11 iranian soldiers are reportedly killed in syria in 48 hours. teheran could be invited to take part in international talks in vienna. ♪ ♪ you are watching al jazeera live from our head quarters in doha. also ahead, the somali woman whose alleged rain led to outcry over australia's refugees policy is flown back it australia. we are in the congo where a congressional referendum has given the president a green light to run for a third term. >> reporter: i am emma hayward, these workers face an uncertain

future. because of the emissions scandal. ♪ ♪ hello. the reported deaths of 11 iranian soldiers in syria in 48 hours have raced questions about the country's close involvement in the conflict. while russia is providing president bashar al-assad with air support. iranian advisers are playing an important role in battles on the ground. and now iran also looks set to take part in international talks in vienna on thursday. let's speak to a journalist in teheran at an english newspaper published under the good lionel of the supreme leader of iran. is iran's involvement now shifting after the spike of the death in the iranian military officers that we are seeing in syria? >> well, the -- i mean, you made the point rightly.

nobody wants confrontation here. nobody wants further blood in syria. because nobody is winning anything out of this, you know, unnecessary crisis. i think everybody has said so until now. the best option is dialogue. with all warring factions and all those outside powers. >> we'll talk about dialogue in a moment. first if you will tell me if iranians are feeling about the war with the deaths respectinged quite regularly of their military officers? >> not a single day goes by that we don't hear of some commander being killed in syria. i don't think there is for the prestige of the irgc or other armed forces. in public perception, it means that they are not doing the right job.

after four years nothing has changed. if you want to ask me if they are you were pressure, yes, of course, they are under pressure and they want to make sure that this conflict comes to an mediad as soon as possible. >> if iran attends the vienna talks, we understand that iran will be invited to participate in these talks that are meant to take place on thursday, what is iran bringing to the table? >> many things. first. of all, iran has many, many groups inside syria, especially the government that support it, you know, diplomatically, militarily, so if iran is at the same table with other countries, definitely it has something to offer. >> right, but how much is it will to concede, though? how much is iran willing to concede? the u.s. state department says that the ultimate goal that everyone wants to get to is to come one a framework for a successful political transition in syria which leads to a government not led by bashar

al-assad. this is something iran clearly has not agreed to. >> not forever. not forever. iran made painful comprises when it want today reach a nuclear deal with the west. make no mistake, iran is very much prepared to make some kind of sacrifices even if that means the removal of president is sad from power. but not right now as we speak. it might happen during the transitional period, but it will definitely happen. because assad is not going to be there forever. and iran knows that very well. the same thing that happens here, won't have eight years, you know, of presidents for each and every individual candidate. so if iran want to prove to the international community that they are serious about diplomacy and out of the crisis in syria, it will definitely and president assad to step down, because, why not? if this is going to save, you know, more lives, iran is more than ever willing to make that kind of compromise. >> again, we appreciate your time with us on al jazeera,

thank you. >> thank you. in another shift in policy the u.s. says it will step up its campaign against isil in syria and iraq. the u.s. defense secretary ashton carter says it will mean support for direction action on the ground. rosalind jordan has more. >> reporter: the u.s. military is rolling out a new visioner of its counter isil strategy. they are calling it the three red crosss, syrian rebels retaking rack, a iraqi troops swing in ooh-rah mad and i u.s. forces getting more involved. the third and final red cross i, we will not hold back in attacks against isil or conduct such missions directly. >> reporter: carter's statement comes after last week's raid where u.s. special forces jumped in to help kurdish fighters. if so, that would be a major policy change for the u.s.

president barack obama had promised no ground troops to fight isil. carter told toled a congressional pam on tuesday despite russia's decision to launch airstrikes in syria, the u.s. is pressuring iraqi prime minister hider al-abadi to not let russia join the fight on its territory. >> we are the preferred partners of iraq. we have been insistent on that point and prime minister abadi has repeated those pledges. >> reporter: and there is another complication, the never-ending flow of foreigners who want to fight with isil. even as alis such as turkey are arresting sizeing supporters the military's top general admitted the coalition doesn't have a plan to stop foreign fighters. >> we really don't have amongst all the coalition kind i've common view of where the foreign fighters come from, how they move back and forth not area, but more importantly not much of a track on where they go once they leave. >> reporter: the military leaders also said they have been studying the use. ness of a no-fly zone in northern syria.

something ledge slaters -- legislators have called for repeatedly. >> what you are saying the most strongest nation in the world with the most capable military can't even establish a no-fly zone to protect people from being barrel bombed by bashar al al-assad. >> reporter: it's an em baring is moment. >> reporter: they have not convinced anyone they have the right strategy but they certainly heard there is a hung fore the u.s. to get it right. in libyans a helicopter has been shot down killing at least 13 officers loyal to the government in tripoli. it led to intense fighting between armed groups west of the capital. the government in tripoli and aa rival administration in tobruk are considering a u.n.-backed deal to form a unity government. in egypt, a second day of voting is underway in run-off election to his decide the makeup of the country's next president. nuns of candidates secured a majority vote in the general election last week. so voters have now gone back to the polls.

the first results expected on thursday. voters in congo's referendum have back aid plan to scratch presidential determine limits it's means the incumbent can contest a third year in office. the opposition say the vote was rigged. >> reporter: blanch hopes things are getting back to normal in the capital. protests against changes to the constitution that will allow congo's president to run for a third term have shutdown the market and his business for days. >> translator: we can now sell our things again. it's calm. i hope things stay calm. >> reporter: the people want peace. >> reporter: the government says most people voted yes to the new constitution in sunday's ref referendum. the presidential is in july 2016. so far the president hasn't said he want a third term but opposition leaders fear he may try to hold to power.

some opposition supporters were shot and killed by police during protests last week. they have called off prof tests for now for safety reasons, they say the referendum was a sham. >> i was the saddest man in the world. i want to say this, the congolese people are suffering. the congolese people can't do it properly. we can't go everywhere. something is missing. there isn't any peace. >> reporter: members of the ruling party are calling for calm. and insist changing the contusion is not about one man extending his term. >> it was not about choosing a presidential candidate. the changes to the constitution were not about one man, it was to build a better country. as far as you are concerned discussion to the constitution are over. it's done. >> reporter: the main opposition leader is under house arrest. now the congolese people wait to see if the president will step down when his term end next

year. al jazeera. ivory coast election commission says innin incumbents won a land side victory in sunday's presidential poll. he got nearly 84% of the vote. the head of the election commission said the results will be sent to the contusional court to be validated. a 23-year-old somali with him whose alleged rain led to an outcry over australia's refugees policy has now been flown back to australia. andrew thomas joining us from sydney with the latest on that case, andrew. >> reporter: it's so complicated. a very sad story. this is a somali lady her name -- well, she's known by the pseudonym of abbey ann, she tried to come to australia by boat but she was sent immediately to an australian-run prison effectively in another country in nauru. at some point there she became pregnant. she said she was raped. there was outcry in australia

because abortions and she claimed she wanted one aren't allowed they are illegal in nauru she was flown two weeks ago to australia to have an a boring, but after five days she was sent back to nauru by the australian government. they said when she was here in australia she changed her mind and decided she didn't want one. she says that isn't true she just wanted more time to make up her mind. the on outcry here and internationally including overnight by the united nations means that australia's government has now said that it will bring her back to australia and she will see counselors and decide once again whether she is to have an abortion. it just illustrates the tragic stories really that are a byproduct of australia's very tough rules towards immigrants, refugees, who try to come to its shores. all part of its deterrent policy to try to stop boats of refugees on from coming here. >> so, andrew, it does seem that it has really sparked some sort of debate and discussion also the former prime minister tony abbott making comments. what did he have to say?

>> reporter: well, tony abbott was australia's prime minister until september when an internal party coup saw him overthrown. but he really oversaw this very tough policy towards refugees by which they are sent to other countries, boats turned back at sea. now tony abbott in london where he has given a speech says europe should look to what australia did to try to repel refugees from coming to its shores, here say little of what he had to say. >> this means turning boats around for people coming by sea. it means denying entry at the border for people with no legal ride to come -- right to come. and it means establishing camps for people who currently have nowhere to go. it will require some force. it will nah a ga that g.m. aw ar

consciences. it is the only way to prevent the surge through europe and quite possibly changing it forever. >> reporter: so there is tony abbott advising leaders to crack down to refugees and do the opposite of what they are doing to block them there coming in the first place, if necessary adopt these horribly harsh rules in the eyes of the united nations and many nongovernmental organizations but have stepped refugees coming to australia. but human rights says if everyone does what australia has done, where would refugees go? what would that mean for the world' most desperate people? >> all right, andrew, thank you for that update from sydney. still ahead on al jazeera, police brutality back in the spotlight in the u.s. after an officer throws a girl to the floor in her school classroom. plus mayan hay that's more valuable than gold and now mexico's beekeepers are fight to go keep it pure.

the only way to get better is to challenge yourself, and that's what we're doing at xfinity. we are challenging ourselves to improve every aspect of your experience. and this includes our commitment to being on time. every time. that's why if we're ever late for an appointment, we'll credit your account $20. it's our promise to you. we're doing everything we can to give you the best experience possible. because we should fit into your life. not the other way around.

♪ ♪ hello again, the top stories on al jazeera. 11 iranian soldiers are reported to have been killed in syria. u.s. condemns iranian involvement but it says it's now open to talks with the government. a 23-year-old somali woman whose alleged rain led to an outcry over australia's refugees policy has been flown back to the country. it comes as the former prime minister, tony abbott, called on europe to close its borders to refugees. in the u.s., the fbi is investigating a policeman who slam aid student to the ground in a classroom. the video has now gone viral

prompting more discussion about his alleged police brutality. but the officer's boss said the video doesn't show the full story. patty culhane reports from washington, d.c. >> are you coming with me? >> reporter: it's happened again. another video goes viral. this time in south carolina. a teenager refuses to leave her high school classroom and this is how the police officer responded. he's been suspended, the justice department is investigating whether her civil rights were violated. another case of police force causing outrage in ferguson, missouri and baltimore maryland police-involved deaths sparked riots and created a movement. black lives matter. hoping to highlight the growing divide between police and communities of color. >> may god protect our cops 67 now press barack obama is trying to get the sides talking. >> there are a lot of african americans, not just me, who have that same kind of story of being

pulled over or frisked or something and the data shows that this is not an aberration. >> reporter: in general, crime rates in the u.s. are falling but several cities are seeing screw rocketing murder rates and the fbi director says the protests and backlash are part of the reason. >> i spoke to officers privately in one big city precinct who described being surrounded by young people with mobile phones held high taunting them when they get out of their cars. they said to me, we feel under siege and we don't feel much like getting out of our cars. >> reporter: in baltimore, the statistics are telling. there were 177 murders in 2014, with 2015 not yet over, the number of murders have climbed far past that to 270. at the same time, police are arresting far fewer people, almost 12,000 fewer, a drop of 34%. civil rights groups say that's a problem.

>> in a democracy the agents of the government do need to be able to take criticism, understand where it's coming from and realize that they are accountable to the people. and they need to address the concerns. communities that they police. >> reporter: this police officer's boss says this video doesn't tell the whole store i remember there is another video showing the student trying to punch the police officer. he'll decide on wednesday if this is an appropriate response. but thanks to social media, much of the country has already reached its own conclusion. patty culhane, al jazeera, washington. well, a former president of the police foundation here is what he said. >> the officer used a lot of unnecessary force.

if she commit aid violation of the law why wasn't she handcuffed. it's problematic and this is the kind of thing that casts the police in a bad light. part of the problem is that some people cannot -- that become police officers are not able to handle the job in an equitable and balanced manner because they have these racial skewed biases that impacts the way they think and the way they operate. it should be an increased focus on the tests that are given to determine the qualifications of somebody to handle the complex and difficult responsibilities of a police officer's job. and people that can't handle that job, they should not be in the police department. hundreds of people in nicaragua have been marching for and against the chinese con trudges of a canal linking the atlantic and pacific oceans.

those opposing the project scuffled with government support nurse the capital. environmental assists say there has been a lack of transparently so far the project with many people expected to lose their homes. but the government insists the canal will bring vital investment. the u.n. general assembly on tuesday has voted overwhelmingly to call for an end to the u.s. economic embargo impose odd cuba. this will be good news to cuban that his have risked their lives to get to the u.s., including some high-profile athletes. melissa chan takes a look at major league baseball as the political environment thaws. >> reporter: these men are the future of cuban baseball. if they play well in havana's under 23 team on this sunday afternoon, they might join cuba's version of the new york yankees. but some dream of a future well beyond that in the united states. >> you play baseball anywhere you always want to compete at major league baseball because it's the highest level of baseball. there is no league in the world

like it. >> reporter: to get to the u.s., cuban ball players usually defect to a third country first in order to negotiate as international free agents. the salaries do not come easy. they have had to risk their lives and leave their families. >> translator: the way things are right now between cuba and the united states i think it should, easier. since both governments are look for ways to have ties i think it's easier. of course i would like to have my family here with me. >> reporter: more than 350 players have left cuba since 1980. but normalization has sparked an exodus, about 100 players have left in the past 12 months alone. players are worried major league baseball could one day negotiate directly with the cuban government. meaning smaller paychecks. yunel escobar now plays for the washington nationals but group in this neighborhood in havana. these men, his childhood friends, play baseball in the streets with him.

>> translator: some of them play baseball and say they want to be just like yunel escobar, and other stars. he hasn't been forgotten. he won't be forgot then this neighborhood. >> reporter: escobar once played for cuba's's while the children here considered him a legend cuban officials labor him defecators athletes who abandoned the country. when escobar's team won the cuban government gave him this house, but when he left and played for for major league baseball the government confiscated it. >> the cuban government has power over the players. >> reporter: cuba makes considerable investments in its players from a very young age. and it now faces a future where it would lose even more of its top talent. but the u.s. would be paying for that now. now that things have changed.

directly to the cuban government. melissa chan, al jazeera, havana. turkey's prosecutor has taken control of some opposition media outlets just days ahead of a parliamentary election. police and demonstrators fought outside the headquarters of the media. it's link today a cleric who is critical of the president erdogan, the country runs two newspapers and two television stations. >> translator: erdogan and his ruling party have adopted rule of this country, justice, laws, the contusion and democratic values mean nothing to them. for him all these values are bad memories from the past and they want to bury these values that helped the republic survival and integration with the west. apple has reported the biggest yearly profit in corporate history. the u.s. firm made profits of more than $53 billion over the last year. -y clippingsing the previous

record set by exxon mobile in 2008. apple has seen sales of it's its new iphone soar throw it has recently warned of slowing growth. german car maker volkswagen has said sorry again for the scandal over the fake carbon emission test results the policy comes as it's a set to release its quarterly results. they are expected to make a mum at this billion dollars loss. emma hayward reports from germany. >> reporter: it's shift change time for some of the 60,000 employees of vw's huge plant. this is a town built on the car maker's success. about half of its workforce is employed by vw. but ever since the emissions scandal broke, there have been concerns beyond the company gates. >> translator: it's a depressing atmosphere. we talk about it all the time. >> translator: the atmosphere is down. a lot of people are quite cautious, because they don't know how it's going to continue.

the next year is going to be tough for vw. but surely vw will bounce back in the end. >> reporter: and that is what many here are hoping for. volkswagen is having to recall millions of dollars around the world, its share price plummeted in september after it admitted cheating on some tests. et cetera led to its worse crisis in its long history. the future of many of these workers now depends on how well vw can recover trust in its brand. a brand which had been built on reliability and trust. restoring consumer con an confif oueurope's biggest car maker is likely to take time and resolve on the part of vw. and it could take more than replacing the people at the top. >> somebody is losing its job or her job and so that means a new

person, i new face and that's a strong signal to the you be approximate lick. it's not only about changing hats, changing manage. , it's also about changing how you do your business. and changing what you tell your customers about your products. >> reporter: vw looms large here etched on every corner. there is a quiet optimism in wolfsburg that the car maker can ride out this storm and restore its tarnished image. emma hayward, al jazeera, in wolfsburg. beekeepers in mexico are fighting against the agro chemical company monsanto. on wednesday mexico's supreme court will rule in the chemical giant can plant genetically modified soy beans in the fields in the yucatan pa minutes los angeles. locals accuse monsanto of polluting their honey and threatening their livelihoods. lucia newman reports from the southern tip of mexico.

>> reporter: this beekeeper calls it the mayan's greatest treasure. the same color, but more valuable than gold. it's called honey. produced here in tree trunks by tiny bees. they don't sting. and they make the most prized honey in the yucatan peninsula jungle. >> translator: we use it for ceremonies, to ask for rain, but it also has ma disnats properties. >> reporter: the able gent mayans even missed honey with dirt at cement for their famous pyramids. today more than 20,000 family produce honey from far more aggressive bees, her husband uses smoke to keep them from attacking. the money produced here is extremely sought off and fetches a very high price on the european market. but the livelihood of the families who produce this depends not just on its exquisite taste and aroma but on their ability to keep their honey pure.

and that's why these nearby plantations have become the enemy. gametically modified and sprayed with highly toxic herbicides. both sold by the agro multinational monsanto, the crops are providing bees with what beekeepers describe as contaminated pollen. >> translator: they are did he foresting our junk and threatening to close our market because the europeans won't by gametically modified honey with traces of herbicides that's we we are asking that their license be revoked. >> reporter: yucatan peninsula beekeepers made a final appeal to mexico's supreme court this week on the eve of its ruling. >> translator: the court has the power to limit these crops that have the potential to impact health. the environment and in this case the cultural heritage of the mayan communities. >> reporter: a culture closely linked to what some call the nector of the gods.

today pitted against arguably the world's most powerful agro chemical course. lucia newman, al jazeera, mexico. much more news on our website, you'll find it all at aljazeera.com. welcome to panama. i'd heard the stories of a rich and diverse forest. >> hi, buddy! >> i'd be lying if i didn't admit that i was psyched to be here. i'd find plenty of butterflies and a heck of a lot more. >> did you see that guy? >> that's what i could count on. but then, panama surprised me.