this is al jazeera. hello and welcome to the al jazeera newshour. here are your top stories. jame obvious jacob zuma. the nigerian military sayst, and michelle obama calling for the release of the missing school girls. >> in these girls, barack and i see our own daughters. we see their hopes and their dreams, and we can only imagine

the anguish their parents are feeling right now. >> in london with all of the latest in rome including decision time. people in eastern ukraine get ready for a crucial and c controversial refer endsum. >> medical records suggest an al jazeera journalist on hunger strike could die without urgent treatment. . >> the african national congress has officially been declared the winner in south africa's general election. the anc has fallen just short of a two-thirds minority taking 62% of that vote. it secured 249 seats in the national assembly, losing 15 seats. >> that's the lowest number its held in 20 years. leading opposition party, the democratic alliance, picked up less than a quarter of the votes but it actually made the biggest gains in parliament, securing 89

seats, 22 more representatives than the last election. and that's the highest number it has ever held. president jacob zuma says terror. >> tod today marks the 20th anniversary of the day on which president nelson mandel a /*a was the first. we dedicate our victory to mat i have a's memory and pledge to continue to take forward his legacy and those of his peers working with all our people. >> the latest from johan he isburg. we will talk about the numbers in just a moment. but first, there is a celebration going on behind you. tell us what the atmosphere is

like >> reporter: there is definitely a big party going on here. look at that. thousands of people in a tiny square in the middle of johanesburg celebrating the ruling of the anc. everyone is excited that their party has won. they didn't do as well as in other elections. >> millions of south africans have given the african national congress another chance. the liberation party has been voted back into power. this time, with a majority. they are he can static celebrating the 5th consecutive win. >> themed to take the country out of our hands. >> tensions are simmering. they have been protesting north of johannesburg. some opposition supporters

aren't happy, relating the anc rigged the vote, police have been deployed. people are frustrated at the government's failure to face high levels of unemployment and poverty. >> the administration has fallen from 76 and now to 61 and a half, 62%. the big question, they are saying we are unhappy with some of the behavior. >> the economic freedom fighters got more than 20 seats in the national adssemblassembly. the party has only been around for a few months. their le theirer. the main opposition party, democratic alliance increased the share of the national vote. the party is seen by some to cater to white interests, gained some supports from poor and middle class black south

africans. >> the anc is more than 100 years old, seen as a party that liberated the black majority from apartheid. opposition parties have done well. analysts say it's a wake-up call to party officials that south africans have options if the anc is seen top fail its electorate. >> you are saying and wen that the anc didn't actually hold on to the numbers that they have had in the past. so how are they reacting to that decrease? not only the anc but people, themselves. >> people are choosing to forget about that for now. they say they are going to party throughout the night, celebrating but alex a alexandr,

police are on high alert. people have been procetesprotes anc sporters even say. and a lot of people understand and accept the anc won but they want to see what they will deliver on the promises. >> all right. and do we expect to see delivery from the officials? what kind of changes are we going to see here? >>. >> we hear lots and lots of promises. president zuma is on his way here people want to hear from him. they want to know what he plans to do. people want water, education, sanitation, good hospitals, basics that some people in the world take for granted. they want to see what he plans to do in terms of that.

there is some disillusionment in south africa as well. they wait to see what zuma will say and they are hoping the anc delivers on their promises. >> all right t thank you haru, reporting from johanesburg. >> the world's largest block of islamtic current trees has described the kidnapping of 270 school girls as barbaric and inhumane. the organization for islamix cooperation says groups like before disavowislam. they have threaten today sell the girls off into slavery. the nigerian military dismissed claims it received prior notice that the school would be targeted. al jazeera has more from the nigerian capitol. >> reporter: the nigh jeerpian military broke its silence issuing a rather detailed statement trying to exonerate its soldiers from allegations that they had advanced warning hours before the attack but

failed to act accordingly. they said what they did receive were calls for reinforcement once the boko haram attack was underway that cans it had to dispatch reinforcements to more than 120 kilometers away in a very rugged and difficult terrain that soldiers were ambushed, that they were receiving misleading information and that their investigation into the conduct of what exactly happened that day is still underway. this as international teams of experts from the united states, from the united kingdom, have already started arriving in nigeria to provide assistance to nigerian authorities in areas where they are particularly lack can. these are believed to be areas such as satellite imagery and intelligence gathering. the emphasis has been that these are not troops, not boots on the ground, but rather technical experts, military personnel, law enforcement personnel, specifically skilled in the a a areas of intelligence, hostage

negotiations, information gathering and victim assistance. >> well, the u.s. first lady michelle obamas has called the kidnappings an attack committed committed by terrorist. she has taken the place of the presidential weekly address. she has been a vocal campaigner for the release and says the u.s. is helping in all ways possible for the search efforts? >> an uncon shownable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education. grown men attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls. and i want you to know that barak has directed our government to do everything possible to support the nigerian government's efforts to find these girls and bring them home. in these girls, barack and i see our own daughters. we see their hopes and their dreams, and we can only imagine the anguish their parents are feeling right now.

many of them may have been hesitant to send their daughters off to school, fearing that harm might come their way. but they took that risk because they believed in their daughter's promise and wanted to give them every opportunity to succeed. our white house correspondent patty colhane with more from washington, d.c.? >> this is unusual. in fact, it's the first time first lady michelle obama has taken over the weekly address from her husband trying to raise awareness in the united states about the plight of the school girls in nigeria. she said to her, it's personal, she is the mother of school girls. she widened it out to talk about the plight of young women across the world trying to get an education saying 65 million young girls are not in school worldwide. this is unlikely to change u.s. policy. it has not been a robust response offering maybe about a dozen or so experts to try to help with the search but the white house is saying officially that they have no intention of doing anything when it comes to any potential rescue operation.

right now, they are just sending in a handful of experts to try to find the missing girls regardless of what michelle obama said, the u.s. position is not expected to change dramatically. >> south sudan's president signed a fees fire agreement ending months of conflict. the deal has been held a possible break through for the future of the world's newest state. thousands have been killed since fighting began in december. >> at least 14 people have been killed by government shelling in the iraqi city of fallujah. a spokesman for the city's general hospital also stated that at least 35 people have been injured. he added that since the military surge started in late december, 321 civilians have been killed and over a thousand injured in the violence. yemen remains on high alert over the threat of al-qaeda attacks. the armed group has lost ground to the government in the last few days raising fears of revenge attacks in the capitol

>> reporter: tight security. soldiers search vehicles of the northern entrance to the capitol. a massive hunt for potential suicide bombers and al-qaeda operatives is underway. >> i am worried sending my school walking by government buildings and constantly thinking a blast might happy any time anywhere. >> this is the military checkpoint that was attacked by unknown gun men near the presidential palace on friday. they have been targeted many times by al-qaeda. despite the high security here, there are real concerns" might take the fight to the heart of the capitol and launch major attacks across the country. the military presence comes against the backdrop of a major onslaught against al-qaeda.

abandoned by occupants leaving behind weapons and explosives devices as well as communication equipment. >> translator: we have defeated the terrorists. i want to reassure you well chase those who fled until they surrender or get killed. the army now controls most of the area. al-qaeda may have lost some battles, but not the war. a vast desert land controlled by sympathetic tribesmen. al jazeera has obtained a leaked copy of ab dull al shami reports. blood and urine tests were carried out and show he is dangerously close to death. there are signs of microcitic anemia preventing proper levels

of oxygen reaching his vital organs. his kidneys are functions abnormally and there are high learns of urea in his blood. he has a urinary tract infection. his liver is close to failure and threatens his life. medical experts are calling for immediate intervention. >> i think he is beyond all of the records because to my knowledge, the people cannot live without food for more than 3030 to 45 days, a patient dies at that number of days after starvation. i think this is danger for him. he should stop immediately, not taking any food, any vitamins. he should be transferred to intensive care unit to seavey lec tro lights, iv fluids and energy glucose and should be under monitor. and treat his urinary tract infection. otherwise, he may die within a few days. >> three al jazeera english

journalists have been held in an egyptian prison for 133 days. peter gresta, mohammed ami are falsely accused. the group has been declared a terrorist organization by egypt. al jazeera rejects all of the charges and demanding their immediate release. here is what's coming up. type of working together. vigilante's and policehu hunt mexico's most wanted man. why the cooperation may soon come to an end. music to his ears, a deal with apple that could make this man the first hip-hop billionaire. late ner sport, another strong performance on the mercedes formula, at the spanish grand prix.

to laura tailor with some news out of london. laurie? >> thank you very much. we are hearing reports of fighting in the eastern ukrainian city of slovyansk and we have been able to join harriet sallem from slovyansk on the line. tell us what you have been hearing and what you think is going on there? >> thank you. 12 hours away from the polling. the outskirts between the rebels on and off through the last week. fighting in one village and on the outskirts of the city. >> we are clearly having a few problems there with the sound. with harriet sallem and just to recap what we heard from her

earlier, reports of some fighting, large booms going off. it hasn't been established if anyone had been injured. from the people she has spoken to, no one has been taken into the local hospitals. sol details sketchy. more information. preparing to vote on whether or not they support the self rule of the people's republic of donetsk. a vote will be held in 53 locations. ukraine's acting president says the vote for self rule would lead to disaster. jo jo jonah hull has more. >> the voters are encouraged to see their country in stark terms, blood-thirsty ultra nationalists waging war on the pooefings communities of donetsk. the only answer, a tick for "yes" to the idea of their own people's republic.

opinion polls popular support for the idea is low. we found it to be divided at best. >> i am not going to vote but, of course, it will have an impact on us. it's the fact that i don't find this legitimate. >> neither does the government in kiev. but there doesn't seem to be much it can do to stop polling stationses from opening. the head of the central election commission of the people's republic of donetsk says the referendum will meet all international standards. here is something that international observers might have cause to question, a sign in the window of the polling station, itself 12340 have to say yes but, of course, there aren't going to be any international observers.

among polling station, the outcome isn't in much doubt. >> when it comes to the percentage, i cannot tell thbut believe it will be no less than 60% in favor. but if the polls are right that there is a majority against, then veteran civil society campaigner maria olenyk says there is good reason to stay silent n recent weeks, many of her colleagues have been abducted, beaten and intimidated. the ukrainian colors have all but vanished from the streets of the east. ty beginning, it was holliganism. there was no punishment. this evil group started to arm themselves. we only have our hands. it's hardly an ideal environment for any exercise in democracy.

german and france say they are willing to take further sanctions against russia if the election doesn't go as prepared. angela merkel has been meeting germany, scheduled for may 25th, she says russia's president must send more signals of deescalation to calm the situation >> translator: we consider the refer end you made i will legitimate and focusing on the election in may 25th. if that is not happening, that would lead to further destabilization. we are ready to take further sanctions against russia. dozens of people killed in violence there more than a week ago. the service took place in front of a trade union building that was set on fire killing 31 people. hundreds of mourners turn out.

>> crimea's tartar community says it's under increased attacks since russia's controversial annexation of the region. some are worried about what will happen after sunday's referendum. it's a big day for this crimeaan tatar couple. this place was previously part of ukraine. now crimea is under russian control room, it's proving let's than a happy union between moscow and this minority group. >> for deck it's a, the tatars have seen the council which sits in the building behind me as their representative body some are coming under pressure from the new authorities in crimea. >> this member says he was beaten up by suspected members of the pro-russian self defense forces. he says many more tatars are being attacked or threatened?

>> it gave publicity to this situation. but the police said they have a similar situation every day. they wanted to enter crimea from ukraine last weekend. thousands of demonstrators tried to cross the water to welcome him but were stopped. he is now banned from crimea for five years and many of the protesters face prosecution. meanwhile, the authorities have threatened at a time extremist organization but the man running crimea rejects the claims that tatars are being persecuted. crimea's tatars, more than $20 million this year. >> that's more than they ever received when this was ukrainian territory. also, one of the members is my deputy. some remain skeptical stressing

the need. >> our people were exiled for 50 years and returned to a place where nobody was waiting for them. will putin solve those issues on a case-by-case basis? >> this man isn't worried as long as the government doesn't try to sweep away the tatars' traditions? >> i don't care if we have putin or a ukrainian president. i want people to live in peace and justice. we also want to be recognized as a people. >> so, as a new chapter begins in crimea's history, its tatar minority is left wondering what its role will be. crimea. >> all from the team in london here for now. >> lauren, there have been shootouts in the western mexican state between security forces and suspected cartel members pretending to be vigilantes as others face a saturday deadline to stand down. one of the movement's leaders is being investigated for murder.

so-called self defense forces have been fighting the knights templar cartel for more than a year. adam rainey joined one group as they haunted for mexico's most wanted man. >> they fuel up for a long day. one of the last on the hunt for the most wanted man in mexico, the 18-hour journey takes us from the foot hills into the rugged heart of the knights templar. a cartel hiding out since vigil antes and please started work together. the first sign of trouble, radio shatter from cartel lookouts. the foot soldiers, some barely 18, are sure they have been spotted. their leader says despite at a time danger, they must keep up the fight. >> we don't want the nights templar to regroup because if they do, they will just put our

children in labor. a one-time camp for the cartel, the leader meets the top authority in the area who is also hunting for la tuta. the police rely on the vigil ante's knowledge of the terrain. they spend the day looking for clues but at each stop, the trail seems to have gone cold, a sign that their prey is always a step ahead of them. and their surge is anything but stealthy. towards the end of the day, it's a telling moment. they come upon another group of vigilantes with weapons drawn. they suspect them of being cartel members in discaguisdisg no shot was fired but the police commander die fuses the crisis and wants to make clear who is in chargeefuses the crisis and wants to make clear who is in char charge. >> if any of you search houses without (bleep), i will (bleep) you up. or step out of line and i'll

(bleep) you, too. >> they hear cartel members talking about their position. they see trucks behind their convoy that speed off into the night do they proceed or wait to avoid a possible ambush? ultimately, with camp 20 minutes down the road, they really only have one choice. head home. the bottom of the valley. there are more than 7 armed police they all say they feel safe now. >> safe perhaps but still without their man. adam rainey, al jazeera in the mountains of mexico. coming up on the al jazeera newshour, india's ruling congress party embarks to win over hearts and votes before campaigning ends. children behind bars. indonesia struggles to cope with

the asylum seekers australia has turned away. and rain wreekz havoc at the d 'italia event. >> a little later.

>> i'm joe berlinger this is the system people want to believe that the justice system works. people wanna believe that prosecutors and police do the right thing. i think every american needs to be concerned about that. we do have the best justice system in the world, in theory... the problem is, it's run by human beings... human beings make mistakes... i'd like to think of this show as a watch dog about the system... to make sure justice is being served. wrongful convictions happen, we need to be vigilant. with our personal liberties taken away from us, it better be done the right way. is justice really for all?

sxwrfrnlings. hello again. the top stories on the al jazeera america newshour. the anc guarantees president jacob zuma's power for the next five years. >> the largest block of islamic countries has described the kidnapping of 270 school girls as barbaric. they say groups like boko haram disavow islam. al jazeera contained a leaked copy of al shami's medical report. blood and urine test show he is dangerously close to death. let's return to one of our top stories, the african national congress's victory in south africa general election. let's talk about this and speak

to borain, an independent political analyst. he is joining us live via skype. thank you for being with us on al jazeera. the anc did win the election but the numbers were a little down with the two previous elections. but they still managed to get more than 60% of votes. it shows the anc still does have support. >> more than just support. it's still overwhelmingly dominant political party. it's still in many ways riding on the wave of having led south africa to democracy and liberation in 1994 as the premier liberation movement before apartheid, that it's slipping and the last few e elections, a significant slip for the anc. possibly in other countries, they might have 62.51%. an overwhelm can majority. it's down 4% and much more significantly in the most sophisticated urban voting

populations. and in the urban metros the population. up to 10, 11%. just hanging on to 50%. strategies, they are celebrating in a huge party tonight. i think the more serious strategists are quite worried about these trends going forward. >> so the fact that the numbers are down, nick, i mean are the voters, is the electorate sending a message that they are dissatisfied with the anc as a party, or wouith jacob zuma, himself? >> it's obviously different for me to authoritatively make that distinction. i am almost sure that the anc got a lot of votes despite jacob zuma, not because of jacob zuma and the votes where they lost were the areas in which jacob zuma was booed. why? because two major reasons, the corruption associated with the

allegations and corruption associated with the money pouring in to his family and into his house, the huge renovations, but it's also something else more important. there is a traditionalism and a rural conserve testimony about jacob zuma, obviously the in the usualban african constitwaeningss, i think they don't likeuencies, i think they don't like. they are saying we don't want to support this kind of anc. i think it is not on a trajectory downward. it could turn around. >> how will it turn it around? what do you expect the anc to do different over the next five years with the allegations as you refer to as corruption. also, people are unhappy with unemployment levels, lack of education, lack of prospects. >> in as far as jacob zuma is the face of the anc, i think the anc could change its face. i think it could change it to a

modern culturally more modern organization and appeal more to yourban, young voters. as you know, the radical populist economic freedom fighters, young, dynamic, have had very significant traction of almost no money and after only a few months, i think the anc is going to have to look at this and look at its leadership, message, at the image. it's solid and safe in urban, rural conservative constitwainses, but i think it's going to have to change its face. >> all right. >> and change leadership. >> nick, we will have to leave it there. nick moran joining us from capetown in south africa now, let's go to india where the world's largest democracy is gearing up for a final round of voting. saturday marks the last day of campaigning with the obviopposi.

the ruling congress party hasn't given up just yet >> reporter: >> reporter: a final push to win the hearts and votes of the masses. it's the last day of campaigning in india and political leaders like the congress party's rajul gandhi are going all out to charm voters. democracy. young people want a strong nation and a strong country. >> that's why i am going to work for the congress. >> for months, politicians have used song and slogan to woo voters. ruling congress party is facing a tough antiincumbancy wave while the new common man party is gaining popularity thanks to their anticorruption campaign but it's tthe j.b. p is expecte win the most number of seats in

parliament. if that happens, their candidate is likely to become prime minister. many are concerned about his n candida candidacy. they worry about modi leaving the country. they believe he is antiislamic because of his favor to stop communal riots in 2002. violence that left more than a thousand people dead, most of them muslim. all muslims are worried, not just the ones here but all over india. he doesn't want us to progress. he says you guys should go to pakistan. why should we go to pakistan. isn't this our country? now preparing to vote in the final face of elections on may 12th. while results are impossible to predict, it seems the flames of change are burning in india

after. al jazeera. red shirts are ang re at the dismissal of yingluk shinawatra. yellow shirts are calling on the entire cabinet to step down. indonesia is struggling to go through the archeplego and are often turned up thanks to the tough refugee policy unable to find work and often faced with abuse on the streets, many volunteer to stay in the over-packed detention centers. from jakarta. they were looking for safety but instead, they found long-term detention. men, women, and children escaping violence pakistan, now stuck in indonesia. the australian government tightened its refugee policy and

refuses to accept asylum seekers something the u.n. says violates a convention for refugees. australia insists it's safing lives. >> they have a agreement with australia. we believe if people enter the territory y'all waters at the 1951 they have a responsibility to -- for disem bar indication and to allow people into the asylum process. >> indonesia is struggling with the influx of asylum centers. they are allowed to live in communities. many have become so desperate that they ask to be put in detention. they include people like mutasa who left the violence in afghanistan but now is threatened in indonesia. >> translator: i decided to go

to the detention center because my money has run out and because of the growing abuse behavior by people here. >> when we work on the streets, they thrown stones with. >> these people are desperate. most of the asylum seekers here have no way forward and no way back. with tolerance decreasing and money running out, some are willing to be locked up behind bars. they have not signed a convention for refugees, asylum seekers here are considered illegal immigrants t nearly 2000 of them are locked up. is for thousands of others, there is no space. this man from afghanistan says immigration officials forcefully rejected him. >> we went to the detention center to ask for help but without any questions, they started beating us and threw us outside and tried again a few days later and they beat us

again. >> immigration department denies the beatings happened but admits that because of overcrowding, fights occur regularly. >> this is very difficult for us. we don't have enough capacity to it and we can't reject or deport them and hope the unhcr will speak up the asylum seekers' processes so they can be brought to a better place. >> the asylum seekers are often stuck there for two or three years before their access are processed. indianeeias's has called the refugee policy a failure because it has not stopped asylum speakers from making the journey to australia and says australia is acting as if it can move the problem to its neighbor. u.s. tech giant apple is acquiring beats electronics for more than $3,000,000,000. apple is hoping the brand known

for its headphones and trendy services will revive sales. >> they are big. they are bold and sold as an ultimate symbol of swag. the beats head phone is a centerpiece of beats electronics founded by hip-hop star dr. dre and music mogul ironbian. >> it's launched in pop culture, sported by musicians, celebrities and athletes and driven by a saavy, aggressive marketing campaign. it's so trendy that tech titan apple wants a bite of the action. a pair of beats headphones costs anywhere upwards of $150. although it's set to deliver inferior sound quality with arrival brands in its class, it

owns between a 55 and 60% share of the lucrative market for premium headphones. it helps to explain why apple is reportedly offering $32,000,000,000 for the company. if a sale goes through, is it will be apple's biggest acquisition yet, a sign of what industry watchers say is an attempt to revive its flagging sales in digital music. beats also operates a new and popular streaming service, something apple hasn't had much luck in. >> beats is the coolest thing in the digital music world. they have the coolest executive did. they have got a great brand and a really rapidly growing consumer base, for the hardware and for the digital subscription service side. apple is grabbing on to their coattails a little bit and trying to keep their own brand alive as long as thing. . >> the deal would make beats co-founder dr. dre the first billionaire in hip-hop, a

stunning turnaround for the bad boy record whose music used to carry an fbi warning. it's a marriage that sees apple investing in an area of wearable fashion technology as red-hot as the earphones, themselves. gerald tan, al jazeera. more to come on the al jazeera newshour including... >> i am nick in chile where conditions are perfect for peering into the astronomcal past in a search for traces of the early universe. >> in sport, rafael nadal books a spot in the master's follow. he will be here in just a moment with that story and more. >> i'm joe berlingerr

>> start with one issue

education... gun control... the gap between rich and poor... job creation... climate change... tax policy... the economy... iran... healthcare... ad guests on all sides of the guests on all sides of the >> there's something seriously wrong... >> there's been acrimony... >> the conservative ideal... >> it's an urgent need... and a host willing to ask the tough questions >> how do you explain it to yourself? and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5 eastern only on al jazeera america hello again. robin is here with an update on

all of the day's top sports stories. >> formula one uses in where mercedes have continued their domination. they grabbed the first two places on the starting grid of the spanish grand prix. lewis hamilton fastest in qualifying, his fourth pole. britain qualifying ahead of teammates fourth consecutive victory. another day to forget these teammates a world champion on the strict during his session a big thank you to the team to have the kind of performance we have, i have never really known that before. it's difficult out there, the track conditions are pretty poor, but i am overwhelmed. >> barcelona coach says he doesn't think the club owes his an apologies after the

supporting director -- sporting director, he is busy preparing the team ahead of a crucial game on sunday. he was responding to speculation that the club was lining up enrique to replace him. they could retain their final. it still hasn't been a good season for the cataline giants. if we do win we won't celebrate with a banner reading. we deserved it even though one of the teams is the best in europe at the moment and the other one had a sdachterous season, we are both in the title reports said to ask london to take over the hosting of the 2016 summit games from rio is total rubbish. u.k. media reports say they are claiming the isc was so concerned about the preparations for 2016 that it was about to ask london to step in as

alternative hosts. however, an ioc spokesman has described those reports as totally without foundation. describe asking rio social security preparations as the worst ever. there was no plan b. 10 olympic champions at the start of the athlet co out door season. shelly frazier price was off at a sta start. >> shelly an frazier price says she is concentrating on the 200 meters but at the die monday league, the two-time olympic champion proved once again untouchable in the 100. >> i am pleased. to perform. i wanted to execute because it would be my first race for the

season i will i think 589 to go and look at. >> it was a recordbreaking night for valerie adams. she won her 47th final in a row and an 18th diamond league event? >> obvious over 20 meters, hey, you know, it is what it is today. not such a great night for mutez barsham. he came fourth in front of his home crowd. in a competitive field, he jumped two meters, 41, just four centimeters. no olympics or world championships this year. he is concentrating on the diamond league. by equaling his world leading time of 44.44 seconds. >> it was important for me to

come out in this first diamond league race and get this win to set the season up. this year, the goal to wind the diamond league again. >> mohammed aman took center stage in the 800 meters. the world champion only just beat nigel amos to the line. much to the delight of the ethiopian community here in doha. they are hoping for a double in the women's 3,000 meters. in the world records in february, the 23-year-old could provide the crowd with a victory: kenya's helen aberi winning. ababa back in 6th. richard parr, al jazeera. >> the latest tennis news, world number 1 rafael nadal is closing in on his fourth madrid title, with a win over baptista, 6-3 to

score with nadal one win away from the t the final on sunday. >> in the women's draw, simona much romania in the open final she saw a 20-11 over the 6-7 be, 6-3, since-2 in the semis. maria sharapova, the australian conference beat south african on saturday, was clear at the aussie conflict. >> top seeds in the eastern conference. pacers lived up to billing in the semifinal series against the washington wizards in front of their larry bird, they were

comfortable winners. 23 points and eight rebounds. the best of series, game 4 is on sunday in washington. >> proudly, proudly the ugliest game of post-season thus far. these, you know, our style of basketball. every now and then, this team is fortunate to get offensive but we play defense. >> the oklahoma city thunder beat the la clippers 118 to 112. oklahoma now lead their western conference semifinal series 2 to 1. earlier, it was announced the nba appointed dick parsons as the new ceo of the clippers. he was a former chief executive at the time warner company comes in as a temporary replacement for donald sterling following the lifetime man for make

racists comments. they are trying to force sterling to sell the clippers, the team he bought back in 1981. leveled at a time semifinal series against the defending stanley cup champions, chicago blackhawks trailing 2-1, their best of 7 play of the wild twice only to be pinned back twice as well. the second goal, they will hold on to seal a 4-2 win, game 5 is on sunday. his mother passed away new york rangers played. helping his side to a 5-1 victory over the pittsburgh penguins. it keeps the rangers from being eliminated from the eastern conference and three games to 2. cycling. marcel kittell is in the second stage with a thrilling sprint finish through belfast. it wasn't without incident for

the a number of riders injured in separate crashes. it was made worse by the slippery conditions. german kital crossing with 5 hours and 13 minutes, 12 seconds while australian michael matthews claimed the pink jersey. a leg of 1807 kilometers to dublin. more sport later. >> see you then. thank you. well well, astron members in chile say they have discovered a star that's thought to be 13 billion years. at the sgert in chile. >> spectacular and desolate, the oldest desert on earth and the driest. some parts get no rain at all. >> that's why it lures astron members like professor anna freebell time and again. >> it's very dry. >> that's very good for astronme. >> means the stars don't twinkle as much.

of course, very predy when the stars twinkle but astronmembers don't actually like it at all >> reporter: between imagine he willan telescopes, the 2,500 meters up in the andes waiting for night fall. other observetories, too, perched in the desert air, a focus of our yearning to no more about what's out there? >> this is my baby, my favorite telescope. >> tell us about the discovery you made through this telescope? >> yeah. we use the telescope several times a year. we are here in early 2013 about a year ago. one of the stars we were observing turned out to be the second generation or a second generation star of the universe. >> mark fillops is the director of the magellan observatory and knows the significance of the discovery. we have to understand the chemical evolution of the universe and in particular, the galaxy. it's if you wanted mental. how life on earth came about

actually. >> right now, it's a star beating down and all is quiet in the living quarters as the technicians, visiting astron mists are creatures of the night. the telescope operators prepare to find their star target did. above the constitations continue their relentless spectacular march across the skies full of mystery and unanswered questions. >> so can you go to target number 13? >> the tell:homes in on the new newly? >> we have cashbon absorption. we think the second generation has formed from the ashes of the first one. >> that generation included

some. we have found one. >> that's absolutely terrific that we have the tools. and the telescope to fish out these fossil records of the very, very early times. just outside of the observatory, the raw wonder of the sky at night is compelling and bewildering. a nighttime compressed into seconds, shows the milky way sweeping across the sky as the telescope tracks the tafshth did. too feint to be seen here is an old, old star. taking us close to the beginnings of everything. nick clark, al jazeera, chile. >> for our viewers in the united states, back to the regular programming on al jazeera america. for the rest of our international viewers, lauren taylor will be with you in a moment here on al jazeera with more news.

>> maman bashir alex niev camila karamova di dai jin peng pan sunatillo i am sorry if i pronounced your name wrong. >> it was not a choice for us, for the children to come here.