>> the united nations promises new sanctions as north korea claims it has detonated a hydrogen bomb. hello there, i'm felicity barr, and this is al jazeera live from london. coming up, syrians with an appeal for help. >> you can't just make a rule that changes the constitution of the united states. >> what the u.s. weapons will be concerned about president obama's plan for greeting gun patrol also ahead.

>> again in pain where new generation of ho hot air balloons are taking flight. >> hello, the united nations security council has strongly condemned north korea's latest nuclear test and vowed to pursue new sanctions. in a state television news announcement north korea said it has successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, if true it will be a significant jump in the country's nuclear capabilities. however, there it has been met with wide creatism. many believe the explosion was nowhere near enough to be a hydrogen bomb. but any nuclear test would be a violation of u.n. resolutions leaving the security council.

>> many people stood to watch what they were told would be an important announcement. on queu cue they cheered the country's littest success. state television showed president kim jong-un signing off on the order. >> it could ge take months or years to determine if north korea successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. it says it deserves to possess nuclear weapons to counter threats from the united states. around the region leaders responded with familiar alarm. it was north korea's fourth nuclear test in ten years.

>> our government has to take decisive measures against any additional provocations by north korea, and work with the additional community to make sure that isolated country pay the price for its latest nuclear test. >> japan's government is also promising a firm but as yet unspecified response. >> north korea's nuclear test is a serious threat to our nation's security and absolutely cannot be tolerated. >> here in china there is also deepening concern. china is about the only friend that north korea has, and it's a friendship going through testing time since the government is alarmed at having the prospect of having a nuclear-armed neighborhood. >> they admitted that the old ally had not notified china before the test and issued a strong rebuke. >> the chinese government has always tried to keep stability

and peace in northeast asia. we strongly request that north korea stop making further actions that makes the situation worse. >> whatever was tested, it was felt here. fearing an earthquake many local residents were evacuated. al jazeera visited this tense border areas three months ago where a series of recent murders and robberies have been blamed on hungry north korean soldiers. china's leadership has supported sanctions against north korea in the past. now it could be under pressure to do so again. i degrean brown, al jazeera, beijing. >> and our diplomatic editor james bays is live at the united nations for us. huge concern being expressed there as you would expect, james. but what options are open for the security council? >> you're right, felicity, concern and condemnation and promise that there will be new

measures. which begs the question what will those new measures going to be? the they don't really have the power to decide on exact measures. they have to go back to their capitals. they have to consult and decide what to do, and there is a very limited toolbox they have. normally what they do when a country disobeys rules of the international community they put sanctions in place. and there already are some of the stricters sanctions in north korea. having said that, notably one of the newest members who joined five days ago, japan, an important regional player and the one of the country's more fearful for north korea, they say they want extremely tough measures. >> we think if no further significant measures are taken by the security council, it is the authority and credibility of

the security council will be put into question. therefore, the japanese government will be asking for new security council resolutions, which should be adapted swiftly, and whose content should be robust. >> so japan wants top measures and more significant, james, is china is furious about the test. >> china seems very unhappy, and china is the key country here really, because it is the country that has the best relations with north korea. the country that perhaps has some lynch, has lynch on this nation, which quite often does not listen to anyone. china's role will be important. i can tell you back in februar february 2013, the last time there was inuring test, yes, there was an u.n. security council that would meet and pass a resolution. but that resolution was

negotiated not by the entire 1 members of the u.n. security council. it was negotiated at the time by the u.s. ambassador who happens to be the national security adviser and the chinese ambassador, and they negotiated the resolution. i think we're looking at something similar at this time. the u.s. and it's allies looking for very tough action against north korea, trying to think of something new that will effect north korea tougher than the existing angels. i think they'll be going back to beijing to see what they can put in place and see what china will be happy with. >> thanks, james. >> 20 iraqi soldiers have been killed near the central city of ramadi. they say that the islamic state in iraq and the levant was responsible for the attack.

meanwhile attract by the coalition against isil has killed 15 of its advisers. they said the strikes hit targets north of ramadi and in the city center. in syria harsh winter weather has hit thousands of people displaced by the war inside and outside of the country. we have more from the turkish border with syria. >> these arctic conditions here in southeast turkey and across the border behind me in syria are having a grave impact on displaced people and refugee who is are living in very harsh conditions. one family who had taken refugee in a tent in the province southeast turkey, a family's four-month-old son could not cope with the temperatures, and their family could not keep their tent warm enough, and he died of hyperthermia. this is just one of several

teams who have taken shelter in the area. there was are families who are struggling to keep tents warm enough to keep their children alive. many don't have the money or resources to find fuel to keep warm. in idlib, though, no demonstrating for the people further south of the country. 40 kilometers south of damascus, 40,000 people have been besieged in that town for 170 days by the syrian forces one of the activists tell me that they have managed to get some monies through. one of the ngos managed to get some money through and tried to get food to people. but the prices have heightened. a kilo of rice used to cost just

a few cents now cost $250 u.s. dollars. so now the politicians who are charged with getting all parties around the negotiating table later in january, these negotiations, the lifting of the blockade and the humanitarian blockade cannot come soon enough. qatar would recall its ambassador were iran after attacks on the saudi arabia embassy there. the embassy had been set on fire by demonstrators. >> iraq is at the heart of the ring. we sought to use our broad relations so that iraq can play its role and eye leavate tensions between iran and saudi arabia. this responsibility has been given to us and we've been active from the early moments to

less intentions to prevent disasters from happening that could effect the entire region. >> a breakdown will not effect peace talks over syria. comments made following a meeting special envoy with syria. another round of peace talks on syria is scheduled for later this month. still to come on the program, the u.n. investigates new allegations against peace keepers of abuse in central african republic. and back to business, the french satirical magazine charlie hebdo marks a year since attacks on its offices. 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. a reminder of the top stories here on al jazeera. the united nations has strongly condemned north korea's nuclear test and vow to pursue sanctio sanctions. north korea claims it has edit nighte--it has detonated a hydrogen bomb. in syria, many seek emergency shelter. qatar has recalled its ambassador from iran. the u.n. is investigating new allegations that it's peace keepers sexually abused girls in central african republic. it's alleged four underage girls

were assaulted in bangui. >> there are around 11,000 peace keepers in the central african republic. their job is to protect people in a country that has been mired in religious violence. new allegations suggest some soldiers may have failed in that mission. four underage girls say they were sexually abused by u.n. peace keepers. the u.n. has launched an investigation. >> over the past week unicef staff have met with the four alleged victims. unicef is working with local partners to help the girls receive medical care and is assessing psycho-social needs. >> allegations made against peace keepers in central african republic. last year in a report criticism,

the report said that the u.n. failed to carry out proper background checks on peace keepers and needed to do more to protect children. >> many things that can be done to prevent this type of abuse. troops can be vetted. the types of allegations can be made and it can be investigated properly. and as much as anything most importantly of all those who are deemed responsible for those kind of crimes can be prosecuted or should be prosecuted. >> thousands of foreign peace keepers were sent to central african republic after a coup in 2013. in april last year a peace agreement was signed between the mostly muslim seleka and the mostly christian anti-balacka groups. votes from lost month's presidential election is still being counted but many want the votes suspended because they say

there are i irregularities. al jazeera. >> in ththe mayor of a german city of cologne has suggested that women stay an arms length away from strangers. many demonstrated against violence towards women. and. >> all the of a sudden the men around us began groping us. they touched our we behin behinds and between the legs.

one guy grabbed my bag and ripped it off my body. i thought they could kill us. they could rape us and no one would notice. i thought we would to accept it. there was no one around us who helped us or who was in position to help. all i wanted was to get out. >> a vatican newspaper has criticized the french satirical magazine charlie hebdo for portraying god as a terrorist attacker. this is a year after an attack that left 14 people dead. >> a year on from the attacks on charlie hebdo the french president unveiled a commemorative plaque outside of the paper's headquarters. [ gunfire ] is it it was on january 7th of last year that two armed men broke into the newspaper's offices, killing 11 people inside and a police officer on

duty outside. the attackers were later named both brothers had been known to intelligence agencies but were not, apparently, considered a high priority. the government rushed through new security measures in the aftermath of the attacks. laws were passed to give intelligence services wider surveillance powers. but those agencies were faced with an overwhelming task bearing in mind the hundreds of french citizen who is went to fight in syria or iraq and returned home. >> what are the criteria? because these people, they know very well the current criteria that terrorists are use to go, to detect or to stop. >> the government also promised

to tackle the causes of radical indication by focusing on young people in disadvantaged neighborhoods. a year on leading members of the muslim community said that if anything the government response is making matters worse. >> this is a divided society. look how we're behaving today. a completely fragmented society. a government acting with interest security, measures failing to address the deeper--much deeper social issues leading to radicalization. >> what should the authorities be doing to start tackling the causes of radicalization? >> more integration. more freedom. more jobs, and more opportunities. do we have any of that? absolutely not. >> so intelligence mistakes, inas adequate resources and failure to address the root causes of radicalization. this fatal combination left the way open for the attacks of november 13th. much deadlier and wider reaching than the events of january.

jacky rowland, al jazeera, paris. >> kenya's garissa university has reopened after gunmen stormed the campus and killed 148 people. security is tight, as mall come webb reports. >> the first students since the attack last april have come to register at this desk just at this gate. it's through the same gate that five armed men from al-shabab and 142 students were killed. university security managety say they finally got the security they have been asking for all along even before the attack happened. they had written to the government asking for armed police to be deployed here. now after over a hundred killed they got what they asked for. that means that the university

is now secure. the students who registered today also feel it is secured to and they can't wait to begin studying here. the democratic action party won two-thirds majority in venezuela last month. but they were unable to take the majority seat. virginia lopez is in the capital of caracas. >> this wings venezuela's newest assembly will meet to cheese the committee that will be designing laws that many here will hope to solve the country's economic crisis and curb the country's crime rate. this is historically important session because for the first time television stations not associated with the government will have access to today's session. >> on tuesday's inauguration ceremony, the skirmishes between deputies, the power sharing

between the opposition-led parliament and the executive branch will be almost impossible. for many the new assembly marks the beginning of a transition away from a government that they describe as oppressive and tyrannical. the new legislation hopes to end two decades of programs that they claim lifted millions of venezuelans out of poverty. it was full of gestures that seemed to be a clean break since nicolás maduro came to power. he stressed there will be a constitutional change and activating a recall referendum. the country could be heading to the polls to elect a new president. in the time being, however, it seems that the country will be

entering a period of uncertainty and political gridlock in which little will be done to solve the country's dire problems. >> in the united states th, the national rifle association said obama's use of executive power to control gun ownership is a political stunt. andy gallagher is in florida which has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the u.s. >> and this is actually a lightweight gun. >> at the national armory, business is booming and across the state it's a similar picture. last year gun sales in florida were up 14%. >> you want to look at another ar 15. >> and with three times as many gun dealers as there are post offices, buyers don't have far to go to pick their weapon of choice. >> and i think there are some give and take that has to be figured out a little better. >> but perhaps surprisingly, the

gun owner is not against gun controls. he's worried about how some weapons change hands, and he's deeply concerned that president obama is acting alone. >> you can't just make a rule to change the constitution of the united states. that's what he's doing. >> it's a sentiment echoed by many gun enthusiasts backed by the powerful rifle associations nra. when it came to this range many who were shooting were tourists from places with much tighter gun regulations. and for many the u.s. gun culture is a an alien concept. >> the nra figures if you don't have a gun you can't protect yourself. but on the other hand, if no one has guns, they won't shoot each other. >> by using executive powers, president obama is bound to deepen the riff between the gun lobby and those who want tighter

regulations. some legal experts say that the president's actions whether unilateral or otherwise need to be put into context. >> the fact of the matter is we've always had gun control. the founding fathers had gun control. president reagan had gun control. george bush sr. and jr. also supported gun control. this is not an issue whether or not somebody is coming to take your guns. it's about regulations of a dangerous product. [ gunfire ] >> it's unlikely that the president's action also slow business down here or blunt the enthusiasm of a state that has already issued over a million concealed weapons licenses. the enthusiasts in florida across the country is not whether the president has done what has upset them but how he has done it. andy gallagher, al jazeera, florida. >> the hot air balloons might appear to drift along

effortlessly, but it takes hundreds of liters of fuel to keep them a lot of. now there are ways to make ballooning more ecofriendly. >> in the hills near barcelona in the still morning air a newly completed hot air balloon is inflated for the first time. the team inspects the rigging and stitching on all the seams. it's a standard check before new balloons are shipped to customers. the spanish account is the world's largest maker of hot air balloons producing 200 each year. the branding of each balloon is customized and stitched together by hand from thousands of pieces of lightweight fabric.

>> ouwe always check it. >> hot air balloons use propane gas to heat the air that lifts them. they can carry 100 liters. that means hot air balloon is a gas-guzzling sport. that's why this company has developed an ecofriendly model that is more efficient. >> it's better insulated which means it's cheap for fly and uses half as much gas. >> the main benefit is the fuel conserving up to 50%. so you fly cheaper. you spend less money in a single flight. or you can have more capacity for the flight so you cannot land, for example, in the

mountains, so you can have other place to. >> and the company is working on technology to make hot air balloons safer. it has developed a smart phone app to contract flights an and an alert that tells the pilot it is coming too close to powers lines. >> it is very quiet. you can relax. you can feel yourself as you need to fly in the winds, you cannot control the direction, so it gives a feeling that you are alone with nature, and you can enjoy it. >> the ecoballoon is more expensive to make but the company says because it lasts longer and it is cheap for fly it is a cost effective alternative, and one that developers hope insures that hot

air ballooning will be a sustainable sport in the future. al jazeera, spain. >> i promise there is not much hot air on our website. you can go to www.aljazeera.com. that is www.aljazeera.com for your latest news and sport. >> i'm stephanie sy, and this is a special edition of talk to al jazeera, we're lookingback at 2015. >> to push as hard as i can to make it as far as i can in the ballet world so that they will have an easier path. >> in the last year, we've spoken to best-selling authors and global leaders. you've heard from actors, composers& ♪ i am a man who will fight for your honor ♪ >> &and musicians including one of the most recognizable singers of a generation& ♪y