this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. scientists say the uk risks a coronavirus "catastrophe" in the new year without tighter restrictions. the military will provide remote support to schools and colleges in england with coronavirus testing, as they begin to re—open next week. but pressure to delay the start of term is growing. germany has approved a new rapid coronavirus test that can give results within a0 minutes. the company that developed the process says it enables mass testing based on the highly reliable pcr technology. spain says it will set up a registry of people who refuse to get the covid vaccine, and share it with other eu nations. but the list will not be made accessible to the public. french fashion designer pierre cardin — who was hailed for his visionary

creations — has died aged 98. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the head of the national health service in england has warned that workers are "back in the eye of the storm" as coronavirus cases continue to rise. simon stevens praised the efforts of staff at the end of what he said was, for most, the toughest year in living memory. hospitals in england are currently treating more covid patients than at the peak of the first wave in april. it comes as the government is set to decide whether to strengthen tiered restrictions in england this evening. here's our health correspondent catherine burns. every christmas, the nhs chief executive puts out a message thanking staff. today, and acknowledgement

it has been the toughest year most of us can remember and it's not over yet. we are back in the eye of the storm. with this second wave of coronavirus, sweeping europe and indeed this country. the number of covid patients in england peaked in the first wave in april at nearly 19,000. over the summer, things got much better but since september, it's been climbing. now at more than 20,000, it's higher than that first peak. welsh hospitals are treating their highest level of covid patients now. in northern ireland, there is a warning the next few days could be critical and in scotland, doctors say there is a danger services will be overwhelmed. in the first wave, the nhs cancelled most of their work so it could focus on covid. this time around, it's been trying to keep other things going but now, more staff are being redeployed and routine operations being put back. we are desperate, our members are desperate to keep

that disruption as low as possible. but unfortunately, some of our elective and plan services will be disrupted, both in hospitals and in other settings as well. some hospitals are asking staff to cancel their annual leave. mid and south essex nhs foundation trust says it hasn't made this request lightly. staff in london and the south—east say they are under intense pressure. we are doing all we can and will continue to do all we can to keep everyone safe and make sure everyone is cared for, but i do think if we continue with the current rate of admissions we are very close to becoming overwhelmed. winter is always the hardest time of the year for the nhs and that's never been truer than now, but vaccines mean there is hope ahead. by late spring, with vaccine supplies coming on stream we will

have been able to offer all vulnerable people across this country, this covid vaccination. catherine burns, bbc news. our health correspondent jim reed is here. so many factors at play, so many restrictions in place, why are the infection rates continue to rise?m is important to remember these infection rates and the problems we are having in some hospitals are not above the boat in the uk, focus in the south—east of england, the area around london and south wales as well. 0utside around london and south wales as well. outside of that, less pressure on hospitals. as to why this is happening, one obvious reason is the sudden increase in cases that we are saying that down by some to a new variant of coronavirus in parts of the south—east of england in particular. 41,000 new cases yesterday in england and wales alone, we are expecting new figures in the next couple of hours. also we are starting to see people a p pa re ntly are starting to see people apparently in hospital for longer with coronavirus. that might be because treatments have got better,

it might be that is slightly more relu cta nce it might be that is slightly more reluctance to discharge people into the community as quickly. that means if you have more people in hospital at the same time, you are keeping them in there for longer, increases pressure on the health service. there has been a lot of speculation in the uk about the use of these nightingale hospitals, which are emergency overflow hospitals, not being used much at the moment but the health service in england have said they are ready to use if needed. thank you. let's go to germany now, where the health authorities have approved a new rapid coronavirus testing machine that can give results within 40 minutes. the company behind it says it's based on highly reliable pcr technology — as damian mcguinness has been explaining from berlin. the test is the same as traditional pcr test, which is the standard test thatis pcr test, which is the standard test that is mostly used or not is the most reliable test. that usually ta kes a most reliable test. that usually takes a very long time because what

it does is analyse the genetic material in the virus, it has to get said toa material in the virus, it has to get said to a lab which could take a day or two, it said to a lab which could take a day ortwo, it can said to a lab which could take a day or two, it can take a couple of hours in the lab to analyse this test to get the test results because the temperatures have to soar right up the temperatures have to soar right up and then go right down and that has to happen again and again and again. quite a complicated technology. then the test results have to get setback to the people and it is generally done in large batches. that can take a couple of days, that is the traditional test we know. what the new technology does, it has just been approved in germany, it is essentially the process of getting those results from process of getting those results fro m exa ctly process of getting those results from exactly the same technology is much quicker. it is a small box which is portable and what you can do is you essentially put in the samples which have been taken from people who are being tested, a time, within 40 minutes they have a new which means you can come at this high and low temperature cycle which

is usually done in the lab, can be donein is usually done in the lab, can be done in the special machine. so far over the past couple of months, they have been testing this at munich airport. they say it seems almost as reliable as where you get the result from the lab. they say so far about 90% reliable as that, but they are going to keep using it now to see if it can be as reliable as the pcr test. if it is as reliable as the usual lab result, the ones that we get setback, that is good news because it means you can really turn round the test, the reliable test incredibly quickly. we have fast has, antigen test, they are not as reliable. that is the issue there. this is really, the speed is there but are also the reliability that is crucial, so it could be a game changer. over in spain, the government plans to set up a register of people who have refused to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, which it says it will share with other eu nations. however, it says the list would not be made public.

jason badcock is a journalist in madrid and told me more about the situation. the health minister, salvador illa, yesterday mentioned this registry, and i think it has taken people somewhat by surprise because he was quick to point out that it doesn't mean that the vaccine is mandatory, people are free to choose. but still, the idea that central government is talking about keeping a registry, especially when health is a regional, you know, competence in spain, has surprised many people in a country which is riven by political controversy over the handling of the crisis, where the second and third—largest parties day in, day out say the government is lying and misleading people about its handling of the coronavirus crisis, about the number of deaths, about the number of infected. i mean, this will... you know, i have looked at social media, this is already playing into those kind of divisions that we have seen throughout the crisis. other major politicians have not yet reacted to the idea.

it is not really clear what the registry is for. the minister talked about it, so that we know why someone has not had it but one thing would be the health authority noting down, 0k, this person said no, but another thing seems to be keeping a separate registry of names. he also said that this information, perhaps not the names, but this information of people who are rejecting the vaccine would be shared with other european countries. an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 has struck central croatia, causing several buildings to collapse. these pictures are from the town of petrinja. the mayor says half the town has been destroyed and that a 12—year—old girl has died. the mayor has called for immediate emergency aid. the tremors could be felt 50 kilometres north of the epicentre in the capital zagreb, where people raced onto the streets. in neighbouring slovenia a nuclear power plant was shut down as a precaution.

in the uk, mps are expected to back the eu—uk post—brexit trade deal when it is voted on in parliament tomorrow. the 27 eu ambassadors unanimously approved the provisional application of the agreement yesterday. ahead of the end of the transition period on 31st december — we are looking at what the brexit deal means for you. today we are focusing on how holidays between the uk and eu will change. 0ur reality check correspondent, chris morris, is with us now. things will get more complicated afterjanuary the 1st. things will get more complicated after january the 1st. they things will get more complicated afterjanuary the 1st. they are. it is confusing at the moment because of covid and brexit. they are going to get more complicated because from january one, we will be outside the single market and we are not on the list of approved countries, safe countries that the eu has the places where covid restrictions are low

enough. what that means is that we will be, there will be almost eve ryo ne will be, there will be almost everyone in the uk will not be able to travel to the eu for a period. we do not know how long that period will be. but as long as she now rates are high here, unless have an emergency or is this reason, you will not be able to travel. free movement is coming to an end. that is the big message, just as eu citizens will lose the automatic right to come and settle here, uk citizens lose the automatic free movement across the eu, to work, live and retire there. what she will not need is visas to go on holiday, you will not need them for short—term travel. in 2022, a bit like when you go to the united states, you have to go online, spend some money and get online visa waiver. when you go to the eu without a visa, you will only be able to stay for a maximum of 90 days and every 180. freeze movement, the right to come and go as you please will be

over. practical measures that people travelling from britain will have to keepin travelling from britain will have to keep in mind as well? good news and bad news, considering what we thought might happen been a few weeks ago. until a couple of weeks ago, the government website with saying you need to get travel insurance because your health insurance card will disappear and there is no scientifically it was going to be replaced. we now know that if you have a ehic card, it will be valid for a few years. they will be valid for a few years. they will set up a global insurance health card to replace it. we do not know any more details where you get infrom, know any more details where you get in from, how you obtain it, how much cost, but it is coming. driving documents, good and bad news. you will not need an international driving permit to drive elsewhere in the eu, unless you still have a paper uk licence. if you have the ca rd paper uk licence. if you have the card license you are fine. a paper lesson, you would need an international driving permit. if

your licenses for the channel islands the isle of man, but most people not need one. you will need a green card to get from your insurance company to prove you have the right vehicle insurance. the final one there, pet passports, the animal version of free movement is coming to an end. people, they want to ta ke coming to an end. people, they want to take their pets to the eu from great written, they will need to get an animal health certificate from a vet a few days before they travel. the idea of spontaneously thinking, let's go to france, with a pat on without a green card is over. the other thing about the health certificates for animals, one of the many ways in which northern ireland will be treated differently. you do not need want to go from northern ireland to the eu. but if you want to ta ke ireland to the eu. but if you want to take your pet from britain to northern ireland within the uk, you will need an animal health certificate because northern ireland will be following the rules of the eu single market. keep an eye on all the bureaucracy before you go. thank you so much.

1,500 military personnel are going to help roll out mass coronavirus testing in schools in england next month — although the british government is keeping the plan under constant review. they will hold webinars and give telephone guidance to staff, with children mostly carrying out tests themselves. but teaching unions say schools haven't been given enough time to make plans and some head teachers are calling for the government to delay the start of term. damian grammaticas reports. in less than a week, empty classrooms should start filling again. millions of children heading back to school but will it be safe? the government's plan is in secondary schools there should be mass testing of pupils and staff, much of it done by students themselves under supervision. it's a huge logistical challenge. it's not going to be easy. it will be difficult, we are in a national emergency but it will make a huge difference to teachers and children and hopefully mean that schools will remain open.

the opposition wants the government's scientific advice to be published but those giving it believe getting children in class is a priority. we do need to do what we can to make sure our children are in school, we know for some children virtual learning is a real challenge and that is what worries me, that we will increase the divide between those that will thrive with virtual learning and those that will not. to assist the idea is 1,500 military personnel who have already been running testing to help out. not in schools but remotely, giving guidance online and over the phone. we are educationists, we can support the government, commits good people have members of the army but for three and a half thousand secondary schools, 1500 troops doing webinars probably is not the government response we were looking for. the return to school is staggered across the uk. in northern ireland, children start face—to—face teaching next week. in wales, most should be back by the 11th of january. in scotland, it won't be before the 18th.

many head teachers feel they simply don't have time to prepare. things have just come through to schools very late and i think it's certainly led to a lot of stress and panic over the christmas holidays to try and get people recruited. our community has been excellent since we've had press coverage, since we've talked to our community, we've had some volunteers but we still have nowhere near enough. schools have stepped up right the way from march, delivering online learning, turning things at the turn of a coin. we are very used to being adaptable, we really want this to work but we don't know where we are going to get the volunteers from. and without space for testing in schools or a trained personnel to oversee it, but many head teachers really want — a mobile unit to help make mass screening work. damian grammaticas, bbc news. we are nowjoined by caroline walker, a headteacher at parkside academy in barrow in furness, in north—west england.

lovely to see you. lots of focus on secondary schools. tell us what is happening in your primary schools with covid. we are a primary school, we are due to open next tuesday. we are we are due to open next tuesday. we a re fortu nate we are due to open next tuesday. we are fortunate that we are in a trust, we have a secondary academy which is mass testing starting from monday. 0ther which is mass testing starting from monday. other countries to mimic schools in the country, we have been planning mass testing for the last three weeks. i think the expectation on other secondaries is huge now. primaries are carrying on as normal, starting back on tuesday. have you seen an increase in cases in your primary aged children? in cumbria, up to the 20th december, at the increase has increased by 61% in children aged one to six. do you think primary school children should be starting back next week as mark i think it would make more sense personally for them to come

back the week after. see the information they get from our secondary schools. 26 primaries in ourtown, and our secondary schools. 26 primaries in our town, and secretaries will be mass testing, it will be interesting to see the results. some of the children who are in the secondaries have come to our school so we will have come to our school so we will have the information about the family. it would make sense to me to teach on my own come back the following week when we have more information. are you ready to teach online? we have been open throughout the pandemic, we have taught online, we are ready to teach children five upwards online. 70 children do not have the devices, we have to get devices to them, that is our biggest challenge. everyone has got to log in and we have done it before so we are ready to go. how engaging are you finding the kids? are they learning as much as they would be if they were in school? it's completely different. the main thing to do is to get children back into school, we

wa nt to to get children back into school, we want to be as safe as possible. 0nline learning is the next best thing. face with your teach online can be effective and we've seen that throughout lockdown because we have child. the biggest rom is people who do not have devices, parents who are not as engage. we have overcome that by bringing children into school. it is the neck testing and it is the way to prevent the transition of covid in the first few weeks. do you have concerns about the well—being of some of your kids if you do not see them? absolutely. that has been one of the biggest challenges of this lockdown, looking after vulnerable children and the number of vulnerable children has increased dramatically during lockdown because the pressure on families. to me, i would like my children back in school in a safe way as possible, as quickly as possible. are you happy with the amount of guidance and help you have had from the government on this?” think in cumbria, we are in a different position. i think the

government has been too late and cumbria has had three weeks to plan this and it is a massive task. we are lucky that our director of public health and assistant director of education have seen ahead of the government and step forward. the local authorities, this is a complex task for 5.5 million children. good luck with next week. i hope you manage have some rest before then. thank you forjoining us, caroline walker. australia says it could deport british backpackers who flout covid rules, after hundreds were seen partying at a sydney beach on christmas day. videos of the gathering, widely shared on social media, showed hordes of young people at bronte beach in breach of regulations. the event has sparked anger among locals, with health officials calling it "absolutely appalling". sydney is battling a new outbreak after months of no local cases. the us house of representatives has voted in favour of boosting payments under a new coronavirus stimulus package. under the new deal individuals would receive $2,000 —

previously it had been just $600. president trump has championed the increase in payments, but the relief package is likely to struggle in the republican—led senate. we are joined by our business presenter, ben bland. a little bit confusing. can you explain? it has been a perplexing few days if you've been watching events in washington dc. first — a $900 billion relief package to help americans and businesses hit by the pandemic got cross party support in congress, both republicans and democrats agreeing to vote it through. then president trump threatened to block it. economic tragedy facing millions of americans if they do not get these payments. there was a number of reasons why there were so much concern over the weekend about whether or not donald trump with in fact sign this bill into law and some of it is there

where things put in place, measures to help people during the early stages of the coronavirus, a previous stimulus package and this allowed unemployment benefits to be extended to those he worked in the gig economy, he would not normally be covered under the unemployment rules here in america. it also separately extended an eviction moratorium. you had the sort of to programmes all set to expire over the weekend, and that the peasant acted. 0n the weekend, and that the peasant acted. on top of that, there was this idea of checks being cut and sent out to the american people to help those who were eligible —— unless the president acted. the bottom line was everyone agreed that some system was needed unless president trump signed on this bill that had negotiated, as you mention, by both parties, there was a risk that nothing would be going out on the door at a time when people were

kneading it the most, over the holidays. michelle, in normal times, they may tie themselves over by dipping into the savings were waiting for money, a lot of americans will have done through many of their savings because of the pandemic, that is the harsh reality. how soon can expect to see the money in the accounts? this has been the subject of a lot of debate because of the urgency. does that delay of a couple of days, over the weekend, does that mean the czechs might have to wait an extra week, which might not sound like much if you are doing 0k, week, which might not sound like much if you are doing ok, but for those who are literally counting every single penny, who are maxed out on their credit cards, that we give the difference between having shelter or not, having food or not. there is some suggestion that they might be able to get the cheques out of the door this week, that the treasury department had been looking into this and planning for this. that is a bit uncertainty as to whether or not it will be this week

of the following week. a lot of consent because the finances during this pandemic have been hit in a variety of ways. people who have office jobs who have been able to work from home, increasing do you increasingly hearing from people in that sector losing jobs. it has been those in unstable jobs, more lower paid jobs he have been hit initially hard, certainly in new york city the re sta u ra nt hard, certainly in new york city the restaurant business is huge here, but because of these restrictions that have been praised, many of those jobs, many of those people have been laid off. do not have much ofa have been laid off. do not have much of a question, what question they did had has been long been used up. i think this money is trying to get to those people who really need it, we will get more on friday when we get the unemployment numbers out of the us. —— they do not have much of a cushion, what question they had has been used up. thank you.

scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon. says a surge in positive coronavirus cases in the country may be down to the new variant of the virus. ms sturgeon has urged people not to be complacant during the new year period with hogmanay celebrations cancelled. it is nevertheless indicative of a rise in what appears to be a rising trend of cases again. that really must make all of us, yet again, sit up must make all of us, yet again, sit up and take notice of this. we also think the new strain is contributing to faster spread of the virus, and so my main message should people is to make sure that you are not visiting other people's houses right now. that is the most important thing of all. unfortunately, that includes hogmanay and new year. they say, i know we all desperate to kick 2020 into touch but we must do that safely in the safest way to do that this is to be in our own homes, with our own households. scotland's first minister, nicola sturgeon, warning people about the dangers of

celebrating with others over new year and celebrating with others over new yearand blaming celebrating with others over new year and blaming the rise in cases there in scotland on the new variant. you are watching bbc news. hello there. 0ne things for certain this week, it's going to stay very cold for all of us with overnight frost and also some ice to watch out for. what's a bit more uncertain is where we're going to see some rain, sleet and snow over the next few days. but wherever it does occur, it's likely to cause some disruption. of course, ice will be an issue on untreated surfaces, so just take care if you have to head out. so the cold pool of air pretty much right across the uk for today and indeed for the foreseeable future. this is the early morning sleet and snow which we had across northern, western parts of england and north wales, pushing on into the south west. further wintry showers likely to affect coastal areas, some accumulations over the scottish isles, but there'll be quite a bit of dry weather around too, some sunshine to end the day.

it'll stay rather grey and cold across the southeast. as we head through tonight, many areas will stay dry through central parts that is, but around coasts, further showers are likely. we could see some wintry showers affecting north west england, north wales with a great risk of ice pretty much anywhere, but especially where we have these showers and a cold night to come. subzero values for most of us, maybe as low as minus seven, maybe minus eight across northern england into parts of scotland in some of the glens. for wednesday, we start off with some sunshine around. watch out for some ice first thing, particularly where we have lying snow. further showers affecting coastal areas. you could see this feature, though, running across the south—west, which could bring a mixture of rain, sleet and snow. again, uncertainty to this so you have to stay tuned to the forecast. another cold day to come and at least some areas will have the sunshine to compensate. it looks like this feature then runs across the south of the country, further showers during wednesday night around coastal areas.

now, we'll have this area of low pressure as well sitting over the north sea. that's going to introduce an area of rain, sleet and snow to the north of the uk as we head on into thursday. now, this could cause some disruption, again, the details of this a bit uncertain at the moment. it looks like we could see some settling snow across parts of central southern scotland, perhaps northern and western england and in towards wales. it could be disruptive, so you have to stay tuned to the forecast. many places, though, away from this will stay dry. a bit of sunshine, but another very cold day for us all. as we end the week, it looks like many places will see the sunshine into the weekend, winds turn a bit more northeasterly, so most of the wintry showers will affect north sea coasts.

this is bbc news. the headlines: scientists say the uk risks a coronavirus "catastrophe" in the new year without tighter restrictions. the military will provide remote support to schools and colleges in england with coronavirus testing, as they begin to re—open next week. but pressure to delay the start of term is growing. germany has approved a new rapid coronavirus test that can give results within 40 minutes. the company that developed the process says it enables mass testing, based on the highly reliable pcr technology. spain says it will set up a registry of people who refuse to get the covid vaccine — and share it with other eu nations. but the list will not be made accessible to the public. french fashion designer pierre cardin — who was hailed for his visionary creations — has died aged 98. now ben thompson reflects on how the uk economy,