>> i lived that character. >> go one on one with america's movers and shakers. >> we will be able to see change. >> gripping... inspiring... entertaining. >> afghanistan says the leader of the tap ban has died. but the group is denying the report. defending the deal. top administration officials go before a senate committee today arguing the nuclear agreement with iran is the best way to protect the united states. two accused poachers go before a court in zimbabwe accused in the death of the lyon lyon. the dentist insisting he had no

idea that killing cecil was illegal. >> this is al jazeera america live from new york city. the afghan taliban is denying the reports that it's long time leader mullah omar has died. they say they have credible evidence that he died in 2013 in pakistan. he headed the tap ban in the 199s but fled after the u.s.-led invasion in 2001. the state department said it is still looking into the reports. jennifer glasse is live in kabul for us. jennifer, good morning to you. what are the afghan officials saying? >> well, the afghan president's office issued a statement saying saying that it has credible evidence that the afghan leader

mullah omar died in 2013. the spokesman for the told al jazeera that he decide in a hospital in karachi pakistan, in april april 2013. the of a afghan it will ban saying these reports are not true. >> refresh our memory of who mullah omar was and what did he. >> omar was a young mujahideen leader who fought the soviets in the 1980s. he founded the taliban movement, which took over here in afghanistan in 1996, and led the taliban from 1996 until 2001 when it was toppled by the u.s.-led invasion following the september 11th attacks in

new york. since then he has not been seen in public at all. he was always a very reclusive leader erica. only a few photographs of him exist. he never really appeared in public. even when the taliban overtook the afghan capitol he never came to the afghan capitol. he remained in hiding. he has led the taliban fighters for the last decade or so, and the fighting intensified here in afghanistan despite reports that omar has been dead for two years, according to the afghan government the taliban website has messages from him the latest just five days old. so if he hadn't been in control of the taliban someone has been pretending that he has been alive and in charge of the taliban for the last two years. >> so despite mullah omar's

absence, he became a symbol and unifying figure in the taliban. how would his death impact the taliban? >> er. >> that is a very good question. right now i'm not sure. he has been out of sight only issuing statements over the internet with a few recordings over the last years. you know i don't think the afghan taliban has been used to getting day-to-day guidance from him even know a biography published in april said that he was in day-to-day control of the taliban. this comes two days before the taliban leaders are to speed with the officials for peace talks. the question is whether had a effect that at all? the real question is how much will this effect the fact that the afghan tap ban is denying that mullar omar is dead,

whether he had influence at all. this comes against the backdrop of fighting around the country in the last couple of days taking dozens of villages in the north of the country. so it's really unclear exactly if these reports from the afghan government are true. that mullah omar is, indeed, dead as they say he is, as they say the information says he is, and he has been dead for two years. it's unclear if it would have influence on the taliban now. >> jennifer glasse live for us from kabul. thank you. we go to josh earnest--that is not josh earnest there but let's listen in. >> the president's trip to africa where he confirmed his commitment to young people across the continent and the approaches to common challenges.

connect the united states with the next generation of leaders across the surbahara africa, and allow them to make meaningful impact in their communities. with that, i'm happy to take your question. >> can the white house confirm the death of mulla omar and what can you tell us of the circumstances? >> thank you nancy. we are aware of the death--reports of the death of mullah omar. we do believe the reports of his death are credible. beyond that i'm not in position to comment on the specifics surrounding his death. >> so if he died in 2013, what would that say about-- >> nancy, i can tell you that

the intelligence community is looking at these reports and continues to assess the circumstances around his death. but beyond that i'm not going to be in a position here to speak candidly about what we know at this point. i'm sure when the i.c. has an update or anything determinative, they will be in position to update you. >> can you brief us on what the president's message is going to be? is it going to be a new approach message? >> i don't think he has a new approach or message. the message that he'll be offering tonight on iran will be very similar to the public case that he has been making for a few weeks since the deal in vienna has been reached. as you know he has been making the case publicly through interviews and through taking your questions-- >> so that was eric schultz press secretary there talking

with reporters saying he is aware of the news report surrounding the apparent death of mullah omar, but will not comment on it any further than that. nicole johnston now has more on mullah omar's life and his impact on the region. >> the americans had played a multi million dollar bounty on his head. mullah mohammed omar, the man who was the spiritual leader and military commander of the taliban. a reclusive private man for most of his life. this is one of the few photos of him. he began as a hue gentleman had mujahideen fighter. it was described how he became the self proclaimed amir emir of the taliban. >> they chose him.

he was famous person. >> his 30 fighters turned into thousands as the taliban movement grew and took over afghanistan in 1996. under his command the taliban established security and order in a country ravaged by chaos and violence. but stability came at a cost. tat ban's strict interpretation of islam meant harsh punishment meted out on to the population as mullah omar worked towards his version of the sharia-based society. it was his alliance to osama bin laden that became the driving force shaping much of afghanistan's fate. it was a close and mutually benefit relationship. bin laden swore allegiance to omar. omar gave him the freedom to operate. they became familial when their

children married. they wouldomar's alliance with bin laden grow to international prominence when the twin towers went down. the u.s. demanded that the taliban give up osama bin laden but omar refused. expelling his guest would have violated the tradition of hospitality. it was a refusal that would cost the afghan people dearly. in october 2001, an united states-led coalition launched a full scale war with the aim to destroy al-qaeda and the taliban regime that harbored it. the u.s. did get rid of the taliban regime but failed to capture mulla omar. he went underground but did he not give up his political fight. from his hiding he directed a war against the newly appointed government of hamid karzai. it wrecked havoc with road sides

bombings and the taliban made the karzai government's task of governing virtually impossible. in large parts of the country. the karzai government did extend a hand to omar in november 2008 urging him to lay down his weapons in exchange for his safety. but omar refused to cooperate. >> if i hear from him that he is willing to come to afghanistan or to negotiate for peace i as a president of afghanistan will go to any length to provide him protection. >> instead he's believed to have lived in hiding in the mountainous regions on the afghan-pakistan border for much of the time until his death. nicole johnston, al jazeera. >> a second straight day of hearings on the iran nuclear deal had been taking place for hours on capitol hill. the senate armed services committee heard from several top administration officials

including secretary ash carter secretary john kerry and martin general martin denver son. dempsey. >> this new deal when implemented will place significant limitations on iran that will effectively cut off it's pathways to the material for a nuclear bomb. but it is also important to note that it places no limitations, let me repeat that, no limitations on what the department of defense can and will do to pursue our defense strategy in the region. >> let's bring in libby casey now who is live on capitol hill. good afternoon to you libby. we know this is the second day of hearings, really the third existence congress began reviewing the deal. what has congress centered around today? >> erica, the unique thing about today's hear something that we

heard from leaders of the military. the chairman joint chiefs of staff. the republicans want to push them especially general dempsey into saying that they don't support this deal, or that they have concerns about it. one senator described dempsey's reaction to the deal at tepid. general dempsey said no, i'm taking a pragmatic approach. these military leaders before the deal was entirely hammered out, pushed publicly to make sure that iran wasn't given entirely a free reign to go ahead and to buy and sell weapons. including inter continental missiles. five years no weapons. eight years with norrer with intercontinental missiles. that's something that both military leaders support. we also heard a lot of questions about the money.

if if economic sanctions are lifted will iran become more of a robust sponsor of terrorism? secretary kerry and his team are saying even more dangerous is iran of the future with a nuclear weapon. >> all right so several senators raised concerns over the confidential agreements eaaea inspection protocol. >> this another major issue that came up a lot. republicans are describing it as a side deal. they're describing it as crete. but the administration said that's not the case at all. this is standard protocol. and there are 198 deals that are basically confidential. but it raced a lot of quitism including senate tom caughten. >> secretary kerry have you heard either of these side deals between the iaea and iran? >> no, i haven't read it.

>> have you read any previous drafts? >> no, i haven't. >> on any form, paper tablet. >> i've been briefed with our team that met with the iaea. >> did anyone on your team read athletes text agreements? >> i believe one person may have read it at the facility. but they don't possess it. >> so erica you here there that the administration is saying that look, we have not read this but we do have confidence that gives us what we need, and that secretary moniz has been able to influence the details. >> libby casey live for us on capitol hill. thank you. the family of american journalist jason rizzaon hopes the nuclear delimit open the door to his release. the "washington post" reporter has been held in an iranian prison for a year. we talk to his brother about the

possibility of his release. >> i want they have wanted him to get involved in thing he could not--this has dragged on and on, and my hope is that we'll get a lot of attention. the case of the americans are getttting attention right now. and i think the iranians and u.s. government need to realize that his detention has consequences. they realize that something needs to happen, and jason needs to get out. >> to turkey.

>> will police officer at the university of cincinnati is being charge in the shooting death of an unarmed black man earlier this month. 43-year-old samuel dubose was shot in the head by the officer. it has been called purposeful. >> i've been doing this for over 30 years. this is the most asinine act i've ever seen a police officer make. totally unwarranted. it was--it's an absolute tragedy

the year 2015 that anyone would behave in this manner. >> officials released body camera footage of the shooting. the officer should, quote never have been a police officer. two zimbabweans are facing court for helping two americans hunt and kill cecil the lyon. they were escorted into the courthouse 500 miles west of zimbabwe's capital. the men were allegedly paid $50,000 by american dentist walter palmer. if found guilty they could face jail time up to ten years. the american dentist admitted to hunting cecil but did not realize what he was doing was illegal. we have more on the hunter and his defense.

>> the 13-year-old lyon was supposed to be out of hunter's reach. part of a study he was tagged with a gps device, and so popular and beloved locals named him cecil. >> he was one of the icons. >> when his remains were found this month his body had been skinned, and his head cut off. tuesday authorities in zimbabwe revealed the name of the hunter, walter james palmer a dentist from minnesota. they even released his home address and passport address for good measure. >> he was the man who came in to the country around the month of july and was enticed we're not quite sure yet to have this particular lyon. >> in a statement palmer admitted to the kill but blamed his blow guides. i relied on the expertise of my guides to insure a legal hunt.

palmer was on safari in zimbabwe when he or his team lured him out of the park. shot him with a bow and hour and then tracked him for 40 hours before killing him. a hunt that he paid handsomely for. >> money was paid to the tune of $50,000 u.s. he has a passion for hunting. the revelation of palmer's identity set off an intent social media firestorm with a face book boycott of his dental practice. on his page he has been called a violent, sadistic human. do you want a sick s.o.b. like this in your mouth? cecil leaves behind six females he mated with and some two dozen cubs. a major loss for a species already in danger. jonathan betz,.

>> the charges against chaka fattah stems from his campaign for mayor. his son is currently awaiting trial. up next a little boy born with no hands says all he wants to do is throw a ball. >> i will be proud of what hands i get. >> doctors give him a chance to make his dream come true.

al jazeera america gives you the total news experience anytime, anywhere. more on every screen.

digital, mobile, social. visit aljazeera.com. follow @ajam on twitter. and like aljazeera america on facebook for more stories, more access, more conversations. so you don't just stay on top of the news, go deeper and get more perspectives on every issue. al jazeera america. >> doctors in philadelphia have performed the world's first-ever pediatric double hand transplant. the 8-year-old underwent nearly 11 hours of surgery earlier this

month, and on tuesday they revealed the results to the world. >> i want those slices. when i was two, i had to get my hands cut off because i was sick. >> eight-year-old zion had both of his hands and feet amputated when he was a toddler the result of a life threatening infection. surgeons were introduced to him after he was taking immunosupply present drugs to keep his body from transplanted kidney. he was a perfect candidate for the world's youngest hand transplant. >> i will be proud of the hands i get. and if it gets messed up i don't care. because i have my family. >> a ten-hour procedure four people on the team.

two donor hands to his existing forearms. hundreds of tiny veins delicately tagged and connected before the skin was drafted together. >> blood is going across the hook up here and you can see the hand right here trying to pink up. you see the capillary refill. >> at this point the hands are attached the phones are together. >> on use the world of medicine erupted in applause as his they took a bough bow. >> thank you for doing this. >> double hand transplants have been performed on adults in the past but children have smaller bone structures despite pulling off what may have been impossible a few years ago doctors were most surprised by an amazing stroke of luck. >> finding a match was what we thought would be virtually impossible. there are only 15 to 20 children

a year that are potential candidates to be a donor and within a few months of listing zion harvey we found a donor for him. >> yep. nice. >> zion still has years of rehabilitation ahead and will likely be on medication for the rest of his life. but he's already on the road to recovery and has big plans for his new life. >> we want a puppy. >> where is the puppy going to live? >> in my room. where else? >> john terrett al jazeera. >> he certainly deserves a puppy. thank you for joining us. the news continues next live from london. remember for the latest headlines you can go to www.aljazeera.com. have a good day.

>> hello there i'm barbara serra. in is the news coming up the proposal to end more than four years of war in syria. turkey's parliament holds an emergency session. afghanistan government said that taliban leader mullah omar is dead. but the taliban say tha