For a living venezuelans who escaped the countrys economic crisis struggle to build new lives abroad. The u. S. Defense secretary is not ruling out further action after airstrikes on a shia armed group in iraq and syria iraqs Prime Minister has labeled them a breach of sovereignty 3 camps of the table hizbollah were hit in iraq one of them their al qaim and 2 more inside syria at least 19 people were killed the pentagon says its in response to rocket attacks on iraqi bases the worst recent killing an american civilian contractor last week zerosum out a full team is in baghdad and says the strikes mark a shift in u. S. Strategy. Well there are quite significant because this is actually the 1st time that the u. S. Actually strikes a target on iraq his soil lets remember not until too long ago the u. S. And the p. M. S. Were fighting against isis on the same side but of course since then the tensions between the u. S. And iranian backed groups have played a quite a bit and this particular at attack were hearing from a source inside of p. M. S. Has claimed as many as 10 lives with dozens of people injured and of course this particular strike comes at the back of a series of rocket attacks that were aimed at military bases where both of us and iraqi personnel are based in the u. S. Attributed some of these attacks took a type hezbollah the last one happened last friday and for the 1st time it actually claimed the life of one u. S. Contractor and it injured several u. S. Personnel now of course secretary of state mike pompei or has said before that any such attack that harm u. S. Troops or their allies would be met with decisive force so this strike is basically a response to that now it does present a departure from the previous stance of the u. S. When it basically tried to urge the Iraqi Government to rein in groups like a type and hezbollah reminding the government that it is responsible for the safety of u. S. Troops because of course they are here at the invitation of the government so this is these strikes represent a departure from the policy in a sign that the u. S. Is now taking matters into its own hands or u. S. Secretary of state blames irans their tanks on americans inside iraq. What we did was take a decisive response that makes clear what President Trump has said for months and months and months which is that we will not stand for the Islamic Republic of iran to take actions that put american men and women in jeopardy we will always honor that commitment to take decisive wreck action and that takes place and we continue to demand that the Islamic Republic of iran act in a way that is consistent with what i laid back out back in may of 2018 for what it is that we expect iran to do so that it can rejoin the community of nations. As shahab or towns he explains from washington now the u. S. Went ahead with the strikes despite a request from iraq to desist. This u. S. Action happens against the wishes of the Iraqi Government itself a half an hour before the attacks the defense secretary the u. S. Defense secretary mark esper calls the iraqi Prime Minister in photos of him of the imminent attacks of the Prime Minister says no call these attacks off this is against against iraqi sovereignty yet the u. S. Does it anyway so thats one point secondly since july this may have been it. May be called an iraqi backed shia militia and so on but they have been part of the pm after the popular Popular Mission force which is successfully fought against the Islamic State and since july technically they have been incorporated into the Iraqi Security apparatus the government Security Apparatus so we just see here than was the u. S. Bombing a u. S. Government military facility that i mean these are the questions that have to be asked especially against the backdrop of the protests that weve been seeing the outpouring of iraqi nationalism where the child is often reported to be neither america nor iran an end to u. S. Foreign interference well i dont know what what could be more interfering from a foreign power than this going against the iraqi Prime Ministers wishes now we await the consequences for that debate but also the consequences for the us iran proxy war in iraq but the issue for iraq is that the table hizbollah is part of a group that helped the government defeat eisel its been brought into a state sanctioned group of militias that is the Popular Mobilization of forces many of them not backed by iran hizbollahs leda. Behind this is one of iraqs most powerful men and has in the past force against u. S. Forces the u. S. State Department Says he advises irans revolutionary guard kind of katzman is the order of the warriors of islam irans revolutionary guard he says the question now is how iran will respond to the strikes. Secure was a very targeted strike on certain bases ammunition dumps. Perhaps certain our rocket facilities cuts a hizbollah iran backed militia. There the question is what their reaction is going to be on the part of to kill iraq because obviously this was a militia linked to earlier on and the reaction of the Iraqi Government which already the caretaker Prime Minister atal abdul moxy who has tried to straddle the United States and iran and be friendly with both has. Said it was in strange men of iraqi sovereignty so. The strike could potentially cause problems in the u. S. Iraq relationship residents of several towns in the strait instead of victoria been told that its out too late to leave as out of control bushfires been nearby had just gone to in the afternoon then temperatures have climbed of that to a 48. 00 degrees to make matters worse winds of up to 100 kilometers an hour being full cost for the hours ahead and Evacuation Order has been given to around 40000 people 5 faces have been pulled out of forests in the area because of unpredictable conditions they bring South Australia is experiencing catastrophic fire conditions of major fires continue to burn in New South Wales shrouding sydney in smoke the a. B. C. s zoe karisma spoke to us a little earlier from Port Melbourne and says that many whole of the make has are in the evacuation zone. Well until recently the tory has a skype to the worst of these bush fires affecting that saying 1000 homes lost 9 people lose their lives but authorities sayd that to die this diet is facing a very serious life threatening fire conditions weve got 3 out of control bush fires burning in the states theyve actually been burning for over a month little floridians are now extremely concerned that with the deteriorating conditions today which will see temperatures well into the fortys and very high winds that we thought was conditions these fires will Impact Communities and as a result theyve put out a several militancy warnings telling people to leave theyre also extremely concerned about the road several roads have been closed already now despite that region being quite remote it is very popular at this time of year with many families holiday makers going down the course to spend christmas and new in that region about 40000 people have been told to leave ahead of todays all full of fire conditions with authorities extremely worried that if the fires are in those areas that their ability to help and decipher people are limited because of those conditions craig lapsley. Victorian Emergency Management management commissioner he says that its a critical day several communities threatened by fire. Also satisfying to his mind you saw the southern part of the strike its just. 40 degrees in most locations and its not 40 its about 40 degrees and the wings very strong so thats obviously the risk of people far as with obviously. The forests in the grass and in the wing homes on draw in far the last couple of days the tour of police and the far already very strong to get people out of those environments get them a wife from the bush environment but as you know once you go on a holiday sometimes you disconnect from your telephones you disconnect from listening to the right youre actually at the to enjoy yourself so its been a real challenge to get the message out to all the people its a challenging period but i think most Community Members of taking the lead of the mornings. Alternatives about changing whatever they multiply and put a dying not they traveling and the really conscious about their safety and working with the far authorities to get the best outcome. Ukraines government pro russian separatists in the east of the country have completed a swap of prisoner swap 5 year conflict 200. 00 fighters from both sides were exchanged as little gauge reports. And emotional return that for many was a Long Time Coming ukrainian prisoners finally free to leave the territory they fought to keep but still controlled by pro russian separatists theyre welcomed by family members and president bolton missile linsky as they landed in kiev a young girl but. She may leave the room the main thing is that the people at home we did what we said they will celebrate new year with their families im happy im sure that too. Security was tight as the Prisoner Exchange began there was disbelief then relief that it was happening and they would be able to return home others though valid to fight on their own. These former ukrainian prisoners said they would fight for their country and president here with. All these productions separatists said hed been beaten and tortured by Ukrainian Security services. Sundays exchange was the result of direct talks between president still in ski and putin in france earlier this month they agreed to implement a full ceasefire in a bid to end the war in the dawn bass region of ukraine. Relations between russia and ukraine soured when protesters in kiev managed to drive out a kremlin backed government in 24 tane russia then seized control of crimea from ukraine and within weeks russian backed separatists took control of the eastern part of ukraine more than 13000. 00 people including civilians have died during 5 years of conflict ukraine wants to join nato wants to European Union wants to move west so the poles know that kind of for ukraine and this is a strategic difference a major strategic difference is not the result why a Prisoner Exchange there is little will among civilians caught up in fighting for this war to continue this Prisoner Exchange a sign the tensions could be easing nicol a gauge aljazeera. Were going to weather update next here on our syria then well be in libya to look at the civilians who are on the far from Khalifa Haftar this campaign to capture tripoli. Lets call it what it is these people are domestic terrorists the new yorks governor talks of the camps of hatred in america after 5 people are stabbed at a jewish celebration. Hello there a very big winter storm winding its way up across Central Regions of the United States plenty of cloud as well in the last few hours but what we have is this one main storm system which is really sitting across the upper midwest and the great lakes are picking up a lot of moisture as it works its way east was but weve got some very mild air in place on monday 18 celsius in washington that is that warm of unusual for this time of year meanwhile 7 degrees in new york but its going to be a wet monday but look at where the snow is and this of course is where the cold air is in place now its on its way east was on a sunny means that much of southern canada southern ontario will see quite a lot of snow the next couple days and shes of course is new years the so be prepared to have some snow in toronto 3 celsius and just hovering around freezing and also a meanwhile theres another system work its way into the Pacific Northwest but not making a great deal of headway then to the south throughout the county being we have got one to 2 scattered showers weve got a few showers working their way across the. Towards hispano let than elsewhere we have got want to do shows just passing through the bahamas and the heaviest rain really is going to be into panama and then you can see it does tend to work its way out towards guatemala as we go through monday but i choose day is generally a cloudy picture and we should see some sunny skies in one with a high of 26. In 2008. 0 undocumented a groundbreaking. Preparing some of indias poorest children for entry into its toughest universities d. We return to see how the students and the scheme of helping change the face of india. Super 30. Well again this is our facility tech world but for much of the main news this hour iraq has called u. S. Airstrikes against a shia armed group and acceptable breach of sovereignty the u. S. Military operation targeted to the table hezbollahs space bases in iraq and syria killing 19 people the u. S. Secretary of state says that it was in response to attacks on american lives by iran backed groups. Residents of several towns this started say the victoria been told that its now too late to leave as out of control push fast but nearby temperatures implantable than 40 degrees celsius and winds of up to 100 kilometers an hour forecast. As ukraines government and pro russian separatists in the east of the country have completed a full swap of prisoners from the 5 year conflict 200. 00 fighters from both sides were exchanged. Libyas un recognized government is calling for the International Community to help stop the military push on tripoli by the forces of the warlord khalifa after hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded since the beginning of the offensive in april of 0 as mahmud of the war had reports from tripoli. The fight for tripoli is collating now the Foreign Ministry is calling on the United Nations and the International Criminal court to intervene the un recognized government accuses forces fighting for the world fully for hefted of committing crimes against humanity in their campaign to capture the capital and not know another unwisdom and we are asking the International Community to perform its role. Hafter doesnt have any legitimacy and has been destroying tripoli for the past 8 months yet the International Community has lot moved to stop him only now as we have a new ally regional and International Powers are rising against us the war on the southern outskirts of tripoli has cost the lives of hundreds of civilians and wanted many more have to the forces repeatedly targeted residential areas and government trying facilities with airstrikes and rockets nearly 140000 libyans have fled their homes to seek safety and also under threat our oil revenues which are the backbone of libyas economy the National Oil Corporation is assessing the damage following greece and airstrikes on the oil refinery in the western city of zawiya. And as Government Forces battle to stop the fall of tripoli have to his forces are reported to be getting very enforcement from Russian Military is an advance it weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates turkish troops could soon be joining the conflict the promise to support for forces loyal to the government is being seen by some as crucial to preventing the fall of tripoli because president says parliament will vote next month on a mandate to send troops but as have those forces advance further into the southern neighborhoods and closer to the density of Populated Areas of the capital the theater for human casualties is growing. Up there were had a visitor tripoli. Taiwans president says that china is the biggest threat to the islands sovereignty and democracy saying when made the comments during a televised debate ahead of next months election her main challenger called for closer ties with beijing alexy obrien reports. Relations with china dominated the heated t. V. Debate between the 3 candidates vying for taiwans top job as she bids to secure a 2nd 4 year term president sighing winces beijing is the biggest threat to taiwans free and democratic way of life. They went off my rival hong hesitates when asked which country he thinks would harm the well being of taiwan the most let me tell you now that country is china. From the Chinese Nationalist party ok empting is widely same size main challenger he favors kosar ties with beijing and accuses sigh of exploiting the protests in hong kong to bolster her case. Hong kong people are bleeding from fighting against china president what have you done to help hong kong people are bleeding while you are enjoying electoral gains your campaign is based on the blood of hong kong people so the. Prodemocracy demonstrations in hong kong over chinas perceived efforts to curb the territorys freedoms have ignited concerns in taiwan some say the 6 months of protest in hong kong is given a timely boost to its size reelection campaign. A steady and. I want responding to events in hong kong and in china benefited from the rest of the chinese government. I want for example already many and i and. President xi jinping is emphasise that taiwan is a renegade province that needs to be reunified by force if necessary china is pressured