this is bbc news, the headlines: the uk has now ended its partnership with the european union, ending a relationship of almost half a century. the trade deal agreed by the two sides on christmas eve will avoid the need welcome to bbc news. for import taxes or tariffs. i'm james reynolds. but there will be new customs our top stories: rules and checks for big ben chimes countries to adopt. nearly 56,000 daily cases the uk has left its partnership of coronavirus have been with the european union, recorded in the uk bringing an end to a in the past 2a hours — relationship that lasted the highest on record. nearly half a century. nearly 56,000 daily cases of coronavirus several nhs hospitals in london are recorded in the past and the south east say 2a hours in the uk — they are under extreme pressure due to increasing numbers the highest on record. of people falling the health service is straining seriously ill. under the pressure. i guess we are on our around the world, the new year knees begging, is for people to do their part, has been welcomed with fireworks displays, despite the coronavirus restrictions. yeah, to take the pressure off. fireworks displays, despite the coronavirus restrictions. but, where covid—19 is the overriding concern, london rings in the new year streets have been empty with a spectacular of the usual crowds, with people told to stay home fireworks display covid—style — and watch on their televisions. without the customary crowds elsewhere there was champagne. lining the river thames. shocking. sad in a way... we look at how the younger generation from across the world

has been affected by the hurdles of 2020. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. as a new year begins, the uk is starting a new relationship with the european union, following the end of the brexit transition period a couple of hours ago. the agreement between westminster and brussels has 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 british public opinion, four years after a closely—fought referendum paved the way for the uk's departure. 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. minutes after the end of the transition period, scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon had a message for the eu. "scotland will be back soon, europe," she tweeted, "keep the light on." in the 2016 brexit referendum, 62% of voters in scotland voted to remain in the european union. most eu leaders believe the european union and the united kingdom will be worse off as a result of brexit. 0ur europe editor katya adler is in brussels. 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 as i say, the eu said that it respects the 2016 vote to leave the european union, even though it regrets it. in these negotiations, the eu had to recognize that national sovereignty was a huge issue priority for the government, just as the eu's priority was protecting the single market. and david frost and his team and michel barnier and his team they worked really hard to try and square the circle of these two very different priorities in these negotiations and both sides then said they felt at the end that a fair deal had been struck that respected those priorities. and how is that? well, of course, originally, that eu wanted the uk to sign up to a new rulebook,

if you like, to agree to keep to brussels regulations in order to get this very privileged access if you like to its single market but david frost and team and the prime minister said no, we're not going to leave as a member of the european union to sign up to this new brussels rulebook, that just does not work for us. so what this new deal does is it says, 0k, if either side diverges or breaks away from the agreed principles, so competition rules if you like, when it comes to environmental regulations and costs, labour regulations, for example, or government subsidy, so state aid. and the other side, if they feel this allows unfair competition, can go to an arbitration panel, there's all sorts of different mechanisms in this deal, and say, look, we want to impose tariffs as a result. so that is possible in this trade deal. so if the uk goes its own way when it comes to those kind of regulations, the eu can put tariffs on those areas of trade and it feels it has protected

its single market as a result. and the eu single market protection respected as well. that is the theory but the eu goes in to this feeling quite defensive because it feels the government will want to pull away and will want to diverge and the eu will want to protect so 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, it says, and hopes that the two sides will remain friendly. this was the reaction of some people on the streets of brussels to the uk's departure. it isa it is a shame, a big shame, that it has had to go down like that. i think it is absolutely nonsense that they go away from

europe. i kind of feel sad about it. i do not know what they are doing, what our relationship is going to be in the future so how we can go to england, you know, because i simply would need a passport now. we will not be able to travel or go to england as easily as we could have done before. i think it is just a shame really, because it was so easy to go, to exchange. shame really, because it was so easy to go, to exchangelj respect easy to go, to exchange.” respect the british people's decision but at the same time i think it is a pity. it almost seems impossible after the years of arguing and

conflict but it is an unprecedented new trade border within the uk itself, the irish sea border is a new reality and really this is a real test now, because the polls in northern ireland have been scrambling to get ready for these changes and don't forget a lot of the practices that had to be agreed we re practices that had to be agreed were only really agreed in the last few weeks are businesses and people at the ports had months and months of uncertainty about the test is now. it kicks in. it marks a huge change for northern ireland and there's been a lot of work to do for a lot of businesses who get goods in from great britain and bring goodsin from great britain and bring goods in from the irish sea to get their paperwork in order and see if they could fit into this system. one of the big questions is will it put off businesses to ship into northern ireland and that it is too much hassle. we are only going to find out how it looks in reality in the weeks and months to come.

0ur scotland correspondent, james shaw, is in edinburgh scottish people voted against brexit and it reflects the government view this is a bad deal, offender deal, they are against brexit as such by their argument is this deal takes scotla nd argument is this deal takes scotland out of the customs union, out of the single market and therefore it is a bad deal for scotland. 0ne and therefore it is a bad deal for scotland. one of the other things are concerned is the uk government internal market legislation which is designed to create a level playing field for business but the scottish government says it cuts across powers which should be repatriated to scotland as part of brexit but i think the big issueis of brexit but i think the big issue is how ordinary people feel about this deal stop does it affect businesses and jobs? does it affect people's ability to travel? does it affect food prices? and maybe all these

everyday issues is the future of scotland, independent or not and that is the question that would be resolved over the next months or years, what difference brexit makes about how people in scotland feel about independence. to other news — the uk has recorded nearly 56 thousand daily cases of coronavirus in the past 2a hours — the highest number on record. several nhs hospitals in london and the south—east say they are under extreme pressure. 0ne intensive care doctor has gone so far as to accuse anyone who ignores the rules on social distancing as having "blood on their hands." awarning — 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:

a dazzling light and fireworks show as london rings in 2021, but with a few covid—style differences. 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 oxfordshire 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. the latest headlines: the uk has left its partnership with the european union, bringing an end to a relationship that lasted nearly half a century. more now on this. the end of the transition period means that british citizens will have to get used to a new set of rules when they go to the eu. so what are the key new rules? 0ur reality check correspondent chris morris takes us through them. 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. and 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 straight away. 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 is just going to stop, think again. i will! chris morris. 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 celebrations as usual. here's paul hawkins with a round up. big ben bongs an hour after leaving the eu behind, the uk left 2020 behind. these were fireworks covid—style — all the usual glitz but strictly no crowds and no parties. the message — stay at home. it's been very strange because obviously, i am used to, like, the fireworks, the big crowds but it has been very, like, quiet and there's police everywhere so it is just, like, it is not like the usual. in scotland, they opted for this. not fireflies, but hogmanay drones — 500 foot in the air, perfectly synchronised 25 miles an hour.

fireworks pop in germany, there were some fireworks but again, no crowds. announcement in french while at france, the message was "stay at home, there are no fireworks". translation: i was at a friend's house around here and i'm going back to mine. there's no metro, we are looking for a bus and we're going back very quietly. that is it — there is nothing. it is not like it was before, not like the previous years. previous years here, it was great. unfortunately 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's too bad. australians also stayed indoors — their fireworks were cut to seven minutes — while the uae did it like this.

and in the place where coronavirus began, it was new year like usual — the chinese reaping the rewards of tough lockdowns and a zero tolerance approach. no more social distancing. instead, socialising and parties. remember that? paul hawkins, bbc news. all around the world, the uk and around the world, there are different celebrations. can you guess where these four people are? one guess, rio. copacabana. but there won't be the traditional new year's fireworks which have been cancelled because of the pandemic although restrictions which are in place are reportedly being largely ignored across the country. in previous years, it would have been packed out but now there are sorry but rule —

obeying clumps of people. 2020 was a difficult year for people of all ages. how does the younger generation feel about that rather cursed year? the bbc spoke to five young people from around the world. 0of! shocking. sad, in a way, and... is it a nightmare, or...? guttural and heartbreaking and hopeful. 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 milan for lockdown for three months. it has been really, really ha rd. i mean, i don't like being alone, so it has been an experience, like a bad experience for me. in two ways, 2020 has been really shocking. first would obviously be

the current coronavirus pandemic. for me personally, like, because i live in hong kong, i say the second thing that was really shocking would be the national security law in july, because that was also very life—changing. well, because we had to lockdowns and stay home, it really made the world a lot smaller. it made young people realise the importance of politics or how important politics is when dealing with crisis. i think everyone is still feeling varying degrees of loss and adjustment. we're not out of this for at least another year, in my mind. 2020, especially during the pandemic, you really did see a lot of people banding together and helping out. you saw groups of people going out to share packs of food with people that were homeless, and i thought that that was really inspiring. it's going to be hard, like, finding jobs for my 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. like, the pandemic, as bad as it was, it did create that avenue and space. i was able to do things like start my own food blog. it's both been a year of a lot of loss and a lot of grief and a lot of rage and sometimes, that pulls 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 living — you know, all the houses, cars, living standards, but sometimes, we sacrificed our health. we cannot bring the money to buy graves, you know? it doesn't matter anymore. i think for 2021, ijust 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 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 portuguese speaks cantonese finally, back to brexit. this was the scene as big ben chimed 11pm at westminster, midnight in brussels... big ben bongs ..and the brexit transition period ended, marking the point at which the united kingdom completed its transition from the european union's single market and customs union, bringing an end to a partnership that lasted almost 50 years. the uk's chief brexit negotiator lord frost has tweeted to say "britain has

become a fully independent country again — deciding our own affairs for ourselves". you can reach me on twitter. i'm @jamesbbcnews. stay with us as we follow the new year around the world. 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 some wintry showers. now this is the weather front which will bring cloudier skies to england and wales, northerly wind continuing to feed through wintry showers, particularly into northern scotland. but, like i mentioned, there will be sunshine around. watch out for some icy stretches first thing this morning across the south west of england. there'll be some patches of freezing fog as well in the midlands and the south east — this may tend to lift but stay in low cloud. there will be some spots of light rain at time, perhaps 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, where we're 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. now, as we head on through tonight, it looks like the cloud and the showers push southwards. further showers will affect coastal areas, but many inland areas will see clear skies, lighter winds, so it's gonna be another very cold night. a 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 and that'll continue to feed showers into coastal areas. wintry showers, that is certainly over any higher ground, but inland areas should tend to stay dry with good spells of sunshine, but it's going to be another cold day on saturday — temperatures range from around freezing to 5 or 6 celsius closer to the coast. as we head on to 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, and that'll drive showers into north sea coasts, a few of them

pushing inland as well, and they will be wintry, especially over the high ground, so probably the best of any dry and bright weather will be across southern, northern and western areas — and again, a cold day to come. when you factor in the stronger north—easterly breeze, it could feel quite raw. and that breeze just picks up further as we head on 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, and you'll notice it will stay quite cold, particularly when you factor in the strong easterly wind. 00:28:58,588 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 bells toll.