last minute hurdles delay the delivery of aid as momentum builds for a cessation of hostilities in syria. hello. coming up, yemen's embattled government demands action against hezbollah which it accuses of training houthi rebels. north korea set to be slapped with even tougher sanctions for its latest nuclear test. calling ahead to the future. the new material that could

revolutionise gadgets. the u.n. says it's trying to crackdown 21 tons of aid which it tried to air drop to syrian civilians. they attempted to drop pallets from the air after aid trucks were not able to reach the town last week because it was surrounded by i.s.i.l.-controlled territory. there's more positive news on the diplomatic front ahead of a pause due to start on saturday. russia is confirming it started negotiations with rebel groups and syria's main opposition group the hnc has suggested it will accept the deal for two weeks. mean what time syrian kurdish fighters, the y.p.g., say they will also abide by the cessation of hostilities. a report from the u.n. headquarters in new york from our correspondent. >> reporter: at the security council there were stining criticism of the-- stinging

criticism of the regime. they were told the government had delayed deliveries and blocked until now assistance to areas. >> the number and scope has placed in the path in simple aid deliverys are staggering. >> reporter: he had one rare bit of good news >> earlier this morning a wfp plane dropped the first lot of cargo into the area. >> reporter: a statement released said there were technical difficulties and they would try the air drop in a few days. it's not clear if any aid reached those in need. the issue of aid deliveries is extremely important, obviously to get supplies to those in desperate need in besieged communities in syria, but also because it is part of the plan drawn up earlier this month in munich to restart the political

process. the other part of that plan is the cessation of hostilities due to start in syria on saturday. >> reporter: will there be resolution to mark the cessation of hostilities? >> watch this space >> reporter: neither the u.s. ambassador or the russian deputy foreign minister, who is visiting the u.n., would discuss details, but diplomats tell me the plan now is to hold a meeting of the security council on friday. they would then vote on a resolution to endorse the cessation of hostilities just hours before it's supposed to start. james bays our correspondent joins us live from turkey on the border with syria. let's start with the latest on fighting. we hear that a strategic town has fallen to syrian forces. tell us more about that. >> reporter: that is the town

which lies to the south aleppo. what is significant about that town is it is essentially linked between aleppo down south towards damascus and also south-west towards ham ma, both strong holds of regime. that town had been taken over by i.s.i.l. fighters less an week ago. now it appears that the regime has recaptured it. although the main route is still not fully secured. parts of that area is under control of rebel groups and other parts have remnants of i.s.i.l. fighters. that's information we're getting from inside syria. it goes to show how quickly territory exchanges hands in this wars. while the skies are are control bed by the syrian regime, on the ground if terms of being actually able to maintain positions and holding them, that's what has proven difficult for all sides involved in this

civil war. that's why the territories switch hands so often aid is starting to be delivered at least to some areas. how much optimism is that bringing to people you're talking about? >> reporter: theoretically at least the idea that the u.n. is willing to start doing these air drops should be something that brings about hope, but the problem with it is that, again, these are things coming from the air. on the ground who is going to deliver this aid, divide it, ensure it is not taken over by criminals, i.s.i.l. or other factions, and that's the main question that's also important. even on the television screens this aid may look like a big deal in terms of the number and trucks and aid, we're talking about dire places that have been besieged for weeks, if not end,

that have been bombarded for year with no electricity. you're talking about builter, bitter cold of the winter and it is still very cold right now. no medication, no hospitals. all of these things. that's why the humanitarian situation is at the forefront of the demands at least of the rebel groups who say if there is going to be any hope for the cessation of hostilities, as it has been called, to hold, they need to ensure that aid reaches the areas that have been hit the most. that's what happen people are waiting to find out yemen's government is accusing the lebanese group hezbollah of training houthi fighters. it says it will complain to u.n. their evidence is a video released by saudi arabia's military which shows a hezbollah operative inside yemen. the yemen saudi backed group are fighting them across the nation. they reject accusations they

provide military aid. a video has been shown how to carry out the attack. it took place last year inside yemen but does not say where >> translation: we have a unique registration. i just told you what to do. don't ask for details. just carry out the attack. it is up to me to tell you how to do it the current market turmoil and global economic slowdown are expected to be key areas of discussion in the chinese markets. our correspondent is in beijing. the stock market has had a rough time so far this year. it seems like confidence is wearing thin there. >> reporter: absolutely, yes. today down 6.4%. the markets closed about an hour

ago. that marks 23% decline in the markets here in china so far in 2016. when you look at what happened in 2015, you would bring up confidence in these markets. the markets here lost half t the-- lost 5 trillion dollars. that continues into the new year. we saw a bump in january. about a 10% increase in the market, but then all those gains have been erased by what we've seen over the last couple of weeks, a continued paracel off. today, thursday marking the biggest paracel-off in a month not only inside with traders, china might have to do a bit of confidence restoration work with the upcoming g20 meeting. >> reporter: absolutely. when you look at why this is so

important to the government here, you've got the second largest stock market in the world and you have a large valuation. now it is worth five trillion dollars, but also how many investors in the market that makes it such a crucial issue. 80% of the investors here in the market are individuals, which means retirees, school teachers, shop owners. it is a big social issue because it impacts so many people. you're talking 80% of the market here in china. that's 80 million people who are those individual investors. when the markets go down, lose half of their value. that's people's life savings that have been cult in hassle the-- half the u.s. and china have agreed on a draft resolution to expand sanctions against north korea. they will be put to the u.n. on

thursday. >> reporter: diplomats at the u.n. have been working on this draft resolution since the beginning of january when north korea carried out its forth nuclear test. in the meantime there has been that rocket launch at the beginning of february as well and so this is designed as punishment for both of those events. the u.s. secretary of state john kerry said these measures will go beyond anything that has been done before. exactly what those measures will be has not been officially confirmed, but there is reporting coming out of the semiofficial news agency here suggesting that certain institutions inside north korea will be black listed. the ministry for atomic energy industry, the nation area space organization, which was in charge of that rocket launch which put a satellite into space in the beginning of february. china is obviously on board for much of those specific americas

p measures. the question is how effective can they be. if you remember in 2013 there was a round of sanctions in the nuclear tests. three years later we have seen what has happened, north korea has become add ept at getting around sanctions. china doesn't want to see north korea collapse. there are questions about the level of enforcement on the chinese north korean border. north korea may well just carry on with what is an extremely high priority target for it which is to pursue and develop its nuclear program still more to come on al jazeera w mo talks about a link between zika virus and dearth defects. defects. birth defects.

welcome back. a recap of the headlines. the u.n. says it's trying to crackdown 21 tons of aid which it tried to deliver to civilians in syria. a ceasing of hostilities is due to start on saturday in syria. yemen's government has accused the lebanese group hezbollah of training houthi fighters. it says it will complain to the u.n. their evidence is a video released by saudi arabia's military which shows a hezbollah operative inside yemen. u.s. and china have agreed on a draft resolution which would

expand sanctions against north korea in response to the pyongyang's rocket test and missile launch in january. egyptian president sisi says unfair criticism of his government is attempting to bring down the state. he told civilians not to listen to anyone but him and offered an unusual solution to the country's economic problems. >> translation: let me say something quite difficult. it is difficult to say that, but let me be clear. by god almighty if i could paracel myself to benefit this nation, i would have done it. we are a nation of 90 million. think about it. if only 10 million of us wake up every day and donate 1 egyptian pound, one for the sake of this homeland, that's $10 million a day. egypt is a great country, it can do anything. if you truly love egypt, i'm telling you, everyone listening, listen to my worlds only, only mine i say

he has offered to paracel him-- sel himself. list the sail of a used field marshall in de-september condition. bids past $100,000 before the page was moved. others poked fun on facebook and twiters. that was later removed. the 80 year old father of a u.s. man arrested in iran pass been detained. he is a dual u.s./iranian citizen taken into custody while visiting his family. he yet to say that his father was arrested and is now in the same jail. the future of a sanctions free iran is one of the issues on citizens minds as the country prepares for elections on

friday. there are two elections on the same day at the same time. >> reporter: campaigning is now over. for iranians preparing to vote the main issue is the ailing economy and how much it could be transformed with the lifting of sanctions. the impact they've had could be seen by anyone landing in tehran. runways can resemble an aircraft museum with some airliner more than 30 years old. straight after the nuclear deal came a multi billion dollar order for iran for 118 air bus planes, including a dozenen a380 double decker aircraft. many want to see the color of the money coming into the country. this investment banker says the scope is massive. >> we have the largest market in the region. it is totally diversed industry. well educated people, natural resources and a large market for

consuming. besides that, a market untapped for around 10 years. >> reporter: oil is the bed rock of the economy. iran wants to reduce reliance on it. investment areas include the car industry and a host of other lines of manufacturing. while the investment potential is big, will there be new jobs and better wages. these are the questions of voters and with a banking system that needs reform and bail outs, people want to know when they will see improvements, when can they afford to indulge against in the vast retail sector. international sanctions had a limited effect on the rich while the poor became poorer. now conservatives and hard liners have been able to rely on support from lower-income families. if their conditions don't improve then that could be changing. the answer is it could do because the president is

responsible for sanctions being lifted. there is a question of timing. >> i think because of the lack of relations between the international community, there is a lack of confidence of knowing each other. to know each other more, to get familiar with the elements, business, we need more time together. >> reporter: so it could be too soon for some voters to be convinced, despite what appears to be increasing support for methodists and reformists, it might be a defeat for hard liners and conservatives people in the philippines are marking 30 years since the revolution that ended the real of marcos and his family. the so-called people movement eventually forced the president from power. he died in exile, but members of his family recently returned.

his son has become a senator and is seen as a strong contender for vice president in may's elections. bolivia's president is to push on with what he calls his socialist struggle after losing his bid to stay in office. more than 51% of voters rejected a proposal which would have allowed him to run for a fourth term. he has accepted defeat but accuses the opposition of running a dirty campaign. >> reporter: no-one it seems is more surprised by the defeat than president mor aalis himself who called the referendum a few months ago confident of a victory. he was sure that after 10 years in office he would be wanted for another ten. >> translation: it seems we have lost a battle but not the war. apart from that, we have support from 50% of the population which is the hard vote of our political process, the hard vote

of this revolution. >> reporter: it came very close to the president which undermined his trust >> translation: we were disorganized and now there will be unity. for half of the time they are with government and the open silgs. we are now united. >> translation: on one side this is good because it means a change of president. now the politicians will be more aware of what's happening here. >> reporter: he will remain president until elections in 2019 but he will have to rethink how he is going to implement his policies in the restricted time remaining. the opposition has been embolded by a victory that many didn't expect. if he be able to run and win, he

would have served until 25. >> reporter: he could be an important leaders. go to the u.n. take that leadership and those victories that he has had to other places. >> reporter: on the surface little has changed in bolive i can't. he will be-- polivia. he will be a president for three more years lawyers for the family of a woman whose death was linked to her use of baby powder say the manufacturer knew about the possible risks of using the product. johnson & johnson has been ordered to pay 72 million dollars. she died of ovarian cancer two years after being diagnosed of the illness. she used the talc powder for nearly 50 years. >> as far back as 1979 the

association between talc and ovarian cancer. they knew that 1500 were dying from this and continued to paracel. they manipulated the media, they manipulated the scientific community. they manipulated the governmental agencies and remember that talc is not regulated like drugs. it is a cosmetic 1.5 million are now known to be infected with zika virus. the w.h.o. believes the government is doing the best it can. a report from our correspondent. >> reporter: nine months after the first case of zika was reported in brazil, much is still unknown about it. initially bradz r brazil i don't know authorities suspected a link between the mosquito-born

virus and a steep rise with the number of babies born with neurological disorders and malformation. this has still yet to be clearly established. >> microcephaly can be caused by other causess. it is important to realise that. the evidence from this country points to the direction that zika is a possible cause, and how w.h.o. operate is we have been sighing that zika is guilty until proven innocent. >> reporter: dr chan, however, did commend brazilian officials for the handling of the situation. there is still confusion and uncertainty because of the lack of knowledge.

they say there must be national cooperation to deal with the situation. >> reporter: the health minister says doctors here are working on a vaccine but it would take at least three years before it could be made available to the public. it hasn't eased people's anxieties about the virus. but still they say there is no concern about coming to the olympics. for these here now there is little comfort from zika and its unterritory tease. -- uncertainties ban ki-moon is due to arrive in south sudan in a few hours. >> reporter: the smoke from 20,000 burning homes filled the sky for days. people who were also displaced from their homes to a camp were again made homeless.

this time they found little more than a dusty roadside between the u.n. base and their former homes. people moved here because they believed the u.n. would keep them safe. the attack by government forces showed how vulnerable they still are. >> translation: the defenses are all open. you have to close the fences. look at this. the people's health has deteriorated. they're on the ground. they're fragile. look at what they eat and drink. look at where they sleep. >> reporter: almost 200,000 people live in u.n. protection sites. the u.n. mission to south sudan has a mandate to use force to protect people when needed. however, this is the first time people have been killed while apparently under the protection of peacekeepers. >> you have a huge presence here. again, we don't know what they are doing. you have seen what happened in a

civilian died. why are they given this? they should removed from south sudan. >> reporter: witnesses in the city took it the soldiers many hours to engage with attackers to defend the people. after three massacres on u.n. bases people are starting to is this u.n. mission unwilling to use force to protect civilians since the world embraced mobile phones they have changed dramatically. both inside and out, as you've probably noticed. to stay ahead of the curve manufacturers are always using for new materials. one product that is poised to shape the next generation of devices. >> reporter: 200 times stronger than steel but almost invisible to the eye, grafeen is a wafer thin street with remarkable

conducts. it conducts electricity and when printed onto film it is a cheap alternative to sill kin and metal-based electronics >> it is very thin and flexible and a good electrical conductor. that is hard to find in any other material. that is a building block for many applications. >> reporter: the european union is spending 1.2 billion dollars over years into research into grapheen. >> reporter: it was bihar alloweded as a wonder material something which would transform electronics, the way we build krars and aircraft and the way we make clothes. it is proved to mass produce at quality which is one of the reason mobile phone manufacturers have been hesitant

to use it in their phones. >> reporter: experimental applications for the material are being demonstrated at this year's mobile world ondegrees. phone makers are interested. some are doing their own research. a man who won an noble prize for finding grapheen says there are other materials which provide a greater promise. >> we are talking about a family of sources, and they hold more power than only grapheen because where grapheen cannot do something, there are other materials which can. i think the future is really in the collective usage of those materials in combinations. >> reporter: the next generation of electronics may be the focus here, but in the years ahead these one atom thick materials could see scientists completely

re-engineer our material world you can get more on all those stories we've been following on al jazeera if you head over to our website. you can see our front page there. the lead story situation in syria. >> 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 animale