as neave barker explains from kiev that's not a good news from an economy devastated by months of protestseporter: ukraine's national currency, here it is, it's about $50 also has been fluctuating wildly in value over the last few weeks, last week it plummeted to its last in four year old and it's having a knock on effect of the cost of things here, petrol prices have started to go up and the fear is other goods and services may become more expensive also. the russians have said that they will start offering again their $15 billion financial lifeline, providing, though, that ukraine are able to payback a $3 billion loan for gas. it's unclear whether kiev is, you know, considering its political state able to do that right now. but other offers of financial aid have come from the united states and from the eeu, they say that they are prepared to offer a stability financial package to help the country, but only providing that lawmakers here bring about an end to this ongoing stand off. the fear there, though, is that this could well start some sort of bidding war between east and west over in

neave barker met some of the demonstrators who were demanding that europe does more to end the standoff reporter: in a square plastered with anti-government slogans these pro tests are doing something different. with blank placards and coffered mouth they march through the city to the german embassy. they are demanding europe do more to end the bitter standoff. >> we are calling for people to pay attention on our cause and stop being blinds and death outta troughs at thises to, the oppressions, murders, tortures happening right before their eyes. >> reporter: on independent square demonstrators straight much-needed cheer with serve i goes of hot food. others who have been camped here for weeks while the way the time with chess. >> translator: there are always knights and pawns in this game. in this game we the people are the pawns but there are times when pawns become knights and this is what happens happening now. we are united because of our spirit and we are becoming more and more powerful. >> reporter: sundays have regularly drawn 10s of thousands of demonstrators. it's a chance for

neave barker, al jazeera, kiev. >>> 20 children's at the school taken hostage. gunman wasn't detained. some of slovenia's coldest weather in decades have left quarter of a million people shivering without electricity. >> reporter: residents of slovenia haven't experienced this bad a weather for years. has been without power for four days, she cannot do her job without her computer or telephone. >> i'm trying hard. my husband is gone. land line telephones aren't functioning. in fact we are cut off from the rest of the world until we get our power back. >> large teams of engineers are working to repair broken power lines. 65% of schools in slovenia are closed. >> we were told yesterday there would be no classes. universities will be closed for one week. >> the same information is posted on the doors of the city's cafes, banks and businesses, closed, the sign says, only a few stores that are lucky enough to own generators, have the luxury of opening. >> generators cannot be placed indoors due to poisonous gases. >> the cold has carried away any potential customers.

neave barker, al jazeera, kiev. >>> the tennessee workers have said no to union. 712 voted against joining the united auto workers, 626 voted for it. al jazeera's erica ferrari has more. >> it's a sting to auto workers in general. after secret voting, tennessee's auto workers say no to union representation. >> my heart is pounding with exceeding joy. we are thankful that it turned out the way it did. >> volkswagen has invested $1 billion in the tennessee plant. the company was lured there by more than $577 million in state and local incentives. some viewed unionizing as a setback that would only benefit the uaw. >> the problem is the uaw has a need for our money. they don't care about these guys. they really don't. >> reporter: the campaign was seen as organized labor's best chance to expand into foreign-owned plants in the south. that very idea brought more reaction from outside interests than from the plant workers themselves. conservative groups rented billboards in tennessee and blamed the uaw for detroit's financial troubles. while governor bill haslam spoke out, volkswagen remained n

. >> neave barker live for us in kiev. thank you. >>> in bosnia protesters have gathered outside a police sfags in sarajevo. they're calling for the release of people arrested during violent demonstrations at the end of last week. many people are angry at high levels of unemployment and poor living conditions. tim friend explains. >> reporter: the protests and frustrations aimed as bosnia's leaders are unrelenting. the violence has ceased for now, but the passion remains. >> you have to find -- you have to fight for your future because they don't fight for our future anymore. >> reporter: this country is in crisis, years of pent-up anger over a stagnant economy finally erupted last week in street battles with police. the protesters here have appealed for a peaceful demonstration. they also know that to achieve their aims, they will have to keep up the pressure on politicians at a national and local level. two local government workers examine their offices burned out during friday's rioting in sarajevo. they tell me they ma