different economic relations. would you like to see the british government close off the financial institutions in the city of london to russian wealth and money? surely you want them and are putting to them far more concrete actions to take against russia rather than just a mere statement of principle to stand by your side. >> we don't want to have this conflict neither frozen nor hot one. ukraine is to be one united country. just let me remind you that in 1994, ukraine abandoned its nuclear weapon and under the budapest memorandum, the signatures guaranteed at the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of ukraine. we did our job. we executed all our obligations.

ukraine is no more a nuclear state and we believe that those who guaranteed our independence will do their utmost in order to execute the obligations. because for today, this is not just the domestic conflict or a local one. this conflict would have a negative implication on the nuclear non-proliferation program. as for example, it would be quite difficult to convince iran or north korea to abandon its nuclear weapon in case those who guarantee our independence do not succeed in providing and delivering these guarantees.

we are ready to sign. we do understand a number of implications. we can adjust duties up to the current standards on the technical level. we can do it on the so-called high commission, and on the technical level, we can find an appropriate solution, an appropriate solution both in our bilateral relations between e.u. and ukraine, an appropriate solution that would not affect negatively russians.

>> will act in accordance with the constitution and laws. we are ready to protect our country. >> my name is ibrahimovic from the lebanese newspaper, "sophia." i would like to ask you two questions. >> it is our understanding that there is a huge did you say balance between ukrainian and russian military. let's be frank: russia is a nuclear power, and if we make a comparison of the military strength of the ukraine and russia, this would be definitely not in favor of ukraine. but what we have in my country, probably we have less arms, no nuclear bombs but we have the spirit. this is the spirit of ukrainian

revolution, and this is the spirit of freedom and liberty. >> two questions, please. the first one, you are asking russia to engage in direct negotiations. we hear some officials from the foreign ministry speaking about coming meetings before commonwealth counsel. is there any -- can you confirm this? is there any direct contacts to prepare for next meeting? this is the first one. the second one, prime minister for russia, you are legitimate? are they asking for the 21 february -- do you think in this way there is room to compromise middle solution, reestablish a

new government? it was said today, russia is dangerous and russia is trying to rewrite your borders after this war. do you agree with this? thank you. >> on the legitimacy of the new government, let me speak not to the prime minister but as a lawyer. this government was supported by an overwhelming constitutional majority of 371 votes. the entire opposition supported the prime minister, the government and the governmental polgrom. we are absolutely and entirely legitmat government supported by the house and supported by the ukrainian people.

whether russia is dangerous? i would say russia is not friendly, as you probably realize. having russian boots on the ground and russian tanks is unacceptable in the 21st century. who knows the limits? tell me. probably it will be somewhere near ukrainian and your border. so what's happened? what's up with the global security? are we going crazy? is it acceptable that in the 21st century, with no legal grounds, with no reason one country which possessed a nuclear weapon just decides in a snapshot to invade another. so probably we need to do something with the global security and to overhaul the entire system, as this is not

the end. we would like -- that's the reason why we asked russia to stop because god knows, where is the limit? when is the boundaries? >> do you have any contacts? >> i tracked to prime minister medev. i said we would like to talk about our economic relations. these times and these days, we can om talk only about the war. just imagine. mr. prime minister, we are talking about the war between two friendly countries in the past. it's hard to imagine even to start this kind of talk. so step back. we are entering a mess. and you, as russians, will be responsible for this.

we tried to establish a context on the level of the government. and again, i want to be very clear. we are not an anti-russian government. we are pro-ukrainian. and we are not going to do anything that will jeopardize and deteriorate the situation in my country. and we will stick to our values. integrity, sovereignty and independence. if they are ready to talk, we are. and we made it very clear. >> angela charlton from the associate presses. senior crimeans said they will be considered occupiers. what will you do in response to that? would you pull back the forces? would you send in reinforcements? second small question: you said today that ukrainian military

would be ready to act in the case of military intervention. does that mean what's happying in crimea now, you do not consider a military intervention? >> we consider it as a military aggression. we consider it as an extensive and unacceptable use of russian military. russian troops already blocked ukrainian military sites, but we stand by ukrainian military, and we command the way ukrainian military handles this crisis ins crimea. thank you. >> that was the crainian -- interim craenginee ukrainian prr

after an eu summit. he said we urge the russian government to pull back its military to barrack. not and to start negotiations for a peaceful solution. we have got reporters around the region. let's start with simon mcgregor woods who joins us from brussels. simon, he talks about a peaceful solution. he said all options are on the table. let's be clear: so far, none of this diplomatic flurly of activity has produced any concrete proposals. i think on the issue of seeking a peaceful solution, he said it -- it caught my attention when he also said, if there are further incarryings, we are ready to defend our countryursiy to defend our country. then he made a comparison with russia in terms of military effectiveness and power.

they may have the weapons. we have the spirit of liberty. a clear preference for a political way out. he is ready to talk. the russians were not. that was a consistent message as well. of course, he was repeatedly asked: what is he getting from the eu? what does he expect from the eu, given that we understand that the eu later today after the extraordinary heads of state and government meeting will not necessarily deliver on sanctions, which it appears that the american government has just started to do on thursday. he was very diplomatic? turning on egg shells there, hoping that the e. u. will do their best. i think he was expecting more than that. i am not sure he will get it when the e. u. issues their communique later. >> unlike the u.s. which has just announced new sanctions. he was very adamant that the new government in ukraine is legitmat. he was questioned about this. you know, the russians say he is

ill leg illegitimate and that yanukovych is the rightful leader of the country. he is seen as the legitimate prime minister of ukraine certainly by the e.u. though >> reporter: absolutely. i think that's why he is here today. i think a clear signal that the e.u. wands to send. it's here at the heart of the european, been feted with the red carpet, been promised speeded up agreement of the association. as he was saying, restrictions being lifted, new free trade packets being promised, financial aid being promised very quickly. i think the signal here is that this guy as far as we are concerned, says the e. u. is the legitimate representative of the government. on the question, as you mentioned earlier, strong wasn't he on this business of crimea. critical of that situation saying the crimean government is i will legillegitamate and call

on russia not to support in the agreement. the russians are behind it to some extent, urging the russians not to undermine the index and territorial integrity. clear messages again both from the president of ukraine in kiev and the prime minister in brucels that this maneuvering taking place is considered by them, i am sure, by the eu. >> simon, thanks very much indeed. simon mcgregor woods following events in brussels. let's cross to john hendron live in kiev. john, it will be interesting to see -- john? where are you? it's me. we do have john hendron. there you go. >> that's john >> reporter: you do indeed. >> it will be interesting to see what the reaction in kiev is. he said he is ready to talk to russia but, so far, of course,

no sign of negotiations between the two sides. none at all. in, in kiev, it's different. this is like a paternity case with each side calling the other side illegitimate. in the kiev, you have revolutionary fervor strong in the streets. behind me, there is a speaker in independence square. it is still occupied by demonstrators. here, people are worked up about what's going on the crimea. they say they will not allow it to happen. what's not clear is just how far these revolutionaries here in kiev will go after fighting a revolution in order to take their country back. in order to keep it in tact, it's not clear just how far, whether this will go to violence. there is no country offering military aid here, and as you just pointed out and as simon pointed out, sanctions are just

being offered by the u.s. and not entirely agreed to elsewhere. we had julio, the prime minister and i talked to her. she said strong sanctions were what was needed to criminal russia. >> does not seem to be forthcoming. this is a stand off so far without an end. up to now, russia has managed to occupy that region without more than a couple of shots being fired. >> just how volatile is the situation? you spoke to timoshanko. people worried when they look at crimea, what's happening and, you know, suggestions that russia might expand its military operation into other parts of ukraine. i mean, is there a feeling that this could escalate into something more? >> absolutely. ms. timoshenko told me yesterday that ukraineians will fight to the death in order to keep their

country intact after fighting this revolution to keep it. it's not clear in the streets that that's something everybody is willing to do. what we do know is that anything could happen here. things happensoft as we learned last month when 88 people died in the square behind me. so ukrainians feel strongly about this. whether they are willing to go to an actual war over it is another story. >> john, thanks very much, in kiev there. we have been talking about crimea. the parliament there, the crimea being an autonomous region of ukraine. the parliament voted to join russia. they are going to hold a referendum to let people have their say on march the 16th. now, crowds protesting outside the building are largely pro-russia. caroline malone reports >> reporter: protests outside of crimea's parliament, a member of

the female femin was trying to express an anti-russian view. the majority of people protesting here are holding up russian flags. their posters and slogans are against what they see as involvement by the british, e.u. and u.s. in what's happening in kiev. they say they support a vote by members of crimea to join russia. >> we decided to set the referendum from the whole of crimea, including sebastapol for march, 2014. the following alternative questions will be put on the referendum: first, do you vote for the reunion of crimea with the russian federation as a subject of the federation? second, do you vote for the restoration of the 1992 constitution and for crimea to be part of ukraine? >> the vote for the referendum passed with 78 in favor and 8 abstensions. days ago, the parliament was

seized by armed men. the regional government was sacked and replaced with a pro-russian leader. sixty percent of people in crimea are russian. varying views exist. earlier a student wrapped in a ukrainian flag was harassed as she tried to speak to the media. >> i am for crimea to be with ukraine. i don't want to join crimeaal situation. people who watch television tell everyone about the real situation here. >> others want to make sure there is no violence. >> the military units outside and make sure they stay outside. the thing i understand is why they are miessing with the military units. i want to call all people to support without any prove indications. crimea is for peace >> reporter: he has seen how russian forces effectively seized the city last week and like some of the people in the crimean region, he is not in favor of a full push towards

russia. >> caroline malone, al jazeera. >> paul, we heard the ukrainian prime minister making it clear he things the crimeaan parliament is i will leg illegitamate. >> we heard the question about legitimate s legitimatecy. with various sides shouting down each other. my understanding of the legitimacy question is constitutionally although crimea has the parliament, it does not have the authority to vote on a cessation from ukraine, not without that vote being ratified by the ukrainian president or acting president, obviously based in kiev. they don't the power under the existing constitution.

although they can have the vote and the vote is going to take place at breakneck speed. ten days is not long at all to try to organize a referendum with such far-reaching possible consequences. i think in reality, it will not hold legal water. so, it's going to be very -- it's an opportunity to express opinions certainly for people here in crimea, but i am not convinced from what i know of the legal situation here in crimea that it's actually going to have an international recognition. >> paul, we know it's got a volatile situation there considering what happened to the u.n. envoy, robert sera yesterday. is there any sign that the situation is calming down at all? >> reporter: i mean there are still patrols of kosacks. you can probably see them over my shoulder. we have come -- we went to the northern tip of crimea this morning to meet up with a group from the osce who are supposedly coming in to crimea on a

fact-finding mission. the hope being that they could potentially take over from russian troops as far as some sort of safe guarding operation goes. in fact, they were not allowed in. we went up to a check. we got as far as we could. we got to a checkpoint. there were armed men with assault rifles wearing uniforms. we were ordered away at the barrel of the gun. i have spoken to the osc people on the mainland engineerian side of the divide, if you would like, and they were not allowed to cross into crimea. they, too, were ordered away. they tried twice to get in. it's tension on those borders. although we can see that things are calming down a little bit, we are not seeing a deescalation in a sense of armed men departing from the streets. >> paul, thanks very much indeed for that. paul brennan in crimea there. well, while u.s. diplomats are currently leading discussions to diffuse

international tensions, in washington, an undip plot attic dispute is raging being whether the u.s. is picking the pest people to represent interests abroad. >> there were no niceties in the message sent by america's professional diplomatic staff to barack obama. in a rare vote, the american association has knee handed the president provide proof his nominees to become ambassadors, norway, argentina and hungary are qualified. they raised more than $4 million for president obama's re-election. but in confirmation hearings, had little knowledge about their future post. hotel executive george sunas who called norway's right-wing progress party a fringe element. >> the government has denounced them. the collision government, they are part of the coalition of the government. >> i would say, you know, i stand corrected. the -- i stand corrected.

>> and then, there is the hollywood producer turned presidential fundraiser appointed to represent the u.s. in hungary but struggled to identify u.s. strategic interests in the nation? >> we have a strategic interest in terms of what our key priorities in hungary. >> the u.s. has for decades followed what is known as the 70/30 rule. >> means most or 70% of ambassadors earn their posts after years in the foreign service while the remaining openings are 30% are filled by political apointes. president obama certainly isn't the first u.s. president to reward political donors with plum positions but he has done it more than any other president in recent history. >> we need the best possible people in our country as our senior representatives there. >> that's why he hopes the white house will listen to his organization's recommendation, to pick a new set of potential

ambassadors. he said the current group of nominees do not represent the best the u.s. has to offer. >> i have no more questions for this incredibly, highly qualified group of nominees. >> and if confirmed ambassadora, the series of embarrassing gaffes made on capitol hill may not be their last. kimberly helkut. washington. >> the libyan government has confirmed did has gaddafi in custody, the former libyan leader was ex tra indicated to. >> wearing blue prison over-alls knowing for his head to be shaved, it's not known when these photographs were taken. it's reported the libyan authorities took them when he arrived after his extradition. the 41-year-old former head of libyan's ball federation is best known for his fast living and his brief career in italian soccer, a career that ended

abruptly following a failed drug test in 2003. he is one of the former libyan leaders' 7 sons. he fled south across the sahara to niger after rebels put an end to his father's 42 years in power. the government had put him under house arrest but had always refused libya's requests to ex tra diet him. justice minister previously said he would face the death penalty ty in his home country. interpol ordered an arrest. in december, 2011, the mexican government announced it had stopped a plot to smuggle him and his family to here, the tranquil shores on the pacific coast. mexican authorities said the elaborate plan had involved providing sadi with fake ids and bank accounts. he is not wanted by the international criminal court.

but the icc has already indicted his brother, safal islam for crimes against humanity. they say they want to try him for armed intimidation which he was led -- when he was head of the libyan football federation. syrian forces are closing in on the border with lebanon. north of the capitol exanimation a ascus. video shows a helicopter dropping bombs and on the neighboring village. forces loyal to president bashar al assad captured him this week. it's one of many you towns they have seized since november. in syria's largest city, aleppo, the army is pounding rebel-held areas. the barrel bomb airstrikes in one neighborhood. turkey's prime minister said

his private calls with ministers and world leaders may have been bugged by his political opponents. a number of recordings have surfaced online alleging corruption. it is said they are part of a campaign to damage his party before local e legs at the end of the month. more from istanbul >> reporter: almost every day in turkey at the moment, we are seeing the release of a new audio recording on youtube not through, obviously, the mainstream media outfits. some of them allegedly contain the voice of the prime minister. some do not. some contain information which is true -- if true, has serious implications for the turkish government. some contain merely insinuations. if any trend is to be concerned, it is the prime minister seems to be coming more comfortable with the fact that some of the recordings, if you were remember when some first came out with his son hiding large amounts of cash in the family home, the

prime minister described that recording as a technical fabrication and a moral montague, an edit, if you like. in the latest recordings, he seems to be saying, yes, that's my voice, and why shouldn't i be having these conversations? area day audio recordings real throughouting the law and the constitution. some of these recordings are montages. some are not. some say these are legal wiretappings. these recordings were not obtained through legal wiretapping. >> in much the same vein, we seem to see the prime minister acknowledging a wire tapped conversation of him discussing with a shipping magnate took place. we are seeing recordings in the last few days of the prime minister allegedly involved in the management of the ball club, allegedly being involved in appointing senior judicial figures in turkey you can keep

up-to-date with the day's news and breaking developments, particularly those fast-moving events over ukraine. go to our website, aljazeera.com for all of the latest information. >> welcome to al jazeera america. i am del walters in new york. president obama taking a hard-line stance on the situation in ukraine. the white house announcing it is placing visa restrictions on those responsible for threatening ukraine's integrity. president obama also signing an executive order that would allow sanctions on anyone threatening democracy in ukraine. secretary of state john kerry is in rome for a meeting with world leaders. he met with sergei lovrov. lovrov said there is no agreement adding the u.s. sanctions are not constructive. >> the european meeting is meeting to decide next months.

sanctions against russia are on the table as is that $15 billion bail-out package for ukraine. lovrov saying there is no agreement but saying those serax are not good. simon mcgregor wood is in brussels. we are going to go to him in a moment. but first, within the last hour, the acting prime minister of crain speaking in bruceles, making it clear they would not bow to president putin. >> mr. putin, tear down this wall, the wall of intimidation, the wall of military aggression, and let's build up new. relations between ukraine and russia. we are ready for cooperation but we are not ready to surrender. >> we go live now to simon mag gregor wood. what will else did ukraine's acting prime minister have to

say? >> he said a lot, a very symbolic day for him and the european union. as far as they are concerned, he is the legitimate government of ukraine. he was clear in his call for the russians to return their troops to the barracks, to respect territorial sovereignty. he called the actions of the crimean parliament as being completely illegitimate. he said he would fast track an association with the e.u. he said we have been provoked but we want a peaceful solution, but we will act if there are any further incursions. we have the spirit of the revolution and liberty. so very articulate, passionate

performance by him today. interestingly, del, he is on his way now to speak to nato. it will be interesting to see what kind of offers he gets from nato to shore up this relationship as ukraine, it is now clear, seeks to move further towards europe and towards nato protection as it feels the threat from russia. >> simon, he reminded the nato countries of what ukraine did to live up to agreements concerning nuclear disarmament saying they expect nato to live up to the agreements they signed, too. so there is more at stake in this than what we are seeing happening in engineer? this is the agreement ukraine signed in 1994 to hand over its independent nuclear weapons back to russia in return for which it received various guarantees on

its territorial integrity and sovereignty, things that now, it feels russia has betrayed the agreement and he asked a very impassioned question: what's happened to global security if that sort of thing is happening? where will it end, he said? i don't think he is asking for nato to respond militarily. >> that's clear. the military option is not being talking about here or at nato headquarters down the road where you might have seen yesterday nato suspended a lot of the day-to-day business it does with russia. clearly the acting prime minister is using this stage to make it clear the ukrainian government is clear. he is passionate to talk to the russians. time and again, he said russia is not talking to us. one last point on this, you mentioned in your lead-in, the

united states moving forward quickly on thursday on their own sanctions. he was asked several times by people in the press conference, wasn't he, do you expect the european union to follow suit. we expect the european union is not about to deliver on sanctions. they are going to hold back. >> may disappoint him but he was diplomatic saying he hopes europe will do its best. but it won't be sanctions. >> simon, thank you very much. we turn to phil itner in kiev. phil, you heard that awkward moment in the news conference just a moment ago acknowledging that the eu won't reach any consensus on sanctions. what is the reaction right now in kiev? >> reporter: no doubt, the reaction in kiev will be negative. there is very serious concerns that the europeans might let them down because of the various dispirate motives behind the capitols, 27-mer state

organization. each have their own a gentry a, their own foreign policy. there are questions such as whether or not there will be sanctions on the industry or on individuals and the divisions are very clear, say, for example, the british who have a lot of individuals, major oligarchs who invest money in the city of london or the germans who have industrial ties with russia, particularly in the national gas. will they want to have sanctions on industries? probably not. there is a lot going on the continent today, del. not just brussels where the europeans are trying to respond to what the russians have done. there are talks in rome. there is something on the side we haven't talked about today, del. there is a meeting going on dublin, island. the europeans are gathering to talk about a possible successor to the current european commissioner baroso.

to pick a president to lead the european commission at a time when there is this major conflict, this schism in the fight with russia, this could be a very bad time to be picking a new president for the european commission, at least a bad time for moscow. so a lot going on around the continent. all of it dominated by what's happening here in ukraine. >> phil, we got a glimpse of secretary of state john kerry and lovrov meeting in russia but there are not many hopes that anything is going to happen today >> reporter: no, del, especially given yesterday. just absolutely no movement whatsoever. the picture coming out of rome it's been said time and time again -- i will say it again, a picture speaks for a thousand words. i mean look at the body language between sergei lovrov and secretary of state john

kerry. they have a very good personal relationship. they like one another. but they are cataloguerheads over this. it is clear by their body language, clear by their stance they are not getting any closer. we will have to see what comes out of rome. i wouldn't hold my breath for any major movement on either side. del? >> philitner joining us from kiev. thank you very much. a topic of conversation during that news conference this morning, the white house, the obama administrationsponding to the situation in ukraine with new travel and economic sanctions against specific individuals. lisa stark has hour details from washington >> reporter: in announcing these new steps this morning, the white house indicated that the president has made it clear that he is considering a wide range of options and the president, in his executive order this morning, said that the situation in the ukraine presents a national emergency for the u.s. so, he is announcing two

different things. one is a visa restriction. that would be a rerestriction against officials or individuals who, as the white house put it, are responsible for threatening the sovereignty and teartorial integrity of ukraine. the white house also announcing sanctions against individuals who undermine the democratic processes in ukraine. those sanctions include the seizure of assets in the united states, bank accounts or any property. it will now be up to the state department to determine who should be on these lists and how to impose these visa restrictions and up to the u.s. treasury on how to impose the sanctions. the white house also making clear that even as it pursues these options, it is very much trying to find a diplomatic solution to this crisis, continuing to urge russia to talk with the new government of ukraine. >> that's our lisa stark reporting from washington. lisa, thank you very much. all of this on a day that ukraine's former prime minister is urging the u.s. and its allies to impose sanctions

against russia. mashinko spent years in prison. she was freed after the ukrainian parliament ordered those charges against her be dropped. in an interview with al jazeera's john hendron in kiev, she called on western leaders to act. >> translator: i think it's not just ukraine who will lose crimea during this crisis. i think it's the whole world who will feel the consequence of this lops. all in the world should feel the critical movement of this situation. the kremlin has declared war not to ukraine and crimea but to the whole world. it's evident that diplomacy now doesn't work and the more time we lose, the more risks we have. >> kimoshinko says if it takes place, jane will lose that territory adding the international community's biggest task is to make sure that vote does not take place.

a senior envoy threatened at gunpoint was confronted by 10 to 15 gunmen as he left a meeting in the crimean meeting. the gunman demanded he leave immediately. when he refused, they surrounded his car. he was able to take cover in a nearby cafe and fled. this morning he is heading back to kiev where he will rejoin the next of the deputy secretary general ran. >> nizer was allowed to enternaente. he is awaiting trial in jail in tripoli before that revolution, he was best known for being the captain of libya's national soccer team. libya wants to try him for alleged armed intimidation when he was head of the libyan ball federation. the federal trial of osama bin laden's son-in-law who served as a spokesman is underway in new york.

opening statements were heard wednesday in the trial of suliman abulgaib he was brought to the charge trial. he is charged with conspiring to kill americans. he could face life in prison if he is convicted. he is the highest-ranking member to be tried in the u.s. since 9-11. after a decade behind bars, a wrongly convicted man is facing a new legal battle. >> the little man is getting screwed. >> detroit's bankruptcy keeping him from getting an apology and the money he says he is owed. a break through in the fight against hiv. how doctors were able to find a potential cure for a newborn that had the disease. >> i am going to guess it's probably going to have a couple of million dollar impact on the company. >> the difficult winter putting a freeze on the incomes of fishermen on the great lakes. the lasting effect this winter will have if it decides to stick around.

>> al jazeera's investigative unit has tonights exclusive report... >> from coast to coast... >> people selling fresh water for fracking... >> stories that have impact... >> we lost lives... >> that make a difference... >> senator, we were hoping we could ask you some questions about your legal problems... >> that open your world... >> it can be very dangerous... >> i hear gunshots... >> the bullet came right there through the widdow... >> it absolutely is a crisis... >> real reporting... >> this...is what we do... >> america tonight,

welcome back to al jazeera america. i am del walters. an amazing medical breakthrough. doctors saying they have cured another baby that was born with hiv. let's find out about the day's forecast. good morning, nicole. >> we have a couple of areas we are watching, one into the northwest, soggy day and some flood concerns and into the south, heavy rain here as well. could see thunderstorms later into the afternoon in places such as florida but rain widespread over two inches, one to two inches and then toward the coastline some places, isolated could be heavy year that. here is how this processes throughout the day. watch these. overnight tonight, parts of virginia and north carolina especially. cities such as asheville could

see a little ice with this in the morning, the wee hours when it's cold enough to support that. otherwise, it stays on the rainy side but will get enough flow that if you are next to the coast leip, watch for a little bit more wind a those heavier amounts of rain. it's not the only system. i mentioned theest coast through today. band after band of rain moving through the region. we are saturated here so that could lead to some river flooding, standing water on the roads. possibly a landslide and for parts of the cascade. after large concerns because of the moisture we have seen in that direction. temperatures in the northeast, 20s and 30s, well below average, but everyone is excited about this: a little warm-up and 40s into the day tomorrow. back to you. >> nicole, thank you very much. we are looking at another possible breakthrough in aids research. american doctors are reporting a baby born with hiv may have beencured because of early treatment. eric a pitsy joins us because this is the second time now this has happened. >> that's right.

last year this time, we learned that doctors in mississippi essentially cured a baby infected with the virus by giving the baby high doses of aids medications. >> child is three years old now and hiv-free. it's that very case that inspired researchers in california to street another infected -- infected infant the same way. now, we are learning the therapy may have cured this baby girl, too. >> one month avenues broke that a mississippi baby infected with hiv was reported cured by early treatment, a california baby was born infected with the virus. at miller children's hospital in long beach, doctors started treating the infected infant just four hours after she was born. >> we were aware of the mississippi baby, and we had participated in a study before overall where they gave babies one, two, or three medications if they were born in high-risk situations and three medications are better than one. >> that's how we decided to

start therapy, with three medications. >> nine months later, researchers believe the high doses of widely used aids medications is the reason why the baby now shows no signs of the virus. the cdc characterizes the baby as functionally cured. as for the mississippi baby, now three years old, the child is also still hiv-free. at the time, though, doctors thought there was some mistake. >> my first thought was to panic. i thought, oh, my goodness. i have been treating a child who is not actually infected. >> but now, doctors believe they may be onto something though they will not go so far as to call it a cure just yesterdt. the california baby appears to be healthy, she is still taking hiv drugs as a precaution we are not considering stopping medications until at least two years of age or when new information is available. and so, at that time, we will see what happens. >> researchers said there could be five more similar cases in canada and three in south

africa. soon, a clinical trial will begin which will follow 60 babies born with hiv who will be treated within 48 hours of birth. del? >> a window of hope. eri erica, thank you very much. the obama administration action tending another deadline under the affordable care act. americans will be able to hold on to their insurance plans a few more years even if they don't meet tough new standards. consumers can stay with the plans until 2016. the change means insurance customers won't face a new round of cancellations this fall. it is the second time in four months the obama administration has aejust the rules concerning its healthcare plan. hundreds of lawsuits against the city of detroit are in limbo as that city struggles with the largest municipal bankruptcy in u.s. history. among those lining up, a man who says he spent nearly a decade in prison for a crime he didn't commit. bisi olinari speaks to the man who says he is waiting on

justice. >> it was 2004 when he was convicted of killing a neighborhood drug dealer. the 26-year-old father of three small children was sentenced to 32 years to life behind bars. but was innocent. >> for the first couple of years, i was real angry, you know, confused, you know, didn't know what direction to turn in. >> after nearly 10 years in prison, province found a way out with the help of the university of michigan's innocence project. he was exonerated of all charges and freed. in a new -- and a new battle began. >> when i walked out of the county jail, it seemed like all nine and a half years was like a big nightmare, a big dream, and i woke up now. >> province, who is 40 years old now sued detroit in civil court. next, a settlement panel proposed he get a $5 million payment. the city then had to either agree to pay or go to trial. risking exposure of police

misconduct and possibly a larger damage award. but then, detroit filed for bankruptcy, and province's lawsuit, along with hundreds of others, were put on hold indefinitely. >> me personally, it's like the little man that's getting screwed in the end. >> province was dealt yet another blow when detroit emergency manager kevin orr released a plan to dig the city out of billions of dollars in debt. as an unsecured creditor, province could receive just $0.20 on the dollar. he says under those terms, a payout from the city wouldn't be enough. >> i don't believe i should be with that burden. province believes the city 0s him. >> i think /*? >> i think that will be a form of apology to me and my family because, you know, when i got out of prison, it wasn't no apology, you know, that, you know, we are sorry for what had

happened. >> province has since married the woman he was dating when he was first arrested. he planned on using the settlement money to put himself and his older children through colle college. while his case has been put on hold, he said he is still forging ahead with his plans. bisi olism nere, detroit. >> the city manager is encouraging plaintiffs to be patient saying all of the cases will eventually be heard. the sats are getting a big make over. more than a million and a half take these tests each and every year. david schuster reporting on the new changes on what they will mean for college-bound kids. >> it is the college admissions test that has obsessed and distracted u.s. students for decades. on wednesday, the group that overseas the s.a. t. said the problems with the exam, the president of the college board said it would eliminate the essays and longstanding penalty for guessing wrong and obscure

vocabulary words. the math will focus on linear functions and proportional thinking. the college board said it issponding to financially challenged students frustrated by the unique and sometimes cosley test preparation. >> it is time for the college board to say in a clear voice: the culture and practice of test preparation that now surrounds the admissions exams drives the perception inequality in our country. >> to make the test easier to score, it will result to the 1600 score with a top score of 800 on math and 800 on what will now be called evidence-based reading and writing. the optional essay will get another score. it may not stop the criticism of the sat that has lost ground to

the act. veefrming shows that grades are a better ways. they could apply by submitting grades, transcripts and perhaps a research paper. maybe so, but that will not do much for students taking the sat this year or next because the changes will not kick in until 2016. david shuster, al jazeera. >> the college board says it will offer free online to you toricals -- to youtoralals. the winter news is bad for businesses along the great lakes. >> this time of year, normally we are handing upwards of a million pounds of fish a week. >> receive companies finding themselves frozen out as the harsh winter weather leaves many struggling now just to stay afloat.

>> al jazeera america presents extrodanary documentaries. colin comes from a long line of ferrymen. >> you're a riverman from start to finish... >> now he leaves home to see what life is like on the waters of bangladesh. >> it's absolutely filthy... >> he learns how difficult working ther can be. >> how do you say..."get out the way"? >> shoro >> can this brittish man find common ground with his local host? >> "must really take it out of mr. loteef"... >> toughest place to be a ferryman on al jazeera america >> okay. let's face it. the cold snowy winter taking its toll on all of us but especially the great lakes. the commercial fishing industry

is paying a big price. reporter: for nearly 60 years, family-owned shaffer fisheries have been purchasing and processing fresh-water fish caught on rivers and lakes across the midwest and south? >> this time of year, normally, we are handling upwards of a million pounds of fish a week >> reporter: this winder, no fish are coming in. machines sit idle. for mike shaffer, the costs are mounting. >> i am going to guess it's probably going to have a couple of million dollar impact on the company. >> the combination of unusual snowfall and a record number of sub-zero temperatures are taking a toll on fisheries threatening a billion dollar a year industry. ice cover reached 86% this week with lake michigan iced over 90%. >> the ice season got started early. of course, we had that arctic v vo vortex. and the ice kept building

>> reporter: commercial fisherman usually cut through ice and cast drag nets. but in many cases, there are feet of snow on top of the ice, keeping fishermen off of the waters. >> hello. shaffer fisheries. how may i help you? no. we have no fish at this time. >> steve mcmit is shaffer fishery sales manager. in his 35 years with the company, he said he has never seen it this bad? >> our customers are wondering what's going to be going on? are we going to have fish? you get every question in the world. are you going out of business? what's going on? >> instead of running three shifts a day, the company has cut back to a skeleton crew who spend their days cleaning and performing repairs. but they need fish soon. >> you don't make up for those losses. you just go on. >> at the aquarium in chicago, fish scientists are studying if

smaller fish will starve if the winter lings. >> if there are larger predatory fish who depend upon the small fish may not have the food source but these fish populations are resilient. they have been dealing with this longer than humans. >> business owners like mike shaffer, hoping warmer weather is over the horizon. al jazeera, thompson, illinois. we end this half hour with a photo. for most, it's a simple picture, but actually, it is a snapshot of diplomacy in action. secretary of state john kerry and sergey lovrov isolated in a conference room in rome but symbolically placed between the their flags, close to each other likely talking through the delicate issues they have to overcome to achieve had a resolution to the growing conflict and the crisis in ukraine. >> will do it for this edition of al jazeera america. i am del walters. we always have news for you at the top of every hour.

we thank each and every one of you for watching. >> hello, welcome to the news hourm doha with the top international stories. >> fighting and looting, pro ukraine protestors are dealt with as crimea's parliament votes to split from kiev and join russia. >> much more on the ukraine crisis, including joining europe, the new man in charge in kiev in brussels, ready to sign