>> the nobel peace prize for 2013 is to be awarded to the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons opcw, for its extensive work towards eliminating chemical weapons. >> a chemical weapons watchdog wins this year's nobel peace prize. the opcw has the daunting task of overseeing the destruction of syria's chemical weapons. on the ground, human rights watch says syrian rebels have carried out war crimes. a new report says scores were killed and kidnapped when rebels attacked pro-regime villages in

august. and constructive talks but no results. u.s. president barack obama meets with top republicans. there is still no agreement to end the current federal shutdown or to avoid a looming debt default. those are the headlines on "france 24." thanks for joining us. honoring the pioneering and courageous. this year's nobel peace prize has been awarded. the winner is the opcw. the group is responsible for overseeing the distraction of syria's chemical weapons. it is a surprise choice among the list of some 259 nominees. among the front runners were malala yousafzai and a congolese gynecologist. take a look. >> the world was expecting a 16- year-old girl but the nobel

peace prize has gone to the international chemical weapons watchdog. >> the nobel peace prize for 2013 is to be awarded to the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons opcw, for its extensive work for -- towards eliminating chemical weapons. >> the u.n.-backed organization, which is made up of 189 member states, was set up in 1990 seven to implement the 1993 convention banning chemical weapons -- set up in 1997 to implement the 1993 convention banning chemical weapons. a team of about 30 opcw chemical inspectors are in syria and should soon be joined by a second team in order to dismantle all of syria's chemical weapons and facilities by mid-2014. >> the opcw monitors are already on the ground in syria. the nobel panel said their

decision to award the chemical watchdog was an attempt to prompt more countries to ratify the 1993 chemical weapons convention. let's take a listen to the committee chairman. >> opcw has not been given this prize first and foremost because of syria. as i said, it is because of its long-standing efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. that is why we are highlighting this and giving a message to all those who have not ratified the convention and to those who have not promised their obligations under the convention. please ratify, please honor their obligations. >> that is -- opcw wins its peace prize for its ongoing work in syria. a new report says rebels carried out a deadly offensive in august. scores were killed and abducted

during the attack against pro- regime villages. the human rights group says the events amount to war crimes. >> syrian rebels systematically executed civilians and took hostages, so says human rights watch. the group claims it has strong evidence of abuses committed during an offensive last august. in some cases, entire families were gunned down as they fled. >> [speaking foreign language] >> human rights watch says the scale and organization of a tax -- attacks suggest premeditation , making them crimes against humanity. >> opposition fighters routinely killed all adult males they saw. they also killed anyone they saw that was [indiscernible]

>> they publicize their involvement through videos and statements -- they publicized their involvement through videos and statements. >> individuals or countries that are supporting these groups are now on notice about the types of violations they are committing and could be complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity if they continue to support them. >> the rebels are battling to overthrow the shah al-assad. rebels and government forces have both been accused of of -- of abuses throughout the conflict. >> there is a light at the end of a tunnel -- at the end of the tunnel. republicans have offered a

short-term debt limit increase in an effort to stave off default. the president says he wants a long-term solution. both sides have agreed to keep talking. with the deadline looming, there are still major sticking points. >> a federal government still at standoff over the congress budget. republicans in washington have woken fresh discussions -- have opened fresh discussions with president obama, even if little progress was made. >> we had a very useful meeting. it was clarifying to both sides on where we are. the president said he would consult with the administration folks. hopefully, we can see a way forward after that. >> the speaker of the house said markets in motion when he revealed the plan to raise the debt ceiling -- the speaker of the house set markets in motion when he revealed a plan to raise the debt ceiling.

>> a temporary increase in the debt ceiling, a way to reopen the way forward for the government. >> one house has chosen to stand its ground. they have hinted the deal may be close. >> the president is happy that cooler heads at least seem to be prevailing in the house, that there at least seems to be a recognition that default is not an option. >> most blame the republicans for the government shutdown which has now lasted for over 10 days. >> morocco's king mohammed vi -- the center-right national rally of independence will replace ministers. they will try to stop some

reforms by the imf to shore up morocco's public finances. >> are mining the government who is boss -- >> reminding the government who is boss. king mohammed vi restock his cabinet -- restocked his cabinet with new members. >> it is an important day for us. this year, we are getting our revenge. six new women are in government. >> their main coalition partner was significantly weekend when denver -- when anothertheir main coalition partner was significantly weakened.

legislative elections were last held after a referendum on the changes made to the constitution . recent unpopular reforms for subsidies in the retirement system are getting protesters back into the streets of robot almost every day. the palace hopes this reshuffle will knit the growing social discontent -- will nip the growing social discontent. >> morocco took over western sahara in 1975 following spanish withdrawal. algerian-backed rebels want to turn the region into an independent state. previous u.n. resolutions have called for a self-determination referendum.

a car bomb has exploded outside the swedish consulate in the libyan city of benghazi. the building was badly damaged but no cash of these were reported. the swedish mission is one of the few diplomatic offices remaining in the city. this comes a day after the libyan prime minister was kidnapped and released a few hours later. the country has faced a rising insurgency since the fall of muammar qaddafi -- muammar gaddafi. a group of trade unionists as -- has wrapped a mission inspecting sites for the 2022 world cup. >> an unusual event for this small restaurant in a poor area of doha, qatar. the trade unionists are meeting with construction workers. this is one of them.

he has not received a salary for over two months. >> in the camp where i live, we sleep on the ground and i don't get a regular salary. >> the unionists have come to the emirate of qatar for three days especially to hear problems like these. it is an unannounced visit that has seen them barred from several sites and companies. by exerting a bit of pressure, they have managed to meet some officials. >> it is a shame. the majority of their population today is made up of immigrants. we have to make them see that human rights are for everyone, not before qataris -- not only for qataris. >> guitar has been accused of exploiting its foreign workers -- qatar has been accused of exploiting its foreign workers. >> some of the numbers -- they

do not really reflect the reality. there are many -- some negative. in the end the [indiscernible] >> however, the delegation held a press conference to declare these efforts insufficient. building and wood international called on the emirates to recognize foreign workers' rights. >> two saudis have died after contracting the mirs virus which has flulike symptoms and can cause -- the annual hottest -- haaj is this weekend. authorities are worried that people could become infected and carry the virus back to their home countries.

>> this year's pilgrimage to mecca could pose a health risk. at the airport authorities are checking new arrivals for signs of middle east repertory system -- middle east respiratory virus. >> the health status of the pilgrims whether they are visiting the prophet's mosques in any of these places, is excellent, thankfully. there is no disease epidemic. >> symptoms resemble the common cold but the virus can also cause pneumonia and, in some cases, kidney failure. >> coronaviruses range from the common cold to the sars epidemic around the world over 10 years

ago. this is somewhere in the middle. >> it is transferred through close contact. the crowds could be a threat. pilgrims will be inspected. officials say the event is safe to attend and will carry on as normal. people have been advised to take precautions. >> i'm not wearing this mask to percent myself from a -- to protect myself from the coronavirus, per se, but just to protect myself from all diseases. >> last year more than 3 million faithful made the pilgrimage half of which were foreigners. >> and finally, new york's time square has something for everyone. on thursday, music fans were given a treat. the famous intersection was turned into an impromptu concert hall. former beatle paul mccartney surprised people with a concert. the 15-minute lunchtime show was

kept a secret until shortly before its start. the 71-year-old and his band sang tracks from his upcoming album. that is it from us in the newsroom. stay tuned tu "france 24 -- to "france 24. -- stay tuned to "france 24." we will have more headlines coming up shortly. >> france have their eyes in a spot -- on a spot in next year's world cup. they are beginning to focus on the likelihood of entry via the playoffs. they have one remaining group magic and finland on tuesday. -- group match in finland on tuesday. demoing you win, you are

happier. it is -- >> when you win, you are happier. it is a little bit calmer. we are certainly not going to complain about that. >> it is the best way. that said, this is going to be a different context. nobody knows who our playoff opponents will be. when we say prepared, we are putting ourselves into a mindset we will need in november, but in a totally different context. >> australia have already qualified for the finals after finishing second to japan. their feel-good bubble was popped in emphatic fashion when they were hammered 6-0 in a friendly by brazil. >> even if you lose, it is part of the game. that can happen any time. we are not here in order to have that thinking. we consider most important that we will have a better

performance and that we grow together as a team and to get back to the strength that was characteristic for our team. >> the coach has come under considerable pressure following that defeat to brazil. the aussies would love to get back on track with a victory. belgium travel to face croatia in group a. the teams previously met and drew 1-1. a defeat to scotland and a 1-1 d raw to serbia has left the croatians five points behind the belgians. >> belgian is in better position because they are five points in front of us. but there are still chances for us. we need to win tomorrow. then we will see what happens.

tomorrow, for us, is a big game. maybe it can distract belgium a little bit in the last game. we will do everything to finish first. we know it is going to be very difficult. >> the belgian side are on the brink of a first world cup since 2002. the goalkeeper is taking nothing for granted with the dangerous players croatia has. >> he is a very good forward. he scores a lot of goals. he is playing with bayern. he is a very good player. he is the key player of the team really. he produces very good free kicks . they are very fast. he can make some good shots from long distance.

they can allow some space when they attack. we can counterattack if we are very fast. >> croatia will hope to have top spot still to play for when they visit scotland on tuesday, but a place in the playoffs appears more likely. gael monfils has caused an upset at the shanghai masters coming through to beat the fifth seed roger federer. they went to a tiebreak in the second set. fedor was in trouble at 3-5 down -- federer wqas in -- federer was in trouble at 3-5 down. monfils clinched it in the third set. federer now uncertain of making the world tour finals in london. no problems for world number two novak djokovic against the unpredictable italian fabio fog

nini. a powerful smash on break point putting the serb up in the first set. fognini did take a set from joke of it at the indian wells -- from djokovic at the indian wells masters. another two breaks in the second set completed the job. fognini was unable to make any impression on me serb -- on the serb. djokovic will take on monfils who has never beaten him in eight matches. >> today on the net azerbaijan's president was reelected for a third term. an american man's attempt at seduction starts a new viral craze. and random new yorkers given the

opportunity to conduct a world- class orchestra. it came as no great surprise on wednesday when i azerbaijan's outgoing head of state was -- when azerbaijan's outgoing head of state was re-elected. critics say his victory was a foregone conclusion. he was announced as the landslide winner well before results were posted. it was part of a testing process and nothing to do with the ballot. citizens are far from convinced and have taken to social networks today announced voting irregularities -- to social networks to announce -- to

denounce voting irregularities. these pictures were reportedly taken in the city. they have been doing the rounds on the web. they appear to show officials busy ballot stuffing. they have condemned the numerous voting irregularities. he does not recognize the ballot as free and fair. when he met a girl in a los angeles coffee shop last week and need gave he -- and she gave him her number, little did he know he was about to become an internet cessation -- sensation. this is a short video clip he sent to the lovely lady in an attempt to win her heart.

we see him stroke his face sensually. this could have been the end of it. the recipient of the now famous clip decided to share it online with the entire planet. it has inspired countless parodies. >> the caricatures have been flooding in. as you can see from the innumerable clips it is pretty popular both adults and children, men and women all reenacting the video in equally wacky ways. ♪ some have even incorporated the now famous face-stroking into unlikely scenarios. in disguise for example. even producing a toy remake of the video, as seen here. even animals are getting in on the act. their owners could not resist being part of the latest craze to sweep the social networks. the term barrycades was

initially used by sarah palin. it is now being used by ultraconservative americans furious over the temporary closure of national parks and monuments. spontaneous protesters are seen forcing their ways past the barricades preventing them from visiting me national attractions -- visiting the national attractions that have been forced to close during the shutdown. this is the world's highest website. it claims to be over 18,000 kilometers high. you can go up or down by a virtual elevator. it was part of an experiment to test web browsers capacity to display very long pages. here's the latest offering from the team at improv everywhere.

they set up an orchestra in new york city and gay passers by the opportunity to play conductor -- in new york city and gave passersby the opportunity to play conductor. here is the result. ♪ [laughter] [applause]

>> hello, and welcome to "the health show." >> it's a new year and a good time to start eating more healthfully. >> but for those that find that too difficult, there's always the radical alternative: surgery. >> it's a growing trend all over the world not just in the richer countries. in india, we'll meet the weight loss surgical team who are carrying out three times as many operations