this is g.w. is live from berlin a prisoner swap between ukrainian forces and progress in san francisco is underway in eastern ukraine it's supposed to be a comprehensive exchange which will see all remaining prisoners off the 5 year contract. but just who is being released will only be killed once the swap is complete. and will strain is bush tries have placed a strain on firefighters including many volunteers who have taken leave from their jobs now the government just to pay them and honor their if it's.

going to welcome to the program ukrainian government forces and russian backed safer says have begun a prisoner exchange the swap has been taking place at a checkpoint in the stronghold often yet skits part of an agreement reached earlier this month between ukraine and russia and it was brokered by germany and france steve crania forces and separatists have been fighting in east of ukraine since 2014 on states has claimed more than 13000 lives. now russia ukraine sought prison as last september that raised hopes of a wide a settlement but fighting continues despite a cease fire agreement because. it's been 2 years since not a year for some of us saw her husband roam on. he joined the ukrainian army and

2016 a year later he was sent to the conflict zone. romana was captured near the frontline separatists accused him of being a savage and posted videos of him in captivity. there was a flood of emotions tears. i felt hysterical it's horrible to think about it across the front line on the way to jeanette's natalia should gorean waits for her son separatists vitelli has been held captive since the summer social media posts indicate he was taken prisoner by far right procopio militia as off. he's been wounded in the saw it in the stomach and no one's giving him any medicine they're not giving him anything. as those swapped are processed families on both sides are preparing and hoping to welcome their loved ones home.

all right joining us now from cave is all correspondent david stern he's been following events for us today hi david good to see do we have details yet on how many prisoners have been exchanged and who they are. well the exchange is ongoing as we speak they're discussed the sides are discussing but but we do know that it has at least started we've seen of film or footage of prisoners leaving some of the buses and according to ukrainian officials they will receive around 80 people how many are going to be delivered to the moscow back separatist is still unknown and ultimately what when this will end and what will happen further now we're anticipating that those who are released back into ukrainian controlled territory will be coming back here to kiev where i am and they will be met at the airport the main airport by the sport later on perhaps in

a few hours we're hearing that this is the start of an all for all swap meaning that all remaining prison is off this 5 year conflict that could be going home how significant is this development david in terms of easing tensions between ukraine and russia. well remains to be seen obviously this is a step positive step for those who are involved in the peace process as was mentioned this was agreed upon in the summit in france earlier this month but the fact that it's actually going forward obviously is something that will strengthen the talks now whether we are seeing an all for all or we'll see an all for all at some point that that's not clear yet there are disputes or are there different figures about how many people are actually held in in this conflict we will see who exactly has been returned how many have been returned and then and then what or what steps will be taken from that to build on that because as we heard the

fighting is going on continues so we still have some ways to go before we have an all out peace. president since he has a has a force been sort of a crucial play and getting me out today seeing this prisoner swap what do people in ukraine make off he's off he's he's that. well there's a there's i guess you could say hope and fear the hope obviously is that mr de lancey will be able to deliver on one of his main campaign profit ramos's and that is to bring a peace to bring an end to the war but obviously the fear is that that he might give away too much and the devil is in the details there's a question of the timing of if there is a peace deal that there are elections as has been discussed which will come 1st will there be elections will be be able to reassert control over their own border in the east at the border with russia so this is very much at the top of very many people's minds here and this will remain to be seen as they say after the after

this exchange what exactly will be produced from this. on a day that steady and state it. now let's have a look at some of the other stories making news around the world a truck bomb attack in somalia has killed at least 78 people the device exploded during morning rush hour at a busy security checkpoint in the capital mogadishu the country's president mohammed abdul knife a module blamed a militant islamic group for the attack. to its prime ministers all competing to become president of guinea-bissau as forces head to the polls the incumbent president chose a marquee of us fail to make is the final round of voting. there's been a stabbing attack at a jewish holiday celebration in new york city authorities say 5 people were hospitalized with injuries 2 are in critical condition the attack appears to be the latest in a string off anti-semitic attacks in new york this month. and then you have been on

hundreds of protesters rallied outside the home of the new prime minister demonstrators fired flares and demanded the resignation who is backed by the islamist group hezbollah lebanon is script by its worst political crisis in decades . australia is bracing for a mother week off bushfires as temperatures are expected to seoul 55 his have been trying to contain the blazes since september 8th people. 8 people have died 2 of them firefighters excuse me many of those on the front lines of volunteers and now the government ses it will pay them for their if it's. it's one of australia's worst bushfire seasons over. with so many blazes to battle it's often volunteers who answer the call for help. giving their time and paying the

costs just like. 1516 hour shifts in a row you're exhausted at the end of that you might have one day break and then they want you to go again. it just takes its toll physically and emotionally on the family they're not seeing you and me it means i use manual labor. you know i use my time in lead time. now there's 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 far sleeze this is putting additional demands on our firefighters 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 australia's summer just getting started the country needs more helping hands to step up to the challenge. at least biopsy james morris of the new south wales rural fire service we asked him about the bush buy is and the decision not to cancel sydney's famous new year fireworks display despite outbreaks of the bush bias of a nice look at the stage obviously way type precautions working with a partner a technique i didn't seize and organizations are closely with them in regards to our total fire ban exemptions and and their requirements and at this stage given the full cost conditions we don't believe that there will be any she's at this stage in regards to the sydney harbor fireworks going ahead we'll obviously continue to work with them and if we need to have a heart and level of response from our forefathers from both the our fest and foreign rescue new south wales throughout the sydney area i will do is to say

working to the conditions but you know we are expecting certainly that southerly trying to move through needs dave take a number of hours to move through from around 5 to 7 pm on needs a so we are likely to say those much cooler conditions by the time we so we by the time we reach me not on trees down on to the stage as you mentioned we do have a number of new forest on it from lightning down in the south eastern parts of new south wales if you just storms moving through which certainly isn't a good thing considering we've got these are these worsening weather in timing guys . that was chains morris of the new south wales rural fire service speaking to us. now thousands of families in western kenya are coping with the aftermath of flooding and heavy rains that began on christmas eve many fear the flooding could get worse as they wait for aid to east africa is being battered by abnormally heavy rains to the indian ocean in warmer than usual. in the kenyan

county of kisumu the water has crept everywhere residents struggle to find safe and dry places away from the muddy waters they are appealing to the government for help . children food went with the water school shoes and the books for the kids to my belongings outside here and i don't know where i will go to. there's no place to sleep we don't even have tents no water to drink and i have children in college as well as in secondary and primary schools. that don't support it started on christmas night has left homes and businesses sup merged this week's floods are the latest to hit kenya earlier heavy rains had already forced thousands of people to evacuate many had started to return to clean up their homes but this week's dumb and poor has those hopes residents look at the tide of brown water with

a gloom. some sport now and one of germany's biggest success stories off 2019 long jump like she won gold at the bowl championships in doha but as you're about to see this mall to her story and just any. playing the piano are just one of. many talents for me for me it's all about testing myself pushing my limits and the 1st. is tuned for success. i'm always working on myself in order to be the best. germany's female athlete of the year 2019 in the finishing touch to a spectacular year in which she won gold at the world at that exchange kinships in doha i. was happy for her i'd never experienced that before feeling like i'd achieved something truly extraordinary. a personal best of 7

meters 30 and 21000 she reached another level of consistency in passing the 7 meter mock at 7 different events and remaining unbeaten throughout the season. becoming the best took a long time because you have to keep on believing in yourself just as off talk almost at the age of 8 the humber discovered her passion for the long jump she then one gold at the under 23 european championships in 2015 and minds by taking trips to asia and you just meditation to relax scripts on t 50 gives you such a deep sense of clarity. after her success at the world championships when i come home who is now favored to win and then pick gold in tokyo in august and it would be a unique opportunity to surprise myself and even the whole world i think unbelievable

. who is certainly on sound after what has been an incredible 2019. now worship is in brazil have taken a dip in a new year's ceremony to reveal. followed liz off to traditional after a brazilian face turned out on a book about to be in rio de janeiro for the face full pay tribute to the goddess known as the queen of the sea where ship is said this year's state of ration was limited by a lack of support from the city as a strange. and you're watching news from berlin coming up next is a documentary at looking at the world's most famous christmas carol silent nice to

forget you can get all the latest news and information around the clock that's i'm always calm i'll be back at the top of. the if you can't. stand for. part one with horses. video or. anytime anywhere.