diplomacy over dinner - the president of the united states and russia come face to face at the u.n. general assembly. but divisions remain over i.s.i.l. and syria hello. you are watching al jazeera, live from london. also coming up. a battle for kunduz. taliban fighters seize large part of a strategic city in northern afghanistan. german prosecutors open a criminal investigation into former volkswagen boss worn as t

emissions scandal widens. could there be life on mars? scientists say flowing water, essential to life, is almost essentially present on the red planet tackling the frank yallop tackling the islamic state of iraq and levant, ending the war in syria dominated the first day of the united nations, general assembly in new york. world leaders took their turns for offering solutions. clear divisions remain between russia and the united states. diplomatic editor is at the united nations and has our report. >> reporter: russia's president normally avoids this gathering of world leaders at the u.n., but he came on a whistle-stop trip planning not to spend a night in new york, the center peace of his speech, the idea of a grand coalition against

i.s.i.l. >> we prepares discussing whether it's possible to agree on a resolution aimed at according the actions of all forces confronting i.s.i.l. and other terrorist organizations. once against the coordination should be based on the principles of the u.n. charter. >> reporter: the reference to the u.n. charter is important. syria's seat at the u.n. is occupied by bashar al-assad's ambassador. it would be a coalition including the bashar al-assad government, and on its terms. the u.s. would never accept that, but even if western allies are moderating the fewer, floating a compromised idea that they could stay on for a bit. >> realisism dictated that compromised would be required in a fight it tamp out i.s.i.l. rail ix requires a managed transition away from bashar

al-assad to a new leader and an inclusive government that must recognise this transition so the syrian people could be rebuilt. >> reporter: that idea appeared to be dismissed by france and qatar, the first gulf country to speak. >> is there a tyranny in the world to allow an alternative to develop under its shadow. >> i can see diplomatic efforts made to incorporate bashar al-assad, but you can't work together, put together victims of people that are killing them. bashar al-assad cannot be part of the solution. >> in damascus, there may be some concern about the speech made by their staunchestally. iran said it wanted the recent talk to be a model for diplomacy on syria. and the president then added this. >> as we aided the establishment

of democracy in iraq and afghanistan, we are prepared to help bring about democracy in syria as well as yemen. >> the real business here always takes place away from the speeches and the general assembly chamber. here the formal lunch with president vladimir putin sitting opposite president obama. on syria there's no breakthrough, but for the first time in 18 months, talks about the way forward with many parties are now under way well, on the side of the general assembly, u.s. president obama is chairing a peace-keeping summit. at the meeting more than 30 counties pledged to contribute 30,000 police to peace peopling missions. the united states pays for a quarter of the budget but contributes less than 100 troops and police. >> our goal should be to make

every peace provision more efficient and effective than the last. behind strengthening peacekeeping, new and deeper partnerships between the u.n. and african union to provide support for aup's operation, and we look forward to hearing concrete proposals to advance this one. >> finally, we need to increase support of the full range of diplomatic tools, including mediation, envoys and special missions helping us to prevent conflicts in the first place. iranian prime minister hassan rouhani used his speech at the u.n. general assembly to accuse saudi arabia's handling of the stampede incompetent. a total of 769 pilgrims died. there are suggestions that the number may be higher. authorities in india and pakistan claimed saudi officials

have given over 1,000 photos of the dead for identification purposes. >> translation: i'm speaking on behalf of a great nation who is mourning the loss of thousands of muslim pilgrims and hundreds of citizens that came together in a global and spiritual gathering of the hajj. unfortunately, fell victim to the incompetence and mismanagement of those in charge. due to their unaccountability event the missing cannot be identified and the expeditious return of the bodies of the decreased to their mourning families has been prevented moving to developments in afghanistan now, where the taliban attacked and is now in control of a strategic city. kunduz was the taliban's northern stronghold until the government was overthrown in 2001.

afghan security forces are retaliating, there are casualties on both side. 8 police officers killed, 50 wounded. stephanie dekker reports. >> the moment taliban fighters broke open kunduz prison, around 600 prisoners were behind bars, including taliban fighters. the attack is one of a string of events that left the group in control of most of kundus city. the people of congress is under fear, they are in fear of the house, no one is in the city. they are worrying about the attacks. >> reporter: the afghan interior ministry sent special enforcements, and air support. the taliban made major games in -- gains in kund us since fighters surrounded the city in the early hours of monday morning. government leaders say the stay -- city will be retaken. there has been casualties on both sides, bodies of fighters and a policeman killed in the

fighting. civilians are reported to be caught up in the battle for the city. >> it's the first time the taliban has taken control of kunduz, in the u.s.-led invasion in 2001. kunduz was the taliban's former northern stronghold before the government was overthrown 14 years ago. taliban fighters hold some part of the province, laying in the north of the country with main roads connecting it and the capital kabul. the u.s. and n.a.t.o. left afghanistan, leaving afghan forces to face the taliban alone. taliban fighters are powerful forces on the ground and tried to take the city before. afghan forces managed to push them back. the question is whether they can do it again popular resistance fighters in yemen took control of parts of the province, the fighters, loyal to abd-rabbu mansour hadi and backed by saudi-led air

support attacked houthi rebels near the marab dam, taking control of some areas of the outskirts of ancient ruins. 30 are said to have died in clashes between the fighters and houthi rebels in the south-eastern province of tiaz, two civilians among the casualties. meanwhile, saudi arabia denied coalition responsibility for an alleged air strike on a wedding party in yemen, killing at least 38 people. government forces say it happened in a village near the red sea port. many among the dead. dozens have been injured. >> there has been more clashes at the al-aqsa in occupied east jerusalem. israeli police fired stun grenades at worshippers, some who had barricaded themselves inside. 15 were injured. scientists at n.a.s.a. say

they have found strong evidence of liquid water on mars. researchers analysed dark streaks and believe it was the result of flows of scalty water, because they bear a striking resemblance. they set the ground work into research. >> when you look at earth, water is an essential ingredient. just about everywhere we go where there's liquid water, whether deep in the earth or in the arab regions, we find life. this is tremendously exciting. we haven't been able to answer the question does life exist jnd earth. following the apart. we now have, i think, great opportunities to be in the right locationing on mars to thoroughly investigate that findings have many wondering whether mars could support human life, the subject of a science

fiction novel, the marchand, which -- martian, which has been turned into a film. he joins us live from mount view in california. this is timely, when you think about the attention that your novel is getting, and the release of the film. why don't you start by giving us your thoughts on what we have heard from n.a.s.a. >> it is exciting news because liquid water - everywhere on earth where there's liquid water there's life, without exception, even under the arctic life, in the middle of the ocean, anywhere there's liquid water, there's life. if there's native life on mars, it will be found in or around the water. it's a huge development to find liquid water on mars. >> what needs to happen to build on the research findings so we can continue to learn more about the planet? >> well, we need to sample some of that water.

fortunately they know where it's flowing out from. seems to be in regular channels that are somewhat predictable or they'll work on predicting it, starting now. if we can get a probe to take a sample of that moysened martial soil, we'll learn a lot. >> you take your science very seriously. what is the biggest inaccuracy or misconception out there about the planet mars? >> well, pretty much it is largely my falls in that on mars, they are not as strong or powerful as depicted in the book. they were weak. the atmospheric pressure is so low that although they get 150 k/hr winds, the air is so thin, with eneshia it feels like a briz. that's a misconception. also, for dramatic purposes it

exists in my book. >> thank you very much. we appreciate the time. joins us from california. >> let's move away from mars and take you to the united nations general assembly in new york where president christine akirchner of argentina is -- cristina fernandez de kirchner of argentina is speaking now. les listen. >> translation: this was a significant triumph. it established now principles. these guide the way we deal with and resolve when we talk about negotiating on the part of the country, the external debt. the sover renity of a country to decide macroeconomic policy, and to decide how it will

restructure its agreed. gooted faith and transparency. equitable treatment. so everyone is treated on a level playing ground. sovereignty in terms of jurisdiction, sustainability, and the important principles. this refers to paying the debt and the respecting one's debt, but not at the cost of understandinger and misery of our own people, but through a political and economic project. makes it possible to develop our society and perhaps the most important principle lacking.

and that is a logical principle applying in all internal legal regulations brought the world. when a company goes bankrupt. when they couldn't pay their own debt. including this one in the yeshing. how is consensus reached. how do we reach a qualified majority when 76% of creditors. when they come to an agreement with the they establish timetables for the payment and this is part of the law and is mandatory for the other, when

76% intera. this principle is enshrined when the majority decide one form of payment then it applies to everybody else. now, this agreement, this principle, the conventions have been approved here. we have decided to submit to a parliament to make it an instrument of public order controlling internal domestic practices, and it was based on the default at argentina, that they experienced in 2000. this was the major debt issue. the world at that time was growing a great - above good rates, but because of its debt,

it went bankrupt, it came from previous times, but precisely it began in 76 when the order was overthrown. and this carried on during the '90s, with the convertibility regime. then it was worth $1, and this led to the 2001 default and the bankruptcy of the institutionality, in one week there were five governments, but argentina rebuilt itself, its economy when the politics took control of the economy. and this was as of 25 may 2003, when the politicians retook

control of the economy and decided to convene or bring together all the creditors in 2005, and then there was a further in 2010 under my presidency, and the first one was during the presidency of the next occasion, who in the general assembly, here in the first speech said that the dead cannot pay debts, and it was necessary for the creditors to allow argentina to grow, to be able to pay. this was not a premonition of any kind. it was not that he saw the future, he simply plied economic logic. that it is impossible to pay a debt if there is not economic growth in the country, the debtor country, and that's how it began. argentina began its inextricable

progress, which - it was also raised in 2005, when it was decided to pay off the total of the debt to the i.m.f. which was imposing the macroeconomic policies on our countries. as of then argentina began to grow. and it added - it was additional on the train of the developing countries, moving towards sustainable development. of the international economy. we'll never forget. we do not forget that the greatest growth took place amongst the emerging countries,particularly led by the asian pacific countries, and it was up to me through my first

inducksz of president, in the same area. in the september of 2008. to see how this loco motive which was dragging the world forward to sustained growth was headed - another engine was added to it. there are trains with two locomotives, two engines. we had china. merging countries. it was 14% g db in 2008 we had the fall of liamen brothers, which still we are experiencing. but with some differences.

and it began with the crisis and blew up in 2008. 2009 is was the year of the global collapse of the economy, but dash except asian countries, including latin america we were listening in to the president of argentina cristina fernandez de kirchner, speaking mainly about the economy and the investment, this ahead of the presidential elections in her country, she's having a tough time. a big change facing the leader will be to resolve a legal dispute between creditors that hold argentine bonds. they want a full repayment on the bonds, they don't want to take a hit or a discounted payments, that needs to be resolved when you restore investor confidence.

an economy that did enjoy a boom. but has been suffering in recent years. we'll leave that for now and move on to other stories. let's bring you up to speed with what is happening elsewhere in the world. 24 have been injured as a typhoon batters the north tip of taiwan. most of those hurt were hit by flying debris. hundreds of thousands of homes are without electricity. authorities warning downpours could trigger landslides. >> reporter: >> reporter: preparing for the typhoon to hit home. the major storm with wind speeds of 230 k/hr, is expected to pass south of the capital city. taipei is home to almost 3 million people. more than 1,000 soldiers are helping people leave their homes to reach safety. the major says the city is as prepared as it can be. >> we send messages to all the departments, according to the

checklist to prepare. one by one, so this way everyone is better prepared. >> taiwan is preparing damages a little over a month ago. at least eight people were killed. it is forecast to be stronger than last month's typhoon. >> translation: i haven't experienced a typhoon before, today i got up early to come to see it. the waves are so big. the coast is blocked. i couldn't see much. staying here to look will be great. >> reporter: waves are expected to swell to 5 meters. >> thousands have been evacuated from the outlaying islands the typhoon has disrupted weekend plans as taiwan is celebrating the mid autumn festival. stations are offering double to accommodate those that are going home. the typhoon has come assure stronger than earlier predictions. >> at nightfall the storm battered with high wind speeds and rain.

taiwan is where they have the strongest win seen here in more than 20 years. people say they are used to typhoons which is part of life. the true extent of the taj is -- damage it's causing is being assessed. violent unrest in the central african republic has gone into a third day with a gaol break at the main prison and an attack on police headquarters. thousands of protesters called to the rearming of the army, claiming 30 people, despite u.n. french peacekeepers. more than 100 buses carrying refugees arrived on the serbian side of the border with croatia, with each car youring an average of 65 passengers, thousands

crossed the border as they journey towards europe. many barely touched serbian centery, having been bus the to the border with macedonia. temperatures fell sharply. there's warnings of problems ahead. shell announced it's putting a stop to alaska drilling. oil was approved after president obama approved the arctic drilling the the well will be schemed. >> german prosecutors launched an investigation into the former chief executive of volkswagen. the investigation is focussing on allegations of fraud and the sales of cars with faulty emissions data. the german car company installed

software on millions of cars to disguise emission levels. >> south africa is the first african country to legalize the flying of commercial drones. film crews are looking forward to using the aircraft. despite the risks, so are other industries. the buzzing sound of a drone, associated with military use. plying drones for special purposes is popular. south africa legalized it. there are tremendous benefits in using the technology, and we forecast there would be a rapid growth in south africa. this is only the second instructor in the country since licences began to be issued, saying it creates more opportunities for pilots.

>> we had an opportunity, and that's where we operated the drones. >> once attached they can be used. the demand came to local film industries. they effect is to grow substantially. using a grown is cheaper. to ensure the aircraft is safe. >> these are made from consumer grade electronics, failure rates are yet to be determined. there's a lack of scientific data, and it could fall at any time. one could attach a firearm, a bomb, chemical, biological weapon and fly it into a building or group of persons or an aircraft. >> south africa is the first

country to issue licences. once the licences are recognised across the continent. >> the problem is the amount of relationry requirements, the amount of detailed work that is required to ensure that it is a safe standard. what we are talking about is mixing in our pair space, the safety of man flying with unmanned flying. >> flying commercial drones remains in africa, south african pilots say the benefits outweigh the risks. >> it's a special time to gaze at the moon. a combination of lunar events that has not happened for 33 years, amazing sky watch evers all around the world. gerald tan has the details. >> reporter: a rare sellestial show. it's the convergens of two

events, a total lookar eclipse and a super moon. that's a when it hits earth big scper brighter than usual. >> i like it very much, it makes me feel small. it makes me smaller to see how big and immense the universe is. it's spectacular. >> the moon casts a glow over the beach. the colour is a result of the moon being eclipsed by the shadow, reflicting light from the sunrises and sunsets across the world. the event was visible. those seeking the best seats in the house headed to the highest point. >> it's impressive seeing the moon through the telescope with detail, all the canyons. it's beautiful. >> beautiful and exceptionally

uncommon. the double lunar treat observed in 1982. it will not happen again until 2033. more on that and everything we are covering here, aljazeera.com.