welcome to al jazeera america. i'm richelle carey. here are the stories we're following for you. new efforts to bring peace to south sudan, the un enjoy demands an end to the violence. american kidnapped in pakistan seconds out a plea to president obama. and retailers have a huge steak in the turnout for the last major shopping day of the year. plus the ups waiting game. the company is trying to deliver on some christmas promises. ♪

we began in south sudan where diplomatic efforts are underway to end the violence there. kenyan's president joins ore leaders trying to being end the violence. the un beliefs thousands of people have died since the fighting began on december 15th. the un special representative pleaded for an end to the violence. >> these past 11 days have been a very trying time for south sudan and all citizens of this new-born nation. what has happened last week has for many of them brought back the nightmares of the past. the nation painstakingly built over decades of conflict and strife is at steak. >> i expressed my willingness

for dialogue for a peaceful settlement of our differences. i also send the same message to all other armed groups who have taken up arms against the state. all of these efforts i have taking for peace. >> the un says aid agencies need $166 million in the next few months to help take care of hundreds of thousands of people. now to an american man kidnapped in pakistan appeals to the president for assistance. he was working for a u.s. consulting firm, and the video sent to several media outlets, the 72-year-old urges the white house to intervene in his case. >> nine years ago i came to pakistan to help my government,

and i did so at a time when most americans would not come here. and now when i need my government, it seems that i have been totally abandoned. >> the state department says it is working to authenticate the video, and calls on the captors to let him return to his family. it is the day after christmas and millions of americans are headed to the stores in search of great deals but others are waiting for gifts to arrive. robert ray is in atlanta with more on the package situation, but we're going to begin with jim hooley at the cherry creek mall in denver with the after-christmas sales. today is about returns and using those gift cards that you got, am i correct? >> here we go again, richelle,

yes, it is lot about returns, but a lot about these gift cards that people got for christmas and now they are burning a hole in their back pocket. especially younger people want to take these cards that they received yesterday and get out here and just start spending. something like $30 billion of gift cards sold in the holiday season just before christmas, so that's an incredible number. it was a pretty good holiday season. holiday sales spiking just before christmas about 2.3%. that's pretty good compared to last year, but it is all about -- yes, some returns, but these gift cards right here, $30 billion are. a lot of those are going to be spent today. i have 25 bucks on this jcpenney card, and i'm going to be spending that later on today too. >> let me ask one more question and then i'll let you go

shopping. online sales -- it seems that people are bypassing the malls and crowds and shopping right in their homes using their computers. it's really popular. >> yeah, it's been like a black friday, some of the online sales started on christmas eve, christmas day, all day long, some of the websites are offering some of these door-buster sales even during christmas day with deals up to 70%, so that will be a big factor today again. >> jim hooley thank you very much for that report. a lot of people who did go shopping online tried to time it, thinking the gift i bought will arrive at my love's one doorstep by christmas day. that hasn't happened for a startling number of people this year. robert ray joins us live from atlanta. what in the world is going on robert? >> yeah, richelle, good

afternoon. if you listen to retail analysts, they will tell you it's a perfect storm of weather and a surge of online sales. of course that is true, but let's do a little rewind back to november 1st of this year. online sales are up nearly 10% since november 1st to december 15th. now you put in bad weather last week, and ups and fedex trying to move their thousands and millions of packages ash the country, and create amazon.com the online giant with a surge of sales in the past week. one of the particular things they did was they created amazon prime, which allows a special group of people who register, they get two-day -- guaranteed two-day shipping for free. last week they had over a million people subscribe? -- in the course of a few days and last week the company

decided they needed to cease and desist because they didn't want to overwhelm the shippers, but they were a little bit too late. the ups store behind us said their business is down because their online shopping has so increased this year, richelle. >> so what are these companies doing to make this right for people that are extremely frustrated? >> ups and fedex are trying to figure out what to do. we reached out to ups earlier this morning, they said hopefully by the end of today they would have a statement for us. as far as the online retailers like amazon and kohl's people that receive a lot of requests for products to be shipped out. amazon is giving $20 gift cards,

kohl's is saying they are willing to look at some of the shippers that did not get their products, and they are willing to do that for free. so people are trying to find their packages and get their gifts for their loved one the day after christmas. >> i guess everyone needs to remember it is the thought that counts. robert ray, thank you very much. in turkey the prime minister believes that he is the targ target -- the real target of the corruption investigation that has shaken his administration. prosecutors are questioning allegations to money laundering and other charges. one minister also called for the prime minister's resignation. he appointed ten new ministers and met with them today.

at least five people were injured when a bomb exploded in a bus near cairo. in its first comment since the wave of violence, egypt's interim president said he would stand firmly against terrorism. thailand's electoral commission is calling for elections to be held back. lawrence loui has more. >> reporter: the government has not issued a statement yet, but a politician from the ruling party has said that they do not agree with any postponement of the elections. the main protest group has always said that the postponement will not meet their demand. they want the prime minister and her ministers to step down, and

they say that a postponement would only prolong the administration of the government. they say the go has to step down. they don't trust this government anymore and they are refusing to negotiate. there is a bill in congress that would raise the cost of flood insurance. not good news for homeowners in flood-prone areas. that story next. and later, a cab driver finds $3,000 in his car, and he gave it back. here is more. >> beneath the fluorescentsun in a former meat packing plant is the latest trim in farming. they call it "vertical farming."

these fields grow on floors on at industrial park and farmer john adel and his staff agrees user. >> my shipping proceed did you say 1500, 2,000 miles to get are. >> the plant of the indoor -- as the indoor formers call it doesn't grow corn or soybeans but mustard, high end micro greens on the plates of white-napkin restaurants. these fish supply the vert liser that number issues the

>> start with one issue ad guests on all sides of the debate. and a host willing to ask the tough questions and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5pm et / 2pm pt only on al jazeera america congress is expected to consider changes to a new law that would drastically increase flood insurance premiums for more than a million americans. many people in flood sensitive areas say they couldn't afford the cost and would have to leave their homes. >> reporter: in the quaint

coastal town in louisiana lies a close knit community. >> all of these dogs come to us as rescues. >> reporter: three years ago kelly and her husband found the perfect home and moved in with a lease to own contract. >> it was a beautiful spot on the water. everything we always dreamed of having. >> reporter: but last month the landlord broke the bad news, their flood insurance is expected to quadruple under a new law. >> we were forced out absolutely. and there's no way that we could have afforded it. >> reporter: so the martins moved back into the house they left. a place they had converted into kelly's animal boarding business. even for that home they will face higher insurance payments. >> all of my friends had to leave because it's too expensive to live here. >> reporter: the federal

emergency management agency has redrawn flood zones nationwide that will effect places like colorado and the northeast where communities are still rebuilding after superstorm sandy. while some people may will forced to cut down on other expenses, others may be forced to give up their homes all together, one way or another. >> i would be forced to sell my house and move out. move to a place where i can afford to live. >> reporter: he knows the reality. right now between homeowners and flood insurance he folks out 13 grand a year, that's before the new law increases his premiums. if your insurance doubles what does that do to you? >> i can't pay it. i feel the government don't care about the poor people. >> reporter: there is now bipartisan legislation to delay

the act for four years, but that's little comfort to those looking long term. >> it is going to effect the who whole economy. >> where could we go? >> reporter: for kelly martin who is trying to save her home and her business, that's an option she doesn't even want to consider sxhchlt >> we're just going to have to pay it. we're going to have to figure out a way to make more money to pay it. >> reporter: but there's only so much they can pay before they have to pack up and leave. clear investors are carrying over the christmas cheer on wall street today. the dow is up right now, almost 72 points, a positive finish would mean another all-time high for the blue chips.

the first reports on holiday shopping are coming in, and the numbers look pretty solid. data for mastercard sales up 2.3% from november 1st to christmas eve. mastercard ads at larger stores performed slightly better than the smaller stores. freddie mac said the average 30-year loan ticked up to 4.48%. japan's bank has already gobbled .sprint and now it is going after t-mobile. an effort to purchase t-mobile would likely will rejected by regulators. a deal between iran and major world powers aims to limit

the country's nuclear program in exchange for relaxingment some economic sanctions. al jazeera reports on one iranian industry that is benefitting from the deal. >> reporter: back on track, people in iran's car industry has found a renewed sense of optimism. the country wants to become one of the top ten auto makers in the world by producing up to 3 million cars a year. that goal is now at least a step closer because of november's nuclear agreement, which includes lifting sanctions on iran's car industry. >> our planning is after removing the sanctions, we go to direction to remove all weakness point in the industry, not just purchasing mass parts from the foreign [ inaudible ]. >> reporter: iron's main

partners started pulling out of the auto industry in 2012, it followed an international ban on trading with iran's car sector. at its peak they produced 1.7 million cars annually. but this year production dropped by almost 40%. and while iran wants to reclaim what it has lost, so too do those foreign partners. >> where is iron? iron is right in the middle. >> reporter: but the mentality has changed since the sanctions hit. >> and during this time, the [ inaudible ] industry has remained silent. they went to the other sources and which was not originally as god as it was before. >> reporter: this self reliance has been tough. last year iran exported more than $1.8 million worth of parts

95% less than two years ago. but it is determined not to rely on foreign ip ports like it did in the past. iran's automotive industry laid off more than 100,000 workers in the past two years because of sanctions and iran's bad economy. so what sanction's relief could mean is thousands of men and women could finally get their jobs back. every car that rolls off of the production line means that prospect increases. now a story about redemption for those mis-shaped fruits and vegetables that people call plain old ugly. there is a market for them now. a portuguese environmental engineer created a product which is named ugly fruit. the project so far has prevented

two tons of food from going to waste. somebody leaves big bucks in a cab and get it back. plus nigeria -- takes steps to slow down the rising divorce rate. has tonight's exclusive report. >> stories that have impact... that make a difference... that open your world... >> this is what we do... >> america tonight weeknights 9et / 6pt only on al jazeera america

welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm richelle carey. here are today's headlines. leaders from kenya, oath openia, and other african countries are in south sudan, meeting with the country's president to look for ways to end the violence that has killed thousands in the last 11 days. a an al-qaeda linked group has released a video of a man captured this pakistan. the video has not been

authenticated. mastercard says holiday sales rose more than 2% from 2012. ukrainian officials have captured two of three people accused of savagely beating a journalist. the attack came hours after she posted an article critical of the government. look at her injuries there. opposition members have accused the go of resorting to violence to stop activists. divorcing in nigeria is now bringing a fine. the state has the highest divorce rate in the country, but not everyone is pleased with the new law. >> reporter: this is a mother of five. she is back in her parents house after her 20-year-old marriage

collapsed. her troubles started when her husband brought in a new wife. >> translator: he kept mistreating me and showing reference over his second wife, but i never disobeyed him. i just can't understand, you give someone your life and they turn around to betray you. >> reporter: she is now responsible for her two daughters, but in most cases a woman and all of her children are thrown out. her story arcoed by women as young of 16. there are more than a million divorceees. this state. the divorce rate here is staggering, two out of three marriages end in divorce within one year, many blamed it on how inexpensive marriages have become. and how religious and local authorities have abandoned their responsibilities. the state has stepped in by arranging mass weddings designed

to bring relief to divorceees who are often shunned by others. divorcing a woman for business reasons now attracted a $300 fine. the government says it is ready to enforce the law. >> leadership should come out and take necessary action. leadership must take the bull by it's a horns, because the consequences of the broken marriages is the production of young men and women who are not being cared for in the families or who are being ignored. >> reporter: divorceees however, want a minimum fine of $1,500, but some religious leaders say such fines are illegal in islamic law. >> translator: this law has no basis in islam. it will allow people who have the means to do as they please. where do they make marriage so

expensive in the first place? the thing is we have lost our values as a people. >> reporter: many want the government to take tougher measures. introducing the fines may discourage some from divorcing their wives, but for most divorceees and their children life will never be the same again. nine years ago a tsunami claimed thousands of lives. today memorials were held in communities that were left devastated in 2004. a village held a ceremony offering prayers. it is estimated that 230,000 people were killed by that tsunami. ♪ bans of snow working their way across the great lakes. we have had a significant amount of snow just in a few months around the great lakes before

they have completely frozen over. you'll get a lighter amount of snow in marquette harbor, because to the west and east you have lake-effect snow advisories in effect. that wind will be moving in across water, picking up moisture, hitting land, and dumping more snow. it may only be a couple of inches today, but we're going to get potentially around a foot of snow around lake erie and lake ontario. it's going to take some time, we still have a mild day today comparatively. but first the shot of snow you can see moving across the great lakes into the northeast. we'll see this start to wrap up, but we have another storm coming up from the south later in the week. in the pacific northwest, it's a quiet story.

we're expecting to see a dense fog advisory and air quality continue out there at least another couple of days. 21 for minneapolis and chicago. 15 degrees warmer for rapid city, and you are 38 right now, so that can feeling pretty balmy for you. the colder temperatures of 27 in detroit, and in canada, thunder bay, 8 degrees below zero. friday a much quieter day overall. travel is looking good unless you are traveling through north idaho, you will get some snow, otherwise things are really settling down until we track that next storm. thank you. the spirit of giving got a little energy boost in starbucks

this season. more than 400 starbucks customer decided to pay it forward by buying the coffee of the person behind them. if you stumbled upon $300,000 in cash, would you give it back? a las vegas cab driver is being hailed for doing just that. he said he thought someone left a bag of chocolates, he looked inside and found six bundles of $100 bills. >> why? because it does not belong to me. i'm not interested about this money. and i just want to do the right thing. >> and he did. the cab company awarded the driver a thousand dollars and dinner for two, and that money belonged to a poker player at vegas. come on. thank you for watching al jazeera america.

i'm richelle carey. "the stream" is next. and check out our website at aljazeera.com. thanks for your time. i'm lisa fletcher, and you're in "the stream." what's the right equation to help students learn. here's the formula, and it has many rethinking the future of education. >> we bring in your voice and all of your live feedback throughout the show. in the 1920s everybody thought radio was the tool that was going to transform learning, and now people are looking to online education for this. >> we have this thing call the internet, and the online