the u.s. defense secretary arrives in baghdad where he's meeting the iraqi prime minister. hello. welcome to the newshour. i'm martine dennis in doha. the u.n. envoy to syria expresses alarm over the use of barrel bombs. more on his drip to damascus. the battle for aden - pro-government forces say they have pushed houthi fighters from their last remaining stronghold. plus... >> i'm andrew simmonds at the home of barack obama's grandmother, and she's been telling me about his first visit

to kenya. first, the u.s. defence secretary ash carter made an unannounced visit to iraq, meeting u.s. commanders and the iraqi prime minister haider al-abadi. he's been it israel, jordan and saudi arabia. and his visit coming as i.s.i.l. claims responsibility for a suicide car bombs, one of many attacks in shia neighbourhoods on wednesday. this is one attack on mainly shia areas. 17 others died in those explosions targetting marketplaces. we'll talk to imran khan who is in baghdad.

. >> the defense secretary comes to down after a bloody week i.s.i.l. claiming victory for several car bomb attacks in the capital and anbar provincement the defence minister will meet with haider al-abadi and generals. but not leaders of the popular mobilization forces, the shia militias one thing they'll discuss is the delivery of the f-16 aircraft that are used to great effect. they have four at the moment. total consignment is 26. it may be a schedule to be discussed and look at regional influences and powers. and for that iran. one thing that will not be suffed is syria. a lot of people criticized the u.s.-led iraq strategy, saying iraq is being put under too much

pressure when it comes to dealing with i.s.i.l. that without a political solution. to mount the attacks. it means that iraq is under a tremendous amount of pressure. >> meanwhile, the unenvoy is having talks with the government. he was concerned that barrel bombs have been dropped over some towns. government air strikes caused death and destruction in civilian areas. the town, which is close to the lebanese border has been subjected to several attacks this week. the situation in syria is gradually spilling across the border to turkey. the outlawed kurdistan workers party, the p.k.k. has claimed responsibility for killing two turkish police men. the party says that it cooperated with i.s.i.l. to carry out a separate attack.

that is an attack in which more than 35 people were killed, our correspondent has met one of the victims. >> reporter: this couple is crushed by survivor's disappointment. their smile has deep pain. >> reporter: i left them there, i left my brothers there how could i have done that. they felt far closer to each other than most cousins. as members. turkish federation of socialist youth associations they plan to cross into kobane, syria, and help the fellow kurds rebuild a devastated city. on monday, as the group held its precedent. in the southern city things were going well at first. ismail grew tired of holding up the banner under the hot sun. in this video you see him move away. then the blast.

[ explosion ] >> translation: if i had been cpatient, he says, if i had waited just four more seconds, i would be with my brothers now. like many other members of the kurdish population, they are pointing the finger of blame to turkey's government. he is offended by how officials handled the aftermath of the blast, telling me the army arrived before the ambulance. after an explosion, do you send an ambulance or an armoured vehicle. anger and anxiety appear to be on the rise. some say the attack underscores how much of a threat i.s.i.l. has begun, and highlights the volatile relationship between turkey's government and its turkish population. here at the crossing on the border with syria, the threat of infiltration of i.s.i.l. members cannot be overstated.

turkey sent military forces. many say the measures are not enough. tensions have risen since it was announced that the outlawed kurdistan party was behind the killing of two turkish police officers whom they accuse of collaborating with i.s.i.l. >> ismail believes kurds will continue to be targeted. there's a lack of security here. i.s.i.l. is everywhere up here, have any of i.s.i.l.'s members been arrested. ismail lost the use of his legs in a car accident nine years ago. the wounds from this is worse. >> reporter: i didn't get physical injuries but psychologically 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 comrades, my brothers. >> now.

the war has hit home. and is conflict pails in comparison to the turmoil he feels inside now, israeli forces shot dead a 52-year-old palestinian man in the occupied west bank happening at his home in hebron as israeli troops tried to arrest his son on suspicion of security offenses. he was shot in the chest, trying to help his son shot in the leg, an israeli army spokeswoman said forces were attacked by a crowd. israel is expected to improve settlement. it will create 906 housing units in the west bank a year since israel last approved settlement. the settlement are illegal under international law

pro-government forces in yemen say they have push d houthi fighters from the last remaining strongholds in the southern city of aden. fighters loyal to the president in exile, abd-rabbu mansour hadi, recaptured the palace. victoria gatenby reports. >> reporter: pro-government forces celebrate victory at the presidential palace in aden. these fighters are allied with the government, fighting for almost 4 months to drive out the houth rebels >> translation: we entered and thank god we are here. now we are clearing out to other areas in the airport. now we are standing at the presidential palace. >> reporter: there's not much left of the presidential ball as. it's been badly damaged. forces loyal to exiled president are soaking in the victory. they are confident they will be

repeat it in other cities. >> translation: we will liberate all areas of yemen, we will not stop until we liberate other areas, we will not stop. we will not leave civilians to protect them. >> the yemeni government success in recapturing aden led to the reopening of the airport. a plane carrying military supplies was the first to land. aid agencies started to deliver food, water and medicine to millions of yemenis. >> reaching it by road, but reaching it by sea is a break through. >> the vessel was carrying food, enough for 180,000 people for a month. >> the houthis control the capital sanaa and proved a resilient enemy despite months of air strikes. the collaboration between fighters in aden, and the saudi coalition lead to defeat in the

southern port city. it's the first in a series of victories, leading him to gaining control of the country let's take you live now to jeddah in saudi arabia where you can see the egyptian foreign minister, who has been having a meeting with the saudi foreign minister. this is a meeting that's been going on for a little whi, bilateral talks amount at furthering the relations between the two countries. now, our political analyst is watching the pictures with us. and it's always of note when two of the arab world's biggest powers meet. what is the basis of their relationship, would you say, at this point? >> look, it started a couple of years ago when abdul fatah al-sisi took over through a

cout d'etat and elections. but when king solomon took over things were not as rosy as they were before. and somehow they went through a cooling period. because king souleiman was different to king abdullah didn't want a tension or hate red that saudi arabia had with muslim brotherhood. the ones that president abdul fatah al-sisi was fighting in egypt. since then you can say there were two main dosziers that the egyptians and the saudis are discussing, sometimes in agreement, sometimes in disagreement. one in muslim brotherhood and a relationship for that. now, it's egypt that are opposed to any bridge of course talking, reconciling.

saudi arabia received the muslim brotherhood leader hamas from palestine. saudi arabia is more anxious and it's egypt that wants to deal deal with the cool-headed nerves. into this deal between iran and the six world powers seemed to have caused eruptions throughout the region. and unsettling the one that is the most. >> certainly saudi arabia has in public welcomed the deal. the part that puts verifiable limitation to the development of nuclear power. that and the rest of the region what is less welcome is sort of an iran that is more robust more empowered, emboldened.

supporting allies that are not friendly to saudi arabia or egypt. that is the leeks of bashar al-assad. hezbollah of lebanon, and the shia dominated government in iraq. all in aum. i think saudi arabia would like to see a communicated arab front that is able to speak to iran. there's a disagreement on what it may be. i think some of the dialogue between them will address that. >> there's the issue affecting so many different moneys. >> egyptians have the problem. the saudis experienced these kind of attacks. >> here is a bit of a tricky issue because our viewers around the world are quick to contextualize these things.

what is clear is that a lot of arab leaders have been playing the role of pyromaniac firemen if you will. where on the one hand they are going to put down a sign of extremism. by the same token, they are supporting extremism in all sorts of ways in other countries. also it is relevant certainly the policies of abdul fatah al-sisi. the policy expression koout dettar, tens of thousands of muslim brotherhood leaders who advocated peaceful political process within the country. all of that fuels the extremism that we are seeing in the region. >> okay. thank you very much. >> live from london as those talks get under way. you can see there's a live shot of the foreign ministers, the

egyptian foreign minister addressing the media in jeddah we have a lot more to come on al jazeera, including thousands protesting in new york against the iran nuclear deal. john kerry to appear before the senate to defend it. >> plus... [ singing ] ..cash for company. why online chat rooms are becoming big business in china.

hello again, you're with al

jazeera, and these are our top stories. i.s.i.l. claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the iraqi capital. 20 were killed. 17 others were killed in other attacks on wednesday. mostly targetting market in shia neighbourhoods. the u.s. defense secretary ash carter is in baghdad the u.n. envoy to syria is in damascus for talks with the government. he has met the syrian deputy foreign minister. on wednesday he expressed concern over government barrel bombs dropped over the lebanese border. pro-government forces in yemen pushed houthi fighters out of their last remaining strongholds in aiden. fighters loyal to president in exile abd-rabbu mansour hadi recaptured the presidential palace. >> now burundi's opposition called on the president to hold

talks to form a possible unity government following the controversial election. the polls criticized inside and outside the country. opponents accuse pierre nkurunziza of violating the constitution by seeking a third term in office which he is widely expected to win. the spokesman said the president could not oppose a power-sharing deal. preliminarikm suggest voter turn out was 74%, despite the u.n. vague 160,000 left the country for neighbouring countries to escape the violence. the u.s. e.u. and the u.n. all said that they won't recognise the results. it's been a tense time in the capital, and some fear that the security situation is likely to get worse.

wednesday night another person was killed. haru mutasa has more. >> this kind of thing is normal. family members say he was opposition, his body is in the house. a group of men came at the house wednesday night, called him to come out. they started to beat and strangle him and shot and killed him. people are in shock and mourning, and can't understand why this is happening. >> reporter: some politicians are talking about forming a government of national unity. a lot know it can take time, be complicated and that the government doesn't trust the opposition and the opposition doesn't trust the government. we spoke to the opposition. he said he would look at forming a unity government with the

present government. they'll look at sharing power, but not for five years. he said if it will happen, he'll agree to one year. but after that they should have another election. the u.n.'s aid chief warns millions in south sudan are at risk of starvation steven o'brien said hunger levels are rising. 70% of the population will run ot of food. fighting meant hundreds of thousands are living in refugee camps. >> the iranian president hassan rouhani has been defending the nuclear deal with powers on state tv. they opposed the deal saying iranians

iranians opened a new era when they voted for him president obama still has a lot to do to convince them that it is a good deal. john kerry is trying to convince others not to fight it. >> we are very much looking forward to answering any and every question that the members of the house have, and later the members of the senate. we are convinced that the agreement that we have arrived at with world powers is an agreement that will prevent iran from the potential of securing a nuclear weapon, and make the region, friends and allies safer, making the world safer, and are convinced that the absence of any viable alternative underscores that fact. meanwhile, thousands of

protesters weigh in on the issue of iran's nuclear deal. kristen saloomey has more from new york's times square. >> reporter: the crowd was large, speakers many, and the message was clear. >> we are here as americans to speak with one voice, to stay 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 grassroots, but organised by the jewish rapid response coalition, consisting of dozens of jewish and pro-israel groups. some launched ad campaigns against the deal. >> concessions go too far. >> we must make sure that the security of israel never depend on the outcome of an american election. israel must always be a bipartisan issue.

its support and its defense must join democrats and republicans, liberals and conservatives. >> a few dissenters were escorted out after waving flags in support of the deal. the overwhelming sentiment is that the republic could not be trusted. >> this crowd wants congress to reject the iran-nuclear deal and return to sanctions in the hope of getting more sanctions in iran. >> organizers say there should be no limit. no limit on where or when inspectors can visit the nuclear facilities. killing the deal would likely bring an end for any expectations. >> the elimination of the sanctions will guarantee a war, and the need to take out the sites. >> earlier in the week, president obama accused critics of rehashing past failed policies. >> some politicians and pundits that are quick to reject the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the nuclear programme, are the same folks

that are quick to go to the war in iraq. >> reporter: neither side is backing down from their interpretation of what the iran deal will deliver. this weekend president obama goes to kenya in his first presidential visit to the homeland of his father. his father's homeland village is not on the itinerary. >> reporter: here they lay claim to the obama claim. it's all you hear from the village. back in 2006, asphalt has been laid on the rode.

some things like education need much improvement. at the primary school, this boy is named after obama. his classroom like the others are overcrowded. continues are poor. his father said 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 grandmother lives down the road. obama was 25. when he first visited mama sara. 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 stepmother, she raised president obama's father from childhood.

when he returned educated leaving his son in america he made a bre diction. his father said he would do a great job in the world. >> this mum met this. he said he was proud. >> looking at a 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 "grandmother, 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 barack obama, no relation, goes home with a father who wants to believe his son can get a better education. to china, where online chat

rooms are a booming business. scott heidler explains. >> like millions of chinese, this man 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 about unhappy time, she tells me about her live, it's a way to let out emotions. 9158.com is the largest video chatroom 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 attention to me. online, i have so many friends. i rarely encounter people that are so offensive. 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 watching her perform or chatting with her buy a gift, ranging from $0.06 for a virtual rose all the way to $60 for a virtual cruise. the company takes a percentage. the more they like her, the more they buy. the company insists that all the chatrooms are monitored. so none of china's strict pornography laws are prone. if a user and performer wants to meet offline, it's under -- out of thar control and something that she wants to do. >> translation: i consider it a form of entertainment and i also 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. connections for the family. c linking them in karaoke. >> translation: it's a virtual chat room. if they feel anything, they can meet. >> he hopes to get the time to meet up 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