>> they are calling tut final assault, iraqi, toes storm the center of ramadi frying to recapture the city from isil. this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up, the u.n. hears most of the attacks from civilians are coming from saudi led forces. and a mass i public pressure, india toughens rape laws for juvenile offenders. the number of refugees and migrants passing 1 million in just one year.

>> the iraqi military is reporting progress in the major offensive against the islamic state of iraq in ramadi. iraq's government says the soldiers are advancing on the city center, where it estimated about 300 fighters remain. isil has held ramadi since may. they launched the current operation last month, the first objective was to cut off supply lines into the city. the progress has been slow, because the iraq government wants to rely on it's own troops rather than shia militia. they have been accused of rights abuses. >> it has been described as the final assault to recapture ramadi from isil. the iraqi military says the troops are moving in on the center of the city the

provincial capitol of the mainly sunni province has been under isil's control for monos. for weeks they have been trying to reach the main complex, but ramadi is an urban battleground, progress has been slow. isil is fighting back using suicide bombers. it is not known how many men the armed group has in the city, but iraqi intelligence believes there could be up to 300. there are also civilians trapped inside. and there are reports of casualties. the iraqi military drops leaf let as few days ago calling on people to leave. but isil is reportedly stopping them so that they can use them as human shields. isil stormed ramadi in may, at the time, much of the western province was already under the armed groups control. ramadi fall was an embarrassment for the government. the iraqi army didn't put up much of a fight, months later they are back, and the

government spokesman said the fight is being led by iraqi special forces and troops are not taking part. but a member of parliament from the province says sunni tribal forces are involved. the attack was bloody by the iraq. and they attack isil from areas they didn't expect. so i think by the weekend, if everything goes as they plan, they will retake it. >> ramadi is a strategic city, it connects to jordan and isil controls territory across the border in h syria. losing it would be a set back. this battle is a test for the u.s. strategy of relying on iraqi ground troops in the fight against isil, ramadi is in iraq's heart land, victory

here is not just about defeating isil it will determine if the shia led government is able to win over anbar's community. this update from baghdad. >> a big challenge for the iraqi security forces how they are going to deal with the civilians, some sources said before around 4,000 families are still in ramadi and they couldn't get out of the city, and the fighting is going on inside ramadi. so it seems that there is no clear plan, and there's no obvious plan, by the iraqi security forces how to protect the civilians. now, everybody is talking about the land. it is talking about how to control the city, that downtown of the city. but no one said about a clearer plan, how to get a safe rout for those civil isians thousands of families to let them get out. this is a big challenge for the forces there is no clear

plane for the forces to keep on those people thousands of people how to get them out the city. everybody is warning about a catastrophe may happen because of thousands of families and people are still inside ramadi. u.n. security council has heard that a disproportional attack on civilians appears to be carried out by the sawedly led coalition. more than 5,800 civilians have been killed since air strikes began in march. there's a growing humanitarian crisis. about 1.3 million children are malnourished. at least 2.3 million people have been forced from their homes, and the u.n. says there's credibility evidence of war crimes and atrocities

by all sides. >> i have observed with extreme concern the continuation of heavy shelling from the ground and the air, in areas with high concentration of civilians, as well as the perpetuation of the destruction of civilian infrastructure, in particular hospitals and schools by all parties in the conflict. although an amount appears to be the result of air strikes carried out by forces. >> al jazeera is at the counties, so kristen, what is the significance of this meeting. >> a second round of peace talks have been scheduled between the warring parties in yemen for january 14th. and the violence, never the less, is continuing despite a stated cease fire. so -- and also the impact that that violence is having

on civil isians is also continuing, so this meeting was to hear what the u.n. special envoy for yemen, had to say about those on going negotiations and a chance for the security council to weigh in and express it's support, typically it would hear this briefing and then go into a meeting behind closed doors but this time the council decided to speak publicly. giving members a chance to show their support for the process, and put some pressure on the parties to keep it moving forward. may also invited the high commissioner for haw moon rights whom we just heard to speak to them, as well as the secretary general for human earn affairs just to underline the grave impact that this conflict is having on the civilian population, and to try to pressure them into keeping the process moving forward and getting to sha solution which has evatted them. >> what are the main sticking points. >> well, the sides are still

concerned about prisoner exchanges, about withdrawing houthis rebels. >> that is providing what diplomate described as a glimmer of hope moving forward, and the impurse for this meeting and the renewed pressure from the opportunity to capitalize on that and keep things going forward. >> okay, kristina, thank you very much indeed. >> afghan government forces continue to fight to the taliban in the country's southern province. the army is advancing in the district which fell to the taliban on monday. afghan forces have regained some outposts with uh the main city remains under

taliban control, nato ended combat operations nearly a year ago. al jazeera political analyst and commentator had this to say about the current situation. the taliban wants to capitalize more on the fact that the government is busy sharing power with it's partner, in afghanistan, and as the winter is aapproaching they want to gain more territories and put pressure on the government in the coming peace negotiations. it is possible that the taliban will withdraw, at the moment there is no information to hold off this war that is going on, the current leader of the taliban, who was questioned by different factions whether it is capable of managing the taliban or not, he wants to prove to the taliban that he is the man to be followed, that he is a leader, and he can take territory in afghanistan, and he has command of the taliban and army has been trained, it has

the man power and the fire power, yes, they do lack air support, air power, but never the less, the taliban do not have air power either. the army is much better and well equipped, they can tear on the taliban. >> india's parliament has approved amendments to the juvenile justice law, allowing 16 to 18-year-olds to be tried as adults for serious crimes. a public outcry over the release of the youngest person convicting of gang raping and murdering a medical student. now while this latest juvenile justice bill has been passed, there's still a long way to go before what is in it's contents is actually implemented oen the ground. this bill now needs to go to the president of end yeah, who will sign off on it and it will then be returns to the government of india, to fashion laws that can be put in place, and used by the league system, it's really

important to note here, that while the release of the youngest convict in the 2012 gang rape case once again brought to life the issue of juvenile justice and detention in india, this act these laws will not be applied rest respectively to this casear own err case that has come. >> there have been numerous debates on either side of this issue, on the one hand, those in support of this law have said that it is now better than never, and india needs stronger defenses to make sure that young offenders do not commit crimes of such nature. on the other hand, those have said we feed more time, and that quickly developed laws are not necessarily good laws. the debate will continue despite the approval of the upper house. the fate of a top lawyer found guilty of inciting

ethnic hatred after criticizing china's government. >> and symbolic but significant. votes to recognize palestinian state hood. when you're on hold, your business is on hold. that's why comcast business doesn't leave you there.

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jazeera.op stories here on al >> afghan government forces continue to fight the taliban

in the southern province, the armies advancing on the district which fired the taliban on monday. gnarly 6,000 have been killed sense march. imside forces to the government have fought their way into province closest to the capitol that will resume next month, reports. close to the town the houthis strong hold. houthis rebels took control 15 months ago. pro government forces are fighting to allow the internationally recognized president to return to the capitol. >> fighting is now on going, in that direction, on the right of the junction, in the

popular resistence fighters are there near the junction. there are pro government gains too, and there's been heavy fighting near west, 50-kilometers from the saudi border, the houthiss are on the retreat there, leaving weapons and other equipment as they go. in the central province, progovernment fighters. taking control of a fighting camp, they want to control this area, because it has most of the yemen oil and gas reserves. >> they are following well fought military plans. our advances continue in the right direction, towards saleh. >> the world health organization says almost 6,000 people have died in this conflict, the u.n. says almost half of those are civilians. these talks in switzerland last week, ended without an agreement, to bring the civil war to an end, the two sides have agreed though to meet again next month. al jazeera.

>> international organizations for migration say as record 1 million refugees and migrants have crossed into europe this year, more than 800,000 people have crossed into greece from turkey by sea. nearly 4,000 others have died trying to cross the mediterranean in europe's worst refugee crisis since the second world war. 11 refugees including three children have drowned off the turkish coast. seven people were rescued off the resort. the refugees seem to have been trying to reach the greek island, which lies opposite. just days ago 18 people drowned. a symbolic gesture as it is nonbinding, more from athens. >> a unanimous vote to recamiers the state of pal

steen. >> the greek parliament led to promote the procedure, and recommend and state of palestine, and to make every effort for the needed assumption of credibility peace talks between the two sides. ladies and gentlemen, all those accepting the proposal please rise. >> and resolution was prepared by a series party which enjoy as majority and is leading the government. the president of the palestinian authority was watching closely. he welcomed the resident lewis. we call on countries to support a tuesday solution in the palestinian issue. we call on countries that have not recognized the state of palestine, to do so now. to proceed to the recognition now. >> but the resolution is not binding and the greek government is unlikely to adopt it. prime menster sip press met on monday, sip press said greece would take the right

step at the right time. he called for a viable two state solution. agrees has economic security ties with israel. the two countries are planning jones energy and infrastructure projects, and to increase military cooperation. some people say the move is an appeal to the core supporter whose backed the palestinian state hood. on the streets, people were largely supportive of the vote. >> i am in favor, well, but i'm also in favor of keeping the diplomatic relations with israel as well. if it is possible, to maintain well only god knows yes, but i am in favor. >> the greek parliament joins france, britain, and spain, who have all adopted similar resolutions in the past year. the vote is a symbolic step, and the resolution is nonbinding for the government. but for the palestinians it is yet another recognition of their just cause, and their independent state.

it also gives palestinians hope, that the government recognition, is a step closer. al jazeera, athens. >> police in bosnia have detained 11 people who are suspected of having links with isil. police believe individualed are involved in recruiting fighters for isil, as well as helping finance and organize the groups operations. nor than 150 are believed to have gone to fight in the last few years. leading human rights lawyer has been found guilty of disturbing public order and inciting ethnic hatred. adrian brown reports from beijing. >> china's judiciary rarely delivers a surprise verdict. but this was unexpected. and so in a way was this. apologizing for the comments that landed him in court. he is now effectively a

freeman. and had been facing up to eight years in jail, after being found guilty of provoking trouble and inciting evident nick hatred. charges he denied. it was his posts on social media, that government him into trouble. they poked fun at china's communist leaders and criticized government policies in the troubled regions of tibet. just as there was when his trial opened journalists and diplomates were man handled. supporters risked arrest by just being there. china's state control media didn't report the opening of the trial, but it's t.v. networks were the first to report the verdict, with the emphasis on the sentence rather than the reprieve. chain no is moving toward as rule of law, i don't think we have the perfect record in terms of rule of law. what we have a rule of politics and law. however, the overall trend is clear, we are moving in the right direction. it may still take months or

years or even decades. >> among the supporters who include the artist there were mixed feelings. they welcomed his release, but argue it was an injustice, to hold them in detention, for 20n't mos. months. >> we have cause to recognize this, even though he has been given a suspended sentence, from a legal perspective he has been criminally punished so in the future he can't be a lawyer. >> so the fact that he has been found guilty but given a suspended sentence is kind of a good slightly positive given the context, but it is important to indicate, he should never have been detained, you know he committed no crime. the evidence their had against him was very flimsy. >> the guilty verdict disqualified him from practicing law. and the strict conditions of his release, mean he could be returned to jail, if he provokes the authorities again.

>> one of the west days in violence earlier. after three military bases were attacked by gunman, 400 people have been killed and 3 n jailed. who was running for a third time in office. >> the agency more than 1 million children are not going to school because of theft of boko haram attacks. more than 2,000 schools are closed across nigeria, chad. otherothers have been destroyey fighters the group whose name means western education is forbidden has targeted schools sense 2009. that extends it's term limits the supporters say the outlanding leadership led to

the victory, it is not a view shares by all. >> the president hasn't said yet he will run in the next presidential election, almost everyone here at the national dialog event says they want -- he has been president since 2000, but effectively in power since his rebel group took control in 1994, and the conference is meant to give hundred as chance to add our views. >> this is an opportunity to observe hand the importance matters in our country. >> rwanda. that is -- and respectfully. >> most of the people that speak are full of praise. >> we have agreed that only you should continue to lead us. that we can remain on the course that we have been on.

>> this structure has been put up eses specially the security typically is very well organized and the start a very disciplined and there's even video link connected this venue here with other venues all other the country. this man speaking from a rule of district, says he is grateful for bringing stability after the genocide. >> we have died but president resurrected us, not just us but also the rest of rwanda. >> nobody here says anything critical supporters say that's because he is such a good leader. critics point out that some opposition are in prison, others have been killed the government denies it was involved. he fled to the united kingdom. in 2011, the british police told him the government was

trying to assassinate him, they put him under protection, again, rwanda denies it and he still speaks out. >> as i said, they leave under extreme fear, because they -- they know the costs of expressing a view or a voice. so the express the government denying to be safe. >> for many in rwanda, political freedoms aside, the rule is still much better than the violent past, economic growth and development have been rapid, the critics say a smaller leak has much of the benefits and they could bring the country back to the violence of the 1990's but there is no sign of change here any time soon malcolm web, al jazeera, rwanda. >> hue moon rights group say gold and diamond sales have been used to finance conflict. the process is an attempt to

keep blood diamonds off the market, but gold is proving much more difficult to trace. every day, at 7:00 a.m., these men come to dig for gold, in one of the word's poorest countries. a year photograph ago after the father was killed in the civil war. >> but the divisions run deep between communities. however, in this mine, muslims and christians were side by side. >> i work here with my three brothers. for three months now, it is

our only chance to feed our family. >> this mine which create as small amount of jobs is part of the bigger problem. human rights groups say rebels from all sides are using mines to buy weapons and fund their operations. >> now in the west of the country, where you have the diamond industry that has kept on paying fighters, for protection, or for the similar operation of their means, and also in the east, where you have several groups mainly muslim rebels, who have used mines such as to fund their operations in the country. >> and the mine sell 15-kilograms of gold monthly, making a profit of $350,000 a month. the central african republic exported half a million carats of diamonds in 2013. the same year it was placed under the kimberly process,

which were the sale of what is known as blood i do mondays from conflict zones. work at the mines never stopped, though international treaties make it possible to trace blood diend mos it is impossible to trace precious metals such as gold. >> it is very difficult to find and to facebook where gold comes from, eses specially once it's been milted. >> militia deny running the mines and refuse to be filmed. for other workers, in tough conditions they are just trying to put food on the table. for their families. >> the fat one, and this year's small town in southern spain is celebrating a very big lottery when. traditional christmas lottery is the world's largest, the prizes totaling nearly $2.5 billion. the biggest win of this christmas, on the southern coast, very lucky group of residents will shake out

$4.3 million prize, an estimated three out of four spaniards buy tickets with more than 1 million people taking home a cash prize. plenty more stories for you any time on our website. you can watch us by taking on the watch now icon, 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,