And emotional scenes at kiev airport as ukraine and pro russian separatists complete a long awaited prisoner exchange. Hello and welcome to bbc news. Tens of thousands of residents in the australian state of victoria have been told to evacuate amid worsening bushfire conditions. Officials are predicting a day of extreme danger with rising temperatures combined with thunderstorms and a change of wind direction. Worst affected is the area around gippsland where some roads have been closed. Abc australia correspondent nicole asher is there and describes the situation. So basically, its really, really hot, here, its about a0 degrees where im standing, if not more, and theres hot winds and theres a lot of bushfires. Authorities are most concerned that with these strong winds, theyre going to push bushfires into communities and theyjust cannot control them at the moment. They have evacuated thousands of people. This area that im standing in is a really popular holiday spot. Were leading into the new year, theres fireworks down here, and theres beaches and normally its beautiful but at the moment its just too dangerous. They have sent out Text Messages to people warning them to get out. And locals theres not a lot of people on the road. It sounds like people have really kind of bunkered down, to avoid the heat, but also the danger. Theres ash is flying from the fires and the Authorities Say that the smoke columns from two of these fires have travelled 12 kilometres up into the air and theyve joined together. Now theyre dropping ash and embers in areas that arent currently on fire, which then poses the risk of those fires merging or spreading further. If people havent left their homes, what is the best way for them to take shelter . In basements, inside, on the roof what are the authorities telling people . So at the moment, theres a number of bushfires at emergency warning, which is basically the point where Authorities Say its too late to leave, you need to shelter inside. And theyre saying either shelter in a room with an external window so, i suppose, you can escape if you need to. Theyre saying, dont aim to shelter in your car if you havent fled already, its too late, you dont want to be trapped on the road. If you are in your car, you need to shelter down in the footwell, with a woollen blanket. Theyre saying you need to wear full length pants and shirts, leather shoes and theyre saying, if you are near a sporting ground or a big body of water, maybe consider taking shelter there. Because if a bushfire comes through, the chances of surviving are very low. Nicole asherfrom abc nicole asher from abc australia. Police in texas have praised members of a Church Congregation, who shot dead a gunman after he opened fire during a service. The attacker killed two people. The authorities in fort worth say theyre still trying to determine the attackers motives. Gareth barlow has the latest. Grief grips fort worth, texas. Two of their own killed when a gunman began shooting at west Freeway Church of christ, before parishioners returned fire. Today, evil walked boldly among us. But let me remind you good people raised up and stopped it before it got worse. Members of the congregation dived for cover as the gunman began shooting. In footage seen online, as the Church Service was streamed on youtube, three shots ring out. He entered the church and sat down with parishioners. He got up from that position, pulled out a shotgun, and fired it at a parishioner. That parishioner is deceased. There was a Security Team inside the church and they eliminated the threat. Tragically, like i said, there are two people that were shot and they died at a local hospital. As we say, the suspect is deceased. Officers from the fbi and local forces are investigating the incident. No motive has been given for the attack. Gareth barlow, bbc news. The mayor of new york bill de blasio has announced new measures to combat what he said was a crisis caused by anti semitism, afterjews were attacked while celebrating hanukkah. Mr de blasio said Police Patrols would be stepped up injewish areas, and schools would teach students about hate crime. The suspected attacker Grafton Thomas has appeared in court. He denies five counts of attempted murder. Chris buckler reports from washington. Members of new yorks largejewish community had gathered to celebrate their religion, only to be attacked because of it. They were at the home of a rabbi, here in monsey, to mark hanukkah, when a man forced his way into house and started stabbing people, in some cases multiple times. He pulled it out from the thing and he started to run into the big room, which was on the left side. And i threw tables and chairs,that he should get out of here. Grafton thomas was arrested 30 miles away, in manhattan. Reporter mr thomas, why did you do it . Hes already appeared in court, where he pled not guilty to five counts of attempted murder. Police in new york had stepped up their patrols in response to a series of anti semitic attacks in recent weeks and, across the us, jewish leaders are concerned about what they say is an increase in hate crime. Just over a year ago in pittsburgh, ii worshippers were killed in a mass shooting at the tree of life synagogue. In april, there was a similar attack at a synagogue in san diego. And another shooting earlier this month at a kosher supermarket in newjersey, is also thought to have been fuelled at least in part by anti semitism. What are we waiting for . You know, first it was just verbaland ok, i mean, now people are being murdered, now people are being assaulted, now people are being stabbed. So the governor should announce an emergency in the state of new york. New yorks governor seems to be listening. He said words were not enough, that it was time for action. It is domestic terrorism. These are people who intend to create mass harm, mass violence, generate fear based on race, colour, creed that is the definition of terrorism. Many claim hate is on the rise in an increasingly fractured america, where differences too often end, notjust division, but violence. Chris buckler, bbc news. Hate crime in americas five largest cities rose sharply in 2019, with new york, los angeles and chicago all setting highs not seen since the terror attacks of september 11, 2001, according to a new report from california state university. George selim, Senior Vice President at the anti defamation league, explains why hate crimes could be rising. There are a number of reasons that hate crimes are rising, that are targeting christians praying in churches or muslims in christchurch praying in mosques, orjews praying peacefully in pittsburgh or monsey, new york. Part of what weve seen over the course of the past several years is a significant increase in hate crimes and bias motivated crimes across the United States targeting a number of ethnic and religious minority groups. This is coupled with, really, an increase in polarisation and very divisive rhetoric that weve seen notjust in the United States, but across the globe. When you add into this combustible mix the rate and speed in which violent ideology is spread online, you see the period in which individuals become radicalised or inspired to commit an act of violence and then actually conducting it, that period of time has shrunk significantly, so its something that the adl and other Civil Society organisations have used this opportunity to call on our government here in the United States, as well as central governments across the globe, to increase their vigilance and protection ofjewish communities and other religious minority communities who are praying and conducting services in their respective houses of worship. The new york mayor, bill de blasio, speaking after the attack on the rabbis home blames an atmosphere of hatred in washington in general. Would you agree with that . I mean, i think i would agree that were in a period of unprecedented defensive political rhetoric, both in the us and across the globe. I dont know if i would go so far as to be calling it hateful rhetoric, but the online environment that were in today, coupled with the real world actions that weve seen in monsey, new york and in cities across the globe that have been plagued with these types of acts of hate and terror, is something thats extremely concerning and something that should give all persons of conscience pause to think about what they and their communities can do to intervene or really disrupt these vicious cycles of hate and violence. The United States has warned iran it will retaliate if tehrans actions put american lives in jeopardy. Us secretary of state mike pompeo made the comments after us forces carried out air strikes against iranian backed paramilitaries in western iraq and eastern syria. According to the pentagon, five sites linked to Kataib Hezbollah were struck including sites in the qaim district, killing at least 18 fighters. Mr pompeo said President Trump had warned for months that he wouldnt stand by if irans actions harmed american lives. The attack that took place against an iraqi facility threatened american forces. This has been going on now for weeks and weeks and weeks. This wasnt the first set of attacks against this particular iraqi facility and others, where there are american lives at risk, and today, 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 injeopardy. We will always honour that commitment to take Decisive Action when 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 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. Lets get some of the days other news the Russian Intelligence Agency says a tip off from the us has helped foil what it called new year terror attacks in st petersburg. The kremlin said president putin had thanked donald trump in a phone call, for passing on us intelligence. It said this had led to the recent arrest of two russians alleged to be planning to attack large crowds of people. The authorities in the philippines say 41 people are now known to have died as typhoon phanfone devastated several islands. Tens of thousands of residents are still sheltering in evacuation centres where many celebrated christmas. A dozen people are missing. Votes are being counted in the president ial election in the west african state of guinea bissau. 0bservers praised the peaceful conduct of the poll. Both candidates Domingos Simoes pereira from the ruling party, and the oppositions Umaro Sissoco embalo, are former prime ministers. The two men have promised to bring stability to guinea bissau, which has suffered nine coup attempts since independence from portugal in 197a. Stay with us on bbc news. Still to come the man teaching children confidence through medieval battle. The most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got under way with the introduction of the euro. Tomorrow in holland, were going to use money we picked up in belgium today. And then well be in france and again, it will be the same money. Its just got to be the way to go. George harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed at his oxfordshire home. A 33 year old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. I think it was good. Reporter just good . No, fantastic thats better big ben bongs this is bbc world news, the latest headlines tens of thousands of people in the australian state of victoria are told to leave their homes, as bushfires intensify. Authorities in texas now say two parishioners have died after a gunman walked into a church in fort worth and opened fire. Dozens of former prisoners who were part of a swap between russia and ukraine have arrived in the ukrainian capital kyiv. There were emotional scenes as family members met the men, who were released after president s Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a deal in paris earlier this month. Our correspondent Zhanna Bezpiatchuk has more. The long day of a prisoner swap begins here on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. These people had no official status, no access to lawyers or red cross. For years, been the prisoners of separatists. Now, finally, they start breathing in freedom. And this is how the ukrainian prisoners were warmly greeted at the Kyiv International airport at the end of their swap. The ukrainian president , Volodymyr Zelensky, promised to bring them home at whatever price, and he did it. This aircraft brought back home 76 ukrainians that spent years in the custody of the separatists in the rebel held territories of the donbass in Eastern Ukraine. This is a highly emotional moment. People are seeing their relatives for the first time in two, three, five years. And, of course, thats the best possible new year gift for these families. Translation the main thing is that the people are home. We did what we said before the new year. They will celebrate new year with their families at home, with parents or children. It is great, i am happy. Im sure they are happy too. In return for servicemen and civilians, ukraine has handed over to separatists five policemen charged with the deaths of Peaceful Protesters in 2014. Altogether, ukraine released over 120 people. Some of them were allegedly involved in terrorist attacks. For some of them, rebel held territories could be just a transit to russia. Many criticised zelensky for agreeing to the russian terms of this swap, and paying such a high price. This prisoner swap was a part of the deal brokered in paris in december this year by zelensky, putin, macron and merkel. They all are involved in the talks intended to bring peace to the Eastern Ukraine where Government Forces fight against russian backed separatists for over five years. But at least for the released people, the war might be over. Zhanna bezpiatchuk, bbc news, ukraine. Pope francis has urged people to talk to each other at mealtimes instead of using their mobile phones. In his weekly audience in romes st peters square, the pope cited jesus and his parents as an example of how families used to communicate with each other. Translation i ask myself, if you in your family know how to communicate, or are you like those kids at mealtimes where everyone is chatting on their mobile phone, where theres silence like at a mass, but they dont communicate. Families have to get back to talking. Parents with the children, with the grandparents, everybody. Abortion has been legal in the United States since the 1973 landmark case roe v wade was upheld in the us supreme court. Abortion foes have been trying to overturn the law ever since. If President Trump is re elected in 2020, conservative judges could reshape reproductive rights in the United States for decades. The bbcs sophie long travelled to texas, where roe v wade was first argued. You may find some of her report upsetting. First this. I am pro choice in every respect and as far as it goes. But then this. I am asking congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late term abortion of children. applause . Wherever the president really stands, reproductive rights will be a crucial issue in next yea rs will be a crucial issue in next years collection. And when it comes to abortion law, whether star state has gone, the rest of the union has followed. Lone star. The landmark case that led to the legalisation of abortion across the us originated here in texas. There have been a number of attempts to overturn it. Recently lawmakers had debated a bill that sought not only to criminalise abortion but to make it punishable by death. That bill was thrown out but others restricting access to abortion has exceeded. Now they have been challenged. Access to abortion has exceeded. Now they have been challengedm access to abortion has exceeded. Now they have been challenged. It is all pa rt they have been challenged. It is all part of the pro life plan of attack in this legal war. We are not afraid to go to court, thats what we want. Thats what we want to see happen we use laws, go to the court system go to the supreme court, so they go they have the opportunity to achieve way at roe v wade and ultimately undo it. Opponents say that would criminalise americas least well off. If you have an abortion anyway, even though roe v wade had been overturned, people are always going to be the people who will be the most impacted by the criminal justice system. That means more black women will go to prison, and more black children will be left to fend alone. I hope to eventually become a nurse. This woman had an abortion when she was 17. But she was forced to go to court to get a mission. She said it made herfeel like a criminal, but it was the best thing she could have done. |j like a criminal, but it was the best thing she could have done. I am the product of a single mum, i watched my mum struggle tremendously to provide for us, and it was difficult, and i didnt want to repeat that history, i want to do something different. The only thing thatis something different. The only thing that is changed as you. Unplanned, the film about 115 transition to olav campana made millions at the box office here. It is based on Abby Johnsons autobiography. Having had two terminations, she now has eight children. She wants abortion to be made illegal, but is not confident another trumpeter will deliver it. |j think the <