2019 in sports from triumphant football stars to a comeback on the green we take a look back at some of the years top sporting moments. Im brian thomas great to have you with us back with family and friends ukrainian and russian back separatists prisoners were reunited with their loved ones after a Major Exchange between the 2 sides now among those released captives who had been in detention since fighting broke out in 2014 the swap follows an agreement between russia and ukraine that was brokered by berlin and paris. Home for the new year dozens of joyful reunions played out on the key of f. Ports tama many of the captives hadnt same friends or family for years on hand a visibly moved president florida ms a lenski he great to the exchange during talks with Russias Vladimir Putin earlier this month. As we deliver on our promises to each so these people will celebrate new year with their loved ones with their parents and children at home just each night. And this is the moment prisoners were frayed earlier on sunday russian back separatists late ukrainian prisoners go at a checkpoint in the countrys aist the men were lined up to be collected by the red cross for some it was a chance to voice their anger over their treatment here you know i spent 5 years in a basement how can this happen in the 21st century in a european country where for example they are. Heading home to dozens of separatists many of them have also faced harsh conditions in captivity in this conflict volunteer militias have often ignored the rules of war conditions in captivity and the tourists n. G. O. S say the Ukrainian Government too has violated the tinies rights. Were shooting up with they tortured me 5 times in jail on a good movie i did my they said hes dead take away his body but i survived despite. Many of those have been released for the new year will bring horrifying stories with them. But whatever theyve enjoyed now is still a moment to celebrate. For the families and others in a war torn country. For more lets bring indeed abuse david stern joining us from kiev good day to you david is this Prisoner Exchange a step towards a more comprehensive peace deal between ukraine and its a russian backed separatists well very emotional scenes yesterday as we just saw in the report in fact we were at the airport when the prisoners were turned in there were lots of cheers and and enjoy at the same time but indeed the main question is will this can contribute now to a full out peace that the hope is that this is obviously a positive step any type of Prisoner Exchange like this is greeted here in ukraine but then there has to be built upon president selenski met with his russian counterpart. Hootin in paris earlier this month. The talks did not provide the breakthrough but it did they did agree on this Prisoner Exchange and now the question is what are they going to do to move beyond this whether they can actually bring a cease fire a full cease fire to the east because fighting as weve heard it continues and then eventually can there be a full out agreement which would bring the war to a complete and yeah you mentioned the fighting and the tear filled scenes on the tarmac there that you went witness can you tell us something about the prisoners where they all combatants. No in fact there were combatants as well as civilians there were 2 journalists who had been taken as well it was a mixed group as well as the people who greeted them there are all types loved ones and family there was it was over 70 people who were returned here and in for the people who were sent back to the rebel controlled territory was more than 120 among those were 5 controversy return east they were 5 riot police who in fact were not participants in the in the war but were. Part in the revolution of the clashes here in kiev just a behind me in the 5 years ago during the revolution on the my don and they were accused of being involved in the death of protesters so this caused a great deal of controversy here in kiev among certain groups the fact that these people were being returned and would not would not be facing any sort of trial in ukraine ok david thanks very much for bringing us up to date on this from kiev for us this morning thanks very much its to the u. S. Now were churchgoers in the state of texas have shocked at a gunman who opened fire at a sunday Service Police say the gunman killed 2 parishioners but the attack ended quickly after 2 Church Members used their own weapons to shoot him dead in september a new law came into effect in texas allowing licensed gun owners to carry weapons in places of worship for parishioners at the west Freeway Church of christ 11 50 am on sunday morning became a time to kill a man dressed in dark clothing stood up from the pews and opened fire within seconds a volunteer Church Security officer had shot and killed the assailant moments later several of the church goers had also drawn their guns. But to day evil was holy among us but let me remind you good people raised up and stopped it before it got worse. 2 victims died in the attack more than 200 others were shaken but spared churchgoers said they were grateful for the presence of armed worship as. Well and youre behind you know i think it all congregation should have the people there for people to protect against or to just sit with you while mr. Mason 3 yeah thats me and then theyre wonderful people really were there before anything got any worse and you could have been. This year the u. S. Has witnessed more mass killings than any other year on record. This country has seen so many of these that weve actually. Gotten used to it to this point and its tragic and its this is terrible situation especially during the Holiday Season investigators say they are working to find the most years so this latest tragedy. Lets preview now some of the other stories making the news this hour the United States as it has bombed 5 locations in iraq and syria controlled by a Paramilitary Group with suspected ties to iran secretary of state mike pump aoe said the strikes were in response to earlier attacks that threaten the u. S. Forces in iraq its not yet clear if there were any victims that take place. A Chinese Court has jailed a scientist who claims or created the worlds 1st gene edited babies who james kwai was sentenced to 3 years in prison for practicing medicine illegally last year he shocked the International Science community when he announced in his use the Gene Editing Technology known as crisper to alter the genes of 2 baby girls. Thousands of residents and tourists have been forced to flee vast bush fires burning in southeastern australia its the latest emergency in our countrys devastating summer fire season with hundreds of places across the country 10 people have been killed more than a 1000 homes have been destroyed. The man charged with stabbing 5 people at a jewish festival celebration in new york state has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder the suspect burst into a rabbis home with a large knife during a hanukkah celebration on saturday night it was the one of the latest in a spate of attacks on jewish targets. While syrias russian backed offensive in province has led to nearly a quarter of a 1000000 syrians fleeing their homes and now neighboring turkey is warning that these new refugees could be making their way to europe one crossing point for the refugees would be on the border between turkey and the e. U. Member states garia d. W. Traveled there and talked to Border Guards as well as to a refugee whos already started a new life in europe. Mohammad jamal a professional syrian hairdresser fled his war torn hometown of aleppo 6 years ago. He made it as far as bulgaria and opened a salon in the capital sofia. Like it is here in bulgaria when one. Can work here and i can build a future but you know but its. Like other refugees in bulgaria he was allowed to start working 3 months after his arrival mohammed has 7 children to support along with his ailing parents who live in turkey says hes not a bulgarian he cant send for them yet hes applied for citizenship but its still pending. On the. I am muslim which is here through. The most important thing is to be a good person. And whatever your religion is. Its the end of. The turkish bulgarian border is over 200 kilometers long. But because some areas like fences or other barriers officials were powerless to keep tens of thousands of refugees from syria and iraq from crossing over last year. The situation is different now police say only about 3000. 00 people have tried to cross the border illegally this year. Because they could use less to do so as a post and as we started upgrading Border Security and the technical infrastructure on the bulgarian turkish border. If someone tries to cross the border illegally you can be there in 10 minutes in the but this notice of the queue to get students to do. So. And fewer refugees means less of a burden for bulgarian reception centers. Like this one at her munley near the border not many refugees are housed here now but until a few years ago overcrowding led to frequent fights. With them approved to through migration increases again well have a bigger problems but at the moment we only have 120 refugees so there is no problem. But this is of little concern to Mohammad Jamal all he wants to do is leave the past behind him and look ahead towards a Brighter Future in bulgaria. We have force now in from football to tennis to golf sports fans are taking stock of the year gone by as they start to dream of what the new year might hold in store for their favorite teams and their Favorite Stores heres a look back at some of the sports highlights of 2019. A parade of champions the United States won a record extending full freemans football world cup and their stomach and pino took home every individual that was possible as much for her passionate pleas for gender equality on field exploits in mens Club Football liverpool rain supremum winning the Champions League and the Club World Cup in tennis the womens mages was shed 4 ways but french open when the ash boxy and did the year was numb. One. For the men it was 2 grand slam titles each for rafa nadal and Novak Djokovic the greatest comeback came in gulf where tiger woods won the masters age 4311 years after his last major victory falling personal and injury problems athletics had its usual up and down year kenya as cho gave became the 1st person to run a marathon in under 2 hours but it will not count officially. Thank the World Championships in doha were overshadowed by low spectator numbers the heat and doping but shelley and fraser price stole the show for the women adding 2 more to her record haul of 9 dogs that World Championships. The russian doping scandal intensified with the country now banned from all major sporting events for 4 years after being accused of manipulating data clean russians may compete as neutrals must say these last formula one great nicky loud at age 70 and Lewis Hamilton secured an emotional 6th title underdog south africa beat england in the mens Rugby World Cup final the say became the 1st black male captain to lift the trophy proving electrify you know the politics and sports can go hand in hand. There were t. V. News live from berlin coming up next our documentary film takes a look at the castle that inspired walt disney or sean stein thats more coming up here im brian thomas the entire news team thanks for being with us. Its all happening going to fit perfectly. To link to news from africa the world your link to exceptional stories and discussions continue on with the country debuts after coming program tonight from for an easy any. Easy to out with safety deputed slash africa join us on facebook at w africa