sure. change stuff. this is. a major win for u.s. president donald trump both houses of congress have given their final approval to a sweeping tax reform bill that will bring the biggest tax cuts in decades republicans hailing it as

a victory for the american people democrats say only the wealthy will benefit we'll get analysis from washington also coming up the european commission follows through on its threat to punish poland over judicial reforms that it says are undemocratic but poland's president is defining defeat defiance signing two bills into a wall giving the government more control over the country's courts and if you're of deals a big blow to the right healing company its top chord says we were is a taxi service not just an hour and that difference is huge we'll tell you why plus an exclusive report from the front line of ukraine's civil war as fighting their escalates once more we meet the residents called all from the outside world.

is good to have you with us tonight in the united states the house of representatives has given its final approval to big sweeping overhaul of the u.s. tax code it had already been approved by both chambers of congress by than embarrassing for sujal era force the senate to see. it back to the house for a revote now that bill which includes permanent tax breaks for corporations and temporary tax cuts for individuals is the biggest shake up to the tax system in the country in more than thirty years and it's the first major legislative victory for the trump administration it's. all right we are expecting the u.s. president donald trump to sawing that legislation in to law at any moment now you're looking at live pictures right now the u.s. president there with the vice president is where as well as the speaker of the house you see right there members of congress and we want to make sure we clarify

here republican members of congress this is a very this was a very partisan vote there. at the white house cheering on the president his first legislative victory since taking office. last january. and i say this with a partisan vote proving how polarized washington is not a single democrat in the house of representatives or in the u.s. senate. gave their voice to this tax reform it is the first reform that the u.s. has seen in a generation. and it calls for corporate tax cuts to become permanent and it calls for the individual tax cuts which will take effect immediately to be phased out by the year twenty twenty five effectively remaining you he's very much an here's the present these are the people right behind me they work so long so

hard it's been an amazing experience i have to tell you hasn't been done in thirty four years but actually really hasn't been done because we broke every record it's the largest i always say the most massive but it's the largest tax cut in the history of our country and reform but tax cuts. really something special. and i noticed this just came out two minutes ago they handed it to me a t.n.t. pledge to increase u.s. capital spending one billion dollars and provide. one thousand dollars special bonus to more than two hundred thousand u.s. employees and that's because of well we've. had pretty good. that's pretty good. and. i have a whole list of accomplishments that the group behind me have done in terms of this administration and this congress but you've heard it before records all over the

place and that will continue and then some because of what we did but is three point two trillion dollars just think of it in tax cuts for american families including doubling the standard deduction and doubling the child tax credit. the typical family of four earning seventy five thousand dollars will see an income tax cut of more than two thousand dollars they can have two thousand dollars and that's in my opinion going to be less than the average you can have a lot more than. one thing very important for the farmers the great farmers and the great small business owners that were forced to sell their businesses at bargain basement numbers we have provided for the most part as state tax is wiped out so they can keep their farms in the family and that to me is a very big factor very big. this is this is going to mean

companies are going to be coming back you know i campaigned on the fact that we're not going to lose our companies anymore they're going to stay in our country and they're going to stay in our country and you've been seeing what's been happening even at this prospect but they have tremendous enthusiasm right now in this country and we have companies pouring back into our country and that means jobs and it means really the formation of new young beautiful strong companies so that's going to be very very important the past three years you know all about and the small businesses are going to be big beneficiaries we are going to bring at least four trillion dollars back into this country money that was frozen over seas and in parts in worlds and some of them don't even like us and they had the money well they're not going to have the money along and. that's the u.s. president there donald trump obviously we could argue that that is probably the happiest we have seen him since he took office as u.s. president there he's about to sign into law this historic tax reform bill that was

passed today by the u.s. house of representatives i'm joined now by my colleague from the business desk funny char here at my right and from washington our correspondent carson phenomena carson let me start with you i mean this we saw this coming and this is the biggest win for donald trump since becoming president is. yes absolutely it's first major legislative achievement that is quite clear it is also something that republicans have been wanting to do for many years and it is like it or not it is one of the biggest tax or wald's in recent history the biggest one in the last thirty years at least so yes this is a victory if you like the question is if it would be a pyrrhic victory for him because the democrats tried to use the many provisions in

the bill they can paint as unfair to low and middle income families and to stick to the republicans in next year's midterm elections so we'll see if this will turn out to be a victory for trump in the long run it's very there's a very good point to make there because the democrats he didn't get a single vote particularly in the senate for this and that's just when you're looking at it you know it's a very polarized situation in the u.s. we see with taxes funny what does this mean the beyond the u.s. borders it really depends where you print the bill does include a so-called excise tax of twenty percent on companies that basically produce the subsidies abroad foreign subsidiaries so what does it mean for example for german makers who have factories in the u.s. but they import elements components for the skies from abroad they are not asked for the other companies are saying well let's maybe move our headquarters or parts of our offices to united states because people pay our taxes even spill down to

something like a something like a global competition to lower taxes some companies in germany in fact have cold to go the same way and lower corporate taxes and the average in the european union is around twenty two percent right so he percent in germany so much higher yeah i mean there is the fear that we're about to start a tax war that could in mutate into a trade war across the atlantic the us. president saying four trillion dollars is about to come back into the u.s. foreign direct investment is probably what he's talking about there carson you know he knows how polarized congress is and how polarized the country is he knows he got this victory on the backs of the republicans not with the democrats support what about what americans out there think do they want these tax cuts. so far at least this tax reform has a very bad name at least among the general public all polls that we have seen

indicate that a clear majority of americans reject this bill or at least distrustful of this bill that might be because people don't like change generally but also the coverage about this reform has been mostly negative saying this is a hand out basically to corporations and very wealthy americans now of course the republicans have a chance to present their point of view back home in their districts and the president also has to do his part but it's going to be very tough what's interesting is that how divided the country is again here a majority of republican voters believe the president that this will trickle down and create more jobs so it would benefit them in the long run democratic voters ninety five percent of those according to one poll don't believe that yet and you know it's almost like deja vu when you look at what's happening here on the i mean we have seen what we're looking at here as carson is describing is trickle down

economics right you lower taxes on the ridge on corporate america that will translate into new jobs for the lower and middle class spending more money create more jobs that was pretty much also the argument of ronald reagan told you right there not mixed in one thousand eight hundred one but what we have seen is a state deficit and a sort of a state deficit in the future or other presidents after not ronald reagan for trying to fight in one thousand spill remember bill clinton was trying to use for example his president bill clinton was trying to use about the state deficit now they have been other experiments just recent experiments in fact in the u.s. state of taxes for the governor there has actually attempted a very similar experiment to that that you're seeing right now of u.s. president donald trump but that that burke let's have a look. at the midwestern state of kansas was. hit hard during the financial crisis after years of sluggish growth governor sam brownback was hoping to kick start the

economy with drastic tax cuts his administration reduced the income tax and then got rid of it. the state eliminated taxes for farmers the self-employed as well as small and medium sized businesses gary mason the owner of an environmental consulting and services firm gladly accepted the massive tax cuts. probably got about twenty thousand dollars with a quick minute side of it you know with the state of kansas tax credit or lower taxes for small businesses it allowed us an opportunity to buy a quick read like this but the dream of an economic boom never materialized the watchdog job center is not as busy as it was a few years ago but that's not due to the tax reform. there are no there wasn't anything that drastic change the economy is recovering so we know that that's part of it is just the last recovery from the recession instead of a strong recovery kansas saw an impressive growth and massive budget deficits as

its tax base disappeared funding for this public school in kansas city dropped by fifteen percent much to the chagrin of principal david smith the tax cuts basically spent all the money that the state had and they're out of money so what they're arguing is that schools don't need more money i think these things show you that we do and we will be able to use that money to do more for kids could kansas be a blueprint for the entire country if donald trump's optimistic plans don't succeed the u.s. could see a spiraling deficit and stagnation instead of many new jobs. but that is exactly what trump is promising let me carson before we run out of time let me ask you what about all of these new jobs the president is promising has he told us exactly how they're going to be created. no he hasn't he basically relies on businesses to do what he wants them to do and that is use that money not on bonuses

for managers or not for shareholders but actually for investment and creating jobs if they do it remains to be seen what is interesting as we talked about deficits there is that the republicans have already announced that they want to cut entitlements programs and welfare programs next year to tackle that massive hole in the federal budget that this tax reform will create so democrats of course are saying they're giving to the rich and they will take the money from the poor to plug the hole so this is the situation that we're in right now carson phenomena in washington on the story force and if you chart here thank you very much we'll be talking with you a little bit later are it's now here in europe the european union has launched an unprecedented process that could strip poland of its voting rights the move follows months of tension between warsaw and brussels over judicial reform in she went into

a polish president andre due to appear defiant today he said that he is signing two laws that put the country's courts under control of the legislative branch he said the laws make the judiciary more accountable to regular citizens russell says the reforms are a threat to the rule of law. commission gathered in brussels at stake one of the values and shrine to the coun of the european identity the rule of law which the commission says is under threat in poland. at the center of the rallies a series of reforms effectively giving parliament the power to appoint judges. with a period of two years a significant numbers of laws have been adopted thirteen in total which puts at serious risk the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers and.

the commission has taken the unprecedented step of invoking article seven of the e.u. treaty theoretically that could lead to sanctions like the suspension of poland's voting rights but it's unlikely to come to that hungary as already promised a veto such steps nevertheless it's a highly symbolic move one which will probably only increase tensions between brussels and. the polish government says it's being singled out for unfair treatment. in fact the point is to punish poland for having an independent policy and for the fact that it has stopped being the meek obedient country it was when the previous government was in power. the ruling justice party has made judicial reform one of its key priorities and says the current system has too many vestiges of the communist era inefficiency and corruption

but critics say the legislation is a bed by the leader of the rightwing justice party kaczynski to enhance his power. over recent months tens of thousands of poles have taken to the streets to voice their concerns up the legislation government remained for. now the e.u. has given three months to consider changes to its plans it seems unlikely that it will stand down. you're watching the w. news still to come stuck in an eastern ukraine war zone what will happen to the people in this village on the front line if outside help can't reach them. all right well let's do some business news now i can guarantee they won't be calling and will they definitely not invoke her as i want to remain in day if they

have been several protests across europe against now around five thousand text drivers took to destroy it's against uber in bucharest they blocks traffic in front of the government building and they call an illegal transport company and protest against unfair competition. europe's top court has ruled over is not just a digital app connecting drivers to passengers but it constitutes a trust for taishan company and needs to follow their rules a few clicks with an app is enough to find a quick ride at a reasonable price that's the hallmark of ride handling giant goober the company's drivers own their cars and riders can choose their service provider but goober will have to give up his business model in europe if authorities get their way. europe's top court has ruled that guber should be regulated as a transportation company. that means the ride handling service will be treated like a traditional taxi company. professional taxi drivers across europe say the ruling

was long overdue to grass been a thorn in their side because it has not had to comply with taxi regulations that has led to repeated protests throughout europe the ruling could put an end to what the taxi drivers believe is unfair competition. that cannot be the case that the industry the professional in the city has to abide by the rules and days in the other part which is often exactly the same service who have different light there or nor rules at all. but representatives of the computer and communications sectors say the ruling is a step in the wrong direction they fear it could weigh heavily on cross border innovation. right now after this judgment what might happen is that we will have more legal uncertainty. on that innovators might face more legal uncertainty with

respect to their business model as transportation services the ruling means goober and many other private firms are likely to face higher costs. in staying in a european union or stock today about a brac sit delay and a detox trade deal would take a lot longer than a lot of brussels a signal that the u.k.'s transition period must end by december two thousand and twenty timetable is tight. independence from brussels that was one of the core demands of britain's when they voted to divorce their country from the european union. but according to the e.u.'s chief negotiator the united kingdom will still have to play by brussels rules during any transition period. but britain will keep all the advantages all the benefits but also all the obligations of the single market the customs union and the common policies during the transition period. british prime minister to resign may had backed plans to hammer

out a trade deal by october of this year something brussels has signaled is likely to take much longer. than a nod to skeptical members of her own party she also said the british government may be willing to delay breaks it under certain circumstances. but i can assure my friend and the house we would only use this power in exceptional circumstances for the shortest possible time and an affirmative motion the house though may fail to define what those circumstances could be but time may be running out if the u.k. wants to prevent long term damage to its economy the international monetary fund warned today that the british economy would continue to like behind the greater euro zone as long as the brics it uncertainty continues and from your business update to the world in the ukraine that's exactly right that's where we're going to go now fighting between ukrainian troops and russian backed separatists has escalated to the worst level that we have seen in months let's show you exactly

what we're talking about the past week alone has seen three ukrainian soldiers killed at least eight civilians seriously wounded and just days before this latest flare up our correspondent nick connelly visited the region and met people living on the frontline of the conflict here is his exclusive report that takes us to the small village of show. a single told road is all that connects the village of job to the outside world the ridge that overshadows the village is already deep in separatist held territory here the front line begins where people's gardens and. because one hundred forty mostly elderly residents are dependent on outside help since public transport broke down the nearest supermarket is several hours walk away it's only thanks to this volunteer letting go that international aid is able

to reach those who need it most. of the group the weaker the village is cut off the people here have no way of getting out to the people here are just about surviving are mostly thanks to what they can grow in their gardens. the. twenty seven year old catch it takes us to her house on the far edge of the village. the three children left in java all the other families have long since left a single mother to relies on help from my parents and n.g.o.s her youngest son is just eighteen months old of begin. for the last two weeks they've been shooting every single day without a break i used to be scared but now you just get used to it after a while when the conflict broke out the family used to take cover in an outside cellar since that was hit they hide inside. so that the family this is the best protected room the one least likely to get hit on that side we are protected by the

house i was born and from that side we barely get anything coming at us and if there is then there are trees touch wood this house has never had a direct hit so far off. one of the separatists only seventy meters away the next street. bridge in the distance locals tell us serves as a voltage point for separatists nighters. shows us where a direct hit brought down the roof of the cellar she used to hide in yes if i had somewhere to go that was really mine i'd leave but just to be tolerated i don't want that i've tried that twice already. beyond catches house only ruins remain and the front line trenches most of them buried deep enough to stand up and safely. we mean to ukrainian soldiers on guard duty they're also father and son. there's plenty of shooting mostly at night it's

a bit quieter during the day but it happens but. it's december and darkness falls early and with the shooting starts it's time to leave. just a few kilometers down the road is the checkpoint one of only a handful of places where civilians can cross between government and separatist held territory. up to ten thousand people make this journey every day. my father died i've just been to his funeral. here i went from my pension i live in one of. my pension it's really badly organized particularly on the separatist side. but even the checkpoints entirely safe in recent months this crossing has come under attack three times. it's a three hour wait in the cold for these people here queuing to cross the circle separation line that divides ukrainian government troops from separatists it's now been almost three years since the front moved in this region cutting off the just

behind me from its suburbs and the ukrainian side. these checkpoints were set up as a temporary stop gap but with political efforts to resolve the conflict going nowhere they've long since become a permanent fixture of life here in eastern ukraine. for the last sixty knockout round of the german continues on wednesday with two of the games already concluded labor who's in defeated munching lockbox. thanks to a goal from leon bailey in the seventieth minute one nil the final score there and came out on top in a high scoring clash with fribourg that one ended three two. cologne have decided to keep interim coach stefan hooten back in charge of the bundesliga struggling signed until the end of the season as they try to avoid a probable relegation rootin back was put in temporary command until the mid-season break after. sacking this month but after cologne won for the first time in the league this season at the weekend the former under nineteen coach has had his deal

extended until june. here's a reminder the top stories we're following for you u.s. president donald trump celebrating his first major lead this legislative victory since taking office that's after lawmakers gave their final approval to a sweeping tax reform bill set to usher in the biggest tax cuts in decades and the european commission has launched disciplinary proceedings against poland over judicial reforms that the u.s. and the e.u. rather says are undemocratic the move could lead to un president against morsel. after a short break i'll be back to take you through the day stick around for that. enter

the conflict zone confronting the powerful. oh my guest is stage enough the deputy chairman for the party after taking a beating at the pros in september many social democrats said the party needed to

reinvent itself so really s.p.v. go into a position old become a jew and yet bob knows. that in a sixty minutes v.w. . with different languages we fight for different things that's fine let me all stick up for freedom freedom of speech and freedom of the press. giving freedom of choice global news that matters g.w. made for minds. g.w. turned diversity. where the world of science is at home in many languages. on top of programming go and they're going to be. our innovations magazine for in asia the us from every week and always looking to the future fund d w dot com

science and research for asia. it's about moments that. it's all about the stories inside. it's all about george chance to discover the world from different perspectives. join us and do sponsored by distinctive instagram or others at g.w. stories on topics each week on instagram. the most sweeping us tax reform in a generation corporate america is thrilled the middle class is uncertain and america's biggest trading partners are worried tonight america first and why europe may be left to pick up the trump tax tab.