>> from the best filmmakers of our time. >> it's not traditionally what broadcast journalism does. >> the new home for original documentaries. al jazeera america presents "motherhood on ice". tomorrow, 10:00 eastern. only on al jazeera america >> this is al jazeera america, i'm thomas drayton, here in new york. let's get you caught up with the top stories of the hour. >> fundamental decisions have to be made now. they don't get any easier as time goes by a renewed push to get a deal as the iran nuclear talks deadline nears. i.s.i.l. told to target american personnel - hosting what appears to be personal data online more answers ghafference after a man attacked t.s.a.

agents at new orleans international airport die of his wounds. in a deeper look - the between religious freedom and preventing discrimination great to have you with us harsh words from the supreme leader as a framework agreement inches closer. accusing the u.s. of using bullying techniques. despite the comments secretary of state john kerry says substantial progress has been made. james bays has more. >> with a deadline to reach a framework nuclear deal with iran 10 days away. this was an effort to establish a unified position. u.s. secretary of state john kerry meeting his european counter ports. there has been reports that the french foreign minister wants to

take a harsher line with iran. during tense negotiationsa called his team urging them not to allow further concessions. before leaving switzerland, john kerry insisted there be no division among the investigators. >> this is and remains a p5+1 negotiation with iran. i emphasise we are united in our goal our approach our resolve and our determination to ensure that iran's program is entirely peaceful. the european union is continuing to play a pivotal roll in facilitating the talks. >> in iran it's the biggest holiday of the year to mark nauru's romanian new year. on national television president hassan rouhani said a deal was within reach. >> translation: god willing at

the end of the negotiations we'll reach a deal and understanding benefitting all nations, iran the region and the world. >> in the city the supreme leader spoke to a large crowd, raising a ticking point. >> translation: negotiations with the united states are on nuclear issues and nothing else. everyone should be aware of this. we do not negotiate with the united states on regional issues. u.s. object tefs on regional matters are the opposite of our objectives. >> john kerry and his iranian counterpart zarif are expected back midweek. they know the clock is ticking. one senior french diplomat says the deadline at the end of the month is counterproductive and dangerous, adding that a deal needs concrete guarantees

a key irony is the nuclear programme was done with the help of the united states in the 1950s, when the eisenhower administration agreed to help. it went online. iran promised a treaty promising never to become a nuclear weapon state. when the shah was overthrown the nuclear programme was shut down. during the heights of the war, iran started the program in secret in 1984. the extent of the nuclear ambitions were not understood until the documents were released in 2002. >> earlier we spoke to the president of the iranian council about the broader implications with iran. >> from the beginning i thought it is better to have the nuclear negotiation extended into other areas. in practice that is what he was

doing. he is fighting i.s.i. s. next to - even if they do not acknowledge that the americans had taken iran and hezbollah after the terrorist list. things that they - as of a global threat. so again, there are things that are happening, but i think it would have been better if it was formal and should have included saudi arabia israel to some extent and turkey in the larger negotiation. i don't know why germany is there, and saudi arabia is not iran's supreme leader spoke about the disagreements between the republican controlled u.s. senate and the white house, saying the g.o.p. is using the talks as a political tool. >> america is in need of nuclear

negotiations. the disagreements that you see among u.s. senator and government do not mean they do not need the talks. the opposition party of the united states does not want its rival the democratic party to win a diplomatic score tom cotton and 47 republican senators was signed. it said any agreement not ratified could be considered an executive action that could be revoked by the next president officials say a man shot inside new orleans airport last night was died. he charged at t.s.a. officers with machete and a can of bug spray. investigators are unsure of what drove him to the attack. >> because of the way everybody reacted last night they saved a lot of lives. the mayor opened the saturday press conference praising the public and

officer's actions in the nexts after the attack. >> as you know by now it was an attack by a troubled person. the officials did everything to secure the scene and saved lives. >> it was chaos. people fled the terminal. 63-year-old richard white approached a security checkpoint and sprayed insect side at agents and passengers. >> a guy was running with a machety swinging above his head. i swung my case. >> an agent fired hitting him in the face neck and head. >> what the officer did was instinct. it was the responsibility that all law enforcement officers have.

and she reacted swiftly, forcefully, and commanded the situation. >> at the same time carol, a t.s.a. agent pursued white at close range and was hit by a bull het. et. >> she save my life. i thought it was the machete that hit me. i did not realise it was a bullet until i got to the hop. >> officials spotted a bag. inside six molotov cocktails. >> he had a barbecue lighter bag. he had a letter opener plastic, and there was crushed powdery material found near his body with green fuses or wicks, which we have determined preliminarily at this point in time to be smoke bombs. police found white's abandoned carat the airport with tanks filled with chemicals.

the fbi joined state and local officials. his motive for the attack was unclear president obama is making his first public comments on tuesday's israeli election. speaking with "the huffington post", he criticized binyamin netanyahu's comments on palestinian face hood. >> well we take him at his word when he said it wouldn't happen during his prime ministership. that's why we have to evaluate what other options are available to make sure we don't see a kate otic situation in the region. given the statements prior to the election it will be hard to find a path where people are seriously believing negotiations are possible. >> president obama said he told binyamin netanyahu when they spoke that a 2-state solution is the only way to keep israel secure. in the interview the president changed statements about arab

israelis voting in large numbers that some viewed as a scare tactic. >> i.s.i.l. is calling on backers to attack american military personnel. a group referring to itself as the islamic state hacking division claims it hacked several military servers. it released a list of what they say are the names of 100 service members, along with what they claim are home addresses and pictures. the pentagon is looking into the matter. andy gallagher has more from washington. >> this is a group calling itself the islamic state hacking division. they have not been verified. we don't know where the source is. they have clearly identified 100 u.s. military personnel - their names, in some cases their ranks and addresses. they are doing this so they can encourage lone wolf sympathizers to kill the people. i'll read a quote from the website. kill them in their own lands, stab them to death as they walk their own streets.

it's something that is concerning to officials here and the group itself the islamic state hacking division says that what they did was hacked military sites to get the information, but people in the defense department think that may not be the case. much of this information, names and addresses was available on social media. some were in newspaper articles and many of the 100 personal are said to be involved in campaigns in iraq syria and yemen. this is something concerning officials. all the families involved have been contacted by the authorities, and military personnel in the u.s. reminded to be careful of a footprint on social media, making sure the privacy buttons are selected. >> andy gallagher in washington. the former commander of u.s. troops in iraq says it's iran not i.s.i.l. posing the biggest threat. in a washington post interview general silviu petrescu says coalition forces made trogz, but argues that the treat though the

long-term stability and the equilibrium is not the islamic state, but shi'ite militia, many backed by and some guided by iran. in the longer term they could emerge as a pre-eminent power, one outside the control of the government, and answerable to tehran. >> the death toll climbed to 49 as syria's kurdish red crescent counts the dead from a friday night bombing of kurds. 177 others were injured by the blast. two cars were used in the attack, and the nearby city. syrian officials say the bombing was targetting kurds celebrating their knew year. the islamic state has been blamed for that attack. >> the u.s. army begun a week-long training exercise for boland among concerns of the conflict. >> polish troops are trained in the quick deployment of patriot

missiles. u.s. exercises aimed at showing the ability to deploy systems rapidly within n.a.t.o. territory. >> we are conducting a combined exercise. we had a long-standing relationship with the air defense forces and are reinvigorating that relationship. we'll conduct combined exercises with the polls, and also sharing experiences between the two missile systems. >> the patriot missiles are more effective than poland's air defense weapons. the u.s. state says the deteriorating security situation in yemen forced it to withdraw personnel from the country. senior defense confirm special operations forces are leaving the base within yemen. because of growing fears of an all-out civil war, the united nations security council is to hold on emergency meeting tomorrow. meanwhile hundreds of victims of friday's suicide bombings are in

sanaa's hospitals. more than 134 were killed when suicide bombers detonated themselves inside two mosques, as al jazeera's correspondent reports the battle is intensifying. >> reporter: people in tiaz gathering to protest the arrival of pro-houthi forces in their city. >> they want to drag us into war. we refuse. >> a helicopter flying over a military convoy below was a sign that pro-houthi forces may be closer to a collision course with president abd-rabbu mansour hadi, who has been in aden trying to hold on to power. the editor-in-chief of the "post" says tiaz puts them on a path to least resistance. >> there are those that oppose the houthis, but they are not militants, they are not al

qaeda. they protest but will not fight the houthis. >> reporter: as people grappled with mosque bombings that killed 137 on friday. president abd-rabbu mansour hadi appeared on television and said the bombings were an attempt to push the country into a sectarian war, and needs to ensure the security of yemenis. >> my job as the president is to do that and to invite all the political powers and components including those who carry out the coup dettar in order to agree on certain things that will help a lot of the targets and bulls of our people. >> negotiations are in trouble. al jazeera learnt the u.n. envoy left the county. saudi arabia will host peace talks, but only to meetings in sanaa. >> translation: talks in riyadh

will lead to problems. we need to ask what are the results of the talks in riyadh and who will implement the results with talks on hold and the houthis on the move. the question is whether escalation is inevitable. increased fighting in libya is causing conflict. the libyan government launched a military campaign to reclaim tripoli from a rival administration. western leaders say the u.n. talks are the only way to end the chaos in libya, where two rival government and armed factions are battling for control a new view of wednesday's attack in tunisia. 21 people, most tourists were killed before both gunmen were killed i about police.

investigators were holding 20 in connection with the attack friday is tunisia's independence day, normally festive, but they have been subdued, many have been shaken by the shooting. it's the 59th national day for tunisia. >> nigeria's presidential elections are a week from today. increased violence, corruption and the worsening economy are issues. >> reporter: nigeria goes to the polls in a week in what is considered a closely contested election in the country's history. these are the fifth elections held. and for the first time it seems an opposition candidate has a chance of unseating anincumbent president. president jonathan goodluck is seeking another 4-year term but faces a change from a former

ruler, a muslim from the north. elections were supposed to be held on 14 february but have been postponed for a period of six weeks. the military claim that they will not be able to guarantee safe elections where the group boko haram operates in. and the military have since been involved in oppression against boko haram, in which they are supported by forces from nigeria's neighbours namely cameroon, chad and niger. the two main election issues are corruption which is run away issue in nigeria, and how to curve the insecurity in north-east nigeria coming up next on al jazeera america - a look at how some states are pushing back against same-sex marriage. the fine line between preventing religious freedom and preventing discrimination. tonight on a deeper look also why firefighters were delayed from getting to the scene of a deadly fire on a d.c.

metro. >> i lived that character. >> go one on one with america's movers and shakers. >> we will be able to see change. >> gripping. inspiring. entertaining. talk to al jazeera. tomorrow, 6:30 eastern.

welcome back. freedom of religion is a long-held american ideal. when crafting the bill of rights they were placed in the first sentence of the first amendment: it's freedom of religion - is it so important it comes ahead of basic rights. we take a deeper look at the question is the states grappling with it. we begin with this report from courtney kealy. >> reporter: with the 97-3 vote in 1993, the senate passed the religious freedom restoration act and the president joked about the support. >> power of god is so great that even miracles here can happen. >> reporter: states across the country are introducing their versions of rfras, mostly in response to the success of gay

marriage advocates. this time there's a clear divide. >> not in the name of rely agon can we discriminate. >> it's not discrimination it's sincerely held religious beliefs. >> reporter: so far they have been introduced or debated in 13 states. the proposals allow business owners and health care providers to deny service to gay people and permit marriage to same-sex couples. groups find themselves working to defend bills making religious freedom law. the question is whether it can be elevated above other rights and freedoms and laws designed to protect them. >> last year a bill was vetoed after pressure from other businesses. >> i believe senate bill 1062 has a potential to create more

problems than it purports to solve. >> in georgia a similar bill is on the verge of becoming law. >> i asked for the opponents who make the scandalous charge to prevent one case, one reported case, where religious freedom restoration act served as licence to discriminate and how many reported cases have been presented to us. zero. not one. >> but some legal experts warn the broad language could open the door for more than just discrimination. georgia describes religious belief as a practice or observance of religion by or essential to religious belief. it raises tensions there are passages that could be interpreted as corporal punishment or a man to punish

his wife. lawyers could defend a variety of charms and the courts seem to rule in favour of freedom of religion. in utah a federal judge excused a member of the mormon court from complying with a federal investigation into child labour violations on his farm because the man said it violated his religious believes. last year the hobby lobby ruling stated that closely held companies were not compelled to offer medical services required under the affordable care act. if those violated religious belief. the georgian senate passed their religious freedom legislation act and the house is expected to take it up in the next few weeks. if it becomes law it could open the door to a slew of matters so where do we go from here. to talk more about religious

freedom and the law, and wendy patrick. she's joining us from santa ana california, great to have you with us. >> so much has changed in 20 years we'd like to define everything. do we have a clear definition of religious freedom. >> we have 20 years, and now we have the states trying to model the religious freedom acts broadly and loosely after that. as you pointed out at the beginning of the segment we have the constitutional recognition, and that is the founding of our country. many people came here for that reason. how do we define religion. you have the freedom of religion o the freedom to disprim nate on that. now, we have two very key freedoms bumping up against each

other, the freedom to practice your religion and your freedom to equal rights that we gj under the constitution. when they collide that's what the courts will have to decide. >> why does the supreme court has a difficult time deciphering religious causes in the first amendment. >> i think jamie pointed out a little of it and she would know that words matter. what we have seen is we have constitutional words we have protections. they could be in conflict because what is being argued here, first and foremost is people are worried that a law designed to protect the practice of religion will discourage discrimination. no one wants the results. people are worried that will be an unintended consequence. that's a reason the supreme court is going to look at it. it's almost unprecedented that you have two firmly held loyal

beliefs being in potential conflict with one another. that is why we have seen so many of these cases taken up by the supreme court to begin with. we'll watch to see how they resolve the conflict. >> what wendy understands better than anyone as an ordained minister is that you are always free to practice your religion within the four walls of a house of worship. that is completely sacrosanct. even the right to preach against same-sex marriage is protected. >> it's different once you leave the four walls. >> right. once you leave the four walls, that is where the question comes into play and there have been cases in the last 20 years. >> sure. >> about religiously affiliated organizations. catholic charities comes to mind. the luth ran church-run schools and others that i could name

who are practicing their religion through services that they run, and they come into conflict with secular beliefs. >> we have seen this play out in a number of cases. how have the courts ruled in the past? >> either the catholic charities pull out, or the courts rule against them. then we see the legislation coming into the fore. it is recently and aggressively happening because of the great strides in the area of same sex marriage, the decision by the supreme court, and the obama administration on the marriage act before the supreme court ruled and a feeling that many have on the right and perhaps not politically.

that is unsiege. we are seeing a struggle of values. that is what democracy is about. often these laws have been put forward and fizzled by the very people - retracted by the very people putting them forward. sometimes the sponsors of the laws pulled them back. >> let's dissent what is going on in georgia. what makes this different from other laws? >> i think it's more of the same. what we see with georgia and other states wading into this territory recently there's a heighten emotion surrounding what might happen. i'll give you an example of that. some businesses that fought

back - that message, if you remember is what is happening when some businesses have been asked to participate in same-sex marriage whether it's a florist, photographer or cake maker. it's different to a bechteler or waitress. the dialogue we are seeing in georgia, because it's perk lating through the legislator is a heightened emotion about worrying that this will be applied in a fashion that is discriminatory. neither side wants that that is something we do as trial lawyers, trying to find agreement, first and foremost. there are people within the religion fearing that one will use a law to protect the religious freedom as a licence to discriminate. no one wants that to happen. that's part of the discussion in georgia, as an unintended consequence of the law. >> there's a question about whether it's an unintended

consequence, whether it's ironic or deliberately used to tart gay people, to target same-sex merges. it is true that perhaps you should be able to if you are a florist, and you are a religious person - in the hobby lobby case that's a perfect example. they were a religious family and felt they should not have to provide contraceptives in disagreement, in discord with religious beliefs. then there are federal laws federal requirements. if you are a business, it is different than speech. it is very very difficult when we talk about commerce and the supreme court doctrine on commerce is clear. commercial activity is different. especially if you are engaged in anything related to - engaged in anything that engages you with state commerce or federal

commerce. i don't want to get too bogged down in this litigation. >> let's look at the other side. i'm a christian baker and i'm not really believing in same-sex. what gives me protection to refuse service to a gay couple? >> if you were a baker, you wouldn't have the same protections. think about the st. patrick's day parade. you are probably wondering why the st. patrick's day people are not forced to have gay people march in the parade. a parade is speech it's not commerce. it's a creative endefr and the supreme court found specific to a parade that you can't be forced to speak in a certain way. when it comes to baking a cake for a commercial reason - if you were going to bake the cake and give it to someone.

you can't be made to bake a cake and give it to someone. if you sell you are engaged in commerce. as an individual can i claim religious exemption, can i say the bible says i have the right to discipline my child. i have the right. >> let me pick up on jamie's point and i'll segue. the baker would argue they are not baking a cake for a member of the l.g.b.t. what they were arguing is they didn't want to participate in a same-sex marriage. that's the art. same as the photographer and the florist made. that it's different to taking photographs, you know for some other reason they were participating in an institution they didn't believe in for same-sex couples. segueing to your point - will it trump other laws no. i've been a criminal lawyer i can't imagine anyone raising a law to say it's okay to

discipline my wife and child. i understand they are floated as possible results, but that would be absurd to say we'll allow you to break criminal laws and endanger four family because you belong to a religion thinking it's okay. that is one of the things we don't want to have happen. we don't want a law exercising religion and have absurd consequences. we are on high alert making sure we don't go in that direction. we'll see cases where people are engaging in violence or other acts or discrimination. that's not the purpose of the law. to a mind jamie made we want to make sure that is not the purpose in passing the law. this is an issue that has everywhere looking on high alert to make sure it's not misused that way. >> having worked at core tv for all of those years, i saw many

cases where religion and reladies and gentlemeny ofty has been -- religion ofty has been used as a shield. >> child labour. >> or where children are endangered where parents don't want to provide medical intervention because of some religious region and there was a child injured, and the father a well-known football player said this is my religion my belief. these things happen they are difficult cases. in many of the states and a couple come to mine idaho, south dakota tennessee, and arizona as mentioned, lawmakers have taken laws off the books because they thought twice about whether the laws are well suited for the jurisdiction. i think you hinted at this earlier, wendy, the laws are too

broad. we use this expression in the law, and it's an inside baseball expression. it's overbroad. it should not be written in such a way that it's so broad that it could be applied in a way that had unintended consequences. that is the reason why georgia is getting so much attention and other states are not. >> if i can add one thing. >> real quick. >> if i can add one thing to that. >> in my distinction as a really lawyer, sometimes they invoke parenting or other exceptions. what makes it different and nuanced is its religion to say in my religion i can beat my wife is not a valid offense. to point out to say this is my style of parenting, it's not corporate punishment - we don't want religion used as a defense in criminal court.

>> thank you both coming up on al jazeera america - the viral video of a teen with siftic fibrosis asking her president to let they are die. the debate over euthanasia and an alarming number of sea lion pups abandoned along the coast of california. documentaries. al jazeera america presents "motherhood on ice". tomorrow, 10:00 eastern. only on al jazeera america

>> the new al jazeera america primetime. get the real news you've been looking for. >> now everybody in this country can hear them. >> at 7:00, a thorough of the

day's events. >> at the end of the day, we're going to give you an intelligent, context driven, take on the day's news. >> then at 8:00, john seigenthaler digs deeper into the stories of the day. >> this is a complicated situation. how significant is it? >> and at 9:00, get a global perspective on the news. >> they're sending their government a message. >> organizing themselves. >> people say they're finally fed up. >> weeknights, on al jazeera america primetime. four ministers from south korea, china and japan met in seoul, aiming to resolve territorial issues that date back to world war ii. at the center of the dispute, the islands in the east china sea. >> the long-awaited pose for the cameras by the foreign minister could pave the way for a summit of leaders after a 3-year hiatus, which saw relations

chill. the three parties agreed that historical differences need to be addressed. specifically the legacy of the world war ii. outside the heavily guarded japanese embassy in seoul, it's a regular weekly event. a protest in support of comfort women forced into sexual slavery during 2000 a crime which japan has not taken responsibility for. >> japan has shown no remorse. >> only when japan apologises can relations improve. hiding will not solve anything. >> at the prison now turned into a museum korea's colinisation by japan is remembered. independence fighters were imprisoned here - some tortured and executed. on this day there's a group of

japanese business people. the perception that japan is trying to revise its act of the war, and the pain that the koreans and chinese suffered. >> from the japan perspective they do not want to see their past history in the same way as china and south korea. >> we have a different history interpretation. >> south korea and china have their own territorial disputes with japan over islands in the seas that separate them. at the back of all of this is the competition between the united states and china for influence in asia. they do not want to see two of the strongal lies japan and south korea falling out. china does not want to be faced with a u.s. backed alliance of asian neighbour. >> basic territorial issues and

strategy issues made regional politics complicated. the numbers of chinese tourists in south korea and japan are a reminder of the power of the chinese economy, and the importance to each other's economic futures. such considerations may prove stronger than national sentiments. sending leaders to a summit for a diplomatic breakthrough. >> it was a message of hope from the first lady. michelle obama on a 5-day tour promoting peace corp let girls learn. she was in cambodia where only 20% of girls graduate. worldwide 52 million young girls never set foot in a classroom of the the initiative hopes to change the friend. >> in chile, an emotional request for the right to die divided the country, launching a

debate especially for children. >> i am 14. i suffer from siftic fibrosis. i ask to speak to the president. i'm tired of living with this illness. she cannot authorise an injection making me sleep forever. >> reporter: the plea tore assist the suicide has gone viral in chile and behind. her brother michael died from the same incurrable skies that attacks the lungs, liver and pancreas. and valentina doesn't want to die suffering as he did. >> my son struggled for six years. i saw him fading away until he suffocated in my arms. is few weeks ago valentina saw her best friend die of the same

disease. >> reporter: thanks to the highly publicised message the government transferred her from a public hospital to a private facility where her father says she's getting better care. president michelle bachelet came to visit, but refused her request arguing that euthanasia is against chilean law and children should be helped it love, not die. >> it's emotional for adults and more so for those considered too young to make crucial decisions on their own. belgium is the only country that allows children of any age suffering an unbearable and irreversible disease, the same rite as an adult, to choose to die. >> in socially conservative chillie, valentina's request triggered debate. >> it's an atrocity for children. they'll be treated as objects. >> the only thing certain in

life is death. to speak of a dignified death is to address the right of a patient as a human being. >> the congressman is one of a few calling for legalization of youth yn asia. valentina's health is deteriorating. something she tries to conceal, taking off her oxygen mask long enough to smile for a photo with me. she has been fighting to live all her life. she nose it's a losing battle. the only question is whether it will end at a time of her own choosing. coming up on al jazeera america a community mourning. in a new york city neighbourhood after seven siblings die in a fire cheating in a high school test has never been as dramatic

as this. stories coming up in al jazeera america

>> criminal gangs risking lives >> it's for this... 3 grams of gold >> killing our planet >> where it's blood red... that's where the mercury is most intense >> now, fighting back with science... >> we fire a laser imaging system out of the bottom of the plane >> revealing the deadly human threat >> because the mercury is dumped into the rivers and lakes, it then gets into the food chain... >> that's hitting home >> it ends up on the dinner plate of people... >> techknow only on al jazeera america

a developing story. a train derailment in texas forced the evacuation of 10 homes in central texas. a dozen train cars derailed in valley mills, and five containing methanol, 30 miles north-west of waco. there hasn't been injuries or fire. the cause of the derailment is under investigation. a new york city community is in mourning after a fire killed seven children from the same family, between the ages of 5 and 16 living in midwood brooklyn. the fire began early and a hot plate may have set it off. the children's mother and another child escape the, and are being treated at local hospitals. >> i know the mother. and i really hope that - i don't know if she makes it through this how she'll face what happened to her family. i pray that she has the sanity.

i don't know what to say. >> the city's fire commissioner says it's the deadliest fire tragedy in the city since 2006 and the home did not have working smoke detectors. new details about a fatal malfunction on washington d.c.'s metro. firefighters were delayed getting to the scene as much as 30 minutes after train filled with smoke in jan, according to associated press. the reason calls were routed several times before alerting responders. one woman died. 80 others sickened. >> let's take you to india. 600 students were expelled. 300 arrests made in connection with a scheme in northern india. this is a critical week across the country for students that take an exam to determine their educational future. authorities are cracking down on parents passing answers through

school window and bribing teachers. more from rob matheson. >> reporter: teaching in india on a different level. these parents climb up four flows in the building. folding answer sheets and throwing them to their children. pictures show students openly passing notes under the noses of supervisors. local reports say the police accepted bribes to look the other way. the state education minister denies responsibility. and it's possible to accept cheating from parents. there are more than $1.4 million. there are more than 11,000 examination centers in the state. three to four people helping a student mean there's a total of 6 to 7 million. it's the responsibility of the government to manage a huge number of people and cope with

the people. >> reporter: there's a great deal of pressure on the students they are viewed as make or break. passing the 10th grade test is compulsory to continue education. with more seeking to attend college and universities than there are places competition it fierce. graduating can transform the lives of millions growing up in poverty. 6 million students were caught cheating. they could be banned from education for three years, or forced to pay a fine or gaoled. when we come back hundreds of starving sea line pups are washing up on the beeches. coming to an italian airport in the future. wait until you see what the high sleeping pods have to offer.

as we ended spring on friday and began winter it was messy in terms of a snow storm. a lot of people experienced this. we saw problems on the highways. first to new jersey and friday what it looked like. we saw over 130 accidents on the road and unfortunately two

people were fatalities because of accidents there. slippery conditions. at the airports we saw 600 cancellations as well. what we'll see is better weather in terms of the snow across the north-east. the snow had been moving through the north-east. we are seeing snow showers across parts of maine. from portland to other areas you'll see the snow for the next couple of hours. in new york - you are warming up nicely 10-15 degrees higher. much of the snow is a thing of the past. half of the snow to the north, laguardia saw 4.7 and newark airport 3.9 inches of snow. as we go towards tomorrow the snow could be an issue to the north of new england down to the

south, causing flooding. that will make its way to the east. we'll see drier conditions on tuesday. sunday 60 new york at 39. >> good news ahead. thank you. millions around the world are celebrating to mark the start of the persian new year. >> it's custom to mark this. we visit a new section in washington d.c. showcasing an ancient form of prying. >> reporter: the prophet muhammad's cousin appeared to a calligrapher and instructed him to form letters that resembled a geese. so it was formed in the late 14th century. what is the story, you are a historian? >> it developed in the second half of the 14th century. >> for the first time the gallery is highlighting a

collection including the only known work of the calligrapher whose dream is said to have created the script that spread through the middle east and asia. four practitioners developed it into an art form itself. >> it's the invention. and he did so by blending two interesting traits. it would have developed large-scale - as on this example. >> so it intensified, what the development. >> for me it was considered the most statements calligraphers outstanding of all times. >> such is the beauty

functional forms called broken nastalic is on display to be admired. this is a version, the equivalent of a book of work emails. it's another example to be admired alongside the works. the reality is through. on the left page there was is snippet of conductive criticism itself admired as an object of beauty scientists in california are reporting an alarming increase in the number of sea lion pups washing up on the coast line. rescuers found 1700 pups five times the number in 2013. >> reporter: hundreds of starving sea lion pups are washing up on the beaches.

rescuers are finding them on peers, in docks and people's yards. they are working hard to save them. >> our facility and others in southern california are at or near capacity. we are doing everything we can. the fact of the matter is because of the inordinate numbers we will not be able to save every animal on the beach. a marine biologist believes a milder than usual winter and coastal conditions have driven away what they normally eat, forcing the mammals go out further to hunt. >> for whatever reason whether they've over run the food supply or whether it's gone out from under them apparently the mothers are not finding enough food to sustain the pubs and are probably abandoning them. >> the pups are looking for food and washing up on shore,

starving. >> we are predominantly seeing underweight animals. they should be in the 50 to 60 pound range and are coming in a fraction of that. >> the increase on the number of pups washing ashore is a mystery, warning that california should brace for more of them showing up on its beaches. finally, if you have a long lay over at an airport, an italian inventor may have the answer. it will not get you home but you should be really rested. look at the pod. it con tains a bed, chair in small desk. how is this. it can change its own bed sheets. it will cost roughly $6 up to $9 an hour. they'll be installed at some airports in northern italy this year that'll do it for this hour. thank you for joining us. i'm thomas drayton in new york.

stay tuned, more news at the top of the hour. be safe. the u.s. says it's putting out its remaining personnel from yemen because of the deteriorating situation. welcome to al jazeera. i'm jane dutton, live from doha headquarters. also ahead - libyan peace talks appear on the verge of collapse as fighting for the capital rages. a warning that indonesia's growing population is a demo graphic time bomb and the miracle sea road -