no hope in sight. more bad news for refugees stuck in greece as slovenia introduces new border restrictions welcome to al jazeera live from our headquarters no doha. also coming up-- in doha also coming up >> you never have a doubt almost five years after the disaster in japan a japanese court order the closure of more

reactors over safety fears. a report from senegal where female genitalia mutilation continues despite being illegal refugees hopes of reaching countries like germany are becoming slimmer. the western balkans route is being shut down effectively. sloe has introduced new border restrictions. only people who plan to seek asylum where those who clear humanitarian needs will clear entry. these are also these countries that have already tightened their border controls. it has left thousands of refugees and migrants stranded in greece with no clear path forward. this is how the situation is looking at the greece macedonian

border. it has been another cold and wet nature for around 14,000 refugees in idomeni who are not being allowed to enter mass don't. aid deliveries have been made in last few days. it was only intended to host a few thousand people there isn't enough to go around. our correspondent is joining us from that camp. can you give us an update on the situation there for the refugees. >> reporter: certainly it is becoming more and more difficult by the day. the official announcement of the border closures may have come lately, but underground these borders have been closed for at least the past three given that trickle of people who were allowed to go through the border here where many of them were pushed further along the border. nobody had actually made it past serbia. the conditions here t it is

raining the weather is terrible, the people have become fragile at this moment. the tents are pick deted in the mud. you can see the situation. some people are trying to return to athens. we have seen some buses leave with those who asked to be returned and to go to the reception centers. others are asking when are we going to at least get out of this place. they're reluctantly getting used to the idea that they will have to stay in greece for a while before their paperwork is processed and then they can continue their journey for any of the aid that has been coming through so far, what has been received? is it enough and what are refugees saying that they need the most right now? >> reporter: i think they need everything. that would be the short answer to it. the problem here is that people keep on arriving. as we were driving here this

morning, we saw large groups of people walking along the roads still continuing to come to this point hoping that at some point there will be a break through and borders will open. it is very difficult for many to accept the fact that that will not happen, at least from what we've heard from officials. the latest estimate is 15,000 people are here now. with the weather conditions, with the fact that tlaeflt 5,000-- at least 5,000 of thee are children below the age of five, and under the weather conditions many of them are getting sick. everything is missing. ing blankets are soaked. everybody would need new tents and blanket because they put their blank ets on top of the tents so the water doesn't come in. everything is soaked and wrebd. people don't have money to buy food.

that was happening just a few days ago. now you can see it as soon as there's an aid truck arriving, there is desperate scenes of people running to that truck, pushing and shoving trying to get hold of whatever they can. that is something new and that is an indication of the grows desperation and the fragility of these people. absolutely everything is missing here thank you for giving us that update from idomeni on the refugees there. for many of the refugees making their way to europe they are syrians. for those living in camps over in lebanon they're telling a harrowing tale about living under siege and forced to live off grass in some cases. bernard smith reports. >> reporter: free to play without fear of a bomb being dropped on them. these children are now safe in a lebanese refugee camp. it took a two month trek through a war zone for this family to

get here. there were shellings, people were dying and droping bombs. they weren't hiding for the bolings they were looking for something to eat. >> translation: we ate grass when we didn't-- ate grass from the ground. we had to tell them the children i about how long it. >> reporter: they escaped from the city of der azor. the province is controlled around them are controlled by i.s.i.l. >> translation: they weren't letting food or anything in. they were eating grass. my husband and i were eating anything because we lost our appetite. if there was bread available we would eat it. >> reporter: save the children say shellings and bombings leave scars on children. there are millions of syrians

who are suffering similar traumas. bernard smith the international syria support group task force is moulding a meeting in geneva. this is ahead of a meeting of cessation of hostilities task force. both meetings seen as critical in keeping the talks on syria alive. what do we speck to come out of that meeting of the task force? -- expect to come out? >> reporter: that meeting is underway. it is worth noting that this day was supposed to be the start of or the restart of the stalled syrian talks. this was the fish date given by the u.n. envoy staffan de mistura staffan de mistura, but neither of the two two main parties are here in geneva. they're saying it will come in a few days. the opposition saying they have

concerns and they will decide at the end of the week whether they're going to attend talks and some of their concerns are exactly about this humanitarian issue about getting to the besieged areas of syria and the point the opposition are making is that those besieged areas where they control the access and they've allowed convoys in, they say the government is not doing the same. now that's a point i put to the u.n. humanitarian coordinator, normally based in syria, but currently here in geneva. >> the imperative is to reach people trapped in these settings. i.s.i.l. is be seeming 200,000 people. other groups are besieging 20,000 people else where. >> reporter: those places have aid, haven't they. >> indeed. that is something that we have been able to do starting in october but really gaining momentum recently.

>> reporter: you know why i'm asking these questions. it has become politicsised. the opposition are saying they're letting aid into their areas and the government are not >> everybody has a lot important to do. the one thing that should not be done is to reopen humanitarian principles for political discussion. these are not for discussion. these are enshrined in international humanitarian law when it comes to the meeting for the cessation of hostilities task force, what are we expecting there? >> reporter: they're going to look at the various violations and the various reports of violations that are coming in. the international community in particular the u.s. and russia have been compiling these lists. one item of concern, and i think it follows what the opposition have been saying, there are many violations by the syrian government and by the russian

air force is a report in damascus province, the west of damascus in the last 24 hours of the most sustained attack using barrel bombs we've seen at any time during this cessation of hostilities which is now lasted or been in place for over ten days thank you for that update. there have been several more attacks across israel in the occupied palestinian territories during the past 24 hours. israeli police have shot dead two palestinian drivers after the men allegedly opened fire on a bus. the incident happened in the remote area of occupied east jerusalem. in the occupied west bank, a palestinian was shot dead after attempting to stob an israeli soldier. the ut s vase president is meeting with israel's prime minister. u.s. is facing criticism over the lack of progress and efforts to broker a settlement between israel and the palestinians.

>> we have taken many steps in recent months to fight palestinian terrorism and we're taking even stronger measures now. i believe that to fight terrorism all civilised societies must stand together and israel has many partners in this decisive battle. we have no better partner than the united states of america. it is a partnership anchored in common values, confronting common enemies an striving for a more secure prosperous and peaceful future. >> you never need a doubt that the u.s. has israel's back and we know israel has our back as well. it is not a one-way street. we're committed to making sure that israel can defend itself against all threats. it is critical because israel

lives in a very tough neighborhood. a tough and changing neighborhood here is what is coming up in program. democratic presidential hopeful bernie sanders throws up a surprise win in michigan. in michigan. find fantasy shows. when it comes to the things you love, you want more. love romance?

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>> our american story is written everyday. it's not always pretty, but it's real... and we show you like no-one else can. this is our american story. this is america tonight. the top stories on al jazeera. slovenia is among three balkan countries which have tightened

border controls to stem the flow of refugees into europe. u.s. vice president has met with the israeli pram minister as part of a two-visit to israel. u.s. has been criticized in relation to a tlment between the two parties. former prime ministers are meeting in capital riyadh. they're likely to discuss the latest political and security issues. saudi arabia tension with lebanon could also be on that agenda. our correspondent to join us telling us what is expected to come out of the meeting if anything at all is expected to come out. >> reporter: indeed. it is a bit too early to say whether any concrete measures will be agreed. it is, of course, a meeting of foreign ministries in riyadh.

in saying that, as you rightly mentioned, they will be discussing issues like syria, libya and iraq which are major issues that the g.c.c. they will also be where i am here in lebanon. as we know over the past few weeks there has been a serious downturn in relation to particularly with saudi arabia and some of allies in the g.c.c. and lebanon. the source of that tension, if you will, really seems to stem from lebanon's failure to condemn the attack on several saudi diplomatic missions in iran after a popular shia cleric was put to death. it included billions of dlargs being cancelled, telling citizens to leave the country.

there were issues of further measures taking place rather being issued that could have a fairly bad impact on the economy here, not just here but also within the g.c.c. as well. many hear paying close attentions to those talks in riyadh certainly some lebanese mtrs as well as some of the political parties trying to deescalate those tensions were saudi arabia and other g.c.c. countries, has it worked out at all? >> reporter: indeed. of course, as we say the tensions stem from that failure of lebanon to condemn the attack on the diplomatic missions in iran, but the bigger issue here is hezbollah. hezbollah is, of course, a large and political pores here in

lebanon. it also is an armed force and also offers other support in lebanon as well. hezbollah as we know is close to iran. some describe it as a patron of iran. many see these measures taken by saudi arabia and its g.c.c. allies as sort of a rebuff to iran. in saying that, saudi arabia does have considerable support here in lebanon. in fact, just last month the former prime minister has returned back to lebanon after several years in self-imposed exile. he is seen close to the leadership and somebody who may be able to smooth over ties as well as other leading lebanese politicians. as we've been sighing that is a lot of concern here in lebanon. many don't want to see ties with saudi arabia worse than they already are. paying close attention to this meeting in riyadh to see whether

any further measures will be taken against lebanon thank you for that update. under dog democratic candidate bernie sanders has pulled off a surprise victory against front runner hillary clinton in the race for the u.s. presidential nomination. bernie sanders narrowly won the vote of michigan. on the republican side the favorite donald trump has three of the four contests on tuesday. our correspondent has more from washington dc. >> reporter: it was the win he was waiting for. the u.s. state of michigan where young democratic voters l overwhelmingly back presidential candidate bernie sanders. >> i just want to take this opportunity to thank the people of michigan who kind of repudiated the polls that had us 20/25 points down allowing, who repudiated the p eurekas ndits that says bernie sanders is not going anywhere.

>> reporter: bernie sanders is still gathering delegates. it was a big night too for republican front runner donald trump who also defied the wishes of the political establishment picking up win in the southern state of mississippi, the northern state of michigan, even hawaii. he proved his unappeal is strong mung conservative inviters. i hope that the republicans will embrace this movement. we have democrats coming over, independents coming over. if i win and get to go against hillary clinton polls show i will beat her. >> reporter: in idaho ted cruz came on top and marco rubio not winning a state. it is aresult so poor it is queried whether he will drop out. >> we're not going to win the

florida primary but we will also win florida and kurn this did you know around >> reporter: clinton still leads in the democratic race and picked up another southern state thanks to overwhelming support for african-american voters. >> every time you think it can't get any ugliyer, they find a. as the rhetoric keeps sinking lower, the stakes in this election keep rising higher. >> reporter: in one week both parties will vote again. it could offer donald trump the opportunity to cement his republican front runner status and also give bernie sanders a chance to close the gap on hillary clinton's lead for the democratic presidential

nomination pligss in myanmar are dau to choose a new president following decades of military rule despite victory in last year's election. opposition leader aung san suu kyi is unlikely to become the next leader. wain hay reports >> reporter: every since the n.l.d. won november's election the question has been who will be the next president of myanmar. under the constitution the n.l.d.'s leader aung san suu kyi cannot become the precedent because there's a clause that states that anyone who has immediate family members who are foreigner sz cannot take the top job. she has two sons who are british vit zens. there have-- citizens. there have been talks around suspending that article of the constitution to allow aung san suu kyi to become president. it seems that those talks have failed and much speculation now

centers around a man called tin chor becoming the present. he is not a member of parliament. he is a member of the n.l.d. and is a close confidente of aung san suu kyi. the n.l.d. will get the person they want because they dominate both the upper and lower houses of parliament. aung san suu kyi has said she will be above the president. it's clear who will still be in charge despite the fact that it seems she won't be the president at this stage a court in japan have ordered that two nuclear reactors should close due to safety concerns. it comes five years after the fukushima disaster. six reactors went into meltdown. leaks happened after the floods crippled the reactor's cooling

systems. >> reporter: this man guides me through the main street of his home town past the shop he used to get an ice-cream and to a chinese restaurant. this is a kilometer from the fukushima power plant amid the destruction, he finds small signs of who especially like the almost magical appearance of a new gate at a shrine in an area designated to store radio active waste. >> even this site, make this gate. >> reporter: his home lies empty abandon five years ago. he wants to keep a correction to it. his delight is clear when he

bumps into a friend. he hopes to share this feeling by making a film about his town showing that life hasn't forever been extinguished here. >> watching my film, i will make this a community again and i want to enjoy it with other people. >> reporter: the disaster that scats erred through the population started five years ago. it is not over. along the coast thousands of workers struggle to stabilize and decommission the crippled power plant >> reporter: the power station itself the problems continue to accumulate. hundreds of tons of groundwater are contaminated every day. the disaster still goes on. its effects are felt far dwrond here. 40 kilometers away it was a hot spot. parts of it are still under annex collusion zone. this man used to go school here. now he practices his art, his

music influenced by disaster and and dislocation. >> when i am performing i don't think that haven't in that state of mind my emowings, americans and the future of my home town, it all comes through as my music. >> reporter: he is worried about the effects of five years of fractured life on his community. he is part of a long tradition of drumming. one he is trying to pain obtain and pass down to those younger than him, a bridge to keep generations committed. two young men doing what they can to hold on to an idea of home the u.n. says three million girls had their gen tams mu lated last year in africa alone. family genital mutilation is illegal. the law has been in place for

two decades, but the practice continues. >> reporter: like every other girl will-year-old loves being with her mum. playing jump rope with her friends. and getting her braids done. but what sets her apart from other young girls here is the decision that she tack not to circumcise her. the practice known as female gen tam mutilation, f g.m., it is an act of purification. >> translation: cutting a piece of my daughter's flesh to make her pure makes no sense to me. in was hard for people to accept that we said no to the cut >> reporter: f g.m. is illegal, but age-old traditions take precedent over the law. girls as young as two have it

done. because she hasn't, some adults curse her saying she is impure and dirty. >> i know who has it done, but we don't really talk about it between us. >> reporter: charity form ums getting leaders, mothers to speak out against the practice. it is explained that they have nothing to do with islam. it encourages young girls to denounce those who continue to mutilate the young girls explaining the health procedures. despite all these efforts, the practice continues. it takes place away from town deep in the countryside. >> reporter: we're on our way to meet a woman that continues to circumcise young girls.

she has done it for 30 years. she knows it is illegal but people continue to bring their daughters to her to get the procedure done. >> reporter: for each cut she receives two bars of soap, six kilos of rise, a chicken and three dollars in payment. >> translation: it's not just tradition. it is our job. if you take this afrom us, doubt an old lady like me to get a job. it is on the only way to support our family >> reporter: mothers who challenge the tradition bring an end to this practice. despite what others may say or think about her. she feels free, protected and proud of her mother a total solar eclipse cast parts of south-east asia into darkness in the middle of the

day. people saw this from parts in asia. much more on that on our web side. aljazeera.com. in the middle. the battle for economic prosperity in the 21st century has convinced many americans cities that they will be left in the dust if they don't offer businesses and entrepreneurs superhigh speed internet service. that's why the holy grail has