in northern ireland, the isolation period for people with the coronavirus will be cut from ten days down to seven — provided they have a negative lateral flow test. hello and welcome. the british socialite ghislaine maxwell has been found guilty of recruiting and trafficking young girls to be sexually abused ghislaine maxwell by the late american financier jeffrey epstein. the 60—year—old was found guilty on five of the six counts she faced — including the most serious charge, that of sex trafficking a minor. maxwell faces spending the rest of her life in prison after she was found guilty by a jury in new york, but her lawyers say they are already preparing to appeal against the conviction. our north america correspondent aleem maqbool reports. court sketches show the moment ghislaine maxwell's victims have waited decades for. after five days of deliberation, jurors decided she was guilty on five counts linked to the sexual abuse of teenagers. and it was four of her victims who helped put her behind bars. the court heard how ghislaine maxwell gained their trust. during their emotional testimony, they told the jury how she instructed them to give the late jeffrey epstein massages that turned sexual. all but one testified anonymously, using a pseudonym or just their first name. jane said maxwell participated in her encounters with epstein. "i was terrified and felt gross and ashamed. "when you're14, you have no idea what's going on," she said. kate said after meeting epstein, maxwell asked her if she had fun, saying she was such a good girl and one of his favourites. and annie farmer, the only victim who publicly identified herself, said ghislaine maxwell gave her an unsolicited massage. she said, "i so badly wanted to get off the table and have the massage be done." she's now said she's relieved at the verdict and that it shows even those with great power and privilege will be held accountable when they sexually abuse the young. defence lawyers attacked the accusers�* memories and motives, but that ultimately didn't help ghislaine maxwell. we firmly believe in ghislaine�*s innocence. obviously, we are very disappointed with the verdict. we have already started working on the appeal and we are confident that she will be vindicated. well, ghislaine maxwell will be sentenced at a later date, but it seems extremely likely that she'll spend the rest of her life behind bars — a finalfall from grace for the british former socialite who a jury here has decided wasn't just a bystander to the crimes ofjeffrey epstein, but was herself a predator and an active participant in the sexual abuse of teenagers. police raids of epstein�*s homes showed the duo's jet—setting luxurious lifestyle. in this photo, the pair are seen relaxing at the queen's balmoral residence when prince andrew reportedly invited the couple to the estate. the staggering wealth on display from their opulent properties only highlighted how they used their power together over the years to lure, intimidate and silence everyone around them. house rules, including this manual, told staff to be deaf, dumb and blind, forbidding them from making eye contact with epstein. one of my clients said to me that she's been living in a metaphorical prison all of these years with the psychological fallout of the sexual abuse, the deep shame and embarrassment and trauma that she's experienced and now, ghislaine maxwell is going to experience a real prison where she will have a lot of time to think about the profound damage she has caused to so many girls and young women. ghislaine maxwell still faces a second trial for perjury, a charge which she denies. aleem maqbool, bbc news, in new york. in 1994, liz stein was 21 years old, a student working in new york when she met ghislaine maxwell who introduced her to jeffrey epstein. she says the two of them assaulted her. she told bbc radio 4 about her experience. you may find her story distressing. i was working doing an internship at a well—known fifth ave retailer, and ghislaine maxwell came in one day, and i helped her. and she wasjust electrifying. you know, from almost the moment that we met, itjust seemed like we hit it off. she was absolutely magnetic, and we talked about several things while she was shopping that day. it was a really easy conversation that i had with her, and when she was done shopping, i offered to deliver her packages to her, which is something that i would frequently do for high—end clients, but i had a hard and fast rule, and that was i didn't deliver to anyone personally, i would only drop off to hotel concierge or to doormen. so when i called to arrange to deliver her packages that evening, i was instructed to bring them to a hotel instructed to bring them to a hotel in midtown manhattan that was close by to the store, and i dropped them at the concierge, and when i arrived at the concierge, and when i arrived at the concierge, i was told that ghislaine was in the bar area, and that she was with someone that she wanted me to meet. so i went into the bar area, wanted me to meet. so i went into the bararea, and wanted me to meet. so i went into the bar area, and the person that she wanted me to meet was epstein, who she had described to me as her boss, her boyfriend, i wasn't really clear what his role was in her life. so i met epstein that evening, and that was the first time they assaulted me. fist that was the first time they assaulted me.— that was the first time they assaulted me. yes. assaulted me. at the hotel? yes. that was liz _ assaulted me. at the hotel? yes. that was liz stein. _ ghislaine maxwell's legal team was contacted by the bbc to put liz stein's accusations to them. we await a response. adam klasfeld is a us legal news reporter who has been covering the courthouse where the epstein and maxwell stories unfolded for more than a decade. adam, thank you very much for joining us. what has the reaction been to this outcome in new york? well, this is a historic verdict. as i have said before, this is a case thatis i have said before, this is a case that is a quarter—century in the making. the indictment talks about events that happened in 1994 up to 2004, and there has been a long awaited reckoning and an emphatic verdict. five of six counts guilty, including on the top count, sex trafficking a miner, which standing alone could have a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment, effectively a life sentence if sentencing on the maximum, so it is something that people who have been covering this court have been closely monitoring. as in matter of fact, the civil suit that was a real catalyst behind it, the civil suit of virginia giuffre against ghislaine maxwell in new york, and it was from that case it was mentioned a little bit earlier that there is a pending perjury count. that is two perjury counts from deposition testimony that ghislaine maxwell gave in that case, so that gives us an idea of the impact of this verdict. gives us an idea of the impact of this verdict-— gives us an idea of the impact of this verdict. �* . ., , , this verdict. and what has been her reaction? she _ this verdict. and what has been her reaction? she was _ this verdict. and what has been her reaction? she was calm _ this verdict. and what has been her reaction? she was calm and - this verdict. and what has been her. reaction? she was calm and collected throughout. reaction? she was calm and collected throu:hout. , ., ., throughout. yes, throughout the trial she has _ throughout. yes, throughout the trial she has been _ throughout. yes, throughout the trial she has been calm, - throughout. yes, throughout the l trial she has been calm, collected, engaged with her defence, sometimes bantering with her attorneys and acknowledging her siblings who are usually seated in the front row. her sangfroid and calm continued when the verdict was read. apparently it was said that she had after the five out of six guilty verdicts were pronounced, she had poured a little cup of water from her fiji water bottle, and that was something i saw in ghislaine maxwell in the courtroom throughout, someone who was facing the possibility of the rest of her life in prison has reacted with calm, without emotion. a great deal of credit given to the witnesses and the bravery and then coming forward to give testimony. but the defence say they are preparing an appeal. what are the chances of it succeeding? weill. chances of it succeeding? well, exerts chances of it succeeding? well, exnerts that — chances of it succeeding? well, exnerts that i — chances of it succeeding? well, experts that i trust _ chances of it succeeding? well, experts that i trust have - chances of it succeeding? well, | experts that i trust have already said that it is a long shot. we don't know what the appeal will say. we know that they have been saying from the beginning that this was impossible for ghislaine maxwell to get a fair trial because of the massive media attention. i sat through the jury choosing, and they were screened for media coverage, didn't seem to know much about the case at all, and as a matter of fact, the verdict came down on its sixth day. they had been scrutinising the evidence, including the defence presentation of the case. the same day that the verdict came down, they requested the defence's key expert witness, and that was the witness who tried to call the memories of all the victims into question, and that failed. at the end of the day, five of six guilty counts. so who knows what will happen? we will see what her appeal says. will happen? we will see what her appealsays. but will happen? we will see what her appeal says. but the people who i trust as experts do feel that it is a long shot. trust as experts do feel that it is a long shot-— trust as experts do feel that it is a lona shot. �* ., . , . ~ a long shot. adam klasfeld, thank ou ve a long shot. adam klasfeld, thank you very much- — a long shot. adam klasfeld, thank you very much. thank— a long shot. adam klasfeld, thank you very much. thank you - a long shot. adam klasfeld, thank you very much. thank you for - a long shot. adam klasfeld, thank. you very much. thank you for having me. covid rules are to be toughened up across a number of european countries. austria has revealed it plans to make vaccines mandatory for everyone over 14, with non—compliance punishable with a 3,000—euro fine every three months. germany has new restrictions on sports events and night clubs, while some countries have banned dancing and music. the restrictions come as more european countries have reported record numbers of infections and people are asked to be cautious ahead of new year celebrations. earlier we spoke to dr catherine smallwood, the world health organisations senior emergency officer for europe. she says the omicron variant is causing a surge of cases in western europe, but it may not be as severe. we are seeing a very rapid increase in the number of new covid—19 cases. of in the number of new covid—19 cases. of course we expected that anyway because of the holiday season, but with the rapid spread of omicron we are seeing that very much accelerated, and that is especially in western europe, where we are seeing countries like the united kingdom, france, denmark, portugal, spain, italy, all seeing cases now outstripping what they have seen at any previous time during the pandemic. and it is early days yet, but that is significantly going to put health systems under pressure and lead to a lot of people being hospitalised, and it is going to lead to a lot of disruption. there has also been a surge of omicron cases in the united states. prompting the health authorities to offer warnings about hospital capacity. dr andrew pastewski is the icu medical director at florida's jackson south medical center. we can speak to him now. thank you forjoining us. what do you a tribute florida's new surge to? it you a tribute florida's new surge to? , . , , you a tribute florida's new surge to? , , to? it is absolutely omicron. it is now u- to? it is absolutely omicron. it is now no to — to? it is absolutely omicron. it is now no to 9096 — to? it is absolutely omicron. it is now up to 9096 of— to? it is absolutely omicron. it is now up to 9096 of the _ to? it is absolutely omicron. it is now up to 9096 of the cases - to? it is absolutely omicron. it is now up to 9096 of the cases in i to? it is absolutely omicron. it is| now up to 9096 of the cases in the now up to 90% of the cases in the jackson— now up to 90% of the cases in the jackson south system. it hasjumped and spread _ jackson south system. it hasjumped and spread like wildfire in the last few weeks. we were feeling really good, _ few weeks. we were feeling really good, down to two covid cases a few weeks _ good, down to two covid cases a few weeks ago. — good, down to two covid cases a few weeks ago, and now we have 60 today, and that_ weeks ago, and now we have 60 today, and that is— weeks ago, and now we have 60 today, and that is a _ weeks ago, and now we have 60 today, and that is a surge of that we have not seen _ and that is a surge of that we have not seen anything like that in any of delta — not seen anything like that in any of delta or— not seen anything like that in any of delta or any of this before, it has never— of delta or any of this before, it has never been like this before. we were _ has never been like this before. we were all— has never been like this before. we were all expecting something after the holidays, but not this bike before — the holidays, but not this bike before the holidays, and that is even _ before the holidays, and that is even scarier.— before the holidays, and that is even scarier. how many of those sufferin: even scarier. how many of those suffering and _ even scarier. how many of those suffering and being _ even scarier. how many of those suffering and being hospitalised | even scarier. how many of those i suffering and being hospitalised are vaccinated? it is suffering and being hospitalised are vaccinated? , ~ ., vaccinated? it is looking like about 3096 are vaccinated. _ vaccinated? it is looking like about 3096 are vaccinated. most - vaccinated? it is looking like about 3096 are vaccinated. most of - vaccinated? it is looking like about 3096 are vaccinated. most of the i vaccinated? it is looking like about l 3096 are vaccinated. most of the sick 30% are vaccinated. most of the sick ones are _ 30% are vaccinated. most of the sick ones are unvaccinated or have not been _ ones are unvaccinated or have not been boosted or have significant comorbidities. i have not seen many vaccinated. — comorbidities. i have not seen many vaccinated, boosted sick people, none _ vaccinated, boosted sick people, none of — vaccinated, boosted sick people, none of them are in the icu right now _ none of them are in the icu right now but — none of them are in the icu right now. but we are seeing in people who have not— now. but we are seeing in people who have not been boosted that they are coming _ have not been boosted that they are coming to _ have not been boosted that they are coming to the hospital with sick covid _ coming to the hospital with sick covid symptoms.— coming to the hospital with sick covid s mtoms. . ., ., , ., covid symptoms. what does it mean, thou~h, if covid symptoms. what does it mean, though. if as — covid symptoms. what does it mean, though. if as you _ covid symptoms. what does it mean, though, if as you say _ covid symptoms. what does it mean, though, if as you say the _ covid symptoms. what does it mean, though, if as you say the majority - though, if as you say the majority of them are omicron cases. we don't know as much about this variant yet as many medics would like to. do you think it means the cases will be less severe? i think it means the cases will be less severe?— think it means the cases will be less severe? i had hoped that. in the beginning. — less severe? i had hoped that. in the beginning, we _ less severe? i had hoped that. in the beginning, we were - less severe? i had hoped that. in the beginning, we were not - less severe? i had hoped that. in - the beginning, we were not admitting as often— the beginning, we were not admitting as often as _ the beginning, we were not admitting as often as we were with delta. but if the _ as often as we were with delta. but if the number of cases are so high that even— if the number of cases are so high that even if— if the number of cases are so high that even if it is a smaller percentage of cases that get sick, but we _ percentage of cases that get sick, but we are — percentage of cases that get sick, but we are still seeing them, it is still going — but we are still seeing them, it is still going to be overwhelming, and at our— still going to be overwhelming, and at our peak, we were sitting at about— at our peak, we were sitting at about 110 — at our peak, we were sitting at about 110 covid cases, and that was delta _ about 110 covid cases, and that was delta i'rn _ about 110 covid cases, and that was delta. i'm with being just a few weeks — delta. i'm with being just a few weeks into this surge, and the holiday— weeks into this surge, and the holiday is— weeks into this surge, and the holiday is not yet contributing, it is going — holiday is not yet contributing, it is going to — holiday is not yet contributing, it is going to be worse again. it is 'ust is going to be worse again. it is just so— is going to be worse again. it is just so frustrating.— is going to be worse again. it is just so frustrating. what will stop the spread. _ just so frustrating. what will stop the spread, then? _ just so frustrating. what will stop the spread, then? if _ just so frustrating. what will stop the spread, then? if as _ just so frustrating. what will stop the spread, then? if as you - just so frustrating. what will stop the spread, then? if as you said i just so frustrating. what will stop| the spread, then? if as you said in some cases people are already vaccinated? 50 some cases people are already vaccinated?— some cases people are already vaccinated? ~ ., , vaccinated? so like we have seen in south africa, _ vaccinated? so like we have seen in south africa, this _ vaccinated? so like we have seen in south africa, this will _ vaccinated? so like we have seen in south africa, this will probably - south africa, this will probably burn— south africa, this will probably burn out, _ south africa, this will probably burn out, hopefullyjust as quickly as it spiked, that is what we saw in south _ as it spiked, that is what we saw in south africa — as it spiked, that is what we saw in south africa. but there is still going — south africa. but there is still going to — south africa. but there is still going to be that time when this is going _ going to be that time when this is going to _ going to be that time when this is going to be that time when this is going to be difficult on the health system — going to be difficult on the health system. we are seeing half the er turning _ system. we are seeing half the er turning positive, my icu team, i have _ turning positive, my icu team, i have had — turning positive, my icu team, i have had six people already turned positive _ have had six people already turned positive. fortunately with the cdc's guidelines— positive. fortunately with the cdc's guidelines and vaccine mandates it is only— guidelines and vaccine mandates it is only a _ guidelines and vaccine mandates it is only a five day quarantine now if you are _ is only a five day quarantine now if you are better, so that is helping with the — you are better, so that is helping with the staff issues, but the hope is that— with the staff issues, but the hope is that this — with the staff issues, but the hope is that this will burn out just as fast as— is that this will burn out just as fast as it — is that this will burn out just as fast as it has in south africa, and if not _ fast as it has in south africa, and if not it— fast as it has in south africa, and if not it is— fast as it has in south africa, and if not it is going to be a whole bunch — if not it is going to be a whole bunch of— if not it is going to be a whole bunch of cases of people waiting in the parking lots to be seen again. dr andrew— the parking lots to be seen again. dr andrew pastewski from the jackson south medical centre in florida, thank you very much for your time. thank you. in england and wales, there were 33 fewer deaths with coronavirus in the latest recorded week, according to the the office for national statistics. it's the lowest number of deaths since the middle of october. the number of deaths involving covid—19 has now been falling since the mid—november. however the ons says the number of deaths in total in the uk was 14% above the five—year average. meanwhile coronavirus surge hubs are being set up at nhs at hospitals in england to deal with a potential increase in admissions, caused by record daily cases of the omicron coronavirus variant. eight sites will be able to treat around 100 patients each. at the same time the health secretary, sajid javid, says the supply of lateral flow tests will be tripled injanuary and february, in a bid to combat shortages. joining me now to talk about how the health service is preparing to cope is chris hopson, chief executive of nhs providers. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. in the previous stages of the pandemic, we saw so—called nightingale hospital is set up which didn't get used, it appeared. how do these hubs differ?— these hubs differ? well, in both cases they _ these hubs differ? well, in both cases they are _ these hubs differ? well, in both cases they are about _ these hubs differ? well, in both cases they are about a - these hubs differ? well, in both cases they are about a back- these hubs differ? well, in both i cases they are about a back pocket insurance policy such that if we get on the end of a really, really big surge in numbers of patients needing treatment, we are able to treat them. we saw some very distressing scenes very early on in covid—19 overin scenes very early on in covid—19 over in lombardy where you could see patients couldn't get the care that they needed. so this is a no regrets preparation for a large surge, should it happen. the question you asked was, how are they different? one of the things we think we feel we've learned over the pandemic is the need to co—locate this capacity with existing hospitals, and so instead of having a separately and conference centres, and the advantage of using conference centres and places like that is that you can get lots of capacity, what we're doing this time as ensuring that the extra capacity is actually physically located on hot hospital site, which should make medical supervision easier to achieve this time. ., ., ,., supervision easier to achieve this time. ., ., ., ., supervision easier to achieve this time. ., ., ., , time. how are you going to stuff them, though? _ time. how are you going to stuff them, though? we _ time. how are you going to stuff them, though? we keep - time. how are you going to stuffj them, though? we keep hearing time. how are you going to stuff- them, though? we keep hearing how much pressure nhs hospitals are under already for doctors and nurses and other ancillary staff. shall under already for doctors and nurses and other ancillary staff. mimi and other ancillary staff. all of this links together, _ and other ancillary staff. all of this links together, and - and other ancillary staff. all of this links together, and there | and other ancillary staff. all of i this links together, and there are three bits of the chain that we need to understand. the first is these are a back pocket insurance policy. we are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best, and hoping that we won't have to use them, but if we are going to use them, they will be used in an emergency. the second bit in the chain is to understand what they are being used for, and that is they are being used for, and that is they won't be used for providing care to really seriously ill patients. what they would be used for its patients who have already been treated, but we still need to oversee them and supervise them for 24, 36, 48 hours longer. so in that sense we are hoping that people will be over the worst, but they are not quite ready to go home yet, but we need to kind of keep an eye on them. and the third bit then is that if we are actually going to be using these, we will be in an emergency, we will be on a war footing, to use the phrase that the chief medical officer of nhs england used, so we will be using an emergency staffing model which means that, for example, we will be pulling in, asking volunteers from the voluntary sector, we will be asking for a recently retired medical staff to join us. because i think we all recognise that we wouldn't be able to staff this existing capacity from our existing staff for exactly the pressures that we are describing. however, the advantage that you've got here is that you would be able to, for example, have some time for very senior medical consultants and doctors who would be able to keep an eye on what was going on in this extra capacity, but because of the needs of the patients, they are not the illicit patients, then you would be able to staff it in an emergency wave by asking people who have recently retired to come back and help. —— they are not the sickest patients. finally, and briefly, if you would, if there is this surge, will we see yet again non—covid cases that won't be able to be seen? what yet again non-covid cases that won't be able to be seen?— be able to be seen? what is striking is that when — be able to be seen? what is striking is that when i— be able to be seen? what is striking is that when i talk _ be able to be seen? what is striking is that when i talk to _ be able to be seen? what is striking is that when i talk to clinicians, - is that when i talk to clinicians, they recognise that there are some of those delayed plan care cases which we simply cannot delay any longer. so the bit i want to assure you and your viewers is that we are doing everything we can to treat those most urgent cases, because we know they can't be put off any longer. and hospitals are performing a very delicatejuggling longer. and hospitals are performing a very delicate juggling act at the moment where they are trying to get through as many of those cases as possible whilst at the same time preparing for a surge should that occur. , ., , ,., ., ,, occur. chris hopson from nhs providers. _ occur. chris hopson from nhs providers, thank _ occur. chris hopson from nhs providers, thank you - occur. chris hopson from nhs providers, thank you very - occur. chris hopson from nhs i providers, thank you very much occur. chris hopson from nhs - providers, thank you very much for talking to us. providers, thank you very much for talking to us— northern ireland's devolved government has decided to reduce the self—isolation period for people with the coronavirus from ten days to seven — provided they have negative lateral flow tests on the sixth and seventh days. the change will take effect tomorrow. let's speak now to our ireland correspondent, chris page. what has brought this about, chris? well, ministers in the devolved government here at stormont have had a virtual meeting today where they have received the latest briefing from their scientific advisers about the covid situation in this part of the covid situation in this part of the uk, and until very recently, it had been the case that omicron wasn't spreading here quite as rapidly as in england and scotland, certainly, but that has now changed. ministers were told that more than 90% of covid cases in northern ireland are now accounted for by omicron. the daily case numbers today say that 4700 or thereabouts positive cases have been recorded in the last 24 hours, meaning the infection rate has never been higher throughout the whole course of the pandemic. the number of people in hospital with covid is also rising. it went up from 277 to just over 300 in the last 24—hour is. however, those hospital admissions are not rising at the rate that would be necessary in ministers�* view to necessitate new public health restrictions, restrictions were tightened here earlier this week so from monday for example nightclubs have been closed, and some more changes for the wider hospitality industry. it has been back to the rule of six, no more than six people at a table and table service only. ministers today had been considering whether to restrict attendance at sporting events, but they have decided not to go together with that and not to impose any further restrictions. one change has been brought in, that is regarding self isolation if you test positive for covid, you don�*t have to self—isolate for ten days any more, you have to isolate for days, provided that you do a lateral flow test on the sixth and seventh day, and those tests come back with a negative result. so that is designed to try to ease some of the potential pressure on workforces across northern ireland as the omicron variant spreads with people having to take time off work. ministers say they are going to keep all the data under review, and they are going to meet again in a week on the 6th of january. meet again in a week on the 6th of janua . . .. meet again in a week on the 6th of janua . . ~' ,. , . meet again in a week on the 6th of janua . ., ,, y., , . , january. thank you very much, chris pate in january. thank you very much, chris page in northern _ january. thank you very much, chris page in northern ireland. _ foreign office officials are seeking clarification from the french authorities on travel rules for british citizens with homes in the eu fter passengers travelling on the eurotunnel shuttle services between britain and france and on p&o ferries were told they were banned from travelling through france. most british tourists and business people are already banned from travelling to france because of britain�*s high covid infections. a coroner has given a verdict at the inquest into the death of the liverpool women�*s hospital bomber, emad al swealmeen. a narrative conclusion was reached that al—swealmean died in a taxi in front of the hospital, from an explosion and subsequent fire — caused by an improvised explosive device which he had carried into the vehicle. it said that he�*d manufactured the device with murderous intent. china has hit out at the us, canada and the eu after they condemned the arrest of seven hong kong journalists on wednesday as part of china�*s wider crackdown on press freedom in the region. a foreign ministry spokesperson said the criticism was irresponsible and was trying to mislead public opinion. presidents biden and putin are to hold another phone call later today as the us tries to build a common response with europe to russia�*s massing of troops on the ukrainian border. a biden administration official said the two men would discuss a range of security and strategic issues. the coffin of the south african anti—apartheid hero, archbishop desmond tutu, is lying in state at st george�*s cathedral in cape town. large crowds are expected to visit to pay their respects before archbishop tutu�*s funeral on saturday, with memorials also planned injohannesburg and pretoria. the james webb space telescope which launched last week is starting to unfold its sunshield in a complex process involving hundreds of moving parts. the world�*s most powerful telescope went into space on christmas day. hello there. it has been very mild again today, and could be the warmest new year�*s eve and new year�*s day on record. we will stick with the exceptionally mild air in the uk, blustery winds as well, but where the winds are coming from a significant because it is those warm southerly winds bringing warmth up from the azores and madeira and heading northwards into the uk, bringing a lot of cloud. these are the temperatures we have got into the temperatures we have got into the early evening, 14 or 15 widely across southern parts of the uk and across southern parts of the uk and a little colder in scotland under clear skies. this rain is developing and continuing to push northwards overnight, and it turns wetter in northern ireland where also you see a short burst of rain pushing eastwards across england and wales later on in the night. still quite a breezy for many parts of the country, very mild for most as well. tomorrow we see the back of that rain early on in east anglia and the south—east, to many parts of the country brightening up with sunshine coming through. the wind is not a strong, and we still have this rain affecting central and southern scotland, the far north of england and it does tend to ease off in the afternoon, still damp and cloudy for these areas, but still very mild once again, temperatures of 13 in the central belt of scotland, 16 or 17 in east anglia and the south—east. and as we head further into the evening, as you are seeing into the evening, as you are seeing in the new year, there could be some patchy rain across the north and west of the uk, many places starting dry and we still have this exceptionally mild air in place as we head into the new year. so, new year�*s day, still some rain, that band of rain shouldn�*t last too long, it will push its way eastwards and then will brighten up from the west with some sunshine later in the day, and we really start to see some showers arriving in western scotland and northern ireland. very mild once again, temperatures typically 14—16 celsius. after saturday, things start to change, because the very mild southerly winds get pushed more into europe, and instead we get more of a west or south westerly wind. it is still mild, just not quite as mild. and there will still be rain around as we head into sunday, particularly across more western and southern parts of the rain, that could be heavy at times, temperatures will be a few degrees lower on sunday but still mild for the time of year. now on bbc news, a look back at the political year with the year in politics 2021. three, two, one! big ben chimes. 2021 was another extraordinary year in politics. the uk stopped following eu trading rules. the biggest vaccination programme the country has ever seen was rolled out. but we all spent months in lockdown while it happened. events in afghanistan tested british foreign policy. have you lied to the public, prime minister? at home, accusations of sleaze and rule—breaking tested boris johnson�*s authority. ..disrupt this meeting. and a woman named jackie weaver shot to fame for exerting hers. you have no authority here, jackie weaver, no authority at all. 2021 started fresh off the back of a christmas that had been cancelled, virtually at the last minute, for millions of people. nobody quite knew what the new year would bring. apart from one thing.

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