acting on his own, barack obama uses hs executive power to overhaul immigration laws, republicans promise to fight back. ♪ ♪ hello, this is al jazerra live from our headquarters in doha. also ahead, united in disgust. 10s of thousands in mexico protest against the disappears of 4 43 staoufplts a 43 student. a former journalist goals on trial in china credit i cans call it an attack on freedom of speech. looking for a breakthrough john kerry arrives in vie an a

trying to broker ideal on iran nuke or program. president obama has unveiled swing changes to the u.s. immigration policy. he is using his executive powers to enact laws that could prevent about 5 million undocumented immigrants from being deported. obama says the immigration system is broken and has pledged to crack down on those trying to cross the border illegally. our white house correspondent pal i culhane reports from washington. >> reporter: there are more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the united states. with this announcement, u.s. president obama says he will give a temporary reprieve to less than half. lifting the threat of deportation for people who have been in the country for more than five years and who have children who are american citizens. potentially impacting fewer than 5 million people. >> what i am describing is accountability. a common sense middle ground

approach. if you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. >> reporter: but it's temporary and the next president could overturn it in january of 2017. leaving the government way list of people that could potentially be departed. moving on his own is controversial in large part because the president himself has been saying for years he doesn't have the authority to act on his own. >> my job in the executive baracbranch is supposed to be to carry out the laws. >> reporter: but they checked the laws and now they say that he can. republicans are threatening a revenge. >> we are considering a rah right i of options but make no mistake. make no any mistake. when the newly representatives of the people take their seats they ill act. will act. >> reporter: there is probably little that they can do. but they can make him pay in other areas, like budgets cuts are blocking his legislative

agenda. white house officials admit that they could do. but they are betting they won't. patty culhane al jazerra, washington. a legislative counsel with the american civil liberties union she says it's not the first time a u.s. president has used his executive hours to change the immigration system. >> every single american president since dwight eisenhower in the 1950s has undertaken some type of executive action involving immigration. most notably, george h.w. bush in 1990 used his executive powers to provide immigration relief to family members, people who are here, through the 1986 immigration program. and the -- george h.w. bush's program at the time covered about 40% of the undocumented population. which is on par with what president obama's initiative seeks to do. and the question about how the republicans are going to respond, i mean, really the ball is in their court now.

i mean, the majority of american people, republicans, democrats, independence all want a permanent solution to our immigration system. there is a widespread consensus that the status quo is the worst possible option. and that is actually what we have been forced to live with. the house republicans refuse to take up immigration reform through 2013 and '14. so the president had no choice but to act on his own. israeli police say they do not plan to prevent young muslims from attending friday prayers at jerusalem's al-aqsa mosque. it will be the second week in a row that the israeli government has lifted restrictions on access to the mosque. let's go live to east jerusalem. the second friday in a row that restrictions have been lifted. tell us about where you are and what is the situation this morning? >> reporter: i am at the damascus gaze the gate leading in to the old city of jerusalem.

just beyond those walls is the al-aqsa compound it's been the scene of frequent confrontations between israel i security forces and palestinian protesters over past several weeks, as you have rightly been saying since last friday there have been no restrictions here. that has really calmed the situation. many palestinians angry over the access to the prayer site. a prayer site which far right israeli groups have been demanding more access to, but they can't under an agreement with jordan. jordan, of course, is very significant, the jordanian king abdullah negotiating this agreement with the israeli government and as we have been seeing it is very calm here. >> a calm situation for now, but tensions still very much high between the israelis and palestinians also in the wake of the demolition of palestinian homes, do things stands in the deposit lungses are they

continuing or is this a reprieve? >> reporter: at this stage we have only seen one demolition that was another day. however, demolition orders have been handed to some families, particularly the families of two men who were said to be involved in an attack at a synagog in west jerusalem resulting in the deaths of five israelis. now, that, of course, resulted in a very tense situation between the israelis and the palestinians, the israeli government, of course, wanting to appear very strong and trying to crack down on what they see as palestinian provocations and indeed palestinian insight and this is why this measure many palestinians see as hewn tiff has been reenacted. a number of demolitions but at this stage no demolitions yet, however one thing is for certain they will come eventual. >> i thank you very much. reporting there from east jerusalem. the turkey prime minister has arrived in erbil to meet

leaders in kurdish -- in the kurdish region of northern iraq. on thursday they held talks with the iraqi prime ministe prime mn bagdad. they agreed to have close security cooperation in the fight against isil. some of the u.s. troops sent to train iraqi forces will be sent without waiting for funding from congress the first of the 1,500 extra soldiers will leave for iraq over the next few weeks, congress huh to agree to pay the $5.6 billion needed to fund the extra deployment. the extra troops were announced this moth, almost doubling the amount in ey iraq. in mexico thousands have rallied against the disappearance and suspected killing of 43 students, it's focused anger against corruption and violence, rob reynolds has more from mexico city. >> reporter: demonstrators

clashed with police in mexico city's central square thursday night. in a violent conclusion for what huh been a mostly peaceful protest. police closed ranks and pushed the crowd back, quickly clearing the square. a huge thong marched through the center of mexico city, the biggest demonstration thus far in a movement that has united many mexicans in protest. the marches demanded justice for 43 college students from the state of ca aguero who were abducted in september. the government says the staoupbtz werstudentswere kidnae on the orders of a corrupt mayor turned over to a drug gang and murdered. >> translator: we want to know exactly who is responsible. who gave the orders. >> translator: we are against a government that is inept and corrupt. >> i am trying to ask for justice for my country, only for -- not only for the 43 students, but for all of the people that has been disappearing for a long time.

>> reporter: but protesters also expressed their outrage over a government that appears unable or unwilling to protect its citizens. approximately 100,000 people have been killed in mexico's drug violence over the past decade. 30,000 are missing. solidarity protests were held in other latin american countries the united states and europe. the protests, which have swelled in size and intensity over the past eight weeks, posed the biggest political crisis for president enrique peña neito in his two years in office. many protesters carried signs holding peña neito ultimately responsible for the fate of the missing students. by the 10s of thousands mechanics cans are sending their government a messaging, they are fed up with violence, corruption, incompetence and injustice. they hope their outrage will lead to real change in this

deeply scared country. rob reynolds, al jazerra, mexico city. one of china's best known journalists hannigan on trial for leaking state secrets. she was arrested earlier this year, she previously served time for her role in the tiananmen square protests back in 1989. from beijing, al jazerra's adrian brown has the details of the proceedings. >> reporter: the veteran journalist's fate is being decided behind closed doors in this anonymous building on the outskirts of beijing. she knows better than anyone else what is now at stake. she's been jailed twice before. surveying total of seven years. after her arrest six months ago, state television broadcast her taped conviction. blurring out her face. she's accused of leaking state secrets to a german news organization. but her lawyer now says the confession was obtained under duress after police threatened her son. he was detained on the same

charge, but later released. and was denied permission to attend the trial. also turned away today, foreign journalists. not allowed inside the court or to stand in a street out signed. human rights groups say the case reflects a tightening of ideological control since the president came to power two years ago. china's government says it protects freedom of expression so long as it's in accordance with the law. today journalists are being prevented from everything standing outside the court to report on this case. and we have now been told to leave the area. >> i think the chinese authorities want to send a minutes that they are in control of ideology. they can control who says what and what type of information is allowed to circulate. >> reporter: on the other side of the country the fate of another dissident voice was sealed on friday. he lost his appeal against the life sentence, the economics professor is from the province

of and had been convict today advocating separatist. human rights groups say both cases are proof that rule of law is applied selectively in china. adrian brown, al jazerra, beijing. al jazerra continues to demands the release of our three journalist who his have no one but in jail in he egypt for 328 days, peter greste, mohamed fahmy and bow there are mo ham he had are falsely accused of helping the out loud muslim brotherhood. they are appealing against their convictions. still ahead on the program, fears of a health disaster in libya's eastern city of ben gaza as rival groups fight for the control. plus the u.k. independence party wins a second seat in parliament. but with "consider this" it sustain its popularity through the general elections. stay with us.

>> at the height of the cold war >> we're spies... intercepting messages from embassies, military bases... >> one of the america's closest allies... >> we were not targeting israelis... >> suddenly attacked >> bullet holes... ...just red with blood... >> 34 killed... we had no way to defend ourselves >> high level coverups... never before heard audio... a shocking investigation >> a conscience decision was made to sweep it under the rug... >> the day israel attacked america only on al jazeera america

welcome back, a reminder of our top stories on al jazerra. president obama has unveiled major changes to u.s. immigration policy. he's using his executive powers to enact laws that could spare some 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. israel i police say they do not plan to prevent young muslims from attending friday prayers at jerusalem's al-aqsa mosque, tensions have been high in gentleman ruus limb since five were killed in an attack on a synagogue on tuesday, demonstrators fought with police in mexico after largely peaceful

protests again the disappearance and suspended killing of 43 sometimes, the missing students' case has become a focal point against corruption and violence. the u.s. secretary of state john kerry has arrived in vee an to try to save talks on iran's youk lahr program. iran and the six world powers are trying to reach ideal before the deadline on monday. our deposit natural i can h dips reports from new york. >> reporter: john kerry the u.s. secretary of state arriving in vienna as the clock ticks towards a deadline for a nuclear deal on monday. iran and international negotiators, the so-called p5 plus one, the five permanent members of the u.n. security council as well as germany, are trying to build on an interim deal a year ago. secretary kerry says a ground-breaking agreement is still possible. >> we are not discussioning extension, we are negotiate to go try to get an agreement, it's that simple.

look, if you get to the final hour and you are in need of having to look at alternatives or something, we'll look at them. i am not telling youer not looking at something. we are not looking at them, not now. >> reporter: the negotiators are closer to ideal than ever before, but the most difficult issues have been left to the end, complicate is things, reports from teheran, suggesting the iranian side will not make further concessions on the iraq heavy water plant used to produce plutonium. and fresh comments from the international monitoring organization the iaeu that iran has not met a deadline to provide information it's rerequested particularly about what goes on in a military complex with some claim there is a secret nuclear facility. >> call on iran to increase its kings with agency and provide timely access to all relevant information.

sites, material and personnel. >> reporter: here at the unites facing secretary general ban ki-moon has urged all of those involved in the talks to show flexibility, business wisdom and determination there are thrown only three possible outcomes, a breakdown, an agreement or an extension of the process, the next few days will be crucial. james bays, al jazerra, at the united nations. joining us now an iranian journalist live from tehran, thank you for being with us. we know whatever is negotiateed in vee en vienna. the final deal lies with the supreme leader as far as iran is is concerned. where does he stand right now and how loud and powerful are the voices in the hard line never iran who don't want any compromise on iran's right to en wrench uranium.

>> the problem is not reaching ideal. the problem is the nature of the deal. we know that they have a lot of outstanding issues and they need to sort them out. neither side is ready. america is not ready to lift the sanctions, iran is not ready to to cross the nuclear red lines that has been set by the parliament and leadership. neither party is red i feel as long as that is the case i don't think there will be a breakthrough. these sides think about it, if there is ideal there should be some kind of commitment on both sides. this means iran has to give greater access, at the same time mesh has to lift everything and talk to the congress and it's not ready. iran is not ready. they are not ready. we shouldn't be surprised if there is an extension, because that's the only thing i see. neither side is ready and this is a problem. >> so you are not very optimistic about ideal being reached by monday's deadline. what would a failure to complete ideal and a breakdown in negotiations mean for president

hassan rouhani? will we see a shift in iranian politics as a result? >> that's another good question. the things that iran doesn't want to see this deal fail. they don't want to go back to last year. america doesn't want to go back. they want ideal. because that's is a breakthrough for both governments. and the thing is that because we have the hard liners here and they know that this deal is not going to come any time soon, they gave the green light to the government because the they wand to prove to on the iranian voters that the government doesn't have what it takes, when it comes to international politics, especially in dealing in resolving the dispute with the u.s. over the country's nuclear program. so if the talks fail, i don't -- i don't see any positive outcome for the new government and the new president. i don't think that they will be able to win the next round of presidential elections. let alone the parliamentary elections. so this is going to be a win-win situation for the conservative

party and not the so-called, you know, reformist party or the moderate government. they are going to lose big time. >> right. and some hard line voices in teheran have been saying that, you know, the negotiations in vienna are secret deals that are happening without the involvement of the people of iran. so my question, is what is today the desire of the average iranian? do they want a nuclear deal with the west? do they want a normal saying of relations with the world? >> they want a good -- they want to be a part of the international community. there are checks and balances and there are condition that his the world has to meet. and we are conditions that we have to meet. i mean, they haven't been able to reach a middle ground and the potential is not there. that is a problem. it's not important what the iranian people want what is important is what america wants from iran, america wants a halt in the nuclear work.

at the same time america wants better behavior on top of the iranian government in iraq and syria. the and the american wants want to cooperate with the so-called american session of the willing. obama wants that to be resolved as well. so nobody is going to listen to what the iranian people wants. it's all depends on the facts and figures on the ground and everything for the time being goes against final deem. i don't think that that is going to happen any time soon. >> all right, very good too hear your thoughts on this. joining us there live from teheran, thank you for your time 123-4678 now, to libya where there are fears of a humanitarian disaster in ben gas a versus loyal to the renegade general a are fighting rival militias for control. dominick kane reports. >> reporter: this is the fight for benghazi. the libya group attacks a base near the international airport. the base has been controlled by forces loyal to the general since late october.

so its value is clear. >> translator: we are in total control of the february 17th martin brigade base and the university. god willing, we'll have major surprises for them in the coming days. we'll defeat the tyrant general and his cronies. >> reporter: but so far, they are not defeated. these pictures from the west of the city show the fighters attacking the crossing. heavy casualties have been report odd both sides. wednesday's supposed 12-hour truce came to nothing. in places the fighting has driven the local population in to heighting. these are the streets near the city's university. this large, uncollected and decomposing rushisdecomposing rg concerned of a humanitarian disaster. medical facilities are scarce. in this ill equipped field hospital the medics stay out of camera shot for fear of reprisal

from the general's forces. with the tension focused on the fight for ben gaza, else where in eastern libya, the group ansar el sharia has been more active. pledging allegiance to the islamic state a move that prompted the u.n. to brand it a terrorist group. these pictures appear to show its fighters in the coastal city. the group says it is now in control of the barka province a practice tisch name for the whole of eastern libya. the country's general national congress has said benghazi has become a disaster zone. dominick kane, al jazerra. the u.k. independence party known as u.k. one was happen a second seat. mark won more than 42% of the vote in a bi-election. he's a former conservative member of parliament who deflected in september.

u.k. independence party wants britain to leave the e.u. and limit immigration, but can it sustain its po popularity throuh the next general election. tim friend went there to find out. >> reporter: if you want to meet the man currently on a winning streak in british politics, look for further than the village pub where the leader is playing his usual man of the people act for the benefit of the press. over a mind, he predicts more defections from the ruling conservatives and denies he's leading a racist party. >> i think the world is that we are connecting with people. we are connecting with people. firstly on on a policy level. by talking about things that everybody else has want to the brush under the carpet and secondly, i think perhaps we look like real people, we are a cross session. >> reporter: ukip's tough stance on immaterial greg has earned the party criticism but also growing sport. rochester and kent in southeast

england is the scene of the latest bi-election caused by conservative defection to ukim. how long can youkip's rise continues, a protest vote at a vie election is one thing, but can they sustain their success through to next year's general election turning it in to one huge protest vote? he believes that he can, cashing in on voters' frustration with much of the british political class and the conservatives are worried. perhaps another five of their m.p.s are ready to detect for ukip. in rochester they are worried to the press, no one to interview here. >> you can take shots outside which is fine it's a busy campaign center in here so no shots inside. >> reporter: okay. more fourth coming is a hard-working polish immigrants who tells me he risks being sent home in ukip has its way.

>> i feel very angry, i come here and am working hard. >> reporter: labor is also at further risk from ukip as white working class voters switch allegiances. >> we've got to really challenge ukip when they say these things we have to be willing to say what exactly does that mean? and how will you deliver that? you say we are going to leave the european union but how exactly are we going to deliver those policies? >> reporter: all the mainstream parties are adjusting their tactics. only the novelty once raving luney party seems unaffected. tim friends, al jazerra, rochester. now, would-be fathers in china are lining up for the chance to experience childbirth or at least get as close to it as technology allows. gender experts say the birth sim slater a welcomed development in countries like china where men are often not involved in the labor process, kim vinnell explains.

>> reporter: the father to be thought childbirth would be if not easy then at least bearable. but as his contractions were made stronger. it wasn't long before he was begging the nurse to stop. >> translator: i thought of childbirth as being something really natural. really normal that women can get through. the but since doing this i feel like it's really not easy for a woman to give birth to a child. it's just painful. like something coming out of your stomach, very painful. >> reporter: while some mothers find that assessment rudimentary, it may help to know that even when the electric current is running at full power, the simulator in china's hospital creates only a fraction of the real thing. >> translator: even though the pain is far less than the pain experienced by women when they give birth, still if men can experience this pain they will be more loving and caring to their wives. >> reporter: research shows when men are involved in childbirth

and look after newborns, mothers and children are likely to be healthier long-term. and in a country where men rarely take part in the process of child brith, anything to connect the genders is welcomed. although some experts believe the country is headed the other way. >> under communism it was much more common to either men and women both to be involved more or less equally or at least more equally than now or for the states to take a very large role in childcare. you know, so in that sense, i -- when i go to china now i am often surprised that things seem to be becoming more traditional than compared to the way they are in the u.k. >> reporter: china relax the its one child policy last year. so if one parent is an only child he or she may go onto have two children. the thought that reversing a four decade old law may lead to other changes in behavior in china. and more men may end up in the chair and the delivery room.

kim vinnell, al jazerra. and a reminder that you can keep up-to-date with all of the news all the time on our website aljazerra.com. we've plenty of features and analysis on there as well. again, the address, aljazerra.com. when the world's bad guys extremist, gorillas, thugs kidnap people and demand ransom, should they get anything from the u.s. government? it's inside o. hello, i'm ray swarez. as the armies of iorack