to go through that again. >> and so far, her hard work in the course is getting good grades. >> she's awesome. she is awesome. coolest mom ever. >> from the only people who really count. >> hi everyone this is al jazeera america, i'm paul beban in new york. john seigenthaler has the night off. new year's appeal our three al jazeera colleagues take their case to egypt's top court after a year behind bars race against time - whether slows the search for wreckage and clues in the crash of airasia qz8501. first draft - the stories and news makers that made history.

our special report '2014 - a closer look". >> and out with the old, we are ringing in the new year live from times square billions of people from around the world are celebrating the new year. for our three al jazeera colleagues gaoled in egypt, it brings a chance for freedom. peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed were convicted of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood. they spent more than a year in prison. the group human rights watch called the trial a sham. in hours a cairo court will hear the first appeal and consider whether proper legal procedures were followed. al jazeera denied the charges since the beginning, and demands their release. we are joined by a legal analyst and attorney areva martin in los angeles. hello. >> hi. >> thanks for being with us. how likely is it that our generalists will be released in the days ahead.

>> we are getting mixed messages. we are hearing on one hand that the newly elected president is going to issue a pardon then we are hag that he has to -- hearing that he has to allow the legal process to stay out. the judges will not look at the facts or evidence, they'll look at the procedure. the arrest the conviction, and the prison terms given to the journalists. there's concern about what the panel of judges will do with respect to the journalists. >> given what we know about the trial, the evidence presented - i mean there was footage shown not taken by our journalists - really what by our standards would be considered practically farcical. will this be a rubber-stamp will the appeals court rule differently? >> there's a couple of options. definitely the charges can be

thrown out and the journalist set free. the judges can determine a new trial should be granted and suspend the sentence while they await trial. the judges can decide that a new trial be granted and they remain incarcerated pending the trial. you are right about the evidence. the evidence was incredibly, you know, strange, as it relates to an american court procedure. there were video tapes not related to the stories at issue, there was footage that was unrelated. journalists and activists around the country, around the world have called into question the faurps the due process rights of the journalists. i think that pressure, hopefully, will have impact on the proceedings. perhaps, as you mentioned pressure from behind the scenes from higher up in the egyptian political system. i want to turn to questions about freedom of the press. freedom of the press in this country based on the first amendment, similar provisions in

western countries. what about egypt. what protections are there for free speech? >> their constitution talks about freedom of expression and has guarantees about that expression, you know as we do in america. there's a theory of it what is written in the constitution and the practical matter. we know the journalists have been charged with disseminating false information, supporting a terrorist organization. the egyptian constitution talks about freedom of expression and freedom of the press, when there's matters at issue, and particularly those things that they claim threaten the security of that country, we are not seeing that freedom being allowed. there's questions about, you know, how free is you know the journalists in this situation? >> right. big difference between the letter of the law and how things play out on the ground. areva, as you know journalists have gotten tremendous support. is there anything more that can be done to help them?

>> i think the outpouring of support from the television, print media, heads of states other governments coming forth, saying that this is an atrocity that it has played an important part has continued to keep the pressure on until the three men are freed. >> areva martin thank you, happy new year. great to have you. >> palestinian leader mahmoud abbas took steps to join the international criminal court. the decision coming a day after the u.n. security council rejected setting a deadline for israel to withdraw from the occupied territories. joining the court is seen as an attempt to put pressure on israel by raising the spectre of war crime charges against israeli officials. both condemned the move. the u.s. released five detainees after being held for 12 years without charges. the men are from yemen and tunisia.

they'll be transferred to kazakhstan. the first bodies recovered from the air asia plane will return from indonesia. several han recovered. steph is live with more. >> yes, it's a very sad day here for the relatives. they are gathering here right now at the police headquarters hoping to find out more about the rescue efforts and identification process. so far only two bodies have been brought here. four more are still in borneo close to where the plane has crashed. hopefully they can be brought here in the next few hours. so far no more bodies have been found since yesterday. rescue efforts are hampered by bad weather in the area. waves up to 3-4 motors high. it took them a lot of effort to

bring the bodies before they found yesterday on to borneo island. hopefully more will be found today. the weather is better in the area. more boats have been sent there with sophisticated detection equipment on board to find anything on the water, and the signal of the black box. that's what they hope to pick up today. steph, is there any sense to how close they are to finding the black boxes? >> well so far no luck. yesterday the weather was too bad to find anything at sea. hopefully with the clear weather today, they are getting closer to where the body of the plane could be located. some have said they have seen some on the water of the body of the plane. if that's the right location we can be close to finding more details on what has happened. this is still speculation.

it all depends on what is happening today, and if the weather stays as good as it is right now. >> great reporting as always thank you. >> dramatic video of the greek ferry fire this week. passengers waiting to be rescued shot the pictures aboard the ferry, that caught fire. fierce winds and smoke hampered the efforts. helicopters hoisted people to safety. the fire killed 13, including two workers who decide during an attempt to tow the boat to sure. 98 are unaccounted for. >> in shanghai a new year's eve celebration turned deadly. 35 were killed and dozens injured in a stampede on the water front. it may have started when what

looked like u.s. $100 bills were tossed into the crowd. there was a big headline from the leader of north korea in his address. there was reason - no reason not to hold a high-level diplomatic summit with neighbouring south korea. harry fawcett has the story. >> it is interesting from kim jong un, it's more direct stronger con sill atry language than from his speech this time last year. it comes a couple of days after south korean authorities suggested high-level talks in this coming year about the technical preparations that could be made for eventual reunification of north and south korea. kim jong un appears to have gone one better by suggesting the highest possible level talks, or saying that it was time for a big change in the north-south relations. ie a summit between himself and

park geun-hye. this is the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war, and the end of colonial rule in the korean peninsula by japan, and to north and south. a significant date coming up and the fact that the russian president vladimir putin invited world leaders, including kim jong un to moscow to mark the end of the second -- second world war in europe in may. that could facilitate a meeting between kim jong un and park geun-hye if they attend. he was conciliatory in his opening message, despite a couple of rounds of high-level talks. not much protest was made in terms of north-south relations.

president park geun-hye said she'd be open to a summit. only if there was progress on the table, not just talks for talks sake. she'd like to see progress on the nuclear issue, but north korea has shown no willingness to abide by a call from south korea or the united states to end the nuclear programme. >> here in new york big crowds a few blocks away. we are less than an hour away from the new year and hundreds of thousands of people are packed into times square. john terrett is out there with them. >> good evening from times square, and about a million of my new closest friends. we don't know whether there's a million people here we haven't counted them. i suspect it's multiple hundreds of thousands of people. it's a large crowd, the streets around the day as where i'm sitting are packed. people like me are wearing pink hats because the event is sponsored by a magazine and a cosmetics company. it's a warm evening, i have to

tell you. the forecast was for is to be chilly. i don't think it is. your reporter doesn't think it's that cold. last year was far colder. people are doing okay. they've been in the pens many since early this morning, most about three this afternoon. they are looking forward to seeing the ball come down and getting rid of 2014 and welcome 2015. >> thank you, see you in 45 minutes. >> still ahead - our special report '2014 - a closer look", from the war in gaza to the fight against i.s.i.l. demonstrations around the world, a look back at stories of the year. >> from laughter to tears. robin williams to joan rivers remembering some of the lives this year.

2014 has been a very busy year from i.s.i.l. to boko haram, and the war in gaza we have brought you the stories of our changing world. as we count down the last moments of the year we'll look back at our reporting on the biggest stories of 2014. we begin in january with the president's state of the union address. >> the president of the united states. [ cheering and applause ] >> tonight a gathering place for those that lead the nation members of the house and senate. the supreme court and the president's cabinet gather in a democratic tradition, the state of union address. how will president obama's address affect you. al jazeera america breaks down the issues that matter from around the country and around the world.

. >> the president, tonight, will announce that he'll use an executive order to do something about the income gap in america. he'll raise the minimum wage for workers employed by private contractors who do work for the federal government to $10.10 an hour. this is a big deal, but it will only affected a few hundred thousand workers. >> the cold dark fact is in the midst of recovery too many americans are working more than ever just to get by let alone ahead. too many are working. america does not stand still, neither will i. whenever, wherever i can take steps wowed legislation to expand opportunities for american families, that's what i will do a beijing bound jet was heard from at 1:30 saturday morn. air traffic controllers outside kuala lumpur lost contact

thinking the plane disappeared here. there has been conflicting reports about the final course while en route to beijing. malaysian military says it's possible that the plane turned around travelled 360 in a different direction over the strait of malarka. >> this is one of the safest airlines in the sky. it has flown more than 5 million commercial flights, 18 millionaire miles - more than that by now, and in all that time we had one crash with fat abilities, and that involved asiana airlines jet at san francisco international last year. >> celebrations in moscow as change comes to crimea. where ukraine flags once flew today they are russian. and tensions on two sides after a ukranian soldier in crimea is killed. the world waits for the next

move. from one president and another - for a breakaway republic. the people the money an uncertain future. our special report - russia's crimea in the great hall of the kremlin a standing ovation for their president. a day that will be remembered history. members of the parliament marked the moment crimea returned to the mother land. it is undoubtedly the highlight of vladimir putin's presidency. he restored crimea to the russian federation with speed. all in a matter of weeks, he was clear why russia acted when it did. >> health insurance for millions of americans, many that did not have coverage before after years of angry debate. >> how was it a joke. >> dire predictions. >> your plan can no longer be offered. >> technical troubles. and public doubt. >> it's not affordable. >> the deadline to enrol in the

affordable care act arrived. tonight, what some say is working. >> this is a blessing. >> and what is not. and the likely legacy of this law in our special report - obama care. >> the problem-plagued website crashed twice. >> the administration says it's proof that signature legislation was needed. many in the middle class will play more. 10 million people signed up for private or government-run health insurance. for the programme to be fiscally sound, large numbers of healthy people need to sign up. >> this is it for anyone that doesn't have medical insurance and can't afford it. this is the only way. unfortunately, it is the only one here in our area.

>> the avalanche - 13 sherpas were killed last week. it changed everything. there's so much anger in the sherpa community that many are insisting on closing the mountain for the rest of the years. the disaster is the worst loss of life on mt everest. >> translation: the sherpa community has been hit by the death of sherpas, the government provided little or no relief for the families. the government makes thousands of dollars for foreign climbers. even if the government gives a small percentage as relief it would mean a big deal for the families. >> major teams are calling off plans. >> the government has been slightly unfair for everyone involved in the mountaineering business. we pay a lot of fees. they don't go to the people that deserve it. ballots casted. security was tight.

despite scattered attacks, millions of people went to the polls to lect a new parliament -- elect a new parliament. ultimately the country's new prime minister. imran khan spent the day at a polling station in baghdad. >> this is a day many see as being historical. polls are closed passed without incident. across the country there has been deaths as a result of violence. this is a day many thought would never come election day passing without incidents. here in baghdad there were no incidents. people have come out to vote. unofficially the turn out might be as high as 50%. members say they want an islamic state ruled by islamic law. methods are cruel and vicious. the group has killed more than 1500 people this year. in the latest attack on monday,

boko haram is blamed for killing as many as 300 nigerians during a 12-hour massacre. the world paid more attention to boko haram, after 276 girls were kidnapped april 14th. the u.s. said experts were sent into nigeria to find them. the police offered 300,000 for information leading to the rescue. >> still ahead, a violent summer across the globe. [ explosion ] >> from gaza to iraq and ukraine, the conflicts that define 2014. plus deadly disease - the ebola crisis in west africa, and america's reaction.

2014 - a year of unrest and violence. from the rise of i.s.i.l., to

the war in gaza. protesters fighting for freedom in hong kong. demanding justice in ferguson, missouri. the icons we lost. the triumphs we won't forget. >> i'm being chosen. >> the stories that matter most. hour special report 2014 - a closer look good evening. happy new year's eve i'm paul beban. john seigenthaler has the night off. tonight we are marking the end of 2014 with a closer look back at the most influential and important stories of the year. this week we marked a year in gaol for three of our al jazeera colleagues held in egypt. their conviction was part of a very tumultuous summer in the middle east.

>> reporter: at moment in australia the moment when the parents of one of the gaoled journalists learnt their fate. >> 7 years for peter greste and five other defendants present. my god. my god. sorry. >> that's crazy. >> finish. >> reporter: whether watching from afar or inside the courtroom families were devastated to learn al jazeera journalists peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed had been sentenced to at least 7 years in an egyptian prison. >> translation: today is an example of corruption and everything wrong that ruins people's lives. >> reporter: the court's decision ignited international outrage, and comes a day after the u.s. secretary of state visited egypt and promised to restart military age. >> it's a chilling and draconian

sentence, and it's deeply disturbing to see in the midst of egypt's transition. >> reporter: countries around the world summoned egyptian ambassadors issuing condemnation. from britain... >> egypt took a major step in the wrong direction with this decision. >> reporter: to australia. >> we are deeply dismayed by the fact that a sentence has been imposed, and we are appalled by the saferity. >> reporter: on twitter message with the # free aj staff, with it being called: others had harsh words about egypt's courts. >> from all around the world, from people of all persuasions, are saying to egypt - come on this is wrong. this is showing the world that your judicial system is a farce. >> israel gaza the major

turning point. what it means for the mid east crisis. >> looking over the shoulders. if you look to the right you see some light. if you look to the left blackness. if you see what i could see, there'll be miles and miles of blackout. hundreds of thousands of gazans having no power. it is caused by the military after a fight. >> israel now that they are into gaza will try to do as much as they can for as long as they can. the pressure will build. there'll be you know further ceasefire negotiations. we'll get to that point. i think we are probably talking about several days before the ingredients are there, and from both sides they are able to say to respected constituencies - we have done enough. >> this is the tail section of that triple 7 malaysia airlines flight mh17 carrying 295 people. in these fields these two fields there's a road

connecting them. that's where these people lost their lives. this is the tail section after the plan the back part of the plane. 2 meters down is the sale area. >> the plane was headed to kuala lumpur. anthony stefano reports from malaysia. >> this is the second major tragedy to affect malaysia airlines this year with the loss of another plane in march. the prime minister spoke overnight of his shock and determination that those responsible be found and swiftly brought to justice. >> u.s. intelligence tells us they have proof the malaysian jetliner was shot by surface to air missile. experts say the origin of the launchers are not conclusive that's why they say it was a

missile attack. but no one is pointing the finger at either side. >> reporter: violence grips an american suburb. a community in crisis. a deep racial divide. a wall of silence in missouri still unanswered questions. why did the officer kill an unarmed black teenager. is a militarized police force heightening the tension. attacking freedom of the press. how can the community heal. flashpoint ferguson - the way forward. >> reporter: the patch of pavement where michael brown took his last breath are two blocks from a quiet street where we met a bi-racial ferguson couple who have not been protesting. they are among many who have not taken to the streets. their voices have not been heard

much in the days since michael brown was killed. this husband and father of three worries about retaliation if he speaks out. he doesn't want to show his face. he says the anger that boiled over to looting and violence was misplaced. >> we are mad at the cop. so we should have been standing outside the police station. >> ferguson is a place where the threats of social fab rig changed over the past couple of decades. it's a community with a new majority, but the old guard is still running the show. >> after a week of confrontations between black protesters and a mostly white police force firing tear gas, bullets and driving armoured vehicles, tuesday's remarks by the mayor struck many as more than a little tone deaf. >> there's not a racial divide in the city of ferguson. the mayor said a small group of

people are to blame for the violence and based on arrest figures, he may be right. that does not change the fact that ferguson's institutions look nothing like its people. the si is about two-thirds african-american, but the mayor, police chief five of the six city council members, and most of the schoolboard are white. it's a reflection of the old face of ferguson. >> ferguson used to be 75% white. 20 years ago. now, because of the sweeling demographic changes, it's almost 70% black. in 20 years. >> i was michael's art teacher. kindergarten through grade 5. as an elementary student he was very quite, just kind of kept to him. my last experience with michael was the day of his graduation. i had not seen him since fifth grade. and he was a big kid, walking up towards the summer school

graduation, and he said "you don't remember me?" and i said "who are you?" "i'm michael, michael brown." fighting i.s.i.l. a brutal enemy - well armed, well funded and growing. iraq and syria under siege. thousands of lives lost millions on the run. >> we will degrade and ultimately destroy i.s.i.l. >> america leads another new battle in a region devastated by war. will there be u.s. ground troops. what will it take to stop them? and what will it cost. our special report "fighting i.s.i.l." >> since launching 10 years ago the group changed its name. many including the president

refer to it is i.s.i.l. islamic state of iraq and levant, others yawl it i.s.i.s. or islamic state of iraq and levant and syria. they are both translations. it dropped the last half a signal of grand ambitions and declares itself the islamic state. and a caliphate, which means the same thing: >> there has been several kali fates, the ottoman empire was one. and now they are doing whatever they can to create another islamic state. >> i.s.i.l. is so violence and so feared. not even ray allen will work with it. some in the west consider it a significant danger. >> what we see in syria and iraq in terms of i.s.i.s. is the most serious threat to britain's security than there has today. >> reporter: for months rebels claimed territory across syria

and iraq. demanding people of other faiths convert to islam, pay a tax tore be killed. >> the grotesque acts of violence show signs of genocide. >> reporter: fighters are armed with american weapons, abandoned by retreating iraqi forces. >> given the advances made i think accounts have grown above any other group. >> reporter: the group began as part of al qaeda and iraq during the uprising in 2003. as syria's civil war raged. fighters focussed and broke away from al qaeda. >> to carve out a territory ruled by interpretation of islamist war, where mann can's faces must be covered and laws are enforced with amputations and public executions.

it's leader was a mysterious figure captured but released. he declared himself the leader of all muslims, and openly challenges america. he demands a force of 30,000 strong that uses slick social media campaigns to recruit foreign fighters including westerners and americans. >> i am from america ... >> reporter: it appeals to men this their 20 many from troubled backgrounds. >> oh, my godness... >> reporter: a study found a surprising number of european recruits. 6% are new to islam. many are second or third generation immigrants have no experience in fighting. and no connection to syria. >> i.s.i.l. targeted women throughout its brutal campaign.

murder rape, rumours of enslavement. others have been pushed from their homes, trying to care for their families. josh visited some women, forced to carve out a life in these horrible continues. >> reporter: this is a stay-at-home mum for three children. since fleeing their home with only what they could fit in their car, the home for her family is a fent in a crowded -- tent in a crowded refugee camp. >> this is not a life. we have to walk a long distance to get to the toilets. i'm afraid to go there at three or 4:00am. i worry about my children because they are always getting sick. >> this family are far from alone. more than 3 million have been displaced by the fighting in iraq. >> they tell me that they have 17 people living in this small tent. she can take this to where they are giving out food to get food

for that many people. >> who is running the camps? >> the u.n. is helping run them. a lot by the k.r.g. we went to some camps that had active management and to others where there was no management whatsoever. >> we heard that women are the pillar in the family leer. -- family here. at the same time do they have power? >> the men have most of the power decisions. but what decisions are to be made. the worst thing about the camps - it's hot, windy, dirty. water is hot, food bad. they don't get enough. they have no plan to get out. they have no plan about what to do next. i went to the yazidi camps, arab camps and others, they are all separated, no one wants to go back to their village. no one knows what to do them still ahead - the 2013 midterms and how the republican grabbed control of the senate.

police police... >> movie reel: good morning vietnam. >> i cannot be moved. >> movie reel: i loved it. >> remembering those we lost in 2014.

2014 - a closer look welcome back. as the year 2014 comes to a close, we take a closer look at some stories that mattered most. the november midterm election was making headlines in the united states, while the ebola devastating west africa was beginning to spread. >> president obama tries to reassure the nation that ebola is under control. >> the protocols work. >> some are not convince pd. >> we need to consider our health. >> nurses in dallas say they didn't get the right training. a second nurse comes down ebola. the c.d.c. said it was ready. >> we are stopping it in its

tracks in this country. >> are u.s. hospitals prepared? the ebola crisis. >> a second health care worker from dallas has the disease, a 29-year-old health care working. diagnosing a person with ebola can be a lengthy process, requiring monitoring and patience. time is the crucial factor. we turn to jacob ward science and technology correspondent, for the latest. >> here in dallas there are great questions - why couldn't this have been detected more quickly. the trouble is that it turns out detecting ebola is a complicated process. in a perfect world anyone in close contact with a person infected with ebola would be tested in the first moments after exposure. the virus doesn't show up that early. the amount of virus in the body grows over time. it doesn't reach a detectible

level until symptoms appear. testing people leads to mis misdiagnosisies and false positive. while we can't test earlier, we might be able to test faster. currently the test for ebola can take as long as three days to process. consider that nina pham reported her symptoms on friday and positive results sunday. that window meant the people on the plane and her having bowl rer. a faster test nor nina pham could have kept her co-worker off the plane. >> announcer: america votes 2014 - reactions from across the country, around the globe, focussing on issues that matter for you. the stakes couldn't be higher. >> the republicans won the seat they needed to gain control of

the senate. the associated press reports that thom tillis beet senator kay hayingen. when 90 million vote it's like a country a third as large as the united states joins. i'm not talking size. in this smaller country the politics are different, because when i say another country, i'm serious, it's like another country. for one thing it's a wider country, made up of richer, older people and they decide the fate of a diverse core group who do not vote. our country would be very different if everyone that could cast a ballot did so. >> the rallying cry for republicans. >> the bill has passed. >> this country will do what it should have done for years. >> after years of delay and a decisive midterm election congress puts the keystone

pipeline on a fast-track. how much will it cost. who will bay pay. >> you have to ask what will happen if you don't do it. >> the facts, the science and politics fuelling the fight. >> on a sacred site in the black hills of south dakota tribe members burn sage and pray to mother earth. >> we stand in the footsteps of our ancestors, to make offerings to protect the sacred water. >> water is nature's medicine. some fear it could become poisoned if transcanada's keystone xl pipeline is built. the project begins in the canadian tar sands, running 1,100 miles from montana to nebraska. it would spurt 7 native american resignations. >> the pipeline will be four

miles to the right - to your west. >> that's too close for 60-year-old steve vance who lives on the reservation. he worries if the pipeline ruptures it could pollute the river and the aquifer, both in the pipeline's path. >> it's not oil, it's solvents. when the pipe breaks which i know it will it will not leak oil, it will leak other chemicals. >> you say there is no environmental risk? >> i say there's little environmental risk and i would say that we need to place the value of people's lives very high, and this is the safest in terms of human safety. this is what all the statistician say, what the state department says. people's lives are important, and the amounts that might be spilled are min schools in terms of product that is carried.

. >> the president's plan - up to 5 million undocumented immigrants allowed to stay and work. 6 million more facing life in the shadows. a border crisis fuelling anger across the country. president obama acts alone on immigration reform. >> to start fixing our broken immigration system. >> as republicans vowed to fight back. >> that's not how democracy work. >> for years congress failed to act on reform hama will act alone issuing executive orders. >> living fear but in fear. 11 million hiding in the shadows of america. women and children with a very uncertain future. under president obama's plan 5 million undocumented immigrants will be allowed to stay and work in the u.s. to be sure the battle will end

in washington. but for many it begins in places like this. >> this is dispute gang territory. >> san pedro sula a city crippled by crime and violence. paul beban was there reporting on kids who have no hope for jobs, are desperate to escape gangs, and see no choice except for making a run for the border. >> what about the kids - so many are deported from the u.s. what happens to them when they come back to honduras? >> the future of those kids has to come back is worse. most if not all, have adjourned to try to unite with family in the north. to come back they'll return to an empty house and end up in the streets. >> from the streets to the desert of texas, some 35 miles beyond this point. for some this is where the journey to america ends. since 2009, 400 migrants have

died in wide stretches of land. heidi zhou-castro talked to investigators with the task of finding and identifying the dead. >> there are bones buried here a lot of bones. >> the migrants lucky enough to survive the story often strained the resources and finances of places like baton rouge louisiana. >> so you are not just an english teacher really? >> no i'm not. i'm more - i'm the algebra teacher if you need me to be the world geography teacher if they need me to be. >> it's an emotional battle on all sides. we saw that where buses carrying 140 women and children detainees to a processing center were met. and along the border where some americans stand guard on their own. >> it's all one person can do.

i'm fully committed to watching the border cleaning up the invasion trail. a flash point. while politicians bicker millions of lives hang in the balance. >> we'll offer the following deal - if you have been in america for more than five years and have children who are american citizens or residents. if you register pass a background check and are willing to pay your fair share of taxes, you'll be able to fly to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation. >> i cried when i saw the speech. >> an historic beginning for cuba, what will it mean an the island where the average wage is $60. 60 years of communist rule left cuba looking a little like the island that time forgot.

it's true when you step in the streets of havana and see a fleet of american cars from fords and buicks to plymouths and cadillacs, and the studebaker or d dissocietio. if not for the u.s. efforts to ace late cuba most would have ended up on the scrap heap a long time ago. they serve as taxis, and provide an economic life line that is desperately needed here. under the u.s. trade band the people of cuba have been forced to get necessities from the black market. there are a couple of staples that may be transformed by the united states. some hope it may be a better revolution one lifting the country up, instead of tearing it apart. >> ahead.

remembering the icons we lost in 2014. plus stunning images - the best photo journalism. look at this shocking crime >> the major difficulty for the prosecution that there was no evidence >> al jazeera america presents lockerbie part three: what really happened?

>> pain killer addiction on the rise >> i loved the feeling of not being in pain >> deadly consequences >> the person i married was gone >> are we prescribing an epidemic? >> the last thing drug companies wanted anybody to think was that, this was a prescribing problem >> fault lines al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> today they will be arrested... >> ground breaking... they're firing canisters of gas at us... award winning investigative

documentary series... opioid wars only on al jazeera america 2014 - a closer look they were actors and activists, musicians, artists and athletes. here is a closer look at some of those that are gone but not forgotten. [ ♪ music ♪ ] ♪ what would you do ♪ ♪ if i sang out of tune ♪ ♪ would you stand up ♪ ♪ and walk out on me ♪ [ singing ] ♪ what becomes of the broken

hearted ♪ ♪ who have lost ♪ ♪ and now departed ♪ ♪ ♪ where have all the flowers gone ♪ ♪ a long time passing ♪ [ ♪ music ♪ ] zim [ ♪ music ♪ ] . >>. >> people don't tell the truth. we don't tell the truth in 100 different ways. >> and defend the laws of the district of columbia. ♪ just like a tree ♪ ♪ that's planted by the water ♪

♪ oh i shall not be moved ♪ >> hit it professor. [ ♪ music ♪ ] >> movie reel: you know how to whistle don't you? just put your lips together, and blow. >> movie reel: i'm going to write a show for us put it on right here. ♪ on the good ship lollipop ♪

[ ♪ music ♪ ] >> movie reel: mrs. robinson you're trying to seduce me. aren't you? >> the secret is laughter. [ laughs ] >> can we talk? my house is so filthy. oh my - michael jackson puts on both before he walks. [ laughs ] >> i've had an amazing life. if it ended right now, amazing life. >> movie reel: good morning

vietnam. >> movie reel: you do an eclectic scene of events you do fasi, fasi fasi. >> movie reel: none of us have very long on this earth. life is fleeting. make a wish. think of me a look at some of the most memorable photos of the year

now. time to say goodbye to 2014, hello to 2015. we are moments away from ringing in the new year. john terrett in time square where the count down has begun. >> good evening. a million people in times square

have been watching the glockment mayor bill de blasio, and his social guest, the international committee started the ball going down. it's time to say goodbye to 2014, and hello to the brand new year 2015 - here we go. [ cheering and applause ] >> and no sooner has the ball dropped - than the confetti comes down. there are 70 people standing on 7 balconies around times square throwing confetti out of windows to give the extraordinary scene that you only see once a year and you only see in new york ski. taylor swift has sung adena smz manzell has sung and the crowd enjoyed the evening. now the moment that they have been waiting for, the turn of the year. here comes frank with the iconic new york anthem. 2014 has been a bad