kurdish peshmerga forces launch an offensive to cut off i.s.i.l. supply lines. france announces it is to create over 1,000 new jobs dedicated to fighting terrorism. >> that is what middle class economics is the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their shot. >> a defiant president obama sets out a vision for a more

equal america in his state of union address. running battles erupt out of protests to delay in elections. withbegin in iraq where a pager offensive has been launched to cut off a supply route. many supplies have been sent from rafa in syria to mosul. the second-largest city. rafa is one of the towns. the forces which control the dam are trying to take a key road and cut off the crucial supply route. zeina khodr is another the mosul dam where the offensive is getting underway. >> there is a major battle in the north western corner of

iraq, where peshmerga are trying to advance, to recapture territory. it's coordinated with the coalition. hundred of forces local partners. i am not sure if you can hear the outgoing fire numbering fire. they are not going to let go of our territory. this is the main road that links the power base in mosul city. already, the peshmerga managed to control some areas in the sinjar mountains. what they want to do is tut-tut the supply lines, starving mosul, and that's why i.s.i.l. is fighting back. i.s.i.l. is using what we

understand from peshmerga fighters using suicide bombers to slow the advance, and heavily weapons. >> the leader of the houthi rebels in yemen demands that president hadi institute political reforms. houthis took over the capital, tightening their grip afterafter after months of standoff. >> reporter: yemen is facing an uncertain future. the capital sanaa is a battle ground. some rebels fought with the houthis. the rebels attacked the president's residence. the movement blamed the president for failing to implement a power varying deal. >> at this historic point at time when conspiracy have been plotted against the country,

there's oo great danger facing yemen. we will not be scared. the issue is crucial. >> in the town people demonstrated after the speech. they burnt posters of the houthi leaders. the rebels wish to control the capital and nine other provinces - they want real partnership and a say in the decision-making process. they are against a draft constitution that divides yemen into six federal regions. but the group's critics suggest that the houthis were instrumental in forming the new government and their demands were met. they say the group is making excuses to justify and legitimize its actions and wants to seize power. the international community is standing by as a legitimate

leader. >> the member of the security council condemns the violence in recent days including the use of ab ducks and urge all aparts to commit to established processes of dialogue. the international community has no power on the ground and now they turn to the president, and what he will do next. hadi has few options, and has not been heard from publicly since the assault on tuesday. >> you have the international community saying that hadi is the legitimate leader but at one and the same time he has no power or control over event, at the same time the houthis like to point to a willingness to take part in the political process. when anything happens that is not to their liking they respond with force, and force the president's hand. >> foreign ministers are expected to hold an emergency

meeting to address unfolding event. it was warned that the ambitions of the group have no limits. whale the u.n. -- while the u.n. western and regional powers express concerns a new yemen is form. now, at least 13 have been hurt in a knife attack on a bus in the israeli city of tel aviv. the attacker believed to be a 23-year-old palestinian, was shot in the leg before being custody. police say the man tried to stab several people in and around the bus france's prime minister says the country will be giving the police force stronger weapons and hiring more than 6,200 counterterrorism agents. four men were charged in paris with attacks on the capital. the men are accused of having ties with a gunman responsible

for the attacks. >> it's up to us to act, and with the greatest determination. we have to take measures under the authority of the french president. knowing that action against terrorism. islam, will be a long-term struggle. >> here is the latest from nick spicer in paris. >> the french prime minister announced spending half a billion u.s. to hire 2500 new anti-terror agents working with the police and the justice ministry. he announced national registries of people that have been associated with terrorism cial or who authorities were looking at. he announced that prisoners were suspected of belonging to radical groups will be brought together in one gaol. he announced a hiring of moderate emails going into

prisons, preventing prisoners there from becoming radicalize the. there'll be monitoring of the internet to prevent recruitment of fighters and to prevent the propagation, islamist ideas over social media. >> ukraine's prime minister says the country will increase the size of the armed forces. a law is being proposed that will see the army grow to 250,000 strong force. the prime minister made the announcement at a government meeting. it comes as peace talks are about to begin in berlin. now, boko haram claims responsibility for the attack in baga that kills hundreds of people. in that attack rebel fighters burnt large parts of the town.

the armed group threatened more attacks. there has been violent demonstrations in the democratic republic of congo. over a delay to elections. two people were killed. most in a run in about the police. most of those shot were looters. malcolm webb reports from the capital kinshasa. >> reporter: thousands of angry people on the streets, undeterred by a crackdown on protests. they are demonstrating against plans for a sensis that could delay elections by up to four years. they think it's an attempt to see joseph kabila to extend the rule. by a constitutional limit of two terms. down the road we met protesters carrying a body. she was shot by a police

officer. our cameraman was hit on the leg. the crowd shouts at the man who threw it. many were angry, and they want journalist to hear their message. >> the modification to the law says there must be a consensus for the election - it's not a good thing. we don't want the president to rule after 2016. >> translation: it is advantage of the president. he's not going to for the brs of the pop u ration that's why we were against attempts to change the constitution. >> in some suburbs people took advantage of the population. traders saw a scapegoat. others keep trying to earn a living. this market was open for business in spite of the unrest. >> people told us that the opener of the car worked for the judiciary. soldiers from the presidential - the cars owner tried to plead with people to calm them down

but people identified a government worker. we met the leader of a youth association. he said the opposition provoking violence and let him finish his second term. >> we asked the opposition to leave kabila alone, to bring our country the way it promised us. investment people have to come to congo. they must be good our country must be clean. >> congo's economy has grown under kabila's rule after decades of stagnation. for exchange is not coming fast enough. protesters wrote on the road that they reject it they want the football coach to be in charge. many have lost touch. much more to come for you -

including a mountain to climb for the global economy. business leaders are seeking to stop the slow down. i'm wayne hay reporting for the world festival. artists are searching for people in weird and wonderful ways to entertain the crowds. >> saturday. >> visibility was 3 to 5 nautical miles. >> weathering the storm. >> we want to show people how to replace property against the worst mother nature has to offer. >> experts forecast how to stay safe. >> i'm standing in a tropical windstorm. >> in extreme weather. >> oh my god. >> techknow's team of experts show you how the miracles of science... >> this is my selfie, what can you tell me about my future? >> can affect and surprise us. >> don't try this at home. >> "techknow" where technology meets humanity. saturday at 7:30 eastern. on

>> i'm ali velshi, the news has become this thing where you talk to experts about people and al jazeera has really tried to talk to people, about their stories. we are not meant to be your first choice for entertainment. we are ment to be your first choice for the news. welcome back you are watching al jazeera live from doha. let's update you on the stop stories. kurdish peshmerga in northern iraq are launching an offensive

against i.s.i.l. trying to push from the mosul dam across the front line to the stronghold of tal afar. if succeeding they'll cut off a supply line from syria france's prime minister announced measures to improve security including more than 2,600 counterterrorism agents. four me have been charged in connection with the attacks leaving 20 dead there has been violent protests in democratic republic of congo over a possible delay to elections. 42 people were killed in running battles with police. president obama struck a defiant don in the annual state of union address. the president may struggle to deliver. patty culhane has more.

>> the president the united states. >> reporter: president barack obama used his speech to the nation where he and his opponent differed. >> i have no more campaigns to run. [ laughs ] [ clapping ] >> i know because i won both of them. [ clapping ] >> reporter: republicans cheering his time two years in office. for his part the president spent the vast majority of time on domestic issues. >> that's what middle class economics is. the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot. >> promises of free college, paid sick leave. higher minimum wage paid for with taxes on the rich. republicans say that will not

happen. >> let's iron out loopholes and create jobs not pay for more government spending. >> the people we talked to no new york are focussed on the disagreements, not expecting anything said here to become reality for them. >> i think he has two years left. they'll motivate the 2016 campaign. >> definitely we are in a moment of hyper partisanship. >> on foreign policy the president got both parties to voice their approval on the issue of terrorism. we stand united from people around the world. he asked for congress to give him authorisation to fight the islamic state of iraq and levant. a fight he promised the u.s. they'd win. he promised to veto sanctions on iran like his nuclear programme. from foreign policies to

domestic issues the speech made one thing clear. even though there's talk of working together there's few issues where the two sides are likely to be on the same page well obama called for the u.s. trade embargo on cuba to be lifted in his state of union address. we spoke to some cubans to find out how they felt about the warming regulations. >> reporter: this is the capital building in havana ironically it was modelled after the u.s. capital in d.c. we came to talk to regular cubans about what they hope to get out of this new relationship between their country and the u.s. >> a grammy award-winning musician splitting his time between the homeland and new york. i would love to see a change.

in which people can travel without restriction. we'll see what the united states is about. and then we'll see what cubans are about. it's like two neighbours that they haven't seen each other. they haven't seep each other for many years, and maybe they are doing this. but they don't know actually. >> reporter: he was proud of his chevrolet, taking trips around the city. >> translation: my expectations are ambitious. this agreement is good for us. in the united states there are more than 35 or 50 million tourists that want to come to cuba to spend their money, to me this is a huge benefit. the second they are in havana i can take them around the city and show them what we offer. to me this is money. i don't care if i have more

taxes. >> reporter: then a 29-year-old ph.d. student and blogger. >> i feel for things not to change. so i'm not worry about that. i'm worried that doesn't happen. so we have to embrace the things that are changing now. >> we have to embrace that. so many things are going to change. everyone demos that in cuba. how do you improve things. things that you need to improve. lots of people know which one are, and how you do all that preserving things like the health in cuba the education, like public safety. >> reporter: no one in cuba can predict what kind of economic change will come to the island. everywhere agreed this is a country entering a new era, after winning pore than 50 years

in isolation from the united states there has been heavy rain causing flooding from bolivia. one of the hardst hit areas is the city. residents are trying to protect their houses. 15 are feared dead. thousands of acres of crops have been damaged. >> venezuelan president is set to deliver a state of union address. it should have happened last week but was postponed. nicolas maduro's abrovl rating is at a low because of food shortages and economic instability never-ending queues for essentials. double digit inflation, foreign currency restrictions and to top it off, the nation's income cut by half because of a

plummeting part of oil. a mitt night that is the perfect storm. >> in caracas's area, most shots are closed. a critical consideration. a country ta supports everything it contimes. those that contribute spare parts for cars. he needs to speak to us material he needs to know if he can access foreign currency if the economy will be reactivated. under the current laws, it would be impossible to work here. >> the president is back from china, russia iran and saudi arabia. he failed to convince o.p.e.c. members to raise the price of oil. he came home with fresh oxygen in the form of loans. >> if the president needs to

bring oxygen from abroad what happens when the tang runs out. he needs to resolve the problem rather than look for oxygen abroad. in exchange for what. >> with his popularity dropping the president is anxious to convince his countryman that he can convert no economic slide. the opposition has a sale objective it had under chavez. his objective was destroy me isolate it from the people. i think it will allow them to defy the revolution. >> reporter: the government nose chronic shortages are unsustain wable. the med sane is hard to swallow, and comes with a high political price tag. the question is how much of a price is the president willing to pay right now. >> a fine balancing act, certainly. >> while venezuelans make it

clear they cannot afford to pat for solutions four officials in china have been sacked over a stampede during new year's eve celebrations in which 36 died. the police chief and deputy police chiefs are those enjoying their jobs. a crush happens where a huge crowd gathered as a countdown now, 40 heads of state and 1500 of the world's business elite are gathering in the town of davos for the world economic forum. >> reporter: davos, switzerland - a lot of headlines will be generated over the next few days as the annual gathering of presidents prime minister and global business leaders get under way. >> reporter: in the last few years, the world economic forum grappled with the financial crisis the economic

slowdown and brick nations economic prosperity. why do influential people come to davos. >> here is the world economic forum roadmap. it had something for everywhere a think tank an opportunity for politicians, business leaders, n.g.o.s and activists to come together to exchange ideas and look at solving some of the world's problems. it's a great place to network. given there's a chance to get out on the slopes you can see why it's attractive. >> do the headlines achieve anything are or is it hot air. >> the interesting stuff doesn't happen in the public. we had world leaders get together and the meet. we have a lot of talk in the '90s of the turks and the greeks getting together to try to de-escalate things.

a lot of those changes and discussions with had impacts. but don't expect big declarations. the g20 this is not. there are those that would argue that the expensive alpine talking shop has had its day. >> the idea behind the world economic forum is bankrupt is dead. and irrelevant. and it is irrelevant. >> why? >> the wef is based on the idea that the wealthy can make the world right. that corporations can decide to do the right thing and improve the world. we have seen again and again that that is false. >> the worst of the financial crisis may be gd us as the i.m.f. downgrades a forecast debate focuses on new challenges. the question remains - with all the earnest and well-meaning

talk in davos - will it result in policies to affect the lives of you and i for the better or is it just talk. street performers have been gathering in new zealand for the annual busking festival. it's the first time since the earthquake that performers have returned. wayne hay is is there with that report on the whacky and wonderful. >> they come in many forms, and go by many names. you can call them buskers. street performers. >> lame that is it. >> fringe artist. it's circusy stunts in the theme of indiana jones, fortunate second cousin removed. >> or you can call them different. artists like australian contortionists know where they

are at their best - on the streets, where there's nowhere to hide. >> each when i say, "i'm a street performer" people are like "oh,"00m more proud to be a street performer than stage performer. taming is brilliant and fantastic, but it's easy compared to this. >> reporter: the colour at the world buskers' festival is in contrast to where they used to perform. which is in the center of the city. it has remained virtually empty. >> the stage set up outside the arts center is still being restored. it's good to be back on the streets. back in the day tourists and locals. it was a place people come and eat. dripping music, watch shows.

the festival has been running for 22 years, becoming one of the most respective. >> it's good for me good for you. it's the best show in town. >> people have been performing on the streets for money. traditionally there were traditions dancers and mime artists. there has been an element of bizarre. apparently that alive and well. inside the tiny circus tent people come to see. the main attraction here was rubberband boy. who claimed a world record. >> take a cam yes and take a photo. otherwise you'll try to explain it and you'll just look like an idiot there you go a different

kind of busking. you can go to the websites with all the latest. the address for that is aljazeera.com. the reedys and yemen, demanding that a power-sharing deal be implemented as they strengthen the hold on sanaa. more on that. . one of the first accomplishments of the 114th congressway a take down on the president's new action on immigration. by the way, let's deport the dreamers. it's "inside story".