>> >> north korea says it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. hello. you're with al jazeera. also to come on the program, cold and in need of help, freezing weather makes life even tougher for syrian refugees. >> every time i think about those kids it gets me mad tears from obama as he calls for action on gun control. protesters in cologne denounce

violence against women. police are investigating a massive assault by up to a thousand men first, north korea says it has detonated a hydrogen bomb. the u.n. body which monitors nuclear testing has described it as a grave threat to peace. an emergency meeting has been called of the u.n. security council. the test was announced on north korean television. >> translation: we will not give up our nuclear program as long as u.s. maintains its stance of aggression let's go live to beijing and our correspondent adrian brown. the first reports were that there was a large earthquake. >> reporter: yes. that's right. i've been looking at some pictures on state television showing people running in the

streets on the border of north korea. people there had thought there had been an earthquake. they're very close to north korea. i was in that area just three months ago. it's quite a tense border area, actually. so, yes, china really felt the impact of what it was that north korea tested. a short time ago the foreign ministry here gave a briefing to foreign news journalists. the rebuk they issued to north korea was actually quite mild. they urged north korea to return to the six-party talks. china, of course, is about the only friend that north korea has right now. they have in the past been allies, but there have been deep strains in that relationship during the past few years, mainly because of north korea's nuclear program. china in the past has supported

sanctions against north korea and, of course, it could be in that position once again if that is what the united nations decides to do there are some fears, of course, that north korea without the restraining influence, if you like, of its closest ally china could become even more recalcitrant, but is there any doubt that the north koreans have done what they've actually claimed to have done? >> reporter: well, i think probably the south korean government and certainly the u.s. governments are deeply sceptical. they say it could take, you know, months, even years, to prove whether north korea really has tested a militarized h bomb. so it's going to be very hard to verify. two years ago north korea said it tested a nuclear weapon that had uranium, but outside experts say it is impossible to prove whether it was in fact the case. in 2006 north korea tested a

weather that had plutonium. so if it is a test, it is the fourth that they have carried out in 10 years. in two days time it is the leader's birthday on january 8. this is a man who likes surprises. this is a man who likes suspense. was this linked to his birthday in two days time? was this, in a sense, an early birthday present from him? thank you very much. now we can speak to a former south korean foreign minister. do south koreans take what has happened in north korea very seriously today? >> yes, of course. we take it very seriously. this represents a greater threat

to - an increase in threat to some of the other powers, including the united states, china and japan, but it also means a great threat to south korea as well how big a development is it if it is, indeed, confirmed that a military h bomb has been tested? >> well, it is a very significant development in that even though the scale of the explosion was not greater than the last one, which was about - around 5 degrees, but it means that they are able to manufacture miniaturised bombs which can serve as war head, and combined with the capability with launch, sbn, this will

represent a threat to any country with or without the long-range missiles they are developing. so i think this has the effect of bringing china and the united states together in dealing with the north korean nuclear capability now we enter familiar territory, don't we. we get international condemnation, pretty much universally, we have the u.n. security council, international rebukes, threats of more sanctions, but nonetheless north korea still seen to do exactly what it wants. >> well, north korea seems to be prepared to take the sanction. i'm sure at this time china will have no objection to dilute the sanctions that are coming, but north korea knew that they would

be coming and they're prepared to accept it. i think it's a wrong assessment, but, nonetheless, that's the judgment of north korea what in your estimation does the leader want? clearly international attention is focused firmly on north korea, but what exactly does the leadership want? >> i think the leadership wants to be recognised as a nuclear weapon state and can be a credible threat to countries, the united states in particular, and i think this will serve as a credible threat which will actually not serve to promote north korea. they're saying that they want nuclear weapons, but i think the

other objectives are even more important for them thank you for taking the time to talk to us here the obama administration doesn't see bashar al-assad stepping down as syria's president before 2017 according to a new report. information obtained details how bashar al-assad is unlikely to relinquish his position as president before march 2017. the report was prepared for u.s. officials who are dealing with strategies to bring about an end to the conflict in syria. saudi arabia has signalled that its breakdown in relations with iran would not affect progress on peace talks over syria. the foreign minister made the comments following a meeting with the u.n. special envoy in riyadh. he will also visit syria, iran and turkey over the coming days.

meanwhile, harsh winter weather has hit syria's latakia refugee camp covering the area with snow. the storm swept across western syria and forced thousands of people to seek shelter. many refugees have been living in very basic temporary accommodation and they have appealed for extra help from the aid agencies. >> translation: we refugees here from turman mountain. we have been here for four years. the local councils are lacking. we are shortages, we don't have wood or heaters. we asked those who were concerned to look into the refugee rights because our situation is very, very bad. >> translation: i was displaced from the kurds mountain. it took us a couple of days until we secured ourselves in this cold. it is minus 10 degrees here. we barely managed to get a tent. we don't have anything at all. we have an old person. it is too cold. we are unable to get firewood or relief

at least 36 refugees have drowned off turkey's aegean coast. the area is a launching point for people who are trying to sale towards the greek island of lesbos. a warning now that some of the images in this report could be distressing. >> reporter: it is the first week of a new year. the warm summer long gone and the refugees' journey is getting harder. off the turkish coast a rubber dinghey has capsized, the passengers thrown to their fate. for those braving the sea for greece on tuesday, more than 20 would never arrive, their bodies washing back on shore on turkey. >> translation: we came an hour ago. we heard a boat sank and hit the rocks. i think these people died when they were trying to swim from the rocks. we came here to help. >> reporter: but there wasn't

much to be done. the turkish coast government dispatched three boats and one helicopter. three men were rescued, including one man that emerged from the freezing waters on his own. it's estimated a million refugees entered here in 2015, travelling on to central europe. >> the refugees continue to enter greece at a rate of 2500 a day from turkey, which is the average for december. we see the flows are continuing through the winter and, obviously, the fatalities are continuing as well >> reporter: this is where most are heading the greek island to lesbos, gateway to the european union some 10 kilometers off the turkish coast, but despite efforts to improve conditions

here, international volunteers say the refugees' welcome can be a harsh one. >> women, young children, they're not safe at night, as are the men that come with the women and children because there is stealing, there is raping, there is theft, there are knives and guns here. those things happen here. >> reporter: so the fate of even those who survived the sea crossing is uncertain. many will eventually find safe harbour in european countries like germany, but here on the greek shore their ordeal has just begun obama has issued an executive order to make it harder for americans to get guns. the u.s. president wiped away tears as he appealed for support. our white house correspondent reports. >> reporter: in just doesn't

happen. >> every time i think about those kids, it gets me mad >> reporter: an emotional president remembering the 20 children killed in their classroom over three years ago. his tears in part for one of the victims, this girl here. >> is a loving, generous, smart, funny, brilliant, talented little girl who loved to show how much she loved her family and her friends every day. >> reporter: her father was here to watch the president change the rules for how guns are purchased. now if people want to buy a gun on line or at a gun show, they have to get a background check. a bill to do that couldn't get through the u.s. senate immediately after the newtown shooting >> the gun law might be holding congress hostage now, but they cannot hold america hostage. >> reporter: this could be a temporary measure. the next president could throw it out. some are promising to do that like ted cruz. >> we don't beat the bad guys by taking away our guns.

we take the away the bad guys by using our guns. >> reporter: me is asking for more money for mental health care and also to add a little to speed up those background checks and to do more investigations. he is likely going to face a fierce fight in congress. >> reporter: there were more than three million guns sold in the u.s. just last month. still green says he is optimistic there can be a solution >> it takes time. it takes momentum, constant dedication to the cause and i feel like there are so many - my family included - who are dedicated to see fewer gun deaths in america. weep won't stop. >> reporter: neither will those opposed to any changes, meaning this is a fight that is far, far from over lots more to come here at al jazeera, including malaysia sees red on bauxite mining because of the impact on the environment.

fighting breaks out in venezuela's parliament as a new era of politics begins. tics begins.

hello again. a look at the top stories. north korea says it has successfully exploded a hydrogen bomb. the body which monitors nuclear testing says it is a grave issue. the u.s. president has unveiled

plans to show more gun buyers to under go background checks. harsh winter weather has hit syria's latakia refugee camp covering the area with snow. refugees living in temporary accommodation are asking for help. let's get more on our top story. military hydrogen bomb having been tested. now, it's the most powerful type of a nuclear bomb. potentially two thousand times more destructive than the bombs that were dropped on japan in 1945. unlike atomic bombs which break apart, a hydrogen bomb derives its blast from fusion. it can produce intense white

light that can induce blindness. our guest says north korea uses tests to put pressure on the international community. >> a hydrogen bomb is a pretty substantial step forward. this is something that wasn't developed until the 1950s. they have never been used against civilians. we don't know what this would actually do in a city. that's why people are so terrified. this is a major step up. i also say that we have no other evidence other than the north koreans have said. they said this a couple of months ago that they had this. there was a lot of scepticism. until we see something, i'm still skeptical. the country goes through a cycle of provocation. they pull something out once a year. this is to shake other countries for aid or assistance or attention or something like that. the north koreans were rebuffed in discussion between the south and the north in december. this may be a way of signalling

that they want something from those discussions that they didn't get. in the coming election, which is coming in april, and this may be a way of signalling that you need to pay attention to us and you should participate in inter korean talks in the fucht. these usually go on hold there has been swift international reaction to the nuclear tests. the u.s. has again called on north korea to abide by its international obligations and commitments. the white house says it will respond appropriately to all provocations. the u.n. security council is set to hold an emergency meeting later on wednesday and bring the p an says that if the test is confirmed, it would be a provocation and a grave breach of u.n. security council resolutions. to malaysia which has suspended bauxite mining because of the impact on the environment. the country is the biggest exporter of bauxite which is the

biggest source for aluminium. this is where most of malaysia's bauxite is mined. >> reporter: the state minister sat alongside the federal minister of malaysia for the environment and natural resources to outline what this state would now do in terms of the bauxite debate. the conclusion has been that certainly for the next two months all mining will be suspended from 15 january. that will give the authorities time to clear the stock piles that are currently held at the port and in the second month they will clear 911 locations across the state where there are stock piles. this will now give the authorities a chance to also review, amend, cancel or even continue the licences that they have given to mining companies to continue mining and also to make sure that they are acting

with in all the rules and regulations of this open-cast bauxite mining. mall shash i can't is the lead - doctor - malaysia is the major exporter. it gives most to china. australia has halted its bauxite. it gives pressure groups who have been concerned about mining the opportunity to highlight the damage they feel bauxite mining is doing to the state. less than a week ago a small amount of bauxite seems to have seeped into the fresh water supplies. that leaked into rivers and the water source you see behind he was blood red and this gained front page coverage on the press and has scared people about the effects of bauxite, both short-term and long-term. it's not just in the water, it's the dust that it creates in the air. it's on everything, cars, building, lorries, schools and this is where people live work and breathe. for the moment, stl a res

patent. for how long, we don't know, or what the future will be, but it is anyone's guess bangladeshi supreme court has upheld the death sentence imposed on the former head of the country's largest islamic political party. he was convicted of leading a militia that committed murder and rape during bangladeshi's war of independence in 1971. our correspondent reports now from the capital. >> reporter: the charges against him made for grim reading. the former chief of the group, the largest islamic party, was handed the death sentence for committing war crimes in 1971. he is accused of setting up the militia, a para military unit that collaborated with the pakistani army in large scale army. prosecutor said he is the last

key defendant left in the dock >> he was the main planner. he was the mastermind of killing. not only that, from the very beginning he was the man who did the army. >> reporter: not everyone is pleasd with the verdict. supporters of him in the past taken to the streets in violent protests. the police responded in force. more than 500 people had been in clashes. a sustained crack down on the opposition has meant that lately the reactions to the verdict have been more subdued. none of his army members in bangladesh with willing to speak to the media. not just the family messrs, but lawyers who say they are they are being harassed.

>> reporter: it is said the tribunal is targeting the wrong men. >> they don't know what they have done in 1971, the army has admitted the offences of arson, rape, mass killing. they're left off. >> reporter: the pakistan government denies any war crimes were committed in 1971. in the mean time, this man is already in custody and supporters of the war crimes tribunal desperate to finally get some justice for the crimes of the past and are happy to set their sights closer to home kenya's university has reopened nine months after al-shabab sformd the campus and killed 148 people. the university says that most of the staff have returned to work and classes will start next week.

the united nations is facing allegations that its peacekeepers sexually abused girls in car. it has begun investigations. it follows a series of claims against u.n. peacekeepers stationed in the country in 2015. hundreds of people in germany has been protesting against against towards women. they believe 1000 men were involved in 90 assaults and robberies on women on new year's eve. gentlemen man police have warned against blaming refugees or migrants before the facts are known. >> translation: i came to the demonstration today because i think it's important to share a reaction that we do not accept the atmosphere in this country or the city. we need changes so that women can go out onto the streets in the evening at night. we don't want to give those

rights away. >> translation: it is unacceptable in a city like here. and in every part of the world there should be no violence against women. that's why i'm here. >> translation: it's not only new year's eve. i am a young woman. i often go out at night here and there are assaults taking place, so it's important for women to stand together, no matter what nationality venezuela has a parliament now controlled by the center right for the first time in 16 years, but some members weren't able to be sworn in because of a challenge by supporters of the president's socialist party. our correspondent reports from the capital. >> reporter: songs about change and new beginning. jub lant supporters joined the new 112 legislators as they made their way to the capital. last december a sweeping victory

gave them a two-third super majority paving the way for a transformation in the way venezuela is run. >> translation: venezuela needed a change. we are fed up with shortages and violence. as a mother i want my children to grow up with freedom and without all this hatred. >> reporter: a few blocks away there is a rival rally back the president. they're worried about the make-up of the new national assembly. >> translation: the opposition hates this country. they offended the commander and the president. we have to tell them they must respect our revolution and our leaders. >> reporter: street clashes between both groups have been feared, especially after three opposition deputies were prevented from being sworn in by a recent supreme court ruling. but it was at the ceremony itself that the tensions were most evident. a sign of the space as they proposed to share power over the

coming five years. a particularly sorry subject has been efforts by the opposition-- sore-- to free prisoners. the government blames them for the death of more than 40 people during a month-long wave of violence in 2014. >> translation: the asas ins, the perpetrators can't pardon themselves. only the victims can. >> reporter: in the end they walked out. the frustration over the changing landscape in venezuela too great for them to stay. the government has passed a series of laws that seemed to undermine the majority that the opposition gained in december's elections. analysts warn that the continuing of in grid lock will only exacerbate the conflict of social conflict britain's parliament is to debate whether donald trump should be barred from entering

the u.k. half a million people signed a petition to keep donald trump out. it comes after his comments that muslims should be stopped from entering the u.s. the debate is scheduled for january 18. you can find out more about that and, indeed, the rest of the day's storys on the al jazeera website. >> [ ♪ ] buried. >> right next to her. >> mm-hmm six years ago his wife died after overdosing on prescription pain-killers. she was 60. it