. >>> and coming up on al jazeera america, rome getting ready for a tourism boom. e of the unique events that is going on. a musical being promoted by the vatican. ♪ >>> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm dell in new york. these are your headlines at this hour. more than 100 american troops arriving in eastern europe today for military exercises with nato forces. today russian's foreign minister accusing the uls of running things in ukraine. >>> in south korea the death toll continues to rise as more bodies are recovered from the ferry that sank a week ago. >>> the president has arrived in tokyo today for the start of his eight-day trip to asia. after japan the president will travel to south korea, malaysia, and the philippines. ♪ >>> i'm meteorologist nicole mitchell, let's start with looking at your highs today in the northwest. 55 in seattle, mid-section of the country, really some warm air, into the 60s, and that will be part of a flow that will be tapping in to warm southerly air and gulf moisture that will set up some severe weather today. the biggest ris

nick schifrin, al jazeera america rome. >> he coined phrased like laughing stock, love is blind, andood riddance. how people around the world are celebrating shakespeare 450 years later. >> we pray for the children in the womb >> a divisive issue >> god is life , so it's his to take >> see a 10 year old girl who's pregnant, and you tell me that's what god wants... >> a controversial law >> where were you when the babies lives were being saved? >> are women in texas paying the price? >> who's benefiting from restricting access to safe abortions? >> fault lines... al jazeera america's hard hitting... ground breaking... truth seeking... breakthrough investigative documentary series access restricted only on al jazeera america >> the sow arrest power cell is celebrating it's 60s birthday while oil and gas dominate the energy supply more people are harnessing the power of the sun. rob reynolds reports now from california. >> reporter: another solar panel goes up on a rooftop in los angeles. l.a. is the number one city for solar energy producing 132 mega watts. officials want 20% of the ci

america. people in rome come out to celebrate a gi big birthday. well it's official... xfinity watchathon week was the biggest week in television history. but just when you thought it was over... what now? with xfinity on demand you can always watch the latest episodes of tv's hottest shows. good news. like hannibal... chicago fire.... ...and bates motel. the day after they air. xfinity on demand. all the latest episodes. all included with your service. it's like hi-fiving your eyeballs. xfinity...the future of awesome. >> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm stephanie sy. here are today's headlines at this hour. college admissions are changing. the u.s. supreme court dealt another blow to affirmative action abraham. the courts upheld the rights of states to ban racial preferences at university admissions. with justice kennedy writing for the majority. >>> a developing story out of ukraine. the acting president said that the anti-terror operation is underway in the east. this comes after two people were murdered. one of them a local politician. the operation comes be

crying thus in addition to find an eu funds according to former us presidential candidate in rome for america's been followed too closely involved in the kiev uprising that has a clip about it you can watch the full version became like that. it spent in the last ten years or so over five billion dollars trying to bring the democratic process that to you you crazy. we end up with the government. am like so many other places around the world the government was when we did lie they hit it with already been adopted much i'm giving the political pain you what i think our government should do and die and that is this to stay out of it because we've been away involved too much and i think the evidence is very clear that god the europeans and americans were very much involved in over the overthrow of the elected government of ukraine. racing adams writes with a spotlight this weekend is already hosted for me along grumpy the band received lavish funding from western companies despite concerns of the human rights violations when the moment he has been waking at three a crackdown against pro democracy pr

rome. america's news headquarters live from the nation's capitol starts right now. but first, we begin this hour with the escalating and growing crisis in ukraine as diplomatic efforts to scape back fall short with concerns that russia is gearing up to invade. the kremlin has now ended high level contact with the white house with the pentagon even saying chuck hagel's russian count count counterpart won't even pick up the phone now and a team now tries to secure the release of four military observers. joining us now with the latest, leeland vitter. >> certainly everyone in this crisis seems to be digging in for a long battle and doubling down on their tensions and hostility inside the pro russian stronghold has certainly increased greatly in the past 48 hours and the fact they have taken this team hostage has made everyone here a lot more concerned and jumpy. the big question is not only if these folks are going to be released, but more importantly, are they going to be used as human shields or already being used as human shields to prevent the military from moving

. >>> next, people in rome came out to celebrate a big birthday. ♪ >>> welcome back to al jazeera americam stephanie sy here are today's headlines at that hour. college admissions are changing. just a short time ago, the u.s. sfoouk dealt another blow to after mirmtive action programs, and upheld the rights of states to ban racial preferences in university admissions. >>> vice president joe biden met with lawmakers today in kiev announcing an additional $50 million in political and economic aid. the money includes $11 million for the country's elections next month. it stressed that it will not recognize russia's annexation of crimea. >>> more than 100 people have died, 200 are unaccounted for in the ferry accident. ♪ >>> i want to start out with the temperatures. east coast ahead of a cold front, a warm surge of air. a lot of temperatures into the 70s. into the west coast, cooler air today, 54 in seattle. these are the high temperatures for the day. the outlook, the cold front isn't going to have a lot of moisture with it, but the west coast a little bit more moisture and that includes be

rome. thank you. >> throughout lerk kath -- latin america catholics are celebrating and items are on display at theasilica. priests throughout argentina devoted masses to john xxiii and john paul ii. >> i'm grateful that he is a saint. and he deserved this. he's been a good and well-loved poem by everything. >> in the philippines children celebrated with a parade re-enacting today's ceremony. >> pope john xxiii stirs emotions from american catholics, many reflecting on his legacy. john terrett has more from a cathedral. >> american catholics have been building up to this day. john xxiii and john paul ii the newest saints. >> it's amazing. i never thought i would live in a time where i would relate to john paul ii and see him canonized. i think it's great. >> that few issest parliament housed by the majority of american catholics. they may agree with the work, many expressed their love for john paul ii. remembering his multiple visits to america in his 27 years as pope. not all american catholics are happy. some say the elevation of john paul ii is too soon and point to his role in the church sex ab

rome. thank you for being with us this afternoon. meanwhile action catholics all across america are celebrating today's event. in fact, al jazeera's john terrett is at the cathedral of the sacred hard in newark, new jersey, one visited by john paul ii back in 1995. now, john, pope john paul ii had a very long history with the united states when he was head of the catholic church. >> that's right. >> how are people reacting there at sacred heart? >> reporter: i would say most american catholics, most of them have this ongoing long love affair with john paul ii. now elevated to sainthood. here today, we have seen this played out in many ways at the cathedral where he visited in 1995 with president bill clinton, where he presided over evening prayers. of course, he came to the united states on several occasions if you include the stopover that he had in alaska. he visited all of the major cities. so americans are very, very familiar with him. less so with john xxiii, but they recognize the importance of vatican 2 nick was speaking about his report. the priest today at one of the se

rome of an iranian defector. >> thank you for joining us. america's news headquarters starts right now. >> take care. >>> fox news alert. public face of the botched obama care roll out is gone. kathleen sebelius, stepping down after serving five years in the cabinet. welcome to hq. i am gregg jarret in for bill hemmer. >> president made the announcement in a rose garden ceremony, nominated. sylvia bier authority well to replace cathlone sebelius. despite the stumble the president praised his out going hss secretary. >> yes we lost the first open enrollment and there were problems, but under cathlone's leadership, her time at hss, turned the corner, got it fixed, got the job done, and the final score speaks for itself. there are seven and half million people cross the country that have the security of health insurance. >> well, let's get republican reaction from senator ted cruz of texas. senator, it is a pleasure to speak with you. as you heard part of what the president said. he spoke in long and glowing and elaborate terms of what a wonderful health

america >> >>> from popt ifs to saints. two leading popes of the 20th century are canonized in front of hundreds of thousands in rome. >>> hello, welcome to al jazeera. also to come... >> we're going be in a stronger position to deter mr putin when he sees the world is unified. >> the u.s. president sends another warning to russia to stop meddling in the east of ukraine. >>> south korea's prime minister resigns following criticism of the government's handling of the ferry disaster. >>> south africans mark 20 years of democracy, the end of apartheid - but how much much has things really changed? >>> two of the leading catholic popes of the 20th century have been declared saints in rome. this is the scene live. let's have a look there. that's the vatican, st. peter's square in rome. pope francis declared pope john paul ii and pope john xxiii saints at a special mass, which is under way. there, in the midst of everything going on is our correspondent for al jazeera. jonah. >> reporter: they are now officially saints, john paul ii and st. john xxiii, pope francis proclaiming the two late popes as saints using these words "we decla

rome. who is jesus? a fox in focus special is next. >> live from america's news headquaters, i'm marianne

america >> >>> from popt ifs to saints. two leading popes of the 20th century are canonized in front of hundreds of thousands in rome. >>> hello, welcome to al jazeera. also to come... >> we're going be in a stronger position to deter mr putin when he sees the world is unified. >> the u.s. president sends another warning to russia to stop meddling in the east of

rome now, pat cadel. ed, i'm going to start with you. is america getting it right in terms of how we are pressing the white house, pressing more nor sanctions? >> we need more sanctions. at the end of day we have to make sure that our allies are going to basically back us up. you don't want to make it one on one. we can put tough sanctions on them as we did in iran and put some real economic chaos there but it's really not our fight. it's really europe's fight and they have to be there with us. >> doug? >> i agree partially with that. i think it's everyone's fieg but ultimately we have to do something we haven't done which is to show leadership. i agree with ed that we have to expand the sanctions but we also have to understand that unless there is a tough policy where america provides leadership, the russians will go further into eastern ukraine and try to take the whole region. >> before i go to pat, i want to put this -- if we could run this now from senator bob corker of tennessee what he has to say about the situation and there are some lawmak

and i see the ack and in rome as a way to strengthen america's hospital system, that includes pennsylvania governor corbin's decision back in 20 told to decline to establish an exchange was announced in a peculiar way. it was first celebrated in a press release by americans for prosperity. the koch brothers funded enterprise. 20 minutes later the commonwealth of pennsylvania itself made the same announcement in a press release. the timing of that announcement to me certainly raise questions as to how the koch brothers influenced that decision in the first place. even more disappointing, i want to say it was governor corporate edition not commit expand medicaid for the more than five and 20,000 pennsylvanians who could be covered under this but it would've been 100% of those costs for the first three is facing it down to 90% by 2020. you know, i had a health care ceo in my district in northeastern pennsylvania confided to me and that if they pennsylvania doesn't accept the medicaid expansion, he's going to have to close one of his two hospitals. that's how important this is. instead of acce

rome. it's celebrating its birthday. actors, dressed as gladiators and others marched through the city. >> coming up tonight on al jazeera - wild america. we take you to wyoming where the longest mammal migration in the country is underway. the dangers faced and why scientists believe the creatures face the risks. back to the future. underwater homes and moon cole onnies, predictions that missed the mark and came true from the new york world fair. that and more 11 eastern time and 8 pacific. >>> here is the photo of the day, the imaging catching our attention from south korea. the shadows of visitors on the side of a tent at the port of jindo. hundreds of messages written, wishing for the safe return of passengers. richelle carey with the headlines after this. vé >>> welcome to al jazeera america, i'm richelle carey, here are the top stories. the united states is warning russia that more sanctions are likely unless tensions are eased along the ukraine boarder. vice president joe biden offered up a $50 million aid package for the new government. joe biden criticised russia for bulking up military presence at the ukraine border. >>> u.s.

rome of an iranian defector. >> thank you for joining us. america's care roll out is gone. kathleen sebelius, stepping down after serving five years in the cabinet. welcome to hq. i am gregg jarret in for bill hemmer. >> president made the announcement in a rose garden ceremony, nominated. sylvia bier authority well to replace cathlone sebelius. despite the stumble the president praised his out going hss

america. it speaks of those industrial dreams of an endlessly glorious future. the people who built these structures, they were thinking big. >> they were. >> they were looking at a new romeome here. i started doing this late in life. i'm just too old and too mean, too old, too mean, and too dumb to change. so i can't say that i'm evolving or maturing or doing anything differently. same dick i was 13 years ago. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>> they don't look friendly. who are those -- anyway. >> some ugly dutch guys it looks like with guns. i'm guessing particularly friendly to the current power. they look like they are either coming from or on their way to oh presing a black man. first order of business, man. when i take my country back,

rome. st. peter's square is packed with pilgrims. ukraine's on edge as he renew a crackdown on insurgents. >> america's 100 million gun owners will not now, not ever. >> tough talk from the nra. how could gun rights advocates be so worried when there are many new laws allowing more firearm freedom? and who's left in the wake of that nevada rancher's racial remarks? who's still daring to defend him? >> day to all of you. just a little bit before 1:00 p p.m. in the east. a powerful springtime weather system is threatening millions right now from texas to the carolinas. this, after several twisters were seen in north carolina yesterday. it was also hit hard by hail. some giant pellets fell from the sky forcing some police officers you see there to rub for cover. the weather channel's dr. greg postel. >> we have a shot at severe thunderstorms today. with cities included omaha, wichita, oklahoma city, where torcons are 4. notice the start times on this. we've got 8:00 and 9:00, meaning most of the day is going to be pretty quiet. the stuff doesn't get going until much later on this afternine or this evening if at all. we have to watch thi

america series. finale. baton wielding rock police charged chanting crowds in the streets of rome where protests have descended into street fighting. and spreads through the east of ukraine as police in the ministration buildings fall under the control of protesters and more and more tiles across the region. twenty russian journalists have banned from entering the country the freedom of speech according to international watchdogs of western governments seem to find no cause for concern. also this hour a diplomat who devised an award winning plan for britain to leave the e.u. is banned from talking to the media by his own government.

rome. who is jesus? a fox in focus special is next. >> live from america's news headquaters, i'm marianne rafferty. 250 people are still missing many of them high school students. families are expressing frustration with rescue efforts. ferry's captain is arrested on suspicion of negligence and abandoning those in need. meantime search teams recovering a 13th body following an avalanche on mount everest. all of the victims were guides. several other guides were injured and hospitalized. three of them remain missing. this is the deadliest disaster on mount everest which is the world's tallest peak. back in the u.s. 10,000 runners showing what boston strong is all about. survivors of last year's bombings along with other runners in a special 5-k run. it involved kevin spacey and duvall patrick. >> eater sunday mass in st. peters square will begin moments from now. on saturday he presided over an easter vigil at st. peters and baptized ten people. the vigil among the most solem services. join us for our live coverage starting around 15 minutes from now. that's proximately 4:15 a.m. eastern time. i'm maryann raff