these are the headlines. historic trial gets underway for four hezbollah suspects accused of assassinating the former prime minister. at least three people are killed in a hezbollah stronghold in lebanon's border with syria. the vatican is undercut scrutiny by the u.n. on the children's rights. the catholic church has been slammed over allegations of child sex abuse by priests and an inadequate response from church officials. protest over high-cost redevelopment plans for city in northern spain spread to madrid.

oulsons in the street call it a waste of money for the cash- strapped country that it can afford. -- thousands in the street call it a waste of money for the cash-strapped country that it can't afford. coming up this hour, but he waved its the australian open hard with some players and spectators passing out from the heat. steamy details coming up in sports. and then on hand to give us the details of his recent coverage of the ongoing conflict in central african republic. story in the hague for war the trial is on for four members of hezbollah accused of assassinating former lebanese minister. his death nine years ago sent shockwaves throughout the region. he was killed in a massive car

bombing, which many of his supporters blamed on the syrian regime. anyscus has always denied involvement. the suspects are still on the run, so that trial is going on without them. more now from the special tribunal from lebanon. >> the tribunal here has been seen very dramatic evidence of the beginning of this long- awaited trial. we have already seen graphic photographs and video footage of the bomb site taken just minutes after the blast, which killed the former lebanese prime minister. we have seen pictures of his burning car and also of his dead body covered by blankets. it left some people in the public gallery in tears. victims families came from lebanon for the start of this trial. the prosecution has already or has also been going through telephone data, communications records, which they say will prove there was a plot to target

the prime minister. that is expected to make up a large part of their case. no defendants are present in court. the four meant and i did in this part of the case have never been arrested, never brought to face trial that supporters of the shiite movement hezbollah which denounced this tribunal a politically motivated. there are several high profile figures who have made the journey. a delegation of around 30 people, including the former prime minister's son from a watching this case in the hague. significancend the of this trial, we will hear from a spokesperson for the special tribunal. >> this is the first time an international justice a crime of terrorism is being prosecuted on an international level. the lebanese people have waited for this day for a very long

since 2005. there has been a lot of speculation about our work, allegations of leaks, but today is the first time we're going to begin a process where there's going to be an opportunity to hear from prosecution, for the prosecution to present its evidence, for the prosecution to present their with this is. and also for the defense to challenge these allegations and to also present other scenarios, if there are any. >> next, a fundraising conference in kuwait has brought billion dollars in pledges. the money from international donors will go to alleviate the suffering of syrians affected by their country civil war. the meeting comes a week before the so-called geneva 2 talks in finding a political solution to the nearly three-year conflict that has claimed more than 130,000 lives and displaced millions more. it has almost double the amount raised last year.

less than half the $6.5 billion sought by the united nations, to alleviate the suffering of syrians affected by their country civil war. >> humanitarian pledging thanrence, raising more $2.4 billion for the syrian humanitarian response plan and the refugee response plan. that is over the next six months. >> 70 delegations and 24 organizations attended the fundraiser. leading donors included the u.s., who pledged some 380 million dollars, bringing its contribution to $1.7 billion since the conflict started. saudi arabia promised $60 million, his total round of funding is now reaching 250 million dollars. the greatest honor of all was the host country of the conference. >> kuwait will donate for the , 500n humanitarian need

million dollars. >> it will go to victims still in syria. in neighboring countries who have taken in an estimated 2.3 million countries -- refugees. need has escalated dramatically since international donors met last year. today some 9.3 million people inside syria need assistance. including 6.5 million who have been driven out of their homes. russia has denied having any "hidden agenda" on syria. those comments came as it launched a fresh round of crisis diplomacy by hosting a top diplomat of iran and damascus. they want to convince washington to accept trades present at the so-called geneva 2 later this month and the u.s. says they must sign up to the current accord before they can formally join the talks. voters in egypt have overwhelmingly backed the new

constitution. initial tallies after two days of voting say it has passed with 90% of the vote. the results of the referendum was a given, despite a boycott called by the opposition muslim brotherhood. so all eyes now are on the turnout. a big one would lend legitimacy to the military regime. they would also pave the way for the presidential campaign of army chief al-sisi. in spainst broke out wednesday. thousands took to the streets of madrid to protest expensive redevelopment plans for the city of virgos. this was the sixth day running of the protest which began locally before spreading to the capital. the mayor suspended work on the project tuesday, but that hasn't stopped the unrest. the plans to redesign a street in the northern city would cost 8 million

protesters armed as projectiles as are of 2000 hit the streets of madrid on wednesday night, leaving a trail of places. the protests were in support of the residence for a neighborhood in the northern city. it has become a national symbol of resistance after residents began protesting on friday, demanding the local government stopped building works in a new boulevard, expected to cost 8 million. the project deemed excessive by due to the financial crisis. over 14 people have been arrested since the protest began. local authorities but the redesign on hold on tuesday. suspend thed to works and to create a working group in the next days.

plans include redistricting traffic lanes and replacing parking spaces with a paid underground car park. boulevard is simply not a priority. >> this is a working-class neighborhood that has many problems with unemployment. >> this is not the right time for the boulevard because the city coffers are in do. we can't cope with these costs. they should wait for better times for the economy. >> spain's economic crisis has left one in four people out of work. the vatican is under tough scrutiny by u.n. committee on children's rights. the catholic church has been slammed over allegations of child sex abuse by priests and inadequate response from church officials. pope francis has said dealing with abuse is vital for the church's credibility, the members of the holy see cap

diplomatic entity beans as the cases of the responsibility of the country's where the abuse takes place. more on that story. has promised to tackle child sex abuse within the catholic church had on. now the vatican is gearing up for a grilling. for the first time, answering to the u.n. committee on the rights of the child. the holy see delegation is in geneva to defend itself against allegations the church enable the rate of thousands of children by protecting pedophile priests. news that was welcomed by abuse victims. >> i think it is time for the church to stop this secrecy. the church puts its reputation before the victims, the pain of the abuse that we carry. that is why was so excited when i heard about this final meeting between the vatican are presented its and the u.n.

>> a vatican spokesman said the church sex abuse crimes committed around the world must be dealt with by authorities in individual countries. >> some that are proposed for discussion are about specific cases in different lands. crimes,they're terrible tos true, but the confidence prosecute and condemn and isceed against these crimes of the authorities of these lands. >> the church acknowledges more than 4000 cases of sexual abuse. last month, the pope announced a vatican commission would be set up to combat abuse by priests. the u.n. committee will issue its final observations, nonbinding recommendation, on february 5. >> flash floods in indonesia have left at least her teen dead. days of to racial rain triggered the flooding in a landslide from

ascending tens of thousands fleeing for safer ground. away as theshed floodwaters moved in, leaving residents and rescuers frantically digging through debris, sometimes with just their barehands. some business news, apple says it will refund consumers at million to settle a case by u.s. regulators over the ppy it handles its in a purchases. the federal trade commission said they were billed for charges incurred by children through mobile and ipad apps without their parents consent. not so much that apple as naughty apple. it got a slap on the list from the federal trade commission for letting children by products using mobile apps without mommy or daddy knowing. >> apple failed to tell parents are authorizing the charge for

virtual items to be used in the app as well as opening a 50 minute window through which their child could make him and it -- unlimited additional purchases without further action by the parents. >> the ftc says tens of thousands of customers in the u.s. have been affected. one mom said her child spent $2600 while playing the game. refunds,eed to full but settled a class-action suit last february on the same issue, giving out tens of millions to 23 million affected customers. apple ceo tim cook said it doesn't feel right for the ftc to sue over a case that had already been settled, however, we decided to accept it rather than take on a and distracting legal fight. under the settlement, apple will have to change its billing practices to make it more obvious the purchases are taking place. take a look at the

headlines. historic trial is underway for four hezbollah suspects accused of assassinating the former lebanese prime minister nine years ago. this as a least three people are killed in a car bomb attack in a hezbollah stronghold near lebanon's border with syria. the vatican is under tough scrutiny by u.n. committee on children's rights. the catholic church has been slammed over allegations of child sex abuse by priests and an inadequate response from church officials. protests over high-cost redevelopment plans for a city in northern spain spread out to madrid, thousands in the streets call it a waste of money for the cash-strapped country. the fund-raising conference to help syrian refugees brought in some $2.4 billion in pledges. that is still less than half of what was expected. the u.n. had asked for a staggering $6.5 billion this

year to help the millions of people affected by the war in syria. the tragic refugee situation there's a subject of today's inside look. we have a spokesperson for the u.n. high commissioner for refugees in paris. thank you for speaking to us. 6.5 billion dollars, the largest ever funding appeal for single crisis by the u.n.. did officials really think they could raise that much money yesterday? >> that is the amount of money that is needed. the needs are huge. the figures are very high for the needs, but also the needs on the ground are staggering. last year, we saw the highest since thenew refugees genocide in 1994. now our organization has a responsibility of protecting and taking care of more than 14 million people around the world. going back to syria. the situation there is critical for both inside the country and in the neighboring countries were more than 2.3 million syrian refugees are hosted at

the moment. >> inside syria, getting the people that aid is a struggle. why is that? >> basically because of the conflict. security is a huge challenge for us and other organizations who are working on the ground. we have had an operation to help people inside syria met and we tried to reach every part of the country, but of course it is not always possible because of the conflict. that is our main challenge. the main problem that we face inside the country. nearly four point finally people have been displaced to the conflict inside syria -- 4.5 people have been displaced the confidence syria. >> what is being done to help those refugees still within the borders of syria? >> people inside syria find it very difficult to seek help they need. basic try to distribute

aid to them will stop their organizations that provide medical assistance and food. it is a big challenge for us to reach everybody inside syria, and we are not by any means reaching all those who need us. >> tell us about the role of the day bring countries who have been taking in some of the refugees? >> their role is crucial. they're taking the majority of the refugees from syria. they are countries that have their own problems, countries ,acing shortages of water children who need to go to .chool, families need shelter food is necessary. many of the syrians who arrive are looking for work and are competing with the locals and therefore, salaries tend to go down just at the same time as rent goes up because syrians cannot afford to rent houses or

apartments. it is very difficult for the neighboring countries. these countries have been very generous to receive these refugees so far, but need help. this conference was aimed mainly at assisting these countries to continue to be generous and received the refugees. >> the optimistic about the geneva 2 conference coming up? do you think some solution will be found to help these millions of people in desperate need? >> we hope so. we respond to the immediate humanitarian needs of people, but ultimately, the solution has to be political and we're hoping that some solution will be found, just as in other parts of the world, complex have come to an end and allowed people to return to their countries -- conflicts have come to an and and allow people to return to their countries. at the moment, the conflict seems to be getting worse. >> what about other nations around the world? serious doubt the only country in on foot. -- syria is not deal the country

in conflict. >> master we saw a number of new conflicts that produced new refugees. most of them come from syria, but also countries like sudan, molly, democratic republic of congo, and somalia also produced new refugees. these are the hotspots, the conflicts that continue to produce cds. more recently, we've seen a situation in the african republic as will deteriorate. those are the countries that continue to challenge us and we are overstretched. we have never been in a situation where some in the conflict seven going on at the same time. at the same time, conflicts continue. in the past, sometimes the fact that some conflicts came to an end and allowed refugees to return to the countries of origin affects the number of new refugees. this hasn't been the case. there are countries that continue where the conditions returns,onducive to

like afghanistan, iraq, somalia. these people continue to remain as refugees and although, there have been some small returns to these countries. no large returns have taken place. at the moment, an organization has to care for more than 40 million people around the world. of those 40 million, about 11 million are refugees. over 20 million are what we call internally displaced persons, people who are within their own country, and who have been displaced by war, conflict, human rights violations, or prosecution. >> the challenges for you the same between central african republic and or south sudan and a country like syria? >> in many cases, security is one of the main problems we face because we cannot help people who are suffering if we ourselves become targets. we cannot safely do our work.

but in some cases, logistics can be a problem. it might be difficult to reach the places where the refugees or internally displaced people are. i would say the main problem that we face is the lack of security in many of the situations. >> thank you for taking the time to speak to us. it is time to take a look at what is been happening in the world of sports over the past 24 hours. we will stop -- start with a hot austrian open. >> made it safely through to the last set at the australian open. way runner-up battled his in straight sets. hehough he took a 5-1 lead, fought back to 7-6 before grabbing the winning points ahead. the two following sets fell to the frenchman. unbearable heat. final score, 76, 64, 64.

4, 6-4.6- second-round victory over italy. she secure the open at 6-3. battledly three times, hard to take the set 6-4. throwing away victory. did not register one win in the final set. >> i fought until the very and. she was living 4-1 in the third step. i hit back. the winning points came. i was fearing that feeling powerless. -- i was feeling powerless. here are some of the results from the second round.

some french league action. up midway.e finishing off a slick team move. to get one back in the final moments. a penalty. on for a win. finals.eague cup semi nice took the lead. direct free kick on 16 minutes. two goals in four minutes. trading goals.

just five minutes to go. last word, two minutes later, hit the winner final score 4-3. .econd division european handball championships in denmark. within seconds in the group stage. they nearly lost their opener against serbia. despite taking an early lead, or soon taken back by the french. this match going down to the wire. 27 ahead.rance 28- french victory.

the rally in chile, four hours, 23 minutes, 35 seconds, eating by three minutes, 47 seconds. defending champion managed to take 10 minutes off the lead of spain's. hit trouble in the dunes. another former champion had to give up and left the course by helicopter. stage 10 in the bike race. first after four hours, 61 minutes, 40 seconds. was second,a rider eight minutes down from the defending champion third on his yamaha. overall leader finished fourth, 11 minutes, enough for the spaniards to retain the overall lead.

stage three, 133 kilometers covered. regarded as the most difficult stage of the race. -- yourtrolled controlled the lead. belgian won the final sprint, running the team.

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