what can we expect in the new year we have a great lineup of guests telling us. at least seven people were killed and dozens still accounted for tonight after an apartment block collapses following a devastating gas explosion in the russian city of magnitogorsk. britain france had to step up joint patrols in the english channel after a spike in the number of illegal immigrants trying to get to the. russian children who'd been held in an iraqi prison but there allegedly icily parents allowed back at home when they were returned to russia. hi good evening nine pm here in moscow this new year's eve live from out

international's news h.q. is kevin i am with you thanks for watching first the national tragedy to report with the new year just sours away the central russian city of magnitogorsk is attempting to come to terms with the tragic collapse of an apartment block on monday morning the federal emergency ministry now says at least seven people died and at least thirty five have been left unaccounted for after that building came down following a gas explosion president putin was there in the aftermath today and met with emergency coordinators. we should think of those who lost their lives and who were injured but now let's start to work with those we have all the necessary equipment and all the necessary. we are now clearing the debris the risk of collapse still remains. after meeting with officials rescue workers the russian president paid a visit to the hospital with a view to being treated as promised full support for those affected by the tragedy over a thousand people evacuated from their homes following the explosion today because of the risk of further collapse one of the buildings residents describe the scene to us it was almost as remarkable i was more cannot by the sound of the explosion

and the shattered glass the windows in my living room were blown out i ran to the kitchen and the windows there were also shattered i could smell smoke you know my neighbors were yelling the main door was blown out and it was blocking our door and then i thought there would be stance but we left the corridor and there was just trouble as the authorities say a period of mourning will be the start of the end of the rescue recovery operations the dura tutors across the developments. it's an absolutely tragic incident this especially as it's new year's eve national holiday people will be preparing for the big celebrations tomorrow really really sad story this it happened the location is actually the southern part of the ural mountains quite remote area happened around six am local time in the early hours so you can as you can imagine most people would have been sleeping certainly in their flats there it was caused by

a gas explosion in the center of this building this multi-unit building in the section just collapse the two adjacent sides we've been told by the emergency ministry the being the real worries that those two sides would collapse as well hence over a thousand people were evacuated there what we know about the building itself it consists of forty eight flats there was one hundred twenty people registered to be living there four people we know so far have died tragically five people have been hospitalized one of those a child and five people were retrieved from the rubble so we do have is one eyewitness account from a lady who tells us what happened. there was a blast at first there was a nurse. who rushed to a balcony and so fire in that house on the second floor no windows were left to nelson that they were all blown out. if we look at how the emergency services

responded they respond within ten minutes and there are literally hundreds and hundreds of rescue workers now helping to try and retrieve others in the rubble obviously we don't know whether they're survivors or whether they've fatalities additional psychiatry's have been deployed there the emergency minister is on the scene as well and the emergency services have said that they will deploy people if required. what they're most worried about i mean the temperatures there are freezing it's minus seventeen there at the moment so time is of the sense for this rescue operation it's predicted that it might go to minus twenty seven at nightfall so they're really worried about that as with all tragedies like this the communities tend to work together to try and help people and that's exactly what's happening there at the moment they're pulling together helping those who've lost their homes family members and friends. and obviously they're still waiting to see

how bad the fatalities and the injuries are. a former official at russia's emergencies ministry's praised the response of local authorities and the rapid deployment of rescue teams that got there. be decent little by little you local authorities acted in the right way and their response was determined by the possible number of victims local rescue teams started working as soon as they were able to both the local rescuers and the back a team of well trained and qualified to carry out rescue operations. this year dozens of people have died as a result of gas explosions in apartment blocks in russia other tragedies linked to building collapses have claimed more than a hundred lives here over the last fifteen years.

were closely following the situation ongoing there are many comedic osca rescue operation continues the recovery operation two of the part of that residential building collapse we'll let you know as we get to hear more information on what's happening. also tonight britain france say they do increase joint patrols in an effort against illegal immigration into the u.k. after an unexpected rise in refugees arriving in britain across the english channel over the past two weeks and isha sesay has got the story for. deeply concerning the

u.k. immigration minister is sounding the alarm a verse of recent sage and migrant crossings over the english channel what do you do in a crisis pick up the phone well the u.k. him secretary and the french interior minister at least spoke to each other but is this really enough to combat channel crossings from the u.k. and france is a partnership all too familiar when it comes to border protection but having spent millions already to set up and then move refugee camps one of the biggest flashpoints of the migrant crisis the port in kobe which made headlines almost daily. from cal a today for the poor to seen a spike in the number of adults some children arriving at the kents coast sporadic

crossings was seen at the start of the refugee crisis but more recently over two hundred twenty men women and children have attempted to make their way if in the last fifty days will say. when we. will the increasing pressure has meant the u.k. him secretary has had to cut his holiday short he's been y. day accused of having a failed strategy he has still to explain exactly how the government plans to handle the small screen in the operations. they have not got a grip on it what we've got is unsatisfactory and somebody has to do something

alternately the buck stops with the home secretary for now such a javits plan is to keep the number of specialist border force sender if you but he admits there's no easy answer as for defense britain's armed forces are at the ready if need be we have not heard any requests as yet but if the home office is in need of armed forces support the no navy air force and dreaded to assist and amidst all the mounting pressure there's also the problem of cracking down on people smugglers the problem is that the more one house patrol craft out there the more it can be regarded as a pull factor because people at these gangs know that if they get halfway across the channel they're going to be picked up so it is a very fine dilemma to for the home secretary to consider is the u.k. home secretary weighs up his options on the issue time is ticking for a concrete solution among the latest developments springing up to speed with

a group of suspected migrants were arrested on monday morning after landing on a beach in kent six iranian men were also found on a beach near dover on sunday morning international history professor alan scared told us till the u.k. government's efforts to tackle the crisis have been satisfactory. live to ministration has been at fault we only have five patrol boats in the channel so we only have five patrol boats for the border force only one of these is actually in the do it was straight in the channel and it's not always that. the government seems to have been done nothing to supply more boat parties because in past years they've been very few attempts to cross the channel but since christmas have been about one hundred attempts assia partly because there's a great fear that one specks happens the be much more difficult to cross the bridge . after years of bitter wrangling the u.s.

and israel to station to leave the un's cultural heritage organization committed force this monday washington announced its intention to boycott you know school in october accusing the agency of anti israel bias. on october the twelfth two thousand and seventeen the department of state notified unesco director general irina bokova of the u.s. decision to withdraw from the organization and to seek to establish a permanent observer mission to unesco this decision was not taken lightly and reflects u.s. concerns with mounting there is. the need for fundamental reform in the organization and continuing anti israel bias. now at this point that we can review that in twenty seventeen there was outcry from the united states and israel when unesco designated a hebron the city in the west bank designated as a world historical site now there is a contested area in the center of that city to muslims it's the ibrahimi mosque to jews it's the cave of patriarchs and at that point we saw some loud outcry from the

united states and from israel now it's important to note that this isn't the first time that we've heard accusations of a pro palestinian bias from the usa and from israel and twenty eleven when the body officially recognized a state of palestine at that point the usa and israel both stopped paying dues to unesco they were then stripped of their voting rights in two thousand and thirteen after having not paid their dues so at this point we see the united states carrying out a policy that it's long carried out which is when it doesn't like certain international accords and agreements or international bodies that simply withdraw let's review the united states we withdraw from the optional protocol in dispute resolution to the vienna convention on diplomatic relations the united states is officially withdrawing from the un human rights council we will not cooperate with the i.c.c. we will provide no assistance to the i.c.c.

baseless claims are brought against us hypocritical bodies and institution unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court the council ceases to be worthy of its new. we will commence a review of all international agreements that may still expose the united states to purported binding jurisdiction dispute resolution in the international court of justice so the united states continues to withdraw from international bodies and international agreements in response to decisions it does not approve of peter galbraith a former us on bus that's a creation he told me bitterly he believes america's withdrawal from both international agreements and global agencies will eventually be reversed. so this this is entirely political step you know i did has we wait it out that we already have it is that so many of these institutions the united nations the international court of justice were ones that were for the human rights created by the united

states to the united states to the league. and now we withdraw but also this concept from a very good sized ministration or very extreme one one i have to point out that lost the election by three million votes and based on the midterm results is not likely to be around it after twenty twenty five and so very likely these decisions will then be reversed so my advice to the rest of the world is take a deep breath and america will be back. the russian children had been held in a prison in the iraqi capital of returned home they were jailed with their allegedly icily mothers who went to iraq in syria but in a culture of reports. the little. children have returned to russia this evening from iraq brought on

a plane organized by russia from baghdad the children are in quite a bad shape and it is sad that almost all of them are in need of urgent medical assistance this return home has been no easy task officials say that they have been gathering documents an abbot and two for months to prove that these children are russians and we did d.n.a. tests specialists went to take samples that's in the material and from the identification process and then i will not the necessary documents and so as for the children's values yes. the previous flight of this kind to happen over a year ago means. children aged four to fifteen have been in prison in the iraqi capital with their mothers almost all of them had to leave their mothers behind now dozens of russian women remain in prison in baghdad most of them

facing charges for joining terror groups some have already been convicted all of these children were born in russia and taken by their parents who fled to syria and iraq allegedly to join terrorist rings on arriving back here in moscow the children have been receiving hospital treatment and general rehabilitation and of course they have already been we united too with their relatives who have been looking for them from. the start of the bring them home company last year that it's time to reunite children has been living in the rocky orphanages for the relatives back in russia at least eleven youngsters were as a result of the dozens more by other efforts to you can follow the own stories of what we've been through it all home. whether you like since march plates raise a glass of champagne of course new year's eve we hope you're enjoying your evening so just a bit i was waiting to hear moscow from celebrating i was off the break we look at

some of the celebrations already underway for twenty nine thirty. what politicians to do something to. put themselves on the line to get accepted or rejected. so when you want to express. some have wanted. to be close this is what the full experience can't be good. interested always in the logs. six weeks.

to go. i guess the clocks already chimes to herald the arrival of twenty going seen in some part of the world already of course eight of the twenty four time zones have seen in the new years including russia's far east you can see that right now from a shelter that was the scene in front of all stocks several hours back bunch of asia are in siberia no join the festivities too while we're still almost three hours away here in moscow you zealand and australia were course among the first to get off celebrations starting as ever this is the sydney night sky in spectacular

fashion and also hong kong pictures coming in now to forty. easy. easy easy. easy easy.

yes beautiful isn't it just look at my list of good old cow dung here who's coming to what hello nicole now come on do us to. come into the new year a great twenty million today so as we say goodbye to twenty eight to one of the big events big places to be is a coast central moscow now it's looking quiet there at the moment but at least a small of snow in colder weather people. well as you can see behind me central moscow on red square as well lit up and just right over that bridge over there there's actually a lot of people not only from moscow and russia but from all over the world who have come here to celebrate new years on moscow in moscow on red square there enjoying the attractions the beautiful lights and the annual fireworks celebration they're waiting for that usually happens right after the the clock ticks twelve and it's get it takes about twenty minutes these fireworks it's

a grand celebration and even you know there are people actually in other parts of the world who have already celebrated. the coming of the new year like as you said in sydney and hong kong and as many of our viewers know there's more than just one time zone in russia itself and across the many of them people have already brought in the new year like the autonomous regions of cum chocky and. now president vladimir putin has already wish to happy new year to many people in those in those regions as well as in the far the farther east regions of. but this year is actually not a usual new years for the russian people earlier today there was a gas explosion that collapsed part of a residential building in the ural mountains city of magnitogorsk and at least seven have already been confirmed killed with another forty still missing trapped most likely under the rubble of the exploded building seven of which have been

confirmed to be children now president putin has cut his meetings in sochi short he's he's actually he's arrived there in magnitogorsk and he's visiting with with rescue workers and in the hospital there so course we'll give you updates as that as that develops yeah absolutely real change to the celebrations that should be tonight just a reminding all of you as president putin will be addressing the nation we'll be showing that as well as the clock chimes just before midnight about two minutes to midnight as well we'll come back to you later i can see the people behind you there is a lovely night for it and i thanks down. so as we say goodbye to twenty eighteen this time look back at some of the events that helped shape it. north korea dominated headlines throughout much of the year didn't it with fears of maybe even a nuclear conflict with the u.s.

president trump and kim jong un exchanged a series of threats but when the two eventually met things seem to fold but the pair even seemed to maybe form a bowl and in may in trying to get the chance to look around the north korean leader's palace ahead of a visit by russia's foreign minister. we were told to leave most of our belongings and all our mobile devices behind and now they're taking us somewhere. so we're here in this van just to cower and then one photographer and myself following a lot of savings. in this area is completely deserted and it looks like we're in circling something that appears to be the palace. if only someone told me where exactly we are right now but we are being told to fold.

the groups. i don't really know what exactly this place this but it looks to be the area where it came john will be greeting surrogate and the reason why i think so is because just through this door i saw came john sister and she was having some sort of conversation with the guards but nobody speaks english here hello. and as far as i understand this is. i believe this is a bit of a historic moment. sergey

lavrov and kim john are talking behind this small we were asked to wait in this room so let's just have a walk around and take a look at what they. dark chocolate i can tell you that it tastes just like any other. anywhere around the world. so this is how suddenly you get treated to. residents. i can barely remember being given such. a location is around the world we were just . at the present which is just outside the doors. of the city. and given the fact that we're inside the residence of the north korean leader kim

jong un again i'm just going to say it absolutely shocked. it is really disappointing that we won't be able to find out exactly what's being said. but just a few hours before mr kim and mr lavrov met the russian foreign minister in making the korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons is a very delicate issue maintains that. must be respected. so that said it all ended with. russia see whether the north korean leader will accept the invitation for now we're heading back to the airport in the russian foreign minister's motorcade. right.

and. you know one of. the more of the. reporting on that international. team working through the new year a great year. and also to india sri lanka new delhi mumbai cold cuts a bungalow welcome to your new year just happening in about two and a half minutes time this is out international. seemed wrong why don't we all just all. get to shape

out just to come out of. engagement because betrayal. when so many find themselves worlds apart we choose to look for common ground. all of them do so if you go and sophie shevardnadze fortier's on the ground breaking news ago pink floyd still sounds fresh in the lyrics of roger waters as relevant as ever how hard is the balancing act between music and politics well i'm here in st peter's birth to ask the legend himself water waters musician author

activist co-founder of pink floyd and my guest today is really great to have you with us today welcome to our show thank you everyone's really happy that you're here looking for your tour and i'm looking for a little chat so i'm going to start from the eternal question because you've been pushing the boundaries of music forever. at the same time the lyrics that you write are always very powerful so the question is what is more powerful the words or the music. will do it the way the. equal importance i mean the trick with with. songs i'm not quite sure what it comes from but it has to do with who way the feelings that are in the lyric of the song so the ideas that are in the lyrics with some somehow get kicked into

a more accessible place over to relate to the mater of of the mincer other matter it's a kind of magical for going to feel a bit. kind of pulling the wind chill for both to fly even to talk about it because this sort of mysterious. you know broaching song is sort of the mystery. how it happens or what happens with the connections made between the hardness soul in the brain on the intellect and the mater of. if one is into that actually increases two for the world who want to have sin and so on and so forth it's just a way of. being being alive you get this question a lot in. different forms but i never really quite grasped an answer for instance if you go to a pub mccartney concert was a great musician and a friend of yours from what i gather you forget about say.