>> kidnapping is a very real problem... >> journalists on the front lines... >> sometimes that means risking death >> getting the story, no matter what it takes >> that's what the forth estate is all about... that's why i'm risking my life... >> killing the messenger on al jazeera america >> free at last after two years captive in syria - an american journalist is released. hello, welcome to doha. also ahead in this half hour - the israeli prime minister warns gaza residents to leave areas where hamas may be operating and vows to continue the offensive until goals are met. making major advances in syria,

the islamic state group says it's in full control of the province of raqqa. and it's official, thailand has a new prime minister, after receiving the blessing of the king. u.s. journalist has been freed in syria after spending two years in captivity. al jazeera has obtained pictures of peter theo curtis, captured in object 2012. he was seized by the al nusra front, which has been playing a significant role in the fight against the syrian government. he was last known to be in turkey before he disappeared. from there he planned to enter syria. now he's been handed over to a u.n. representative in a deal mediated by the government.

>> reporter: in this video obtained by al jazeera. peter theo curtis appears to be reading from a script as he sent reassurances. >> i have everything i need. everything is perfect - food, clothing, friends. his family credits qatar for the releasing saying they don't know the terms of the negotiation, but his mother said in a statement: peter theo curtis was taken captive by, the u.s. believes, the al nusra front. who released him to the u.n. in golan heights after two years captivity. curtis was a new name. he changed it after publishing "undercover muslim", ha changed it -- he changed it.

his release came on the same day a funeral was held for james foley, the journalist beheaded by islamic state. the americans are fighting from the air. a rare success for one american headed home. qatar's minister issued this statement about its role in the release of peter theo curtis, saying:. >> "tackle these" -- tom ackerman has more. >> secretary of state john kerry says that the u.s. is using every tool at its disposal to bet the release of four other --

get the release of four other americans in captivity, held by four other groups. the family said - gave a little more details to media about the circumstances of his release, saying that they approached the qatari ambassador to the u.n., and at that point avenues of communication were opened with the captors, who had at one point asked for millions of dollars in ransom. once a proof of life video was produced, establishing that curtis was, indeed alive, then the wheels turned and he was released, but the family says - insists that no ransom was paid, and they have no reason to believe otherwise. >> so what do we know about the group that freed curtis. the al nusra front aims to establish an islamic state in syria under sharia law.

it's thought to represent al qaeda. it announced its victim posted online. it's a powerful group in the region, in the battle against syrian government forces. it's estimated that it has between five and $20,000 fighters in syria. >> syria's regarded as the most dangerous place in the world for journalist, the committee to protect journalists shows 67 journalists died there. the press freedom lobby group says most were killed in crossfire or explosions, but six have been murdered. fighters from the islamic state group say they seized a major military base, it's seen as centraledagicly important. more than -- strategically important. we have this report from syria. these pictures appear to show what syrian military's last

remaining outpost look the like before the attack. the images were posted by the islamic state group, and we can't verify them. the military withdrew from the base after pitched battles. the islamic state group says it's in control of the base. the airport is located between raqqa. loud speakers were used to declare victory. more videos posted after the fall of the base. >> islamic state group appears to use professional combat operations. this video shows fighters planning for aerial maps, and carrying out a suicide attack days before a push. activists say the fighting claimed for than 500 lives. making it a bloody battle.

>> we are the islamic state. we are going to kill bashar al-assad. i swear in front of everyone here. in recent weeks islamic state has taken over three major military posts, including division 17. the advance has been helped by the scrender of other factions. the control of raqqa by the islamic state group shows them expanding and tightening grip on areas under control. the government says it's making gains in places like daara and homs, and propaganda is becoming more extreme. these are the bodies of islamic state fighters. it shows men kicking heads of slain soldiers, pictures too gruesome to air. syria has entered near era of

uncertainty. those calling for international support against the bashar al-assad are squeezed between government forces and the islamic state group. let's look at what is happening in gaza, israel warned palestinians to leave buildings used by hamas as it steps up air tryings. this video shows a strike that happens overnight. 16 palestinians were killed on sunday. including a hamas official. dozens of rockets have been fired. >> israel's prime minister binyamin netanyahu warned that the intensive will continue until their aims are achieved. there is lit of of a vast central shopping district left. this district is bombarded by the israeli military. the area housed many small shops, dozens of businesses destroyed. >> it's an attack on the palestinian economy. it's an attack on the people relying on this place.

this is a civilian area. there's no fighters, no rockets, nothing of the sort. >> reporter: al jazeera was filming the aftermath of one air strike when another hit. also on saturday, in gaza city, the remains of an apartment building that stood 14 storeys high. the israeli military said hamas fighters prited out of the building. people living here denied this. residents were warned by israelis to leave. this woman lost everything. she returned the next day, desperate to find some of her family's belongings. >> translation: the kid were downstairs, the dipper was ready. we were waiting for the children to come up. someone started knocking on the door historically. it was the kids. they said "we need to leave

quickly, they are going to bomb the building." her friends took her in with her husband and four children. many in gaza had to open their doors to host the number of homeless families. >> in gaza, in a minute, we can be in the same situation. once you mention that your friends can be alone without shelter, and they are striking their homes, you can't - you can't just watch and do nothing. for many here, all they can do is salvage something from the rubble. dozens of families were homeless in seconds when the building came down. >> many add their names to the hundreds of thousands of palestinians displaced by the conflict. well, since israel began its

military assault on gaza on july 8th, '65 israeli soldiers and three civilians have been kill. 2,120 palestinians died in the violence, including 577 children. nearly 11,000 palestinians have been injured. the united nations says 71% of the palestinians killed are civilians. israel has shut a border crossing after it was shot by rocket fire by gaza. it is used by journalists, aid workers and palestinians with permits to leave or enter gaza. iran's revolutionary guard says it shut down a spy drone, caught trying to enter an area. some of the devices are intact

and can be used to get more information. >> iran's foreign minister says the islamic state group is committing genocide in iraq and syria. mohammad javad zarif flew to baghdad to meet iraqi leaders. iran's government is worried about the threat of fighting in iraq, which is spreading close to iran's border. >> we believe it requires a concerted several by the community to be with a group whose character is clear to everybody. the same character which brought chaos to syria is now wreaking havoc in iraq and committing acts of horrendous genocide, and crimes against humanity needs to be tackled by the international community. >> still to come here - thailand's new prime minister receives the king blessings. as ukraine develops independence

day, pro-russian separatists parade prisoners of war in a show of defiance.

>> hello again, these are the top stories this hour. u.s. journalist has been freed after spending nearly two years in captivity in syria, peter theo curtis was captured in october 2012. he was seized by the al nusra front, which has seen as al qaeda's representative in syria. fighters from the islamic state group say they have seized a major base. more than 500 were killed in fighting in rafah province. israel warned palestinians to leave buildings in gaza, used by hamas as it steps up air strikes. at least 16 palestinians were killed on sunday. after six months of protests in thailand and a military coup, a new leader has been sworn in. the general who led the coup has received the endorsements of

thailand's king, making him the new prime minister. the journal says he planned to press ahead with a year of political reforms before a new election that will take place by late next year. scott heidler is in bonk book for us. the general given the royal rubber-stamp. >> this took place an hour and a half ago in army headquarters. arms of unified military general. the official endorsement by the king was read. the general went up to a portrait of the king, paid respects and that part of the ceremony was adjourned. and the general held - delivered a 10 minute speech. as you mentioned, he went through the ambitious reforms that he and his new government. he wants to take place over the next year.

it's right the way through from education, corruption, infrastructure, so main reforms that he's putting forth, and thanked the people from thailand for the support they have gin him. and the support he'll need to carry out reforms. there's a side of this country that does not support what he is doing. because of the way he is ruling, the way of the coup unfolded, those voices are pretty much scratched. moving forward, he is the new prp, the 29th prime minister of thailand, and how he'll obtain the goals is left to be determined because his cabinet, we are hearing, will be made of bras, those running the nation's armed forces. all eyes seeing how skilful he is. how is he done leading the country so far. >> so far he was - he let it - he gained successes when it came

to small steps going to reform. and going back to what i mentioned a lot of that has been done in a vacuum move, if you will. criticism, because of the laws enacted because of the coup, because no protests, anti-co-on his government. movements are able to go out to the streets. in that respect. he moved forward and when you look at the list. and after the official endorsement. for any politician and government. someone running a military it will be a big challenge. scott heidler in bangkok. >> zimbabwe's president mugabe is meeting withofficials.

it's thought he may use a visit to secure a rescue package for the african development community. a block he leads. we have this report. >> people in zimbabwe say when the west turned away china stepped in. years of economic sanctions and government corruption made their lives diff. president mugabe seized farms owned by foreigners and crushed political opponents. china, lured by the country's national resources has stepped in. in a big way. zimbabwe's official say the investment helped their country and china should not be criticised. >> i can talk to the investment bank, the i.m.f. this is, you know, people who are saying that this or that,

they are simply no blind economist, they have an axe to grind. they can't look at things objective. >> china invested billions in africa, 100 billion more than the united states. the chinese currency is exchanged on the streets. an indication of the high level of chinese trade and investment. not just in zimbabwe, but the african continent. it's part of his role as chairman of the southern african development committee, he's expected to ask beijing for a bail out package. with high unemployment, his country says they need the cash to avoid a meltdown. people in harari are seeing a spike in chinese restaurants and shops. china says the number is likely to rise, because it will promote zimbabwe as a tourist destination for citizens.

>> victor gow is a director of the the chinese association of international studies, he joins us live. welcome to al jazeera, i believe this is rugga be said 13th visit to china, do you think he'll convince beijing to give him the money? >> well china and the president mugabe and his government have relationship and friendship dating back to the time when mr mugabe and his associate were fighting for independence from colonial rule. since independence china maintained good relations with president mugabe and the government. china views him as a good friend and app important country in africa. the economic development in the recent area is a deepened reflection. particularly when zimbabwe has

been on the sanctioned list, who has tape note of the fact that the american-african summit hosted by president obama in washington dc did not invite president mugabe to attend. this gives reflection to the importance between china and zimbabwe. going forward, china will play a more important role in helping zimbabwe in the economic developments and bilateral trade is expected to be boosted further. >> an important relationship that you have highlighted. i'm reading that beijing is reluctant to give zimbabwe money because of concerns of risks associated with zimbabwe, such as corruption. >> of course, each country has their own problem, but we deal with these as problems or

issues. we are not in a position to step in or intervene, that's why the chinese assistance to african countries have no conditionalties attached to that. we hope the people and the government of zimbabwe will find a way to solve their own internal problems. as far as political relations and bilateral trade relations, china is a big promoter of bilateral trade, and many other african countries. the chinese investment and trade in zimbabwe reflects the commitment of the chinese government and the people to working with african countries, including zimbabwe, on an equal footing. >> thank you for speaking with us. mozambique's government signed a ceasefire with rebels ending two years of fighting, a week after a peace agreement was

met, including plans to integrate fighters into state security forces. parliament is set to work out the companies of the agreement this week. the democratic republic of congo has confirmed two cases of ebola in its northern province, the first reported cases outside of west africa since ebola was identified. the congolese health minister says the outbreaks are not related to those in west africa. it's the seventh epidemic. >> we are reinforcing all the measures announced up to now, particularly making available protective equipment for medical personnel. the active research for cases and following other people that these cases have come into contact with, making sure all burials are done, for confirmed cases and unexplained death. >> ukraine's president petro porashenko says he'll raise defense spending by $3 billion,

making the announcement by independent celebrations. pro-russian separatists held a different ceremony, parading soldiers through the streets. >> in the city of donetsk, pro-russian separatists held an alternative ceremony in defines of kiev. dozens of prisoners captured during months of fighting were paraded through the streets. also on show, destroyed ukranian military hardware. as the rest of the country marks 23 years of independence, the separatist fighters remain loyal to moscow. >> donetsk has been under constant ukranian bombardment for weeks. a shell landed on a hospital mortuary. in the ukranian capital, a different screen. here thousands celebrated independence day with a show of

military might much the government promised to send much of this hardware to the front line. president petro porashenko used the occasion to announce a $3 billion increase in military spending. >> translation: the events of recent months have become for us a war, not officially announced, but still reel. it will probably go down in history was the great wore. the wore for ukraine, for honour glory and independence. >> reporter: in eastern ukraine, not far from the fighting the people of slovyansk staged their own celebration. there's growing confidence here. several weeks ago, slovyansk was the center of activity, now a small band of people are showing

loiltry to kiev. it's hard to imagine everywhere here feels the same way. quietly behind the scenes. ukrainian forces are doing everything to eradicate sympathies. it's normality, but not quite. dozens of towns have been recaptured from a separatist in the last few months. only a few kilometres from here, ukraine is divided and at war. oscar winning british film director richard attenborough has died following an illness, he was a leading actor before becoming a director. he appeared in films including "the great escape", and "jurassic park." he was a director for "gandhi." time for a quick break, thanks for staying here with us on al

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>> hundreds of days in detention. >> al jazeera rejects all the charges and demands immediate release. >> thousands calling for their freedom. >> it's a clear violation of their human rights. >> we have strongly urged the government to release those journalists. >> journalism is not a crime. aljazeera.com. don't look now, here comes britain's economy. the uk's economy is powering forward and could take over as europe's strongest economy. we'll look at what britain is doing right. also, reading, writing and red ink, a step that a school system is taking to open the school for the kids. living in a box - going inside what could be the apartments of the future to see how they stack up - literally - i'm ali velshi, and this is "real money".