>> i agree. i agree. i agree. >> the verdict upheld as a court in the netherlands says former librarian president charles taylor will serve 50 years in prison for war crimes. also in the headlines, a matter of months, not years. fast action in reconciling its relationship with the west iran. high-level talks this thursday. escalating riots in sudan have left dozens of people dead in the capital of khartoum after cuts in fuel subsidies caused prices to nearly double

overnight. those are the latest headlines joining us here on "france 24." charles taylor has failed to have his 50 year prison sentence for war crimes overturned. the 65-year-old was found guilty last year on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for supporting rebels fighting in neighboring sierra leone's civil war. it is believed he received so- called blood diamonds mined by slave laborers, and political influence in return for his help. his lawyers argued that judges relied on uncorroborated hearsay. here is what the judges had to say as the verdict was handed down. >> the chamber affirms the sentence of 50 years imprisonment imposed by the chamber. orders that this judgment shall be enforced immediately. >> let's get a bit more on this and we can speak to an associate

international justice director at human rights watch in new york. thank you very much indeed for joining us. this was always a landmark case. has it now set a precedent for similar cases against other former leaders? >> well, there is no question that this is a hugely significant ruling. taylor is the first former head of state to be convicted since nuremberg before an international tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity, showing that even those at the highest levels can be held to account. the ruling also made some determinations on a controversial issue, namely aiding and abetting, and how you find whether or not someone has been aiding and abetting these crimes, which are some of the counts that taylor was convicted on. a recent decision or at the yugoslav international tribunal for crimes committed in the

former yugoslavia found that you need to specifically direct those crimes as aiding and abetting them. the special court turn around and said that was not the case so long as you have a substantial effect on those crimes, you can be convicted for aiding and abetting. we will see what other tribunals and decisions follow, but this is an important, different kind of ruling than that of the yugoslav tribunals in the recent period. >> taylor himself was a fairly divisive figure, and not everyone will be happy with this outcome. >> certainly not. taylor still has supporters in liberia, but it's clear that taylor was charged with horrific abusive -- horrific abuses committed in sierra leone and is bearing the greatest responsibility for those crimes. the judges at the trial consider the case, convicted him, and

sentenced him to 50 years. that ruling has been upheld on appeal. this is a very significant contribution to the sierra leone attempt overall to bring justice. >> elise keppler, thank you for joining us. next up, it is the first step in putting together a nuclear deal between the west and a ran. this thursday it ran's foreign minister -- this year i wrote -- this thursday iran's foreign minister -- iran's economy has been crippled by sanctions enforced by the west, which is skeptical of its nuclear ambitions. in a new tone set by ronnie, iran is -- by rajoy me -- rouhani. >> less than six months is his time to seal a deal.

the new irani president said he had the supreme leader's full backing to negotiate an agreement. >> the only way forward is for a timeline to be set for negotiations and to wrap it up. if it is three months, that would be a ran -- iran's choice. it is a question of months, not years." >> his comments come after several signs of improving relations between iran and the united states. the u.s. means very cautious. >> actions are what matter, and substantive negotiations over iran's nuclear program will be the test will provide the test, will provide a test of whether or not iran is serious about resolving the international community's concerns. >> the first major test will come this thursday when -- meets

with secretary of state john kerry along with counterparts from the security council and germany. >> i am looking to hear from them that they have the same political will as we do to start serious negotiations with the view to reaching an agreement with the shortest span of time. >> both iran and the west will have to secure actions in six months time. >> it is another blow for the syrian national coalition that has long been accused of being a puppet, supporters by the west and arab states. >> another crack in the syrian opposition am a 13 rebel groups including jihadist organizations linked to al qaeda announcing they do not recognize the western backed syria national coalition. that was delivered by a member of a brigade, the main faction

in the northern region. >> these forces call on all military and civilian groups to unite in a clear it islamic context, but it is based on sharia law making it the sole force of legislation. -- the sole source of legislation. >> from exile in turkey, the smc said it is worried in fighting between rebel groups would only hurt the fight against the assad regime. >> this could lead to a delay of victory of the revolution and will only strengthen the regime. the west will regime there are extremist groups fighting in syria and doubt that we want to cram effect -- a democratic state. >> the smc was opposition groups to meet urgently for unification talks. it has already taken a violent turn. last week rebels linked to al qaeda overran an area of the turkish border.

after several days of fighting, the rival groups agreed to a truce, but in a further blow to moderate rebel forces, there are reports that hundreds of fighters have left the fsa to pledge allegiance to jihadist groups. >> a triple bombing at an outdoor market in a village worth of baghdad has killed 14 people, wounded 40 others. police say the three bombs were detonated in the shiite village. the attack came shortly after a bombing in an outdoor market in southern baghdad that killed seven people there. at least 27 people have now been killed in three days of rioting in sudan. protests first erupted on monday over a cuts in field subsidies causing prices to double overnight. six people alone were killed in the latest clashes with security forces. >> black smoke rises above khartoum, violent protests rock in capital since monday. angered by a decision to cut fuel subsidies, though testers

have torched cars, walked roads, looted gas stations. >> the government is not credible. the people were completely taken by surprise at this decision. that is the reason they have decided to take to the streets in protest. >> clashes with security forces have left dozens dead and turned the protests into calls for president omar al-bashir's oster dosh ouster. but the leadership refuses to budge. >> we will never give up. we are not afraid of the protesters. we understand their claims, but we refuse behavior aimed at destroying our infrastructure. >> back in 2012, the government reduced fuel subsidies, sparking similar protests. following the more recent cuts, fuel prices nearly doubled, and with inflation in the country running at 40%, many are worried about being without basic

necessities. >> investigations are underway into how saturday's devastating siege of a shopping mall in the kenyan capital came to pass. dozens of people died when al- shabaab militants went into the west gate facility and opened fire. >> the remains of top-level compound of the westgate shopping center. smoke billows from the wreckage after a four-day siege on the mall by al-shabaab. a forensic operation is underway to establish exactly who was behind the attack. should they be found to be the kenyan -- different -- two french citizens were among at least 18 foreigners killed. just as the victims came from many different nations, several countries are now collaborating with the investigation. >> a number of our friends have

joined our team, and specifically from the following country, the u.s. germany canada, and others supporting. >> some 12 to 15 militants were involved. they were well organized, and american soldiers say it is likely they have help, stockpiling weapons and ammunition from somewhere inside the mall. the vacation -- the investigation will last a week. the al-shabaab leader said the message was for the west. it was a devastating real disaster for france, but now it has been revealed that it was tracked. the information has been published by french newspapers which had access to official inspection reports. it all points to the growing acceptance that repairs on the

line could have prevented the carnage. claire murphy reports. >> seven dead and almost 200 injured. there is mounting speculation this summer's train crash could have been avoided. six carriages derailed as the train passed through the station below the speed limit as 137 kilometers per hour. management quickly admitted metal connect or became detached from the track and moved into the center of the switch. preventing the normal passage of the train's wheels and causing derailment. now french daily list figaro -- eight days before the derailment -- the document points to track maintenance at the area and a missing bolt was noted in february cracked by april. no action was taken. a final inspection in july was completed by a recent recruit working on his own.

with human error and train worthiness already ruled out as causes of the trash -- of the crash, questions about whether track maintenance was to blame would await the finding of the criminal probe. >> we will end on some sports news. it has already been dubbed one of sports greatest comebacks. team usa is first to victory in the america's cup tipping new zealand by 44 seconds. at one point the americans were down 8-1, but a thrilling climax. james barker has more. -- jane barker has more. >> there are comebacks and fairytale endings. team usa produced one of the most monumental triumphs in sporting history. backed by billionaire larry ellison, the team was trailing 8-1 at one stage. but they managed to pull off a

finish which even money cannot buy. >> we would not have had it any other way. came from behind and these guys just showed so much heart. >> the international crew did not get off to a good start. the team was given a two-point penalty and then illegally modified their catamaran and lost points. the never say die group was determined, setting up the greatest comeback in the 162- year race. it's a pithy and challenges -- so close to getting the cup. >> i am so proud of him. it is amazing. >> is the first time the space- age catamarans have been used in the competition. whether it was a fastest speed

or the dramatic space, -- >> welcome to the weekend americas. looking beyond acapulco after mexico is ravaged by twin storms battering both coasts. some of the worst hit areas -- how real is the -- both sides indicate the time could be right for talks between iran and america. republican threats to dismantle health-care reforms could provoke a government shutdown. we start with mexico and the aftermath of tropical storms man uel and ingrid. the devastation was more severe in rural areas, leaving scores dead and areas cut off from aid. it took almost a week for rescue teams to reach one village.

>> landslides and collapsed roads. the mountains of guerrero were hard hit by hurricane manu el. roads were cut off. many of the residents of a nearby village have walked for hours to ask for help. >> the river pulled my daughter away along with three other people. we took refuge on higher ground, but we didn't have anything to eat. it kept on raining. >> on september 14, an overflowing river swept away almost half the village, cutting residents off from the outside world. a couple hundred people remain stranded. one week after the hurricane persistent fog and rain have it it impossible to rescue the villagers by helicopters. no choice, they will have to make the long trek back through the mountains. 30 men volunteered to rescue their neighbors. the day after, loaded with emergency food and medical

supplies, the expedition starts. but the path is dangerous. the slides have left the mountainsides fragile. on the road, we come across opium fields. it is in these isolated areas that the majority of this drug is reduced in mexico. we meet the first group. only a few of them have left the village. the others were too week -- were too weak to make the trip. >> it is really bad, you know? the houses, it took them away and left us with nothing. it is really bad. come take a look and help us out. my mom stayed up there. the house is really near the river. so i am thinking a lot about her. >> this man points to a few wounded people left back on the path. they are too exhausted to go on.

the group joins them, and fernando applies basic first aid. while running from the village this woman burned herself. 300 people are still waiting in the village. with so few resources, the evacuation will be long and difficult. >> we will carry the pregnant ones in hammocks and on our shoulders, even if it is just 100 meters at a time to get there. does that make sense? it doesn't matter to me how long it is, my goal is to get them all out of here. >> after a six-our walk -- further down, the expedition enters a makeshift camp, where people have been eating boiled pumpkins all week. the water has not gone down yet. the clinic and the schools have been washed away. it is full of mud and stones flying by. fernando gathers the family in one of the few houses still standing. he is trying to convince them to follow them.

>> i want to know why you didn't go. >> all of the kids will get more sick. >> fear of drug traffickers cast a shadow over the expedition. the week before, a shootout in a nearby village killed 20 people. >> they don't respect anything. nothing can stop them. they roam around free and do whatever they want. that is what scares people. to bring their families and show up, they start shooting at us. >> finally, almost all the men except their wives and children are ready to go. it rains all through the night. >> listen up. i don't know how much water we have, but we are trying to make sure everyone gets some. >> 150 under nurse people start climbing the mountain. food and water are brought along the route. don't use will have to be abandoned along the way. as they arrive, many will be out

of breath from exhaustion. another red cross crew arrived to give medical attention to those in need. they had to give emergency treatment to those with hypothermia and exhaustion. a hot meal and refuge for a couple nights will not make these people forget they have left their village behind. >> we go back -- will you go back? >> no, no. because we are scared now. >> just like these people, thousands of mexicans have lost everything in the hurricane. the reconstruction effort will last years. >> are the u.s. and iran ready for a reset? president rouhani and barack obama may have not shaken hands but 30 years after diplomatic ties were severed, we look back at over half a century of mistrust. >> the man whose rain would

poison iran-u.s. relations propped up by a 1953 coup d'état orchestrated by the cia and m i six. for decades, new the u.s. or british government admitted their role in the two till papers came to light. in 1979, the shah's regime was overthrown by hard-liners. the u.s. embassy was stormed by students demanding washington hand over the shock for trial -- hand over the shah for trial. after a standoff, it would spend the end of direct relations between washington and to rant. -- and tear on. >> things that would be said by the middlemen such as radio television public declaration

but it is a rough course of diplomacy that led to the current empire. the two engaged in a proxy war. the u.s. supported saddam hussein's iraq. in iranian passenger plane was mistakenly shot down. iran was efficiently opposed to the naval in beijing of afghanistan -- the naval invasion about aniston. -- the naval invasion of afghanistan. >> states like these and their terrorist allies constitute an axis of evil arming to threaten the peace of the world. >> putting iran in the axis of evil was a hammer blow, though it was added to bush's speech at

the last moment. it was a surprise to everyone. the election of mahmoud eichmann did the job in 2005 -- of my mood ahmadinejad. >> we have witnessed that some members of the security council with veto rights have chosen silence with regard to the nuclear warheads of a fake regime. while at the same time they impede scientific progress of other nations. >> a new president the moderate hassan rouhani, is willing to negotiate on the nuclear issue. president barack obama says he is willing to test diplomacy. so far both sides are proceeding cautiously. >> what is meant to be a feather in his cap is becoming a burden for the u.s. president. federal agencies are being pushed to a budget shutdown.

republicans want revisions to defund the white house's signature health care reform. that would effectively stop the plan from getting off the ground, unacceptable for many democrats. >> president barack former president bill clinton are on a last-minute push to get opponents of the affordable care act on side before next week. >> let's talk a little about the health care law. >> if the plan runs to schedule next tuesday americans will be able to enroll in private health insurance plans. online marketplaces where consumers can in theory shop by comparison to find health insurance they can afford. >> normally this would be pretty straightforward. a lot of people don't have health insurance, a lot of people realize they should get health insurance. but let's face it, it has been political, this whole obamacare thing.

>> the affordable care act dubbed obamacare by opposition republicans, was signed into law by the president in march, 2010. the republican-controlled house of representatives had voted dozens of times to repeal, delay, or starve the law of funds. buoyed by anti-obamacare protesters. if congress does not pass a spending bill to fund federal programs for at least a couple more months, some government operations could shut down temporarily, but that would be unlikely to stop exchanges opening up altogether. the government could reallocate funding from elsewhere. that did not stop tea party favorite ted cruz making a marathon speech that lasted through tuesday night. he wants the future government spending plan walked unless the funds obamacare ash blocked unless it defund obamacare.

>> whether or not obamacare is helping the american people, mr. president, if you focus on substance of the evidence is overwhelming. this law is a train wreck. >> but the chamber was largely empty for much of the speech. many republicans are not too keen at operations partially closing down, bickering over the exchanges being the latest of setbacks for obama's health care

>> three british workers -- a buster ever, a midwife, and a paramedic. i have all accepted the challenge to do their job under some of the most stressful and dangerous conditions on the planet. >> that was a really, really horrible birth. >> how you guys do this in these conditions -- >> josh west is leaving his home and his job as a london bus driver to work in manila one of the most densely populated cities in the world. he