>> a real look at the american dream. only on al jazeera america. joaquin guzman has been recaught. the focus is on getting him into an american jail >> my daughter. they won't come over to the house any more plus outrage in california as the largest gas leak in u.s.

history forces people from their homes. we take a deeper look at muslim politics. how they view the race from the white house our top story this saturday night, mexico's most wanted man has been captured again. he may now face the rest of his life though in an american prison. mexico hopes to grant a u.s. request to extradite joaquin guzman. he is thought to run a violent multi billion dollar drug empire. the king pin was captured on friday after a three-hour shoot out in his home town.

our correspondent has more from mexico. >> reporter: on saturday mexican authorities removed the bodies of five men killed in the raid that led to joaquin guzman's arrest. as experts looked for more clues, authorities started to layout steps on how he could be extradited to the u.s. to face charges. according to the mexican attorney-general's office, extradition could come in a matter of weeks or months, depending on legal road blocks miss lawyers are expected to raise. he was recaptured in 2014, the attorney-general joked that he could serve time in the u.s. only of after serving three to four hundred years in a mexican jail. he escaped through a tunnel last july embarrassed and humbled the government. they have now changed their tune. meanwhile the damn aof the road

telephone is still felt in this small city on the pacific coast. >> translation: it was around 4am when i heard loud bursts of gunfire like never before. >> reporter: the local taco stands 15 metres from the house. the men here say they had no idea he was living in their midst. >> translation: i never imagined having him, such an infamous figure, so close. >> reporter: they sure didn't imagine having him crawling under the streets. after fleeing the safe house, he and an associate escaped into a sewer until climbing out and hijacking a car from a woman who was driving by >> reporter: in was the tunnel where he surfaced on friday when he was running from his police with his top security officer. a few minute ago the marines were here and fished out a machine gun. the manhole is in the middle of a busy street t as marines

retrieved the weapon for later inspection, people wondered what other surprises the coming days would reveal about the raid and the recapture of mexico's most wanted man rolling stone magazine released an article tonight written by sean penn, a detailed account of meetings with joaquin guzman that led him officials to him. he travelled to mexico to meet with the drug lord. there were more than 100 troops in the jungles of a state. it is believed to be the first interview with the king pin in decades. looking back in 1993 the king pin was in one of mexico's toughest prisons, but he escaped in 2001. he disappeared for 13 years but was caught again in 2014. in july he escaped from another maximum security prison through a sophisticated underground

tunnel. in october he narrowly got away again when marines chose not to shoot because he was with two women and a girl. the man accused of shooting a fill delicatessen fee apolice officer phil phil-- philadelphia travelled. he wfaces charges attempted murder and aggravated assault. authorities are trying to determine, though, if he is actually connected to i.s.i.l. or any other similar group. his family members say head injuries have made him mentally unstable. the officer is in a stable condition. protests erupted in cologne in an outbreak of sexual violence against women. foreigners are being blamed for the crimes on new year's eve. >> reporter: it was a day of protests that culminated in moments of violence.

supporters of the far right anti-islamic group had been demonstrating against the asylum policies of government and those who carried out the sexual acts of violence here. in the event some of their followers threw bottles, stones and other objects at police. in their term, police responded with a water cannon to restore calm. a number of people were held, others injured. earlier, the city's protest had another larger demonstration by left wing opponents. they had come to try and prevent or disrupt the far right rally and to call for greater tolerance. >> translation: i would say society is divided at the moment. it is incredible what is happening in germany. we must fight against the racism because many of forgotten the country's past >> reporter: the message on the other side was stark.

>> translation: that is about to happen, what happened on new year's eve is a no-go. it can't happen again and we will stand up for it. when the going gets tough, us germans will fight again for it. >> reporter: the fallout from the sexual attacks and robberies of new year's eve continues to resonate more than a week on. more than 300 complaints have now been made to the authorities. one young woman told me how a female friend of hers was groped and that she herself was threatened. >> translation: i was really afraid and was really insecure which is not like me. i didn't know how to react. i didn't know how to respond and just started staring at the floor. i was afraid of the looks. >> reporter: for something to be done has claimed the job of the police chief of cologne. the chancellor says the law needs to be strengthened so that that if refugees commit serious crimes, they can more easily be deported. >> translation: it is in the

germans best interest and the refugees that have arrived here. it is very important. >> reporter: the two demonstrations that have been staged in this city center have now come to an end with the police moving in to restore law and order. but the debate about what this country does with the asylum seekers that it has encouraged to come here is far from over > four geeish hostages-- jewish hostages. the ceremony was held after gunmen took hostages inside a supermarket. family members held a vigil outside that market. several republican presidential candidates sent the day in south carl carolina on how to reduce poverty. >> reporter: all of the candidates today said that the g.o.p. needs to be sympathetic

towards the poor. they say the programs designed by the government to lift people out the poverty really are not working. now, interestingly the two candidates that are leading the party in south carolina were no shows today at the forum. the wait staff dishes up egg sz and coffee while the breakfast crowd debaits the upcoming g.o.p. primary. >> trump did appeal to me. i think rubio, i kind of leaning towards him >> i'm leaning towards donald trump >> reporter: why? >> because he is brave enough to say what we all want to hear >> i would vote for him. >> reporter: in a race crowded with candidates and an election a little more than a month away, donald trump is leading the g.o.p. pack in the paul meadow state by a wide margin followed by ted cruz and marco rubio. jobs and the economy are key issues in south carolina.

marco rubio got peppered with questions about both at a recent meet and greet with pro-life advocates >> how do we provide long-term opportunities and skill sets for those workers, 18 to 35-year-olds? >> reporter: employment growth in the area is doing better than the rest of the country overall thanks to manufacturers like b mw who the plant will be the largest. michelin, with half a dozen plants in the state. still, the state's unemployment rate lags the rest of the nation, partly because of big job losses in the textile industry that moved overseas. robert oldendick from the center for policy research said donald trump vowed to bring jobs back is striking a cord with voters >> the whole emphasis of his

campaign, we're not winning any more, i think a lot of people will be voting in that would want america to be a winner again. that's a message that is resonating here >> hi >> reporter: restaurant owner is a lifelong republican who is still undecided about who will get his vote. he says he is all for building a stronger economy, but isn't hearing the candidates talk about issues he thinks contribute to that. >> i am troubled by the idea that they're not talking about certain important issues like the infrastructure in this country, the ballooning deficit that we have, the debt that this country has incurred >> reporter: like a lot of south carolina voters, they hope it will change as the race heats up. many of the voters we talked to said there are so many candidate $that they haven't made up their mind who they're going to vote for next month thank you. muslim advocacy group is wait waiting for an policies from

donald trump after a woman was thrown out of a campaign rally. she stood up silent le at the vent but awedens began heck eling her until security guards escorted her out. she has not had a response. in justice a couple of minutes a deeper look at american muslims and their views on the 2016 election and american politics as a whole. that's at about 11.15 eastern time, 5.15 pacific right here on al jazeera. saudi arabia's foreign minister says further action may be taken against iran a week after the kingdom officially severed ties with tehran. our correspondent reports tensions are still rising a week after a controversial execution >> reporter: saudi arabia seems to be determined to build an international front against iran. they are targeting the g.c.c.,

the arab league and the islamic organization. they want them to issue statements of solidarity with saudi arabia and statements denouncing iran. this is exactly what happened with the g.c.c. which said that iran is destabilizing the region and interfering in the internal affairs of saudi arabia. it is a very critical moment for both saudi arabia and for iran. iran presents itself as the defender of shiasise lame and saudi arabia represents itself as a defender of sunni power house. we will continue to see tension building up in the coming months because of the issues at stake. so you have places like yemen, syria and iraq where the saudis accused the iranians of destabilizing those reasons of supporting shia groups. on the other hand iran says that saudi arabia is not helpful in the sense that it is not willing to negotiate political

settlements. this is exactly why for saudi arabia it is crucial to have regional and international allies saying firmly that they stand with saudi arabia and that they are opposed to the policies of iran a video was released showing eye rain yan missiles being filed during warships. it shows missiles being launched. military ships including the u.s. s harry aircraft carrier were also close by. this happened late mast month. no response to this video but earlier reports of the missile fire "false news". still ahead tonight on al jazeera, an image war in venezuela. pictures of the legendary leader. >> we have been part of this

fight for this nation for centuries muslim americans unique view of the race for the white house. a deeper look at who they might support and why.

>> it's not looking pretty. i gotta pay my bills. >> you gotta do somethin', you know? try to keep your head above water. >> sunday... $38. thursday... $36. for this kind of money, i really don't give a s*át. >> a real look at the american dream. only on al jazeera america. welcome back. islam has become a central talking point in the 2016 campaign. we take a deeper look at how american muslims themselves feel about this election and about

the community's growing role in american politics. donald trump has called for a temporary ban on muslims entering this country. he has offered few details about how that would work, but some say the ban could include u.s. citizens. this is a long way from the former george w bush's post 911 speech defending islam. our correspondent is with more >> reporter: an estimated two million voters practice islam and that number is expected to double by 2050. nearly 780% of muslims supported republicans in the previous elections. it has flipped 8 a% of those backing obama in 2012. this woman was born in kuwait. the married husband of two children children lives in new york city and runs several small businesses >> we have been part of the

fibre of this nation for centuries. >> reporter: he is among more than two million muslims living in the u.s. his conservative values are grounded in his religious beliefs, but he takes a more moderate approach towards politics >> i think it is difficult as a muslim american not to stand with democrats >> reporter: muslims are far more likely to identify with or lean toward the democratic party than the republican party. >> my religious beliefs tell me that humans should be treated equally. doesn't matter what color or gender. we're not seeing that a lot >> we the muslims. >> reporter: the landscape of muslims in american politics has seen a dramatic shift in the past 15 years. according to the council on american islamic relations 78% of muslims voted republican in 2000. in the years following, the 911

attacks, muslims support turns to democratic candidates. on the issue, he says he is concerned about health care, jobs and police surveillance of muslims. >> we think that the government should be looking for anyone who does anything bad all the time legally and that no one group should be owe proceeded in that process >> reporter: muslims make up less than 1% of the u.s. population, but in some cities across the country they are leaving a political footprint. for the first time this past november, the city of michigan elected a majority of council. >> it doesn't matter what face or race. >> reporter: still on capitol hill muslims are largely under represented >> mr speaker. >> reporter: democratic representatives of indiannia are

the only members of congress who are muslim. as the tension turns to the presidential election, many muslims are eager to show their influence at the polls >> we are going to mobile eyes our community. we're going it to do the early voting-- to do the early voting, we are going to have bus loads on shuttles to the polling stations >> they have to get involved politically. they have to make political contributions to people who represent their interests, their interests being protect our civil and human rights and human dignity as fellow americans, as immigrants in this nation >> reporter: believe me, we are many. >> reporter: in a time of growing anti muslim sentiment in the u.s., this man is hoping more muslims will find their voices in a highly-charged political climate. muslims tend to show up at the polls in high numbers according to a survey by the few research center, 64% u.s. muslims voted

in the 2008 general election thanks. joining me in the studio tonight to talk about this is the executive director of the republican muslim coalition and a law professor at the university of detroit. i want to start with you, why this flip, donald trump aside, iging him in his-- ignoring him and his statements, why they muslims switched from republican to democrat? >> the democratic party has traditionally been one that protects minority rights, more in the last 20 or 30 years. take a look at the audience at any democratic event, it is a real mosaic of what america is turning into. you take a look at any republican event and especially at a donald trump rally and they're 99% white. muslims as minorities and arabs as well are more drawn to the party that seems to have its

arms open to people of color a lot more muslim ideals and republicans are aligned, they're proceed family, proceed choice, proceed-- pro family, pr choice, pr business. why the disconnect? >> you could say the same thing about block and latino voters of the they might be conservative in their social views but they go towards the democratic party. that shows that inclusion and policies and walking the walkabout having these people in your party is much more important than simply talking the talk about certain policy things that many people in our community might agree with you're an interesting story here. you used to be a democrat for the most part and you flipped to become a republican muslim. why you drawn to g.o.p.? >> because of the stance on pro-life, islamic values that i

thought they this represent. it's supposed to be about traditional family values, like you said, and pro-life issues that i care about are aligned more with the republican party than the democrats. i couldn't see myself supporting some liberal values by the democratic party when you look at the republican party today with donald trump at the lead what do you think of him? >> i would love to see him change his views. i feel he has strong economic policies that he could help turn the economy around, but i think the big on theory - bigotry against muslims is very concerning and that is why we have formed the republican muslim coalition to reach out to g.o.p. candidates and hopefully change their views does it end at donald trump? if he does become the nominee would you still vote for him? >> i would. i didn't become a republican because of donald trump. i still don't see myself

supporting a democrat. we've seen failed foreign policies in the last eight years and we would like to see that changed. the rhetoric is very concerning. that's why we have a huge opportunity for a republican muslim to educate republican politicians about what we want, just like any other group. we should be lobbying for our interests and make our voices heard i wonder if that's a concern for you as well, that there really isn't a clear strong voice for muslim americans in the political process. >> i think our voters are our voice. muslim americans are a young, highly ed indicated section of the society. it is mind boggling to me to hear an american muslim say even if donald trump is getting the vote, she will vote for it.

that's unbelievable. donald trump is the party now and the donald trump movement and the republican movement are now becoming almost exclusively the party of white americans who feel that they're losing their country to nonwhite americans. i don't know how anyone can believe in that a lot of republicans say, listen, although donald trump is extremely popular, he does not speak for all republicans. there are others jeb bush being one of them, that have spoken out against donald trump and struck a far more moderate tone >> i guess we will see when the eye owe awhat caucus happens. -- iowa. if he wins that, we have to look and say we have to say we have to take a stand. hanging out with people like donald trump and hoping they get mored indicated about us is not the way to change their mind. it is to challenge the morally and ethically on their stances.

we need to work to eradicate the way racism works in this country and not apeez it. >> i agree. that's why we're meeting with donald trump next month. i feel he needs to meet with muslim candidates. we are meeting with minimum you will be meeting with donald trump? >> yes imams will be there as well? >> yes. we are trying to coordinate a meeting with him and we would like him to see him visit a mosque, probably march or april. you're not going to change his mind overnight. the only way you're going to change any politician's mind is if you sit on the table with them and have discussions with them. invite them over to our homes and educate them about our policy the argument is that carson, they don't want anything to do

with muslims. that's the perception >> it is a perception. i have met with carson, cruz. we're raising fund raisers for them. if we get politically active for them, we have no barriers. i don't see this is a - this is a country open to everyone. i feel we're exercising our political rights like anyone else that is a concern i hear often. muslim americans are not being active enough politically and politicians on the both sides are not doing all they can to reach out to muslim americans who tried try to fight islamaphobia. one complaint is the fact that president obama has not visited a mosque in the u.s. what do you make of that? >> i mean, look, we could always do more in our community. you can never be politically active enough. i wouldn't say it's not a fair criticism to say we're not politically active. we are. we have a lot of advocacy

groups, there are a lot of muslims involved and there are a lot of muslims getting involved with the vote. in the past 15 or 20 years the amount of muslim americans registered to vote has gone up, they're voting overwhelmingly for the republican party does it go beyond that where some of the responsibilities should lie were politicians, for instance, for president obama to reach out for to muslim community to include them more in politics? >> as someone who comes from the muslim community, i wish that president obama would come out and say, especially attacking those - there is a large swathe of republican voters who still label him a muslim, it would be nice to come out and said i'm not a muslim, but so what if i were. they would be magical words for our community. that would be great if he did, but i don't think this counts, especially the speech that he made about a month ago when he talked about making sure that muslims are seen as part of the

american fabric as much as anybody else, fighting out against lamb aphobia. you don't see that coming from the leading contenders right now. these are people who have said no muslims should be present and we should surveil all the mosques and rej officer all the mosques >> >> only because they have no mut limbs eyes-- muslim advisers. there are managers on others that's why they're leaning towards democratic side. >> of course. we're going to face challenges, but if we're alaned with our islamic values which align with the p republican party we should have an equal balance on reaching out to both sides islamic values are also about justice, freedom, equality. these are universal values. there are much more espousd by the democratic party about than

by the republican party. the relationship party like i said is coming the party of ethnic isolation, make america great again. we know make america great again is make america white let me jump in quickly. my final quick question. as we see this divide here between two american muslims, as the group has changed, muslims come from many different countries. do you feel that has changed recently, the agenda as well for american muslims, the fact that it has broken apart into many groups and subgroups that this might change the agenda for the group? >> muslims are monolithic. they have different interests in different areas. there are political and social ideas that bring us together. one of those most important ideas are the idea that we should all feel like we belong in the american political discourse. right now the republican party is not doing that. that's why even though the

democratic party might espous notions and platforms that some people might think that are against our religious or social or more conservative ideals, you still see the majority going to the democratic because it is way more important about rhetoric about pro-life we will leave it there. there has been a definite flip among many muslim americans. i thank you, my guests for joining us tonight. still ahead outrage over the largest natural gas leak in u.s. history. >> my friends and community are sick the community is demanding action. also later the mega ship in the future, the maritime industry, cargo ships that are longer than

three football fields.

a it has been 11 weeks since a massive methane it was leak began. this week the governor declared it an emergency and now the gas company is saying it may take until march to fix. our correspondent reports from porter ranch where a lot of people are furious there. >> shut it down >> reporter: they chanted for change outside >> >> shut it down. >> my family and friends are sick. >> reporter: then demanded it from officials inside. these residents of porter ranch, an upscale bedroom community north of l.a. have been

clamouring to get the government to stop the largest natural gas leak in history happening in their backyards. >> reporter: this is what they're breathing. methane spewing into the air since late october captured by infra-red cameras. >> the investigations are ongoing by many regulatory services. it will go on for months and years as we start getting more and more information. time will tell >> reporter: it is coming from a blown well pipe at the canyon natural gas storage facility. first detected on october 23, the leak has continued to release methane for the past 11 weeks. >> it is the largest environmental disaster that we have seen in the u.s. >> reporter: the aring lators-- regulators called this hearing to take testimony. 12,000 of whom have been fleeing their homes since december

>> reporter: this could go on for several hours, maybe even days. the air quality management district is looking to impose tougher measures on the leak and on the gas company, something the company says it will agree to. the people here say that's not enough. they want to see the facility permanently shut down. >> shut the entire gas facility down immediately. the hearing board has this authority. my daughter, her sons won't come over to our house any more. she doesn't want them over there any more because they will get sick. they could get cancer one day. i knew i would get emotional. i didn't mean to. please do something. >> shut it down >> reporter: if they can't provide guaranteed protection for this community, then nothing short of a shut down will surface. >> reporter: the gas company says it is working as fast as possible to stop the leak, but with no safety shut-off valve, drilling a relief well is the only option. that could take until the end of

march. meanwhile, thousands of residents continue waiting for somewhere new to live >> we understand and we are sympathetic with the customers. we don't want anybody to have to stay in their home any longer than they want to. >> we're kind of like prisoners trapped in our own home >> reporter: do you think you will get it to shut down? >> i absolutely do. i think that if everybody bands together, that we can really make a change >> shut it down. >> reporter: a meaningful change in gas operations that residents here say they can't wait for any longer chinese markets entered this past week on a slight up take after a volatile week. it started when a measure meant to promote stability had the opposite effect triggering a massive nose dive in stocks. our correspondent has the latest >> reporter: a miserable ending to the most abysmal opening week

of trading in the u.s. stock market history. the trouble started monday in china after a weaker than expected reading on manufacturing sent chinese stocks into a tail spin. a spiral that dragged down stock markets around the globe. as worries mounted over the severity of the economic slow down and crucially the ability of china's leaders to manage it. >> it's not so much that the china market sold off. the bigger problem is the whiff of panic in the air on the part of the chinese policy makers. >> reporter: like the short flirtation with circuit-breakers that shut the markets before the breakers were suspended on friday. when analysts suspected beijing was buying back shares to lift the market into positive territory. a page from an intervention play book that includes restricting stock sales by big investors and a series of currency

devaluations which rattled investor confidence from shanghai to london to new work - shanghai to london to new york. as china's economy deteriorates so does its appetite for raw materials, hammering prices and contributing to a slide in oil prices which hit 12-year loes this week. it added up to a wall of worry high enough to ee clips wall street on thursday. what the tea leaves of the stock market are telling u.s. about the economy whose fortunes have the power to shake the world the syrian government announced today that it will attend peace talks later this month in geneva on the condition that no group that the bashar al-assad regime which considerser terrorists be

excluded. an air strike killed at least 39 people today. they struck buildings used by the al-nusra front. eye iraq refugees who have fled the conflict are facing a very harsh winter ahead. our correspondent reports from northern iraq. >> reporter: whether escaping war or bracing for winter, the internally displaced have become accustomed to one catastrophe after another. even in this camp supplies are too fup and aid distributions too far between. that is why some children walk around in slippers despite the freezing cold. >> translation: our condition is here is so difficult. the rain is always leaking in. >> reporter: as if on cue whileway were talking a deluge begins. the nightmare russia had just described becomes real once more. >> reporter: to give you an idea

of how bad the winter conditions are, it was raining a few minutes ago and now it is actually hail itting and this hail and this rain is coming into this tent. that's why so many of the internally displaced here are worried about what the worsening winter weather will bring in the weeks and months to come. concerned for the welfare of her children, russia took what precautions she can as early as possible >> translation: we paid for and built a separate makeshift room because sometimes this tent would fly away. one time the wind carried the tarp away and we had had on bring it back here. >> reporter: after three months of saving, russian and her husband had enough money to buy the wood for this makeshift shelter. tiny compared to the tent they had been in, but at least now they feel splilt nor secure against the elements. -- more se cure.

the evidence is all around like this tarp that collapsed under the weight of the rainwater or the trash piling up in the mud. unicef's warfer tells us getting money and resources to help the people here is becoming extremely difficult >> what people are forgetting is this 3.2 million displaced people who are living a miserable life. it is the fighting that i.s.i.l. that makes the news. the plight of the people doesn't go to the news >> reporter: he describes the situation children are facing throughout the country. he says he still is haunted by the memory of seeing one child at another camp who was so-called he tried to warm himself under the engine of a car. life for many of the children here is as punishing as this weather and they're becoming accustomed to this suffering > a war is breaking out in

venezuela. supporters are painting the previous leader's likeness over the area. his removal of his images has been roofed. >> reporter: down town city woke up with images of the late leader. in response to the recent removal of hills portrait from the walls of the national assembly. also these here and the message that reads the opposition has the assembly and the people have the street. on wednesday, the first opposition led parliament in close to 17 years, its new president says the images have no room under the new administration. a symbolic gesture, the spiriting of these paintings have hit a raw nerve in this country. people have been gathering to

protest to what they say is an affront to their leader in the country's history. the president suffered a crushing defeat in december's parliamentary election, his predecessor and mentor is still revered in an almost cult-like fashion. the movement over him spear headed and might have suffered a setback with the loss of government, but most of the institutions rarm firmly in the hoiltists hands. the tit for tat reaction is how symbolic of the divide in this country in virginia, thank you. in argentina thousands suffer the conditions to celebrate the saint who robbed the rich to give to the poor.

>> reporter: in the province in north-eastern argentina, they're here to pay attribute to the folk saint also known here as the healer. he came all the way for-- a far way away. >> translation: i come to pray to him and ask for what i need. health and work are top of the list >> reporter: faith is what brings people here and what has turned this place into a pilgrimage site >> translation: i cut my hair because i made a promise. my son had surgery and he is okay thanks to the saint. >> reporter: the legend says that the saint destroyed the army during the civil war in the 1800s. he was executed by authorities and his body was hung on a tree. >> reporter: people here believe he stole from the rich to give to the poor. that's why there's thousands of

people that come here every year, not only to request what they say are miracles, but also to leave offers to him. you can see the people leave knives, some wedding dresses and even buy cycles. >> reporter: this woman says people bring other things >> translation: these are coffins with ashes. those who had devotion for him want to be buried with him. they are here with me. >> reporter: he is not recognised as a saint by the catholic church, although many have been calling for his canonisation. in the past of the church has tried to distance itself from false saints like him, but this father says that the chaumpb has changed-- church has changed since francis has become the pope >> translation: listen to your people and accept them.

the saint is part of the culture and that's why the church has to accept him. for years the church has tried to impose on people, telling them what they have to believe in. the church gave more importance to power and not service >> reporter: the image of the saint can be seen all around argentina and every year there are more and more people that believe in him, especially among the poor who claim he gives them what others do not if you're still watching tonight, you know you did not win the largest jackpot in american lottery history. this mega ship here. it is the biggest cargo vessel in the world. america, apparently, isn't ready for it. >> reporter: we are watching a storm system pushing through parts of mid west now. not only with the snow expecting to fall, but we are looking at temperatures well into the minimum us double digits.

i will bring all the details when we return.

welcome back. the future of shipping arrived this past week in california. a mega ship that can carry three times the amount of cargo as a normal vessel. unfortunately, it is too big for most u.s. ports. al jazeera's melissa chan explain what many are doing to try and handle the big ships >> reporter: it is called the benjamin franklin owned by a french shipping company. making a stop here. a few days earlier at l.a. it is called a mega ship because it can hold 18,000 20 shipping contains at maximum can.

the usual ship holds about five thousand >> it is important to demonstrate that the port is not only ready for these ships but capable of handling them efficiently >> reporter: this is the c macgn benjamin franklin and this is a bowing 747. the u.s. s george hw bush. it is this mega ship's maiden voyage. this port is one of the few in the country that can handle something this size. it has been dredged to receive these shifts and raised the height of eight of its cranes. it will mostly shuttle containers between asia and europe. the u.s. is behind the times with shipping. while mega ships dock regularly in asian and have for a few years, the u.s. is just making updates to allow them in.

>> the federal government needs to develop a comprehensive international freight strategy. the rival of these very large vessels is a stimulus to have these particularly infrastructure get their act together. >> reporter: oakland and l.a. may have welcomed the benjamin franklin this time, but that doesn't mean the port can handle many more such calls. still proponents of mega ships say fuel carrying more cargo-- save fuel and it means less pollution >> it puts less stress on the faults that take the cargo from the ports to other parts or sent to facilities where the goods are repackaged for onward movement. >> reporter: even at a hefty 150 million u.s. dollar price tag, some shipping companies believes it makes economic sense. west coast ports also recognise

the far-reaching economic benefits of mega ships. >> the port ememploys 150 people, but it influences 73,000 jobs. that many jobs depends on the port with increasing cargo comes more jobs yet. so we see a true economic benefit to the region as these big ships arrive. >> reporter: that is the hope, but as mega ships dock with dprart frequency, the question will be how quickly american ports can keep up. melissa chan incredible ships to look at, but also some incredible weather across the merp north >> reporter: that's right. this storm behind me was the third that caused the flooding in california. this was the last one to make its way through across the south-west. we're dealing with some snow and some very, very cold weather behind the system. here in parts of oklahoma we saw five fatalities on the roads weather related because of that storm. now we're seeing the snow.

it has pushed out of chicago making up towards michigan, parts of the up of michigan as women. we do have warnings and advise rees in effect. we have winter storm warnings for another 12 inches in snow, but it is really those temperatures going down tonight. right now we're already seeing this advisory in place. not just 5am. i've said them heading down to minus 31 when you talk about the windshield. we're talk at minneapolios and minus 4 and bismark, minus 8. when you factor in the wind it feels colder. we're talking about minus 29 it feels on the skin, fargo minus 26. let's go through the next couple of hours and look at what is going to happen as we go towards tomorrow morning. still very cold as you're waking up across this region. it is really not until we get to late morning do temperatures start to modify.

we're talking still chicago is going to feel more like minus ten by the time we get towards early afternoon. so long-term forecast, you're going to be below average as we go towards the end of the week. same thing with chicago, we will see the temperatures staying below 31 december. for the rest of the u.s. it will be extremely west across the eastern seaboard all the way from maynde down to florida. this same front boundary is going to be making its way to the east and the temperatures that are keeping everybody warm on the east coast is going to go down the good times are going to end there for them. thanks. finally in tonight those winning numbers have been drawn in the largest lottery jackpot in u.s. history worth almost 950 million dollars. in case you haven't seen this yet, here is the winning combination there on your screen. the odds of picking the

combination for one in 292 million. last minute hopefuls braced long lines. i tried. i checked my ticket, but i lost. like a lot of you out tonight. the winner can have a lump sum pay out of 558 million or payments across 29 years. jackpot could be worth 1.3 billion dollars if not win. how about that? the news in doha in a few minutes.

help is finally on the way for people starving in a besieged syrian town after a deal was reached to allow aid in. you're watching al jazeera live. coming up in the next half hour, police in the german city of cologne clash with far right demonstrators protesting attacks on women. mexico begins the process of extraditing drug lord joaquin guzman to the united states.