. a huge international relief effort is under way in the philippines after the monstrous typhoon haiyan devastated the country. thousands are feared dead - millions have no food, water or shelter >> after talks on iran's nuclear ambitions failed washington is skeptical about their willingness to make a deal. >> greenhouse gas higher than ever - 190 countries gather in poland for a summit on climate change. >> in naiples italy a rise in cancer rates may be linked to toxic dumping - decades in the

making. . welcome to al jazeera america. philippine leaders are pleegd for help in the after -- pleading for hep in the aftermath of typhoon haiyan. america is heeding the call. u.s. aid groups are also launching a multi-million relief campaign, saying shipments of blankets and tarps will arrive today. the death toll is unknown. officials say it could rise above 10,000 when remote areas are reached. president obama called the people of philippines incredibly resilient, saying the spirit of unity and cooperation will prevail. president obama promised more aid if needed. at the vatican sunday, pope

francis led tens of thousands in prayer, urging the faithful to send help. they have one of the largest catholic populations in the world. >> our correspondent found herself in the thick of it. one minute she was prepared to do a live report - the next she was fighting for her life. >> reporter: it was a force that paralysed the province. typhoon haiyan swept through the philippines early friday morning. it destroyed everything in its past. powerlines, roads, villages - wiped out in an instant. the typhoon arrived three hours earlier than expected. thousands of people were trapped when water rose as high as five metres. we were one of them, right at the high of typhoon haiyan's wrath. >> we are trying to make our way out of this place. this is a what little over three hours of the wrath of typhoon haiyan brought into this town of tacloban.

this place is a ghost town. just a few hours ago we were, ourselves, caught up in the middle of what is considered the most powerful typhoon in the world this year. it was hard because at some point we were preparing for a live. the water started going up, we were by the ceiling clinging for our lives. it's a miracle that we survived and what we need to do now is make our way out of here, only destruction and death. >> it was the world's most powerf powerful typhoon on record and the damage unprecedented. the governor fears 20,000 are dead. those who survive face difficult days ahead. the province is isolated. thousands have been left homeless, unsure where to go. searching for shelter in the few

structures that remain standing. almost everyone here has a family member or friend who died. the reality too hard for many to grasp. >> we almost drowned. it's so give there's nothing left, no place to sleep or ooen dry clothes to wear. >> translation: we were in the gymnasium, which is supposed to be our evacuation center. it suddenly collapsed. everyone ran everywhere to save their own lives. >> reporter: this hospital is one of a few establishments operating after the typhoon. doctors here are working under strained conditions - operating on the injured without electricity and clean water and a short supply of medicine is running out. most of the areas are unreachable. the dead, the wounded and those that survived cut out from the

rest of the world. as night falls, people here become even more distraught. the devastation is staggering, but the true extent of the damage is unknown. . now that typhoon haiyan has made landfall, we are seeing rainfall in southern china up to 9 inches and sometimes higher. the storm made landfall as a category 1 storm. it's rapidly fallen apart as it hit round, but bringing an exceptional amount of rainfall. we are watching a system developing. it's further to the south-east of the philippines. we are waiting to see if this develops into tropical storms.

the current track will be to bring rain to places hard hit by flood, and where we anticipate mudslides. as we go back to the united states, the story is all the snow and higher elevations of montana. over to lake superior. we are going to see a little bit of snow for parts of our northern areas in the days ahead. last night we took a picture of nelson's cottage. one or two inches falling in upstate new york. when we time is out, snow accumulation over the course of the next two days will be around the great lakes or in new york. we will put this into motion, expect it to pick up late monday night. overnight into tuesday morning, spots around pittsburg, and philadelphia, would get light snow. we can see snow in the air.

we are not expecting accumulations as you get closer to the atlantic ocean. it's too warm and has not gotten cool fuf to let it pile up. arctic air bringing in the first of the season. the arctic air will push further. the cold thick air takes longer to work its way south. it will do that into tuesday, when we have a chance of as far south as the blue ridge mountains to get snow. temperatures will drop, around the freezing marks. we get into tuesday, we'll feel the chill on the east coast, with our textures staying in the low 40s. >> each side in the iran nuclear talks is blaming the other for failure to reach a deal. three days of talks on sunday.

the extra 10 days could have consequences. al jazeera's white house correspondent patty culhane reports. >> >> reporter: they talked for days but could not agree on what is next for iran's nuclear program, as the foreign ministers headed back to their capitals they went public with their leaders. iran's leader broadcasting his bottom line >> translation: national interests are a red line. among the rights are nuclear right within the graham work of law. include -- the framework of law. including the right to enrich. >> reporter: iran has the right to nuclear power. that is not sitting well with israel. israel's prime minister took to the airwaves to warn he's not alone. >> it's not only my concern that this is a bad deal.

there are other arab leaders saying this is a bad deal. when you have the arab and israelis speaking in one voice - it doesn't happen often - it's worth paying attention. >> he has backers in the u.s. congress, who might vote to increase sanctions on iran. it's an insurance for the united states that iran complies with an agreement we want to see. >> secretary of state john kerry is warning sanctions couldened the discussion -- could end the discussion, publicly lobbying congress to give them more time. >> we are not going into a full deal and giving away something. we are talking about stopping the program with enough guarantees to know it is stopped with it is, while we negotiate the full measure of the deal. >> that may not be enough for the u.s. congress.

we could find out this week if they'll listen to the president or the israeli lobby. how they decide could determine if the talks get another cans to succeed. >> and the next round of talks will be at a lower level. >> syria's largest opposition group says it will attend talks in geneva, but only under certain conditions. the syrian national coalition wants guarantees that relief agencies will reach troubled areas, and political prisoners should be freed. the u.n., and russia, were trying to start the summit by the end of this month. now the goal will be pushed back. >> a book by an activist who risked her life is banned from the nation's prit schools. the memoire is called

disrespectfulment the taliban shot the teenager in the head. the book ban affects 40,000 schools across pakistan. world leaders are gathering in poland for the united nations climate change talks and there's criticism because of who sponsors it. >> cancer diagnosis - how the mob's illegal activities are being linked to the problem. a birthday party in texas turns deadly. what authorities believe triggered the violence.

the supertyphoon, the melting of polar icecaps and warnings about greenhouse gases add urgency to a new round of talks on climate change. we report n the u.n. summit in poland.

>> reporter: it's the 10th largest consumer of coal and relies on it for energy. poland is playing host. there's no surprise which companies the organizers chose to sponsor the event. they include the world's largest steel and mining company. its activities producing over 190 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. that is more than the entire co2 output for oil-producing venezuela. also a partner poland's largest electric company. it runs this power station - one of the largest fossil few power plants in the world. >> it's concerning, dangerous and we have to ensure that the conference is for the interests of people and the planet, and these companies and the bottom

line is to ensure they make and maximise their profits. in my mind it's akin to having a cigarette company sponsoring a cancer conference and then at the end saying smoking does not cause cancer. >>. >> business is worried about climate change, it's an issue for many companies. biz has to be part of the solution. we can't do it but the engagement of business. how to help the vulnerable populations adapt will be on the agenda, as well as a new plan to replace the kyoto protocol. there's a growing awareness that emissions agreements must include developing nation, in particular india and china. since 1990 carbon dioxide emissions from the united states have remained constant.

add to this the emissions of industrialized countries and you see a decline, mirroring the downturn. look at china's emissions - you see the real emission, 10% since 2010 and 2011. add to this the other developing country, and you get a sense. >> the war saw meeting is not expected to result. those taking part hope it will lay important ground work for a future pack. many competing voices and interests. common ground will be hard to find. >> the u.n. hopes to have a deal by 2015. the united nations is taking qatar to task about its treatment for migrant workers. an assessment was made after an 8-day visit. while there are some reforms taking place, more needs to be

done. they were blasted as to housing conditions for labourers on the project for the 2022 fifa world cup. >> i have seen dwellings by migrant workers, and these are slums. it's a stain in the reputation of qatar, the richst country per cap ita. they shouldn't tolerate slums to be created. >> 15 recommendations were issued - among them doing away with a practice that binds foreign workers to their employers, forcing them to get permission before changing jobs, or leaving the country. >> garbage is piling up in madrid. it's hurting tourism. the trash accumulated 6,000 garbage collectors went on trike protesting lay-offs and a power cuts.

>> cancer sufferers say organised crime may have played a role in their illness, blaming the mafia. >> we have this report. >> this is a land where grass barely grows. in the countryside around naples, tonnes of toxic rubbish has been polluting the soil. local residents say the waste is not only killing the environment, it's killing them. >> first, my husband was diagnosed with cancer, then me. my neighbour and six colleagues got cancer too. that's when i started suspecting it had something to do with the nearby landfill. >> they are among hundreds of residents who say the mountains of toxic waste dumped by the mafia for decades led to a dramatic rise in council rates in the area. >> back in 1997 a former mafia

boss admitted organised crime buried tonnes of toxic weight coming from italy and europe. a lucrative dirty business. in a statement made public, he said about the people near the landfills, they are at risk of dying from cancer within 20 years. i don't think they will survive. 16 years later a local oncologist says with cancer rates in the area three times higher, the prediction is coming true. >> what really hurts is not only discovering the criminals have been poisoning us for 20 years, and discovering that the state knew about it and has not warned us. >> it's not only toxic industrial waste ruining the health of rescuers, all sorts of generic waste end up in hundreds of illegal landfills like this

one, turning the region into italy's upofficial dumping site. >> residents are calling for authorities to clean up its act so the toxic dumps won't pollute the areas. >> cancer rates in the area increased 47% among men, and 40% among women in the last 20 years. >> sheriff's say a shooting at a party was triggered by gun fire. two high school students were killed and two dozens wounded. one suspect is 17 and the other is thought to be 22. first responders described mass chaos. some of the party goers reportedly jumped from a second floor to escape. >> a diet pill will be recalled because it's linked to liver damage. the food and drug administration is ordering oxy elite pro off

the market. it is used for weight loss and to build muscle. one death is reported and three other users are awaiting liver transplants. >> the olympic torch making its way back to earth. a look at the first space walk by the symbol of the game. >> he's considered a legendary name in hip hop. moving on from its crime-filled past - they are not all on board honouring the late b.i.g.

a famed international symbol is back on earth. the olympic torch returns after a trip more than 260 miles in orbit for its first ever handover in space. now it's back in russia moments before the olympic games. the torch was not lit in space for safety reasons.

the flame will burn brightly in socchi, the olympics start there in february. >> brazil prepares for the world cup and olympics. games of a different sort are getting attention. the indigenous games where aiming blow darts is considered higher than kicking a goal. >> one of the highlights of the first full day of competition was certainly the bow and arrow event. more than 20 indigenous people partook in this from 10 different tribes. they were shooting the arrow, trying to score points of the the person with the most ended up winning. it was colourful. people were concentrating intensely. it's interesting that not every indigenous tribe uses bow and arrows in the community, but they participated anyway. it's an indication that this is a cultural exchange as it is a

sporting event. >> translation: today was good for us. our objective was to hit the target and change the way people view us and break misconceptions between the white and indigenous people. >> translation: for us it was wonderful to participate in the games for the first time. i'm a tribal leader. it's an honour to be part of this, to be proud of our culture and traditions to strengthen our people. >> this arena was built for the indigenous games, and was filled with spectators knowledging this. for many, it was the first time they encountered or saw face to face people. we spoke to a few. this is what they had to say. >> translation: besides the games, what is the most beautiful is to see different tribes and jewellery and body

painting, that is fascinating - all the cultural wealth. >> the games will go on all week, and we expect to see more games in the coming days - blow darts and a throw of a spear - kind of like the javelin. all of this will be going on as the week progresses at the 12th annual indigenous games. it has been 16 years since the death of rap legend b.i.g. he is still remembered in a brooklyn neighbourhood. as that area goes through a transformation his fans want him to be a permanent fixture - not everyone is on board. kailin ford has the detail. >> two decades ago christopher wallace known as b.i.g. wrapped about his home here. >> wallace was murdered in 1987.

since then the streets he called home underwent a profound reformation. >> this is a solid black neighbourhood. there were people from other places. >> it's changed, yes. for the better. >> wallace used to wrap in front of the barber shop and fan ley roy mccarthy wants fans to remember him. >> i want this intersection called christopher wallace, and hopefully if will be an honour or tributable ute. he lived here as a child. when mccarthy presented his proposal some board members said wallis was not a good role model. >> his music is what we are trying to honour. there's a lot of good coming from his life and life experiences. lyrics went from a negative to a positive. >> two decades after his music

made this area famous, the debate is not just about the legacy, but the sole of the neighbourhood and the families that call it home. >> how are you doing. >> rocky's family opened the supermarket in 11967 -- in 1967. >> everywhere that grew up packed bags. if you wanted to get sneakers, you didn't want to sell drugs, the way to do it was to pack from bags, make money. >> not all of the changes have been good. >> you lost close-knit families, brown stones had uncles on the top, aunt in the middle and grandmother on the bottom. now you don't know your neighbours. >> lance follows gender fibbingation. >> brooklyn is trendy in the eyes of hipsters or yuppies or

upwardly mobile young professionals. they are moving to neighbourhoods like clinton hill, formerly working class, and, you know, housing prices are rising. individuals living there may no longer feel like this is their home. >> for some, it's about embracing a new home. >> it was a cold, diverse vibe going on. more blacks than wight. collaborating together - which is cool. there's a big difference. it's definitely going to shine now. >> a shine new and old neighbours are eager to be a part of. >> that will do it for this edition of al jazeera. people in power, children of agent orange is next. news at the top of the hour, thanks for watching.

we leave you with a live look at the top of new york tower. have a good night. over 50 years ago in the early days of the vet no, ma'am war, american forces began using a potent new herbicide known as "agent orange." it was designed to clear forests divid i have provided the vet kong with food. the deadly effects of that poison can be seen in the sickness and disabilities that have affected millions of people and the feeling of shame they have induced in some american vets. >> i grew up thinking america did everything good.