>> leaders in vienna are expected to make an announcement soon on the iran nuclear deal. as expectations build, a washington post journalist is among the five detainees to be released by iran. hello there, i'm felicity barr, and this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up. taiwan elects it's first female president, the leader of a party which wants independence from china. a hotel in burkina faso

comes under attack al-qaeda-link fighters. blockade in kathmandu offe. >> the iranian foreign minister is in between for talks with its u.s. and european union counterparts. he is optimistic. >> today is a day that we prove to the world that threats, sanctions, intimidation don't work. respect works. respect through dialogue, negotiations we can impact reach mutually acceptable solutions, implement solutions and prove that the naysayers are always

wrong and move towards a world in which diplomacy, not force, not pressure, will prevail. >> they're awaiting a report from the international atomic agency releases it's report. we'll have the very latest from our correspondent in vienna shortly, but first paul brennan has this report. >> 39-year-old jason rezaian was arrested with his wife and two fortunate journalists in iran in 2014. his wife and colleagues were released but rezaian was put on trial on charges including he is pianoan. he grew up the son in southern

california the of an iranian father and american mother. he has dual citizenship. the post said we couldn't be happier that jason has been released. once we have more details and can confirm that he has safely left iran, we'll have more to share. he was accused of collecting information and he was called a spy. but that's an accusation that his bosses at the "washington post" vigorously deny. nevertheless, the revolutionary court found him guilty of espionage and sentenced him to an unspecified prison term. reports say that his health has been detearating over recent weeks. he has had little access to his family and lawyers throughout

his incarceration, the idea of a prison swap first emerged in august exchanging american prisoners for 19 iranian prisoners held in the u.s. still yet, the swap came as a complete surprise. >> let's take you to the international atomic agency. we wait for secretary of state john kerry, not sure if they're going to speak or just do a photo and head in to finalize their deal. we'll find out more as soon as the three main players arrive. let's go to jacky rowland, who is in vienna awaiting the arrival. talk us through what is going on at the moment. have they made much progress, do we think they're going to arrive

shortly? >> we believe they're going to arrive shortly, but there was the same feely almost exactly one hour ago when there was a flurry of activity, security started to become quite edgy and moving am harass to different positions and then there was a lull, nothing happened. exactly the same five men's ago so there is the anticipation that very soon the american secretary of state, the iranian foreign minister will come through. we understand that they'll go to a meeting before addressing the press to give formal details of the implementtation of the nuclear deal. but as we understand it what has been going on in the last few hours is just fine tooth comb checking of the reports by the international atomic energy agency. the due diligence to check all

the conditions of the agreement has been fulfilled. technical specifications is how it was described going on at the moment by state department officials and the iranian foreign minister remarked that diplomacy requires time. so they have that ex-try time but we do believe that the wait now for that announcement is nearly over. >> jackie, remind us how big of a deal this is for iran. how it might change things for iran? it's a huge deal for iran. it's a huge deal for the west as well. iran has essentially been in the freezer for 35 years ever since the shah, who was backed by the u.s. ever since the revolution of 1979, these very important

international relations have been put on hold with the clinching of july of last year, now imminently with the lifting of those sanctions we can actually start to see diplomatic relations returning to normality. of course there is already quite a lot of speculation about what else this diplomacy between the united states and iran may do in terms of trying to bring positive development in the wider rage. from you iran's point of view there will be huge economic benefits. we have to realize that assets have been frozen for ten years. we'll look at the unfreezing of those assets, about $30 billion, will be released immediately. >> thanks so much.

let's take you from vienna to washington to speak to our correspondent there patty culhane. the release today of the "washington post" reporter jason rezaian plus four other americans by iran, is that going to go a long way appeasing of this deal, this nuclear deal with iran? >> you might think so, but no. no. they said that the president shouldn't be talking with iran while americans are still being held in prison. so now that this release is apparently happened, they're still criticizing the president. first of all they're saying that this proves this is all part of the negotiation where the white house said they were trying to keep the issues separate. they're coming out and saying prison swaps in general should not happen. marco rubio said that this only encourages other countries to arrest more americans.

donald trump came out and said that the u.s. is not getting enough. if iran is getting seven prisoners and the u.s. is getting five americans back that is a bad deal. this could be seen as a positive development especially when the families of those americans come out and start talking about it. so it's likely that we'll hear from the president on this, but it's likely that he'll want to wait until secretary of state john kerry gets his moment in the spotlight. >> patty culhane, thank you. >> at least 23 people including many foreigners are now known to have died in an attack on a hotel in burkina faso's capital. it began late friday night when al-qaeda fighters stormed a building and cafe. witnesses describe scenes of

horror as the attackers took about 150 people hostage. >> this hotel is under siege. gunfire running out throughout the night as explosions were heard from inside. mass gunmen stormed the upscale hotel popular with foreigners and diplomats on friday evening. they set cars on fire and attacked a cafe across the street. >> it was horrible because everyone was panicking. there was blood everywhere. they were shooting people at point blank range. the noise was really loud. honestly it was traumatizing. i think these people are really wicked. >> french troops have called in security force toss retake the hotel. they rescued dozens of people. many were shot and are receiving treatment at hospital. >> we did our best to try to get out. they shot me in the arm and i have an open fracture.

they destroyed my vehicle as well. >> an al-qaeda regional affiliate called al-qaeda islamic maghreb took responsibility for the assault. this is the first attack of its kind in burkina faso's capital. the president was elected two months ago. how he deals with this crisis will be seen as his first big test in office. >> we would like to salute the response to the security forces. the doctors and red cross who participated in this situation, and the support we've received from the french and americans. it's important to share information from our neighboring countries and share military means to fight against this urge. >> the challenge for him now is to come up with a plan to tackle those armed groups.

al jazeera. >> and al jazeera is live, just explain, if you will, why an al-qaeda affiliate would target burkina faso. >> i believe from what people are saying on the streets is that the al-qaeda and others are trying to leave the message that they can strike at any time, at any place, at any given place. that's what happened. so far it's been said almost 18 nationalities were inside the hotel and one of the ministers was also among the hostage. the minister said that they were four men two women in that attack and they were all killed. the president will make a statement in an hour to the nation to announce measures to

counter this. the president was only just appointed. not only in office for a month. people are still in a state of shock. when we arrived we saw foreigners flocking to the airport. there is a sense of shock and they don't feel safe inside the city. there have been announcements from different countries that neighboring mali has condemned the attack as well. the west africa body has condemned the attack. there has also been a council of ministers meeting today to discuss measures that could be implemented, and probably from what we hear the president is going to announce those michig

measures when h he comes out in about 45 minutes. people are not on the street. everyone is trying to take their time and getting to know what to do. it's a shock for people here, from what we saw and those that we spoke to. they did not believe that their own country who have never seen such attacks before, and never was crowds for those militants witness such an attack. so this is this is also said that the number of people killed is 25. and also the hostage almost 150 people. for now the hotel where the

attack took place it is still under security control. and we will see in the up coming hours what officials--what statements are made of what is going to happen. >> we'll come back to you when the president has spoken. thanks so much. still to come on the program. the u.n. children's agency call for unrestricted access to help children who are dying starvation in syria. >> i'm in india where the government is encouraging start ups like this one to grow the economy and create millions of jobs in the next decades.

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improve every aspect of your experience. and this includes our commitment to being on time. every time. that's why if we're ever late for an appointment, we'll credit your account $20. it's our promise to you. we're doing everything we can to give you the best experience possible. because we should fit into your life. not the other way around. >> "inside story" takes you beyond the headlines, beyond the quick cuts, beyond the soundbites.

we're giving you a deeper dive into the stories that are making our world what it is. >> welcome back. a reminder of the stop storie top stories on al jazeera. iran awaiting the a rival of key figures. five u.s. citizens have been proceeds from prison in iran including "washington post" reporter jason rezaian. the u.s. will release seven iranian prisoners. 23 people mostly foreigners were killed during an attack at a hotel in burkina it wa burkina

faso's capital. in taiwan tsai ing-wen claiming election victory. and the part government will have it's first parliamentary majority. >> history was made in taiwan on saturday night. the first woman president was elected by a landslide. on this night the woman who likens herself to german chancellor angela merkel stood victorious. >> i'll redo the wrong we are told the international community that the spit of democracy is part of the lives of the taiwan people. >> on the other side of taipei a completely different scene. the nationalist party concedes

defeat and resigns as party chairman. >> sorry, everyone, i eric chu let you down. we've been defeated. the kmt lost the election. we didn't do well and failed our supporters' expectations. >> some nationalist supporters are not sure of what comes next. >> this is a big impact for our country. i feel taiwan is stepping into an unknown situation. we don't know what will happen in the future. >> ushering in a new chapter, they now become the ruling party, something that the party has never seen and something that the younger generation is eager for. >> taiwan will have a better future and the next generation will be much better. >> in her victory speech tsai ing-wen thanked her supporters

and voters and it's main ally the united states. while she's saying she wants to work closely with china, warned them against provocative acts. >> we'll make sure that there will be mechanisms to continue communicating with china. i will follow taiwan's best interests and make sure that the cross strait relationship will continue on as it has before. >> they have a neighbor across the street a neighbor they have in their territory. >> the u.n. secretary general has warned that starvation is being used as a weapon of war.

a warning that you might find some images in the report distressing. >> these syrians are demonstrating to keep the problem--the scale of the suffering only became clear when u.n. aid workers were finally able to reach the town. this boy can hardly muster the strength to say i'm tired of this condition, get me out. even among the hundreds starving some people are forced to eat leaves and stray animals. a convoy has reached tens of thousands of people behind the

blockade of government forces and they were able to reach areas blocked by rebel fighters. >> it was the first time we were able to reach areas controlled by two different parts of the conflict. what rewound there was a large number children have been suffering of malnutrition. one boy sadly died in the hands of our doctor, and there are other areas where they're inflicting imposed siege. >> the government said that aide is being looted by groups. >> there is no shortage of humanitarian assistance in madaya. >> they have not commented on the suffering of civilians caught up in the conflict.

they found that the asass government has been using siege and starvation tactics for years. at the yarmouk camps in 2014, many struggled to survive and they later sieged homes where others were allowed to leave the area. the use of food as a weapon is a war crime. but statements like that don't mean much to hungry children. many syrians say they've heard it all in the last five years from those involved in the conflict and those failing to mediate a solution. the use of food as a weapon is being used more frequent when they're using land rather than protecting the syrian people. >> an unofficial blockade of fuel and essential supplies to nepal has seen black markets springing up around the capital in kathmandu.

>> it's early morning in kathmandu. these buss have traveled long distances. almost every bus has several containers full of fuel. petrol, diesel and cooking gas that will be sold in the city illegally. >> we have to buy from the black market. can the government stop us? the police are right there in the police station. >> since september imports of fuel and others essentials have been limited. that's because there have been protests against nepal's constitution that have blocked roads near the border of india. only half of the required amount of fuel is coming to the country through legal channels. to get petrol from this pump you have to get an official letter from the district authorities. >> the black market price is around three times amount. cooking gas is around $80.

which is seven times the government price. for those with enough money and the right contact the black market provides a way out of the current crisis. >> we found a person willing to take us to a village near the indian border. that's where most of the black market fuel is coming through. the journey takes 12 hours overnight. our source does not want to show his face. >> we pay up to $200 to policemen on the way. they tell us to be discrete. sometimes they tell us to put the money under their tents or between papers. these activities are normal. >> when we arrive we notice almost every house has become a fuel shop people come to sell fuel.

an estimated $10 million worth of fuel is sold through the black market every month. >> either the government should subsidize fuel for the people, or it shouldn't make it difficult for those transporting fuel into the country. the government needs to get fuel from wherever possible. >> by the end of the day a lot of money has exchanged hands. many worry about their future if the crisis continues. but for those with the chance to cash in, it's a golden opportunity. al jazeera, kathmandu. >> the indian government said it's trying to give young entrepreneurs a past with an initiative that will help them start new countries. but the country's bureaucracy and complicated tax systems are proving big obstacles. >> this high end chai store is a success story. within a few short years it has

more than a dozen locations in and around india's largest cities. but as with any new venture it was not easy. it's especially difficult in india where notoriously slow bureaucracy can stop new ventures before they can start. >> the resources that we have are pretty limited. and you want those resources to be used in productive work as opposed to stopping work. >> this is something that they've been waiting a long time for. >> tax inseasontives and less brewcracy are hopes that the government will address in its support of start up up in investments and ventures almost easier.

>> entrepreneurs say people's mindsets about start ups are changing. adding it's a different environment now than it was when he set up his first business 12 years ago. >> the biggest seaso business i've seen is people are accepting it more. even the suppliers, no one would take me seriously. but not not just them, but customers expect a lot from start ups. >> analysts say pro poeting start ups over large scale businesses may be of national importance because india will need an estimated 140 million new jobs over the next decade. >> we know the public sector is not going to do that. we know the private sector does not provide that much? so this will happen over the next ten years. >> back at the chai shop, he hopes that this will help his

business grow. >> and just a reminder you can catch up with the latest of all the stories we're covering on our website. the address is www.aljazeera.com. website, including the choice of what goes on the front page, the article of the day, picture of the day, all of that is controlled fully by the community. >> in 2001, the internet entrepreneur created the open content encyclopedia and decided it should be free. the reference site is now the world's largest. >> we have a policy, "neutral point of view," that wikipedia itself shouldn't take a stand on any controversial issue. >> anyone can edit the