next. and for more on these stories you can go to our website at aljazeera.com. ♪ a suicide bomber targets friday prayers at a shia mosque in saudi arabia killing around 20 people. ♪ hello there, i'm -- coming up iraq asks for more help as isil fighters move closer to baghdad. and happy birthday, pacman.

the iconic arcade game inspired by eating pizza turns 35. ♪ hello a suicide bomber has attacked a shia mosque during friday prayers. the blast happened in a village that is home to a shia minority. 20 people were killed. witnesses described a huge explosion as worshippers began prayers. dozens more were injured. isil says it was responsible. we can get more now from our correspondent hashem ahelbarra who is live in the capital reed a for us. tell us more about this attack hashem. >> reporter: eyewitnesss say they were performing the friday prayers in the eastern part of

the kingdom of saudi arabia when they heard a huge explosion. there were about 150 inside the mosque 20 were killed dozens injured. now, that same area the eastern part of the country, about -- about two months ago, arm mentioned targeted shia worshippers, killing seven of them. they also attacked foreigners and security forces. about a few weeks ago, saudi interior minister said it had arrested dozens of people affiliated with isil that were planning to launch attacks across the country, including the united states embassy in riyadh. >> and what are we to make of the fact that isil has claimed responsibility for this attack? >> reporter: this is going to raise more concerns here in saudi arabia.

saudi arabia has been battling al-qaeda for many many years. the crown prince was the -- he was in charge of a unit that was fighting al-qaeda for almost -- for almost a decade. now saudi arabia has since -- has in october joined international coalition against isil in syria and iraq so they have beefed up security across the kingdom, because they were concerned about retaliation from isil -- isil people here in saudi arabia. this also comes against the backdrop of the saudi-lead coalition against houthi fighters and forces loyal to deposed president saleh in yemen. it's a delicate situation here in the kingdom of saudi arabia, it says it is determined to protect itself country, but also defend itself interests in the

region. >> hashem ahelbarra live for us in riyadh. thanks very much. [ inaudible ] exploded at a mosque in the yemeni capitol. 13 people were injured. isil has claimed responsibility for that attack as well. planes from the saudi-lead coalition have been pounding houthi rebel positions in three yemenese cities. huge explosions rocked the outskirts of sana'a after the air strikes there. planes targeted an air base at the international air base. there were also raids on aden in the south and to the east of the capitol. an iranian cargo ship loaded with aid bound for yemen has arrived in djibouti. the supplies will be unloaded and taken to the world health organization to the port under houthi control. iraq is appealing for more

international help to fight the islamic state of iraq and the levant. iraq's deputy prime minister says isil's recent capture of ramadi is a big disaster from which iraq's own forces can't adequately fight back. isil continues to edge closer to baghdad. it has now taken the last syrian government held border crossing between iraq and syria, which sits on the main highway. and in syria, isil fighters are reported to have spread out across the ancient city of palmyra, going door to door executing assad government loyalists. >> reporter: some of these men will be sent deep into iraq's sunni heartland to fight isil. others will stay behind to protect a strategic town that islamic state of iraq and the levant has tried to control in

the past. for these shia militia this battle is about protecting routes from anbar towards southern iraq to prevent an isil attempt to advance on holy shia sites. >> translator: i volunteered to join this bat toll protect our holy shrines. we don't want isil to advance further. >> reporter: it was a controversial decision the government had no choice, because the regular forces are weak, and efforts to create a non-sectarian army have failed. this also lies on a junction with roads south to saudi arabia north to anbar's provincial capital where there are highways to baghdad and

syria and jordan. isil controls most of that frontier and it fighters moves freely between the two countries. president obama has said the loss of territory were tactical sethbacks and insists the war is not being lost but many dising a groo. isil has taken over two cities in a week. ramadi is 100 kilometers from baghdad, and the last major city on the road to the iraqi capitol. palmyra is on a major cross road that is strategic for the syrian government's survival. the government did invest manpower and resource over the years to reclaim homs from the opposition, if it loses there, damascus and the coastal region would be under threat.

in iraq the fight against the rm ared group is being lead by shia militias. sunni politicians who wanted the tribes to be armed a long time ago are now calling for a new strategy. >> translator: today anbar has fallen and that has a special significance because it's a third of though iraqi area because it's the province that expelled al-qaeda years ago from all over and it's falling is a big disaster with respect to iraq and the region therefore letting isil expand in anbar is unacceptable, and the capacity of the iraqis is very limited. there should be a new strategic plan to terminate isil in iraq. >> reporter: in syria, the u.s.-lead coalition doesn't have any partner on the ground. it doesn't recognize the government's legitimacy. overrecent months isil may have been on the defensive. that has now changed. zana hoda al jazeera, baghdad. ♪

columbia's farc rebels have suspended their ceasefire after 26 of their members were killed by the armed forces. the air and land attack also resulted in the seizure of a large number of weapons. the columbian armed forces resumed operations against farc last month after an attack that killed ten soldiers all of that despite the fact that ongoing piece talks between the two sides in cuba are continuing. the latest round of talks between the united states and cuba about resurrecting full diplomatic relations have finished. the aim is to restore the embassies in washington and havana for the first time in 54

years. we speak now to kimberly halkett at the state department in washington, d.c. what do we know about how these talks are going? >> reporter: i have come back to the state department, and now i'm in the al jazeera offices, monitoring all of these conversations that have come out by the cuban and u.s. delegations. the hope was there would be a big announcement about the roping of embassies in cuba and the united states, and the exchange of ambassadors. that did not happen. instead both sides said repeatedly there was a lot of progress made but they still need to keep talking. the director general for cuban minister of foreign affairs said that progress had been made but in her view there was still a lot more work to be done. >> both delegations agree to continue our exchanges. on issues related to the functioning of diplomatic

nations. so we will continue those conversations in the next few weeks. >> reporter: so the talking is going to continue kimberly. what are the key sticking points do you think? >> reporter: well the key sticking point really is in that sound point you just heard, the fact that the functioning of the embassies is still a sticking point, and the reason for that is there has been a push by the united states to see that the diplomats inside cuba are able to travel freely throughout the nation. this is something that has concerned cuba. there is a fear there will bole bolster the dissident movement. we're told that both sides worked on some of the smaller issues, that they could find

common ground namely in aviation not call charts and issues of health, but right now the sticking point seems to be on reopening the embassies. that is important because they can't get to the bigger issues until that is resolved. namely the guantanamo bay land and from any u.s. standpoint the settling of property claims for those who had their properties seized when the revolution took place. kimberly thank you. the u.s. government has released nearly 300 emails from former secretary of state hillary clinton. the emails are expected to shed light on now clinton responded to the 2012 attack on a u.s. diplomatic compound in benghazi. clinton is chasing the democratic nomination for president. states spokeswoman said the release of the emails would not change the understanding of events surrounding the benghazi

attack. still to come on the program, putting the price on years of economic blockade. why the world bank says gaza's economy is on the verge of collapse. and the humanitarian crisis facing tanzania as tens of thousands cross the boarder pleading the violence in burundi.

hello again, a reminder of our top stories here on al jazeera. a suicide bomber has blown him

up in a mosque in eastern saudi arabia, isil has claimed responsibility for the attack. thousands of shia militiamen gather to plan a counter offense against isil. iraq has asked for more international help to fight the group. and columbia's farc rebels have suspended their ceasefire with the military after 26 of their members were killed in an air strike. tanzania nia is struggling to cope with a growing humanitarian crisis. tens of thousands fleeing burundi are now crammed into ramps. at least 33 people from died from cholera. kim vinnell reports. >> reporter: they fled their homes in search of safety but their journey has only just begun. on a 100 year old fishing boat

refugees are moved south of the border to a stadium turned transit center which is their next stop. >> translator: it was two days traveling and we had to walk long distances nch when the crossed the border the police made it difficult. >> reporter: weeks of cramped conditions and poor sanitation is wreaking havoc. many arrive with acute diarrhea others with cholera. the sickest are brought to makeshift treatment centers and pumped with saline. >> all cases are being treated as if they are cholera, the method through which you confirm cholera is you have to take stool samples and send them to a lab so it's quite a time-consuming process. >> reporter: from here it's another three miles inland to their final destination. cholera has been confirmed in

each of three stops and hundreds of refugees are coming forward daily. more refugees are arriving in tanzania nia by the day. this small fishing village where they first arrive is overwhelmed. 25,000 have been moved on from here, but 35,000 remain. aide agencies have cut a trail through the mountains and are leading the strongest on a six-hour hike to reach the official camp. they are given refugee status on arrival, where to live and how to make a living will come next. for now the focus is on safety and survival. most migrants have arrived in greece and italy, but the

commission wants to find them homes across the continent. john psaropoulos followed some of the ally sum seekers. >> reporter: they start at dusk crossing fields of maze and wheat that mark the northern edge of greek territory. there's no legal way for them to get to the heart of europe. so they take their chances on foot. this man has left his wife and four youngest children behind in yemen. >> translator: i will never see my children fight for al-qaeda or any other side. a motel and disused petrol station are a temporary resting point and one to which they frequently return after failed crossings. this is where greece ends. and this is the start of what migrants call the black road a freight track running along the river valley north to serbia.

and here for a depth of several hundred yards behind me the migrant crossings fall pray to rival gangs who lie in wait to steal their money, and passports. >> i have seen fractured shins, thighs arms forearms fingers, bruised faces, broken noses, skull fractures. these are not accidents, but the results of violence. >> reporter: and doctors without borders the only group setting up posts along the entire route migrants follow have seen worse. >> translator: we saw people in serbia who fainted in front of us because they had been walking for three days straight without water. we saw a man without legs who's friend carries him for two years from afghanistan. >> reporter: the reason these people travel is to apply for it will call ally sum in northern europe. the law confirms them to the

e.u. country they first arrived at. but the european union is now considering changes that rule sparing them the per rels of a forbidden journey. volunteers from nearby villages hand out food nappies and toothpaste. all are exhausted, but these people are determined to press on people like this man who's house was demolished and his wife disabled by a bomb. his memoriesproof too much for his youngest daughter. in their minds the dangers they left behind tower over those ahead. after a lull in the number of ebola cases, a fresh outbreak in guinea is worrying health officials. 27 new cases have been recorded in a week. authorities are particularly worried that some cases are being found along the border

with a country with very few health services. gaza's economy is on the verge of clap according to a new world bank report. it says the unemployment rate in gaza is now the highest in the world, with 43% of its 1.8 million residents without work. the report said blockades put in place by israel and egypt since 2007 are having a high economic cost. it's mated gaza's gross.com mettic product would be four times higher without those restrictions. well, it is now nine months since the end of the war in gaza but around a hundred thousand people are still homeless. the middle east envoy is warning the situation could explode if the palestinians and israeli governments don't do more. >> reporter: for weeks mohammed has been clearing rubble from what is left of his home.

it was all but destroyed during israel's 50-day bombardment of the gaza strip last year. he and seven members of this family have been renting a small apartment for around $300 a month, but with little work available, they can no longer afford it. >> translator: we have lost hope. no one is helping us to rebuild. we are clearing the rebel here so we can set up a tent to live in. see how we suffer? >> reporter: the jaigs middle east envoy has warned that the people of gaza are so desperate and angry about that plight that it could lead to an implosion here and that both israeli and palestinian leaders need to do more to present that from happening. across gaza there are signs people have given up hope of receiving help. this heavy mark sheenry was paid for by the residents of this bombed out neighborhood from their own pocket but the

frustration goes far beyond the lack of help. many are angry at the ongoing political infighting between palestinian factions israel's tightening blockade egypt's closure of the border crossing and the international community's failure to deliver on billions of dollars in pledges. but the u.n.'s development agency took the media on a tour of this apartment that was reconstructed from funding from the development bank around 120 partially housing units were recon trukt instructed providing homes for more than a thousand dollars families but all agree it's not enough. >> the longer it takes for people to get their lives together again, the more dangerous it is. in that that situation again will move towards -- in more negative scenario, because the people feel they have nothing to lose. people will act accordingly.

>> reporter: for mohammed all he wants is a proper home for his family. something he is willing to fight for if left with little other choice. with nepal's rainy season due to start within weeks gee glgsologists are assessing any potential for landslides. hundreds of thousands of buildings have been left unsafe after the earthquake. faiz jamil has tail -- details. >> reporter: the government says it lacks proper equipment to bring these buildings down safely without damaging the property or hurting the people that live nearby. and they are asking other countries for the equipment and expertise to bring them down safely. until they are brought down people who live here say they don't feel safe. >> translator: i feel unsafe because of thenar row streets

and the houses are close together, but we don't have any choice. we have to find a safe space in whatever is there. if another earthquake comes we aren't call run anywhere. >> reporter: if buildings were left like this one because they were improperly or illegal constructed. corruption in the construction business here is an open secret with many buildings having extra floors or being built on soil too soft to construct on. the former korean airlines executive who delayed a flight with a tantrum has been released from prison. he was serving a 10-month sentence for assaulting a korea member last december. in releasing her early the court noted she will have to live under heavy criticism from

society. the popular video game pacman is 35 years old. in japan, hundreds of people have been celebrating the anniversary of the cult classic. fans have created the character under the tokyo tower. the game is the most successful coin operated arcade machine of all time. our technology editor looks back at a piece of gaming history. >> in 1980 the video game world was dominated with games like this one aimed namely at boys who played them in arcades. that was until this man set out to design a game to appeal to women. the inspiration? apparently he was eating a pizza and two slices in the idea of pacman occurred to him. it became an overnight hit.

350,000 pacman arcade machines were sold in the first 18 months, and in the years that followed these pulled in more than $2.5 billion in revenue. >> this was the first game to have real competitive artificial intelligence that hunted you down. there was great music, beautiful colors blinking lights flashing music. it was just a lot of fun. >> reporter: pacman became the first original gaming mascot and was the first game of many to be set in the maze. it was the first video game licensing success, with pacman merchandise worth more than a billion dollars sold in the u.s. alone. >> in the '80s pacman had a cartoon, a christmas special, toys, everything, you name it. it was the first video game character to really come off and

become a successful property. it really did pave the way for a lot of video game stuff that we see today. >> reporter: the success of pacman has turned the game into a cultural icon a symbol of a generation that grew up with video games, and it looks like it is set to live on. ♪ >> reporter: in july a film is due to come out that sees aliens interpreting arcade games as a declaration of war. the real developer may have detired in 2007 but in the film he is invited back to reign in the monster he created. [ screaming ] finally here is one way to tackle pick pocketing visitors at the eiffel tower are favorite targets of thiefs so workers

closed this tower in protest as talks were held on increasing police patrols. and just a reminder you can fine much more on most of our stories over at our website. the usually address is aljazeera.com. aljazeera.com for all of your international news. debating the patriot act, the senate debates over changing the law just days before it expires. hundreds of emails released from hillary clinton's time as secretary of state. what do they say about the attack on benghazi? the pentagon admits u.s. air strikes accidentally killed children instead of members of isil. ♪