this." see you next time. >> hello there, you're watching the news hour live from our headquarters in doha. i'm laura kyle. our top stories. geneva talks take two, a search of peace for syria turns into a blame game. >> i assure you that if we don't discuss how to stop such massacres the syrian people will have no confidence in what is going on here. >> united states of yemen, the first middle eastern country to

mimic america's federal structure. >> and the news from europe, including the e.u. rethinks its relationship with switzerland after voters there back stricter controls on european migration. >> and iran's islamic revolution turns 35 years old. was it a success or all in vain? we hear one man's personal story. >> members of syria's government and opposition have once again arrived in geneva for another round of peace talks. what was supposed to be day one of potential progress has turned into a day of trading accusations. the past few days we bring you coverage of a cease-fire in the city of homs where aid was taken from. but in those three days there

were more attacks at the same time those convoys were trying to go in. >> the regime militias in the areas where it has controlled the convoys and fields, the number we have, free civilians, and we have a number of injured people from the u.n. team. in fact, they told us some of the vehicles have been destroyed completely. they have done a very courageous job because they've been surrounded by the civilians who have been bombarded by the regime. they will not spare any violence to control the country, and they will fail to control the country. >> about the syrian government said opposition groups are to blame for violating the cease-fire agreement in homs. >> how can we shoot at ourselves? i mean, this is ridiculous. in fact, there are certain groups from the armed groups in

the old city who were firing at us, and against the u.n. representative. however, we are very thrilled by what we have achieved during the past two days. you remember during the first day some 83 people were able to leave. but the agreement was that a bigger number should be allowed to leave. the armed groups did not allow them. then yesterday we have achieved a breakthrough, and this should be accredited to the syrian government. we were given the chance for more than 600 people to live the city of homs. >> right now live for us in geneva, james, we heard from both sides. it seems the accusations are still coming thick and fast. >> they are. i think it's worth remembering here we are at the start of the second round of these talks, the beginning of the first round the whole idea of this evacuation of

the old city of homs was being held up as a possible break through, a possible confidence building measure that will help those people desperately in need, but also help the atmosphere of these talks. now the way things have played out after a delay and after that violence that accompanied the evacuation here it's really soured the atmosphere on the ground. in my view just trying to get get--to take the temperature here the atmosphere is the worst it's been at any point over this process. i can tell you that today the mediator who is chairing these talks didn't sit down with everyone around the same table. he had separate meetings. first with the opposition, then with the government. that is the planning, too, here on tuesday, separate meetings. i think he's trying to build some trust, trying to find common ground between the two sides but feels at this stage they're not ready to sit around the same table. >> do we have any idea of the plan beyond tuesday, and how long this round of talks might

last? >> well, we think this round of talks is the same as the last round of talks, somewhere between seven and ten days. they spoke to reporters in the past and said they play these things very much by ear. following what is going on, the discussion, the progress, and looks at the atmosphere and the mood and thin decides how to proceed. he has asked both sides before they came here for a very clear commitment on what he says are two of the most complex issues. they are ending the fighting and discussing the idea of a provisional governing body that would take over the running of syria. both sides are supposed to commit to those things because they're so central to the talks here. >> james bays, thank you very much for the update. the peace talks in switzerland, as fighting goes on

in syria, in aleppo especially. thousands and civilians are caught in the middle. >> these are the streets of a city under siege. for weeks president bashar al-assad's forces have dropped barrel bombs on two rebel-held neighbors of aleppo. the weapons are barrels felt with melt and explosives. the damage from the bombs is clear, so, too, is the trauma from the people caught in the conflict. >> i'm 74 years old. i've never seen anything like this in my life. it's god's will. >> the bombardment by government forces, a weeks long campaign by the syrian army to retake control of the city. parts of aleppo were seized by the rebel in 2012.

>> 500 people used to live in this neighborhood. i'm the last one left. they bomb the neighborhood with bombs. >> reporter: they force residents to flee to government-held parts of the region. in all 2 million people have left aleppo since fighting began three years ago. al jazeera. >> the armed group associated with al-qaeda is said to have left syria's area. the group withdrew its forces from the oil-rich eastern province on monday following days of heavy fighting with members of the islamic state of iraq. reporting restrictions in syria we were not able to report from inside the country, but stephanie decker has been closely monitoring the situation from neighboring lebanon. talking about homs now, what is happening there? >> we know that the u.n. is inside the old city on the fourth day in extension of that

three-day cease-fire. we heard that some civilians have come out, around 53. we spoke to the governor of homs who expects 100 to come out. james is saying this is made relations the worst they've been ibeen. in geneva it has given confidence on the ground in the city. because sunday was such a success that more people now want to come out than before. we just saw a picture from inside. still an activist who posted it on the internet of hundreds of people surrounding these cars. it sounds like it's built confidence on the ground. trust is a huge issue in this war people think if they come out of this old city that they won't be taken away, bad things won't happen to them. more and more people wanting to come out, and as the u.n. said they weren't determined to get out who wants to leave the old city. >> what has happened to those people who are coming out?

>> well, it depends. some people are taken to internally displaced camps. others have families in different parts of syria where they'll go. it's very relative, speaking. there was relief coming out of the old city of homs that has been under siege. they're coming out to a country that is still at war. it's safe to say that this is relative. many people will tell that you they are happy but they're exhausted. they want this to end. so where they're going, there are millions of people displaced in the country, millions outside of the country. so really they just want an end to this, and that is something that even the politicians in geneva if they did come to an agreement, which is very, very difficult, will it trickle down to all the different groups fighting on the ground? >> thank you for joining us there from ba beirut. now in an unprecedented move

yemen has agreed to transform the makeup of the country. it will be split into six federal regions. the agreement will be written into a new constitution which will then be voted on later this year. we're joined by mohammad, explain what this means and how it would happen. >> yes, what it means people here are saying this is actually one of the giant steps that have been taken so far since the down fall, this is seen a great through of the so-called evolution up rising in terms used by others after the success of the national dialogue that has taken so many months and difficult discussions, and lots of demands by this side, and the other now we see the second

step, which is an announcement of yemen in the country. many could question federalism as a system, as a replacement or as an alternative for the public of yes enas it was before, but people hearsay it was a significant compromise. yes, a compromise but it is the at least of many evils. yemen had not been given it's equal rights in the union, how after that we have this government in the north, and gaining control in many areas we've seen al-qaeda operating in other parts of yemen. it is a country facing two prospects. either they compromise and give and take or disintegrate. many here feel this is the only

opportunity for the government at the moment. >> this everyone happy about the compromise, and is there an he'll give and take between the north and south? >> the south initially asked for the southern region, the former southern republic of yemen to be one province in this federal situation, but that was refused to them, that was denied them, and announcement of six provin provinces includes two provinces from the south. so it includes two provinces instead of one, so they have not been given what they wanted. and we see the demands, and they want to encroach on most of the land in the north. that has been denied, even though the wider province have now been united into one province. so everybody has got what the

they--so not everybody has got what they wanted but that is compromise means, and change in country is considered a giant step ahead for the nation. >> live for us, thank you. turkey and israel are closer than ever to making up. the relations between the two countries soured when israel raided a turkey aid ship. they were part of an aid convoy trying to take goods to the east gaza strip. the recent weeks there has been agreement on compensation. >> bilateral talks are under way. apart from the conversation lifting the embargo and delivering humanitarian aid to gaza and palestinian, as you know the situation in gaza has been the utmost importance of steps to be taken.

>> police say a man targeted by a roadside bomb, two of his guards were injured. an armed group said its behind the suicide attack that killed two native civilian contractors in afghanistan. the police say the bomber slammed a car into a convoy near the prison of the capitol. the spokesperson for the fighter said it wants to drive out what it calls foreign openers. a strike on three gas pipelines in bell how much stan cutting off pipelines to millions of people. it will take two days to fix. >> europe's relationship with

switzerland is under review after they narrowly backed the limit of immigrants. >> the french foreign minister said the referendum result is, quote, bad news for both europe and for the swiss warning that swisser lands could be penalized economically. >> reporter: it was passed by the smallest of margins but the referendum result is binding and switzerland must now change its laws. therthere will be new quotas of immigration from e.u. countries. switzerland's special relationship with the e.u. is now in jeopardy. >> in concrete terms since 1999 the agreements with switzerland with regards to the free movement of workers and other elements, there is so-called guillotine clause, it comes in question, and with free movement

of workers, everything collaps collapses. >> the swiss economy has done well, unemployment is low, but it does rely on immigrant workers. some claim that they have pushed wages down an. people are afraid immigrants will come here en masse and take their jobs, which in my opinion is wrong. >> i voted no because we are at the heart of europe maybe switzerland is the laboratory of europe of what is going on here will happen in europe in the coming year. >> that is a genuine fear, concern about immigration is growing in the e.u. and e.u. political parties have built popular momentum on this issue ahead of elections for the european parliament in may.

it's a challenge for e.u. leaders since the free throw of labor is a core principle they can't let the swiss vote go without renegotiating its relationship. but it must be mindful that millions of european voters share switzerland's views on immigration. punishing them too hard those who follow their lead. >> i'm joined by andrea karoni who voted no in the referendum. thanks for joining me. you apparently then reject the idea that immigration is a problem for switzerland, immigration is a drain on resources and should be curtailed. can you tell me why? >> well, the question why i voted yes? >> why you voted yes. >> yes, the circulation of people is very important in our

cooperation with europe, which is very important for switzerland, mostly economically, second of all swiss economy is independent on high qualified labor from the european union, the swiss benefited from the system that they have now sadly jeopardized. >> it has shown until 2009 the net support for the idea of maintaining closer ties with the e.u. do you think the people who voted yes in this referendum understand that there will now be a pretty negative impact on switzerland's relationship on the e.u.? >> yes, the swiss voters are pretty well informed on what they vote on because they're used to voting every three months. they have put the swiss government in a difficult situation, and it will be impossible to find a solution

that combines the constitution of demands where the free circulation of people. it is amazing only five years ago in 2009 in the midst of economic crisis 66% of population said yes to the same agreement. >> why do they think, then, switzerland can do without what are by all accounts on the whole a highly skilled set of migrant workers who come in to fuel a very highly skilled and evolved economy. how do they think they can do without those numbers of people? >> well, they say the economy will still get the labor they need, but through contingents. this will create bureaucracy and insecurity in the economy, but they play down the negative consequences. i see real difficult for the economy to get the labor that they need. even if they do get it, you'll

have insecurity. if you decide to invest in three-year's time you need to know now if you can get the qualified labor three years down the road or ten years down the road, that's much more unpredictable now. >> member of the swiss parliament, thank you very much. >> french president françois hollande is on his way to washington for a state visit, the u.s. and french increasingly share common ground on issues like syria's civil war and the conflict in africa. we have reports from paris. >> a familiar landmark in an unfamiliar location. it's often forgotten that the statute of liberty is one of a pair. a gift to the americans from france, which helped them to win their independent. the old alliance between the u.s. and france has had it's ups and downs over the years. now obama and hollande interests

are lining up against. this was hollande in timbuktu a year ago. the war on terror conceived by the united states was now being pursued by france, which makes hollande a key ally. >> he is very important for obama. the french has deeper ties, perhaps better intelligence of west africa, where the french have never cut diplomatic relations. >> they put diplomatic pressure to attend peace talks but back off putting military pressure on the syrian regime. >> american comedians have ref

referred to the french as cheesy, but the relationship between the countries have changed where airstrikes against syria looked imminent last year, it was the americans not french who got cold feet first. >> there have been no reports of president hollande's phone being tapped. >> we know that we never got real satisfactory answers, but politics is politics, and they have common interest to show that they are close to each other and they understand each other. 1234 and so the old alliance between france and the united states is evolving into a new partnership, one based on pragmatism, and shared global

interests. al jazeera paris. >> i'll be back with more news from europe later in the news hour. but right now back to laura in doha. >> thanks, we'll see you then. plenty more to come on this news hour, former con g congressga le warlord will appear before the court, and in sport find out who is leading the way in the winter olympics. highlights from sochi also coming up later this hour. >> authorities in china's southern city has shut down 12 entertainment venues as a way to crackdown on alleged prostitution. that followed a weekend worshiply china's central television which saidhere was

a flourishing sex trade in the city. south cry saisouth korea sal conduct military drills with the united states. it has angered north korea who wants the drills to be canceled and warns consequences if they go add. seoul said it's northern neighbor has finished preparations for another nuclear tests. united nations inspectors say their probe into investigations into iran's nuclear weapons still has a long way to go. there are concerns about development three years ago. on tuesday marks the 35th anniversary of iran's 1979 islamic evolution. here is the story of one iranian

born that year, in his own words. >> my name is abdul. i was born in 1979 the year of the revolution. into a religious family. my father was a clear, and fought against the shah. now i'm ap.h a ph.d student. when i was in school we used to sing anthems. gradually after the iran-iraq war and the problems it created for people we realize that werners were not happy with our country's development. i don't think the islamic revolution has succeeded economically. it's true we overthrew the shah, a dictator, but did we establish an government that would establish agreement between all

classes of people. i see people whose lifestyles are different from what the revolution stood for, on the other hand i'm not happy with the way the country was managed. my father was jailed after the regime. he fought in the iran-iraq war, and when the bodies of the martyrs would come back he would go and comfort the families. the country suffers from disputes to get power, and our politicians are m not--everythig this people gave to defend the country, their devotion is in vain. >> still to come how legalized vigilanty groups in mexico help fight drug cartels. and watch out hollywood, the movie making superpowers take on the world. and the spanish title race.

we'll be here with that story. al jazeera america. we understand that every news story begins and ends with people. >> the efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. >> we pursue that story beyond the headline, pass the spokesperson, to the streets. >> thousands of riot police deployed across the capital. >> we put all of our global resources behind every story. >> it is a scene of utter devastation. >> and follow it no matter where it leads - all the way to you. al jazeera america ♪ what is this place? where are we? this is where we bring together the fastest internet

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>> hello again. this al jazeera, these are the stories making our headlines. syrian government has reiterated its stance that terrorism is the greatest threat facing the country and the region. the opposition said president bashar al-assad is to blame for violating cease-fire in syria. the yes then agreement will be put into the constitution which will be voted upon in a year. switzerland voters narrowly back limits of e.u. immigrants, and it is described as worrying. a congolese warlord known as the terminator has appeared in the hague, accused of murder,

rape. from between 2002 and 2003, after years spent with rebel groups he was made a general in the gonega lease national army in 2009, but he defected in 2012 leading a mutiny and becoming one of the main leaders of a new rebel group the m 23. after losing a power struggle, he turned himself in in rwanda last year. he is at the hague where he is being held, he has denied allegations. peace keepers shot dead a member of the crowd in confrontation at least ten people have been killed in a

weekend of violence in bangui. tens of thousands of muslims have left the country fearing for theirs life. they're accused of sympathying with rebels who targeted christians communities last year. australia plans to give ma lamalaysia two patrol boats to stop people smuggling. >> reporter: on the lookout for people smugglers, malaysia's maritime enforcement agency conduct patrols along the coast in the hopes of intercepting boats either arrive organize leaving these shores. around 250 people are caught by the agency each year in malaysian waters. but the true figures of those on route to another country are

hard to judge. with so many migrants making their way to australian territories in recent years the government there introduced a turn-back policy to deter the migrant boats. >> one thing that i see which is working so far is that australia they have launched in operation borders, they actually stop people from entering australia. >> it's unlikely to stop everyone. we found many migrants and refugees who were dres desperatr help of any kind. the first question asked was are you organizing a boat to australia. he has been to australia for five years, been in jail three times. his body is covered in scars for wounds he gave himself to escape his jail cell. he has lost all help of a better

life away from his native land. >> i know the risks of taking a boat, but i have no life here. i'm prepared to die to get away and find another life. >> reporter: he said he knows at least 20 others who would join him. malaysia is hosting refugees and takes on average seven years to resettle. unable to work or build a huge, the wait is what often drives people to leavely illicit mean. >> it's difficult to tell them that it's too dangerous because they already see themselves and themselves as a lost cause. >> reporter: with conflicts across the middle east and other ethnic disputes, it's hard to see the stream of refugees slowing down. offer all, no one chooses to become a refugee. al jazeera, could you wal kuala.

>> it's been 44 days since our crow was detaicrew was detained. they were taken by egyptian authorities on december 29th. among the allegations against them are ties to maui egypt declared as a terrorist organization. our journalists have been deta detained since july. al jazeera calls for release of its staff. on the agenda of brussels let's get back to jonah in europe. >> that's right, laura. the e.u. policy chief katherine ashton will brief ministers on her two days of talks with the

ukraine government and opposition last week. so far diplomacy has failed to end the deadlock between pro and anti-government camps in ukrai ukraine. anti-government protests have now entered their third month. the rally began when they the government rejected a trade packet with e.u. and preferred closer relationship with russia instead. hundreds of miners are killed each year, and now coal is being sold to state mines on the black markets. we have reports from eastern ukraine. >> reporter: mines like this one produce 10 million tons of coal every year. they have mushroomed around the area in eastern ukraine. the coal is being dug out at the fifth of the cost it takes reasoned state mines. miners can get paid as little as $18 a day for the most dangerous

work in the country. >> we have to dig the hole in the ground with our hands. >> reporter: the shallow shafts have crudely structured suppor supports, no ventilation, no safety equipment. hundreds of miners die in them every year. 75% of ukraines official coal mines are classified as dangerous. for these illegal mines as you can see from conditions here are absolutely lethal. the nearby soviet era apartment blocs are turning into ghost towns, abandoned and crumbling. yana's husband died. she now has nothing to help her bring up her four children, and her eldest son is now following in his father's footsteps. >> through miners are fished out of the bond here. >> the lead story of the local newspapers, an attack on our own

editor in this heartland for support of viktor yanukovych, the campaign is met with what locals call the law of the fist. thugs tried to break his skull and sucked in breaking his leg. >> i was attacked and beaten by two unknown persons. they used a sledgehammer an anda melt bat against me. >> illegal mines are allowed to continue by those who turn a blind eye. digginnear the entrance to the cemetery this monument stands as a cros crossroads now used to dp the bodies killed in the surrounding illegal mines. >> residents in the southwest of england are being evacuated as the country's flood crisis

worsens. homes in the thames valley have been inundated. and forecasters are warning of more storms over the next few days which will push the level of the thames river even higher. and watch out hollywood, a new movie making superpower is poised to take on the world. china has a number of films in the running for top prizes at the world's most prestigious film festivals. >> reporter: this is what happened when word gets out that a hollywood star is in the area. but hollywood is so last year, or it will be if china gets it's way. china's charging ahead of the berlin art this year. this is a festival full of eastern promise. there are three chinese movies in competition for the top prize alone, the golder bear. nine chinese films are in screening here. this is a country and an industry that really means business. it's when you look at the numbers you realize just how

huge the chinese cinema is, especially compared to say hollywood. you take a huge u.s. hit like "zero dark thirty," released i in 2012 in 60 countries worldwide. compare that to a chinese movie like "lost in thailand." in that one country alone, in the same year that movie took $100 million more. there is so much money to be made in chinese cinema. so many people seem to want a piece of the action, and big film festivals, they're not bad places to start. which is why premiering his thriller "the midnight after," it took him years to make. not because he's slow but the process is. even though china may be changing, th they are still very sensitive. >> it takes six months to censor

your script because they have to tell you this part, you cannot do that. this part, can you change something. this is a torture period. >> china's richest man is currently building the world's biggest movie complex in his country, and he's trying to launch a festival he says will rival cannes. he's already courting hollywood. >> hollywood is interested in being in bed with china. we've seen that the last couple of years with the attempt to do more coproductions and also the casting of chinese actors in hollywood movies. >> the world is watching china in general. china hopes the world will be watching its movies, too. al jazeera, the berlin film festival. >> that's all from europe for this news hour. back to laura in doha now.

>> well authorities in mexico say they've arrested a suspected drug trafficker wanted in the u.s. accused of smuggling millions of tons of cocaine in the united states and europe. the arrest comes as legalized vigilanty groups continue to help federal forces fight drug cartels. dozens of men from the defense court patrol the city. the city i had been controlled y gunmen against the drug cartel for several years. >> we want to liberate the city from all the knights templars so we want people to not be afraid and come out and support the self defense gropes. >> nine members of one family has been shot dead in a northern part of guatemala.

two cars carrying armed men arrived at the family home and open fired killing six adults and two children including a 6-month-old baby. they have sent 90 soldiers in the region to help with the investigation. >> it was an attack that involved around 20 people. they came here, and as a result six adults are dead, five men, one woman, two children. it's truly incredible that someone could kill a 3-month-old baby. that is unforgivable. it's a complicated case for us to understand. >> heavy rains are triggering mudslides in central bolivia, at least four people were killed after 15 homes from buried. rescue workers are search forgive nine more people who are still missing. the north sub merged thousands of homes, 40 people have been killed since november. still to come here on the program, taking inspiration from

mahatma gandy. and in sport the leading scorer dominates yet another game. >> al jazeera america is a straight-forward news channel. >> its the most exciting thing to happen to american journalism in decades. >> we believe in digging deep. >> its unbiased, fact-based, in-depth journalism. >> you give them the facts, dispense with the fluff and get straight to the point. >> i'm on the ground every day finding stories that matter to you. >> in new orleans... >> seattle bureau... >> washington... >> detroit... >> chicago... >> nashville... >> los angeles... >> san francisco... >> al jazeera america, take a new look at news. >> start with one issue education... gun control... the gap between rich and poor...

job creation... climate change... tax policy... the economy... iran... healthcare... ad guests on all sides of the debate. >> this is a right we should all have... >> it's just the way it is... >> there's something seriously wrong... >> there's been acrimony... >> the conservative ideal... >> it's an urgent need... and a host willing to ask the tough questions >> how do you explain it to yourself? and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5 eastern only on al jazeera america >> welcome to al jazeera america. i'm del walters. ewant to take you to sochi, russia, home to winter olympics. so far the united states has won two gold medals and three bronze. right now there are three events that are still taking place. before this year's winter games sochi had been hurting economically. the city's economic problems dating back to the collapse of the sovietdown.

the olympics bringing some money into sochi, but not enough. >> reporter: silver times severy they go to fetch water. it's easy to slip on the hillside especially when bearing the heavy load. the trips are necessary because the taps in her house are dry. >> they keep promises and promising that we'll get running water. we put in a sink because we had hopes. >> reporter: a village just 15 minutes drive from downtown sochi, but it's residents told me it might as well be in a different century. >> we live in the middle ages. they promised everything before the elections, then they forget. >> i need to bath my babies every day. how can i do it? >> we take our children to the main square to see the sochi and enjoy the atmosphere.

then we return to our homes and the excitement vanishes. >> you can see their points. down in the resort where the plazas and malls teem with olympic visitors, everything is shiny and new. this is somewhere the $51 billion the games have cost have been invested. but even in the city itself just around the corner from our hotel there are neighborhoods where sewage runs down unfinished roads. >> this is something that people living in parts of sochi have had to get quite used to. the electricity has been off for a couple of hours now. there is a generating running downstairs. you might be able to hear that. it's keeping the hot water going, but look, nothing. >> last week foreign journalists reported stories of unfinished hotel rooms and accommodation in disarray. according to this blogger, many were lies spread to reinforce

perception of russian incompetence. >> journalists tell us that these photos are from sochi, but they are not. >> reporter: but many don't care if it's part of the anti-russia agenda or not. they just want their taps to work. >> a bronze day on wall street as well. the dow is down 48 points and investors appear to be willing to wait until fed chair janet yellen. the lives were made--the lines were made famous in "the filled of dreams." if you build it, they will come.

>> this is what happens when word gets out that a hollywood star is in the area. but hollywood is so last year, so it will be if china gets it's way. because china's charging ahead at this year. this is a festival full of eastern promise. there are three chinese movies in competition for the top prize ray loan, the golden bear. nine chinese films are in screening here. this is a country and industry that really means business. it's when you look at the numbers you realize just how huge the chinese cinema industry is, especially compared to hollywood. you take a huge hit like "zero dark thirty," it took just under $120 million u.s. which is not an insignificant amount of cash, but compare that to a chinese movie like" lost in thailand." in that one country alone in the same year that movie took $100 million more. there is so much money to be

made in chinese you cinema. so many people want a piece of the action. film festivals, well, they're not bad places to start. which is why premiering the thriller "the midnight after "o." it tooafter. >> it took years to make. >> they are using at least six months to censor your script. >> to the government. >> the government, because they have to tell you this part, cannot do that. this part, can you change something t? this is a torture period. >> china's richest man is currently building the world's biggest movie complex in his country, and he's trying to average a festival he says will rival cannes. he's already courting hollywood.

>> hollywood is certainly interested in being in bed with china. we've seen that in the last couple of years with the attempt to do more coproductions and also the casting of chinese actors in hollywood movies. >> the world is watching china in general. china hopes the world will be watching its movies, too. al jazeera, at the berlin film festival. >> the world is also watching a small church in texas. it seems that cowboy attire, the jeans, the big hats, not just for the old west but also appropriate to wear to church. in greenville, texas, a church that wants it. >> the signs and pictures on the wall are misleading. sure people are singing and having a good time, but the only spirit these folks indulge in is the holy spirit. >> this old place used to be a bar. >> now it's the home of cowboy church located in greenville, texas. this christian congregation is

outside of the mold that some may seem as church. >> as we take down barriers that pro hinpro hint people from com. >> most of the women decide on jeans instead of dresses. >> we just do it in our way. we're not suitin' up. >> the pastor of the cowboy church, one of more than 200 churches across the nation. >> no alabama, oklahoma, louisiana, i think we have some up in montana. >> it's the right culture. it's the right fit for me and my family. it's great.

>> like the number of cowboy churches nationwide, cowboy churches are growing. so much so it's being renovating to seat increasing capacity. >> even a horse or two will make it on a prayer list on a sunday. you know you're in cowboy church when you make the prayer list. >> members spend a great teal deal of time together. >> this is my family away from home. >> the pastor says it brings him joy to see the growth of cowboy churches, and as he sees it, more people are going to church than there were before. >> you know they say in texas when we have winters like this, the weather men. >> you have to tell me because he didn't work in texas. >> get a rope. get a rope.

>> meteorologist: we do have to deal with winter weather in texas and the sows east. winter weather advisories, storm warnings for snow and ice, and this will go across the southeast. the storm deviling now we're starting to see ice and snow pick up through tennessee, but a lot more rain is developing across the southeast there, the southern plains, and this storm will continue to intensify and bring this warm air over the cold air. that's where we're talking about snow and ice. that's occurring temperatures there, 59 in houston, 46 in houston, and we're seeing this rain develop. there is a line of ice and snow right through northern mississippi, alabama, and georgia, and that will continue to develop through tuesday morning. tomorrow's rush could be slippery in some parts. we'll watch temperatures begin to clear out tuesday night before another storm develops that could impact mid-atlantic wednesday and thursday. we'll watch the latest information on that. in the meantime watch for the

ice and snow across the southeast. keep a close eye on the temperatures. >> thank you very much. perhaps you might have noticed america is marking the 50th anniversary of the british invasion. [♪ music ] this is how it all began in february of 1964, the beatles making their debut on the ed sullivan show sparking beatle mania across the country. we report from the birthplace of the band that changed rock-n-roll forever. >> it is from this northern england port city of liverpool where the legend that would become the beetles began. thit is characterized by multipe harmonies and lots of guitars. fewer than half a million people live here but more number one hits have come from performers from liverpool than anywhere else in the world. 56 so far, according to the guinness book of records.

billy kinsley from the band the mersy beats used to play along the beetles. they say the merchant sailors and nearby american military bases imported the sound that influenced them all. >> it was a combination of all these sounds, all the bands in britain, plus all these association with all these people who were coming back and forth from america bringing these great records that nobody else in the country had. that meant a great deal as well. >> reporter: but the sea potter is all about dried up and liverpool is facing hard times. luckily the beetles are a big industry here. a british analysis shows liverpool against $400 million a year from music tourism. from all around the world they come to see where it all began. >> this is the place where paul mccartney first met john lennon. >> reporter: for seven years jay

johnson proudly has been showing his city and the beatles' connection to visitors. but without his city the world would never know hits like "penny lane" or "strawberry fields." >> there is little doubt the band changed this city profoundly. it's clear from the moment you step off the plane to when you check in to a hotel, this is beatles' territory. they may have traveled far and wide, conquered america, and changed the pop music landscape forever, but in this hardy northern england town they are firstly four local lads who made good. phil ittner, liverpool. >> more news coming at the top of the hour. i'm del walters in new york. for updates throughout the day go to www.aljazeera.com. this is a live look at sochi, russia, right now where it is

almost 8:00. there are three events taking place. the u.s. has won two golds.

is. >> welcome to al jazeera america. these are the stories we're following for. >> you this is a worrying area. >> asking questions about the chemical spill and the lean up remembers but today uncle sam begins treating same-sex couples as other couples even in states where they are banned. and a college football player who may bece