john kerry says he's reached a provisional agreement with his russian counterpart on the terms of a ceasefire in syria. hello, i'm peter dobie, you're watching al jazeera live from hour hours in doha. ahead - a double car bomb attack in the syrian city of homs kills at least 42 people voters have their say in niger, putting democracy to test. plus... >> i am suspending my campaign tonight. yep, i am the long race for the u.s.

president claims its biggest scout. jed bush is bowing out we are closer to a ceasefire than we've been. that was the message from the secretary of state john kerry and jordan's foreign minister as they spoke earlier this hour about the conflict. kerry said the u.s.-russia reached a provisional agreement to pause the fighting, which could begin in the coming days. >> what we have agreed upon provisionally, i'm not going to go into the details of it. needs to be consulted with the other parties. as i said, our hope is that the two presidents will talk, as soon as that is an appropriate. we proceed fort then with the implementation. why is it important to do this? someone arrived mean. why not have the ceasefire tomorrow morning? why wait a week?

>> the ceasefire is an understanding of obligations. you have to be specific of who is going what, about what is required. and if you want to have a ceasefire most immediately, then make an announcement, and you won't have achieved it live to my colleague zeina khodr. modalities is the word we heard from both sides at the news conference, from mr john kerry and his opposite number in jordan. washington talking to moscow primarily, is it? >> undoubtedly. the past few days there has been consultations between russia and american officials. u.n.-led talks really have been postponed. it was supposed to be a wider meeting. so far it has not taken place. it's the russians and americans, and john kerry made it clear

that there's going to be a full conversation between the u.s. and russian president. finalising this, and announcing progress on an attractable issue. there has been numerous attempts. there has been announcements that the ceasefire never affects the ground. the devil is in the detail. is there going to be a monetary mechanism. who will monitor the ceasefire on the ground. the initial proposal excluded two key players, i.s.i.l., and the other linked to the al nusra front. the opposition is saying the fact that al nusra front was included in the proposal makes it difficult to guarantee that the russian strike zones stop. al nusra is on the ground. most operate in areas, the opposition of it, and they

cooperate against the government, and if they are not part of the agreement and not ready to launch an attack. will that lead to a civil war within a war. a lot of details need to be worked out. >> once the conversation takes place, howed does that conversation trickle to hostilities, the bottom line is they'll guarantee. we want guarantees, and in that regard, despite what mr kerry was saying, we are not further forward. >> yes, but hours before, the syrian government says they'll agree to a ceasefire. the opposition will not be able to resign and regroup. it was a different statement

made a few days ago when the syrian president said that there'll be no ceasefire until all terrorists are admitted. you heard the russian u.n. envoy say this is not in line with russia's efforts. we are pushing forward for a diplomatic solution. the opposition is saying they want guarantees. if they reach the deal, they'll need to implement this. what is clear. that is an international ert to get it, the ceasefire into effect. russia is finding itself. if there's a settlement, they'll be engulfed in the crisis.

the response was this is bashar al-assad pushing forward to a settlement. for them, it's to stop the millions of refugees who are trying to reach europe, and they consider this a threat to national security. >> thank you very much inside syria, there's a few signs of the fighting and violence. 42 are killed by two car bombs. pro-government tv says it happened in the district of zafra. many are in the areas, and the areas that the president belongs to as well. it was a deadly attack in homs during five years. turkish authorities detained 22 suspects last wednesday. it appeared in court following health examinations. the turkish based group claimed

responsibility there. and turkey blames the syrian kurdish groups for the attack the president of the niger is standing for re-election in a climate by armed groups and retaliation. they've been in office. they deserve another term. he is up against 14 rivals, including these three men here. on the left, the main opposition - he was prime minister from 2007 until 2009. in the mid another gentlemen up against niger's first democratically elected president. he was there since 1996. a controversial candidate. ado, in prison. he denies allegations.

one of the top issues food is security, in face of attacks by fighters from neighbouring countries, nigeria, mali and nigeria. another involves the economy. it is blessed with gold, iron and/ore. the world's poorest countries. we have more from the capital this contradiction which is rich, a fourth largest producer in the world, in which china discovers a billion as well in n defined quantities, people loo like to see this introduced, but they can see the government is

boasting of roads, being built. and improvements. the people don't deny that, but say it's a drop in a large ocean of poverty and misery. it still rocks them in terms of development around the world. people don't like their country to remain in this condition, when they know it can improve. >> hillary clinton wins the democratic caucus in the city of nevada, and donald trump finished first in south carolina, in the raub can primary -- republican primary. he no longer needs to worry about jed bush, he quit in an effort to succeed his brother as president donald trump in new hampshire. >> the thing about running for president, i can tell you .

it's tough, nasty, mean, ambitious. it's beautiful. when you win it's beautiful. >> reporter: if this was a good night for the billionaire, it was awful for jed bush. he campaigned with his mum, brother and used the family name. he was the choice of many in th party establishment. but it wasn't enough. >> people in new hampshire and south carolina have spoken, so tonight i am suspending my campaign. >> no. >> yes. [ cheering ] >> reporter: south carolina is an important and significant stop in this campaign. although the republican party is older, whiter, the seat is diverse. the trump campaign will be saying if if can win here, there's nowhere in the united states where they can't i understand ted cruz believes the next few gives them a chance of wins.

marco rubio's perform earns says that he will never beat the anti-trump. the establishment... >> there were many people on the campaign, good people . many of whom any other year would have been a front runner. now practically speaking, it's down three. and i know that our campaign gives us the best chance not just to come together. not to unify, but to unify our country and throw this unit. >> the republicans know that their win for hillary clinton, but the win almost got wiped out. in a victory speech she addressed issues raised by bernie sanders, and took a swipe at the vermont senator too. >> we are not a single issues country. [ cheering ] >> we need more than a plan for

the big banks. the middle class needs a raise. >> let's put this thing away and make america great. >> reporter: many thought donald trump's candidacy was a joke and would disappear. he's now the republican front runner. and he's smiling officials in fiji try to assess the damage as the strongest storm swept the nation. winston brought winds of up to 310kph , six died. >> reporter: a glimpse of damage in fiji after a strong cyclone. the main island escaped aspect a direct hit.

it brought rain and 300 comhour winds. there's damage in other parts of the main island. it's a part of the country with the strongest infrastructure to withstand wind and rain. it passed closer to some of fiji's 300 islands in. phone and powerlines are down. it's been difficult to contact people. deaths and injuries have been confirmed. relief workers found it difficult to get around because of trees on the roads. >> i have been in touch with mi counterpart and offered australia support. we have in place supplies that are available. so offered the ability to send

a p3 oryan to carry out surveillance. >> reporter: airports have been closed. many of the low-lying islands in are flooded and more flash floods are feared. rescuers are trying to provide drinking water. the government declared a 30 day state of emergency. men are remote. it may get some full extent of the damage lots more news to come for you here from al jazeera, including babies and no doctors. traditional birthing attendants trained in rural nigeria the chinese police investigate what could be the country said biggest scam.

the top stories on al jazeera, the u.s. secretary of state says he's reached a provisional agreement with his russian counterpart on the terms of a ceasefire in syria. conditions for an agreement in a telephone conversation with sergey lavrov on sunday 42 were killed in the syrian city of homs. the explosion hit the district. sarl with and nevada chose hillary clinton and donald trump. jed bush pulled out of the race.

the announcement is a big political discourse. producing two presidents, a senator and state governor. we look at what went wrong for jed bush. >> the next u.s. president of the united states jed bush. >> reporter: he's been described as the son who should have been president. his decision to run surprised political commentators who thought he had long missed a chance. >> i decided to be a candidate for president of the united states of america. >> reporter: with that announcement, the than that left his job as governor of california five years ago went after the toughest job. sometimes the least charismatic, he smothered with stage. >> someone convinced you that attacking me will help up. here is the bottom line... >> the most famous bruises from a formidable opponent.

>> let me talk. quiet jed bush backed out of the u.s. presidential race, unable to carry on the family dynasty. >> despite what you heard, ideas matter, policy matters. policy did, indeed matter. >> eight months ago saddam hussein... >> the campaign was overshadowed by legacies left by his father george w. bush and george h bush. both presidents. >> i can hear you. the rest of the world hears you. and people will hear all of us soon. >> the policies led to a controversial war in afghanistan and iraq. policies that may influence poll ficks for decades to come.

frip as he might, the family name followed his move. >> they wanted antiestablishment, anti-washington approach. the timing was bad. like his campaign, the president say would have been haunted by a past many voters and others in the middle east are trying to forget the philippines booking a televised debate ahead of elections in may. the candidates happened in mindanao. an area where a peace deal is on the verge of collapse. rob mcbride has the latest now. >> the first debate takes place. it's an ongoing issue for areas of administration, and there was hope and reason here in this long held peace agreement, that

it was within. there was a peace accord within the main rebel groups. that, of course, was held up through the parliament here. so that, as a result. pud mindanao on the agenda. that is very much what he's debating about. this is the start of the election campaign. there's that type of feel to the election, and this adds to that atmosphere, the spectacle. this is is the close of the first debate. five candidates, it has to be said there's questions about ultimately how much weight these debates carry at the end of the day many have died in northern india. the agricultural community want the same quotas in jobs offered to the back cast. we have this report.

thousands of army droops have been deployed. >> an order has been imposed to control the protests, with thousands of paramilitary forces on the ground. the troops had to be air dropped, protesters closing down stations and blocking groups. >> at the heart of the protest they controlled community halls and the residence of the finance minister was set ablaze. in many areas, the protesters ignored peace. they want status giving them priority for government jobs and a quota in the institutions. local politicians tried to apiece the community saying if it was up to them, they'd grant it. >> with all the demands of the community, the government already says it will resolve

constitutional legal hurdles. >> reporter: the chief minister's words drew anger. this government is bad in particular. we will ensure that the government is overthrown and boycott it. that community makes up 30% of the voting population. they are traditionally farmers with a strong political recommendation, and not seen as being underprivileged. it's an issue of numbers. according to the supreme court, 50% of the population could get reservation status. >> at the border blockades were set up. we are going to top water supplies. >> men people crossed on food

for fear that protesters would carry out their threat. agitators formed a committee to prepare a list of demands which they want the government to fulfil, if not more and more disruptions. this is an issue that has been happening. the concern now is that the unrests may not be limited to the state, but could spread to other parts of the country let's go to nigeria, where hundreds of babies die every year during home birdsers. many are delivered by birthing attendance, who are not well enough qualified. one not-for-profit organization is trying to change that. we have a report from mondo state in south-western nigeria. >> reporter: this woman lost a

child a month ago, dying 12 hours after being born at home, a remote area in sworn nigeria. an unskilled home birth resident helped her to deliver. i was not birthed properly. the attendant did not know what to do. by the time we got to hospital, my son was dead. >> reporter: this is a reason why a local n.g.o. is training hundreds in rural communities. >> in this kind of environment, it's believed that when you have a baby, it's not crying, it's not breathing, showing a sign of life that it is dead. we are trying to intervene to show them this is not so. but there are superstitious cultural beliefs making women

choose home attendance over having a baby in hospital. >> some believe they'll be attack attacked. if you deliver in a facility you may lose the baby or you may die. >> costs associated with hospitals are putting off many expectant mother. only 40% of nigerian women give birth in a hostel. safe home births are leading to 700 babies dying every day. >> doctors are determined to make the traditional birds attendance make life-saving skills. >> if what we are going is successful, and we are certain it will be. it will lead to a massive

reduction in deaths. rolling out the training is likely to be a college. most live in rural areas, with few medical facilities, so are dependent on birth attendance to welcome their babies into the world. a financial scandal in china highlighted the risks posed by the country's lending platforms. 21 people have been arrested. accused of fleecing 7.5 billion from almost a million investors. our china correspondent reports from beijing. >> bottom line lenders downfall was trumpeted on state media. the state broadcaster aired commercials promoting the country, and now is reporting how the firm took $7 million from investors. this man was one of them. he told me he signed up last

november and put it more than $450,000. in their glossy brochure, the finance company promised annual returns of almost 15%, money supposed to be for online borrowers. >> every day we turn on the tv. right before the prime time news, there was always the ads. i don't know why the officials support him. we can't say how real or unreal. we see research backed by the government. >> less than two years before the company traded. the scandal highlighted an alternative to the banging system, is system were there may be 2.5,000 person to pirn lending platforms, with investigators failing to recognise the financial risk.

>> he insists he was mislead. >> government needs to give investors a clear reply. it's been too long. they say that they should take responsibilities. that was panic. >> and for some panic has turned to process. social unrest is what the government fears most. especially when it involved 900,000 disgruntled investors, who thought they were buying into something the government endorsed. the beijing offices are closed. authorities urge investors to register their claims, raising hopes there could be compensation. following the protests, 21 of the firm's employees were arrested, with the owner making an on-air confession.

investigators want to know if corrupt officials were involved check out the website, more on the top story there. homs is hit by deadly twin car booms. the headlines are a moment away. [ ♪ ] hello i'm richard gizbert and you are at