this is bbc news with the headlines. celebrations are under way in the united arab emirates as the clock strikes midnight. this is the scene there live. we'll bring you more of that in a moment. entire neighbourhoods in the us state of colorado have been engulfed by flames as wildfires force tens of thousands to leave their homes. many families having minutes, minutes to get whatever they could — their pets, their kids — into the car and leave. the nhs warns of significant pressure in the coming weeks as covid infections in the uk reach a new high. the staff that are at work will be caring for more patients, trying to do more to cover for their missing colleagues, working extra hours,

starting early, finishing late. the pressure will be immense. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk, on pbs in the us or around the world. before we moved to today's news, let's go to the city of ras al khaimah in the united arab emirates, where they are attempting a world record fireworks display. they're bidding to set a new guinness record for the most fireworks launched from drones which are airborne. they also want to set a second record for the highest drone fireworks display.

usually, we're seeing the firework and laser show in dubai at the top of the world's tallest building, but we're showing you today this record—breaking attempt in ras al khaimah. fireworks being launched from more than 130 platoons. those drones are part of this world record double attempt in ras al khaimah in the united arab emirates. a stunning

display. as these occasions always are. the current record for the most unmanned aerial vehicles launching fireworks simultaneously is 303. it was set in south korea in october 2020. we'll have more on the celebrations of the new year around the world shortly. the governor of the us state of colorado says has pledged to help residents who've lost everything to rebuild their lives, after sudden wildfires destroyed 500 homes. tens of thousands of people were evacuated as the fires tore through suburban areas of boulder county on thursday. gary 0'donoghue has this report. winds of more than 100 mph drove the flames across more than 1600 acres of suburban colorado, which would normally have snow on the ground at this time of year. the fires spread quickly through homes and businesses, leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.

the emergency services did their best, but the sheer speed of the fire took everyone by surprise. coming down this road, the ditches and things and the trees, they're all up in flames. like, there's embers everywhere. packed myself, my cat and... just keep our fingers crossed. local officials declared a state of emergency, unlocking federal funds to help fight the blaze, and the governor spoke to president biden. this was a disaster in fast motion, lall over the course of half a day, i nearly all the damage, - many families having minutes, minutes to get whatever they could — their pets, i their kids — into the car and leave. the last 24 hours have been devastating. - remarkably, no one died in the fires, and as dawn broke on friday, winds had significantly dropped and a forecast of snow

should reduce the chances of any flare—ups — leaving the thousands of families to count the cost of a handful of hours that have devastated their lives. gary 0'donoghue, bbc news. we can speak now to the leader of colorado's senate majority, steve fenberg. he's in boulder. senator, we appreciate your time and the circumstances. i think the number of homes destroyed is going up number of homes destroyed is going up all the time. give us the situation there now. thanks for havin: situation there now. thanks for having me- _ situation there now. thanks for having me- it — situation there now. thanks for having me. it really _ situation there now. thanks for having me. it really is - situation there now. thanks for having me. it really is an - situation there now. thanks for i having me. it really is an unheard of and unprecedented situation. as you heard, the governor said the devastation was a matter of hours, and we're now getting a much better sense of what lies in what remains in these neighbourhoods. the perimeter of the fire has now been

estimated to be about 6000 acres. we think there are about 2000 homes within that region, upwards of 1000 could be burned to the ground. i was able to do a flyover early this morning, and do a little bit of a tour of some of the areas, and it's absolutely devastating. entire neighbourhoods and subdivisions gone, nothing left of them. it really is an unprecedented disaster. we're used to wildfires and natural disasters in colorado. living in mother nature. but this one is different given the time of year. also given the fact that this really ripped through a suburban and an urban area, which is unusual. what urban area, which is unusual. what are the conditions _ urban area, which is unusual. what are the conditions like _ urban area, which is unusual. what are the conditions like right now for fighting these wildfires? with some strong winds have been fanning the flames. some strong winds have been farming

the flames. ., �* , ., �* , the flames. you're right, but that's actually the — the flames. you're right, but that's actually the strangest _ the flames. you're right, but that's actually the strangest part. - actually the strangest part. yesterday we had record wins. it was a warm, dry day. unseasonably warm. it's been dry for months. we've had very little moisture, and that's what created it —— record winds. we woke up this morning to snow, and it's cold outside and it feels like december. so the fires are actually not entirely, but essentially out. they won't grow any more. there are still embers and some structures that are going to continue to burn—out, but there is no real risk of the fire growing or spreading to new properties because of the temperature change and the moisture, which is great. unfortunately, power is out in large swathes of the area, so that means yesterday, we were fighting fires. today, we are going

to be racing to get power back on so we don't have a massive amount of frozen pipes all across this region. as you say, it's bizarre to have such a mild day yesterday, to have snow today. do you have any doubt in your mind that what you are seeing in the state is connected to climate change? in the state is connected to climate chance? ., �* , in the state is connected to climate chance? ., �*, ., in the state is connected to climate chane? ., �*, ., ., , in the state is connected to climate chance? ., �*, ., ., , ., change? no. there's no doubt that this was exacerbated _ change? no. there's no doubt that this was exacerbated in _ change? no. there's no doubt that this was exacerbated in a - change? no. there's no doubt that this was exacerbated in a much - change? no. there's no doubt that i this was exacerbated in a much more —— and made much more intense because of climate change. it's very normal in colorado to have a 60 degrees day, and the next day, it's snowing. that's not that unusual. that's the claimant we live in. —— claimant. the part fuelled by climate change is this intense windstorm. but we know from climate change that these storms are happening more frequently and are much more intense. and that happened

at the same time that we are experiencing extreme drought and we have had very little rainfall and snowfall yet this year, so it really created a perfect storm. we may have had a fire in the fall perhaps. 0ctober would've been very unusual, but it has happened. december 30, having a fire that spreads this fast because of such dry conditions is very unusual and absolutely impacted and exacerbated because of climate impacts. and exacerbated because of climate im acts. . . and exacerbated because of climate imacts. ,, ., ,, ., ., ,, impacts. state senator steve fenber: , impacts. state senator steve fenberg, thank _ impacts. state senator steve fenberg, thank you - impacts. state senator steve fenberg, thank you very - impacts. state senator steve l fenberg, thank you very much. impacts. state senator steve - fenberg, thank you very much. thanks for havin: fenberg, thank you very much. thanks for having me- — let's get more on those new year celebrations which have been taking place across the world — this is the how hong kong rang it in.

happy new year! so it's now 2022 in asia, while people in africa and europe are just a few hours away from seeing the new year arrive, too. however, in many places, the celebrations will be muted as governments try to discourage crowds coming together to counter the spread of covid. in london, the mayor, sadiq khan, has urged people to stay home or to exercise caution if they do head out tonight. it's really important, if you've not got a lateral flow test at home and you're not vaccinated, you think very, very carefully about whether you go out tonight. it's possible to get a lateral flow test today from local pharmacists, from libraries. i checked this morning. there were a lateral flow tests available in some local pharmacies where i live and also my local library was providing tests this morning. check, if you've not got a flow test, where you can get one, from your local pharmacy today before you go out. if you are going out, please do a lateral flow test before you go out because you may have the virus and not show symptoms. how would you feel if you went out and passed on the virus

or you brought it home? when you come home, if not tonight and tomorrow, do another lateral flow test, because you may have caught the virus. it's really important we recognise this variant is spreading very, very fast and it's doubling at exponential rates. 0k, and for people at home watching the tv tonight, what can they expect? how can they enjoy their new year? can ijust say, tonight's live spectacular show will be the best ever. the only way to really appreciate it is by watching on bbc one. you'll have 13 minutes of brilliance. live performances, looking back at the defining moments of 2021. we're going to be showcasing some of the brilliant things happening in 2022. it's going to be brilliant. jean mackenzie is in trafalgar square in central london for us now. jean, what's it like there? for the second year _

jean, what's it like there? for the second year in — jean, what's it like there? for the second year in a _ jean, what's it like there? for the second year in a row, _ jean, what's it like there? for the second year in a row, the - jean, what's it like there? for the second year in a row, the major. second year in a row, the major public display has been cancelled. the plan was to have a smaller party here at trafalgar square that would be the key workers, but as those cases started rupturing and informing —— alarming rate, even this was too much of her risk tonight. the square behind me now has been completely closed off. people can't even congregate here. people can't even congregate here. people are being urged to stay at home and watching on tv, but none of this actually stops people here in england from going out tonight because they are not any restrictions on socialising. as you can see, a lot of people have come up. it's getting busier by the hour. the advice to people heading out tonight is to take a lateral flow test before they go out. people who go clubbing will have to show proof of vaccination, but they are the

only restrictions. the only difference tonight is how warm it is here today in london. it's up 15 degrees. it should not feel like this on the 31st of december, so the hope this could encourage people to opt for the pub garden rather than the pub tonight.— the pub tonight. thank you very much. the pub tonight. thank you very much- jean _ the pub tonight. thank you very much. jean mackenzie. - the pressure on the health service in the uk has been brought into sharp focus by the latest official figures on staff absences related to covid. they increased in acute nhs trusts in england up by more than 40% during christmas week. an average of more than 25,000 health workers were off sick or isolating every day. the latest estimates from the office for national statistics suggest that one in 30 people in the uk tested positive for covid in the period before christmas. 0ur health correspondent katherine da costa reports. most nhs staff will be glad to see the back of 2021. nearly two years into this pandemic, many are exhausted.

a spike in covid cases is driving a rise in staff sickness. in england, london is worst affected with about 4% of staff in acute trusts absent for covid—related reasons in the week before christmas, up nearly 60% on the week before. many feel it's impacting on patient care. the staff that are at work will be caring for more patients, trying to do more to cover for their missing colleagues, working extra hours, starting early, finishing late. the pressure will be immense. in the latest infection survey from the 0ns, infections increased across the uk to their highest level on record in the week to christmas eve. in england, one in 25 had the virus. in scotland, wales and northern ireland it was one in a0. infections doubled in a week in london. one in 15 tested positive. but there were big rises too in the north—west, yorkshire and the humber and west midlands. other regions weren't far behind.

statisticians say infections are twice the level they were this time last winter in england because they're being fuelled by the more infectious 0micron variant. across all age groups we are seeing increases but particularly driven by those young age groups, we've seen increases among school—age children fairly recently, particularly from nursery through to primary. but we are now seeing infections among older age groups as well, so young adults from the mid—20s to the mid—30s, but spreading right the way up to increases now in the over 70s, although they remain the lowest group to be infected. there's more encouraging news on boosters. new uk data suggests a booster shot is 88% effective at preventing people ending up in hospital due to 0micron. after a huge push, all uk nations say they've hit the target of offering all adults a third dose by the end of the year. i would just say to people again, there's 1.5 million slots - out there over the next few days.

i there's plenty of opportunities. i there is mobile vaccination units, there's gps vaccinating, - there's all sorts of ways to get vaccinated. - just please come forward and help yourself, - but also help reduce - that burden on the nhs. and now, this. a second antiviral pill has been approved by the uk regulator. in trials, pfizer's paxlovid drug offered nearly 90% protection from severe illness and death among vulnerable adults. there's a glimmer of hope for the new year. vaccines and new treatments should help protect the most at risk from serious illness. but there are huge uncertainties. if there is a sharp rise in hospital admissions, health leaders say ministers will have to act fast. katharine da costa, bbc news. authorities in china are attempting to stick to a zero coronavirus strategy ahead of its lunar new year celebrations and the beijing winter olympics. the country's vice premier has visited the northern city of xi'an,

where 13 million people have been confined to their homes in one of the country's strictest lockdowns since the pandemic began. these images are from inside xi'an. sun chunlan told officials there to speed up testing and do more to isolate the close contacts of those found to be positive. more than 1200 cases have been found in the city in the past few weeks. dr xi chen from yale university is an expert on health policy and explained why china is continuing to pursue a strategic of �*zero covid'. china has been maintaining the zero tolerance policy for a long time, almost two years, so basically it's ramping up mass testing, frequent contact tracing, quarantining and strict border control. and although the case numbers are low, china has been worried about the west opening up, it will crowd out and make the system very stressful and there is a larger concern

about the aging population and underlying chronic conditions. and it's of higher stakes now, with the higher transmissibility of the delta and 0micron, but they're worried that if they open up, especially before the spring festival and before the major event, the winter olympics, things may get worse, quite much. so, that's why the stakes are higher, but they still think it is of their interest at least for the next few months to keep the virus at bay. some breaking news now. entertainment talboid tmz is reporting actress and comedian betty white has died, three weeks shy of her 100th birthday. her career spanned nine decades — from the earliest days of television in the 1930s, and her own shows in the �*50s, to the latest toy story

film just two years ago. betty white will probably be best remembered for her portrayal of rose nylund in the sitcom the golden girls. she won an emmy for the role, and was nominated for one each year the series ran. it's believed she died at her home on friday morning. here in the uk, the number of teenagers murdered in south africa, thousands of people have been waiting in line to pay their final respects to the late archbishop desmond tutu, whose body is lying in state for a second day ahead of the state funeral tomorrow. the archbishop, who played a leading role in the battle against racial segregation and the apartheid regime, died on sunday at the age of 90. 0ur south africa correspondent, nomsa maseko, reports from cape town. the clergy, anglican churchwardens and a marching band lining the streets as a guard of honour for archbishop desmond tutu. the outspoken priest who became one

of the world's great moral voices lying in state for a second day in a plain, pinewood coffin, in accordance with his wishes. thousands of people have been flocking to st george's cathedral to pay their last respects. one man hitchhiked for more than 1,000 kilometres just for this moment. it's a memory that i will live for for the rest of my life and ijust hope, as he said, in his words, he said, south africa, you must be careful — if you don't live according to those values, you might bite the dust. archbishop tutu campaigned against white minority rule and worked hard to unite a deeply divided nation. the arch, as he was known fondly, was also a family man. my parents' relationship was strong and loving.

they talked about loving each other. they would say, "you are so handsome, you are so beautiful, you smell delicious..." he would say, "ooh, you smell expensive!" the globally revered anti—apartheid icon's sendoff will be held at the cathedral he called home for many years, to the sounds and hymns he chose ahead of his funeral. let's get some other news now. germany is shutting down three of its last six nuclear power plants on friday, as part of an effort to increase its reliance on renewables. the move will reduce energy output by around four gigawatts, equivalent to the power produced by 1000 wind turbines. a bomb blast in the

south—western pakistani city of quetta has killed at least four people and injured 16 others. officials said the target was an islamist party conference at a college. was an islamist party no group has admitted responsibility. president bolsonaro has turned down an offer of aid from argentina in response to floods in northeast brazil. at least 2a people have been killed and tens of thousands have been left homeless as record amounts of rains caused dams to fail in bahia state. the dutch government has revealed a $28 billion plan to radically cut the number of livestock in the country as it struggles to contain an overload of animal manure. the netherlands is the world's second biggest agricultural exporter but is under pressure to reduce harmful emissions produced by livetsock such as methane. anna holligan reports. dutch beef feeds the planet, but it is costing the earth. but it's costing the earth.

the country's cattle cause 70% of all methane emissions and the agricultural industry is the netherlands�* biggest source of nitrogen pollution. geertjian wants his business to be sustainable. i'm not a farmer who wants to take down the nature around us. no, i want to farm with nature. i'm a farmer with nature, so i'm the solution — give me some tools so i can be the solution for multiple problems. and that's what we're missing at the moment, the tools. we were the pride of the nation. but now, we're the problem of the nation. the dutch government's plan includes paying livestock farmers to relocate or leave the industry altogether and helping those who remain to shift to more extensive rather than intensive farming methods. methane is a very important greenhouse gas and we really should try to reduce it. here, in leeuwarden,

they are experimenting with technology that could cut those harmful gases. here is where we measure the feed intake of our cows, in those blue bins. each cow is recognised... the researchers found that simply stopping the feed can simply swapping the feed can reduce dangerous gases by 15%, basically by making the cows burp less. because the diet makes a whole lot of difference in terms of how methane is being produced by the cow. back in the hague, the future of farming is the source of frothy political debate. some parties argue fundamental shifts are essential. we're like europe's butchers and farmers are very upset, | which is understandable, but it's also the result i of decades of policies that pushed for intensive - agriculture without looking at really what the impact l was on environments, on climate, but also l on the farmers themselves.

could the climate crisis convince the dutch to reduce their agricultural output? the current practices- are completely out of balance with climate and with nature, i and we really need to transform our agriculture sector, - which means that we need to reduce the number. of livestock and we need to ensure that we go towards much morel smaller scale practices. farming groups say they will only accept voluntary measures and not forced removals and need time to cut emissions with technological solutions. ultimately, less intensive farming may mean a little less milk and more expensive meat — a price not everyone is prepared to pay for a less polluted planet. anna holligan, bbc news, leeuwarden. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some we will be bringing you more pictures soon as the new year arrives. don't forget you can get

in touch with me and some of the team on twitter — i'm @annitabbc hello. it is exceptionally mild at the moment and we will continue to remain in very mild airfor the first few days of the new year. not just the uk, but many of our european neighbours have seen record temperatures for new year's eve. parts of poland, austria, germany and the netherlands. for new year's day once again, we could see records being rivalled for toppled per day. this cold front will push across through new year's day, not much contrast. it won't stick around in many areas for very long, so about

an hour or so many areas for very long, so about an hour orso of many areas for very long, so about an hour or so of rain. these showers for western scotland and northern ireland, perhaps more persistent, but look at the temperatures. quite a lot of sunshine and widely highs into the mid squally showers, some heavier showers. a very mild night. these are the temperatures more typical of daytime for this time of year, perhaps slightly above. sunday, wetter weather again and some blustery winds. we could see intense showers working their way through. i think the driest and brightest weather will be for scotland and northern ireland. 0n scotland and northern ireland. on monday, we fall into pensive movement and we will see this weather front to the south pushing and rain to the north trying to turn things increasingly unsettled. between the two, breezy conditions, but the best of any senate spells

for midlands, and the very north and south —— sunny spells. a little cooler as well on monday, but temperatures are still slightly above average. however, for tuesday, it looks like we are going to flip around and pick up a northerly wind, and that will bring about a very dramatic change in the way things go because we will have to add on the effect of the wind—chill. temperatures in edinburghjust 4 degrees, down to eight in london. some big contrast in our weather to come.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the governor of the us state of colorado says president biden has declared a disaster after grassfires destroyed entire neighbourhoods in boulder county. more than thirty thousand people were forced to evacuate by the fires. countries around the world are seeing in the new year, with scaled back celebrations — as the 0micron variant continues to drive up covid infections. coronavirus infections in the uk have reached a new record high. estimates suggest1 in 30 people tested positive before christmas. one study suggests the risk of hospitalisation with 0micron is about one—third that of delta. and mourners in south africa have been paying their respects to the late archbishop desmond tutu. now on bbc news, review 2021, the year in sport.