issues an urgent appeal for aid we'll look at what's behind the crisis. and a launch that's linking up a new data highway in space it's superspeed will help us cope with natural disasters here on earth. i'm brian thomas thanks so much for joining us we begin this program in russia where firefighters backed by the country's air force are struggling to contain vast wildfires in siberia the area that's a blaze continues to grow with some 45000 square kilometers already affected officials say that they have given up their efforts and some of the more remote areas in the hard hit province of truong new york residents are literally choking on the smoke as the flames draw closer to the village of bell he is at the front