you'll see pets. stay with us. you'll see tony's siamese cat and shelly duvall�*s cockatoo. hello. new year's celebrations are under way across the globe and the bbc is continuing to follow all the fireworks and all the festivities. just about new year and that beautiful, beautiful scei fireworks and follow all the fireworks and all the festivities. just about an hour ago, this was the scene an hour ago, this was the scene in london, tens of thousands of in london, tens of thousands of people ringing in the new year, people ringing in the new year, a massive fireworks display a massive fireworks display along the river thames, to along the river thames, to elizabeth tower, also known as elizabeth tower, also known as big ben. the colourful big ben. the colourful spectacle that welcomed in spectacle that welcomed in 2025. a short while ago in 2025. a short while ago in paris, ringing in the new year paris, ringing in the new year ina ina paris, ringing in the new year in a spectacular fashion, millions of people all around paris, ringing in the new year in a spectacular fashion, millions of people all around the globe flocking to see the the globe flocking to see the city of lights every year in city of lights every year in france. people toasted to the france. people toasted to the

new year and that beautiful, new year and that beautiful, beautiful scene there. beautiful scene there. this is berlin, germany, residents attending a massive open air party at the brandenburg gate,

led the countdown to sydney's stunning display. ..three, two, one, happy new year! the city's harbour bridge the focal point of its 2025 welcome party. in tokyo's takutai temple, crowds line up to ring in the new year by striking the temple bell. cheering happy new year! as the clock struck midnight in hong kong, fireworks illuminated the sky above the victoria harbour. beijing held its huge annual gala to start the new year. taiwan welcomed 2025 with an impressive fireworks display, using all 500m of taipei 101.

midnight in india was marked by a firework display in mumbai. in the uae, fireworks are set off from the world's tallest building, the burj khalifa in dubai. and in new york, the times square ball makes its way to the top of its pole, ready for the big apple's curtain to rise on 2025. nickjohnson, bbc news. we'll continue to follow those new year's celebrations as they happen around the world. presidentjoe biden says the us will offer federal assistance to the island of puerto rico after nearly all of the us territory was plunged into darkness early on new year's eve. the cause of the blackout is still under investigation. but prelim findings point to a fault in an underground line, according to luma energy, the island's main power distributor. the company said that fully restoring service could take between 2a and 48 hours.

could take between 24 and 48 hours. earlierthis could take between 24 and 48 hours. earlier this year, they witnessed two blackouts. customers were left without power, and 700,000 people lost electricity after hurricane ernesto. puerto ricans are demanding more to be done to address the island's power issue. the incoming governor saying the island's energy system is failing its citizens. rowan, it looks like many parts of puerto rico will be entering the new year in darkness. what more do we know about this blackout?— more do we know about this blackout? , , . ., ., blackout? this started at half ast five blackout? this started at half past five in — blackout? this started at half past five in the _ blackout? this started at half past five in the morning. - blackout? this started at half past five in the morning. one of the local energy companies say they think it was caused by a fault on an underground cable, but they're still investigating it. at one point, almost 90% of the island was without power.— almost 9096 of the island was without power.— without power. what is the reaction there _ without power. what is the reaction there have - without power. what is the reaction there have been? | without power. what is the i reaction there have been? so many people there without power. this must be prompting some frustration at the very least? ., ., ., ., least? yeah. you got a combination _ least? yeah. you got a combination of - least? yeah. you got a i combination of frustration least? yeah. you got a - combination of frustration and

angen combination of frustration and anger. specifically directed towards the power companies over all of this. we've seen a number of these sorts of power outages from puerto rico, going back over years. this is not a new problem. the anger has boiled over. i saw one local resident saying this was becoming part of everyday life in puerto rico.— becoming part of everyday life in puerto rico.- the - in puerto rico. wow. the current — in puerto rico. wow. the current governor - in puerto rico. wow. the current governor and - in puerto rico. wow. the - current governor and incoming governor have expressed their anger and frustration, directed towards the energy companies and the infrastructure of the island. ., ., , island. you mentioned this isn't a new— island. you mentioned this isn't a new thing, - island. you mentioned this isn't a new thing, there's l island. you mentioned this - isn't a new thing, there's been ongoing power issues dating back years. what is behind the broader issue on the island? i think the fundamental problem you face here is a lack of investment in the infrastructure which has gone on over years. if you want to look at one really pivotal event, i suppose you could look at hurricane maria in 27 ——in 2017. that really damaged the infrastructure of the island.

there's been investment but not enough to hold the system together properly. find enough to hold the system together properly. and rowan, how lona together properly. and rowan, how long is _ together properly. and rowan, how long is this _ together properly. and rowan, how long is this power - together properly. and rowan, how long is this power outage l how long is this power outage expected to last? we're talking days, weeks? expected to last? we're talking days. weeks?— days, weeks? yeah, the energy companies _ days, weeks? yeah, the energy companies quoted _ days, weeks? yeah, the energy companies quoted as _ days, weeks? yeah, the energy companies quoted as saying - days, weeks? yeah, the energy. companies quoted as saying they think it will be between 24 and 48 hours. so up to two days for power to be restored. but that means a lot of people will see in the new year in darkness rather than with fireworks. thousands of people in tbilisi brought in the new year with protest. they have been taking place every night for a little more than a month ever since the georgian dream party claimed victory. mr kavelashvili's pro—european predecessor, salome zourabichvili, refused formally to step down, arguing the election was rigged. let's bring in stephenjones, he

leads a programme in georgian studies at harvard university. where do things stand in georgia? is it one country with two presidents?— two presidents? both of them claim legitimacy. _ two presidents? both of them claim legitimacy. the - two presidents? both of them| claim legitimacy. the outgoing president, salome zourabichvili, claims the elections that took place in georgia on october 26 were falsified and illegitimate. and therefore, she remains the legitimate president in georgia. so that's the situation. you have a president, salome zourabichvili, who is outgoing, supported by the mass of georgian citizens, and you have another president, mikheil kavelashvili, who is supported by the georgian government, which is essentially a very small group of deputies and ministers, but they have the power of the police behind them. it power of the police behind them. ., , �* ~ power of the police behind them. ., ,�* ~ ., them. it doesn't sound like a very stable — them. it doesn't sound like a very stable situation. - them. it doesn't sound like a very stable situation. how. them. it doesn't sound like a i very stable situation. how do

you think this ends up resolving itself? well, it's strange- _ resolving itself? well, it's strange. because - resolving itself? well, it's strange. because in - resolving itself? well, it's strange. because in manyi resolving itself? well, it's - strange. because in many ways, you would think if there's 200,000 people out on the streets and it's notjust the capital city of tbilisi but other cities around the country protesting against the government, consistently this year, not only in the last month, you would think that government would get the message. and would either call new elections or step down. but they're refusing to do so. because they realise the stakes are too high. should they step down, then many of them will probably end up in prison. life probably end up in prison. we saw the foreign ministers of germany, france and poland saying that george —— georgia should considerfresh should consider fresh elections. should considerfresh elections. how realistic do you think that request is? it’s elections. how realistic do you think that request is?— think that request is? it's the ro er think that request is? it's the preper way — think that request is? it's the preper way to _ think that request is? it's the preper way to 90- _ think that request is? it's the proper way to go. most - think that request is? it's the proper way to go. most of. think that request is? it's the | proper way to go. most of the european organisations and internal organisations in georgia that observed the elections said they were not

free and fair elections. and some went on to say they were rigged and falsified. so, you know, that's the situation. you think — in this case — new elections would be the best possible solution. however, the georgian government is refusing to acknowledge that request and i'm sure they won't accede to that request. in i'm sure they won't accede to that request.— i'm sure they won't accede to that request. in the meantime, the georgian — that request. in the meantime, the georgian dream _ that request. in the meantime, the georgian dream party - that request. in the meantime, the georgian dream party has l the georgian dream party has the georgian dream party has the majority. there's a new president, kavelashvili. what will it mean for the country and the people's hopes of joining the european union? well, the european union itself has suspended negotiations with georgia. so the european union at this stage is telling the georgian government it does not meet the requirements to join the european union. the georgian government itself has suspended negotiations with european union for years. so, it doesn't look like there will be any movement in that respect. the european union —

not the european union — but some governments in the european union have imposed sanctions on the georgian government, as has the united states. but i'm sceptical as to whether the sanctions will have any impact. whether the sanctions will have any impact-— any impact. there's four main opposition — any impact. there's four main opposition groups _ any impact. there's four main opposition groups in - any impact. there's four main opposition groups in the - opposition groups in the georgia. they have resouth—wested this new president —— rejected the new president, they're boycotting the parliament. do you have a sense of what takes place next politically?— politically? this is the problem- _ politically? this is the problem. the - politically? this is the i problem. the opposition politically? this is the - problem. the opposition is not very well organised. the real power is with the government, who as i said, have the special forces and the police behind them, and on the other hand, them, and on the other hand, the people in the streets. you saw probably 200,000 people collected tonight on new year's eve. and they weren't there specifically to celebrate, they were there to protest what they see as an illegitimate and authoritarian government. so right now it's a stalemate. we need to see what happens in the new year. this could go on for

a long time. but my feeling is that eventually the pillars, if you like, the institutional and popular pillars that are upholding this government will disintegrate and there will be new elections at some stage. yeah, we'rejust going new elections at some stage. yeah, we're just going to ask you briefly, can you see these demonstrations continuing? it's already been a month. to you see them happening in the new year? yes, iwas see them happening in the new year? yes, i was ing see them happening in the new year? yes, i was— year? yes, i was ing in georgia in december. _ year? yes, i was ing in georgia in december, i— year? yes, i was ing in georgia in december, i talked - year? yes, i was ing in georgia in december, i talked to - year? yes, i was ing in georgia in december, i talked to lots . in december, i talked to lots of people in the main thorough fare, they're pretty well determined this will continue. —in—law for your time. determined this will continue. -in-law for your time.- -in-law for your time. thank ou -in-law for your time. thank you very _ -in-law for your time. thank you very much- _ -in-law for your time. thank you very much. around - -in-law for your time. thank you very much. around the l -in-law for your time. thank - you very much. around the world and across _ you very much. around the world and across the _ you very much. around the world and across the uk, _ you very much. around the world and across the uk, you're - and across the uk, you're watching bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories: the veteran bbc dj johnny walker has died at the age of 79, two months after stepping down from

the radio rock show sounds of the radio rock show sounds of the 70s. he first pioneered new names like fleetwood mac. wayne rooney has left plymouth argyle. the team is now bottom of the championship table. the former england captain thanked fans for their support, and said that argyle will always hold a special place in his heart. and notable names have been reacting after being recognised in the new year's honours list. stephen fry said he was startled and enchanted to receive a knighthood, and sarah lancashire said it was an unexpected delight. more than 1200 people have been recognised in the list. you're live with bbc news. the

panamanian president said the canal will remain in his country's hands forever. his comments came just days after donald trump said he wanted to reassert us control over the vital link between the pacific and atlantic 0ceans. the president who signed the treaty that laid the groundwork for the transfer of the canal was of course, jimmy carter, who died on sunday at the age of 100. his funeral proceedings are set to beginjanuary 100. his funeral proceedings are set to begin january four in his home state of georgia before he'll lie in state at the us capitol, where the public can pay their respects. mr carter's single term in office was marked by brokering a treaty between israel and egyptin a treaty between israel and egypt in 1978, known as the camp david accords, but he left the white house was mostly an unpopular president facing an economic recession and the iran hostages crisis that saw 52 americans held hostage for 444 days. most of his legacy was

built during his life after the presidency. he won the nobel peace prize in 2002 for his efforts to promote human rights and resolve global conflicts from eritrea to ethiopia, bosnia and haiti. joining me in the studio to talk aboutjimmy carter's legacy, the man who served in his administration in both the departments of state and defence. let's start with the panama canal, today is the 25th anniversary of the handover. this was something he negotiated as president, but this was not a very popular decision at the time, was it? no. but it was certainly the right decision. the us was facing a guerrilla war. we had troops in the area surrounding the canal to protect it. the government was threatening —

the panamanian government was threatening to drive them out. having just gotten out of the vietnam war, we had no interest in getting into another guerrilla conflict. in getting into another auerrilla conflict. ~ . �*, guerrilla conflict. what's your reaction? _ guerrilla conflict. what's your reaction? are _ guerrilla conflict. what's your reaction? are you _ guerrilla conflict. what's your reaction? are you surprised l guerrilla conflict. what's your| reaction? are you surprised at all the ownership of the panama canal is now bubbling back to the surface in terms of politics?— the surface in terms of olitics? �*, . ., , politics? oh, it's ridiculous. it politics? oh, it's ridiculous. it shows— politics? oh, it's ridiculous. it shows the _ politics? oh, it's ridiculous. it shows the contrast - politics? oh, it's ridiculous. i it shows the contrast between president carter and president trump. this is — it's not a serious proposal. the pa namanians serious proposal. the panamanians have no interest in selling the canal and they're not overcharging us in the way claimed. ., ., , ., claimed. you had personal conversations _ claimed. you had personal conversations with - claimed. you had personal. conversations with president carter. some may have dismissed him as a peanut farmer from the south, a small town in plains, georgia. talk to us about president carter and his knowledge of foreign affairs. he was an extraordinary person. the first time i met him, i

didn't want to meet him. my boss, at brookings, asked me to come to lunch with this former governor of georgia who was running for president. i was working for some other candidates, advising on defence issues. and i said, oh, no, i don't have time. and he told me, i would go to lunch. so i went to lunch. and to my shock, i thought the man was terrific. very smart, very smart, very serious, and he understood the underlying problems. there's conflicts but there's usually something beneath them. he understood that. and i got to know him pretty well during the campaign. ihis know him pretty well during the cam aiun. , , , know him pretty well during the camaiun. , , , ., campaign. his biggest foreign oli campaign. his biggest foreign policy achievement _ campaign. his biggest foreign policy achievement is - campaign. his biggest foreign | policy achievement is probably helping to negotiate the camp david accords that brought a peace, really, between israel and egypt. it's one of the longest lasting, most stable

treaties the us has helped negotiate. what did you make of that? and the way he really put such singular focus on what he did between those two nations? it was a high priority for him. that was one that — it was his initiative to bring about peace between these countries. i think he was frustrated that it didn't continue the — the process didn't continue after the oslo accords. but it was his persistence and his determination that brought a successful conclusion at camp david. he kept them there. he wouldn't let them leave! they were supposed to go home long before they actually did. he kept driving this issue, "we'll work out the issue. we'll work on that one afterwards, but let's sign this agreement." that peace has lasted. israel

and egypt have been at peace ever since. and egypt have been at peace ever since-— ever since. jimmy carter was speaking _ ever since. jimmy carter was speaking - — ever since. jimmy carter was speaking - speaking - ever since. jimmy carter was speaking - speaking of- ever since. jimmy carter was l speaking - speaking of peace, speaking — speaking of peace, really a pacifist. he likes to point out on his watch, the us didn't drop a bomb orfire point out on his watch, the us didn't drop a bomb or fire a missile. does it tell you anything about the way he approached foreign affairs as a us president? this approached foreign affairs as a us president?— us president? this was 'ust a few years i us president? this was 'ust a few years after i us president? this wasjust a few years after vietnam. - few years after vietnam. vietnam was traumatic for all americans. many, many americans died. more vietnamese were killed. it cost a fortune. it is what ruined the economy. he left office with a bad reputation, carter — what he did, because the economy was — the inflation was driven by what a happened and then the reaction to the inflation put us into a recession. so, so, there was no interest anywhere in the country to get into a

new war. he was a naval officer, a graduate of annapolis. he wasn't a pacifist. annapolis. he wasn't a pacifist-— annapolis. he wasn't a acifist. ., ~ ., ., pacifist. he worked on a nuclear— pacifist. he worked on a nuclear submarine. - pacifist. he worked on a nuclear submarine. he i pacifist. he worked on a i nuclear submarine. he did. pacifist. he worked on a - nuclear submarine. he did. is there any _ nuclear submarine. he did. is there any memory _ nuclear submarine. he did. is there any memory of - nuclear submarine. he did. is there any memory ofjimmy l there any memory ofjimmy carter that stands out to you? oh, yes. iactually carter that stands out to you? oh, yes. i actually briefed carter that stands out to you? oh, yes. iactually briefed him on the defence budget after he was elected, when he was president—elect, in the blair house. and it was the most extraordinary experience for me and he had campaigned on cutting the defence budget by some large amount. and i helped to persuade him that a more modest cut would be a more prudent, prudent move. so that's a very clear memory. barry blechman, co—founder of the stinson centre, thank you for those memories. well,

here'sjimmy carter for those memories. well, here's jimmy carter with for those memories. well, here'sjimmy carter with his here's jimmy carter with his dog, here'sjimmy carter with his dog, on his peanut farm in plains, georgia. this is a year before he became president. as 2024 comes to an end, it's a chance to reflect on the lives of the people we lost this year, one photographer doing that in a unique way, by focusing on their pets. portraits here taken by a person for the new york times features the animals belonging to some notable people who passed away this year. it is titled friends to the end. it features an actor, his siamese cat, a trusted friend in mandy, his labrador retriever. joining me is the photographer who took those pictures. it's great to have you on. how did you come up have you on. how did you come up with this idea for this photo essay, looking at the pets behind the names we lost

this year? pets behind the names we lost this ear? ., pets behind the names we lost this ear? . ., pets behind the names we lost this year?— this year? thanks for having me. it wasn't _ this year? thanks for having me. it wasn't my _ this year? thanks for having me. it wasn't my idea. - this year? thanks for having me. it wasn't my idea. the | me. it wasn't my idea. the magazine, jessica and christian, jessica is a photo director and christian is a photo editor, they reached out and asked if i would be interested in doing this, and that's an absolute yes. there's so manyjust — that's an absolute yes. there's so manyjust great _ that's an absolute yes. there's so manyjust great pictures - that's an absolute yes. there's so manyjust great pictures in l so manyjust great pictures in this spread. what do you think, just getting to know these animals, as i'm sure you did, what do you think they say about the people that clearly love them?— love them? well, this is the thing about _ love them? well, this is the thing about life _ love them? well, this is the thing about life in _ love them? well, this is the thing about life in general. i thing about life in general. whether we're photographing humans or animals, every bit of that has to do with the love that has to do with the love thatis that has to do with the love that is shared between everyone that is shared between everyone thatis that is shared between everyone that is in that room at that point in time. but this one is — cos i photograph a lot of animals for people on commission, orforadvertising — but to do it in a situation where the person that truly

loves the animal is absent, is actually the first time i've done that. you — you get a sense of everyone and their history within the room. the handlers, the people still taking care of the animals now, that's where you start to fill in a little bit of the missing pieces of what this animal is now missing in life.- pieces of what this animal is now missing in life. you know, ou now missing in life. you know, you have _ now missing in life. you know, you have so — now missing in life. you know, you have so many _ now missing in life. you know, you have so many different - now missing in life. you know, l you have so many different pets in there. was that one story that stood out to you? i in there. was that one story that stood out to you?- that stood out to you? i will say there's _ that stood out to you? i will say there's one _ that stood out to you? i will say there's one quote - that stood out to you? i will say there's one quote that l that stood out to you? i will- say there's one quote that came out of this that i truly love. when we were in texas, photographing kinky freedman's pets, his dogs, six dogs. they were living with him in his hospice on the land they were at. he said, "dogs teach us about loyalty, love," i can't

remember exactly, but he basically said they teach us so many things that have to do with love and we just teach them to sit and fetch. i like that a lot- _ them to sit and fetch. i like that a lot. you're _ them to sit and fetch. i like that a lot. you're a - them to sit and fetch. i like that a lot. you're a great i that a lot. you're a great photographer of these animals. there's — i can't think, a cockatoo in there, a chihuahua, a horse and a siamese cat. give us a little tip here of what's the secret to taking a great portrait of an animal? the secret is _ portrait of an animal? the secret is being _ portrait of an animal? iie: secret is being present. getting a sense of their — you flow with them. it's really no different from a human being with the exception of us being able to verbalise to one another. but it's very similar also to when i photograph children. because you're not really communicating verbally. and particularly toddlers. when you're with them, you get a sense of what they're feeling. you have to be able to read their body language. if they kind of move forward or

backward, if they've got that curiosity. shelly�*s bird, as she was curiously walking towards the camera and me not pushing forward, she's reading me, i'm reading her, we're dancing together in that moment. dancing together in that moment-— dancing together in that moment. , ., moment. we can see on the right side of the _ moment. we can see on the right side of the screen. _ moment. we can see on the right side of the screen. there - moment. we can see on the right side of the screen. there was - moment. we can see on the right side of the screen. there was a i side of the screen. there was a poignant story. when duvall died, one of her parrots used to do these impressions of her. then once she passed away, the bird didn't whistle for months afterwards. it got me thinking about grief. we talk about the way we're mourning the people we lost this year, but animals have the capacity for grief too. , ' $1 $1 , have the capacity for grief too. , ':: ::f ., have the capacity for grief too. y'iiii' ., g have the capacity for grief too. y'::::f ., g too. they 10096 do. my goal when it comes to _ too. they 10096 do. my goal when it comes to photographing - it comes to photographing animals is so though —— show you a personality the same way you a personality the same way you see a person's personality. if you see a celebrity or any public figure's portrait, you

get a sense of who they are in that one frame, that's a successful portrait. if you get that photo and all you can tell is who that is, but not a sense of who they are in that moment in time, that's a failure. animals, same exact thing. i want to photograph them in a way where you can i will recognise their inherit personality, and notjust see a thing or an object. irate personality, and not 'ust see a thing or an object._ thing or an ob'ect. we really en'o ed thing or an object. we really enjoyed those _ thing or an object. we really enjoyed those photographs. | enjoyed those photographs. really creative and amazing way to look back at the people we lost this year. thank you very much. happy new year to you. more coming up. hello there. we've got more strong winds, heavy rain and some snow as we head into the new year. the heavy rain has moved away from scotland, but it's moved further south, and it's across this part of northwest england that we have an amber rain warning from the met office. 100mm of rain in the hills — likely to be flooding and travel disruption. there's our band of rain in the morning. and on the rain end, particularly south of it, some very gusty winds arriving, particularly so in the southwest

and coastal areas. north of the rain band the winds won't be as strong, but it's getting colder. there'll be some snow and ice to start the day in northern scotland. through the morning this heavy rain and squally winds will push down into southern england. then things calm down for a while. another band of rain and hill snow moves southwards across scotland towards northern ireland, later into northern england. sunshine and snow showers continue in northern scotland and we're getting a northerly wind. it's not going to be as strong as the southwesterly wind ahead of the rain, but it is going to be introducing colder air. last of any mild areas across southernmost parts of england. but it'll be a wet end to the day. that weather front does clear away. and then we introduce this arctic air right the way across the whole of the country. temperatures will be dropping. a widespread frost for thursday morning. could be some icy patches following any overnight showers as well. most of the snow showers on thursday are going to be across northern scotland. a few wintry showers for northern ireland, near the west coast of wales,

more especially along some of these north sea coasts, but for large parts of the country it's going to be dry and sunny. certainly going to feel a lot colder everywhere, but away from those north sea coasts at least the winds are not going to be particularly strong. but we're going to stay in that colder air as we head towards the end of the week. and there'll be some more snow showers across the north and northeast of scotland. a few more wintry showers for northern ireland, perhaps towards the north wales, and a few showers getting close to those north sea coasts. but again, many places on friday will be dry and sunny. and again it's cold — temperatures in scotland struggling to get above freezing. things could get very interesting later in the weekend. this low pressure threatening to bring some wet weather into the cold air on sunday. but ahead of that on saturday, that weather front across the north may well bring some rain, sleet and snow to scotland. one or two wintry showers further south. some patches of fog for northern parts of the uk. the winds are going to be quite light. it is going to feel cold

as we head into the weekend. again, highs of only around three to five celsius.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. forfive decades, colombia was ravaged by political violence, cocaine, cartels and corruption. then came a peace deal with the main rebel group, the fa rc. and two years ago, the election victory of a former guerrilla—turned—democratic politician, gustavo petro — a story of national recovery and redemption. well, not necessarily. my guest is the renowned colombian novelistjuan gabriel

vasquez, who weaves powerful stories out