music every neat that week tomorrow larry kane on the show the only broadcast journalist to travel with the beatles through their three american tours. the show may be over but the conversation continues. you can also find you want on twitter. ♪ notes >> good evening, everyone, welcome to al jazerra america, i am john seeing en thought never new york. >> reporter: you have just been raped, beaten and insulted and then they say they will do the same to your daughter. >> a developing story and a disturbing one of the thousands of women reportedly abused, tortured and impressed in iraq. wonder drug, the surprising new report about aspirin, what it may mean in the fight against a leading cause of cancer deaths. self-defense or murder? an argument over loud music end in a young man's death.

now the highly-charged trial begins. ♪ ♪ plus, play it again. a stolen strait various is recovered, tonight we talk to the man who young restored the $5 million instrument. ♪ ♪ with begin with the developing story on iraq it's from human rights watch the in a report the organization documents widespread abuse of thousands of women and girls. the charges include allegation of systematic torture and the threat of sexual abuse, arrests, based on coercion and secret testimony, and the an women and chirp held for months even years before seeing a judge, some of the women who have been freed are speaking out and telling stories of brutality and injustice. >> translator: all in all i was tortured for seven days.

they tied my hands, stripped my clothes. and covered my legs with ice. it was during the month of february, so it was very cold. i felt like my fingers were broken from the cold. the beating. the cursing and the insults. >> and joining us now on the testifying is the director of global initiatives at human rights watch. welcome. >> thanks for covering this topic. >> your group interviewed 27 women watch did your colleagues tell you about those i want views. >> well, our lead researcher on this talked of how devastated the women were. one woman was tortured for nine days straight and she limped in to the interview with crutches. was visibly still devastated by her experience and had all of the hallmarks of torture, scars on her chest that were entirely consistent with her story.

and the larger issue here, is really how iraq's criminal justice system is completely failing women at every single step from arrest to trial to impress think. and obviously the conditions and the details of torture like this are fueling unrest in the country. >> can you talk about how widespread you believe this problem is. >> well, there are more than 1,000 women who are held in iraq's james and other did he tens facility and many say that they have been abused and mistreated. certain as you said we have interviewed 27 well, and it's been entirely consistent with our past reporting on conditions of torture and mistreatment in iraq prisons so we have every reason to believe that this is a persistent, consistent problem across all of iraq's jails and other detention facilities. but more than that, that these

women are being tortured in order to obtain conventions which are then used to arrest. so the torture is poisoning the entire justice system. >> so has this hand since u.s. troops left? >> this was a preexists thinking problem. human rights watch did a report on this gastly treatment in iraqi prisons before the u.s. left. and what is actually really a shame is that the opportunity the u.s. was there, was not taken to train, to clean up the prisons, the u.s. military was certainly aware of the conditions in the iraqi prisons and so it should be no surprise to learn today that women are being mistreated there. >> so can the u.s. do anything about this? >> sure. the u.s. has immense leverage. there is still a relationship of donor relationship, there is

still training relationships, the u.s. is probably the single most important player in iraq today. and human rights watch certainly hopes that the u.s. military is going to be prepared to take the evidence and the testimonies in these reports to their iraqi counterparts and say this has to stop. not the least because the brutal tactics are fueling the up rising in the anbar province that we have read so much about. >> miny, thank you. now to the surprising new study on aspirin. it's from the national institute of health it says it can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer taken once a day it can cut the risk by 20%, this year upwards of 20,000 women will be diagnosed with the disease, more than 14,000 well will die from it. joying me now is a doctor from new york see.

glad to see you. >> you too, john. >> can you tell us how it works. >> it's an exciting develop. it helps with inning flam space that can predispiece you to various diseases, heart disease, cancer, the idea is that maybe by taking aspirin daily you decrease the inflammation and might prevent your risk or decrease your risk of developing cancer, especially ovair i didn't know cancer. >> so i would assume that women are asking the question should i start taking aspirin. >> yeah, they are probably asking that accident but i wouldn't say to do it yet. this is an exciting development. so it's a preliminary study where they pooled previous studies. the problem is there are a lot of side effects with aspirin and you don't want to automatically take it unless we know for sure that it works. so people who take aspirin just automatically they are at risk for bleeding. it affect says the blood vessels that go to the kidneys and you can develop blood pressure or kid any disease.

the reason the study is not conclusive yet is because they did it in a way where they looked at people already taking aspirin and compared them to people who weren't taking aspirin. so the thing is normally if you are doing a drug trial what you want to do is scientists wants to take a group of volunteers and split them in no two groups so they randomly give half aspirin and the other half something different. and then compare the results. in this case they let people pick which group they wanted to be in and self report what they were doing. so that's different because people who take aspirin regularly might have different medical conditions or different situation than people who don't take aspirin. >> when i was young, they described aspirin as a miracle drug, but now it seems there are so many things that aspirin can have an impact on, other than reducing fever. >> that's true. i mean, i think it still is a miracle drug it helps with so many things especially risk of heart disease and stroke.

if it can help with ovarian cancer that would be great but we don't know for sure yet. the main reason we were concerned about ovarian cancer aside from just generally the fact that it is harming people and killing them. is that it is so hard to actually treat it. so with other cancers what can happen is that you might diagnose them early. we have colonoscopies for colon cancer, pap smears for cervical cancer but there is no real test. , not ahead i aiyegbeni good post ovarian cancer by the time people have symptoms they are usually far along in the process the early symptoms are vague, they may have nausea, bloat, belly pain, it's hard to actually be a i believe to diagnose it. so if we could actually have something that might prevent people from developing ovarian cancer that could really save a lot of lives. >> it would be good news, doctor, thanks for the update. we appreciate it. >> thanks so much. hundreds of thousands of people still without power. richelle carey is here on that.

>> yes, people are still without power, before we get to that, though. i have some amazing picture to his show you, let's talk about what the weather is doing to people, to drivers think take look at this truck. pulling a trailer and then it swerves off the road. the truck nearly missed stranded drivers by a matter of feet. look at that. the snow and ice calls other vehicles to slip and slide in to? really dangerous situations. look at that. pennsylvania was one of the states hardest hit. still northern four hound thousand power outages in the philadelphia area. some of those outageses last for days. >> the philadelphia based energy pico has brought in crews from as far way as canada to try to help restore the power. by friday the company expect to have more than 5,000 workers in the field. that would be one-third larger than pico's response to super storm san sandy in 2012 for some perspective there.

the affect of the weather could be felt well beyond pennsylvania, 941 flights were canceled throughout the u.s. on wednesday, that number was 2,905. that's according to the online flight tracking site flightaware.com of the bottom line it's been a really long week for some people. >> maybe morneau thiago week end. >> true. >> thanks very much, richelle. >> you bet. the string of storms have some cities scramble to go replenish road salt supplies and some environmentalists say the shortage could be a good thing, here is more. >> reporter: at the port of milwaukee another 50,000 tons of salt has arrived to replenish dwindling flies some wisconsin and illinois, but multiple snowstorms and heavy accumulations salt has become a precious spot kpho*d at this an estimated 22 million tons of road salt is used to clear snow and ice from the roadways annually making the road savers but comes with an environmental

cost. >> chloride is soluble in water and will always remain soluble in water. so as the snowmelts, as the salt-laden run off washes down to our streams and lakes, that color side will find its way down to our water resources. >> reporter: researchers say the salt concentrations in streams, lakes and groundwater has been slid increasing over the last 50 years. according to u.s. geological survey many streams have chloride levels toxic to aquatic life, long-term exposure can affect the reproduction of fish and other aquatic organizationisms, expert say it has damaging affects on plant life when it's use million dollars excess. >> the sodium component which is are ions will actually rob water from the plants and actually help kind of desiccate the roots, so in the springtime they'll look like maybe they are under drought stress. >> reporter: in addition to its environments the evenings, chloride is highly corrosive to the met and steal bridges, road vehicles and reinforced

concrete, krausing millions of dollars in damage each year. this isn't a front burner environmental issue but it's a good example of how actions can have ununtended consequences in the shearn. he. >> reporter: cities and municipalities are looking to less harmful substances such as organic deicers as alternatives. sugar beat juice, for example is being use million dollars conjunction request rock salt, this is more effective at lower temperatures and eco friendly at the same time. >> in these cold temperatures, rock salt stops working at around 15 degrees above zero. and with the addition of the organic sugar beat juice, it drops that effective temperature range down to around 10 below, which is, you know, 25-degree swing. and it also allows municipalities to reduce the amount of sodium chloride that they are putting in to the environment. >> reporter: for now, alternative deicing agents remain more expensive than traditional rock salt and some fear without safer, cost

effective alternatives, its continued use will lead to increased contamination, chicago. >> and the weather also taking a heavy toll in the west especially for california farms. thethis he produce half of the country's fruit and vegetables but the crops aren't growing because it's too dry and the cost too be in the billions of dollars. jennifer london reports from pasadena, where rain is beginning to sprinkle. >> reporter: southern california is getting some raid this evening and while it is a much-welcomed sight. the reality is, it won't make any measurable difference and that is because the state is so dry that according to the department of water resources, california would need to see heavy rain every other day from now until may just to get back to normal levels and we know that is not going to ham. and the lack of rain despite what the state is seeing today and perhaps even later in the week, is really starting to punish the local farmers. this farm in camry on,

california, some 50 miles north of los angeles has been in phil mcgrath's family since the late 1800s. >> we are one of the pioneer california family farmers here. >> reporter: and he's seen it all. wet years, dry years but nothing like this year. >> we are doomed here. whiff to have water. you need water, soil and sunlight to grow a seed and if you are missing one of those it just doesn't happen. >> reporter: what is happening, summer crops like these tomatoes are growing in the winter. >> tomatoes in february. >> reporter: while winter crops like these strawberries are struggling to survive. which means so is phil mcgrath. >> this is my livelihood. this is what i do. this is what i have done all my life. and this is my family office livelihood too. if we don't get rain this year, -- >> reporter: too distress to go say out loud it's the same story for farmers up and down the

state. california's mega drought means there isn't enough water to produce everything from milk and beef to fruits and vegetables and it's estimated 500,000 acres of the state's farmland will go unplanted because there isn't enough water to grow the crops. what happens in california definitely does not stay in california. the state is the largest producer of food in the country. and as more and more farms like this one feel the effects of the drought it means food prices are going to rise. and that impacts everyone. >> the reality is, irrelevant not going to get the fresh crops you depends on from california. >> reporter: milt is a field crop expert at the university of california at riverside. he says overall, food prizes could rise by as much as 10%. >> crops that you would really see a big increase is cost are ones that we grow all the country's produce in, that's artichokes, asparagus is another one, avocado is his a big one, so the reality is, there is a big drought in california. it's not going away and it's

likely to persist for years. >> everybody turns on a cap and the water comes this out they wash their hands, drink their problem. no problem. the day that doesn't happen is the day that they will be as worried as most of the farmsers i know, that's where we are at right now. >> reporter: at california prepares for what could be the worst draught in modern history, and the country prepares for higher food prices, farmers like phil mcgrath can only watch as the family business dries up right before his eyes. so what can be done to help the farmers and all of those in the food chain that are affected by the drought like the vendors here at the local farmers market. u.s.d.a. has released $20 million in aid to help the farmers, but frankly, what they need more than money right now, is rain. >> jennifer london in california. in bosnia dozens of people are injured after police fired tear gas on anti-government protesters, 45 people hurt including 30 police officers, second day of protest over the

county's economic woes more than 40% of the pom lace sun employment. demonstrate hers are workers who were laid off when state own the companies were privatizes and collapses. now to syria. evacuations could soon get underway in the city of ohms. the governor says they are bringing aid and greet to let about 200 civilians leave. thousands of syrians have been dropped in h on. ms with no access to food or medicine, the rebels have accused the syrian government of using starvation as a weapon in the three-year civil war. leading republicans say don't expect much progress on the issue of immigration reform. boehner says the white house is to blame. because of the or fordable care act the president has made it difficult for congress t to trut him. >> there is widespread doubt about whether this administration can be trust today enforce our laws. and it's going to be difficult

for move any immigration legislation until that changes. >> the white house was more optimistic saying republican leaders realize the immigration reform is kneed and needed soon. coming up, double threat it's one of the most dangerous volcanos in the world but it's what surrounds it that scares so many people. plus high emotion as the pope greets a woman forced to give up her baby son by nuns.

>> start with one issue education... gun control... the gap between rich and poor... job creation... climate change... tax policy... the economy... iran... healthcare... ad guests on all sides of the debate. >> this is a right we should all have... >> it's just the way it is...

>> there's something seriously wrong... >> there's been acrimony... >> the conservative ideal... >> it's an urgent need... and a host willing to ask the tough questions >> how do you explain it to yourself? and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5 eastern only on al jazeera america in the democratic republic of coming owe apartment groups continues to occupy the mountains near a city. they have exposed the city to another unpredictable threat. >> reporter: it is ranked in the world's top 10 most dangerous volcanos, it sits next to i a city of about a million people in the democratic republic of congo. at the summit a lava lake constantly smoulders, experts say it can erupt at any time. it's george's job to predict when that might happen. >> it's dangerous because it's only 20-kilometers from the city. and the quality of the leva is

very fluid, so when it starts erupting, the flow of lava will be very fast. >> reporter: george studies rock formationformations and seismict to try and understand the vulcan owe's activity it. he shows us equipment use today measure tremors, in another country it could be a museum. there is meant to be eight stations like this, but only one is operational. rebel groups around the volcano mean it's not safe for the researchers to go there and do their work. the government says it's not flushing all of the armed groups out of the east. after decades of lawlessness. but it still has a long way to go. around the volcano is till not safe and failure to predict any rips could be disastrous, the last one sent leva straight in to the town and nearly a hundred people killed, hundreds of thousands fled to neighboring rwanda, about a third of the city was destroyed.

eye river of lava came bursting out of the ground and made its way down here towards the city center, it even reached the airport runway, destroying everything in its wake. roads, and houses, but if you look at the rocks that are left behind, you can even see the bubbles, the holes from where it was boiling and simmering. but this rock has actually turned out to be quite useful. at lot of the city has been rebuilt using it as a construction material. the value can ope vallecano is . he makes building bricks mixed with cement and laugh owe and it makes him good money. >> translator: on the one hand we like it because the materials can bring wealth but on the other hand it's bad because it's destroyed everyone's homes. >> reporter: another nearby value channel owe erupte vainvv. a lot could destroy a lot of the city. people can safely leave the town

but only if they are warned in time. the man who says he spent more than a year drifting across the pacific ocean in a small boat made a brief public appearance today. jose salvador greeted officials at the marshall islands hotel looking weaker than he did just days ago. he thanked the government and his friends for their help. but declined to answer any questions. since worked ashore last week, his story sparked skepticism. he has toldo visuals he left mexico in 2012. but said a storm threw him off course. some other stories of loss -- a mother's story of loss forced to give up her son more than 50 years ago but she says meeting the pope is helping her find relief. claudio explains. >> reporter: this is the moment philomena lee thought would never happen. on wednesday, pope francis met the woman whose story became an

award-winning movie that shocked catholics worldwide. fill mean, a tells of her search for her son given up for adopts by irish nuns in 1955 when she was an unmarried teen age mother. on thursday, they was in rome to promote the philomena project, a campaign which calls on the irish government and the vatican to open up records on forced adoptions. >> i couldn't believe that i was asked to go and meet the pope, you know. and meeting him, after all the years of feeling such unforgiveness within myself that happened automatic them years ago, just the sense of relief that all the guilt have vanished from me and meeting the pope, what an honor it has been for me. i know he's going to do something about the situation. and which is such relief for me as well and lots of other people and other mothers like me in the past, you know.

>> reporter: her upon anthony was one of thousands of children believed to have been given up for adoption by irish nuns. british actor steve coogan said that after the meeting he showed the film to a vatican delegation including the pope's private secretary. >> they loved the film they have moved by it visibly moved and laughed at a lot of the humor if the film and congratulated me afterwards and said this is a very good film. it's a good messaging in this film and there was kind of a hearty kind of a warm feeling after it. a positive feeling because there was i think part of some nervousness, when the film was over they were delighted. >> reporter: the film was not so well received in other vatican circles, where it was seen as an attack on the catholic church. the vatican did not comment on the meeting between pope francis and philomena lee, but film producers and campaigners here hope the success of the film will help thousands of other mothers to find the children who were given up for adapting by

irish nuns in the past. claudio, al jazerra, rome. coming up, a killing in florida, what began with the complaint about loud music, is now being played out before a injury. plus classical con, he said that he was deaf but tonight the truth of the so-called japanese beethoven is revealed. ♪ ♪ so many money stories sound complicated. but don't worry. i'm here to take the fear out of finance. every night on my show i break down the confusing financial speak and make it real.

♪ ♪ welcome back to al jazerra america. i am john siegenthaler in new york. much more to tell you about this half hour a multi million dollars violin recovered. the stradivarius was stolen in a violent tackle. i'll talk to the man who restored that very instrument. they called him japan's beethoven, hearing impaired, making beautiful music. but now he's been called a fraud. and sports and social justice, the historic role the olympics have played and what might

happen in eac sochi but first richelle is back with the top stories. >> listen to story it will stop new your tracks frankly there are new reports of wide suppress abuse of women and girls in iraq. the human rights watch group has published a report full of interviews with women who say that they were tortured and raped by iraqi security forces while in descension, some say that they were held for months, even years before seeing a judge. new very much shows aspirin doesn't just help guard against heart attacks, it may also reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, the national institute of health says one aspirin a day could bring down the risk by about 20%. and hundreds of thousands of people are still without power in the philadelphia area, the out i believes occurred wednesday during a really strong winter storm. this could last for days, more snow is expected this weekend. of course kevin will have much more on that later. >> maybe that will change. >> hopefully. >> thank you very much,. >> you bet.

in florida opening statements began in the trial of murder. prosecutors argued that michael dunn intentionally killed jordan davis because the teen was playing loud music. dunn's lawyers are expect to use the same stand your ground law that george zimmerman's case centered around, that tar natasa reports. >> reporter: the prosecutor says, yes, davis swore at dunn but never threatened kill him or brandish a weapon, he says dunn got angry and said that you can't talk to me like that. >> the with two hands, he pointed out his window back at jordan davis' door. and pulled the trigger three times. every one of those shots in a nice titles circle went through the door, and in no to jordan davis' body. >> reporter: the defense says davis threatened to kill dunn and pointed a shotgun or led pipe at him. he says police never found a

weapon, because the three teens drove to a nearby parking lot and stashed the gun. >> you are going hear bang, bang, bang. bang, bang, bang, bang. that quick. and that's as mr. davis was getting out of the car to try to kill or hurt with a deadly weapon michael. >> reporter: reminisce he want of the george zimmerman trial, there was a small group of protesters outside the courthouse this morning. they say they, quote, want justice for jordan, we they don't want a repeat of the zimmerman case, and they believe this is another reason why the stand your ground law should be repealed. >> natasha reporting. and joining us now to talk about the trial our legal contributor jamie floyd. hi, james. >> i hey, john. >> what are the big legal issues in this case? >> stand your ground is again front and center in florida. and it is really just a self-defense case, but stand your ground makes it a very, very critical case in the state of florida and makes it a national story. >> so how is this dunn case --

how do you compare it to the case of the shooting at the theatre in florida? >> that is a case just now getting going, they are having the bail hearing in that case. i see the cases as quite similar. of course race is not an issue in the movie theater case. those both the defendant and the victim in that case are white. but in this case, we have a shooting over loud music, in that case, we have a shooting over texting in a movie theater. in both cases we have shoot first, ask questions later over very trivial matters and seems that we have a happy culture and perhaps stand your ground is to blame for that. >> i thought stand your ground was supposed to be about your home is your castle, mean being that you, -- if you are in your home you can protect yourselves, these cases seem to be something different. >> stands your ground is an extension of what you refer to the cast the dock run the traditional seven defense law that is rooted in the common law going back hundreds of years was

if you are in your house you have a right to defend yourself. that's the cast the doctrine, what stand your ground does is extend it to the shopping mall, parking lot of the gas station, the movie theater, anywhere you may happen to fee feel threatend anywhere you have a right to defend yourself it gives people a notion to pull out their firearm and in these cases people have the right to carry these firearms and start using them without any duty to retreat which is what traditionally we have had. that's why there are the calls to repeal stand your ground in the 22 states it's been passed. >> are you saying in the dunn case the law protects him? >> he's going to argue that. stand your ground can be an issue i at any point of the case, at the begin, raised throughout the time ask it can be even addressed as a jury instruction, as we saw throughout the zimmerman case.

>> so going forward, with hess cases, are we -- you have talked about a possible repeal, but are we going to see more of the stand your ground defense in cases we haven't seen before? >> yeah, it's actually come up in cases elsewhere in detroit, there is a case i've young woman who was in a terrible accident, got out of her car, went to seek help, knocked on someone's door, and was shot by the man who claimed he was standing his ground. now, there he was, in fact, in his home, his castle, and so he was standing his ground in the traditional sense. but i think we are going to see a reconsideration of where people can legitimately use their firearms and where perhaps we should think about retreating and think about perhaps not using a firearm in certain cases. we find, john, that in the stand your ground pace katies young people are more likely than others and young black people highly likely to be the victims in these cases. >> we are going to keep following this story. jamey, good to he sue, thank you very much.

>> my pleasure. in a recording posted odd the internet the voice i've u.s. diplomat is heard using insulting language about the european union. as mike viqueira tells us, the leak comes as washington tries to help broker a solution to the ongoing unrest in ukraine. >> reporter: the crisis has been going on for months and the administration has struggling to help find answers to help ease the crisis. now a rare and embarrassing glimpse behind the scenes at american di diplomacy as they struggle to come to grips with what's happening in the ukraine, u.s. assistant second of state victoria in ukraine meeting with its embattled president. victor. >> this session with senior leaders of the opposition, united states intends to remain engaged working in lock step with the european union.

>> reporter: burr instead of lock step, it's now clear she has locked horns with the even i. a close american ali an in an audio posts she's said to be talking to jeffrey pyatt she displayses the union as she talks to pyatt about their plan to ease the cries let kiev. >> reporter: speaking for an embarrassed state department they neither confirm or denied that it was real but said victoria had tried to make amends. >> she has been in contact with her e.u. counter parts and apologize. >> reporter: but she also lashed out at russia. >> we think this is a new low in russian trade craft in terms of publicizing posting.

>> reporter: tensions between the u.s. and russia over all ukraine are growing with each other causing the other of medaling in the ongoing crisis. at the white house speak man jay carney left little doubt about who the administration believes eavesdropped and recorded the call. >> the video was first noted and tweeted out by the russian government. i think it says something about russia's role. >> reporter: in a at this time t tweet. the ambassador posted this. enjoying the feet inky he have. a reference to the russian official who tweeted about it. there are a couple of things that could be considered ivon, president obama made his speech on nsa reforms, last month, january fienth at the department of justice and remember he said that other countries are doing exactly the same thing the united states is doing in spying on the american government seems to provide more evidence now, also president obama due for his first ever trip to brussels in march to, where else, the european union

summit. back to you. >> mike viqueira, thank you. it is friday morning in sochi, russia. day two of the games will begin in the next few hours. a live look at some of the olympic venues there. the opening ceremonies will be held friday night. and with the start of the olympic games comes the question whether athletes will use the opportunity to protest russia's anti-game laws, michael is here with more on that, mike. >> if you are looking for a huge stage to make a political statement you mate not get a bigger juan than the olympics if you think about it throughout the course of modern world history sports has played some type of role when it comes to the fight for knew happen rights either here in the u.s. aura broad. the olympic says have not been excluded in that trend in fact most game rights advocates believe the same should be the case this year for sochi. more than three decades since hosting their last olympic games, russia against find itself at the he wants of another international controversiesers during the 1980 summer olympics the issue resolved around its invasion of

safe began stan and prompted a boycott by 65 countries, including the united states. now in end 214 the host nation is embroiled in battles with game rights organizations after laws passed under president vladimir putin criminalize nontraditional sexual relations. >> we talk about marriage equality and rights for the lgbtq community in the united states, but when you go abroad to calf, the i had medical east, russia our lgbtq brothers and sisters can be murdered show up miss, impressed, so it's a great opportunity for us to take this cause worldwide and to make a huge impact where the whole word is watching. >> it's happening because of lgbt laws, anti-lgbt laws in russia, that's what we have to focus on, not really homophobia in sports in the united states in regards to the olympics or in europe. >> reporter: that's one of the reasons athlete ali alley a gray rights organization has used a direct quote of principle 6 of

the olympic charter. >> principal 6 is a principle from the orals that states that sport will not discriminate on race, religion, genter, sexual orientation, it's purely on the miles an houmerit of the athlet. >> the reason this is a big deal, the reason athlete allies started the prince medical sick is because of the laws in russia, that's where we want to have the olympics to haven't impact 56789 many guy rates organizations plan to use social media to promote their cause stun instead of centering representatives there. so whether russia likes it or not, guy ritz will be part of winner games. >> it's really sad inning that we are at a time when people still don't see the humanity in lgbt individuals. i think that sport has really done so much in to really helping us understand race relationships. class relationships and now, again, lgbtq issues.

>> nobody is smoke offended than me by some of the anti-game and lesbian legislation that you have seen in russia. and one of the things that i am looking forward to is maybe some game and lesbian athletes bringing home the gold or sill very osilveror bronze which i to a long way in rejecting the kind of attitudes that we are seeing there. >> reporter: and there will be ample opportunities as 294 total medals will be awarded in sochi, through 98 events across 15 different sports. now, of course the most famous political protests at an olympics game in mexico city during the 1968 summer games when they bowed their heads and raised their gloved fist fukudomes-s in air in support of the civil rights movement in the united states. both smith and carlos were kicked out of the american olympic contingent and sent back home but that was also their last event, john, so their protest was heard and they came

back to the states. >> i had forgotten that been kicked out of the village after their last event. let's talk about the olympic position on this protest which it comes to protests. >> rule 50 pro had i been et cetera athletes from protests, something that the ioc president recently addressed in sochi. >> please understand what our responsibilities are and what your supports are. responsibili. have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes. >> so as much as they tried, john, to keep politics out of the olympics if a game or lesbian athlete or heterosexual in support of the issues gets up on a podium and makes a gesture as we saw in 1968 there is not much the ioc can do and that image will live on fortunate. >> we'll watch and see. thanks very much, michael. it's been 40 days cincy i

didn't want's interim government detained three al jazerra journalists accused of spreading false news and having links to the plus lum brotherhood. today al jazerra held a news conference in canada demanding the immediate release of its journalists. patty has more from toronto. >> reporter: ca made again filmmaker john grayson is now comfortable in the media spotlight he was arrested in egypt last year, held for 50 days, his impress. heavily publicized. it became a cause for celebrities and politicians alike. >> the fact that petitions were being signed by, in our case ben after electric and charlize that reason and our cell mates said who in they were impressed by robert de niro toes that was sort of cool. >> reporter: they heard the call for his relieve from canada. but stephen harper has so far stayed silent on canadian egyptian journalist mohamed along with others are all in prison in egypt. the editor of the leading

newspaper believes he knows what's behind the different treatment. >> unfortunately, i think this has been dismissed as a case that is not involving a full canadian, which we have editorialized against, he has full rights as a canadian to consular support. >> reporter: he was speaking at this press conference hosted by al jazerra to bring attention to their imprisonment and the harsh conditions two were living? >> my fellow canadian, have had to cope with particularly appalling conditions. they have been held in times and cells with no access to light, little food or water, cells infested with insect, all the while being forced to sleep on the floors without blankets or pillows 79 the three al jazerra edge inninenglish employs are ng held in i cell together. but the message is it's not enough. >> journalism isn't terrorism. >> reporter: most ca nude against doesn't know about this.

which is comply they are hosting this event. hoping they have are this will get their government to say something. and hoping the average person will weigh in with this simple sign. these pictures are spread on the ground social media. the images of so many saeupgd ag a powerful message. they are not politicians or celebrities but their message clear. free the journalists, free speech. patty, al jazerra toronto. doll think up our picture of the day, plus bravo, a stolen violin valued in the millions is recovered and we have the man who appraised the instrument with us tonight. >> this is where colombia's war continues... >> decades of violence... familes driven from

their land... >> we have to get out of here... >> now the people are fighting back. >> they don't wanna show what's really going on >> fault lines columbia: the fight for land only on al jazeera america

>> meteorologist: we have been talking a lot about the weather across the ohio river valley and north east, i want to take you first down towards the southeast a storm pushing through bringing rain to georgia, up towards virginia on its way out. but i am now going to take you up here and out towards the west, you can see the rain falling across parts of california, it's not just the rain, we are also dealing with some very cold temperatures, now, as you can see on friday, we have a combination of snow and rain, for many locations including california up towards oregon and we really need this because of not just getting the. ♪ back back, but also the rain here across parts of california, we think it will last saturday as well as in to sunday. there are -- more snow will fadeaway but rain will continue on across california. temperature wise we are well

below average on friday, 20 degrees below average for seattle on friday morning getting only to about 32 degrees as your high temperature, as we go through the rest of the weekend still below average but temperatures slowly begin to creep back up. we think seattle your high will be 37 degrees, down towards redding about 51 degrees and quickly up towards seattle on sunday, below average but warmer, that's a look at your national weather your news with john is up right after this. 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

he's been called the japanese beethoven a famous deaf composer who shot to fame two decades ago, he had legions of fans and it appears he fooled them all. katlyn mcgee has the story. >> reporter: afternoon 18 years behind the scene i it was finaly time for him to stands in the limelight on his own. the part-time university professor admitted that he was the author of classic music that has been credited to the man known as japan's beethoven.

>> translator: i have been aware that he had been publishing his piece buys deceiving the world yet i ended up composing the music as instructed. and nba this way i am his accomplice. >> reporter: according to him, he wrote everything, including the powerful symphony while he took the credit. but it was the winter olympics that made him spill the beans. >> translator: i knew figure skater takahashi will be using the music i composed for his skating program during the sochi olympics. i thought if i let the situation be, takahashi will become part of my lie. >> reporter: the story has become front page news in japan, not least because he is also believed to have lost his hearing before composing some of his greatest works. but even that is in doubt as he says, he saw no evidence that his alterego was unable to hear. he has apologized for his music betrayal to his fans, with his

lawyer saying he was too unstable emotionally to appear in public. he says he hopes to continue composing and performing but this time in his own right. a violin worth millions and stolen last month is back in good hands. this 300-year-old stradivarius was recovered in an attic in milwaukee, wisconsin. instrument had been on loan to concert violinist frank. and place is a thieves used a stun gun to take it from him. three people, two men and a womewoman are now in custody. stephon is a violin curator based in chicago. he helped restore the lines after it was loaned to frank. and he today he examined the recovery violin and i am told even played it. stephon great to have you on the program. thanks very much. >> nice to be here. >> well, first of all, what are you feelings now in this stradivarius, this 300-year-old violin has been recovered?

>> enormous relief. these are treasurers for the world. and there is very few to enjoy. and whenever one is threatened in any way at all, those of us that pay attention are worried. and we are not worried tonight. >> clearly, you were intimately involved with the respiration of this violin, telling me how this that happened. >> well, in truth, my partner is the restorer, i am the authenticator and my brother is actually a partner in our firm. and the violin was first shown to us in 2008, partly because frank almond is a close friend of mine and colleague for many years, so we learned of the violin from frank and he asked us to come in and have a look with the owners, and so we went to a bank vault together and looked at the violin, which was a very exciting thing to contemplate i had not seen this

particular 1715 stradivarius, and to see one as yet unseen was a great thing. but the vie len needed violin o bring it in no order for use, had been out of use for a while that day actually in 2008 i brought it back down to our shop and we did a little bit of work putting it right and then frank was loaned the violin on long-term loan. and we began a long and close relationship with the owners of the violin and continued our long and close relationship with frank and until all of this happened, all seemed well. then we had a kind of a harrowing nine days i think it's been, while the try lynn went vt missing and everyone is feeling better tonight. >> how do you handle a $5 million violin, and my is it worth 5 million? >> well, these are important art objects. so people think of violins confusingly for their utility.

and they try to ascribe value solely based on utility. but violins are important art objects that emanate from the mid to late renaissance. and that is where they derive part of their value. but unlike other beautiful collect i feel objects like fine old furniture, violence have utility and stade fair vinnie ss are the ultimate. and to this damon has equaled that in materials of form, fiction and functionality. and that makes them kind of unique in the world. >> do they sound different to the untrained ear? >> i think they do. being that my ear is trained it's hard for me to be objective about that. but if put to the test, i think the untrained ear can hear them pretty readily. they would know a difference if

a soloist in a major concert hall was playing something less goods than that. they would tell. maybe wouldn't know why it wasn't as attractive as it would be and maybe wouldn't know to make that distinction if they weren't given a one to one comparison. but there is a a substantial difference. >> $5 million is a lot for a violin, i am trying figure to out why someone would steal it when there are so few, how could they get rid of it? >> this is a funny thing about this crime. they can't belong today world. the executions was very well organized. frank called me right after it happened and he was really shaken. the thieves planned carefully, hit him with a taser, grabbed the violin and ran off with it and that had us fearful it looked organized and thought out you had to know a lot of about

frank's schedule and where he might be alone and that sort of thing, i guess the thieves thought more about how to steal it than how to get rid of it. and i think that they probably were unprepared for the virtual ton of bricks that hit them when everyone noticed. >> i have to wrap it up. it's a fascinating topic and we really appreciate you being on the program. i understand you got to play it tonight, congratulations, glad it's back. and we hope to see you again soon. thank very much. >> thanks for having me. now to our freeze frame, our picture of the day it caught our eye. in indonesia the ash rising seen in the reflection from a school window. the people wearing masks to protect themselves in the toxic ash and gas. we'll have today's headlines coming up after this. >> you are one of the voices of this show. >> so join the conversation and make it your own. >> the stream.

on al jazeera america and join the conversation online @ajamstream.

welcome to al jazerra america i am richelle carey here are tonight oops top stories i'm new report of widespread abuse of women and girls in iraq, the group lujan rights watch has published a report full of

interviews with women tortured and raped by iraqi sources while they were held some for years even months before being are seeing a judge. bosnia anti-government den stranges turned violent. nearly 50 people were injured when police fired tier gas on protesters. it is the secretary day of protests against the country's economic woes. the demonstrators are demanding payment after being laid off when state-owned companies were privatized and then chances. no hope in the battle to prevent ovarian cancer, -- new hope. a study says one aspirin a day could bring down the risk by about 20%. ovarian cancer killed more than 14,000 women in the u.s. every year. frustration tonight for 1.7 million americans looking for long-term unemployment benefits. supporters in the senate were unable to find enough votes to move forward with the bill that would he can tend long-term benefits for three months. the vote was 58-40, just two votes shy of the 60 needed the

white house called the vote disappointing. those are the headline "america tonight" is up next on al jazerra. remember you can get the latest headlines on our website that is aljazerra.com. centraled are you stradavarius s >> on "america tonight" the liquorice smell in west virginia's drinking water is back. schools are closed. patience is running low. >> also ahead - six more weeks of this... ..the bitter cold, heavy snow and the powerless. is your community ready for what is next? >> i'm ready to pack up and move. everyone is getting snow this year. even the warm states. >> paying the price in paradise. our indepth look at crime and