twitter. >> this is al jazeera america, i'm jonathan betz live in new york. >> we'll never stop working it ensure quality under the law is protect by the law. >> the justice department will expand gay rights across the u.s. >> workers attacked in syria. the u.n. says it will keep trying. >> it's killing more americans the big business of americans in the united states. unhappy chinese. why a growing number are depressed.

>> we begin with a victory for gay rights. privileges will be extended. eric holder is directing employees to gave gay married couples full and equal recognition. >> i am proud to announce that the justice department is taking additional steps to further advance the fundamental truth and to give meaning to the windsor decision. i will issue a policy memorandum on monday. that will formally strct all justice department employees to give lawful same s marriages full and qul recognition. >> here is what he is proposing:

>> this includes advice dags, furnitures and compassionate release. couples must be legally married. it applies to states that do not recognise quay yupions. >> the united nations says it will keep trying to keep those trapped. >> the u.n.'s head of humanitarian affairs is disappointed. >> the aid workers were trying to hand out supplies in oms. shelling -- homs. shelling and gunfire stopped their work. >> it took most of the day for the convoys to get into homs, only to come under fire as soon as they arrived.

>> tens of civilians were injured. a mortar shell landed near a vehicle, and another was shot at >> we got two trucks. we had a car and some others for the u.n. team. the more tar shells fell near the place. >> the syria government said terrorists and the city were responsible. potential activists say it's the work of loyalists from syria. >> the fragile ceasefire was broken of the it was great the truce would be in place for

three days. i have stressed that the parties should refrain from hindering the humanitarian work. >> the long-awaited humanitarian mission is facing a challenge. it was hoped the operation would be manageable. after the agreement was brokered by the united nations with pressure on the deposit. over 2,000 civilians are inside. the plan was for more to take the matter out on saturday. the pictures shod how difficult it is. >> there was more fighting in

syria. activists say government air raids called a dozen people. turkey's prime minister has low expectations that talks will lead to peace. >> translation: the steps tape in geneva i were not accepted in geneva ii that is still wrong. we see it as taking a negative course. >> prime minister recep tayyip erdogan is fighting oruption charges. new internet laws are meant to keep a lid on the scandal. we have more from istanbul. >> the square in the center of istanbul is the scene of

clashes. protesters are angered by what they claim is an attempt to curb freedom of expression. it's the latest expression. this is a further saying that the gst is trying to control the public through legislation. the government says that will not curve frood om of expression, but will protect it. it will ensure that the internet is not used to expose people's private lives or used as a platform for libelous accusations. the size the protests were not large.

they were loud. as soon as riot police entered, they were it's appeared and ensuing small battles took place. another sign that there is a segment of turkish society that is not in favour of the way this which the government is doing busine business. the prime minister is unphased and is confident he enjoys large popularity. >> iran says its warships in the atlantic ocean will come close to the american forces. >> there were strong words for washington saying it would overflow the russian government if it could. >> the mrns say we are friends.

they are lying. they threaten iran and expect us to reduce defense capability. at the same time as threatening us they say we must reduce capabilityize. >> no, with the help of god we'll increase the strength. >> the supreme leader spoke at ents. >> it's been a month since the west virginia spill. many do not trust the water there. >> despite the smell of liquorice, it doesn't rise to the level of being unsafe. demonstrators are shipping away

from the company causing the spill. >> hundreds marched. they were furious at freedom industries. shooting off access to water. they are protesting the water company, accusing it of not providing enough examination. after 14 schools were closed because of smelly water, there's no confidence the problems have been film. who you trust is the community question. "i was told to take a shower because it was safe", i had eye for example the >> the teed, they think, is starting to turn for politicians. ism marches like this hopefully will show them that industry may

be the gravy strap. >> the protests will continue. >> the demonstrator are mailing a list of demands including a piece of black lick requiquoril. >> following the drug trail - how does iron make its way foo the u.s. >> an ice storm in the north-west brings treacherous driving conditions. some parts are warned against. i'll show you the details next.

>> firefighters in georgia contained a fire. nobody was hurt. it was unclear what sparked the fire. >> thousands marched in north carolina. angry at law, the moral march on rally. it was the biggest since protests began in the state company. new voter id house, and cuts to unemployment. >> now that c.b.s. banned the sale of cigarettes, it wants to private more health services. >> the pharmacy as we have known if is changing. c.b.s. and walgreens wants the next generation to be more like

small clinics. at a pharmacy, it could save patients from seeing an overworked doctor. wall greeps, the largest pharmacy chain is working with prosource. >> you cap shat to the patient and we'll -- can chat to the patient we'll get it taken care of. >> with the shortages we see the need for primary care management. the pharmacies, is a perfect environment for the team-based care. >> the plan is to focus op health care and get out of the business of selling things that are bad for you. >> san francisco banned tobacco products. c.b.c.s announcement that it will stop selling tobacco is

scan with a goal to evolve into a place that provides heath care. >> the move will cost $2 billion. the new focus is appropriate. >> we are engaged in treatment of disease. we are trying to help doctors. >> it will not be simply. >> business models will have to change. >> a pharmacist is compensated for a product and needs to be compensated for a service and outcome. >> the move will help the bottom line. customers will have to get used to the idea. >> i wouldn't feel like i'm at a doctor's office. a new law in california let's pharmacists do things - prescribe medications, give vac sipations and order lab tests.

>> it's part of an effort to keep an ageing population healthier and at lower cost. >> death from heroin has doubled over the past decade. >> most of the world's heroin comes from afghanistan. a small amount makes it to the united states. host of ours comms from latin america. much of the heroin in the eastern part of the us comes from columbia. >> the american city with the highest rate of heroin is baltimore marr lip. there are 12,000 heroin addicts. at airports people use luggage with false bottoms or drug mules to smuggle it in.

mexico is among the largest suppliers. how did it become a lucrative business. >> poppy cultivation goes back to the 1900s. >> this was small scaled. cartels are operating here and began to recruit experts. this is as they were ramping up smuggling operations as they saw what is a lucrative product. 50% of heroin consumed in the u.s., beyond that 90 to 95%

consumed in the united states was brought through the country. if it wasn't made here, it was smuggled. some experts are blaming large cartels. there's evidence of small-scale operations. turning it into black tar and taking it through, over the boarder into the u.s. >> earlier i spoke to megan rolston, and a reporter from the l.a. times about what is behind the spike in drugs. >> in my view this is an opiate epidemic, and the numbers may be small in some relative sense, but the damage done is substantial, i think. >> the numbers are small but

grow. the number of users have almost doubled. >> the crackdown has been playing a role to transition people. it is cheaper. >> people have a view that it's an inner city drug that doesn't effect a lot of other people. >> i was a crime reporter in the crack days. we wrote about the drive buy shooting, the feuds, the crack dealers on the streets. this epidemic has no public violence. >> why doesn't it? >> because in large part arge

nates -- originates with doctors overprescribing. there's not a lot of other options. also family when someone dies. an opiate overdose is sameful. >> what do you make that we have seen rural states, vermont and maine, tackle the issue calling it an epidemic. >> they are a great example are what states can be doing: they are investing in treatments. they talk about mental health. they are doing a great job

showing leadership. then you have states like maine, where they are drying to get access to drugs to say the lives of people. and then others in the nixon era prom, you thank work. >> we have a limited infrastructure for drug treatment in this country. made so because it's not viewed as a core approach to this problem. with opiates, they are enormously difficult to kick. we have outstripped our treatment, particularly for folks who are low income.

if you are on opiates enough everyone is low income. because you have sacrificed and used all your money. this is part of that issue. >> thank you both. >> for the second straight day the pacific north-west is slammed by a powerful storm. drout stricken north carolina system rain is falling. snow hit the sarah nevadas. it will take months of rap fall to get -- rain fall to get back it normal. ism we could have record rainfall if the storm was pointed on one spot.

there's a series of storms with a lot of moisture. as it gets into the jet stream, the atmospheric river travels along the jet stream. it moves north and south. we see different areas with different amounts of rain or snow or ice. sadly we have an eye storm warning. going into the george. also stretching up into north-west, the areas of south-west washington. what happens is low pressure travelling up the coast, the wind rushes up. it's blasting icy wiped into portland. warmer hair is over it.

we have a nice storm warning. elsewhere it's know in places like seattle. not much. portland, travelling east ward. you see an iced over lens. it could snow. it is wet. note the deterrence. mid to upper 50s. in fact, in the last three days they have 20 to 40 inches of snow. >> compare it to where we have the games. no snow the last three days. we have better snow. temperatures dropping below freezing. we'll see the snow historic to

ren. fort land dealing with ice accumulations. we'll get rain and serious amounts in the next week ahead. that is encouraging. ? south-west high sees are horsing fem from their holes -- rescue teams have been called in to evacuate people. we have more. >> i'm here in one of the line of the flubs. the community -- floods. the water is creeping up. more bad weather is forecast. it's a problem for thear. if you flick around here, you can see the rise in water, at

5mm an hour. it's making a difference. a few metres back there tos over my head across the water, accessible by boat is the village of moreland. 15 families are staying saying it's too much to walk away interest their properties. hundreds of other families are being evacuated. >> people living here, farmers, farm hands. some have not been able to work since december. >> it is difficult for a number of residents. people here concerned about their veil iping going under water. they are deep to provides ach support as they -- as much

support as they can. >> it's not the floodwaters but the wind that is a problem much that will bring with it massive weighs. >> getting ready for the winter games in russia means getting rid of the stray dogs in sochi. the policy angered advocates. app activist was detained. olympic officials say sick and dying dogs are killed and the others shipped to sank timaries. next, a look at the new throat to the u.s. a royal trial. a spanish princess in court

facing serious

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. here is a look at the top story. >> a major advance for marriage equality for same-sex couples. a new policy. the changes apply to gay people testifying and court, filing joint breakups yip for fisting fellow inmates. >> hundreds marched through the streets of west virginiaa. they want the water company to pay their water bills. >> the united nations calls on syria's warring parts to stick to a ceasefire in homs. syria's government and the opposition blamed each other. >> high unemployment in bosnia protests calmed. many declared they'd return to

the streets tomorrow. >> the anger here is growing. mainly aimed at pol tirps who the public blame for the economic crisis g. >> for the past 20-25 years we were suffering. we live in a bad country. no one is doing anything. >> unemployed is at a record high. the worst figures in the ball cans. >> overnight vialens erupted. government archives and documents were destroyed.

>> protesters were out on the streets. >> sarajevo have not seen violence like this. >> some politicians admit that the public have been let down by an upwieldy system of government. this is an outcry of the people. no matter junior where they live to bring the judgment over poll tucks that produced the problems. this is basically. this has a revolution roy connotations in terms that -- revolutionary konnoations it terms that people are unhappy.

>> the government called some protesters huli gans. those that did not take part in the violence say they understand why it happened. pressure is growing to take action, to revive the economy. >> the director of a sarajevo-based think tapping says there's no basis for dialogue between citizens and politicians. >> this is part of the reason and frustration, that people did not have a normal communication. now what we are seeing as a result of this is three regional governments forced to resign. we are entering foo a known territory. no one knows would will ache over the power and how the protest juniors will continue.

>> protesters want the country to join the european union. >> now to ukraine. >> the two sides faced each other. it ended piece fly. it's having a devastated impact. >> ukraine's national currency. it's about $50. it has been fluctuating. it plummeted to its lowest. petrol prices started to go up. the russians said that they will start offering a lime line. provided ukraine pay back a $3

billion loan for gas. it's unclear whether kiev is able to do that. other offers of aid came from the yates and the e.u. -- the united states and the e.u. they are prepared to offer a package provided lawmakers bring about an end to the stand off. the fear is that it could start a bidding war over flooups over ukraine's full court. >> princess cristina testified. she denied allegations. it's the first time a member of the spanish fm lay appeared in court. >> no royal fan fair for the duchess as she approached the court on saturday. arriving in majorca. apprenticeship was calm --

princess cristina was calm as she entered. on the other side of the buildings there was little sim pathy. this is a scandal that fuelled anti-monarchy feeling. >> what spaniards are living is a comedy. we need food and jobs. we as citizens need to take responsibility which. oruption is a simply tom. her husband is accused of hufg his nonprofit organization to invest fund. a series of personal expnss were uncovered.

lawyers said that princess cristina looked forward to proving her innocence. the involvement of princess cristina in a high-profile scandal has been been eforms blow. is the royal household has dried to maintain a demps, but it would take an enormous amount of effort to reverse that. >> the public doesn't tolerate corruption, stealing funds or tax fraud. >> this is why this case left the public disenchanted. the case highlighted and left many angered in might of the how the financial chris size affected the lives of many. that members were involved, it increased disillusionment.

>> in thailand protests are damaging. a political stalemate is hurting villages. we have this story from bank cock. >> it started with the movement on the streets and escalated into violence. after a vote the stalemate is raising smek conseriousness. the country enjoyed solid growth. for now they are not leaving. some are putting expansion on hoaxed those committed are commit to the longs term. there are other countries with respect the region. they are more attractive.

the all-important numbersar lower than projected before the crisis. the cost of the ipp was is impacting the government's finances. >> the process might take long are. respect they are trying to spend a lot in infrastructure. >> even when the protesters leave the streets smaller industries are not going to rebound immediately. that inchuds the technology sector. when the political issue is settled we'll need a good six months to gets on the feet. when it's ended in june.

i don't see a clear budget plan from the government. >> as the check concerns grow, the mood of protesters is buoyant. if it continues, impacting foreign investment the country will feel it. there will not be much dancing in the streets. >> this week al qaeda cut ties with an affiliate. i.s.i.l. became increasingly independent. ignoring calls to disband and return to iraq. morgan radford has more on the changing nature of al qaeda. >> it's base once firmly centered in pakistan. al qaeda has brampinged out into franchises. in some of the most volatile places on earth. >> in some ways you can say there's never been more members

of al-qaeda. there is so many groups, many of them large. >> richard barr ot is a counter terrorism expert and says there's no longer training camps or traceable financing for min yip bases. pt u.s. policy of drone strike. >> there was a particular charisma. he'd been in afghanistan. he had given up wealth which appealed to many people. the death of obreason didn't finish you have, but the new leader backs bin lad ep's broad appeal. >> the biggest weak point is his relevance. >> he does not have day to day control over al qaeda affiliates. he ordered the leader. and to concentrate on iraq.

he refused, directly challenging the al qaeda leadership. i don't think of the submit between i.s.i.l. has any impact on the jihadists. they'll carry out the operations on their own with or without instructions. >> obama administration officials worried that some fighters were inspired to laurge the attack. >> problem is that there are 7,000 foreigners. this is according to u.s. intelligence officials. they are more like a spiritual leader, making al qaeda more than an organization. it inspires home-grown terrorists. >> what we have learnt is you can't kill them all. >> the way to undermine any

extremist ideology is to work with lead rers. >> is it a matter of a generation or several. >> a lot depend on how the awakening goes. >> al jazeera's ross shimabuku has more on the technology behind the sochi winter olympics. >> becoming an olympic athlete takes years of training, blood, sweat and tears. does an athlete need more than that. now that the games is under way. we'll see how technology plays a role in bringing home a gold medal. jenny, the editor of "popular science" joins me. the u.s. team works with engineers, scientists to develop ultimate technology. does the u.s. have to do that.

>> they do. they have become an arms race, making their technology the best. the windower games are so reliant on equipment. the u.s. bob led team. >> they have not won since 1936. they got bmw to overhaul the craft. they got rid of the fibre. they redistributed the weight, make it faster and more important for the bob sled, they made the steering system responsive. >> it was all about the speed. >> have you seen anything like this? >> others work with groups that

race race cars. >> the skeleton is something i love to watch. i tried it once and thought i would die. in sochi, i understand the ated leets are using custom-made skeleton. there's a coalition. they overhauled it. this is the skeleton travel. they go head-first 80 miles per hour. there's no steering and they he'll on the bodies. the saddle is extra strong and flexible. >> a lot of people are gripping that and white knuckling it. >> so... >> true story.

>> that passed us. you did the skeleton. >> went to park city. i was knit knuckling it and screaming like a little girl. i have no shame in my game. >> you can jump on and go with no athletic amounty. you have to have tonnes of athletic eighty. the u.s. bim edges -- women's hockey team. >> the first gold medal went to sage kotsenburg, the 20-year-old kid. he qualified earlier in the day. it was slopestyle, making a debut. not only did he make the finals, he captured a gold medal, with a trick he has never done, called

the holy grail. 4.5 rotations and catching air, and he nailed it. sage kotsenburg was stoked. >> this is all in one day. it fools like a week ago it happened. it's been crazy. i'm stoked to be here, representing the u. is a. >> being part of the team is school. bringing hope the cold is icing on the cake. >> shaun dropping out. most of the spotlight is on shoun. it was cool everyone was, "oh, there's other guys that compete." >> hannah kearney added a bronze. norway leads by four. hoarse sock marquee medal events

tomorrow: bode miller posted unbelievable times and is no longer the party animal. the 36-year-old father of two realises that this could be his last shot. >> i'm in a better spot. i was behind from the start of the season. i pulled my fitness together by the time it was time to race to the olympics, but not where i am now. >> giving all of us hope for people in the 30s. >> problems at the sochi games has been well documented. there's a twitter account called sochi problems. it has 300,000 followers. best tweet came from american

bob sledder johnny quinn who had to bust out of his bathroom after being locked in. it helps that he played football in the n.f.l. and cfl. first thing i thought is, "who will pay for it?" no, just part of the costs. >> not all the winter games are in sochi. some competition in ice and know is here in the good old us of a.

>> as china's economy gets more competitive workers are facing pressure to perform. a drug company said 30 million people in china are breeng treated for -- being treated for depression. >> at a meant am health facilities staff and patients attend a daily exercise session. along with counselling and drugs, designed to treat stress and depression, they can counselled themselves lucky. for every one patient treated, it is statement there are up to 20 others who should be. college student lee has been here for five months. >> before i came to hospital i was unable to communicate. i was in a terrible estate.

i thought about committing suicide. >> as one of china's leading experts on stress. the professor saw a rise in patients suffering work-related illness. >> in the past 30 years, the opening of china has been rapid. >> i have been paying a lot of tapes to operational burn-out. >> the development of china into a more competition driven economy resulted in pressures associated with developed societies. the pressure of the urban environment is taking a toll. as with other challenges, the potential for growth is astounding. a report from chang shy suggests more than 80% of depressed

people are untreated. >> as china's cities are reached by urban pressure, the problem is likely to get bigger. >> it's been a marsh winter into chicago. >> the winter games may be in sochi, but for the artists in chicago, the xtition is heating up. xk competition is ating up. 27 teams are taking part. >> there's a number of teams from warm of had weather environment. it's amazing how they prepare. >> each of the professionals and 12 teems be fips with an 8 by 8 of know. >> we compress, and do that over

and over. >> the better the snow compression, the easier to work with. from there they chip away at the snow block. some use models. everything from mon stores to the abstract. >> a balmy 32 may seem a great temperature. >> single digits are more conducive. last year we were at 32 and we had a collapse the day br judging. >> mike and his team are faring better. for carlos and his team, the

freezing temperatures are a change. we are moving. the sun is shiping. everything is okay. >> for these artists, it's part of the fun. with palm trees in the middle of winter couldn't complain. >> it was a pure bread that won. the kennel dog treated: >> the border collie beat out 200 other dogs it's the first time muts appeared. they were called all-american dogs. breaking a 138-year-old tradition. that's the show, have a good night. see you here tomorrow. ♪ ♪

>> this is al jazeera america i'm jonathan betz with the top stories. >> attorney-general eric holder announce the new policies for the way the justice department

recognised same-sex couples. filing joint bankruptcy or visiting federal inmates. >> a month after a chemical spill, more than 100 people marched through the streets. protesters wanted west virginia water to pay for water and medical bills. >> firefighters in georgia say they have contained a blaze in savannah. 5,000 tonnes of rubber caught fire. it could take a while to burn out. no one was hur. >> the united nations is calling op warring parties to stick to a ceasefire. aid workers came upped shelling and gun shire. both sides blamed each other. >> tear gas and water can jobs

were fired in turkey after laws to block internet pages. >> those are the headlines. "america tonight" is next on al jazeera america. >> good evening. you're watching moot "america tonight." the weekend edition. it's a series of dotted linings, the extension to the keystone pipeline is something of a line in the sand. it would ease the flow of waters