unanimous agreement, the u.n. endorses a peace plan for syria that includes a ceasefire and talks between the government and the opposition. this is al jazeera live from doha. also ahead on the program, the african union will send 5,000 peace keepers to burundi which it says is on the brink of civil road accident war. hundreds-- civil war. hundreds of-- controversy, some schools shut down in virginia over an arabic writing

assignment. world powers at the u.n. have agreed on a road map for peace in syria. the security council unanimously backed a call for talks between the syrian government and the opposition along with a ceasefire. the questions remain over who will be taking part in those talks as well as the future of syria's president. diplomatic editor james may explains. >> reporter: a unanimous vote by the u.n. security council endorsing a clear and ambitious time line for political transition in syria with face-to-face talks and possibly a ceasefire in just a matter of weeks. this resolution was the result of very last-minute negotiations. it's a demonstration of the difficulty of the task ahead that his ministers were arriving in new york talks with still underway. diplomats ultimately reporting to the russian foreign minister

were fighting with their counterparts over many of the worlds and details of the resolution. when it was finally passed, it was praised by the current president of the security council, the united states >> after four and a half years of war, this is the first time we have been able to come together at the united nations in the security council to embrace a road forward. during that time one syrian in 20 has been killed or wounded. one in five is a refugee. one in two has been displaced. the average life expectancy in syria has dropped by 20 years. here in the corridors and offices of the united nations they now face a tough challenge convening peace talks between the syrian government and the syrian opposition next month in january and there are still many unresolved issues. who should be in that opposition delegation and which groups should not be allowed to go to

those peace talks or even take part in the future of syria because they're designated as terrorist groups. despite this, the man charged with leading the peace efforts says it is now doable. >> do you remember the name of mission impossible? well, mission impossible is becoming potentially possible thanks to what we saw today. >> reporter: but the hardest issue of all, the future of president bashar al-assad is still in dispute. the russian foreign minister again stressing it was not for the international community to decide his fate. >> translation: we talked about bashar al-assad repeatedly just recently. president putin addressed the nation in his annual press conference and he elaborated on principle, that any agreement which said outside nations can

not say what its leadership should look like. >> reporter: at one point as he spoke in russian, secretary kerry wasn't getting the translation on his headset. this on the day the two men, as well as the rest of the security council, finally negotiated the exact language of the resolution, but will those carefully agreed words still make sense to both men when they're put to the test in the coming months the african union is proposing to send five thousand peacekeepers to burundi which it says is on the brink of civil war. months of violence have disrupted daily life. what has been the reaction there to this? >> reporter: the government of

burundi have angrily reacted to the position by the african union to deploy 5,000 troops, a piece keeping mission that will have its main protective civilians and also setting the ground for peace talks between the president and his allies. i've been speaking to the president's spokesman who says that burundi does not need foreign peacekeepers. he says that the country itself has contributed to numerous african union peace keeping activities across the continent and if necessity felt there were problems here they should return the soldiers to take care of the security. he also said that the government was not consulted and that this is a legally elected government, there are institutions he said and the government should have been consulted before the frohn met-- african union made that position. the african union could be able

to interact, he said let's sea where they will land. now, the current crisis has also affected all issues here with economy being the biggest casualty. burundi is at a critical juncture. the fall-out from the political crisis is affecting the economy in one of the poorest countries in the world. unemployment is on the rise and so are the prices of basic goods. traders in the capital bujumbura says business is bad. >> translation: there is no business to talk about. we rarely get customers. the prices of goods have gone up and most people cannot afford them any more. >> reporter: supermarkets where wealthy people and foreign workers once shopped with empty. at least 200,000 people fled burundi. this is one of the few foreign businessman brave enough to stay

on here. it is a mobile phone shop in the city center. >> translation: these are tough times for everyone. we hardly make any sales. i would say i'm doing much better than most traders. we are hopeful of better times ahead. >> reporter: for the first time since the end of burundi's civil war a decade ago, the country's economy is said to contract from months of political up heavily. it is expected that economy is expected to shrink by 7.2% this year. while the government is maintaining the impression that they're still functioning, the mayor says all is not well. >> translation: it is difficult for hungry people to listen to the words of their leaders. they're meeting resistance from the people when we ask them to pay taxes or even take part in community development matters. >> reporter: more than half the

population suffers from malnutrition. rising food prices are adding to the pressure on them. diplomatic efforts are being made by the international community to stop burundi from sliding back into civil war. for most burundians the end of fighting may not equal the end of the economic crisis. >> reporter: while the entire population of burundi is affected by the crisis here, it is the young people who are bearing the brunt of the current insecurity and conflict, being targeted after every security operation and it's the killings that were witnessed last friday in which more than almost a hundred people were killed, that is making people in africa, particularly the african union, think that this country is sliding back to chaos and it's time that they intervened

a very volatile position in burundi. thank you to our correspondent. rwanda's electoral commissions has had a vote to lift term limits which means the current president could remain in power until 2034. from the capital our correspondent. >> reporter: the results of the controversial referendum were exactly as expected. people at this preplanned event in the capital celebrated the total from each district was announced. in all districts, nearly 100% of people voted in favor of changing the constitution and its presidential term limits. the president has been in office since 2000 but effectively in power since his rebel group ended the genocide and took control in 1994. the changes mean he could run

again and could stay in power until 2034. >> what is happening is people's choice. ask people why they want me. >> reporter: since the referendum was announced just ten days ago, politicians have been urging support for the changes. we have been told that people were pressured into attending rallies but the government says they came freely. >> translation: we asked our members of parliament to change the term limit because they were an obstacle to us reelecting the president. >> reporter: both the e.u. and u.s. spoke out about changing the constitution, but voting went ahead. people voted in a quiet and orderly manner. supporters of the president say it is an compression of the people's will because they want to keep him in power, but very few have been openly critical about it.

some oppositions are in prison or have disappeared. it is easy to find vocal critics in other countries. this man was born in rwanda but campaigned against the government from london. he receives threats for it >> it is a big shock to us which a referendum has been arranged in one week to allow the president to be president for life, essentially. we think it's illegit meat. >> reporter: the president's supporters say he is loved for bringing stability and development to a country that has suffered so much violence. they say the referendum results reflect that. critics say the political climate means it's not possible to tell how popular he really iis hundreds of south koreans are protesting the arrest of a labor union leader who may face charges over violence at an earlier anti-government protest. the demonstration is the latest

in a series of protests against conservative president. she has been criticised for her treatment of union members. a professor of korean studies joins us now to talk more about this. what do you make of these protests? just judging by the pictures, it looks to be quite a large demonstration. is this something that the south korean president should be worried about? >> probably not. it is a show of strength of their position which is not faring well right now. it is a significant minority. it will draw attention to their existence. it will be, rightly or wrongly, that the current government has strong position.

th with the current president is the daughter of a dictator who ruled south korea in the 1960s to 1970s. it is actually the third demonstration in a row. i am not aware that i would say future participants should be expected by the demonstrations in mid november and early december how legitimate are the grievances of these groups that are protesting. is there a genuine cause there for people to be out in the streets protesting against the way the pretty has treated the unions there? >> i believe so. because, first of all, the first demonstration was about the

labor law. these changes might be justified, not not. essentially it was about more the idea to make easier to hire the personnel. now if you have a leader you have a high level of job security. it was an attack of job secur y security. (audio indistinct) the government is not exactly

democratic. i would say it's a part of justified concern good to speak to you from the south korean capital. in india the youngest convict in a gang rape case will soon walk free. the court said it was unable to stop the release of the attacker has he has served the maximum sentence of a juvenile. he was 17 at the time for the rape and murder of a medical student in the capital. india tried amending the you've justices act after the incident, but the bill is yet to be passe passed. >> the existing law cannot deal with it. the second session, so what could i have done, tell me another week and another smog alert in china's capital beijing. it is preparing for four days of

choking smog from saturday. that has prompted beijing to issue its second red alert. this means around half of the vehicles are off the roads, schools are closed, construction ask banned. we will take a quick break but when we come back, they hope the force is with them, the party using a popular prop at the spanish elections. plus aiming high, how cuba's street basketball players are striving to be part of the organized four. ganized four.

>> "inside story" takes you beyond the headlines, beyond the quick cuts, beyond the soundbites. we're giving you a deeper dive into the stories that are making our world what it is. hello again.

the top stories. world powers agree on a road map for peace in syria. the u.n. security council backed a plan for talks between the syrian government and opposition. the differences remain over the fate of president bashar al-assad and the make up of the syrian opposition. burundi's presidential spokesperson has told al jazeera the government does not want african union troops in the country. the e.u. says burundi is on the brink of civil war and is proposing to send five thousand peacekeepers. rwandans have backed the referendum which means the president could serve three more terms in office and stay in power until 2034. u.s. president obama has outlined his government strategy to fight against i.s.i.l. he was speaking at his year-end press conference at the white

house. >> we're going to defeat i.s.i.s. we're going to do so by systematically squeezing them, cutting off their supply lines, cutting off their financing, taking out their leadership and forces, taking out their infrastructure an arabic caligraphy lesson has caused cancellation of school. >> reporter: the halls of this high school were empty on friday. more than ten thousand students were told to stay home until monday. administrative straighters they're taking measures after receiving tens of thousands of hostile emails and social media posts over an arabic assignment.

some of the calls and emails they say were threatening and abusive. at the center of the uproar is this sheet of became. students were asked to copy this for their world religions homework. the ceed - it was to appreciate the beauty of the right. some patients says it was trying to indoctrinate students with islam. one says it was to manipulate people. >> when we are being fed fear day in and day out, we act as human beings, we act out of that fear and we act irrationally. that's really just a symptom of a much bigger problem because we're getting ready to choose our next president. this is a very important policy decision that we are making in a

democratic society and when we are literally, our judgment is impaired by this fear rhetoric, we are not going to be making a rational decision. >> reporter: during the tuesday night debate islamic terrorism was referred to 7 times and i.s.i.l. mentioned 70 times. the center for disease control in the u.s. has said americans are 40,000 times more likely to die of heart disease from obesity and cancer than an act of terror. >> right now in america we have 30% of republican primary voters saying that they want to bomb agorabar which is a fictitious country. we are dealing with a situation where people are so fearful that they are responding in this way.

>> reporter: that is the fear that contributed to the closure of the u.s. on the last day of the republican debate. students returned to class on wednesday after investigators said the bomb and threats received were a hoax sunday's general election in spain is predicted to be one of the tightest races in recent history. neither the ruling people's party nor the socialist workers party are expected to win a majority, but new comer party are making major gains. >> reporter: the force they think is with them. the latest recruit for the anti australia terry party-- austerity party. yes we can is the message of the

left win leader. a university lecturer whose party is less than two years old but aiming to break the back of the spain's political establishment. the prime minister does look set to lose las his majority, but the center right people's party will still have the highest number of seats in the spanish parliament. he boasts spain has the fastest economic growth in the european union. his message to voters, close your eyes and dream of what sort of country you want. his nightmare is the new reformist citizens party which has been stealing some of his core support. led by a 36-year-old who used his opposition to the independence movement to launch a career in national politics. our time has come is his message, a time of hope.

struggling against the new tide in spanish politics is the once dominant socialist party. his party political broadcast imagines a future where they look back with pride on their victory on sunday's election. the message, build a future for the majority. a new generation of political leaders will be joining the congress of deputies to challenge the old two-party system, but what real impact will the young ones have on the political system here >> these new parties have no past. so they are in a better position to try and solve the - one of the main issues in this time which is party corruption. we've never seen so many young people in politics. that is a health change possibly. >> reporter: the political landscape is being remoulded here. the prime minister shared a christmas dinner with his

people's party activists. if the polls go badly, though, for him it could prove to be his last supper. david chatter greek protesters are urging the european union to open borders to refugees trying to escape war and poverty. they marched towards the greek parliament. the un-n refugee agency says this year will break all previous records for global forced displacement. around a million refugees and migrants have entered europe so far this year. government leaders in nicuagura are seeking to rescue asylum seekers. they won't be able to pass because of a disagreement over policy. it allows visa free entry to cubans who reach foot. the so-called wet foot dry foot

policy means they can reach the u.s. anyway they can. >> the government depends the u.s. comes up with a solution for the immediate air lift to their territory. the thousands of cuban citizens on this dangerous route. these citizens can fly directly to the united states to guarantee their safety and lives. the cuban adjustment act and wet foot dry foot has caused this dangerous anomaly of flows. thousands of human beings have put their lives at risk cuba has long punched above its weight on the sporting stage with success at the olympics and world championships. a basketball is flourishing at players develop their skills on the street. >> reporter: it began with a group of friends on the street corner. it has grown into a vibrant well organized league independent of the influence of the cuban state. >> translation: our level is very, very good, which is why

the authorities have been questioning our existence. we're now as good as them. that caused us some problems, but our ideas to one day join the organized basketball with them incorporating some of our ideas. >> reporter: the street league has received support from full court peace. this is promoting solidarity on the basic ball court. >> translation: we are americans/they're cubans, but on court we can be friends. >> reporter: the league helps keep youngsters out of trouble and for many this is how they express themselves. >> translation: i'm in tune with myself and how the body works and away from the temptations of vice of society. we're always creating >> reporter: they use that creativity to establish courts

where there is adequate space. the rules to a more tougher and aggressive game. this is street basketball. raw basketball played for the players, for the neighborhood, with a passion of freedom of expression, free of the constraints that some feel can be imposed by the states. the state is beginning to notice the street scene. this, again, the young players in the national basic ball score. >> translation: this league is very well organized. this is street basketball. while ours is state run and organized. my kids study basketball and play with more technique >> reporter: they're all learning from one another with the passion and power of cuba's street basic ball scene-- basketball scene, difficult to contain missionaries in india are celebrating the saint hood of mother teresa. she p spent her life helping the poor and is said to have performed a mirror axle by

healing a man of brain tumors. her first mirror axle was recognised 12 years ago by the late pope john paul. there is lot more on our website at al jazeera.com >> we're in the eastern part of the democratic republic of congo. it's one of the least developed countries in the world, but there's an estimated $24 trillion worth of minerals here. tantalum, tungsten, tin, and gold have all been linked to violence in eastern congo by rebel groups and the congolese army. >> millions of people have been killed in the congo over the past decade.