this is al jazeera america. here are today's top stories. from the south to the north-east millions of people are digging out from the deadly blizzard that broke records. syrian peace talks may not go on as planned tomorrow in geneva. john kerry tries to convince opposition leaders to attend. a multi billion dollar trade deal for china's influence in the middle east. big changes are coming to the

sats but will the updated college entrance exams hurt or help students' chances of getting into the college of their choice. gone but not forgotten. a record breaking winter storm leading to a back-breaking clean up of the. >> this is one of the fastest deniesest falls of snow i can remember. >> you're kind of used to the flooding >> i'm really stuck. i'm stuck tonight the blizzard of 2 6 2016. after the storm millions of americans are digging out. ten states in washington dc have declared states of emergency.

here is the latest on the storm's impact. it was the second biggest in the history with more than 76 inches of snow. the storm forced airlines to cancel nearly 12,000 flights nationwide as some of the busiest airports were snowed in. at least 28 people died as a result of the blizzard from new york to south carolina. our correspondent is live in new york with more. it is definitely better tonight than it was last night. however, there are still dangers from this aftermath of the storm that exist. >> reporter: it is a lot better than last night. if you take a look around me, and if you want to pan over, you can see what the streets look like. the cars are on the streets. that ban on travel, on car traffic, that the mayor announced yesterday has been lifted. that was put in place yesterday so crews could be out on the streets and keep them clean.

people out here walking. kind of travelling some of this snow onto the side walk. there are still a lot of risks. there have been reports of people dying in car accidents also from heart attacks when they've been out shovelling and exposure to the cold. these risks remain as people venture out again to see what the weather is like outside let's talk about the progress on the clean-up efforts that are beginning. what can you tell us about that? >> reporter: there has been a lot of progress, especially on the main roads like this one. we are in down town manhattan, but some of the side streets and the side walk has to than cleaned. the mayor says he has sent out over 2300 pieces equipment and 4,000 workers working around the clock to keep the streets clean. the mayor says if people venture out, they should use mass transit if they can any suggestions or tips for

people to keep in mind as the city tries to recover from the storms? >> reporter: yes. in fact, i was outside today talking to one of these clean-up crews and i asked them about shovelling tips because we have heard about people who have died from shovelling. he was saying people need to keep warm, cover their mouths, take breaks. if they're not feeling up to it, they should get people to help them. for the people out there shovelling, and i should know this and i had plenty of snow to shovel, you need to lift from your legs and not from your back. that helps to keep the pressure off your back we need to talk about the flooding that is happening in jersey. do you have an update on that? >> reporter: yes. it has been a lot of flooding up and down the jersey shore. so a lot of those cities that were hit before from two years

ago are also bracing for high waters and doing with high waters today. we have people cleaning up in west virginia where we saw the highest amount of snow across this region, some areas getting up to 40 inches of snow, about 30 inches. the mayor says this was the second largest snow term in terms of accumulation in the history of new york city that is a lot of water we were seeing there. thanks for that. going to washington dc now where it is still below freezing. john terrett is there. he is like, yes, it is cold out here. john. >> reporter: yes. it is cold out here. how very apposite. you can see my breath on the wind here. it is better than yesterday. the wind has actually dropped to be honest with you. we have had a very nice day today and the result of that is people have been poking their

noses out like little guinea pigs or hamp sisters. -- ham psters. it's okay to come out. they will be doing the same thing tomorrow as well because nobody here has to go to work because the headline news is that the federal government is going to be closed tomorrow. they said it will not function tomorrow. anybody who can work from home like a telly worker or computer worker should do that. otherwise you get a free day off in washington dc. the mayor has just given a press conference as well to say the same thing is happening with the district local government. she says she wants people to keep off the streets wherever possible so that sanitation workers can do their job tomorrow and get rid of the tons and tons of snow. here is more of what she had to say >> we want to have tomorrow to continue to keep cars off the road so that we can clear those major arterials and clear the

places in the down town area where people would normally park >> reporter: that's the federal government closed, the dc government closed. down in virginia the governor has closed down the state authorities for tomorrow. so that they can clean the roads. they had the most snow of anybody, i think, 30 to 40 inches. so no state workers coming into work tomorrow other than the clean-up workers. in baltimore, the mayor there also cancelling all the local authority works. stay at home, she says, let the sanitation workers get on with their jobs. that's where we're at, at the moment it seems tomorrow when the business week starts, it isn't actually starting because the primary focus will be clean up right? >> reporter: i think that's right. it will be a very, very difficult commute. the sanitation workers, as soon

as the snow stopped yesterday evening at about 11 p.m. eerp, they were out assessing how bapd this snow was. they began the clean-up operation immediately. what you're left with now are key roads in the district which are passable, but only just, because there are banks and banks of snow either side of them. i think some of the roads where people live, you know, off and away from the central area, those haven't yet been cleared and they may not be will until tuesday. i think it's going to be a very strange commute. also metro doesn't come back tomorrow with a full service as had been hoped. if you remember, they kept all the trains in the tunnels to keep them warm and that's good, but the trouble was there was so much snow they're only bringing back the red, the orange and the green lines, so the blue, yellow and silver won't be operating. they will be on as the day goes on. it's a limited service. it is going to be free tomorrow, so that's a good thing. anybody who needs to come into the down town district they won't have to pay a penny for

it. that's also very rare how are residents handling this in the aftermath of all of this? >> reporter: i'm sorry to say that on a sad note two of them have died. one was a much loved capitol hill police officer who lived in virginia who died shoefling snow. he had a heart attack, i believe. in the last hour an 80 year old man who lives in the district died as well. that's very, very sad. it adds to the death toll for this huge storm, sform jonas which has just gone over the top of us. it depends where you are in the city. some areas are reasonably deserted. where we are in georgetown there are a handful of people and vehicles out. in other parts it has been bus yrer. this is the first time in years on capitol hill that people have been able to tabogan and shred down the hill. there was a bill passed a while

ago and in it was that regulation lifted. people have been sleding and skiing down the hill hill localities of big kids that we have seen doing that. thank you very much for that. turning to the war in syria. secretary of state john kerry is trying to keep the geneva peace talks on track. the syrian opposition says kerry is pressuring them to attend but opposition members have not made up their minds. al jazeera james bays has more. >> reporter: these talks were always due to start on monday. i think it's pretty certain that's not going to happen. the best we can get, i think, on monday is a news conference with the u.n. envoy and the fact that he could there confirm that he has finally sent out the invitations. the controversial thing behind the scenes is who will make up the opposition. john kerry has been in riyadh meetings his saudi counterpart. saudi arabia was drawing up a

list of opposition, but moscow had problems with that list. we understand mr kerry has also been speaking by telephone to his russian counterpart. it will then be up to the opposition to decide whether to attend on the basis of the list that has been agreed by the international community. i know they will come under a great deal of pressure because i think they will be told that if the syrian government is there and you're not there, it will look like the opposition is the one that doesn't want peace. so i think it's more likely than not that some sort of talks will take place later in the week. i'm told that initially those will be so-called proximity talks. the opposition in one room and the syrian government in the other with the u.n. envoy shuffling between the two. i'm told initially they will be looking at possible ceasefires in syria and trying to alleviate the humanitarian situation and particularly in those areas of syria under siege in spite of the potential peace talks, reports of heavy

fighting per cysts. the video from social media today show i.s.i.l. fighters clashing with syrian forces yesterday in aleppo. meanwhile in the eastern part of the country civilians there blame russian air strikes for ongoing casualties. gerald tan reports. >> reporter: they gather to search for bodies to sift through their belongings. villagers here say air strikes on saturday killed friends and relatives, just ordinary citizens. this man could only mufter a prayer, calling on god to help his people. rights groups say russian jets are responsible for the strikes and that this isn't the first time. dozens of civilians are reported to have died in days of bombing. russia launched its military operation in syria last september at the request of the

president bashar al-assad. since then russian planes have flown an estimated five thousand seven hundred missions. rights groups say more than a thousand civilians have lost their lives in that time. moscow continues to insist that its campaign is directed at i.s.i.l. and other armed groups. its also rejected claims that aircraft have hit civilians, saying instead that it uses planes to drop humanitarian aid to those living in besieged areas. >> translation: i think that today there is not a single army in the world that would talk about its military operation so thoroughly with facts and numbers as the russians have in syria. i would like to stress it is an operation against international terrorism in this region. >> reporter: i.s.i.l. controls most of the province here. it has kept the remaining pockets of government-held areas there under siege for the past year. this week it has been on the

push to capture those areas. the russians say their intensified aerial bombardments are to combat that push eye i.s.i.l. fighters. the people say it has all been at their expense in iraq i.s.i.l. says it has killed 72 soldiers in three separate attacks as it fights to hold on to ramadi. the fighting against the group took place in the last neighborhood of the city that i.s.i.l. has a hold on. a report from our correspondent in baghdad >> reporter: iraqi soldiers on the road to what they hope is the last remaining i.s.i.l. stronghold in ramadi. i.s.i.l. fighters have managed to slow the iraqi force' assault and the last 72 has been battling to hold their positions. the armed group has trapped buildings and used suicide car bombs to devastating effect against the iraqi security forces. heavy shelling and u.s.-led air strikes cannot be used

effectively here as iraqis say civilians are trapped inside the neighborhood. most have escaped to places outside of the city. children here mimic what they've seen while others just wait. >> translation: we asked the security forces to remove iuds from central ramadi. we want to get rid of i.s.i.l. signs in the city and we want to return to our homes >> reporter: some say the conditions here are so dire that they just want to leave. others are just fed up, but getting back home with will be a long and difficult process >> reporter: iraqi police say they need to mount patrols and open police stations before people come back. but what will they be coming back to? bombed out buildings and no infrastructure 2016 presidential candidates are responding to the news that former new york city mayor is weighing up a potential run for

the white house. according to a report in the new york times he is considering running as an independent, but on n.b.c. meet the press, hillary clinton dismissed that possibility today. clinton's main democratic opponent bernie sanders also spoke about a possible bloomberg today. >> if donald trump wins and mr bloomburg gets in you will have two multi billion airs running for the u.s. against me. i don't think our nation is need to move towards a tie kocoon-he government he will spend at least a billion dollars of his own money on a campaign campaign but will not make a decision until march. the obama says he does not envy the candidates vying for the presidency. he would not run for a third

term if he could he said even though affording to getting out of the bubble of constant security presence >> the bubble is the hardest thing about the presidency. i don't think anybody would sense or ever get used to it. it makes me happiest about my tenure coming to an end he added that he is ready to turn over the keys to the white house because he feels confident about the progress he has made as president. some people in alas ka were-- alaska were woken by an earthquake. it struck about 3.30 and lasted about 30 seconds. no injuries were reported, but ruptured gas lines forced the evacuation of at least a dozen homes. the earthquake center said the

epicentre was located in the peninsula. it could be held 160 miles away in anchorage. still to come, times are changing and that's why official $rs say they're changing the sat. what students can expect with the new test. leaders of china in the middle east just signed a multi billion dollar trade deal. later in our sunday segment the week ahead, what carolina's law will be challenged in court. we will talk to a panel of experts at 8.30 eastern and 5.30 pacific.

hundreds of thousands of high school students are taking the sats this weekends. it is the last time they will do so with the current version. come march a new one will be administered which is said to be more representative of what kids are learning in high school and what they need to know to succeed in college. it was last revived in 205. among the changes obscure vocabulary words will be replaced with more commonly used terminology. maths will have morale gentlemen bra-- more algebra. calculator on use will be limited to some questions. the sa portion of test that will be optional and students get a separate score if they open opt to take that.

it will return to a 1600 point scale from the current 2400. that breaks down to 800 for the maths and 800 for reading and writing. an associate professor at colombia university. he is also a social critic on issues of race and equality and education. thank you for joining us. as a whole how would you characterise these changes? >> on a grand scale it is a move in the right direction. every time you have a test for the main entry point for people to get into higher education, it is often types a good thing. however i say that by also saying that in many ways it is a replication of the same old practices and the same tools used to assess and holding such a huge weight for all students while we know historically that

some are not doing well with the exams it sounds like the idea of change is good but you're not necessarily thrilled with the changes. what is it that you're saying? >> they certainly don't go far enough. i think what happens when you hear a huge test saying this we're doing things differently, the perception is that this will be a large over haul to affect young people more broadly but in reality it's not so much of a shift that exists. so you still have the same questions, the fact that the sat is optional is interesting because students may opt to not take it and thereby having that be a marker for whether or not one particular type of student can be successful. it is this larger marketing tool as we're with the times, we're being contemporary, we're reflecting what the needs are, but in reality it is not a shift

at all so the score change, going back from 2400 to 1600 like it used to be, does that seem like a superficial change to you or can it make a difference? >> the shift is more of a reflection of the fact that the first shift didn't make much of a difference and this one is a call to what we did in the past. we did this before, it is something again, let's go back. it indicates an unsettling nature of the process of the exam in my opinion what are some of the things you think should be the next step in this progression of changes that the testing people seem to be trying to make? >> reporter: the most fundamental one is that there is a more robust measure of skill sets that people bring to the table. if we want to be college and career ready, there should be a test that allows young people to be able to debate or have conversations about certain topics. there should be a piece that

takes noorgs what language is used and specific context if you want to use non-passe language. you may have others who do not speak english but the test is biassed against them. every indicator says that when they get into college or university they close tows. if they can't get into the university of their choice. it is a really true and accurate reflection of the population that are going to be taking that exam reflects a more necessary change do you think there have been times that in ways this testing process has been damaging to some students? >> absolutely. i think whenever we think about testing in the u.s., we know that we are using processes that fundamentally only allow certain populations who pass, certain experiences and certain cultural backgrounds to be successful.

i think minutes shifts of that sort don't address those issues. for people who are interested in equity for diverse populations, and i'm not just talking about ethnic and racial, but learning styles, for folks who learn differently, we want the test to be able to reflect that. we lose so many young people because the nature of the exam harms them. that is not what we want to do. we want to open up the doors to have more people to be successful in higher education it can be so overwhelming. i would much rather be talking about this test than having to ever take it again. >> i wholeheartedly agree thank you for that. >> a pleasure to be with you coming up on al jazeera america, the presidential election in haiti is postponed indefinitely. more protests in the streets. life is slowly getting back to normal in the south and

north-east after yesterday's crippling blizzard. more on digging out next. ut next.

welcome back to al jazeera america. a look at the top stories now. the east coast is facing a massive clean up following the blizzard that hit the region this weekend. now yorke city, washington dc and other areas were under a

state of emergency as two feet of snow fell in some airs. 12,000 flights were cancelled. what's it like now? >> reporter: 24 hours ago this street was pretty empty because the snow was coming down very fast and very hard. if you take a look around, it's like the typical new york city night now. a lot of cars back on the streets and people venturing out in front of the maddison square. there are still some risks involved, though. people exposed to the cold, some people have died to exposure to the cold and heart attacks from shovelling and car accidents. officials are warning that people be careful when they venture outside again. snow from saturday's blizzard plus winds and rising tides flooded towns up and down the jersey shore.

people are cleaning up and dealing with damage like this church that collapsed under the weight of the snow >> i opened up and looked up. >> reporter: it dumped up to 40 inches of snow on parts of the east coast parcel liesing rail and air travel-- parcel liesing-- paralysing road and air travel. >> this storm was the second largest snow storm in terms of accumulation in the history of this city. >> reporter: the mayor lifted a one-day ban on driving put in place on saturday so workers could keep the streets clean. this man working for the city and it took him six hours to shovel six walkways for pedestrians to get through >> i'm 56 years old. this is one of the worst storms i have seen in a long time >> reporter: the city has advised people who shovel to do

it safely. he offered to show me how >> you don't want to use your back too much. bend your knees just like that. you are a professional already. you're already a professional. >> reporter: i'm from north dakota i should know how to do this. >> reporter: across the city people emerged from their home and tried to free their buried cars >> i've been in the city since 1978 and i haven't seen as big a dig-out, as big a burial, no. >> reporter: for other families here the day after the blizzard was a day of fun >> i love it. it's a party. it's a snow festival. it's play all day. it's fun >> i'm sledding and i was having a fight with may brother markus.

>> reporter: the schools in new york city are supposed to be old tomorrow, but not in other areas. the subways are here mostly up and running. that will see some kids go back to school tomorrow, but some kids today said they were hoping for a snow day of course they are. let's talk about travel and moving around. do you have updates on the airports and m track? >> reporter: there are three main airports around new york city and they're all open. hundreds of flights have been cancelled. the airlines suggest to travellers to check in with their airlines to check. same with m track for people intending to travel by train thank you for that. chinese president xi jinping spent this weekends in the middle east. his trip included trips in saudi

arabia and iran. al jazeera's correspondent has more on china's growing influence in the regions. >> reporter: it is the first visit by a chinese president for 14 years. iran is happy to roll out the red carpet >> translation: today we negotiated over the preparation of a 25-year comprehensive document on the strategic ties between the two countries as well as setting up buy lat registration relations to 6 billion dollars in the next 10 years. >> reporter: they have agreed to work together on regional security issues including those in iraq, syria and yemen. those are the three countries that iran views are in conflict with others in the region. president xi jinping's visit took in both sides of the divide. in saudi arabia he signed 14 agreements mostly on economic issues and some on strengthening

security. >> translation: the saudi kin kingdom and china are aiming to enhance stability and security in the world. the challenges that are facing the world, particularly that of terrorism require the international community to counter it and to stress the principles of the u.n., particularly nonintervention of countries. >> reporter: china says it is based on that principle, nonintervention. beijing appears reluctant to define its role in the region. as the conflict heated up in yemen last year. the president postponed the trip to saudi arabia and egypt. he had to send warships to res cuing china's nationals. >> translation: i would like to express egypt's appreciation of

this achievement with china. it has been completed in record time for the development of economic and military cooperation that has reached unprecedented heights. >> reporter: expansion of economic ties remains at the core of china's policy. that includes the energy sector and infrastructure from iran to saudi arabia and to which the economic goals in the region china is walking a tight rope five years ago this side of millions of people powering into the square became the focal point of ar where spring. monday marks the anniversary of the january 5 revolution. >> reporter: the army is on the streets. there is a stepped up security presence ahead of the fifth anniversary of egypt revolution. authorities say they will not allow protests. more activists have been jailed. thousands of homes have been searched. officials say the crackdown is being carried out in the name of

security, but human rights groups say it's part of a campaign to silence the opposition. >> five years after egypt's uprising hope has given way to total repression. the egyptian authorities are terrified of another uprising. the arrest of activists that we have seen over the last few days and weeks are really warning shots >> reporter: it has been five years since weeks of protests unseated the president who kept an iron grip on power for three decades. this was the mood when the president announced he was stepping down. the years that followed brought little change. soon the space that had been the epicenter of revolt was no longer a place where egyptian came together and celebrated. the square became a place where opposing sides over the divide raised their differences. at first the chants called for the downfall of the man who had

taken over from mubarak, . eventually power was transferred to civilian authorities. elections were held. the first elected head of state and it didn't take long for protesters to return to the streets. the opponents said he was following a religious agenda and strengthening his grip on power. calls for him to step down grew louder. protests intensified and so did the violence. the military stepped in. it dissolved the government and arrested him and many brotherhood leaders. the civilian interim president was installed. the military coup didn't bring about peace. those who defended what they believed was a genuinely elected president was suppressed.

they gathered on the third anniversary of the revolution to urge the man behind it to run for president. he did. his supporters say he saved the nation. his opponents accuse him of authoritarian resume >> you have counter revelation forces who have tried to hijack the revolution. you have major idea logical and social social cleavages in society. you have aaron islamist nationalist divide. >> reporter: hundreds have been killed, thousands, including journal >>s, locked up. they say they are committed to democracy. for them mubarak security state is back hundreds of pro-refugee protesters stormed a blockade at turkey borders for a second day. riot police blocked the mob of demonstrators. they're angry after a boat sank in the nearby agean sea killing dozens of refugees, mostly

children. they want officials to lift border restrictions and allow people to travel further into europe by land >> we have had enough. it's completely inhumane. the policies are killing people. something needs to change. there is a land border which is safer and can prevent the drowning. so we call to open the border and have a safe passage for people who are fleeing persecution and need a safe country to reside in further north in poland dozens of people turned out to protest against the influx of refugees. demonstrators rallied outside the office of a company that is set to build a new refugee camp to house 120 people. they say they don't want to host any muslims, worried that there might be terrorists hidden among them. >> translation: if we have to host any immigrants, we want them to be christians. we are christians too so we can help them.

i want to stress once again, we don't want islamic immigrants here. >> translation: everyone wants to teach us to be tolerant now, but they are not at french bordertown in calais two thousand people rallied today. they're saying the refugee crisis is damaging their economy. thousands camp out in town trying for their chance to race into the euro tunnel. because of influx, shops and restaurants say their businesses have taken a hit. thousands of patients continues protesting in the streets after this weekends's presidential election was posed poend-- haitins. voting was scheduled to happen today. more on this rocky transition in haiti. >> reporter: it was the threat of widespread violence that led to haiti's planned election being called off. this is now a nation in limbo. polling stations have been set ablaze across the country with many fearing the country is

heading towards a crisis that threatening to destabilize an already fragile nation. you think it's going to be a struggle? >> yes, but we will fight. we are fighters. >> reporter: this man was running for president. he is now part of a group of former candidates known as the g 8 who have been calling for sweeping change amid accusations of fraud and voting irregularities. he is happy that the run-off has been postponed. he says the country has serious challenges ahead. >> translation: i have a good feeling. we made a big step in the right direction, but it is not the end. we still have a very long way to go because this fight is a lot more complicated than people think. >> reporter: but leadership struggles aside, people are growing impatient with the entire process. student and music told us he is rapidly losing hope for haiti. he tells us most live in inhumane conditions.

it's an opinion wildly held on the streets here. other observers don't see an easy way out of haiti's political impasse. according to the constitution, the president has to be out of office by the beginning of february. the timeframe gives those in power little time to act decisively. >> translation: we have less than two weeks until february 7. there is no way to have another election before then. so it will be up to the parliament and the political parties to agree on a transitional government. >> reporter: elections have never been an easy thing in haiti, but for the past decade this country has enjoyed relative political stability, burr all that has slowly begun to unravel in the past few months. the important thing for the future of this country, perhaps, is the next leader has legitimacy. there is more at stake here than a smooth hands over of power. haiti is still struggling to re

cover from an issue earlier and unemployment. this nation's 50 million people will ultimately pay the price still ahead, they have been living there for decades but not for much longer if the government gets its way. homes in a hong kong village are scheduled to be demolished.

is

the residents of a historic village in hong kong are being told to leave their homes. >> reporter: it's not often you see a low rise structure in the heart of hong kong. this village is home to around 100 people, some who have been here all their life. >> translation: my father built this house all by himself, so this house is now 50 to 60 years old. >> reporter: john was born here and is one of 15 households who still call it home. his days are numbered because the government has plans to demolish the site at the end of the month >> translation: if the government was about the people, it wouldn't force us to give up our homes before we have been resettled. >> reporter: the village was originally built by indigenous people in the 16th century with

the walls acting as defense against local pirates. three-quarters of the homes have already been demolished. >> hong kong is undergoing a huge shortage of housing. the new development will provide two tall apartment buildings for the market. it will make good use of the land. gentleman while it's the history of this village that these residents are so proud of, they're also concerned about where they go to from here. the government has offered some compensation, but not everyone is convinced it is enough to help them secure a home elsewhere. >> this small amount of money, you cannot do anything. even if you do rent a flat, it is very expensive. >> reporter: as well as residents, there are small

businesses, including this man's. he has been running this store for 40 years. >> translation: the compensation the government offers is not enough for renovating a new premise, let alone start a new business. i won't be able to run any business any more gentleman a government spokesman was not available for comment, but their message is clear, if they don't leave by the end of the month, they face criminal charges and hefty fines in americans are enlisted in the army they're entitled to health care for the rest of their life, free care. i repo >> reporter: all across the area here people are starting their work week, but for dr bob r ice

his week begins and ends today. harris scarfe his last day at the valley's-- it is his last day at the valley's clinic. >> reporter: he resigned after just four months on the job. he says the case load was overwhelming and support from veterans affairs far too little. he is the third doctor to come and go at the clinic in three years. this clinic is not unique. rural medical centers for veterans have problems retaining quality doctors nationwide. in a place that has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the u.s., the lack of access to quick instead medical care impacts many. 10% of the nearly 50,000 residents served in the military. for more involved care,

residents have to travel hours. >> you must be mike >> >> yes. >> reporter: they travelled to denver, a five hour trip there and five hours back, and that's in good weather. vietnam veteran michael knows this route well. he needs a hernia operation. tests will require more trips to denver. in winter the ten hour rounds trip drive can last longer u >> i may have misjudged the ser veerity of the weather. it took nine hours to get to denver. >> reporter: for a stress test? >> yeah. it was a stress test getting there. >> reporter: another man volunteers to drive vets around the country. >> the bottom line of that paper

states for yourself service to the country you will be given health care for the rest of your life. that is not being fulfilled today. i like dr r ice. i felt leak r like i got good attention from him. he examined me and he put the need for surgery as urgent. >> i'm angry about some of this stuff >> reporter: dr r ice says he has worked up to 70 hours a week, almost twice the time that his contract called for. he says the clinic needs two doctors. 1132 vets were being treated by dr r ice at this clinic. that might sound like a lot of patients for one doctor. but the va says the case load is 1228 patients less before they consider bringing in a second doctor. the regional manager for

southern colorardo's search for a new doctor is on. >> that pains me and i cannot to find ways to recruit because the veterans deserve a full-time md. my only primary goal is the treatment of the veterans down there. >> there is a long history of struggling with veterans care in the valley. it is just that the system moves very slowly. there is no sense of urgency. >> reporter: veterans in the valley went six months without a physician before dr r ice came on board in september. the appointment wait times dropped significantly when he took over in september almost 7% of appointments took longer than 30 days to schedule. the most recent veteran affairs data from september 15, just three months later, show a significant drop in wait times to just under 17%.

however, those wait times were far short of the 9% national average. >> should they expect-- >> they should expect things to be done more promptly, i think, by and large >> i think in this day and age with the kinds of health care that's available to the masses, that it shouldn't be anything less for the people who served our country. >> reporter: as for a permanent replacement for dr r ice, it will likely take months according to the vas regional manager. there is an interim doctor who al jazeera wanted to talk to, but the va refused to allow it a look at what is coming up in the next hour >> the end of a conflict zone. russian air strikes have intensified in syria. it comes on the eve to the talks

to end the war. we will take you live to the snow covered streets of new york and the latest on the deadly blizzard. in the week ahead, the court case over voting rights. that's just some of the stories ahead thank you very much. looking forward to it. hollywood's biggest night, the academy awards, are over a month away. for nearly two million people in kosovo are already sell breaking. they have a first-- celebrating. they have a movie that that is been nominated. >> reporter: the moment the oscar's nomination was confirmed. cheers, tears and celebrations here in recognition of an extraordinary story. the film's two 13 year old stars are being recognised everywhere

at the moment. >> translation: everyone here knows about the nomination. when i go to a shop people say to me they are proud of us. >> reporter: the short film is the true story of the friendship of two boys pushed to the limit in war time >> translation: i had difficulties in my part because i haven't lived through the war but the crew and parents helped me. >> reporter: the producer remembers the war very well. he reflects his experience about how albanian speakers were treated >> translation: i remembered to be asked an id card at the time to a policeman. i knew he spoke albanian and i told him i was travelling to school. he hit me and said i would have to speaking serbian. >> reporter: making the film is a major achievement. being nominated is an

inspiration to other film makers. >> translation: this is the first time ever that kosovo was nominated for the oscars. it means a lot to us because it might increase interest in making more films. >> reporter: it was shot in location and uses a cast of local actors. it is just 21 minutes long, but win or lose next month, this short film looks set to have a long lasting impact the news continues now. keep it here. keep it here.

8 to 9 news this is al jazeera america with a look at today's top stories. russian air strikes against i.s.i.l. in syria intensified this weekend on the eve of scheduled united nations talks on ending the country's nearly five-year war. thousands are digging out after the record breaking blizzard that pounded the east coast. it left at least