woman: this is "bbc world news erica." is made possible by... the freeman foundation; by judy and peter um-kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america'neglected needs; and by contributions this pbs station from viewers likyou. thank you. laura: this is "bbc world news america." reporting from washington, i am

laura trevelyan. >> hear ye, hear ye. laura: the trial of president trump begins in the senate, as e case for impeaching him is laid out. >> using the powers his high office, president trump solicited the interference of a foreign government ukraine, in the 2020 united states presidential electio laura: the world'tumost famous list is warning that the planet has reached a moment of crisis because of the change in climate is a plus, fast-growing sport that is center stage in the heart of mhattan. where you can watch squash ashe you rush for train. laura: for those watching on pbs and around the globe, welcome to "world news america." the historic impeachment trial of president trump got underway today, as he was formally

accused of abuse of power and obstruion of congress. seven house members will play the role of prosecutors, while jurors. sators will serve as mr. trump is accused of o dig uing ukraine t dirt on a political rival and obstructing the investigation. inn new evidence,sociate involved has claimed the president knew egoctly what was g on. our north america editor jon sopel begins our coverage. jon:e across the marbloors of congress, the statues from a bygone age looking down on the team that will lead the prosecution of donald j. trump. jake arrieta to their arms the files containing the aicles of impeachment--they carry under their arms the files containing the articles of impeachment. >> the sergeant at arms will make a proclamation. hear ye, hear ye. all are committed to keep silent on pain of imprisonment. jon: along which may come from a more gentle area, but this is a

21st-century partisan partisan scrap. >> impeaching donald john trump for high crimes and misdemeanors. jon: the trial will be pthsided over b man, john roberts from chief justice of the supreme court, d all 100 senators, the jury, have to swear this out. chief justice roberts: do you solemnly swear that in all things out pretending to be tria impeachment of donald johnrump, president of the united states, you will be impartial justice according to the constitution and laws, so hope youot? jon: ironic, given the factna tt every r seems to have made up his or her mind, according to party lines. donald trump is not impressed by an event pres. trump:t is a hoax. everybody knowsa hat. it implete hoax. jon: last night from an 11th- hour bombshell interview from a man who had been at the forefront of efforts to

strong-arm the ukrainian leader to launch a corrupn on investigatto former vice president joe biden. the central issue of this impeachment. lev parnas, who have been working alongside the president's personal lawyer, accused donald trump of being a liar. lev: president trump knew exactly what was going on. he was aware of all of my movements. uli 't do anything without the consent of rudy giuliani or the president. jon: donald trump says he scarcely knows who lev parnas is, and the white house as that this is a manacing criminal charges and is not to be believed. that is a slightly awkward defense. he was trusted enough to meet president zelensky on donald trump's behalf and his lawyer to communicate what it was that the white house wanted. the tal proper will start next tuesday, and the fight that is about to ensue will be historic. but in keeping with the times, it will also be ugly. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. laura: a short timago i spoke

to elizath miller, shington--elisabeth bumiller, washington bureau chief at "the rk times." elisabeth: there is growing pressure on republican senators to call witnesses. the revelations from lev parnas last night as to the pressure. it is hard to explain why you would barrel ahead with the ial if there are people out there who would li to testi j. we know thn bolton, former national security advisor, wants to testify. now we kno that lev parnas has i a great deal ormation and a great deal of documents that could be useful in the trial. there's ae great pressur now, and we do have some republican derates who are considering having witnesses in the trial after opening arguments. laura: i whothe white house most worried aboutth isenate republican ranks? elisabeth: well, there is four senators we know of considering

witnesses, let by susan coins of maine, lisa murkows of alaska, mitt romney, former presidential nominee himself for the republican nomination, fm utah, and there is lamar alexander from tennessee. those four wknow are open to witnesses after the trial begins. lthey w consider a motion for witnesses after the opening arguments. laura: just how unpredictable coulthis trial be, do you think? unpredictable for both sides. we assume -- many people assume that john bolton, who left the whit house very angry with president trump,su there is an tion that he knows a great deal about what was going on wi ukraine. there is the assumption that it could be p damaging sident trump. but john bolton is a longtime vaconserve with deep ties in the republican party. there is also concern with

democrats that he may not be a sopel to their cause as they think. lev parnas--as helpful to their cause as they think. another wildcar he is under indictment by prosecutors in new yk. republicans will say he does not bring any credibility to his testimony. again, we just don't know -- we don't know all the documents that he has come we don't know everything about what he might say. laura:lisabeth bumiller, thanks for being with us. sir david amber rudd says a moment of--sir david and barroso is a moment of crisis has arrived over climate change could h in some strongest comments yet, sir david says we have been putting matters off for too long. his warning comes as bbc news begins a year a special coverage , change ahead of the u.n. conference in glasgow in here is science editor david shukman. david: a stunning ilew of our

frplanet. the place of light -- blaze of light idence of the many impacts we are hing on the globe. whole restin madagascar are in germany, huge mines couching out coal for power stations. all of this on a scale so rge it is even changing the climate. and the world now faces crucial decisions. sir david:s the moment of cri has come. david: sir david and baroque tells me-- aenborough tellme time is running appeared south---running out. sir david: south yes australia is on fire. why? temperatures are increasing. that is a major intronational catae. to say it has nothing to do with the climate is probably nonsense-- palpably nonsense. who has been affecting the climate? we have. vid: the biggest cause of

rising temperatures is well-known, burning fuels like al gives off gases that heats the planet, and more of this keeps happing. d are all involved in this. nearly every home in the uk's unit by a gas boiler -- is give off carbon dioxide. the results in a warming world is that the level of the oceans keep rising from which means flooding is set to become more frequent. life in many countries, including parts of britain, may change as well, from scenes we are all familiar with too much are extreme heatwaves potentially much drier landscapes like this, a mediteanean section of the eden project in cornwall. a glimpse of what may be in store for some areas. climate is already looking different. and it is striking how over the last 170 years, how the average global temperature has changed. relatively cool early on, then getting warmer and u warmeil

the present day. for elizabeth thompson and anyone younger than 35, temperatures seven rising for their entire lives. from when she was born in 1989, every single month she has grown up has been warmer than the long-term average. she hopes the rise. --the rise will stop, and fears more severe heatwaves if it doesn't get they are becoming more frequent. i'm quite worried that when i get older we won' the capacity to deal with it.but i am optimistic still because you are seeing a lot of action on that just the individual level, we are seeing it on the local international and global. david: one reason she optimistic is the surge of climate protests by young people. sir david attenborough inspired by them as well. sir david: there has been huge change in public opinion. peoplean see the problem.

that must force governments to take action. david: flashes of lightning in a it is a keyeafor negotiations on the future of the climate, and many hope it will be a turning point. david shukman, bbc news. laura: in australia, temperatures have been rising, and now the wildfires have blazed in parts of the country for months, leaving firefighters to make tough decisions. so much for says been devastated. now firefighters are reluctantly having to cut down more trees as they try to take away fuel for the blazes. clive myrie1 crew in new south was. --joined one crew in new south wales. clive: the fires have burned from the mountains to theea in between, eucalyptus bottlebrush ande. p it is hard, but save the

forest and you save australia. >> man is having a terrible time trying to stop what mother nature is doing to us, but this is the worst firen seai have seen and most of my colleagues would say the same. you see how the wind infences the fire. clive: he is charged with protecting 2.5 million acres of forest for the state of new south wales. several villages and towns are miles away, in the path of oncoming flames. >> it wouldn't be that active if it wasn't so windy. clive:is team is already cleared some scrub taken -- taking away fuel from the fire. wispsok of are creeping through. how long the mn fire front appears. it has been a long bushfire ason. >> 4:36 in the afternoon and we nnot see anything.

clive: days bizarre when smoke block out the light of the sun, and frightening days where but time is running out to stop the latest blaze spreading. more of the forest needs to be cleared. >> it is a real shame to have to do this, but these fires are not behaving normally, and if we don't start putting the brakes in to stop it, more fires are going to burn. clive: and nearby, back burning. zeb'sbe team detely at next part of the forest from destroying fuel for the oncoming monster. this fire w lit a couple of minutes ago, and you can see how it has taken hold, blown by these really strong winds. these are the condition that the authorities are having to deal with during this appalling bushfire season. night and day, fires have been

deberately lit by emergency crews. this, the nghboring state of victoria. but are the latest attempts to hold back the fire front working? >> it is all lit up now. good job. doesn't take much, does it? [laughter] got that contained anyway. clive: zeb and his team won thi battle, but australia winning the war? >> at times we can have small wins. we are not winning, but we are not losing either. clive: clive myrie, bbc news, southeast ausalia. laura: in other news, iran is facing new pressure to give a full account as to how it mistakenly shot dn the ukrainian passenger plane last week, killing all 176d. people n bo after a meeting in london, foreig ministersrom five

countries where citizens died called for iran to hold a thorough, independent, and transparent international investigation. they demanded those responsiblju be brought tstice and that tehran pay compensation to the victims families. edthe u.s. senate has appr sending it to prestrump toeal, be signed into law. the motion passed with support from republicans and democrats. mexico rify the deal in june, though it is yet to be approved by canada's parliament. the agreement gives much of the previous nafta deal, which mr. trump criticized, and includen more protectr workers. microsoft will remove all of the carbon from the environment that it has emitted since a communing giant was founded in 1975. the chief executive of therl 's largest software company wants to achieve the goal by. 20 to do so, microsoft will become carbon negative by 2030, meaning it will remove more carbon from the environment than it produces. eth model gigi hadid has been

excused from serving as a juror ey the retrial of ha weinstein. she attended court in new york the eighth day of jury selection, but as expected, she was dismissed due to her fame. mr. weinstein, a former film producer, is being charged ons two charof sexual assault in which he denies. opening arguments are expected xt week. you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come on tonight's program, in russia, a new prime minister is in place onla day after the entire cabinet resign. it comes after president pin announced sweeping changes, but what is the grand plan? laura: tumbleweed, that is what the of an antique secondhand bookshop in southern tweeted in desperation this week. he had not sold out all day,

so he needed help and he got it as his tweet when a viable orders came in from all over the world. duncan kennedy explains thet apal about t tweet about tumbleweed. duncan: once upon a time there was an old bookshop, but this is it a fairytale. it really ists. it is quite an quirk last tuesday there were no customers,ot nne. which led the shop to put out this forlorn tweet. it read, "tumbleweed. not a zero book sold today. zero pounds. this may be the first time ever." the message was spotted by best selling author neilamgaimain, retreated it. e orders came flooding in. >> on distant -- spend 10ds po a guy from california wants50 to donate to it is just the

love of books they become like old friends. duncan: in a shop where weird meets words, new customers have been arriving l day. >> and antiquari bookshop like this is a treasure trove of amazing things. duncan: it has every kind of title, and although the likes of oscar wilde would not have known about twittergothis shop has from having 1000 followers three days ago to more than 11,000 today. with e-books and amazon around, independent sellers will not e busy on a wet january afternoon but this one, like all the bt books, billy has captured the imagination. duncan kennedy, bbc news. laura: russia's pawhiament is ovmingly approved a new prime minister foowing the surprise resignation of dmitry

dvedev. the new premier is the little-known head of theax service. his appointment is part of the radical changes outlined by presidentutin, reforms which could see him remain in power for much longer than expected. our correspondent sarah rainsford is in moscow with the very latest. sara few russians could have named this manner until today. he is mikhail mishustin, m the chief ta who is now the new prime minister. ia surprise change many are linking to president putin's own political future. before the vote in parliament, mr. mishustin said his role was to improveife and russians who are struggling d said that is vladimir putin's priority. ime min. mi ashustithe president has said, people should be feeling real changes for the future. e most important issue is the quality of management.

the president has tasked the government with being at the development economic growth, and new jobs. rah: but this game of political musical chairs is about much more than social welfare. the resignation of dmitry medvedev was totally unedicted. prime minister for eight years, lahe was increasingly unpo here, but he was a loyal sidekick to mr. putin. so this seems like another mov to help his presint. just hoursvl earlierimir putin himself addressed the nation. in his annual speech, he called for sweeping changes to russia's constitution. it all looks like maneuvering to retain influence when he has to step down as president for years from now. mr.s putin clat was all about a more democratic system. pres. putin: you can't help but agree with those who say c that thstitution was adopted over a quarter of a century ago during a serious domestic

crisical the state of affairs has changed drastically. he changes will somewhat weakened the presidency, strengthen parliament, and beat up the state council, a body putin already has. some suspect he will u that body to the listings of power. --owto pull the strings of. >> i view it positively. perhap the better. change for everything should be for the people are tired of suffering. >> it is quite sad. it seems that nothing is going to change. these people have left, but they will be replaced by similar sarah: after so long at the top, no one expects vladimir putin to disappear from the political scene. he has interests, allies, mobile system to protect. his deiled plan isn't clear

yet, nor is the question of ulwhether this technocrat succeed him as russia's president. sarah rainsford, bbcs, n moscow. laura: c this week inner of grand central station in new york city, t sport of squash is being played at the very highest level. the tournament of champions is taking place in a glass box on the concourse itself. players from all over theme word o manhattan to showcasing the sport, much to the surprise of new yorkers, sof course i went to watch. e number one men's squash player in the world, dosnating a support known a chess on legs. it takes strategy and athleticism to be a champion. right now in the heartf grand central station, this sma but extending support is center stage. >> it is a lot of fun to stand in the passageway at vanderbilt hall at rush hour and see new york commuters and tourists

passed by. you here rather femurs rings can what my favorite-- rather humorous things, but my favorite is the elderlyouple who turned to each other and said tany are building quarian. laura: being in this high city and aying in the fishbowl of grand central comesasy to one of the top-ranked female players,ho wse powerhouse is married to ali for rock. the egyptian couple made history fire years ago as the husband to win a major sporting title on the same day. >> our 2017 u.s. open squash champions! laura: they are passionate about their sport and want to bring it to a wider audience. >> our sport is so beautiful that everybody involved is so attached, but we need people from outside to know what and how many thousands of people passed by every day and they getting gauged with the sport. >>t the dream of every squash player to play your, so for me to get a chance to play

year after year is a dream come true. laura:ra the crowds here at central show how squash is growing in popularity. it is played 20 million people are around the world and it has big ambitions. players hopet willne day be an olympic sport. sarah janeth like g more than to compete in the olympics for britain. the women's world and number eight is leading the charge for male and female players to be paid the same, says squashhi has ever deal of fixed is looking for. -- oeverything thelympics is looking for. >> you thinklybout the oics, you think about the greatness of physical ability, mastery is still, fairplay, the essence of the olympic games e d the essenc squash are perfect match. laura: for now, squash must wait. dancing and skateboarding have been chosen as the next likely olympic srts instead. what is next? >>bi my on for myself is to be world number one and catch up

with ali. he has beeteasing me that he has got number one before me. hopefully i can do that, and for the sport, anyone else, i hope it keeps growing and growing and we can put the class sport in many other places. laura: this week the crowds at grand central have be captivated by the graceful gladiators moving so effortlessly in the glass box. squash is havingmo ist manhattan nt as it battles for a bigger profile on the world stage. maybe one day it will be an olympic sport. you n find much more of all wethe day's news at ouite. plus, to see what we are working on at any time, do check us out on twitter. i'm laura trevelyan. thank you for watchin announcer: funding for this presentation is made possible by... the freen foundation; by judy and peter blum-kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs;

and by contributions to this pbs station thank yo to make sure facts and the truth are driving conversation. "washington week" is an island of civil discose in a chaotic media environment. on friday night, we ther the best reporters in the nation to unpack what's really happening and have a conversation that's not about point of view but about ing the american people. announcer: "washington week," friday nights only on pbs.

captioning sponsored by newshour productions, llc >> woodruff: good evening, i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight... >> will all senators now stand or remain standing, and raise their right ha? >> woodruff: ...the impeachment for the third times. history, senators are sworn as jurors ithe trial of a u.s. president. then, after nafta. a sweeping trade agreement between the u.s., mexico, and canada passes the senate and is sent to the white house. and, virginia becos the final state needed to add the equal rights amendment to the constitution, but legal and, outbreak.. in the democratic republic of congo a powerful vaccine is