freedom and preventing discrimination. good to have you with us. we begin with harsh words as framework agreements for an energy process moves closer. >> he accuses them 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 days away. this is an effort to re-establish a unified position. u.s. secretary of state john kerry meeting his european counterparts. there has been reports that the french foreign minister wants to take a harsher line and at one point, during intense negotiations he called his team urging them not to allow further concessions. before leaving switzerland, john kerry was stressing there was no division among the international negotiators. >> 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 programme is entirely peaceful. the european union continues to play a pivotal role in facilitating the talks. >> in iran it's the biggest holiday of the year to mark nauru's holiday of the year. on national television the president said a deal was within reach. >> 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 country's supreme leader spoke to a large crowd, raising one of the main sticking points in negotiations. >> negotiations with the united states are on nuclear issues and nothing else. everybody should be aware of this. we do not negotiate with the united states on regional issues. u.s. objectives on regional matters. john kerry and counterparts are expected back midweek. they know the clock is ticking ahead of a deadline. a senior french diplomat says that that deadline is counterproductive and dangerous adding that a deal has to have concrete guarantees that will stop adam raney -- stop iran getting the bomb an irony is the nuclear programme was established with the help of the united states. in the 1950s, when the eisenhower administration agreed to build a research reactor. that happened. the next year iran promised not to become a nuclear state. when the shah was overthrown the new ruler shut down the programme. during the height of its war with iraq. iran restarted the programme in secret. the extent of the nuclear ambitions were not institute until secret documents were released in 2002. earlier we spoke to the president of the american iranian council about the broader implications of nuclear negotiations with iran. >> i personally from the beginning, thought that it is better to have the nuclear negotiations also extended to other areas. in fact, in reality, in practice, that's what they have been doing. iran is now fighting i.s.i.s. next to the u.s. even if it's not acknowledged that the americans have recently taken iran and hezbollah off the terrorist list. things that are - as of... again, there are things that are happening. i think it would have been better if it was more formal and if it included countries like saudi arabia israel to some extent and turkey in the larger negotiation. i don't know why, you know germany is there, but saudi arabia isn't. having a deal is one thing and sustaining it making it implemented is another i share you with comments from the speech by the iran's supreme leader. the ayatollah made reference to disagreements between the republican controlled u.s. senate that the white house, saying the g.o.p. is using the talks as a political tool. >> translation: america is in need of nuclear negotiations. the disagreements that you see among the u.s. senators and government do not mean that they do not need the talks. the opposition party of the u.s. government does not want its rival to earn a diplomatic score in the talks. >> the ayatollah is referring to an open letter sent by 47 republican senators to iranian leaders. any agreement not ratified by congress should be considered an executive action that could be revoked by the next president officials say a man shot inside new orleans's international airport died. richard white charged at t.s.a. officers with machete and a can of wasp spray. investigators are unsure who drove him to the attack. >> because of what happened last night... >> the mayor opened the press conference by praising the public and officer's actions. >> as you know by now it was an unexpect attack by a clearly troubled and disturbed individual. security officials did everything they could to stop the perpetrator, securing the scene and taking lives. >> it was chaos as people fled the terminal. >> a guy game through with a machete. >> reporter: 63-year-old richard white approached a security checkpoint and sprayed agents. >> this guy was running with a machete over his head swinging it. >> he ran the other way. according to an official. they fired at white, stopping the rampage, hitting in the face chest and leg. >> what the zers did was instinct. it was the responsibility that all law enforce. officers have - swiftly, forcefully and commanded the situation. at the same time carol, a t.s.a. agent, pursued white and was hit by a bullet intended for white. >> she saved my life. originally i thought the machete hit me. i didn't realise it was a bullet until i got to the hospital. >> after ethan white was disarmed officials spotted a bag dropped. inside were six molotov cocktails. >> he had a barbecue lighter in the bag and a letter opener plastic, and there was crushed powdery material found near his body with green fuses or wicks which we have determined preliminary at this point in time to be smoke bombs. >> police found white's abandoned car parked at the airport much pt fbi joined with local and state officials. motives are unclear. frightening moments. i.s.i.l. is calling on backers to attack american military personnel. a group referring to itself as the islamic state hacking division claimed to have hacked several military servers and released a list of what they say are the names tv 100 service members -- names of 100 service members, along with home addresses and pictures. the pentagon is looking into it. we have more. >> this is a group calling itself the islamic state hacking division. they are not verified. we don't know the source of they identified military personnel. their names, ranks and their addresses. they are doing this so they condition encourage so-called lone-wolf sympathisers to cull the people. i'll read a quote "kill them in their open lands, stab them to death as they walk their own streets", clearly something that is concerning to officials here and the group the islamic state hacking division said it hacked military sites to get the information. people in the defense think that may not be the case. much of the information, names and addresses, was available on social media. some of these people were in newspaper articles. and many of the 100 are said to have been involved in air campaign in iraq syria and yemen. it is concerning officials. all of the families. they have been contacted by the authorities, minded to be careful. and make sure the privacy buttons are selected. >> andy gallagher from 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, petraeus said coalition forces made better moves and argued: the death toll climbed to 49 today as syria's kurdish red crescent counts the dead from a friday night bombing of syrian kurds. 177 others were injured by the blast. two cars were used in the attack in the nearby city. syrian officials say the bombing was targetting kurds celebrating the new year. the syrian observatory for human rights blamed the islamic state for the attack. >> the u.s. army began a week-long training exercise with poland coming amid growing concerns that the conflict between forces and russia backed rebels is threatening regional security. polish troops are being trained in the deployment of missiles. the u.s. exercise aimed at showing the ability to deploy air 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 are conducting combined exercises with the polls, and sharing some experiences between our two missile systems. >> we should note the patriot missiles are more effective than poland's air defense methods. an emergency meeting to discuss the chaos in yemen. coming as the u.s. military pulls its last troops from the country. a senior defense official firms the 100 special forces are leaving the base within yemen. hundreds of victims of the suicide bombings are in the hospitals. more than 137 people were killed when suicide bombers detonated themselves firing two mosques with the prayers. >> the battle for control of yemen. people in tiaz gather to protest against the arrival of pro-houthi forces in their city. they want to drag us into war. >> if we refused, a helicopter flying over a convoy below was a sign that pro-houthi forces might be closer. abd-rabbu mansour hadi has been in aden trying to hang on to power since forced to flee the capital. the editor-in-chief of the yemen "post" says they are on a collision path. >> those oppose the houthis, they are not militant or armed or al qaeda. they protest, but will not fight the houthis. it's a difference over there. >> reporter: as people grappled with the mosque bombings killing 137 op friday president abd-rabbu mansour hadi appeared on television saying 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 at the time. in order to agree on certain things that will help a lot of the targets and goals of our people. >> but negotiations are in trouble. al jazeera has learnt the u.n. unvoi left the country. saudi arabia offered to host peace talks. a houthi spokesman says they'll only agree to meetings in sanaa. >> talks in riyadh will lead to problems. we need to ask what is the result of talks in riyadh results, who will implement the results? >> with talks on homedld, and the houthis on the move. the question is whether escalation is inevitable. >> increased fighting in libya's threatening efforts to reach a peace agreement. that's according to a united nations envoy monitoring the civil war. >> 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 a chaos where two rival governments and armed factions are battling for control. >> a view of wednesday's deadly attack. police reveal surveillance inside the museum. >> investigators are holding 20 people in connection with the attack. >> friday was independence day, a festive occasion. celebrations have been subdued. many in the crowd are shaken by the wednesday shooting. it is the 59th national day for tunisia. >> nigeria's presidential election are a week from today. voters say violence corruption and a worsening economy are major issues. >> nigerians go to the polls in a week in what is considered a closely contested election in the country's history. they are the fifth elections held since 1999 when democracy was restored. for the first time. it seems as if an opposition candidate has a chance. president jonathan goodluck of the democratic party is seeking a center 4-year term. he faces a stiff challenge from a former military ruler. general abd-rabbu mansour hadi. a muslim from the north. elections were held on 14th of february. postponed for a period of six weeks. the nigerian military claimed they would not be able to guarantee safe elections in northern nigeria, where the group boko haram operates in. and the military have been involved in an operation against boko haram, in which they were involved with cameroon chad and niger. the two main election issues are corruption, which is a run away issue in nigeria, and how to cut the security. >> coming up on the programme, a look at how some states are pushing back against same-sex marriage. the fine line of protecting against religious freedom. tonight on a deeper look. >> reporter: what you did was illegal and you broke the law. >> i did, i did break the law. >> how she became a wall street success, while living in the u.s. also why firefight prers delayed getting so the scene of a deadly fire. join the conversation. >> join the conversation about issues around the world. is welcome back. freedom of religion is one of the longest held american ideals. when crafting the bill of rights our founders placed them in the first sentence of the first amendment: but it's freedom of religion is it so important it comes ahead of other basic rights. tonight we look at that question and the surprising number of states grappling with it. we begin with this report from courtney kealy. >> with the 97-3 vote in 1993, the senate passed the religious freedom restoration act. president bill clinton joked about the bipartisan support. >> the power is that even in legislative miracles can happen. >> reporter: many years later, many are introducing their own versions of rfras, mostly in relation to gay marriage. >> not in the name of religion can we discriminate. >> it's not about discrimination, it's the free exercise of religion. >> so far this year versions of the restoration act have been introduced or debated in 13 states. the proep owesals would allow owners and health care providers to demy service to gay people and permit government officials to allow it in states. some groups are working it prevent bills defending religious freedom from becoming law. for them the question and whether it can be elevated. the governor of arizona vetoed an rfra bill after pressure from businesses. >> i believe that the senate bill has a potential to create more problems than it purports to solve. >> in georgia, a similar bill is on the verge of becoming law. >> the sponsor said this will not lead to discrimination. >> i asked opponents that make this scandalous charge to present 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. >> experts warn the broad anning whimming in some of these bills could open the door for more than discrimination. georgia defines religious believes as: the language raises serious questions. there are passages in religious text that calls for corporate punishment or could be interpreted as allowing a man to beat his wife. creative lawyers would revoke the right to religious beliefs to defend a variety of charges. so far the court seems to rule in favour of the religious freedom. in utah a man said he could not be investigated because it violated his religious beliefs. and last year the hobby lobby ruling said companies were not compelled to offer meld call services required upped the affordable care act, if they violated their religious beliefs. >> the georgian senate passed the religious freedom account and is expected to take it up in the next few weeks. if it becomes law, it could open the door to a slew of offenses for lawyers, and a variety of issues. where to from here. to talk more i'd like to winter olympic al jazeera's legal contributor jamie floyd, and wendy patrick, an attorney and ordained minister joining us from california. >> so much has changed in the 20 years, and we like to define everything. do we have a clear definition of religious freedom today? >> we have the 20 years since the federal rifro was passed and we have the states trying to model religious freedom acts broadly and loosely after that. as you pointed out at the beginning of the segment we have constitutional recognition of freedom of religion. that is the founding and many came for that reason. how do you define religion? you have freedom of religion, but not the freedom to discriminate based on that. right now we have two key freedoms bumping up against each other - the freedom to practice your religion. >> it's a fine line. >> and your freedom to equal rights under the constitution much when they collide, what happens. that's what the court has to decide. >> difficult. why does the supreme court have a difficult time of deciphering religion causes in the first amendment. . >> jamie pointed out a little and she nose clerking at the supreme court. words matter. we have constitutional words, protections, so when they are in conflict or could be in conflict, because remember what is argued here first and foremost is people are worried that a law designed to protect the practice of religion is going to discourage religion. people are worried. that's a reason the supreme court will look at it. you have two firmly held beliefs in conflict with one another. that's probably why we see the cases taken up by the supreme court. we'll watch to see how they'll resolve the conflict for us much. >> what wendy understands as an ordained minister is that you are always free to practice the religion within the four walls of a house of worship. that is sacrosanct. even the right to preach against same-sex marriage is entirely protected. >> it's different once you leave the four walls? >> right. once you leave the four walls, that will be the question where it comes into play. and there has been cases in the last 20 years about even religious - religiously affiliated organizations. catholic charities come to mind. the lutheran church-run schools, and others that i could name who are practicing the religion through services that they run, and come into conflict with secular belief. secular practices. >> we have seen this played out in a number of states. how has the courts ruled. either the catholic charity pulls out because they see they are going lose the case or the courts rule against them. then we see this legislation coming into the fore. we should point out it is recently and aggressively happening because of the great strides that have been made in the area of same-sex marriage the decision by the u.s. supreme court. the decision by the president obama and the obama administration on the defensive marriage act before the supreme court ruled, and i think a reel feeling that many have on the right, and perhaps not even politically, but religiously, that it is under siege. we are seeing a real struggle of values in our country, but that is what democracy is all about. and often these laws have been put forward, and interestingly fizzled by the very people who have been retracted by the people who are put them forward. sometimes the very sponsors of the laws have pulled them back. >> let's dissent what is going on in georgia. it's supposed to be one of the toughest laws. what makes this different from other laws. >> i think it's more of the same as far as the way it's worded. >> what we see with georgia and other states wading into the territory, there's a heightened emotion surrounding what might happen. i'll give you an example. some of the businesses that have fought back and said - we can't have the government forces promote a message that conflicts with religious belief. that, if you remember is what is happening if some businesses are asked to participate in same-sex marriage. whether it's a forest photographer caterer, whatever it is. it's different to someone that is a bechteler or a wait -- bechteler or a waitress -- bank teller. the dialogue in georgia is a heightened emotion about worrying that this will be applied in a fashion that is discriminatory. neither side wants that that's a thing we do as a stril lawyer is find agreement first and fore most. there are people that are afraid that in the name of religion one will lose a lot that is designed to protect the religious freedom as a licence to discriminate. that is part of the discussion in georgia, that may be an unintended consequence. >> there is a question whether it is an unintended consequence or ironic or used to target gay people, to target same-sex marriages. it is true that perhaps you should be able to if you are a florist and you are a religious person - other hobby lobby - that is a perfect example. they were a religious family and felt they should not have to provide contraceptives in discord with their religious beliefs. then there are federal laws and requirements. if you are a business it is different than speech. so it becomes very very difficult when we are talking about commerce and the supreme court doctrine on commerce is clear. commercial activity is different, especially if you are engaged in anything related to anything - anything that engages you with state commerce. i don't want to get to bogged down. >> let's look at the other side. >> i don't necessarily believe in same-sex marriage. what protects me from refusing service. >> if you are a baker, you don't have the aim discussion. >> you have engaged in commerce. >> there's a famous case. think about the st. patrick's day parade. you are probably wondering why they aren't forced to have people marching in the parade. it's speech commerce. it is a creative endeavour in a lot of ways. the supreme court is 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 couldn't be made to bake the cake. if you sell cakes, you are engaged in comers. >> as an individual. can i claim religious exemption. can assay the bible says i have the right to discipline myself my child. >> let me answer the question. the baker would argue they are not baking a cake for someone they know. what they argue is they didn't want to participate in a same-sex marriage, that is the argument. same argument that the photographer made and the florist, that it's different to taking photographs for some other reasonment they were participating in an institution they didn't believe in. segueing into your point would not trump other laws. a lot of what we are seeing i've been a criminal lawyer. i can't imagine anyone raising some law that says it is okay to discipline my wife or discipline my child. i understand they are floated as possible results. that would be absurd to say we'll allow you to break criminal laws because you belong to a religion that think it's okay. i have never seen a case like that. we are looking, because that is something that we don't want to have happen. we don't want to pass a law designed to exercise religion but we are on high alert to make sure we don't start to go in that direction. where we'll see cases where people are engaging in violence or other acts to children mother or discrimination. that's not the purpose of the law. and to a point made earlier, we want to make sure that's not the purpose in passing the law. suffice it to say this is an issue with everyone looking, on high alert making sure it's not misused. >> working at core tv for all of those years, i have seen many cases where religion and religiosity has been used as a sword and a shield in cases. >> we see it in child labour. >> child labour and where children are endangered because the parents don't want to provide medical attention for well meaning and truthfully spoken religion reasons. and we can think of a child, i won't name the football father and the father said this is my belief, this is how i parent. these things happen, these are diff cases. i want to point out that in many, many of the state, and a couple come to mind. idaho, south dakota. tennessee, and as mentioned arizona. law makers pulled the laws off the books. they fought twice about whether the laws were well suited for their jurisdictions. you hinted at this earlier. it's because the laws are too broad. we use the expression in the law. and it's an inside baseball expression. they are over broad. a law should not be written in such a way that it's so broad that it can be ploid in a way that had unintended consequences. >> do you see that in the case of georgia. >> yes, that is why georgia is getting so much attention. >> we'll add one thing. if i can add one thing to that. the distinction - i spent my career as a criminal lawyer. sometimes they invoke parenting. what makes it different is it's religion saying i can beat my wife. it's not a valid defense. to say this is my style of parenting, it's not corporate punishment is different. we don't want religion used as a defense. i want to add that, it's never been a defense in criminal law. >> dissecting the law. the debate will continue. thank you both. >> thank you. >> thank you coming up on al jazeera, foreign ministers from south korea, china and japan meet in seoul for the first time in years. and why this powerful wall street executive was afraid to come to work every day an alarming number of sea lion pups have been abandoned along the coast of california. those stories and more. stay with us. talk about an american success story with a twist. an american woman going from sewing occasion to being an any on wall street. reporter: teresa had it all. top grade in school and college and a high paying job on wall street. her entire careers was built on a lie. >> that is in mexico. >> reporter: she came from mexico illegal lie. her parents owned a funnel cake stand. >> they are hardworking, and i admire them. they made so much with so little. >> reporter: when the propane tank on the stand exploded her mother was left in a coma and the family with a difficult choice. >> it was either spend the money from the funnel cake stand on my mum's medical bill or use it for college education. >> texas law allows undocumented imfronts to go to state -- immigrants to go to state college. they are not eligible for financial aid. she still needed papers. >> my intention in getting the papers was to get a job to pay for college. eventually i got to this woman who sold papers. i remember getting the papers and still didn't know whether they were going to work. >> well, they did. with the same papers she not only paid her way through college, but landed a coveted job on wall street working for premier investment bank goldman sachs. she rose through the ranks to become a vice president making 300 to $400,000 a year. >> what do you say to people who say what you did was illegal? and you broke the law. >> i did. i z break the law. i -- i did break the law. i had two choices. to give up on my future or break the law. they were the only two options. some might say why don't you pack your things and go back to your country. i left when i was 11. this is my country. >> reporter: while she was not prosecuted, she feels she paid for her choice. >> while you were working at goldman your father died in mexico. what did you do? >> that was the worst day of my life. not being able to go back and be with my dad and family she couldn't attend his funeral because if she did, she risked not getting back to the united states. every day her anxiety grew worse. >> each step was nerve wrecking. and it could have gone wrong i could have been deported or ended up in gaol. >> she got married and got her green card. >> the biggest thing having papers gave me was freedom. i was not free before. >> with the freedom came change. she left her job and now raises money for students in the same situation she was in. >> reporter: what about people that say it was patenly un-american, you didn't do it by your bootstraps because you didn't do it the fair way. >> i would ask them a question. what is fair. is it fair tore an 18-year-old girl who worked her entire life to get a good education, is it fair she doesn't get to go to college. >> reporter: even though her journey may have begun on a lie, now she's living her truth it was a message of hope from the first lady. michelle obama on a 5-day tour of asia promoting the peace tour. let girls learn. 20% of young girls graduate from high school. in high school 62 million girls never set foot in the classroom. they hope to change the trend. >> foreign ministers from south korea, china and japan met in seoul, coming to resolve territorial and diplomatic issues. at the center of the dispute are the japanese claims that the islands in the east china sea. rob mcbride has more from hope solo. >> the long-awaited pose for the cameras by the three foreign ministers could signal the start of a new chapter in relations. possibly paving the way for a summit of their leaders, after a 3-here hiatus after seeing relations ship. the three parties agree that historical differences need to be addressed. particularly the legacy of the world war ii outside the heavily guarded embassy in seoul, it's regularly protest. the comfort women, forced into slavery, a crime for which japan has not taken responsibility for. >> japan has not shown remorse. we cannot leave things as they are. >> only when japan apologises can relations improving. hiding from it will not stop anything. >> at the prison. turned into a museum. the colonisation by japan is remembered. some were tortured and executed. on this day there's a visiting group of japanese business people. the perception that japan has been trying to revise it act of the war, adds to the pain the koreans and chinese suffer. >> from japan's perspective they do not want to see their past history in the same way as china and south korea. we have a different interpretation. >> reporter: south korea and china have their own 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. the u.s. does not want to see two of its strongest allies here - japan and south korea - falling out. by the same toeken china does not want to be faced with a us-backed alliance of its asian makers. >> basic history and territorial issues forces these issues. it makes regional politics combli kated. >> increasing numbers of tourists 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. strong enough to bring leaders to a summit coming up on the programme, a community mourning in a new york neighbourhood after seven siblings die in a fire. >> cheating on a high school test has never been as dramatic as this. that story coming up on al jazeera america. a new york community is in mourning after a fire killed seven chinldren, all from the same family. the children were from the same family and lived in a home in midland brookfield. the mother and another child escaped, they are being treated at local hospitals. >> i know the mother. and i hope that - i don't know if she nation it through this i don't know how she'll face what happened to her family. i bray that she has the -- pray that she has the sanity. i don't know what to say. >> the city's fire ch commissioner says it's the worst tragedy. the home did not have smoke detectors. a failure on the metro - firefighters were delayed by 30 minutes getting to the scene after a train filled with smoke in january. the reason - 911 calls were routed by dispatchers several times before alerting responders. a woman died 80 others sickened. now for the forecast. kevin corriveau joining us. we are trying to get over the spring snow storm. >> a lot of people thing it was unusual. it's average. times it's before or after - that's what they say about averages. we hit the severing. i don't think we'll see more of this across new york. we'll see snows, and are dealing with snow from the snow system that wished through. today was not so bad. we had temperatures rising. a lot of snow was over half a foot. in western connecticut to the north, we saw 7.9. the township in new jersey was 7.8. we saw miserable conditions at the airports. flight were delayed or cancel. temperatures are cooler than earlier. that is a big difference from what we saw yesterday. we are 15 degrees higher than yesterday. because of that we are seeing most of that snow dissipating across the region. not doing to be too much of a factor. what is a factor is what is happening to the south. we are seeing a lot of rain showers across many areas, flooding across texas. that will make its way towards much of the golf coast. we don't need too much of that rain. across the mississippi river, we are seeing flooding because of water coming down the require. as we begin the week here - atlanta you'll have a rainy monday, and we'll watch snow for the higher elevations. look at this. sunday denver colorado you will be 70 not too much cooler. as we begin the week how about that. miami, 87 on monday. >> tell us warmer weather is coming to the east coast. >> it is. >> all right. thank you. let's take you to india. 600 student expelled and 300 arrests made in connection with a scheme in northern india. this is a critical week for 10th graders taking future exams to determine their educational future. authorities are cracking down on parents passing notes through school windows or bribing teachers. more from rob matheson. >> reporter: cheating in india on a different level. these parents climb four floors folding answer sheets into paper planes and throwing them to children. inside children pass notes to each other under the noses of supervisors. >> local reports say the police accept bribes to look the other way much the state education minister denies responsibility saying it's constable to prevent cheating without the -- it's impossible to prevent cheating without the cooperation of parents. >> millions sit for the exams, there are many centers. three to four helping students means there's 6 to 7 million helping children cheat. is it the responsibility of the government? >> reporter: there's a deal of pressure on the 15 and 16-year-old students. the exams are viewed as make or break for many. passing the test is compulsory to continuing the education. with more students seeking to attend college or university competition is fierce. graduating can transform the lives of millions. 600 pupils have been caught cheating this year and could be banned from taking exams for three years, forced to pay a fine or gaoled. >> extreme. >> when al jazeera comes back. hundreds of starving sea lion pups are washing up on the beaches. plus - coming to an italian airport in the future. wait until you see what the high tech sleeping pods have to offer. >> hi everyone, this is al jazeera america. i'm randall pinkston. john siegenthaler is on assignment. bloodshed in thousands gathered along the coastline to witness the tide of the century. >> reporter: bewitching by night, it is a magical silhouette. for one day only it's the waters surrounding the monastery that are drawing the crowds. as the sun rose higher so too, did the sea. braced against the cold thousands watched as the rocky aisle et was cut off. here we saw the land not more than 20 minutes ago. now everything is covered. it's rising quickly. it's impressive. >> those that came early enough witnessed the surge from above. those who missed the cut off had to wrestle to take on the 10th century abby. it's a coincidence of sorts, thanks to the eclipse, and the super moon which is when the moon comes closer to earth than normal. together they pull the ocean in and up a surge that will not be seen for another 18 years. just as impressive was a low tide. the receding waters revealing vast sandbanks and an emissive experience. >> it's quite a site. a bit tough for the feet. the stroll is face. >> while the giant tide met expectations for many scientists say it didn't meet the peak that they hoped. the next peak side is not due until 2033 scientists in california report an alarming increase in see lion pups washed up on shore. so far there has been 1700 pups. five times larger than before. >> reporter: hundreds of starving sea lion pups are washing up on beach, they are found on peers, dock and people's yards. and are working hard to save them. >> our facility and the others in southern california are at or nearing capacity. we are doing everything we can to work with the rescue agency to bring in many patients. this year because of inart nant numbers, we will not be able to save every animal on the bees. >> marine biologists believe a milder winter and coastal waters have driven away the fish that the sea lions eat. the lack of foods, like squid and anchovies, is forcing the mammals to go out further to hunt. >> for whatever reason whether they've overrun the food or they have gone out from under them the mothers are not finding enough food to sustain the pups and probably abandoning them. abandoned and hungry they try to hunt themselves and watch up on shore, exhausted and starving. >> we are seeing underweight animals. these animals should be in the 50 to 60 pound range and are coming in a fraction of that. >> the u.s. agency monitoring the atmosphere assess the increase in the number of pups is a mystery. it's warning that california should brace for more of them. showing up on its beaches finely tonight. if you have a long lay over at an airport, an italian inventor should have the answer. you should be well rested when you arriving. look at the sleeping pod. each contains a single bed, chair and desk. how is this for high tech. it can change its bed sheets and cost $6 to $9. they'll beinstalled at airports in northern italy. don't oversleep. that will do it for this hour. i'm thomas drayton in new york. i'll be back with another hour of news at 11 eastern, 8:00 pacific. "america tonight" starts now. thanks for watching. on the weekend edition of "america tonight"... >> it's been 21 days since nurse practitioner returned to lewis california from an ebola treatment center in sierra leone. >> i'll take your temperatures. >> 97.5. >> the biggest challenge of quarantine is contact with other people. >> see you later alligator. >> the quarantine was a