this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm simon mccoy. several hospitals in london and the south east of england say they are under extreme pressure due to the sheer weight of covid cases — patients are being moved as intensive care units reach capacity. we're on our knees begging for people to do their part... to take the pressure off. but we are shattered. the end of a nearly 50—year marriage. the uk leaves the trading bloc of the eu tonight. and goodbye 2020, hello 2021! this is the scene live in moscow, as the city begins its new year celebrations. in wuhan, china, the new yearwas welcomed with a mass street party — a packed scene where

the covid pandemic began. we'll find out how different countries are welcoming in the 2021. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. let's go back to those live pictures from red square in russia, where they're the latest nation to see in 2021. lower key but, as you can see, in keeping with every other city in the world. they're using fireworks, let's listen in.

the pandemic is meant that public events have been band. it's hoped that these pictures are sufficient celebrations. that's the scene in russia. many countries have decided to cancel the usual new year celebrations. but some have plenty to celebrate. this was the scene in wuhan, the capital of hubei province in china, several hours ago. the new year was welcomed with a mass street party exactly one year after the city reported an unknown pneumonia outbreak to the world health organization — that was later named covid—19. in many other parts of the world, celebrations had to be scaled back or cancelled, because of surges in coronavirus.

dubai has been seeing in the new year in the last hour — a socially—distanced crowd was allowed to watched fireworks at the burj khalifa. and look how different the scene is in paris — a curfew is in place, and thousands of police officers have been deployed to ensure citizens don't gather in the city. these were the scenes on the champs elysees moments ago. here in the uk, the new year arrives as the country is battling a record number of coronavirus infections. most celebrations across the country have been cancelled, including the famous london fireworks. earlier, i spoke to our correspondents james shaw in edinburgh and emma vardy in belfast. i asked them if this year's celebration is a very different one. that's right. edinburgh's hogmanay party is recognised around the world as one of the biggest, most exciting, most lively new year's parties you can go to. people come from around the world to be here

at this time normally — but not tonight. and looking at scenes around me, it really is extraordinary. it's such a strange atmosphere, looking down the royal mile in front of me with edinburgh castle behind me. everything is so quiet, just 1—2 people out, seeing, i suppose, if anything is going on, perhaps looking at the illumination of the castle. but on the main shopping street through the centre of edinburgh, there would be 80,000 people, soundstages the length of the street, a big concert going on in the city park next door to that main street. events all over the city, fireworks at midnight — none of that at all tonight. the only official event happening tonight is a lone ppper will appear on the ramparts of edinburgh castle just before midnight to play in the new year. and the scottish government is crystal clear about what people should do — stay at home only with your own household, don't party in any

way indoors or outdoors with other people. and similarly from police scotland, they have said they will advise and encourage people to obey and follow the restrictions. and if they don't, as an ultimate sanction, there are pretty hefty fines which could be imposed. so it is so strange, simon, that in this year of coronavirus which has been so difficult, it ends in this quiet, subdued, strange way in edinburgh, almost the capital of new year's celebrations, with everyone wondering what next year will be like here and in the rest of the world. indeed, that's what we're all asking. emma in belfast, a very similar mood, i would guess? that's right, a very, very deserted town centre here for new year's eve. belfast doesn't have any official fireworks like edinburgh, london usually would. but this is usually a very lively city.

right now, northern ireland is in the first of six weeks of lockdown, and this first week has the tightest restrictions yet. there's an 8pm curfew, people mustn't go out after 8pm except for those essential workers, of course. so the streets will be very bare in town centres across northern ireland tonight. there's just a few buses around here now taking essential workers to and from their shift. of course, you can see the city centre is lit upjust as beautifully as any other night, but it will be very still and very silent across northern ireland. and there have been some very stark warnings from the health minister here, who's said to people, "don't even think about having any house parties behind closed doors," so—called super spreader events, he said, "that could actually cost lives." and while it'll be very quiet here inside our hospitals in northern ireland it's a very different story. lots of hospitals here operating overcapacity, lots of warnings about the pressures.

and northern ireland has seen record numbers of covid—19 cases recorded over the last few days. that's why we've heard that very stark warning from the health minister today. so really, the only options for people is sitting home, finishing off the christmas food, watching bbc news perhaps on the television, maybe a few zoom calls with people, wishing people a happy new year and hoping that 2021 will be different in a number of ways. 0ur correspondent vivienne nunis is in dover. 0ver her shoulder we can see the last ferry to leave the port before the eu in the uk part ways. that's right, this will be the last ferry with lorries on board to depart from the port of and arrive in calais before the end of the transition period, before that uk and eu's

trading relationship changes profoundly. tonight at 11pm the uk leaves the single market and customs union. we had a free trade deal signed in the last few days, meaning there won't be extra taxes or ta riffs there won't be extra taxes or tariffs on goods moving across the border, and there will be closures either. but there'll be lots more bureaucracy and red tape, customs declarations and other regulatory standards that will need to be met for the first time in many years. and of course, many people wonder who on earth is on that boat? there will be very different rules when they want to come back. that's right, for these hollow years, they really got the last chance to get in before the new paperwork, the new system before the new paperwork, the new syste m co m es before the new paperwork, the new system comes into place. there was a slight delay with this very leaving, perhaps they were trying to squeeze it as many trucks as they could. after this it will be a very new regime, a very new set of rules, and haul years arriving tomorrow morning

will be dutch have been told by the british government not to come if they haven't got there paperwork in order, to turn back because that could cause disruption and delays. i've just lost connection to there. i was just to leave her anyway. the united kingdom will soon complete its transition from the european union's single market and customs union, bringing an end to a partnership that lasted almost 50 years. legislation to ratify the uk's post—brexit relationship with the eu became law early this morning. 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth reports. it's almost five years since this moment, the date set for a referendum that would change the country's course. one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes. fast forward through what came next. there were campaigns, promises, heated protests. prolonged negotiations, high—profile resignations. the country i love. behave yourself! parliament paralysed as westminster wrangled,

then another public verdict and, after this testing year, a last—minute trade deal — a political win for the prime minister. the essential purpose of this bill is to accomplish something that the british people always knew in their hearts could be done. for businesses, it means change as of tonight. this butterfly farm in stratford—upon—avon exports species across the eu. they have been preparing for no checks and paperwork but even with such a deal that is uncertainty. this brexit malarkey should have been sorted out in the summer then we could have asked the nitty—gritty questions to people that might know some answers. my frustration is nobody has known anything. the issue that has so divided here will no longer dominate but it will not disappear entirely. they will still be things to settle as the practicalities we left the eu back in january, but things broadly stayed the same — until now. as of 11pm tonight, the changes in our relationship with the eu

will start to take effect. the way we trade, travel, work, our immigration system. there might have felt like some false starts before but this is the moment when we start to understand what brexit really does mean. what was promised in 2016 by the leave campaign does not exist. for those who have campaigned on both sides, sometimes for decades, this a moment to mark. ijust wish i was 21 again, frankly, because, my goodness, what prospects lie ahead of us for young people now to be out there buccaneering, trading, dominating the world again. i'll be feeling a sense of regret, as will many people in the country, and others will feel elated by what's happened and that's a reflection of the division. but we now have to move on and come back together as a country. the ports and borders may be the first to feel the impact in coming days and weeks. but whether time for rejoicing, regret or resignation this is the start of a wider change in our relationship with those

across the channel. alex forsyth, bbc news. gibraltar is hours away from seeing in the new year. festivities were threatened to be overshadowed by the uk's imminent departure for the eu. but spain has reached a deal with the uk to maintain free movement to and from gibraltar once the uk formally leaves the eu in less than three hours. one of gibraltar‘s most familiar faces james neish is moments away from broadcasting live across the rock for gbc‘s new year's eve special, and is also a journalist here in the uk. hejoins us now. what will we be seeing in terms of celebrations? well this is a very special night, and normally it would have thousands of people gathered in one of the main squares here. like many other places around the world, it'll be a much quieter affair. but we are going to have a spectacular show on local television with local

artists, keeping everybody company. loads of people self isolating, a spike in cases here in gibraltar, and there is a curfew which still has to come into place. so worker deaths a curfew is in place tonight so everyone must deaths a curfew is in place tonight so everyone must at home. hopefully they will all be watching and will be united through tv and online.|j just want to know with the atmosphere is like? there must be a huge sense of relief, that a big the big noise tonight, because this deal has only just been big noise tonight, because this deal has onlyjust been reached?” big noise tonight, because this deal has onlyjust been reached? i think it's twofold. 0ne has onlyjust been reached? i think it's twofold. one of the things that gibraltar prides itself and very much is that sense of community, that sense of extended family. and that's why it's special for us to be every with everybody in their homes tonight, going into their homes. but as you pointed out in your introduction, talk about negotiations going right up to the buyer, this afternoon that

announcement— gibraltar has also had announcement— gibraltar has also had a voice in these negotiations, and has had a say in the negotiations with the spain in the uk. at midnight tonight, we don't have that cliff edge scenario that everyone has been talking about. there is a deal between gibraltar, spain, and the uk, which means that from midnight, the frontier is not a hard border. but do we know if there will be some sort of border guard on patrol there? will the spanish do that? the chief minister gave a press c0 nfe re nce that? the chief minister gave a press conference and said that is not the case. there are some issues which i think still need to be ironed out. one of the things that will happen is that from tax will have guards at the airport and at the port. we've not been given the details. 0ne the port. we've not been given the details. one of the things to point out is that this is very much an agreement in principle. the clauses that will be in the treaty, this is

not an actual treaty. that will be discussed in the next few weeks, and the idea is to secure that full agreement in the first six months, then there's almost a trial period of four years. but neither spain nor gibraltar are saying what happens after four years. but categorical today, . .. james, after four years. but categorical today,... james, good luck after four years. but categorical today, . .. james, good luck with after four years. but categorical today,... james, good luck with the broadcast and a very happy new year to you. and a happy new year to you too. i'm feeling very underdressed. let's now speak to david dunphy, a property developer and entrepreneur who voted to leave the eu. how are you feeling? here we are a couple hours away from that actually happening. did you ever think we would get this far? i had my doubts, i must admit. it's been a long hall but we made it, and i'm just drinking a glass of champagne to celebrate. i won't interrupt, but presumably you've had a look at the

deal. is it what you hoped it would be it would seem all those years ago that there was that vote? well, the deal was never going to be perfect when you're dealing with the eu. if you look at the deal with china, they didn't want a level playing field or worry about worker's rights than they did with us, probably because we're so close to them. i'm glad wejust left, because we're so close to them. i'm glad we just left, and because we're so close to them. i'm glad wejust left, and i'm sure now we asa glad wejust left, and i'm sure now we as a country, we can be an absolute driver of opportunities in the next ten years for all the young people who will have lots of opportunities to do really, really well. what you think the future will be, looking ahead in five years time, hopefully when things have settled by then? what sort of relationship will there be? we are probably diverse and more from the eu, which i don't think will be a bad thing. we want to trade with them and they want to trade with us. but the rules accused brexiteers of

looking inwardly, but we are looking at the whole world, notjust looking inwardly, but we are looking at the whole world, not just the looking inwardly, but we are looking at the whole world, notjust the eu. so the world as our oyster now and we can trade on our own terms. david, this is an argument the uk has been having for many years. do you think that argument is now done, or do you think we will be revisiting this again and again? now, i hope it's done, and i hope that the people who voted to remain now realise it's done, and realise the opportunities that we can have asa the opportunities that we can have as a sovereign nation, and realise it's a very exciting time for us. we should all really come together it out and leave that all behind, and all the energy they've expended on trying to stop us leaving the eu — if they put half as much energy into making a success of leaving, we will be fantastic. david, you're a property developer in 0xfordshire — realistically, of all the people in business, you be least affected by this. do you have any sense of the frustrations that those who are

saying they will lose business because of this feel this evening? that's not strictly true, because we get plasterboard and plaster from france, roof tile from spain, bricks from eastern europe, so there's a wide range of good material that comes from the eu and that might be slightly affected. but overall if you look at the big picture, instead of me looking at what might affect me orjoe blow, if you look at the general picture, they are much greater for the country as a nation going forward. much more opportunities worldwide. well, it's very good to speak to you, thank you very good to speak to you, thank you very much for that. i am nowjoined from loughbrough in leicestershire by kamal dhutia, the owner of bi europe ltd — a manufacturer of sauces and condiments which exports to ireland and europe. we area we are a couple hours away now, what is your feeling as the uk formally

leaves the 50 year relationship with the eu and its single market? well, it's too feelings. 0ne the eu and its single market? well, it's too feelings. one is sadness that we are leaving the eu, because i voted to remain, but there's been a democratic process and we are leaving. and we are leaving. there's also relief that a deal has been done. it may have been last—minute dot—coms, but the need to make a deal needed to be done. we are leaving ready or not, itjust appears not everybody is ready. absolutely, it is last—minute dot—coms, and the problem is the bureaucracy and the paperwork now thatis bureaucracy and the paperwork now that is required to bring stuff in or out of the uk, and i don't think we are quite ready for this. personally i would prefer that there be some sort of grace period for 30 days or 60 days to allow companies to adapt to the new workings, but it's not there. just give me a sense of how much extra paperwork there will be for a business like yours? let's put it this way — let's say i

order something from europe at this present moment. all they will need to do isjust present moment. all they will need to do is just put a present moment. all they will need to do isjust put a piece present moment. all they will need to do is just put a piece of paper on the consignment, which is a delivery note, and that goes on a lorry and comes constantly, it's not floated. i have this delivery note just to check what's on the vehicle. and then the invoices e—mailed to me. that's what it was before. now what will be required is, from what i understand, and invoice must be produced in advance, a packing list of the items, including commodity codes and weights, etc, a certificate of origination, and if it's foodstuffs, all that has to come to us before the goods have dispatched. we then have to launch this with hmrc to allow a swift passage through the docks. that's just the basics of it all. well, i wish you a happy new year

nevertheless, and we will see how we go. good to talk to you, thank you very much. several hospitals in london and the south—east of england say they are under extreme pressure because of the current record surge in numbers of coronavirus cases. 0ne senior intensive care doctor has gone so far as to accuse anyone who ignores the rules on social distancing as having "blood on their hands". almost 56,000 new cases have been recorded in the uk in the past 2a hours and there've been a further 96a deaths of people who tested positive. here's our health editor hugh pym. a major london hospital today. this critical care unit for covid patients was set up last weekend, in a ward formerly used for patients recovering after major operations. 12 to 14, to 18, it'll 20 by the end of the day. so, that's two a day. and then, we're full. university college hospital is now caring for more than 200 covid patients. numbers are increasing by 5% every day. today, there was a plea to the public to follow social

distancing rules over new year and weeks ahead. what we are really, really on our knees begging is for people to do their part... yeah, to take the pressure off. once again, we're being asked to dig a bit deeper, work a bit... which we are desperately trying to do, but we are shattered. finding enough beds, ventilators and other equipment is one thing, but ensuring there are enough staff to cope with the surge in covid patient numbers is a really big challenge. there are relatively high number is absent because of sickness and the need to self—isolate. and hospital management say there are no easy or instant answers. we are over full capacity. we are doing much more than we usually do. so, it's excessively busy, so you need staff that is actually educated and trained to care for very sick people, and we do not have endless amounts of that

type of staff available. some hospitals in the south—east of england are now so stretched that patients arriving at a&e are being treated in ambulances. and it emerged today that in some cases, covid patients are having to be sent across england for treatment. because in the south—west, we have been less stretched, what we have done is activated systems and processes that we had set up some time ago to find intensive care beds further afield than would normally be the case. so, patients have come both to plymouth and bristol from kent. back at uch, they are creating another ward into an intensive care unit, but they know the 20 beds here will fill quickly, with few in any doubt that january will be even tougher. hugh pym, bbc news. let's look ahead to 2021 now, with the latest part of our series from our expert correspondents. today, it's science. here's our global science correspondent

here's our global science correspondent rebecca morelle. this is going to be a critical year for climate change. the coronavirus pandemic meant that a major un meeting was postponed. now it will take place in 2021, in glasgow, in scotland. nations will be revealing how they intend to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. which means we will find out if their commitments are ambitious enough to stop the worst effects of climate change. scientists say it's vital we push for a greenerfuture, because the window to act is closing fast. up in space, all eyes will be on mars. a trio of spacecraft will soon be arriving at the red planet. the united arab emirates hopes to make history by becoming the first arab nation to put a spacecraft into orbit around mars. china will be entering a new era in space, too, by attempting to land a six—wheeled rover. and nasa is also trying for a first. it will be testing a mini mars helicopter to see if it can fly

in the extremely thin martian air. and lift off! the rise of starliner. and we should also see the launch of a new private spacecraft. following the lead of the us company spacex, the aerospace giant boeing has built the starliner capsule, which will take astronauts to the international space station and back. but an early test flight had problems. so the world will be watching to see if the company can get its spacecraft back on track. also in 2021, the uk's new polar research ship will be heading to the arctic. the vessel, which was almost called boaty mcboatface after a public vote, is now named after the british naturalist sir david attenborough. it will undergo its first ice trials to see if it can operate any tough polar conditions. and if it passes this test, the ship will head to antarctica at the end of the year. another priority for 2021 will be nature. countries will gather in china for the convention

you can get in touch with me on twitter. have a very happy new year. good evening. the sun has set on what was a chilly final day of 2020. temperatures for some barely got above freezing. there was a covering of snow on the ground in places, and this is how it looked from space. this is the recent satellite picture. you can see speckled shower clouds that have been moving across parts of wales and the south west as those showers clear away. we could see some icy stretches here. through the night, we've got a band of cloud with some rain, sleet, and hill snow moving across northern england into north wales. i think it will mostly be over high ground that we see the wintry weather. at lower levels, it'll mainly be rain. some slightly less cold air tied in with that weather system but elsewhere, where we see clear skies particularly, it is going to be a really cold and frosty night. a foggy night, too, and a foggy start to new year's day across parts of east anglia and the south east — perhaps into central—southern england as well.

generally speaking, england and wales will have quite a cloudy day with some patchy rain, sleet, and hill snow at times. brighter skies and sunshine for northern ireland and scotland — albeit with some showers particularly for northern coasts, and temperatures between 3—7 celsius at best. as we move out of friday into saturday, we will keep high pressure to the west of us. low pressure to the east driving up fairly gentle northerly wind, not a particularly windy day on saturday. but that wind will bring some showers into northeast scotland, eastern coasts of england as well, maybe one or two for pembrokeshire and the far south west of england. those showers could be wintry over high ground. a bit of sunshine elsewhere, highs between 1—6 celsius. now, for sunday, a subtle shift in the wind direction. the wind starts to come round to more of a north—easterly. that will feed increasingly showery conditions into eastern areas. those showers again wintry over high ground but with some shelter further west, should be largely dry with some sunshine, another cold day for all of us. and that shift in the wind direction

is because this area of high pressure will be re—orientating itself moving towards the north of the british isles, lower pressure to the south. that is going to drive a pretty strong easterly wind across our shores as we head into next week. it's going to feel quite raw at times, i think, in that wind with some pretty cold air in place. we will see some showers of rain, sleet, and snow particularly across england and wales. brighter for northern ireland and scotland, but staying chilly for all of us.

this is bbc world news. the headlines... the uk will complete its brexit

transition from the european union in less than two hours, bringing an end to nearly half a century of close political and economic links. the new arrangements come into force at midnight, brussels—time. several hospitals in london and the south—east say they are under extreme pressure because of a surge in coronavirus cases. 0ne senior intensive care doctor said anyone who ignores the rules on social distancing has "blood on their hands". wuhan, china has marked the new year with a mass street party one year after first reporting an unknown pneumonia outbreak to the world health organisation. many global celebrations have been scaled back because of coronavirus. in paris, a curfew is in place and thousands of police officers have been deployed to ensure citizens don't gather in the city to celebrate. now on bbc news, 0ur world's anna holligan travels across europe to see how people are getting on their bikes and asks if the surge in cycling is the start