitat under threat and a reminder that you can keep up to date with all the news on the website. aljazeera.com. the main story, the russian air strikes in syria entering their 7th day. aljazeera.com. i'm ali velshi, on target, imperfect alliance. america and saudi arabia may share military but not always alliance. i'll look at the differences the middle east is on fire. united states policy in the region is coming undone in places like iraq, syria and yemen, we are seeing civil wars, power vacuums, i.s.i.l., al qaeda, and interferencfr