>> the daily death toll in syria has reached the highest level since the war broke out. the peace talks in geneva struggle to make any headway. ant government protests rock venezuela. three people are shot dead in the worst unrest since the death of hugo chavez last year. and more incredible winds and rain once again better the u.k. the country still recovering from severe flooding after the wettest january on record.

also coming up, should youth nashea imlegal for children? the parliament is voting on that this afternoon since the issue is the subject of today's inside look. and you'll get all the details on the exclusive interview of a french jihaddist who is now fighting in syria. first, right to our top story. the peace talks on syria are now in round two in geneva but there is no sign of a breakthrough. today russia submitted its own draft resolution on fighting terrorism in syria, the term the syrian regime uses to refer to the opposition and it seems to show as remaining true to its ally alassad. russian foreign minister also says moscow had presented its own draft resolution on

humanitarian aid, after rejecting a rival act. into ng to breathe life the peace talks. >> the moment is crucial. there is a threat of terrorism in syria. and it's spreading. we have to join our efforts to combat this. >> we defend our common understanding on how we should proceed in the dialogues. by implementing the geneva 1 communique. >> the syrian minister was refering to a communique adopted in june 2012, an ambuge proposal to provide a basis for negotiations the ongoing peace talks have seen little progress so far. russia a key ally of president

al assad and the dwrites which backs the opposition putting pressure on both sides to try to break the deadlock. they ask russia to do more to kickstart the talks. >> we want russia to respect and stand with the syrian people and prevent any efforts to block a political solution. we don't want them going to side negotiations that are not in the interest of the syrian people. >> as the parties remain deadlocked in geneva, fighting on the ground has intest fid. the death toll is higher than ever since the talks began three weeks ago. meanwhile on the ground, syria has been hit with its highest daily debts tolls. as you heard, since the start of the conflict three years ago. a syrian watchdog group says close to 5,000 have been killed since the first round of peace talks began three weeks ago. >> amateur footage shows barrel

bombs following on the damascus suburbs. people search through the scene to carry away the dead. and there's death. they fall from the sky from syrian helicopters the past three weeks have seen the highest death toll since the conflict began. they say almost 5,000 people have died since the peace talks began on january 22, making an average daily death toll of 236, almost a third of which are thought to be civilians. these come as syrian troops and hezbollah fighters pounded the rebel-held town believed to be part of the broader battle to control routes to lebanon and between the capital damascus and the government's coastal stronghold. more than 13 air strikes hit on

wednesday as clashes between the president and forces and the opposition continued on the outskirts into the morning. fighting across syria has killed over 130,000 people and forced more than 6 million to flee their homes since the war began in 2011. >> now, egyptian general has yet to officially announce he is running for president but he has already got the backing of russia. russian president putin has wished egypt's military chief victory in the presidential vote. for more on this, let's go to cairo. what kind of weight does the russian president's backing hold there in egypt? do people there care what pollute p thinks? and would this help him if he ever officially makes the announcement to run? >> well, i think that putin's backing will be hailed here in

egypt. i think it might help putin re in that the idea that they're so in heavily in favor when the u.s. government in comparison is perhaps a little more circumstance spect, more on the fence. so it's another brick in the wall on what is assumed to be an inevitable presidential bid but i think it could lead to a skyrocketing popularity for putin tor being on the right side of egyptian history. >> also in moscow trying to negotiate a $2 billion arms deal with russia meant to replace the subsiding assistance from egypt's old ally washington. tell us about this new relationship being built between egypt and russia. >> well, reports are that it is going to be up to $2 billion arms purchase mainly funded by

saudi arabia and the united arab emirates. not egyptian money. the gulf states are buying these weapons for egypt. and foreign ministry spokespeople have made it very clear that they are not trying to replace american aid, they are not trying to replace american military aid. one foreign ministry official said they are just interested in diverse if iing their partnerships. i think they want more options. and perhaps knowing that the u.s. congress is very leery about the current state of affairs in egypt, they just don't want this big debate every year when it comes time for the military aid. so it is quite possibly a signal to washington that they're not the only game in town, but at the same time they're they want to make it clear they're not replacing the u.s. with russia. >> thank you for that. now to venezuela where three protesters have been killed and dozens hurt in ca rack cass. protests by right wing groups

occurred three weeks ago over the new president and the economic crisis. the president is seen as the spiritual successor to the former leader chaufezz. the majority of demonstrators were young people held as part of youth day in a 19th century battle for independence. >> gathering with supporters after a day of violent protests to the president the students demonstrating against him are part of a, quote, nazi fascist tendency. the venezuelan leader says he will tighten security to avert a coup. >> everything was planned and those who orchestrated it have been identified. i will not take a single step backwards in my quest for justice. and in imposing peace. >> the opposition has been holding protests across the country for the past weeks

complaining about crime, corruption, and financial hardship. on wednesday, demonstrations turned violent when unknown gunmen opened fire outside the attorney general's office where both opposition and government supporters were rallying. several people were killed dozens wounded. >> we venezuelans don't have food, there are no jobs, no education, there's insecurity. we don't want this any more. >> we are tired and say enough oppressing, enough of the lack of opportunities that we have in this country. >> the opposition is demanding the release of students who have been arrested during demonstrations. its leaders called on their supporters to keep demonstrating peacefully. >> to the u.k. where tens of thousands of britance have been left without power after more gale force winds and torrential rain battered the country. the latest round of bad weather to drench parts of england and wales since december.

prime minister cam ran has promised to help whatever it takes. >> well, weather wise it's the lull before the next storm because things have calmed down, the vile president winds have stopped battering the u.k. but we understand there will still be some bad gusts of winds, sleet and rain. but it's mainly the outage of the power and also the travel disruption that are the big news today. tens of thousandses of homes are indeed without power. and as far as commuters are concerned, they're facing renewed travel disruption after these hurricane-force winds have battered the country. so weather forecasters predicting a lull today from the stormy weather. but there's more to come. we understand that another low is waiting in the wings to hit the u.k. on friday. and that new storm could bring more bad weather, more gails of

more than 80 miles per hour tomorrow and over the weekend. travel is seriously disrupted across the u.k. train services in parts of the country are canceled, others have serious delays or even diversions. many roads that closed because of flooding or fallen trees. one man believed to be in his 70s died in a suspected elect cushion while trying to move a tree. let's remember there were gusts of up to 112 miles per hour recorded yesterday and one of the worst parts of the country was hit was wales. there are still 60,000 homes without power and the rest i understand it across northern and southwest england and the west midlands. engineers have managed to restore power to 145,000 customers since the storms hit on wednesday with 6,000 restored overnight. so there's still a lot of work to do, a lot of roads that are

flooded, clearing debris, fallen trees and other damage caused by the 100 mile per hour winds as we wait and baton down for the storms to hit. >> the human rights subcommittee is holding a public hearing on the situation of migrant workers in ca that ahead of the feefa world cup in 2022. 1.8 million migrant workers are now preparing projects for that world cup. earlier this week they released a report on workers rights saying they would improve. for more on this, in brussels. what more can you tell us? >> well, basically what you just said. what we heard today is that the situation for migrant workers is quite frankly appalling. o the head of the european parliament subcommittee invited a representative to come here

and say why that country was chosen to hold the world cup in 2022 when we've seen that report come out a few days ago saying that up to 200 guides died while they were working. we also have a report from amnesty international saying these workers will be subjected to the serious abuse, no pay or delayed payments. he said up to 95% didn't even have a passport. they say the trade union confederation was also here says that she's been there many times and that the labor there would absolutely break your heart. it's traumatizing not just migrant workers but footballers who are there. their trust in a country that they have been invited into. they're just normal people. they just want to go home and they want a decent life to no threats. we heard this morning an aljeern french professional

football player gave an emotional player saying he was stuck there for two years and all he wants to do is go back to france. >> reporting there from brussels. >> valentine's day is tomorrow. february 14. and for any of you who have been married a long time, this might make you smile. poland is now issuing presidential medals for any couple who have stayed married for 50 years. all of these couples you see here are the recipients of the silver presidential medal that features roses and a pink ribbon. for the record, 50 years is more than 18,000 hours of married life. something to think about when those married ones amongst us go home tonight. >> let's look at our headlines. the daily death toll in syria has reached its highest levels since the war first broke out three years ago, this as the

peace talks in geneva struggle to make any headway. anti-government protests rock venezuela. three people are shot dead in the worst unrest since the death of hugo chavez last year. and more incredible winds and rain once again batter the country. the country is still recorg from severe flooding after the wettest january in the u.k. on record. now, what would you do if your child was terminally ill? it's impossible to even imagine that situation let alone live the reality of it. but for some children in that desperately horrible case, one painful answer could be to consider youth nashea. today, belgium is expected to approve to legalize medically assisted suicide for minors. youth nay sha for adults has

been legal already for the past 11 years. that parliamentary vote today could usher in that unprecedented step of abolishing age restrictions on who can ask to be put to death. >> should terminally ill children be allowed the right to request their own death? bell jan law makers tustled over the tough ethical decision ahead of a vote on thursday. backers say it is about the freedom to choose to die in dignity. it's about the extremely complex situations. you're trying to provide a framework here for situations that exist in practice. to give children rights and freedom of choice. to give parents freedom and safety. and to get the more they're asking for. so a recent poll found 75% in favor. there have been some vocal street protests. if the legislation is adopted, children under 18 suffering

unbearable physical pain and already close to death could request ue then nay sha in their parents agreed. three doctors and a psychologist would have to testify that the child is agree. opponents say it's too much pressure to put on a terminally ill chilet. >> children just as adults can be influenced by those around them. we should ask ourselves whether children have enough awareness, that it is irreversible, that you can't go back. opponents also argue they're one of the best equipped countries for alleviating the pain until it runs its course. the senate adopted the legislation by a wade measure. if it passes in the house, all that would remain is the king's signature usually a formality. >> joining me on today's inside look is the secretary of the committee on bioethics at the european council of human

rights directory. thank you for taking the time to speak to us. the human rights is currently writing a guide with guidelines for both professionals and families about youth nay sha. tell us about this. this issue is obviously such a hot button one. all the more so when it has to do with children like here in belgian. in your experience is a child or the child's parents capable of making off is a decision? >> i think there has to correct what you announced at the beginning. we are not drafting guidelines. we have approved a guide which aimed at facilitating principle where it's been reached at the european level on the patients. it is not about that it is about decisions in end of life situations concerning medical treatments, which is the vast majority of end of life decisions. the issue of youth nashea, assisted suicide is just getting the news regularly but it remains a limited number of

situations and some countries have allowed the procedure and have provided legislation for that which was not the focus on the work by the council of europe which focuses on the majority of situations on end of life which kshes decisions on medical treatment. i think the central question that is the council of europe and the committee on bioethics was willing to address is relating to a common challenges that countries in europe are encountering. it's linked to a positive sign which is the improvement of liing conditions and medical progress which make people living longer and prospects of survival to disease is greatly improved. so those are positive signs. but at the same time, it's linked to situations where you have an aging population according to euro set you have in the last 50 years a life expectancy has increased by about 10 years on average. disease that used to be acute

and fast progressing diseases are transforming to chronic disease with low progression leading to situations, end of life situations, which are becoming more complex with people whom often with limited capacity to participate in the decisions that ksh them. that was the focus of the work. at the center of that conversation is the issue of protection of human dignity and how to ensure the protection of those rights and fundamental value in the frame bork of the decisions taken on medical treatment when the person is affected in its capacity to take themselves, the decisions, which remain the prinspl. the patient has to remain in the center. >> what kind of glines exactly, what can you do to ansure that these gliges are followed? i'm thinking of the case here in franz of the young man who has been in minimal

consciousness in hospital for the past five years which has led to a massive family conflict which has gob to the top of a french administrative court. what kind of glines could have been given to avoid that squation the family finds itself in now? >> the guidelines are not a legal instrument. it's really a guide. and the idea is to transform what are agreed principals. in the language and in relation to the clinical situation. so what the guide is doing is providing references to explain the different steps to talk about the procedure for the decisions to be taken. it does not talk about the content of that decision. but it says about the role of the families, of the medical team, of the previously expressed wishes of the person of trust twhen patient has designated a person. it explains when the person, when the patient is not any more in a position to participate or if these participation capacity to

participate is affected, or if the person doesn't want to get that decision how the collective procedure involving the different members of the medical team but also the family and those close to the patients are involved in this process to get as close as possible to what would be the wishes of the person. taking off to account the medical situation but also the wishes of the particular situation of the person, the implications for the life quality, and so other aspects that may not be purely medical. >> thank you for that. secretary of the committee on bioethics at the european council. thank you very much. 24. re watching france sochi french cup. at halftime.er

they clung on to force extra time but with penalties home. , they bundled final score on course. 's. ding an upset in their the players, give them the lead after 22 minutes. the visitors haven't won a trophy since 1971. striker had a great chance fter the error but missed. u have no problems against their opponent, facing division set.

there will be at least three in the quarter finals. make that four if they win today. in france, bass tier has been awarded three points after the atlantic club field hit a uspended player. as a result, he dropped from last year 11 while the other moved from 10th to 8th. offered a chance but they were eld a goal to score at home. manchester was disposed due to strong winds. disposed 4-0. , where we are usually is always very passing, with speedy

defenders do well there. we got plenty of courses in. in he experienced players the second half ran away with that. when they tried cut backs, they defended well because they have a lot of experience as well. our team is good who can play against anybody in our league. at the moment, not the team b with the players they have on the but we are not. > the player suspended after insulting a referee after a french top home 14 defeat. e manager will be denied access unless officials change. the club's also been fined

10,000 euros. the first time in olympic history there was a tie for an alpine ski title. sharing the downhill gold.a7gucñ