this was the scene as big ben chimed 11pm at westminster, midnight in brussels... 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 m

big ben chimes the uk has officially left the european union, bringing an end to a partnership that lasted nearly 50 years. the uk records nearly 56,000 daily cases of coronavirus in the past 2a hours — the highest on record. nhs hospitals are straining under the pressure. i guess we are on i guess we are on oui’ knees begging, for people to do their pa rt begging, for people to do their part and to take the pressure off. sad in a way... and how the younger generation from across the world has been affected by the challenges that 2020 brought. hello and welcome. the uk has fully left the european union's single market and customs union after the transition period ended exactly two hours ago at 11 o'clock local time. it brought an end to a partnership that lasted almost 50 years. with historic changes to rules on travel, trade, immigration and security. brexit continues to divide public opinion. 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth reports. it's almost five years since this moment — the date set for a referendum that would change the country's course. one of the biggest decisions this c

as big ben chimed 11pm at westminster, midnight in brussels, the transition period ended.at it means for the uk, here's our political correspondent alex forsyth. 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. 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 malark

big ben chimes.countries adjust their celebrations to fit their covid conditions. next, from theatre screenings to sofa screenings, mark kermode takes a look back at the big releases, on both the big and little screens, and how the film industry has had

our top stories: big ben chimes.he 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, 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, and sad in a way. we look at how the younger generation from across the world has been affected by the hurdles of 2020. hello and welcome. 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 se

big ben chimes. big ben marking the hour last night.ohnson described it as an amazing moment for the country. it is one that some will regard with huge optimism, others with deep regret. but for brexit supporters, a long fought cause coming to fruition. all decisions will be made in the house of commons through a system of transparency and accountability. i used to say to my constituents, i'll give you £100 if you can name me any of the members of the european parliament that represent you, and haven't lost a penny. the last ship leaving dover before the new rules kicked in. the uk left the eu last january, but it was yesterday evening that the transition period ended and largely brought that departure into effect. new border checks are coming in. change is here. unfortunately, because of the late negotiation of the deal, many of the actual details of how these checks will be done, and what the documentation looks like, have still not really reached those who are going to be working under them, and still worse, those who are going to en

big ben chimes. and bringing in the new year — from london to new york, fireworks mark the start of 2021 but celebrations are dampened by the pandemic. now on bbc news, this special programme documents the story of world war ii veteran captain tom moore, who raised over £32 million for nhs charities to mark his 100th birthday. captain tom moore had a simple idea. he raised more than £30 million for nhs charities and will travel to windsor castle today to be knighted by the queen. it will be her first face—to—face, it's the only honour to be ordered since the beginning of lockdown. tom moore is now sir tom, the 100—year—old world war ii veteran was knighted by queen elizabeth for an extraordinaryjob well done. for me, the queen was more than anyone could've expected. never did i imagine that i would get so close to the queen and have such a kind message from her. that was really outstanding. it really was truly outstanding. tomorrow will be a good day. if we as a country can show the same spirit of op

as london's big ben chimed 11 o'clock last night, midnight in most of europe, great britain left theingle market and customs union. as the sun dawned over the new arrangements, under which there will be no taxes on goods, but there will be more checks and paperwork, the first ferry left dover and arrived in calais. the government has warned there will be some disruption in the coming weeks as new rules bed in for travel, trade, immigration and security co—operation. for today though, few lorries attempted the crossing, leaving freight moving smoothly across the channel. prime minister borisjohnson said the uk had "freedom in our hands" and the ability to do things "differently and better". france's president macron however said britain would remain a friend and ally, but he described brexit as the child of "many lies and false promises". our political correspondent nick eardley has more. all quiet as a new era begins. lorries travelling from dover to france face new paperwork from today, but it might be a few days before we know what impact that will have. traffic is traditionally qu

big ben chimes. and bringing in the new year — from london to new york, cities and countries adjust their celebrations to fit their covid conditions. next, from theatre screenings to sofa screenings, mark kermode takes a look back at the big releases, on both the big and little screens, and how the film industry has had to adapt this year, in the year in film. hello, and welcome to this review of the year in film. i'm mark kermode, and over the next 30 minutes, i'll be rounding up the highs and lows of what's proved a challenging but also surprisingly creative year for cinema. 2020 seemed to start so well with the uk release injanuary of the personal history of david copperfield. armand iannucci's superb reimagining of dickens‘ classic which brought 21st century colour—blind casting to this 19th—century tale with genuinely timeless results. your mama is ill. how ill is she? very ill. dangerously ill. she's dead. dev patel seemed to be channeling the pathos of chaplin as he led a thrillingly diverse c

big ben chimes an hour after leaving the eu behind, the uk left 2020 behind. 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

our top stories: big ben chimes the uk has left its partnership with the european union, bringing an 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 oui’ knees begging, is for people to do their part, yeah, to take the pressure off. london rings in the new year with a spectacular 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

big ben chimes. and bringing in the new year — from london to new york, fireworks mark the start

big ben chimes the uk has officially left the european union, bringing an end to a partnership that lastedining under the pressure. i guess we are on oui’ knees begging, for people to do their pa rt begging, for people to do their part and to take the pressure off. sad in a way... and how the younger generation from across the world has been affected by the challenges that 2020 brought.

our top stories: big ben chimes.n 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 oui’ knees begging, is for people to do their part, 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, and sad in a

big ben chimes. big ben marking the hour last night. it as an amazing moment for the country. it is one that some will regard with huge optimism, others with deep regret. but for brexit supporters, a long fought because coming to fruition. all decisions will be made in the house of commons through a system of transparency and accountability. i used to say to my constituents, i'll give you £100 if you can name me any of the members of the european parliament that represent you, and haven't lost a penny. the last ship leaving dover before the new rules kicked in. the uk left of the eu last january, but it was yesterday evening that the transition period ended and largely brought that departure into effect. new border checks are coming in. change is here. unfortunately, because of the late negotiation of the deal, many of the actual details of how these checks will be done, and what the documentation looks like, have still not really reached those who are going to be working under them, and still worse, those who are going to enforce them.

ben big chimes. and bringing in the new year — from london to new york, fireworks mark the start of 2021 but celebrations are dampened by the pandemic. some breaking news now. we have the covid figures for the day, the uk recording 613 deaths on friday, and there were 96a deaths today before. 53,285 new cases recorded on friday, there is a drop from 55,892 the day before. now on bbc news, superfan david whiteley celebrates how an unassuming band of designers and factory workers in leicestershire created the toys which were to define a generation. archive: the princess has been captured... there's one. set for stun. our heroes are threatened by an imperial troop transporter. will the mighty force of the millennium falcon be enough to smash darth vader? will luke be able to save the princess? only you can decide. look for the new palitoy star wars models in toy shops now. ominous voice: but hurry! the 1970s. film—maker george lucas is about to launch a visionary new film that will revolutionise cinema.

. >>> across the pond big ben ushering in the new year with the familiar sound . the chimes rang from the iconic clock tower . it is already a year of big change in great britain that completed the break from the european union. ending the 40 year economic partnership with the eu trading block. >>> in australia fireworks lit up the sky over sydney harbour. this year crowds were not allowed. they told people to watch on tv . in the tokyo a bell was rung to mark the start of a new year. this is the country sees a spike in covid-19 cases. usually have a massive countdown events but it was canceled because of the pandemic . the >>> and onto the coronavirus pandemic and another grim milestone. the number of cases has a surpassed 20 million. twice as many as india and a quarter of the 83 million cases. the death toll is now at 347,000. california hit a record today with 585 covid-19 test in a single day. there were 37,000 new cases reported today alone. >>> new figures from the california department of public health shows that icu capacity in the bay area continues to fall. the ba