>> this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up. the battle for fallujah, 27 iraqi soldiers are killed by isil and seven civilians are said to have died in shellings. palestinians demanding the return of the bodies of their loved ones are attacked by israeli security forces. [singing] you hear that right, oh, yes.

>> singing the praises of a project teaching american school children about opera. >> hello, a new leader of a major opposition group has spoken to al jazeera about its role in the peace process. the leader said that the group will attend u.s. peace talks on january 25th in geneva. well, there were concerns that those talks were in danger over the death of opposition leader zahran alloush. let's go live now to hashem ahelbarra, who is on the turkey-syrian border. hashem, in the past rebel groups have fallen apart when their leaders have been killed.

is this going to happen? is the new guy strong enough to hold it together? >> this is one of the biggest concerns brought by different members of the syrian national you council, but also activists on the ground because throughout the last four years generally speaking most of the powerful armed factions were based on the charisma of their own leaders zahran alloush was an activists. there was this whole aura about him. he was able to form an army and convince others to join his army. particularly in the top-ranking commanders, they have a new

commander, and it remains to be seen whether they would be able to maintain all the commanders in their authorit authority. he was a top general who was reaching out to groups they would try to merge in a new front. he was extremely powerful. extremely influential, and his death is a huge blow for the syrian opposition. >> tell us more about the realities on the ground with damascus. we heard this talk about deals, and th that there might have been delays? >> there have been some issues about the details of the deal. the government on one hand and

the isil and al nusra on the other hand. they have not been able to come up with an agreement or formality of the safe passage. also north of the area which are under the control of the rebels. they have similar face passage deals. and some of those deals collapsed at the last minute. it's a very delicate situation. it's critical on both sides because some of the opposition groups don't wanting to seen as colluding with the syrian government. this news about the final agreement, or this latest

agreement, which is the government, nusra front and al-qaeda saying that these two groups are betraying the syrian people and how long at a time they're dealing with the government, it hasn't been pinned down between the government and isil. >> hatch hatch, thank you, indeed. iraqi said that they're close to the center of ramadi. the military said it has engaged in a gunfight with isil fighters there. the army began its newest offensive on tuesday with the 1947 of u.s.-led coalition airstrikes. 27 soldiers have been killed by isil fighters south of fallujah. and several civilians were killed when sheffield united by

the army. >> many, thousands say they need help getting home safely. we have the story in northern iraq. >> he way fighting isil and captured on his way back home by shia militias. he said it was because he was sunni. he was tortured for ten days at a youth center used as a prison. his uncle, who was a police officers, died after being tortured by the same militia. >> they used to hang us, and ten people used to hit me. they would set nylon alight and

set it on my body, telling me to tell the truth. >> the area is now a ghost down after tens of thousands of people were reportedly forced out of their homes. those we smoke with said there were no isil fighters there. and they were punished on the suspicion they might be hiding isil fighters. it's not the first time iraq's government-backed militias were accused. >> everyone here has a horror story. they want the international community to guarantee their safety.

they claim that the iraqi army turned a blind eye to abuses. >> when we came they started to kill indiscriminately. we traveled day and night without food or anything else. >> fewer militias are an important part in the fight against isil. they denied the am could you says against them. >> for us this is series and has no effect on us. as we continue to make progress we will hear more accusations. we don't care about it. we expect it. >> the fear runs deep in a this community and many don't want to return to theory homes.

>> austrian police say intelligence sources have warned them that capitals are in tank of an attack. we'll bring you more on that story as we get it. the afghan national army said that 21 of its oranges have been killed in helmand province. fighting is continuing there, but a battle is taking place in the town of sangin. >> it changed every few hours. a few hours ago the afghan government now controlled the police headquarters. now we're hearing that the taliban has control of this area. we talked with the government

officials here with residents of the area, and also with some soldiers who are fighting for the afghan government in the battlefield. the soldiers are complaining from lack of leadership, among them security forces. they're saying there is not enough support. there are some who say this war cannot be won without air support, also they're complaining about logistic supplies. this is a taliban stronghold area, and that's what makes it difficult for afghan security forces to gain enough supplies for their forces in sangin.

>> palestinians demanding the return of their dead loved ones have been attacked by israeli security forces. about 150 protesters took to the streets of occupied east jerusalem. soldiers fired tear gas and hit demonstrators with batons. several palestinian youths have been arrested. the 57 people have been held by israeli forces in recent fighting. the israeli forces shot dead an palestinian man when they said he tried to kill an israeli. another palestinian man was killed on friday allegedly for throwing rocks at israeli soldiers. the wave of violence has left 127 palestinians and 20 israelis

dead. >> in april 148 students were killed in garissa in kenya by an armed group al-shabab. in one year five families we focus on those whose lives have been affected by the event. there are families who are still being impacted. >> they shot her seven times. one bullet shattered her spine. she is now undergoing rehabilitation in nairobi. she was stand at the university in kenya when al-shabab fighters attacked in april. her parents come in every other week to visit and take care of rachel has taken its toll on the family. >> we had to be there to make

sure she's well taken care of. >> they'll never forget these images from the attack and the days family members spent looking for her not knowing if she was alive or dead. >> i have realizes that life is in the hands of god, and you have to figh find positive in the situation whether good or bad. >> garissa university has been set to be opened next year. many security changes have also been made in this region. >> the number of a shah babb related attacks have gone down significantly. security officials say this is because of better intelligence and coordination with the local community. >> but members of the somali community believe that scuft has come at a cost from them. he was arrested by police, and

his family has not seen him since. >> we've looked everywhere. we went to the police station where he was taken. they said they didn't have him. buwe went to parliament, but nothing. >> we don't kidnap anybody. were they arrested from their homes or for whatever, and they are in custody. >> rachel is now part of th-- rachel is not part of the politics. she's working hard to regain his fitness coming to terms with the fact that she may never walk

again. >> coming up on al jazeera, you in australia bush fires threaten to destroy more homes. plus destined to chase the american dreams. now claims of abuse as mexico stops migrants trying to come to the u.s. >> this year is blowing our minds. >> scientists are studying el nino from space and the oceans. >> when the pacific speaks... everybody better listen. >> techknow's team of experts show you how the miracles of science... >> this is what innovation looks like. >> can affect and surprise us. >> i feel like we're making an impact. >> let's do it. >> techknow - where technology meets humanity.

>> hello, a reminder of the top stories in al jazeera. the group's will attend peace talks in geneva despite the

death of zahran alloush. and israeli security forces have hit protesters with batons as they protest for the bodies of their loved ones. in australia threats of fire continue. >> the scening route to the city of melbourne is usually packed, but it's off limits for now after bush fires swept through towns along the coast. >> there were significant property losses, power, water, environment issues, smoke, and the impact that will have in

terms of long term. >> the area is still not in the clear. >> this fire remains with the potential to burn into january and february of this year. >> firefighters battle into the night on friday. water-bombing aircraft were brought in, but flames continue to engulf trees and homes. many residents and tourists spent their holidays at evacuation centers. >> i saw the plume of smoke on the highway, and i thought it was close to hem. i got to home and looking out my back door, yes. >> australia is no stranger to bush fire. they strike every year, and each time the losses are no less

painful. >> a bomb attack on the mosque has killed one person and wounded a dozen others. it happened during privat private prayers. the government denies thattist has an affect o in bangladesh and blame the local groups. >> in corsica groups blok broke down doors and set fire to qur'ans. the action was called

deplorable. >> the road to the u.s. has been barred to migrants like never before. this is mexico where deportations have gone up 70% in the last year and a half. authorities send hundreds back every day to honduras, guatemala, el salvador, countries suffering brutal gang violence and desperate poverty. >> we're poor. that's why we look for the american dream. unfortunately, they catch us and accepted us back to death. what can we do but to try again. >> record numbers of children migrants showed up at u.s. door step, rather than focusing on the root causes that are forcing people to flee from central america, the u.s. is giving mexico more money and more equipment to cut off that flow at its southern border.

>> and it's worked. roving check points have led to this detention center, the biggest in latin america, is full to bursting. as migration officials have closed the net, accusations of extortion and physical abuse has soared. this is what happened to this man's arm when he was left bleeding on the roadside. >> other people would have helped me. but they just didn't care. it was as if i wasn't even human. >> to avoid the authorities, migrants are forced through isolated areas where gangs of robbers and kidnappers lie in wait. migration offices say they're working against the criminals and working with migration officials. >> we've shown we don't

intolerate it in this state. >> trust is far from earned yet. the migrants we spoke to in mexico said that authorities are just another threat in an increasingly hostile land. >> and in the next part of a series, people smugglers prowl th the streets of one of the world's most dangerous cities. we'll have more from honduras here on al jazeera. >> thousands are force to leave dominican republic. >> close quarters for those stuck in a camp in haiti near

the dominican republic border. six months after fleeing the dominican republic they have received no help for resettlement from east country. hungry and penniless, they remained hopeless many are weakened after being struck by cholera. >> i was vomiting, i had diarrhea. he went to the hospital and got medicine, but i still feel weakened. >> this man left a home and horse behind but here he had nothing. he showed me a meager packet of rice that a priest had given to him and his family to eat. we first filmed in july a month after the dominican republic began a sweeping crackdown on migrant workers who lacked proper documentation. many long established residents

appear to have been caught up in that sweep. some hearsay they feared for their lives and came here on their own. others say they were deported. >> when we visited in july, dozens had been affected by cholera: dozens had died in this camp alone. they have little to eat. little to dink. despite that every day there are signs that people keep showing up. >> this woman survived cholera, too. alone here, her husband and son are back in dominican republic. >> i hope the government helps me to move to a better place. that's what i'm asking for. >> the camp is known as gift park. but there are no signs of presents on christmas. the water supply arrived just a day ago.

>> we were here in july. it's now six months. why did it take six months to bring these people water. >> we thought this was temporary. now we have to do something. >> other projects like a reception center on the border has been promised but so far has not been built. back in the camp cleaner water should arrive soon, but what people are really looking for is a way out of here. adam raney, al jazeera, haiti. >> a worker trapped in a collapsed mine has died. 17 other people remain underground in the gypsum mine. officials are communicating with the miners by writing messages on football balls and throwing them down the mine shaft. president obama has declared emergency after storms swept through the area. homes have been damaged and power has been knocked out.

it's been a week of extreme weather in the south. 15 people have been killed across tennessee, arkansas and mississippi. hundreds gathered at the merry christmasal park in thailand. it was military on th >> an unique program is teaching school children to appreciate the classical form of music, and as kristin saloomey discovered a whole lot more. >> they may be more familiar with adele or rihanna, but a trip to the opera house in new york never fails to impress. >> to me, we were gasping. we were like.

[ gasping ] >> it was just like watching on television, but in real play. >> for many this is their first former exposure to the classical art form. attending a dress hearer dress rehearsal sponsored by the opera gild. they represent artists like carolyn blackwell, who she herself has spent time teaching tin. >> i made them realize how opera was already in their lives. so i said to them, bugs bunny cartoons, i said, you hear ♪ figero, figero, figer you hear that, right? they would say, yes, they understood that. ♪ row, row, row your boat gently

down the stream ♪ >> in the classroom the children learn to tell a story with music and lots of drama. >> this is opera so it has to be something epic. they're escaping from the police. >> they write their own storyline. >> the class may be all about opera, but the lessons apply to other subjects as well. a four-year study by the metropolitan opera gild found that students who participated in the program did better in matthew, science and english than those who didn't. and at a time when many schools are focused on improving test scores, students say the class is a fun compliment to their lesson plan. >> to be able to tell a story and to put in all the parts of the story. we do a lot of work with it in reading and writing, but it's nice to have them see that show up in drama. >> with 15,000 students taking part in the program, it's n no

wonder that schools are singing it's praises. >> you can catch up on all the stories we're covering by checking out our website. www.aljazeera.com. you can watch us live on there by clicking on the watch now icon at www.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,