live.is is al jazeera with a look at tonight's top stories. >> needless to say, i have been suffering deep anxiety. every part of every day. >> an american hostage pleads for help from the government. shuttle diplomacy african leaders work toward a peaceful solution. wait for their power to get turned back on, after an ice storm wiped out their electricity.

rah new appeal from help. in a videoed message, warn calms on the u.s. to negotiate with his captor as group linked to al quaida believed to have been released this. as roxanne that reports he made a personal appeal to president obama. >> in is this 13 minute video warn says he feels totally abandoned and forgotten by the u.s. and asking that you take actions tory actions to expedite my release. >> the u.s. government contractor, was in his home in pakistan, when gunman posing as his neighbors abducted him in 2011. al quaida leader saying his organization is

holding him. the u.s. suspects he is being held along the boarder. a former kidnapping victim says pakistan is partly to blame. rah key player in this is the pakistani government, they do not control their own territory. there are also phone operators pakistani civilians being held here. >> al quaida said it would free them if the u.s. stops drone strikes in targets in countries like pakistan and afghanistan. one thing they don't understand, is that frankly americans don't overwhelmingly respond to these cases. they despise the captors, there's a very strict policy the american government will not pay ransom, and it it will not release prisoners. >> in this video. >> my life is in your hands, mr. president. if you accept the demands i live, if you don't,

then i die. >> that video and the latest one are both marked with al quaida's made yeah arm. the state department says we are working hard to authenticate this latest report, but we reiterate our call that he will be released and returned to his family. the white house says lit not negotiate with al quaida. al jazeera. the united nations is increasing its presence in the country torn apart by fighting. the u.n. special representative says more troops and equipment are expected to arrive in the next day or so. >> we are improving an increased and rapid redeployment of available mission assets to the most vol it to areas and in particular where civilians have sought refuge in our catches. we are now over 50,000 civilians in our various compounds.

and elsewhere. >> the u.n.'s move to send reinforcements comes as african leaders begin a new effort to end the fighting. more than 1,000 people have died in the last 11 days. al jazeera has more from the capitol. >> soldier pass troll neighborhoods in juba, when fighting between rebels and government troops broke out nearly two weeks ago, people living around here, were caught in the middle. many families are still sleeping at the u.n. base, where they sought safety, now officials are trying to convince people it's safe to go back. >> to minimize the looting and the loss that is are incurred into the population, and afflicted on the population, we have to deploy forces. police, security, the army, in a different location, to maintain law and order, now we are trying to disarm the guns we are trying also to disarm those that are not allowed to have -- to

have guns. this is where many people were killed. the people haven't come back to the town. most buildings have been lootedded. there is nothing left. >> some of the damage caused by days of fighting can still be seen. but parts of the capitol are busy, people are trying to move on. this family wants to go to war to bring back the remains of their loved ones. he was a general in the army who was killed on december 16th. >> it was difficult to get his body. and it was buried somewhere in the bush. there's no way with the fighting. and so they were cut it off somewhere, so they bring him there. >> jube ba is relatively quiet, but there is still fighting in the state of

junety. trying to broker peace talks. >> the issued were discussed among others one is on the decision of hostilities, and the second issue is on the imminent start of talks. politically, and the third issue is on the detainees. fur that to happen who he accuses of attempted a coupe, need to put aside their differences and compromise. >> al jazeera, juba.

>> joining me now from silver spring maryland. he was an envoy to sudan, and south sudan from 2011 until earlier this year, thank you for being with us. help us understand how we got to this point. there seemed a willingness to share power in the early days of the independence. but in the last year, the president has become more author tin, what happened? you are quite right, all the different militias and forces came together, unified under president tiar in the drive to independent in 2011. but over the last year, there's been some dissension within the party, and he made it clear he would challenge him, for leadership of the party, and for the presidency in 2015. is that split the party, but there was also

differences in the way that things were being handled and the way that the president was governing. what is unfortunate, is that the president took action, he fired the five vice presidents, but there was no political process to keep dealing with the issues or the resolving of the competing ambitions. and when fighting broke out about ten days ago. it just mushroomed. now he is in the field, and he and peter caaccount fighting a lot of people getting killed. it's a tragic situation. and iter has to be proud under control. >> what is at stake here? kenyan and ethiopian officials had a meeting with the president today, regional players are getting involved the u.n. is getting involved. what ability do these outside parties have to reign in this conference? >> well, everybody has a big stake in it. ethiopia, can he be yeah, they will all suffer for south sudan falls apart.

if there are refugees and instability. the u.n. must protect that nearly 60,000 people that have come to them for protection. the added force willed be very important, but the political talks will be difficult. it's not going to be a once all let's get together and talk, it will be to find a way to get a constitutional process that the difference forces and ambitions can be accommodated in a political way. and that hasn't happened yet. >> in neighboring sudan, is he having any influence on the events we are seeing play out? >> they have had agreements with the regs ship between the two has been better in recentn't mos. they were very unhappy with statements by react masher, that he would

reject and reputeuate all the agreements of last september. between south sudan, and sudan that's not helpful, so south dan is watching very very closely, hoping it can be brought under control, because they have a lot of stake. >> does the president find himself in a situation where he has to find a way to stop the violence? >> he is the elected president, and we have to keep that in mind. i think he has to point to a path way whereby the various concerns can be addressed. work on the constitution for example, a final constitution has been stalled for phone operators months. he could use that process to try to accommodate the legitimate questions that have been raised. for his part, he has to say okay, i'm ready to participate in a political process like

that, drop my demands for him to step down, and stop the it fooing. >> all right, and so far no mar fall talks have been set up, ambassador princeton lineman, thank you for your insights sir. >> glad to be here, thank you. >> britain is under fire for refusing a united nations request to take in more syrian refugees. the u.k. is also being criticized for how it handled the case of a british doctor who died in syrian custody. al jazeera has more from london. miners came to pay their respects. hundreds came for a man who had gone to syria to save lives and ended up losing his own. his grief stricken family insists he was murdered. >> somebody who has gone out to help the people, of syria, and the suffering that is going on, has been treated so

badly by the authorities. i think just knowing that anybody can go out there to help people, it doesn't matter what situation you rah in, it is just so inspiring. >> results of a postmortem will be announced later this week, which may reveal signs of whether he was tortured and how he died. he had been working in a rebel part when he was detained. just days before his death, he had written home, optimistically talking of his eminent release from government detention. >> the british government said it tried hard to get access to him, but all to no avail. the family clearly feel more should have been done to help him. the british government is also being criticized for it's performance on another key issue, that of refugees and the fact that so few are being allowed into the u.k. >> the u.k. has refuse

add recent appeal to take in more, 16 countries have agreed to take a total of 10,000, but the british government says the focus of its aid should be to help the neighboring countries deal with the problem. it's military for immigration said i believe such initiatives should be our focus. rather than the resettlement of providing humanitarian evacuation, initiatives which provide only limited relief to the neighboring countries. and u.n.'s latest appeal calls for a few hundred to be allowed in. the british government is playing tough on immigration, it is a big domestic political issue. syrian refugees may be paying the price for that. simon mcgregorwood, london. >> the man accused of killing a tsa agent in los angeles international airport has pleaded not guilty. paul anthony was arraigned today in federal court.

he faces 11 charges including murder and attempted murder. if convicted he could be eligible for the death penalty. days after an ice storm hit the north eastern u.s. and canada, tens of thousands of people are still without power, in maine, crews are working around the clock to restore electricity to nearly 30,000 homes and businesses. they are trying to do as much as they can before a new storm moves in tonight. in michigan 100,000 customers still without power. power companies say it could be saturday before everything is back up and running. and in canada, snow has hampered efforts to restore power to more than 85,000 customers. your christmas gifts are on the way. that's what some are telling their loved ones today, and later violence on the streets of thailand today, antigovernment protestors clash with police again.

here is more. >> beneath the fluorescentsun in a former meat packing plant is the latest trim in farming. they call it "vertical farming." these fields grow on floors on at industrial park and farmer john adel and his staff agrees user. >> my shipping proceed did you say 1500, 2,000 miles to

get are. >> the plant of the indoor -- as the indoor formers call it doesn't grow corn or soybeans but mustard, high end micro greens on the plates of white-napkin restaurants. these fish supply the vert liser that number issues the

bout their gifts onlinens expecting they can to be delivered on time for the holidays. robert ray joins us now live, robert, good evening tell us what happened? >> good evening, it's -- this is a story about volume, sheer volume. e commerce up nearly 10% this season. it seemed like everybody was going to be prepared for this, they should have known the retailers and the shippers had meetings back in the early summer preparing for this potentially uptick, but yet, the bottom has fallen out and lots of people have not received their packages this christmas. we asked for a statement from sups and here is what we got. sups apologizes to those customers whose packages were delayed our drivers are out making deliveries and bigups and we expect nearly all of the

packages will be delivered today. we had additional operations at world port, which is the u.p.s. international air hub in louisville kentucky, on christmas, and we are making every effort to get all those packages delivered. so, u.p.s. responds we asked them how many packages are still out there in the system that have not been delivered the answer, i don't know. fed ex having very similar issues. that person told us that he thinks that fed ex was just not prepared for this amount of volume. he had been talking to some of the drivers and they were all completely overwhelmed. now, on the ups side, anything that sent via air internationally, and domestically, that did not get to the position on time, people will get refund.

as far as ground recovery they are not. >> it is hard to believe they don't know how many have not been delivered. is what happened a fluke, or are we seeing a change with these online orders in. >> likely not a fluke. this uptick in volume has been happening over the course of the basion decade. i think perhapses this year, we have seen it hit an all time high looking at the numbers. i am just snot sure that the retailers and the shippers were prepared for as high as it is. and actually, how last minute it was. i think a lot of people took to their computer screens and just started charging up packages that they thought would get delivered and unfortunately, i don't think anyone was prepared. >> sounds like you and i

should start a shipping business. >> thank you, robert. >> looks like the holiday shopping grinches may have been worn. is thisdy spite some dire predictions about consumer spending. david will be talking about this and much more at the top of the hour, he is in for ali velshi, great to see you, so how robust were these? pretty strong. they have been warning of lower seams between thank giving and christmas, cold weather keeping people home, and so many congress supers holding out last minute deals. compare sod the very same time period last year, and that's more than double the gains that were seen in 2012.

so a lot stronger. >> what about on line shopping? >> also grew by leaps and bounds. computer desk tops sales that are made just over a computer desk top, those jumped 10%. but stephanie, that doesn't even include the one third to one half of all online sales that are now being done on mobile devices, so the overall number will be much higher when it comes out. >> what else will you be looking at? >> one factor, is not enough young people are creating new households. and then rents or buys it is bad news for their parents it is also bad news for the rest of us, we will explain at 7:00 p.m. eastern time right here. all right, looking forward to it. >> in u.k. figures show a lot of shop errs also turned to the internet to take advantage of deep discounts. many retailers are taking note. >> in the early hours

eager shoppers brave the temperatures all in hope of a bargain. here we go. >> there was entertainment for these cold shoppers. the recent bad weather hit shops before christmas. sales are up more than 15% on last year. >> i think partly due to the success of london. a lot of that comes from olympics and other attractions. also we recognize having the top brands that certainly attract as lot of customers worldwide. london has the highest tax refund so it is almost 20%. compared to other countries.

yeah. >> so a lot cheaper here than say indonesia. >> yes. a lot cheeper. >> lodge done has the best brands. everyone comes here to shop. >> is it cheaper here tanzania. >> yeah. >> it was more expensive. so some are traveling thousands of kilometers but soon they may not need to, around one in ten people now buy online. the january seams as they are strangely called start so early now, that it gives online traders almost an unfair advantage. i think the earliest january sale, we saw actually started on november the 15th. >> this is an industry that can't afford to be fussy, whether it's online or in the stores it is the selling that counts. what happens in the

retail industry masses? there are around 3 million people employed in online stores and shops. also a good indicator of consumer confidence, that people are spending money in shops that means the economy must be on the up. and the u.k. economy is growing faster than previously estimated. but as a sparkle of christmas sales fade, the challenge will be to keep up in momentum. al jazeera, london. >> a computer glitch helps some lucky fliers score some really cheap flights. for two hours this morning some fairs and other air fair booking sites were showed up incorrectly, some people were able to get round trim flights that normally cost $400 for as little as $25. the airline says it has fixed the problem will honor the tickets purr hassed at the incorrect prices. a controversial law has sparked a religious debate. the government has

staterred finding men who divorce their wifes 300-dollars in a place where most people live on less than $2 a day. a mother of 5, she is back in hern't pas house, after her 20-year-old marriage collapsed. her troubles started when her husband brought in a new wife. >> he kept mistreating me, and showing preference over his second wife, i just can't understand, you give someone your life and they turn around to betray you. she was now responsible for her two daughters but in most case as women and all her children are thrown out. her story is echoed by women as young as 16, whose marriages have also ended. there are more than 1 million divorcees here. >> the rate is staggering. acourting to the association two out of

three marriages end in divorce within one year. many lame on how they have abandoned their responsibilities. the government is worried about the trend. who are off shunned by others. but the government has taken it a step forward. divorcing a won a medal attracts a $300 fine. hopeful that it might solve the problem. leadership mull take the bull by the horns, because the consequences is of course, the production of old men and women who are not being cared for in the families who are being ignored.

divorce exes want a minimum fine of $1,000. some say such fines are illegal under islamic law. >> this law has no basis in islam. allow people who have the means to do as they please. why do they make marriage so expensive. the thing is we have lost our values as a people. many want the government to take tougher measures. introducing the fines may discouraging some, but for most and their children, life will never be the same again. fighters in iraq have been trying to destabilize the country, now the united states is stepping in again, the plans to send aid to iraq, next. plus a gesture turns into a mrs. for japan, coming up.

welcome back to am al jazeera america. a new video shows an american who was abducted to years ago in pakistan. he asks president obama to intervene to help win his freedom. the state department says it is working to verify the authenticity. leaders from south sudan's neighbors are trying to find ways to end the violence. the u. n. says more troops and women are expected to arrive there, more than 1,000 people have died since fighting began. thousands of people and canada, are still waiting for their power to come back on, most have been without leck missty since an ice storm on sunday. that storm is blamed for at least 27 deaths. the wrights says it is providing military aid to help iraq the new aid brings up questions of iraq's ability to maintain it's own security. the details from washington, d.c.?

>> the islamic state of iraq, and syria that is operated from across the boarder inside syria. and inflicting very serious casualties against both civilian and military targets inside iraq. the white house cautioned there has been no formal request for armed u.s. arm drone operating over iraq, nor is there any intention of diverting americans armed drones into iraq. but this increasingly serious security situation really belies the assurances previously by the white house, that after the withdrawal of all combat forces that the security situation is secure.

>> president obama took some time from his hawaii vacation to sign two bills. it blocks commanders from overturning jury convictions it also requires service members convicted tock dishonorably discharged or dismidded. the military has been criticized for it's handling of the cases. the bill also gives service member as 1% raise. also signed the bipartisan budget deal. prevent as government shut down for nearly two years it also aideses most of the automatic budget cuts put in place. at least five people are recovering from injuries after a bomb explosion. the blast comes just one day after the egyptian government labelinged the main opposition group a terrorist organization. as peader records that move is likely to increase anger in the region.

>> he shows me around the tiny center, in one of the poorest areas. it is run by a group affiliated with the muslim brierhood, the group uses to handout food, clothing and medicine. and ran a medical clinic and classes for struggling students and the unemployed. the terrifying thing. those blankets are still here, but the people are still outside freeding, where is the fairness in that? where are the terrorism in giving out blankets. or is it in letting people die of cold. >> they won't reveal the name afraid the government will arrest them, after it declares that income spreading

muslim brotherhood ideology could spend five years in prison on terrorism charges. >> with this wark down, there is no alternative here, no social security net, no other organizations make it down here, so the governments decision is only likely to increase anger here, not take it away. >> the neighborhoods and the place where most of it's affiliated charities work. but earlier this week, the cap net made an announcement. the spokesman said the egyptian bank has freshman the funds of 1,055 nongovernment organizations in coordinate with the committee formed to handle these funds after the court of urgent matters ordered the disbanding of the muslim brotherhood, it's activities and confiscated it's assets of any of it affiliates. >> one of the main reasons i think behind

this set by the government is their idea that the islamics are getting the popularity, and are getting publicity through their charity work, and they do this to gain the support of the elections. and they think that by cracking down on the charities, this will stop the public -- the popularity of these groups. >> nobody knows just how many people rely on the groups or if others will fill the gap. but those who risk continues to work, are likely to disappear underground. al jazeera, cairo. >> a law professor at texas a&m university, she says the governments decision to declare the muslim brotherhood a terrorist group can backfire. >> even ethat there is

evidence that there are members, individuals that may be either visually members of the brotherhood or associated who have engaged in violence, but not everybody who is associated with the brotherhood is enganged in violence, and i think that like any very diverse group, you have extremist and moderates and the more pacifist. what is happening and the governments response is embody becomesling the extreme his. you will see a break off in a more violence response, where it will be questionable who is in control. most of the leadership of the brotherhood is in jail right now, so it is unclear who is controlling to begin with. >> egypt's interim government says it is trying to prevent the muslim brotherhood. the red cross says it has recovered 44 bodies over the past two days. the city at the capitol of central african republic. residents were seen threing after six union peace keepers were killed there.

all six of thosesomes were from chad. on sunday, the soldiers allegedly opened fire on a crowd. french and african peace keepers were trying to bring order the country. pope francis used his first post christmas address. they came as they celebrated the feast, the catholic church considers stephen to be the first motherty of christianity. francis prayed for christians who prayed for discrimination. the pope also said they should be allowed to practice their religion anywhere in the world. in thailand, in the capitol bangkok, a police officer was killed in at least 100 people were hurt. the demonstrators took place as the government announced it would go ahead with elections. protestors say they won't vote until the prime minister resigned. more from bangkok.

the retaliation was swift, tier gas, water cannons and dozens of people were injured. undeterred protestors fought with whatever they could. but it wasn't just bricks and stones that were being used. >> during the operation, there were gunshots fired from above. into where police were gathered, three policeman were injured. inch side the building the registration proceeded with candidates or their representatives drawing lots to determine their position. but the situation was so doing rouse, that election officials had to leave by helicopter. several hours later, election commission officers urged the government to postpone the election. fighting further violence among others.

the believe has satisfied no one. protestors say a police chiefs post moment would only extend the current rule. while human rights activists see it as a blow to democracy. >> the commission simply gay up. the relations should have prepared better. the intention to disrupt. >> protest tortured ands are demanding the prime minister resign. they want him unelected body to take over the country and implement reform. instead, he has propose add reform counsel answerable to the prime minister. but says that can happen only after elections. despite the announcement, protestors are continuing their blockade on the stadium, promising not to give in until their demands have been met. tie land's political stability looks as shaky as ever, al jazeera,

bangkok. >> the ukrainian protests have found new vigor, hundreds rallies in support of a journalist who is severe beaten earlier this week, she says the attack was politically motivated. hungs of thousands have been demonstrating for a month, calling for an e.u. trade deal, instead ukraine sign add deal with russia. turkey's prime minister is in the middle of a growing scandal that is rocking the government. the aim is to destabilize his administration. the prosecutors are questioning dozens of officials about numerous charges including brinery. three of the ministers resigned after their sons were detained by authorities. and a former ally has called for the resignation. the prime minister replacing ten ministers. >> china issues some hard works. the shrine honors japanese who died in world war ii, including war criminals.

the chinese and the south korean see it as a symbol of wartime corruption. >> but he certainly had to know it would anger his country's neighbors. china in particular. it will be lucked by more conservative and nationalistic no, sirs in japan, who advocate being tough we japan's neighbors. many of them are the same peel that voted him into power. >> i feel that it was unnecessary. he didn't really need to go to this extreme extent. >> and political gain is home might be outwayed by the damage to relations with china. >> the language was

unusually harsh. in the statement from the foreign ministry, china condemned the visit as a brazen challenge to war history and to human conscious. warning that japan would bear the consequences. i already represented the chinese government, and conveyed that we sol lemnly protest. we firmly condemn the conduct. >> still they insisted the visit was to show the commitment with peace and the rejection of war.

>> i have absolutely no intention of hurting the feelings of people of china and korea from the very beginning this will likely play into the hands of more aggressive element whose will justify their own countries increasing nationalism by saying look no further at the shrine. >> mcbride, al jazeera hong kong. ♪

many worry that the gains made in education will not stick in the future. aljazeera's jane ferguson takes us to a school in kandahar city that was long considered a success and is now facing closure. >> it's a place offering more than these girls know, a quality education in real tangible skills, a path away from positivity and early marriage and towards university and a

career. since 2002, the modern stud has been teaching women languages, like management and computer skills. that they are skills that speak of ambition which in the heart of tallle ban country is remarkable. >> we are a unique school, preparing women to go to jobs. our school is preparing women to go to universities. >> al jazeera america is the only news channel that brings you live news at the top of every hour. >> here are the headlines at this hour. >> only on al jazeera america.

normally when you think of earthquakes oklahoma is not on the list. more than 200 have shaken oklahoma since 2009. kimberly talked to some residents that belief hydraulic fracking is to blame. >> in the small town of edmond oklahoma, earthquakes are a big part of daily discussions. that's because in recent days these residents have had their share of tremors. >> i was sleeping, and i woke up and so i went into my mom's room, and my mom is just like oh, did you feel that. >> we have had tornadoes. and hailstorms, and all those kind of things but never earthquakes. >> six years ago the

southwestern state would average two to six a year, most so small they hardly registered but in 2009, the number of quakes began rising with residents feeling the tremors. >> increasingly oklahoma's oil and natural gas is being done by hydraulic fractures and many are concerned that process has led to a rise in earthquakes in the state. >> hydraulic fracking injects high pressure water into bedrock to increase the flow of oil and natural gases. and the dispose sol of that water has also more than doubles in recent years. >> so the earthquake we are looking ash didn't austin hall land has explores one studky, and he says -- >> there's a likely cause and effect relationship, used to average one to maybe two or three greater earthquakes in a year, and now we are averaging more than 40. >> but the findings are controversial. oklahoma is america's fifth largest oil

producing state, billions are at stake, and lost profits and property damage claims if more research proves the industry is to blame. some residents say the jobs the industry brings to oklahoma, are worth the risks. >> the frac canning be involved -- probably more man made. i would take a uptut in u.s. energy output. >> but for how long. officials are no encouraging residents to buy earthquake even insurance. i may even get worse. al jazeera, edmond, oklahoma. >> a pennsylvania priest -- lawyers for 62-year-old william lynn hoped he would be set free, but the judge has

refused to set bail. he opposed vows to appeal the ruling. congress is expected to consider changing to a new law that would dratsicly increase flood insurance premiums for more than a million americans. many people say they couldn't afford the costs. more from south lose san that. >> . >> all these dogs come to us, as rescues. >> three years ago, kelly martin and her husband found the perfect home, and moved in with the lease to own contract. >> it was a beautiful spot. >> the flood insurance is expected to quadruple to $10,000 a year under a new federal law called the bigger waters act. >> we forced out.

this' no way we could have aforted it. >> so the martins moved back into the house they left, the place they had converted into kelly's animal boarding business, even for that home, they will face higher insurance payments. >> my generation, my friends, all had to leave because it is just too expensive to liver here. >> coastal areas are not the only location that could feel the impact, the management agency has redrawn flood zones that will effect areas like colorado, where floodwaters swept through in september. and the northeast where communities are still rebuilding after last year's super storm sandy. >> while some people may be forced to cut down on other expenses to pay the higher them i ams otherred may be forced to give up their homes all together, one way or another. >> i may be forced to sell my house and move on. move to a place where i can afford to live. >> he knows the reality, right now, between homeowners and floored insurance, he forks out

13 grand a year. that's before the new law increases his premiums. >> if your insurance doubles from this, what does that do to you? >> i ain't about to pay it. i just don't know what to do. >> i feel the government don't care about the poor people. >> there's now a bipartisan legislation to delay the implementation of the water act for four years. but that's little comfort to those looking long term. >> going to effect the whole economy. i think it will happen in a lot of cases if we don't and something about it. people will walk away from their mortgages. >> where question with go and bring this with us? there would be nowhere else to go. >> we are just going to have to pay it. we have to figure out a way to make more money to pay it. >> but there's only so much they can pay before they have to pack up and leave.

al jazeera, lafitte, lose san that. >> kevin is coming up next with a check on the weather, also olympic dreams aren't always about goad medals for one you can liely athlete just getting to the games is a huge accomplishment. then real money, david shoulder is in for ali velshi. >> coming up on real money, signs of strength from american consumers as holiday sales give retailers something to smile about. why millen i wills living with mom and dad were bad news for the economy, not to mention for mom and dad. which ones have the right stuff to fly high? next year. all that and more, on real money. >> welcome to al jazeera america. >> stories that impact the world, affect the nation and touch your life. >> i'm back. i'm not going anywhere this time. >> primetime news: weeknights at 8 and 11 eastern. only on al jazeera america.

he has never won a medal and unlikely he ever will. he is set to make history at the olympics. four years ago he was one of the first to compete at the winter games in a few weeks he is headed for sochi. on perfect snow, beneath bright blue skies and the mountains of southern

british columbia, a solitary skier trains and chases his dream. >> skiing and among the many things memories of a night four years ago the offing ceremonies of the vancouver games when he had a flag in his hand and a country on his soldiers. >> i was absolutely honored, happy, just to be peruvian and carrying the flag. >> he lives in seattle with his wife and son.

which supports athletics and countries from developing countries. he will still cover about a third of the costs he figures 50,000-dollars from his pocket, this time around. born and raised in peru, he was a national surfing championship and long distance runner long before he ever tried skiing. a sport he admits that 43 years old, he is still learning. >> believe it or not, i am getting older, and i am getting better. he finished ninety-fourth out of 95, and he knows he isn't going to win a medal. victory is just raising awareness of sports in his native country. right now he is the team, all of it, but he has a

respiration of kids living and trains at high attitude. >> to train a group of kids, that live in the upper andys, and put them on roller skis, and perhaps a few years down the road, we will have a peruvian delegation. he hope as second olympic performance, will help him raise money and interest. so he can get that program started. meanwhile, it is just him and the snow and the challenging trail ahead. al jazeera, british columbia. >> well, it is a new year just days away, here is one way friends and families are resolving old conflicts. every year, they settle the score with the christmas day slug fest. they are aimed at

clearing the air before january, the fights are followed by hugs singing and dancing. good etching, well, across parts of michigan, and they are the ones dealing right now, we are having more snow pushing in. another wave is going through, this is the last part of the six to eight hours the snow has made its way across, now going to southern parts of michigan as well. so unfortunately, we will be dealing with that. let's take a look at those temperatures. currently detry is at 23 degrees. the temperatures going back down, well below freezing, tomorrow, only barely getting to about 33, so the majority of the day in michigan most of the area, is still going to be below freezing. so we are still dealing with trying to get that power up. over the next couple of days you will have a break as we go into friday, but as we go towards saturday, we have another cold front coming through.

with this colted front slipping down, we will be seeing the temperatures on sunday and monday, going to the single and below single digits so very cold air, is coming in not only just with the snow, now here across the northeast, we are dealing with some snow showers for the ending for parts of maine, this is a big problem today, a lot of people are dealing with this, it was a big problem on highway 95, where massachusets we saw some accidents there, we will be seeing with is still some lake effect snow. lake otherry, that will last for the next 12 to 24 hours. temperatures look like this, they are warming tear they were yesterday at 34 degrees. and washington at 44. we are going to be seeing the trend of those temperatures coming up, and for boston, we do expect to see by the end of the week some rain showers in your forecast that's a look at your national weather, have a great evening.

this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm stephanie sy with a look at tonight's top stories. a newly released video shows an american who was abducted in pakistan two years ago asking for help from president obama. leaders from neighbor countries are in south sudan, looking for a way to end the violence. and