starving to death, the syrians remaining under siege in madaya while talks in geneva begin to end the suffering. you're watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up, regional security tops the agenda at a summit of african leaders but the situation in burundi continues to divide opinion. around a million people turned out in italy saying no to plans to legalize same-sex unions. it has been a dirty word in

politicss for decades, but socialism is at the forefront of the political race. we will look at why. 16 people have starved to death in the besieged syrian town of madaya since aid convoys arrived there earlier this month. that is according to doctors without borders. 30 others are known to have starved to death previously. lifting the blockade to towns of madaya is a key demand to syria's demands before entering into the talks in geneva. the human toll continues to groet. syrians are thought to be among 40 people who drowned when a boat sank between turkey and greece.

we will have more on that at the moment, but the report following holds some disturbing images. >> reporter: it is continued suffering like this that syrian activists hope will make a meaningful impact in geneva. demonstrators in various parts in syria are imploring diplomats remember the plight of their people, from those having too little fooled to those taking cover from too many bombs. >> we have daily kills. many civilians are killed by bombs. just remember this, okay. >> reporter: from a war zone as the talks of starting and stalling in switzerland, many syrians say they are not

hopeful. >> translation: the u.n. can't ensure the delivery of cartons of milk to the children of madaya. >> reporter: those in the besieged town of madaya tell al jazeera that despite the delivery of aid people continue to die of starvation. >> translation: the aid is about to run out. it was delivered more than ten days ago and the u.n. and the red cross know that the aid that we got can't last more than 15 days. we still have lots of hunger here. >> reporter: others are angry with the syrian government. >> translation: it is not just the bashar al-assad bombs that are killing us or the missiles. your differences are killing us. you need to unite. >> reporter: unity and agreement have been in short supply so far in geneva where negotiations haven't even started yet. while in syria, the death and

devastation continues diplomatic editor jails bays is in geneva for those talks. what is the latest update you have on the syrian opposition representatives. are they in switzerland yet? >> reporter: yes. they have now landed at geneva airport after their flight from saudi arabia. in terms of when we're going to see them, we expect to see them sometime in the next hour because this is the hotel in the center of geneva where they're going to stay. we understand we are likely to get some sort of statement from a spokesman for the opposition when they arrive here in the hotel. we also know, i think, the things they're going to say, though. they are here and they've decided to come here because they've been given assurances about some of the conditions they wanted to see be met before they take part in negotiations, but they're not yet here to negotiate. they may well, i think, have a

meeting with the u.n., with staffan de mistura, the u.n. envoy staffan de mistura. probably not today, saturday, but probably on sunday i think is more likely. that will be to state their position and then i think they want to take stock of the situation, see whether the assurances they've received from the u.n., from the russians who they have also been speaking to, other international players, but importantly from the secretary of state john kerry who has given them verbal assurances that the concerns they've raised will be dealt with before they actually say yes, we're a formal party to these negotiations and we will sit down for talks, although initially they will be indirect talks do you think the u.n. will take the view that at least the delegation has actually arrived in geneva now? >> reporter: yes. i think that the u.n. will be relieved that they're here and that rather than trying to communicate messages to them in saudi arabia, rather than having

the saudis pass on messages, rather than having various world leaders encouraging them to come, they will be here because that's what the main message has been from the international community, certainly from the saudis, and i think from the u.s., is that, yes you have legitimate concerns, we agree, but if you want to make those concerns you need to come and make them to the u.n. in geneva where there is already a syrian government delegation and perhaps we can start moving things forward once there are two delegations in place here in geneva. for a process, if does finally get underway, that is supposed to be a very long process, potentially six months of negotiations if they go ahead and keep going thank you for that. at least 39 refugees have drowned trying to make the crossing from turkey to greece. that's accord to turkish state media. a boat carrying more than 100

refugees sank when it hit rocks on saturday. some people may find these images distressing. >> reporter: they are casualties of war and poverty. among them a small child, other children and adults too. washed up on a beach in turkey. their boat had sunk not far from the rocks. in all about a third of the 120 people on board didn't make it, drowning as they tried to reach greece, a gateway to europe used by so many before them. some of the victims are thought to have been from syria. all this as politicians in geneva gather for talks to try to end the nearly five-year long war. >> we will save you don't worry >> reporter: overnight another group of refugees tried to make the journey. the italian coast guard spotted people stranded on rocks near

the greek island of lesbos. against the darkness of the night the only light came from the rescue boat. it was a daring operation with divers trying to reassure the men, women and children that they would be rescued. eventually they were pulled aboard cold, frightened but safe. more than a million refugees and migrants have travelled to europe during the last year. the cold winter weather hasn't stopped people coming and neither have the conflicts that have driven so many to take the risk of making these journeys turkey has summoned its russian ambassador after what it says was a violation of its airspace by a russian turkey jet. despite warnings, it violated

its airspace. this is a clear sign that russia wants issues between the two countries to escalate. turkey shot down a russian air force plain it claimed was flying in its territory-- plane it claimed was flying in its territory. the incoming chairman of the african union has called on member states to help in the fight against armed groups in north and west africa. chad's president was speaking at the a.u. summit in ethiopia's capital. his country is part of a joint force waging war against boko haram. violence in burundi was also a part of the discussions. we have an update from our correspondent >> reporter: the heads of state have been closed in sessions deliberating on critical matters, security is big on the agenda. they've been talking about south sudan and a traditional

transition there. the head of states are talking about way of better cooperation of better ways of sharing a counter terrorism intelligence as well, but the big issue is burundi and the deployment of prevention and protection mission to burundi with or without the consent of the government. the government and parliament have already rejected such a move and a lot of people i'm talking to say heads of state, many heads of state, will be reluctant to sanction such a move because of non-interference issues. i'm being told what they might be pushing for more aggressively is a political solution, a political dialogue to be held between all warring groups to be able to try and move this country forward the iraq' military say eight sool jers have been-- soldiers have been killed in iraq ee. in fallujah five have been

killed in air strikes. medical sources say a woman and a child are among the dead. around one million protesters have gathered in rome demanding a bill to be dropped that will legal lis same sex unions. our correspondent has more from rome >> reporter: tens of thousands of people from all overity lee descended on rome on saturday to demonstrate a proposal by the government that will eventually grant legal recognition to same-sex couples, giving them the right to also adopt bun of the partner's biological child. that is the most contentious issue in that law. many families i spoke to say they don't object to rights to same sex couples but they do object to a child in adoption. they say a child should have a

mother and a forth and that is, of course-- forth, and that is, of course, a stance that has been maintained by the church and that's one of the reason that pressure from the catholic church and the influence by the church on italian politics and public opinion is one of the reasons why italy is still the only country in western europe not to have a law that grants rights to same-sex couples and protects them legally. well, that is a problem, though, because last year the european court of human rights has condemnedity lee because of it and that's why of the reason why the government is moving fast to fix that anomaly. clearly, as the crowds here demonstrate, a lot of ee at all dwrans disagree-- italians disagree with that still to come on the program, protests in france against an extension of the tight security introduced after the paris attacks.

and the new game of drones. where in south korea where the race is on to shift control to military to civilian hands. of science... >> this is what innovation looks like. >> can affect and surprise us. >> i feel like we're making an impact. >> let's do it. >> techknow - where technology meets humanity.

welcome back. a reminder of the top stories. in the hours ahead syria's main opposition group is due to arrive at this hotel in geneva to take place indirectly in the talks aimed at ending civil war in the country.

at least 39 refugees have drowned when their boat sank trying to make the crossing from turkey to greece on saturday. about a million protesters have gathered in rome demanding the italian government drop a bill that would legalize same sex unions. the mosquito-born decides of zika is being linked to birth defects in babies. >> i was scratching like my whole family saw my chest and they were wow. you could see my lips, bumps in my lips, eyes and ears. >> reporter: she is feeling healthy now, but while visiting family in el salvador over christmas she contracted the zika virus from a mosquito bite. >> you have to strength, no ernlg. not to even sit down. you just want to lay down and sleep.

>> reporter: since then the centers for disease control and prevention has confirmed at least 30 cases in 11 states in the district of colombia. all those people travelled abroad to affected areas. americans shouldn't panic it is said. >> you don't just want to walk away and say not a problem, no. we're developing new vaccines and everything that we do if you're anticipating there is going to be an outbreak. >> reporter: the virus has spread fast prompting the cdc to warn not to travel to-- prompting the cdc to warn people not to travel. it is linked to microcephaly, babies born with small heads and brains. cases are surging in brazil. on friday the president said her country launched nationwide

efforts to eliminate breeding areas for the particular mosquito. >> translation: we're losing the battle against the mosquito. why? because if the mosquito keeps breeding we are all losing the battle against it. we have to mobilize to win this war. >> reporter: brazil is waging the battle as the country prepares for the olympics in august. on friday the international olympic committee assured the teams that the games will be safe from the virus. it also urged visitors to protect themselves by using repellant and using long sleeves and pants >> we will ensure the health of the athletes and all the visitors demonstrations have taken place in paris to protest against the sweeping security measures put in place following the november 13 attacks becoming permanent. francois hollande has said it is

likely that they will continue. >> reporter: it began first as a 12-day state of emergency that was quickly extended to three months. that period is about to expire and the french government wants to extend the state of emergency even further. it gives the authorities unprecedented rights to be able to detain and arrest without warrant to shut down demonstrations like this and in more recent years close down websites when it can be proven that the website is a sympathetic or supported to acts of so-called terrorism. the law has been seen very much by these people as a double-edged sword. it helps security, but it also undermines civil liberties >> >> it is used not only for fighting terrorism, that's a good thing, fighting terrorism, but it is used tore silent people with an opinion >> reporter: what liberties are you worried about? >> this one, the liberty to

demonstrate and the liberty for a social struggless >> reporter: the large numbers at this demonstration, the vast majority of french people are in favor of extending the state of emergency. after all, the french president francois hollande says that the country is at war and many believe him. even though the emergency measures continue to divide opinions here at the political left the palestine liberation organization has welcomed a french call for international involvement in ending the israeli occupation. france says it wants a conference to revive talks between the israelis and palestinians. paris also says it will recognise the palestinian state if the final talks on a two-state solution fail. a palestinian journalist on a hunger strike in an israeli jail is close to death and so weak he can no longer speak.

he is a news reporter for a saudi channel. he is protesting against a six-month sentence and he has refused all food and medical treatment since december. he is one of many being held without charge or trial. in the u.s. members of the democrats and republican parties are getting ready to choose their candidates for this year's election at the iowa caucuses. polls show bernie sanders is almost neck and neck with hillary clinton. his brand of socialism is proving popular with some voters. >> reporter: the time warn rhythms of american politics is changing. for the first time in u.s. history american socialists have a standard there. >> we need an economy that works for working people >> reporter: who was a major candidate for president >> if it takes a socialist to show us the way, then god bless

him >> this system hasn't worked for a very long time. so for me it's not so much of a taboo of the s word because i've seen what the c word has done. >> reporter: in the heart land these are signs of new times. with iowa preparing to pick its nominees in its first in the nation presidential caucuses on monday, polls show bernie sanders in a deed heat with or leading hillary clinton. with billionaire leading the republican field iowa could set up an epic rivalry, socialist versus the ultimate capitalist >> that's what's happening: this socialist/communist, okay, nobody wants to say it. >> reporter: until recently sanders european sil socialism was a hard sell in a country that is long equated with soviet

day days. >> >> have you no sense of decency. >> reporter: to ronald reagan's. >> we do not want social medicine. we will have others until one day we will awake to find that we have socialism. >> reporter: that program for the elderly now called medicare has been popular, along with the retirement insurance program, social security >> at one level we hope soishlism, as it were, or democratic socialism. at another level we like a lot of the things that it does. >> reporter: the bernie sanders campaign is opening the door to a growing breed of young liberals disillusioned by the capitalism of washington and

wall street >> they see all the benefits to socialism and they don't see the iron curtain and stalin and the negatives that might be associated with it. >> reporter: the campaign trail is long and torturous. for sanders on to go from here to history, he will have to carry his brand of socialism to victory from the snow capped fields of iowa to washington a u.s. navy warship has sailed into south china sea that china claims is its waters. it came within 22 kilometers of one of the islands on saturday. the pentagon says this was a deliberate challenge against efforts to restrict navigation. taiwan and vietnam also lay claims to the islands. >> reporter: south korea is holding its first ever expo devoted to the drone industry.

at the moment it is the military sector that dominates the skies are, but as harry faucet reports, new civilian uses are constantly taking off. >> reporter: it is race day for these pilots, time to get down to business. 80 teams vying for the title on a windy day. >> translation: i was nervous and it was windsy. the drone kept rising so it was difficult. >> reporter: drone racing has only been an organized sport here for four months. every place in this contest was snapped up in a few minutes. it's all happening just a few metres from the first drone show. the largest expo organisers say ever to be held in asia. south korea wants in on a fast-growing industry. >> translation: current technology has been developed here mainly in the military sector. we hope to promote the transfer of that technology no the civilian sector. >> reporter: one such effort, a tilt drone enabling take offs

and landings and horizontal flight. the military still dominates the south korean drone industry as it does the global one. what is changing is the ever-ease access to this technology. a drone that in its final form will mimic a bird of pray to keep smaller birds away from farms and airports. >> we use open source base technologies to develop things very fast. so the price of this is affordable to the farmers around the world right now. >> reporter: the consumer sector is fast growing and it is suggested it to be a 4 billion dollars a year industry by 2025. it's not hard to see how. the problem on the horizon ask an increasingly heavy set of regulations being that the use could be limited to districtly defined areas. >> reporter: there are concerns of illegal liability, privileges

and staft and here the real threat of north korean drones. several have been crashed in recent years. south korea enforces strict no fly zones among other regulations partly as a result. that will mean the civilian industry will be difficult for take off. restrictions on leisure uses at least are set to be loosened one of the world's most famous churches is getting its first renovation in more than 1500 years. it is in bethlehem being worked on by italian experts. >> reporter: what's believed to the be birth place of jesus christ has provided many things, including an earthquake. they have taken their toll.

the church of the nativity is being completely restored from ceiling to store. something new has been uncovered hidden underneath the wall plaster. >> translation: we were lucky to discover an angel in its entirety, just the top part of its head missing. we restored it. this will give a different vision of the church. it will be a beautiful end result. >> translation: we're shown what the mosaic looks like before the team of experts start work. centuries of candle smoke and varnish have dulled their image. it is a remarkable transformation, meticulous work that is giving the church a complete face lift. the roof and the windows were destroyed first as rainwater was leaking inside the church. so these are essential repairs. the fact that they have even taking place at all some have

jokingly described as a miracle. this is administered by three churches. they each over see different parts, invisible lines that if crossed can turn violent >> translation: it happened before. in some cases there were serious scuffles over who cleans which centimeters. >> reporter: just like this, priests and monks fighting with brooms following a communal clean five years ago. someone may have brushed a little too far. sensitivities boiled down to the idea that if you clean it or take care of it, it's yours. those centuries-old rivalries have been put aside. perhaps the idea dawning that the results will benefit all. the roof no longer leaks, the mosaic shines and in time once the scaffolding and sheets are removed, the church of the

nativity will be scene as it hasn't for centuries you can find out much more about the stories we're covering here on al jazeera on our website. the address to click on is aljazeera.com for your latest news and sport. >> welcome to 101 east. i'm steve chao. in thailand, getting up close to jungle animals is one of the most popular attractions on the tourist trail. whether it's riding an elephant, patting a tiger, feeding a monkey, you can do it all in thailand. >> but in the rush to meet tourist demand and make profits animals are often mistreated and neglected.