♪ come together in the new beginning ♪ children in russia who are hoping for a new beginning caught in a web of politics. russia banned american adoptions. >> now it banned adoptions to some people from countries that allow same-sex marriage. hamish has the story of one family fighting to bring a little boy home. >> reporter: this is the thomas family from minnesota. renee, john and 8-year-old jack, adopted from russia. >> my dream of being a mom happened. it was all of those emotions that i would say you'd go through as if you were having your own baby. >> reporter: they are happy, healthy, but if their words, an incomplete family. jack has a 5-year-old brother, nickoli, who is still in an orphanage in russia. >> if he came home tonight, we would have a big party. eat chocolate and watch movies. he loves giving kisses. >> reporter: almost four years ago they were close to reuniting the brothers. suddenly, russia changed the law and a ban came into force. after a string of high-profile case, one child sent to american was sent back alone, no longer wanted. one toddler died when his father left him in a hot car. as the world focus is on vladimir putin, renee is now appearing on russian television, to make a direct appeal. >> we wouldn't be fighting so hard if didn't mean so much to us. >> reporter: there are well-documented frictions in the relationship between moscow and washington, and in this case that's leading to suspicions. lawyers and politicians here are telling us they're in no doubt politics have played a part in it and children are caught in the middle. hamish mcdonald. >> >> they are suffering because of politics. just a shame. >> russia has already banned all americans regarding sexuality from adopting children from russia. that was back in 20 12. so this applies to single people in other countries, mostly europe, the places where gay marriage has been legalized. >> you see kids in orphanages and they're suffering because of politics. >> i know. it breaks my heart. coming up. i went to new york's most amazing restaurants to learn how to make a steak, no fuss, no muss. the next half hour, the amazing breakthrough that has allowed a couple to hold hands for the first time in their 13 year marriage. you're watching "world news now." >> announcer: "world news now" ♪ ♪ ♪ if you believe in love at all ♪ ♪ let's get it on baby so, valentine's day can be tough for a lot of people. between the flowers, the candy, the cards, it can be hard to find the right thing to make your special someone happy. >> it's true. but this one is our "favorite story of the day." >> a little leopard can go a long way. home cooked meal. so i set out to find something that a guy can make that is both delicious and easy. all right, guys, it is valentine's day. you don't want to make a reservation. spend a for tun but you don't know what to cook. we have chef anthony marco. he says if he can do it anyone can. what are we making today? >> a strip loin, black pepper jam. >> very romantic. we have our sauces, our steak, let's do it. >> the most important thing about steak is seasoning, right? >> got to salt it. >> this is a ten-ounce steak, so we want to go nice. you want to coat the whole top with pepper, too. a little bit of oil in each pan. >> regular oil? soy oil. you want black pepper sauce. before you put the meat in, turn the burner off. you don't want any flames or flare-ups. add scallions, please. >> scallions it is. right there in the big pan. >> there you go. >> there you go. >> add the garlic and ginger. what we're looking for is caramelization. and not touching the steak. just making sure the oil is not stuck on one side. black beans there. >> black beans. put them in? >> yes. we soak these for about five minutes. we have lemon juice right there. we have the sweet soy right next to it. going to use soy sauce. >> smells even better. >> you have black pepper right here because it is a black pepper sauce. and, boom. we're going to reduce this. we flip the steak here. at this point we're going to get a little garlic. a little chile. we're going to add a little bit of butter to this. right on top of the steak. this is going to brown. you're going to get that nutty flavor now. all you're doing is putting that butter on top with the garlic. and i'm going to show you this sauce. this is ready. look at that. just reduced and jammy. we're going to put some of the residual butter, we're going to cook some bok choy. you got bok choy, sesame seed. you don't need to cook bok choy more than 30 seconds. we're going to plate this old school style. this is our black pepper sauce we reduced. and we're just going to kind of do whatever we want with it. >> this is the best part of the whole experience right here. >> all right, man. let's see if it's worth it. >> just dig in? oh, man. here we go. >> hit that other piece. >> completely awesome. >> completely awesome. i'm not waiting any more. >> go for it, marci. >> thank you. >> what do you think? amazing, right? >> incredible. >> chef ricoh, he's just awesome. demystified the whole thing about cooking. a few simple things have you to do right. if you follow the directions, can you make this dish. >> you would try this at home? >> i would try this ahome. you approve? would i win your heart? >> that would be so romantic. i would love to come home from work and have a guy cooking up dinner, especially this. that brings us to our facebook question of the day. >> we want to know, how are you spending your valentine's day? logon to wnnfans.com and let us know what you're doing. thank you, spice market in new york city, chef rico. fantastic. happy valentine's day, everybody. ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com [ male announcer ] can't take a sick day tomorrow. [ coughs ] [ male announcer ] so he can't let a cold keep him up tonight. vicks nyquil. powerful nighttime 6 symptom cold and flu relief. ♪ but then it goes to the closet...to die. so try glow unstopables. they fill your closet with scents so fresh they last for 12 weeks! downy unstopables. try with downy infusions. a bit of a valentine's day surprise. are you still eating steak? >> i'm still eating. >> my valentine's day meal going over big with marci. students at brigham young university surprising women with a serenade. some react differently. check it out. ♪ ♪ v is very very extraordinary ♪ e is even more than anyone than you adore ♪ >> some are just downright scared in their mind. some ran away right from the word go. some pretty cute. >> she doesn't look amused. that's funny. i don't know why anyone would dump candy down a toilet but it happened in space. the astronauts on the international space station showing how the toilets up there work. what better way than with some chocolates, i guess. >> check it out. nice. >> they're calling this exclusive video obtained by abc news. a very serious story. i think the serious part of it is that chocolate is going to waste. in all places, space. all right. polka time. ♪ ♪ who needs flowers who needs sweets ♪ ♪ pledge your love with texts and tweets ♪ it's the valentine's polka ♪ment? even if you're not that hunk ♪ ♪ if you're not that popular and can't attract a mate ♪ ♪ take the plea accordion ♪ you're bound to find a date ♪ every bachelorette agrees we all need a main squeeze ♪ ♪ it's the main squeeze orchestra ♪ ♪ ♪ if you've got a roving eye one partner just won't suit ♪ ♪ try an open marriage though it did not work for newt ♪ ♪ cupid's arrow so pass e ♪ now he uses pepper spray ♪ though i may still be single it's not a total loss ♪ ♪ i'm a friend with benefits that's right i've got blue cross ♪ ♪ if you're longing to be kissed someone is waiting on craigslist ♪ ♪ that's the valentine's polka ♪ our thanks to mainsqueezeorchestra.com. have a great weekend. we'll see you monday! insqueezeorchestra.com. have a great weekend. see you monday. ♪ ♪ toxic chemicals and carcinogens are leaching into the environment. it's happening right where we live, work and play. everywhere. cigarette butts are toxic waste. let's stop the toxic litter. learn more at rethinkbutts.org ...until we found a connection. you have the power to change your child's life. the boys town national hline can help. (tdd# 1-800-448-1433) this morning on "world news now," killer storms. another nasty blow to the east right now, another punch from the storm of historic proportions that left millions of people from georgia to maine in misery. >> set free, afghanistan releases dangerous prisoners, in a move that could force the u.s. to rethink military strategy. >> dream come true. a couple married for 13 years, finally get to hold hands this valentine's day. it is a remarkable story of a medical advance and true love. >> and big reveal. giving the world the first glimpse of three "sports illustrated" swim suites modes . illustrated" swim suites modes . good morning on this valentine's day. i'm diana perez. >> i'm john muller. the storm plaguing the eastern third of the country for the past two days. it is snowing again in new york city after hours of drenching rain. >> some parts of new england could see nearly two feet of snow before this is over. in the south, residents today will spend the day digging out and assessing the damage from the worst snowstorm in at least a decade. abc's linzie janis has more. >> reporter: from snow and ice, wind and rain, the storm that crippled the south, killing 20 people, is still reeking havoc. whiteout conditions from the nation's capital, nor'easter winds sparking a house fire. seven injured. also in new york, a pregnant woman was struck and killed by a plow. her baby saved. pennsylvania, still under a state of emergency from the last storm. just outside philly, we helped 64-year-old rose marie dig out. she lost power -- >> i have a fur coat on. >> reporter: have you been wearing it inside? >> eye been wearing it inside. >> reporter: her 100-year-old mother had to go to the hospital to stay warm. this toddler with breathing problems evacuated. schools closed. but in new york they stayed open. new york's new mayor defending his decision. >> the national weather service gave us a projection. what we got here was certainly the high end of the projection and then some and faster and earlier than was expected. >> reporter: here in philadelphia, we got 9 inches of snow. some people taking advantage, sledding down these famous steps. linzie janis, abc news, philadelphia. >> it's good see somebody taking advantage of this blustery blast of winter. >> as the northeast gets pounded yet again, meteorologist jim dickey is live at accuweather. jim, when will we see the worst of this second round. >> the worst of it over in many spots, actually. we're tracking the back edge of the snow now. about to move through philadelphia, new york city another couple hours of heavier snowfall. overall with this storm we're on the downswing of it. we'll see conditions improve as we head through the day. till going through the worst of it in maine, though. the worst overhead right now. we'll keep that in place through much the morning. really from boston south and westward through the next couple of hours, we'll seal big-time improvements. this system is accelerating off to the north and east and the snow will depart from north to south as we head through the coming hours. especially in maine, vermont, new hampshire, an additional 6 to 12 inches. these storm totals, many spots from bangor south into virginia, picked in excess of a foot. roanoke, over 20 inches of snow. unfortunately, there's another storm system we're tracking on the heelses of this one. not nearly as strong. most spots just a quick 1 to 3 inches. this is the type of storm that has the potential to strengthen rapidly once it moves offshore. we could see a foot in new england once again. >> jim dickey live at accuweather, thank you. with the storm triggering another round of closing, catholic high school finding innovative ways without cutting into vacation. it was first cyber snow day. each student has been issued an ipad. teachers post lessons by 9 a.m. and kids complete them and send them back bit end of the day. edward snowden gathered some of the classified documents using a coworker's password but snowden said he didn't steal any pass worried. that coworker's password was revoked and was fired. united states and russia have pledged to work together to break the stalemate in syrian peace talks. government forces conducted another round of air strikes on aleppo, dropping barrel bombs on neighborhoods where rebels are in control. opposition forces say 400 people have died so far this month. afghanistan's release of 65 accused militants from prison is raising new questions about the withdrawal of allied forces later this year. the u.s. insists these men may pose a new threat but afghan president karzai says the u.s. needs to stay out of his country's judicial affairs. here's abc's jonathan karl. >> reporter: they were locked in a high security prison, considered some of the most dangerous men in the world. taliban fighters captured by u.s. forces. they're enjoying lunch in a kabul cafe, freed under order of afghan president hamid karzai. among them, an alleged taliban commander named narallah. he denies the charges but has been linked to attacks killing one american and wounding others. in all told 65 prisoners were released from this prison, seen in this exclusive video shot by the bbc. u.s. officials say they are directly linked to attacks that killed or wounded 32 u.s. personnel. >> the tests on their fingers of explosives, on their hands. >> reporter: it's another low point for already tattered u.s. relations with president karzai, who has been trying to get his own peace deal with the taliban. >> it is of no concern to the u.s. and should be of no concern to the u.s. >> reporter: president obama has to decide how many forces to keep in afghanistan after this year but this prison release makes it hard for the u.s. to stay in afghanistan at all. jonathan karl, abc news. more than three-quarters of a million cars with a defect. recalling chevy cobalt and pontiac g5 sold from 2005 to to 2007. faulty ignition request shut off. general motors promising to restore the eight corvettes swallowed up by the sinkhole. they say they rank as some of the most significant in automotive history. i know one gift a lot of guys will be wishing for on this valentine's day. if you're tired of shoveling snow this winter, why not let a robot do it? a north carolina company developed a remote-controlled snowplow you can operate from the lovely warmth of your living room 37 it's based on a robot they built for new york city fire department. >> that's awesome. six wheels, upgrades include headlights and cameras which can send a live feedback to your couch. price tag? $800,000. >> not the most practical valentine's day gift. look at it go. they say it can be wi-fi enabled so can you sit -- >> while in the studio i could plow out the homestead. >> from a company called super droid robots. >> sign me up. coming up, hot hollywood actor colin farrell revealing personal things about his sex life. first, a couple married for 13 years finally gets to hold hands on valentine's day. the medical advance that made this dream come true. you're watching "world news now." ♪ i wanna hold your hand i wanna hold your hand ♪ ♪ i wanna your hand >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you colonial penn life insurance. . ♪ i wanna hold your hand i wanna hold your hand ♪ ♪ i wanna hold your hand it is something every couple takes for granted, holding hands. >> but for one couple, that was impossible until a breakthrough new medical treatment. abc's lana zak. >> there is someone out is there for everyone. the boy from london who thought that nobody could ever love him because of his severe tourette's syndrome, and a girl from jersey who stood by his side, along with the doctor that made their wish come true. >> reporter: this valentine's day there is only one thing andrew wants to do. >> walk hand in hand with my wife. >> reporter: even though they've been married for 13 years, andrew and his wife amy have never been able to go for a walk holding hands. that's because andrew is one of 200,000 americans diagnosed with severe tourette's syndrome. his tourette's would cause him to yell, spit, curse uncontrollably. strangers who didn't understand his condition would take offense, sometimes beating him up, and andrew would beat himself, too, unable to control his hand. for andrew, love never seemed like a possibility. >> i had dreams, a lot of dreams about me getting married, and i'd wake up in tears because it was just a dream. it was hurtful because i used to get invited to weddings all the time. and used to ask the question, when is it my turn? >> reporter: but then andrew met a stranger who wanted to set him up on a date. >> andrew said, i haven't been able to find someone who can look past the tourette's and love me for me. my mom said, you haven't met my daughter yet. >> reporter: what do you remember about that first date? >> we kissed for the first time and it set fireworks off in me. >> reporter: within a year, amy and andrew were married. but with his tourette's, even walking down the aisle was a challenge. and holding amy's hand while doing it was impossible. >> if i was hand in hand with amy, i would stumble and pull her to the ground. >> reporter: after a lifetime of suffering andrew came to mt. sinai hospital and learned about a new surgery for tourettes. deep brain stimulation. >> the bumps. feel it. yeah. >> i feel it right there. and that's the anchor? >> reporter: two leads implanted in his brain. wires run to batteries implanted in his chest. >> neuro modulation stimulates areas of the nervous system in order to change neural function. >> reporter: so in complete laymen's terms -- >> it is like a brain pacemaker. result. >> reporter: the results have been incredible. >> when it works, you get to see miracles. >> reporter: from this to this. and on this valentine's day, amy and andrew have already gotten their wish. side by side and hand in hand. >> now andrew still has the occasional tick, but he says 95% of his tourette's symptoms are gone. >> that is absolutely remarkable. any side effects to this? >> well, it is brain surgery so about 2% of people will experience a brain hemorrhage. but andrew said he wasn't even concerned about that, he was so desperate for treatment. >> so, we know they'll be holding hands this valentine's day. >> they will. >> how else are they planning to celebrate? >> amy says they want to go to pizza hut. they want to go to a restaurant where people don't stare at them. she said she used to go from table to table to explain what was wrong with her husband so people wouldn't take offense. this time she'll just be glad to be there holding hands. >> what an amazing story. thank you so much, lana. >> abc's lana zak. still ahead, we now know who is gracing the cover of the "sports illustrated" swimsuit edition. >> not you? >> not this year. "the skinny" is next. >> announcer: "world news now" babies aren't fully developed until at least 39 weeks. a healthy baby is worth the wait. ♪ skinny so skinny ♪ time now for "the skinny." and we start this morning with skinny and plenty of it. >> you got that right. "sports illustrated" marking their 50th anniversary with these models on the cover and the unveiling took place last night on "jimmy kimmel live." >> let me show you. >> oh, my goodness! that's quite a cover. that's not one cover model. that's three cover models. >> yeah. wow, okay. you might be asking, what swimsuits? if you look closely, they're there, kind of. i don't know how closely everyone wan