fueled much of that spending, then there is the jobs front. the number of americans filing for unemployment is at it's lowest level in nearly a month. the labor department says jobless claims fell by 42,000 last week, and when you add it all together, watch the stock market sore. >> i mean at the end of the month, 2.5 million people go off unemployment because it is the emergency unemployment benefits program. will end, that's money really spent every day by

every recipient. plus the jobs we have saved are not necessarily the higher paying jobs. in november, in october for example, half the jobs are created were in the retail sector. or hotel, and restaurant personnel, not career jobs. and not the best paying jobs. it is immaterial proving not going to be a particular date that we see a turn around, and that it won't be a particular statistic, that tells us what is the turn around. >> so for more on this economy, let's turn to jim, who has been speaking to shoppers, jim, as always great to see you. >> what accounts for a rise in spending this holiday season? >> the people we talk about at the kerry creek mall, they tell us that they are feeling pretty good about themselves, feeling pretty good about their job situation, a little more secure now than just a couple of years ago, when the economy has tanked.

some people got up at 6:00 o'clock in the morning but of course you talk about the great deals that are people are being offered too. you can see the sign 70% off here. 30% to 70% off. they are not going overboard, they are watching their pennys but they have been cut back either. and that's clearly having ask impact on the economy, fewer unemployment applications what's the employment picture for people there in colorado? >> that might change, some of the ideas that people have about family security. come this saturday, 18,000 people here in the state of colorado will be losing their unemployment, and down the road in a couple of weeks, a month or so,

about 73,000 people will be cut from those. that's going to hurt our unemployment rate right now, just dropped over the past month, it was just about 7%, it has dropped down to 6.5%. so we are in good shape, but who knows what is coming down the road. when we see those cuts on saturday. >> all right, good to see you, thank you. a lot of christmas gifts are only now on the way, shipping companies are blaming weather and a boom in on line sales. >> now even members of congress -- >> they decided that robert good to see what, what is ups saying today. >> . >> and i quote, ups apologizing. h. >> the drivers are out making deliveries in pickups and we expect nearly all of the packages will be delivered today.

we are making every effort to get all of those packages delivers. >> the packages have been delivered today. >> they did not know. surprising, now, we also talked earlier today to a major shipping and receiving director as a retailer, they say the past few weeks have not been good for fed ex, meaning they have seen loner wait times. they have seen the scanners that are normally supposed to some in and process not show up. fed ex drivers overwhelmed and then angry customers is a understatement, and then costly to their business

they have to deal with all those extra workers. they have e. forty-five o.t. because the shipping companies are not been fulfilling what they told they are going to do. also on the weather note, we have bad weather, was this person says that's simply just an excuse. listens to you describe all the issues reminds me of a note from yesterday, saying a driver saying it was a horrible christmas, i have to ask you, robert, is what happened here a fluke or is this potentially a permanent change in congress super habits? as you said this is about numbers and the numbers

don't lie. the holiday season is up 10%. thanksgiving day, up 21%. black friday 15%, cyber monday 18%, and green monday tension%. and then you put in last week, with an unbelievable surge in ecommerce, with amazon.com. actually u.s. suspects spented what they scal amazon prime, which allowed people to sign up for this membership group that gives them unlimited free shipping for two day shipping. they stopped doing that because they were concerned that u.p.s. and fed ex wouldn't be able to fulfill the orders and sure enough that turned out to be the situation. >> robert what are the online retailers doing do make up for this? i need something, i need a cash card or something? >> you got it. exactly, amazon is offing gift carts for

neighborhoods in juba that didn't get their package. income that sent a package via air, domestically, or internationally, and didn't get to their loved one on time that they are willing to look at that decreeuate a refund. if it went via ground that's part of the process, there is no refund on that. fed ex and understand, both being very apologetic, but no question, people want their packages. sitting around the try, and you don't have the gift for mom and pa, a little bit of an issue. >> great disappointment yesterday for the families and particularly kids that didn't have those gifts to open up yesterday morning. robert gray in atlanta for u., thank you. this could be a december to remember for awe eto makers we will look at what is driving auto sales. president obama signed a by parte san deal today while vacationing in hawaii. the bill will roll back some of the spending cuts.

however, there will be another round of budget talks after the start of a new year. lawmakers will be taking up raising the debt limit. tens of thousands of people are still without power, after a sunday ice storm hid the midwest, the northeast, and parts of canada, in maine, for example, crews are still working to restore electricity to roughly 30,000 customers. for the west, roughly 100,000 homes and businesses are still in the dark. crews there are also working to bring back the power electric companies say it could be days before everything is back up and running. power to more than 100,000 customers. let's get the latest on all of this. >> tony, in parts of maine, things are getting better there. things are deteriorating right now. we have snow showers pushing through that will probably last? the next six to eight

hours. we do have winter weather advisories that actually just were issued here on parts of what is getting into the lake effect snow. so that's going to be an issue. now temperature wise we are seeing temperatures below freezing, of course we expected that. tomorrow they won't be much higher. of course up to the north, we are dealing with colder temperatures, and that's really going to continue. we won't see too much of an increase, maybe three to four degrees. what we rah really concerned about, this is a cold front that is sinking down here towards the south, and with it, it is bringing some very very cold air. so if the power is not up by saturday evening, for example, chicago, only getting to a high of seven on monday overnight lows minus 2. >> all right, appreciate it, thank you, and with his captors warren

weinstein makes a plea with a group linked to al quaida. he says he feels totally abandons by the u.s. >> i am apeopling to you on a humanitarian basis if nothing else, and asking that you take the necessary actions to expedite my release. >> the 72-year-old contractor was in his home in pakistan, when gunman posing as his neighbors abducted him. al quaida leader says his organization is holding him. two u.s. suspects he is being held along the boarder. a former kidnapping victim says pakistan is partly to blame. >> a key blare, frankly, is the government. they do not control their own territory, this is a safe haven that existed

for the taliban, there are also phone operators pakistani civilians been held in this area. >> al quaida has said it would free him if they stop zone strikes. and releases al quaida and taliban prisoners. >> one thing they sort of don't understand and my captors didn't understand, is that frankly americans don't overwhelmingly response to these. they despeed the captors there's a very straight policy that american government will not pay ransom, and will not release prisoners. he bleeded for the 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, then i die. >> that video and the latest one are both marked with al quaida's made yeah arm, the state department says we are working hard to authenticate this later record, but we reiterate that he be released and

returned to his family. the white house has said it won't negotiate with al quaida. >> the united nations representative says more troops and equipment are expected to arrive in the central african naming. we are now over 50,000 civilians in our various compounds. j u.s. consultingba, molcol, and elsewhere. >> again, thousands have been kilted in the country. juba is the capitol,s and the biggest city in this young country.

many families are zillion sleeping at the u.n. base, now officials are trying to convince people it is safe to go back. >> to minimize the lewding and the loss that is are being incurred, we have to deploy portions. the army, in a different location now we are trying to disarm. we try also to disarm those who are not allowed to have guns. and so the people go back to their home. >> this is where many people were killed.

most buildings have been looted. this used to be a super market, there's nothing left. >> some of the damage caused by days of fight and still be seen. but parts of the capitol are busy, people are trying to move on. this family wants to go to home to bring back the remains of their loved ones. there is no way. there was fighting, and so there were cut off somewhere. so they met him there. >> there is still fighting in the unity and upper nile state. >> the kenyan president and the prime minister were in the capitol, trying to broker peace talks.

>> the issues were discussed among others. one is on the decision of honest tillties and the second issue is on the immediate start of talks politically and the third issue is on the detainees who are suspects of the coupe and the humanitarian crisis. >> for that to happen, the president of south sudan, and his former deputy who he accused of attempting a coupe, need to put aside their differences and compromise. >> al jazeera. juba. >> ambassador princeton lineman was an ambassador from 2011 until earl year this year. he says they have a big stake in what is happening there. >> the u.n. must protect

the people that have come to them for protection. but the political talks will be difficult, and that's where the outside community has to work with the parties, it's not going to be just a once all let's get together and talk. it's going to be to find a way to get a constitutional process that these different forces and ambitions can be accommodated in a political way. central african leaders have scheduling a et mooing. more conflicting tonight in the investigation into the death of yasir arafat. palestinian officials have long suspected him of poisons when he died in 2004. a claim israel denies.

found unusually high levels on his clothing and in his remains and a french investigation of his remains also detected the substance. but concluded he died of natural causes. up next, the u.s. announce as new plan to fight al quaida in iraq. plus, the bit coin community, helping to make live easier and the florida homeless shelter. >> 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 i'm phil torres. coming up this week on techknow. it's roll-call for the santa cruz police. their locked, loaded, armed with a computer program that could change everything. >> we found that the model was just incredibly accurate at predicting the times and locations where these crimes were likely to occur.

>> alright, where are we going? >> put your hands behind your back. >> can science predict crime before it happens? throughout the entire state of utah now able to mary. four counties were refusing to allow same-sex marriages. the county facials warned them they could be held in contempt. the ruling prompted hundreds of same sex doubles to mary this week. the united states is sending military aid to

help iraq fight al quaida, the government has been huntings fighters for months now. the province borders syria, and al quaida has become increasingly active there, tom has more on the story. >> the u.s. is providing 75 held fire missles, these are air to ground missles deployed on very light turbo prop planes that are being used in operations against al quaida affiliate affiliatec state of iraq. and inflicting very serious casualties against both civilian and military targets inside iraq. the white house, however, cautions that there has been no formal request for armed u.s. armed drones operating over iraq, nor is there any intention of diverting american armed drones into iraq. but this increasingly

serious security situation, really belies the assurances previously by the white house, that after the withdrawal of all-american combat forces that the security situation inside iraq is secure. >> more protest in turkey over a corruption probe that has shaken the government prime minister. hundreds have taken to the streets around the country demanding that he resign. the prime minister dismissed the cases baseless, and says he is the main together of the investigation. >> about half of the ministers in his cabinet including three that resigned last week, for build projects and money transfers to iran. in syria, a symbiotic surrender in exchange for food and supplies, activists say this happened at a rebel town. in exchange, they got

food, video of the flag was posted to youtube, al jazeera cannot verify the pictures. for almost a year now, government forces have been blockading the town the deal is one of several brief truces in recentn't mos. meantime, britain is under fire for refusing a united nations request to take in syrian refugees, the government is also being criticized for how it handled the case of a british doctor who died in custody. simon mcgregor wood has our report. >> mourners came to pay their respects and offer prayer to his family. >> hundreds came from man who had gone to syria to save lives and ended up losing his own. his grief stricken family insists he was murdered by the regime. >> somebody who has gone out to help the people and the suffering and is

treat sod badly by the authorities in syria. >> i think just the fact of knowing that anybody can go out there to help people doesn't matter -- it is just so inspiring. and really quite upsetting. >> results of a post mar temporary government will be announced late they are week, which may reveal signs of whether he was tortured and how he died. the british government says it tried hard to get access to him, but all to no avail. the family clearly feel more should have been done to help him. the british government is also being criticized for another key issue, that of refugees and the fact that so few are being allowed into the u.k. 16 countries have agreed to take a total of 10,000, but the british government says the focus of the aid should be to help syria's neighboring countries deal with the

problem. it's minister for immigration said i believe such initiatives should be our focus. rather than the resettlement of providing humanitarian evacuation to displaced syrians initiatives which provide only limited relief to the neighbors countries. critics say it is failing its moral duty, and the latest appeal only called for a few hundred to be allowed in. >> the pressures on lebanon and jordan are such that we have to be sharing responsibility for actually coping with the refugee flows. that's why we are calling for the u.k. to participate in a global resettlement program. >> the british government is playing tough on immigration, it is a big domestic political issue. syrian refugees may be paying the price for that. simon mcgregorwood, london. >> nine years ago today a 9.3 magnitude earthquake off the west coast,

devastating the region, in remembrance of the victims prayers were hilted in southern india today. it is a tradition that has happened every year since. prayers are offered to the sea with the hope of preventing similar disasters. more than 220,000 people died and millions more were left home legislation from that tsunami in 2004. you know, it could be a december to remember for car sales up next, what got people shopping for new rides and -- >> i'm mark morgan a former nfl quarterback is returning to the big stage and in the process opening his wallet to others that story ahead.

welcome back to al jazeera america. here is a look at today's top stories. an american kidnapped is asking president obama. just surfaced he urges the sun government to negotiate with his captors. thousands of homes and businesses in the

northern u.s. are still without electricity or heat, a massive ice storm tore down trees and power lines, leaving nearly half a million people in the dark. crews have been working around the clock since to try to restore the electricity. and a spike in holiday sales growth of retail sales was up compared to a year ago, driven by deep discounts and store pro motions and shoppers headed back to stores again today for after christmas sales. santa may have pack add few cars in the sleighing this year. early data suggests december could be the best month for auto sales this year. dealers are pushing those year end sales trying to clear this year's models off of the show room floors. they are offing deep discounts. low lease rates and inexpensive financing another reason could be pent up demand from buyers who have been putting off a new car ever since the recession hit. so let's do this, bring in the car coach. she is also founder of

automotive aspects coordinated. haven't seen you in years great to talk to you again. welcome to al jazeera, what a pleasure. >> yes. >> it's been forever, great halting with you again, i missed you. >> i missed you. so i have toe ask you, why are sales so strong in december? >> well, right now -- usually december is a quiet month, if you walk in a dealership, most years they are like thank god someone walked in, but sales have been progressively growing since august of this year, and we are looking at desks this is very rare, to be 15% over november and 5% over last year, there eastons of insent tiffs, and in some cases as much as $6,000 off a car. lease rates are great. they are trying to build

those sale numbers because the goal is to break that 15 million car mile marker. >> let me understand this, i read something that suggested that car sales were strong last year, but this year, is certainly outpacing the number last year, but what was going on last year? were the refailers offering the same kinds of incentives at the end of the year? >> there's a lot of factors in the way that people save money. so that was probably 36 month leases so now they are starting to become due, car whose is going to buy a lease that's the worse choice, so beam are thinking you know what, time to look for a new car. even on 24 teen there's great deals and every

manufacturing is fighting for that sale. you have car brands like audi that are really being aggressive and even ford and g.m. they are out of their slump, and everyone says the new product, great exciting great technology, who wouldn't want a new car? it is a better deal than a used in more cases. >> wait a minute, did you just indicate that you expect 2014 to be pretty good? >> it's hard to tell. remember the average car is 11 and 12 years old, so those that have cared that they own, at some point the repair is going to be more than the vault. when you look at some of the new car numbers you think i might as well get what i want, and in many cases that's what people are doing. >> it is good to see you,

there she is. the car coach, lauren fix, lauren, let's have you back on the program soon. >> good to see you. >> bit coins are virtual currency, you familiar with this? the charity has gone from serving 50 meal as week, to 900 it is branching out. the story. the tragedy of losing his best friend, inspired jason king to tackle the tragedy of homelessness. sean was murdered last year. it was very brutal, and it effected my family a lot. >> in february, seans outpost was born, after one of sean's presents outreach program for the homeless lost its funding the charity began feeding the homeless one meal a week, ten months later charity has served more than 26,000 meals. he also purchased this nine-acre property, with no panhandling and

overnight catching allowed, the homeless can live here, undisturbed. >> it is a lot better than out there. uh have a shelter, i am not worried about cops on me. >> what is unusual, he has accomplished all of this using bit coins. the vir call currency that allowed you to build things in the real world, he even pays the mortgage with it. he says the outposthas already raised 50,000-dollars from bit coin donors in more than 43 countries. >> the bit county community it is just the kindest people i have ever met. >> king doesn't p solicit donation in any other form. he said there is no way he could have raised so much money so quickly using more traditional methods. king trades the virtual currentsy with participating retailers in exchange for gift cards to purr which is food and other items. bit coin is like a stock in that the price fluke shoe waits, in early

desks one bit coin sored to $1,200. but even with those ups and downs kin says bit coin is the most efficient way he has found to tap into a global community of donors. sean's outpost isn't the only charity. there's an organization called bit coin 100. the stouted benefits instant payment and no credit card or processing fees. kin is a bit coin evangelist. using free wi-fi in a park only their laptops and smart phones when king introduced them to bit coin. they found ways to make them money, and offering to do odd jobs in, change for the digital currency, last month they moved into this house. we were three homeless guys sitting in a park, and you know bit coin

kind of inspired us, made us want to get often the street, and get into a place, so that we could better ourselves. >> to the skeptics that think bit coin is a bubble waiting to burst, they say the value keeps inceasing and the ranks of devotes expanding. >> i think it is going to change the world for everybody. >> it is already changing the lives of pensacola's homeless. al jazeera, pensacola. >> so a lot of students and teachers are taking it pretty easy over the holiday, it is a holiday, and a break, but there is one teacher who will have one heck of a story to share. s? a cool story. >> yeah. >> like you were almost about to say, we hear these stories this is cool stuff. his first thought was probably the play book,

which he knows well. since retiring he has been a math teacher in tacoma washington, he will donate his $53,000 game check to the school. he has also been coaching the football team where his son is a quarterback, and now it's back to the nfl. in the high school scout team, so -- keep throwing in and working my son out all the time. now the principal of lynn con high school joins us now live, and what was your first reaction when you hear that john kit that was making this donation. >> i was not surprised he is a very generous

person. >> you just found out this morning, correct, walk me through that? how did it go? >> i got a text message saying that he heard he was donating the money. >> what were the phone calls what did they involve i am sure it is not your typical day. >> no, there is a lot of media calls a lot of people wondering how the money would be spent. >> you said -- >> we have seen some interviews with the student and you mentioned this is not a surprise, what the influence been as a teichner the classroom at lynn con? >> he is a great teacher. >> fill us in about the math, i was no a big math guy, so is it algebra, what is his day like. >> he teaches -- when he teaches math he teaches algebra, and he didn't teach it this year, but he is a great math teacher.

now it isn't off a former nfl teacher turns to teaching, why in your mind has he been successful in this role? he connects with the kids they love the kids. >> what type of personality would you describe that he has in terms of the classroom? obviously it's a very different vibe than a football field. >> he is a very humble guy, when he is teaching he comes to live. he has a very large personality. >> you mentioned the weight room, you said that was something that he decided to fund, what was the pros is there? the process was he ordered and then told me after the fact. we had to get board approval, it was pretty funny. >> that's normally not the way it is done, correct? >> normally we go through rah process, and john wasn't used to it, so he ordered it before he even

got the job. >> were you there when he was hired to teach. >> yes, i was. >> did you hire him? what was that process about, because again, i am getting professional football player, math teacher, not something that would be in sync. >> no, but i knew for a long time he wanted to come back here and teach. this is where he went to high school. >> what has his legacy been in that regard? then going on to a professional career, i think he plays what 15 years in the nfl, and now coming back and teaching? >> yeah, i just think he is seen as a community guy. do you know what you plan to do with the money, i know it is a very busy day, what do you plan to do with the donation? i want to honor john and jenny and talk about their goals. >> i was going to say, they may have some plans

for the money already, i have been texting with jenny, i haven't talked to john since he went back down to dallas. >> with all the attention this week, do you expect more students to have a sudden interest in math at lincoln, and also is it going to be hard too find those old cowboy jerseys in times for sunday night's game? >> i am not sure about the jerseys we have great kids and they love mated, so i think the plat interest is already there. >> all right, thank you so much for your time, we appreciate it. >> great, thank you. >> all right, and that wraps up the sports. >> terrific. >> a great story, you can tell, but obviously everybody appreciates what he has done. >> and he is the back up. >> yep. >> the cowboys are still saying they are not ruling him out. >> and this is a winning game. >> twin against the eagles the winner takes the nf c east, the loser does not make the playoffs. >> i would like to see them make a couple of snaps. >> can you imagine the kids. >>ly find those before sunday. >> thank you.

>> looking ahead to the new year, with optimism, according to a new a.p. times square poll, a lot of americans won't be sad to see 2013 come to an edge. and they say they are feeling more optimistic about 2014. 49% say they think the porches will improve. they expect the new year to be a downgrade. more than a third of those surveyed say they don't expect much to change. all right, let's head to toward at the top of the hour, hi, joey. >> hey, good evening tonight on our program, we will uncover one big name in the world of street art, the world's sidewalks and building serve as his canvass, and his next inspired location is always a mystery. but wherever he shows up, his works of art are guaranteed to draw huge crowds sometimes big money. as his popularity continue to rise, so does

his zack value. when they lose all sign that he was here. we will look at some of his pieces and see where banksy has left his mark. the bruha ha is coming up at the top of the hour on america tonight. >> joey, appreciate it, the man accused of opening fire at los angeles international airport last month is pleaded not guilty. one tsa agent was killinged seven other people were injured the november 1st shooting shut down the airport for several hours. he could face the death penalty if convicted. an appeals court has orders the release of a catholic clergyman convicted of child endangerment. he has been served time in prison for mishandling sex abuse complaints. but the state dismissed

the case after lynn's attorneys only appealed to parents and care givers. predicting crime before they happen, ahead a look at a new technology that is getting police an edge, plus a scary scene in brazil, swimmers attacked by a school of angry fish. interesting people of our time. this sunday. >> we try to be funny in serious stories which is very, very rare. >> he made radio cool with his sense of humor, insight and curiosity. he opened a new window into american life. >> before they know it we're actually able to present something new that they haven't heard about. >> talk to al jazeera with ira glass. 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. well, for the residents of michigan we are still looking at snow this evening. unfortunately this will last for the next four to six hours.

it is going to cause some problem people out there frying to fix the power lines. also temperatures unfortunately, are still below freezing, we don't expect to even get above freezing until friday afternoon. maybe warmer on saturday, but watch what happens on saturday, we have a cold front that begins to come down. this is the clouds and the snow associated with it, take a look at what chicago is expecting in terms of their forecast, as we go towards the beginning of next week. more snow on sunday, and then diving as we go towards monday, so from 32 degrees as a high on sunday, down to a high of only 70-degrees as we go towards monday. so you can see how cold that air is as we begin next week. now here, people are also dealing with power shout tajes. so the showers and the snow showers have ended we do have a couple of lake effects snow effects going on right now, but for new york, not looking too bad. so friday, saturday, 40 degrees.

sunday unfortunately there will be some rain, and the temperatures dropping as we go towards the beginning of next week.

science, one part crime fighting. when police hit the street his know where they are going, and what to look for. they are relying on a computer program designed by sign tuts, the idea is to predict crime before it happens. john vegan that willer talked to crystal dilworth about it, but first, crystal shows us how it works. they are armed with an entirely now type of law enforcement. >> this is where we house the operations division.

>> deputy chief is a 20 year veteran of the police department, he knows the plaid inside and out. he also knowed where it needs to go in the future, a knowledge that led him to a predictive policing software. >> we found that the model was just incredibly accurate at predigging the times and locations where these were likely to occur. we realized we have something here. >> today it is more than a toy to tinker with. in fact, it is the main tool in their arsenal. >> so taking a look at now today on day shift, this is an actual live map of where we think the zones are for auto theft today. what is interesting is as you look at the map, you will see locations where we have theft, but there is no boxing around them that's what the program does for us. the alga rhythm weighs those and lets us know if that's a significant thing we need to be

concerned about. we are just telling you where are the best locations for you to be rat any given time. and police what you see. is bringing up results. we rolled out with them to see how it works. whats going on, man? >> nothing. >> what are we doing? why don't you stand up for me. >> you know what, put your hands behind you back. >> so crystal, what are the numbers show is this working? >> it is working. i mean it is leading to increase number of arrests and a significant reduction in crime in the cities that are using 24 program. so yes, they are vies positive results from this. >> it is all about the data i guess, gathering

it, how does the work work? >> it will get beller at relying on -- it relies on past information, and then it predicts based on those past incidents are the new crimes are likely to occur. >> what is the reaction from police and from residents in santa cruz? >> in van santa cruz. they see that it is working, the residents understand that their police department is using all of these innovative new techniques to try to keep them safe, and this is appreciative of that, and i think the police force is happy to be on the forfront of these technologies. in seattle, we saw a little bit of a different reaction, some of the older more established police officers kind of

saw it as an invasion of their like cop instincts. it's taken them longer. >> it seems like it helps, right? >> yeah, it does help, and it doesn't replace the human element. that's what they mean by police what you see. just a matter of putting them in areas where they are most likely to see them responding. >> be sure to tune in at 4:30 pacific on al jazeera america. the prime minister is fueling tensions with -- in tokyo they pay tribute to japan's soldiers after world war ii, both china and southee yeah condemns

the visit but he says the visit was not meant as a provocation. >> i have absolutely no intention of hurting the feelings of people of china, and korea from the very beginning. >> he says the visit could further strain ties between japan and it esneighbors as they congress to rangele over territory in the east china sea. in argentina, dozens of swimmers had their day at the beach spoiled bay warm of biting fish, more than 70 people were treated, for bites on their hands, and feet, as they swam in the wait for it, piranha river. several children lost patters of fingers and toes authorities blamed the attack on a species of piranha, but said such indents are pretty rare. getting fined for getting a divorce, coming up we will tell you why one country is penalizing men for leaving their wifes and an annual tradition that is sure to leave a mark, we will tell you why folks in peru are

beating one another up before the ball drops on new year's. >> al jazeera's investigative unit has tonight's exclusive report. >> stories that have impact... that make a difference... that open your world... >> this is what we do... >> america tonight next only on al jazeera america every sunday night join us for

officials in 23 northern state are trying to combat an ex-treatmently high divorce rate, that forces men that divorce their wifes to pay up. that might not seem like much, but there most people live on less than $2 a day. she is back at her parents house after her 20-year-old marriage collapses. her troubles 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, i just can't understand, you give someone your life and they turn around to betray you. she was now responsible for her two daughters but in most case a women and all her children are thrown out.

there are more than 1 million divorcees in cairo state. >> the right of divorce here is staggering. according to the association, two out of three marriages end in divorce within one year. many blame it on how inexpensive marriages have become, and how religious and local authorities have abandoned their responsibilities. >> the government is worried about the trend. it has stepped in by arranging mass weddings designed to bring relief to divorcee whose are often shuns by others. the government has taken it a step further, the government via airs it is ready to enforce the law, hopeful that it might solve the problem. >> leadership should come out and take necessary action. leadership must take the bull by its horns, because the consequences of the broken marriages is of course the

production of young men and women who are not being accounted for in the families or who are being ignored. divorcees want a minimum fine of $1,500. but some say, such fines are illegal, under slammic law. >> why do they make marriage so expensive in the first place, the thing is we have lost our values as a people. >> many want the government to take tougher measures, introducing the fines may discouraging some from divorcing their wifes but for most and their children, life will never be the same again. al jazeera, nigeria. >> bear knuckle boxing is the best way to clear the air, well, at least in peru.

>> okay. have some. every christmas people in one town in the andys fight one another, they air their grievances then they try to settle the score before they end -- oh. well, before the new year, it is a celebration i'm told, that includes men, women, and even some kids the annual festival does have ruled referees and local authorities keep an eye on things, and other than a few bumps and bruisers they usually leave with smiles. in south carolina is now home to the world's chili pepper. for growing the hottest pepper on the planet, his carolina reaper measured at 1.6 million heat units, compare that to a jalapeño pepper, which is just 5,000 on the scale. and coming up tonight, raring to go, iran was once the 13th larger auto

makener the world until. ♪ welcome to al jazeera america. by one measure this was a spectacular holiday shopping center. growth and sales more than tripled from last year, thanks to deep discounts and promotions and many shoppers spent today back in the stores to catch those after christmas bargains. but some people are still waiting for their gifts to arrive. still in transit after an online shipping boom, bad weather caused delayed they say delivery truck have had been out in full force today. thousands of people across the northeast are still waiting for their power to come back on, most have been without power since an ice storm this past weekend, the