-lead air strikes to target isil held positions in syria's northeast. where the fighters are said to be on the offensive. but the u.s. are worried about helping the kurdish fighters. >> reporter: these are kurdish forces in syria. they have been on the front line in the war against the islamic state of iraq and the levant. these fighters say they are defending their land against isil. they are also the anti-isil coalition's only partner on the ground in syria. the group's political wing is the pyd. >> translator: on the ground it had onning -- it is our kurds who are fighting isil. the coalition needs to support us. but it is limited to air strikes. it made us stronger no doubt, but we are not receiving any weapons or ammunition. >> reporter: the u.s.-lead coalition a acknowledges the advances, but it is careful to avoid identifying the fighters as the ypg. many in the international community consider the ypg fight ores and their political wing to be he the syrian branch of the pkk, an organization on a european and u.s. terrorist list. >> the pyd, you

all but one kidnapped in northeast syria last week. according to a human rights groups in london these syrians were released on the self proclaimed isis court. let's bring in the latest information from ben wedeman from erbil, iraq. ben, what do we know about isis releasing these hostages? >> reporter: we understand it is 16 men and 3 women in addition to a man taken hostage a month ago. the reports we are getting out of northeast syria, where the kidnappings took place last week is that perhaps money exchanged hands to get their release. that most of the people are over the age of 50 and as far as for instance, isis slave markets, they may not be of high value. this is obviously good news for the syrian christian community in northeastern syria. keep in mind there still is as many as 200 people still unaccounted for and believed to be in the hands of isis. there were reports last week john that some of them had been transported to raqqah. the defacto capital of isis in syria. we know that particularly women, they tend to become slaves

targets in iraq and syria in the last 48 hours at least three of the strikes targeted northeast syria that's where i.s.i.l. fighters have kidnapped 250 assyrian christians. fighting for the survival of their communities. they are demanding weapons to defend themselves. zeina khodr reports from beirut. >> sut of these refugees are from iraq, some from syria. all of them are asirrian christians. they gathered in beirut to speak in one voice. their message was clear. this minority community in the middle east believes its future is threatened. >> this is a conspiracy to put the indigenous people of the region the asirrians from their historical home land. they are going to fight back until there is left blood we won't surrender. >> there is a heightened sense of concern after hundreds of asirrian christian families were displaced, in the northern city of hasaqi. some of them managed to escape to tell their story. >> there was a massacre. they came to our villages at night. they burned people in their home. they took our women and children. why isn't it helping us. >> there is also anger

they say are among the victims right now the world is being urged to turn it's attention here in northeast syriae november last year, president bashar at asaad's forces attacked the city, be uh in a new report, amnesty international says the rules of war were violated. we have come to the conclusion that there's damming evidence that they committed war crimes the research we have done shows that over 100 civilians were killed. they were not islamic state at all, but busy markets busy mocks and residential areas kilted civilians relentlessly. at least 60 people were killed in the shelling in one day alone. the action they say that's needed to stop the bloodshed. kim al jazeera. reports are emerging that one of the top field commanders has been killed in fighting around the libyan city. dozens of families have been threing the city as isil battles militia loyal to the tripoli based government. still to come, edging closer, we'll get the later on iran's talks. and the severe punishment for a bar manager and two staff who have been convicted of insulting buddha. >> this wrecked building is one of th

right now the world is being urged to turn its attention to northeast syria.vember last year the president's forces attacked the city in a bid to drive out the isil fighters, but in a new report amnesty international says the rules of war were violated. >> we have come to the conclusion that there is damning evidence that the syrian government forces committed war crimes there. the research that we have done shows that over 100 civilians were killed. the -- places targeted were busy markets, busy mosques and residential areas. >> reporter: amnesty says that assad's force killed civilians relentlessly. at least 60 people were killed in one day alone. doctors say they know the world is following, watching, and condemning these crimes but it's action they say, that is needed to stop the bloodshed. >>> reports are emerging that one of isil's top field commanders have been killed in fighting around the libyan city. the city is running short of fuel and food residents say. >>> rescuer workers have started to reach some of vanuatu's southern islands. more than 3,000

president and i was advising them -- it would have to be vetted -- is to create a protective zone in northeast syriare you could allow for an army to be built, both a syrian free army and international soldiers with the air power of the united states intelligence capability, and training, that you could engage and isolate isis in that fashion. mark: again, he does not have a lot of foreign policy experience, but it's another topic he knows is in the news. he talked about iran. said he would not necessarily have signed the letter -- did not say that, but dodged the question of the senate letter on iran. he continues to understand a for a lot of republicans publicans talking about what obama has done wrong is enough on or in policy -- he continues to understand that for a lot of republicans. john: this is one of the areas where i think he is weakest, and he sounded fine, but nothing like the fluency he had on immigration or the common core issue when he gets into foreign policy. it seems to me he is a little more tentative. mark: he handled the press like a pro. he faced 70 reporters, lots of cameras,

in the northeast syria's kurds are the majority.e isil advanced into the region, they were enjoying relative stability. many interpreted this was a step towards creating an independent state, but the kurds say all they want is autonomy in a democratic syria. the battle for the border town of kobani was the first time the u.s.-lead coalition coordinated with a local fighting force. at first it was reluctant to do so because turkey also considers the groups terrorists. months later the cooperation continues. it is an alliance born of necessity not choice. >>> there has been a serious suggestion that governments should negotiate with the islamic state of iraq and the levant to get aid into parts of syria. this suggestion comes from the children's charity unicef as the country's civil war enters its fifth year. unicef believes that 40 million children are suffering because of what is happening there. bernard smith reports. >> reporter: from the moment they are born most syrians are now re-louant on foreign aid. here it means the differe

in the northeast syria's kurds are the majority before isil advanceed in for their region they were enjoyingely stability. they even had their own administration that ran their affairs, many interpreted this as a step towards creating an independent state. but the kurds say all they want is autonomy in a democratic syria. the battle for the border town of kobane was the first time the u.s. led coalition coordinated with the local fighting force on the ground in syria. at first, it was reluctant to do so. in part because turkey also considers the p.y.d. and p.k. k terrorists. months later their corporation continues it's an alliance born of necessity, not choice. zeina khodr, al jazerra beirut. >>> turkey's coast guard has opened fire on a ship carrying more than 300 syrian refugees. the shots were fired after the captain ignored warnings to stop as it passed through the narrow straight in northwest turkey. 337 refugees who were trying to reach italy have been detained in turkey. >>> and we have full coverage of the conflict in syria on our website aljazerra.com. just click on syria: broken n

right now the world is being urged to turn its attention here to northeast syria.mber last year, president bashar al-assad's forces attacked the city and nba a bid to drive out isil fighters. but in a new report amnesty international says the rules of war were violated. >> we are come to the conclusion that there is damning evidence that the syrian forces committed war crimes, over 100 civilians were killed, the places targeted were not islamic state bases as all, but busy marks busy mosques and residential areas. >> reporter: amnesty says while attention was divert today the u.s.-led air strikes elsewhere assad's forces killed civilians relentlessly. at least 60 people were killed in the shelling in one day alone alone. doctors say they know the world is following watching and condemning these crimes. but it's action they say that's needed to stop the bloodshed. kim vinnell, al jazerra. >>> the iranian president has expressed optimism for reaching ideal with western powers over its nuclear program. hassan rouhani was speaking during a ceremony of the south gas fie

this week, isis militants abducted dozens of assyrian christians from a string of villages in northeast syria some reports say as many as 350 christians were kidnapped from their homes. father emmanuel youkhana is an archbishop of the assyrian church of the east. >> i feel crying for them. i feel my soul hurting for them. let us have an end to this continuous chapter of persecution. >> reporter: this week, isis posted a video claiming to show the destruction of priceless assyrian antiquities as well. thousands of years old. now ruined forever. and as the threat to christians in syria grows, another christian leader we spoke to left us with a simple request. remember to pray for us. martha raddatz, abc news, on the syria/turkey border. >> our thanks to martha. late today, isis reportedly released at least 19 christians they abducted in syria. it's not clear why they were let go. human rights groups say the captives were all 50 years old or older. >>> back to cleveland. the fatal police shooting of 12-year-old tamir rice was the boy's own fault. this is response to a lawsuit by the boy's family

explosion in cairo in less than a week >>> isil has released 21 syrian christians abducted in northeast syria. their release was celebrated at a church in a city under isis control. isil still holds more than 200 syrian christians. >>> a coalition of syrian rebels has disbanded after days of fighting. the movement says infighting has distracted the opposition from battling the real target the syrian government. here's that report from beirut. >>reporter: they lost many men in the fight but these syrian rebels were not killed by the syrian government. they died fighting al quaeda's affiliates in syria and aleppo. a few days ago, the nusra group declared war on its group. accusing them of capturing and killing their fighters. it's a charge they deny. they nevertheless have decided to disband. the fighting in aleppo was not the first confrontation. a few months ago, the movement was pushed out from a neighboring province. they're based in the rebel-controlled north. it was the first group to receive sophisticated weapons from the u.s. but its links with the west only gained them enemies on the g

right now the world is being ucked to turns it attention here to northeast syria. last year, forces attacked the city in an attempt to drive out isis fighters, and they were violated. >> with the syrian government forces to visit war crimes. and the research shows that over 100 civilians were killed. and the bases targeted were not islamic bases at all. but busy markets and mosques and other residential areas. >> diverted to the airstrikes elsewhere, the forces killed civilians relentlessly. at least 60 people were killed in one day alone. the doctors say they know the world is following watching and condemning these crimes, but they say it's action that's needed to stop the bloodshed. >> reports are emerging that one of isil's top field commanders has been killed in fighting. dozens of families have been fleeing the city, and the isil battlers are loyal to the government. the city is running short of fuel and food. >>> to reach some of the remote islands for the first time since they were devastated by a tropical cyclone friday night. the u.n. said at least 11 peo

right now the world is being urged to turn it's attention here, and northeast syria. november last year, president bashar al-asaad forces attacked the city, and in a bid to drive out isil fighters. but in a new report amnesty international says the rules of bar were violated. there's damming evidence that the syrian government forces committed war crimes. the research we have done shows that over 100 civilians were killed, the places targeted were not islamic state bases but busy markets busy mossenings, and residential areas. amnesty says while attention was diverted elsewhere the forces killed civilians relentlessly. at least 60 people were killed in this shelling in one day alone doctors say they know the world is following watching and condemning these crimes, but it's action they say that is needed to stop the blood shut al jazeera one of the cop fielders commanders has been killing in fighting around the libyan city. dozens of families families have been threing the city as they battle militia loyal to the government they are running short of fuel and food. >> a

. >>> all but one hostage kidnapped last week in northeast syria.rian hostages released on the orders of a self proclaimed isis sharia court. let's bring in ben wedeman. he is live in erbil, iraq. ben, what do we know about why this isis court has let the hostages go? >> reporter: the reports we're hearing from northeastern syria, christine christine, money was paid. a ransom and it was provided. it is not clear from whom but possibly from the syrian christian community in northeastern syria. there are 20 people released according to the human rights group. the u.k. based group. of the 20 19 were taken hostage last week. of those 19 16 are men and 3 are women and the 20th is a man who was taken hostage by isis last month. we understand that they are all over the age of 50. although this is a glimmer of good news we understand that as many as 200, possibly more syrian christians who were taken hostage by isis during an offensive against syrian christian villages remain hostage. some we're told have ended up in raqqah, the de facto capital of isis. if

right now the world is being urged to turn it's attention here in northeast syria.november last year the president's forces attacked the city in a bid to drive out isil fighters but in a knew report amnesty international says the rules of war were violated. >> there is damning evidence that the syrian government forces committed war crimes there. the research we have done shows that over 100 civilians were killed. the places targeted were not islamic state bases at all, but busy markets, busy mosques, and residential areas. >> reporter: amnesty says while attention was diverted to the u.s.-lead air strikes elsewhere. assad's forces killed civilians relentlessly. at least 60 people were killed in one day alone. doctors say they know the world is following, watching and condemning these crimes but it's action they say, that is needed to stop the bloodshed. >>> 12 more men have been hajed in pakistan after the government extended the use of the death penalty. executions were reintroduced last december after a school attack killed more than 150 mainly children. dozens o

this week, isis militants abducted dozens of asyrian christians from a string of villages in northeast syria. some reports say as many as 350 christians were kidnapped from their homes. >> we might be helpless. but we are never hopeless. >> reporter: father emmanuel youkhana is an archbishop of the asyrian church in the east. he had been in touch with many of the fleeing families. >> i feel crying for them. this is why we're asking, please. let us have an end to this continuous chapter of persecution. once and forever. >> reporter: long persecuted in the middle east, the asyrians are one of the oldest christian communities in the world. they still speak a version of aramaic. the language jesus spoke. the abduction is only the latest shock in what has been a harrowing year for the region's minorities, as isis swept through. last august, 40,000 of iraq's yasidi population fled. u.s. air strikes and humanitarian aid alleviated the situation until kurdish fighters finally liberated them in december. then, another blow. isis released a video showing the slaughter of 21 egyptians coptic christians

now suicide-bombers have killed at least 50 people during kurdish new year celebrations in northeast in syria. activists say that the islamic state of iraq and levant are behind the attack. staying in syria, in the rebel-held parts of aleppo, activists say that government shelling has killed five people. but despite the civil war entry many syrians are continue to go come out in protest. the number of people waving flags have swindled in the last four years. these people live in the out outskirts of damascus. those who want to choose a new syrian government continue to come out to show the world that they still want change. >> the beginning of the revolution, they would kill people randomly in the streets while they're protesting peacefully. the revolution turned from the demonstration and the to the protests because we want peaceful demonstrations. >> in the city where anti-assad sentiments have continued for decades, they have been fighting off attacks from the islamic state in iraq and the levant. also is also a target for protesters. every opposition group is fighting each other. as well

they are abducted in the province in syria's northeast. others freed were welcomed to a church in the city. >> the plans of the u.s. led coalition to train what it calls moderate syrian rebels have suffered a setback. the movement, which was the first rebel group selected to receive the training has disbanded. the group's ranks collapsed after fighting against the al-qaeda al-nusra front in syria. we have a report from beirut. >> they lost many men in the fight and the movement appears to have collapsed, but these syrian release were not killed by the syrian government. they died fighting al-qaeda's affiliates in aleppo. a few days ago, the nusra front declared all-out war on the group, accusing it of killing and kidnapping its fighters, a charge the u.s -- backed group denies. the movement has decided to disband. in a statement, a spokesman said the syrian military began to advance on several front lines because of the opposition's in-fighting, as long as it remained, it would be a target for al-nusra. >> the fighting in aleppo was not th

the armed group still holding 200 people from the minority community in syria and they are in syria northeast and some freed were welcomed at a church in the city. now some senior democrats including vice president joe biden threatening to boycott netanyahu's peach and arrived on sunday and using the visit to argue against a nuclear deal with iran. >> reporter: [chanting] delegates to this year's conference of u.s. most powerful israeli group apac greeted by a small group of protesters. and the police were determined to keep these opponents to israeli government policy outside on the freezing pavement. resent weeks it has been elsewhere in washington and they have been defenders and benjamin netanyahu to address a joint congress without consulting obama administration has talked about the israeli relationship and there was a real attempt to gloss over differences and u.s. politicians on hand to give the audience what they wanted. >> as we negotiate with the i iran they toppled and what do the you think they would do with the money, do you think they would build schools and hospitals and given

they were abducted in syria's northeast. some of those freed were welcomed at a church.'s go to zeina holder. whatkhodr.what are learning? >> reporter: undoubtedly it's a relief for the community that was really worried about the fate of the more than 200 syrian christians who were captured last week by isil. but what we understand from activist is his that the 21 syrians were released after facing a court a court -- an islamic court an isil islamic court. they were forced to pay a tax leveed on nonmuslims. this is what activists are saying. it's very difficult for us really to independently confirm what is happening there. but they are also worried about the dozens of others that remain in captivity. they have been taken to a strong hold that isil has. they don't know if these people will be killed. they don't know if some of them have been killed. they don't know whether they will also be taken to court and have the possibility of paying money before being released. but what we do understand is that the arab tribal elders, in this province, are trying to mediate, try t

launching a fierce assault in the city of ramadi and in northeast syria, isis has launched a large-scale on the border with turkey. i want to break it down with cnn military analyst lieutenant colonel rick francona. good to have you with us. i've got a map up on the wall since you know this region so far and know the players involved. you're the man to break it down with us. all right let's begin with tikrit. we've been hearing about the great progress that the iraqi forces are making. 75% of the city taken back by iraqi forces do you think it's a matter of time before this falls entirely? >> i do. the iraqis have dedicated the right force structure to do this they've got almost 30,000 people. the majority of the fight something done by the shia militias they've got iranian leadership on the ground with them. they're doing a good job there. but this next 25% is going to be very very difficult because now we're into the real street fighting. this has been going block by block, house by house, street by street. it will be slow going, very difficult. they will get it done. so i think tikrit

syria hit an i.s.i.l. controlled oil refinery in the northeast town near the turkish border, 30 people are reported to havekilled in the strike including refinery workers and i.s.i.l. fighters. residents in the rebel held districts of aleppo protesting for the city and it collapsed as both sides failed to agree on what exactly would be involved in a settlement and we report. >> reporter: this is what the united nations was hoping to stop but it has failed to freeze a conflict in syria's second largest city and barrel bombs already killed hundreds of people in resent months and continue to fall in populated areas in rebel controlled aleppo city. >> barrel bombing campaign populated the city more than a million used to live in rebel areas, now there is 300,000, there was mass exodus because there was a time when dozens of people were dying everyday. >> reporter: the syrian government told u.n. special envoy stephan-misdistura talking about the attacks on aleppo and the opposition rejected that deal. it has been a difficult process, from the start the war inside this agreed on the scheme of the u.n.-proposed

ten years back and it's an ongoing ethno religious cleansing and they want to= in syria right now in the kabul area northeastof sere wra. >> i understand that.. you know about the 250 christians, the most recent kidnapped christians? >> i'm sorry, judge, we are all devastated. tired and sleepless. of course, we are in touch constantly in touch with their relatives that fled, with eyewitness, with our charity organizations. with our with our churches. and we are all staying and we are all staying in touch with the militia, itself. syria militia, and the kurdish militia, ypg, that are trying to combat isis in this area. >> now, i understand -- excuse me for interrupting. i don't have a lot of time. i understand that someone had made a phone call to a relative and isis answered? is that correct? >> isis switched on the telephone that belongs to the kidnappers. when c when children are calling their parents, they get -- when parents call their children, they get the same message. when loved ones call their loved ones, they get the same message that this telephone now belongs to us and the hostages belongs to us.

-led coalition air strikes in syria have hit an isil-controlled oil refinery. it lies northeastthe town near the turkish border. 30 people are reported to have been killed in the strike. including refinery workers and isil fighters. >>> a series of attacks targeting houthi fighters in yemen has killed at least 15 peoples. in the sen value province seven were killed, also two more houthis were killed when their car was hit as they were patrolling the city. further killings following an offensive launched by local tribes men. >>> u.s. president barack obama is threatening to walkway from nuclear talks with iran if certain conditions aren't met. he wants assurances that iran is not trying to build nuclear weapons. >> if there is no deal, then we walk away. if we cannot verify that they are not going to obtain a nuclear weapon, that there is a breakout period, so that even if they cheated, we would be able to have enough time to take action, if we don't have that kind of deal, then we are not going to take it. >> aa bowl a's efforts to clinch that deal is being undermined by some me

-led coalition airstrikes on syria have hit an oil refinery controlled by isil. it's in the northeast near the turkish border. 30 people are reported to have been killed in the strike, including refinery workers and isil fighters. the fight against isil continues in iraq. government forces are still facing strong resistence as they try to retake the northern city of tikrit. the battle is crucial for iraqi forces in their advance against isil. these are the latest pictures from the town alalam just 18 kilometers from tikrit. iraqi forces say they've liberated the area and isil fighters have set fire to some oil fields to try to confuse government forces. >>> as part of the iraqi armies advance on isil-held positions troops have begun to amass outside of the town of anbar province, trying to push forward to the city of fallujah. fallujah has been under isil control for several months. [ gunfire ] meanwhile kurdish forces are attacking else positions in kirkuk in northern iraq. fighters have been advancing in several areas, seizing villages as they go. the city itself is under kurdish co

there has been violence in the northeast of the country with at least eight people killed in two drive-by shootings. in syria rebel groups led by the al-qaeda linked al nusra front captured in the north syd of idlib following five days of intense fighting. it is the second provincial capital to be fully controlled by rebels. >> reporter: the syrian army is gone and opposition fighters are now in control here. the city of city of idlib has been under the syrian government in this war. now it is the rebels who are now in charge. this fight was under taken by a coalition led by the al nusra front, an al-qaeda affiliate. al jazeera spoke to a fighter in the city. >> the main reason for our advance in idlib city. there are no names all rebels are fighting under the one name offal fat at of al fattah. >> this appears to show fighters returning home reunited with their families after they say years on the battlefield. geographically idlib is hugely significant. it also connects the roam from ham in the south aleppo in the east and borders turkey to the north. close to a million people live in idlib plus many who ha

syria appeared in i.s.i.l. controlled oil refinery in the northeast of the town near the turkish border 30 people reported to bed in the strike including refinery workers and i.s.i.l. fighters. the fight continues in iraq and government forces meeting strong resistance trying to retake the northern city of tikrit and moving the closer by liberating a town and this is crucial for advance to mosul, iraq's second city has been under i.s.i.l. control since june last year. and the influential iraqi says his malitia will help in offensive to recapture mosul from i.s.i.l. his forces fought against u.s. military after 2003 invasion of iraq but now fighters may work with american forces. and we have an expert on middle east history and requested the u.s. not be involved in the campaign. >> this is not unprecedented. the peace brigades as they now call them rather than the army have been involved in operations in the past last fall where u.s. gave close air support, but he suspended his malitia operations in mid february after the assassination of a sunni tribal leader in baghdad and apparently he is having some problems

syria. they were abducted in the providence in the northeast and some freed were welcomed at a church in they. and dana has the update from beirut. >> reporter: 21 released from iraq and levante and last week captured 200 of them in the northern province and what we understand from activists is christians were released after court and have to face trial in islamic court and forced to pay the zisia, a tax levied on non-muslims and it's hard for us to independently confirm and what we have been told by activists but it's still not clear whether dozens of others will have to face trial as well whether or not they would be able to pay money and be released whether i.s.i.l. plans to kill them but they are mediating and trying to find some sort of a deal maybe possibility of prisoner exchange because the community is really worried and in beirut this is a minority community spread across syria and telling the international communities you have to give us arms to defend ourselves and this is not the first time of attack and it was another episode of persecution and they see hundreds of thousands of

there is still concern about violence not just in the northeast across the country but the poll will go ahead. >> thanks for that. >> in syriaat least 12 have been killed in a suburb of the capitol. activists video uploaded to you tube appears to show the aftermath of airstrikes. al jazeera is unable to verify the images, but activists say a bomb hit a market and a mosque during friday prayers. dozens of people were wounded. syria's president said he's open to dialogue with the united states. bashar al assad made the comment in a television interview. he said there must be no pressuring of syria's sovereignty. >> we could say dialogue is a positive thing and we're open to dialogue including anyone, including the united states rewarding anything based on mutual respect. >> iraqi prime minister was briefed on progress since adjustment led airstrikes began. forces aided by airstrikes are trying to take the area from centerislamic state of iraq and the levant. >> isil fighters are in control are strategic buildings inside sirte. it's just one war front in a country with many battlegrounds. zeina hodor has more. >> the casualty t

. >> in syria at least 25 people have been killed in a wave of car bombs in the northeast of the country, according to activists. footage posted on line appears to show a raging fire with people rushing for cover. they had been celebrating the new year festival in the kurdish city. activists say the video that cannot be identified shows anti syrian regime fighters targeting military positions in aleppo. it was once the countries industrial heartland but has been transformed into the biggest urban battleground in syria's war. >> the greek prime minister alexis tsipras is head to go germany for a meeting with german chancellor angela merkel, after an agreement to give athens more money to help its debt crisis. we have a report from berlin. >> a meeting in brussels to try to sox the greek debt crisis, europe's leaders talked long into the night. eventually, they agreed he a deal to allow greece more money and more time. analysts in berlin believe that neither side hazard any realistic alternative. >> it's another step on this path of muddling through. this has been the strategy from the ver

syria. authorities say the girls fled england to join isis. >>> and it's been an interesting winter day in the midwest and northeast. well, by interesting, i mean cold and awful. ice, heavy snowfall triggered this 30-vehicle pileup on interstate 44 in missouri today. a number of people hurt in that.#c wow. similar scene in oklahoma as yet another winter storm blankets the region with snow and freezing rain. the northeast is not being spared either. we saw snow i think several hours early. senior meteorologist janice dean is in with the details from our fox news extreme weather center. and it just stopped snowing a few minutes ago. >> yeah, and to see a few flurries in the new york city area, but boston, you're going to pick up an inch or two. you're getting closer to your snowiest winter on record. current temperatures, as you can see, still cold across the upper midwest and the great lakes down south, but we're getting warm air that's moving up the coast and that's going to give us that changeover from snow to freezing rain and sleet. it has been freezing rain and sleet for much of the afternoon for d.c. and philad