>> announcer: this is al jazeera. ♪ hello and welcome to the news hour. i'm live in doha with your top stories on al-al jazeera. israelis go to the polls in one of the closest electionses in a generation. four days after cyclone pam brought destruction to vanuatu,

rescuers are finally reaching some of the most remote areas. arsenal are staging an historic turn around. israelis are voting in what looks to be the most closely fought election in years. analysts are predicting a turnout of 80%, one of the highest since 1999. at steak whether the next prime minister will be likud's benjamin netenyahu or the opposition leader isaac herzog. very close it appears to be, mike. how it is looking for benjamin netenyahu? >> yes indeed there's still some five hours before the polls officially close, and

indications are that the turnout was far higher than it was in the elections two years ago. this perhaps an indication of how tightly contested this campaign has been. there has been a steady stream of voters since the early morning, and it is expected close to 80% of the edgeable voters will cast their ballots. along the voters was benjamin netenyahu who's likud party has been slipping behind in the recent polls. in cent days netenyahu himself has reached out to the right, catching support for settlements in onning pied territory, and recanting what was always a grudging commitment to a palestinian state. but it appears this was not enough to close the gap on isaac herzog's zionist union.

crucially, though no single movement will get near the 61 seats needed to command a majority in the parliament. and as in previous elections, there are likely to be weeks of coalition talks before a government is formed. the difference this time is the emergence of a united israeli palestinian block. four parties coming together in forming the joint list. galvanizing israeli palestinians who make up one fifth of the population. the joint list could win as many as 14 seats, making it a potentially crucial player. but in all aspects of israeli politics there is a problem, members of the arab organization pledging they will not be part of it. there are so many things that could happen in this election. there could be a coalition formed from the center as it is

told in israeli's spectrum of politics. there could be a coalition formed to the right. and it could be a government of national unity. so every single permation is possible. we'll get a real indication of which way it is going, when the exit polls are released when the polls close in five hour's time. >> mike what do we expect to see happen at the headquarters of the likud party where you are over the next couple of hours until we get an indication of these exit polls. >> the entire leadership will be gathering here in coming hours to see the results as they come in and to all be together when the exit polls are released. the party leader benjamin netenyahu will be here along with his senior lieutenants, and certainly if he does come second, there may be a rather

somber atmosphere here. if he was beaten into a disimportant second place by the zionist union, then ternly that could be real problems for the leadership of benjamin netenyahu. all of that being said though he could come second and still be called upon to attempt to form a government dareen. >> all right. mike hannah we'll leave it there. bling in al jazeera's senior political analyst joining us here in doha. a lot of people we have been speaking to and looking at the polls point to a real momentum when it comes to the zionist movement marty. what do you say that momentum is down to? >> first of all the way natasha ghoneim overplayed his hand in washington. i think the israelis are worried that the united states is not happy with israel and does not

want to work with benjamin netenyahu. while the caught some more votes on the right, but i think the israeli center does not want bad relations with the united states in the next two years. the second reason is a lot of what this election is about is domestic issues. inequality is growing in israel and hence the zionist union seems to offer more points if you will on the economy than netenyahu is that is only talking about security. >> let me pick you up on that point when you talk about washington, because whoever the next leader of israel is going to be will really determine the tone for israeli united nations relations. >> that's right. and netenyahu said he would be against the establishment of the palestinian state period. that isn't something the united states likes. they would rather have someone

like herzog who at least would want to play ball with washington even if he on this question has just said recently he doesn't see a pal tinnian partner. that he wants to continue settlement in the big settlement blocks and so on and so forth. so it's not exactly the peace camp, that's why it is called zionist union. so you have the zionist union, versus the national camp. that is the choice. there is no real peace camp. >> netenyahu has taken a hard stance on iran as you know recently and it's interesting the timing of this election is coming at the same time while the americans and others are trying to negotiate a deal with iran. >> the thing that deflated his arguments was the fact that his head of his own security organization came out and said mr. netenyahu is exaggerating

while he did before. in israel people are quoting him from back in the 1990s, saying the iranian threat is eminent. they would rather trust the united states and the reasonable camp in israel that says maybe there is an iranian danger but we would rather have the entire international community support us rather than us be alone with the united states and the international community dealing with iran without us being part of the game. he has been so overzealous, really overreaching that i think even for a lot of israelis he is making no sense. >> just back to what is going on in israel at the moment and it appears to be -- the predictions are there are going to be a large voter turnout along israelis. not only that there appears to be a big voter turnout with arab israelis. >> that's a surprise even for me

who has followed this thing not just for our program, but generally speaking i follow israeli politics. and since the united there was no reason to campaign. and hence they did not campaign as they did were before. >> you are talking about the joint list. >> that's right. and hence there was no serious competition among them. and they did not campaign as they did before. so one thing is that people are motivated by the fact that palestinians and israelis are united at least when it comes to the election of the parliament. that has been going on for decades now, they have been competing instead of united against the common foe. so for the first time they unite and perhaps they are inspiring the people to support them for

the first time. >> okay. thank you. senior political analyst. you can find much more on the candidates as well as the issues dominating the israeli election at our website, aljazeera.com. you can click on the links for the latest news and all of the latest in-depth analysis and we'll have more in this news hour on the israeli election later on. also amnesty accuses the syrian government of committing war crimes during its attack. i'm rob mcbride in seoul, a modern city connecting with his heritage through the power of buddhism. >> reporter: coming up in sport, how one of north america's host historic soccer teams is playing a role in political diplomacy. ♪ rescue workers have started to reach some of vanuatu's most

remote islands. the u.n. says at least 11 people have been killed. more than 3,000 have been made homeless. aid has now arrived at the capitol, but little has reached the outer eye lacks. andrew thomas was one of the first foreign correspondent to teach a southern island and sent this update. >> reporter: this wrecked building is one of three that make up the main primary school on this island. 160 small children studied here but they won't be coming back for some time as you can see. this is tan na perhaps the hardest hit island. we flew down in a small propeller plane because that's the only kind of planes that can get here at the moment. what is really needed are the

big military planes. >> the priors are the roads, the tents, the shelters foods, and medicines, and the tents shelter foods and medicines are the immediate response -- they are really needed. >> reporter: believe it or not, this school is one of the least damaged buildings here. many aren't standing at all. totally flattened. we came across a family trying to salvage timber to start building again. >> this house i had it since 1995. i called my wife we have to move out now. because the building is going to be destroyed. i just see the house moving up and down. i -- my heart was sinking. and i said children wake up we have to move. and then we moved out of the house. >> reporter: this school building has become an impromptu place for people to stay.

it may be lacking much of a roof but at least there is space on the floor to throw down mattresses. the hope is as those big military planes can come in the next day or two that proper aid will arrive. >> so just a few moments ago we were discussing an issue that benjamin netenyahu of israel has opposed most strongly and that is a nuclear deal between world powers and iran which would see sanctions removed. we're joined by james bayes where the talks have been taking place. so what has been going on? >> reporter: well, they are certainly making progress. how much progress depends who you are listening to. because if you listen to the iranian side we're getting some very optimistic comments. we have comments from the head of iran's nuclear energy agency saying that on the technical

aspects of all of this they are 90% there. he said there was just one remaining item to be dealt with and then there could be this framework deal which is supposed to be reached by the end of the month. on the other side of things if you listen to u.s. officials, they are more cautious, they say there is a lot of work to be done but they have a somewhat optimistic mode saying yes, progress is being made. talks continuing as we speak right now, and they are political and technical. you have the u.s. secretary of state, and the head of iran's at tonic energy and many others all meeting right now. >> what are the real challenges? >> reporter: well, i'll be honest with you dareen there are so many issues in this and they are certainly not giving us a running commentary of exactly what the sticking points are.

one senior u.s. official said it's a bit like a rubix cube. you solve a peace and then something else has moved, and you have to get all of the pieces in the right place. this has been going on for quite a long time and the original plan was extended and then extended, many believe it is going to be impossible to extend past june because of all the outside pressure. >> james thank you. diplomatic editor james bayes reporting. egypt's public prosecutor has accused a policeman of killing a female activist in january. she was at a peaceful rally marking the anniversary of the 2001 revolution. the interior ministry at the time suggested the police were not responsible. images and video captured her death as well as a security officer pointing a rifle.

charges including murder and thuggery have been brought against 16 people in egypt over the death of 20 football fans in a stampede in february. the stampede began when tear gas was fired into the crowd. but the prosecutor accused the muslim brotherhood of financing the so-called ultra fan group to cause chaos. amnesty international says air strikes carried out by the government last november may amount to war crimes. it comes as opposition groups are again accuses the government of using chlorine gas. >> reporter: a man app pair rengly suffering the effects of chlorine gas is doused in water. this was after an attack in the southern idlib province according to the human rights groups who monitor attacks like these. in hospital survivors are given

oxygen. chlorine gas attacks the respiratory system causing suffocation. >> translator: we're here to receive the wounded. we have received almost 70 of them until now, including women and children and we expect more to come. they suffered the symptoms of chlorine inhaling. some need more medical care. >> reporter: it is said that at least six people including women and children were killed in this bombardment. opposition acted viss say it was the second attack of its type in just two days. babies like this one, they say are among the victims. right now the world is being urged to turn it's attention here in northeast syria. in november last year the president's forces attacked the city in a bid to drive out isil fighters but in a knew report amnesty international says the rules of war were violated.

>> there is damning evidence that the syrian government forces committed war crimes there. the research we have done shows that over 100 civilians were killed. the places targeted were not islamic state bases at all, but busy markets, busy mosques, and residential areas. >> reporter: amnesty says while attention was diverted to the u.s.-lead air strikes elsewhere. assad's forces killed civilians relentlessly. at least 60 people were killed in one day alone. doctors say they know the world is following, watching and condemning these crimes but it's action they say, that is needed to stop the bloodshed. 12 more men have been hajed in pakistan after the government extended the use of the death penalty. executions were reintroduced last december after a school attack killed more than 150

mainly children. dozens of convicts mostly on terrorist charges have since been executed. gunmen have killed two people in an attack on a polio vaccination team in pakistan. workers were giving out polo drops in a refugee camp. >> reporter: although they have been major successes in the battle against polio globally pakistan remains a mayor concern for the world health organization because of a number of cases reported from pakistan. now here in this province the immunization program is underway according to the officer in charge, there are problems but up to 754,000 children are to be given the polio drugs. the story in the other province is not so good.

a number of deadly attacks on polio workers has brought that program to a grinding halt. the pakistani government will have to gear up to meet this challenge, otherwise there will be travel restrictions on pakistanis who wish to go overseas. >> our teams are motivated. they are in the field, trying to reach every child. we are meeting all challenges facing the security situation, the weather challenges as well and we are trying our level best to satisfy not only the international community, but the local community as well. >> reporter: also there has been criticism of the way the government has handled this crisis millions of dollars worth of vaccines have been wasted because of neglect. the government will have to really gear up and meet this challenge in order to eradicate this deadly disease. in myanmar three people including a new zealander have

been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for insulting religion. florence looi reports. >> reporter: guilty of insulting religion. their offense, using a picture of buddha wearing head phones. the fen have been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. >> we are pretty disappointed actually. >> reporter: the accused are quickly whisked away in a police van. the mother of one of the defendants directs her anger at one of the monks. the action was brought against the three men after summon ks complained about the flyer. >> translator: i want to talk about our religion if someone insults religion should we accept it?

>> reporter: there are some who point to this verdict as an example of the rising influence of a group of hard line buddhist monks. and the concern is if these views are allowed to gain more prominence in myanmar, it could deepen the religious conflict. since 2012 violence related to religious tensions in myanmar particularly between buddhists and muslims have killed more than 200 people and displaced thousands more. last year a group of monks proposed a set of laws which they say aims to protect race and religion. the bill would among other things restrict interfaith marriage and religious conversion. back in court, the lawyer for the defendants suggested he was not surprised by the verdict. are you angry? >> no i'm not angry. this is not like america or french or australia or new zealand. >> reporter: the men could

appeal, but are not allowed bail. florence looi al jazeera. what is set to be the biggest festival of buddhist art has begun in south korea, as rob mcbride reports, it's focusing on the connection between skyscrapers and more traditional themes. >> reporter: approaching its full height the 123 story tower will be the tallest building on the korean peninsula. in its shadow also new but also very traditional, the recently restored restored temple. it is one of the latest achievements for a city trying to shrug off a reputation for being more concerned with growth than caring for its past. the master carpenter responsible has since moved on to his next project. working with his team of craftsman, he is restoring this

pavilion on the hill overlooking the river an hour's drive from seoul. the sort of work he does with wood is deeply ingrained in korean culture. >> reporter: it's hard to preserve wind structures. so we have to continually be replanting to create a living resource for the future. >> reporter: the connection between the country's buddhist heritage and modern life is a central theme at the international buddhism art festival. organizers say it is the biggest so far. >> translator: temple life involves traditional architecture, and that's what is being celebrated here. >> reporter: it's a constant challenge for a city like seoul to live in harmony with its cultural treasures. living inside presents a whole new set of problems. this neighborhood has the highest proportion of

traditionally built brick and timber homes. a village within a city its residents put up with throngs of tourists on a daily basis, and also the demands of maintaining their homes. residents like the kim family in the middle of renovating their guest house must follow very strict rules in the name of conservation. >> translator: compared to ordinary buildings it takes much longer, and it is more expensive. but since this building the traditional way, people immediately feel how unique it is. >> reporter: and that they say makes it worth it a mega city that has lost much of its heritage to rapid growth but what heritage it does have left the people seem determined to hold on to. rob mcbride al jazeera, seoul. we're just taking you over to new york to show you some live pictures coming in from

sachs 5th avenue in new york. and that is going on is the st. patrick's day parade. so there they are. you are with the news hour. and still ahead, argentina's environmental disaster how cutting back the forests are being blamed for cent flooding. and a battle of former world number ones. we'll tell you who came out on top. that is later this hour. ♪ >> "the stream". today, at 1:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america.

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al jazeera america. ♪ the headlines on the al jazeera news hour. there has been a high turnout of voters in israel for what appears to be the most closely fought election in years. prime minister benjamin netenyahu is fighting to keep his job from the opposition labor party leader isaac herzog. amnesty international says syrian government air strikes on the isil strong hold amounts to war crimes. the human right's group found that more than 100 civilians were killed in an 18-day long

bombing campaign in november. vanuatu residents are picking through the ruins of their homes and schools devastated by cyclone pam. returning to our top story, the israeli general election. our correspondent reports on what has been a bitter campaign. >> reporter: this long and drawn out campaign was always going to be dominated by the personality of this man. but prime minister benjamin netenyahu has discovered that israel's political landscape has changed since he first came into power in 1996. he tried to keep up to date with these interneted a verts tapping into fears about the rise of isil. with these men asking where is the road to jerusalem? netenyahu vowed there will be no palestinian state. his nationalistic rhetoric hasn't had its usual impact. many israelis are still

concerned about security but also worried about the rise of the cost of living. netenyahu admitted on sunday he is trailing behind his rivals. >> translator: if we don't close the gap with our rival there is a real threat that a left-wing government could come into power. [ applause ] >> reporter: and comments from israel's foreign minister haven't helped the right-wij cause. >> translator: i would like to say whoever with us should get everything. as their wish. but those who are against us there's nothing to do with them. we need to pick up an axe and cut off their heads, otherwise we won't survive here. >> reporter: the main rival, isaac herzog has promised to focus on the economy and reconciliation with the palestinian community as well as the united states. >> we will know how to amend and

correct the relationship and turn to being intimate strong strategic, with full alliance between us and the united states. >> reporter: neither likud for the a zionist movement is expected to earn more than 40%. whatever the outcome it shows israeli is more ideologically divided than ever. crossing over to our correspondent. you have been at the headquarters of the alliance of arab parties in this israeli general election. >> yes it's a mainly arab city here in israel, and we're outside of the polling stations. we're due to move to the headquarters in a little bit. but it's also home to the

headquarters of the joint list which is a political party made up of mainly four arab parties joining forces together and running under one ticket in an attempt to get more support from the palestinian israeli community, and as well as from some of the people in the jewish community who don't agree with government pollty. and according to opinion polls it is widely expected that perhaps the joint list would get the third largest number of seats. this is unprecedented because the palestinian israeli population is a minority. and this section of society has long felt alienated from the political process in israel. so we have been talking to some of the people who have cast their votes at this poling station, and there is a sense of hopefulness. they feel this is an opportunity they have never been presented

with before. they felt further for the first time in their lives represented, recognized and acknowledged as a minority. now what they are hoping is that the joint list is going to be influential and able to block policies that they describe as discriminatory and racist against palestinians in israel. so that's the hope and they hope the joint list is not going to disappoint them. in the last hour or so the leader of the joint list have said that arabs are presented with a golden opportunity. they should app callpitalize on it. >> do they really feel like they can make some sort of difference and have some sort of influence in the israeli politics and is that the main reason why they are coming out to vote and we have seen an increase in arab voters? >> that's precisely what they

feel, because traditionally we have always had small arab parties, many represented in a very small number of seats, but now they have united together. and this has been a demand for many years, saying we have been calling on these arab parties to unite, to put their differences aside, but nonetheless they are going to vote because as i said this is unprecedented. this alliance is made up of people who are very ideologically different. those are those who describe themselves as islamic, there is a jewish arab party that is also part of this alliance and national party, those who have said they would never sit down with politics like netenyahu and other representatives in the israeli connection. so it is significant in the fact that arabs will be represented in parliament in a larger political party, and it remains

up to the joint list when it becomes an influential force to meet the demands of the electorate, which is blocking the policies they describe as racist and discriminatory. >> thank you. crossing over speaking to a former palestinian government spokesman. thanks for being with us on al jazeera. so she was saying that it is quite significant, that we see this alliance of arab parties and now represented in the israeli [ inaudible ]. is it expected to say that they will carry little or no influence when it comes to israeli policy? >> no i think that if they will have good results, they can play a role in blocking the way for the return of netenyahu right-wing government to -- to the next israeli government. and this is -- this can be a very significant achievement. but even if this is not the

case, the arabs will be a significant block in the next [ inaudible ] in all cases. they seem to be united which will give them certain level of influence. >> they are expected to win around 13 to 15 -- we -- we think that they are expected to win between 13 to 15 seats. that is what predicts stand up so far. but you said if netenyahu is elected again, there is a big chance the next four years will see the end of a practical possibility of a two-state solution, but if herzog wins, there might be another chance. on what do you base that? >> on the fact that although there are many similarities between the two main parties, but yet there are differences. likud, and the right-wing coalition is no longer believe

in the principle of two-state solution, and is working on the assumption of preventing the practical possibility of two states. the labor party still in my view believe in the principle of two-state solution. we details of which might not be very much acceptable by the palestinians but such position will allow possible renewal of a peace process. >> you talk about your belief though. what have you seen practically and realistically for you to say that herzog -- with herzog there might be another chance for the two-state solution? >> because the labor party still believe ideologically in the

principle of two-state solution. the labor party is the party that signed this agreement, and since then there has been a great deal of fluctuations and interruption of the labor governments by long-term likud governments, which i think was responsible for the deterioration. that's why although there's going to be difficulties in the relations between even labor-lead government and the palestinian authority, but still they might be on talking terms at least. there might be at least a possible management to the peace process. there might be possible maintenance to the peace process, but with the likud, i think that we will see the final end of the two-state solution. >> so are you saying preefly the palestinian authority at this point would rather a labor party win than a likud party?

>> i think the palestinian government does not see any difference but the elite in the palestinian authority would prefer a labor-lead government. >> thank you very much for joining us. the nigerian army says it has recapture two towns from the armed group boko haram. it was the fighter's last strong hold in the state. the nigerian military says it is completing what it called a mopping up operation in the largest town in borno state. crossing over to mike oh marry, who is a spokesman for the nigerian government. so when the military says that it has retaken the northeastern town from boko haram, how significant is that? >> well it is significant because of proximity of the town to [ inaudible ]. it is one of the largest towns

in the state. it is on the road to the final on slot to the rest of the areas that are under the presence of boko haram at the moment. it is a significant strategy because it has been one of the towns under a long period of boko haram presence. >> and the nigerian military spokesman also says that borno which is the birthplace of boko haram would soon be freed. what does he base that on? >> sorry, boko haram is what? >> the nighian military spokesman says that borno, which is the birthplace of boko haram would soon be freed. how soon is soon? and what is he macing that on? >> well just like the circumstances that were recorded in other states the latest being the flushing of the insuragainst in [ inaudible ], the expectations of the people

in nigeria and the armed forces would descend intensity offensive and coordinated support and action of all involved. the rest of the areas, three of them will experience peace. they will be taken back as soon as practicable. >> when you talk about the intensity, the military has been criticized in the past for being slow to act on boko haram. and nigeria in fact spends a fifth of its budget on security. so why has it not been able to take on the group yet? >> it is the first time that the government is building up armed forces within the war situation. when is the insurgency started? a number of approaches were applied. some with heavy criticisms from people who lead to the declaration of state of

emergency, and where some resisted it, but buy and large what was required was the attention of the world community and global community especially to ensure we have the needed capability to prosecute the war. that was slow in coming. we needed the rest of the world to understand this is [ inaudible ] or small group of criminal gunsmen in a small territory in nigeria. now that attention is coming and the equipment required which the government has sought for is beginning to arrive and it is em-boldening the offensive and ensuring the successes. >> how important -- i'll just finally ask you with the election coming up in nigeria, how important has this security situation been for the candidates? >> well, not just the candidates, but the entire country. we need a peaceful nigeria. it is important that we have peace.

the consideration is not just for the election but so people can go back to their homes. people can do what they normally do. and community enhancement. and that's what it is more about. >> michael thank you very much for speaking to us from london. flooding is hitting harvest season in central argentina. at least 11 people were killed earlier this month. and millions of dollars of crops were washed away including soya. as daniel schreiber reports, massive deforestation may be to blame. >> reporter: every house is ruined, all residents evacuated, staying for now in the neighboring town. there were similar scenes across the north of argentina earlier

this month as more rain fell in a few hours than normally calls in weeks. >> translator: when the water goes down i don't know what we'll do. i don't know if they will give us loans. >> reporter: one of the crops he lost was his soya harvest, the crop that covers more than 60 million hectors of argentina. but to make way for the soya huge swathes of native forest had to be cleared. where have all of the trees gone in these vast and very lucrative soya fields some way only exacerbate the flooding causing great suffering for many for the benefit of a few. soya production in argentina rose 126% in a decade most of it for export to feed cattle.

>> translator: in the last 16 years we lost 300,000 hectors of native forest which is an outrage. add in the consequences of climate change and you are creating a cocktail of conditions for flooding which will only get worse. >> reporter: the removal of vegetation leaves the soil less able to absorb water. so when it rains the waters simply flow over it. >> translator: we need long-term policies to regenerate native forests, and not allow continued deforestation. >> reporter: local authorities say they are abiding by a national law. but the flooding continues with greater frequency. >> translator: we have lost everything. the [ inaudible ] mattress my disabled son sleeps on. who is going to help me replace all of this? >> reporter: despite the

warnings, the deforestation continues. daniel swieber, al jazeera, argentina argentina. scientists in california are reporting an alarming increase of abandoned sea lion cubs. it's five times more than the total number found in 2013. our correspondent reports. >> reporter: hundreds of starving sea lion pups are washing up on california's beaches. rescuers are finding them on piers on docks and in people's yards, and they are working hard to try to save them. >> we are at or nearing capacity. we're doing everything we can to work with the rescue agencies to bring in as many patients as we can. the fact of the matter is this year we're not going to be able to save every single animal on the beach. >> reporter: marine biologists

believe that a mild winter and toefrptures have driven away the sea lions because of a lack of food that they like to eat. >> for whatever reason whether they have overrun the foods supply or the food supply has gone out from under them apparently the mothers aren't finding enough food to sustain the pups. >> reporter: the pups are trying to hunt for food themselves and washing up on shore exhausted and starving. >> we are predominantly seeing underweight animals. they should be in the 50 to 60-pound range and they are coming in a fraction of that. >> reporter: the u.s. agency that monitors the atmosphere says the increase on the number of pups washing ashore is still a mystery it is warning that california should brace for more of them showing up on its beaches. scientists they think have

untombed the author of what is known as the modern novel. the classic tail is one of the most widely red books of all time. coming up in sport, there are some hot spots at the inteeian world tennis. andy will be here with all of the action coming up after the break. ♪

♪ you are back with the news hour. andy is here with all of the

sports. >> thanks so much. english premier league will make champions league history if they are to stay in the competition. they started 3-1 on the first leg. arson wane ga returning to his club. monaco are unbeaten in 16 games, and they have the best defensive record in the french leigh. in the champions league no team has managed to overturn a two-goal deficit, but arson vain ga believes his team can do just that. olivia has scores in every one of his three premier league starts. but they come up against monaco who are known as having a brick

wall of defense. they have the best record for saving shots on target in the champions league. and the 6'2" tu knee -- tu nia sha player [ inaudible ] it looks like they are the favorite here tonight. last season's final list athletico madrid also face a fight. they do have home advantage. but lost 1-0 against the german side. athletico is not in the best of form either with just one win in their last six games. >> translator: in life as well as in football you have moments. some aren't as good as others but then you have the moments where you score. we just have to believe in what we're doing and keep a cool head. >> reporter: the dutch manager

has taken on the job of trying to save sunderland from relegation. he has won titles but never managed in england before. the team is just one point and one match away from the drop side. now a team is set to play a historic game against the cuban national team. the announcement comes at a time when the two countries are attempting to restart diplomatic relations after more than 50 years. it's an announcement for a sporting event unimaginable for most of the past 50 years. the new york cosmos of the north american soccer league play the cuban national football team in havana on june 2nd. >> this is bringing the people together.

more than presidents, more than secretaries of states because nothing stops sports fans from enjoying their sports the way soccer now is taking over. >> reporter: rue -- cuba is a country with a deep history of sports. >> translator: this is great for both countries. everyone in cuba is looking forward to this. >> reporter: it isn't the first time sport has been injected in politics. in 1972 the united states sent a table tennis team to beijing. it paved the way for a thawed relation between the u.s. and china. ping-pong diplomacy is what it has been referred to ever since. it's not just about sports since the announcement a few months ago, the number of americans wanting to visit cuba

has skyrocketed. and nobody knows better than bob who has run a travel agency for the past 36 years taking folks to cuba. his phone hasn't stopped ringing from people wanting to visit the island. >> it's a brand new world as far as cuba travel goes. from the few dozen requests we got a year ago, to this year, in the last two weeks of january alone, we had 1,500 trips. >> reporter: air service will again resume marking another step to reopening ties in business, travel and now sports. san francisco 49ers linebacker chris bolland has decided to retire from the nfl at the age of just 24 due to concerns over concussion. he is the most prominent player to leave the sport due to fears

over brain trauma. maria sharapova has won the battle of the former world number ones. sharapova taking this third round in straight sets. she did need six match points though. the russian will next face the defending champion. >> i think it's always a good challenge, playing against her early in the tournament. and we haven't played in a really long time. seeing each other's game again, even though we have played many times, you still have to get used to the bounce and the serving patterns and things like that. i didn't serve well in the first set, but the second i really improved. >> the canadian knocking out the american in straight sets.

djokovic had a tougher than expected test in his third round match. he was broken twice in the first set by world number 68. but djokovic went on to win the match. he'll next take on the american john isener. andy murray needed three sets to get through his match. the 2009 finalist looking for his first indian wells title. and a great shot coming up here. through the legs in his third round match. he still lost to the 18-year-old from australia in this match. there you go. all right. more sport for me later on. but that's how it is looking for now. >> thanks very much andy. thanks for watching the news hour. we have more news coming your

way in just a moment. stay with us. ♪

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