it's not always pretty, but it's real... and we show you like no-one else can. this is our american story. this is america tonight. welcome. you're watching al jazeera. already ahead on this program. australian officials found debris that may be from missing malaysian plane. >> reporter: i'm in zimbabwe where a severe drought is

devastating communities. i will tell you how people and their animals are struggling to cope top story today, the south korean defense ministry says north korea has fired several short-range projectiles. it says they originated towards the east sea. the laurnlg comes hours after the u.n. security council-- launched-- after sanctions >> translation: north korea has fired projectiles towards the sea our correspondent following developments in japan with this update. >> reporter: in that news conference the ministry of defense in south korea saying a number of projectiles have been

fired into the sea off the eastern coast. local media in south korea are reporting a little bit more fully. they do sometimes get briefings from unmaimed n-- unnamed mility officials. six or eight numbers it is said to be. it is unclear whether they were short-range missiles or, perhaps, from a multi rocket launch system. such as was unveiled by the military in a major parade in october in pyongyang last year. it is understood analysis is underway on that point. the minister of dwebs is saying that the military situation remains in a state of alert. we are coming into a period of heightened tensions between the north and south because there are exercises due to start in a few days between u.s. and korean

forces. it's expected to be bigger than usual. it might include rehearsals for a pre-emtive strike of north korea facilities. we do expect a round the heightened tensions. this is the first north korean reaction to this security council passage. the resolution passage. it may well be that there is more to follow in the days and weeks to come as we were mentioning, this follows the u.n. security council to impose the toughest sanctions on north korea in years. >> translation: it is so decided. >> reporter: almost two months after north korea carried out its latest test, the security council finally gave their race >> translation: please raise their hands.

>> reporter: the toughest vote. >> the resolution june scores all of the resources are channelled into its reckless and relentless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. the north korean government would rather grow its nuclear weapons program than grow its own children. >> reporter: the fact north korea defied the international community, it may have helped persuade the chinese to agree to these new stepsive measures. the text of the resolution which is almost 20 pages long was discussed in numerous meetings between the u is s and china. some parts are clearly directed at the north korean leadership among the luxury goods banned, aadequatic recreational vehicles, jet skis and also snow mobiles. despite the agreement on the resolution, china is still strongly opposed to u.s. plans

to deploy a high altitude missile system known as thaad in south korea >> translation: all parties concerned should avoid actions that many further aggravate tensions on the ground. it goes against the goal of maintaining peace and security of the peninsula. >> reporter: there are two important questions. the providingss of this resolution go further than before, but will it be properly implemented and how will the north koreans raek. in the past when they bvn punished by the u.n. security council it has only provoked them to take further action robert kelly is a professor of political sciences. he says it is in chooip's best interests to ensure that north korea's nuclear program does not

expand. >> north korea's nuclear weapon's program is becoming so big and powerful it is a threat to all countries in the region. the north koreans said in january they tested a hydrogen bomb. if they have that, they could do enormous damage. the chinese really want the north koreans to pull over because not just keeping the americans out of the region, but for its own security. chinese if they had enforced the previous sanctions it would have hurt. the first step would be to allow the north korean elite to be dragged before the international criminal court. that's something that has been reserved for africa, but there is certainly liable to it. they have done awful stop stuff.

the other idea is north korea might get expelled from the u.n. they don't cooperate with them. they flout resolutions on a regular basis malaysia trying to determine if debris found is from the missing malaysia airlines flight 370. it disappeared nearly two years ago and thought to have crashed somewhere in the indian ocean. >> reporter: it may not look like much, but this could holiday clues to one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. >> we are working with australia in the fast manner. >> reporter: the aircraft which vanished was a bowing 777 model like the ones seen here.

the jet went off radar while flying from kuala lumpur to beijing. since then australia has led a huge and costly investigation to scour the ocean where they believe it to be. >> the total search area of 120,000 square kilometers. we hope to locate the aircraft around give some comfort to the family and friends of those on board and help to find out what happened. >> reporter: last july this was found and it was the only confirmed evidence of the plane's fate. some families have started legal acti action greece says it is making long-term preparations to help

at least 100,000 stranded refugees. the announcement comes as macedonia briefly opened its border with greece to let in 500 people in the last 24 hours. greece will have to be prepared for more refugees. >> translation: we have to consider it will remain closed and get ready for 100,000 refugees will remain at least the events of the last 24 hours. >> reporter: they escaped the violence in their homeland but they're struggling to find a stable existence as they try to make their way into central europe. a potential lifeline now as the e.u. announces an emergency financial package to deal with the largest influx of refugees since the second world war. >> this is to provide basic

necessities, including food, emergency health care, shelter, clean war, et cetera. >> reporter: a significant portion will go to greece. it is the main entry point for the migrants. more than a million have entered the e.u. via greece since 2015 and as the balkan countries tighten their borders, it's struggling to cope. they're stranded in mud-soaked fields. there is a critical shortage of food, water and medical aid. refugees sleep here wherever they can as they wait to cross into macedonia. >> it is not enough. it is very small, two person inside, and you see all people outside they sleep. >> reporter: macedonia allowed 170 refugees in on wednesday. it is little comfort on to the thousands still waiting to come through. volunteers try to help here. food and drinks are being

distributed but it's still not enough. >> food is not the problem. we need blankets and services and a place to stay. >> reporter: the aid package sometime needs to be passed by the e.u. parliament and member states. the european commission for humanitarian aid says the root causes of this crisis still need to be addressed. >> obviously, this emergency support cannot and will not solve all problems. there are no magic solutions. now more than ever member states in the e.u. need to work hand-in-hand >> reporter: political cooperation is desperately needed as mr refugees continue to make the arduous journey to europe the toughest stance on refugees in europe has seen them give up on their dream of a new

life. many have return home saying they felt isolated and discriminated against. >> reporter: it is a busy day at baghdad international airport, packed with iraqis for whom life hasn't worked out the way they hoped. their visit to europe was ace disappointment and a bad place to stay. most didn't feel welcome. they have come back to iraq, back to the violence and unrest but also back to a place they call home. >> translation: i have returned to iraq because there are so many refugees in europe and the resettlement process is very small. only a small number of people are processed. we've been given help to return quickly. they want as many as possible to come back to iraq. >> reporter: around 170,000 people left iraq for germany

last year. up to 40% have already returned. some blame the squalid conditions in refugee camps. others say it became clear they would only be allowed to stay in europe temporarily. this is one of a growing number of iraqis who returned home. last year he lived in germany and finland before settling in sweden. he spent eight months waiting for residency papers were processed without success. eventually he gave up trying >> translation: the authorities are not doing enough to help refugees. many like me have had to return home. i decided to go back to eyeing rack when i heard the prime minister saying they would only give temporary residence to refugees and once our country became stable we would have to go back. >> reporter: he said he didn't feel welcome >> translation: europe to me was a lie. i expected something different. people in europe are concerned

about the humanitarian situation but there's also a lot of racism >> reporter: airport staff are preparing for more busy days in the weeks and months ahead. the iraqi government is issuing refugees with temporary passports to enable them to come home quickly. it expects up to a thousand iraqis a month will return home from europe this year iran has called the decision by the gulf cooperation council label hezbollah ais a terrorist group a mistake. it says it is proud of the lebanese group and it is undermining peace in the region and unity. the block made the decision a day leading the leader's speech. amnesty international is accusing the russian and syrian governments of deliberately targeting hospitals over the past three months. it says the kremlin make attacks to make way for troops to head

to aleppo. the syrian government and its allies intensified their attacks and the u.n. security council says it is working on a new draft resolution, demanding an end to attacks on hospitals. the absence of kurds at next week' geneva talks will make the process incomplete. some have blocked the kurds from attending. on the ground the y.p.g. forces say i.s.i.l. has killed 43 of its fighters on attack of one area. it has counted 140 bodies of i.s.i.l. fighters its fighters have killed in a three-day battle. 23 civilians were also killed in the fighting. still to come here on this program, we report on venezuela's sinking economy and the opposition's plan to force the president out of office. plus. >> reporter: i'm adrian brown in shanghai t a symbol of china's

economic might but the economy is in trouble so can consumers help? help?

welcome back top stories. north korea has fired several short range projectiles towards the east sea. it comes hours after the u.n. security council voted to impose tough new sanctions on pyongyang. malaysia's transport minister says he is working to determine if debris found off the coast of

mozam bique is from mh37 mh370.long-term preparations for 100,000 stranded refugees. greece will have to be ready for the rival of even more says authorities. the speaker of brazil's lower house of congress has been indicted on charges of corruption. it is connection with the scandal of the oil company. the majority of the supreme court voted to accept the charges against him. it puts the speaker on trial for allegedly accepting bribes for contracts. the ruling must be officially confirmed at the end of the court session. >> reporter: the brazilian government has been in disarray for quite some time now. the highest sitting policitation to face corruption charges but not the only one to be kuchd ar seen to be suspected of wrong

doing in relation to the company. there are at least 50 other high-level politicians that have been suspected of corrupt practices in relation to the oil company. here, of course, the charge before congress will see some faltering if he is not in the lower house which is a decision which could be made by the supreme court or an ethics committee. should the impeachment charge fall through, it doesn't mean the problems with the president is over. she is one of the most unpopular leaders that the country has had. the economy is also is at the worst it has been for several decades the owners of a brazil i don't know iron ore mine that burst made a settlement.

it spewed into a river. the company which is co-owned by bhp signed the accord in the capital. compensation will be paid to the victims over a period of 15 years. a senior executive at facebook has been released from brazil prisoner. the vice president spent 24 hours in a jail for defying a court order. it demanded data from the company's what's that messaging service to use as evidence in a drug trial. it follows a hearing between tech giant apple and f.b.i. over unlocking information on a terrorist's phone the mexican drug lord joaquin guzman says he wants his extradition to the u.s. to be speeded up because he can't stand the conditions of the jail

he is being held him. he has been told to negotiate with the authorities for a lighter sentence and transferred to a medium security prison. mexico is holding him in a maximum security prison. he had previously vowed to invite extradition as long as possible. there have been several calls for the president's resignation by the opposition. >> reporter: catastrophic. it was the word the president chose to describe his country's state of affairs during his state of the union speech. it is a word that by removing him from power, opposition leader is trying to avoid using again. >> translation: because of referendum clues the people's participation. it can be the one chance of

avoiding social upheaval or coup which would be catastrophic for the country. >> reporter: other methods could include a constitutional amendment to show in the six-year term or a constituent assembly that redrafts the constitution. according to a wing of the opposition, a referendum can be passed without the approval of a supreme court that they claim is pack episode gi government lawyers. it can also be passed by the first half of maduro's term in office is over. after this president the vice president will assume power until the term is over. calls for change within the assembly you can co what according to recent polls more than 70% of the population also want. how and when this early departure might happen would have dramatically different effects for the whole country. >> translation: by stepping down from power he would avoid the process of a recall

referendum. it would imply that both the opposition and the government mobilized their supporters and this could lead to increased polarization and all the other methods are simply shortcuts. >> reporter: back on the streets here desperation is reaching a new high. >> translation: this government is going from worse to all time worst. if it were up to me, i would take out the government because we are headed nowhere. >> reporter: according to the i ms the economy contracted by 10% last year and will do so by 7% this year. political analysts say it has gone to the point where solving the economic crisis now requires a political change. it is, indeed, a catastrophic situation which could be made better if both parties entered negotiations, but in venezuela that's a word seldom used the vatican treasurer george

pell has admitted he didn't act after a boy told him about a pedophile priest. he told an australian commission that he should have done more. the commission is investigating how the catholic church handles cases of child abuse. he was a top official in australia when many of the offences were committed. in zimbabwe a severe drought is not only affecting food production. many animals are dying as well. nearly 20,000 cattle have died this year and there's no sign of any rain. >> reporter: farmers say if it doesn't rain soon some animals won't make it. the drought is believed to being linked to the el nino weather pattern. it has been especially severe in the south. cattle are so thin people do not want to buy them. this farmer has found it's a buyer's market.

>> there is no money. they just give us a hundred dollars. we have in other years we got 500 to 900. >> reporter: he collects the little grass he finds but it's not enough. officials say nearly 20,000 cattle have died since the beginning of this year. some rural areas are remote and hard to reach so it is likely the number is much higher. grazing lands is disappearing. traditional sources already have or are drying up. a sign of wealth is the animals and collateral for banks. against advice from government some cling on to their animals until the last minute even during hard times >> if it doesn't rain, it is

better to use the worst case scenario. you will have that so some of them and then be able to look after them. if you don't do that and you have no other fallback position, it would be a total loss. >> reporter: back on this farm his other plan is to grow more maise. his crop has been no match for what many people are calling the worst drought in recent memory china is expected to approve an economic five-year plan this week. growth in the world's second biggest economy has been slow and the government is hoping for a recovery through consumer spending. snoo >> reporter: china's government thinks it has a saveiour for the sagging economy, the consumer. this is the country's most

famous shopping district >> translation: i will be very careful with my consumption. i will spend the money but according to my need >> reporter: these stores are just joint adverts because the growing middle-class are increasingly buying on line what they see displayed in shop windows >> translation: i will try the clothes for the right size in the shop back-up buy on line because they're the same products but cheaper. >> translation: you can buy everything on line. >> reporter: shopping habits are changing. this woman sells cosmetics via one of the big online shopping platforms. she buys in bulk at a discounted rate ensuring prices are half those of traditional sellers.

>> translation: online shopping is good. very different from traditional shopping. it is convenient, much cheaper and you have a guaranteed return policy. i think online shop will only become more popular >> reporter: traditionally manufacturing and export has been the main model joochlt consumer spending is not that high in china. it accounts for 70% of the economy in u.s. here in china it's around 30%. they tend to be big savers. for the economy to pick up the government needs that to change >> consumption will be very stable over the medium to long-term. the savings was around 49%. >> reporter: unless the savings are unlocked, these lights could turn into warning signs

you can always keep right up-to-date with our top stories, including the latest on north korea there at aljazeera.com here at aljazeera.com over the last 20 years japan's economy has been going nowhere fast. prime minister abe says the answer could be so simple, give working women the chance to shine. but will the men - and women of japan take up the challenge to change. i'm steve chao, on this episode of 101 east we investigate if japan's can be bridge its gender gap.