iraqi forces battle to retake the largest province from i.s.i.l. as four deadly blasts hit. >> hello, i'm darren jordon. you are watching al jazeera live. pro-government forces from yemen push houthi fighters from the last strong hold in aden also coming up miners in bolivia take their fight for government support to a new level. and... >> i'm andrew simmonds at the

home of president obama. and she's been telling me about his first presidential visit to kenya we begin in iraq where four explosions killed 37 people. most died in car bombs, targetting markets in shia neighbourhoods. two suicide bombers attacked a checkpoint north of the city. eight were killed in that attack. no one has claimed responsibility. imran khan the latest from the capital. >> no claimed responsibility for these attacks. they follow a pattern where i.s.i.l. claimed responsibility for previous attacks like these, and is likely to be the work. some of the attacks took place in shia neighbourhoods. in is also a tactic that i.s.i.l. used. they want to keep the pot boiling and want iraq to plunge

itself into the war-like violence of what we saw in 2006/2007 and 2008. all of the public statements coming from i.s.i.l. suggesting that that is what they want. there's a message behind all of this. you may be able to put it under precious. we can strike you at will, wherever you want. that is likely to be the message. that's likely to be the message coming out in the next day or so. the car bomb attack is difficult to defend against. it's something like this that scarce people. a parked car is a difficult thing to notice. these are streets full of cars. also there's a real problem here when it comes to attacks against checkpoint. if the army can't defend itself how can they defend us. >> 30 people have been killed in three bomb attacks in north-east nigeria.

two crowded bus stations were hit in the city of bombay. one -- gombe, one was believed to be a female suicide. last week there were twin bomb by suspected boko haram attackers. in yemen, pro-government forces pushed houthi fighters from the stronghold of aden. 20 rebel fighters are reported to have been killed. the palace belonging to yemen's presence in the area. it's believed forces loyal to him captured the building. earlier aden's international airport is open. fighting closed the airport in march. it came under control of houthi rebels. an activist helped to run the campaign against the former president. the fight as over.

for the first time there is a balance of power. earlier this year. and it means finally the pro-government forces have some territory br they have access to more funding heavy ammunition, and have access on the ground where they can launch attacks on the other cities that are still under the houthi control. with this comes many challenges and the first thing is those that have a serious and deem humanitarian crisis on the ground. there are many questions on the floor. maybe the most important is will the government step foot maybe for the first time since march. allowed the government to receive more access to humanitarian aid. and the pro-government forces will have access to heavy ammunition. yes, they are in control. aden but the houthis and salah

forces are on the outskirts of the city. it was the first time the pro-government forces accomplished anything in march this year. >> top republicans say that president obama has a lot more work to do to convince them the dole with iran is a good one. secretary of state john kerry held closed door talks to try to persuade legislators not to fight it. here is what he said a short time ago. >> we are looking forward to answering any and every question that the members of the house or isn'tated why. we are convinced that the agreement we have arrived at with world powers. is an agreement that will prevent iran from the potential

of securing a record. it will make the world safer, and we are convinced that the absence of any viable alternative, absolutely underscores that fact. >> even as john kerry was holding the talks. thousands of people were packed into new york's times square for the rally, with a crowd vetoing the deal. kristen saloomey was there. the crowd was large, the speakers many and the message was clear... >> we are here as americans, to speak with one voice, to say stop iran now. reject this deal and let's speak loud enough that they hear us in washington right now. >> the stop iran rally was billed as bipartisan interfaith and grass roots, but organised by the jewish rapid response collision. some launched add campaigns

against the deal. >> suspensions go too far. >> we must always make sure that the security of israel never depends on the outcome of an american election. israel must always be a bipartisan issue. its support and defense must join democrats and republicans, liberals and conservatives. >> a few were escorted out after waving iranian administration. the sentiment was they could not be trusted. >> this crowd want the deal to be rejected and return to sanctions in the hopes of getting more sanctions in iran. >> organizers say there should be no limits on when the nuclear facilities could be visited. killing the deal will bring an

end to any inspections. >> the elimination of sanctions guarantees a war and the need to take out the sites. earlier in the week. president obama accuses critics of rehashing past failed policies. >> some of the same politicians that are quick to reject the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the nuclear programme are the same folks that go to war in iraq. >> neither side is backing down. their interpretation of what the iran deal will ultimately deliver. >> kristen saloomey, al jazeera, new york. >> the mann accused of murdering nine black church goers in south carolina in june faces federal hate crime charges adding to the nine count of murder against 21-year-old dylann roof. prosecutors have not said whether they'll seek the death penalty protesters in bolivia stormed a military building in

la paz, demanding more government support. 44 people were arrested and one officer injured in the clashes. the minors want more honds, roads and an airport to be built in their region in the twist. >> protesters blocked access in and out of the city. >> reporter: this area paralyzed and isolated. barricades are guarded in this entrance and throughout the center. the people are on strike they say for the long haul. >> it's been more than two weeks, and the city is shut. it's taking a toll on residents. this woman struggled to get her mother to the hospital. >> we carried her because she couldn't walk. the city is all blocked. this is one of only two hospitals. only the emergency ward is attending patient. the director says medicine is

guaranteed. getting food deliveries could be a problem. the market is closed. people are getting all they can on street corners. we are shown how the vendors are supporting the strike. the people will not be hungry, because they planned for it. >> we stocked up knowing that the strike would be indefinite the the last time five years ago, the government lied to us. >> these people say that they see the trade by the president, and the support, and they wanted voices heard. they talked at the same time about the same demands, new hospitals and international airport and factories. the women brought us here to show the park. there's a lot of money here. it's not what they want. what they want is industries and jobs to porto see. >> younger ones are worried

about the future. >> reporter: some of the younger members went on hunger strike. >> translation: we need investment in education and technology. this band came to support the protest. they sing we are all together, we will win, and it may be a while. on wednesday, talks between the government and leaders of the march failed and now protesters are more determined than ever to continue pressing as a demand four spanish senators arrived in venezuela, including meeting gaoled opposition leaders. three leaders have been barred from running in parliamentary elections. opposition leaders have been inviting foreign ministers.

they say president nicolas maduro is afraid of losing the elections and is clamping down on components. more to come on al jazeera. [ singing ] why online chat rooms are big business in china. australians surf through a wave of anxiety after one of their own was attacked on live tv.

welcome back a recap of the top stories.

four explosions across the iraqi capital baghdad killed 37 people. crowded police checkpoints were targeted. in anbar, iraq's largest province security forces are trying to cut i.s.i.l. supply lines. 20 iraqi soldiers and allied forces were killed in i.s.i.l. suicide attacks. at least 30 people have been killed in three bomb attacks in north-east nigeria. two crowded bus stations were hit. no one has claimed responsibility. >> yemeni pro-government forces say they pushed houthi fighters from the last stronghold. the international airport as reopened two turkish police men have been killed by the p.k.k.

the group says it was in retaliation for the suicide attack. the p.k.k. says the policeman cooperated with i.s.i.l. in the attacks in the mainly kurdish town. the government suspects a 20 year-old turkish student to be behind wednesday's attack. >> reporter: slumped over and seemingly crushed by survivor's group. this man is in deep pain. >> translation: i left them there. i left my brothers there. how could i have done that? >> reporter: these three felt closer to each other than most cousins. as members of the turkish association of youth, they planned to across the boarder into kobane syria and help rebuild a devastated city.

like many members, they pointed the finger of blame. he is offended by how officials handled the aftermath of the blast, telling me an army arrived before the ambulance. after an explosion, should you send an ambulance or an armoured vehicle. >> anger and anxiety appear to be on the rise. some say the attack not only underscores how much of a threat i.s.i.l. becomes, but hilts the volatile relationship between the government. >> here, on the border. the threat of infiltration cannot be over stated. while turkey sends military forces here. many say the measures are not enough. tensions rose further. it was announced by the armed wing of the p.k.k. that they were behind the killing of two

turkish police officers who they accused of having access. >> reporter: there's a huge lack of security. have any of i.s.i.l.'s members been arrested. this man lost his legs in an attack nine years ago, but the wounds from this is worse. >> ecologically in my heart i was injured. i feel like this arm is gone and this arm is gone. this was my arms and legs my come rads my brothers. >> now. the war has hit moment. and is conflict pails in comparison to the turmoil he feels inside burundi's opposition called on the president to hold talks

to form an opportunity government. opponents accused him of violating the constitution by seeking a third term in office. pierre nkurunziza will not oppose the formation of a national unity government. early numbers suggest that voter turn out was 74%, despite threats of violence. results were expected on thursday, but the u.a.e. and african union said they will not recognise the result. we have more from the capital, and more on how a unity government might be received. >> reporter: votes can counted and taken to the capital where they'll be tallied again. people are hearing that the main opposition leaders arrived president pierre nkurunziza to form a government of the national

national unity to share power. >> he's not opposed to the idea as long as he terms another term in power, another five years. the key question is all those working for result those that have been through weeks and months of violence and instability, will they great to a government of national unity. >> all need to come together and agree to work together and compromise and without that it can't work. >> when a government of the national unity works, with saw it in kenya, 2008 and in zimbabwe 2009. critics of this set up say that they feel the opposition fighters entered this agreement, this deal, come out looking weaker at the end of it. >> what is clear, and some say this is a good thing. all the key players seem to agree that dialogue is the only way out of this current political instability. the key things to watch nout is

how quickly the government will be set up who will be in it and who will work. >> president obama will make a visit to kenya. he goes to a tropical summit. his late father's village is not on the itinerary. villagers are hoping for a last minute change. >> >> reporter: here they lay claim to the obama claim. it's all you hear from the village. back in 2006, ash falt has been laid on the rode. some things like education need much improvement. at the primary school this boy is named after obama. only a private school could

after what children need. next door the school carries the same name. this has the same problems as a primary school. one that obama plans to change that. the president's gram lives down the road. obama was 25. things changed a lot since then. orphans are given homes, and it's the base of a foundation that raised donations to rebuild the school. all run by someone who is 94 years old. a step mother she raised president obama from childhood. >> he made a prediction. his father said he would do a great job in the world.

>> this mum met this. he said he was proud. >> looking at picture of her stepgrandson's family she had an observation. >> translation: he is looking old. when i saw him in the white house, he said "gram, there's so many issues around the world i have to judge on that is why he's growing pay." >> down the road, a poor boy called president obama goes home with a father who wants to believe his son can get a better education. the greek parliament passed key legislation for creditors to begin on friday. the bill is backed. 61 m.p.s voted against. the bill include civil justice

reforms. and measures to ensure banks have enough cash. photos of chinese construction in disputed waters of the east china sea. it's an escalation of a row in each of the two countries. tuesday, beijing demanded they stop building oil and gas. they say it's overpaid the china military threat australians don't seem put off by surfer mick fanning being attacked by a shark on live tv while competing in a championship. fanning says it might take months to get back in the water following the incident in south africa. >> in three days it's the famous shark encounter since jaws. the footage of mick fanning enthralled people around the world. for surfers, it feels personal.

proportionally more surf in australia than anywhere else. of 20 attacks, the only one that proves fatal was on a surfer that has not put many surfers off the the sportswriter who was out on wednesday wrote in a newspaper about the thrill of knowing you may be killed is part of the appeal. >> there was a shark attack on the bees three or four years ago. the next morning they were out surfing in the same spot. it was frightening and spooky. that fair that spoomyness was part of the attraction, for sure. although the number of shark attacks is small. five were killed in the 12 months from february how to avoid being next is a topic on the beach. that's what the state government did in 2014, after a spate of

attacks. conservationists were outraged and the toll is on hole. shark nets are at some popular beaches, but they can kill other seal life and work best in bays. tagging helps to attract sharks, and alert people when a big one gets close to shore. aerial surveillance can help. it's a bit piecemeal. they omit an strictal pulse and can be fixed to surfboards or craft. >> i have no doubt what over that you will see shark shields on the jet skis. ultimately, if people enter an environment. they are taking a calculated risk. there is of course no way to guarantee the safe surf - don't get into the ocean in the first place, even if the waves in the pool are not the same.

online chat rooms have become a booming business. in china, with millions willing to pay for conversation. from the eastern city scott heidler explains what is behind their success. >> like millions of cline he is. he moved from the countryside to a city. he owns the working class restaurant. with long hours of a small business owner he became lonely that was until me met a performer in a video chatroom. they'd been chatting for three years. >> we talk about each other's lives, even with about unhappy time, she tells me about her live, it's a way to let out emotions. this is the largest video chat room in china.

it has 50 million users. >> this is a full-time performer. she makes $40,000 a year. >> translation: in real life not too many pay passengers. on life, i have so many friends. sometimes they say why so ugly. i try to be patient and friendly. >> this is how she and 40,000 other performers make money. the users buy a gift ranging from $0.50 all the way to to a cruise. thetarks a percentage the more they like her, the more they buy. the company insists that all the shat rooms are monitored. if a user and performer wants to meet offline, it's under

control. and something that she wants to do. >> translation: i consider it a form of entertain: and i consider her a good friend. i will try to find a girlfriend like her. >> the company calls each chatroom a family. and is developing off line connections for the family. linking them in karaoke. if they feel anything they can meet. >> he hopes to get the time to meet up with him soon. >> a type of friendship they hope will successfully transition from the virtual to the real world. he gets to meet his friend and the companies have more ways to make money and a russian rocket docked with the international space station.

it took off from kazakhstan on wednesday. three astro not on board returned the space station to its full crew for the first time in weeks. a quick reminder, keep up to date with the news on the website. there it is on the screen. the address aljazeera.com. >> on mairkt, big salaries bad -- on "america tonight," big salaries, bad expense reports, what do californians get? >> i'm trying to see about cash control. >> "america tonight's" michael okwu investigates where all that tax money goes and by the way it's not just a ripoff in clatch. >> and change at the top, the new man in charge of the ferguson pd.