us. today starts 1330 u.t.c. on. this is news live from berlin donald trump looks set to become the 3rd u.s. president in history to be impeached u.s. lawmakers air for a historic vote to put trump on trial for the book the president our top of your reus letter to house speaker nancy pelosi saying she was quote undermining american democracy also on the program as the un's 1st ever global refugee 4 of wraps up we

report from one of the key transit routes for african migrants heading to europe to slim my friends have been hidden by a smuggler who brings in across the sahara desert to be on the migrants safely and to the smugglers has enough of them for one transport and then the dangerous and sometimes deadly journey begins we'll go to niger where despite tightened orders by france continue to risk their lives in the desperate and a 6 goal thriller and the bogus legal lexicon don't mention to a draw it was one of the most entertaining games of the season one of the highlights wants her 3 little. one. my friend. to say goodbye to the star wars rise of the skywalker trilogy as the final movie in the series makes its world premiere.

i'm carnap and welcome to the program later today u.s. lawmakers will take an historic vote on whether to impeach president donald trump the democrat democrat controlled house of representatives is expected to back a move that would make him just the 3rd president in 240 years to be impeached within trigger a trial in the senate on whether or not to remove trump from office thousands of demonstrators have rallied across the country in support of the democrats push for impeachment meanwhile president trump attacked the impeachment proceedings in a furious 6 page letter to house speaker nancy pelosi the president accused the top democrat of declaring quote open war on american democracy. where washington correspondent alexander phenomena has been following the story since it broke and she traces the path to impeachment

a historic day on capitol hill for just a 3rd time the house of representatives will vote whether to impeach as president though that is expected to be strictly on party lines after weeks of contentious hearings an expected bombshells and partisan fighting. it all started with a phone call a phone call in which president trump asked president zelinsky of ukraine to investigate his main political rival democratic presidential hopeful joe biden and his son hunter i became increasingly aware of what followed was a congressional inquiry with a 1000 witnesses testifying in public describing crimes dealings with ukraine as improper and in as roughly it's all going to blow up and here we are one witness intoxicated turned out to leak he ordered sunland the us ambassador to the european union and so much. he told the investigators there was indeed a quid pro quo in the works that president pressed the ukrainian government to get

dirt on joe biden jewel in exchange for a meeting in the white house at the same time you asked for military aid for ukraine was put on hold as depressive deckchair rections everyone was in the loop so we followed the president's orders corruption other witnesses added more damning details about donald trump's conduct time machine no evidence for the democratic majority in the house to move forward with the impeachment. the morning. the facts are contested the president abused his power for his own personal political benefit at the expense of our national security by withholding military aid and crucial oval office meeting in exchange for an announcement of an investigation into his political rival. abuse of power and obstruction of

congress to charge and the democrats say that amounts to high crimes justifying impeachment however they haven't convinced a single republican yet trump's party stands by the president they're crying pietschmann as a political witch hunt you can't make your case against the prison because nothing happened president trumps high crimes threaten our democracy it so they don't like that's what this is about you know like the president they don't like the present supporters and they dislike us so much they're willing to weaponize the government the votes in the house will mark the climax of this somber moment in history if the majority of lawmakers approved the articles of impeachment which seems likely it will trigger a senate trial to determine if the president is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office. at trial president trump seems to be gearing up for he expects to be exonerated by the republican led senate and

hopes impeachment will backfire on his rivals there was nothing done wrong to the power of the peach but one is not charged is it embarrassment to this country. the controversy has already fired for her in general public opinion is split over the matter whatever the outcome what is happening in washington right now reflects the hyper partisan divisions in american politics. our here's a check now of some of the stories making news around the world. president emanuel says he is willing to make changes to his proposed pension reform by entering into talks with trade unions that announcement comes a day after a brand new nationwide protest the french government is hoping for a break in transport strikes before the christmas holidays. chrysler and peugeot manufacturer p.s.a. group have announced that their boards have signed

a binding deal to merge the 2 automakers the company said the new group will be led by p s a's c.e.o. car lot of us the new company will be the world's 4th biggest auto company. australia has endured its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching 40.9 degrees celsius that tops the last record from 2013 the record busting heat comes as the nation battles a severe drought and bushfire crisis. well the united nations has urged rich countries to do more to tackle the world wide refugee crisis speaking at the 1st global refugee forum engineer u.n. secretary general antonio good terrorist criticize what he called a quote hostile political environment for posing a threat to asylum seekers now one example of this can be seen in the west african country of niger but the recent increase in the number of migrants going from africa to europe the e.u. decided to shut down some of the main transit routes that go through niger brussels

provided support for military to patrol the country's borders and since then the number of migrants passing through the country has sharply decreased but human trafficking remains a lucrative business in places like a this mario miller traveled to aga dess or many claim pressure from the e.u. is making the situation for migrants more dangerous for nearly 30. brought people across the border from activists into libya he never thought he was doing something criminal. like this who had it's not true that we are so-called human traffickers and we are deceiving people it's also not true that we treat communes humanely or badly. europe's politicians have demonized him as a criminal smuggler but here people like him used to be called press says and their work was considered the most normal thing in the world why should it be criminal to bring people from a to b. most asks for centuries the desert city of agadez has profited from people passing

through from west to north africa in search of work. but this stopped in 2015 when the european union signed agreements with several transit countries to curb migration to europe because of that suddenly became unemployed 6000 other former smugglers in asia at his fate store and hotel owners who used to live from the travellers had no income. even though migration decreased it never stopped say human rights organizations such as doctors without borders this week even though the law is been in force in 2015 the bigger issue never stopped and they will never stop oh if you could doors to the recognition the reviews are good doors so what we see is the greater in small compared to the past they are much more vulnerable why because everything has to be. over in the cloud

the city hidden we managed to meet a smuggler who still active now his job is illegal if he gets caught you risk several months in jail ever since the military started patrolling the borders he tells us scenes like this one getting more and more common. this if you have to let's say i'm a driver transporting migrants when suddenly the military shows up with the letter of the migrants out of the car just down the road and tell them to wait there until i come back and then i just leave and they die there there are many such cases. it's very rare that drivers actually come back the un suspects at least twice as many people die on their way to the mediterranean than in the mediterranean itself who are these people who despite these dangers make the journey towards europe. we are close to the so-called get away at the border of the tunnel this this is where migrants are being hidden by a smuggler who brings them across the sahara desert to the migrants say here to the

smuggler has enough of them for one transport and then the dangerous and sometimes deadly journey begins. a clay court yard under the open sky down hundreds of my gran's waiting in places like this across the city. one of them as. a student from guinea he has tried to leave 3 times each time he was picked up by the military on the libyan border and the route through the desert is not good libya and the mediterranean are not good but what else can i do for you as a migrant from guinea was a man but he has little chance of receiving the right to stay in europe but that doesn't stop him. although i want to go to europe i hate europe why do i europe because europe can't exist without africa africa is rich with resources like diamonds and uranium but who benefits from these resources. europe is where these young africans dream of living and although the chances of

actually getting there are slim for them giving up and going back home is not an option. well joining us now from geneva is leonard doyle he's the spokesperson for the international organization for migration thank you for speaking with us now 1st of all the u.n. secretary general is urging developed countries to do their fair share when it comes to the global refugee crisis what would that look like. well i don't your your broadcast being primarily about migrants who are traveling. from sub-saharan africa north and indeed within there's a large component of side of the city a genuine fear for their own personal safety many migrants too as well they may not be in touch but they are definitely people in need if you need protection and. i think what the sector generally is really talking about is that there is the equality that you see in the world that leads to people spontaneously leading

a lot of good governance in their countries for themselves up and we're seeing all these fuckers who you so well documented in that last piece most mothers have no interest in the welfare of the people of their charges they want the money if you're a simple and although you do the piece seems trading somewhat sympathetic to us losing out in this game they are appalling and probably here and murderous in their treatment tomorrow so i think what we need is more equality and better migrants good governance so we say from this formerly in this regular people are not encouraged to put themselves at risk and use it all for ways to soften and tragedy one thing that the european union has been doing is working to stop african migrants from coming to europe in the 1st place that was a policy that's been criticized i mean is that an effective strategy in your opinion. well i would take some issue with the way you phrased it there so if you're a regular marge without regular documents so of course we are you seriously if

you're if you open part ways for illegal migration to your that is not happening but the notion that people should be allowed to cross borders without awkward i think it's time for them to stay an age when there are concerns about everything from the economy to security i don't know any country in the world this is how good are we have you with or without a passport so i think we need a little bit about this in the way you framed this question leonard doyle from the international organization for migration thank you very much. the you parliament's top accolade the annual sakharov prize for freedom of thought has been given to weaker human rights activists toti the board was handed over in the european parliament in strasbourg to his daughter because told he couldn't be there is currently serving a life sentence in prison in china on charges of separatism before his imprisonment of 2014 total worth more than 2 decades to improve the rights of the persecuted bigger minority more than a 1000000 members are currently being held in a term in camps in northwest china. will home toti hasn't been seen in public for

years this footage was filmed before he was jailed his fight for the rights of china's predominantly muslim minority cost him his freedom for years he drew attention to the suffering of the weaker their restricted access to education in the labor market and the suppression of their language religion and culture. may want to drive you there's no representative for us no newspaper of our own version of what can ordinary people do when they meet in justice we are some of them will find in resistance for calm. in 2006 tohti himself wieder founded the internet portal weaker online to highlight the plight of the ethnic group the chinese authorities blocked the website repeatedly in 2014 told he was put on trial charged with separatism the former economics professor was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in october the european parliament awarded toti the

sachar off human rights prize describing him as a voice of moderation and reconsideration yeah but on your sack out of the parliament has decided to award the socket of prize for freedom of thought to. that a lot he has done much to improve understanding between leaders and the han as the group in china that has been put in prison for life. in the european parliament expresses its full support for his work and wishes him to be released immediately by the chinese authorities i mean he got shot. she nice. his arrest in 2014 was seen as a sign of a crackdown by china's communist party sense then reports of so-called reeducation camps have surfaced x. prisoners speak of torture forced labor and mass rape around 1000000 we girls are thought to be detained in these camps the last time our family members heard about

my father it was 2000. that was also when the concentration camps started. our family members are no longer able to visit him and we don't know if he still had health in the same prison if we we don't even know he is still alive. and so the winner of this year's secor off prize may not even know about his award. right now here are some of the other stories you need to know about protesters have gathered once again in india's capital delhi to challenge a new citizenship wall along provides a path to indian citizenship for non muslim migrants only the country's supreme court has turned down a motion to stop the implementation of that. china has unveiled the 1st aircraft carrier built completely in china president xi jinping took part in the commissioning ceremony of the shandong the ship's launch comes as the naval rivalry between the u.s. and china increases especially in the south china sea. journalist ito is

one a sexual assault case in japan and has been awarded $30000.00 in damages ito accused a high profile t.v. reporter of rape she has become a symbol of the need to movement in japan where sexual assault is rarely report. our sports now and in the bonus league leipzig dortmund drew $33.00 in one of the season's most entertaining matches so far that result gives leipzig a 3 point lead at the top of the table. you know who've been called the title fixpoint so the problem he never won in dortmund is a coach. it's a form the hosts dominated the early running and though jade insan show shot was blocks reprise was only temporary uni inveigled is right foot sort of that. if i go back in dorman's midfield and feeling much more at home. i don't mean

we're in control and turning on the style censure again at the heart of things and brands with the fancy footwork making geometry look cool to nail 34 minutes go on. like sixpence chance of the half came just before the break tipped over by roman turkey but he soon went from hero to villain 2 minutes into the 2nd half spider-man misjudged his leap with catastrophic consequences. team a very no with the grateful recipient he'd never scored against dortmund until today. good things come in pairs the saying goes it was certainly true savannah 4 minutes later he kept his composure to equalise after geometry man branch got his angles all wrong. the pendulum instantly swung back into opens favor marco royce cross for sam show the englishman smashing in his 8

goal in 7 games. but even dortmund actual super hero isn't invincible he limped off and like see grout their chance again with a little help from burkey patrick shit fired in his 3rd of the season. a breathless encounter had reached its end 33 the final score now government still hasn't won in dortmund but this will feel like a success. for looks like my lightsaber isn't working but either way it's a big day for fans of star wars as the 9th and final film in the skywalker saga has its world premier the rise of skywalker crowns 42 years of box office gold and we have a sneak peek don't worry there's no spoilers. they're doing this right they're. taking a lot of jobs. like. the

final star wars trilogy is coming to an end but the galactic battle between good and evil jet i insist it isn't over yet joe di in training ray is back to face down chi low ram the dark side and son of late and han solo and now supreme leader of the evil 1st order confronting the fear. city. because often. the pressure is on and not least for disney and director j.j. abrams has been brought back to the star wars franchise after the last episode by a different director left a lot of fans disappointed. episode 9 focuses particularly on the coasters between its central characters and her buddies the resistance pilot po'd

dam ron and stormtrooper fend for cast and fans it's about more than just one movie it's the end of a saga this is the last one but it's crazy like last it feels that because she's in a time machine and i travel back to when they last time was upon some 42 years and 8 episodes later can the rise of skywalker live up to fans' expectations or losing the fight to be careful on the way up the rector j.j. abrams certainly seems to think it can. if your kid watching this 100 years from now 500 years from now. you see this inevitability the story concluded in a way that feels thrilling and shocking and funny and emotional and satisfying the final film or unites new cast and old after actress carrie fisher's death. in 2016 abrams has even found leftover material from the last 2 films to bring her

back as princess wei. so how will be a jewel battle between jet and sis. and which skywalker will rise to the rise of skywalker with the release of episode 9 fans can finally find them. let's find out and joining me in the studio david levitz d.w. arts and culture i understand you're one of the lucky few who has seen the new movie all right does it live up to the hype i mean everyone's looking forward to this film well you know i don't think that there's any one star wars movie that could live up to all of the expectations and fill in or make up for all the disappointments of the last 42 years there's just no one movie that's going to do that i will say that i think that 90 percent of the people who go see this movie the people who are not the haters who aren't the die hard hard fans who know everything better anyway they're going to like this movie ok so this is a movie for most people also light sensitive epileptics apparently should not be

seeing this movie is that because all these flashing lights that are in the fight scene so disney's also have to issue a warning there but it is for most people you've got these epic scenes you've got these epic even telepathic lightsaber fight scenes you've got an amazing score by john williams who did the original. sabbats back with lots of new tunes as well an amazing villainous role by geoffrey rush one of my favorite stars it's very heart warming and epic good and evil it's all there and again directed by j.j. abrams but it's huge abrams who has a good job here i think coming back because people a lot of people were not happy with the last film by ryan johnson. as you mentioned many were disappointed by the last film also because less so many questions unanswered about the fate of luke skywalker about ray. i mean are we going to get any answers here in this one but i'm going to try not to give them away but yet you

are they're going to be answers this film really does have a lot of work to do to wrap up all of those unanswered questions and actually the whole saga the big question one of the big questions of course is about ray she is this orphan jed in the making and star wars is all about bloodlines right so why is the force so strong with her how is she how is she going to face. ren well you know it turns out and who knows from the very beginning don't be afraid of who you are so this is a big topic for the film and she does it turns out have a lot more in common with him and we think she will i'm not going to not going to let you know what it almost no support most of you what you think of all right ok now in this movie they used some some special effects and some other techniques as we saw in the piece to bring carrie fisher back to life essentially what was it like watching her back on sweeney even though she passed away she passed i read the actress carrie fisher died 3 years ago basically they had to rewrite the script

a little bit to use unused scenes from the last 2 movies to get her back in there they've made her really central to the movie and i have to say it's actually a little bit uncanny watching her they've got carrie fisher in the sort of soft focus as if she's sort of playing it in from from beyond the grave i found it a little weird it does really add a layer of legitimacy to the movie she's back harrison ford's back mark hamill is back i won't say if he's dead or alive though. it does really help wrap things up very nicely though now this is being billed as the end of the skywalker saga but is this the end of star wars one of the more well of course it's not the end of star wars because lucasfilm is owned by disney and you know they're going to press every last penny out of this but it is really the end of a chapter of film history because this is the. trilogy that was conceived by george lucas back in the 1970 s. when he wrote the treatment for 9. star wars there were 3 trilogies originally

planned so finally we're coming to the end of that so it is a pretty big deal and it is very justified the expectations are high and obviously it's not the last we're going to see there'll be plenty of spin offs called don't worry ok well i'm going to make sure to see that one of them will have plenty more look for you david levitz thanks so much thank you carl. you're watching the news live from berlin up next africa and more news coming for you at the top of the hour let's watch a. slave

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in crisis. editor in chief in a school interviews the chairman of the chinese telecommunications giant. way survive the time oil caused by the trade war between china and the us. today starts 1330 u.t.c. on. howdo on a warm welcome to this new edition of. topics from all over africa and europe i am now it's coming to you from lagos nigeria joining me.