this is al jazeera hello and welcome to the news hour. here is what is coming up. as delegates edge towards talks in geneva, we hear from syrians who have little faith that their suffering will end. france announces why it may soon recognise a palestinian state. burundi talks a string of crises for african leaders to deal with while meeting in ethiopia. also an ancient church reveals a

secret. >> reporter: i'm with all the day's sports, including the australian open has a new women's champion. kerber wins her first grand slam title hello. delegates representing syria's main opposition group are due to arrive in syria soon where hopes is held that it will end the war. the developments give a glimmer of hope that peace efforts may goat off the ground for the first time since two earlier rounds of talk collapsed in 2014. almost 250,000 people have been

killed. millions of civilians have been forced to flee. the war has allowed i.s.i.l. to capture territory. it has drawn in the u.s. and russia as well as regional powers. saudi arabia, turkey and iran. let's cross over to our diplomatic editor jails bay. where is the-- james base. where is the delegation now? >> reporter: in flight, not arrived but expected soon. we have had different reports in the last few days. the information out of riyadh has been confused. it is clear that this is a substantial delegation coming here. i'm told some 17 members are on

board that plane, but i'm also told that the leaders of the high negotiating committee in riyadh are not actually on the plane and so when they get here, they're getting here, i think, to state their position and to see whether the assurances they've been given in recent hours from the u.n., from the russians and, in particular, from the u.s., verbal assurances from john kerry whether they're going to see what they promised happen, which is some sort of measures or some of the measures that they have been demanding in recent days, something to take place before they actually start negotiations. they will arrive here, they may well speak to the u.n., they will take stock of the situation, but they won't start officially any negotiation

what is the sense you're going from attendees, the delegates that there is any possibility of movement or break through? >> reporter: i think it's going to be a long way off. i think it's quite possible we may have a day or two here on the ground once they're here before any further steps, and if they're not happy, they may, of course, turn around and get straight back on the plane. that is a possibility. if things go well and they are happy, then i think they will start moving towards the negotiating process with the syrian government delegation, which is clearly already here and has already met the special envoy, staffan de mistura. then remember what he is telling us and he is telling us this is it going to be a very detailed, long and slow process, potentially taking six months and initially these are proximity talks. that means we don't see talks

with them face-to-face arguing the issues. no. they have separate meetings with staffan de mistura expressing their concerns and where they could perhaps make concessions on either ground, and where he can find, at some time, whether they can come to the table in the same room in this six-month process thank you. meanwhile the fighting goes on. 15 people have been killed, dozens injured near the northern city of aleppo. in the west opposition tighters say they have taken control of several check points around hama. -- fighters. let's look at who controls what in syria's very crowded battle field. government forces have the upper hand in latakia. rebel held territory in the north is under siege by the

military. the opposition southern stronghold also under pressure after the army captured a town this month on a crucial spri route. despite losing 10% of its territory last year, i.s.i.l. still controls large part of the country. syria's consider kurds are controlling three times as much territory as they did one year ago. that's the situation on the ground. our senior political analyst is here to talk to us about syria and the geneva talks. now the opposition have agreed to go, does that set the tone for the right track? >> no. we're still in the mindset where the opposition knows it has to be in geneva. it also realises it cannot be in the u.n. building so soon, or if it is, it needs all the guarantees and apparently they might have gotten some from the

saudi foreign men and the american secretary of state, that humanitarian issues like the bombardment might stop. staffan de mistura would have liked to have discussed these things in the first four days, but the opposition insisted they needed more than discussions about things that go beyond the agenda how much pressure at this point can the americans put, can the russians put on the various sides, what sort of background negotiation could be taking place-- goingss could be taking place-- negotiations could be taking place? >> i remember when bashar al-assad was invited to moscow right after the bombings started in syria. clearly there's a sense that russia now more or less speaks for the syrian regimes or

certainly if you look at syrian newspapers today, they were citing russian officials rather than their own officials. so certainly the russians have a major role to play but they are supporting bashar al-assad. clearly, the syrian issue now is part and parcel of a washington-moscow arrangement. clearly kerry as well as lavrov would have a lot of leverage on the parties in geneva. the question is are they willing to use it and towards what intent. for the time being it's the russians are who is insisting on giving the regime let legitimacy what happens if the talks fail like the other two rounds. what happens then? >> i think we're in more of the

same cycle of violence plus talk of political us -- political solutions. you need the political solution in syria. i am not optimistic that these talks will lead to a solution. i'm not just talking about ups and downs and walk-ins and walk-outs. i'm talking that the balance of power do not bode well for peace in syria, but they do both well for legit mizing the-- legitimising for them to gain for ground in syria. unless the americans, the saudis, the turks and others step in aand take more active role, i think the--

you mean militarily? >> no. in support of the opposition because what we have today is we have a direct underground support by the iranians and russians to the regimes. we don't have that any where else. you have a balances of power. the regime is getting more ground. the russians is bombarding almost every day. most of the language i'm hearing here, most of the language, like proximity talks, no conditions or preconditions, like there is no exact goal for those negotiations per se defined. bashar al-assad is nowhere to be mentioned that he needs to go, et cetera, et cetera. for me that sounds like that peace process i covered for the last 25 years called the oslo process. i think we're more closer to geneva sounding more and more like geneva

you for analysis. with talks in geneva off to a shaky start, people inside syria saying the horrors faced by civilians have only worsened and they doubt anything significant will be achieved. >> reporter: it has continued suffering like this that syrian activists hopes will make an impact in geneva. they are deploring diplomats to remember the plight of those people, from those having too little food to too many taking cover from bombs. >> many people are killed by these cluster bombs. it is forbidden internationally. just to remember this, okay.

>> reporter: a war zone as the talks in switzerland, and people say they're not faithful. >> translation: they can't deliver milk to people in madaya. >> reporter: those besieged in madaya that despite delivery of aid people continue to die of starvation. >> translation: the aid is about to run out. it was delivered more than 10 days ago and the u.n. and the red cross now it can't last more than 15 days. even now we still have lots of hunger here >> reporter: others are as angry with the divided opposition as they are with the syrian government. >> translation: this is a message urging you to unify. it is not just bashar al-assad barrel bombs that are killing us, not just russia's missiles, your differences and opinions are killing us.

you need to unite. >> reporter: that has been in short supply so far in geneva where negotiations haven't even started yet. while in syria the death and devastation continues the refugee crisis has claimed dozens more lives. 39 people drowned when i boat carrying people to greece sank off the coast of turkey. it included refugees from syria and afghanistan. some of the victims are children. more than 40 people were rescued. palestine liberation organise has welcomed the french involvement in ending the israeli occupation. they want a conference between israelis and the palestinians. paris also says it will recognise a palestinian state if a final push for talks on a two-state solution fails. u.s. led efforts to broker peace collapsed in 2014 over the

contested issues of borders and israeli settlement. palestine has been losing territory since britain controlled the region in 1917 in what was then known as the british mandate. jews only made up of 3% of the area. the u.n. drew up a plan to divide the lands between jews and palestinians. the state of israel was declared a year later. at least 750,000 syrians were espeld. expansion in palestinian areas then began. this divided jerusalem. in the past two decades settlements which the international community consider illegal expanded rapidly. a senior correspondent said israel has never taken any talks seriously. >> the french have really

chaperoned and supported and advocated an international forum or conference to replace the sole monopolistic role of the u.s. which lasted 22 years and produced nothing in the peace process except eating our land and water and separating gaza and almost taking over east jerusalem by the israeli settlement project. therefore, the french attempt really got all our support, if there is any chance for an international forum to start pushing seriously for an end of occupation and a real peace process we will support it. when we signed the oslo agreement there was 160 colonial settlors in the west bank an gaza. today there are 650,000 of this in the west bank alone-- 160,000

originally. now used to control 2% of the west bank and now they control 62%. this is a trojan horse secures of going to negotiation because the israelis never respect or commit themselves to anything they signed. the drive we want to see now supported by all the countries of the world is the drive to stot that absolute-- stop that absolute crime against that land, stop the settlement project. without that there will be absolutely no palestine to be talking about in the next five years the palestinian journalist who has been detained is close to death with his starvation campaign. he has refused all food and medical treatment since november. he is just one of 680 palestinians being held under

administrative detention without charge or trial. >> translation: he is in a very critical condition as he could die any minute, but he is in high spirits according to the lawyer who met him on wednesday. he was firm and very determined. his demand was freedom or death. he is not the first to go on a hunger strike, but the palestinians have a lot to worry about. i hope there will be more popular support coming up on the newss hour why a small island wants to take some of the world's nuclear powers to the u.n.'s highest court. plus the presidential hopeful who has made socialism popular for an increasing number of voters. the qatar masterss later in sport

the incoming chairman of the african union has called on member states to help in the fight of armed groups of north and west africa. he was speaking at the au summit. his country is part of a regional joint force waging a war against the group boko haram. the ongoing violence in burundi was also part of the discussions at the meeting. >> reporter: security in the region has been a big part of the agenda at this african union summit. leaders, heads of state, have been talking about terrorism, the growing threat of terrorism in africa, ways of working together, better cooperation, sharing intelligence as well. south sudan has also been on the agenda in the formation of a transitional government there whose deadline has come and gone. the biggest issue, perhaps, is the burundi situation.

a report on the situation was tabled and this will determine a lot of decisions that are going to come out of here. heads of state will be voting on the troops to burundi with or without the government's consent. we know the government has rejected any such move. a lot of people i've talked to say many heads of state will be reluctant to endorse such a move simply because burundi is a sovereign state, it has an elected government and president, even if that election is contested, burundi is also a troop of contributing to country. it is a very delicate matter. a lot of people are saying that, perhaps, what will happen is that the heads of state will push for a political solution, a political dialogue bringing together all warring parties so that the country should be able to move the country forward. the president himself is not here, but he sent a high-level

delegation led by the foreign affairs minister who has been trying to get the support of member states thousands of people are protesting in roam against a bill giving recognition to same-sex partnerships. if peaced the law will allow gay couples to be married and adopt each other's children and obtain pension. this is the last country with no legislation on same-sex couples. >> reporter: here on saturday protesters in relation to a law that will grant the right to same sex marriages to adopt each other's child. many say they don't object, but

they do object to give the child in adoption because they say a child should have a mother and a forth and that is, of course, the standard maintained by the catholic church and the vatican which is across the river here. that is the pressure and the influence on the italian toll particulars. it is one of the reason why italy is still the only country in western europe not to have a law that grants rights to same sex couples and protects them that is a problem because last year the european court of rights have condemnedity lee because of it. that is one reason why the government is moving fast to fix the anomaly. clearly as the crowds here demonstrate, a lot of italians disagree with that there have been small demonstrations in paris against the security crackdown put in place to the response put in

place since last september. the french government is considering whether to extend the state of emergency which gives it extra powers, including able to ban mass gatherings. a surge in u.s. oil production in recent years has been a big factors in pushing economics and also relations between countries. >> reporter: 70 yeahs ago this was the king's first trip outside his country to forge an alliance with the u.s. president. >> understanding each other's problems brings east and west together for a better world >> i think we signed a bargain with the saudis that in exchange for stable supplies of oil, and it has continued until this day >> reporter: when an oil embargo was in place, the u.s. launched

what the president called project independence. >> by the end of this decade, americans will not have to rely on any source of energy beyond our own. >> reporter: what happened instead, the u.s. increased its reliance on foreign oil to a peak of 60%. in the past few years, though, the explosion of american crude production has cut that dependence to less than 30%. nearly half the imports comes from its friendly neighbors, canada and mexico. meanwhile the increased u.s. confidence in its energy security is evidenced by three recent decisions, lifting a 40-year ban on exporting american oil, preparing to sell off nearly 10% of the reserve and in a blow to canada, president obama put an action to the keystone xl pipeline project. president obama has also declared that america's military assets will be rebalanced away from europe in the middle east

and towards asia and the pacific, but perhaps not just yet >> i think the pivot to asia is maybe not as quite as important on the forefront of our agenda as we made it at the time. >> reporter: energy expert charles ebbinger says the rise of i.s.i.l. and the arab springs failure will force the u.s. to protect its old interests >> i don't think we have have good option new zealand the middle east right now and now we have iran back into the equation, if they came out of their isolation with the lifting of sanctions. they've always been a player one against our interests >> reporter: so even if the u.s. does envoy a greater sense of energy security than it has in decades, the go strategic dies-- geoextstrategic ties are not liy to fray one of the churches of the

west bank is getting reconstruction. >> reporter: what is believed to be the birth place of jesus christ has suffered many incidents. they have taken their toll. for the first time since the 6th century the church of the nativity is being completely explored. something new has been hidden underneath the wall plaster. >> translation: we were lucky to discover an angel in its entirety that has the top part of its head missing. we have restored it. this will give a different vision of the church. it this will be a beautiful end result. >> translation: we are shown what the mosaic looks like before the team of experts start work. centuries of candle smoke and

varnish have dulled their image. it is a remarkable restoration that is giving the church a complete face lift. the roof and the windows were restored force as rainwater was leaking inside the church. so these are essential repairs, but the fact that they're even taking place at all, some have jokingly described as a miracle. this holy site is administered by three different churches. they each over see different parts invisible lines that if crossed can turn violent. >> translation: it happened before. in some cases there were serious scuffles over who cleans which centimeters. >> reporter: just like this, priests and monks fighting with brooms over a communal year ago. someone might have brushed a little too far. the idea is that if you clean it or take care of it, it's yours.

those centuries old rivalries have been put aside. perhaps the idea dawning that the results will benefit all. the roof no longer leaks, ethe mosaics shine and in time once the scaffolding and sheets are removed, the church of the nativity will be seen as it hasn't for decades still ahead on the news h r hour, rescued after more than a month trapped underground but will more chinese miners surface. plus argentina is trying to contain swarms of locusts. gas has turned a friendly match into a sour affair. all that in sports. at in sports.

>> i'm off the coast of hawaii. >> we are on the tipping point of an ecological disaster. >> this coral is not dead. >> techknow's team of experts show you how the miracles of science... >> this is what innovation looks like. >> can affect and surprise us. >> i feel like we're making an impact. >> let's do it. >> techknow - where technology meets humanity. top stories. delegates representing syria's main opposition group are due to arrive in geneva soon.

palestine liberation organization have welcomed french international voechlt. france says it wants a conference to have talks. african union has talks to stop varies issues. the zika virus is spreading rapidly. colombia saying more than 2,000 pregnant women have been affected there. more cases are suspected outside of the americas, including one in new zealand. the mosquito-born disease is linked to severe birth defects in babies. >> reporter: christmas eve i was scratching like my whole family saw my chest and they were wow and they could see the lumps on my lids, eyes and ears.

>> reporter: she is feeling healthy now, but while visiting family in el salvador over christmas she contracted the mosquito virus from a mosquito bite. you ares >> you have no strength or energy energy. all you want to do is lay down and sleep. >> reporter: since then the center for disease control and prevention have confirmed at least 30 cases in 11 states in the district of the colombia. all of those people travelled abroad to affected areas. a top u.s. health official said americans shouldn't panic >> having said that you shouldn't be cavalier and say there's a problem. we are preparing better vaccines and everything that you would do if you're anticipating that there is going to be an outbreak >> reporter: the virus has spread fast since last year prompting the cdc to warn pregnant women against travelling to 22 countries in the region. the virus causes a million dollars illness in most people,

but there is growing evidence linking it to a birth defect called microcephaly, babies born with small heads and brains. cases are surging in brazil. on friday the president said her country launched nationwide efforts to eliminate breeding areas for the certain mosquito. >> translation: we're losing the battle against the mosquito. why? because if it keeps breeding we are all losing the battle against it, so we have to mobilize to win this war. >> reporter: brazil is waging the battle as the country prepares for the olympics in august. on friday the international olympic committee assured the games will be safe. but they should be using insect repellant and use long sleeves and pants.

>> we will be doing all we acan the tiny pacific island nation of the marshall islands wants to persuade the u.n.'s top court to take up a lawsuit against india, pakistan and brittain. they queues the three countries of not doing enough to halt the knew cheer arms race. the government says it knows only too well about the threat of nuclear weapons as it was the site of tastes in the 1940s and in in the 19540s-- 1950s. can the march sthal islands persuade the international court of justice to take up this case against the three countries? >> so far there they have been successful because it has accepted that they will file proceedings, at least preliminary proceedings against the three countries. that is because those states have accepted the jurisdiction of the icj in this case

why is this being launched now, this lawsuit? >> the primary reason is that the marshall islands are reacting against the fact that the nuclear weapon armed states have not in no way complied with their commitment understand the non-proceed-- under the nonproliferation treaty to start series disarment in good faith. this is article 6 of the intent will it open up action against other countries that are not compliant with nuclear treys. that is to be seen. this is just a preliminary start and, of course, the actual court case case will show where it goes. i think the importance here is that this opens up the first legal review of procession of nuclear weapons in 20 years time from an international law

perspective what kaelgs does the island face when it comes to these charges in the international court level? >> for one, the nuclear weapon armed states are also, of course, members of the security council, the international court of julys is the court of the united nations and is by extension the security council. it is unlikely that the icj at the very end will rule against the permanent five members of the security council, but a lot of things can happen along the way, of course thank you for speaking to us from norway. >> my pleasure. thanks rescuers in china have pulled up four miners who were trapped 200 metres underground. they were trapped 36 days ago.

13 miners are still missing. >> reporter: after more than a month of searching a moment to celebrate. four miners are winched to the surface one-by-one in a specially made capsule. masks are quickly placed over their eyes before taken to hospital. >> translation: at the moment the four miners are all in a stable condition and they are conscious. only one of them has suffered a broken leg, but since they were trapped under ground for 36 days there are a lot of uncertainties. we will have a treatment plan for them. >> reporter: they were found 200 metres underground. they had been working along with 25 others when their mine collapsed. since then the search has been closely followed by chinese television networks. 11 of their colleagues had been rescued within hours of the collapse. another died. 13 miners are still unaccounted

for. rescuers were spurred on after this break through finally making contact with the trapped men. they had been sending down food, clothes and lamps through a narrow bore hole, but getting them out was a tougher job. further collapses and rock falls a constant fear. the rescue is another reminder of the dangers associated with mining across china. collapses are common. safety regulations are often ignored. four officials have already lost their jobs. the chairman of the company which owns the mine drowned himself. another casualty of an industry badly in need of reform and tough regulation japan central bank has introduced negative interest rates for the first time as it tries to boost the economy. the surprising move means banks will now be charged when they

deposit some of their money in the central bank. it is hoped this encourages them to lend to business rather than sit on their cash. the bank of the japan is saying the economy is still recovering but volatile markets are slowing progress. an associate professor of law says the rate cuts won't boost the economy. >> the argument is that banks are sitting on very large amounts of liquidity. if you charge them for that, maybe they will make more loans, but the reason the banks are not making loans is that businesses are not selling things, and if businesses don't sell enough things, they don't have demand. so that's the rationale. lots of economists don't think it will work. i don't think it is a plan in japan but just actions that are

failed and replaced by new promises of vigor. what is really going on in japan recently is the interconnectedness with the chinese economy. this is who japan has to sell things to and as china slows, you sell fewer things. so even though you would think japan would be helped a great deal since it's an entirely oil importing nation, as the price of oil fell sharply, net it appears to be losing argentinian farmers are on a mission to exterminate locusts before they destroy their livelihoods. they're running out of time to keep the bugs under control. >> reporter: a single locust

eats its single body weight in a day. an adult can fly more than 50 kilometers. that is just one locut multiplied by million that forms part of a devastating force. >> translation: a huge swarm of flying locusts were here last october at the end of their breeding cycle. they laid their eggs and we're seeing the product of that swarm. >> reporter: this region has seen nothing like this since the early 1950s. >> translation: we're going to where they're causing the maximum damage. we're trying to ensure they don't form swarms because they will migrate and lay thir eggs somewhere else >> reporter: the agricultural agencies and local people are working together to first find where the locusts are

concentrated and then they fumigate. most of the insects are still jumping. their wings haven't developed to fly. the challenge is to eradicate them before they take to the air in quantities so great they will be impossible to contain. this is a race against time with local people and the authorities working together from dawn to dusk to try to exterminate these locusts before they multiply out of control. if they do, then they will devour all this invitation in the whole area, destroying livelihoods, wiping out whole communities. the climate in this normally arid region has changed. winters have been milder and rainfall greater. that has created the perfect breeding ground. >> translation: this is a job that can't be donna -- done alone. we're all working to lesson the impact of these plagues.

>> reporter: as the sun goes down they settle for the night. these hunters from all over argentina working in a coordinated effort to identify where best to fumigate early the next morning. if they get it right they're on course to contain the threat. if they don't, the locusts multiply and eat everything in their path now to the u.s. presidential race. remember that the rival democrat and republican parties are preparing to choose which candidates they want to stand in the election later this year. polls show that bernie sanders is running neck and neck were hillary clinton. a report on bernie sanders's brand of socialism which is proving popular with some voters. >> reporter: the time worn rhythms of american politics are changing. for the first time in u.s. history american socialists have a standard bear.

>> we need an economy that works for working people >> reporter: who was a major candidate for president >> if it takes a socialist to show us the way, then god bless him >> this system hasn't worked for a long time. so for me it's not so much of a taboo of the s word because i see what c, capitalism, hat done >> reporter: these are signs of new times. with iowa preparing to pick the nominees in the first in the nation presidential caucuses on monday, polls show bernie sanders in a dead heat or leading hillary clinton. donald trump leading the republican field, iowa could set up an epic rivalry, a socialist versus the ultimate capitalist >> that's what's happening >> reporter: he is already tagging bernie sanders with the c word >> this socialist/communist, nobody wants to say it. >> reporter: until recent bernie

sanders european style socialism was a hard sell here. >> everyone from vets to youngsters. >> i want to say mr wellch. have you no sense of decency. >> reporter: to ronald reagen's campaign to socialised medicine >> we do not want socialised medicine. behind it will come other campaigns that invade every area of freedom in this day until one day we will finds we have socialism. >> reporter: program for the elderly, medicare, has become popular also as well as social security >> at one level we hate socialism, as it were, or democratic socialism. at another level we like a lot of things that it does.

>> reporter: the bernie sanders campaign is opening the door. >> come on in >> reporter: to a growing breed of young liberals disillusioned by the bare knuckles capitalism. >> they hear socialists and they see europe today. they see the benefits to socialism and they don't see the iron curtain and stallin and the negatives that might be associated with it. >> reporter: the campaign trail is long and torturous. for bernie sanders to go from here to history, he will have to carry his brand of american-style socialism to victory from the snow capped corn fields of iowa to washington still ahead on the al jazeera news hour. >> reporter: i'm andrew thomas in sydney. i will be explaining the science behind a tiny wearable technology that could one day alert people to when they have been in the sun too long in sport find out if the

l.a. lakers could fight out of their losing streak. that's coming up.

australia is well-known for its sun, surf and sands lifestyle and it's that over exposure in fact to the sun's harsh rays that is driving skin cancer. some light from sydney. >> reporter: when doctors look at a scene like this they see

the creation of cancer, skin cancer is nor common in australia and new zealand, sunny places with lots of fair-skinned people, than anywhere else. today this lady avoids the beach. she sits in the shade and always wears a hat and applies cream, but she didn't when she was younger. at 19 she was diagnosed with a cancer on her arm >> i would be out not for long but before you know it you're in the sup for a few-- sun for a few hours >> reporter: technology to prevent people from long exposure to the sun is being worked on in melbourne university. made from silicone rubber they're creating thin transparent wearable patches. >> the silicon we use is really durable so you can stretch and bend it without breaking it.

that's the point of this patch, that you can take this slap it on your arm and forget about it. >> reporter: the real innovation is coating the patch of zinc object idea which is thin, a thousand times thinner than a human hair. exposed to different light, including dangerous uv light, which is invisible to the human eye, the properties of the zinc oxide change. this equipment is needed to measure that change, but the scientists soon the patch will be able to transmit wirelessly to a smart phone information about the amount of uv it and, therefore, the skin around it has had. it will warn people when their uv exposure is getting high >> getting an s ms on your phone will let you know you've had too much uv. >> reporter: there are, though dangers >> we don't want to have a sensor that will delay people's

willingness to put on sun protection right from the word go when they're outside. >> reporter: in addition to sun protection rather than as an alternative wearable technology is seen as helpful. this innovation the scientists hope can be mass produced cheaply within five years as a wearable technology to alert people to when they need to wear more or get out of the sun time for sports. >> reporter: thank you very much. we start with tennis. kerber won the australian world open. her first ever grand slam title. she has become the first german to win a major title since 1999. >> reporter: ms williams arrived at the final hoping to clinch a record 22 grand slam titles. for her opponent this was to be the match of her life.

it was her first grand final. she made 23 unforced errors. it was the first time the german has taken a set-off williams in three and a half years. the world number one regained some of other composure in the second set. the play was patchy but she took the set six three and forced a decider. williams's efforts equalled her record of 22 grand slam titles. she clinched the victory in just over two hours fuelling one of the biggest shocks in tennis history. >> my whole life i was working hard and i am here and i can say

i'm the grand slam champion >> every time i walk in this room everyone expects me to win every single match every day. as much as i would like to be a robot, i'm not. i try to, but it's - i do the best that i can. >> reporter: she becomes the first german to win a granld slam title since her idol in 1999. >> reporter: britain's jamie murray and brazil's component has won the title. they beat the oldest team to reach a grand slam final. murray was runner-up at the last two majors whilst suarez the first pair to win at the australian open. jamie's younger brother andy will be playing in the men's singles on sunday.

the world no.2 takes on the top seed novak djokovic. this will be the six grand slam final between the world's top two players. novak djokovic is hoping to win his 7th while murray is hoping to make history against his nemesis who has beat him 21 times. >> i don't question him. there's no question about. i have tremendous respect and admiration for everything he has achieved in his career. he is one week older than me. we grew up together. as i said, we have similar styles of game. very similar trajectory to the professional tennis. it is nice to see our rivalry keeps going on. >> many people are expecting me to win on sunday. i should just believe in myself,

have a solid game plan and hopefully i succeed and play well. previous disappointments aside, it is one tennis match. it doesn't what has happened in the past, really. it's about what happens on sunday. >> reporter: barcelona are looking to extend their unbeaten winning streak to 26 games. they're hosting atletico at the moment. they've taken an early lead but barcelona leading with two goals to one. egypt's friendly game was interrupted by gas. it caused some distress to players and fans. police reportedly fired gas cannisters to stop people trying

to get into the stadium. they eventually won two nil. in the nba the clippers beat the lakers for the record ninth straight victory over the city rivals. the lakers were without coby bryant who will be retiring after the end of season after spending his entire career there. 105 po 93 win. there were a few words of support for bryant. >> i think it will be an emotional time for him and his family. he will be trying to enjoy his final time at the club. i wish him all the best >> reporter: brendan grey retained his masters win by two shots. he shot a last round 69 in the

european tour tournament to finish on 14 under. he became the first player ever to win back to back qatar masters titles. >> reporter: south korea's toy and garry woodland shared the second round lead at the farmers insurance open in california. toy, an eight time winner birdied three of his holes. the pair had a one stroke league. defending champion and world number two jason day who has been fighting a virus missed a cut by three shots. >> reporter: that's all in sport thank you very much for that update. thanks for watching the news hour on al jazeera. that's it for myself and the team here in doha, but we hand you over to our team in london. more news coming up in a moment.

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starving to death, a renewed focus on peace talks in geneva to end the suffering this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up, regional security tops the agenda at a summit of african leaders but the situation in burundi continues to divide opinions. efforts to stop a swarm of locusts threatening to destroy the argentinian