sangita myska, bbc news. the latest headlines on bbc news....sly back the post—brexit trade deal, agreed between the uk and the eu on christmas eve. president trump signs a coronavirus relief and spending package, after previously threatening to block the bill, saying parts of it were "wasteful". this time last year, doctors in china recorded the first cases of a new strain of pneumonia. the cause was what we now know is the covid—19 virus, and the start of a global pandemic. the world health organization has been marking that anniversary. take a listen. this week marks the one—year anniversary since who learnt of cases of pneumonia with a known cause via a bulletin issued by the health authorities in wuhan. this is a moment for all of us to reflect on the toll the pandemic has taken, the progress we have made, the lessons we have learned, and what we need to do in the year ahead to end this pandemic. also in that meeting was a statement that countries should not be punished for transparently sharing their new findings on covid—19. the lawyer fo

sangita myska, bbc news.ce minister michael gove has said the government hopes the staggered reopening of schools in england will go ahead in january as planned. speaking to the bbc he said the government is confident primary school pupils, along with those due to sit exams in the summer — would be able to return in the first week of january, with other secondary pupils going back later in the month. dr patrick roach, general secretary of the nasuwt teaching union. what are you and your members calling for? we have called for greater caution and vigilance from the public. the prime minister admits the new variant is 70% more transmissible. they have not introduced any new measures for schools. it's not enough of the government to simply hope for the best. we can't wait for the worst to happen. what we're saying to the government is they need to have a plan now which ensures that schools can and do reopen safely injanuary ina way can and do reopen safely injanuary in a way that doesn't put public health at ris

here's sangita myska.nting pressure tonight in some parts of the uk. that's the warning from the nhs. the bbc has learned that student paramedics and two other ambulance services outside the capital have been called in to assist after a sharp rise in calls. the london ambulance service says that yesterday, boxing day, was one of its busiest ever, with calls up by more than 50% compared to last year. i never want to say that the nhs is going to be overwhelmed because we see the nhs being endlessly innovative and ingenious in how it can actually manage to spread incredibly thin resource, but i think it's worth remembering that things are incredibly challenging. meanwhile the welsh government has described the nhs their as stretched to the limit and working to full capacity. annual illnesses, staff shortages and the rapid spread of the new coronavirus variant yesterday led cardiff and vale university health board to tweet this stark appeal. "0ur critical care department is urgently looking for assistance pron

sangita myska, bbc news.l gove has said the government hopes the staggered reopening of schools in england will go ahead in january as planned. speaking to the bbc he said the government is confident primary school pupils, along with those due to sit exams in the summer — would be able to return in the first week of january, with other secondary pupils going back later in the month. president trump has signed the covid relief bill that means lapsed payments to millions of americans who are unemployed can be resumed. he had refused to sign the $2.3 trillion package because he wanted cheques to individual americans to be increased from $600 to 2,000, which congress rejected. larry sabato is the director of the center for politics at the university of virginia — he gave me his view on why president trump decided to sign the bill. because he had to. this was turning into a massive disaster for him on his way out. just about everybody was angry with him, his own party was furious. this bill was negotiated over six

sangita myska, bbc news.s have continued to rise across england. saffron cordery is the deputy chief executive of nhs providers. she explained the pressures hospitals were under. we are seeing a real rise in the pressure for hospital services, but also other types of nhs services as well, notjust hospitals, ambulance trusts in particular are coming under extreme pressure, as are community and mental health services. everybody affected by the impact of covid—19 and talking to trust leaders overnight, they are under no illusions about how challenging this is at the moment and part of the issue is demand, many more people coming through the door with covid—19, but also people coming through the door with other conditions as well and we can see that to an extent as a success of the campaigns that have been run over the summer to make sure people do keep coming forward if they have suspected heart attack or stroke so it's really important people do use services, but it's also adding to the demand so we're seeing r

sangita myska, bbc news.sharply after president trump signed a long—awaited coronavirus stimulus bill. he backed down from his threat to block the hard—fought plan, restoring unemployment benefits to millions of americans and averting a federal government shutdown. from washington, nomia iqbal reports. the yeas are 359, the nays are 53. this was a deal that had support by both republicans and democrats, but not by the president. a few months ago, congress started negotiations on a new package to get urgently needed help to the american people. it's taken forever. however, the bill they are now planning to send back to my desk is much different than anticipated. it really is a disgrace. as he played golf over the last few days, he was pressured by both parties to sign the bill. the consequences of his inaction were immense. what do we want...? up to a0 million americans face losing their unemployment benefits temporarily, and being evicted from their homes. the bill now changes that. it's very exciting and i h

sangita myska, bbc news. begin the rollout of their vaccination programmes. more than 14 million people have been infected across the continent, and strict lockdown measures are currently in place in nearly all eu member states. damien mcguinness has more now from berlin. the european vaccine roll—out has begun. in berlin, mobile teams are taking the first vaccines from this distribution centre to those who need it most. the elderly in nursing homes. this airport once provided a lifeline for west berlin at the height of the cold war. it was closed down in november to make way for a larger airport, and now it's been turned into a mass vaccination centre, providing yet again a lifeline for berliners, but this time in the fight against the pandemic. the first person in berlin to get the vaccine this morning was gertrude haase, 101 years old. translation: i told myself that i didn't have to be among the first. i wanted to see what it was like for the others. but a little later, i thought, i'll do it too. doctors

here's sangita myska.ront line services are under mounting pressure tonight in some parts of the uk — that's the warning from the nhs. the bbc has learned that student paramedics and two other ambulance services outside the capital have been called in to assist after a sharp rise in calls. the london ambulance service says that yesterday, boxing day, was one of its busiest ever, with calls up by more than 50% compared to last year. i never want to say that the nhs is going to be overwhelmed, because we see the nhs being endlessly innovative and ingenious in how it can actually manage to spread an incredibly thin resource, but i think it's worth remembering that things are incredibly challenging. meanwhile, the welsh government has described the nhs there as "stretched to the limit and working to full capacity". annual illnesses, staff shortages and the rapid spread of the new coronavirus variant yesterday led cardiff and vale university health board to tweet this stark appeal: "our critical care department

sangita myska is in dover. can you hear that noise behind me?re's all of the lorries that are gridlocked behind me into dover port beeping their horns, shouting. i think ultimately, they're just fed up. this is a bunch of incredibly frustrated lorry drivers. they've now been here for well over two days. they want to be let in. there is no sign that any deal appears to be coming. what they've been telling me is for this entire time, they've not been given access to toilets, they do not have access to water. remember, we are in a pandemic. we're all being told wash your hands, keep clean. they cannot do that. the very reason the french won't allow these lorry drivers back is they're worried they're now carrying the mutated variant of covid—19. even when things can start moving, there are questions about how quickly this could clear. john keefe, the director of the eurotunnel, told the bbc... which keeps things moving, but doesn't clear the problem as quickly. next, this is a representative of the road haulage association. one of the illogical thin

sangita myska has the latest. across the uk, the nhs is under pressure.e south—east of england, the new variant of covid—i9 is spreading faster than anywhere else, accounting for 60% of positive tests. in london that's pushed some covid hospital wards to capacity. there are large numbers of patients coming in with covid. i was on on christmas day and it was wall to wall covid. at the moment, the level of patient need is incredibly high. on boxing day, the london ambulance service received 7,918 calls. that is up 50% on last year. the government says it is aware of the situation and keeping it under review. i think we are per suing the right strategy, but we have to take into account the medical evidence to keep people safe to protect the nature toes save lives. in wales, nhs services say the services have been stretched to the limit. one hospital tweeted for trained volu nteers hospital tweeted for trained volunteers to help its care unit. with much more mixing over christmas and the high transmissibility of covid would result in many more infections and

sangita myska is there and sent this a short time ago.bout officially 5,000 vehicles trying to get into the port of dover. but i have to say, my colleagues all over kent are suggesting the real figure is quite a bit higher. what you can see perhaps in the background, again, more police lines. and some of the vehicles now coming out of the port of dover. i have been told on the ground that these are lorries that are disembarking from ferries. that will be a positive sign. the reason that's a positive sign is because it means those ferries could be getting ready to set sail. how do i know that? because about two hours ago, we saw the first mobile testing kits coming here to the port of dover. let me just take you across to the mouth of the port. what the police officers have been telling me is that they took some vehicles in quite a few hours ago and had the drivers park them inside the mouth of the port. it's thought that what will happen is they will get tested. if they test negative, they will, when the ferry is ready, be able to board t

let's go to dover now — and talk to our correspondent sangita myska. serable lorry drivers. yes. very much so. and understandably so. we describe to you where i am. over this shoulder you where i am. over this shoulder you can see a roundabout whether illuminated sign, that science is a french border is shot and the reason it says that with police officers behind it is because on this site, there are a whole stack of lorries, there are a whole stack of lorries, the entire road and with truck drivers and lorries goes out into the m 20 which is the main motorway the m 20 which is the main motorway the brings people into this part of dover and nobody is going anywhere. it is complete gridlock. lets get context here. what we know is that there are now over 1000 lorries and trucks that are stuck in and around the port of dover. some of them are on the road on the side of me, some on the road on the side of me, some on the road on the side of me, some on the m 20 as you have seen in those aerial pictures, others in man sealed airfield which is now a makeshift

sangita myska is in dover. can you hear that noise behind me?re are all of the lorries gridlocked behind me into dover port beeping their horns, shouting. i think ultimately, they're just set up. this is a bunch of incredibly frustrated lorry drivers. they've now been here for well over two days. they want to be let in. there is no sign that any deal appears to be coming. what they've been telling me is for this entire time, they've not been given access to toilets, they do not have access to water. remember, we are in a pandemic. we're all being told wash your hands, keep clean. they cannot do that. the very reason the french won't allow these lorry drivers is they're worried they're carrying the muted variant of covid—i9. even if things can start moving, there are questions about how quickly this could clear. john keefe, the director of the eurotunnel, told the bbc... which keeps things moving but doesn't clear the problem as quickly. next, this is a representative of the road haulage association. 0ne one of the logical things about all this i

our correspondent sangita myska has been following the case and spoke to us earlier for more.to give a fully informed consent to taking puberty blockers. puberty blockers are the drugs that are the first medical step in transitioning genderfrom one to first medical step in transitioning gender from one to another. what this reallyjudges gender from one to another. what this really judges —— gender from one to another. what this reallyjudges —— what the three judges at the court decided today was a highly compact and nuanced judgment. what it decided to do was to try to split teenagers up according to their age. what the judgment says is that if you are 13 or under, you are highly unlikely to be able to give your fully informed consent to taking these drugs. it says if you are below the age of 15, between 14 and 15, it is doubtful that you can give that consent. and if you are between the ages of 16 and 18, the law in england currently presumes that you are able to give consent, but thejudges here presumes that you are able to give consent, but the judges here today have said t

sangita myska is there and sent this a short time ago.y 5,000 vehicles trying to get into the port of dover. but i have to say, my colleagues suggested the real figure is quite a bit higher. what you can see perhaps in the background, again, more police lines. and some of the vehicles now coming out of the port of dover. i have been told on the ground that these are lorries that are disembarking from ferries. that would be a positive sign. the reason that's a positive sign is because it means that those ferries could be getting ready to set sail for the paddle i know that? because about two hours ago we saw the first mobile testing kits. coming here to the port of dover. let me just take you across to the mouth of the port. what the police officers as been telling me is that they took some vehicles in quite a few hours ago and had the drivers park them inside the mouth of the port. it's thought that what will happen is they will get tested. if they test negative they will, when the ferry is ready, be able to board that ferry and start bre

let's go to dover now and talk to our correspondent sangita myska. hear that noise behind me? all of the lorries that are now gridlocked behind me on this road into dover port are beeping their horns, shouting. ithink into dover port are beeping their horns, shouting. i think ultimately, they're just set up. let me describe exactly where i am. this is the a20, which comes off the m 20. you see all those aerial images of all of the lorries now gridlocked. it's thought up to 3000 lawyer dry —— lorry drivers are in this area. on that roundabout, a massive sign saying border close. this is the last time they would have taken if they were allowed into the port to turn along this way and onto the ferries. if you see any movement, it's only because the port authorities have had to create another freight area. they‘ re authorities have had to create another freight area. they're trying to allow those trucks. i'm going to break off and get nigel to zoom in. this is a bunch of incredibly frustrated lorry drivers. they have been here for well over two days. the

our correspondent in dover is sangita myska who can bring us up to date. that some of the lares are beginning to leave that part they are. but there are tailbacks going into the airport and leaving to the airport and into the airport and leaving to the airportand a into the airport and leaving to the airport and a lot of those macro ones are heading to where you are which is already blocked out. ones are heading to where you are which is already blocked outm exactly. this is the scene here at the mouth of the port. let me just tell you where i am and it's going to make sense of everything that is happening at manson. that is the age 20. that comes off the 20. this is the main road into dover port. what you can see is a thick police line. they have been trying to contain a lot of frustrated lorry drivers no sanitation, no toilets, no water, no food and basically no information. those drivers coming out of their vehicles getting very frustrated, they're very tired and want to go home for christmas. you can hear that those are their horns blowing out of sheer

centre responsible for treating children and young people with gender dysphoria. 0ur correspondent sangita myskay heart of this case was the issue as to whether or not young people under the age of 18 are able to give a fully informed consent to taking puberty blockers. puberty blockers are the drugs that are the first medical step in transitioning gender from one to another. what the three judges at the court delivered today was a highly complex and nuanced judgment. what they decided to do was to try to split teenagers up according to their age. what the judgment says is that if you are 13 or under, you are highly unlikely to be able to give your fully informed consent to taking these drugs. it says if you are below the age of 15, between 14—15, it is doubtful that you can give that consent. and if you are between the ages of 16—18, the law in england currently presumes that you are able to give consent. but the judges here today have said that, because of the highly experimental nature of these drugs — because scientists don't know the long—term effects of them on the body and on the mind — c

let's go to dover now and talk to our correspondent sangita myska. 0k, talk us through the people whonow. behind me you can see that road, which is gridlocked with lorries on both sides. behind the camera is the port of dover. this is basically the last bit of road before these lorries would have normally driven into the port and then got into a ferry and then crossed over into france. that is obviously come to a standstill because there is not a single ferry going out of france at the moment due to the french ban. what you can see here is just due to the french ban. what you can see here isjust a due to the french ban. what you can see here is just a tiny fraction of the 1000 plus lorries that are now gridlocked in and around dover. for some of these lorries on this road here, if i was to take you round where i worked earlier today, you will then see lorries in the streets around there are also backed up and gridlocked. if you were to go further out of dover, you then see great locks on the whole of the entry route on the m 20, the main highway route into the port gridlocked there. t