this is bbc news. i'm james reynolds. our top stories: big ben bongs the uk has left its partnership with the european union, bringing an end to a relationship that lasted nearly half a century. nearly 56,000 daily cases of coronavirus are recorded in the past 2a hours in the uk — the highest on record — the health service is straining under the pressure. i guess we are on our knees begging, is for people to do their part to, yeah, to take the pressure off. london rings in the new year with a fireworks display, covid style, without the customary crowds 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.

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. — 4.5 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... all 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 —— what was promised in 2016 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 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 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. we've been hearing some reaction to the uk's departure from the eu from people on the streets of brussels. it is a shame — a big shame — that it has had to go down like that. i think so, too. i think that it is absolutely nonsense that they go away from europe. i kind of feel sad about it. yeah, 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.

yeah, it's a bit of a shame that we will not be able to travel or go to england as easily as we could have done before. i think it isjust a shame, really, because it was so easy to go, to exchange, with all the people there. i respect the british people's decision but at the same time, i think it is a pity. many eu leaders believe the european union and the uk will be worse off as a result of brexit. 0ur europe editor katya adler is also 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 —— in these negotiations, the eu had to recognise 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, 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, the 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, 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, thatjust does not work for us. so what this new deal does is it says, 0k, well, if either side diverges — so breaks away from the agreed principles, sort of competition rules if you like, so when it comes to environmental regulations and costs, labour regulations, for example, or government subsidy, so state aid. and then 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 does go its own way when it comes to those kind

of regulations, the eu can put tariffs on those areas of trade and it feels that it has protected its single market as a result. uk sovereignty respected 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 the —— so the eu regrets the uk's decision, respects the uk decision, it says, and hopes that the two sides will remain friendly. katya adler in brussels. the bbc‘s bethany bell is at the port of calais in france. 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 here say

they are as prepared as they can be, that they have been practising, but they say a lot is also down to individual exporters and companies. they say some may be more prepared than others and that they are worried there could be delays and disruptions if truckers have not got the proper documentation. calais is hugely important in terms of trade between britain and the eu. millions of trucks pass through here every year and people are concerned to see trade continuing to flow. bethany bell in calais. to other news — the uk has recorded nearly 56,000 daily cases of coronavirus in the past 2a hours — that's the highest number on record. several nhs hospitals in london and the south east say they are currently under extreme pressure. 0ne intensive care doctor warns that anyone who ignores the rules on social distancing has "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 it fills up about time? and then we're full. —— and then it fills up at that time? 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 world 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. the uk voted to leave the eu injune 2016. the four and a half years since that brexit vote have been filled with political

upheaval and turmoil. brussels correspondent nick beake looks back at how britain got here. speaks french speaks german the uk stunned the european union injune 2016 by voting to leave. it's an earthquake that has happened. independence day! cheering david cameron, the prime minister who offered the referendum, resigned. the british people have made a very clear decision to take a different path. theresa may stepped up. brexit means brexit, and we're going to make a success of it. but it wasn't that simple. it was to become a long and arduousjourney with high drama here in brussels and back in the uk. and along the way, certain faces and phrases would become very familiar. you can't have your

cake and eat it, too. they're cherry—picking. michel barnier was appointed the eu's chief negotiator for agreeing a divorce deal. his opposite numbers would come and go. david davis, dominic raab, david barclay, david frost... it was all a sign of how brexit split the government, families and the country as a whole. in 2017, theresa may lost her parliamentary majority. a year later, she was still trying to manoeuvre towards a deal. the eu was sometimes in step, but often not. there is no room whatsoever for renegotiation. eventually, the two sides settled the uk's final bill, citizens‘ rights and the solution for avoiding a hard border on the island of ireland. but the british parliament rejected the deal three times, much to the fury of brussels. i've been wondering

what the special place in hell looks like for those who promoted brexit without even a sketch of a plan on how to carry it safely. by the summer of 2019, theresa may's time was up. with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country i love. new pm borisjohnson finally rammed home a brexit deal after winning a snap election. british meps said goodbye to the european parliament and, in january this year, the uk officially left the eu, although would abide by the rules in the transition period for the rest of 2020. so now is the time to come together and write a new and exciting chapter in our national story, to forge a new partner with our european friends, to stand tall in the world,

to in the world, to begin the healing! but no—one could have predicted what happened next — just as talks were getting under way to find another deal, a trade agreement between the uk and the eu, coronavirus struck. diplomacy through masks continued, but big differences emerged on trade competition rules, fishing, and how to resolve future disputes. an agreement between the uk and the european union seems unlikely. the eu has found it difficult to accept that the uk is a sovereign equal. but with the pandemic pummelling european economies, leaders reached out. and finally, a brexit trade deal was done. nick beake, bbc news, brussels. around the world, the new year is being welcomed in rather 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. hello, 2021. the famous copacabana beach in rio de janeiro. last year three million people rang in the new year, this year the beach party was cancelled, with only nearby residents allowed access and public firework displays cancelled. big ben chimes an hour after leaving the eu behind, the uk left 2020 behind. these were fireworks covid—style — some live, some pre—recorded. 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 at 25mph. in the netherlands and here in germany, there were some private fireworks depsite a temporary government ban. in france it was a similar story. 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. ido i do remember! now, where is this? let's show you what's happening in new york at the moment. this is the scene in times square, where in around half an hour's time the famous glass ball will drop to herald the start of the new year. normally, the square would be packed but this year no crowds at all. although the traditonal show for the millions of people watching on tv at home is going ahead as usual. 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 six young people from around the world. 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 adjustments. 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 our 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! felice anno nuovo! feliz ano novo! gong hei fat choy! hgppy happy new year to them too. the entertainment industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, but the film business is hoping a slate of blockbuster movies will lure people back into cinemas in 2021. gail maclellan reports. if we don't do this... there will be nothing left to he's back in april... well, maybe. the studios have been hesitant to announce opening dates for any of the mass of busters they have up their sleeves. movie theatres struggled throughout 2020, with takings down 80% on the previous year. two—thirds of cinemas in the united states

and canada remain closed. the biggest market for hollywood films. the studios planned to send theatres a lineup of big budget movies that were yanked from the 2020 schedule. 50 we're from the 2020 schedule. 50 we're upa from the 2020 schedule. 50 we're up a master thief, assassin. who is he? they are hoping that audiences will be drawn away from live streaming options by the large screen theatre experience, but the schedules have been repeatedly shovelled as they try to judge when the pandemic will fade. the new year might see comedies, animated films and a raft of very famous faces... well, actually not a raft, a boat with a murderer on board. and there are great hopes for a new version of an 80s classic. but the optimism is guarded as covid infections continue to rise, and the rollout of vaccines said to take many months. gail mclennan, abc news

-- bbc months. gail mclennan, abc news —— bbc news. do stay with us. hello there, a very happy new year to you. what a cold start it is as well for the first 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. a 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 degrees 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 going to 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. 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 five or six 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 higher ground, so probably the best of any dry and bright weather will be across southern, northern and western areas. and again, another cold day to come. when you factor in the stronger north—easterly breeze, it could feel quite raw. 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.

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 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 21! 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 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. now on bbc news, it's hardtalk.