this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. a bill to implement the brexit deal has passed through parliament and takes effect at 11 o'clock tonight, when the uk will stop following eu rules. millions more people in england wake up to the strictest level of restrictions — tier 4 — meaning they will have to mark the new year at home. the pandemic is also casting its shadow over new year's eve celebrations in europe — france is mobilising 100,000 police officers to enforce anti—coronavirus measures. and this is the scene in auckland as new zealanders hold their new year's fireworks.

let's listen in for a moment. cheering this is the scene over auckland harbour bridge and how lovely to hear people's voices as they welcome 2021. new zealand, one of the few places in the world where new year's celebrations are relatively normal. so many cities around the world, either cancelling or scaling back traditional displays to welcoming the new year because of course of covid. here in new zealand, where according to the latest bulletin from the new zealand bulletin of health, no new cases of covid in the community, the celebrations are able

to go ahead in a relatively normal fashion. cheering samoa and tonga already welcoming in the new year, 2021, ahead of new zealand, but auckland the first major world city to welcoming the new year and say goodbye to 2020. a year that i think most of us will be glad to see the buckle. with hopes that 2021 will bring a much better and healthier here for all of us —— glad to see the back of. how lovely to see that scene in auckland.

borisjohnson‘s trade deal with the european union has become law. the bill has cleared the uk parliament, after being approved by mps and peers. 0vernight it was given royal assent by the queen. the deal takes effect at 11pm when the uk will stop following eu rules. here's our political correspondent, chris mason. this was the moment, late into the night, when the brexit trade deal became the law of the land. her majesty has signified her royal assent to the following act — european union future relationship act 2020. the final confirmation that, at 11 o'clock tonight, after four and a half years of argument since the referendum, the uk will begin a new relationship with the european union. if you're thinking, hasn't all this happened already? didn't we leave injanuary? well, yes, legally, brexit did

happen 11 months ago. but in practical terms, it happens tonight as the uk leaves the eu's single market and the customs union. after all the noise, the turbulence, the flag—waving, the megaphones, the resignations, the elections of the last few years, the debate here in the last few days, with the overwhelming support for the government's deal, has felt something like a fire blanket, smothering many of the past flames of anger. plenty, of course, are still hugely passionate about brexit one way or another. the snp opposed the deal, among others, and this won't be the last time you ever hear the b word. but things may, just may, be a little quieter from now on. chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. we hope to speak to the chair of the european parliament foreign affairs

committee in a few minutes. but first... millions of people across the uk are being urged not to celebrate the new year with anyone outside their household, as the new variant of coronavirus continues to spread rapidly. some 20 million more people have now moved into the top tier 4 restrictions in england and have been told to stay at home. borisjohnson said the tougher measures were vital to save lives. nhs leaders have urged people not to hold new year's eve parties tonight, saying that "covid loves a crowd". john mcmanus reports. hidden behind scaffolding and mostly silent since 2017, tonight, big ben will temporarily return to normal service as it rings in 2021. big ben chimes but there's no such reprieve for much of england, where the new year will start on a sombre note with millions more people moving into the highest coronavirus tier from today. it means they must now try to stay at home,

with household mixing banned and nonessential shops and services closed. it's a tough ask, especially at this time of year. i must ask you to follow the rules where you live tomorrow night and see in the new year safely at home. that means not meeting up with friends or family indoors, unless they're in the same household or support bubble, and avoiding large gatherings of any kind. the latest figures for the whole of the uk show more than 50,000 new infections recorded in the latest 2a hours, with 981 new deaths reported on wednesday. you can see, unfortunately, it is a pretty grim and depressing picture at the moment. the situation in the uk is precarious in many parts already, particularly the south—east and london. areas that are now under

the tightest restrictions include leicester, the north—east and greater manchester. in total, just under 80% of the population in england. shropshire, devon and cornwall are amongst those moving up into tier 3. with no region now in tier 2, only 2,000 residents on the isles of scilly remain in tier 1. millions of people in northern ireland, wales and scotland are already living under the toughest restrictions. for those facing tier 4 for the first time, there's some unhappiness. i'm in shock. it is completely ridiculous, how they keep locking us in and locking us out and going back and forth. they need to be more organised in what they do and figure out what's going on. it's not ideal for us, but i think that it's important and people need to follow, because there are more important things, like the hospitals and patients who are suffering. well, i haven't had the university experience, for one. and ijust turned 18, so i can't

really do the normal things an 18—year—old does. but, i mean, it's fine. rising case numbers and a feared further rise after christmas are driving the new restrictions, but it will be some time before we know which direction the virus will take in 2021. john mcmanus, bbc news. most secondary school pupils in england will return to the classroom after the christmas break later than planned. years 11 and 13 can resume face—to—face teaching one week late on 11th january, while all other year groups will return the following week. but teaching unions have criticised the government's plans, with one labelling it "a last—minute mess". the education secretary, gavin williamson, has been speaking this morning. he explained the importance of getting coronavirus testing for school children up and running properly before pupils return. on monday of next week, all secondary schools

are going to be getting a drop of tests. all the equipment they need to set up, all the ppe that they need in order to have the staff. and on top of that, those schools that are really having difficulty, that aren't able to get this set up with the resources that are being provided, we are very grateful to the armed forces, 1,500 service personnel, for those schools that are really having difficulty, aren't able to follow the guidance and the instructions and use the equipment that has been provided, and the money that's been offered to them, to be able to help them get that mass testing programme set up in their school. gavin williamson. let's return to the trade deal between the eu and the trade deal between the eu and the uk entering into law. we can speak now to the german christian democrat mep david mcallister, who's chair of the european parliament's foreign affairs committee. also chair of the european parliament's coordination also chair of the european pa rliament‘s coordination group. good to have you with us on bbc

news. i suppose the best place to begin, how do you see the reconstruction of the relationship 110w reconstruction of the relationship now between the eu and the uk after a rather tricky divorce? now between the eu and the uk after a rather tricky divorce ?|j now between the eu and the uk after a rather tricky divorce? i welcome that the negotiation teams found an agreement practically in the last minute just before christmas and i am relieved the disruptions and the chaos following a no deal withdrawal of the uk from the single market and customs union has been avoided. 0n the other hand, i regret that today will be the last day of 47 years of successful cooperation between the eu and the uk. in the customs union and the single market. this is coming to an end. but with the new agreement, we have the chance to build a new partnership with the uk ona build a new partnership with the uk on a solid legal basis. and how do you see that partnership, the new

partnership, evolving? what will the priorities be? this is a very comprehensive agreement. i think it is fairand comprehensive agreement. i think it is fair and balanced. the eu managed to protect the interests of citizens and businesses, our long—term economic interests and the integrity of the single market. but decisions have consequences and we are talking about a british decision to leave a single market and customs union. this means the eu and the uk will form two separate markets, two distinct regulatory and legal spaces, and this will create or recreate barriers to trade in goods and services and to cross—border mobility and changes that have not existed for decades. this is a result of a british decision to leave the eu, the single market and the customs union. where challenges come, there are bound to be

challenges, would you say it would lie in the area of deciding whether the rules over fair competition have been broken? this agreement is about mitigating the effects and consequences of the british withdrawal from the eu and the single market and the customs union. we wa nt single market and the customs union. we want to have the closest possible relationship with the uk, but we respect the british red lines drawn as the british side respected our firm principles. we will have something we have never offered a third country before, free access to the world's largest single market. —— another country before. but we wa nt —— another country before. but we wantfair —— another country before. but we want fair competition for our businesses and citizens on both sides of the channel. when boris johnson says that the uk with this deal is able to have its cake and eat it, how do you react to that?

first of all, i don't like eating cake, but apart from that, this whole brexit process does not have any winners, there are only losers. 0nce any winners, there are only losers. once again, this is to mitigate the most negative consequences for citizens and businesses. i wish we could have avoided all of this. i deeply regret this great country, the uk, is now finally leaving european co—operation. but given the circumstances, this agreement negotiated very successfully by ursula von der leyen and michel barnier is the right way to move forward now. you mentioned the word regret twice now in our conversation. without your politician's hat on, how are you feeling about the end of the relationship as it has been for almost 50 years? i am a german citizen, i live in germany, but i obviously have british roots, my father came with the british

military to germany many decades ago. ijust believe that he would be stronger and better with the uk. a community of 28 countries. but we have to respect the decision to leave our family of nations. this has never happened before, nobody knows exactly what will happen, we might be facing challenges, we might be facing difficulties, no one has seen it yet, we are going through this for the first time. but whatever happens, the uk will remain for us in the eu not only a neighbour, but also a trading partner and loyal nato ally. we want to make the best out of the situation and cooperate as closely as possible with our friends in england, scotland, wales and northern ireland. david mcallister, mep, thank you for your time today, joining us from lower saxony.

the pandemic is casting its shadow over new year's eve celebrations. france, for example, is mobilising 100,000 police officers to enforce anti—coronavirus measures and other countries are being forced to take similar measures to try to prevent a new wave of infections. russell trott reports. combating covid—19, spanish—style. security is tight in the capital — the traditional mass gathering in the plaza has been severely curtailed. across europe, it seems, curfews are in place, both mandatory and voluntary, to persuade the public to stay away from public places. in paris, one such curfew will be strictly enforced by french police to crack down on parties and any large groups meeting unlawfully. 100,000 gendarmes are being mobilised, half the metro lines will be closed in the evening. families are being advised to stay at home and enjoy new year's

celebrations around the dinner table. seafood being a seasonable culinary favourite. in germany, they traditionally spend millions of euros on new year's eve fireworks every year, but in berlin, they brought in a firework ban in an attempt to prevent crowds forming. federal and regional leaders are due to discuss whether to extend lockdown measures imposed before christmas. in moscow, they are resisting imposing a strict lockdown like they did earlier this year, relying on targeted measures instead. despite a rise in coronavirus cases, the mayor in the capital is quoted as saying there will be no curfew or alcohol ban either. some still turned up to watch the new year's eve restricted party preparations. as one muscovite put it, anything to feel normal in these extraordinary times. russell trott, bbc news.

returning to brexit, at the end of the transition phase. the uk is set to leave the eu's single market and customs union at 11pm gmt today after legislation to ratify the post—brexit relationship with the european union became law early this morning. it brings an end to a partnership lasting almost 50 years. with me is our business presenter, ben bland. so, the moment draws near. time to implement all of the plans talked about for so long. yes, we are on the cusp of a new era of trade between the uk and the rest of europe. in 12 hours' time, the uk will leave the eu single market and customs union. 0ver will leave the eu single market and customs union. over the weeks, days and months, we have had so much about things like the eu right to fish in uk waters, physical goods moving between the uk and europe in a smooth way, that was thrashed out in the christmas eve post—brexit trade deal, but what about services? they make up 80% of the uk economy,

so they make up 80% of the uk economy, so important. when the clock strikes 11 tonight, uk firms lose the automatic right to sell services like insurance, bank accounts, it support, accounting, to people in organisations in the eu. similarly, european companies lose the automatic right to sell here in the uk. british businesses can still keep doing that but they need to make sure they comply with regulations in each country rather than following one set of rules applying to the whole of the eu. there will be more talks between the uk and eu, they have pledged to try to sort it out, but where does that leave fa ns to sort it out, but where does that leave fans coming back after the break leave fans coming back after the brea k after leave fans coming back after the break after new year? —— firms. let's speak to thierry drilhon, president of the franco british chambers of commerce helping businesses trade across the channel. what is the mood among the 2000 firms you work with? i would say

that on one side when a member of the family is leaving, it is never good news. on the other side, it is the end of the story started four and a half years ago and i think the time now is to move on, time to think about pragmatism and make business back on the road. on a practical level, what advice are you giving to your members which currently sell services between the uk and france, for example, or the other way? what has been the deal that has been signed, it is a process, and over the next months and probably years, we are going to learn step— by—step. but and probably years, we are going to learn step—by—step. but i would say that the message to my business is to think about, 0k, have a look to your value and chain and just design

where you want to make business and how you want to make business, how you want to trade with the uk. we need to be very pragmatic. all companies are prepared and now it is time to move on, time to reinvent the relationship we are going to have with our friend in the uk. the relationship we are going to have with our friend in the uki suppose it is important to state that while it may be slightly more complicated, it is far from impossible, firms can still sell services from the uk to europe and in the other direction, it does not suddenly stop all at once. no, it is not going to stop. i heard a lot of messages are a couple of months ago, you cannot take the plane and so oi'i... you cannot take the plane and so on... nothing happened. i have to say i am extremely pleased that we came toa say i am extremely pleased that we came to a deal. now it is a question

about, 0k, how to make it happen? how to really think and rethink the kind of relationship we want to have from a business perspective? obviously, you are going to have to go obviously, you are going to have to go through a longer process, probably some administrative tasks, that you need to adapt to, but at the end of the day, if you want to make business, you can continue to make business, you can continue to make business. thierry drilhon, i am sorry, make business. thierry drilhon, i am sorry, we make business. thierry drilhon, i am sorry, we must leave it there, good to talk to you, thank you for speaking to us on bbc news. i will be back later. thank you very much. from 11pm gmt tonight, when the brexit transition phase ends, uk and eu travellers will need to adjust to a whole range of new rules and requirements forjourneys to and from the european union. let's talk about some of this with simon calder, travel editor of the independent.

he has spent his christmas holiday poring through the brexit treaty to find the relevant details for travellers. hello, tell us what is changing overall, the broad brush strokes. passports, i am at the uk passport office in central london, that will see quite a lot of action, importing new rules coming in. driving and health care, we found out at christmas your european health insurance card is still valid, as is your british driving licence, you will not need an international driving permit. the rules for pets will change and the custom rules get a lot stricter as well. to make things even more complicated, not much of this applies to the republic of ireland, but some of it applies for trips to northern ireland as well. if you are taking a pat, it gets very complicated, i am afraid. —— a pact. talk to us about passports. if you have a burgundy eu

passport, you don't need to apply for a new one, except the rules on validity become very complicated. if you want to have what the government would call a reasonable worst—case scenario, go to the passport checker and put your details and to see if you are allowed to travel to europe. it is not helped by the fact that government three conflicting versions of passport validity rules online. i have told them about this, asked them to reduce it to do one correct version, i am still waiting to hear. therefore, it is going to get messy. the only good thing about these terrible times and almost no one is travelling from the uk is that it will not... it is going to affect very few people now. but come on easter, it might be a problem. when you get to europe, your problems can only be beginning. first of all, you have to remember not to take more than a litre of

spirits, 200 cigarettes into the eu. secondly, very complicated lengths of stay rules come into effect. if, for instance, you are lucky enough tomorrow to go to spain for three months, you would have to clear off for another 90 days, tell pretty much the end ofjune, before you could go anywhere back into the schengen area which is most of europe, most of the eu, minus ireland, croatia, cyprus, romania, bulgaria, but plus switzerland, norway, iceland and of course lichtenstein. pay attention, there isa lichtenstein. pay attention, there is a test coming up later. ok. i'm feeling nervous. let's talk about the other direction of travel, people travelling from the eu to the uk, anything changing much? for anyone in the eu, almost nothing changes immediately, apart from the customs rules. at the moment, up

until 11pm tonight british time, midnight in brussels and many other eu capitals, you can bring in anything you want to that is reasonable for personal use. there will be strict limits coming into force. but apart from that, you will find everything pretty much the same. when you will see a big change is on the 1st of october when the government in the uk is saying, we are not accepting id cards, you have to have a proper passport. that is going to be quite a lot of inconvenience for an awful lot of europeans who are used to travelling around dozens of countries on id cards and the inbound tourism industry here is worried about the effects. in a sentence, or we have time for, tell us about medical treatment if you are travelling to the eu from the uk. this card is valid still, if you have not got one, there are provisional

replacement certificates... thank you very much, simon calder. you are watching bbc news. not only did some wake up to another fresh covering of snow this morning but last night across england not only was it the coldest night of the season, coldest night of the year, temperatures dropping down to —7.5 in north yorkshire. another cold day continues. still more snow to come across parts of upland scotland, turning to rain on lower levels, temperatures lifting a pet. —— a bit. could be a wintry element to the showers in western scotland, devon and cornwall. most of the uk will stay dry and bright, lingering fog patches where the winds are lightest in parts of east anglia and

the south—east, but another chilly day. this evening and overnight, more wintry showers in northern scotland, rain and sleet in northern england in north and west wales, they will continue tomorrow morning. away from that, another frosty night and of course with wet ground and snow, icy conditions into the start of the new year. new year's day, a weather front straddling from northern england parts of the midlands, wales, southwest, cloudier st with a chance of further showers, snow over higher ground as well, diminishing for most to the day. snow showers as it gets cold again in the far north of scotland. much of scotland, and northern ireland, drier and brighter. another chilly day. temperatures still below where we should be for this time of year. frosty night follows to take us into the start of the weekend. more sunshine for england and wales on

saturday. showers returning far west of wales and cornwall. most will be dry on saturday. lingering fog patches in western scotland limiting temperatures. sunday and the start of next week, the winds turn to an easterly direction bringing slightly less cold air our way. whatever. the sky, mainly rain, snow on the hills, it will still be cold, and you will notice next week is much windier especially for england and wales.

this is bbc news, the headlines. a bill to implement the brexit deal has passed through parliament and takes effect at 11 o'clock tonight — when the uk will stop following eu rules. millions more people in england wake up to the strictest level of restrictions — tier 4 — meaning they will have to mark the new year at home. the pandemic is also casting its shadow over new year's eve celebrations in europe — france is mobilising100,000 police officers to enforce anti—coronavirus measures. some secondary school pupils in england face a delayed return to school, with mandatory remote learning for pupils who aren't in years 11 or 13. it comes ahead of a government roll—out of mass testing. formula one world champion, lewis hamilton receives a knighthood in the queen's new year's honours — alongside members of the public recognised for their efforts this year.