Placed a strain on firefighters today many volunteers whove taken leave from paid jobs to help the Australian Government has announced plans to compensate them and honor their efforts. Omarion evanston welcome to the program Ukrainian Government forces and russian backed separatists have begun a Prisoner Exchange. These are live pictures of that Prisoner Exchange underway right now the swap is part of an agreement that was reached earlier this month at a summit between the leaders of ukraine and russia brokered by germany and france the swap is taking place at a checkpoint in the separatist wrong hold of done netsky. Forces as separatists have been fighting in Eastern Ukraine since 2014 the conflict has claimed more than 13000 lives. Russia and ukraine swap prisoners last september raising hopes of a wider settlement but fighting continues despite a cease fire agreement. A major Prisoner Exchange with russia im pro russian separatists in september it broke inmates harm and fostered hundreds of the war nice to meet crime could soon be ending it was an early victory for ukraines new president followed him is a lengthy. Middle morally we have agreed the 1st step to one block dialogue or not it is returning our soldier was probably a little prisoners. To more than 5 years the Ukrainian Army has been fighting russian back separatists in the countrys aced doors cost around 14000 lives and turned a keen duster region into a conflict saw in. Efforts to stop the fighting have come to little when zelinsky was elected in i pro he promised to restart the Peace Process that culminated in a meeting this month with these french german and russian counterparts in which Todays Exchange was a grade. A state of mind an exchange between both sides in this conflict or form based on swapping every one of them thought appears with the true major exchanges complete by the end of the year the impetus in the coming 12 months will be on. Diplomacy completing the exchanges is a way of Building Trust between russia and ukraine and a separatist. Heart spondon david stern is monitoring todays events for us and he joins us now from kiev so david is it known and just how many prisoners are being swapped today and who they are. No actually we dont know those details yet we hope to know them hope to find out fairly soon as weve said the exchange has begun that we can confirm this is taking place at one of the crossing points on the frontline between the 2 forces we are seeing pictures of prisoners exit in buses but what exactly how many people who they are what will happen next that all remains to be seen when we do anticipate however is once its finished those that have been released by the by the separatists of moscow basque separatists who have returned to ukraine or ukrainian controlled territory they will be brought here to kiev where i am right now and there will be great they will be met at the airport the main airport bodies pulled later in the day david just how significant is todays prisoner swap is it going to help improve relations between ukraine and russia. Well i guess you could say any little bit helps how significant obviously depends on what the next steps are one should say that anything like this is this is a sign in the right direction and as we heard this is part of the talks the summit that took place earlier this month among the leaders of france germany russia and ukraine obviously what people are hoping for what would what president selenski himself has said that hes going to try to accomplish is a full peace in the in the east if this is in fact a major stepping stone to that we will see but. There has to be a lot more that needs to be done before we actually even get close to that point while talking about president selenski peace plan david what do people in ukraine make of this plan and russias willingness russias willingness to settle the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. I guess you could say those are 2 questions lets start with the 2nd one 1st what do people think of russias willingness very skeptical. I guess a way it remains to be seen what exactly russia will do and what russia is prepared to do as for the peace plan there are mixed feelings obviously people want they want the war to end they want to the killing which continues even as we speak there is fighting or has been fighting until recently that is going on theres also worry that perhaps mr selenski will give away too much and their Opposition Forces have been have been warning against that but we will see if when the their actual peace plan is announced whether what theyve agreed on if they reached if they reach that very soon what exactly that will entail all right david stern reporting from kiev we thank you very much. Lets get a check now of some of the other stories making news around the world theres been a stabbing attack at a jewish Holiday Celebration near new york city Authorities Say 5 people were hospitalized with injuries 2 of them are in Critical Condition the attack appears to be the latest in a string of antisemitic attacks in new york this month. In lebanon hundreds of protesters rallied outside the home of the countrys new Prime Minister demonstrators fired flares and demanded the resignation of his sunday was backed by the Islamist Group hezbollah lebanon is facing its worst political crisis in decades protests against corruption and mismanagement have gripped the country since october. A truck bomb attack in somalia has killed at least 70 people the device exploded during morning rush hour at a busy security checkpoint in the capital mogadishu the countrys president Mohamed Abdulahi far montreaux blamed a militant Islamist Group for the attack. Australia is bracing for another week of bush fires as temperatures are expected to soar firefighters have been trying to contain the fire since september 8th people have died 2 of them firefighters many of those on the front line are volunteers and now the Australian Government says it will pay them for their efforts. Its one of australias worst bushfire seasons ever. With so many blazes to battle its often volunteers who answer the call for help. Giving their time and paying the costs. Of. 1516 hour shifts in a row youre exhausted at the end of that you might have one day break and then they want you to go again. It just takes a toll physically. Emotionally on the family they dont see you and me it means i use my annual leave maine said i you know i use my time in leech time. Now there is help for the helpers some volunteers to be compensated for about 20 days worth of income lost while fighting the recent fires. As very prolonged for sleaze this is putting additional demands on our forefathers in particular and it means that the turnouts in the call outs have been far more extensive than in previous years going well and beyond and above what is normally expected of those who are engaged in volunteer services. Already Public Servants have been pledged additional leave to join the fight. With a straight these some are just Getting Started the country needs more helping hands to step up to the challenge. And joining me now from sydney is james morris hes a spokesman for the New South WalesRural Fire Service thanks so much for being on our program well theres been a bit of good news for the volunteer firefighters with the government saying they are now going to be paid just how much of a difference is this going to make to their lives. Its a mighty huge difference for those volunteers who have given so much time in the last 5 to carve a half months or so without bush was as you mentioned a lot of them taking on paid leave taking time out from the jobs especially those who were a business sign is Small Business owners in the walks who have lost income so they saw our forefathers who have been out for more than 10 deffeyes to be able to climb up to 300. 00 a day with a maximum of 6000. 00 off of hyman said look there are mighty few difference to the daily living and in support of family and those people who have arm fortunately missed out during that on helping communities of youth off oil well unfortunately we are getting reports of further bushfires are opting just overnight and still apparently sydney harbor is new years eve fireworks display is still planned to go ahead from your perspective is that a good idea. We continue to work with obviously the paro technique agencies and organizations as well as obviously other Emergency Services as well as of bureau of meteorology which were keeping in close contact with at this stage 35 bands are predicted for the greatest sydney area after tuesday which is new years eve we are expecting that change to come through sydney in the white afternoon noodles like a couple hours to to fully time through which will reduce the temperatures lastly the same increase in winds potentially through the early stages and hopefully before those 9 oclock fireworks but certainly they staged as theres no forecasted issues all the safety concerns with that well continue to work with other firefighting agencies such as foreign rescue New South Wales to bolster and support their nehgs our should there be any heightened level of requirements needed ferries of course land in and around sydney harbor. James morris from the New South WalesWorld Fire Service we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and wish all the best to you and your colleagues. Now to some more stories making news around the world. 3 skiers were killed when they were buried by an avalanche on a ski slope in south to rule in italy the woman and 2 girls all german nationals died when the sheet of snow broke lose above the toys at 2400 meters elevation 2 other people were injured in the incident. Algerias president to whom has named an educator and diplomat as Prime Minister abdelaziz erasures said his top challenge would be to regain the confidence of Algerian Society protests against algerias political establishment have persisted since to boone was elected earlier this month periods prodemocracy movement boycotted the election. Just for its now with one of 29000 biggest Success Stories in german sports long jumper. 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