hell a welcome to al jazeera america. here with the top stories we're following at this hour. debate on the budget issue is set to start right now on capitol hill. the government could change the rules on cell phone use in flight. and the outrage over this man and what he didn't do at nelson mandela's memorial. ♪ good to have you with us, congress is now on budget talks. the house is set to begin debating the spending bill

announced tuesday night. will congress actually pass a budget? let's put that question to libby casey who is live on capitol hill. i know it's a heavy question to pass to you, libby. >> hi, thomas, it does look like it will get through. we're seeing enough republicans will join with enough democrats to get it through the house. we had a bit of a blind blowing press conference with john boehner, he pushed back against conservative groups that are criticizing him and paul ryan. bringing this to the floor, and allowing the republicans and democrats in the house to vote on it. speaker boehner questioned the credibility of these groups, and pointed out they were criticizing the bill before it had even been finalized, and he really hit them hard. he opened a bit of a messy cabinet that had been locked away from the fall.

if you'll recall when the whole government shutdown episode happened in october, it was a handful of senate republicans who wanted to link defunding obamacare to the budget battle, and they pushed hard along with conservative groups. speaker boehner went along with it. it led to this huge stan off that shut down the government. he pushed back hard on that today. >> they have lost all credibility. they pushed us into the fight to defund obamacare and to shut down the government. most of you know, my member, that wasn't the strategy i had in mind. but the day before the government reopened one of the people -- one of these groups stood up and said well, we never really thought it would work. are you kidding me? [ laughter ] >> so you get a sense there of just how angry speaker boehner is now that these groups are

criticizing some leader again. he says look, i am conservative. so back to your question, will this pass? we see enough will have the support of the republican side, the democrat side as well looks promises enough for it to get through, house minority leader nancy pelosi says she does believe some democrats will support it. >> i don't think that our members will let this bill go down if it's a close call for some as they weigh different things, it's really a minor issue, because i think -- while i don't like this bill, i think, as i said much more could have been done to invest and create jobs and the res, but it is an okay thing to vote for. >> what about the senate, though, libby? >> we are hearing a lot of pushbacks from the senate republicans, but they have a bit of a luxury of saying no and not

have to worry too much about the outcome. so we are listening to senate democrats give their push with reporters to talk about why they think this should be a bill that should pass. >> we will wait and see. libby casey on capitol hill. thank you. >> secretary of state john kerry is back in the mideast for scheduled meetings with israeli and palestinian leaders. kerry has closed door sessions set for today, with benjamin netenyahu, and palestinian president. also we're waiting for a report from a un fact-finding team investigating allegations of syria chemical weapons use. the report looks at several cases of alleged chemical weapons use including a march attack that left several dead including children.

russian president said he hoped ukraine could find a solution to its political crisis. he also took the opportunity to remind ukraine of the benefits of staying under the economic wing of russia. putin praised his country's commitment of creating dialogue over the use of intervention. thousands of people have fled to makeshift camps hoping to be safe, but now disease has started to spread. >> reporter: there are so many wounded people, there is no more room in the hospitals. these tents are now wards. benjamin moved his wife and ten children to the airport. he was shot as he tried to leave.

>> translator: i have been there for three days. we hadn't eaten anything and the kids hadn't either, so i went to the market and tried to get some food, that was when selica came to the market and starting shooting. >> reporter: this is a town that is mainly african union soldiers keeping watch. there is anger as more bodies are brought to the mosque. people here accuse the french of killing at least three people. >> translator: it's not up to us muslims to bring peace. it is the duty of our christian brothers too. everyone is suffering today >> reporter: french soldiers are here to stop the killing, but france risks being drawn into a complex and dangerous urban war. after the deaths of two french soldiers, the forces are being

extremely cautious. the challenge is to convince people on the muslim and christian groups that they are on their side. there have always been acquisitions of political manipulation. there is mistrust again about france's interference here. >> translator: the muslim population is less happy than the christian population in the sense that selica used to protect the muslims. >> reporter: protection means everything here. they want to walk their own streets without the fear of being shot, but with no credible army or police force, international peace keepers must fill the gap. that will not be an easy task.

let's take you to south africa now where thousands of people lined up for a second day to file past nelson mandela's cassette. some traveled a long distance for just a few seconds to see the icon. but as morgan radford reports, not everyone has been able to get that final visits. >> reporter: right now we're outside of the union building. tomorrow will be the final day of viewing, and really right now there are crowds outside who have traveled for as much as five hours across the country, and they still haven't been able to get in. how long have you been waiting out here? >> for a long time, since the clock [ inaudible ] i have been here. but we haven't see our father. we didn't see our madiba, and we hope to see him. >> reporter: and you told me you traveled very far.

>> we traveled about [ inaudible ] kilometers. >> reporter: so you traveled since 3:00 in any morning. >> yes, with my daughters. >> reporter: and you haven't been able to see madiba's body? >> yes. >> reporter: who do you think they should do? >> we're not sure, but we're going to sleep here >> reporter: you are going to sleep her? [ shouting yes ] >> reporter: you are going to stay here until you see him. there you have it south africans saying they will wait all night so they can say good-bye. remember that bizarre moment during the ceremony, the sign language interpreter accused of using fake signs is speaking out. he stood next to the world leaders during tuesday's service. he says he was no fake, and faced a very difficult situation. >> i was faced with a very,

very, very difficult situation, and my medical condition, which my life was in danger, because of the security was very tight, and then when come to the point where i feel myself now i'm sick, but i'm proud of myself that there was no mistake that happened today. >> reporter: a south african disabilities minister also defended the interpreter. she said he made mistakes but didn't embarrass the country. >> so we can't be told we are embarrassed because the way sign language interpreter, the camera picked up the interpreter that was interpreting for the deaf people. he became overwhelmed. he did not use the normal signs. we accept all of that. >> but there are still many questions including who hired the interpreter, how much they

were paid, and the interpreter's own involvement with the company. operators in ukraine have listed conditions for possible conditions with the government. they include releasing activists who were arrested. this comes as the european union's foreign policy chief sa says yanukovych intends to sign an agreement with the eu. in thailand protesters have shut up electricity to the prime minister's office in bangkok. this comes as the former prime minister appeared in court. he faces murder charges in this connection with the deaths of protesters. immigration reform, a controversial topic on capitol

hill. we'll take a look at what both sides of the aisle have done to tackle this issue in 2013. plus the latest in a battle of where to build the new boeing jet liner. seeing some beautiful weather all the way to sunday even into the low 70 did or high 60s, partly cloudy conditions, overnight, about 44 degrees. texas also dry for you as well. we saw rain showers and a mix of precip just a little bit up here towards the north. temperatures for dallas at about 42. san antonio at 55. for houston, well, you are going to be seeing rain by the time we

end the week. 59 degrees there. that will will last one day. your weekend should look better with a high of 63. over here towards the southeast, some rain showers pushing through orlando right now. atlanta is going to be about 56. an american auto maker making history. the newer ground general motor is making as it names its latest ceo. >> al jazeera america is a straight-forward news channel. >> its the most exciting thing to happen to american journalism in decades. >> we believe in digging deep. >> its unbiased, fact-based, in-depth journalism. >> you give them the facts, dispense with the fluff and get straight to the point. >> i'm on the ground every day finding stories that matter to you. >> in new orleans... >> seattle bureau... >> washington... >> detroit... >> chicago... >> nashville... >> los angeles... >> san francisco... >> al jazeera america, take a new look at news.

welcome back the government is set to take a step to allow people to talk on their cell phones while flying. calls have been banned for 22 years because of fears they would interfere with cellular networks on the ground. but advances in in technology have resolved those concerns. if approved the services would be allowed above 10,000 feet. boeings machinists union is waiting for a response on a new contract offer made yesterday. the proposal comes as boeing is threatening to move production of its newest plane outside of

its home base in washington. tanya has more. >> reporter: these boeing machinists are making it clear. they want their team to build the latest aircraft, the 777x. last month the machinists union rejected a contract offer from boeing. it i would have cut health benefits and eliminate pensions for future hires. 8500 jobs are at steak and the company has gone shopping. soliciting bids to land the assembly line for the newest aircraft. >> what boeing is asking is for any new location to replicate what is here in washington. >> reporter: at least 15 states are believed to be part of the bidding war. missouri is offering

$1.7 billion in tax breaks. washington state is offering five times as much. $8.7 billion. the biggest corporate tax incentive in american history. alex peach says it is worth it. >> reporter: we think it will yield $21 billion in new revenue to the state over that 16-year period. >> reporter: tax breaks are not the only requirement for the state. among the requirements boeing is looking for low-cost land, a skilled work force, and a 9,000-foot long runway, all of which the boeing plant here has. but they have yet to come to a contract agreement with machinists, and hamilton believes that could be a deciding factor. >> right now both sides are in

their respective corners doing their testosterone battle. >> it's huge. without the 777x here, i see the whole factory closing up in a matter of years. >> reporter: boeing expects to make a site decision early next year, with production giving in 2015. ♪ at this hour it's -- i guess we can say wall street is stuck in reverse here, the dow is now down triple digits. investors continue to worry about the possibility of the federal reserve pulling back its economic stimulus soon. the dow is up 21% for the year, however, and the stock market boom is very good news

for pensioners. corporate pension funds will be able to cover 96% of future obligations. last year that number was 77%. public pension funds are also seeing gains. the biggest increase in unemployment numbers. however, seasonal volatility may have impacted that data. it has been a tough year for lou lou lemon, and it's going to get worse. they had to recall yoga pants after customers complained they were virtually see through. now it says its sales for the holiday season will only be about the same as last year. immigration activists try one more time to get the house to pass a reform bill before the end of the year, but that is unlikely to happen.

let's go to mike viqueira. good afternoon, mike. so the looming question, why not? >> thomas we have been talking all week about things in in congress that are left undone as the house prepares to leave tomorrow. they don't be back until january 7th. immigration perhaps at the top of the list. the senate passed something with a so-called path to citizenship providing a way to get citizenship for the approximately 11 million people who are here illegally. there is a fast activist keeping it up, fast for families on the mall, the president has visited that. a rally later today. there is some thought there is reason for optimism at the house of representatives, but meanwhile immigration activists are really on the march. it shows a startling fact. in the first four years of the

obama administration, more people were deported from this country -- people who are here illegally, than the entire eight years of the bush administration. you remember three weeks ago when the president was heckled when he spoke on stage in san francisco. but joe biden, the vice president yesterday had a skype chat. he defended the administration's record and talked about the prospects for immigration reform next year. >> we're going to pass this bill, this senate bill that we're talking about here. it's going to happen. and you are not going to have to worry about anything. and your parents aren't going to have to worry about being deported. they are going to get in line, move the way the bill calls for, and they will be able to earn their citizenship within a time frame that is rational. so that's why you and millions like you are the reason why this bill has to be passed.

it's a rational, fair thing to do, it's in the overall interest of the country to do, and the majority of the american people think we should do it. >> the administration points to the fact that at the direction of president obama, the immigrations and customs enforcement bureau is no longer deporting those so-called dreamers, who came to this country before they were 16 years old to be with their parents. they say that spike in deportation is largely due to deporting criminals, fallens, and repeat offenders. house speaker john boehner now talking about a peace meal approach. >> we have heard so many stories. you get a sense of public opinion. do americans believe the obama administration is doing enough on this issue, mike? >> the polls show the majority

of americans do favor the so-called path to citizenship, and it's interesting, because you can chalk that up to a whole list of things where the public is behind it. gun control would be another one, something that is being talked about a lot this week, where the public is behind comprehensive reform or reform than we have seen so far. equality in marriage is another issue. so the sand is shifting, and we're starting to see a loosening on the hill, and there is reason for optimism, but it is not going to be happening this year, and probably next year when we head into an election year. >> mike viqueira at the white house. mike thank you. still to come on al jazeera america, troubling new information about the worldwide cancer rate.

this show. >> so join the conversation and make it your own. >> the stream. next on al jazeera america and join the conversation online @ajamstream.

on august 20th, al jazeera america introduced a new voice in journalism. >> good evening everyone, welcome to al jazeera. >> usa today says: >> ...writes the columbia journalism review. and the daily beast says: >> quality journalists once again on the air is a beautiful thing to behold. >> al jazeera america, there's more to it. welcome back to al jazeera america. let's get you caught up on today's headlines. the house is about to begin debating a bipartisan budget deal announced tuesday night. a vote is expected later today. hold the phone, you may soon be able to talk on your cell phone while flying. the rules are expected to be

revised this afternoon regarding inflight calls. it would then be up to airlines to decide whether to allow inflight calls. some traveled a long distance for just a moments to see nelson mandela. the world health organization issued a troubling report that says cancer is on the rise worldwide. 14 million people were diagnosed in 2012, that's up from 12.7 million in 2008. and the number of deaths also rose. bad lifestyle habits are to blame. poor diets, lack of exercise and smoking are the major contributors. ♪ i'm meteorologist dave warren. we are looking at snow here. this is lake-effect snow. you see this on the radar here.

it's a one streamer of snow and this is what it looks like when you are in it. the snow came across parts of western new york like buffalo. cars were buried, and that's what you deal with when you get this cold arctic air coming over the waters of the great lakes. it is starting to wind down a little bit, but this is just in a time for the next storm that is approaching. this is the area seeing the lake-effect snow in western new york. these wind chills are down well below zero in chicago. another cold day expected in the mid-atlantic states philadelphia all the way up through boston. the radar plus the clouds showing it is all quiet except for the lake-effect snow.

but the midwest we'll see a storm developing. the storm track is critical here. this is -- storm seen hereover the midwest, but look at this kink, these are lines of equal pressure. a storm redevelops as this all moves east. very tricky to forecast, and the times looking to be oversight saturday to sunday as the storm develops it keeps the cold air in place. this is saturday night, and you are getting rain as you move up the cold air. a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain, depending on where this redevelops. it's tricky to forecast, but it will definitely be impacting the area saturday night and sunday. that cold air held in place saturday. that's where you get that sleet or freezing rain. thursday, friday, just cold, but there is that mix.

overnight saturday to sunday the storm will clear out but keep the cold area in place. in new york snow developing saturday ending early sunday, temperatures barely climbing above the freezing mark. but sunday the wind picks up, gets a little colder, but dries out. so we'll watch the development. dave thank you. technology has come a long way. a new use for 3-d printers in japan. this 9 year old girl had never seen a snow flake until she felt and touched one created by a 3-d printer. teachers say it helps children expand their imagination and understanding of the world. thanks for watching al jazeera america. "the stream" isment doing up next. for news updates throughout the

day, head to aljazeera.com. ♪ >> i'm lisa fletcher and you're in the stream. crude intentions or a slick move for the u.s. we debate the benefits versus environmental concerns. our digital producer wajahat ali, tweet him a lot. waj, big agendas both sides. our community has big things to say about it. >> deeply polarizing,