ba. >> welcome to al jazeera america. i'm stephanie sy. here are the stories we are following for you. >> we are going to continue trying to make these work. >> the u.n. envoy to syria looking at the glass half full as the talks remain stalled over key issues. protests grow across the country and bundle up. americans in the midwest and parts of the south get ready for a big drop in temperatures.

>> no real progress in syria's passions talks. the syrian opposition wants to talk about president bashar al-assad's handing over power but assad's team says he will not step down. it looked like some progress over the weekend. the opposition said that deal was a unilateral one. they are calling for humanitarian aid to get into the city. nick shifrin is in the city. nick, the government is asking to stop assisting the opposition. how far apart are the two sides? >> stephanie, there's a chasm. we did have some progress yesterday or what seemed to be progress. talk of women and children

leaving homes. we have talked to the opposition but they have specifically said they don't want women and children to leave homes, if they do they might be snatched up by the regime that has been surrounding homes. inside of homes so the two sides are very far poorlt on homes and how to get some humanitarian aid inside of homes. they are far apart on the fnlt aspect of before they came, the transitional government created by what everyone could agree upon. they must do that because the government agreed to, the government said no not so fast, we didn't agree to it and bashar al-assad wants to run again. with all of that happening, with the huge gap, we heard from

lakhdar brahimi said everything was difficult and fragile. >> i think we are happy, encouraged. but this conference that we have been working for since the 7th of may of last year, has at last taken place. that in itself is only one of little step forward. but it is only one little step forward. whatever gain we have made is reversible. so you know, we are going to continue trying to make this work. >> reporter: and stephanie he was asked afterward how do you continue to bridge this gap? he says, well, do you have any ideas? that gives you a sense of where brahimi is now. >> what is exactly happening on the battle field?

>> this is really important to understand why there is such a gap here in geneva is that on the ground in syria there's a stalemate. the government is not winning. the opposition is not winning and not only is the opposition not winning, they are fighting against each other. the u.s. is trying to help the opposition but president obama has put down a very solid line. he says that there's no lethal aid at leas least officially goo the opposition. the government has stopped nonlethal aid. they are sending in trucks and medical supplies to the free syrian army. slongs that stalemate continues on the ground, neither side here feels like they have to give

concessions. that's why we are seeing these talks being so difficult, stephanie. >> nick shifrin reporting from geneva, thank you nick. easing the government's call for a state of emergency. it comes after demonstrators seized the justice ministry overnight, they have since cleared out. protests continue to spread across the country. jennifer glasse has been following the story for us in the capital, kiev. jennifer, we saw the two sides come together on saturday, not a lot of results. what if anything might we expect at this time? >> well, stephanie your question is a very, very good one. nobody really knows. on saturday, president viktor yanukovych offered the office of minister and deputy minister,

the opposition reject they'd flat out. they want the repeal of a law that makes the -- that criminalizes many, many aspects of freedom of speech and criminalizes many human rights there here. they would like president yanukovych to either step down or set a date for early presidential elections. that is what they are asking for. whether he will do that, these demonstrations have spread far beyond kiev to regions including the east in the president's stronghold. even though opposition strong holds are rising it has to be a clear sign to the president that many of the people stand against him. >> jennifer, the justice minister earlier threatened a state of emergency. the foreign minister says that is not on the table. are government officials trying to play down the need for some

international mediation at this point? >> well, stephanie, there's no mediator right now in with the president and the three opposition leaders. we do know that u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon did offer assistance. european union at large representative has arrived back here in kiev or is expected back in kiev today and he will hold meetings tomorrow. so international assistance is available if at all needed. we have seen across europe, france, germany denmark estonia, criticizing the government for violence earlier in the week. everybody urging dialogue. that's what's happening now, the opposition leaders and the president speaking again. whether the president can offer ahead of an emergency session of

parliament, it will be it to parliament on tuesday to hope to try and resolve a lot of the issues the opposition and the millions of people here in ukraine that support them have been demanding. >> jennifer glasse with new developments out of kiev, thank you. the latest revelation of edward snowden suggests that the u.s. is spying on germany. the national security agency spied on have german businesses competing with u.s. firms. snowden says he also believes that u.s. agents want to kill him, relating to comments posted on a website. the florida plosion was caught with cocaine by an undercover officer last october. the house ethics committee launched an investigation on whether he broke any rules. in order to are undergo

substance abuse treatment. we're learning more about what president obama plans to are are address to the people on his state of the union address. libby casey is on alcoho capitol for us. president obama's approval ratings are some of the lowest we have seen and many americans are planning to tune this out. who is he trying to convince tomorrow night. >> 33 million americans tuned in, that's the lowest in three administrations, keep in mind we were just off the heels of the inauguration and the president starting his second term. george washington poll suggests that credit many don't plan to watch, but it will dominate

media coverage. the white house is trying to make a multimedia effort. they are expecting people to tune in on their mobile devices, try to make this interesting. oftentimes this becomes a shout-out to a variety of constituencies, expect to see that. but there is one group that he will not reach out to, or is expected not to, the republicans. he is going to be talking to his base and trying to get more of the american public interested in both his agenda items ranging from income and equality to integration reform and also the method that he plans to attack them with, going at it on his own way and not using congress so much. >> and it doesn't end with the speech his appeal. i understand that after the state of the union the president will take his speech on the road. what will he do to convince them he's on the right track?

>> he's hitting the road from maryland to wisconsin. he'll be able to interact. this is a classic tool that presidents use, president obama in particular, taking it to the road and going directly to the people. him having a pen and a phone, jay carney, the president plans to move forward on some of his own priorities. one of the key areas he's got to convince people on is health care reform, instead of any. he's going to trie to -- try to get the people on board and something to look forward to. >> libby casey, thank you. a deep chill has returned to the midwest and parts of the south. it's going to be dangerously cold. there are subzero readings, in minneapolis could seem minus 43 tonight. arctic blast is also moving

south to normally mild states like texas. snow is forecasted for parts of that state. for more on a detailed forecast, here is dave warren. how bad is it going to get? >> just as bad. having another one pushing south through min jams and chicago. one below are chicago, 10° below in minneapolis. 44s in washington, d.c. and new york so the cold air has not quite made it there ylt yet, you'll why know how it feels soon. cold air moves south hits some moisture off the south, wintery weather across the southeast. wind chill warning, huge area sees wind chill down, 30 below in farg, across the northeast not quite to fil philadelphia.

national forecast when i come back, stephanie. >> okay dave thank you. risking their lives for freedom. al jazeera travels with african immigrants who are hoping for a better life. california is getting ready to expand medicare but it may cause a doctor shortage for medicare patients.

>> for years, the coast of moratania has been a launching post. preparing to make the risky ocean voyage for the chance of a are better life. >> the coast is the closest place in subs subsaharan. undeterred by the dangers,

waiting for their chance. >> why, why not, if i can find a way to go i'll go immediately. yes i want to go even though it's extremely dangerous. i want to go anyplace instead. >> most of these are migrants working as fisherman. their final goal is to make the ultimate crossing to europe. for a successful voyage later on candidates are required to learn the basics of sailing. but planning a voyage is a much more complex operation. >> translator: you need a safe house and a middleman to find candidates and keep them ready. then you need to buy a boat. then you need a security chief for safe exit, departures are at dawn and any mistake means

you're ruined. >> candidates are found here. this is acra, a region name,. >> i've accommodate here looking for a job but things aren't going well. i'm still unemployed and i have been without food for many days. >> this man from ivory coast is barely 20. just like his friend they are afraid of being arrested and sent back home. plans to increase funding and logical support, the moratanians, abandoned a dream. are brother drown during a clandestine voyage in 2010. i won't see my fream but me to

come here. >> no longer. >> no no. >> made omar change his mind are lacking among the groups of migrants. riding the atlantic for the chance of a more useful life outweighs the dangers of getting there. >> on wall street stocks are cutting their losses from this morning. the dow right now is up 26 points. investors appear cautious before a key federal reserve meeting starting on tuesday. there are worries the central bank could further reduce its comik stimulus. two men operating a bitcoin exchange. are accused of attempting to sell more than $whu $1 million e currency on the black website

silk road. analysts expect strong sales of iphones and ipads. results are out after the close of trading. for years, california's medicaid program, rob reynolds reports a shortage of doctors threatens to make the search even harder. >> jennifer hon has always wanted to be a doctor. first year medical student with a strong desire to serve. >> ultimately one of my major goals going into medicine was hopefully to work with more underserved communities. >> in the california system of for profit health care students like ha hon to get big loans. >> looking at debt for 40,000 to

50,000 per year, over four years, so close to $200,000 a year. >> university of california add riverside is an area of the state facing a severe shortage of doctors. >> because it's the fastest growing area of the state and because 40% of the doctors in this area look like me, 55 years of age or older we will have a 5,000 physician deficit no matter what anyone does. >> the they earn far less than specialists like cardiologists or orthopedic surgeons. many doctors choose lucrative specialties in order to pay off debt. so u.c. riverside is trying a bold experiment, certain students who choose primary care and agree to practice in the local community will get full scholarships. >> we basically give them

medical school for free. at the end of the day, if they are a primary doctor in and around southern california for five years the deals close they get med school for free. they emerge debt free. trying to get our result that our area in california and society in general needs. >> it's not just california that's facing a looming doctor shortage. according to a recent report by the american association of medical colleges there could be a nationwide shortage of 90,000 doctors before the end of the decade. the main reason for the doctor shortage is that the country is getting older. >> over the course of the next 20 years 10,000 americans today turn 65. and they're the ones that use the majority of health care services. >> to fill the gap the u.s. will need a lot more innovative programs like u.c. riversides and it will need a lot more dedicated students like jennifer

hon. rob reynolds, al jazeera, riverside, california. >> some of them haven't seen snow before and on their way to the winter games. being saved by an internet fund raiser, the jamaican bobsled team is going for the gold.

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm stephanie sy. here are if head lines. government will allow the women and children to leave the bombed out city of homs. talks are deadlocked over a transitional government. demonstrators seized the justice ministry overnight. protests continue to spread across ukraine. >> president obama will address the country on tuesday night in his fifth state of the union.

demanding lawmakers take action and willing to use executive power to advance his agenda when necessary. in just over the week if jamaican bobsled team, made famous in the disney film, cool runnings, are leaving for sochi. they're going for gold. >> those lovable unlikely underdogs are back. the jamaican bobsled team won respect, if not any medals, in calgary. a story retold in the film, cool runnings. fueled by the passion of a global base of fans. >> why sit that so many people in u.s. and around the world love you guys? >> because we're different. we're from a small little tiny island. you know, it's paradise there.

and this about it: sunshine and beach, why these guys leef that legacy and come here, freezing their rastafara nene off, doing winter sports. >> came out of retirement to become the oldettes olympic bobsledder ever. >> my reaction is are you nuts? you're 45 years old, these guys are the underdog and everybody cheers for the underdog. >> olympic lawyer paul skoeg. they're so beloved locals sometime forget which team they are on. >> goal u.s.a. making u.s.a, i don't know. >> here far from their tropical island it seems an i be unlikely place to find the jamaicans.

on the range where the buffalo roam where not a bobsled run in site. >> the team qualified for sochi their first olympics since 2002. there was one problem. watts had already spent his life savings. he turned to the internet, he needed $80,000. when donors doubled that in days, he had to ask them to stop. >> should i just cry? i felt really overwhelmed. we have so many people who loved us over there and i'm really happy. >> if these tropical islanders can go from a buffalo club to an olympic medal, that will be the unlikeliest of all. john hendren, al jazeera, london. >> saying it's cold in parts of the country is an understatement. with the wind, it feels like 20

below. dave warren, 20 below is the least of it right? >> now we're talking about snow as far south as new orleans so a little bit of everything coming up. clearing see where this boundary with this cold arctic air is, light snow extending from western pennsylvania to kentucky to the east. that's the cold front moving south. if you are north of it, you're feeling bitter arctic air, but south of it, temperatures will not be warm for long. there are warnings with this, wind chill well below zero. step outside, you're not bundled up. temperatures 20, 30 below for a wind chill, even 40, 50 below. not as cold, something to keep an eye on, if you do have to step outside, bundle up. 35 below in minneapolis, 28 in

fargo, that's the temperature, wind combined, do bundle up, if you do have to step outside. 32 for wind chill. 32 in washington. not seeing that bitter cold air yet, it is pushing across the state. move east and push off the coast. new york will see the temperature drop off the coast, 23 wednesday, thursday 29, super bowl weekend looks like it could be in the upper 30s but there is a chance for wintery precipitation this coming weekend. tomorrow we'll see light rain changing over to a mix. there could be a mix of wintery weather across the southeast, very slippery roads there, maybe a little rain across the southeast where it is needed. stephanie. >> thank you dave. for a night a hospital turns into winter wonder land. university of oklahoma medical center. a winter dance, some patients

are battling kidney cancer and other disorders. stylists came in and did their hair and makeup. thank you for watching al jazeera. i'm stephanie sy. "techknow" is next. . hello and welcome. i'm phil torres, we'll talk about innovations that will change laughs. we'll look at hardware. this is a show about science by scin histories. kyle hill is an engineer, and he's investigating head-to-head combat and cutting edge technology that can help to detect a concussion before it's too late. >> lindsay moran is an ex-c.i.a. operative. she was packaging that can one day replace