>> fault lines... al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> they're locking the doors... >> groung breaking... >> they killed evan dead. >> truth seeking... >> they don't wanna show what's really going on... >> breakthough investigative documentary series america's war workers only on al jazeera america >> i'm tony harris with a look at the day's top stories. tensions mount as diplomats search for solution. an envoy being held by russians in military uniforms. and big changes come together s.a.t.s.

>> russian and western diplomats met in france today to find a solution to the crisis of ukraine. both sides are still far apart. this as tensions mount in crim crimea. we have all of the latest developments for pup let's begin with phil ittner. was there any progress made in talks in paris today? >> yes, tony. really no progress made in paris today. they sat down. they tried to work things out, but it's clear there is a major en pass. the foreign secretary of secretary of state john kerry and the ukrainian foreign minister. but when the russians showed up

there was no place at the table for the ukrainians. moscow does not even recognize the government in kiev. still the secretary of state john kerry said that they would continue with their efforts. >> we agreed to continue intense discussions in the coming days with russia, with ukrainians in order to see how we can help normalize the situation, stabilize it, and overcome the crisis, and those intentions are intentions shared exactly as i have described them between russia, the united states, european countries, and ukrainians who were here. all parties agreed today that it is important to try to resolve these issues through dialogue. >> well, yes, tony, dialogue is all well and good. but dialogue that goes nowhere

provides nothing. and unless there is at least some movement on one side or the other then these blinders that the diplomats have on when it comes to their own positions and what they bring these discussions, it just looks like there is this major roadblock. >> and what is likely to come out of discussions on this whole issue tomorrow in brussels. the e.u. meeting when presumably sanctions are going to be on the table? >> well, tony, we will be looking at brussels tomorrow. it will be a major day. there has been in the past an issue with brussels and the e.u. when it comes to russia. 27 members of that organization often are divided because many of them have their own relationships economically in particular with russia. but this is a very serious issue, probably the most serious

crisis over russia that has come to date since the fall of the soviet union. many are saying this time moscow may have overstep. >> phil ittner. today, an united nations envoy was briefly held and then forced to leave. >> reporter: increasingly they're running this city's law and order. the incident started 3 hours ago when they left the ukrainian naval headquarters here. they were start off by armed militia members. they told him he had to leave crimea. he politely declined. he walked to a cafe. that's when they barricaded him in the cafe and told him he had to leave the city and then leave

the country. russian active tests came t acte cafe and chanted putin and russia and forced us to stop filming. they forced him to the airport. they frog marched him out to the first plane out to istanbul. he was essentially run out of this country. it's just a sign that the russian activists are emboldened by these russian troops coming in. yesterday we were detained for two and a half hours by a group of 150 people. they demanded to see the video, i.d.s and passports. they only let us go after they slashed our tires and threatened to tip over the van. the u.n. claims that serry will come back to the ukraine but not before he goes to istanbul. people are increasingly worried that even after he comes back crimea itself is becoming much

more difficult to move around in, and increasingly security is being run by these pro russian gangs, and some of them are armed and militias. if you ask the police who are here outside of the airport, here outside of the cafe they certainly will not answer questions, and they will not stop these pro-russian gangs. they're incapable or unwilling to confront the russian presents here. >> former secretary of state hillary clinton compared vladimir putin actions in ukraine to those of adolf hitler. reports clinton said yesterday, now if it sounds familiar it's what hitler did back in the 30s. she went to say, quote, all the germans though thanksgiving were ethnic germans in places like check slovakia and romania and other places, hitler kept saying

they are not being treated right. i must go in and protect my people. the syrian opposition and government are using tactics that punish civilians. world powers that help support sort er side are being investigated there. >> there are fears the world is turning it's back on the civil war inside syria as it focuses on the escalating tensions in ukraine. as james bays reports fall out in ukraine could make things worse in syria. >> the i don't know going battles in syria are more than a thousand kilometers away in ukraine. but the crisis in crimea may have a real impact on a war that is about to enter its third year. the international communities is given this man the job of finding piece in syria but talks

may collect ibrahimi have achieved nothing. persuading them and in particular the syrian government to negotiate properly requires pressure from u.s. and russia working together. just like the peace talks the deal removed syria's memory weapons were done by u.s. secretary of state john kerry and his russian counterparts sergei lavrov. >> reporter: so much mass happened since that handshake took place. they are the relations are at their worse part at any time since the cold war. the syrian government is well behind schedule in getting those deadly agents out of the country. >> some believe the assad government may welcome the fact that world's attention has moved. >> i think president assad is

dancing because they know that the u.n. community has their hands full with ukraine, and the pressure will be taken off his back because of all of europe and united states and all the energy is now in ukraine. >> reporter: there could an down side for president assad, too. he relies on russian support in weapons and parts and tanks. but the sanctions against russian could hurt his war machine. >> the israeli military said it found weapons of missiles that have a range of 100 miles. israel has accused iran of supplying missiles to its

enemies. a trial for an al-qaeda spokesman wh, he is charged with killing americans after the september 11th attacks. john terrett is at the courthouse, the court heard opening statements today. >> reporter: the trial getting under way, he is the most senior alleged al-qaeda leader ever to be tried on u.s. soil. it began here and the prosecution right out of the gate took the jury back to september 11th. he needed help to spread his murderous decree and recruit people for al-qaeda around the world. the prosecution held up a picture of the world trade

center site which is barely ten blocks away from this courthouse. chief prosecutors said, well, our buildings were burning he pointing to the defendant once again was agreeing to help osama bin laden the defense lawyer for him, he said this is not osama bin laden, this is a muslim, arab, a kuwaiti, a father. he challenged the prosecutor t o prove that his words harbored terrorists. >> my client has plead--our client has plead not guilty. not a member of any conspiracy. he engaged in no illegal activity. now it's up to the government to prove it. i've been in some places at 3:00 in the morning hanging with some people, and god for bid if

i was on video i would be in trouble the next day. >> referring that lots of government evidence is in the form of pictures and videos of the defendant allegedly appearing in those videos and pictures along side osama bin laden and the current leader of al-qaeda. now the case under way today is expected to last all of march and a little bit into april. >> all right, j.t. john terrett for us. the c.i.a. under allegations of spying on the government. the c.i.a. and the committee have battled over the controversial program. in west virginia, a link to the chemical spill in the state it comes after a major ban in

the use of water there, but some say it doesn't go quite far enough. robert ray is in charleston, the capitol of west virginia. what is in this legislation. >> they've been debating it. there should an vote earlier today. they're convening right now. the started off at 6:00 p.m. 24 new amendments to the bill. here is the issue. over the weekend the judiciary committee worked very hard of this bill, the final touches together, and the folks who approve the money and the lobbyists who push those people and the lawmakers. so what's in the bill is yearly inspections for above ground tanks. all across the state of west virginia. 150 water companies will be held to some of those standards. what's not in the bill is this: ,and it's supposed to be in the bill according to the judiciary

committee. they removed long-term medical monitoring. the secretary of state called for that. the health department. the health commissioner, the county here said he's totally disappointed the fact that they removed that. they don't know the effects on people because there has not been the data or studies. also taken out new early warning systems, chemical systems that they would have to know and alert them of any chemicals that should not be in the water. the lobbyists put together a push saying it was going to cost too much money so the financial committee took that out. they're inside the capitol behind me. they're monthling it over. they have until saturday when the session ends to make a vote. i can tell you right now, the 300,000 vehicles who lost their ability to drink the water here in the charleston area, many others are hoping they'll get this together and do the vote tonight as early as tomorrow.

>> robert, what is the situation right now this moment with the water there in west virginia. >> well, the u.s. national guard did their last testing on the river here yesterday from the chemical that leaked into the dan river and then into the canal river valley. they claim it's non-detectable. they're done testing. we just heard reports that some of the schools are starting to use the tap water. clearly in the past we've smelt licorice or candy in the air not really existent any more. maybe people are getting back to having confidence. but the real issue here tony did industry win again with this bill? should the grappling should be going on in the house behind me be going on? should they come to a decision here considering the enormity of the situation? those are the questions that we're hearing on the street. >> robert ray for us. charleston, west virginia. appreciate it, thank you. big changes are coming to the

s.a.t.s. officials announce the tweaks today. they're adapting the test to bet better fit the skills that students will need in college. >> reporter: this is the anxiety and obsessive test that have been strappeling students for decades. the s.a.t. can be wes be best dd as overall. the math questions which are currently scattered across many topics will focus on linear equations, functions and proportional thinking. the college board said it was responding to financially challenged students and their families who were frustrated by the often unique and expensive preparation courses that were required. and to make the test result easier for everyone to vault, the scores are going to revert

to the old 1600 scale with 800 on math, and 800 on evidence-based reading and writing. the optional he is sa essay sco. research shows that high school grades are a better predictor of college success than standardized test scores and in the recent years colleges have allowed students to skip the tests and submit just the grades and research papers as part of application. but it will not revise until 2016. >> think of all the money i spent getting my kids, so many parents do the same thing. appreciate it. thank you. on al jazeera america. pope francis talking about how the church can go forward on the issue of same-sex marriage. and a new study on alzheimer's showing the disease is deadier than believed.

we'll break down the research. that's next.

>> the central disease control said the alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death but studies show that the number isify higher. following 2566 patients, and 559 were diagnosed with alzheimer's and the full report is published in the journal for the american academy of neurology. pope fran citizen is hinting that the catholic church could tolerate same sex civil unions. >> reporter: in is the first time a pope has shown he's even thinking about accepting civil unions. it's a controversial issue among

catholics. he made this comment online in an italian newspaper. he repeated the church's view that marriage is between a man and woman, but he said we have to look at various cases and evaluate them in the diversity. he said civil unions give security such as insuring healthcare. we spoke with catholic leaders, and one lgbt leader said that she was dumbfounded and that this is huge. one father told me that the pope's comments are significant but not surprising. when the pope was a cardinal he said that the church should support civildowns for gay civiy couples but that was behind closed doors. in an interview pope francis defended the church's record of handling sexual abuse of kids by

priests. he said its terrible because they create very deep wounds but he adds that no one has done more than the church to address the abuse yet the church is the only one to be attacked. i said if the church were serious about dealing with these issues it would have punished more people by now. >> and that huge report about a month ago, very critical of the vatican and called for greater transparency. thank you. >> you're welcome. >> this year's winter weather has hit midwestern states harsh. chicago has had the most days at or below zero degrees ever. and now some businesses are starting to see the longer lasting effects of the freezing temperatures. ash har quaraishi has the story. >> reporter: for nearly 60 years shaver fisheries have been processing fresh-water fish caught in waters along the lakes. >> this time of year we're

handling upwards of a million pounds of fish a week. >> but this winter is not normal. no fish is coming in. the machines are idle and costs are mounting. >> i'm going to guess it has a couple million dollar impact on the company. >> the combination of unusual snowfall and record of zero temperatures courtesy of the polar vortex is taking its toll on the fisheries. ice-cover blanketing the great lakes at 80%. >> the ice season started early. of course, we had that arctic vortex in the end of december and early january, and the ice just kept building. >> reporter: this time of year commercial fishermen cut through the ice and cast drag nets and catch fish by the hundreds but there is feet of snow on top of the ice keeping fishermen off the waters. [ phone ringing ] >> hello, how may i help you?

we have no fish at this time. >> in his 35 years with the company he has never season it this bad. >> you get every question in the world. are you going out of business? what's going on. >> instead of running three ships a day the company cuts back to a skeleton crew yo, but they need fish soon at the eaware yum in chicago they're studying the effects winter weather has on migration patterns. >> the larger predatory fish that depend on the small fish may not have the food source that they really have, but they have been dealing with this longer for a long time, longer

than business owners. >> reporter: business owners like michael shaefer are hoping that warmer weather is just over the horizon. >> there is a brewing economic crisis. "real money with ali velshi" join us now. our significant are ukraine's money problems right now? >> big problems. you're looking at $16 billion debt this year. probably about double that by the end of next year they used to get loan guarantees from russia and all that natural gas we keep talking about that goes through ukraine, the national gas that ukraine uses from russia they're getting a discount after throwing out the pro-russian president and fighting with the russians, the russians are no longer giving them a discount. western governments have moved in to help fill some that have gap. the u.s. with a $1 billion loan guarantee and the e.u. with a

$15 billion package. they'll probably be able to make due on the condition things don't get worse and get into an all-out fight with russia. >> you spoke with the economy's new minister. what does very to say? >> he's an western-educated economist part of this new interim government. he said in addition to these finance problems, the government is sending the mission to the people that they, too, are cutting back to share the pain. listen to what he told me. >> the developing strategy measures, and the government is the first body to start. we cut all necessary waste and expenses. we're cutting the number of personnel the government is using, so those austerity measures will start with the government. >> he's confident that the ukraine is going to hold back from doing anything but pursuing diplomatic solutions to this,

and did he not seem to think that there is going to be force applied between russia and ukraine. >> i hope he's right about that. what else are you working on? >> as you know it's the anniversary of the death of hugo chavez. there is a tight relationship between venezuela and the u.s. despite what countries stay about each other. we were in venezuela to talk about our oil relationship with that country. it's actually deeper than you might think. it's worth the watch. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> and coming up, the battle over the minimum wage. the president is pushing for a big hike, but we will talk to a small business owner who says it's just not feasible.

>> these protestors have decided that today they will be arrested >> these people have chased a

president from power, they've torn down a state... >> what's clear is that people don't just need protection, they need assistance. j. >> raising the minimum wage to $10.10. >> nobody who works full time should ever have to raise a

family in poverty. [ cheering ] >> that violates a sense of who we are. that's why it's time to give america a raise. >> all of those states have minimum wages above the federal level of $7.25 an hour. in seattle tonight the city council begins hears on raising the city's minimum wage to $15 per hour. but as adam schauffler reports, it could hurt those it's meant to help. >> reporter: it's been heavy on street theater. [ protesting ] >> reporter: and campaign rhetoric. but some business owners say it's been short on quiet, reasoned discussion. >> when i start hearing things like it's a done deal i'm

shocked. did seattle really think about this? >> reporter: restaurant owner john plat admits he's conflicted and frustrated by all this. he has 20 regular employs, and with 30 hours or more a week he helps with health insurance, something that he does because he wants to, not because he has to. he's all for the broader concept for better pay for low-wage earners. >> whatever people's perception of wealthy business owners, i'm not that guy. i don't have some big empire that can just absorb this expense. how do i absorb it? we raise prices. i'm not ready to go to my staff and say, sorry, your full-time job is now a part-time job.

>> non-profit social service organization was pay similar choices. >> wild care centers will have to close because they can't raise their rates for the very people they're trying to suppo support. >> private fundraising would have to make up the difference. this local survey of non-profits shows without government and private sector support a $15 minimum wage could mean cuts. >> there will an ripple affect throughout our entire community that will effect our economy and our quality of life in this city. >> back at the restaurant john plat said he favor as slow approach, raises phased in carefully over several years to give businesses like his time to adjust. he would like more talk and less yelling and that warning that higher prices are just around the corner.

>> it's the businesses making all that money. let's make them pay. i feel like we're all in it together. if we are going to pay more, awesome. let's all understand we're all going to have to pay more. everything that we buy will cost for money. >> adam schauffler reporting from seattle. let's bring in the owner of perfect copy and print. good to talk to you. appreciate your time. >> thank you. >> tell me where you think hiking the minimum wage, that's not where the federal minute wage is at that point. no one is proposing on the federal level of hike of $15. but tell me why you think raising the minimum wage in seattle to $15 an hour is not feasible for a small business like yours. first of all i want to make it clear that i have not talked to

a single business who opposed straight away saying the $15 minimum wage is not good. they all agree that it is good. how we do it is in question. we want to do it j gradual fashion, phase it in so it does not shock the small business. >> is that part of the discussion going on now with the council there in seattle, doing something on a graduated basis, or is it from here to there? >> well, the porters of the minimum wage they want it now. and if you talk to small businesses, they agree. if the goal is to lift people out of poverty, we need to do it

the right way so we don't create more unemployment and stay competitive for the city. >> let me ask you this, do you agree with the president when he says, we just played the soundbite, no one who works full time in america should not raise a family in poverty. you're a man running a small business in seattle, do you agree with the president in that particular statement? >> i agree. i think there is a problem. but the problem should be approached, it has to be a multi prong approach to obtain that goal. you can't say let's increase the minimum wage to $15, and it will all be fine. that's not true. >> a phased in approach. what is the minimum wage there in seattle, washington. >> it's $9.23. it is the highest. >> so $9.32 per hour. the president is not talking about the kind of minimum wage

hike debated by the council. he's not talking about a $15 minimum wage. in the an instruct, could database in the abstract, could your business handle the $10.10 minimum wage? >> well, sure, personally, seattle already--personally, i don't know of any businesses that i talk--i talk to my friends who own small businesses. none of them are the minimum wage. it's much higher than that already. >> what about your business. could your business, could your businesser perfect copy and print handle a minimum wage of $10.10? >> yes, we're already much above that. >> you're much above that now. >> exactly. >> and how do you ma manage? do you pass the cost on, the increased cost on to your consumers. >> well, eventually if it goes

up to $15 right away, that's when the problem is. you can't just expect to raise your by 15% over a month. that's where the problem is. just how we do it. we have done this before in washington. in 1998, i believe, we did vote to tie the minimum wage, and tied it to the cpi. that's why we have the highest minimum wage in our state. >> awesome. appreciate it. did you want to add something else? we've got time. >> we just need to take it in an approach that works out for small businesses and to get to the goal of lifting people out of poverty. which we think is a problem. and as a small business owner i see it as a problem.

the city is pretty expensive. >> thank you for your time. >> the owner of perfect copy and print. many americans struggled in 2013. it was a good year for the wealthy. how good? the property management firm said there are 167,000 people around the world worth $30 million. there are nearly 1700 billionaires around the world, up 80% in the past decade. and back to our stop story, western diplomats could not bring russia and ukraine's foreign ministers together for a meeting in paris. the hope was that a meeting would help begin resolving the problems in ukraine's crimea

region. but secretary of state john kerry met three times to try to broker a meeting, but while there were small successes, they're still very apart. others are forced to cheesee their country or their heritage. >> reporter: shapes of the black sea fleet block all traffic draining all life from this otherwise thriving port. this is an easy target for the russians. but if their intention is to take over all ukrainian military installations in crimea, then the mission is not over yet. ukrainian service men have refused to yield to this russian show of force. the russians have taken position in front of this army base. now we managed to speak to some of the ukrainian service men through the gate. they said that they hadn't received any ultimatum yet. they had no intention to

surrender the base because they had pledge loyalty to ukraine, and they said that they hoped this would be solved. the soldiers are digging in for the long haul relying on relatives to keep going while politicians try to reach a compromise. >> this story has two sides. on the one hand my son has to obey the ukrainian government that he pledged to serve. since the government changed the situation is different and our children are suffering. >> reporter: the crisis is clearly polarizing opinions in crimea. service men are coming under pressure to take sides in a place where there are strong roots in both russia and ukraine. russians are not invaders this mother shouts at her son and his comrades. they try to explain that they're caught in the middle but she's not convinced.

>> we are on our land. this is ukrainian territory. many people don't understand us. here we are from the east, west, and south. there are different opinions, and people are stressed out. it's hard. >> reporter: as the crisis deepens in crimea perhaps one of the biggest challenges for the ukrainian military is to stay disciplined in the face of growing divisions in the country they swore to swerve. >> al jazeera, ukraine. >> harsh words from maduro to panama. he said he's breaking ties with panama. he claims that it's government are conspiring against him. remarks after celebration of the death of late president hu hugo chavez. >> it has been a day of lavish and solemn words for the

departed leader hugo chavez who died a year ago today. i'm here in the neighborhood rich with political history for the country of venezuela. behind me is a military fortress, former military headquarters that has now been converted to a mausoleum. they plant it here so the spirit can tack root and flower throughout the country. there was a parade and a military jet fly-overs and a speech in which president maduro took a very hard line against the protests that divide this country a year after the death of hugo chavez. here a palpable sense of pride in memory of their leader hugo chavez. i spoke to the woman who was caretaker to an impromptu chapel

that has popped up in the neighborhood. people come to pay respects. they keep a glass of water and a cup of coffee always filled for the president. here's what they had to say. >> we miss his charisma, his humanity, his smile, the songs we're living now, we're always remembering him and his speeches on stage, singing, jumping, playing with kids or elders. we miss that. i miss him. >> again, you can see the emotion. a palpable sense of loss for supporters of hugo chavez. there were arrests in valencia for conflict, where it all began in the western part of the country, and the wife of the jailed opposition leader leopold lopez appeared saying every

wednesday she would come out to the public square to take letters to her husband who is still in prison. no signs of a resolution to this crisis anywhere in sight. no sign of a dialogue to bring it to an end. >> a trial of three al jazeera journalist who is have been arrested and have been in prison for 67 days now. >> reporter: three al jazeera journalists have appeared in court in egypt. they are charged with terrorism-related offenses. al jazeera reject the charges and continue to demand their immediate release. after 67 days in jail, the three were led into a caged dock in a cairo courtroom. the judge ordered their handcuffs to be removed after an appeal from mohammed fahmy's lawyer. their families greeted them from

the benches. peter greste's brother spoke about hopes of a positive outcome. >> it's extremely stressful. extremely stressful. again, we just got to stay strong for him. you know, it's definitely something i wouldn't want to wish on anyone. >> reporter: in court the prosecution produced cameras, cell phone and documents t and a hard drive. according to witnesses for the prosecution it provides evidence of links to terrorist organizations. after the case was adjourned al jazeera english continue to insist that it's staff should be released immediately. the charges against our staff are totally baseless without substance, and we refute them absolutely. they are world class journalists simply doing their job covering all sides of the story in egypt. they continue to keep them behind bars after such a long time in detention is outrageous.

we're continuing to call for their immediate release. >> the three journalists will be back in this cage on march 24th when the next session of the trial is scheduled. >> two qatar where saudi arabia and baja rain have withdrawn their ambassadors. qatars are refusing to sign a security agreement. they said they would not interfere with each other's affairs. al jazeera is financed by the about a harrbehar eye governmen. one month before pistorious shot and killed his girlfriend, he fired a shot in a restaurant and then asked the owner of the gun to take the blame for it.

he said he shot his girlfriend claiming he thought she was an inattituder. getting kids out of the slips and into th into the--oute slums and into the classroom. their goal is to make sure that no child is left out. >> this is alamin. he lives in one of the poorest slums in the area. his father and mother are day laborers. but alamine and students have other plans. they want to be filmmakers, doctors and teachers. >> when i grow up i want to use cameras like you and make movies. when i grow up i will be smart. >> the school is run by university students. i called the peace school.

it doesn't look like much but it's a pretty big deal here. >> these students have a lot of desire to improve themselves. they want to lift themselves out of the situation they have found themselves in. >> the area is notorious for illegal drugs and many of the kids who live here work in the drug trade. they have to think creatively to keep children away from the lure of drug money. >> this woman is settining out rotten fruit that has already been thrown away. that's what they have to eat. one of the ways to make sure these kids keep coming to zoo is to keep giving them food. >> most parents are happy that their kids are getting an education. >> i won't send my child to work. his childhood is a childhood. he will work when he's an adult. as long as i have the strength

to keep working i'll make sure he stays in school. >> it's baby steps for school, but they have big dreams and so do these kids. >> new details on a deadly house explosion in new jersey. marie is here with that and other stories. >> reporter: investigators still don't know what triggered a gas leak and explosion that left one woman dead and seven others injured. 20 homes are uninhabitable and one townhouse was destroyed. in daytona beach florida a mother is undergoing psychiatric evaluation after driving her van into the ocean. she and her three children were pulled out of the vehicle as it's being caught by the waves. children aged 3, 9, and 10, have been turned over to state care. in new york the man paralyzed by an suv as it fled from a group of bikers said he did not blame the driver for his

injuries. >> i don't blame him because at the end of the day i'm not him to know what was going through his mind. >> reporter: he suffered nine broken ribs a severed spine and a torn aorta. doctors say it's unlikely he'll walk again but he vows he will. the entire incident was caught on camera including the pursuit of the suv driver who was dragged from his car and beaten. >> in new jersey the teen who sued her parents for financial support got her day in court. her parents threw her out of the house and was suing for school tuition, her college fund and child support. the judge sided with the parents but will decide in airplane if they will pay they are college tuition out of money they have already set aside. >> get that young woman through college. i've had my say. bouncer cloud.com. have you heard of this working.

surveyed people and many thought a gigabyte was an insitting found in south american. and 11% of people thought html was a sexually transmitted disease. despite the wrong answers, 60% of people who took part believe it is important to understand current technology. coming up on al jazeera america. despite tension in ukraine the country's team played the u.s. in a soccer match. talk about an international friendly. details coming up. issues home where they effect you the most. >> household debt has been slashed. >> then, what real people are talking about in real-time with the stream. >> all of our communities lightin' up twitter tonight. >> and stay with us for live, breaking and in-depth news. real reporting, this is what we

do. al jazeera america. al jazeera a

>> so despite the upheaval and a tension in ukraine today saw a

momentary reprieve. the u.s. faced the ukrainian team in an international friendly. >> reporter: sometimes the best way to get away from stress situations a little sporting event. the final tune up for the american team before starting play in brazil. the u.s. asked this game to be moved to cypress 600 miles south of the ukraine. of course, out of safety concerns. the u.s. team did not have it's full roster and some players still have mls commitments. this match had greater importance to the players and fans, and the defensive scheme americans were trying to implement, ukraine won 2-0, and fans celebrate bid singing the

ukrainian national anthem. there is one more exhibition game against mexico. but look at what awaits them. group g com comprised of german, portugal and ghana, also known as the group of death. but another challenge facing the team is the distance it will have to travel. the teams are based in sao pau sao paulo, but all games are up here in the north. they'll fly to natal and then fly back, and then fly back up and it will be 9,000 miles to play those three games over the course of a week and a half. >> i guess its locked in. >> it is locked in. now here's the thing, if they get out of group play, they'll be closer to where the matches

will be played. there is an advantage late but it's a tough run early. >> they move the friendly to cypress. >> and there was a lot of fun because there is fun to be had in cypress. >> but the games almost canceled all together. they needed a written letter from ukraine. they were in germany, their coach is from germany. they want adler before they got on the plane. then they flew and then got beat. >> a lot of fun to be had in cypress. an astroid the size of a football field sle flew by eart. retirement. whether its bail-outs or bond rates this stuff get complicated. but don't worry. i'm here to take the fear out of finance.

every night on my show i break down confusing financial speak and make it real.

>> this is al jazeera america, i'm tony harris with look at today's top stories. top diplomats meet about the crisis in ukraine. no agreement has been reached.

russian foreign minister sergei lavrov said discussions will continue in the coming days. u.n. human rights officials say the syrian opposition and government are using tactics that punish civilians. the report said world powers that have helped provide weapons for both sides are responsible for war crimes commit there had. israel said it has seized ashied aship from iran with rocs missiles. they have the range of 100 miles. israel has accused iran of supplying weapons to its enemies and has seized other ships carrying weapons. the trial against an al-qaeda spokesman who was captured in turkey and then brought to the united states is

charged with conspiracy to go kill americans after the september 11th attacks. i'm tony harris. if you would like the latest on all of our stories head over to our website at www.aljazeera.com. "real money with ali velshi" is next on al jazeera america. >> in big financial trouble. and we'll talk you inside venezuela where toilet paper is hard to find but gas is practically free. we have a look at a handout that both parties in washington could get behind. i'm ali velshi, and this is "real money."