let's go out a short way to the airport, and neave barker, my colleague who is there where the firstwo explosions took place, and you left us, neave, about 30 minutes ago saying the airport director was about to make a statement. did you have a chance to hear what he had say? >> reporter: yes, that's right. the chief executive of the airport came out to speak to the media. he first of all confirmed he did not think the airport would be ready to be opened again until at least thursday. that is to give investigators enough time to pour over the scene. this is of course, an active murder scene. and whatever evidence is gathered here could have massive implications on the french and belgian investigators on going investigations. he put an end to the speculation that both of the blasts that occurred here actually happened inside the departure hall. there had been some suggestions that one blast took place outside and another inside. a little bit earlier on, we also heard from american airlines who have put out a statement, primarily because it had been widely reported that one of the blas

neave barker referring to that press conference taking place.is what he had to say. >> translator: today was a black day. i'm very sad for the airport. our thoughts go fist to the victims and families and friends. the airport was hit very hard. two bombs went off in the departure hall where there were thousands of people during the check-in. 600 flights have been canceled. tomorrow we hope to restart operations. >> that's the head of the airport talking just a short while ago. the e.u. head of foreign policy, she appeared to be overcome with emotion as she reacted to news of the attacks during a news conference she was giving. >> it is also a very sad day for europe, as europe and its capitol are suffering the same thing that this region has known and knows every single day. we are still waiting for more precise news on the dynamics of the attacks in brussels. but it is quite clear that the roots of the pain we are suffering around our region are very much the same. >> yeah, difficult moment there. crossing to cuba, where the u.s. president has

paul brennan is close to the metro station, neave barker is at the airport.his is his report. >> reporter: this video was taken just a few moments after the explosions at brussels airport. eyewitnesss say they felt the blast. >> i saw a light flash, and a big explosion, and then people started to scream and started to run, and it was at that point we realized there was something going on. >> translator: we were having lunch on the fourth floor when we heard the first explosion. then there was screaming and people started to leave, then there was a second large explosion and the windows shatterered. >> reporter: the explosions took place just after 7 gmt with another just an hour later at the metro station in the city. >> as i was exiting the metro, there was a loud muffled explosion, a lot of dust raised and people started kind of panicking and leaving the metro station very quickly. >> reporter: belgium had been on high alert since the arrest of salah abdeslam. >> translator: i have no information on whether these arrests are related to the attacks. we're wo

neave barker following the discussions for us. neave what do we know?reporter: well, peter in the last 15 or 20 minutes or so, we're hearing from sources that have been attended the e.u. meetings that a major break through has been reached that turkey has accepted the deal put forward by the e.u. 28. it looks as if this deal will now or has now been going through a process of discussion amongst the e.u. 28 also. the story is moving right now. we just actually have established that the finish prime minister has said the e.u. has accepted it too. so literally as i speak, a deal looks like it has been finalized. we gather that this deal will come into force at the 20th of this month, at midnight. in that means that refugees, migrants, arriving in greece would be subject to processing before being sent to turkey. as mentioned earlier on in the deal that was first drawn up on the 7th and that has been subject to a series of rewrites over the last few days looks as if as many as 72000 people currently living in camps in turkey may be subject to resettlement i

. >> reporter: neave barker has been following events in brussels. neave a controversial deal.ot everyone is happy, but i guess at least now there is an agreement between the e.u. and turkey about the fate of millions who have made their way or want to make their way to europe. >> reporter: that's absolutely right. what has been achieved here is likely to have a direct impact on the lives of tens of thousands of people many of whom have been living in limbo in makeshift camps. there is, however, some concern that as we wait for these couple of days to pass before the deal comes into force on midnight on sunday, as information fimenters down, we could well end up seeing a situation where there is essentially a rush of people trying to make it to the european union, before the agreement comes into force. in that is half of the reason why it is being brought in quite so quickly, rather than delaying it to allow more people to try to make the crossing and therefore risk more people's lives as they try to make it across the mediterranean from turkey to greece. but essentially, thoug

let's talk to our correspondent neave barker inside of brussels. he is outside the airport. what are you hearing about these explosions, nea veshgs e, and possibly at this stage there's speculation about who might be behind it. >> reporter: that's right. we're hearing from belgium prosecutors who have confirmed that at least one of the blasts that took place here was carried out by a suicide bomber. there have been heightened state of security already over the course of the weekend following the arrest of salah abdeslam on friday. both french and belgium prosecutors said that despite the significant milestone in capturing salah abdeslam after a four-month manhunt, a lot more work still needs to be done. they were also deeply concerned that other attacks could happen in the wake of that key arrest. already we've seen interpol heighten security of borders throughout europe. they were looking for one man, a 24 year old who was athought to be a close associate of salah abdeslam who is currently on the run. his d.n.a. was linked to explosives used at the paris attacks last year.

neave barker, al jazeera, brussels. >> meanwhile, 16 people smugglers were caught near town of dakili on turkey's aegean coast. most held were from afghanistan and pakistan. decision to name him chief of staff has shield lula de sim virginia from corruption charges. >>> police use water cannon in sao paulo's protests. lullula said he wanted to serve brazil. >> i have become a man of peace and love. i'm here to serve comrade dill ma. >> brazil's president is also facing renewed calls to impeach her. al jazeera's gabriel elizondo has more. >> meeting with her top advisors trying to work out any solution, to the problem engulf not only her government but the country as a whole. the impeachment is moving forward. here is what we know. it's going to start at the congressional building, next week by the impeachment commission set up by the lower house of congress. they say they'll be accelerating the impeachment process, have as many as 15 different hearings if they decide whether the impeachment process should move forward or not. wee could hear from them by mid april or even early april.

neave barker, al jazeera, brussels airport. >> sheila mcvicar joins us.ow they referred to the last attacks in france. >> yes. >> and the concern, of course, that these folks might be in some way related part of a broader ring. >> there is nothing that specifically links the people who carried out this attack. we still don't know theiritis to those who carried out their attacks in november. let's put it in this kind of context. the attacks came out of brussels. that's where they were planned. that's the real organizing base. we still don't know where the explosives were made. or who made them. but it's very likely that they were made somewhere in belgium. so if you look at the relationship between paris and brussels in the november attacks, and you see this again today, you see the arrest of abdeslam, who has been on the run since november, found just four days ago in brussels, you can see this is another group of people who clearly did not decide after that arrest four days ago to carry out this attack, they were in planning. they clearly had a plan. the

neave barker following the discussions for us out of brussels. neave the details, what do we know?porter: well, peter details are slowly filtering out to us -- to the media here. the meetings of course continuing behind closed doors, but more confirmation as you mentioned that the e.u. 28 heads of state have endorsed this new deal between turkey and the e.u. what we wait for now is for the turkish prime minister to give his seal of approval, but we already gather that turkey has accepted this deal after three rounds of bilateral and tri-lateral talks over the course of the morning between the turkish prime minister and the presidents of the european union and commission. as we get a clearer picture of what this deal means, we already have an idea of when it is expected to come into force. in that we believe will happen at midnight on sunday. so only in two day's time. so that means that refugees, migrants, asylum seekers who are arriving in greece, the islands or the mainland will find themselves subject to processing, and then in due course they will be sent back to turkey. there

neave barker. al jazeera >>> today's attacks wounded several americans. they include a lieutenant in the u.s. air force and members of his family. three mormans were also injured. >> we're in line to get ticket from what we understand and they were in line for about two minutes and then everything went orange and he blacked out and woke up and couldn't find the other missionaries around him so he said he was able to get up and run around and was able to find everybody. >> we hope that he gets better soon >>> president obama said the belgium bombings are another reminder the world must unite to fight terrorism. a report from havana. >> reporter: in havana president obama began his much anticipated speech to the citizens of an old enemy with a pledge for a close ally. >> we will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible. >> reporter: mr obama called for a unified fight against what he referred to as the surge of terrorism. >> we company and we will follow this up >> reporter: there was w

neave barker has been following events in brussels.a lot to cover there, but crucially, what happens next? >> reporter: well, we are receiving more and more confirmation from e.u. leaders from the 28-e.u. leaders that have been gathered here for the last two days, information coming in from the fins, the czechs, and now t the -- lithuanian prime minister. we are expected to hear from the turkish prime minister himself. he will add his final seal of approval, although we gather after three meetings this morning that the terms of the agreement have now been accepted. we gather that they will apply from sunday at midnight. this means that between that time, going into the early hours of monday morning, any refugees arriving in the greek islands or elsewhere in the e.u. territory would be subject to processing, and then returned back to turkey. it may be sometime yet, though, before we have a full understanding of the scale of the returning numbers although the e.u. have suggested somewhere between 72,000 to 73,000 may already be eligible,

. >> live now to brussels and speak to al jazeera's neave barker. these are difficult talking that are taking place right now. >> reporter: they certainly are, and when the european council president arrived here a little bit earlier on, he said he was more cautious than optimistic that there would be a break through. of course this is the second round. the first time the e.u. and turkey met was back on march 7th. no break through was reached then. but an important outline agreement, a deal, was drafted and is now on the tables, even if it has been slightly watered down over the last ten days to try to get more e.u. states on a side. but the backbone remains the same that turkey will agree to the return of refugees from greece to turkey, providing the european union pays that all important $6.4 billion. on top of that in order to sweeten the deal, the turks have asked for an easing of visa restrictions to allow turkish nationals to be able to travel across the schengen, but perhaps the most important issue is that resettlement plan that needs to be

neave barker has the story. >> reporter: a situation that has shaken the very foundation of the european union. turkey has now agreed to play a crucial part in stemming the flow of refugees into europe. >> turkey will be getting all those who are crossing to aegean islands illegally, but meanwhile, european countries will receive the same number of legal mieg rarnt migrants from . this is a fair step for turkey as well. >> some think this agreement is a silver bullet but really is more complex. it is one pillar of the european strategy and can work only if the other pillar is also implemented. >> for each pieg rant returned, one syrian migrant will be resettled in the eu. in return, turkey is asked to double amount of aid to $6.7 billion. turkey wants a visa free travel for its citizens in the eu. this could happen as early as june. come into force as early as mid nigh sunday. all migrants will be processed and returned to turkey after that. under the agreement as many as 72,000 rfertion coul72,000 mrgse eligible for settlement. discomfort among eu states who are worried about returning

live now to brussels and neave barker. neave, the pushback to this has basically been the e.u.ite know what to do -- or it doesn't want to do more than it has been doing. so how do they square that circle? >> reporter: well, yes, arriving here a little bit earlier in the day, the european council president said that he was perhaps more cautious than optimistic about a real outcome. but in the last ten or so days between the first meeting on march 7th, and this, round, two, a tremendous amount of work has been going on behind the scenes. we do know there is a slightly watered-down version of the deal on the table over the talks through the day, but you are right in saying there has been a significant amount of pushback from at least five e.u. member states, the loudest being cyprus that has an on-going conflict with turkey. and cyprus wants to make sure that turkey changes its views on that. criticism also from france and the czech republic who are worried about turkey being able to use these negotiations to effectively blackmail europe into getting what it wants especially when

neave barker, brussels. >> 16 people smugglers have been detained by the coast guard.t was part of an operation launched on friday. they were accepted to repratt trace centers of a being intercepted. on more of whether they could be the governor of government of commerce. is this likely to work? >> it's not likely to work. for the european summit, and many summit where things were not happening, an. >> however, the deal as it stands is troubling. and it's not likely to work. >> you have 2.5 million refugees in turkey. variations vary a little bit. is turkey going to be able to prevent people from making the journey whether they choose to take the mediterranean route or perhaps go another way? >> no, and in some ways nobody does. the research we've done suggests when migrant takes to the decision to leave they don't make that decision candlelightly. they want the decision making the choices they have to make are significant. the refugees are not going to be deterred, and the evidence suggests that they are driven bissett for saturday and a desire for job and education f

neave barker, brussels. >> the e.u. will dispatch thousands of people to greece including board guards and translators, that alone is expected to cost $340 million in the first six months. greece would also deploy monit monitors about nine kilometers from lesbosa major entry point for refugees and migrants. but with alternative routes available such as crossing from libya to italy, there are questions about how effective this plan will be. let's hear now from martin mackenzie, a senior government adviser. she said that the e.u. has lost its focus on people who need security. >> it this crisis has been getting worse in the last year. we have seen through these border closures through chaos in the camps. and the idea that the e.u. can just suddenly turn around and implement something on this scale, it is pretty questionable, and actually if they're going to poor this money and resource, it should be about speeding up family reunions and making sure there are safe and legal routes into europe. the only way you can break th

neave barker has the numbers. >> is there a fierce debate, zero tolerance war on drugs. but the latest u.n. report urges a balanced approach, meaning punishment and treatment. according to the report, the scale of the problem's huge especially in the west. last year, one in every five drug related deaths worldwide occurred in the united states. that's an average of 45,000 per year. an increase in heroin use has had a big impact, but the biggest factor is the misuse of prescription drugs. that in many u.s. states is killing more people than car accidents. the problem's also growing in europe. in the last year more than 600 new psychoactive substances were reported double the year before. in germany alone 100 recreational drugs have emerged in the last few years, manment outlawed. in pakistan the cultivation of opium increased for first time in six years however, production is still very high and still a major problem. meanwhile drug diction in west africa is increasing mostly because the area is being used as a transit point for drugs into europe. the report also tracks u

neave barker has more from brussels. >> reporter: new footage of the moment of the moment that the manelieved to be salah abdeslam was shot by police. his capture marked the end of a four-month manhunt. his arrest also giving investigators new leads. police are now looking for this 24 year old. who is closely linked to salah abdesl abdeslam. his dna was reportedly found on explosions used in the paris attacks. >> translator: there are other individuals who must still be found, so they can give an account of themselves. i would like to acknowledge the huge work done by all of our teams on both sides of the border and express my condolences to all of the victims of this drama. >> reporter: he has been held in a maximum security prison where he has been cooperating with investigators. he told investigators that he planned to blow himself up during the paris attacks but backed out. he may also have been planning more violence. the lawyer hired to defend him insists the claims must be checked. he said he plans to sue the french prosecutor for allegedly revealing details of the investigation

neave barker has more from belgium. >> reporter: new footage of the moment a man believed to be salahbdeslam was shot and injured by police. [ gunfire ] >> reporter: his capture on friday marked the end of a four-month manhunt for the last surviving suspect in the paris attacks. his arrest also given investigators new leads. police are now looking for this 24 year old. who's closely linked to salah abdeslam. his dna was reportedly found on explosives used in the paris attacks. french and belgian prosecutors say more work in needed to unravel the network. >> translator: there are other individuals who must still be found so that they can give an account of themselves. i would like to acknowledge the huge work done by all of our teams on both sides of the border, and to express my condolences to all of the victims. >> reporter: abdeslam has been held in isolation in a maximum security prison, which he has apparently been cooperating with investigators. he said the planned to blow himself up during the paris attacks but backed out. he may also have been planning more violence. the belgia

. >> neave joins me live from brussels. there have been raids carried out in the city? >> yes, that's right. before i talk about those raids, more information about the nurture of the twin blasts here at brussels international airport has been cleared. a local official they now believe the blasts were the result of bombs inside suit cases pushed into the airport. of course, we've been looking at that key image of frozen shot of cctv footage inside the departure lounge of three individuals. we can clearly see the two on the left are pushing trolleys, and of course, the authorities are now looking for the bigger on--the figure on the right, the man in the white and jacket. more information is being asked about that information. the scene here at brussels airport has gone through a series of changes. we arrived after the blast happened. we witnessed the evacuation of thousands of people. now that night has drawn in, the investigators have access to that crime scene. that scene of mass murder. they're pouring over evidence. evidence that is, of course, giving them new leads

neave barker explains from brussels. >> it's a deal that will affect the lives of hundreds of thousandsf stranded refugees from crisis. turkey has now agreed to play a crucial part in stemming the flow of refugees into europe. >> turkey will be getting all those who are crossing illega illegally, they will receive the same number of legal migrants from turkey. this is fair and encouraging steps for refugees as well. for those who are looking for a future. >> some may think that that this is a silver bullet. but this is complex. it is just one strategy and it will work only if others are implemented. >> in turn turkey has asked the e.u. to double the amount of aid for refugees to $6.7 billion. turkey also want a visa free travel for its citizens in the e.u. this could happen as early as june. the agreement will come into force at midnight on sunday. all migrants or refugees arriving in the e.u. after that will be processed and returned to turkey. under the agreement as many as 72,000 refugees could be eligible for resettlement here in the e.u. but there are concerns that there could be a

neave barker reports. >> it is a deal that will affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of stranded refugees and migrants. a game changer in a crisis that has shake.the very foundations of the european union, after a morning scrutinizing the deal, turkey has agreed to play a major role in stemming tide. >> turkey will get all those crossing toie jeanne islands tos is a very fair and encouraging steps for refugees as well. those who are look for their future. >> some i think this agreement is a silver bullet but reality is more complex. it is just one pillar of the european comprehensive strategy, and can work only if the other pillars are also implemented. >> reporter: in the agreement new migrants arriving in greece will be sent back to turkey. for each migrant returned one syrian asylum seeker will be settled in turkey. 6.7 billion is the agreed amount. turkey wants visa free travel for its citizens in europe as early as june. this would come into agreement on sunday. migrants will be processed and returned to turkey. under the agreement as many as 72,000 refugees could be eligibl

odds over the country's political future our at this dic editor james bays reports from gentleman neave891 of the most senior officials in the european union after a meeting with the head of the syrian government delegation in geneva. there were no pictures of the actual meeting between frederica mogherini and the ambassador, but he was away of the p.r. value giving interviews straight afterwards. at the same time, mrs. mogherini headed to the united nations for a meeting with special envoy stefan de mistura. she made it clear she had met both sides in geneva and that there was no change to e.u. policy. why did you decide to choose this moment to reward the assad regime with such a high-profile meet something. >> our support to the opposition has not only been in place for the last five years, but is going to be there also for the future. and this is something we discussed. as i said, what i have done today is consist, fully consistent with what we decided together as the european union to actively support the work of the united nations and in particular of stefan de mistura in bringing

neave barker reports from the u.k. >> reporter: it's a bumpy drive across the 900-acre organic farm. is the clover, although you can't see much at the moment. >> reporter: 15 years ago the farm stopped using all chemicals after noticing a big drop in wildlife, the fields are now fertilized naturally, the main substance the farm stopped using was a key ingredient in herbicides. but the world's most weed killer is now at the center of a global cancer scare. many countries are now rethinking the way they grow food. >> it's a poster boy for the use of chemicals in farming. it has been called the safest chemical there is. it would be a dramatic blow to those who think chemicals are the way to produce our food, a dramatic blow against that. >> reporter: according to research, it has now been found in a third of all bread here in the u.k. it is seen in soy and corn that effect cows. it is even been detected in breast milk. the big question is whether one of the world's most widely used chemicals is in fact toxic. is our weed killer actually killing us? the question has lead to a major dispu

al jazeera's neave barker hear more. >> this individual traveled to syria in 2013 before making his way back through europe. according to investors he may have traveled from you hungary before salah abdelslam being stopped by border guards before being allowed to carry on. he has been identified because of dna evidence gathered at two properties in and around the belgium capital along with dna evidence found in explosives used in the paris attacks. they have asked the public to remain vigilant. >> the pentagon is deploying more marines in iraq after the death of the u.s. service member there. staff sergeant was the first marine killed last month. meanwhile, the anti-isil coalition is going after target in iraq. the latest strikes killed a dozen people in western anbar province. some of them may be civilian casualties. anbar has been under isil control for more than a year now. u.s. aircraft has hit aisles oveisil over the weekend. the opposition accusing the government of delaying talks of a political transition that would remove president assad from power. this while russia calls for a

let's get more information from al jazeera's neave barker who is in brussels. what do we know? >> well, adrian, before we wait for more details from the belgium and french prosecutors, they're about to give a joint press conference we've already gained some information from the belgium. they say they have launched a public appeal to identify a person they believe was a close associate of salah abdelslam. he has been named as a 24 years who uses a false documents. he traveled to syria back in 2013, and returned to europe, and he made at least two separate trips in september to hungary. and may have been stopped at the hungarian-austrian border by border guards along with abdelslam, too. authorities say they've been able to track him down using dna in and around the belgium capital. we're hearing that dna may have been found on explosives used in the paris attacks. this is a key development. he is the first newly named individual since the address of salah abdelslam on friday. we've been given the suggestion in the wake of new information that is arriving as a result of the inter

our correspondent neave barker has more from brussels. >> reporter: the immediate shock after the attack. an haze of confusion and chaos. the realisation of what just happened. once again, the routine of people's lives of making everyday journeys shattered and a dash to escape the danger inside. people were dying one after the other. we tried to keep them alive, but the worst cases were people were throat injuries >> i'm so scared. i feel like it's the end of the world. i heard an explosion and the ceiling was coming down. then i just go under the seat and then the second examples explosion went and everything is black. >> reporter: across the city another attack in the metro station. men women and children abandoned the carriage, escaping as quickly as they could. the injured treated on the pavement, the army keeping guard. the shock felt everywhere. an urgent shut down of the public transport system was ordered in brussels and the possibility of further attacks and immediate concern. one rescue organization appealed for people to stay where they were >> it's a bit difficult to take a t

neave barker is at the airport now. this is quite a dramatic increase. >> reporter: it is a significant and worrying increase. let me explain what i've seeing here. there are still large numbers of people being evacuated from the main terminal buildings, which is a mixture of airport staff. there are some cabin crew along with ordinary travellers who are looking very confused and be will directlied to seem dozen and dozens of police cars the main objective for the police right now is to make sure that this area is cordoned off and it's clear for the investigations to go on. what we have heard from eyewitnesses who are at the site and scene of two explosions is that a large number of people have been seriously injured and some killed, but at least two blasts happened, one demands one outside the departure area. it exploded close to the american airline desk where a large number of people in in arrived >>> a suicide bomber has been responsible for this, we don't know if the - how many explosions are linked to the suicide

neave barker, al jazeera, brussels. >>> fast track impeachment proceedings against president drowfs. dilma rousseff. tough talk over asia's latest missile test. hey how's it going, hotcakes? hotcakes. this place has hotcakes. so why aren't they selling like hotcakes? with comcast business internet and wifi pro, they could be. just add a customized message to your wifi pro splash page and you'll reach your customers where their eyes are already - on their devices. order up. it's more than just wifi, it can help grow your business. you don't see that every day. introducing wifi pro, wifi that helps grow your business. comcast business. built for business. when it comes to the fithings you love,. you want more. love romance? get lost in every embrace. into sports? follow every pitch, every play and every win. change the way you experience tv with x1 from xfinity. >> lawmakers in brazil are fast tracking impeachment proceedings against president dilma rousseff. thousands gathered in sao paulo dressed in worker party shirts to show support for her. earlier, antigovernment protesters block

neave barker, at brussels' airport. >> in cuba president obama express solidarity with the belgium people. he said the world must unite to fight what he called the scourge of terrorism. mike viqueira is in havana with more. >> in havana president obama began his much-anticipated speech to citizens of an old enemy for pledge of a close ally. >> we'll do whatever necessary to support our friend and ally belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible. >> mr. obama called for an union need fight for what he called the courage of terrorism. >> we can and we will defeat those who threaten the security of people all around the world. >> the white house released this photo susan rice in an early-morning call with tough security aid back in washington. later mr. obama called belgium prime minister charles michel and offered his condolences. >> as countries have always done, we must confront this threat together. we must defend democracy and defeat terror. >> testifying before congress, secretary of defense ash carter said that the military coalition against isil is vital, but it's only o

al jazeera's neave barker reports from brussels. >> new footage of the moment of the man believed to be salah abdeslam, was shot and injured by police. his capture on friday marked the four month manhunt for the last remaining attacker in the paris attacks. police are now looking for 2 24-year-old najim laachraoui closely linked to abdeslam. french and belgian prosecutors indicate. >> there are other individuals who still must be found so they can give an account of themselves. i would like the acknowledge the huge work done by all our teams on both sides of the border and to express my condolences to all the victims of this horrible drama. >> reporter: salah abdeslam is being held in isolation in a maximum security prison near bruges, where he has been apparently cooperating with investigators. according to the defense minister, he decided to blow himself up at the paris attacks but backed out. the belgian lawyer hired to defend abdeslam says the are matters must be checked. this promises to be a fiercely fought case. police have also revealed more details about how they found salah

neave barker in brussels, we know what turkey wants, want some of the european countries want. will they be able to find a common position? >> several hours in, the impression that we get is all 28 e.u. leaders are still struggling to finalise a deal. still struggling to find common ground. currently they are expected to continue with the working dinner soon. we gather that's the draft statement. that has been worked on for the past 10 days, has been poured over intensely at the moment, and the impression that we get, tentatively, is that perhaps positions within the e.u. are starting to ease a little bit when it comes to the sum of money that turkey was after, that $6.7 billion in support, to accommodate the arrival of refugees sent back from greece. also, an easing, when it comes to turkey's demand for a relaxing in visa restrictions, when they want to visit the schengen, the impression we have is the sum of money will be paid in two tranches, and a relaxing of visa restrictions could begin as early as june if turkey lives up to the 72 obligations, a list of requirements that

neave barker looks back at the relationship with the bashar al-assad regime in syria >>> russia's military intervention began with air strikes on september 30th and homs and hamas, a response to a formal request for help from president bashar al-assad. in the days and weeks, russia intensified its campaign, firing cruise missiles, hitting targets in syria. more than 50 aircraft, paratroopers and special forces were sent to the region. moscow insisted it was targetting the islamic state of iraq and levant. turkey said russia was targetting ain bashar al-assad fighters instead. including groups backed and armed by the united states. on 31 october, the shooting down of a russian passenger plane over egypt steered russia's intervention in a new direction. the attack claimed by isil killed hundreds of russian holiday makers. russia responded by ramping up the air operations in syria, deploying bombers for the first time, leading to gain by the government. in the crowded theatre of war, a sudden and dangerous escalation in tension. on november 24th, turkey shot down a russian fighter jet after i

neave barker with the details. >> reporter: there's a fierce global debate on how best to tackle the drug problem. since the 1970s, the u.s. has lead a zero tolerance war on drugs. but the latest u.n. report urges a balance of punishment and treatment. the scale of the problem is huge, especially in the west. last year, one in every five drug-related deaths worldwide occurred in the united states. that's an average of 45,000 per year. an increase in heroin use has had a big impact, but the biggest factor is the misuse of prescription drugs that in many u.s. states are killing more people than car accidents. the problem is also growing in europe. in the last year 602 psychoactive sub chances have emerged. tracking, monitoring and controlling these new substances is a major challenge for the authorities. in afghanistan the cultivation of opium decreased for the first time in six years. however, production is still very high, and still a major problem. meanwhile, drug addiction in west africa is increasing, mostly because the area is being used as a transit point for drugs into europe.

. >> reporter: both main sides now say they are coming to i can't neave a for the talks, the confirm the government come from the deputy prime minister and foreign minister at a news conference in damascus. but he made it clear the role of president assad was not up for discussion. >> translator: we are adamant on holding the integral integrity are you of syria at one state, this has been leased in the international documents included those released in an attempt to resolve the situation in syria. >> reporter: those comments have angered the opposition, the u.n. have always made it clear that there should be no preconditions for these talks. the u.n. special envoy stefan de mistura in an interview for the talk to al jazeera program says that he hopes to get to the substantive issues on day way. >> in concrete, we can say that when we started talks in earnest, in other words, the substantive talks on the 14th, we will have some preparatory meetings before that. we will be able to at least tell everyone this is happening, therefore one is not enough and we need to push further. and, tw

our diplomatic editor james bays reports first on the talks set to begin in gentleman neave 56789 justthe syria talks were due to that are the in geneva. u.s. second of state john kerry was in paris meeting with some of his european counterparts. he told reporters the cessation of hostilities now in place for over two weeks had significantly reduced violence but one side was not fully complying. >> the syrian people strongly support the cessation of hostilities because it has made their lives better. and to date the single biggest violator of that, by allegations, is the assad regime. >> reporter: he also hit out at the syrian deputy prime minister, who at a news conference in duh mass can you go 'cuz said there could be no negotiation about the role of president assad. >> a witness the comments made just yesterday by the foreign minister of syria, clearly trying to disrupt the process. clearly trying to sends a message of deterrence to others. it's comments were cleared aimed at support for the main opposition block the high negotiating committee whose members have been arriving for t

our correspondent neave barker is there. he has been for some time. tell us about the scene that is unfolding there behind you. >> reporter: yes, of course. over the course of the morning, over a period of several hours, what we have seen is a steady stream of thousands of people being evacuated from the airport. we're talking about a mixture of travellers arriving here, dragging their luggage along the streets and staff who were working there tail light the blasts happened. that does appear to be slowing. they have boarded on to buses and have been taken away from this scene. what we have seen too is the rival of more police, including sniffer dogs. we haven't yet seen forensic teams, but we assume because this is now an active crime scene, an active murder scene, that the hard work of gathering evidence, d.n.a., evidence will begin. of course, what we've also seen over the course of the morning in brussels as a whole are comments coming out from the prime minister's office. he has described this as a black day for belgium. it is, of course, only fou