noel clement is the ceo of red cross australia. hejoins us now from melbourne. helping and what are the biggest issues? the red cross is involved in around 60 evacuation centres over recent months and particularly in recent months and particularly in recent days. victoria, we have seven or eight evacuation centres. we are providing psychological first 80 people dealing with really significant trauma at a time like this. —— first aid to people. we are providing basic food and water. and other support to people who have lost their homes, we are providing direct financial assistance. it must bea direct financial assistance. it must be a credibly difficult time for them. what financial assistance can you give them if they have lost their homes? it is a difficult time for many people in those communities. many people don't know if they have lost their homes. they are in evacuation areas and evacuation centres. it is a really difficult time and people are very anxious and uncertain. volunteers are providing really practical psychological first aid support to people. 0

to a forest from the red cross in australia thanks very much for coming and thank you . let's get a brief down some of the other stories making the news at this hour the gambling hub of macau as celebrated 205 years since 20 years rhodes this is its transfer to chinese rule the ceremony marking the anniversary chinese president xi jinping said china would not allow foreign interference in macau or hong kong both regions with the one country 2 systems model she also has won a new beijing government for mco. hundreds of thousands of people have marched in cities across the dam to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the uprising that toppled former president omar al bashir the campaigners promised to continue their program of political reform in their pursuit of justice for protesters killed in the uprising. in the us democratic party white house hopefuls sparred in the 6 debate of the race to pick a nominee for next year's presidential election with just 7 of the remaining 15 candidates taking part to stage followed lesser known figures that allow them to shine the 1st round

jai o'toole from the red cross emergency services in south australia appreciate you making time thank you. let's take a look at some of the other stories making news around the world a fierce storm battering spain and portugal has killed at least 5 people strong winds and torrential rains have damaged buildings or roads and cut power lines across the iberian peninsula but the words warn that conditions are likely to get worse as another powerful storm is headed for the region. in istanbul thousands of people have marched in support of china's mainly muslim leader minority the calling for an end to the crackdown that is seen upwards of a 1000000 people sent to detention camps in north western china the protest follows social media pose from turkish german football star. who condemns china's actions. poland's lower house of parliament has passed legislation that would allow the government to punish judges who make rulings considered unfavorable to the country's right wing parle government during weeks of protests against the measure the european union has asked poland to suspend the bil

to a letter from the red cross talking to us earlier from south australia now it may be a deal in principle but after hours of discussions here in berlin russia ukraine and the european commission have agreed on the future transit of russian gas through ukraine and starting in january the 1st of the talks were complicated moscow and kiev remain at odds over the conflict in eastern ukraine of course and the u.s. is challenging russian dominance in european energy markets approving sanctions targeting the north stream to pipeline that's beneath the baltic sea and with the current gas deal set to expire at the end of this month pressure to find common ground for a new one was intense. these types suffer from it and center of a geopolitical crisis natural gas is supposed to be sent from russia to germany to supply the e.u. with one of its major energy sources the north stream and north stream 2 pipelines allow moscow to bypass ukraine and safe on billions in transit fees that are currently a major source of income for the neighboring country. not to rely entirely on the north rim delivery syste

that was richard gordon of the red cross now the annual sydney to hobart yacht race began on thursday $155.00 yachts are racing along the southern coast of australia to the island of tasmania it is one of the toughest sailing races in the world the boats cover almost 630 nautical miles 2 years ago the yacht comanches set the record for the raised reaching the tasmanian capital hobart in one day 9 hours and 15 minutes but this time around the record holder is currently languishing behind scallawag now that's a yacht from hong kong. watching t.w. news from berlin will have more news at the top of the hour next up is the business with kate ferguson but 1st we'll leave you with some images from southern california where it snowed in the joshua tree national park thanks for watching. larranaga. birth. home 2 of species. a home worth saving. those are big changes and most start with small steps became global ideas tell stories of creative people and innovative projects around the world. news that cuts limited use to manage certain shots and reforestation. community interest.

definitely, there is an awful lot to do by the philippine red cross in addition to polio vaccinations and the like. thousands of people in australiad from their homes for the holidays, as the country battles some of its worst bushfires in years. since september, almost 3,000 firefighters have been out every day in new south wales tackling fires, some of which are the size of small european countries. 0ur correspondent, phil mercer, is in bilpin, about 60 kilometres north west of sydney. you have described this as being on a wall footing, how bad is it?” think a wall footing, how bad is it?|j think that is right, helicopters in the skies supporting thousands of boots on the ground. it is worth pointing out the military has been brought in to help with this enormous firefighting effort. this firefighting effort has increasingly stretched many of the firefighters. in new south wales, many of those volu nteers in new south wales, many of those volunteers and some of those have been on the front line for weeks, and weeks and this is a crisis that shows no sign of ending. this is the town of bilpin, north—west of sydney, in the blue mou

definitely, there is an awful lot to be do by the philippine red cross with vaccinations, polio, measles and the like. thousands of people in australiaced from their homes for the holidays as the country battles some of its worst bushfires in years. since september, almost 3,000 fire fighters have been out every day in new south wales, tackling fires, some of which are the size of small european countries. 0ur correspondent phil mercer is in bilpin which is around 90 kilometres north west of sydney and gave us this update. i think australia is on a type of war footing when it comes to this bushfire crisis. we have squadrons of water bombing helicopters in the skies supporting thousands of boots on the ground and it's worth pointing out too, the military has been brought in to help with this enormous fire fighting effort. this fire fighting effort is increasingly stretched. many of the fire fighters we have in new south wales, for example, are volunteers and some of those have been on the front line for weeks, weeks and weeks and this is a crisis that shows no sign of ending. this is the town of bilpin, as you say, to the north—west o

red cross. thank you so much for talking to us. all the best to you. in australia are taking part in what is the 75th running of the competition. but this year sees something new — the first indigenous crew is taking part. the bbc‘s tim allman explains. some final checks for the crew of the tribal warrior. in a race steeped in history and tradition, this is a genuine first. this crew represents the indigenous people of australia, who are, in a way, travelling with them. very, very exciting. and it's brought people from broome, at lightning ridge, at bourke, at coonabarabran, they're all — all the communities are talking and they're all saying that's our boat — and that's very proud. eight of the 11 crew are aboriginal, representing 800,000 indigenous people of australia. some are hoping this race, this experience will write a new page in their history. it's just an opportunity of a lifetime for us to represent our people and, you know, show our youth out there that if there's anything you want to do, you put your mind to it, you just say yes, and don't let fear or

red cross warns it could take weeks to bring back power and running water. not only that. many people are still missing. james waterhouse, bbc news. firefighting teams in australia past few days with lower temperatures but that's about to end with the intense heat returning. since september, close to 3,000 firefighters have been out — nearly every day — battling blazes. almost 90% of those on the ground, are unpaid volunteers. many families in new south wales are spending the holiday season in shelters 7 their villages and towns, still smouldering from last week s fires. i'm joined now from sydney by ben shepherd who works for the new south wales rural fire service. thank you very much for talking to us. thank you very much for talking to us. you and many, many people have not had much of a christmas at all, how are you all holding up? as you said many of our volunteers have been out there on the fire line trying to get some level of containment on these fires before we see the onset of another heatwave, we are expecting temperatures to climb into the a0 degrees and colour with very strong winds this dry winch and the centre of the consonant which tend to drive

red cross warns it could take weeks to bring back power and running water. not only that, many filipinos are still missing. james waterhouse, bbc news. firefighters in australiafor a return to heatwave conditions, replacing recent cooler weather. there are currently 72 bushfires in the state of new south wales, about half of them burning out of control. 0ur correspondent phil mercer has travelled to the town of bilpin to meet one of those people affected. simon tadrosse lost 40% of his orchards when the fires tore through. the emotional and financial toll has been immense. he stayed to defend his property in the blue mountains against flames a0 metres high and he almost died. what was the most frightening bit for you? um, facing it, driving towards it in the tractor and you couldn't sort of really get out of it. that was the frightening thing. but obviously i made it through, but scary, very scary. what was it like looking into that beast of a fire thinking you might not make it? it's worrying, very worrying. yeah, look, you can't bring a life back, you only get one chance, and if you lose a life that's the end of it. your trees, your houses, your buildings,