check check you're watching al jazeera america. live from new york city. i'm jonathan betz with the top stories. harsh conditions and an uncertain future. the devastating effects the u.n. warns, that the syrian crisis is having on children. after a 5-week overhaul is when the healthcare.gov is supposed to be trouble free. >> the united states is calling on north korea to release an 85-year-old veteran accused of war crimes from a decade ago. >> the u.n. warns of a lot of generation in syria.

an estimated 1 million children have been displaced, many growing up in refugee camps without formal education. those in camps across the border face a differently winter. zeina khodr begins our cover im in lebanon. >> we are at a tenth settlement. people here live in miserable conditions. they may be safe. they are warning of the danger to come. that is the cold. in this region temperatures drop to below zero. people barely have anything. the ground is mud, and these plastic sheetings really do not provide any shelter when the rain starts. just look around. just a few weeks ago there was

rain, and the area was flooded. people here are worried. they are calling on the international community to help them. the international community can only do so much. the lebanese government can only do so much. they have to deal with economic problems. this is how people live. sometimes four to five families in one tent. people are talking about children suffering from respiratory problems, pneumonia and social workers are warning of the possibility of such diseases spreading. so miserable conditions in the next few days and weeks, temperatures are going drop. it's going to be below zero. people here have nothing to protect them from the new stress. >> wind conditions there. from lebanon to northern iraq, our coverage of the syrian refugee crisis continues. >> it's early morning and the women in this refugee camp prepare food. they have been cooking outdoors

since the summer. that will have to end. winter has come, and with it plunging temperatures and heavy rain. um yasir wonders what she'll do when it's too cold to cook outside. >> i make a special effort to cook a treat every friday. with the rain we will not be able to do this. this small treat will be taken away from us. >> preparations to get the camp ready for winter are well under way. drainage systems are put in place to make sure the camp doesn't flood. yousef mahmoud says although things are on track, there's a long way to go. >> there'll be challenges, like any other program. we'll support the international community when the u.n. agencies are ready to support them >> there's a huge difference between a camp being ready for winter and the reality of living

there. despite hard winter conditions around the corner children find a way to smile and have fun. these children are taking advantage of mild weather before the winter comes. it almost doesn't matter how well prepared the camp is for winter. the one thing that the children and every resident wants is the one thing the aid agencies can't give them - a safe passage back to a peaceful syria. the return to syria is a dream. there are more pressing things to worry about. >> translation: 10 days ago it rained. the camp was flooded. my tent was flooded. my children could not walk anywhere. winter is coming and i'm scared about how bad things will get. >> with the u.n. agencies facing a funding crisis, this camp is typical of many. it's ready technically for the winter, but that is scant comfort for the people that have

to live through it. what happens next is up to god. >> meanwhile in jordan, better shelters are finally arriving. >> nisreen el-shamayleh has more from the northern part of that country >> for 18 months the refugees weathered scorching heat, sandstorm and snow storms. their only shelter a plastic tent. another freezing winter is coming. for ziadal al faouri and his family, they couldn't have come quick enough. >> translation: in the winter, it flooded. tents blew down. if there's a gas heater in the tent, it catches fire. i can't scribe the suffering. >> people who have been here longest are the first to get a trailer. there's a lot of frustration when they are given out.

there are rules to prevent people getting trailers from taking advantage of good fortune. in the past refugees who left the camp to live in host communities would sell their trailers for hundreds of dollars to those living in tents. refugees have to sign contracts promising not to trade them. those who have got trailers now have been living in tents for a year and a half. each costs $2,500. thousands are waiting for a trailer. around 3,000 families live in tents like these. the u.n. refugee agency says the hope is to replace the tents with trailers by january, before the weather is unbearably cold. >> refugees are getting thermal blankets before the winter sets

in and temperatures fall below zero. winter clothing and shoes are given to vulnerable children under the age of five. there's not enough money to provide everything they need. conditions remain difficult. >> i don't think we were all prepared for the crisis to last so much longer. it took many of the donors - not by surprise, but instead of saying, "let me look if i have more money available." >> the refugees have no idea when they can return to their country. if the promised funding is not delivered they could suffer for more summer and winters. >> earlier today we talked to a spokesman for the united nation who told us about the difficulties it faces trying to keep families warm. >> i was in iraq where we brought in extra soil to create platforms for the tents. we are putting down plastic sheeting. we are putting down layers of

plywood and then putting in the tent. we are giving people carpets to create an insulated lair in the tept. these are only layers effectively on top of the earth. it's a scant development to help people get through the winter, but, indeed, the way the crisis is developing in the third winter of syria's war, we will be expected to see the 2.2 million refugees we have joined by more, and for the crisis to endure. it is necessary for countries to think of more developed situations or the children and their families. >> we are tackling everything at once. we are providing additional tents, plastic sheeting to go over the tents, to keep them drier. we are providing people with caravans, prefabricated containers, which is an ideal solutions. the authorities in some parts of iraq do not want to see the

camps get that sense of permanency. tents are hard to insulate against winter. we are giving people electric stoves or kerro seen stoves, and kerra seen to have heating and agoing. the children are growing all the time, foot ware - most arrived in sandals, is shoddy. when i was in the camps in iraq, it was pouring rain, children are running around bare foot or in sandals, we are having to distribute foot ware, clothing. these are human being. the children are growing, it's a change to keep up with all the needs, with the millions much people who have been displaced in the region. >> inside syria the u.s. is offering to help destroy that country's dangerous chemical weapons. under an international deal the arms have to be out of syria by the end of the year. the 500 tonnes of chemicals, including nerve gas will be

scrapped at sea. they are thought to be too dangerous to destroy any other way. >> americans got a look at the revamped healthcare.gov site. glitches plagued the roll out. the barack obama administration promised to fix the problems by the end of the month. >> the latest set back for the affordable care act involves small businesses, which were supposed to use their own online marketplace to figure out the best health plans for their employees. the administration says that won't happen for another year. instead it's a full-court press to make sure healthcare.gov is working. this week in california the president stood firm. >> i'm willing to fix problems that there are, but i'm not going to abandon people to make sure there's health insurance in the country. it's not something we'll do. >> on a conference call with state and local officials.

health secretary kathleen sebelius played cheerleader. >> we are on track to play a different user experience by the end of the month. that was the commitment. >> the goal is to handle 50,000 users on the site at one time. 800,000 in a this-hour period. >> we went on line to see how healthcare.gov is working. as the white house promised, it seems to be running more smoothly. they are testing a system that would put people in a queue and let them know the estimated wait time. >> as the website improves the push is on to get young people to sign up. they are healthier and can offset the cost of covering older americans. an aarp campaign calls on mums to urge kids to enrol in obamacare. there are provocative ads developed by two colorado non-profits. on the other side conservative

groups pushed young people to skip coverage. as of now the administration has not released numbers on how many young people signed up for coverage. the next two weeks will be critical for obamacare. anyone that wants health insurance starting in january will need to enrol by december 23rdrd. >> north korea has released a video of merrill newman, he supposedly apologised for decades old war crimes. the u.s. is calling for north korea to release thele 85-year-old saying: >> al jazeera america's allen fisher with more. 85-year-old merrill newman was about to leave north korea after a 10-day tour when he was arrested. he's appeared on state tv reading an alleged confession.

>> we attacked a communication system, attacked three incident operators. used explosives and attacked the k kpa 10 times in one area. >> the statement which contained oddly constructed sentences said merrill newman tried to meet with soldiers he trained during the war. >> i asked my guide to help look for families and relatives and gave the document written with their addresses and email addresses to the guide in the hotel. >> the confession was recorded on november the 9th. there was no direct comment from merrill newman to confirm details. the government in pyongyang has been accused of forcing statements from detainees. a watcher says the timing of the arrest is odd.

>> it's created bad relations at a time it needs good relations. it creates problems with the tourism series. >> merrill newman's statement says if he returns to the u.s. he'll tell the truth about north korea, a sign he could be free. >> the leaders of afghanistan and pakistan met in kabul, making plans to have peace talks with the afghan taliban. a senior afghan leader was released from prison. it was a show of good faith. >> in egypt a committee has been voting on a draft constitution. back in july the military ousted the democratically lected president, the 50-member panel

is voting on amendments. the interim president has o month to call for a public vote. egypt is scheduled to hold the presidential elections next year. . we've had warming outside in the midwest. temperatures feel better than they were a few months ago. brace yourself. the arctic blast is coming back. we'll have temperatures coming into the north-west. where we have the cold temperatures now, we'll start warming up. it's 36 degrees. that is one degree lower than the normal low temperatures. we are so far below normal that it will be an interesting changeover. it will see a pattern change dramatic of the colder air for

the west coast and the warmer air coming in for the east. it will create storms as we get into the week ahead. it will get stormy. temperatures 26 for fargo. it's almost a balmy 55. we look at what is going on in the radar. this is not nearly the punch we'll get. today is the best travel day across the board. i'll show you how big the storm it is coming in from the north west coast. >> also ahead - it's called small business saturday. today shoppers are encouraged to buy local from small business owners. >> scotland's national holidayened in tragedy when a helicopter crashes into a crowded bar. the latest on that investigation ahead.

>> the weekend of consumption continues. there's a lesser known shopping day. kilmeny duchardt joins us from a children's boutique in manhattan. what does today mean for small businesses. it means a lot. since american express started small business saturday in 2010, a lot of businesses benefited from it. mostly because the free advertising that partners with social media network to get the word out there about small businesses. small businesses offer discounts also on the day to lure new customers and to encourage people to shop locally. i am in tribeca.

it's a children's boutique and they have been doing this for the post four years. i want to bring in stephanie crews. why have you guys chosen year after year to do it again. >> it keeps the local clientele coming in. they love to support local businesses, it makes the neighbourhood feel like a neighbourhood. they like to keep communities going. >> tell me about the deals that you guys offer on this day. >> we have 15% use store wide, and we do free gifting if you spent $60 with us. you do that if you use the american express card. >> social media has been a huge part of small business saturday. how important is social media to the children's boutique. it's huge. it's how we stayed connected from instagram, pinterest, four

squares. it makes a difference in keeping in contact with the clientele. just talk to me about how today has gone in terms of the reception from the customers coming in and out the doors. >> it's been great. we have tonnes of customers coming in. >> how difficult is it for a baby boutique down here in tr. >> beca district. there are other baby boutiques, and you are competing with bigger names. how do you guys keep your customer base and thrive as a small business. >> it's difficult competing with the other huge stores. we have built relationships with the clients. we keep everything in touch with the clients, building the relationships. we are deliver locally to our

community. there's a lot of events as well. and building that sense of neighbourhood. you guys will be doing it again. >> definitely we'll do black saturday. >> it's been a huge success last year, $5.5 billion was generated from small business seat. back to you jonathan. >> kilmeny duchardt at a small business on small business saturday. thank you. 50,000 puerto ricans are leaving their homes, many hoping for a better life elsewhere. the island has the highest unemployment rate in the united states. one business there is booming. >> unemployment here is twice the national average. but this man has never worked so much. his moving company can barely keep up with the requests. >> most of it goes abroad. orlando, miami, texas and new york. we have local jobs.

it's rare. >> mr and mrs lopez lived in the u.s., and came back to puerto rico for retirement. now most of their relatives and children are in florida. >> i want to talk and share everything with them. it's the most important thing for me. >> when their youngest daughter told them she'd stay in the u.s. they realised they'd be alone here. except for their granddaughter who is camera shy. >> you start with $100,000 to be a cardiologist assistant. imagine, here you get around $60,000. >> your destination is orlando florida. people are helped move off the island every day of the week. for us it's good, we are working.

at least i don't have to leave. puerto ricans are people in transit. their american passports allowed them to move between the islands and the u.s. around $600,000 puerto ricans left the island in the past 10 years. 50% of the population, and the largest drop compared to anywhere else in the united states. >> 40% of recent college great uds have left to look for employment. >> salaries are not enough. we have to work a lot of overtime to get buy. i have a colleague who works on saturdays and sundays as a dj. there are no farming jobs any more, and the factories are closing too. >> the government says immigration costs the local economy $3 billion per near.

he hasn't lost a penny. he's off to his next job. >> ross shimabuku is here with the sport headlines. alabama versus auburn. >> you have to love it. all eyes on this. for the first time since 1971, both teams ranked in the top five. the winner went on to win the d.c. s national championship game. first thing is first. 87,000 fans - rocking the house in auburn. the winner of the iron bowl goes to the s cc championship game and will have the inside track to the national championship game. it's a barn burner with the two teams tied at 21. now, it's not the only game. florida state put the hurt on

it, thanking them 37 to 7. the favourite target, putting 212 yards. ohio state held off michigan 42-41 in a thriller. the buck eyes extending a winning streak. north carolina and duke more than a basketball showdown. the dukies are a footballing powerhouse. they went on to beat and play in the title game. >> the corn huskers got work by iowa. bo pelini said "if they want to fire me, fire me." shawn eichorst is supporting his head coach for now. the head man has had his issues, especially two years ago when a taped conversation became public of him ripping into nebraska fans. more of that conversation later

in sport. >> sounds good. well, still ahead on al jazeera america. china is flexing muscles for the latest on the move with many airlines on alert. >> the changes faced and the new hope that it may become easier.

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. here is a look at the top stories. the united nations says the number of refugees fleeing the conflict rose to 2.2 million, and more than half of them are children. the u.n. refugee agency is living across the border, facing worst conditions. the barack obama administration says it will meet the midnight deadline to fix healthcare.gov. more should be able to log on. questions remain about its stability. some of the issues that plagued the rollout have been fixed. >> the u.s.'s comment on north

korea to release merrill newman. swedish officials have been able to visit the 85-year-old. there's no word op his condition. this is hours an a video released of merrill newman apology for decade-old crimes. >> a helicopter crashed into a crowded pub in scotland. it happened in the largest city of glasgow. 120 people were packed inside to attend a concert when the sent occurred. tim friend reports. >> a friday night out on the town turned to horror as debris, choking dust and rubble crashed on more than 100 people who seconds earlier had been enjoying listening to a pub band. there were reports of panic as people struggled to scramble free. many were trapped. an eyewitness said it was pandamonium. another talked of an horrific

scene. >> there was smoke. you could here people screaming. >> i could hear them screaming. they were scraping because of a friend rather than anything happening to them. >> investigators are trying to discover why the police helicopter with three on board plunged out of the night sky, crashing on to the roof of the pub. >> i was 50 yards from the pub when the explosion happened. and a cloud of smoke above the pub. i ran to the front of the pub. i knew something serious had occurred. at one point those that escaped from the pub formed a human train to help others. hours after the crash emergency services were searching the wreckage for survivors. the search is being wound down. >> when i arrived at the pub, i

think a few moments after the helicopter crashed, there was people pouring out of the pub and dust seemed to be coming up from nowhere, out the roof, out the door and up from the ground almost. there was no panic. it was quiet. >> a large area of glasgow stit center was cordoned off as 30 people were rushed to hospital. scotland's first minister alex salmond described it as a dark day. >> protests turned deadly in bangkok. gunfir erupted. it's not clear who filed the fatal shops. five were hurt as protesters entered the seventh day. they are seeking the removal of yingluck shinawatra. in a sit down interview the

prime minister urged protest leaders to enter into negotiations with the government, a request they have refused so far. >> if he loved the country, please do not hurt the country. please do not hurt the economy. i not have bias. i don't have any - it doesn't mean who will win, who will lose. the lose is the country. >> also in asia the united states says all u.s. commercial planes should adhere to china's rules. the reason china is asserting ownership in the east china sea. china, japan and taiwan claim ownership. china states any pilots must announce themselves and announce flight plans. japan is refusing. stephanie scawen has more from tokyo. >> the skies over the senkakku

islands or diaoyu island are busy. there are chinese fighter jets surveying american and japanese aircraft that are also taking what they call routine patrols over the island. i think the danger is there could be a kind of confrontation or accident if the number of planes that are flying over the region continue. japan and america say they are not backing down from chinese threats. japan is going to set up a permanent base in okanowa for spy planes, and they have one already and they will send in a second aircraft in the new year. clearly why you could argue the chinese - the japanese and the americans are not going back down. >> the u.s. government is condemning ukrainian authorities

for attacking protesters, thousands called for the president to step down. he decided to keep up ties with russia. david has more from key eve. the move against the pro-european protesters was brutal and swift in a predawn raid in independence square. trudgeons were used to disperse the crowd. some of whom were sleeping and beaten and dragged along the ground. tear gas was tired. balance crews and paramedics treat the injured. many of them bleeding badly from the blows of the trujons. the operation was ordered soon after president viktor yanukovych returned to kiev from the summit where he refused to sign a trade pact after coming under pressure from moscow. demonstrators had been demanding the resignation of the

president. it was a move the opposition leaders expected, but none of them thought it would come so soon. >> the brutal crackdown by riot police in independence square has far from dampened done the protest. it's increased the momentum. the opposition party united and set up what they called a national resistant headquarters and called for a strike across the ukraine. protesters cleared found sang turary from the site of st michael's cathedral, a monasti demolished and rebuilt when ukraine gained independence. >> we were holding back the police for about 4 minutes before they overpowereded us. we were defenseless against the weapons and shields. i was beaten and dragged out of the square. they wanted to intimidate us. it was a brutal thing.

>> tomorrow will be a hot and hard day for you -- for ukraine. >> the anger is swelling here. the crackdown by the police reignited opposition forces and the scene is set for a violent standoff between the forces. >> a pilot and three passengers have been killed in a plane crash in alaska. it went down in st marys. a survivor left the wreckage and walked in the freezing rain to get help. it took rescuers two hours to leave the crash site. six on board are hospitalized. the cause is un known. the national safety transport board is investigating. >> more gay couples are trying to become parents. opposition is high. a bill to help gay people adopt

is making its way through congress. >> when don and andrew first decided to become parents through adoption, they were willing to take a child that needed a home. we were open. we gave a broad raping. we were open to ethnic grews, mixed race child. we never considered the notion of starting a family, we expected that we would be - i don't like the term, but a rain bow family. >> she was pretty... >> today they have two little girls, isabella eight and valerie six. >> i'd hear other parents say - you know, "so and so came home from school and told me that isabella has two dads. what a ripper, i only have one, what a riff-off." >> there are 33 states where they face barriers to adopting

children. there has been a steady increase. it's an agreeing societal acceptans. >> the percentage of same-sex parents increased from 10% to two to 19%. >> there are a lot of kids that need homes. this is an opportunity for us to have more people that feel comfortable with becoming foster parents and adopting if that is the case. >> after more that two years of waiting, hope and disappointment. jarrod and casey found a match. a teen mum selected them to adopt her unborn daughter. >> after the mother you have to deal with will the father sign away his rights. how much contact. >> the mother will have a

relationship with her in an open adoption. being a gay couple may have worked in their favour. >> the agency said a lot of mums choose male same-sex couple because they are the only mum. >> expecting to bring their baby home in march, they know their quiet nights are numbered, looking forward to the laster and love of family rings. >> in 2008 gabriel and his husband adopted their son. he is the director of the family council of equality. he's here to help us understand what it could mean for the gay community. how much harder is it for gay people to adopt than straight people? there's a patch work of laws and regulations and policies presenting barriers. it really depends on where you

are. the bottom line is we are not serving our country's children best. we have 400,000 in foster care. 100,000 eligible for adoption. we need to get them permanent homes. for gay people, some states make it difficult. what do they face. >> they face a host of legal and cultural bias. virginia passed a clause allowing agencies acting on behalf of the state to put their bias and discriminate against lgbd results ahead of the best needs of a child. they could face legal issues when they are working with a foster care agency, and cultural issues. people need a community in order to have a family. >> nationwide i thought most gay people can generally adopt a child if they want. >> it's a commonly misunderstood

situation. the patch work makes it so that you can live in a state. it depends on the agency. the lawyers and the judge. >> it's up to the judge's discretion to decide whether in this case a gay person would serve as a fit parent. >> that's right. >> and so there's new law making its way through congress - every child deserves a family act. it's been rejected. >> it hasn't voted. >> it's a form of rejection. it hasn't made its way through congress or been approved. how hopeful are you that this time the countsry is ready for this legislation. >> this is a commonsense piece of legislation, putting the needs of children ahead of the bias of some. we are hopeful. we have supporters on both sides of the aisle in congress and the senate. we are hopeful that children will be put first. >> if passed how big an impact

would it have. >> across the country they'd participate in the foster care situation and the children that need homes most can find them. >> thank you so much for being with us tonight. >> thank you for having me. >> it's rivalry week in college football. the latest updates ahead in sports. the white house makes a move raising concerns for the press corp. why the photos are sparking a lot of controversy.

>> news organizations are up in arms over rules limiting photographers access to the white house. throughout the history the press corp had access to events. a change in policy says the white house will use their own pr photos. our correspondent explains. >> sometimes it may seem the white house press corp is spending too much energy covering the mine usualia of the barack obama administration. >> the white house didn't have a problem allowing the photographers in for the welcoming of the annual christmas tree. the new policy is clear.

for other events, no independent observation will be allowed. official white house photographs like these will be released. the white house says pictures are adding to the white house's transpersons si, as they are taken at private event. >> we have tried to use new technology and the president's personal photographer as a way to provide insight into what is happening at the white house. n.b.c. often will ask if we have a photo to release. >> some in the press corp argue that many of these events are official business, and the duration's release of carefully vetted photos to be distributed widely by social media shows the white house recognises news worthiness. in a letter signed by 38 organizations the white house is accused of replacing individual

photos. like this photo of the president and hillary clinton. >> the washington editor of mcclatchy, which operates 30 u.s. newspapers announced its publications will not run the official photos unless there is a natural security reason for not having allowed the independent photographer to attend. the white house is not going to allow basic journalist aspects, which is to take pictures. we don't feel we should run those issues. we have seen a lot of measures that we have never been before to this degree. to crackdown on the flow of information. >> back at the white house the photo op is over. contemporary reporters and future historians will have plenty of documentation to shape their analysis and record of the white house christmas tree record of 2013.

the same cannot be said for other moments during the barack obama presidency. well, i know ross is excited about the college football games. >> there's other games beside auburn and alabama. ulc, cla, arizona. it's all about michigan and ohio. 113,000 fans are rocking the house. check out the arrow, that's fancy editing. punches are being thrown. if you are in a fight, not that we promote that, i would try to keep my helmet on. it's boys being boys. three players rejected, including marcus hall. mum will not like that. >> the buck eyes running a

winning streak. ohio state taking a 40-35 lead. devon gardner rallies back. head coach rolling the dice, going for two and the victory - not happening. ohio state holds on for the 42-41 thriller improving to 12-0. >> i thought the line and backs would go. we run the ball well. >> what was it like when you watched michigan. >> i don't blame the coach, it was a great call. ends it there, wins the game. it's a classic game that both teams played hard. >> one of the best days in history. how do you describe the performance? >> there's a better back in america, but ours is as good. >> the seminoles of florida doing the tomahawk chop thing.

heisman trophy hooks up with kelvin benjamin. he took it 45 yards. the route was on. despite all the offfield issues with the sexual assault case, jamesin winston continues to put up monster numbers, connecting with his favourite target. scoring the trieffecta scoring three touch downs, all to benjamin. >> frooeman busting moves as florida makes gator bait out of the gators with a 37-7 spanking. >> what an accomplishment. everybody knows that you are a talented football team. jamesin winston is a difference maker. what is the defining trait of the football team. >> they care and play for each other. they put their head down and go to work. they have tremendous mental

capacity. >> a battle against north carolina. buying time, found aring jameson. duke has more than the basketball powerhouse. they are a football powerhouse. >> markey williams laying it out. north carolina would take a 25-24 lead, looking to pull off the upset. ross martin, from 27 yards out - it's the biggest three pointer in football history, it's a winner. advancing to their first ever a.c.c. campionship game where they face number two. >> before you are sissicly tough you have to be mentally tough. to be mentally tough you need great character. they believe in each other and themselves. it's a big deal. >> six years ago a lot thought you were nuts to take the job. now you have 10 win, and a.c.c.

coastal division title. describe your emotions? >> i'm almost ready to cry. i'm proud of so many people. this is about a lot of people. that is what is beautiful. >> iowa dropped the korn huskers to eight and 4. nebraska head coach on the hot seat. he doesn't care if he's fired. >> they want to fire me, go ahead. i belief in what i have done. i don't apologise, i don't apologise for you or to anybody. >> bo pelini makes $3 million, signing for 2017. shawn eichorst is supporting the head coach for now. he has had issues, especially two years ago when a taped conversation of bo pelini ripping into nebraska fans went public. >> the cardinals won five

straight. the king, elvis presley passed away. the first star wars came out. jonathan was not born. the cardinals can match the streak if they beat the eagles on sunday. john henry smith spoke about the red birds who at 7-4 are in the play-off picture. >> darryl washington told me that they are talking about the play-offs, and have put themselves in a play-off don'ter position after the 4-game winning streak. there were doubters. it's hard to doubt them now after what they did to indianapolis. they are averaging 30 points a game. the offence came alive. there's three tough games. the eagles, the seahawks and the 49ers. it may come down to the last game to san francisco. >> denver against kansas city

was the match but who is it this week. >> both teams are tough to beat at home which gives seattle the advantage. it's probably new orleans best chance to beat him, considering seattle has debt problems, secondary, going into the game. seattle has a 13-day winning streak. they ousted opponents 30-13. easier this time. they are 0 and 3 in the play-offs under sean peyton. they don't want to go back in january. >> speaking of the broncos, last time out the patriots beat them. are they the favourites in the aoc. >> they don't look as good. this is what tom brady and bill do. they win the close games. that's what they managed to do. they look like they are the best team built for the cold weather.

unless indianapolis can get the play-offs, new england has the afc where they want him, out in the cold. >> alabama up 28-21. heights at eight. and a live report. >> you're on fire. thank you. rebecca back with weather next.

>> boy, we have needed extra time to warm the car up and get the ice off the windshield in so many places across the u.s. to get the thanksgiving dinner. now we are looking at getting home. and we have travel problems outside. mainly we are seeing snow around the great lakes, one to 3 inches of accumulation. most of the snow is down along the lakeside. grooep bay has only seen a flurry or two. we are just seeing light snow flowers dusting michigan and

heading off to the east. great lakes snow from a week disturbance. we'll talk about mountain snow. first, i wanted to show you something that is common to the north-west. that is a convergent zone, where the wind will wrap around things in its way. that comes back together on the other side, slaming together, lifting, giving you showers. seeing something similar in the golf. that's giving us shower activity right now. it's a trough of low pressure. they are not getting a lot of rain. we have a significant amount of rain coming in to the pacific north-west. most of the rain falls in the mountains. we were talking about winds wrapping around a mountain

rapi range. that will happen in central washington. the cascade mountains will get 4-6 inches of rain. we have all the components, the moisture with the jet stream. then we have low pressure creating wind behind that. it will have an increasing wind as we get through the day tomorrow, and behind that low pressure system it will open the door for another arctic blast of air to come down into the rockies spreading to the midwestern atlantic. we are not out of the woods. it's cold air and this time it will stay on the westside of the u.s. the east coast is warmingment here are the warmings. flood watch. especially the rivers in the central cascades, and winter warnings and watches out for idaho and montana for mountain snow.

. this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm jonathan betz with the headlines. the obama administration says they have met today's deadline to fix healthcare.gov's problems. the goal for the site to handle 50,000 users at one time. questions remain about the overall stability of the site. some of the issues have been fixed. >> vice president joe biden is gearing up to a week-long trip to asia. high on the agenda, easing tensions. relations have been strained over who controls islands in the east china sea. >> the death toll interest a helicopter crash in scotland rose to eight