♪ . >> this is al jazeera america, live from new york city, i'm stephanie cy with a look at today's top stories. an appeal from an american held hostage. warn weinstein seen in a new video. a corruption scabbed call causes a big political shake up. utility workers try to get some americans back online an ice storm is keeping some people in the dark. >> in a video released today, warn weinstein

called on the government to negotiate the captors. as roxanne that reports he wants president obama to help secure his freedom. >> in this video, warn weinstein says he feels totally abandoned and forgotten by the u.s. >> and therefore appealing to you, on a humanitarian basis if nothing else. and asking that you take the necessary actions to ebbing performance diet my release. >> the contractor was in his home in la hear paxton, when gunman posing as his neighbors abdoubted him in 2011. al quaida leader says his organization is holding weinstein. the u.s. suspects he is being held along the boarder between afghanistan and pakistan. a former kidnapping victim says pakistan is partly to blame. >> a key player in all

this, frankly, is the pakistani government. they do not control their own territory. this is a safe haven for al quaida, there also many pakistani civilians being held. >> and releases al quaida and taliban prisoners. >> weinstein pleaded for the president's help last year too, in this video. >> my life is in your hands mr. president. if you accept the demands i live, if you don't accept the demands then i die. that video and the latest one, are both marks with al quaida's made yeah arm. the state department says we are working hard to authenticate this latest report, but we reiterate that he will be released. the white house has said it won't negotiate with al quaida. al jazeera. >> the united nations says it hopes to increase

its presence. we are improved an inkroosed and rapid redeployment of available assets. in particular where civilians have sought refuge in our camps. we are now at over 50,000 civilians. in our various compounds. in juba, molcol and elsewhere. >> the u.n.'s move to send reinforcements comes as african leaders end the fighting that has killed more than 1,000 people in the last 11 days. al jazeera has the late breast the capitol. >> soldiers patrol neighborhoods in juba. where fighting between rebels and government troops broke out two weeks ago, people living around here, were caught in the middle of the violence.

now officials are trying to convince people that it is safe to go back. >> minimize and the los that is are being incurred, we have to deploy forces. police, security, the army, in a different location. to maintain law and order, now we are tried to disarm against, we are trying also to disarm those who are not allowed to possess guns. and say that it will go back to their home. >> this is where many people were killed. people haven't come back to this part of town, it is eerily quiet. most buildings have been looted this used to be a super market, there is nothing left. >> some of the damage caused by days of fighting can still be seen. but parts of the capitol are busy, people are trying to move on. >> this family wants to

go to estates to bring back the remains of their loved one. he was a general in the army, who was killed on december 16th. >> it was difficult to get his body, and he was buried somewhere in the bush. >> it is relatively quiet, but there is still fighting. >> they were in the capitol trying to broke the peace talks.

>> the detainees suspects of the coupe. and the humanitarian crisis. >> . >> al jazeera. jube ba. >> if you recollectkies protestors have taken to the streets in the wake of a major corruption scandal. al jazeera has more from istanbul. >> hours after the cabinet minister resigned over a corruption scandal, prime minister announced a major cabinet reshuffle replacing ten of his ministers. >> .

>> earlier, interior minister and economy minister resigned. but the departure of the environment minister was very different, one that exposed deep divisions in the government. they decided to announce his resignation on live television during an interview with local, and the event not only took aside the prime minister, but also asked him to resign. a called the prime minister chose to ignore. police are investigating allegations of illicit money transfer to iran and bribery for construction projects. many believe, the scandals from a power struggle -- between this man, the influential based cleric, who is set

to have many followers within the turkeys police and judiciary. the government dismissed dozens of police officials who are either involved in the investigation, or told to be limpinged to sudan. >> the government in this case means interim turmoil. such a step is unprecedented and expected and one can only speculate this will shatter ground even more. >> during the party 11 year rule, this is the first time three ministers have resigned, they at asked the prime minister to resign with a close friend of his. for some, this is the first crack down in the government, and the mention is whether his popularity will be effected ahead of two coming electioning in 2014. al jazeera, istanbul.

>> well, it is the day of christmas when millions of americans head to stores to exchange their gifts. but others are still waiting for their christmas gifts to arrive. many shopped online expecting their presents to land on doorsteps by christmas, the problems that a couple of america's biggest shipping companies prevented that. tell us what happened? >> well, a few weeks ago which is where all the airplanes come in and out of, and they ship packages all around the country, and we are reporting on is fact that there will be a shipping surge. well, indeed there was. ecommerce is booming, nearly up 10% this season. and last minute shoppers create add perfect storm within u.p.s., fid ex, and companies like

amazon.com, which last week received an abundant amount of online purchases that sent the retailer -- or the shipping companies all over the united states to try to get packages to people's doors. the past few days it has been a nightmare for many of them. u.p.s. puts on a statement, saying the volume has competed the capacity of the network. to help u.p.s. do this, they still didn't have enough workers. so a situation where a lot of folks still waiting for their packages and waiting for days nonetheless, people are upset. >> they kind of get an extended christmas. i am surprised that this hasn't happened before. it is not new that people are going online to shop more and more. isn't this a permanent

change and why weren't they more prepared? you are right. ups decided even though the storm was osecuring so to speak, there was weather, more packages than they could handle. one of the last times they did that was in 2004. fed ex did have some of their express centers open yesterday, so people could stop by, pick up packages that never made it to their house. but consumer habits have changed and perhaps this is a sign of the times that maybe the retailers online retailers and the shippers need to have better lines of communication to meet the needs. >> okay, robert ray reporting to us, thank you. >> well, the day after christmas has become a big day for retailers not just because of the

returns but also their last big chance before the new year to move merchandise. jim cooley spent the day at the cherry creek shopping center. you know, this is not a crazy mall. but i can tell you, over the last hour or so we have seen the crowds increase more and more. one store was open bright and early, masseys opened at 6:00 a.m., also in the area, we have had target stores jc penny opening up at 7:00 a.m. these after christmas 30, how% deals. let me show you one thing, this is a kids store, you can see the family right there, the mom with a couple of kids they are standing in front of that sign, you can see it up to 70% off. a lot of people coming here today, log looking for those deals they are shopping and also

exchanges. >> yeah, i know about that. a lot of people don't they also head to the mall to use all the gift carts that are given out? oh my gosh, yeah, i have one in my back pocket i am dieing to use, and the gift cards have an incredible this year. before christmas something like $30 billion worth were sold given out yesterday, so again, a lot of teens and a lot of adults as well. they are hoping they will come in the door today. >> 50% day off, and just some exchanges for the kids. some j. crew, ann taylor, and just returning things and shopping. so having a girls day. >> it is a good day to have a girls day i guess. leer are a couple of hard numbers. the christmas shopping

season. some 2.3%, this is according to mastercard. last year that number was only about .7%. so a lot of people coming here shopping and of course, yes, indeed as our friend said, exchanges as well. this holiday season was touted to be the worst, but retailers beat expectations. which is up from a year ago, joining me to discuss the sales numbers, mark lieberman, senior economist of economics an hillics research thanks for being with us. i know it is a busy time. so these early predictions said sales were not going to do that well, they seem to have done well, why is there a disconnect? >> they have done well for mastercard.

i am not familiar with all the elements but if they are just loo looking at mastercard that's only a piece of the survey. and i don't necessarily choose one or the other. >> but master car could be a bell weather. >> it could be. especially when comparing apples to apples. that's obviously a positive sign. one of several we have seen on consumer activity. reported just this week, for example, the personal consumer spending went up about 60 billion-dollars in the month of necessary november. yeah, we have seen a spade of positive economic news in the last 30 days. u.s. job less claims came out. is the economy finally

recovering the economy is what you el boo it is. you are working you feel the economy is strong. the neighbor may not be, he or she doesn't feel it is as strong. certainly we have seen positive numbers. went down, but they had got undramatically in the preceding two weeks so this is kind of a direction. at retailers at restaurants and at hotels will lose their jobs and file for benefits. >> october, november, consumer spending went up about $107 billion. in the first two months

of the third quarter they went up about 60 billion dollars and we had a very very strong third quarter. so this is pointing towards perhaps even an stronger fourth quarter. or at least not as dismal a lot of my colleagues have suggested. >> so looking ahead. you have construction workers you have the financial sector when homes are sold, and then you have retailers after the fact. because people spend money when they buy an existing home, or a new home. they add to the economy. there have been studies that document and quantify what those are. mark lieberman, senior economist and managing director, thank you for coming in.

>> tins of thousands of people are still without power. crews are, world numbering around the clock to roughly 30,000 customers. they are trying to do as much as they can before a new storm hits tonight. in michigan, roughly 100,000 homes and businesses are still without power after sunday's storm. it could be saturday before everything is back up and running. and in canada, snow has hampered efforts to restore power to 100,000 customers. why oklahoma residents have a new fear. we have has tornadoes and hailstorms but never an earthquake.

and a far reaching zeal has human rights activists worried. 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 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

when you think of earthquakes oklahoma is not the place that normally comes to mind, this week alone at least two have hit. more than 200 have shaken oklahoma since 2009. some residents who say they believe hydraulic fracking is so blame. >> in the small town of edmond oklahoma, earthquakes are a big part of daily discussion that's because in recent days these residents have had their share of tremors. >> i was sleeping and i felt like a little -- and i woke up. and so i went into my mom's room and my mom is like oh did you feel that. >> we have had tornadoes and hailstorms, and but

never an earthquake. >> six years ago the southwestern state would average between two to three a year. in 2009, the number of quakes began rising with residents feeling the tremors. >> increasingly oklahoma's oil and natural gas drilling is being done by hydraulic fracturing. many residents are concerned that process has led to a rise in earthquakes in the state. fracing injects high pressured water to increase the flow of oil and natural gas, and the disposal of that water has almost more than doubled. >> so the earthquake we are looking at. >> . >> has conducted at least one study exploring the relationship he says? >> there's a likely cause and effect between those and hydraulic fractures used to average one to three or greatner a year, now we are averaging more than 30.

billions are at stake, in lost profits and property damage claims of more research proved the industry is to blame for the quakes. some residents say the jobs they bring are worth the risks. >> fracing can be involved it is probably more man made. i would take a uptick in u.s. energy output verses these medium level earthquakes. >> but for how long? the officials are now encouraging residents to buy insurance, the u.s. gee lodge scal survey warns oklahoma size mick activity is likely to continue. it may even get worse.

>> the dough surging over 120 points. 26 straight session of blue chips closing at an all time high. it is also the 50th record setting performance of the year. the s&p 500 also eking oout a new high. the research group says the buying rush expected late in the season did not materialize. and mortgage rates moving slightly higher, freddie mac says the loan ticked up to 4.48% from 4.47. rates are more than a percentage point higher than this time last year. two government in been he dash has given itself sweeping powers to regulate online activity. credittics say it will limit the power of speech. >> one of the most brome

independent human rights activists is the first person to be tried but the controversial news cyber crimes tribunal. his defense is to release a report by security forces. the government says they inflated the numbers. others say the charges are politically motivated and they have set it up which effects criticism. >> now the media activists human rights activists and any other citizen or political activists -- >> was punished under this law, under this oppressive law. >> the government says that's not the case, and simply trying to protect from online attacks. >> if anything

defamatory, or anything -- inside anything that common the social media, the government is to stop it, block it, so that it is not harmful for the society. >> until the late 90's if you wanted to watch more than one television channel you had to buy one of these. today all the major phone operators are enrolling services by december. but it has left the government struggling to cope. >> inciting riots. the tribunal is yet to tackle this but critics fear it go tuesday far. >> it is far more harsh than similar laws we have in place for print publications.

home run ranked as low as 144th in the press freedom index. people say the risk is etch further towards the bottom. the man accused of killing a tsa agent has pleaded not guilty in federal court. paul anthony was arraigned today, he faces 11 charges including murder and attempted murder. he could be eligible for the death sentence. in pennsylvania, a state appeals court has ordered the release of the catholic church official. the appeals court reversed the conviction. and his attorney says they will try to get him released as early as today.

the last hold out counties are now ready to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. this after a warning by the state attorney general that refeudsing to do so could lead to contempt charges. a federal judge overtuned the bang on same-sex marriage last week. with the new year just daying away, here is one way friends and families are resolving old conflicts. every jeer a community in peru settles the store with the annual christmas oneflood fest, the one on one bra -- and despite the blows are fights are followed by hugs singing and dancing. the united states is offering aid to iraq to fight a common enemy, we will tell you what sort of help they will get. plus, steps to slow down the rising divorce rate in bun region, a fine now for leaving your wife.

from an american that was abducted two years ago. warn wayne steen asks president obama to intervene and help win his freedom. back to the mall today for millions of americans. people are making returns and cashing in their gift cards they are also trying to take advantage of deep after christmas discounts. turkey's prime minister is in the hot seat after a bribery and corruption scandal. three of his ministers resigned after his sons were arrested. the ice says it is sending military aid to help iraq battle fighters linked to al quaida.

tom ackerman is live in washington now with the details on this military aid. tom, good afternoon. what are we talking about here? well, specifically, it is replenishing the arsenal of held fire missles. these are air to ground that the fledging air force you may call it will be deploying on turboprop planes. very small planes using mostly against armor. armor that is possessed by the al quaida affiliates that have been operating across the border, and raiding both sunni and shiite targets. these held fire missles have been used by american forces and the cia in attacks on targets specific taggers the al quaida preacher in yemen. but -- and you can expect

that the iraqis will be using it for similar purposes. they are also going to be shipping reconnie sans drones. these are drones that are very light light. 40 pounds no more than that, and easily launched to provide up to 15 hours at a time of specific targets. the white house specifically said that there will be no -- there's been no request for such drones nor is the united states prepared to divert any of it's armed drones into iraqi air space. also the united states has balked for attack helicopters. so the iraqis have just gone ahead and bout them from russia. similar kind of helicopters.

tom, we have seen a real uptick in violence, what does this say about the ability to maintain security since troops releft from there? >> this flies in the face of assurances from president obama that with withdrawal of all-american combat services more than a year and a half ago from iraq two years ago that the situation is in hand on the part of the got by the way. they believe that many prominent lawmakers believe that the government is cultivating sectarian violence inside iraq. and that has tended to destabilize the situation. the army united against, or the military against targets of al quaida,

which has been actually capitalizing on the unrest in syria to be able to operate across the boarder from across from syria. spiking of how does this military aid, how does that effect the stance on the war in syria? >> well, iraq has a very complicated situation here. it is ostensibly, it is against this obviously wants stability in syria, but on the other side, it has a long standing alliances at least the shiite elements that dominate the government in baghdad have long standing alliances with the asaad government in damascus. and so while they are making common cause against these sunni opposition groups that are operating from syria it is clear that they are conflicting loyalties.

one camp, allowing oversights from iran of arm supplies to the syrian government. obviously there's great reluctance in washington to get involved in the syrian conflict complex to say the least, reporting from our nation's capitol, thank you. at least five people are recovering from injuries after a bomb explosion in cairo. the blast comes just one day after the egyptian government named the group the muslim brotherhood a terrorist organization. joining me now to discuss what the announcement means she is a professor of law who also has a masters degree in middle eastern studies. thank you for being with us. the muslim brotherhood has been declare add terrorist group, is there

any truth to that. >> well, the problem is there hasn't been a transparent and open forum in which they can be adjudicated and tried for being dedicated. no one know whose did and it the government should find out, but to declare that the muslim brotherhood did it doesn't mean that is in fact the truth. they are claiming responsibility at least for the police station. meanwhile it is denying using violence. this designation may be a political move, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they are holding the true perp tray r toes accountable. there are calls for conservatives to put the muslim brotherhood on the list of terrorist groups.

>> i think prior to egypt's designate it was quite unlikely. it is setting a precedent and it is going to trigger probably a come gnat attempt. who b eager marginalize their own groups. and then that's going to effect the united states where you have significant number of right wing i think upon fied anti-muslim group who are seeking to designate the brotherhood. so i think that many may

be adversely effected if this eventually spreads to the united states. >> those are some pretty big claims there. meanwhile it is easy to forget that the muslim brotherhood and the president they supported morsy, were democratically fairly elected and here they are now as designated terrorists, what does this mean for the future, what does it mean for the political situation there? >> i think it doesn't bode well, even though there are individuals that may be officially brothers or associated who have enganged in violence. but not everybody who is associated with the brotherhood is enganged in violence, and i think that like any very diverse group, you have the extremist elements and the moderates and the more pacifist. that is happening now is embodelenning the extremist. you will see a break off and a more violent

response, where lit be questionable who is in control. most of the leader shin is in jail right now, so it is unclear who is controlling to begin with. if you can be democratically elected one day in egypt, and the next day end up being in jail and charged with crimes and your entire party be banned that doesn't bode well for any future president and future political party. with the fate in the region as well. thank you for your insights today. more syrian refugees the u.k. is also being criticized for how it handled the case of a british doctor. simon mcgregor wood has more from london.

his grief stricken family insists he was murdered. >> someone who has gone out to help the people, and the suffering that is going on, and has been treat sod badly. >> i think just the fact that knowing that anybody can go out there doesn't matter where you are from. it is just inspiring and really quite upsetting. just days before his death, he had written home, talking about his

release from government detention. but all to no avail. the family feel more should have been done to help him. the british government is also being criticized for it's performance on another key issue. that of refugees and the fact that so few are being allowed in. the british government says the focus should be to help the neighboring countries deal with the problem. it's immigration said i believe such initiatives should be our focus, rather than the resettlement of providing humanitarian evaccase to displaced syrians initiatives which provide only limited relief to the neighboring countries.

and the u.n.'s latest appeal only calls for a few hundred syrians to be allowed in. the british government is playing tough, it is a big issue. syrian refugees may be paying the price for that. simon mcgregorwood, al jazeera london. >> six members of the peace keeping force have been killed in central african republic. wednesday's attacked prompted many to flee the city. the peace keepers killed were all from chad. on sunday, a group of soldiers allegedly opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators. the region has been under a state of emergency for six days now. the first of the so called arctic green peace

left the country today, demetry was the fist to be freed after two months of detention. the group was arrested in september when they illegally board add russian oil tanker. the got is now issuing fines for men trying to leave their wifes. the story from nigeria. >> she is back in her parents house, after her 20-year-old marriage clapped. our troubled started when her husband brought in a new wife. >> he kept mistreating me and showing preference over his second wife, but i never disobeyed him. you give someone your life and they turn around to betray you.

her story is coed by women as young as 16, whose marriages have also ended. there are more than 1 million divorce sees here. many blames it on how inexpensive marges have become, and how religious and local authorities have abandoned their responsibles. >> is government is taken it a step further. developing a woman for baseless reasonings attract add 300-dollar fine. homeful that it might solve the problem. >> come out and take necessary action.

because the consequences is of course the production of men and women, who are not being cared for in the families who are being ignored. but some religious leaders say such fines are illegal under islamic law. n law has no basis to allow people who have the means to do as their please. why do they make marriage so expenseny the fist place? the thing is we have lost our values as a people. >> many want the government to take tougher issues. the most divorceees and their children, life will never be the same again. al jazeera, nigeria. >> a swarm has injured

dozens of people in argentina. more than 70 people were hurt. a seven-year-old girl had to have a finger partially amputated. carnivorous fish are not uncommon, a heat wave is responsible for the piranhas gathering near the surface of the river. olympic dreams aren't always about goad medals just getting to the games is a huge accomplishment, we will meet him next. and check this out. new pictures from the spectacular northern lights from sweden.

many worry that the gains made in education will not stick in the future. aljazeera's jane ferguson takes us to a school in kandahar city that was long considered a success and is now facing closure. >> it's a place offering more than these girls know, a quality education in real tangible skills, a path away from positivity and early marriage and towards university and a career. since 2002, the modern stud has been teaching women languages, like management and computer skills. that they are skills that speak of ambition which in the heart of tallle ban country is remarkable. >> we are a unique school, preparing women to

go to jobs. our school is preparing women to go to universities.

super moms trying to ball lance jobs and making the holidays perfect. then there are mothers battling addiction. mothers trying to do it all. >> julie seemed to have it all. she had a great job in nashville tennessee, a loving family and lots of friends but she was deceiving everyone. >> the night that i thought i was going to die was the first step to a new life. >> julie is a recovering alcohol, she hid it all, becoming a master of deception. >> i had a mask that i wore for the world, and i would drink. in private. she tries to be a super mom, she too became an schoolic with a bottle hidden in every room. >> i baked, i cleaned, i did all the things i was supposed to do. until that last six

months when the alcohol took over. >> bobby and julie know the holidays pose increased pressures for working women with families. >> especially if you have children, you have the shopping, the wrapping, you have the cleaning the house, fix the food, everybody is expecting you to have everything done. increased opportunities for social drinking. addiction can start with something as simple as a glass of wine for dinner. >> but then over time, when the stress is too much, and they are needing to relax every evening, just to get a break, their body becomes physically addicted to it. is than their body needs to have the alcohol just to get through the withdrawal systems. >> in a 2010 study focusing on working women, researchers from the substance abuse and mental health services administration, found that more than 3 million women needed drug or alcohol treatment, only about 5% received it.

bobby hasn't had a drink in more than ten years. she has earned a social work degree. she credits her treatment andn't cooing councilling. >> the biggest thing i got from here, was the night sitting out on the porch for an hour with other women who had been through and were going through the same thing i was going through. >> her company rehired here and she is reconnected with her family, this holiday, with the help of her support group, julie will spend it with her family. rachelle kerry, al jazeera. >> he has never won a medal and unlikely he ever will. four years ago he was one of the first to compete at the winter games and in a few weeks he is headed for sochi. allen has his city.

the skiing in being in contact with nature, and the trails you are on your own. you are just at your own pace, you go at your own pace, and you are just thinking about 1 million things. >> among the many things spinning through his head, memories of a night four years ago, the opening ceremonies of the vancouver games when he had aing from in his hand, and a country on his soldiers. >> curtains open up and you just walk out, and then you feel the roar of people and you can't put it in words. just to be peruvian and have the flag. >> he lives in seattle

filling out team. he gets some support from the peruvian olympic committee and more from the international solidarity program. which supports athletes and coaches from developing countries. kate works for microsoft he has a consulting business. born is raised in peru, he was a national surfing champion and long distance runner long before he tried skiing. he is still learning. i am getting older and better. >> he finished ninety-fourth out of 95 in the 2010 olympics and he knows he is not going to win a medal. victory for roberto is just raiding awarend of winter sports in his native country. >> how much recreational skiing is there in peru? >> a little. >> right now he is the winter olympic team, all

of it, but he has a vision, of kidding living and training at high attitude and some day growing up to take on the world. >> to train a group of kids that live up in the andys and put them on roller skis and perhaps as few years down the road will have a house mate, peruvian delegation he hope as second olympic appearance will help him raise money and interest. meanwhile, it is just him, and the snow, and a challenging trail ahead. allen shoff her, al jazeera british columbia. >> all right, it's the video that making this next story worth telling so let's take a look. it is the christmas day awe roar jay borealis, or northern lights. the spectacular show happens.

the stream is uniquely

month of december ending up about seven degrees above normal. here we are, 2013 and we have been spending december mostly seven degrees below average. so two years of mild winter, but now we have the snow, and boy is it a lot. marquette has the lesser amount because of the way the winds move through your area, however, we have been getting lake effect snow warnings just to the west, and also to the east of the city. like ontario you are under a lake effect snow warning where we will continue to see that snow coming down, anywhere from two to four-inches is expected. most areas are starting to see the snow shower taper off. to parts of northern illinois. so going to be chilly,

and we will expect to see that snow slowly taper off joy flight, not only for lake ontario, but also for maine. some great skiing and a lot of folks have been enjoying the powder. several inches of fresh snow, this is taken earlier today, enjoying the powder there, the snow cover is at it's greatest, montreal, but you can see we have light amounts of five to ten-inches on the ground. now, no snow when you two to the west. and our snow packet is going to shrink slowly, because we have no real threat of any snow coming in on the west coast at least not down into california. we will keep you updated right here.

this is al jazeera america, live from new york city. w a look at today's top stories. leaders from south sudan are in the country right now looking for ways to stop the civil unrest, the u.n. special represent is say military reinforcements are arriving to protect civilians in the next 48 hours. a new video released by an al quaida linked group, shows an american who was abducted two years ago. on the tape, 72-year-old development worker asked president obama to intervene, and help win his freedom. the state department says it is working to verify the videos authenticity. turkey's prime minister is in the hot seat after replacing half his cabinet because of a bribery scandal, three of