spanish voters begin casting their ballots this hour in elections that will determine the country's next coalition government. welcome, you're watching al jazeera. coming to you live from doha. also ahead on this program. rare footage from the front line in the fight against i.s.i.l. peshmerga forces say they've killed more than 100 fighters. >> we also need to make sure that the really discriminatory messages that donald trump is sending around the world don't

fall on receptive ears united against one rival, the democratic candidates for the u.s. presidency against donald trump. the release of a man who was convicted and sentenced in relation to the rape and death of a young woman. the polls have just opened in spain's crucial general election which is predicted to shake up the political landscape. two new parties are predicted to challenge the two main parties. this scene from inside the polling station. no one party predicted to win a majority. analysts are predicting an intense period of post-election

bargaining. opinion polls show the prime minister conservative people's party will be the single biggest force but they will not get a majority. they are up against the socialist party led by a 34-year-old former university economics professor. there is the leftist, a party is against austerity led by a 38-year-old. another former university professor. the other force is the center right which is a citizens party. it is headed by a 36-year-old who has pledged a crack down on corruption. david chatter joins us live. any idea what the turnout is like so far? >> reporter: the turnout is, obviously, very minimum here at the polling station where . it is still very early. we are expecting a large turnout

and that is due mainly to the fact that we expect a very large vote from the young here. this is really going to be a generation fight between the old spain and the new spain. the young people are behind the surge that we've seen in particularly the anti austerity party and also on the other flank the center party taking votes away from the people's party and that is the citizens party. these are both led by dynamic young, interesting people on the scene. it is going to really change the way that the old two-party system operated here in spain for more than 30 years. so this really is a water shed, if you like, of spain. you can get a brand new spain after we get the results of these votes. it is impossible to tell you exactly the state of the parties because the polling has been stopped for the last five days. no opinion polls for the last

five days, but privately we're hearing that there, perhaps, might be a surge by the anti austerity party and that it might be able to overtake the socialist, the second highest number of seats. there's a lot to fight for here, but a very different landscape after results come in david, just run us through what are the big issues here. >> reporter: well, the first thing that, perhaps, the conservative center is saying is that the economy is the most important. they're just coming out of a period of austerity. spain is the european union's fourth largest comp economy and the prime minister is saying they have a huge growth.

the two men are affecting-- issues affecting the youth is the unemployment level of 17% which is coming down and the corruption which has mired both the main parties, corruption allegations. they want a fresh start, a new spain. they don't want the old system any more. someone said it is a very emotional issue. notices not just unemployment, but about the corruption, how they feel they're disenfranchised from that old spain and they want a new spain in the future. that's perhaps at the core of what's happening today in the vote traditionally up and down the country the cities usually vote in a different way to the rural areas because there's such a strong regional identity in some of those reasons, but we seem to be saying today given the issues, everything is still to play for. >> reporter: everything is,

indeed, still to play for. you have to remember that the average voting age here is 50. now, that can be expected to steer towards hahoy. that is going to be why he will maintain a number of seats, the significant number of seats in deputies, but what we're facing with his left and right flank, new parties coming up with new fresh leaders, new fresh ideas. there is going to be an awful lot of wrangling at the end of this day. who is going to be taking over as prime minister. will he remain as prime minister? it depends very much on the coalition that forms. is it going to be the socialist, the old socialist workers party and the new padam os. is it going to be a grand coalition of the socialist and the peoples party. we simply don't know. it could take up to two months before we actually find out exactly who is going to lead this country into the future david, thanks very much.

kurdish forces say they've killed more than 100 i.s.i.l. fighters in iraq in the past few days. there have been weeks of intense fighting between the armed group and iraqi kurdish forces known as the peshmerga. al jazeera has obtained rare footage from the front line. the report from erbil does contain some pictures that you may find distressing. >> reporter: these kurdish peshmerga soldiers have just repullsd and i.s.i.l. attacks. don't approach the body there, the soldier can be heard. that's a dead suicide bomber. they say most i.s.i.l. fighters are foreigners and take drugs when they attack peshmerga positions. later they drag a body on a military vehicle. this, the fighters say, is the future of d.a.e.s.h., as they call i.s.i.l. this one goes, this is our land and we will take it from

i.s.i.l. these are some of the most intense attacks faced by the peshmerga in recent months. i.s.i.l. fighters have had six front lines around the area. the kurdish fighters say they have been able to defend their positions. i.s.i.l. knows about the trenches dug by the peshmerga and they come prepared with ladders to storm them. these weapons were left hipped by the i.s.i.l. fighters who launched multiple attacks on the 60 km long front line. soldiers say they've killed more than a hundred i.s.i.l. fighters in less an a week an officer told me that the number of suicide attackers used by i.s.i.l. shows that it's desperate. they have been taken by surprise with the frequency. the attacks are also taking a toll on the peshmerga. more than two dozen fighters have been killed and more than 120 injured in the last few days. the continuing conflict is concerning human rights observers over the treatment of

the dead and how occurred soldiers are treating captives. peshmerga fighters say after the battle they dispose of bodies in a humane manner and i.s.i.l. has never shown interest in any prisoner swap. as the fight with i.s.i.l. intensifies, it is to keep i.s.i.l. at bay elsewhere in iraq i.s.i.l. fighters have killed at least 13 police officers and a suicide car bomb attack. it happened east. ramadi was over run with i.s.i.l. earlier this year. parts were taken over in the last few weeks. turkey's president has again criticised russia for its role in the war in syria. erdogan said they are targeting moderate rebels and not i.s.i.l. fighters. relations have soured after turkey shot down a russian

aeroplane last month. >> translation: i look at the operations of a neighbouring country which is bombing syria. we see that it's targeting 10% i.s.i.l. and 90% muslims, including our brothers. please, let's not trick each other any more the russian president says he is electriced to use more military means in syria if need be. vladimir putin says russia is using modern weapons but more are in reserve. russia has been lumpilying air strikes in syria since september. dush dush launching international cluster mew nations have been used. they have been used 20 times sense september. 35 civilians were killed. the report says the cluster weapons were movered in what was the soviet union or today rusts. 118 countries have banned their use but russia and syria have not signed an international convention.

what appears to be an israeli air strike in syria has killed a former hezbollah leader. he was amongst people that died on the outskirts of damascus. he was convicted of killing four israelis, including a four-year-old girl in 1979. he was released seven years ago in return for two hezbollah bodies of soldiers. the third tv debate between the candidates. hillary clinton, bernie sanders and martin o'malley laying out their plans. they were in contempt of donald trump. >> reporter: hundreds stood in the weather for the third democratic debate. they were convinced they are needed. >> the economy is in a bad

situation. i think that that if you look at the at just the general policies the republicans have been trying to push, especially in the house and the senate over the past several years, i don't want more of that. >> reporter: inside the debate all the candidates worked to convince voters of the same thing. distancing themselves from comments made by the top republican presidential candidate donald trump who believes the solution to u.s. security problems is to ban muslims from entering the united states. comments third place candidate martin o'malley called >> fascist pleas of billion airs with big mouths >> we need to make sure that the discriminatory messages that donald trump fall around the world don't fall on receptive ears. he is becoming i.s.i.s.'s best recruiter. >> reporter: she said her plan to defeat i.s.i.l. was an air campaign with limited ground troops.

>> if the united sthats does not lead thrix is not another leader there is a vacuum and we have to lea lead. >> the united states is not the policeman of the world. it must not be involved in perpetual war in the middle east. >> reporter: clinton has accepted political donations from corporate donors. sanders has not. >> hillary clinton and i have a difference. ceos of large multinational may like hillary clinton. they ain't going to like me and wall street is going to like me even less >> reporter: despite his strong attacks against the democratic front runner there is little time to close in on hillary clinton's commanding lead.

the first contest will be held in less than two months. hillary clinton leads as much as 30 points ahead her nearest competitor the youngest man convicted in the gang rape and murder of a woman on a bus in the indian capital in 2012 is due to be released on sunday. the victim's parents led a protest outside the facility where he is being held. he was 17 at the time of his arrest. he was tried as a juvenile and cannot be named under indian law. he got the maximum sentence of three years. despite nationwide protests, india has a 43% increase in rape crimes from three years ago. some of it has been attributed to victims' increased willingness to speak up. india's national crimes records bureau says three times as many

rapes are being reported in new delhi compared to 2012. this year an average of six rapes have been reported there every day. one woman was raped every 14 minutes in india last year. more from delhi. >> reporter: it is a wait and see situation in the case of the release of the youngest offender of the 2012 gang rape attack on the one hand a high court in new delhi late last week said that he cannot be held as a juvenile in a correctional facility for any longer, that he must be released on sunday because he has done his three-year sentence. on the other hand, the womens commission of delhi, a part of the delhi government, has moved the supreme court of india asking for their case to be heard to keep him in custody citing him as a security concern. the question going forward, though, is will the delhi police and the delhi government see this impending hearing as a reason to proceed long his release until at least there is

some word from the supreme court of india on monday. now, this case has once again raised numerous issues, not just about the legal scheme and how to deal-- system and how to deal with juvenile offenders who commit crimes of such nature, but also the wider issue of sexual violence in india and the social and cultural aspects. we should also say that the victim's family, her family has been quoted as saying that people have known that this young offender will be released in three years. why has it taken until 911th hour to move proceedings against his release. there are many questions going forward, but there should be some clarity late sunday into monday it is a smoggy sunday for people in the chinese capital of beijing. on saturday a red alert was issued for the second time this month. the air quality is said to be nearly 20 times the level considered safe by the world health organisation. only half the number of cars will be out on the roads today. schools will stay closed and

construction work will stop. a land slide has caused the collapse of at least one building in an industrial park in the southern chinese city. the number of casuals is yet unknown. four people have been rescued. most of the area was evacuated before the land slide hit. 17 buildings were reportedly buried including two workers dormitory. 600 rescuers are at the scene. new laws in the u.s. keep drones and their owners in check. a journey to brazil's museum of tomorrow which has had a helping hand before the real olympics. olympics.

>> "inside story" takes you beyond the headlines, beyond the quick cuts, beyond the soundbites. we're giving you a deeper dive into the stories that are making our world what it is.

welcome back. the top stories here on al jazeera. voting is underway in the spanish general election for the first time in more than three decades there are four parties in the running, two new comers which are serious contenders. kurdish forces have killed more than 100 i.s.i.l. fighters in past two days. more than two dozenen peshmerga fighters have also been killed. u.s. foreign policy and national security dominated the third tv debate between the democratic presidential hopefuls. all three were united against donald trump. more than 75 people have been killed in fighting close to the yemen saw deborder as another

round of u.n. peace talks are closing in switzerland. >> reporter: the ceasefire lasted all but a few days, if it even began at all. here an army of sorts made up of yemeni soldiers and tribal leaders are claiming a rare victory. >> translation: we have taken control of the military base that we have been surrounding and which was under the control of the houthis and their allies. thank informed we have taken it over and we are advancing. >> reporter: necessity have been fighting to-- they have been fighting to restore to power the internationally recognised president hadi, making it this far to the city is a milestone. the houthis have controlled this region for months and it is a main route to yemen's capital. >> translation: we will progress until we can reach the city. we will liberate all yemeni

cities from them and who want to hit our land, religion and dignity. >> reporter: the fighting is happening while representatives from the warring sides are meant to be talking peace in switzerland. the ewe anighted nations is leading the meeting which journalists have been kept away from. >> translation: we have submitted a letter of protest to the united nations as to the violations that amounted to a military attack. we are keen to put an end to the war. >> reporter: what has been achieved so far is an agreement to let aid in for civilians. that is one step towards progress in a war that has killed more than five thousand yemenis drones in the u.s. has to be registered. they have so far been unregulated. >> reporter: with drones flying

off the shelves this holiday season, the fa moved with lightning speed to require drone registration. it will be up and running monday. owners of drones that way from half a pound to 55 pounds will need to register. previous owners have until february 19. new owners must sign up before their first outdoor flight. there is a $5 fee, but free if you act fast within the first 30 days. owners will get a unique identification number that must be marked on the drone so it can be traced back if it ends up where it shouldn't be. that has been the problem. drones have turned up on the white house lawn, on the stand of the u.s. open, they have come dangerously close to airplanes. a new study finds that in the last two years there were 327 close calls in the air.

90 involves commercial jets, 38 with helicopters. >> it's a nationwide issue that a lot of airports are experiencing. certainly this is not just - we're not just talking about commercial airliners necessarily. we're also talking about even crop dusters, medical air lift helicopters, pilots of all scale and every level of aviation scale have experienced some interference with a drone. >> reporter: the academy of models says it is an unnecessary burden for drone owners. it says campaigns are key to keeping the skies safe. >> do you know how far away you can fly? you have to still see it. also no more than 400 feet above grounds level. >> reporter: the fa also says education is critical, but with so many alarming incidents, it

wants accountability from owners who can now face stiff fines for failing to register their drone. lisa stark. washington three people have been killed by a car bomb outside a shopping center in the somali capital. self-more with injured. the armed group al-sha brngs ab claimed responsibility. celebrating christmas can put a financial strain on families, but in south africa saving schemes known as stock wells are taking away some of the pressure in low income homes. tania page reports now. >> reporter: stake and chops and barbeque is the flavour of the month in this happy home. these women are part of a saving scheme. they have been putting money aside all year for this big christmas shop. outside the pasta is being organized and added to each pile.

it can be a very costly time of the year and this takes the pressure off. it is organized chaos, but everyone is happy. >> it is hectic. you can't afford it. you still have your kids to buy clothes, snacks, buy food on top of that. at least if you know that you've got something on the side, it is helpful. >> reporter: this man makes sure his customers get the correct orders. most services are offered to these members. they became common when plaque people were excluded from formal banking. they aren't just for christmas but also for holidays, weddings, funerals and they are big business. >> reporter: there are 420,000 stock wells in outsides after. one in five adults are in one. they are worth a lot.

>> they are worth to us. we are looking at the stock here, which is worth 20,000 to one stock well. we are doing it every day as from now until the 27 december. >> reporter: back at the house of the first pile of gross riese is-- groceries is about to go home. it means meeting the cost of christmas will be a lot easier this year rio digeerio is preparing for the olympics. some of the once neglected areas are benefitting too. >> reporter: this flower jutting over the peer at the port of the city is the newly opened museum of tomorrow. >> translation: when i arrived here, i have the impression i was in a different country.

it's so clean and pretty. >> reporter: the exhibits are intended to be a poetic yet forceful fusion of science, philosophy and art. the curator hopes the journey here will compel people to ask questions of mankind and to remind us that we're caretakers of the earth. >> the museum is conceded around a philosophical aspect that tomorrow is not ready, tomorrow is not done, tomorrow will be built. >> reporter: the museum has become an iconic symbol of the resir generals of the port of rio. it was left to deteriorate. since 2010 it has been in the midst of a major make over. it is the largest urban drummond projects-- development projects in the country. it has had money that has poured in. >> we have synergy between the joint interventions that is making us to have advantages, to

take advantage on this process because the visibility at this moment. >> reporter: this woman has worked in the port area for three years and has watched the transformation. >> translation: i used to be scared walking in this area. no-one used to come here. now you can come any time of day and you will find lots of people. >> reporter: a light rail will soon run through the area. there are plans to development apartment buildings indicatoring to low and high income people, proof that they are also building a legacy of integratiointegration it's not your usual beauty pageant. it did have all the glitz and glam our. miss iraq in more than four decades. shaymaa qasim hails from kalkuk

in the north. it was last held in 1972 when iraq was stable and prosperous. you can keep right up-to-date with all our top stories on the website. al jazeera.com. also facebook and twitter as well. the headlines are a moment away. >> wildlife poaching is big business... worth more than 17 billion dollars a year and growing. the slaughter is being fueled by demand from asia... ...where rhino horn is a status symbol and believed to even cure cancer.