disaba ba. >> you can watch the report on aljazeera.com. you can also see the other stories we're covering for you on al jazeera. you'll find it all at aljazeera.com. new developments in the san bernardino investigation, a friend of the couple that cord out the attack could face charges. one district prompted to keep students home after a threat. my reaction is how? how with all the testimony apartment evidence, how? >> mistrial, prosecutors in the case of a baltimore police officer charged in the death of freddie gray will have to try again after jurors failed to reach a verdict.

this is aljazeera america live from new york city. i'm stephanie sy. new developments this morning in the investigation into the attack in san bernardino. there are multiple reports that criminal charges will be filed today against a friend of the suspects. enrique martez has been under investigation ever since the attacks happened. he bought a pair of assault rifles and gave them to sayed farook and his wife tashfeen malik before they killed 14 people. marquez admitted he and farook discussed an attack plot as far back as 2010. the couple behind the san bernardino attacks are described as lone wolves, leading to a new federal effort to change how americans are notified about a potential threat. >> as the government continues to investigate the san bernardino attacks, the head of

the investigation disputed reports that taking and sayed farook had posted support for isil on social media. >> those communications are direct private messages, so far in this investigation, we have found no evidence of posting on social media by either of them at that period of time and thereafter reflecting their commitment to jihad. >> the san bernardino shootings on the heels of the paris attacks have left americans on edge. the department of homeland security is now modifying its terror alert system, an attempt it says to better communicate the kind of threats americans now face. >> in my view, it highlights the new environment we are in, which includes the very real prospect of terrorist-inspired attacks that can happen with little or no notice. >> after the 9/11 attacks, homeland security used color coded threat levels. that was replaced in 2011 with

the national terrorism advisory system, which has never been used, because it requires a credible or specific threat to trigger an alert to the public. d.h.f. now added what it calls a bulletin that can be used when threats are more vague. the first one issued wednesday says we are in a new phase in the global threat environment with terrorist groups using the internet to inspire and recruit and with self-radicalized individuals. it advises the public to watch for signs of radicalization and report anything suspicious. >> if you look at the bulletin, there is nothing in that bulletin that the american public hasn't already been told a thousand times. all right? there's nothing new. there's nothing actionable. >> joshua kent is a former c.i.a. officer. he calls the new bulletin a p.r. move. >> this is a marketing campaign. it's a feel-good, trying to show the american public that they're

doing something. >> a new poll by the pugh research center suggests that 29% of americans say terrorism and isil combined are the nation's biggest problem, up sharply from just 4% a year ago. confidence in the government has fallen sharply. only 46% say officials are doing well in reducing the terror threat, the lowest level since 9/11. as this week's shut down of los angeles schools underscored, fear, justified or not, has consequences. lisa stark, al jazeera, washington. please today are investigating threats at several school districts around the country. some schools in plainfield, indiana near indianapolis are shut down due to an on line threat. houston schools also received a message threatening an attack. they remain open. those schools, but the same story in dallas, police are investigating an email threat. >> obviously someone's trying to

scare dallas, and that's not going to work. we understand that there is serious issues going on in this world, and throughout this country, and that's why our partners at the federal level are extremely important in this. >> in just a few hours, president obama will be addressing the efforts going on to prevent attacks on u.s. soil. he's visiting the national counter terrorism center. his remarks will come after a meeting with his national security team. >> a bolt more judge is meeting with prosecutors and defense attorneys today following the mistrial of the first police officer tried in the freddie gray case. news of the hung jury prompted small peaceful protests in the city. as al jazeera's john terrett reports, the misstyle could complicate the prosecutions of the other officers charged in gray's death. >> there was a small protest outside the courthouse yesterday at about 10 past three eastern in the afternoon when news of the mistrial filtered out, but that ended pretty much mid

evening. then there was a large gathering of people up in west baltimore near the burned out c.v.s. from last april. that was a unity rally led by interfaith groups, loud but peaceful. there were no major i wants to report. today, judge barry williams convenes a meeting, a scheduling meeting. all attorneys involved in the william porter case will be present and their main path to discuss the possibility of a retrial setting a new date with a new jury probably in the new year. what we don't know is what will happen to the trials of the other five officers, beginning with caesar goodson scheduled to begin january 6. it's possible that the judge will slip all five of the trials down and slot officer william porter back in on that date, or he could tack the trial of officer porter on the end, which means that baltimore will be dealing with this issue right the way through to the early part of the summer.

we won't know until the judge tells us what his decision is. that may come today or might take another scheduling meeting or two before he finally makes up his mind. >> officials in ferguson, missouri are close to reaching a federal agreement over that city's police force. the deal would mean changes including training, better record keeping and federal oversight. the force has been under investigation over the 2014 police killing of michael brown, a justice democratic report found rampant police bias against african-americans. in chicago, adjusts department probe into that city's police department is now underway. officials from the justice department immediate today with chicago said mayor. the investigation will look into the fatal shooting of laquan mcdonald to see if it was a pattern of civil rights violations. this morning, the pen pentagon confirms the defense secretary used his personal email for work related business. in a statement, that is called a

mistake, "the new york times" first report that had defense secretary ash carter used the personal could during his first few months on the job after hillary clinton was criticized for doing the same thing when she was secretary of state. the statement it is carter never september classified material from his personal account. the house will vote on parts of a one dollar and one cents trillion spending bill. the package is likely to pass to avoid a government shut down. it will make permanent tax credits for child care, low income family and college costs. it will extend a popular corporate tax breakthrough 2019 and delay taxes that were part of the affordable care act for two years. it took a lot of compromise. as mike viqueira reports, neither side got everything it wanted. >> after weeks, both sides used what has become a dirty word in washington to describe the deal. >> it's a compromise. i understand some people don't

like aspects of this but that is the compromise we have. >> republicans want an end to the 40 year ban on exports of crude oil, an effort to find new markets for a resurgent u.s. oil industry. many experts say the ban was never effective in keeping domestic prices down and supplies strong and with a worldwide oil glut, lifting it won't do much to lower the prices at the pump now either. >> i doubt you see them go down two or 3 cents, so it will be a wash, although not negative for u.s. consumers. >> in return democrats got tax credits for renewable energy technologies in wind and solar. republicans gave up cherished goals, federal funding for planned parenthood, a target of conservatives who accuse the group of selling tissue for aborted fetuses will continue. after pushing for restrictions on syrian refugees entering the

u.s., republicans came away with nothing. >> democrats pushed for gun control measures. they came away empty. >> compromise means people can't be bull headed and have to be reasonable in what they're doing to accomplish their goals. >> it includes lifetime health care for those who were on what's called the pile, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. many like john stewart lobbied for the funds and research has

shown an increase in cancer and lung disease. >> civil libertarians are angry over a cyber security provision that would encourage companies to share information on cyber threats with the government. president obama spokesman claimed victory, and said the president will sign the measure into law if it passes congress. >> the president is pleased with the final product, even if it does reflect the kind of compromise necessary when you have a democratic president negotiating with large majorities of republicans in both house and senate. wall street is trading flat right now after interest rates were hiked for the first time in seven years. the rates will likely lead to higher borrowing costs on credit cards and mortgages. russian president vladimir putin expense this morning talking about issues during his traditional end of the year news conference. it lasted a little more than three hours and covered a lot of ground, including the russian military operation in syria. putin said that operation will continue until a political process starts there.

i have said on many occasions and i want to repeat it that we will never agree with the idea that somebody from outside, whoever it is, should impose the idea of who should rule another country. it simply doesn't fit with common sense or international law. i told secretary of state kerry our position hasn't changed. a russian jet was shot down near the turkey-syria border last month by turkey, sparking tensions between moscow and ankara. lincoln mitchum studies russia at colombia university. he told me earlier putin was even harsher on turkey during his speech than expect and that could have implicate the for u.s. orb russia relations. >> he came out hitting pretty hard on turkey, which i don't think was entirely expected. this thing about kowtowing to the u.s., turkey and the u.s.

have a formal military alliance like nato. it's not like turkey just discovered the u.s. the language there, it is important to remember that russia did not have a free media. when putin says something that here in the u.s. you say that's strange, not my understand having what happened, that is not how the russian people are processing it. putin said statement that this came out of nowhere and he said murdered two russians, look, a loss of life is a tragic thing no matter what, but when you're in the air force flying planes over foreign air space that is a member of another major military alliance that's different than being murdere murdered walk dowe street and somebody shot you. >> what does it mean that he had such harsh words for turkey considering talks about syria are to begin tomorrow in new york to include russia that

putin met with kerry four hours tuesday. does that mean that russia is not going to be as cooperative at we might think when it comes to political solution? >> i never thought russia was going to be very cooperative. it's two major things, first, the data, the public opinion polling shows strong support for president putin, but it is the basis of that support is him the protector of the state or russian nation. five years ago, it was more him as the bringer of prosperity. a hawkish saber rattling approach by the president in what is almost equivalent to the state of the union speech is a domestic political strategy to rally support. the putin kerry meeting earlier this week, secretary kerry walked out and said we are no longer committed to assad must go. clearly if you're russia, that's a victory. >> mitchell says western sanctions against the kremlin have been effective in dampening russia's economy, but he said it hasn't achieved the goal of getting putin to reverse course in ukraine. a drug company c.e.o. famed

for raising the price on life saving drugs is now in federal custody. martin shkreli was arrested by the f.b.i. this morning facing fraud charges connected to his former hedge fund and a drug company he previously led. he is now chief of touring pharmaceuticals. that company raised the price of a drug causing criticism. thousands coming to the u.s. from cuba taking an unusual route to get here. the vote that could remove relics of the civil war in louisiana.

>> we have people who are desperately in need of jobs. >> hear from citizens caught in

the crossfire... >> we want freedom, freedom! >>...and what america can learn from chicago's ongoing gun violence. >> today marks five years since events in tunisia ignited the arab spring. ceremonies are underway in cities across that country. protests brought down the country's dictator and led to demonstrations across the arab word from syria to egypt. we have a report on how tunisians are feeling five years later. >> while tunisians are happy at a the government has come together here in the last year and really come away from the brink of civil war, they're happy about the fact that the national dialogue quartet won the nobel peace prize, they see that as something that's really encouraging more democracy or that's encouraging that the country remain secular.

this is one of the most secular countries in this region, but at the same time, they are worried about the threat, the specter of terrorism. there have been three attacks in the past year, one of them attacked the bardo museum, another attack targeted tourists on a beach resort that killed dozens of people. this country is neighbor to libya where there is a civil war still raging and where there are isil members that are taking over parts of that country. that is the concern, it is close to tunisia. jus here where we are, this is a very centrally located secure part of the capital. we're very close to the interior ministry and just in the last month, you had a major attack in which a suicide bomber blew presidential guard members and 12 people died in that attack. certainly the specter of danger, of more terrorist attacks, that is something that is really on

the mind of tunisians, even though they are happy that the country has stepped from the edge of civil war. they are worried that there could are more threats and more attacks here. >> reporting from this tunis. tunisia's deposed president fled to saudi arabia during the protests, convicted in absentia to life in prison issues the new orleans city council plans to take down memorials to the city's past. they honor confederate leaders. not everyone wants to see those memorials go. >> 60 feet high in the heart of downtown new other loans, this bronze statue of general robert e. lee has become a lightning rod. >> it maintains a system of white supremacy in the city by maintaining these statues. >> people can say anything is a symbol of racism. >> now there's a controversial

plan to remove the monument, along with three others in the city, all tied to the civil war. the mayor leads the charge, calling them reminders of racial oppression and slavery and not reflective of a majority black city. >> we pay taxes here. we're the majority. we want these statues down. you're not going to have a city of majority jewish with a statue of hitler. >> opposition to removing the statues has been swift with 30,000 signing a petition to keep them up. leslie has lived in new orleans all her life. she says removing them will hurt the city. >> those statues weren't hurting anybody, doing anything to anybody but do create revenue for the city from people who come from other countries who want to learn about history. >> people who want to bring the

statues down want to say that new orleans is not a racist city. those that want to keep it up say that that's good and fine, but don't take my heritage away. >> a history professor at too lane university where original documents related to the four statues are held in archives. there is been particular outcry over the city's liberty place monument honoring members of the white league that tried to overthrow louisiana's government. >> it represents the effort on the part of those exconfederates to take back the state of louisiana by force. >> some argue that the statue of the general and jefferson davis, president of the confederacy should say stay up as they honor a man who acted in accordance with his time when slavery was widely accepted. just as she issue divided the city, it split the city council set to vote on thursday, but not before a final public hearing. jonathan martin, al jazeera, new orleans. u.s. and cuban negotiators are working to restore airline flights into havana. the lack of direct flights isn't

stopping cubans from coming to the u.s. as al jazeera's heidi zhou castro reports, many are arriving through texas. >> we are on the laredo international bridge crossing from mexico into the united states. these are the very steps that 28,000 cubans took this year here at the busiest port of entry for cubans seeking refugee status in the united states. across the country, that number is even higher, 43,000 cubans entering the u.s. under a special cold war provision that allows an immediately parole into the country and permanent resident status after one year. the number of cuban asylum seekers from cuba is up 78% from last year, a jump past president barack obama announced an opening of tie witness cuba last december. claudia said cubans are seeing this as a last opportunity to gain legal entrance into the u.s. she traveled by boat from cuba

to cancun, mexico, then crossed into testimony this week. meanwhile, 5,000 refugees in route to the u.s. are stranded in costa rica, unable to cross nicaragua to continue their journey north. with the situation there now a humanitarian crisis, costa rica's president says his country is paying for the u.s.'s immigration policies toward cubans. >> a spokesman for u.s. customs and bored herb promise tells al jazeera the administration has no plans to chain its current immigration policies towards cubans. that assurance falling on deaf ears for the cubans who already crossed this bridge. al jazeera, texas. regulating the future of transportation, california's proposed new rules for self driving cars. google doesn't like them.

california is out with proposed new rules for self driving cars. one tech giant is worried regulations could put the brakes on innovation. john henry smith has the story. >> look, ma, no hands. >> people who have tried the company's self driving car say they like having the vehicle do all the work. >> if i had a self-driving car, i could spend more time hanging out with my kids or helping them with their homework, finding out how their day was and not waiting until you get home and have dinner. pretty good.

>> the proposed guidelines from the department of motor vehicles won't let people completely relax behind the wheel. the d.m.v. would require that a licensed driver with the special certification sit in the driver's seat and be prepared to take control if necessary. this stanford researcher was considered a pioneer in studying how humans interact with technology. he warned that immediately taking control of a self-driving car is not easy. >> drivers are totally disoriented and they're being asked to absorb an enormous range of activities, an enormous range of things going on to get what we call situational awareness where there was none and that turns out to be an extraordinary challenge. >> among the other guidelines proposed by california's d.m.v., drivers could still get ticketed even if the car is on auto pilot. manufacturers would have to put the car through third party safety tests, and automakers could only lease the self driving vehicles, not sell them

outright. google says it is gravely disappointed in the proposed regulations and said the goal is to let people who can't drive have cars, but some researchers welcome the new rules. >> this is actually a big step toward public deployment of self driving vehicles. in everyday driving, under conditions, what is it that people are going to do? that's really important to understand how self-driving cars are designed to be safe for everybody. five groups spanning five decades of music are the latest induct queens into the rock and roll hall of fame. ♪ among those chosen include chicago, deep purposing, nwa, cheap trick and steve miller. the induction ceremony will be held in new york in april. the news continues next live

from doha. have a great day. >> announcer: this is al jazeera. ♪ hello and welcome to the news hour. i'm in doha with the top stories on al jazeera. a moment of hope and a history of repression and violence, representatives of libya's rival are groups sign up for a unity government. bashar al-assad says compromises must be made in order to end the conflict.