In iraq where the fighting is intensifying. We begin tonight with news out of the guantanmo bay detention center. 14 train is have been leased from the controversial facility. They have been returned to afghanistan. They were held there for more than a decade over their alleged ties to the taliban or a al qae, however their lawyers argued the claims could be not substantiated. They are expected to be reunited with their families in the future. The u. S. Has acknowledged holding 779 people at the camp to date. Now 132 left there. The lowest number since the prison opened in 2002. 63 are cleared for release, but u. S. Authorities say they cant send them home because the security concerns or because their home countries are unwilling to take them back. 52 countries have openly accepted guantanmo detainees, while at least 10 were transferred for unnamed locations. He spent 13 years locked up at guantanmo was released early this month and told al jazerra about the mental anguish he endured
People in the United States. It is a sign of the times, a cuban leading praising his u. S. Counter apartment. Cuban president raul castro applauded u. S. President obama policy change towards the con ubist country. He emphasized the significance of this move. Translator he welcome the approach president obama by opening a new chapter in the ties between our countries and for introducing the most significant changes in u. S. Policy in the last 50 years. Earlier i asked al jazerras Gabriel Elizondo who is in havana, about castros speech. Reporter this is a very high will beanticipated speech by the cuban president because this is the only the second time we have actually heard from him since the big announcement on wednesday, what he said about that is he said while this will be a relationship between two equals, between cuba and the United States now with this new diplomatic ties and what have you, he said that any change here in cuba would happen on cubas terms and nobody elses terms.
The fill fines i desperate search for the survivors after the country was hit pie typhoon haiyan. One of the strongest ever. Nearly 10,00 10,000 have been k. Uprooted trees and levels houses all across the country. More from the capital of ma mill a. Reporter survivors of typhoon haiyan walked through whats left of their town. Still in shock over how quickly their lives were turned upside down, painful reminders of what they have lost are everywhere. Thousands still missing and many areas are unreachable. Badly for the missing and those confirmed killed. So that is a concern but we are addressing the needs of those that are still living. Especially those injured. Reporter the extent of the devastation is making rescue and relief operations difficult. Air pots in the central philippines have been damaged and many of the roads in the affects islands are impassable. Emergency personnel are having to walk for hours to reach survivors with aid. The storm hit on friday and since 10 for many
The president says the u. S. Will try again to rescue americans in south sudan. Gunfire stopped an earlier mission today. The three u. S. Aircraft were about to land in the site of some of the countrys worst violence in the past week. Four american soldiers were shot. They are now in stable position but just yesterday gunfire downed a u. N. Helicopter in the same area. And just two years ago, south sudan became its own country, but its now ravages by political and he had tick ethnis between tribes. The president says the unrest was started by the former Vice President who belongs to a rival tribe. So far hundreds have been killed and there is fear of a civil war in the worlds newest country. With more, a report from south sudans capital. Reporter a Memorial Service for the United Nations peacekeepers killed in south sudan. They died trying carry out their mandate to protect civilians, but in the end were unable to protection themselves. For their colleagues, its an emotional farewell.
Marriage equality is about to take a big step forward in the eyes of the federal government. Tonight attorney general eric holder will announce a major policy shift for the Justice Department. Hell issue a directive granting equal status to all married couples including samesex couples. Holder is giving a speech tonight in new york where courtney has more. What is expected tonight . Reporter well, jonathan, hes expected to make news. Now, they are doing sound checks behind me so you can already tell that this is going to be quite the celebratory evening. Its a fundraiser for a known game rights organization. Now, the news that he is going to be making tonight is hes going to be announcing, the slid identification of the department of Justice Policy aimed at irradicating the discrimination of samesex couples with federal law. The three key points are under the criminal Justice System the accident samesex couples will enjoy the same legal rights as heaheterosexual couples in termf not ha