>> this is al jazeera america live from new york city, i'm richelle carey, here are the top stories. we are looking at live video from hong kong where demonstrators have been ordered to clear the streets. >> we have seen a lot of understandable concern. >> officials try to calm fears about ebola, but admit more cases in the u.s. are possible. reports from two major fronts in the battle against i.s.i.l. polls are closing in brazil, where 140 million voters are

deciding on a new president. it's 6am on monday in hong kong. pro-democracy demonstrators have been told they must clear the streets. many are blocking the main roadway linking the government district and the financial center. yesterday protesters agreed to remove barricade around government buildings, and others say they'll remain defiant. adrian brown has reaction from the street. china's government says hong kong's pro-democracy protesters are on a road to nowhere. the one to the central business distribute is blocked. at first the students refuse to let that driver through. but he is so angry they eventually give in to his

demands. now the government is demanding those blockading the office complex relent. a monday deadline for them to remove the area is looming. >> if it's tear gas, we'll stay here. if it's blood, we'll find an evacuation plan and then come back. >> hong kong's chief executive warned the city could be onned eve of disruption. leaders of the movement insist buildings are still accessible. this woman is torn about whether the action should continue. >> we need to pay for it. like, in... >> even if it means people losing their jobs, not providing food for the family, you think it's worth it? >> it's really a big conflict. >> mostly it was calm today.

time for some of the students to catch up on messed studies. unsure, like everyone else, as to how this will all end. joining us now on set is sharon homs, the executive director of human rights from china. you have staff on the ground now. this is really the moment when the government says "you have to go." clearly thousands are saying "we are not going anywhere. what is your sense of what is happening now at the moment. >> the situation on the ground is more fluid, with a lot of complications. it's not clear this they are saying they have to clear, because the chief executive responded to the students about an hour ago. >> okay. >> and what you don't hear from there is get out now, that clearly. we are open to talking, we are open to dialogue we remain open

to dialogue. can we get help with two areas of cleaning. one is a cross-over brim, and the other is a carriageway to allow for it. it's an odd rehabilitation, response to the students, basically asking for help to clear two roads in the government district. >> do you think the demonstrators are painted with too broad of a brush? >> i do. clearly they are not a centralized movement. it's a decentralized movement. there are spokespeople who are eloquent and doing a terrific job of keeping the peaceful nature of it. the diversity of views expressed. the way that they are democratically trying to process the way forward, and there are different views on the best strategic answer on the situation. it's the perfect embody. of the democratic process and citizens learning to be citizens. a 17-year-old speaks her honour said "you make the road by

walking in it." he said this is what we are doing, we are building a democracy, but walking the road. >> figuring it out as they move along. >> they are. they are learning to deal with the different tensions. they have done a good job of responding to the local residents, for example. they publicly apologised, put up a poster saying sorry for the inconvenience, but for the longer term we may need to pay a press. they are navigating a lot for the tensions in what is an increasing way for young people. >> when you say for the longer term, how long a term? are they in it for the long haul? >> everyone from martin lee, one of the original founders to the students themselves, the young

ones. i heard this consistently. they are saying the struggle to build and to preserve democracy in hong kong is a long road. we do not. no one is anticipating. for now, it's important to keep the optics a little bit - we need to look at what is gong on on the ground. social media is reporting, blow by blow pictures and commentary. at the same time it's important to keep the bigger picture in mind. one of the biggest pictures is what is this about, and not about. notwithstanding what beijing is trying to paint it as. it's not about a challenge to the communist party. it's not about an effort to challenge china's sovereignty over hong kong. what it's about, for the hong kong demonstrators and the young people, is the future of hong kong, which is also the future of china. they are preserve what we have had pre 1997 and host 1997,

which is a way of life that has rule of law. freedom of expression, and what they are holding on to is a fight to preserve that, and the second part of the fight is to get what was promised, which was an international promise, and to have the promise of universal suffrage. >> how is state-run tv portraying this? >> depending on the language, there's two different messages. both in chinese, state-run media and english state-run media, one thing is common. it's a hard line, it's a rhetorical hard line. in the english media, the main messaging is do not interfere, do not get involved, this is a domestic matter, climbing that this, in fact, international treaty and obligations and promises - they are trying to treat it as domestic. the chinese media are trying to downplay it.

yesterday on the people's daily site there's nothing on the demonstrators. >> nothing. >> notwithstanding. on the wee bow, chinese version of twitter, you see posts selectively censored. a few days ago you're only getting one side of the post. any post that says this is impacting hong canning's stability, other -- hong kong's stability, ordinary people's lives, they stay up. they said in order to preserve a diversity of opinion we had to take down certain posts, you are not getting diversity of opinion, you get the view that the authority yes want. notwithstanding that you get support from hong kongers, from the mainland. they are posting support and you are getting support from mainlanders that are being pecked up.

they have signs saying support hong kong, support hong kong central. and they are picked up, harassed and detained. >> you said at the start that it is a political situation. i think it's accurate. we follow the fluid situation. thank you very much. >> thank you. a week ago thomas eric duncan was the first and so far the only person in the united states to be diagnosed with ebola. he remains in critical condition. officials from trying to reassure the public. danger. >> i would not be surprised if one of the people coming into contact with thomas eric duncan when he was ill would get ebola. you can't put a number on it. there's a risk. i don't think the american public would be surprised if you hear that one of them does come down with ebola. >> diane eastabrook is live in dallas outside the hospital where thomas eric duncan is being treated. that's not it.

not what anyone want to hear, but it's honest. what is the latest you hear about thomas eric duncan's condition. >> we know he's in critical condition. the c.d.c. says he's fighting for his life. duncan had been visiting from liberia. and his illness is a frightening reminder for many in the community. >> at the fellowship church, liberian parishioners lifted their spirits with song and praised the virus decimating their homeland, won't do the same here. the current ebola outbreak in west africa sickened more than 7,000 people, killing roughly half. the first u.s. case diagnosed in dallas last week. before that ebola has touched many here in one way for another. this woman lost her daughter to the disease and worries about

her grandchildren. a doctor lost colleagues. >> because of heat, you are sweating, use the hand to wipe your face, something like that. then you transfer the virus. >> with tears, these liberian immigrants hope their families will be spared. this bishop offers words of encouragement. >> there are 3,000 marine in our country helping. they are there helping us. that is a sign that the international community are not forgetting us. >> reporter: many hope the prayers will be answered. now, the c.d.c. emphasised that ebola is not likely to spread here the way it has in west africa. still, it's frightening for some of these people. when people are frightened they want as much information as

possible. having said that, is the c.d.c. communicating with people specifically in the dallas area, in this particular community? actually they are. at the moment they are having a conference call with a liberia group, and they are educating them and getting information out to the people so they understand what is going on. >> diane eastabrook in dallas, thank you. a cameraman who contracted ebola in liberia is on the way back to the u.s. for treatment. he left liberia about half an hour ago, and is headed no the nebraska medical center. omaha. he has been working in west africa for three years and was freelancing for n.b.c. when he got sick. meanwhile the massachusetts doctor who was treated for ebola is back in the hospital. dr richard sacra appears to have a respiratory infection. health officials do not believe

he's relapsed with ebola, but placed him in isolation as a precaution. his immune system was probably lower during a battle with ebola. fear of disease is as contagious as the disease itself. >> in ebola. whatever dead it's a little scary. until we get the result from the laboratory, they treat the body as a positive case. >> cause of death is confirmed. >> officials are taking extra precaution to keep both at bay. police are in charge of coordinating victim burial work. more than 2,000 people die from ebola in liberia alone. >> in sierra leone, an effect of the disease is orphaned children children. >> this is difficult when you don't have a clue where the family member is to take care of

the children. i believe there are so many children out there also. they don't have people to take care of them. >> the united nations estimates 4,000 children have been orphaned by ebola, and that number is expected to double in coming weeks. children are often quarantined for three weeks, and they have no one to turn to for food or shelter. coming up in half an hour, we hear from a community leader on the front line about the ebola outbreak in liberia. and we look at whether the united states is prepared for an epidemic of any sort. in "the week ahead". in northern syria kurdish forces are holding the line around kobani. i.s.i.l. attacks are spreading over the border into turkey. bitted has more from the turkey

syrian border. >> reporter: turkish authorit s authorities - i.s.i.l. has tape a hi, and they are shelling a town, and some stray sells are falling on turkey's border. one family was injured, in an area not far from where media was recording event. as the civilians leave, military enters. while all that is happening, we know that the leader of the main syrian kurdish party - he has been in ankara meeting the officials. we don't know what happens in the meeting, but what has to be on the agenda is how the kurds defend kobani from the i.s.i.l. forces. a busy weekend for u.s.

forces supporting the fight against i.s.i.l. u.s. central command reports it conducted three air streaks against i.s.i.l. and northern syria. six attacks occurred in iraq. in iraq, government forces clashed, 50 miles north of baghdad. the government-run television association showed footage of troops fighting i.s.i.l. government forces were able to tappure the city. nor battle is taking place west coast of baghdad, in anbar province. around the city. this report was filed. this furious exchange of fire shows that the battle is not slowing down. backed by tanks and weapons, the government forces are in the town. this is a strategic town. holding it against i.s.i.l.

fighters means that the supplies could reach the province. >> we will never leave our city. this is our homeland that we will not abandon. we'll fight them, whether they call themselves rebels or armed groups. >> we are all ricky, sunni -- iraqi, sunni, shi'as - we are all brother. if they want their rights, it should be through dialogue. >> there's a few kilometres between i.s.i.l. fighters and the troops. >> what we are seeing is the effect of coalition air strikes on the border with syria. it may not be what the coalition expected or contended. i.s.i.l. fighters pushed further in taking shelter in towns. what happened after is iraqi army forces and pro-sunni troops surrounded those areas and the

fighting is one of shelling and clashes. the iraqi army has not gone inside the towns for fear of casualties. >> with large numbers of fighters taking up positions, it's highlighted how difficult the fight is, a tight that will not be over soon. the fighting with i.s.i.l. led to security precautions at mosques in iraq. the eed celebrations lasts -- eid celebrations lasts three address. and it celebrates how a prophet sacrificed his son to god. israel is making exceptions to travel bans, allowing muslim to mark the festival. many are expected to use permits over the next three days. in pakistan protesters continued demonstrations against

the prime minister. protests have been raging in islamabad since august. opposition politician imran khan is leading the call for nawaz sharif to step down over election fraud. muslims are struggling to make the most of the eid holiday. >> reporter: eid is a celebration for young and old. it's especially enjoyed by children. the holiday is a time for presents and brand new clothes. this man says his children are happy, they think they are on a trip. he has not been able to tell them the truth. they lost everything when they ran from advancing i.s.i.l. fighters. >> now they are one of 250 families living in the refugee camp in erbil. >> back home we are worldly people, look how we are living here. it's undignified, we have no

other chose. >> he set up a store here, much to his regret. it is likely to become a permanent home. the city is one of the oldest in the world. it's seen waves of migration, and thousands are coming, looking for protection. a truckload of meat asks in the camp. a gift from a wealthy emeraty. and provides a chance for families to enjoy a family meal, a highlight of eid. >> we have seen the camp has gone quiet. most women are in the tents. we'll go inside and see what they are preparing. thank you so much. >> translation: we need protection and need to get rid of the terrorists. conditions will improve once we go home. >> reporter: while children blow up balloons to decorate a tent. parents are not in a party mood.

the stress of the situation is weighing on their shoulders, as well as the question when will they be able to return home. coming up n al jazeera america - polls in brazil are closed. we go live to sao paulo as the counting begins for the next president. seeking justice. rehabilitation to the deaths of the former dictator jean-claude "baby doc" duvalier.

the polls are closed in brazil, where an estimated 140 million brazilians cast their ballots today. there are nearly 15,000 candidates for them to choose from, running for various officers nationwide. that includes a tight presidential race. we go to sao paulo, with more. following the races, particularly the presidential race. take it away. >> that's right. things are moving fast at

brazil. in the last five minutes we received the first results. 75% of the vote counted, ipp cum band dilma rousseff has 40%, aecio neves 35%, and maria silva, the environmentalist, 21%. we have about 25% of the vote to come in. it looks like this will probably go to a run-off. it's unlikely dilma rousseff, as expected - it's unlikely that she'll get the 50% she needs to win in the first ball odd. i want to get more on this. i'll bring in a brazilian journalist, who has covered four presidential elections. first, what is your initial rehabilitations to the numbers that came in so far. >> she was leading the polls until a month ago. she's at the level from 2010. she's out of the race. it's surprising to see that he

has had a big boost. it will be a big run-off. >> mentioning sifl, and she got another attention in the international media. she jumped to the front of the polls. her campaign discussed in the end. and if you see some noticed cracks in the candidacy that she flip flopped on issues. he looked safe. those who, like the government wept with dilma rousseff, clearly. >> reporter: for dilma rousseff, it appears she may not get the 50% she needs. we have a few seconds left. what does this mean for her going forward? >> this mark she expects to be in the room with some of the other candidates. i'd say she's facing a tough

campaign, the rehabilitation is hers to lose. >> that was a brazilian journalist giving his perception. 75% counted. dilma rousseff 40%, and aecio neves, 35. it appears this will be going likely to a run off at the end of object. back to you in new york. thank you. activists in haiti say they want justice for the former victim. jean-claude duvalier died yesterday, succeeding his father as president in 1971, remaining in power until 1986, both known for human rights abuses. >> i think if should be a post mortem trial. there has been so many victims that were rewarded, no one saying sorry. i think the regime spent

30 years killing people, destroying the nation of haiti. how it's unfortunate that he passed without facing a trial. that's the sad part. >> activists expressed concern that a failure to hold the regime accountable. next - mexican authorities explore a mass grave which some fear may be connected to the disappearance of students last week. the family of ebola victim thomas eric duncan spits out. leading the pack on the nobel peace prize, we run through the list of top nominees.

>> kentucky, a state that's hurting economically. >> when the mines shut down it affects other businesses too you know, it hurts everything. >> some say it's time for a change. >> mitch has been in there so long. >> while others want to stay the course. >> all the way mitch! you know exactly what these people needs in kentucky. >> communities trying to cope. what does the future hold? >> the economy, the struggling coal industry and healthcare are all impacting their vote. >> "america votes 2014 / fed up in kentucky". all next week. only on al jazeera america. welcome back to "al jazeera america". here is a look at the top stories. it's monday morning, and in hong kong anti-government protesters meet a deadline to clear out.

demonstrators removed some barricades, others are not going to give in. iraqi forces captured a small group. clashes north of baghdad. iraqi forces fought alongside recruits and tribes. u.s. health officials threaten to calm the fear of ebola. thomas eric duncan became the first and only person diagnosed with the disease in the country. he remains in critical condition. more than 3400 died of ebola. he is near the capital and the ebola treatment center. i asked about the need for health care workers to help fight the outbreak. >> one of the major needs now at the hospital where three hospitals are operating are a general one, one run by the

government, with dr jerry brown, and then the other was a little over 600 patients in need of blood. and now they are going to stretch out against other types of blood. great needs for bottled water, lucas aid, i.v., gloves. antimalaria i.s.i.l. medication, and the list goes on and on. the efforts show infants and adults needing homes. >> we were reporting earlier that unfortunately one of the most awful things that happened in this is there are children that are orphaned, that are quarantined for weeks, and once released from quarantine, there's nowhere for them to go. who is helping the children.

>> it falls back into the hands of neighbours. that's how it's been affected. >> if you can pinpoint how this so quickly got out of control, what would you say it was? >> i think, one, i put the emphasis on leadership. when they don't listen to the voice of god. secondly, with the harsh nature of our society. all those factors. coming from a crisis where they are rebuilding. all the things, at this point in time these as well as traditional police and practices set up in a bad swags. duncan's family members have been through a frustrating,

frightening experience. heidi zhou-castro spoke to the family about what they should do. >> reporter: nothing distinguishes the door but for the bag of soiled diapers. the family inside it too afraid to walk to the dumpster. i'm surprised when the door opens. >> this morning we are fine. >> the stepdaughter and son-in-law of ebola victim thomas eric duncan live here with four children, ages 2 to 11. no one is showing symptoms, but they ask me to stand outside to be face. one reason is they are hungry. they have been expecting a food delivery from a health worker. this little girl is nodding yes, she is hungry. when is the last time you ate, sweetheart? >> i don't know. >> reporter: the kids spent time in duncan's house whilst he was contagious. her mother called for an ambulance.

she and several others waited in the e.r. for an hour, holding a blanket covering the back and feet. >> he's not in the system. i asked, what does it take for my stepdady. the family is among the ebola contacts health officials are monitoring. unlike jalal's mother who shared the same house, this family is not upped a guarantee order. >> reporter: in other words, you have not been ordered to stay in the house, but you have been told to. >> we are told to for safety. for - i don't know. does there have to be a written something. i don't know about it. >> the family is confused. they don't know when they'll get food or if someone will dissuppose of the trash.

>> there's no airconditioner, the trash is stingy, i put it in a bag. >> for now the family watches, worries and waits. a health workers takes the temperatures twice daily, but offers little instruction. let me see if i understand you, no one has come to say you have to stay behind the door. >> no one tells me to not go outside or give me a paper not to go outside. we are just doing this. >> they are scared there may be a danger to the public safety. african union forces in somalia expect to take over al-shabab's stronghold on the south coast within hours. the army group held barrawang since 2006. katherine soy is in barawe with troops fighting alongside the forces. >> we are at the edge of barawe.

african union forces and somali troops are preparing to get in. we are told that al-shabab is retreating, running. joining me is the brigadier general, leading the ugandan forces. thank you for joining us. we are hearing reports that your troops have dean barra we. tell us the true position. >> as you know this is definitely, as a command of sector one, this is the authority over the mission. barawe is soon to be taken, at the moment it is not. >> reporter: do you expect resistance. >> yes, but barawe is the economic center, the tactical command, headquarters. we know there'll be resistance from the foreign fighters staying in barra we. >> fighters are running some of them. we are told others are melting

into the civilian population. how concerning is this to you. >> as you know, since the time we began the offensive. al-shabab has been encouraging us all the way through. at this reach that overlooks barra we, they had information superior fire power, and families and the key leadership fled through the waters. the other way around, some of the al-shabab are indigenous and melted into the civilisation. >> have the elders reached out to you? what are they saying? >> we have been in touch with many civilians, specifically speaking to a former district commissioner, held in prison, and released three days ago. he fears for his life.

he says the susan shaprio are there. they are scared to get out. >> how important is if for the troops and somalia - how important is it to take tyson barrie. >> the tactical position is a great importance to the people of somalia. we think it will be a huge achievement to take barawe. they are a port at the sea next to mogadishu. it's a great achievement once it's under our control. >> katherine soy reporting there. a mass grave mass been found not far from where 43 mem cans students -- mexican students disappeared. it's not clear if the two event are rejected. adam raney has more. >> reporter: this is where a series of mass graves have been unearthed outside the town of iguala. forensic experts have been called in to exhume the graves.

it's expected they'll do d.n.a. tests to see if the bodies exhumed are those missing for a week. they are a few kilometres from the spot where they were last seem. officialsio in the been able to identify the bodies. >> translation: it would be unfair of me to say it's linked to the students. we know that they have human remains, i reiterate, we have to wait to see what the experts find when it comes to genetic forensics. >> a member of the human rights commission told al jazeera the bodies were pushed and appeared to have been buried recently. after being criticized for not doing enough, the federal is taking over investigations which had been in the happened of state officials. >> translation: the mexican

state cannot expect an indignant incident to go unpunished. we want to emphasise that all forces of the state will be used to shed light on the event. >> reporter: the bodies were found in an hor where others were found before. families have been calling on the government to do more for the past week. >> reporter: after the governor announced the discovery, classmates gathered here, throwing rocks, molotov cocktails and flipped a car. aum because of what they say is slow government action in the case. a unique and powerful protest in st louis last night. [ singing ] the protesters went to the st louis simply phoney to raise

foyses about explain teenager michael brown. 50 audience members sang a song with the words justice for michael brown is justice for us all. the 5 minute protest ended peacefully with the demonstrators walking out chanting black lives matter. people in the audience applauded. michael brown was killed by police officer david wilson. the winner of the nobel peace prize will be announced saturday. there are obvious choices and surprising names. many believe the leading candidate is pope francis, nominated by the argentine parliament for his efforts to bring peace to syria. to date no pope has been awarded the nobel peace prize. nominated for a second year is pakistani girl malala yousafzai.

edward snowden, in exile in russia, exposing the programme. and vladimir putin nominated by a russian organization. >> the unity of cooperation and the people of the world said they should be given the prize for efforts to present the united states from launching air strikes against syria last year. >> leningrad was one of world war ii's brutal battles. soldiers tried to capture the city. 700,000 soviet soldiers died, many listed as messing in action. many are now searching for the soldiers to give them a proper burial. the city is st. petersburg, that is where peter sharp reports from >> reporter: the horrors of war are below the service.

in leningrad, they are listening to the pulse of metal detectors, tracking the fighting. the siege in the city by german forces lasted three years. 900 days of terror leaving 700,000 soviet soldiers dead. the diggers filled a museum with a they found. among machine-guns and mortars, personal effect. this is not a search for the weapons of war or the victims of the conflict. finding the remains of the fallen soldiers, giving them a proper burial and times but not always a name. >> we found the medallion, we tried to find the person and relatives. >> it is empty. we will not be able to identify the soldiers. >> it's a job not without risks. the ammunition unstable.

volunteers have been killed. among the diggers, 17-year-old maria. >> i wanted to pay respect to the people that gave away their lives. i wanted them to be buried properly so they will not remain in pits like these forever. >> and occasionally they can give the missing soldiers a name. >> in her apartment irena took a call from the recop sans squadron, they had found the body of her father. >> i feel proud. unbelievable. i was proud of my father. he was a pilot, each though i was a child. he was a hero for me. when they called and said remains were discovered. i was so excited. >> reporter: it's not just the volunteers from the reconnaissance group searching for the fallen.

there's another group of men hunting, stripping the dead of weapons and equipment, to supply the trade in war memorabilia back in moscow. they are called the black diggers. this is the market outside moscow. the paraphernalia of war on display, dug up outside the capital. foreign buyers pay well. at a military cemetery in st. petersburg they laid to rest the four bodies brought up from the ground. a moment of quiet satisfaction for the team, and con solation for the families of tens of thousands of missing soldiers, knowing that they will not be forgotten. coming up on al jazeera america - refugees in south africa demand a better education for their children.

a typhoon is moving up the coast of japan this evening. let's check in with kevin corriveau. >> this has made landfall. let me tell you something, in this part of the world, 27 storms in one year is normal. >> really. >> yes, compared to the atlantic systems. we are looking at the 19th storm. we are talking about fan foam. it made landfall to the south-west of tokyo. the eye of the storm, equivalent to a category 1 is over tokyo. they are waking up with the system on top of them. there'll be problems at the airports, flooding, powerlines down. before the storm was here it was in the islands. it was deadly. we saw one airman at the base

killed, and two missing in the area. the storm will move out. we expect to see a bit of flooding. there's another behind, pushing through. this one we'll catch carefully. it gnds on the turn. if it -- depends on the turn. if it turns too late there'll be a problem, if it turns early, they'll stay out in open water. this is simon, the problem with this storm in the next couple of cases is they'll go to the north-east. down here towards the south-west, we are going to see major flooding over the next couple of days. if you haven't noticed, temperatures are light. 57 degrees. we'll see temperatures overnight going down to 40s for us.

>> that's kind of chilly. thank you. in south africa, migrant children are unable to get into the public school system for this reason - parents say they are not received a fair education afforded by the south african constitution. officials say they have not been properly registered as asylum seekers. >> reporter: if john had his way, his children would attend a public school in south africa. they are refugees from war-torn democratic republic of congo. they don't have a permit to stay in south africa. they'll give us some knowledge of why my child is young. he needs to go to school. that's the problem. >> so for now children of undocumented migrant workers attend refugee school. parents complain the quality of

education is poor. some are registered. many aren't. we worry about a group of children who are separated. they are with the caregivers. they are not biological parents. unlike biological children, they are not included in the claims that the caregivers make. education officials say they are following orders. >> we follow directives from the department of home affairs. it is important for the parents, guardians of the children to some forward, vouch for the children. >> reporter: south africa tightened immigration laws, making undocumented refugees and asylum seekers nervous. government officials need to know who the undocumented children are, what countries they come from and how many are in south africa. that is why registration is important. some are afraid they could be

reported if they report themselves to the immigration department. this woman is trying to keep her school in johannesburg open. she may have to close to down. she owes her landlord more than $20,000 in rent. >> we can't afterward it. the majority of the children will be affected. >> reporter: legally documenting and getting all migrant children into south africa's schooling system could take years. until that happens, understaffed and poorly equipment schools will be a temporary solution. having names and access to great education doesn't always guarantee you entry to a top-notch university. nor does a portfolio. that is the focus of "edge of 18," a documentary about the journey of young adults.

>> since i was 12 i've been trying to get the best grades i can, best scores. every film festival i entered and won, and i thought "i've got this, and i did not. why? what did i do. >> some of our kids come from an affluent background. their problem may be that they can't fulfil their ambition for one reason or another. but they have the resources to do so if they chose. >> parents invested in private schooling since third grade up to 12th grade with the intent of getting me into a top university, they invested a lot of money because it would get me to that great college. >> we are not doing enough to make it possible for the children. it breaks your heart to see kids who are intelligent, motivated

and want to make a better life for themselves and their families, and they can't do it. other kids - there's one kid who is undocumented from arizona. >> i need help to pay for my tuition. i'm writing regarding a personal matter. i'm looking for help to pay for my education or offer a loan. i thought if i am a good student, good grade, help the community, and you are undocumented - it doesn't matter and to me it's kind of upsetting. it's more, it's sad. >> senior prom is coming up. you have to purchase your tickets. i'll twerk on the cans floor. >> we are learn to live with a set of values. the acceptance of gay and lesbian community. but for the parents of one.

kids in the show, it presents enormous challenges. >> who is the girl follow you to the prom? >> huh. >> who is the girl? a boy, who is that. i know you. i know you. development tell me you were born gay. >> the new episode of "edge of 18" airs 9 eastern, 6 pacific here an al jazeera america coming up, a new powerhouse and horse racing in the richest horse race in the world. you are watching "al jazeera america".

horse racing has been part of arab culture for hundreds of years, and qatar is sponsoring one of richest races in the world. >> reporter: when it comes to equestrianism this is qatar's

first love. endurance riding is a favourite and their horses win top event. in recent years the involvement with the equestrian world has under gone a serious expansion. for the past six years the qatar racing and equestrian club sponsored the prix de l'arc de triomphe. the 93-year-old event held in paris is the world's richest turf race, and as well as being sponsored by qatar, qatari stables based in new market in england are dominating it as well. >> winning is something, having good horses is another thing. that is what we are focussing on. >> for the country of qatar, such prominence. you are showing everyone house it is done. >> the main reason we are in here is for the country.

all the people in qatar, and hopefully we get what we are strategiesing on. >> already they have one prix de l'arc de triomphe winner, with the 2013 winner. ruler of the world is fancied by some to add the arc to his triumph of 2013. there could be another factor to success, a major doping scandal involving a former godolphin trainer last year, which was damaging to the famous stable. and it seems qatar racing owned by the sheikh's cousin has taken vantage. >> all of a sudden the sheikhs have come along, bitten by the race. they have enormous numbers of horses spread around.

it's a great thing for racing economy. >> qatar has been described as horse racing's superpower. whether it can overtake the leeks of godolphin for the cool moor stables remains to be seen. for now, a winner in the prix de l'arc de triomphe will do fine. i'm richelle carey, "america tonight" is next. keep it here, in another hour, thomas drayton will be back. >> on "america tonight": the weekend edition. gunned down in a shopping aisle. >> i heard him struggling to breathe. i heard him like crying. you know and i heard the police officers. >> the mother of the victim speaks for the first time on tv, as "america tonight"