for others, though, it was a sad moment. there have been muted counter—rallies by people who wanted to remain in the eu, saying they feel disenfranchised by the move. us senators have voted against calling witnesses at donald trump's impeachment trial, a move which brings the end of the process much closer. the democrats failed to persuade enough republicans that witness testimony was necessary. the authorities in the chinese province of hubei have declared 1,300 new cases of the coronavirus, and confirm at least 45 more deaths. the us has announced it will bar foreigners who have been to china from entering the country.

and let's return to our main story again britain leaving the eu. one of the most difficult challenges faced by uk and eu brexit negotiators throughout the last few years was the status of northern ireland. emma vardy was at the irish border in the minutes after it became the uk's only land border with the eu. well, all of a sudden this invisible geographical line takes on a great new significance. this, where i am standing, is now the new land border between the uk and the eu. there was no great fanfare, no singing, a small band of protesters gathered here to mark the moment. to the eye, of course, nothing will change, but it will have implications for thousands of businesses across the island. now, keeping is border open was always such a difficult part of those brexit negotiations. in the end, a resolution was found through a controversial compromise which effectively moves this border to the irish sea. it leaves northern ireland in a bit of a halfway house in future, abiding by eu

single market rules, but staying part of the new uk's global trading arrangements. and of course, don't forget, was always so important to be able to keep the sport open because having an open irish border has been a fundamental part of the peace process in northern ireland after decades of conflict. it has been achieved, but people are still farfrom happy. a majority of people in northern ireland voted to remain — they're still upset they're being taken out of the eu against their will. and others are angry that northern ireland will have to remain in different arrangements to the rest of the uk. but after all those rows, those battles over british and irish identity, really, now, negotiations over the next 11 months will determine how it's all going to work in practice.

now on bbc news, the travel show. coming up on this week was my travel show, we're going to sicily, home to europe's volcano, to find out about the risks and rewards of taking a trip there. for me, exner is a little bit like a person. a slightly pneumatic person. global guru simon calder is back with some winter ski recommendations. and i get a crash course in a modern version of the traditionaljapanese course in a modern version of the traditional japanese bond dance. course in a modern version of the traditionaljapanese bond dance. i am out of time, i am sure. first

up on this week's travel show, simon platts heads to europe's most active volcano on the italian island of sicily. this film takes some unsettling images. there's been an earthquake on the south side of etna. e la sirena, ecco. in one of the most volcanic regions in europe, an earthquake is detected. it could investigate devastating activity on the continent's largest volcano. but still, on etna,

tourists gather unaware. right now we are 9000 feet above sea level. the highest you can get when you come to mount etna. what we are looking at is the southeast crater, the baby. it's the newest, 1971 but it's also considered the most dangerous at all because at this moment, it's becoming hyperactive. as a journalist, making programmes around the world, i travel a lot. like any traveller, a certain amount of risk goes with the territory. but some of those risks seem clearer than others. the recent catastrophic eruption on new zealand's white island which killed 20 and injured a further 27 has highlighted the

risk of visiting active volcanoes. the 10,000 a year heading to white islands in the many more visiting the 1500 active volcanoes around the world, how could they really understand the likelihood of disaster. 7 iwanted understand the likelihood of disaster. 7 i wanted to find out more about what it means to visit these mythical phenomena and also what they mean to the people living in their shadow. so i'm going to etna but i'm not the first bbc journalist to visit the volcano. just three years ago, a group of tourists, along with bbc science

correspondent rebecca morrell, was suddenly hit by an eruption on the side of the volcano. have you seen the others? yeah, they are down there. are you 0k? it was lucky that none were killed by the molten rocks which showered the group, as they took shelter. but in coming here, i have been told by many people that this volcano is perfectly safe. firstly, etna is currently bubbly the most active volcano on earth and in terms of eruption frequency and productivity, etna has one of the most sophisticated monitoring surveillance systems on earth. you have instruments that record any sort of ground vibration, then we measure gas emission and magnetism and gravity and infra— sound which are acoustic signals at very low frequencies that we cannot hear and then obviously there

is a great surveillance of ash emissions, thermal cannons, computer stimulations saw this is being done virtually all the time. and i still left out a few things. but for the people here, but that is much more than just data —— people here, but that is much more thanjust data —— data. they call her mamma, and she is a constant companion. in1669, in 1669, the lover flow in six months covered a distance of 45 miles. it covered little villages such as nicolosi. if you look around, you could see old flows, you can see the lava flow of 1983 and it can see the lava flow of 1983 and it can get into people's

experience. for me, etna ‘s mamma etna. it is a volcano, it is amazing but it is in my heart.

but of course, faith and monitoring alone won't reassure many travellers. when boris and his team find a body, they send their findings to a special organisation. they use the data to said restrictions on where people can go on etna.

there is no universal system to tell you the chances of an eruption stop each place has its own but u nfortu nately, each place has its own but unfortunately, on etna's case, the lava moves very slowly.

etna has killed no more than 77 people in the last 2700 years. so here is the thing. intense local monitoring and strong regulation can protect people but i visiting, you put your trust in others and individual tour operators. what you can do is research what's happening at your volcano to help you understand the risks. in coming here, all the people i've met have reconciled themselves to living in mamma's shadow in their own unique way.

for me, etna is a little bit like a person. a very slightly pneumatic person. a very slightly pneumatic person. a very slightly pneumatic person. a person that you adore but at the same time as you have difficult understanding that if you love that person, you accept that person. for me, with etna, the incredible experience of seeing one of nature ‘s most stunning displays is worth that risk. well, if that is made you want to find out more, but you don't want to step foot on an active volcano, there are some travel show recommendations for you. head to tanzania, to africa's largest mountain, kilimanjaro. at dormant volcanoes like this, you are free to

explore without much worry of an eruption and although you need to be fit and well prepared, you don't have to be a professional mountaineer to reach the summit. backin mountaineer to reach the summit. back in italy, pompeii is a fascinating time capsule from when the eruption of nearby vesuvius in 709a.d the eruption of nearby vesuvius in 709a. d left the eruption of nearby vesuvius in 709a.d left a roman city buried under metres of ash. archaeologists have been uncovering pompeii for centuries and discoveries are still being made there today. but for something a bit different, had to la ke something a bit different, had to lake tober on the indonesian island of sumatra. this place is thought by some experts to have been the site ofa some experts to have been the site of a super volcanic eruption that nearly wiped out all human life. what's left now, though, is a beautiful lush landscape, well worth a visit.

still to come on this week's travel show: simon calder is back to answer more of your travel questions. and i'm being put through my paces at a traditional dance here in japan. i'm being put through my paces at a traditional dance here injapan. so don't go away. hello. this week, we have got a couple of months of good skiing left in the northern hemisphere so i thought it was high time to tackle some of your questions on sporting holidays. first, a new twice—weekly night train from brussels runs direct to innsbruck in the austrian tyrol, one of my favourite winter locations. if you want to take your own vehicle, austrian railways runs an overnight service from dusseldorf in germany to

innsbruck. but admit much protest, sncf of france has ended all of its card—carrying trains. next, brian asks: personally, i would personally, iwould recommend personally, i would recommend the serenity and gentle slopes of yalo in norway, but it is an expensive location, and so to help you i have saw some specialist advice. my recommendation would be to come right here to austria. it is one of the more affordable and charming of the more affordable and charming of the alpine ski destination and is packed with family friendly ski towns. 0ne packed with family friendly ski towns. one of my favourites is leyogang, you may have never heard of it but it is one of austria's largest ski resorts. 270 runs, most idealfor largest ski resorts. 270 runs, most ideal for children largest ski resorts. 270 runs, most idealfor children and largest ski resorts. 270 runs, most ideal for children and families. and it has some cracking family friendly hotels, which have perks like ski and scout access, children's clubs,

and scout access, children's clubs, and even free ski equipment for kids aged six and under. 0n and even free ski equipment for kids aged six and under. on top of that, free lift passes for children aged five and under, making this the ideal spot for you and your family. from two skis to two wheels, or two feet. auter asks: 0f of this ancient barrier between roman britain and caledonia, roughly today's england and scotland, stretches for 135 kilometres from carlisle in the west to newcastle in the east. having both cycled and walked large parts of hadrian ‘s wall, i can safely say that the central section, where it is best preserved and the terrain is most dramatic, should be tackled on foot. but the western and eastern stretches are ideal for bikes, with some good, dedicated cycle paths. for places to stay on a

budget, there are backpacker hostels in carlisle and newcastle. in the towns and villages along the way, bed and brea kfast and villages along the way, bed and breakfast is the way to go. barbara and her husband want to go snorkelling this winter. but, says barbara, there is one thing. aims for the gulf of aqaba in the north of the red sea, where i can recommend three separate locations eachin recommend three separate locations each ina recommend three separate locations each in a different country, where you can go warm water snorkelling straight from the beach. first, aqaba in jordan, though straight from the beach. first, aqaba injordan, though to find a decent beach you have to travel slightly out of town. just west across the border there is eilat in israel, where you can step straight from the national hiking trail into the sea. the third choice is further along the sinai peninsula, the

egyptian resorts of sharm el sheikh, to which direct flights from the uk have just resumed. for me, to which direct flights from the uk havejust resumed. for me, egypt offers the best snorkelling and the lowest cost. that is all from me for now. but you can contact us through any of our social media accounts. and finally this week, i am in 0saka, and finally this week, i am in 0sa ka, japan's second city. and finally this week, i am in 0saka, japan's second city. it has got a down—to—earth reputation famous for its industry, its nightlife, and its food. if you go exploring away from the main sites, it won't take you long to find somewhere that feels really buzzy, like this little festival here in the chuo ward. well, there is certainly a lot going on here, but there is something i've been told to look out for, and i think this is it. these guys are doing the bon dance, which is huge here during festival time. everybody appears to know it, which is no

surprise. japanese people are taught it in schools, and each region has its own variation. 0utside schools, and each region has its own variation. outside the main event, i had arranged to meet someone to show me the ropes. so, what is the significance of the dance? the spirit of the ancestors. the spirit of the ancestors comes back? yes, and so we show them we are fine, we appreciate them, so thank you for their approach. i love it. there is young people, there is old people. yeah. everyone is doing it. when did you first learn to do the bon dance7 me7 you first learn to do the bon dance7 me? yeah. seven years old, i start. kenshiro is a professional dance teacher and if anybody can teach me, he can. the bon dance happens over two nights here in osaka, but you

can find these events all over the country in the summer, and everyone is welcome tojoin. country in the summer, and everyone is welcome to join. i love start. that was really fun. it wasn't as ha rd that was really fun. it wasn't as hard as i thought it would be to pick up. i was able to get the basic things, and it was really fun, doing it with so many people, altogether. in unison. yes, everybody does it. kenshiro invited me to his dance studio tojoin his group, kenshiro, who practice a modern take on the bon dance. this looks more complicated than i thought. welcome! wow, this looks side. this dance has very high steps. yeah, high energy.

instructs students in japanese. so, here goes. it started off easy enough. right, left, right, left! but not for long. spend! there was barely enough time to catch my breath. eventually, though, ijust about got the hang of it. they are just being kind, i am sure. my goodness. it is so different to what we saw at the festival. this is more funky and cool. like, modern moves. 0urdance7 funky and cool. like, modern moves. 0ur dance7 thank you. japanese people like to see the older people dancing. like your mum

and dad? yeah. we hand down the tradition. so we are dancing for the young people, and so every people says, the bon dance, your dance school. so not all the people dancing. as the festival continued that evening, stardust let mejoin them for their continued that evening, stardust let me join them for their performance. let's hope i can remember the moves. but first, i've got to find my spot.

singing in japanese. oh, my gosh! i'm exhausted. that was amazing. i felt like i was really part of the community. look, everyone here is dancing. everyone knows the moves. and they let me, a foreigner, join in. i loved it. so good. what a fantastic feeling. well, that's all we've got time for this week. coming up

next week. ade adds to the maldives to meet the people working to protect the area's unique environment and takes a swim with a pack of sharks, but lives to tell the tale. they are just so close! my god! even though you know they are not dangerous, every time you get touched by a thin, you just sort of bounce! squeals. and don't forget, if you want to follow the travel show team on theirjourneys on the road in real time, you can catch us on social media. until next time, from me, carmen roberts and the rest of the travel show team here injapan, the rest of the travel show team here in japan, it's the rest of the travel show team here injapan, it's goodbye.

hello there. it was another windy day on friday. as we head on into the weekend, low pressure will always be nearby. so it will stay rather unsettled. mild for most, and there will be some rain at times, but also some sunshine too. so here it is — low pressure to the north of the uk on saturday. this will bring some rain to northern areas. quite a few isobars on the chart there, hence the windy weather. and then this area of low pressure will arrive during saturday night into sunday. the very mild air will be pushed off into the near continent on saturday, and something a little less mild will move in. but it's still going to be pretty mild across the south. so, a blustery day for most. that weather front i showed you, affecting scotland, northern ireland and northern england with showery bursts of rain. could have a little bit of rain across the south—east, but that should clear away and then for many it will be sunshine and showers into the afternoon. most of those showers across western areas. the winds dig down from the north across scotland, so blustery here, but also blustery

across england and wales. here, the winds coming in from the south—west, so it will be much milder across the south and further north. in fact, turning quite chilly, a few wintry showers here. again, 10 or 11 degrees in the south, not quite as mild as it was on friday. now, as we head through saturday night, one or two showers around, wintry on the hills in scotland. but then a quieter spell before that next area of low pressure comes hurtling in to bring outbreaks of rain into northern ireland, england and wales. some of that rain will be mild and heavy through saturday night, turning milder again in the south as the rain arrives, but quite a chilly night to come across the north and north—east. so, here it is, a bit of a complicated picture through sunday morning. we've got that weather slowly sliding north, tending to clear away from eastern england as the morning wears on, but it could be quite a damp start for northern, eastern england, northern ireland, central, southern scotland. as that rain bumps into the cold air across scotland, we might see some snow over the mountains there. into the afternoon, it improves for many, sunny spells around, one or two showers mainly across western areas. you'll notice the milder air will be back, 11 to 1a degrees here, much chillier in the north. as we head on into monday, this area of low pressure, deep low will bring a swathe

of severe gales to the north of the country, certainly to scotland. they could see some snow over the high ground. the windy weather then clears away into tuesday and then we see a big area of high pressure building around the middle parts, that will settle things down, but it will be a bit colder. so a milder day on monday with some rain around. mid week, high pressure builds and it will settle down, turn brighter with overnight frost and gradually it will turn milder by the end of the week.

good morning. welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. 0ur headlines today: big ben bongs. the uk has left the european union after almost half a century. an 11—month period of transition begins today. there were scenes of celebration, and commiseration, across the country as the moment of brexit finally arrived. the first night in quarantine for a group of 83 britons after being

flown home from coronavirus to china. good morning. it's the opening weekend of the six nations. four new coaches and a world cup since the last tournament — so who will take the crown this year? and in weather it is another blustery day across the country. a mild start. inks will cool the north later. details of that full we can forecast coming up here on brea kfast. forecast coming up here on breakfast. —— and it will cool. it's saturday, february 1. our top story: the uk is out of the european union. the historic moment, at 11 o'clock last night, was marked by celebrations — and some commiserations — across the country. thousands of brexit supporters gathered in parliament square where speakers including, nigel farage addressed the crowds. breakfast‘s john maguire was there and has this report. they had come to parliament square from far and wide, from the north... from teesside. ..and from the south... i've come from brighton. ..to witness what the rally‘s star attraction called the greatest moment in modern british

history.