this is bbc news. i'm mike embley with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a brexit deal within striking distance, as signs from london and brussels point to a deal on the table. an announcement is expected thursday morning. president trump issues for pardons to his campaign manager paul manafort and roger stone. six million more people in england face the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions, as hospital admissions surge to their highest levels since april. the first trucks are on their way from dover, as france lifts its ban on travel across the channel, but the backlog remains. italy tightens restrictions and closes ski resorts, it now has the highest covid

death toll in europe. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. after years of talks, the uk and eu seem to be close finally to agreeing to a post brexit radial. cabinet ministers were summoned to a conference call with the prime minister, and the announcement is likely to be held over until the morning press c0 nfe re nce . talks are expected to continue throughout the night. the final text is thought to be about 2000 pages. with the view from london and brussels, our two correspondence. the talks will go on for a few more hours, they are into the

nitty—gritty now. it really is crossing the t‘s and dotting the is. it is likely going to be concluded in the next few hours, it looks like it will be the morning before we know for sure that this deal is done, it does seem to be going that way, i don't think anything has happened that makes us think that there is not going to be a deal agreed between the eu and the uk, in the next few hours, but, if you are holding your breath for one tonight, i think you will be disappointed. looks like the morning, rather than a late one tonight. it's been, not for the first time in european politics, a rather strange day here where the historic agreement seems to be within touching distance all day, but has not quite been touched yet. our understanding, it's small hours of the morning, that talking will continue through the night, perhaps on the vexed question of fisheries, but it sums up the state of the negotiations, the rather febrile atmosphere around them, that when those pizzas were delivered,

there was genuine speculation as to whether that was to keep the negotiators going through the night or it was for some kind of celebration because a deal had been done. the sense is that it is that close, you have to enter the caveat that this is brussels, nothing is done until every point of detail is done, and that is not done yet. with less than a month left in office, president trump has issued full pardons to his former campaign chairman paul manafort, fixer roger stone and charles kushner, real estate developer and the father of trump's son—in—law. paul ma nafort trump's son—in—law. paul manafort was convicted as part of the special council enquiry into russian interference on the 2016 election. mr trump had already commuted the sentence of roger stone, who was convicted of lying to congress under oath. just a short time ago our under oath. just a short time ago our correspondence under oath. just a short time ago our correspondence told me the move is a sign mr trump intends to raise every trace of

wrongdoing. this all underlines the president's determination to eradicate the prosecutions that resulted from the special council's rober mueller‘s investigation into russian interference on the 2016 presidential election. mr trump has railed against that inquiry, of course, consistently, calling it a hoax and now, he has announced pardons of further people that were prosecuted as a result of that investigation. you mentioned there paul manafort, the former campaign chairman, one of three campaign chairmen that donald trump had, and paul manafort a short while ago tweeted this, saying mr president, my family and i humbly thank you for the presidential pardon you have bestowed upon me, words cannot fully convey how grateful we are. you mentioned roger stone,

his sentence had already been commuted, he is of course a long—term ally of president trump, and then of course charles kushner, who is the father of donald trump's son—in—lanared kushner, and he was sentenced to two years in prison for preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation and making false statements to the federal exchange commission, but to directly answer your question, these will be seen by critics of the president as very controversial pardons indeed. there is already quite a lot of shocked and upset over what the president has already done with pardons, and of course democratic presidents issued a lot of pardons, barack 0bama andjimmy carter of course, but mr trump was already pardoning people, some people who engaged with really questionable activities who admitted what they had done. absolutely. and this brings to a9, in fact, the number of people

to whom president trump has granted clemency in the last two days, either through pardons or through sentence commutations, and it is a clear indication of the fact that the president intends to wield this very controversial ability that he has to the benefit of friends, to people who have been loyal to him over the years, people who in many cases have served prison sentences because of their loyalty to donald trump. lets speak now to jill goldston, professor of law and an expert on the us government. i know you are not an expert on these individual cases, where do you think this leaves the robert mueller investigation?” think the molar investigation demonstrated that there was an effort by russia to spread disinformation to affect the result of the 2016 election, and also to try and establish

relations with the trump campaign, and to hack into the democratic campaign to disadvantage it, and it also demonstrated that there were a number of misconduct and improper behaviours, the mueller investigation did not exonerate the president from obstructing justice, although it did not charge him with that. i think the mueller investigation stands on its findings, regardless of any pardons that the president issues at this point. these people who have been granted clemency by mr trump, recently, 409i think clemency by mr trump, recently, 409i think so far, he would say they are victims of injustice, ofa they are victims of injustice, of a witch—hunt. what would you say is motivating the president? i think what is unusual about many of these pardons, and what distinguishes them from other presidents is

number one, many of them are people who are very close to the president, campaign managers, political and personal associates, so really, it reflects the stench of the trump administration, but number two is that the president has not gone to the normal process, in thejustice department that are normally followed. when president george w bush left office, the vice president employed him to issue a pardon to his closest aid and one of bush? type aids, and he refused to it because he didn't think that it fit within the criteria of the justice department. that doesn't seem to be something this president ta kes accou nt to be something this president takes account of. professor, mr trump's veto of the defence bill, i think in fact the bill passed through both houses of congress with big enough

majorities and any veto could be overridden, what you make of the fact that the president is talking of doing it?” the fact that the president is talking of doing it? i think it is another extraordinary action, as you say, the senate passed the belt 34—18, the house 335—78, so well more than to the two—thirds margins in each house needed to override the veto if those margins hold. i think the president is simply flexing his authority in a disruptive way, and it really is part of the whole context 110w. is part of the whole context now. at a time when what is a 332,000 americans have died, more than that, from the pandemic, at a time when the russian cyber attack is affecting the american government and american corporations, the president seems to be focused on two

things, one is contesting the election results, notwithstanding the fact that more than 50 cases have ruled against him, including by judges to be appointed, and number two, pardoning people who are close to him, and then although he is not participating in any of the congressional efforts to govern, he comes in at the last minute, issues pardons or threatens pardons, and heads down for his christmas vacation. is very disruptive, in the meantime he is not participating with divided administration to try and achieve a smooth transition, this is something really unprecedented in our history. professor goldstein, interesting to talk to you. another 6 million people in england will find themselves living under the highest level of covid restrictions within the next few days as coronavirus levels rise again. from december 26 the british government is extending the highest level of restrictions

across much of the south and east of england. this sign will soon be turned. tighter restrictions are on their way in norfolk and elsewhere in the east and south—east of england. tracey owns a gift shop in holt and another in neighbouring suffolk. within days, both have to close. we fully appreciate the fact that these measures have to be put in place because it's spiralling out of control in our areas, but as usual we feel the government has left it incredibly late to make the decision. not the gift the government wanted to give, having already scaled back plans to allow christmas mixing. but ministers say the new strain of the virus has forced their hand. we have learnt that, when it comes to being a matter of when and not if we take action, it's better to act sooner. and i know some of these decisions are tough and i believe that everybody will do what is needed to keep themselves and others safe, especially this christmas.

and i know from the bottom of my heart that there are brighter skies ahead. you just said, when it comes to coronavirus, it's better to act sooner, but the prime minister said on saturday the new strain was present across the country. your chief scientific adviser said on monday it wasn't possible to stop it from spreading beyond the south—east. haven't you wasted valuable time in trying to get ahead of the new strain of the virus? the whole basis of the tiered system is to take a proportionate approach to the areas where we need very firm action and other areas where we clearly need restrictions. added to that, of course, is everybody‘s personal responsibility. labour say businesses in areas already locked down are bearing a heavy burden. with all of the confusion around christmas and worries about what will happen in the new year too, we need to see clearer and firmer leadership from the prime minister, putting the health measures but also the economic measures in place so that we save lives

and protect people's jobs. the government insists it's confident that the system of tiered restrictions in england is now strong enough to contain the new strain of the virus that is spreading quicker while the vaccine is being rolled out. almost half of the country's population will soon be in the toughest tier. ministers say they don't want another national lockdown but are keeping everything under review. we have been here before, and they had to change course. the cheer of christmas is muted this year and, for millions facing even stricter rules, boxing day will bring a further test of resolve. leila nathoo, bbc news, westminster. canadian health officials have approved the moderna vaccines, the second country behind the united states to do so.

in laboratories like these, scientists have worked to create a vaccine. their work and the jab are now approved by canadian health authorities. the country's prime minister, justin trudeau hailed the key step in the fight against the pandemic. now that health canada has approved the moderna vaccine, we have the green light to start rolling it out across the country. the first doses of our guaranteed a0 million dose order from moderna will arrive in the coming days. south of the border in new york, emergency services personnel were given the jab as part of efforts to raise the profile and public confidence of covid vaccines. there's a sense that after months of waiting in countries across world, a brighter future is on the horizon. in mexico, soldiers escorted the first delivery of inoculations to arrive in the capital. vital consignments also

arriving in argentina and costa rica. distributing covid vaccines won't be easy, but as a torrid year comes to a close, there is hope that the key tools in the fight against the pandemic are becoming available. the next challenge — convincing the public to take them. stay with us on bbc news. more to come including the s. italy with the highest death toll in europe. we look back at the station felt in the northern ski resorts. —— devastation. music and chanting. saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, our women, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes but they brought a formal end to 3.5 years of conflict — conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of world leaders, the presidents

of bosnia, serbia and croatia put their names to the peace agreement. the romanian border was sealed and silent today. romania has cut itself off from the outside world in order to prevent the details of the presumed massacre in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life, the lewinsky affair tonight guaranteed bill clinton his place in history as only the second president ever to be impeached. welcome back, very glad to have you with us on bbc news. the latest headlines for you. a brexit deal reportedly in striking distance. an announcement on an agreement between london and brussels is expected thursday morning. donald trump has issued full

pardons to his former campaign chairman paul manford and roger stone who was convicted of lying under oath to congress. the first of thousands of trucks stranded on a temporary lorry park in kent are leaving france since it opened its border with the uk. travellers will need to show proof of a recent negative test for coronavirus. ministers have warned of severe delays before the backlog is cleared. carolyn davis reports. after three days of waiting, patience is running low. drivers clash with police at manston airfield, desperate to get tested, get out and get home. we just want to make the test, and then go straight to home. in one day it is christmas. we are in here three days, we are very tired. we stay in the cars. we don't have a lot of food, no money. it's not very well. you need to go to your lorry, they will come to your lorry

and test each of you. this morning, the airfield was full. tests have started. but even a negative result means lorries have to navigate this to leave the country. the port of dover's chief executive isn't sure when the backlog can be cleared. the key thing is to get the approaches to the port clear. that's got to be number one. and then to be able to produce a flow rate into the port of negative tests, that allows us to keep the port full and the ferries full. and then we can process things very, very quickly. horns blare in dover, you can hear the frustration. small acts of kindness in the queue. thank you. free drinks handed out, and volunteers opened the beach toilets. at the end of the day, it shouldn't be just down to the local community rallying round together. we live here. the government, the local councillors, our mp, who we haven't heard from at all yet — they should

be here doing something. but people already exhausted by tier 4 restrictions are exasperated by the traffic. people can't get in or out of town or nothing. and there's elderly people that need shopping done, and no buses, no nothing. there are lots of old people in those flats. and it's gridlock, nobody can move. it's a dangerous situation now. this is the scene across many roads in dover today, complete gridlock. some of the people i've been speaking to today say they have been here for several days. 0thers arrived this morning, hoping things would have calmed down. what many people have also asked me is, where can i get a test? speaking today, the transport secretary said things were moving. there's about 6,000 lorries now in the area, and we are using every single tool we can. for example, the army arejoining us this evening in order to assist with the logistics. the police have done a terrific

job in helping to clear the entrance to dover, to the port itself. the first tested drivers are now on their way to dover. a mobile testing centre has arrived in town. and the ferries sit tantalisingly close, holding the hopes of many to get home. caroline davies, bbc news. let's quickly round up some more of the main use for use. shares of alibaba dropped in hong kong after an investigation was launched into the world's largest company. it is dominating the market along with its rival and sent on so that will comply with all investigations. three police officers shot dead in france was wanting to domestic violence. they were injured trying to rescue a woman trapped on the roof of the home. the french interior minister says the suspected government has also been found dead. thousands of migrants are sleeping outside in the

freezing temperatures in bosnia since fire swept through the camp they were living in. 0fficials camp they were living in. officials say people set fire to the tents and containers but there are no reports of any injuries. un says the refugees are in dire of humanitarian aid. italy is ending 2020 as the country with the highest covid death toll in europe and the government has tightened measures over christmas, including closing ski resorts. italy was the first country in the west to be crushed by the virus, with the city of bergamo in the north particularly devastated. 0ur correspondent mark lowen has been back there to reflect on this tragic year. clearing the pistes for no one to use. high in the italian alps, foppolo should be preparing for a bumper christmas season. but it, and all italian ski resorts, have been shut by the government to slow coronavirus. it's in the province of bergamo, worst hit in italy by the pandemic. and now there's the financial shock. translation: at christmas, we make up half of our season. losing it causes irreparable

damage that we'll never make up. and i imagine some businesses here won't survive. what we from bergamo lived through in march was very frightening, hearing the sound of ambulances. we must take care not to relive it, but the mountains can be enjoyed safely. and this is not a fair decision. the first wave of the virus closed these pistes on march 8th, having to shut down again is a devastating blow for resorts that make up 11 billion euros of the italian economy. but there's always a trade off between economic damage and halting the virus. and losing this christmas on the pistes is a sacrifice the government feels it has to make. desperate measures to stop a repeat of march when deaths in bergamo were more than five times previous years. christmas won't ease the pain of a city whose despair became a symbol of italy's agony. azia marquez‘s father, sirio,

was one of the first to die at home, the kindly face of the local santa. his body stayed in their living room for two and a half days before the overwhelmed authorities could retrieve it. translation: someone like him deserved a funeral, something dignified, instead of being thrown into a coffin in our house like a carcass. there'll be an empty place at the table this christmas. he was the life and soul of the party. i'm angry, too, with the authorities who didn't close down bergamo fast enough. they put the economy ahead of human lives. the scenes in march of bergamo's main hospital, short of beds and oxygen, woke the west up to what it would face. today, it's quieter, numbers are lower. so many cases here has created some herd immunity. but psychologists say the mental scars run deep. translation: patients

told me of their dreams of being in a room on fire, needing someone to save them. bergamo has always been a very lively city, full of people and light. suddenly, it became a wounded city, ground to a halt, silenced. i, too, needed psychological help, and i think we will see more patients for years to come. in a year of hospital heroes, the building itself has become a christmas nativity scene here, with memories of the horrors of 2020 and dreams of a medical miracle to come. mark lowen, bbc news, bergamo. tributes have poured in from across the world of fashion for the model stella tenna nt across the world of fashion for the model stella tennant who has died suddenly at eight to 50. she made her name is one of the defining faces of call britannia, that time in the 90s when britain seems to dominate popular culture. she was photographed by irving le pen and appeared on the front of

vogue numerous times as well as high—profile ad campaigns with chanel and joan versace. the duke and duchess of sussex have finally reeled the christmas card, a finally reeled the christmas ca rd, a stylus finally reeled the christmas card, a stylus image of them and their son sitting with son archie and a pet dog thought to be at their california home. the card was shared by an animal welfare charity on social media. the original photo was taken by megan's brother earlier this month. a spokesman for the sussex sixers place small christmas tree and home—made ornament were selected by archie. 2020 has produced many poignant and powerful photographs buy from that one. an image of two widowed penguins appearing to comfort when another in australia has won the ocean photography awards. it was taken by tobias baumgartner in melbourne. he was told the to make penguins recently lost their partners and often appeared in this post, a p pa re ntly appeared in this post, apparently comforting each other. there is more on that and more on all of the news national and international any time on the

bbc website and on our twitter feeds. thank you for watching. hello there. wednesday brought another wet day, particularly to england and wales. and at one point, we had over 50 flood warnings in force. now, i'm sure as the rain eases off, the number of flood warnings through christmas eve will gradually begin to drop away, but still the potential for a few problems. there is the rain bearing cloud, then, we had across england and wales, but my attention right now is being drawn to this area of cloud just running in across the north of scotland, because this is going to bring some of you snow. yes, there could be a few centimetres lying on the ground in places, along with the risk of icy stretches as we head into the first part of christmas eve. a few showers also running down north sea coast, the irish seacoast, as our main band of rain continues to edge out—of—the—way. it will be cold, mind you, a cold start to christmas eve, a widespread frost certainly for scotland, northern england, probably northern ireland, and perhaps into the north

midlands and north wales as well. now, it will be a cold day for christmas eve, these chilly northerly winds diving their way southwards and bringing showers down north sea coasts. they will continue to fall as snow in land across parts of scotland, perhaps over the north york moors, might even see an odd flake mixed in with these showers across eastern england at times. but away from the east coast where it will be windy and cold, should be plenty of sunshine, but those temperatures way lower than they have been for a number of days now, 3—4 in scotland, may be 11—5 for parts of eastern england. and as we head into christmas day, there will be a widespread and sharp frost, so certainly a chilly start to the big day. that might be quite a nice sunrise to start the day. best of the sunshine across england and wales, but cloud will quickly building across the north west, and ultimately, we will see some rain move its way into northwest scotland, where it will be turning milder, as south—westerly winds eventually pushing in, highs of 9 in stornoway. best of the sunshine, then, hanging on across parts of southern and eastern england, but cold, 11—5 degrees celsius. beyond that, boxing day, and sunday, the second half of the weekend, we've got this area of rain pushing southwards across the country. given that the ground is saturated, that rain is likely to lead to further

localised flooding with wintry showers following the main band of rain through. it's notjust rain that could cause issues, it's also going to become very windy, gusts could reach 50—70 mph, maybe even stronger than that. so there is the potential for some disruptive winds as well this weekend, and beyond that into monday, still windy for northern ireland. further east, a mixture of rain, sleet and maybe some snow.

the latest headlines from bbc news.

a brexit deal looks to be finally within striking distance, with an announcement on an agreement expected between london and brussels on thursday morning. british cabinet ministers were summoned for a conference call with the prime minister to what is on the verge of being agreed this evening. donald trump has issued full pardons to his former campaign chairman paul manafort who was convicted as part of the russian interference on the 2016 election. he has also pardoned long—time fixer roger stone. he long—time fixer roger stone. is convicted of lying l oath he is convicted of lying under oath to congress. 6 million more people on england are facing the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions as hospital admissions surge to the highest level since april. the government says it is extending tier 4 across much of the south and east of england.

now it