this is g.w. newswire from berlin tonight it is official the corona virus outbreak is now a global health emergency the world health organization making that declaration just moments ago in geneva it comes as the total number of cases approaches $8000.00 despite widespread lockdowns and public screenings the virus is now in every region of mainland china. also a coming up in greece planning a new border fence and this is it state flooding barrier to

stop migrants from crossing the scene from turkey to greece and piling into greece is already overcrowded like greek camps for the question will it work and the countdown to break the u.k. finally leaves the european union on friday night how are ordinary brits feel our correspondent in london with them about getting the mood on the streets and why breaks it is fueling a heated debate about independence for scotland a new opinion poll shows favoring independents will take the political temperature in the capital edinburgh. i bring it off to our viewers on p.b.s. in the united states and all around the world welcome we begin tonight with the deadly coronavirus it is now a global health emergency. declared that by

a committee of experts from the world health organization the w.h.o. making that announcement at a press conference moments ago in geneva switzerland the declaration is a call on countries to coordinate their response to the virus under the w h o's guidance 7800 people are now infected worldwide with this new strain of the corona virus the majority of them in china 170 people have died in china every province of mainland china now has at least one confirmed case of the virus it was w h o's 3rd meeting in a week over whether to label the her role of virus as a global emergency it declined to do so twice last week but now would have let's hear more from that press conference in geneva the main reason for at least the collaboration is not because of what is happening in china but because of what is happening in other countries great this concern is the potential

for the virus to spread to countries with we could call the systems and we ill prepared to deal with it. are it i'm joined on the line now by dr. must go see is a molecular biologist at northumbria university he joins me now from newcastle in england dr it's good to have you on the program the world health organization says that this is now a global health emergency or what does that mean in practical terms. and practical terms it mayn't the global response is going to be cold in a test air country the west house the means to go and assist the nations which have underdeveloped healthcare systems are now going to work together to go and help and make sure the spread of this virus is contained a fuss a special we know the china has implemented strict measures we've got multiple

countries evacuating their citizens out of china is this in your opinion the right approach to stop this virus. spreading. i think that the chinese did the correct actions when it was still unclear how salvia and how dangerous this fire system of in terms of transmission as well as health care systems and individuals in the beginning of that year would have literally no clue how easy it is to transmit or how damaging this virus is going to be so the chinese that the best thing possible when they're not the local communication yeah sorry to interrupt you now go ahead go ahead finish your thought. so with regards to local communication i've not to chinese of apology expose others to answer whether or not they found that properly with regards to what's happening now in the less developed nations it will be

a mix of both monetary assistance skill sense diagnostic skills treatment centers and communication contacts tracing to make sure the people the have been exposed to the virus are informed what's happening with the local people engaging into the pro-social information we thought this is critical in every previous outbreak how dangerous is this virus i mean if we compare it to the common flu virus what level of health threat are we talking about. chill the flu virus right now this has strain has been lethal to about 7 percent of people that have been hospitalized in the united states if we contrast this with a little itty ofa corona virus in china this is only 3 percent tells us that would quote us much danger of loss of life because of this fires on the other hound.

one in 5 people but will contract the corona virus will develop since the breathing difficulty some but it's not just a little bit so it's a mix in your chest which ok about breathing difficulties some would require hospitalization on the lies the challenge to the health care systems in the world have the capacity to take large numbers of individuals required. to actually treat and allow the recovery of these individuals in the west maybe in developing nations i'm not so committed this is why we have a public health of international concern ok dr stegall small schools and molecular biologists joining us tonight from newcastle in the england doctor we appreciate your insights tonight thank you want to hear some of the other stories now that are making headlines around the world the united states has imposed sanctions on iran's nuclear agency and its top official washington says the atomic energy organization

of iran breached uranium enrichment limits with the help of its head. so leahy iran says the same show washington's quote despair vowing there'd be no impact on its nuclear program. a nurse has been arrested in southern germany on suspicion of poisoning 5 premature babies with morphine investigators found an oral syringe containing breast milk and morphine in the woman's walker at university hospital she has denied the charges doctors say they don't expect the babies to suffer any lasting harm. the human rights group amnesty international has criticized plans by greece to deploy a floating barrier as a way to prevent migraines from swimming from reaching greek islands from turkey now the group describes the plan as quote an alarming escalation in the greek government's ongoing efforts to make it as difficult as possible for asylum seekers

and refugees to arrive on greece is sure. the ministry of defense has announced new plans to protect the external you board or so that no more refugees from turkey can cross into greece. floating barriers are there solution and the contract for production is up for bids because. this is blood on rebel deal the national coordinator had a good idea when he suggested buying fighting poverty is bullshit from them or after we install them we'll see if they have to decide affect the missile to formosa's the blocks the barriers might look similar to this right now these service storm protection between the greek islands and the turkish mainland they are being used in many places including off the coast of lesbos the plan is to build 2.7 kilometer long barriers or nets that rise about 50 centimeters out of the water this would be a barrier mechanism in the 18 feet. human rights

organizations are worried about the greek government's plans. establishment of have fans at sea to prevent migrants from reaching crease is known to be a stink and there's no way that these will stop the fellows as long as people have problems in their countries who for human rights watch has stated that these plans violate human rights the greek government has also decided to deploy more border police build deportation camps and speed up asylum procedures. and for more on this i'm joined here at the big table now by rafi abel song he's an associate at the institute for international and security affairs that's a german think tank here in berlin good to see you again we've heard time and time again from greek authorities that they simply cannot cope with the the amount of people coming to their islands looking for asylum refugees migrants will these

barriers these floating barriers are they going to help make are they going to make a difference it's extremely unlikely i mean what we're talking about now is idea for a 3 kilometer fans so that is a tiny stretch of the. right but ok i mean it's meant to be a signal as a visible deterrent rather than it practical to turn so i think it really is more about the symbolism than the actual bury itself symbolism there couldn't we say that it's athens you know screaming asking for help because we've heard the government many times in athens say that greece has been left alone that the european union is not doing what it should to help them when i can say what exactly was behind this idea of i think on the one 1st of all it's a lot of improvise ation i think the greek government feels they have to do something whatever be to the border there be in the land border being in the center is so they're scrambling for ideas that's one thing i think the other thing is that also it may also be a signal to some extent to turkey because greece and turkey are while they always

a difficult relations and they are again fully for going to control this the organization is in turkey supposed to. be stopping. any influx of yeah migrants coming across exactly and i mean the turkish coast guard is doing its job but you know greece doesn't want to be full dependent turkey and you know of these relations going up and down the area and you know relax controls and they're looking to go for a new confrontation over gas so i think this idea may also show to turkey we can do this on our own if you're you know keep pressuring us and then of course yes there is a signal to the rest of europe that we can't cope anymore and that is actually true is is there an alternative then to strengthen the borders here because it doesn't look like you know the it doesn't look like this trend of of migrants trying to get to europe it doesn't look like that trend is going to stop yes surely and the security situation in the us and syria is not going to go any better at the moment so well the solutions are pretty clear i mean faster and more fair procedures more

efficient handling of asylum cases more burden sharing yes and also taking people from greece to other european countries but all these things have been on the table for years and the implementation is just sadly not coming forward right raphael song with the german institute for international insecurity there is always argue that your insights thank you. well tomorrow friday the u.k. will officially leave the european union and that begins and 11 month transition period that will include some very tough trade talks britain will stay in the e.u. use economic framework until the end of this year while the 2 sides the u.k. the e.u. try to thrash out a trade deal despite the british government's valid to get an agreement before the transition period ends the e.u. says that this time span is simply too short it fears a chaotic no deal xx. our correspondent rbs oshie has been asking ordinary brits in london how they feel about their country's imminent departure

from the e.u. . sovereignty back and have a lot more control i think that's the one thing that's what we're really going to get from at the moment we're very disappointed that you know we're being followed while that that the country has been you know misled into this decision so it's a sad time there's nothing we can control sadly about so it's done so i think we need to try and move forward and see what happens to our best thing we would try to destroy a sort of a lush life as opposed to really believe it's been a long time and it's been very sad and i think you know you have to move on and i think everybody is going to try and do that seen a from the government that also is an institution so they think is cross. that was responding barbara visa there speaking with people in london as the u.k.

begins its future outside of the european union one challenge to be faced is the possibility of scotland breaking away from the u.k. the scots they haven't shown much appetite for independence in recent years but a new opinion poll from hugo shows for the 1st time in 5 years 51 percent a majority of scots now believe that their country should become an independent nation w.'s u.k. correspondent she went to edinburgh to take the political temperature. in the capital edinburgh more than 70 percent voted to remain in the e.u. . as did most members of the wild once. these hardy winter ultra swimmers a staunch supporters of europe and the furious that scotland is being dragged out of you. and feeling that we're being

torn out of the e.u. . with our consent tree and it's horrible and says why don't we start off england and unfortunately. yes give us our independence he can we can look after ourselves the s.n.p. is scotland's leading political party it's calling for open borders with scotland's top trading partner as well as an independent scotland rejoining the e.u. . we have had a lot of extremely generous and friendly overtures from other european governments saying that if things britain leaves the european union and scotland takes political control of the sort of affairs then scotland would be welcome in the european union but that would require a new referendum on scottish independence something the conservative government in london is keen to avoid. that referendum was a once in a lifetime once in

a generation of it happened only 5 years ago rather more spending time most politicians going over and over having referendum after a from them after referendum well i don't see any but the scottish nationalists are not about to back down the protesters in glasgow have renewed calls for independence. from. the conservative. it may have a majority in the union parliament westminster but its mandate stops at the scottish border it's a challenge for the prime minister and the challenge for the conservative government every time they say no a few more people in scotland say yes. a strong will and plenty of stamina that's what the scottish nationalists need to push their course forward perhaps the winter swim is can provide some inspiration. things will be called when joining me now to

talk about scotland is my colleague jenny graham jenny it looks like brits it has maybe moved the goalposts you were talking about scottish independence why is the u.k.'s decision to leave the e.u. why has it had such a big impact on the independence debate yeah well you're right brian i don't think we'd be talking about scottish independence again so soon if breaks it hadn't happened and it's happening tomorrow 62 percent of scots actually voted state and european union during the referendum and 2016 and many of them voted to remain in the e.u. on the basis. many many of those people have voted and the independence referendum in no to independence because this is the only way that we can stay in the e.u. to be assume that there would be no bridge that writes obviously that hasn't happened we know it as we know that the u.k. voted overall to leave the european union but what's interesting about this poll is that it shows a shift in opinion in the voters he backed independents back at back side that

didn't back independents and at 2014 but then wanted to stay in the e.u. 2016 the people who said no to independence have shifted their 15 their minds one in 5 of those remaining voting scots would now have back independence and a new vote i mean that's a that's a big deal with this you poll here and we see independents now taking. has a slim lead but it's a lead for the 1st time that we've seen now in more than 5 years. do you think there is any chance then that this could become a reality i think of the last vote the bar 2 big issues that perhaps prevented people from moving towards independence the big one was the economy the anti independence campaign said if you go alone this is going to be damaging to scotland and they also argued that the only way to stay in the e.u. was to remain part of the u.k. the last time around the real separation was our own suffering to we had we still used british sterling as the currency with the queen still be the queen of scotland

these questions were all addressed in a document in 2014 that would most likely have to happen again another document i guess the economy it was argued it would be damaging for scotland split from the ek and that's still an issue this poll says 42 percent of scots think the country would be worse off if it was independent when paired with 34 if it would be in a better economic state we would definitely see what happens because tomorrow breaks it becomes a reality and the next year we'll know what we're not only the u.k. and the e.u. but also what happens inside the u.k. with scotland jenny thank you. let's take a look now at some of the other stories that are making headlines this hour a leading figure in germany's far right party alexander gallagher is being investigated for tax evasion that after lawmakers lifted his program entry immunity the 78 year old is one of the most prominent figures in the populist alternative

for germany party he was co-leader of the party until late last year in sweden thieves have broken into a stockholm art gallery installing at least 10 sculptures by the spanish surrealist salvador dali the sculptures are valued at between 20 and 50000 euros each they were on loan from switzerland however it appears i.d. documents that would help the thieves sell the stolen items those documents were not taken u.s. border control agents they have released footage of what they say is a one just ever tunnel used by smugglers between mexico and the u.s. they say the tunnel you see it there is 1313 meters long that's 400 meters longer than the previous record holder the new tunnel was 1st discovered last august. it's the catholic church in germany has officially begun a process of reform prompted by the child abuse scandals that have embroiled the

church over the last decade leading members are meeting in frankfurt to examine the church's views on sexual morality the priestly way of wife how power should be shared and the role of women in the church many german catholics say confronting these issues is long overdue. this isn't mark's catholic church in s. and germany the congregation is celebrating mass in his father mr dunham on talks about the reforms that have been proposed and says that very important for the future of the catholic church. yes in phys god and god knows we're at a critical juncture only 14 percent of the population in germany think the catholic church is credible yet sites you got to see killing in. the scandals about sexual abuse in the church have raised the pressure to make

major changes to catholic teachings congregants have a number of complaints and proposals. on yvonne that can if there can be no progress without change. the church needs to question many of its dogmas and perhaps abandon them like that off by him it's silly but celibacy should be abolished the christ never required that it's nowhere in the bible. 6 was hostility to sex it's for generations of the church has robbed people of happiness in their youth and in marriage. to put a must see if women must play a greater role in the chats without women i wouldn't be any chicks. says women should be allowed to fulfill all the functions that men do in the church establishment she says it's a matter of fairness and a way to transform the very male view of the world that prevails among catholic clergymen. 11 they are living in

a bubble because they often only register what they as men experience and have no idea how women see things what's more they are all unmarried celibate that means they are living in a world that is very remote from my world from the world of women. but it is. the debate about change pits modernizes against those who feel they have to defend over doxie the traditional teachings of the church. it's a change of often lead to nothing. is stuff gonna be fun to sit it mustn't just pretend to do with the issues that would be a disaster we've had so many events over the years and decades where at the end many have said we talked a lot but didn't achieve anything this time has to be different of us and the congregants we spoke to in essence eager for change they say the church must acknowledge what kind of lives ordinary catholics actually lead and adapt

accordingly. u.s. president donald trump's recently revealed the middle east peace plan contains many contentious points that includes the future of jerusalem both israel and the palestinians claim the city as their capital but trump's plan effectively hands control of the entire city to israel what would be left for the palestinians well it's basically a village our next report now from that village this on the eastern outskirts of jerusalem this concrete wall blocks the view of the real dome of the rock for people living behind it in. israel built the wall in the early to thousands at the height of the 2nd palestinian intifada. since then has been cut off from jerusalem this is one of the few spots and. can see

jerusalem's old city just 2 kilometers away. this proud of his village but he dismisses trump's proposal to make it the capital of a future palestinian state with these is. the mayor says it was discussed as a possible capital back in the 1990 s. when there was hope of peace and no walls yasser arafat's even commissioned this building for a future parliament. today i would use is poor there are few jobs for young people. the only bright spot is the al could university. the school has a solid reputation and some 14000 young people from across the west bank study here mahmoud in m r are both studying medicine exams are coming up but right now it's trumps peace

plan that's on everyone's mind. and i think there's always the possibility of a compromise even in this conflict. but it shouldn't be the palestinians who will always having to make concessions. this has been al that for generations of you can't just give it up. but the students are also critical of their own leaders they say of course trump is only concerned about israel's well being but they say it's also not right that there haven't been any direct talks between israel and the palestinians since 2014 and there is only one other 2 pieces fall in that he's. welcome to the new capital of palestine that's the tongue in cheek greeting at. shop they say here that humor is more useful than hope and that no palestinian was really expecting peace from a plan put forward by donald trump. being in the sea it's important for us that

peace talks take place on the basis of international laws. under trump's plan this border wall would separate the 2 capitals the u.s. president calls it a vision people here call it a nightmare. after a short break i'll be back to take you through the day tonight to britain and europe on the eve of bricks that.

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everything connected to jewish coup. today researchers are searching for the missing work so hard. it's challenging for the experts. and painful for the descendants. to someone. who did art in the 3rd reich starts feb 10th on d w. o t. m l declining market street wait a 2nd 3 want the whole picture perfect so instead of make ideas shift deliver us. from a dimension reality to cryptocurrency to your topics for live in an ever changing digital world let's talk a bit of that is a sure fire shift. on t w. this is something tyson brentano's came to jurors or didn't win any and then i killed many civilians. coming to

committing my father was something i was a student because i wanted to build a life for myself that these totally a nice but suddenly life became alledge kind of. providing insights global news that matters d.w. made for mines. something please pray to influence a secret. change the. political decision is made for at least a less 100 years. is out the paper. costs without what we need to kick to a cancer patient you're upset and i would think that monday. we are now in the final hours before the divorce known as bret's it on friday at 11 pm london time the u.k. will leave the year.