berlin. the u.k. bids a farewell to the european uninion. president boris johnson in the city that declared first for the referendum. official events organized marking an occasion that still divides the country. also coming up, the impeachment trial of president trump in the u.s. senate seems to be headed for acquittal and a vote on whether the call witness looks to go in his favor, leaving the way open for swift not guilty

verdict. ♪ more countries are warning against t visiting china because of the coronavirus. the u.s. government is the latest to tell its citizens not to go as the number of cases nears 10,000. not as spectacular as the tomb of king tut, but a treasure for archaeologists, 60 tomb's discovered in the egyptian desert. archaeologists think the site will yield more significant discoveries. ♪ phil: i'm phil gayle. welcome to the program. the u.k. formally leaves the european union in just a few hours, parking the end of a divisive 3.5 years in british politics. prime minister joyce. boris johnson and his cabinet marked

the occasion in southend early, the first place to declare for brexit and the 2016 referendum. mr. johnson is due to make a speech tonight but aside from that, no official events are organized. it was very different in brussels, where members of the european parliament have been celebrating. correspondent: tomorrow, there will be one fewer. the british flag will no longer fly at the european parliament. brexit mps staged a special departure from the building. they have achieved their political goal. >> this s is happening. the wars over. there is n now a battle for the shape of our relationship with the euroropean union, our r role with the rest of the world, but this is the moment. it is done. correspondent: european leaders

acknowledge the relationship with the u.k. will be different. >> we are sending a message that is extremely clear, simple and strong. we, the european union, hope and want to keep the closest possible relationship with the united kingdom, but we must be clear on the subject. the more the u.k. decides to divert from european standards, the less access the u.k. will have to the single market. correspondent: everyone will be effected, although they differ on how much it will matter. >> it is our independence day. we are here to get our country back. >> we voted remain, but now it is here and we have no choice so we are going to get behind it and carry on as normal. and we trade within the eu, as a business, so we have just got to find a way to do it and get through this. >> this is important, it is important for everybody, whether

you are here in england, britain, scotland, wales ireland, france, everybody needs their country and their culture. >> it is a black day for the u.k.. i'm very sad. >> it is just a change, it is not a celebration. but it is happening, so we will embrace it and in the end, look forward. >> this is just the start, a trial run because the worst day will be after the transition year. the 31st of december will be far worst -- far worse than today. correspondent: for now, some are literally dancing in the streets, celebrating the departure of the british flag from european centers of power, and its return home. ♪ brrent: straight bracket london -- straight back to london, where a party is going on. welcome, barbara. barbara: it is raining on the brexiteers' parade, that this

might be a sign of troubles to come. however, they are trying to keep the true brexit spirit up. people are dressed in union jack's, the british flag, from head to to. it is astonishing, the union jack on coats, t-shirts, trousers, shoes even, not to speak about hats and umbrellas. people are having a party and telling each other how glad they are that this is brexit. because a big stage with music and fireworks and anything more exciting had now -- had not been allowed by the administration in parliament and i think the government of boris johnson did not want celebrations that would come out to jubilant. but from time to time here they are singing "god save the queen" and you see all sorts of fun

things. there is a brexit cart with a constant bell ringing in the background. that is because big ben behind us, the tower of parliament where there is a huge bell which they wanted to bring -- bell which they wanted to ring is under renovation. so they have to help themselves, and in spite of the rain they are trying to have a good time, and a couple of cans of beers might be helping with that. phil: tonight in a speech boris johnson will urge people to unite despite their differences. what is the likelihood of that after three brutal years? barbara: from what we know, phil, the likelihood is not high because boris johnson doesn't have anything to offer half the population here who thought would've been better off staying in the european union, and you

regret leaving and to regret losing their rights to travel freely and work freely within the eu, because he, from what we hear, wants a rather hard brexit , a simple trade agreement only with the eu. and he was to get away from european rules and regulations. and the remainders, people on the other side of the divide, the ones who are not here at this party, they would rather stay closer and snuggle up as much to europe as they could under the circumstances. that is not likely to happen, so they might be pretty frustrated in the end. phil: barbara wesel in london, thank you. -- barbara wesel in london, thank you. david cameron, former prime minister, wanted to whip the conservative wing of his party in line and the referendum was his chosen weapon, but it blew up in his face.

>> legislation will be introduced to provide a referendum on membership in the european union before the end of 2017. correspondent: that single sentence in the queen's speech set off a process that would disrupt eu politics for years. david cameron, prime minister the time, introduced the referendum. he did not want written to leave the eu at all, he wanted to bring his party's many eu critics back into line. a month-long campaign followed. brags that hardliners sought to turn public opinion against europe with aggressive slogans and as would later become clear, lies. the date of the referendum was due 23rd, 2016, and the day after, >> this means that the u.k. has voted to leave the european union. >> the 23rd will go down in our history as our independence day.

[applause] correspondent: prime minister camerin resigned and theresa may took over as boss at 10 downing street. brexit opponents and brexit supporters were irreconcilable. the new prime minister tried to make the best of it. >> brexit means brexit, and we are going to make a success of it. correspondent: march 20 9, 2019 was set as brexit date, but still a long way off. no because -- negotiations dragged on for more than a year. then may enter eu counterparts signed the brexit deal. the problem was, may was unable to get parliamentary backing for it. >> so the nos habit. correspondent: twice, may had to ask for a postponement of britain's leave date, and may

ultimately resigned. [applause] boris johnson became her successor, the brexit champion from the outset. but even he failed several times at first, because of opposition in parliament, and the brexit date had to be postponed once more. the prime minister made a gamble, early elections. his strategy worked. [applause] boris johnson's conservatives won an absolute majority. >> with this mandate we will at last be able to do what? >> get brexit done. >> you have been paying attention. correspondent: now after years of political tug-of-war, nothing else stands in the way of britain's departure from the european union. phil: we will take a look at some of the other stories making news. israeli aircrafaft struck militt

targets in the gaza strip in spots to rocket fire from the palestinian territory. the israeli military says three rockets were fired at israel overernight without causing casualties.. the strikes come amid heightened tensions afterer the release of the controversial middle east peace plan by u.s. president donald trump. former hollywood film producer harvey weinstein is back in court at his new york trial. the woman whose rip allegations lead to criminal charges against him has begun her testimony. mr. weinstein insists any sexual encounters between them were consensual. u.s. president donald trump is facing a crucial vote in his impeachment trial tonight. the republican-leading senate is debating whether to call witnesses to testify. the senators are split down party lines, with republicans wanting to end the trial quickly. democrats want to question administrative -- administration insiders. sentiment already -- senate

minority leader chuck schumer warned about ignoring evidence. >> if my republican colleagues refused to consider witnesses and evidence in this trial, this country is headed for the greatest coverup since watergate. if my republican colleagues refused to consider witnesses and documents in the trial, what will the president conclude? we all know he will conclude he can do it again, and congress can do nothing about it. he can try to cheat in his election again, something that eats at the roots of our democracy. phil: our dw correspondent is following the story in washington. welcome, pablo. outline what happens today and why it is so important. pablo: we are hearing from both democrats and republicans in the

senate who are arguing over whether there should be witnesses, should witnesses be allowed and further evidence be allowed, in this senate trial. one key witness which many on the democrats' side have been wanting is john bolton, former national security advisor who they believe has key information. there has also been talk here in the media about a book of his which is going to be coming out, and will have fairly damning evidence, they claim, against president trump. but it is actually being discussed here at the moment, what they're going to do, they will wrap up their debating in a few hours, we don't know exactly what time the vote on that is going to take place, but it does look like democrats are going to lose. they are holding out on perhaps some republicans, garnering the four votes they need to have the

majority, by getting support from some republicans who hold the majority in the senate. but it looks like they are not going to have that. what is next on the agenda is, if they don't have the witnesses and further evidence, they are going to have to vote on the overall impeachment and that is what everybody is discussing, when exactly it is going to take place. it doesn't look like it is going to take place later this evening or early saturday, but in fact next week. phil: pablo, if the vote is not guilty and the president is acquitted, how is that likely to effect this year's election? pablo: let's not forget there are a few things we need to get to before we even look at the election. on tuesday is the state of the union. we will be hearing from president trump at that. he had been hoping, and other senior republicans had been hoping, that the trial would be wrapped up before then.

but if you look at the electioi, analalyze the fireres and thee polls, what is interesting is that consistently, americans waeded this impepeachment proces to take place. it hadn't realllly gone arounun- above arounund 52% in the polls thouough. intererestingly, preresident t's approvoval ratings have remained the same since 2018, in the lower 40's approve of more -- approving of what he has been doing in the presidency, a and standing outut over 50%, those o disapprove. anotheher factor to look at his apples have been showing that presesident trump p in fact is losing. if therere were in elelection nw against some of the main democratic candidates in several key states. but this election procecess is esessentially just t underway. it i is about took if -- about o kick off with caucuses in the democratic party and i you at the start of next week -- iowa

at the start of next week, long road to 2020. -- a long road to november 2020. phil: pablo, thank you. more countries are issuing travel warnings for china as the coronavirus outbreak spreads. the u.s. and japan are among the governments urging citizens to avoid visiting china, as other countries fly people out. 10,000 people have been infected and the death toll has risen to two hundred 30. the world health organization declared a global health emergency. correspondent: a flight back to safety, foreign citizens are fleeing wuhan, south korea is sending a total of four planes to china after reports of coronavirus among citizens. the list of countries repapatriating is growing.. on friday the german foreignn minister announceded his country would be following suit.

>> hello we are in a position -- we are in a position to end this difficult situation in which our citizens find themselves in now. we can fly those out who are willing to leave. some 100 people in total. correspondent: although none of the german nationals being picked up by this military plane are believed to havave contractd the virus, strict safetyty precautions s are in placece. >> tododay my government totoldi haveve to go to the airportrt. i think they w will make e a sml medical check f from the chinese governrnment, i'm not s sure, ti think i will fly to germamany, d after this i will be isolated for two weeks. correspondent: it is a strategy being adopted in many countries, like here in spain. strict quarantines at this

military hospital are planned for spaniards returning from china or this comes after the world health organizatioion revised its stance on the threat level, on thursday. >> the emergency committee on most unanimously concluded the novel coronavirus outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern. correspondent: as people across the world scramble to protect themselves from the virus, the hope is that international cooperation will keep a major global outbreak at bay. phil: we are still with the professor who is the head of the microbiology institute of martin university in germany. welcome, professor. what is your assessment of the spread of the virus? has the outbreak peaked? >> i know chinese authorities are saying it will peak in one or two weeks. i am n not so sure if this will

take place. my view is that we will have several weeks or even months of ththis epidemic going up,p, even china, and you will see it spspreading other countries.. phil: we haveve seeeen china cld down in corentin major cities. are we likely to see those widescale measures elelsewhere n the world? >> i i think there are not so my countries in the world who are able to do this. china is a very authoritative state, and in dedemocratic stats it would not b be possible t too this. this is goodod news and badad n. on one hand, y you have not so many c collateral damamage is de because of t the distancgg of people on strict r regulations, and also that has siside effects which a are very grave. on the otherer hand,d, i canan't

imagine e that in india or the philipippines where the virus appearared, would be able to do anything comparable to china. they are far away from that. so we will see the virurus spreading, especially i in lesser-deveveloped countriries,d in a africa you will see the vis spreading there. phil: there must t therefore bea fear thahat was t ts is out the, this never goes away because there are places in the world where they can't contain it. >> there are three ways of endingng the epidemic. i call it an epidemic if it is global, and then you w would cal it a a pandemic. there e are three waysys of endg itit. number one is that you really have e enough social distance, meaning people are far away y fm each o other, to stop the virus spread. this is possible in the case of a sorrows-like virus because these viruses are not as contagious as measles or influenza, for instance.

so there is hope that even in poor countries there is a possibility of stopping the virus by social distance, people not being so close to each other, using hygiene measures. the second possibility would be that so many people are immune to the virus, especially in china, that the virus doesn't find more victims. when china contains the virus to its region, we can wait until there is some kind h heard immunityty o of t the population we can also win the fight. anand number three is that the vivirus becomes just a a regular virurus that is present alll ovr the world. we saw this with other cocoronavirus is -- coronavirus, and thehey are not the cause of the common coldld. because the virus after a year or two adopts to h hans and then you -- and then loses parts of its virulence and becomes less dangerous. so there might also be a

possibility that this will become just a regular virus. phil: if we take that third example you outlined, does that mean then that a vaccine would no longer be necessary? >> vaccine wouldld be very niceo haha, bececause we already have forced strains which are much weaker than the e actual strtras which have causedd the common cold, and pharmaceutical companies would be happy to have a vacaccine against it, bececaue thisis is a big market. the economic damage done by the common cold is enormouous, but e were n never a able to make s sa vaccine, and a also the otherer coronavirus's, because they change so quickly. therefore i am not optimisistic that this will takake place in the, let's say, next 12 or 14 months. phphil: thank you for joining u, professor, from martin luther

university. a sensational discovery in the egyptian desert, the tombs of high priests dating from 3000 years ago. an archaeological dig at a site 300 kilometers south of cairo has found 16 tombs and 10,000 statuettes and precious jewelry. /a high rank -- correspondent: a high-ranking official, possibly a religious leader, was buried almost 3000 years ago seven meters underground, and on earth. a woman and children were also discovered in the sarcophagus. archaeologists have been painstakingly piecing together what they found. >> the importance of this discovery is that we have a better understanding of funeral rituals in the late kingdom. the graves were intended for high officials up to the greco-roman. -- up to the greco-roman period. correspondent: scientists have been digging up 16 graves south

of cairo since august, including 20 sarcophagi, thousands of statues, amulets, fine-crafted pieces of jewelry of priceless value. the fact that families were buried with all these artifacts is regarded as a sensational discovery. >> i consider this is one of the most important discoveries in this area, adding more and more information. correspondent: the discovery sheds new light on extended family relationships on the ruling class of ancient egypt. archaeologists unearthed the names and social roles and relatives of the mummy since say more fascinating discoveries are likely. phil: the german bundesliga could have a new leader. after losing last week, their lead has become slender, two points separating them.

saturday's opponents sit in third place and also harbor hopes of a league title. correspondent: leipzig is unbeaten since october but couldn't continue that run last week in frankfurt, losing to goes to none. the eagles, despite struggling, have serious punching power in their own backyard. leipzig, slightly bruised, can't afford another slip-up, dropping points against glob box could see their table lead disappear. only success guarantees leipzig remains table leaders and their coaches and taking that lightly. >> they have got a good tempo upfront. they play a long ballgame well. they have a clear pattern of play when they win back the ball. they press well as a team, as salzburg did under marco. there are a lot of parallels there, and development in the first half of the season shows that a lot of good work is being done. they are where they are on

merit, and it is a tough match on saturday. correspondent: glob lost against the bulls this season but after defeating the knights last match day, momentum will be on their side saturday. the defending champions, munich, who kicked off before leipzig on saturday, only trail leipzig by one point and could climb to number one with a victory, putting even more pressure on leipzig. phil: sky watchers have discovered it new type of northern light over fininland ad swsweden. the wavelike formations are on the left of your screen. unlike traditional northern lights which are like virgil -- vertical curtains, these celestial streaks are horizontal and appear at a constant height. the northern lights are created when electrically-charged molecules in the earth's atmosphere mixed with the sun. here is a reminder of top

stories, the british flag has been taken down at the eu in brussels ahead of the u.k. departure from the european union in just a couple of hours. in central london, brexiteers partied, but no official events are organized on an occasion that still divides the nation. ♪ in a short moment i will take you through the day, tonight in britain, europe, and breaks it. i will see you then. ♪ [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] ♪

. twenty four and france twenty four .com. are you watching my from paris with me sun- chante it's ten pm in the french capital in the headlines. brings a day is finally upon us off to more than three and a half years of political wrangling. three prime ministers. and two missed deadlines the u. k. is sent to leave the eu at midnight paris time. ending its forty seven yeah membership. donald trump maybe on the path questel as the senate prepares for a crucial that the what the witnesses s should be allowed. the latest swing vote comes from republican li some accounts give alaska he said she wowould not be vot