Day after an explosion rescue workers race against the clock to find survivors, as the death toll continues to climb going too far, five guatemalan soldiers caught on tape beating two young men. They now face the justice statement of claim accused of abuse of power this is al jazeera america. Im libby casey. Antonio mora is on assignment. We begin with a major accusation against i. S. I. L. The u. S. Says its investigating claims that i. S. I. L. Used chemical weapons against forces in Northern Iraq. Accusations reported by german officials, saying that kurdish leaders told them several dozen of their fighters were attacked with chlorine rockets two days ago. This is not the first allegation of chemical weapons used against i. S. I. L. Back in march it was alleged that there was evidence that i. S. I. L. Fighters used chlorine gas during a suicide bombing in Northern Iraq. The allegations coming as u. S. Officials condemned a deadly Suicide Attack in baghdad. 70 killed when a truck packed with xe pleasives detton explosives detonated. We go to baghdad for the latest in the blirnink of an eye, scene turned from mundane to horrible. This is one of the capitals densely populated, as some searched for survivors, others found the dead. Because the Early Morning attack was apparently planned to maximise civilian casualties, many knew this would be the work of i. S. I. L. It was the third attack by the group in as many days, understand scoring how tenuous the security situation here is on tuesday, i. S. I. L. Attacked two other areas where many shia muslims lived. Dozens were killed, dozens more injured. Attempts to deepen sectarian lines at a time when increasing numbers of iraqis demand the government work together. Fed up at the lack of services such as electricity and clean water, tens of thousands demonstrated against corruption, a call alarming iraqi leaders who passed sweeping reform proposals protests are planned for friday in several cities, its unclear how the attack in sadr city may affect the turn out, especially here in baghdad, which may affect a reminder of the security crisis meanwhile, the pentagon confirmed that u. S. War planes begunmaned air strikes against i. S. I. L. In syria. Officials say several f16 fighters were launched from the air base, they come a month after turkey authorised a mission, allowing access for u. S. And n. A. T. O. Planes to bomb i. S. I. L. In nearby syria. Turkey has begun building a 10 foot high wall in the city, near the syrian border. Turkish armed forces built a mile of the wall. Once completed the length will be over 5 miles. Irans foreign minister is calling on the Islamic Community to speak out against terrorism and extremism during a News Conference with his counterpart calling for peace in the region now that we have moved an unnecessary consequence, we are prepared to concentrate on our area, with issues that unite us in this region Mohammad Javad zarif added decisiveness feeds antimuslim sentiment. The leader of al qaeda is said to have pledged allegiance to the new leader of the taliban. The loyalty pledge in a 10 minute audio recording posted on social media, following the announcement of the death of founder mullah omar two weeks ago. He said he supports the new leader, mullah mansour, calling on god to protect him. The recording is being vetted. Former cuban president raul castro celebrated his 89th birthday. These handout photos shows him hanging out in bolivia with evo morales and madura. He repeated assertions that the u. S. Owes cuba millions for the decades long embargo. He made no mention of secretary of state john kerry visit to havana tomorrow. At the newest Embassy Workers ply finishing touches to the flagraising ceremony. Many of the dissidents are speaking out. Translation here its very important to give everyone their place when and where necessary, and we are not given the place we require at a Civil Society in cuba, this is a way to exclude us and let us in through the back door. We believe that things are not down the right way regarding the promotion of human rights, which is crucial in promoting democracy u. S. Officials invited dissidents to a flag raising at the home of the chief of missions. Lets go live to antonio mora live in havana. Americans and cubans thought they wouldnt live to see diplomatic relations restored between the u. S. And cuba. Is there a sense of excitement and anticipation on the streets of havana . A lot of both, libby. People here on the island are overwhelmingly in favour of improved relations with the United States. Even though the cold war ended 20 years ago, the cold war between the u. S. And cuba continued for 54 years plus. People here are excited. The acrimony lasted longer than most americans who are alive today have been around. Fidel castro triumphantly entered havana days after the cuban dictator, an ally of the United States, fled the country in the early hours of knew years day 1959. Four days later, he visited the u. S. Looking for help. He laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldiers and met with senators and Vice President richard nixon, but his antiamerican, prosoviet rhetoric was on display, praising russian leader. He is good friend. You leave us we sell petroleum. Your leaders speak about aggression to cuba. Defending cuba president eisenhower avoided castro, going on a golfing trip. It may not have made a difference in light of words when asked if he was a communist. Well, wait for the history, the history will say what we are. U. S. Cuba relations went downhill from there. Castro following through on threats on cuba, raising taxes on american goods. The u. S. Retaliated by slashing trade with cuba, leading to a full embargo this day. The u. S. Broke off relations with cuba in january 1961, and president kennedy started the bay of pigs invasion. Led by trained u. S. Refugees, it was a failure, pushing castro closer to the soviet union. In 1962 an american spy plane spotted soviet missiles in cuba, 90 miles from the coast of florida. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a Nuclear Strike capability against the western hemisphere. That touched off the cuban missile crisis. In october 1962 the world stood on the brink of nuclear law. It shall by the policy of the nation to regard Nuclear Missiles launched, as an attack by the soviet union on the United States. The crisis ended with a deal. Missile strikes with a pledge not to innovate cuba. Relations would remain poisonous after the cold war ended. In 2006 Fidel Castros power failed and he handed power to raul castro. Relations grew especially after raul castro and president obama shook hands at Nelson Mandelas funeral. Secret talks followed. Leading to cuba releasing american alan gross, who had been in prison for five years. Welcome home. Glad you are here reporter and exchange president obama returned the three remaining members of the cuban five. And the two neighbours in december announced theyd setatide five decades of hostility. Today the United States of america is changing relationships with cuba. Reporter that officially happened at midnight, july 20th. Hours later the cuban anthem played and the cuban flag raised over Cubas Embassy in washington. We reaffirmed cubas willingness to move forth in a constructive spirit. Its a relationship that has a long way to go. Ive been clear well continue to have serious differences. However, i strongly believe the best way for america to support values is through engagement. That engagement will reach its highest point within half a century, its not without controversy. The Obama Administration is facing Harsh Criticism to not paying enough attention to Human Rights Violations in cuba and not inviting activists to the main flag raising ceremony at the embassy. Therell be special guests there tomorrow. Tell us about them . There are a lot of emotional stories this week here in cuba. One of the more emotional ones involve three former marines, and back in january 1961, they were the ones that lowered the flag for the last time. Theyll travel with secretary kerry, and they will be the ones who will raise the flag over the embassy in havana. Today is the 89th birthday, and many people thought that diplomatic relations would never be destroyed while fidel castro was still alive. How much is his influence felt in cuba . I have asked a lot of people that, its not clear. He made a couple of appearance, hes been lucid, is sharp and connected in the conversations, and is known to write the reflections, and grasp the organs of the government. He wrote fewer of those in recent times, but had one that was issued today. In that he went after his traditional enemy, the United States, and complained that the u. S. Owes cuba many, many millions some things dont change. Antonio mora live in havana, thank you so much tomorrow at nine eastern, antonio mora hosts a special hour of coverage live from havana. An indepth look at cubanamerican relations, including thawing tension, and what life is really like on the island. Rachel is an assistant director at the counsel. Her work focussing on u. S. Cuban relations. She joins us from washington. As we watch the secretary of state visit to havana, this will be the first time someone at his level of government visited since 1945. Is this more symbol or substance. Its an important symbol that aclous for substance. This is the United States ending its policy of regime change and implementing a policy of engage. Sending a top Government Official to the country saying this is a regime we not willing to engage with. Youve been watching the cuban dissidents, and its getting a lot of attentions. What does it say about how u. S. Officials are handling the new stage of the relationship with cuba. Well, the important thing is that secretary kerry is meeting with the dissidents, and it shows us that the United States committed to walking a tightrope with its relationship with cuba and countries around the world where we have disagreements with them, where we have working relationships with the government, and engage with the dissident community and support human rights. These things are not mutually exclusive. What signals will you watch from the Obama Administration when it comes to human rights in cuba . I think we are going to have to see an engagement with dissident community, and we see that from the visit. We are going to see continued activism and engagement. Through the embassy that will serve as a resource, as a home base to continue negotiations with one another. As we watch the embassies open, what will business as usual look like in this era. Business as usual is not that interesting, but very important. So that things like cooperating on issues of mutual concern is very important to two countries close in geographic proximity. Things that we deal with countries on a staying to day basis. This expands the capacity to deal with those things. That would be beneficial to both of those countries. An expansion, American Companies looking to go into cuba, how fast do you see outsiders moving in. And what do they need to consider . Well, for one thing, some components of the u. S. Legislation stand, and that prohibits American Companies from entering cuba. Theres a lot of obstacles within cuba. Its a difficult country for a company to get into. You have a high cost of operations, expensive electricity and poor infrastructure, so i am not sure that this is a Business Venture that a lot of companies are anxious to get into rachel, with the Atlanta Council in washington d. C. , thank you for joining us. I. S. I. L. Is wellknown for mitting horrible atrocities. Bringing attention to the mistreatment of women china devalued its currency again, amid allegations they are taking the actions to boost exports. Get excited for the 1989 world tour with exclusive behind the scenes footage, all of taylor swifts music videos, interviews, and more. Xfinity is the destination for all things taylor swift. Our in context segment focuses on i. S. I. L. s use of sex slaves, a year ago this month they stormed sinjar mountain, rounding up members of the yazidi community, a religious minority, and the months that followed were horrific for its victims. When i. S. I. L. Stormed across Northern Iraq last summer, the yazidi were the target. Men were slaughtered if they refused to convert to islam. Boys mr swept away, taken to camps where they were trained to fight. Women and young girls were kidnapped and sold into slavery. Islamic state fighters killed scores it not hundreds of men, before carrying off their relatives. This girl told us that she and other young women and girls were subjected to group weddings. He she describes the ceremony, where she was married off to a fighter. Her story is one of thousands. Some survivors who spoke with the New York Times told stories of being traded in a marketplace setting. And girls as young as 12 being raped because they believed it was a right to do so, saying the koran allowed them to. This woman found out that Islamic State fighters captured her newly wed sister, when she tried to reach her by phone joining us from toronto is an emergency Senior Researcher in the Human Rights Division with human rights watch, and spent time with the yazidi of iraq learning about their experiences. Thank you for talking with us. Why are the yazidi targeted specifically. Are other groups at risk as well. I think other groups are at risk as well. The yazidi are at risk. Because there are nonbelievers, and as such they dont have the protection that other groups would normally receive. Front of what we have documented, a captain of systematic rapes, forced conversion, the worst abuses that anyone can imagine. These women and girls have lived through that. What were the women and girls spirnsing. How are they coping. This is a big issue that we struggle with, theres a lot of attention thats been focussed on what happened to the women and girls. Not the same amount of attention in terms of them being released. They are in need of psychological support. They need adequate medical services. They need training, all the things that little girls and young women need to flourish, and for get about the trauma they have undergone. What is the International Community doing at this point. What sense do you have of how many women and girls are captured, are treat as sex slaves. The number of areas, but according to the government last week, about 3,000 yazidi still remain in captivity, mainly women and girls. As they come back to kurdistan. They have been in castivity for so long, some are pregnant. Theres no ambulances to help them with their babies, and the community propping up the government. Theyve been inundated with displaced people. And last year alone there has been 600,000 people who fled to kurdistan. Not only from brick, bit syria. Theres an enos. Amount. Dealing with a high number of people. These women are getting the services that they need. How is the slave market working. Do locals get involved . For the most part, what we document tends to be followers. And including members in iraq and syria. Some are captured by neighbours, unfortunately. Its foreigners. At the same time, its people from the community as well. Is i. S. I. L. Using this as a tool for men. Yes, i wouldnt be surprised. If thats the case, at the same time, anyone that joins the organizations, to do these abuses. Human rights watch has been documenting this for quite a while. Thank you so much for joining us. Julian assange is criticizing sweden for closing some sexual abuses into him. The swedish prosecutor said time ran out on the Sexual Assault investigation. In a statement. Julian assange said he was disappointed by the move calling himself an innocent man. Sweden is looking into a rape allegation. Thursday, sweden said it would file a formal protest with ecuador for harbouring Bashar Alassad coming up, a deadly explosion ripping through a chinese city. And later, soldiers accused of abuse of power, facing the justice system. Only on al jazeera america. Welcome back to al jazeera america. Im libby casey in for antonio mora. Coming up in this half hour of international news, the debate over greeces Bailout Programme threatens to split the governing party. First a look at the stories across the u. S. In our american minute. The navaho nation prejudices to take legal action against the e. P. A. For inadvertently causing a toxic spill into two rivers. It dumped 3 million gallons of mine sludge into the waterways. The e. P. A. Said waters has returned to prespill safety levels Washington State is fined 100,000 a day over a School Funding gap. The state Supreme Court failed to fund basic education for washingtons 1 million schoolchildren. The Court Ordered state lawmakers to come up with a plan to boost the budget by a million over the next five years the connecticut Supreme Court deemed the Death Penalty unconstitutional. Death sentences for future dayses have been eliminated. The law allowed sentences to be handed out before then to be carried out. A team of nuclear and chemical experts is investigating a massive explosion that rocked the city. The death toll stands at 50. 700 injured. Thousands left homeless. A blast u