>> the war in syria rages on, with a double bombing in holmes, as invitations are finally sent out to end the conflict. >> hello there, this is al jazeera live, from london, also coming up. politician vote to con fighting groups skate asylum seeker assets and delay reunions. clear of corruption, but why did the royal family give the prime minister $681 million. el nino is blamed for the disappearance of one of the

biggest lakes. no closer to catastrophe, scientists say they are keeping the dooms day clock at a three minutes to midnight. hello there, good to have you here. the u.n. has finally sent out invitations to the geneva talks on the war in syria which are due to begin this friday, and there are conflicting reports about whether the main group has been included, the syrian army is claiming a key victory ahead of the talks taking shape, in the province which helped security supply routs from the capitol. well, the united nations humanitarian coordinator has called the humanitarian disaster in syria, the most devastating crisis in the twenty-first century.

with children, bearing the brunt of the war. al jazeera diplomatic editor reports. >> a place of importance on the road between damascus the place where the revolution started almost five years ago. >> the timing just days before is due to convene peace talks is no quince dent. among the first items on his agenda are cease fires in syria, the government in damascus helps by russian air strikes including wants to make as many as possible before the talks start as invitations were being sent is out, the u.n. invited a panel of top officials to brief the press and use conference deliberately trying to show why

negotiations are so badly needed. sir is yeah is probably the most dangerous place on earth to be a child. even the very simple act of playing is no longer safe. >> but they admitted there was unease about negotiations or humanitarian access being part of the talks because the u.n. council resolutions have repeatedly demanded all parties lift sieges with no preconditions. >> i have a lot of unease about that, as do all of us and this is what we try every day, in trying to go to these places and reach the people, and try to make even a small difference, as we have been able to do in recent weeks.

mo we should not negotiate with political parties or access to civilians. it is our right under international law, it is our obligation under international law, but i am living in the real world, and after five years now of access and people starving to death, i want us to use this momentum to get the international sponsors of the parties to tell in no uncertain terms to the parties give access to everybody now. he has not had an invitation, turkey was objected to him

being invited saying that he represents a terrorist group, the big decision in the coming hours will be for those who are on the saudi list, will they attend the talks due to start on friday. the governor say as security check point was targeted by a car bomb, and then a fighter with a suicide vest. >> iraqi police say they found a mass grave in the city of ramadi containing the remains of at least 18 people, killed by isil after it seized the city last may. the security forces are still trying to clear ramadi the last pockets of fighters are proving a problem despite this say they are firmly in control, and is working to

secure it. >> iraq's police forces say they have opened police stations within some of the areas of ramadi cityist. now this is a significant development, because these police stations will be the first line of defense against isil fighters if they come back or if they try and come back so the city. these police stations are in order to be able to try to security the city of ramadi itself. they are going to open more in the next few days. now a ceremony, the police force were given weapons by the americans these are american made machine guns, very public show of support, by the americans for iraq's police forces. now, once all of this was happening the iraqi security forces have announced a halt of operations to clear the last remaining neighborhood, of isil fighters, now they say that this is is a tactical decision that they are still going to go into the neighborhood, and once they tack that there will be

a whole of ramadi city free of fighters. the reason they haven't, and this has been on going for a week now, is there is a real fear that there are civilians trapped within the area itself. there has been heavy shelling and also air strikes with iraqi air strikes as well into that neighborhood. but they are only so effective when they are trapped in there, you need to go into large numbers to be able to try to take it back, so going on is a halt to the operations within rah malate it says the security forces are now beginning to get back in charge of ramadi. >> ref are joes seeking asylum in condition mark, will have their valuable fees

to pay for their stay. it ises among a number of measures passed by the parliament. they will now have to hand over any valuables worth more than $1,500 to help cover the cost of housing while they are being processed. the move has been criticized by human rights groups and the u.n. >> the decision to give danish police the authority to confiscate valuables sends damaging messages in our view, it runs the risk of fear and discrimination rather than promoting solidarity with people in need of protection. >> denmark isn't the only country to take assets from refugees in the netherlands, refugees who work are required to hand over 75% of their income to cover food and living expenses. dutch noters also require asylum seekers to declare savings in valuables that they bring into the country, deductions can be made to around 5,800 euros for an

individual, or 11,700 euros for a family. switzerland requires refugees to hand in any amount up to 360 euros. so if they leave the country within seven months. and the german states have also announced plans to claim cash under 1,000 euros from refugees as they arrive. well, a spokesperson for the danish government says the new measures have been understood. >> many the rare case where they do come with enough means to pay for themselves then following the same rules as for danish citizens on unemployment benefits if you can't pay for yourself, then you should before the danish welfare system does it. >> sweden prime minister has visited the town where an

asylum seeker. allegedly killed by a 15-year-old boy. in the town on monday, they have confirmed the bay was a resident at that home. they say that authorities are being overwhelmed by the sheer number of asylum seekers in the country. >> i believe quite a few people here in sweden now feel a great worry, that there will be more similar cases as sweden accepts so many unaccompanied minors. many of those have had traumatic experiences and there are no simple answers as to how it should be dealt with. chinese shares have fallen to the lowest in 15 months. in stock markets in h shanghai dropped by more than 6%, shared fell across all industries including commodities and growth sectors and technology.

in a long running scaped call, was transferred to matching private accounts in 2013. most of it was later returns however more than $60 million does remain unaccounted for. various jut lets have been speculated as to what the conclusion of the attorney general efforts report would be into his investigation over allegations of corruption made against the prime minister. well, those allegations have been put to one side by his statement a depressed conference on tuesday saying that the prime minister has done no wrong, and this is there were no reasons for anyone to think that the prime minister has done

inning corrupt, and that the donation of over $600 million was made by sources within the saudi royal family. but the actual scenario now leads to as many questions as it does solutions. the questions within his own party, as to what has happened to the money, going into party coffer coffers wille be questions about the exposition should he stay on with this cloud still really hanging over him, because the opposition is certainly not going to let this issue lie. and they will completely to hammer the ruling party, as this country heads toward as general election, within the next two years. do they want to allow him to step aside and allow a new face to take the helm. all those questions will perhaps be answered in the next few weeks. still to come, iranian

president sanctioned to europe, continues as he meets the catholic pope in rome. plus. the government find out what happened when these inmates decided to break out of prison, all of that and more when we come back. >> we tend to band together, so we have a voice. >> we're just surviving. it's really hard. the only way to get better is to challenge yourself, and that's what we're doing at xfinity. we are challenging ourselves to 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.

p.k. has the u.n. invitations to friday's planned talks in geneva, aimed at ending the war.

to help fund their stay. malaysia's prime minister has been cleared of wrongdoing in a long running scandal. >> while trying to ensure that some get an education. instead they are turning out whatever the weather to forage for anything that might make them some money.

>> well above half of them don't go to school. >> a group of volunteers with so much effort, and so much enthusiasm are using just two rooms to try to start to educate 65 children. with very little money indeed. >> it is to help with

behavior and learning problems. >> we are not very much -- to the this kind of stuff. we are frying to do ur obest, and looking for information, trying to goal with them with love, and with passion. and to do our best. >> the children get a snack before leading at midday, it is if you think yoest of the pupils who are the most receptive to the teachers. >> this girl says i love this school, and i come every day, it is called the rainbow center, no one here is paid to teach. there's no religious instruction, and no reference to politics. >> the children that don't go to school because they have to work? the streets or wherever, think must have the rights to a child high school and especially an education. it's all been taken away from the war.

>> pope francis of the vatican, met the pontiff for 40 minutes and pope francis to pray for him. >> jackie rollins has this update now from rome. is this has been primarily about re-establishing political and economic links between iran and italy.

viewed in that perspective a brief interruption, and the italian companies keep to get back to doing business in iran once again. italy as well an important mediator, possibly, and a messenger between the west on the one side, being a member of the e.u. and nato. they were not chosessen as the first stop on this present first european tour, since sanctions were lifted, but obviously the french companies as well looking forward to doing business, in iran, and already an announcement for the iranians that intend to buy more than 100 airbus planes in which will be very good for french jobbens and the economy.

>> a cold snap has been blamed for the death of dozens of people across asia. many of the residents not used to freezing conditions. temperatures fell to the lowest levels in six decades. >> asia is freezing. plummeting temperatures and heavy snow falls are blocking roads and reducing traffic to a crawl. cancellations and delays mean that public transport is in chaos. businesses are grinding to a halt because staff is struggling to get to work. >> i was supposed to board the 2:00 o'clock train, but i am thinking of going home since i don't know when the trains will arrive. >> in taiwan, dozens of people, many of them frail and elderly have died. the sudden drop in temperatures strained their hearts and lungs. many homes don't have central heating. in vietnam, farmers are help leslie watching crops freeze and their animals die. >> since i was born, i have

never seen anything like this. this is this weather is padly effecting our society, and my family's economy. >> the south korean island has had it's heaviest snowfall in more than 30 years. airports were shut over the weekend, leaving many travelers stranded. >> staying in the airport is really exhausting, and i really want to get out of here. i have been at the airport for 12 hours. >> hong kong experienced it's colteddest day in nearly 60 years. in other parts of northern china, temperatures dropped below minus 40. the millions of people that have been traveling home from the holiday. lawrence lee, al jazeera. beijing. >> ukraines ministry of health says there has been 83 confirmed deaths now from the

hwen in one swine flu. more than 30 people have died it has effected 18 regions in ukraine, including kiev, and donetsk. health officials have closed and are advising people to avoided crowded places. brazil's health minister says the country is losing the battle against the zika virus, around 220,000 troops are being mobilized there to battle the moss toe blamed for spreading the disease. the world health organization is trying to establish a firm link between zika and microcephaly, a condition for babies that are born with ab normally small heads a possibliesman says so far the evidence is circumstantial. of course the huge increase of zika, is pushing north. >> and mow the big task is to try to establish the link

here. what is the link, what exactly is the rink, is it zika alone, or with something else. >> the moment in which 40 inmates escape add prison in brazil. the man escaped after a war in the north eastern state, 37 of the inmates were recaptured while two others were killed in cease firing. police are still on the hunt for one escapee. >> now the second largest lake in live yeah has completely dried up, kidding wild life and destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of people. el nino is being blamed for the decline, from the western city, of bolivia. >> lake covered more than 2300 square kilometers, it used to provide most of

bolivia's fish, and was a temporary home to thousands of migrating birds. now, it's all gone. >> bolivia second largest lake turned into a cemetery for dozens of species when it finally dried up in desks only bugs are left preying on their carcasses. >> fisherman is where the pier used to be, he has packed his nets away, his boat has been turned over, only a few weeks ago was he still fishing here. >> since 2014, mrs. a strong wind blowing, the water, birds and algae began to disappear. we were helpless now the lake is completely die. the only thing left are our tools, our boats and our memories. nearly 150 families are moving out, or have already left.

the government has declared ate natural disaster zone. it's governor says he is willing to find ways to bring the water back, but at the same time, he is hoping that rain will come. >> in the meantime, we will implement breeding but in the long one we must find alternatives. the lake has dried up in the past, now it is different, they are partly blaming the el nino phenomenon. >> scientists say it happened every ten to 15 years now global warming has made it more recurrent now given the lake a chance to he new the water cycle.

>> fisherman. >> now we have to migrate to the city now my wife has to beg in the streets. that's how we are surviving. >> but he is not ready to give up a life on the lake just yet. he is guarding his nets and boat, and hoping that somehow one day, the water returns. al jazeera bolivia. >> so called dooms day clock is staying three minutes to midnight, the closer scientists believe the world is a disaster. developments have been mixed since we moved the clock forward, in spite of positive knews and the climate accord, nuclear tensions between the u.s. and russia have grown,

the situation in north korea has become more acute, tensions between pakistan and india remain high even as those countries increase, and nuclear programs in the suggestion and russia violate the spirit, and i believe the letter of the nonproliferation treaty. paris not with standing the fight against climate change is barely begun. and the urge clear that they are ready to make the many hard choices that will be necessary to stabilize the climate, and avert possible disasters. >> more now on the history of the clock. >> the dooms day clock was first established in 1947 to gauge the threat of nuclear war, atomic scientists based at the university of chicago put the time at seven minutes to 12, and in the nearly 70 years since then, the clock has been adjusted more than 20 times. in 1953, in response to the successful testing of hugely powerful hydrogen bombs, by the u.s. and soviet union,

the clock hand was moved to just two minutes to 12. the closest it has ever stood to midnight. >> following a ban on atmospheric tests, the threat eased and the clock retreated to 12 minutes to midnight. the 1980's though saw the threat level again rise, as the soviet union invaded afghanistan and cold war reached new heights. reflected unprecedented peace between the super powers. arriving last night, three minutes to the top of the

hour. the reason continuing nuclear prelive ration, the threat of climate change, and potentially harmful new technologies such an get nick modification. >> you can find out much more on our website, the address is aljazeera.com. this is techknow a show about innovations that can change lives. the science of fighting a wildfire. we're going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity but we're doing it in a unique way. this is a show about science by scientists. tonight techknow investigates gold at any cost. we travel deep into the rainforests of peru. these illegal mining operations extend for miles