this is bbc news. i'm james reynolds with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. big ben chimes the uk has officially left the european union, bringing an end to a partnership that lasted nearly 50 years. the uk records nearly 56,000 daily cases of coronavirus in the past 2a hours — the highest on record. nhs hospitals are straining under the pressure. i guess we are on i guess we are on oui’ knees begging, for people to do their pa rt begging, for people to do their part and to take the pressure off. sad in a way... and how the younger generation from across the world has been affected by the challenges that 2020 brought.

hello and welcome. the uk has fully left the european union's single market and customs union after the transition period ended exactly two hours ago at 11 o'clock local time. it brought an end to a partnership that lasted almost 50 years. with historic changes to rules on travel, trade, immigration and security. brexit continues to divide public opinion. 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. chant: democracy! now! 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 central 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've been preparing for new checks and paperwork, but even with a trade deal, they say, things are up in the air. this brexit malarkey should've been sorted out in the summer, then we could've asked the nitty—gritty questions to people that might know some answers. my frustration is nobody‘s known anything. the issue that's so divided here will no longer dominate, but it won't disappear entirely. there'll still be things

to settle as the practicalities of brexit kick in. what was promised in 2006 by the leave campaign does not exist. for those who've campaigned on both sides, sometimes for decades, this is a moment to mark. ijust wish i was 2! 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 now the start of much wider change in our long relationship with those across the channel. alex forsyth, bbc news. within minutes of the end

of the transition period, scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon vowed that scotland would be back in the eu soon. she tweeted. .. "scotland will be back soon, europe....keep the light on." in the eu membership referendum held injune 2016, 62% of voters in scotland voted to remain in the european union. but one of those happy about brexit is the conservative mp daniel kawczynski. speaking earlier, the politician said it was a historic moment. i think the most important think i would like to share with your listeners is of course this is the first time in the history of the european union where the people of a particular country have voted international plebiscite and that outcome has been implemented. it is quite extraordinary. any time the people of any european country have had the temerity to vote against european union they have been told they made a mistake and they need to vote again until they get it right so today, if nothing else, it isa so today, if nothing else, it

is a day for democracy and it is a day for democracy and it is very, very important when the people of any country vote ina the people of any country vote in a free and fair election thatis in a free and fair election that is implemented and i am very proud today that the united kingdom is the first country that has stood up for that and is now an independent sovereign nation. most eu leaders however believe the european union and the united kingdom will be worse off as a result of brexit. earlier we spoke to our europe editor katya adler to get the eu's perspective. well, i would say as europe editor, from the eu point of view, there is a lot of relief that the brexit process is over — you know, those endless tense negotiations, that ever—present threat of no—deal, first of all, the no—deal brexit before the divorce deal, which was then finally signed last year, and then no—deal once again, really right up until the last point now with the new trade and co—operation deal. but where there's relief

at the end of the process, there's still a lot of regret about brexit itself. the eu believes that brexit leaves it, the european union, and the united kingdom a lot weaker, but it also sees these relations as ongoing butjust in a different way. in these negotiations that you had to recognise that national sovereignty was a huge issue priority for the government just as the eu was protecting the single market and david frost and his team and michel barnier and his team worked really ha rd to barnier and his team worked really hard to try and square the circle of these two different priorities in these negotiations and both sides felt a fair deal had been struck. that respected those priorities. 0riginally, that eu wa nted priorities. 0riginally, that eu wanted the uk to sign up to a new rulebook to agree to

brussels regulations in order to get this very privileged access if you like to enter single market but david frost and team and the prime minister said no, not going to leave as a member of the european union to sign up because it does not work for us. this new deal says, 0k, work for us. this new deal says, ok, if eitherside diverges or breaks away from the agreed principles, competition rules when it comes to regulations and costs and for example government subsidy, and the other side feels this allows unfair competition can go to an arbitration panel, with all sorts of different mechanisms and say we want to impose tariffs so that is possible in this trade deal so if the uk goes its own way when, the eu can put tariffs on those areas of trade and it

feels it has protected its single market. uk solitary respect and the eu single market protected. that is the theory but eu feels quite defensive. this could be quite a difficult path the two sides are pursuing together but this is where we are so the eu regrets the uk's decision, respect that uk decision and hopes the two sides will remain friendly. the bbc‘s bethany bell is at the port of calais in france to look at the impact on exporters. brexit is now a reality and the authorities here in calais are bracing themselves to see what the impact will be of the new customs formalities and the red tape. the authorities csa they are as prepared as they can be,

—— the authorities here say. they say some maybe more prepared than others and they could be delays and disruptions if truckers do not have the proper documentation. calais is usually important in terms of trade. millions of trucks passed through here and people are concerned to see trade continuing to flow. fears about new custom rules remain, and the government has warned there will be "some disruption" in the coming days and weeks. 0ur economics editor faisal islam gives us his opinion on how things will proceed. the direct effects of european union lot within great britain, that has ended as well. that is what david frost was tweeting about, being free to make its own laws. all of that body has

been copied and pasted into uk law. it has retained european law. it has retained european law but now we get the right to diverges and for the government thatis diverges and for the government that is a great benefit of exit, the freedom to do that, to strike trade deals. —— brexit. the free trading without biggest partner, the eu, everything from a fish to a car, to all the parts going into that car and everything in between. with that coming to an end, there will be — although no taxes — tariffs — there will be new barriers and the governmentjust four hours ago put out its new border operation model with a bunch of case studies about how it would apply to fish exports going from the uk to france. car

parts coming in and there is a lot of new procedures they hope to streamline them and wave them in the first few months but they will be required from customs to exports, safety declarations, rules of origin — the make—up of the parts, all these things that were embraced under the single market and the customs union. the uk has recorded nearly 56,000 daily cases of coronavirus in the past 2a hours — the highest on record — and several nhs hospitals in london and the south—east say they are under extreme pressure due to increasing numbers of people falling seriously ill. 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" and a warning. that this report from our health editor hugh pym contains some flashing images. 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 will be 20 by the end of today, 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 the weeks ahead. what we've really, really, i guess we're on our knees begging, is for people to do their part to take the pressure off. once again, we're being asked to just dig a bit deeper, work a bit harder, which we're all 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 numbers absent because of sickness and the need to self—isolate. and hospital management say there are no easy or instant answers. we're at over full capacity, we're doing much more than what 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's 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 to bristol from kent.

back at uch, they're converting 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. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: despite the covid restrictions around the world, it's still been fireworks and champagne corks to see in 2021. the most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got under way with the introduction of the euro. tomorrow in holland, we're going to use money we picked up in belgium today, and then we'll be in france, and again, it'll be the same money. it's just got to be the way to go. george harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed

at his 0xfordshire home. a 33—year—old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. i think it was good. just good? no, fantastic! that's better! bells toll. this is bbc news. our main headline this hour: the uk has left its partnership with the european union, bringing an end to a relationship that lasted nearly half a century. more on this. some of the things british people have become used to, especially in relation to travelling in the eu, will change now the brexit transition period has ended. so what are the key new rules? 0ur reality check correspondent chris morris explains.

so, with the transition period at an end, we're moving into a new era. brexit actually happened nearly a year ago, but the practical effects only start now, and a lot of the initial attention is going to be on borders. for traders, one really important thing stays the same — no tariffs or taxes on goods crossing between britain and the eu, which is a big relief for many. but there is loads of new bureaucracy, forms to fill in and checks to be done on customs, product standards, food safety and so on. anf if lorries don't have the right paperwork, they won't be allowed across. the government has decided to delay checks on goods coming into the uk for six months. but going into the eu, they start straightaway. as for travellers, because of covid restrictions, most of us aren't going to be able to travel to europe for a while anyway now we're outside the single market, but that's temporary. in the longer term, the big change is that free movement of people is over. so eu citizens lose the automatic right to live,

work and retire in the uk in the future, and uk citizens lose the same rights in europe. you won't need a visa for short—term travel like holidays, but you can't stay in most european countries for more than 90 days in every 180—day period. then there are practical issues. if you have an ehic health insurance card, it will remain valid until it expires. the government is setting up a new uk scheme but it doesn't exist yet, so you might need to get travel insurance. you won't need an international driving permit unless you only have a paper version of the uk licence, but you will need to get a green card to prove you have the right vehicle insurance. and if you want to take your pet to europe, you'll need an animal health certificate from a vet. now, services. there's going to be a lot of change for what is a substantial part of the uk economy. there's not a huge amount in the deal about financial services, beyond an agreement to keep talking about it, so the exact conditions

on which uk companies can operate in europe aren't yet clear. in terms of access, there's better news for uk lawyers who want to work in europe than for uk accountants but there's no longer any automatic recognition of professional qualifications, which is going to make it a lot harder for some people to sell services across the border. and finally, northern ireland is going to have a different relationship with the eu than the rest of the uk. in order to keep the land border open, northern ireland is staying in the eu single market for goods, which means companies in belfast won't face new bureaucracy trading with the eu. but it also means the european court ofjustice still has a role in northern ireland, which doesn't please many brexiteers, and there will be new bureaucracy and checks down the irish sea for trade within the uk between great britain and northern ireland. so there's a lot of change. we haven't even talked about fishing or competition

rights. but a lot in the new agreement is unresolved still, so if you think that talking and negotiation isjust going to stop, think again. chris morris there. around the world, the new year is being welcomed in starkly different circumstances. where coronavirus is the overriding concern, streets are empty of the usual crowds. but in other parts of the world, it's fireworks and champagne corks as usual. here's paul hawkins with a round up. big ben bongs, an hourafter leaving the uk —— the eu behind, the uk left 2020 behind. these were fireworks covid style, all the usual glitz and strictly no crowds and no parties. the message stay at home. it is been very strange because i am used to the fireworks and big crowds and, but it has been very, like, quietand and, but it has been very, like, quiet and there is police everywhere so it is just, like,

it is not likely usable. —— like the usual. in scotland, but opted for this. —— they opted. not fireflies but hogmanay drones, 500 in the air, perfectly synchronised 25 miles an hour. fireworks pop. in germany, there were some fireworks. but again, no crowds. speaks french. while at france, the message was stay at home, there are no fireworks. translation: i was at a friends house around here and i'm going back to mine. there is no metro, we are looking for a bus, we're going back quietly, thatis bus, we're going back quietly, that is it, there is nothing, it is not like it was before, unlike previous years. previous yea rs unlike previous years. previous years here it was great and u nfortu nate years here it was great and unfortunate with covid we are struggling. translation: it is

too bad because especially in this neighbourhood we're used to having a great atmosphere and we don't see that today. it is too bad. australians also stayed indoors. there fireworks we re stayed indoors. there fireworks were cut to seven minutes. while the uae didn't like this. —— did it like this. and in the place where coronavirus began, a new year like usual, the chinese reaping the rewards of tough lockdowns in the zero tolerance approach. no more social distancing. instead, socialising and parties. remember that? paul hawkins, bbc news. 2020 was a difficult year for people of all ages. so how does the younger generation feel the year affected them and their respective futures? the bbc spoke to five young people from around the world. shocking. sad, in a way. is it

a nightmare, or...? guttural and heartbreaking and hopeful. i guess like life changing. a learning experience. i guess like life changing. a learning experiencelj i guess like life changing. a learning experience. i think 2020 was a very terrifying, suffering but very hopeful because we suffered a lot but we made it. i have been alone in malan for lockdown for three months. it has been really, really hard. i mean, i don't like being around so it has been an experience, a change for me. in two ways 2020 has been really shocking. first would obviously be the current coronavirus pandemic. for me personally, because i live in hong kong, the second thing i thought was shocking was the national security law injuly because that was also very life changing. well, because we had lockdowns and stayed home, it

made the world a lot smaller and made people realise the importance of politics or how important politics is when dealing with crisis. i think everyone is still feeling varied degrees of loss and adjustment. we're not out of this, for at least another year, in mind. 2020, you really did seea year, in mind. 2020, you really did see a lot of people banding together and helping out entries or groups of people going out to share packs of food with people that were homeless. and i felt food with people that were homeless. and ifelt that food with people that were homeless. and i felt that was really inspiring. it's going to be hard finding jobs for my generation, maybe for the next yea rs. generation, maybe for the next years. for most young people, theyjust don't know what the future looks like for hong kong. young people in nigeria have so much potential within them. the pandemic, as bad as it was, it did create those avenues. i was able to do things like start my own food blog. a year of a lot of loss and a lot of grief and a lot of rage and sometimes, but pull people apart but a lot of the

time it really, really cements us together. i think health is the mostly important thing. you know, in china, young people have the great pressure of leading the houses, living standards, but we sacrifice our health and we can bring the money to buy graves, doesn't matter anymore. i think the 2021i matter anymore. i think the 2021! need to be more flexible and not have too many plans and expectations. 2020 is the year that everything changed. and i truly believe and feel in my gut, in my heart, in the stars that we are entering into a new era. 2020 has shown the extent of our potential and 2021 is now the time to make good use of that potential. i wish eve ryo ne of that potential. i wish everyone can go back to a

normal life, no matter people in china or in other countries, i hope the virus can, you know, be stopped. happy new year! speaks italian. speaks mandarin. this was the moment that big ben chimed in brussels, marking the point at which the uk completed its transition from the single market and customs union. the uk's chief negotiator lord frost tweeted to say britain has become a fully independent country, deciding our own affairs for ourselves. finally, as the british prime minister celebrates what he calls an amazing moment as the uk severs its ties, borisjohnson's father stanley announced he will apply for french citizenship. mrjohnson's mother was born in france and the 80—year—old remain voters as it was a question of ——

retaining a nationality he believed was always his by birth. stay with bbc news. hello there, a very happy new year to you. what a cold start it is, as well, for the 1st of january 2021. we've got widespread frost this morning, some ice to watch out for. a bit of sunshine as well, but we'll also have a weather front bringing thicker cloud with wintry showers. now this is the weather front bringing cloudy skies to england and wales, northerly wind continuing to feed wintry showers particularly into northern scotland. but there'll be sunshine around. watch out for some icy stretches first thing this morning across the south west of england. some patches of freezing fog in the midlands as well and the south east — this may tend to lift but stay in low cloud. there will be some spots of low rain at time, some sleet and snow over the high ground. probably the best of the dry and bright weather will be across scotland and northern ireland, that is away from northern coasts, which are likely to see further snow showers.

another cold day to come — maybe not as cold as it has been, but still, 4—7 celsius is below the seasonal average. through tonight, it looks like the cloud and showers push southwards. further showers will affect coastal areas, but many inland areas will see clear skies and lighter winds. a very cold night with widespread frost in places, also some icy stretches to watch out for. so, into the first part of the weekend, we hold on to high pressure to the west of us, lower pressure to the east, so we maintain this northerly airflow. that will continue to feed showers into coastal areas. wintry showers over any higher ground, but inland areas should tend to stay dry with good spells of sunshine. but it'll be another cold day on saturday, temperatures range from around freezing to 5—6 celsius closer to the coasts. 0nto part two of the weekend, we start to see a slight shift in wind direction — higher pressure to the north, low pressure to the near continent. that'll start to feed in a north—easterly wind across the country, driving showers into north sea coasts,

a few of them pushing inland as well. and they will be wintry, especially across the high ground. so probably the best of any dry and bright weather will be across southern, northern and western areas — again, a cold day to come when you factor in the strong north—easterly breeze, it could feel quite raw. and that breeze just picks up further as we head into next week, a stronger easterly which will feed in thicker cloud, outbreaks of rain at times particularly across southern and eastern parts of england. you'll notice it stays quite cold, particularly when you factor in the strong easterly wind.

this is bbc news,

the headlines: the uk has now officially left the european union, ending nearly 50 years of eu membership. the trade deal agreed by the two sides on christmas eve will avoid the need for import taxes or tariffs. but there will be new customs rules and checks for countries to adopt. nearly 56,000 daily cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the uk in the past 2a hours — the highest on record. several nhs hospitals in london and the south—east say they are under extreme pressure due to increasing numbers of people falling seriously ill. around the world, the new year has been welcomed with fireworks displays, despite the coronavirus restrictions. but, where covid—19 is the overriding concern, streets have been empty of the usual crowds, with people told to stay home and watch on their televisions. elsewhere, there was for many people champagne.