>> the violence in ukraine is intensifying. protesters are rioting. organizers are calling for peest. tens of thousands are rallying. protesters kidnapped a policemen. 20 others officers have been hurt, along with dozens of protesters. jennifer glass has the latest from kiev. >> it's the worst violence from kiev in two months. thousands clashed with police, blocking the road to parliament. police used pepper gas. opposition kidnapped a policeman. >> the opposition tried to calm the people, with no success. this is the confrontation that opposition leaders were trying to avoid. after eight weeks of protest

with little results, some protesters are frustrated and decided to confront authorities in the seat. tensions heightened when a court declared demonstrations in the center kiev illegal and they signed into law laws limiting free speech. thousands gathered in independence square to defy the laws. >> translation: i appeal to law enforcement to servicemen - join the people, protect the people. you gave an oath to the ukrainian people first of all. you have to protect them. >> the government says they are public order laws. the people disagree. >> it's not a law, it's a coup. each one - when the coup happens, especially whenthere's a social explosion, it triggers situations in unpredictable way. >> with my presence i'm trying to show to people, the parliament and the government

that we not agree with them, and i'm against the choices and the rules. >> the rules give the police powers they would need to limit the protest. this evening protesters remain on independent square. a few hundred metres away street skirmishes continue. the police have been restrained. there are fears the authority will use this conflict as an excuse to end eight weeks of demonstrations. >> a video emerged of two men claiming to be the suicide bombers in last week's attack in volva grad. they warned tourists will get a "present." vladimir putin insists tourists will be safe. james violence us from washington, a former fellow advisor to the center of republic.

what do you make to the threat? >> it's a credible threat. given the volatility of the caucuses and the ties that the czechan terrorists have to middle eastern groups, it's yeahedible that they -- credible that they intend to launch an attack against the olympics, can they do so? is the security with with which the russians have blankets sochi and the surrounding areas, sufficient to thwart that. >> given that it comes a day before the olympic torch is scheduled to go through vol very grad. >> the timing is of concern. if they can't assure people of safety at the olympics, it's worth producing a video, each if

they can't follow through with the threat. it's hard to know whether it's smoke or there's a fire behind it >> do you think russia is doing enough to protect the tourists there? >> i think they are doing everything they can. whether it turns out to be sufficient, we'll only know by the end of the olympics. >> and another story involving russia, how's committee chair mike rogers charged russia may have helped edward snowden. let's take a listen to that. >> a thief who we belief had some help, who stole information, the vast majority had nothing to do with privacy - army, navy, air force, marines have been incredibly harmed by the data he has taken with him, and we believe it was in the hands of nation states. >> who helped him, do you think?

>> there were questions we have to get answered where some of the aid - first of all, if it was a privacy concern, he didn't look for information on the private site for americans. he was stealing information to do with how we operated to keep americans safe. that begs a question, and some of the things that he did were behind his technical capabilities, races more questions. >> mike rogers saying that edward snowden had help from russia. any credibility to that? >> i don't think it's something that can be dismissed out of hand. the suggestion that the russians or other foreign countries may have been involved with edward snowden from the beginning, he did not just happen to end up in moscow, have been around for several weeks. mr rogers is suggesting there's something more technically based behind the allegations. without knowing the details, i don't think anyone is in a position to know how concrete

the evidence for that is. i'm not sure i would necessarily agree, at least with the statement that has just been recorded. the ip was that he didn't just collect information on privacy. i don't know how hermetically sealed we can say the operations are. that if you collect the information relevant to the privacy of americans, that that will not be involved collecting a lot of other information as well. i don't think it's something that can be dismissed out of hand >> has there been evidence showing that russia may have had a role in this. >> not to my knowledge. the burden is on those making the allegations. they may not be able to produce them publicly, even if that information exists. >> thank you for your time. former foreign policy advisor to the u.s. senate republican committee. >> thank you. >> before the edward snowden leaks, before public scrutiny the n.s.a. was working on a high

tech building designed to funnel their information. >> if you wondered where the national security agency stores all that data it collects - well, you're looking at it. this is the utah data center in blufdale, a 92,000 square metre complex completed last september at a cost of 1.5 billion. james bam ford studied the n.s.a. for decades. >> it's designed to hold a tremendous amount of n.s.a.'s intercepted information. phone calls, email, metadata. it needs a place to store it. that is what blufdale is for. you can think of it as n.s.a.'s external hard drive. >> the n.s.a. declined an address for interview. in blufdale, population 8,000, most do not have qualms about

their neighbour, the spy agency. >> it's an important mission. they get information from around the world. my understanding is that they study it here. >> if you can't trust the government to do the proper thing, what can you trust? >> in the wake of edward snowden's allegations, a nation-wide movement is building to rein in the n.s.a., using constitutional powers vested in the states. connor boyack is president of a utah legal think tank. >> states and cities are not required to help the federal government fulfil programs and mandates. if we wanted to be could oppose what the n.s.a. is doing. >> in utah, the n.s.a.'s foes think they have found the ultimate weakness. >> opponents of mass surveillance came up with an audacious but legal plan to cripple the data center.

they want the state of utah to turn off the tap on the n.s.a.'s water supply. to keep the equipment from overheating the center needs 6,500 cubic metres of water for a massive cooling system. utah could stop the flow. the result -. >> if the n.s.a. did not have water, it could not cool or operate its servers, it wouldn't be able to mine, store, cyst through the data >> activists plan to put a no cooperation with the n.s.a. bill before the legislature in the near future. >> similar laws have been proposed in other states, including california and washington. after 10 days without water, west virginia residents can drink from their taps again. even though the ban was lifted, many are complaining about the spill. robert ray are at the scene of

the spill. are people nervous about drinking the water. >> very nervous. the ban may be lifted. no one is drinking it, a lot are concerned about bathing in it. if the cameraman could pan here, that is the site of the spill. the containers, perhaps you see the black tarp. that is stopping - helped to stop the spill to occur. the yellow boom in the river. it's an active scene. we had a boat go by. we don't know who the guys were with. if we can come back to me real quick. i want to interview someone here. this is karen ireland. she is a resident here in charleston. this past week, along with a bunch of community members. she opened up a social media group of concerned citizens. why did do you it? >> everyone i talked to, no one wanted to drink the water. we wanted answers about what was in the water, and we weren't

getting the answers that we wanted. we w57b9d to come together and show strength in numbers. >> two weeks ago, before the spill, tell me what you were saying earlier. >> monday evening i smelt something sweet in the upstairs bathroom. tuesday morning i smelt it again. it wasn't liquorice, but it was a sickly sweet smell. i took a shower tuesday later an usual for work. went to my office and immediately felt sick. >> that was three days before the spill was reported. >> yes. >> and your fiancee? >> he came back into town after being out of town and was going to see about flushing the lines. when he went to get a glass of smell, because he'd been gone. some of the water touched his hand and it left a red line and burning sensation. he put the water down and joined

me at a friend. >> we reached out to the water company multiple times since last night. we have done voice and emails. no response. we'd like to know where the odour is coming from, if the water is actually safe, with all the people that are continuing to go the emergency rooms complaining of itchy possess and red skin -- itchiness and red skin. we had put a message on their facebook a page and hope to hear back soon. we'll keep on it. >> i know you will. robert ray live from charleston virgin. >> let's discussion this with a member from the think tank. the water, someone said it stained a hand. the town, the city insists the water is safe. help us understand what is going

on. how can the water be safe but scary for many people? >> the fact of the matter is there's no monitoring except by odour. the water company is overwhelmed. the intake to charleston water is a mile downstream. that ra rash on the hand was reported earlier, before the spill. >> what do you recommend for people living in the town and are worried about the water. >> we know that half of your exposure to contaminants in drinking water can come from cooking, bathing or showering. if you boil the water, it have good ventilation, because when you boil it you boil out the contaminants into the air. the problem came about because epa set up regulations in the 1990s, getting sulphur out of coal. and it meant it went out of the coal, often into the water.

>> who is keeping track of chemical companies, storage facilities, who is keeping track? >> there's no one in charge. some of the sites are 100 years old. from acid mine drainage sites. there's no one person or agency in charge. it makes it difficult for people who live in a small community. >> deborah davis with environmental health trust. thank you for your insight. next - new allegations against chris christie as another mayor of new jersey accuses him of political payback. >> ahead - the faces of modern day slavery, human trafficking in america's background.

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. we are live in new york. more allegations of political bullying involving chris christie's staff. the latest by hoboken mayor,

zimbabwe. chris christie's administration withheld hurricane sandy relief money because she did not support a project splitly connected to chris christie. >> as new jersey governor chris christie visited the sunshine state trying to shore up support from republican donors, a dark cloud hung over his administration. the may junior of hoboken dawn zimmer is accusing chris christie of withholding hurricane sandy money because she didn't get behind a project. it was made clear money would flow if they approved the project. >> she said, "i know it's not right they shouldn't be connected, buts they are. if you del anyone i'll deny it." >> emails show that the project is headed by samson, a political reporter, one of 20 people subpoenaed in a separate scandal tied to the chris christie

administration, relating to the shutting of two lanes on the george washington bridge in september, something that some say was an act of political retribution by the governor. christy blamed his aid. >> i am embarrassed and humiliated by the conduct of some of the people on my team. >> now, the govern's office denied allegations saying it's clear partisan politics are at play. as demic mayors with an axe to grind come out of the baoed work. >> huns dreads of millions was caused in private property. >> i'm stunned he would use the sandy funds and hold them over my head, when you consider what happened to hoboken. we were devastated. >> chris christie is facing three investigations into the

scandal surrounded the george washington bridge. legislative leaders say they may expand the probe to include the zimmer allegations. something that could swamp the 2016 presidential run. >> president obama declared january national slavery and human trafficking prevention months. slaves today are generally kidnapped and deceived into working against their will. we look at a photographer that gets a look at their stories. >> these are the faces of slaves, modern-day slaves forced to work under the threat of violence, and with no power to walk away. they labour in goldmines in ghana, kilns in nepal, silk-dyeing houses. 16 hours a day. no rest for food, water for bathroom breaks. this child worked as a slave in a fishing village. his parents sent him away on the promise of education. he was sold as a slave and made to work hauling fish nets.

a claimed humanitarian forer lisa christine documents their stories. >> families cloaked in a blanket of dust, are forced to stack bricks on their head, up to 18. each weighing more than four pounds. and then made to walk hundreds of yards to a truck. >> according to free the slaves, a non-profession agency 21 po -- 21 to 30 million are trapped as slaves. many products are made by slave - such as cars, chocolate, cell phones. >> they do it because they have been lied to, believed someone, and have been exploited. >> india has 14 million slaves. it's here in our own backyards.

60,000 are enslaved in the u.s. according to the agency free the slave. we went with the san francisco police sergeant to determine in employees are working against their will. >> we want to make sure everything is okay. >> yes, everything is okay. >> all right. okay. >> in san francisco one young woman says she was brainwashed and forced to work in strip clubs for nearly eight years, shared her story with us and asked to remain anonymous, and is afraid of the man who exploited her. >> i was young and vulnerable. >> the 19-year-old was earning 3,000 cash for an eight hour catch, and she handed the money over to the man that made her dance. >> he told me he'd kill me, i was his property.

>> after a manager let her sleep in a closet she got the strength to run away. >> i had therapy and started to heal. >> do you have a message for young women. >> there are people that care for you. you may feel astra sized by society, but there's help. >> phone numbers and support numbers are posted for people of slavery and human trafficking. kofi has been freed and reunited with his parents. lisa took photos of millions still enslaved. she had them hold a candle to shine a light on their stories. >> the beloved british fictional detective is due to reappear on

u.s. sentencing. al jazeera said phil itner reports from london. >> sherlock holmes returns to u.s. airwaves sunday. widely acclaimed b b.c. series takes liberties with holmes and watson. for the show's creators, they are true to the essence of the creation. >> we sort of know what's right, we think we do. at the same time we have to push the edges of that all the time. there's no point in confronting with the modern world if you do it the same. >> here in the u.k. they can fiddle with holmes as much as they like. he entered public domain years ago. in the u.s. it's been a matter of weects since the chicago -- weeks since the chicago court ruled the stories are old enough

not to require authorise kags from the author's estate: the author that won says it's more about cash. >> they'd like to earn a living off the royalties. the time has run out. it's been a long, long, long run. the first story was published in 1887. now it's essentially over. >> and for the brits, more sherlock stories. they can bring more fans to the world doyle created. >> if you look across the world. it will show stock, the pipe. and elementary my dear watson. people know the boiled down version, wherever you go. what is lovely is to present it in smuggle in lots of references to the original stories, which people who know them well will get. what has happened is a lot of people have gone back to the original authors through the

series. >> holmes has been a global sensation, from hollywood to japan to the old soviet union. and given the tourist draw in london, that doesn't seem to be diminishing. especially if the craze for the new incarnations continues. >> sherlock, please. >> no heart who writes new stories for sherlock holmes, one thing is clear, what arthur conan doyle created over 125 years ago is so beloved, entertaining and adaptable that the appeal of the baker street detective remains simply elementary. >> well said, fill. >> a group of cuban students are in the u.s. on an academic trip. they are attending clem in miami -- college in miami. it's the first time classes are

provided for students living in cuba. >> it was an historic moment as these cuban students gathered to meet their new professes. >> this is a dream, and now it's a reality. >> victor of the miami college says the dream is a reality. it's the first time a large group of cuban students came to study in the u.s. they are studying computers, psychology and business. the 16 students, 18 to 37, were handpicked by the foundation for human rights in cuba, in conjunction with the college. they were nervous and kept at arm's length from the media. one said he was optimistic about the opportunity he was driven. >> translation: i want to see the options i can find, and the vision that miami offers, and see another vision of the world. >> the obama administration

allows programs allowing citizens to study in cuba. rarely did the stupid travel to the u.s. they will receive serivates. >> at least four of these students are related to disdepartment leaders. one is a dissident himself, expelled from a cuban university for his activism against the castro regime. >> transtraps this is notway -- >> translation: this is not what the government wanted to do. they release the pressure, the regime was asked to make changes. >> this is a dissident who fled cuba and works with cuban ex-isles to push for reforms. he's cautiously optimistic. >> let's hope the regime does not close the door as they tend to do.

often they use restrictions and go in reverse and then they say the students and anyone else cannot leave the island. >> the activists hop the student pave the way for future generations of cubans, who will help to rebuild the island making it a free democratic of cuba that they hoped for. >> still ahead - more on the top stories. clashes in kiev, thouns aned rally at laws stopping the process. a new deal with iran goes into effect. will relief from sanctions stop the nuclear work. >> i'm live from seattle where fans are filing in for the nsc championship game, which kicks off in two hours. more on that later in sport.

>> and welcome back to al jazeera america. our top story - violence is intensifying in ukraine. tens of thousands are rallying in the capital defying laws

aimed at stamping out protests. protesters kidnapped a policemen and injured 20 others. jennifer glass joins us live. what is causing the latest round of protests? >> well, this is the first violence we have seen, really, in the last few weeks here. protesters were here in the square, trying to march, but areas were blocked by police. clashes started late this afternoon. i can hear explosions across the city as the clashes begin. the protest has been going on for two months, starting in late november when viktor yanukovych failed to sign a trade deal with european union. many believe they should point towards europe, rather than the soef yacht ally -- soviet ally, russia. the protests started in

november. early december there was violence with police, and protests started in independence square. hundreds set up camp. thousands came. people came in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands. they continued for the past eight weeks. >> jennifer glass covering it in kiev. >> tomorrow marks a day that iran will implement the u.n. agreement. u.n. inspectors are there. the deal lasts for six months as a final agreement is negotiated. we have this report. >> 10 years in the making. after marathon diplomacy, jan 20 marks the day when the iranian nuclear agreement comes into force. at least in iran a key issue is how much is at all. many iranians don't think much will change. >> they have put us under such pressure that by a little thing

such as this we are hopeful. we are hopeful for the future, considering the agreement has different aspects, not just economic. some are political. it's about giving and taking cop sessions. for the beginning, it is good, but not enough. >> iran and the six world powers will implement the agreement over the next six months. for an iran a stop to enriching uranium to 20% purity. iran will enrich as a lower level. >> tehran will convert half its current stock into fuel. >> if the agreement is not implemented simultaneously it will be suspended. if the other side does not fulfil their commitments iran is ready to resume enriching uranium to 20%: >> as well as releasing $4 million, the world powers will suspend u.s. and e.u.

sanctions on oil exports and the goal trade. >> the u.s. will suspend sanctions on the auto industry. the white house said it doesn't want to impose new sanctions. >> the biggest issue remains, one that affects all iranians. sanctions on the iran central bank. >> translation: sanctions have been imposed on the bankingcm, transport, insurance and oil sales. because they blocked iran's access to swift banking we have no ability to transfer money. transportation companies are banned from coming to ports, and there's no insurance for the goodes. what happens from january 20th has no impact. it's psychological. >> even the psychological boost would be welcome for many iranians, with many households feeling the pinch. >> in the past two years prices

increased. a good example is the popular brand of cheese. the price is now six times what it used to be. although it has not gotten bigger. some producers blame sanctions for the price rises. the best economists say that is not true. it's profit earring in a time of economic misery. >> the government warns iranians there's a long way to go before anything returns to normality. either abroad or at home. >> joins us now is a professor of iranian studies at stamford university. thank you for being with us, professor. >> thank you. >> inspectors are in tehran as we mentioned. when you look at that alone, how much of a victory is that right there? >> i think it's certain change. it's very important change since the beginning of iran trying to accommodate what mr hassan

rouhani called the legitimate concerns of the international community, and i think the international community in reverse or in return it trying to ease the sanctions and create an atmosphere where serious assistantive negotiations can go on. >> do you think iran is serious about coming to an agreement on a long-term deal? >> i think iran was certainly soars about trying to come to this deal, because the economy is very much in a dire situation. the regime needs some sanctions, relief. whether they can take the next step and rethink some option, and prepare themselves and the country for a long-term deal, i think remains to be scene. many families, more radical supporters have been sniping at the deal with v plans in the

last few days, it will be interesting if they can be quietened down. >> what does your gut tell you. will they come to a long-term deal. >> my cut tells me they'll dom a long-term deal and will essentially accept the contours of what has been offered to them. low enrichment at 5%, transferring to 20% under international supervision, allowing for more intrusive inspections, adding the extra protocol so more inspections can be had. and saving face and at the same time opening the economy because there you desperately need infusion of capital for the oil industry, for basic commodities, unemployment. >> a lot of hope for both sides that they can come to an agreement. the short-term deal goes in effect tomorrow. thank you for your time today. >> thank you.

>> one of the main syrian opposition groups agreed to attend peace talks. the decision has been called courageous, the talks start wednesday, but it has not stopped the violence. we have more. >> as opposition leaders agree to go to peace conference in switzerland, government forces continue to hit targets in different parts of aleppo. the weapon of choice is barrels filled with explosives. the destruction is vast, and people continue to die. activists and residence are desperate to find survivors. in another development the leader of the free syrian army backed the opposition going to peace talks, provided the talks and the syrian regime. >> translation: we support any solution guaranteeing a political traction of authority, that fulfils the syrian people's demands, we ask the brothers going to geneva to halt the

revolutionary goals. bashar al-assad and his group must leave power. prisoners should be relieved. a transitional government must be formed and humanitarian corridors opened. >> there has been fighting between the members of the islamic-linked groups. other parts of syria had their share of violence. government jets hit targets in some areas. >> and joining us at 8:00 pm eastern for more on the geneva ii talks on sunday evening segment "the week ahead." a high profile trial is under way to a dramatic political aas nation in middle eastern history. the special tribunal for lebanon opened to investigate the 2005

assassination of former prime minister harric harari. four men are being tried in absentia. i spoke about what many lebanese think of the trial. >> i think that the majority of lebanese, i couldn't give you a figure, but over half probably want the court to carry n with its work and find out who did this, if possible, through a fair process and hold them accountable. perhaps this will be a signal that in the future other crimes will be minimised if they can't be stopped completely. >> a lynching in plain daylight in central african republic, is a sign that fighting is getting more dangerous. barnaby phillips was there as it happened. but a warning some may fined the video disturbing. >> they are baying for blood. this crowd of christians want to get their hands on a muslim

hiding in the house. they say he was involved in the killing of a christian and they want revenge. he's pulled from the house. it's too distressing to show you what happened next. but after the man was hacked to piece, he was set on fire. a second muslim was murdered nearby. apparently he had been hiding in a church. he, too, was set on fire. and as the corpses were abused, the crowd celebrates. >> translation: we will continue to do this for as long as muslims go on. >> it's hard to imagine what impact the scenes will have on all those that watched. french peacekeepers arrived. it was too late. >> african soldiers from cameroon appeared. >> they echly moved into the --

eventually moved into the crowd. it's a lawless situation, yet we are in the middle of the capital bangui. under these circumstances the african and french peacekeepers are struggling to keep a lid on the sectarian hatred which is bubbling up. >> this time the crimes were caught on camera. similar killings are happening on a daily basis, not just here in bangui, but across the country. >> a difficult story to tell, and difficult to watch. still ahead - sports in a moment. first, using 400 pounds of dynamite to take down a building.

volgogr volgograd

>> welcome back. we are here with john henry smith talking about the big, big, big sports week. finally we'll know who is going to the super bowl. the season is almost over, coming to a rousing finish. the championship game is underway. currently the broncos lead the patriots by 13-3. after the game, the nsc championship game begins, with a couple of bitter divisional rivals. two teams featuring quarterbacks with a lot of bounce. jessica taff bounced to seattle and joins us. a great day for football there. >> absolutely it does. no rain here. still overcast for the game. you talked about the balance and the step. i am not sure that the

championship games can be contrasting. you have the veteran future hall of famers. two classic pocket passers, and the 20 somethings, russell wilson, colin kaepernick. great quarter backs. but these guys move the chains with the feet than their arms sometimes. >> he has that special ability that the great ones have to elevate their game in those situations. poise, big stage never seems to bother him. there's leadership ability. players love him, coaches love him. work ethic. off the charts. a plus plus. >> san francisco head coach jim harrbuck could be talking about his own quarterback, colin kaepernick or russell wilson.

both young qbs in their second year and both represent the new school of mobile young quarterbacks, changing the lead with legs and quick minds as much as with their strong arms. >> neither came out in the n.f.l. draft and thought number one pick. colin kaepernick in the second, russell in the third. they came into the teams, had to compete for the jobs. they are coached by strong-willed copes and play in the read option offense. it has more athleticism that they can create with the legs, not just the arms. >> in his second year of the national football league, the 25-year-old wilson finds himself in the play-offs again. d despite an impressive performance last week, the quarterback is taking a veteran approach. >> i need to get better. my confidence never waivures. every time i step on the feel,

that will never change. >> as for the 26-year-old kaepernick, he is looking to build on a resume, which includes a super bowl appearance, where he and the 49ers lost the big game by 3 points. this year kaepernick and the 49ers ride an 8-game winning streak as they head to seattle. whether the wilson's seahawks or kaepernick's 49ers win the nfc, a young mobile quarterback will represent the nfc in the super bowl. >> we talked so much about offense, how about the defence. the seattle defence has been fantastic this year. their number one in the league in yards allowed and points allowed. >> i'm concerned about you. i hope you brought industrial strength ear ploughs. rumour has it they get loud. >> there's news.

i found someone behind me selling earplugs for a dollar. i'll invest in those. how loud does this stadium get. it causes falls penalties and starts. just because you can't hear the snap count, expect a lot of that. >> jessica taff live in seattle for the big game. enjoy yourself out there. >> all right. will do. >> all right. of course, you are going to hear more from jessica taff after that game is over. you'll here from ross shimabuku later on after the broncos-patry ots clash. for now, that's ports at this hour. >> -- sports at this hour. >> any predictions. >> that seattle will win the nfc and denver. >> you are thinking the seattle-denver match-up. >> that's right. >> more and more identify themselves as i think yests. some believe they are missing out on the benefits of organised

reliageor. >> they are expecting a full house at conway hall. the band are doing a run through and helpers make sure there's enough seating for the 400-strong congregation. this is a movement gaining momentum. many are trying out a godless service for the first time. some have come a long way. >> i have come from australia. i think the community is wonderful. i'm really looking forward to the service. inverted commas. >> i'm brought here by kate. it sounds fun and exciting. i love, like, the whole thing that the church will give you. >> for anyone who has been to a christian church service, there's much that is familiar here - songs, readings and community. it's just that god has not been invited. >> there is a palable buzz. what that shows is that despite the criticisms that have been levelled against him. that it's a glorified karaoke

session. there's a need among some people of no religious inclination to come together and celebrate. >> the sunday assembly has been running a year, but is spreading fast. cofounder thinks this is the perfect answer to the movements critics. >> there are 28 assemblies over the world. there'll be another 100 in september. and it's not just a service, it's the bookclurks the volunteering, people's lives being changed. it's amazing when you get people who wanted to celebrate life, you connect the wonder that is being alive, you know, people will move minds. >> sam nighting gale is a neuroscientist invited to speak. he is enthusiastic but the movement has a lot of catching up to do. the church, any reliagion, you think about the church, it's this a lot of time to build up

the buildings, amazing ceremonies. it's been going for a year. . >> the appeal doesn't seem to have spread much goned an affluent white educated base, something the organizers will need to address if it's to have enduring mass appeal. they are spreading the word and enjoying the journey. >> spreading the word. okay. >> in china attitude is changing and a popular controversial delicacy. a government ban on shark-finned group at state bank wets is being adopted by restaurants. we look at how the how the measure is affecting business. >> shark fin sellers are becoming sensitive about their trade. attempts to document the product is met with stiff resistance. the brutal nature of shark finning and the numbers killed to satisfy asian crave iption for shark fin -- cravings for

shark fin group led to global demands. it's considered one of the eight treasured foods of the sea. until recently it was served at state functions, weddings and business dinners as a sign of wealth and prosperity. in a campaign to cut cost the government banned the delicacy at state functions. that had a profound effect. >> china's ministry of commerce says the ban led to a decline in shark fin consumption by 70%. that hit traders and restauranteurs hard not only here in china, but major asian distrishz markets like hong kong. >> traders would not speak,but the trade has been decimated. >> in the recent time, the volume dropped. people are more concerned about environmental application. it has dropped about 30% compared with the

previous years. >> while the trade is not illegal in hong kong, it's about to become les profitable. in mainland china restaurant owners are losing their taste for shark fin soup. >> we have stopped selling shark fin in the restaurants. it's too brutal for the animals if we continue to sell the shark fin. we hope to have more social awareness among customers by doing so. >> scientists stiment 100 million smashings were killed for their fins. shark conserve visits say the ban and support from restaurants and hotels could save the species. >> the ban drilent to the shark fin sale in china. many restaurants followed the government policy and stopped selling shark skins. >> shark advocates are taking advantage of the government ban, with a new social media

education campaign in china over the lunar new year holiday. they say if they don't act now, gains made in the past six months could be lost if the government relaxes cost-cutting marfeures. >> -- measures. >> 400 pounds of dynamite. that's what it took for officials to demolish an apartment in greenville carolina. it crumbled into a crowd of white smoke. after officials evacuated everyone within 600 square feet, the building, closed since march, is slated to be rebuilt as apartlets. coming up - the latest on the weather across the country. . coming up - the latest on the weather across the country. p. coming up - the latest on the weather across the country. a. coming up - the latest on the weather across the country. rtl coming up - the latest on the weather across the country. men coming up - the latest on the weather across the country.

sf >> good afternoon, it's a cold morning working to the mid west and the north-east. we are looking at crowds rolling in out of canada, packing cold air with it. how cold - look at the

temperatures. minneapolis climbing to a high of zero. back towards schick. going to reach a -- chicago. going to reach a high of 10 degrees. cold air pushing south as we track into the next several days. if you head back to work on monday, reaching a high of 3 degrees. we are right at zero again in minneapolis. the cold air pushing south and towards new york, washington d.c. a high of 23 by thursday in our nation's capital. we are looking at a front pushing across the north-east. it's bringing drifting snow across portions of north-western u.s. state. that snow is going to rake across the new york state. if you are out there travelling let's take it easy on the roads please. textures falling below freezing for many areas. look at the wind - blowing drifting snow, gusting up to 21 miles per hour in toronto. again, be careful. stay with us. more news and headlines coming up.

>> you're watching al jazeera america live from new york. i'm jonathan betz with the inside. the violence is intensifying in the ukraine with riots against the government. tens of thousands are rallying in the capital defying laws aimed at clamping down on protests. >> a video emerged of two men claimed to be the suicide bombers behind the attack in volgograd. it killed 30. they warned tourists coming to the winter olympics will get a "present", vladimir putin said they will be kept safe. >> claims russia may