>> experts warn, mosquitos are likely to spread the zika virus throughout the americas, putting more babies at risk. hello there i'm felicity barr, and you're watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up: the u.n. syria envoy says talks to end the war in syria will begin on friday, and arguments over who's on the guest list. an extension of emergency border controls in the eu's free travel zone.

a warm welcome in rome as iran's president embarks on a tour to drum up bus in europe. plus. >> i'm allen fisher in washington, d.c. where the digout begins after the weekend's blizzard and people face the course of near record snowfall. >> hello. health experts are warning that the zika virus which has been linked to babies born the brain damage is linked to almost every country in the americas. zika virus has been found in 21 countries since it was found in may in brazil. the only exceptions in the region are chile and canada, where the ades mosquito is not found. the symptoms of the disease

include mild fever rashes and headaches. but scientists in brazil have noticed a link between the spread of zika and higher rates of babies being born with smaller heads. women in these countries are advised not to get pregnant. christian lindmeyer tell us about the challenges they face in battling the zika virus. >> it's a very difficult situation because you have to see the moment that a baby gets born, and then it is established obviously that microcephaly is the case, it's very difficult to go back what happened nine months seven months 8 months prior to that. here we have a very complicated situation where it's important for the scientists to look into historic data where they don't know exactly what to look for. that's the one situation. the other, we have seen for example an outbreak of zika in french polynesia.

and scientists are looking into the data to see what other causes have land there. similar to guillan-barre syndrome. to look at this and the laboratory tests have to be taken, mothers who live in the area should consult with their doctors. so a lot of studies have to be done and a lot of looking into scientific evidence. >> new talks aimed at ending the almost five year long war in syria will start on friday. they were expected to begin earlier but stalled before they had even begun. the man charged with overseeing them says the invites will go out on tuesday. the head of the main syrian opposition coalition says the

dates aren't a concern since the issues have not surfaced. diplomatic editor james bays is with the story. >> the u.n. special envoy staffan de mistura says the decision in the end is his and he will send out the invitations. he says his agenda will be based on the u.n. security council resolution pafd at the en passef december but he knows what issues will be taken up first. >> the agenda has already been set up, 2244 resolution with new governance new constitution and new elections. the first priority will be the focus of the talks. of what most syrians if not all want to hear. the possibility of a broad ceasefire, and the possibility

of tops the threats of cite. therefore, thanks oa broader ceasefire an increase of humanitarian aid. i'll give it now to al jazeera, thank you. >> james bays, al jazeera. it's not going to who you are going to invite and you are going to be shut lin subtle shun the different rooms, how many will there be? >> particularly the proximity talks you will see it yourself. there will be in my opinion a lot of shuttling, there will be different delegations, civil society women and others who deserve to be heard. the issue is they will be meeting me and my colleagues. and those we will be assigning

as facilitators or negotiators. you can see quite a few simultaneous meetings taking place. >> potentially a great deal of diplomatic activities in the u.n. headquarters and a number of different rooms simultaneously starting on friday. that is of course if the talks start on friday and that depends on whether the main fighting groups those on the so-called riyadh list decide to attend. suicide bombing in aleppo city. it happened at the checkpoint of a rebel group. four civilians were among those killed. no group yet has claimed responsibility for the attack. european leaders have asked the eu's executive to prepare for extension of temporary border controls this inside the travel-free schengen zone. this zone is made up of 26 countries which agrees on a common visa policy making it

easier for people to move around in europe. germany, austria, sweden and denmark now want those controls to stay in place for up to two years. some european leaders are also considering shutting out greece. that is the main entry point for refugees to europe. with more details on those border restrictions here is are barnaby phillips. >> temporary border controls have been in place since september. this is main autobahn. every now and then the car gets pulled off the autobahn and the police check who's inside. this is not what the europe ever opeofopen borders was meant to k

like. under increasing pressure to bring the refugee and migrant crisis under control. that is what the interior ministers meeting in amsterdam today will be discussing. germany would like these temporary border controls which have been implemented by other countries, accreditation the schengeacross the schengenarea,o denmark, to be sended to 2017, and frontex to have greater control in countries like greece for example, of course the main in-route for refugees from syria and other countries. and some countries at the schengen meeting will express serious e exasperation with greece, even proposing its suspension from the schengen zone. i don't expect that to happen

but it does show the way in which european solidarity is creeing unthe strain of the refugee crisis. >> a mural by the british poster artist banksy, shows and image of cosette, the character from lles miserables. the europea european union'w enforcement agency is warning that i.s.i.l. is planning a large scale attack on europe. europol's announcement in response the french president francois hollande has extended the state of emergency in france

and declare more air strikes against the group. >> translator: we will never be yes impressed by this, these odious publi publications, alsoo continuing attacking this organization that threatens and kills our children's. this is the reason why me, president modi and myself have decided to extend our coalition against terrorism. announcement was made on the first day of a summit on radicalization and extremism. prime minister najib razak gave the announcement in the capital, kuala lumpur. >> the best way to ensure civil little bit is to ensure the safety of the nation. this threat is therefore very real. in my government, takes it very

seriously. >> iran's president hassan rouhani is in italy, the first stop on his european tour since the lifting ever economic sanctions against iran earlier this month. $2 billion contract with the italian steel firm danielli. jacky rowland last more from rome. >> reporter: there is fierce cooperation not only in europe but also as far away as china to clinch deals with iran now that it's back into the international fold. italy is very keep. obviously france is very keen as well. so it's significant that president rouhani has chosen to come to rome first. already we are seeing the fruits of that economic cooperation. the contacts that were established as soon as the nuclear deal was signed. iran is set to sign deals worth up to $18 billion with italian

companies particularly in the energy and the steal sectors. now, on tuesday, the iranian leader will be meeting pope francis, and we are expecting that the visit to take more of a political complexion. in particular we're expecting the poan t pope to call on the president to help push forward efforts to find political solution to the conflict there. four suicide bombers have attacked a farm in cameroon's north region killing 28 people and injuring another 65. two of them struck a market in the town of boda where two el female suicide bombers blew themselves up. south sudan government says the unity deal to reach a

ceasefire has collapsed. to appoint their governors, machar says that runs counter to their power sharing deal, this much he was to stay position as the vice president. save the children says ethiopia is facing its worst drought in ten years. drought conditions triggered by the el nino weather phenomenon last june. the situation is being discussed at the african union summit in addis ababa. still to come. protests on the fiefd anniversarfifthanniversary of oz anhosnemubarak.

>> hello again and a reminder of the top stories on al jazeera. the world health organization is warning that the zika virus, which is linked to babies born with brain damage, is linked to almost every country in the americas. delayed talks on syria and opposition groups will now begin on friday. disagreements over who will take part. and the iranian president hassan rouhani is in italy on his first european talks after lifting of european sanctions on tehran this month.

three people have reportedly been killed in clashes with egyptian forces on friday. guide despite a crack down there friday. security forces reportedly used tear gas near alexander the revolution in 2011 was driven by egypt's young people. but five years on, many of them feel betrayed by the outcome. osama ben javad reports. >> it was supposed to be a new dawn as millions of egyptians came together. people from ought faiths backgrounds and ages united in the call for chang. nearly 50% of egypt's population is less than 24 years old. so the youth were the driving force of the revolution. even opposing football fans, the ul trasultras and the white kni,

joined the protest. and it started with a tech-savvy generation that galvanized the group with mobile device and cell phones. >> they don't really care or know much about politics, who was left wing who was right wing, we just knew this was wrong and we should stand up to that and that's exactly what happened. >> even walls became canvases. it was much later that organized groups and political forces joined the protesters, all calling for an end to decades of tyranny and injustice. but in the 18 days it took to force hosne mubarak to step down hundreds of protesters were killed. since then an elected government is replaced, consisting of the military. many of those who became icons of the revolution are in exile

or in jail. >> the same tool that united us to topple dictators eventually tore us apart. >> reporter: people like nobel peace prize winner and former president of egypt, mohammed alvarati is living outside egypt. >> most i remember the crack down at cairo's tahrir square, but besides being betrayed he also has a sense of accomplishment displ. >> they never talked about the corruption about the mubarak regime and all of that. i think in light of that revolution happening in the next five years, that will happen. >> reporter: five years on a blood stained chapter in egypt's history continues to overshadow

what many egyptians saw as the people's revolution. osama ben javad, al jazeera. >> libya's internationally recognized parliament in tobruk has rejected the united nations government. 32 member government was not acceptable because it concluded too many posts, and have asked for a shorter list of ministers. since 2014, libya has had competing governments one based in tripoli and the other in the east. within the next hour the u.n. security council is expected to approve a draft mission calling for the u.n. oh to oversee disarmament if the deal goes through. killed 220,000 and displaced millions since 1964. the deadline for it to be finalized is march the 23rd.

live now to al jazeera's kristin saloomey, at the u.n. headquarters in new york for us. what exactly is the council secy council going to be voting for kristen? >> i have the draft and it authorizes a political mission for colombia to oversee an eventual deal. work is still underway to get there but the government of colombia has asked and the farc as well has asked that the council approve this mission which will consist of political leaders to oversee disarmament and cessation of hostilities. it calls on the secretary-general of the united nations to present a plan within -- as soon as possible and within 30 days of that deal and to begin preparations right

away, so that the united nations is ready to go. we're not talking about a peace keeping force here or blue helmets. the u.n. is looking for a very understated political mission unarmed observers they're saying based on a scenario that played out in nepal in 2007 very similar kind of arrangement there. >> kristen, explain why this is so croocial, s croocial, so cru. >> this is 50 years of negotiations and this maybe the best sign yet that the two parties are on track to meet that march 23rd deadline. no guarantees at this point but the fact that they are able to come together and make this request of the u.n. is seen as a positive sign. very positive with the united nations to deal with these conflicts in syria, ye yemen, if

the u.n. is involved they can say that this is an example that diplomacy that negotiating a peace can work. >> all right, kristin saloomey live at the u.n, thank you. the former president of the maldives say he may not return. he was allowed to travel on the condition he return to serve the remainder of the of of his 13 year sentence. jonah hull reports. >> appearing with his lawyers in london mohammed rasheed said his travel did not signal political change at home. >> either every opposition leader is in jail, or intimidated by the regime. medias are under constant threats and everyone day the uniquelregime taking an additiol

step. it is essential the international community is not deceived into thinking that because i am here today, that the battle is over. >> democracy activist and the first democratically elected maldives president, rasheed who famously held an underwater cabinet meeting, was jailed a year ago by the current mals deefmalmaldives government for so-called terrorist activity. the first meeting on saturday was with prime minister david cameron who promised to keep up pressure on the maldives. pressure on the u.s., u.k. and uto brineu.

>> that list, our concern for sanctions, they should have their travel to those territories banned. >> reporter: in response to nasheed's visit the maldives minister says, it is now clear that, in seeking medical leave in the u.k. this is not medical leave, but media leave. what the journalists most wanted to know, will the he go back to the considering president nasheed answered a question with a question. the man who is quite well believed to win, said this, i will go back, the only question is how and when. jonah hull, al jazeera, lon. >> china was released a swedish rights activist who was taken into custody earlier there

month. peter darwin was taken into cut detaped as beijing considers a new law to control the activities of foreign ngo's. a cold nap has swept against here, temperatures in northern china have dropped to minus 40°. in south korea, thousands of holiday makers were left stranded after a weather emergency and japan has a weather emergency. this plantation work irin taiwan is confused. >> this is the first snowy in almost 100 years. >> and the east coast of the united states is trying to return to normal life after record snroafl there over the se weekend. some areas were hit with 60

centimeters of snow. now each state will start counting the cost as al al jazeera's allen fisher reports. >> after the big flow, a big dig. people are now trying to clear the massive snow that fell over the weekend. while many of the main roads have been cleared to allow some traffic, side roads are blocked trapping people in their homes. >> we know we will be dealing with snow and digging out for the next several days. >> at the start of the work week is federal government is, and businesses are shut out. >> the roads are -- they're okay. like the main roads are great, open, flowing and there's a lot of spots they haven't touched yet and a lot of places out there. >> trying to get runways open and finally get people who have been camping out all weekend to their stages.

>> it is hard to get the roadways taxi ways cleared after a storm of this magnitude. >> it is estimated the storm has cost the institutions $238 million. sales that will never take place. this storm could cost the u.s. economy up to $1 billion. the storm started on friday and lasted through till sun, the busiest place, new york and philadelphia weren't as badly hit as the forecasters preticketed. the sales lost now are lost forever. >> you're on an hourly wage and you won't be able to do double time. howrve, who plow the snow put up

being pledge lines and they will be working over time and a bit of cut of for them. >> for workers who were forced to stay home, it's not all bad news. building memories with their children they will never forget. allen fisher, al jazeera, washington. the u.s. supreme court, last ruled that those given life sentences when they were tine agers, even those convicted a long time ago plus be considered for parole or given a new sentence. a british explorer who was trying to become the first person to cross antarctica alone has died. he sent out a distress call for help. he was rescued just 30 miles from his goal. the 55-year-old was air lifted to can hale where he died of

organ failure due to a bacterial disease. and just time to remind you you can find out much more on many of the stories we're covering here on our website. the address to click on to as ever is al jazeera. al jazeera for news and sport. hospitals across india. they stare silently - suspended in limbo between the living and the dead. these patients are the infected - victims of a contagion so lethal it kills almost one and a