trained in the use of the suit to get that first person out of it. to get that first person that buddy system is essential, out of it. that buddy system is essential, doctors say, in creating the doctors say, in creating the kind of ritualized process kind of ritualized process that's going to keep me from that's going to keep me from being infected. being infected. you. >> welcome to al jazeera america. i'm david shuster with a look at today's top story. an american jailed in cuba is now freed. >> we'll end an outdated approach that for decades did not change relations.

>> president obama says its time for a new approach. in pakistan the death penalty has been reinstated after the deadliest attack by the taliban in pakistan history. today funerals began for the staff members and 132 children killed. u.s. movie theaters fearful of hackers threat of violence is pulling the movie "the interview," a film that mocks north korea. >> we begin with a historic day in the relationship between the united states and cuba. today the obama administration said it would normalize relations with the communist country breaking with 54 years of the policy of isolation. the deal came together after

alan gross had been held for five years in are a cuban jail. gross and an another man was released. alan gross thanked the people who made this day possible. >> they would arrange for my release. to president obama and the staff, thank you. >> alan gross lost more than 100-pounds and several teeth while in confinement. he said that he would begin working on his health. the president said that the united states will normalize

relations with the country and ease decades of economic and travel restrictions. mike, it is a huge policy shift, how did this all come about? >> it's really amazing, and it has all the elements of intrigue and international politics as well as an historic change as you describe it. behind-the-scenes talks accelerating over the last few months brokered by the vatican and the pope himself, and couple that with a couple of americans held in prison on espionage charges that the united states deny are true as well as alan gross, and you have a startling change in policy. alan gross said it was an impediment to working towards normalizing relations and economic trade. the president speaking directly to the camera said that now that gross is freed he can move forward in normalizing relations including establishing an american embassy in havana, just

for starters. that has not been done since 1961. >> to those who oppose the steps i'm announcing today let me say that i respect your passion and share your commitment to liberty and democracy. the question is how do we uphold that commitment? i do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result. >> now, the white house and the president very eagle for break any linkage or perception that that spy swap was link to do so the alan gross case. there was an american we know now held in cuba's prisons for some 20 years. he was an intelligence asset. the intelligence community director of national intelligence said that this individual had provided information that led to the capture and impres and imprisonment of a number of

spice working here in america, and in turn several cubans have been released in return for one american. >> what is the outline of the policies from the president. >> he's loosening some of the restrictions on travel, money transfer and remittances, things held dear by the american community particularly in south florida. he cannot by law lift the embargo all together. he will open the embassy in havana, and he'll try to ease those sanctions. he will ease travel restrictions allowing more americans travel back and forth to cuba, but not at tourism. he'll raise those remittance levels of sending money back home, and he will expand trade. he's going to go to the congress, david, to get permission to lift the embargo all together, and so far what we've heard particularly from

republicans is that is not going to be an easy lift. >> mike, in particular marco rubio seemed to lead the opposition. tell us more about that. >> well, let's start with house speaker john boehner. he said no how no way are we going to be lifting the cuban he ca embar co. marco rubio is a cuban-american. he wants to run for president, and he came out with harsh words condemned the president this president is the single worst negotiator we've had in the white house in my lifetime who has given the cuban government everything they asked for and assured no advances in democracy and freedom in return. >> alan gross, smiles all around, reunited with his wife and friends. after all the fanfare and shock of today wears off, it's going to be a long road for president obama to do what he wants to do and normalize relations with

cuba. >> mike viqueira in washington. mike, thank you very much. we'll have more on the politics and reaction today later in the show. when alan gross spoke out this afternoon, he was at times feisty and at times humorous. >> that's exactly the way he was. it turns out alan gross is quite the character after all. from popcorn on the plane coming only, one of the things that he missed the most about not being in the united states, to watching president obama address along side secretary kerry and joking about it and the kind of work that secretary kerry will be doing in the coming months it seems that alan gross is almost back to his old self. who is this man held by the cubans, and who we were told was sicker and more depressed every day in prison. alan gross on home soil for the first time in five years and not afraid to show it. >> i'm incredibly blessed finally to have the freedom to

resume a positive and constructive life. >> a website pushing for grows' release said that he has traveled the world for a quarter of century helping people in 50 countries to create jobs and improper agriculture. the state department overseas development wing i was accused of smuggling and sentenced to 15 years behind bars. earlier this month his wife judy appealed for alan's release on health ground. hip problems, crumbling front teeth and angry that they had kept him for so long. >> very gregarious, very happy person, great personality. very, very warm. unfortunately, that's changed quite a bit in the past four years.

>> gross' five-year jail time has been complicated by the decades-old trades embargo imposed against cuba that is now under review after more than 50 years. plus the revelation of secret programs against the communist island. president obama hinted that behind-the-scenes negotiations in the sit-down last week with spanish tv. >> you know, we've been in conversations about how we can get alan gross home for quite some time. we have been working through a whole variety of challenges. >> now alan gross is a free man once more. free to join his family for the holidays, and by his own admission to get those teeth fixed. >> i hope that they'll be strong and sharp enough to make a difference. >> there we are. you see the proof you need. alan gross and his wife have asked for complete privacy from

the media while they enjoy the holiday season with their family and he takes care of his health. with a character like this one, this is probably not the last you've heard from alan gross. >> terrific piece, john, thank you very much. cubans in the united states and in cuba are reacting to these changes on social media. maria ines ferre is here with that. >> reporter: yes, david, we have been seeing reactions from cuban-americans and cubans inside cuban. we have not bianca who writes: . you have other cubans inside the u.s. who don't agree with this announcement. ramón from santiago, cuba, he wrote, poor cuban people. now everything stopped in cuba when raul castro and president obama spoke. about the same time today cubans gathered around television sets

to watch castro's announcement here. you can see some cuban students at a local university, students and teachers there who are watching, and also this is a commercial place where they are also watching rule castro and president obama both speak. these are a couple of cuban students who say this is our face when we were watching obama and raul castro speak. now not everyone in cuba is in agreement, though. a blogger says that he's skeptical about what can happen between cuba and the usa because he fears that human rights will be forgotten. now, david, in cuba the man who were jailed in the u.s. as espionage charges is seen as heroes. cubans have been tweeting volvieron, meaning they have returned. these are people in santiago who went out in the streets very happy about this announcement, and one of the jailed men, he

was released in 2011, renée gonzalez, he writes, we'll all be together for christmas with our families and cubans. >> ines, thank you very much. antonio, you were three years old when your family left havana. an economic opportunity for cubans and the united states. >> it's interesting, the economic reasons behind all this are really not being talked about very much, and the reality is that the conversation seemed to have been going on for quite awhile, but the cuban economy has been a mess for decades, and they face a really serious threat because the price of oil is plunging, and venezuela has been subsidizing oil, the venezuelan economy is suffer something much they may not be able to support the cubans in

the way they're doing, there might have been extra yo on raul castro to bring more money to cuba. there is an american side, too. there are a lot of american businesses, very strongly supporting this and calling for an end of the embargo because this could bring a lot of jobs to the united states if there is openness towards cuba. >> this will simply prop up the regime even more, strengthen the hand of the castro family, is that the story long-term? >> senator marco rubio and others who strongly oppose this sa this will just prop up the castro regime and help this repressive regime continue to operate the way it has operated. i think he's probably right in the short term. this is going to give the castro regime a propaganda boost because of the three spice who are being returned. it will give could yo cuba more

economy. but where i disagree, this will have long-term affects that could be very counterproductive to the regime. it will force it to be more open when we look at history and what happened i. if cuba is open to the west, i have a very hard time to believe that a country 90 miles away from the u.s. will continue to be as repressive as it is. >> your father went to school with fidel castro. your grandfather was a political figure back in the day. what is going on in your family. >> it's always very emotional when these things happen. you always wonder if this will finally bring openness to cuba. my mom, who is in her 80's, will she be able to see her moment once again. this will be emotional for me, my family and all cubans in south florida and around the

world. there will be very substantial differences of opinion, however, as to whether this is a good thing or not. >> antonio, thank you for being part of the coverage. we appreciate it. alan gross was arrested five years ago while working as a contractor for the agency of international development. the agency's leader announced his resignation. he said he'll leave in february. he did not give a reason for his departure, but it will be welcomed by the cuban government, and it may help the obama administration's new relationship with cuba. in pakistan today the prime minister lifted that country's ban on the death penalty following the deadliest taliban attack in pakistani soil in the group's history. gunmen with suicide bombs attacked a school killing 145 people, including 132 children. relatives of the victims have

now begun the grim task of burying those young victims. we have more. >> pain and agony. one after another more than 130 children have been laid to rest. there is more injured to come today, even grown men struggled to keep their composure. this man buried his teenage nephew abdullah. >> i'm not ready to believe. >> graphy is giving way to anger. >> if you can't protect the children. if you can't make the armies stand in front of the schools, there should be no army, there should be no security of any government official. they should be like us.

>> political leadership has jolted into action. the prime minister has removed the ban on death penalty of those convicted of terrorism, and the this is the public school where taliban attackers were sent to revenge what the group calls the death of its chill bchildren by pakistan military. when you enter the school there is a certain smell of death. the blood-stained floors and charred rooms are the signs of massacre here. books are riddled with bullets. this was where the children were taking the exam. each has a terrifying story that each say they will never forget. >> me and my friend hid under the chair. there was intense firing.

many of my friends were lying there dead. there were lots of blood. many children were crying. whoever was making noise, the attackers would shoot them. >> pakistan is in mourning, and schools across the country held prayers for the departed. instead of playing in playgrounds children are filling the cemeteries. >> in afghanistan today taliban fighters stormed a bank killing ten people after one suicide-bomber blue himself up at the break three others set fire to the building. security forces killed all of the attackers. the afghan spy chief warned that other troops have left an intelligence vacuum that could lead to mortal ban attacks. in australia we learned that the man who held hostages in a cafe in sydney was once on the nation's watch list but was dropped years ago.

memorial services were held for the two killed in the siege. prime minister tony abbott said that monis was on the watch list in 2008 and 2009 for sending offensive letters to the families of dead australian soldiers. it is not clear why he was dropped from the list. a resolution setting a two-year timetable for israel's withdraw from the occupied territory is expected to be introduced at the united nations later today. in france the european parliament voted overwhelmingly to support a palestinian state. lawmakers stopped short of outright recognition of a state. they urged both sides to resume peace talks. coming up, no news is good news, especially for american investors after u.s. federal reserve decides against raising interest rates. and there has been a possible break through in nasa's search for life on mars.

>> this is because of a corrupt deal to an assigned to basically support two dodgy businessmen an israeli one, and an egyptian one... >> al jazeera exposes those who made a fortune betraying an entire nation >> you don't feel you owe an explanation to the egyptian people? >> no...no.. >> al jazeera investigates egypt's lost power on al jazeera america

>> an u.s. federal reserve signaled that it was close for raising interest rates but it would not act yet. the job market and economy are stronger, but the fed promised to be patient in determining when to raise the rates. no timeline on when that will happen. this would be the first rate hike since the 2008 financial crisis. the dow was up 288 points today. the s&p 500 rose 40 points and the nasdaq rose 96.5 points. russians have been trying to

go about business as usual. >> reporter: an show room of cars does not seem to be the biggest winner with the economy is ranking, but these are strange times and audi is happy to be doing brisk business. >> now once you could buy one car for $50,000. but now you can buy two for the same money. >> this car is sold, so is this one and recently everything in this show room has been sold. it may seem counter intuitive in the middle of a financial crisis to go shopping, but there is logic in this spree. >> the distributer priced these cars at an exchange rate that bears no resemblance to the market. sergei is buying a tv to take

advantage of a situation he knows won't last. >> it depends on what people plan to buy before but decided not to wait any further. we don't expect the situation to get better soon. >> and that's the thing. this is a bonanza with a fa todaa fatalistic edge. >> one should not allow this to happen. they should not allow people to speculate on the ruble. of course it influences ordinary people. i don't like the situation. >> some retailers seem paralyzed not knowing what prices to be charging. apple has closed it's store. >> back in the united states employees at a pharmacy in massachusetts have now been charged with causing a fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people. the outbreak happened in 2012 after contaminated drugs were mixed at the new england compounding pharmacy. more than 680 people got the

disease. the owner and head pharmacist were charged with racketeering and second-degree murder. there is a new report focused on climate change and the arctic report card is more troubling than ever. jacob ward explains. >> scientists have been worried about the arctic for decades. but a new report put out by the national oceanic and atmospher ic administration or nooa indicate that the conditions there are increasingly unstable. >> the arctic plays a very important role in regulating the global climate. the arctic is like a thermostat, and because we're losing sea ice and glacial ice, we're changing the thermostat, and that then feeds back into our global climate. and the weather that we experience. >> the world is seeing some of the lowest level of arctic ice in decadesser. that's affecting the weather everywhere. in the u.s. alaska's average weather in 2014 was nearly

20 degrees higher than a year earlier, and snow melted four weeks earlier in scandinavia. the report presented here in san francisco at the american geofiscal union which is the world's largest space and earth meeting has in the past only focused on the specific condition of the ice sheet. but this year scientists believe they have enough data to describe secondary effects in the arctic, for instance, on polar bears. >> we call them an ice-dependent species. the sea ice is their habitat. that's where they live, eat, and mate. this is effecting polar bear numbers. but also the health and condition of the polar bears. >> past studies of the arctic focused on very specific data, but now we're beginning to see the bigger picture.

sea ice is melting, and that is having significant affects everywhere. jacob ward, al jazeera, san francisco. >> scientists have a new sign that life may have existed or could still exist on measures. the nasa rover called curiosity has detected low levels of methane gas on mars. it's not clear where it's coming from, but here on earth 90% of methane gas comes from living things. a policy shift in cuba. so-called normalized relations with cuba are still a long way off. and in power politics hillary clinton may have something going for her with younger voters. that story is just ahead.

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>> by all accounts it is a major shift in the relationship between the united states and cuba. president obama announced sweeping changes that will ease travel restrictions and open an u.s. embassy in havana. it comes thanks to a prisoner swap. cuba released alan gross in exchange for three cuban intelligence agents arrested and jailed here in the united states. cuban president raul castro said that it fulfilled a promise that his brother fidel made more than a decade ago. >> they arrived today in our country. this decision by president obama deserves the respect and recognition of our nation. i want to thank and recognize the support of the vatican and especially of pope francis.

>> despite president obama's policy shift the main issue, the longstanding u.s. economic embargo must end. pope francis who played a key role in today's events offered his congratulations. the vatican issued a statement in part, the holy father wants to give his thankwishes to express his warm congratulations. the pope legislature urged presidents castro and obama vatican space and a street level of discussions for leaders in this these. south african leaders are meeting to talk about healthcare, but news of the foreign relations with cuba overshadowed all of that. we go live to buenos aires. what has been some of the

reactions from leaders and citizens? >> it's south american leaders who are gathering in argentina for the medical summit. the presidents of brazil, a.g venezuela, they applauded the announcement at the summit and said it was long overdo you. >> how could this change relationships with other parts of latin america? >> it's going to have a very strong impact. remember that the united states was becoming more and more isolated from its regional neighbors. every single country in central, south america and can ribera has been calling for cuba to be invited back. the united states would have

been left to boycott a for forum it started itself, or to sit down with raul castro and perhaps in a very uncomfortable situation. this opened the door for the united states to regain a lot of the lost leadership in this region. that's something that president obama has recognized. >> thank you very much. christopher sabbatini, with the council o council for the americas. what do you see as opportunities for the cuba and the america. >> it was a challenge basically because in the last summit all the latin american government has a vote and said no cuba, no summit. they would not join the summit if cuba was not there, which violated the original charter of the summit. but with this announcement you're looking at a real opener

for the region in terms of now basically the administration can have better relations with a lot of its allies at the same time they can put front and center on the summit agenda what is the meaning of democracy, and policy and political change inside of cuba and they'll invite dissidents who now can have a seat at the table. >> there is no leverage the united states now has if cube goes ahead and rearrests dissidents or continues the clamp down. >> that's a good question and it's been one of the writ simples. we've had no improvements of human rights and no democracy in cuba. now we have diplomacy. we have carrots he can take away

and sticks we can use. these elements, whether it's trade or independent entrepreneurs or loosening of the travel restrictions. now we can take those back. now we have obama saying to raul castro, stop arresting political prisoners and release the ones you have. >> the engagement request cuba, how does that change what most cubans will see as far as their own circumstances on the ground? >> this is a good point. for decades the government has blamed its failure in the system on the embargo. basically what has happened obama has moved that excuse for the failures of the socialist system in cuba from the castro government. but at the same time, there will be more interaction with tourism and tourists, and the failure of

the system will be of much more evident, and many more people will demand a little bit more. cubans didn't have that access before because we had the embargo. eastern europe when this was a transition of democracy, there was no embargo on eastern europe. >> some people demanding more are american business who is are demanding to go down to cuba as quickly as possible because there is huge possibilities for americans in business and finance. do you see that same opportunity, do you share that optimism that american business people seem to have? >> no, i don't. there willing limitations. there will be openings in the the agriculture business and banking. lawyers will always benefit no matter what the open something. u.s. banks will flourish now

because people will be able to use their credit and debit cards. it's still a lousy place to do business. >> christopher, great for you to come in. thanks so much. an amazing day. it has been over 30 years since president jimmy carter left the house. but for years the president had been working on u.s.-cabrerae -cuban relations. >> well, we've had for more than 60 years very harsh economic embargo or sanctions that have been very difficult for the 11 billion people to live with. we've just punished them and the castro brothers have used this economic sanctions to give

excuses for all of the difficulties that the cuban people have experienced because of the communistic restraints. i think this will not only give them a better life, but also open up to american farmers, particularly those in georgia a wonderful chance for new trade, both in buying raw materials from cuba, but also selling them our corn, our chicken, and things that has been arranged. >> you can catch for of john seigenthaler's interview with president carter. the new about cuba today has political ramifications in the united states, particularly for two floridians who may run for the 2016 g.o.p. presidential nomination. both florida senator marco rubio and jeb bush condemn the u.s. policy shift today, but the jockeying between them has clearly gun. michael shure joins us now from los angeles. first, here is marco rubio from

earlier today. >> this president is the single worst negotiator we've had in the white house in my lifetime. who has basically give the cuban government everything that it asks for. and received no assurances in any dances in democracy and freedom in return. >> michael n terms of the advantages and disadvantages, marco rubio taking that tone, what are they? >> well, the advantages that he got out there first. he is the first person today, and also with the largest exclamation mark in the way he talked about it, but i think there is a disadvantage as well. florida and the country are two different places, and even in florida charlie crist, he was the democrat running for governor unsuccessfully in november, he won the cuban vote by two percentage points over the eventually winner rick scott. the cuban vote in florida is a small percentage of the vote there and a vote trending away from the republican party.

when you look at the country as a whole these types of issues are not as important to the country. he has to differentiate himself from jeb bush because they're both floridians. but on this score it will be difficult to do that. jeb bush came in, said the same things as you just read. he does not go in to it as deeply or passionately as rubio does. >> speaking of passion, this is a huge day for the obama white house in terms of policy and politics. they are is president obama making the announcement earlier today, watch. >> we will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests, and instead we'll begin to normalize relationships between our two countries. >> michael, from the surprise this morning to the news that alan gross was coming to the announcement the president was going to have a sweep, that electrifying news conference of

alan gross in terms of his feistiness, what do you make of it, and how does it help the president politically? >> he's a lame duck president. he's not running for anything. part of his legacy will be building a bridge, look, it was inevitable at some point that this day would come, how and when it would come is the surprise and it was a surprise to us today. what it does for the president, it allows him to go to congress respectful of congress and say hey listen, this is what we're going to do. i need you to back me up, and if you don't time will show you looking foolish about this. when it comes to building an embassy, when congress is not as abt to do that, he'll hold that over them because there is all right a de facto e embassy there now. the president's--the mileage he can dwayne on this has to do with the human rights part of

it, and he included china in that conversation today. just because we have normalized relationships with china, these people are 90 miles away from us. we can do the same thing. >> michael shure, terrific stuff, we appreciate it. in today's power politics there has been a lot of intriguing announcement from jeb bush that esse he is exploring running for president. if the g.o.p. picks the wrong candidate, it is the end of the republicans. quote: >> asked whether jeb bush is in that same mold, cruz replied that's a decision for primary vote tours make. when it comes to making a decision on whether he will run,

cruz said that he thinks the fielhe will announce later. >> rand paul is getting digs in already. >> why is jeb bush out ahead of you? >> maybe he has more ground he needs to gain. he has been out of this for a while. maybe he needs to get back in and practice up a bit. >> practice up a bit. paul says that jeb bush will have a tough time winning the primary while pushing ideas that would accumulate power in washington. things like national curriculum, common core and cho child left behind. marco rubio, the florida senator we just mentioned he's also considering a 2016 presidential campaign, but he said that jeb bush entering the race will not influence his decision. >> i want to make my decision on where is the best play for me to achieve the restoring of the

american dream. that's the best decision to make. irrespective of everyone. governor bush is someone that i admire greatly. he will be a formidable candidate. >> he worked with jeb bush in florida, but they do not see a down side with the young senator launching a presidential campaign regardless of the outcome. this is from the american bridge organization called "welcome to the g.o.p. primary, jeb." >> they don't want jeb bush to run for president. >> he has a conservative problem that he'll have to deal with. >> perhaps jeb bush does not have his finger against the pulse. >> interesting stuff against jeb bush already. >> how old is hillary clinton? some college students were asked that very question and were shocked to learn the real answer. watch this. >> how old is hillary clinton?

>> she's probably in her late 40's. >> maybe she's in her 50's? >> she's 67. >> holy-- >> like 40? >> how old is hillary clinton? >> i have no idea, 180. >> i would say, like, early 50s. >> like 50. >> she's 27. she good recently. >> the video points out the last time hillary clinton drove a car was in 1996. almost 20 years ago. finally a lesson that you should not make your mother angry. democrats brad woodhouse and his republican brother are known in their family for their fighting. a new film called "woodhouse divided" chronicles their political spats like this one. >> first of all. >> first of all. >> first of call. >> i'm talking. >> first of all, after you lose, we win, we pass it and get signed in to office. do you get to keep your job? >> let me tell you something,

no, no, no no. shut up. >> let me ask you. >> let me ask you. >> who controls the north carolina delegation. >> while the mom of the two political twist activists, when she heard them arguing on c-span, she called in on the phone line. >> someone from down south. >> you're right i'm from down south. >> it's mom. >> i disagree that all families are like ours. i don't know many families that are fighting at thanksgiving. >> is this your mother? >> yes. >> i was very glad that this thanksgiving was a year that you two were supposed to go to your inlaws, and i'm hoping that you'll have some of this out of your system when you come here for christmas. >> the call to c-span was not planned, and when mom was asked what it was like to raise the two boys, she said, well, it

isn't easy. that is today's power politics. coming up why egypt is facing a gas crisis despite it's the world's leading gas producers. that next.

>> egypt is the world's leading gas producer, yet it is undergoing a crisis. how is this possible? >> this is a group of men who grew rich in secretive energy deals between egypt and israel. they have cost the egypt people billions of dollars in lost ref news. >> it is possible that egypt was being ripped off. one of the men responsible was a confidant of hosni mubarak. the other, a former israeli intelligence officer, who is now suing the egyptian state. >> how much money will you be satisfied to take from the

egyptians. >> i'll settle for $50 billion. have a good day. >> we investigate the role of energy in the most important relationship in the middle east, israel's peace accord in egypt as a new balance of power emerges. >> the one great weakness was their energy dependence on others. >> israel has laid claim to some of the largest gas fields discovered this century. >> the as gas shortages sweep egypt presidentialcic president al sisi is hoping that a gas deal. >> we can produce it, we can sell it. what more would be better. >> since it's foundation israel's lack of oil and gas has been a key strategic weakness. in the 1960's it looked to

neighboring egypt. >> egypt has been extracting gas from the waters off its coast since the 1960s. during the 1967 arab-israeli war they seized a number of oil field there is. this set the stage of energy inter dependence. >> reporter: as the united states began brokering talks that would lead to the camp david accords the state department made a secret offer to appease israel. the u.s. agreed to supply israel with oil for five years if it's own supplies are disrupted and it cannot meet it's normal requirements. >> it was always a factor in the relationship between egypt and israel. the sinai was and still is a producer. when you get the first camp david part of the issue is how

and will the egyptians get the oil from the sinai. >> let's bring in al jazeera reporter, good to have you on the program, egypt has long been considered a particularly corrupt no matter what sort of oil deals with israel, the corruption seems to penetrate every level of the egyptian government. how much does that fuel the protests that we've seen on the streets the last several years? >> quite a lot. it's clear from the people we interviewed in the making of egypt's lost power that the united states bought off the parties to the camp david accords. they got the egyptian to provide israelis energy at cheap prices and the congress just fawningly showered the egyptian military with equipment, weapons and support all while the people of egyptian opposed those warm

relations with israel. in the 2009 attack on gaza where many thousands of civilians were killed, this built up street-level anger at the egyptian government. why are we providing the israelis with our natural gas at a time when they're killing or fellow arabs and muslims. that could be said this year when there was a 50-day-plus conflict. now egypt is in position to buy israeli gas, now they're asking why would we give israelis money and buying their gas when they're killing our people. >> what sort of crisis is president al sisi dealing with now in egypt? >> there are rolling black outside, so it's winter and it's not severe, but when it's summer and it's above 100 degrees, when you're in hospital and there is a blackout, that's catastrophic.

energy was used as a weapon when the muslim brotherhood candidate mohamed morsi was presidented. they did deliver power cuts. but today the cuts are for real. >> clayton, he wrote and produced egypt's lost power. you can see the entire special tonight at 10:00 p.m. eastern and 7:00 p.m. pacific. clayton, thank you. thousands of movie theaters in the united states are opting out of showing the movie "the interview "after hackers threatened to carry out violence over the comedy that mocks north korean's leader. that story ahead.

>> there are new indications that some of the top movie theater chains in the united states are getting cold feet when it comes to showing the comedy that mocks north korea called th "the interview." there is a warning from hackers that they will attack to

screeners who show the film. >> we're working to confirm how many movie theater chains have decided not to show the film. and we know there are three. there is no evidence of an active plot against movie theaters but the threat alone could cost sony tens of millions of dollars. >> you two will be in a home alone with him, and the cia would love it if you could take him out. >> what? >> take him out. >> for coffee? for kim chi? >> no, take him out. >> you want us to kill the leader of north korea? >> yes. >> whaat! >> it's turning into a costly affair for sony car mike cinemas canceled it's screenings in 250 theaters, and another cinema announced it won't show the movie in 55 others, citing the

safety and comfort of its patrons. the threat is from the guardians of peace which threatens not to show the movie on its release on christmas day. the fbi said at this time there is no credible evidence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters in the united states. but still police departments coast to coast are on alert. >> we'll take precaution. >> the guardians of peace are behind the sony hack last month. four former employees have filed lawsuit against the company. accusing it of not doing enough to protect their data. that can also cost sony tens of millions of dollars. >> as far as the fallout in

terms of with the theaters pulling the movie, i think from a lawyer's perspective that is a very prudent decision. that way you're not facing any risk of any liability of anybody getting hurt. >> the group representing movie theater owners spoke about the threat for the first time today. they said the safety of moviegoers is a priority. they said its up to individual theater owners to decide whether or not to delay "the interview." >> we appreciate it. this is a very big day for the longest running sitcom ever in u.s. television history. today marks the 25th anniversary of the simpsons. the show debuted in 1989. there have been 500 original episodes. 25 years. i'm david shuster.

inside story is next. they're discussing president obama changing policy with cuba. "inside story" is next right here on al jazeera america. >> turning their backs on a half century of u.s.-cuba relations, presidents barack obama and raul castro announce that their two countries are on their way to normal relations. that's inside story. >> hello, i'm ray suarez. one of the final chapters of the cold