way to illustrate global food security, but the museum is hoping the exhibit will plant ideas in people's minds about how we get what we eat, and the importance of preserving the environment for food. settle softly on the web for all of the world's news, aljazeera.com. another day of tensions between israelis and palestinians, but a moment of peace is shown at one of the holiest sites in the country. south african students protest the government raising tuition. what jacob zuma is doing to end the violence. john kerry is working on a plan to end the syrian conflict, but it is a community in michigan that is looking to help the refugees find a home. ♪

this al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm tony harris. for the first time in weeks israel allowed muslims of all ages to enter the al-aqsa mosque compound. that has been one of the triggers of recent violence. mike hanna has more. >> reporter: young and old, male and female arrive for friday prayers, unlike in recent weeks there was no age or gender restriction for worshippers going to the al-aqsa mosque compound, and no police check points to navigate. those who had been closely checking each identity on past fridays now relakting and simply watching as the palestinian faithful pass by. the scenes were not as peaceful in many parts of the occupied west bank. activists declared what they call addai of rage, and there was sporadic fighting in a

number of areas. the wider israeli occupation remains in place, a critical context for the easing of restrictions at the compound. >> this is the only country in the whole world has been occupied and treating people miserable. we had enough. and it's enough. palestinian need to be free. >> reporter: but this tenuous calm on this day in this place, a chink of hope for those diplomats who have been seeking a reduction in the level of conflict. we asked the israeli prime minister's office whether there's any connection between the lifting of these restrictions and the meeting benjamin netenyahu had with the u.s. secretary of state. we were told it's a situation on the ground that determines the level of security that is in force. but the question many ask in the light of the calm that has prezal veiled since the restrictions have been lifted, why were they imposed in the first place? mike hanna, al jazeera, in

occupied east jerusalem. south africa's president has changed his mind about a plan to raise college fees. thousands of angry students took to the streets in protest. police fired stun grenades and used water cannons. they say the proposed 11% increase would make education out of reach for thousands of students. and earlier we spoke with keith of the african national congress. >> that is the short-term solution in terms of meeting that took place today. but it was agreed that there will be a following meeting with the university counsel, the chancellor, the department of education, and student organization, to look at a long-term solution which would take into account not only the raising of fees, but also -- the whole question of -- of fees, whether they should be gradually done away with, to a point where the parent pays zero percent of

any fees for student's access to education. that matter is now firmly on the table, and it was agreed that there needs to be more meetings to discuss that measure. the point is that the issue of the fees but one of the many issues. there was an issue about [ inaudible ] universities where students admits to their review. there was an issue of the capping of salaries of senior university staff members, were earning quite a lot of money. there has been the issue of the curriculum in university that it has been compromised because costs were moved into [ inaudible ] as opposed to curriculum support program. so all of these issues are now going to be on the table to find a lasting solution. secretary of state john kerry is in vienna where he is meeting with key players in the war in syria, a major point of

contention is russia's latest military operations there. and whether their efforts are hurting the fight against isil. >> the united states, i want to emphasize welcomes support in the fight against daesh. and if russia intends to join in that fight, we welcome a constructive role. but targeting moderate fighters doesn't hurt daesh. it makes it easier for assad to continue brutalizing the syrian people. it threatens to exacerbate the sectarian tensions that feed extremism, and it encourages more fighters, particularly foreign fighters to flock to daesh. >> well, the e.u. foreign policy chief was also there, and took

part in the talks. >> we are all trying to coordinate and work in the same direction, which is that of openings a political process, political transition in syria that can allow an inclusive process, bringing an end to the conflict. >> she said she hopes iran can be a part of the effort to solve the crisis in syria. many of those displaced by the syrian war are part of this sea of people who made their way to the serbia croatia border overtime. 5,000 asylum seekers are at a small town there trying to keep warm. so far the u.s. has taken in a small number of refugees. the governor of michigan says his state should take more, but not everyone agrees. bisi onile-ere visits a syrian family that settled in dearborn,

michigan. >> reporter: mohammed tanball moved to metro detroit with his wife, mother-in-law, and four children in july. >> translator: we were facing danger on a daily basis. where we were living, there were continuous daily clashes. our lives were at constant threat. >> reporter: when the civil war broke out, more than four years ago, the family fled to turkey, and lived at a syrian refugee camp for three years before being admitted to the u.s. >> translator: after we crossed borders to turkey, i sat down and wept. i started looking at my village. i cried for an hour. >> we're a country founded on immigrants -- >> sean is with lutheran social services of michigan, a non-profit that has helped resettle some of the 100 syrian

refugees that have arrived in the state so far this year. >> what we have seen historically and in research is that refugee resettlement and immigration can add to economic growth pretty significantly. so we also see it as an economic development tool for the city of detroit. >> reporter: but this congresswoman has been vocal about her concern about terrorism. >> and that's why i continuously say we need a plan to vet that. and we need to be sensitive to that. because right now, it's not we're choosing. it's a crisis, and we're just getting a mass of people who want to come to the united states. >> reporter: the government says that it can take up to years to review the backgrounds of refugees. >> translator: we will have a future here, but your children's future is far more important than ours. >> reporter: it's unclear at

this point how many syrians will resettle in michigan, but tanball says he feels fortunate that he and his family are here, and able to rebuild a life torn apart by war. bisi onile-ere, al jazeera, detroit. mexico is in the cross hairs of a monster hurricane. patricia is now a category 5 storm. for casters are calling it the strongest hurricane on record in the western hemisphere. gerald tan tells us, people are preparing for the worst. >> reporter: taking no chances. mexicans living along the pacific coast prepare their homes and businesses for what forecasters warn could be a catastrophic storm. >> translator: it's better to prevent than to regret. because i have windows i put in wood panels. the truth is, i don't think how the hurricane will hit. >> reporter: hurricane patricia is sweeping across the pacific with winds topping 260

kilometers an hour. it has quickly grown overnight into the highest category 5 storm, the hurricane is expected to make landfall on friday afternoon, mexico time. >> translator: given the situation, and the reports presented by the national emergency commission, the secretary of the interior has instructed the extraordinary emergency declaration in three states of the country. >> reporter: this bustling port city is in the direct path of patricia, but not everyone is worried. >> translator: we decided to buy some basic goods in this case some roads are closed, we'll have the essentials at home. >> reporter: we really didn't buy that much, because they regularly say a hurricane will come but sometimes they don't hit. that's why i don't think the majority participate that much. >> reporter: orders to close

schools and ports. government leaders say they are bracing for what is threatening to be the most intense hurricane to hit mexico's pacific coast. >> this major hurricane is now just hours away from landfall. that is expected later this afternoon into this evening. a very intense system, already creating high waves and bands of wind, and as it continues to make landfall, places in the track of this, we are also going to see not only the wind effects and some storm surge, but heavy rain, some places widespread, a foot, but this will wing out in the mountains. that will weaken the storm, but it will bring out the rain creating monday slides and land slides. a little bit of the moisture of that could add into what we have already been watching here in the united states. just minor amounts most of this is getting moisture from the

gulf. but now bringing more of that rain over the next 24 hours, into texas that's the heaviest rain core of this, and kind of the gulf coast for the next couple of days that front will linger along and continue to create problems while the northern tier moves a little bit more quickly. but in the meantime, we have also had temperature changes. yesterday a front did go through portions of the northeast of new england. that drop temperatures 10 to 20 degrees. back to you. >> any coal thank you. the new rules that will make phone calls much more affordable for those behind bars.

it is going to cost prisoners a lot less to make a telephone call starting next week. the fcc voted thursday to cap rates for local and in-state inmate calls. al jazeera's correspondent has more. >> we did rush a lot, because the rates were too high. sometimes the phone would cut off. >> reporter: this 19 year old says being able to talk to her parents while they were in prison kept her on the right track. her dad was jailed for drug-related charges when she was just 6 years old. and her mom, who had become addicted to crack cocaine followed him two years later. >> the phones just kept that

feeling of security there, like this is still my mom. i can still talk to her. that's still my dad. i can still talk to them. >> reporter: but the cost has long put a strain on families outside of jail. the average is about $3 a minute. >> families are being further torn apart. >> reporter: on thursday the federal come communications commission voted to cap prison phone companies at $0.11 per minute. >> it's a vast step forward compared to the ruthless gouging families have been subjected to. >> reporter: the city has become uncore scrutiny in recent years. >> you have a couple of hedge fund-owned monopoly companies that have gotten the contracts by offering by biggest kickback

to the government. >> reporter: those kickbacks are payments the biggest providers are contractually obligated to pay to sheriffs and state correctional departments. for every dollaring spent on prison phone calls 60 to 80% goes back to the local departments operating the jails. federal regulators strongly discouraged the charges but didn't ban them. brian oliver says by just focusing on lowering per minute rates, quote: the national sheriff's association said the fcc vote: the fcc commissioner was the leading voice on the phone call caps. earlier she explained the thinking behind the new rules.

>> it's sympathy and it's self lishness. there are 2.7 million children who are unable for there is a hardship for them -- it is a hardship to speak to their parents because the rates are x exorbitant. most people cannot pay what on average is $17 call for a 15-minute call. what is happening because people cannot afford to pay, they cannot afford to stay in touch, there are only 38% of the inmates that we surveyed that have segment contact with the family and the biggest impedestrianable is affordability. and that means they go home as strangers, and there is friction with the family, and the moj

-- majority of inmates go right back to jail. i think this is a great step to be able to keep in touch. >> all right. she said there is no reason for any prison cutbacks due to any possible loss of revenue. a florida church will host a townhall meeting today so the community can discuss the death of a black man shot by police. the family says he never fired his gun during a roadside encounter. the officer fired his weapon six times. ines ferre has more. >> reporter: we spoke to the aunt and godmother of corey jones who told us they were close. she says she didn't believe he's not here anymore. the family says they have more questions than answers surrounding his death, and they are leaning on a community here to support them during this

difficult time. those chants coming from hundreds who gathered at a rally thursday for corey jones. the 31-year-old drummer was fatally shot early sunday morning after his car broke down on the side of the road. now corey jones' family says new details about the confrontation has raised even more troubling questions about the deadly encounter. >> i need to know why? why is my son is gone today! why! >> reporter: the family met privately on thursday with the state attorney's office. they say they were told corey's body was found 80 to 100 feet from his car and he did not use his handgun. >> he never fired his weapon. in that is confirmed. >> reporter: police are offering little information about what

happened when the officer stopped to investigate what looked like an abandoned car. the police have said the officer was confronted by an armed subject. lawyers for the family say the officer shot at jones six times and three of the bullets hit him. they also say the state attorney told them he did not properly identify himself and jones may not have realized he was dealing with a police officer. jones death is being investigated by the sheriff's office as well as the state attorney's office. his brother insists the shooting goes beyond race. >> our lives do matter. [ applause ] >> reporter: going forward what do you want to see happen? >> we want justice. we want transparency. i miss him. i miss him so much. i miss him so much. ♪ >> keep corey's beat alive. >> reporter: the community hopes

to receive some more answers from the townhall meeting scheduled for tonight. and the family says the information they received from the state attorney's office comes from statements the officer made to investigators after the shooting. they are frustrate because there was no dash cam, he did not have a body camera on. ines ferre reporting. honoring the monuments men. the people who safeguarded europe's cultural heritage on the brink of being destroyed receive a treasure of their own. ♪

>> al jazeera america brings you independent reporting without spin. >> not everybody is asking the questions you're asking me today. >> we give you more perspectives >> the separatists took control a few days ago. >> and a global view. >> now everybody in this country can hear them. >> getting the story first-hand. >> they have travelled for weeks, sometimes months. >> what's your message then? >> we need help now. >> you're watching al jazeera america. >> welcome to al jazeera america.

more reporters, more stories, more perspective. >> from our award-winning news teams across america and beyond. >> we've got global news covered. >> "inside story" takes you beyond the headlines, beyond the quick cuts, beyond the soundbites. we're giving you a deeper dive into the stories that are making our world what it is. ♪ in washington state there is a battle between church and state and football. high school football is at the center of it all, it began when a coach sought to copy what he saw being done in the popular movie, facing your giants, winning through prayer. john henry smith has the story.

>> reporter: for nine years running this high school assist important football coach joe kennedy has been leading his players in postgame prayers, but when he continued that tradition last friday night, he was violating an order from the district that said, quote: >> i dwoont -- don't want to break the law or jeopardize the program we have set up, and the taxpayers end up ways for it if something goings horribly wrong and they get sued. that's not what coaching staffs are supposed to be doing. >> reporter: many support him. >> he shouldn't lose his job for what he practices at the end of the game. >> reporter: and the school district says it has no plans to fire kennedy, writing in a statement:

the conservative liberty institute, a legal defense fund is backing the coach. in a letter to the school district it says: >> private citizens on their own time have a right to practice their faith, and we think it's very important to protect that constitutional right. >> i don't understand how this could be wrong. i'm not establishing religion. i'm not preachy with anybody. 22 people are under arrest after police uncovered a secret tun connecting mexico and the united states. the tunnel is about 2400 feet long and 30 feet deep. it was well lit, ventilated and equipped with a rail system. authorities confiscated 10 tons of marijuana. their lives were made famous

in a movie. the monuments men. they risked their lives to recover more than 5 million stolen artifactings, stolen by the nazis across europe. alan fisher reports. >> reporter: they were an unlikely bunch museum directors, artists, art historians, but it was their job to find and save some of the world's greatest works of art during and after world war ii. ed a doll f hitler has been keen to take as many treasures as possible. when he was defeated it was up to this group to track them down. this one of them. drafted into the army. he helped return what had been looted. >> i did not see it to that it was sent to [ inaudible ]. i saw to it, in my case, we had

quite a number of paintings that belonged to the museum in the city i was born three blocks away. >> reporter: and he and the rest of his unit have been awarded america's highness honor. >> knowing who we're from shows our children what they can be. no task is more pressure than that. no award is greater than this. and so for the mon mu meants men, the united states has instruct the congress app gold medal. >> reporter: this involved men and women from 40 nations around the world. they often went into where the bullets were flying and in the end they recovered almost 5 million pieces of art and literature. among the treasures, rembrandts

rare self portrait. >> works of art define who we are as a people, and i have heard over and over again from people around the world, americans don't tend to think about this quite as much, but people around the world, their treasures belong to them. >> reporter: one of the six survivors says his heart breaks when he sees the continuing destruction of artifacts. >> i just wish they could do it where isis is where they are destroying all of these wonderful traditional monuments. >> reporter: the congressional gold medal has been won by sports stars, and diplomats, and soldiers too, but not soldiers like these. and that's all of our time. thanks for being with us. i'm tony harris in new york city. see you back here at 7:00 pm eastern time. the news continues next, love from london. ♪

very good to have your company for this al jazeera news hour live from london with me, david foster. let's look at the stories we'll cover in detail for the next 60 minutes. police confront students in south africa as protesters force concessions from the president over tuition fees. there's not many left of us here, so this is the last bus getting out of here. >> the