A possible step towards resolving the conflict in Eastern Ukraine 76. 00 men and women were released by russian backed separatists in the countrys east and returned Ukrainian Government released only this prisoner. And also on the program the yik aims force from trial so both styles today come back on the brink we take a look back at some of 2900 top schools in america just. To. Im Helena Humphrey glad you could join me in australia a new heat wave is igniting more bushfires increasing the toll the blazes across the country now 100000 people have been urged to flee 5 melbourne suburbs as flames are encroaching on the victoria state capital a volunteer firefighter has been killed battling a separate blaze in the countryside the tent. Victim of the fires now the high level alert has led to the cancellation of hundreds of far works displays for the new. If theres one thing thats considered a given at the end of each year its to images from across the world a flashy new years celebrations and there is pride in being the ones to kick off the yearly affair. And you know a new save the world looks at city every single year and i look at vibrancy if i look at our passion i look at our success. But for the last 3 months australia has been battling some of the worst bushfires in decades the blazes are predicted to peak on new years eve despite the growing forecast the city of sydney confirmed on monday it would go ahead with this years Fireworks Show planned i remember a time when weve had total fall bans in place in the greatest in the region where we havent been i would accommodate the risk elements for conducting the new years a far worse in the in the sydney harbor area particularly we just thought now level of of coverage to ensure a safe and effective. Function denouncement sydneys fireworks display would still take place despite the bushfires has sparked outrage a quarter of a 1000000 people signed a petition to scrap the celebration plans to spend just get this here. This is all happening but this is the 1st time. Its been like this in sydney and its not going to be the next you said you know what just labor the here and do it again next year while bigger ring over sydneys fireworks continues volunteer firefighters are battling the blaze with little success. On the bushfires im now joined by journalist raja may not in sydney roger bring us up to date with the latest. 1st a tragic development in the past couple of hours the New South WalesRural Fire Service theres a bill that will until it was killed and 2 others injured when their up trucks 2 trucks collided. On the New South Wales dictorial border so that brings the total death toll so far in this witch fire crisis to 10 because all this will only add to the concern the gloom of the stress being felt by a stray and as fires continue to rage along much of the countrys eastern seaboard theres no news of the developing crisis in the northern millburn suburbs with fires breaking out in several locations there its a very well populated area and the reports and claims of being again as high as 20 to 30 meters in the air of the sea its a crisis of great concern are but the main focus of concern is in the east gets land area of victoria in the south of its origin or the New South Wales border and there are the biggest of multiple fires of a broken out over the past 24 hours those fires are spreading road across the region prompting the evacuation of thousands of people many others have decided to stay behind and take their chance. Does australia have the manpower and resources to deal with these new fires that you mention roger because weve already seen so many volunteer firefighters involved. Yes this is turning into the worst crisis many australians could remember in terms of scale and intensity and does require the services of an awful lot of people to tackle this far as we have about 3000 of us is tackling the blazes in the door a similar number in New South Wales but there are still in New South Wales 100 fires still burning and leasehold of them are out of control theres very little the phone apply to see today or do about it alyssa gloss it rains and thats the miracle that everybody is hoping and praying for but the situation is expected to get a lot worse in the next 24 hours with more heat wave temperatures and strong winds. Fanning the flames in New South Wales and the real fear is that its going to be a major problem to the south of sydney lonely at the southern New South Wales coast where many people are on holiday at the moment and fathers are already breaking out there in coastal areas so the crisis is still growing much up in unfolding if you like and we will really know the full scale whats going to happen until perhaps tomorrow all right raja may not aid it sydney for us thanks. Again when a 2nd it mounts on the other stories making news around the world tesco is in the u. S. State of texas is shot dead a gunman who opened fire at a sunday service killing 2 parishioners in september new york came into effect in texas allowing licensed gun owners to carry weapons in places of worship. I Chinese Court has jailed the scientists who claims have created the worlds 1st gene and said baby pigeon quake received a 3 year sentence for practicing medicine illegally last year he shocked the International Science community announcing he had used the Gene Editing Technology known as christa to alter the genes of 3 babies you know products. He created a russian backed separatists prisoners have been reunited with their loved ones off a major Prisoner Exchange between the 2 sides now among those released captives whove been in prison since fighting broke out in a 2040 in the fall as an agreement between russia and ukraine. Home for the new year dozens of joy for unions played out on the key of airports tamaki many of the captives hadnt same friends or family for years on hand a visibly moved president flaw to me is a lenski he great to the exchange during talks with Russias Vladimir Putin earlier this month. Or whatever that is that we deliver on our promises 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 afraid 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 or for example there are. Heading home to dozens of separatists many of them have also faced hosh conditions in captivity. In this conflict volunteer militias have often ignored the rules of war conditions in captivity and the tour is n. G. O. S say the Ukrainian Government to has violated detainees rights. They tortured me 5 times in jail on a good movie. They said hes dead take away his body but i survived despite them. And 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. Well as bring in david stern now hes standing by in kiev for us david east this Prisoner Exchange a step towards a more comprehensive peace between ukraine and russia backed separatists. Well thats certainly a sign of possible progress but it also shows the complications and hurdles that remain before we do see a comprehensive peace our team was at the airport last night when the prisoners returned and as you saw there were scenes of great cumulation and emotion tears were shed and many people were very visibly moved. The prisoners who came back there were a little bit more than 70 who arrived mung them were both military people and the civilians a journalist and also stanislav a slip say of who had been there for 2 and a half years in the rebel rebel controlled territory but also as we hear there there were 5 riot police who were returned to the rebel controlled territory these men were accused of being involved in the deaths of demonstrators here in kiev 5 years ago and they were part of a trial and ongoing trial now many people fear that the truth about what actually happened 5 years ago wont come out so as i said its a very complicated situation we have a lot to go before we actually see a full peace now the Prisoner Exchange was backed by frogs in germany can you fill us in on the International Diplomacy dynamics in interests at play here. Well exactly and this is also a reminder that this conflict is continuing and also the that it remains at the focus or it should remain focus of the International Community this came from the normandy talks or the normandy form of talks that were in paris earlier this month that was france germany russia and ukraine the leaders met there following on their initial meeting in back in 2014 and now we had agreed that they would have this proof this Prisoner Exchange but of course there are a number of hurdles as well there there needs to be said that the ukrainians want to see their control over their border reinstated before their new elections for instance in the east and then also we have the interest of the United States and there are other other factors such as the north stream to project which which enter into maybe not directly influencing but it also is a part of the the generals the general situation so obviously this is a story that is still of International Interest and as i say it still remains much to be discussed before we see a comprehensive peace davit stand in kiev for us all and thats what between ukrainian and russian backed separatist christmas thanks so much. Well for example to tennis to golf sports fans are taking stock of the year gone by as they start to dream of what the new year may hold in store for their favorite teams and stars heres a look back at some of the highlights of 29000. Parade of champions the United States won a record extending 4th womens football world cup and their star Meghan Rapinoe took home every individual award possible as much for her passionate pleas for gender equality as for her own field exploits in mens Club Football liverpool rain supremum winning the Champions League and the Club World Cup in tennis the womens majors were shared 4 ways but french open winner ash party ended the year as number 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 following personal injury problems athletics had its usual up and down year kenyas cho gave became the 1st person to run a marathon in under 2 hours but it will not count officially. The World Championships in doha were overshadowed by lower spectator numbers the heat and doping but shelley and fraser pryce stole the show for the women adding to malta her record haul of 9 golds 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 form of the one great nicky loud at age 70 and Lewis Hamilton secured an emotional 6th title underdog south africa beat england in the mens room we world cup final. Say became the 1st black male captain to lift the trophy proving let repine know that politics and sport can go hand in hand. He was indeed overly use his reminder the top story that were following for you thousands of residents and tourists have been to flee vast bushfires in australia the state of victoria and you heat wave in the high winds has found hundreds of blazes across the country 10 people have been killed and more than 1000 times to stories so far. But have to get you can always get you dont use on the go just download off out from google play all from the app store and that will give you access to all the latest news from around the world as well as push notifications or any breaking news you can also use a t w out to send us photos and videos. Coming up next our documentary film series looks at the many uses people are finding only sadies and dime that cost and how to hunt for inviting more news at the top of the hour thanks for your company see you soon. Its all happening going to fit. 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