they have to, because they are too remote. it's a choice. they in fact live about an hour's drive from the town where there are shops and people live on money and all of the rest of it. they choose not to have anything to do with that. ♪ >> reporter: proud to show off their customs on the red carpet and on screen, it is proof that no matter how foreign stories of love and loss are universal. ♪ house republicans try again to stop the iran nuclear deal, but the white house is already declaring victory. blocked on the border, refugees continue their desperate journey across europe with no place to go.

>> i would be lying if i said that i knew i was there. >> and vice president joe biden gets emotional explaining why he may not be ready to run for president. ♪ this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm randall pinkston. well the house of representatives is voting right now over the iran nuclear deal. republicans are pushing back after a big win for the white house thursday. senate democrats blocked a resolution rejecting the deal, and now some in the house vow they will do everything they can to stop the agreement even threatening a lawsuit. libby casey is on capitol hill following the debate. libby what is happening right now? >> randall the house just finished voting on their first

item of the day. this is to actually approve of the iran nuclear deal. republicans knew that wouldn't pass, but they wanted to put democrats in a defensive posture, and make them standing up and say i actively believe in this, i am voting to support it. here is the final tally, 162 members, all democrats voted to approve the deal, but 269 members voted to disapprove of it. and 25 democrats joined be republicans in that in fact. so this was really a symbolic vote. republicans especially wanted to do it today on the 14th anniversary of the september 11th attacks. there has been a lot of speculation that republicans may use this as fodder in ad campaigns in the coming months. a final vote would try to bar the white house from sanctions relief against iran. this is also symbolic, because they want pass in this senate.

so this is really limited to the house. house speaker john boehner made his final pitch today. let's take a listen. >> my colleagues in pursuing this deal with iran, president obama refused to listen. he ignored the concerns of the american people, national security experts, and a bipartisan majority here in the congress. and now hi is preparing to try to force this deal over our objections. >> reporter: now republicans are also invoking september 11th today as they voice their concerns, but democrats are as well. democrats are talking about the safety and security of the country, and saying that diplomacy is the best path forward. randall? >> libby do you think republicans have any chance of winning the fight at this point? >> reporter: they certainly don't seem too. because the democrats in the senate that voted last night in a procedural measure to stop republicans from moving forward

really put a halt in republican's plan. mitch mcconnell is vowing to take another vote next week but don't expect the tally to change. there's very little chance that a democrat would change his or her opinion by next week, so we expect it to all stay the same. and thursday of next week is the final day congress has a shot at trying to reject this deal or get in the way, so this is looking like a win for the white house. >> libby casey live on capitol lil. thank you. police along austria's border stopped hundreds of refugees from entering the country today and closed a major highway near the border. in that highway had been uses by thousands of people as they walk across europe. according to the united nations, more than 220,000 people, many syrians, have sought refuge in germany. and the head of the united nations refugee agency telling

al jazeera millions more could try to flee to europe if the war in syria is not stopped. >> we have been appealing to all of the countries in this world to be part of this solution. all countries need to contribute, and some have taken important measures, and we should also recognize that, but this is a dramatic situation. it's a never-ending war. 4 million refugees. >> in addition, the european union is also asking their member states to pitch in, but a growing number are refusing to comply. hoda abdel hamid reports from the greece macedonia border. >> reporter: from the island they took the ferry to the mainland, traveled through the night, and reach the border in the morning. it's pouring with rain. many are not prepared for this

weather. children are soaked to the bone, yet the refugees are still determined to continue their journey, but it's one full of obstacles. the border police had blocked their path, and frustrations grew once more. the rain continued to pour. imparent the refugees press forward, the police push back, until it became too much to cope with. this is not the first time for the macedonian border guards to use force. others could just not wait anymore. and yet again risked their lives some today they were running out of money, others out of time. the macedonian police eventually let everybody in, and in the rush, probably by fear that the border will close once again, they left their personal belongings, like nappies for babies, sleeping mats, shoes for children, and even their tents that they will probably need,

because they still have four countries to go through. for a while the border stayed calm, aid workers and volunteers, however, were getting ready for another human wave. most of the refugees stuck on the greek islands have been evacuated. about 20,000 are expected to stream through here in the coming hours and days. some people living in the area have also come to help. sophia says the plight of these men, women, and children hits close to home. >> translator: why are we doing this? because our ancestors are refugees. i'm seeing what my grandfather and mother experienced. >> reporter: after weeks of traveling, clean clothes are more than welcome. his parents left syria 25 days ago. they entered greece through the island of rhodes. she feared her baby would not make the crossing, the sea was high. >> translator: we are not

extremists. we know it is going to be difficult here. some people don't want us, but it's still better than syria. >> reporter: it's that belief and hope that gives them the strength to continue a voyage full of uncertainties. hoda abdel hamid, al jazeera. one marine is dead, six others in critical condition after a fatal accident at camp pendleton. they are not yet releasing the name of the marine who was killed. the fbi says it stopped a planned attack on an 9/11 memorial event in kansas city. police arrested ryan goldberg near his home in jacksonville, florida. goldberg had been working with an informant. he faces up to 20 years in prison. it was 14 years ago today

that the september 11th attacks changed the country. ♪ >> president obama and the first lady lead a national moment of silence just after 8:45 this morning. families of the victims read the names of those killed. there was also a remembrance in pennsylvania where passengers took down flight 93 before it could strike its target. and at the pentagon, defense secretary ash carter stood in front of the place where the plane slammed into the building killing 184 people. >> they tore at places in your hearts that may never heal completely. but as you know, they did not

and could not take from us what defines us. as americans we are defined by our resilience, but our readiness to stand up for our values, by our willingness to honor the past as we begin anew. >> carter said that a piece of these rubble sits on his desk, as a reminder to stay focused in securing the country. thousands of people were sickened after the attacks and the law meant to help them is set to expire next month. john henry smith reports. [ sirens blaring ] >> reporter: within hours of the september 11th attacks, thousands of first responders and volunteers came to ground zero to help. many staying on for months. one of those workers with nypd detective. he spent 450 hours on what became known as the pile,

smoldering debris. despite being a healthy non-smoker, he died in 2006 of respiratory failure at the age of 34. he is thought to be one of the first of over 33,000 first responders and survivors with an illness related to the attacks. in 2011, president obama signed the 9/11 health and compensation act into law. but it was only authorized for five years. it includes a $1.6 billion health program set to expire this october, as well as a $2.78 billion september 11th victim's compensation fund, which ends october 2016. >> the pushback is oh, we would like to have a five-year bill. this should be a permanent bill. >> reporter: this past summer

this senator appeared on the daily show. >> why would you be asking how are you going to pay for your health care? >> reporter: last week his father added his voice to those demanding congress renew the act. >> i want to speak to you personally and let you know what it is like to watch a person die over a five-year period with no support, and that's what is going to happen if this bill is not passed. >> reporter: john henry smith, al jazeera. struggling to get by, coming up on al jazeera america, american families who are living on $2 a day. ♪

baltimore's mayor announced a short time ago that she will not seek reelection. she lead the city as it dealt with the aftermath of the freddie gray death. she says she has no plans to seek another office. vice president joe biden is expressing doubts over his ability to run to the white house. he got emotional when talking about making the decision. >> i don't think any man or woman should run for president

unless, number 1, they know exactly why they would want to be president, and two, they can look at the folks out there and say i promise you, you have my whole heart, my whole soul, my energy and my passion to do this, and -- i would be lying if i said that i knew i was there. >> biden said he was not think he has the stamina for a third presidential run. he mentioned his passion for his family and how he has been working to heal since the death of his son bo. >> you know, my dad used to say you know you are a success as parent when you turn and look at your child and realize they turned out better than you. i was a hell of a success, my son was better than me. >> bo biden was 46 years old when he died in may from brain cancer. he reportedly has been urging his father to make the

presidential run. no classes again for kids who attend public schools in seattle. the teachers are on strike for a third day. they spent thursday talking to a mediator who is trying to broker a deal with the school district. they rejected the last offer from the district as being so small. seattle is one of the cities where it is getting excreasingly expensive to live. in los angeles, city leaders hope to bump up the minimum wage to $15 an hour gradually. >> reporter: there is math homework, baseball practice, and dirty dishes. >> it's bad enough that i'm gone eight out of the way, and then to pick up another shift afterwards, so that's a total of 15 to 16 hours. >> reporter: she works to try to support a family of five on

$30,000 a year, working as a security guard. half of her paycheck goes to paying rent on this small one-bedroom apartment. in her kitchen the never-ending question of what to feed her family. what are you going to pull out of the freezer? >> i can't even quite think about it. >> reporter: she's an estimated number of 1 million people living in poverty. many l.a.'s poor were their own city it would be the tenth largest in america, and the third largest in california. anderson earns a little more than minimum wage, but still wa ware -- barely gets buy. the mayor wants to raise the minimum wage to $13.25 by 2017.

in subsequent years it would be indexed to keep pace with inflation. raising the minimum wage is not without controversy, some argue it will increase unemployment, because small business owners that can't afford the higher wage will be forced to close. the labor secretary was recently in los angeles to push for a higher minimum wage. >> reporter: when you talk about it being good for business, why do you think there is resistance? why haven't we raised the minimum wage here sooner? >> look at polling and the majority of businesses support increasing the minimum wage. >> reporter: if it does not go up, what do you think will happen to the people that you are talking about that are working 40, 50, 60 hours full-time and still have to go to a food pantry? >> well, we don't have a society where people work a full-time

job and -- are living in poverty. that's not who we are. >> reporter: making a little bit more every hour, what difference would that make for you? >> i wouldn't have to work so hard. i could still be able to be professional, take care of miableties at work, and then come home and show my kids that i'm there for them, and i can take care of them, besides the necessities. police are urging drivers in phoenix to remain vigilant now that an 11th vehicle has been targeted. police say one or more shooters appear to be firing bullets and bb's at random vehicles. >> i use the side streets. i don't even use the 10 anymore. >> it is scary.

it makes me more cautious on that stretch. >> so far the only injury has been a young girl hit by flying glass. coming up on al jazeera america, turning a field into an organic canvas, the amazing crop creations from one artist.

a new study could change how

doctors treat high blood pressure. treating hypertension more aggressively can cut the risk of heart disease and death. patients are often advised to get their pressure below 140. the new study suggests the number should be below 120, sis toll lick. a huge wildfire continues to expand. high winds and scorching temperatures are fuelling the fire. the fire exploded from 100 acres to nearly 15,000 acres during the past two days. some say it is not a matter of if, but when a massive earthquake and tsunami will hit the pacific northwest. alan schauffler looks into what is being done to prevent disaster. >> reporter: this construction site is going to be an

elementary school. and this is much more than just a school. this $13.8 million project is also going to be a means of shelter for people in case there's a subduction zone earthquake off of the coast followed by a massive tsunami. people will be able to climb up these pillars and ride out the tsunami on a platform. but how ready is the whole west coast for the really big quake? >> man plans, god laughs, and, you know, we can only plan so much. we can only train so much. and the only thing that we can do is try to be there as quickly as we can to assist the survivors. >> reporter: so the concept is virtual evacuation.

it might take you a long time to get three or four miles inland and find high elevation, but if you could just go 45 feet straight up, you might stand a real chance. this is the first of its kind in north america. you can watch alan's full report tonight at 8:00 pm eastern. ashar qureshi reports an artist is using his background in farming to his creative advantage. >> reporter: on first glance kansas native stan appears to be tending his garden. he admits he does haven't much of a green thumb, but landscaping and horticulture are essential to his art. and the best way to see his work is from the air. >> the shadow that is cast by the void gives me a nice dark

line. >> reporter: he has been creating large-scale images in corn fields and open plots of land. >> my best option is to find a field with something growing on it, so i have an existing color i can subtract out of. you can knock it down and then dig into the ground. >> reporter: it takes months of planning, tills, planting, and pruning for the image to take shape. how do you make sure when you are dealing with artwork on this scale that the proportions are correct? >> that's kind of the key on the big scale. basically what i have here is a grid. so the basic outline is found that way, and later when i take an aerial photograph, oftentimes i go that's not quite right and move things a bit. and when i get them to the point

i really feel comfortable i try to etch it into the ground. >> reporter: his creations have cropped up across the globe. this latest project is taking place near the twin cities in minnesota. travelers will be able to see the work as they land. >> i think it's about 11, 12 seconds. people have time to look at it, catch it, there it is, get the camera, phone, and as they are going by, shoot it. >> reporter: the minneapolis institute of arts turned to him for a signature piece. >> we knew he was the right guy for the job. he got what we were trying to do, and he was really excited about the project and had the skill set to make it a reality. >> reporter: it's a recreation of one of the museum's crown jewels. a fitting tribute.

van gogh's olive tree is about how man can contact with the divine. >> it is very organic. there is not a single straight line in any van gogh i have ever seen. so the interpretation is flowing and moving, and there's a freedom to that. >> reporter: a freedom that can turn 'empy fields into skult -- sculptures. new images show the dwarf planet as ice and dunes. they suggest pluto could have a much thicker atmosphere. thank you for joining us. i'm randall pinkston. the news continues next live from london. keep up with the news throughout the day, join us on

aljazeera.com. in saudi arabia at least 62 are killed as a crane falls on the grand mosque in mecca. ♪ you are watching al jazeera. i'm david foster, also coming up in the next 30 minutes. panic at an austrian rail station as syrian refugees are crushed in the crowd as they beg for help. saudi-lead forces carry out an air strike on a yemeni tv station saying it was a we's