talk to al jazeera >> oscar winner sean penn shares his views on privacy rights, press freedom and his controversial relationship with hugo chavez >> talk to al jazeera only on al jazeera america >> this is al jazeera america line from new york city. i'm tony harris with a look at today's top stories. ukraine expressing fears that a russian invasion is emanant. the national rifle association gathering today with its republican supporters pushing the message that the rights to own guns is under attack. the vote to unionize that could have wide-spread affects on college sports. and 100% of california in a state of drought. 9 first time that has happened in 15 years.

>> ukraine's deputy foreign minister told the united nations today that he fears an russian invasion of his country is immanent. his remarks come after the cit y of slovenesk all of this takes place and the situation become morse tense. barnaby phillips has more. >> reporter: the skiein the skya helicopter was exploded after it was taking off. the pilot survived. a helicopter crashed. there were firemen, four fire engines. you can see the smoke is

probably still billowing. >> reporter: another explosion, a police roadblock, one report said that a grenade was flown from a passing vehicle. the police say seven people were injured. >> over the board in southwestern russia military exercises continue. the size and scope of the exercise aalarm the yo ukrainian government and many governments in the west. at a volunteer camp, they are learning new skills. there are some 100 ukrainian men here, most not prepared to show their faces in the current uncertainty, but they say they're preparing for a russian invasion. of course these men are no match

for the russian army. the existence of this camp suggests one thing, that if the russians were to invade they would encounter some resistence in the ukraine unlike crimea. >> we gathered to save ukraine from the uni--they're learning battlefield first aid, another skill they hope they won't have to use. right now in eastern ukraine nobody is taking anything for granted. barnaby phillips, al jazeera, al jazeera america. >> there is new evidence that western sanctions are taking a toll. nearly $51 billion has left russia since the start of 2014. nearly $63 billion left russia in all of 2013.

as the crisis in ukraine drags on, the concern of possible eruptions of gas supplies were russia. peter sharp has that part of the story for us in russia in. in a conversation between angela merkel and president putin on friday the whole issue of gas supplies has come up. 40% of all europe's gas comes from russia and goes through ukraine. there is always concern as the crisis worsens there. ukraine s russia $2.2 billion for non-paid gas bills dating back 14 months, that's money owed to the state oil. russia in the past has threatened to pull the plug if they don't come up with the money and pay up the outstanding crude debt. it would be a rerun of 2009 when

on january 1st there was dispute over payment, and rush pulled the plug on ukraine. when that happened almost immediately the supply of gas to eastern europe started to diminish. it was alleged that ukraine was siphoning some of the gas off, but the basic flaw was that the gas was not getting through to europe angered they're terribly worried that this is going to happen again. it took 18 days to get that dispute resolved in 2009, and they're calling this emergency meeting in the next couple of days between ukraine, russia, and the e.u. to try to sort out a protection for this vital commodity. >> and the crisis in ukraine took center stage during president obama's visit to south korea today. the president has a warning for northern korea conducting another nuclear test.

>> reporter: many in the region have their doubt as the president's attention is drawn away from asia to syria, and in the third day of his visit, ukraine remains the top of the agenda. the president spent the day friday with key allies but said he would be on the phone while in seoul with european leaders laying the groundwork for more sanctions against russia, a probable ability that the president believes is more likely each passing day. >> president putin is not a stupid man, and recently acknowledged that this has already had an impact. certainly as the situation gets worse, and the sanctions are broadened to an entire sector, that will have severe impact. >> reporter: a little week ago three south korean high school

students are confirmed dead or still missing. the president with a symbolic gift of a tree that will be planted on the ground to that high school. but the visit goes on. the big concern obviously north korea now said to be preparing a nuclear test. it's fourth possibly during this visit while president obama is on the korean peninsula. >> we don't reward bad behavior. we don't go through a constant cycle in which provocative actions by north korea result in dialogue that leads nowhere. >> reporter: the president wakes up in seoul on saturday morning. he has a major speech planned for the joint military forces for both american and south souh

koreaens. >> president obama let's weighed in on the middle east peace process. he said neither the israelis or palestinians have shown the political will needed to move talks forward. >> folks can posture. folks can point at decisions but there is one door and that's both parties getting together to make very difficult compromises in order to secure the future of both israelis and palestinians for future generation generatio. >> the president's remarks comes one day after the palestinian government agreed to negotiations with hamas. in indianapolis for the national rifle association annual meeting. they heard today from several leading republicans a sign of the nra's enormous political

county. the nra had more than 5 million members. the center of politics said that the nra donated $20 million to political candidates since 1990. in 2012 the sun life >> at every turn politicians and some of the media and entertainment are carrying out nothing less than an orchestrated attempt not simply to erode our rights to bear arms but to stigmatize gun owners and gun ownerships. >> a resurgence of gun violence is shining a spotlight on gun control. more than 40 people were shot in the city. nine were killed. ash har quaraishi spoke with answer activist who does not fit

the mold. >> what we're going to doer. >> gerald takes a fight fire with fire stance. [ gunfire ] a member of the nra, he said a gun in the hand of a responsible gun owner is best. >> prepare for the worst? >> absolutely. this is it something that i don't want to do. but if i have to, i want to be able to do it. >> it's admittedly an unpopular stance in a city that counted 415 murders last year. >> there is a notion among some middle class african-americans that guns are for quite people, police and criminals. >> reporter: 680 illegal firearms were recovered last

year. so. [ sirens ] >> reporter: once again turning the spotlight on the gun debate. >> something has to be done about the gun laws in the state of illinois. something has to be done about it. time and time again every single year we take more guns over the street than any police department in the country. nobody goes to jail for possession of those guns. >> some gun laws in chicago, some of the strictest in the nation, do nothing but tie the hands of gun owners. >> it is the criminals who get guns, and it only stops the law abiding individuals from guns. >> reporter: in late december illinois became the last state to allow conceal and carry. since then there have been

65,000 applications. that's why proper gun ownership education is essential. for the last 22 years vernon has been teaching firearm safety and began conceal and carry classes. >> the first thing i teach my students is gun safety. if you cannot handle a gun safely, you are better off not having one because you're going to be more of a danger to yourself and others around you than the so-called bad guys. >> reporter: vernon said facing down the barrel of a gun without one at your side leaves too much to chance. al jazeera, chicago. >> it is a move that could have huge implications for college sports. voting today whether to form the nation's first union for college athletes, but it could be a while before we know how the vote actually turned out. diane estherbrook has more from evanston, illinois. >> well, it could be months before we know how these football players voted.

the national labor relations board impounded the ballots today. they won't be counted until they can review a regional director's decision that said student-athletes can be considered employees and unionizunionize. a northwestern spokesman said that the unions have been lobbying the players heavily. >> during the period leading up to this election northwestern did not get its campaign according to the guidelines and procedures outlined by the national relations board. we did explain consistently and very clearly the university's position. which is that we believe our students are students, not employees, and that we don't believe unionization and collective bargaining are the appropriate methods.

>> reporter: former northwestern quarterback ken coolter said i'm proud of what they have accomplished. they're giving the voice to the voiceless, and a spokesman for northwestern said regardless of how this vote turns out he thinks what it's going to do is open up a dialogue between northwestern and it's players, and he thinks that it could open up a dialogue between players at other schools as well. >> we're learning more today how serious the drought is in california, the national climatic data center said 100% of the state is experiencing some level of drought. this is the first time that has happened in 15 years. rain in northern california is offering a little hope as jacob ward is experiencing right now in hillsberg, california, i see that that's a crane slip that you're wearing. is the forecast turning favorable for northern california?

>> reporter: we certainly hope so. right now the climatic data center is saying not only is the entire state in a condition of drought, but from where i am to south in sout in southern califs in the worst possible condition. this bridge should be more than half underwater. and you can see there is basically a dam that should be under rushing water this time of day. it should be an absolute torrent, instead it's exposed to the air. it's a tough, tough forecast for the state. >> hey jake, you know, what do you need there? some have called it an biblical rain. but summer is approaching. >> we've had a little bit of relief in the last few days even in the last half hour. we got sleet this morning. it's going to take an

unbelievable amount of rain to turn the tables. scientists are worried that we're going to get into a place where we're going to begin to see permanent effects, scarring on this state between wildfires which are undoubtedly going to be worse this summer as the drought intensifies to the sources of water, the underground rivers that supply so much of southern california are going to collapse because they're out of the water that holds them up. it will paint a dire picture. even though we've had some rain the snowfall in the sierras has melted away. scientists have reported more than half of the snowfall is gone in the last week because of elevated temperatures there. >> oh, this looks bad. jacob ward for us. thank you. still ahead on al jazeera america. two former popes headed to sainthood this supplied, but some say it is too soon to make john paul ii a saint. and endorsement for the 2016 president campaign rolls

forward. that's today in politics.

>> oregon has officially shut down its healthcare exchange after weeks of trying to fix its bulky glitchy system. today the state turned off its cover. oregon residents will now use the federal healthcare.gov to sign up for insurance. oregon is the first state to make such a switch. some high-powered endorsements in the 2016 race for the white house, and they involve some of the most famous names. david shuster is here with that. >> reporter: tony, hillary clinton has not yet declared if she's going to seek the presidential nomination in 2016. but caroline kennedy, who supported barack obama in 2008, and hurt clinton badly in that campaign said she'll support clinton this time around. now u.s. ambassador to japan made comments about clinton in an interview. kennedy is the latest supporter to endorse a potential clinton

run. claire mccaskill, who also endorsed barack obama six years ago, has publicly gav given her support of clinton. and as the democrat port begins to coalesce about her campaign clinton is not saying much about plans or encouragement she's getting. one activist that hangs in the air is clinton's health and age. if elected age 69, clinton will be the second oldest president in history. she seemed to dismiss those concerns and said it would an mistake to dismiss older women in any capacity. >> an army of women, and frankly a very large group of older women who could make a real difference to america's corporations, businesses, academia, politics, you name it. >> politics, is that a hint?

now the republican presidential race, jeb bush is considering the campaign. and he'll make a decision by the end of this year. bush's mother, former first lady barbara bush said last fall there had been enough bushes in the white house, but family members now say president jw.h. bush disagrees and he's encouraging jeb to run. nearly every moderate republican is facing a challenge. house boehner supports immigration reform but said when he talks about bringing that legislation to the floor, rank and file congressional republicans begin to whine. yesterday at a rotary club in his ohio district the speaker did an imitation of his colleagues whining. >> but here's the attitude. >> oh, don't make they do this. oh, this is too hard.

>> reporter: wow, a conservative think tank heritage action is now blasting boehner for that ridicule. spokesman michael needham said, quote: heritage action and boehner have been feuding since last december. the republican attacked the republican group for opposing the recent budget deal before it was even introduced. is there a civil war in the g.o.p.? you bet, and tony, that's today's power politics. >> that's going to end up in ads, right? have a good weekend. >> riding tensions between iran and ukraine gave nervous investors another reason to sell today. real money's ali velshi is covering the story for us. what is going on? first of all, good friday to you as we get ready for this weekend. >> it just nations me seem dumb when you ask me market questions

so we limit them where i would have insight. today it's half and half. half of it is the tensions in ukraine and russia, those are serious. and half of it is that we're in the middle that have earning seasons. that report card season, and they're not loving it. the s&p downgraded russia's bond rate to go one notch above junk status, and they cited all that money that investors are pulling out of russia. $51 billion just since the beginning of this year. this has been going on since november and december. so much money has come out of russia, and that down grade sparked a global stock, and it hit the dow and the s&p 500, each of them down about .8 of a percent. the nasdaq almost 1.75%. that's partly russia, partly nasdaq having a bad day these

days. you know we've talked about the stock index down almost 15% year. the russian rubble down 8% against the collar. the central bank when the currency goes down the central bank raises rates to attract people to buy the currency, the ending rate has been raised for a second time this month to 7.5%. there is a serious economic problem in russia. >> according to what i'm hearing from your team, russia is not the only reason for the sell off. >> reporter: it's those earnings. amazon shares dropped 10% today after the company reported earnings after the bell on thursday. that was thursday. it took a day for it to happen. and investors are reacting to a jump. and it forecast an operating loss in the current quarter. ford, a company that continues to report great results quarter after quarter, disappointed today, profit there down 30%

blaming a bad weather and higher expenses. that sock was off 3%. visa, more than half of the dow's losses were visa. visa got the worst of both worlds. it was hurt by an earnings report and russia. because they're suffering from slowing revenue growth. russia has said it wants a new payment system, and visa has 100 million cardholders there. >> amazing. ali, we're flat out of time. have a great show tonight. ali velshi, 7:00 p.m. right here on al jazeera america. the solar power cell is celebrating it's 60s birthday while oil and gas dominate the oil supply. more people are harnessing the power of the sun. we have reports now from california. >> another solar panel goes up on a rooftop in los angeles. l.a. is the number one u.s. city for solar energy producing 132 mega watts. officials want 20% of the city's electricity to come from the sun

by 2000, and californi and--by d southern california is committed to having solar rooftops. >> all that energy is in a very good state today because cost has come down support it is competitive, and it is much below for household rates. >> reporter: 9 sun has been the principle source of energy for life on earth. it was 60 years ago that people figured out how to turn sunlight into electricity. in the news reels bell labs announced the first cell. >> in it modern age men at last have harnessed the sun. here is one mounted in a protective case of clear plastic. >> reporter: the renewables

policy institute through solar power's 60th birthday next week. >> this is commemorating the break through through human technology, and it is the cornerstone of what is going to help us move forward for a safer, cleaner, more score world. >> reporter: 90-year-old physicist is the last living member of the team that achieved the solar energy break through. >> it is amazing what happened. what can it do, nobody ever heard of this device. >> the power of the sun may be the key to controlling climate change caused by industrialization. but experts say solar power development must be speeded up. >> at the moment we are install

50 gig bites per year. >> indeed, man has at last dipped his hand in the sun and drawn down a spark to warm the hearts of man. >> solar energy is all grown up, but it still has a long way to go. >> coming up, why syria is blocking some of the roads used to get assistance in. and the catholic church is promoting two well-known popes to sainthood, but one of them is not ready to be saint.

>> the debate that divides america, unites the critics, a reason to watch al jazeera america the standout television event borderland, is gritty honesty. >> a lot of people don't have a clue what goes on down here, the only way to find out, is to see it yourselves. >> taking viewers beyond the debate. >> don't miss al jazeera america's critically acclaimed series borderland on al jazeera america also available on demand >> a big weekend getting under way at the vatican. the catholic church is about to bestow its highest honor. pope john paul ii will be

elevated to sainthood along with pope xxiii. this is the first time two popes have been canonized together. tim, good to see you again. can i tell you something? i had all these tough questions about john paul, his legacy and all that. i may get to that. but i got to tell you as the day has warn on here i'm getting kind of caught up in the pomp and circumstance of what looks to be an amazing weekend. what are your general thoughts? it's being called the pope event this weekend. >> it's going to be quite a party. you have people who have been planning for this more months. it's exciting because these are popes that people grew up with. i grew up with john paul ii, and my parents grow up with john

xxiii. >> your thoughts? >> he was a simple man. >> how significant was that? >> a huge event. people talk about councils, you usually don't know how well they are until hundred years later, but 50 years later, this was a huge event in the catholic church. >> john paujohn paul ii. >> his cause went as fast as it did because so many people knew who he was. a lot of popes just stayed in rome, stayed in the vatican and did not go out beyond those walls, but he went out all over the place. >> is his canonization coming too quickly? >> that is demand. >> but that's not the standard, is it? demand? >> well, he felt that people were embracing him.

>> there are controversy surrounding pope john paul ii, the church abuse scandal. it was centered and rooted in his papacy that he didn't do enough to tackle it. because of that his legacy is tarnished, and at this moment undeserving of sainthood. >> it's understanding that people look back at this time and say why couldn't have people done more, but we have to remember that sainthood is not recognizing someone who is perfect. >> what is it? >> it's recognizing holiness in people. in both these men pope francis is recognizing people who were holy in different ways but appealing to catholics. >> i'm hearing that this is not the first time that it is happening, two popes elevated to anti-hood, and it's meant to balance out things.

you have john paul ii, and john xxiii who is considered more liberal. >> i think that's an easy political category to put them in. i think they're trying to bring them together, and trying to recognize people who are good, holy men. >> you're going to watch it this weekend. >> of course, it will be very exciting. i'll get up early sunday morning. >> estimates of close to a million people. >> yes. >> activists in syria say 30 people are dead after a government airstrike on an outdoor market. it happened as the u.n. accuses both sides of locking humanitarian aid from getting to where if is most needed. >> aid workers manage to cross into aleppo city from the government controlled west earlier this month. it was the first time since june

humanitarian assistance crossed through the front line. since then the only border crossing between the divided city has been closed. aid agencies have been going through obstacles. >> repeatedly requesting authorization t to the fightingn aleppo. there are additional challenges. there are roads that link both sides of the government and opposition areas of aleppo together that have been locked. there are roads around the city that connect the cities with other cities in damascus that also these roads have been blocked. >> reporter: a new push by the rebels has threatened to cut off half of the city that the regime controls. the highway and the southeast links aleppo to damascus further south. this has forced government forces to use a dark road to reach the city, but even that

supply line is threatened. the opposition denies it is responsible for preventing supplies from reaching civilians. >> it is the regime who closed the humanitarian corridor inside the city. that corridor connected the east and the west. the regime wanted the rebel territories, but now it is under siege. >> people living in the government controlled west say prices of basic goods and fuel has increased. but according to human relief agencies on average 75% of aid distribution across the country occurred in areas controlled by the state. from turkey's board it's an hour's drive to aleppo city. but the syrian government won't allow the united nations to use border crossings that are not under its control. and u.n. agencies need to respect that. if it wants to continue operating in state controlled regions where many civilians have sought refuge.

>> reporter: ial jazeera,. >> in egypt former president hosni mubarak made a rare public appearance today. from the window of a hospital. supporters gather to mark the anniversary of israel returning the sinai peninsula to egypt. and several of the bodies recovered from the ferry's sinking were misidentify: an emergency task force admits that some victims were wrongly transferred and some of the mistakes were discovered after the bodies were sent to the funeral homes. so far divers have recovered 183 bodies and 119 people are missing and feared dead. iraqis head to the poll next week for the first parliamentary

elections since u.s. troops left the country. oil security will be a key issue attacks on pipelines and oil infrastructure have cost iraq millions of dollars. >> in the lanin the land of blad these men are responsible for keeping the oil flowing. they are the iraq oil police. the commander here briefs his charges for another day on the front line. here and across iraq they mound defense operations as well as intelligence gathering. it's a dangerous job. this post commemorates those who died in the line of duty this year alone. the iraq oil police will form in 2007. after the american invasion in 2003 iraq's energy infrastructure was in chaos. gangs would smuggle oil from pipelines such as this and sell

it on to foreign countries. that's come to an end now. the kinds of threats that the iraqi oil police face now have become much more dangerous. iraq's oil pipelines and facilities are attacked on a weekly basis by armed groups. the damage runs into the millions. the oil police essentially control here in baghdad. it's a big operation spread out across the country. the general in charge is well aware of the threats his forces faces, and he says they need more help. >> we're facing a fierce assault. the enemy considers oil as weapons in this open war so the enemy strategy is to bomb and attack facilities. i continue to ask weaponry and vehicles. so far none have been received. looking to the future iraq knows

energy is important. all political parties are aware that securing iraq's future depends on curing it's pipelines. >> new information on a high school stabbing. we have details. >> reporter: yes n connecticut a teenage boy is in custody after a 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death inside her high school this morning. the police are investigating whether mara was stabbed because she declined an invitation to the prom. florida troopers are looking into the possibility of sudden acceleration as the cause of a deadly crash into a daycare center. a dodge durango rear ended a car that was turning into the private drive of the private center. the vehicle crashed into the vehicle. a four-year-old girl was killed. the driver of the durango was charged with glowing the scene. sudden acceleration is one of

several factors investigators are looking at. firefighters are trying to contain several forest fires in new jersey. one is burning in ocean county. another forced hundreds to evacuate yesterday. no one was hurt, and no homes were lost. the cause of the fires are under investigation. no. nevada the woman aused of throwing a shoe at hillary clinton has pleaded not guilty. the 36-year-old is in federal custody. she's charged with by passing security and throwing a shoe at clinton, both misdemeanors. the shoe missed clinton, and the woman, tony, surrendered to authorities and her trial is set in june. >> we're going talk later and we're going to remember shakespeare. >> reporter: we shall. >> brilliant. >> reporter: thank you. >> ireland is facing mounting pressure for the way it deals with refugees seeking asylum

there. they use a system called direct provision for people who are waiting to find out if they'll be granted asylum. >> reporter: ireland is known everywhere for the way it opens its armies to tourists and visitors. 100,000 welcomes goes the traditional expression. but how to combine that with refugees who travel the seas to dublin. life as a refugee, he told me, is worse than home. >> if i knew that coming here that i would kept so long, i would be forced to live in a system where m i lose my human sense, my dignity, or i would feel less human. i don't see that. i wouldn't have come. >> ireland runs its asylum system differently than other places.

meals and a bed but nothing else. you go to another place which gives you 19 19 eur a week, that means $4 a day. the government has been considering his asylum claim for the last eight years. >> we are still waiting because we don't wanting to home. we want protection. we want our kids to enjoy a life like any other normal kid. and we want to fend for our family. we don't want anything from the system. >> so asylum may offer safety, but doesn't give freedom. this woman had to flee with her children. they hate their life under direct provision, and that fills

her with guilt. >> we're not allowed to do anything. the government makes decision for me, they make decision for my children. i have no say. they have taken my freedom. >> how could it be that the island with the history of oppression by the british with all its experience of forced migration could have such a bad reputation for caring for those in need. >> it is very difficult to see why it is signed up to the refugee convention when in fact, it doesn't live by the spirit of it even if it has in place a system. >> the government refused a before and said direct provision is the cheapest way of looking after people who are in ireland illegally. european elections are coming despite immigration being so important, the treatment of

ireland's thousands of refugees is not on anyone's agenda. >> and we'll take you beyond the issue of immigration on our new series "borderland." sunday we look at the life and death journey of those trying to make it to the u.s. risking it all those who try to ride the beast. >> 27-year-old john has tried and failed to cross the u.s. border many times. he said he wants to reunite with his mother who abandoned him when he was just two years old.

>> nelson from el salvador has taken the death train four times and has experienced the brutality of the criminal gangs. >> he has seen with his own eyes. >> so there are criminals or gangs on the train that are

preying upon the migrants as they go? >> i've got mixed feelings because i feel for the people and what they're trying to leave and what they're trying to achieve, but i'm really pissed off at the mexican government. i mean, this train leaves every day packed with 300 people. they have police and immigration who could stop this all along the way. now we've got the government of mexico that is enabling this whole situation where they're funneling thousands of people a week up to our borders, and then they face for republican does conditions. >> boy, you can catch the third episode of "borderland" right here on al jazeera america. still ahead on the program,

sniffing out cancer. thanks to a four-legged friend. techno contributor kara santa maria is looking how dogs are a new tool this cancer research.

>> you know, there is yet another reason why dogs are man's best friends. they can actually save lives by detecting cancer in people. some dogs can actually be trained to sniff out the disease. techntechno went to find out hos done. >> three-year-old grand champion troy as his family calls him is a purebred doberman show dog.

>> i credit him with saving my life. no question about it. >> diane's family has a history of breast cancer. she had been diligent getting mammograms. she had just been given the clean bill of health when troy, then a puppy, began to act strangely. >> he was nuzzling up to my left side. and he was trying tell me something. he knews is wag not right. that's what got me to feel the lump. >> diane had a double mass tec massachusettmassmastectommastec. >> there have been dozens of

reports. so many in fact that researchers around the world have spent considerable time and money figuring out why dogs are such super sniffers. >> that was techno's kara santa maria. you can check out techno right here on al jazeera america. people imagine prison to be an empty room with bars, but there is a jail in pakistan that offers art and [♪ music ] activities to rehabilitate the inmates. we have reports now from karac karachi. >> it may be a song of sorrow, but inmates say this is the happiest part of their day for one hour every afternoon they gather and sing and play instruments.

>> he has been here for the past ten months awaiting trial for murder. >> meeting people who are like minded makes your time here more bearable. >> it's not just [♪ music ] inmates are taught how to draw and paint and some have had their work displayed in high-end art galleries. the aim is finding different ways to challenge their energies. and to provide a stage to express their emotions. >> but not everyone supports programs like these. prisoners are not here to enjoy themselves but to repay their debt to society. >> critics says inmates are there to do hard time, not enjoy the arts.

>> i've been to this prison. and i've met the prisoners. they are criminals. they cannot be rehabilitated by programs like this. the point of jail is to be so bad that when they get out they never want to go back. >> reporter: but inmates disagree. he said without his daily [♪ music ♪] sessions he wouldn't cope. >> what prisoners want to believe that the world at large has not forgotten about them. they do care. and they end up starting caring. >> a hopeful perspective from a place that drawlly offered a narrow one. >> coming up on al jazeera america, he coined phrases like. [ knocking on doolikeknock knock, knock, whose there. celebrating william shakespeare 450 years after his birth.

>> this weekend celebrations are happening to mark the

anniversary of william shakespeare's birthday. >> reporter: shakespeare wrote all the world is a stage. 450 years after his birth this version of hamlet will store every country in the world, a truly global icon. >> his plays are about everything. this play alone it's a message, it's a political drama, it's a philosophical drama. >> and shakespeare's birthday is being celebrated in the english town of which he was born. stratford on avon is proud of their famous son. now tourists were around the world flock here to immerse themselves in all things shakespeare. and while his stories may have started here his works have

transcended cultures and borders. with shakespeare's plays being performed around the world from inside prisons to the great wall of cline and translated into schools of languages. >> he creates this landscape that isn't connected to anyone specific place. i think anyone from around the world can find something of themselves in his writing. >> reporter: nowhere is that found more than stratford. where the wind and rain adds to the drama. >> millions of people are tweeting about shakespeare's birthday and baptism. maria is here with more. >> reporter: oh romeo, romeo, tomorrow marks shakespeare's baptism. we know this because of a document which we believe is shakespeare's baptism document

from 1564, april 26th. it says in latin, the son of john, shakespeare. and people have been sending out birthday messages. kevin spacey wrote, just wrote 450 candles in shakespeare's honor and they've been tweeting out phrase that is we use today. like knock, knock, who is there. heart of gold. feeling so-so. >> i don't know that one. >> wear your heart on your sleeve. >> that's othello. >> othello. be all end all, laughing stock, so many phrase that is we use today, to thine own self be true is from hamlet. follow your spirit from henry v. >> and tell the story, i'm not going to let you go until you tell the story. you were juliet. >> reporter: i was juliet at 16 years old. i would always blush when i had to kiss romo.

and they told me i had to quick blushing. >> that's all of our time. real money with ali velshi is up next on al jazeera america. have a great weekend. lap. >> vladimir putin can down play it, but there is no doubt that russia is feeling the jesussed from the sanctions. what sanctions america can use to force the russian president's hand, and the el niño weather pattern could effect the world's food supply. we'll look at the business of firearms and believe me business is booming. i'm ali velshi, and this is "real money."