pass facility. good evening. this is "al jazeera america." protecting american lives. the challenges for authorities to keep people safe at shopping malls and stadiums over the holiday. no plans for war: that's what russiases foreign minister said after one of its fighter planes was shot down bytie. tensions remain high. in chicago, more protests and ager. activists step up the call for justice after the release of video showing police shooting a black teenager. their plan to make sure

christmas shoppers don't ignore their plea re begin with tight security as tennessee of millions travel for the thanks giving holiday. president obama is trying to reassure them that the government is doing all it can to help keep people safe. the paris attackers chose soft targets. al jazeera's jamey mcintire is in washington with a look at the vulnerabilities of similar sites here in the u.s. >> soft target did, they are everywhere. drive anywhere down the streets of washington such as here on pennsylvania avenue, america's ma main street and see places where people gather and there is no security and not only is there no security, it's not practical to have execute. there are many places in

washington behind barriers with guards and gates. this is about as close as you can get to the white house, one block over there. but still, people gather outside and around the front gate and sometimes even jump over the fence. on the 14th street bridge, reagan national airport is there. it's hard to get on with a weapon but not so hard to get into the terminal. that's the problem. i work in one of the most security buildings in washington, the pentagon. even the most hardened targets have a soft spot. for the pentagon, it's here in the parking lot. i have to go to two checkpoints but anyone can drive in here and tens of thousands of people park here every day. there is no unauthorized photography. any time we do a story about how vulnerable, you worry you might

give someone an idea even though you don't need to be a best selling author of suspense thrillers. as we head into the holidays, our top officials incest there is no specific credible threat of a paris-like attack here and say we should keep calm and carry on. >> americans should go about theirub thanksgiving weekend activities, spending time with family and friends and celebrating our blessings. while the threat of tearcism a trouble ing reality of our age, we are both equipped to prevent attacks and we are resilient in the face, of those who would try to do us harm. >> then we also see this, heavily-armed new york police conducting an exercise to see how fast they can respond to a terror attack on the city's subway. it's just not all that reassu reassuring to know that there will be a robust response after attackers have struck. it's easy to say don't panic. don't let the terrorists win by scaring us into changing our

plans or suck coming to fear but how rational is that fear? >> in some ways, the odds of being caught up in a random attack are about the same as winning the mega millions jackpot. this is almost certainly not a winning ticket. in fact, the odds are close to zero. so, i shouldn't really worry about how i am going to spend my money. on the other hand, i know that somewhere, someone will eventually win the lot re. while the rachelle side of my brain knows that risk is negligible, the emotional side says, what if my number comes up? >> jamie mcintire reporting from washington. to bell jump where authorities have begun to lift the long do you recognize in brussels. the capitol is still on high alert. tight execute was evident today as schools, shops and the metro system re-opened after being closed for four days. officials say the extra measures will stay in places while authorities search for suspects linked to the paris attacks. the american banned eagles of

death metal was playing in paris when it was attacked earlier this month. the group described the scene in an interview vice. >> i thought it was the pa cranking up, and then i realized real quick that it wasn't. >> i recognized what it was. at that time, jessie ran towards me. we went in the corner of the stage. we weren't sure if they were targeting us or what was going on, you know. boo, who is also on the crew. i guess he saw the gunman like run, cartridge ran out. he took it out to put another .1 in and that was like, let's go. neil 90 people died inside the club, including the band's merchandising manager. band members escaped through a side door. the group told vice it will

eventually return to the stage. the kremlin is accusing leaders in turkey of planning theshootdown of a russian fighter plant. it suggesting turkey had been waiting for an excuse to fire on a russian plane. turkey insists the pilot violated its airspace and ignored multiple warnings. errory challands is in moscow with more on the aftermath. >> reporter: murderers, they chanted, mistaken russians are angry with turkey and proceed tests have occurred in a few cities in the past hours. this was the turkish embassy in moscow. eggs were thrown. a few arrests made. >> this is the embassy of murderers in my opinion, of people who instead of being honest and trusted partners showed their beastly grin. >> tuesday's incidents stowed a masheen involved in the revenge u operation also died and a

helicopter was destroyed. the russian jets navigator had a lucky escape. >> he is safe. he is like all of the others involved in the operation, will receive state awards. the ministry of defense has already come up with this proposal and the plane commander will be awarded the star of the hero of the russian federation post humously. >> the navigator and on russian television to give his account. >> there has been no warning, neither on the radio nor visually. there had been no contact whatsoever. so we started the combat course as usual. keeping in mind the speed of the bomber and of the f-16 fighter jet. >> this, says turkey, was the pilot's final warning.

>> another ministry of defense proposal is being put into action, sending it sophisticated missile system to syria. russia wants to show it has the ability to blow turkey's planes out of the sky, too. serious sequences for what vladimir putin called a stab in the back. turkey is a nato mer. >>phon minister sergei lavrov says russia does not intend to go to war with turkey but russian attitudes to the turkish people haven't changed. they have questions about the actions of turkey's leadership. >> turkey's president defended what his air force has done. >> no be should expect us to remain silent when our border

security is breached. of our legal rights and right of independence are undermined. we have no intenti we have no intention of escalating. we are defending the rights of our brothers. tie wants russian's air attacks on turkmen rebels to stop. it insists isil is not operating in that part of northern syria and that russia noise this. rory challands, al jazeera, moscow. >> more demonstrations tonight in chicago following yesterday's release of a video showing a white police officer shooting to death a black teenager, laquan mcdonald. jason van dyke has been charged with murder in this case but certa serious questions remain. so far, this second day of protests has been peaceful. activists are planning a rally on the city's best known retail strip on black friday. al jazeera's andy ros. j.en reports from chicago. >> after a night of tension, angry protests, the

demonstrations wrapped up again wednesday afternoon in downtown chicago. there was a more subdued gathering inside city hall on wednesdays outside the mayor's. the anger was still very clear. children in most cases, cover-up. the only reason this one wasn't covered up was because there was a dam cash. >> this group is promising to marriott magnificent mile in the midst of shoppers? >> down with whoever is saying the magnificent mile must be shot down on black friday. >> absolutely. >> the break caucus weighed in as well on the need for immediate changes in the police department. >> a clear, transparent process is the only way we can begin to build trust in our communities with law enforcement.

as sad as it is, especially for people with color, we know that there is more than one laquan mcdonald. >> we want freedom. >> there sees to be a split developing in the protest movement. for years, reaching out to black religious leaders in an effort to the improve the dialogue. many are scene standing behind the mayor at official as was the case tuesday at the announcement about the release of the laquan mcdonald video. there is a new wave of young activists, the millennials, rejecting those leaders as being too cozy with the city administration. and they are more willing to go turn up the heat. >> we made a decision to note meet with the mayor. we were invited but at this point, there is nothing to talk about. >> the independent journalist who on his own pushed to have the video made public says it's release has triggered a new wave of mistrust of the police in previous cases that have been considered closed.

in the past 72 hours, three or four families contacted me about their own family members being the victims of police violence. i am going to look into all of them. >> the city's police superintendent is insisting the department's policing including when officers can shoot and when they can't has improved and police involved shootings are down. the main prosecutor insists the reason it took over a year to charge the officer with murder is because she wanted to have the case progresscuted in the right way that's not nearly good enough for thegologystrators. >> the chicago board of trade, magnificent mile, everything they hold near and dear to them listen address. >> what bothers many protesters is the news now we hear officer vann dike had some 18 complaints against him during his career including rachel slurs and police brew 2589ty and remained on the force. antonio. >> andy rosgen chicago.

a funeral was held form jamar clark, the 24-year-old 2 who died 10 days ago after he was shot with a struggle after police officers. protests have been taking place ever since. however, clark's family asked demonstrators not to protest on the day of his funeral. acts visits are calling for release of the police video that shows the moment clark was shot. >> we demand those videos be released to the public. the second demand is that we want the criminal charges to be brought right out of the direct prosecution, no grand jury. black people do not get justice from grand juries. >> late monday night, five black lives matter demonstrators were shot and injured during a protest police say four suspects are in custody but they have not been charged in connection with the shootings. still ahead on "al jazeera america," military officials say a u.s. air strike on a hospital in afghanistan was human error. the pentagon says punishment is

coming. the family of frank gifford c confirms he suffered for brain disease possibly caused by his time on the field. afghanistan

reveals thoughted parents were killed in kunduz last month. al jazeera's jennifer glasse has more from kabul. >> reporter: eyewitnesses say

it was a terrifying attack. in the early morning hours of october 3rd, a u.s. plane rained bombs and bullets on a doctors without borders hospital in kunduz. patients burned to death in theirbeds, staff were decapitated. at least three children were among the 30 people killed in the attack. the commander of u.s. forces says a u.s. investigation shows it was a tragic but avoiledable mistake. >> the report determined that u.s. strike upon the msf trauma center in kunduz was the direct record of human error compounded by systems and procedural failures. the u.s. forces directly involved in this incidents did not know the target compound >> the trauma center. >> drs. without borders had given the nato forces ordinates of the hospital three days before the strike. cambeled said the mistake happened because the attacking aircraft was diverted from another missing, the plane

veered off course and the crew visually identified the building without verifying it was a military target. they thought it was another building a few hundred yards away. making the distinct between protected and enemy targets are basically 10ants of the laws of war. they are enforced throughout their military career. they wouldn't say why these tenants were followed but did say some of those did not follow the rule of engagement. >> they have been suspended from their duties pending consideration and disposition of administrative and disciplinary matters. >> reporter: doctors without borders asked for an international independent investigation. >> requires the consent of the united states and afghanistan who believe military investigations are sufficient. >> u.s. commanders said they would like to help rebuild the hospital. doctors without borders does not

accept donations from governments and they say they don't want to rebuild until they know this kind of attack won't happen again. jennifer glasse, al jazeera, kabul. >> seven church members in new york were charged with second degree murder in the beating death of a 19-year-old man who wanted to leave the church. officials say lucas leonard was beaten to death during a spiritual counseling session that spiralled into an all-night group attack. his 17-year-old brother was beaten but survived. among those indicted were the church pastor and leonard's father. the family of n.f.l. ledge end and broadcaste frank gifford says he suffered from the brain disease that has been increasingly let me ask you thissed to injury and trauma in football players. john terrett is here. frank gifford's case is just confirming the growing concerns. >> reporter: it seems that way, antonio because frank gifford died in the summer of natural causes at the age of 84. what is incredible is that this

injury that he sustained more than half a century earlier now appears to have permanently damaged his brain. >> in n.f.l. circles, frank gifford's name was as big as they come. a hall of fame running back and wide receiver, he played 12 seasons for the new york giants and was named the league's mvp in 1956. >> hello, again, everyone. frank gifford. >> for 27 years, he was a play by play announcer and comments ateo on monday night football married to the t.v. presente cathy lee gifford and died of natural cause ins august but a bombshell. his family says post humous tests show he was suffering from the degenerative brain disease chronic encephalopathy. they hope more attention will be ma paid to research. >> frank gifford's family says during the last years of his life, frank dedicated himself to understanding the recent

revelations concerning the connection between repetitive head trauma and its associated cognitive and behavioral symptoms when he experienced firsthand. this is the kind of thing they are talking about. in 1960, playing against the philadelphia eagles, gifford was involved in one of the most brutal collisions in league history, knocked out in a passing play by the eagles church bednarik. the n.f.l. disagreed to pay $765 million to settle lawsuits involving hundreds of players over the league's handling of head injuries. earlier this year, 30-year-old former san francisopen linebacker chris bourland on a 4-year, $3 million contract quit the game, fearful for his long-term health. >> if i could relay a message to kids, to their parents, it would be two-fold. one make an informed decision and two, don't play through concussions. >> with football such a major part of many people's thanksgiving holidays, that's just the kind of message gifford's family appears to be keen to pass on to help prevent

such injuries to current and future players of all ages. >> right. interestingly, the gifford family was able to discover he that he had cte because frank agreed to donate his brain to science before he died and after he died, the giffords had said they hoped frank's brain can be a small part of the solution to an urgent problem concerning anyone involved with football at any level. i think they are hoping this link between sport and popular culture, which he -- those are two he bridges quite nicely will help bring this more into. >> thanks to families like the giffords donating brains people are finding out more about this. thank you, john. still ahead on "al jazeera america," malaria is expected to kill more than 400,000 people this year. now, researchers think they found a way to fight the disease with genetically engineered mosquitoes. not everyone is on board.

scientists say they have come up with a way to eradicate malaria, changing the dn amount of the mosquitos that carry the disease. researchers at the university of california are doing it by a malaria recystant gene to the dna. the mosquitos are being kept in the lab today.

joining from san diego is ethan beer at the university of california. good to have you with us. the who estimates malaria will kill 438,000 people this year. what you have managed to do would stop them and their after spring from transmitting the disease. >> that's right. yes. >> how would it work. a collaborator at uc irvine, tony james over many years a set of genes on a cassette that encode anti-bodies that bind preventing it from pop pa gating through the mosquitos. at the end of the study he most recently driver's license with that, he said if that particular dna could be coupled to a means of distributing it throughout a mosquitos population, that might

provide malaria control. we have to spread quickly. we have shown that in fruit flies which is what we stud income my lab and when we were aware of that, we contacted tony and we said, why don't we put these two things together and so we did so. >> in laymen's terms, how do you get that gene into enough mosquitos to make a difference? >> basically >> what the little generaletic device we have done does it causes it to get copied. instead of the normal situation, where is where a parent would give you one of their two crom zones to their off springs and the other, so the offspring would have one from each. in this particular case, this will copy itself on to the gene derived from the chromosome that's derived from the other parent soo there will be two copies of it. for example, if you had a blond

fly, cross today a dark fly, instead of having off springs, they are blond. if that fly mates with another new york dark fly, their prodigeny are blond. so, it spreads quickly. we hook this to tony james' anti-malaria cassette and that can spread to 99.5% of the progeny that mate to a mosquito that carries they element. >> they have a short life cycle and reproduce so that it could grow exponentially, the amount of mosquitos that would have that gene. what is your hope? could it eradicate malaria or put a dent in the number of cases. >> it could be an important contributing factor to controlling malaria, yes. >> how concerned are you? there has been resistance to this because of possible unintended sequences, damage to the environment or to humans? >> well, that is a larger question about this whole

principle of having a genetic let me show that could copy itself. it could be used for other things but with respect to that restricted use, i think there are very few risks because our whole goal is not to harm the mosquitos at all. we would put this generalet generaleticcationet because tony has defined places like that where it can happen. it would spread sigh lengths lee through the population render them free of pair sites, probably good for the mosquitos. >> and might be for humans. 20 seconds left because it would mean much less need for use of -- using pesticides also just work together can you just a complementing tool. >> fascinating ethan appreciate you joining us tonight. thank you i am antone i don't

mora. held to al jazeera.com. ray suarez is up next with "inside story." have a happy and safe thanksgiving. >> rumblings are growing inside of the republican party establish many. but it's time to oppose donald trump head on. but gaffs and embarrassments and public statements normally considered beyond the pale for major party candidates don't pull the real estate developer and political racky down. they only seem to make him stronger. is trump hasn't been a flash in the pan or a speed-dated and then discarded political fling. he has been run in the polls for month. gop versus tpp