after being stabbed in separate incidents in london. 30 teenagers have been killed in the capital this year — the highest figure since 2008. you can carry knives in london. this is what happens when knives are carried. —— cannot. we all want to tackle knife crime. "relieved and grateful" — the victims of ghislaine maxwell have been speaking after she was convicted of grooming girls to be abused byjeffery epstein — her family say they can't accept the verdict. joe biden has again told president vladimir putin that the us and its allies will respond decisively if russia does not de—escalate tensions on his country's border with ukraine. good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. new figures show staff absences caused by covid at nhs acute trusts in england rose by more than 40% in the week to boxing day. hospitals in northampton, sheffield and rotherham have temporarily suspended visiting due to the high number of 0micron cases. an average of more than 25,000 health workers were off sick or isolating each day. london was again the worst hit with about 4% of staff in acute trusts absent, up by nearly 60% on the week before. borisjohnson has praised what he called the "heroic" vaccination effort across the country. the government says it's met its target of offering all adults in england a boosterjab. but nhs bosses say some vaccination centres have reported that as many as 40% of people failed to turn up for booked appointments. mrjohnson has resisted calls to impose new regulations in england despite rising covid cases across the country. but there are tighter restrictions in scotland, wales, and northern ireland. 0ur health reporterjim reed has been monitoring the situation. this is the thing that health bosses have been particularly concerned about. 0ver have been particularly concerned about. over the last two or three weeks, some health chiefs have said that this is a bigger concern for them actually than the number of people coming into hospital with covid—i9 because of the disruption it can cause. to go through those statistics again, every day, on average, in england, in the week before christmas, 25,000, just over 25,000 staff were absent in acute hospital trusts because of covid—i9. that is about one third of all absences now in those trusts that are down to the virus itself. that could be people self—isolating because they themselves have been affected, it could be they have to do the seven days because they have had a household contact in the same way, a combination of both those things. if you look at individual hospitals, this is where it becomes clearer. if you look at the worst hit, you mention london, great 0rmond street, the children's hospital in london, every day on average 383 staff in the week before christmas were off work because of covid—i9. that was up 43% on the previous week. that is about eight to 10% of staff and great torment to that rough everyday because of covid—i9. high numbers as well in sheffield, in bath, like i say, this is what health bosses have been concerned about and there were calls yesterday actually to give priority access to nhs staff or lateral flow test because there has been concerned that they have to access the test same way as the general public and there are some calls now that they should be given priority access to them so if they are self—isolating because the household contact, they can get back to work more quickly they can access those tests. in scotland, wales and northern ireland, tighter rules are now in place for pubs, bars and restaurants and there are restrictions on the number of people who can gather. edinburgh's hogmanay events have been cancelled, while wales�* first minister mark drakeford has asked those travelling to england to see in the new year to "think consciously and carefully" about their plans. let's speak now to debbie evans, the owner of the kerry lamb pub in kerry, powys — four miles from the english border. what is the christmas period been like for you? it what is the christmas period been like for you?— what is the christmas period been like for you? it has been very quiet com ared like for you? it has been very quiet compared to _ like for you? it has been very quiet compared to previous _ like for you? it has been very quiet compared to previous years, - like for you? it has been very quiet compared to previous years, the i like for you? it has been very quiet i compared to previous years, the lead up compared to previous years, the lead up and over christmas, very quiet indeed. ~ ., ., up and over christmas, very quiet indeed. ~ . ., , indeed. what are people telling you about why they _ indeed. what are people telling you about why they are _ indeed. what are people telling you about why they are not _ indeed. what are people telling you about why they are not turning - indeed. what are people telling you j about why they are not turning out? you have either got people who are worried and concerned about catching covid—i9, and on the other hand, you've got people wear because they can't experience a normal christmas in the pub, they are going elsewhere, they are going over the border whether less restrictions. that was going to be my next question, actually. what do you think about the difference between england and wales and is it affecting you? we england and wales and is it affecting you?— england and wales and is it affectin: ou? ~ ., , ., affecting you? we know several --eole affecting you? we know several peeple that _ affecting you? we know several people that have _ affecting you? we know several people that have planned - affecting you? we know several people that have planned to - affecting you? we know several people that have planned to go| people that have planned to go across to the borderjust so they can have the normal christmas experience that they can't get here because of the restrictions we are under. �* ., because of the restrictions we are under. �* . ., , ., because of the restrictions we are under. ~ . ., , ., ., under. and what has that meant in terms of the _ under. and what has that meant in terms of the business _ under. and what has that meant in terms of the business that - under. and what has that meant in terms of the business that you - under. and what has that meant in | terms of the business that you have lost their compared with businesses only a few miles away in england? i know that england has been impacted as well because of the fear factor, but for us, on christmas eve, we were... 0n boxing day, we were properly between 50% or 70% down on our usual capacity and we are 50% down today for new year's eve. i know that for so many people, in very different ways, the pandemic has been exhausting, mentally, emotionally and for you, commercially, how much more flexible can you be and how you operate your business? you had to change tax so many times. i business? you had to change tax so many times-— many times. i think if this is shown an hinu , many times. i think if this is shown anything. it — many times. i think if this is shown anything. it is— many times. i think if this is shown anything, it is that _ many times. i think if this is shown anything, it is that business - many times. i think if this is shown anything, it is that business can . many times. i think if this is shown anything, it is that business can bej anything, it is that business can be so adaptive. it is exhausting, and it is expensive, but i think we are just, the same as everybody else, we are just trying to carry on the best we can and provide the best experience that we can for those customers under the restrictions that we are under.— that we are under. what are you hoinu that we are under. what are you honing for _ that we are under. what are you honing for in _ that we are under. what are you hoping for in 2022? _ that we are under. what are you hoping for in 2022? in _ that we are under. what are you | hoping for in 2022? in particular, the extra support that you might get from the government. we the extra support that you might get from the government.— from the government. we will be receivin: from the government. we will be receiving a _ from the government. we will be receiving a grant _ from the government. we will be receiving a grant at _ from the government. we will be receiving a grant at sometime . from the government. we will be receiving a grant at sometime in | receiving a grant at sometime in january, and we are very grateful for that, january, and we are very grateful forthat, but january, and we are very grateful for that, but it doesn't really scratch the surface in terms of how much income has been lost over the last 4—5 weeks. i think, just the quicker that we can get back to normal, the better. the best position we can be and is to run the business exactly as we are supposed to. �* ., business exactly as we are supposed to. �* . u, , ., to. and in the meantime, can you offer take — to. and in the meantime, can you offer take a _ to. and in the meantime, can you offer take a ways _ to. and in the meantime, can you offer take a ways and _ to. and in the meantime, can you offer take a ways and food - to. and in the meantime, can you offer take a ways and food and i offer take a ways and food and drink, i mean? haste offer take a ways and food and drink, i mean?— offer take a ways and food and drink, i mean? ~ u, , ., drink, i mean? we can, but there are so many other— drink, i mean? we can, but there are so many other places _ drink, i mean? we can, but there are so many other places that _ drink, i mean? we can, but there are so many other places that provide - so many other places that provide that service already so i think we just have to focus on being the business that we are. rather than trying to hugely adapt, because all of that comes with an expense of course, so we are just having to plod along, i think, and hopefully, this will be short and sharp and we can recover ready for their whether to get better in the spring. i can recover ready for their whether to get better in the spring.- to get better in the spring. i think a lot of peeple — to get better in the spring. i think a lot of people will _ to get better in the spring. i think a lot of people will be _ to get better in the spring. i think a lot of people will be sharing - a lot of people will be sharing their sentiments. a lot of people will be sharing theirsentiments. debbie a lot of people will be sharing their sentiments. debbie evans, a lot of people will be sharing theirsentiments. debbie evans, best of luck to you and happy new year. thank you for talking to us.- thank you for talking to us. thank ou, thank you for talking to us. thank you. happy _ thank you for talking to us. thank you. happy new — thank you for talking to us. thank you, happy new year. _ firefighters north of the us city of denver in colorado are battling what has quickly become the most destructive wildfire in the modern history of the state. at least 300 homes have been destroyed, along with a hotel and a shopping centre. more than 30,000 people have had to evacuate, as well as patients and staff at one hospital. the us federal emergency management agency has released funds for disaster relief. louisa pilbeam reports. get out while you can, was the message from rescue services in colorado. a state of emergency was declared as hundreds of homes were swallowed by flames and upwards of 30,000 residents were told to evacuate from the towns of superior and louisville near the rocky mountains. what are you taking with you? two kids, a dog, two cats and my husband! just saw some smoke at first - and then itjust ended up getting bigger and bigger and bigger as the wind picked up. - and pretty soon it was, like, the whole neighbourhood i was pretty much engulfed. taking to the roads, residents fleeing the flames. right now they're trying to evacuate as much as they can and trying to get people going back to the east. the governor of colorado has declared a state of emergency. with no warning. gusts of 100mph, iiomph, can and have moved this fire down a football field in a matter of seconds. very little time to get out, very little time to even get the most important parts of your life. preliminarily, the reportsi were downed power lines, and we had deputies in the area who confirmed there _ were downed power lines. so, we believe that'sj what caused the fire. that assessment, and the actual. determination of that will be made for real and for final probably in the next couple of days. i it's winter in colorado and experts say recent weather conditions are to blame. we are in an extreme drought in this part of the state here, because we haven't gotten much moisture, and so you add that with incredibly strong winds, like what we're seeing out there right now, and itjust makes an already bad situation worse in terms of fire crews trying to get a handle on the fire. those fire crews will welcome the news that snow is forecast in denver and eastern colorado in the coming hours, which it's hoped will help to control the fires. louise pilbeam, bbc news. two teenage boys have been stabbed to death in london within an hour of each another. a murder investigation has been launched following the death of a 16—year—old boy in hillingdon, west london. an hour earlier, a 15—year—old boy was found fatally wounded in ashburton park in croydon in south london. police say it's too early to say whether the two incidents, which were more than 20 miles apart, were linked. thirty teenagers have now been killed in london this year — the highest level since 2008. a little earlier, police gave an update from croydon. ido want i do want to reassure you and say that violence and tackling violence and youth violence is our number one priority in london. right from dealing with county lines through to taking money and drugs and guns off the streets. through to being in the right place at the right time, policing hotspots of violence and getting upstream, we have got hundreds of police officers who work in schools, all trying really hard to tackle violence and its causes. now, as a result of that effort and with partners and community groups and local authorities, we have seen over the last few years, significant reductions in violence, knife crime and gun crime, but not for teenagers. forteenagers, we and gun crime, but not for teenagers. for teenagers, we have had a increase in homicide. speaking to the families and friends of those that london has lost an eye, all i can say is you cannot carry knives. this is what happened when knives are carried and we can all have a role in relation to tackling crime. the commander of the metropolitan police. the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has issued this statement, saying... victims of ghislaine maxwell have been speaking of their relief at the guilty verdicts in her sex trafficking trial in new york. she now faces a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted for grooming underage girls to be abused by the disgraced financier, jeffrey epstein. her family are backing an appeal against her conviction. simonjones has this report. described in court as partners in crime, running a pyramid scheme of abuse, the british former socialite ghislaine maxwell would groom underage girls for american financierjeffrey epstein. he killed himself injail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. she could spend the rest of her life behind bars, to the relief of their victims. we have a lot of work to do in this country in terms of holding people accountable, and educating about things like grooming. i didn't know when i was 16. i had no idea, i'd never heard that term — i didn't understand what was happening to me, this combination of being given gifts and positive attention and also having this abuse and these boundary violations. ghislaine maxwell's victims say her conviction shows perpetrators of sexual abuse will face justice no matter how much power and privilege they have. in an interview with the bbc, her brother said the maxwell family supports an appeal against her conviction. no, i'm not saying that they are lying. i mean, it may well be they were victims ofjeffrey epstein but i do not accept they were victims of ghislaine. that is my position, and that's also her position. in court, the jury decided the women were telling the truth, that ghislaine maxwell was notjust a passive bystander to the crimes ofjeffrey epstein but a sexual predator in her own right. her trial is just one of the court cases in the us arising from the activities of epstein. another is a civil lawsuit by virginia giuffre, formerly known as virginia roberts, against prince andrew, alleging sexual assault. prince andrew has always strongly denied her claims. mr maxwell, can we have a statement on behalf of the family, please? lawyers for ghislaine maxwell say they have already started work on her appeal. simon jones, bbc news. sport and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here's holly. at the end of this bulletin, i am going to ask you what your resolution is from the air. you better get thinking. my new year's resolution might be not to trip up over any of the word. come back to me there. good afternoon. chelsea head coach thomas tuchel has responded to striker romelu lukaku after the striker gave an interview in which he said he was "not happy" with his situation at the club. the interview is understood to have taken place three weeks ago but it's not down well with tuchel, who's been speaking ahead of his side's home game against liverpool on sunday. i don't like it. of course, because it brings noise that we don't need and it is not helpful. 0n the other side, we don't want to make more out of it than actually is. you know very well how it is. it is very easy to take lines out of context, it is very easy to shorten lines, make headlines and then later realise that it is not so bad. and maybe not what he meant. but let's be honest, we don't like it, i don't like it, like i said because it is noise that we don't need. we need a calm environment and focus and this does not help. chelsea v liverpool is one of nine premier league matches scheduled over the first three days of the new year. the last of those on monday sees manchester united host wolves. last night they finished 202i unbeaten in the premier league under manager ralph rangnick. they beat burnley 3—1 at old trafford. scott mctominay put united in front before jadon sancho, and cristiano ronaldo sealed the win. it puts united into the top six, while burnley stay in the relegation zone. it's all about energy for me, it's about passion, about energy, and if we show that, especially if we play at home, i think we have a good team, it's not so easy to play against us. but this is about sustainably delivering that kind of performance. manchester city defender joao cancelo says he suffered cuts to the face after attempting to fight off a gang of robbers at his home. cancelo posted an image of his injuries on instagram, claiming "four cowards" took all his jewellery and left him with a facial injury. in a club statement manchester city said... watford's emmanuel dennis will no longer be in the nigeria squad for the africa cup of nations. the reason for dennis' absence hasn't been confirmed. he's one of four changes to the original 28—man squad. the tournament kicks off in cameroon on sunday 9january after being delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic. some quick transfer news for you this lunchtime, celtic have announced the signings of three japanese players as daizen maeda, yosuke ideguchi and reo hatate all completed their moves to the club. more on that story on the bbc sport website. australia batter travis head has tested positive for covid and will miss the fourth ashes test against england in sydney, which starts late tuesday evening uk time. he'll remain in melbourne and isolate for seven days in line with health requirements. head is australia's leading run—scorer in the ashes, a series they've already won with two test matches still to play. there are doubts about whether cricket's twenty20 big bash league in australia can continue following multiple positive covid cases. today's adelaide strikers v sydney thunder game did go ahead — despite four thunder players testing positive. thunder made 187 for 3 after winning the toss and batting. the strikers were never really in the hunt and eventually lost by 22 runs. away from that match, seven players and eight support staff at the melbourne stars have tested positive putting their next match onjanuary 2nd in serious doubt. that's all the sport for now. and i know you are going to ask me what my new year's resolution was. i have been thinking about this recently, i am going to try and buy less close. it is not going to be easy. 0h, less close. it is not going to be easy. oh, that is very abstemious of you. we will see how it goes. we will check back in a weak�*s time after the sales. i'm going to go and check them just now. cancel the order. holly, thank you. but, what are they telling us? the number of but, what are they telling us? iie: number of cases of but, what are they telling us? "ii2 number of cases of gone but, what are they telling us? i“i2 number of cases of gone up but, what are they telling us? ii2 number of cases of gone up to about 1,000,001 week. but thursday before christmas, there were 1.4 million people testing positive. as of recent figures, that has gone up to nearly 2.3 million people. that is a massive rise. we know it is a massive rise. we know it is a massive rise. we have seen that in the case figures, but this is the most precise estimate that we have because it doesn't get knocked around by when people decide to get tested and secondly because it includes reinfection, anybody who tests positive at all and we know with 0micron, it is more likely to re—infect people, that is a significant part of it. this is the estimation just before christmas. and how does that figure compare with previous peaks that we have seen? , i, _, , seen? there is no comparison. this is radically — seen? there is no comparison. this is radically different. _ seen? there is no comparison. this is radically different. the _ seen? there is no comparison. this is radically different. the peak- is radically different. the peak backin is radically different. the peak back injanuary is radically different. the peak back in january last year, we is radically different. the peak back injanuary last year, we were talking about, that came close to the million figure, 2.3 million people were testing positive, it is an entirely different game and we know we are dealing with a entirely different pandemic for good and bad reasons, we have the vaccines, the link between protection and avoiding death, and the 0micron variant which is so much more infectious and also, thatis is so much more infectious and also, that is likely to lead to death less likely to lead to serious illness. it is less about the huge numbers of deaths that we saw last january, and more about the pressure on the nhs because staff cannot come into work to deal with the people who are sick. i, , i, ,, , i, to deal with the people who are sick. i, , i, «i , i, , to deal with the people who are sick. i, i i, «i , i, , i sick. robert, thank you very much. he is the bbc's — sick. robert, thank you very much. he is the bbc's head _ sick. robert, thank you very much. he is the bbc's head of _ sick. robert, thank you very much. he is the bbc's head of statistics. i the prime minister has urged people to be taking test, millions more test will become available. you are very popular at the moment, you pharmacists, aren't you? people are flooding to your doors.— flooding to your doors. absolutely. peo - le flooding to your doors. absolutely. peole are flooding to your doors. absolutely. people are obviously _ flooding to your doors. absolutely. people are obviously really - flooding to your doors. absolutely. people are obviously really keen i flooding to your doors. absolutely. people are obviously really keen to support the national effort and use the lateral flow tests as they have been asked to do by the government, unfortunately, we are just not getting the supplies of those tests into the pharmacy. people are going online, they are generating their code and then they are coming to the pharmacy and expecting a lateral flow test to be there waiting for them, and unfortunately, the code does not mean that we are getting the supply and, so they are then coming in and being disappointed unfortunately, a minority are taking that out on our pharmacy teams, really. that out on our pharmacy teams, reall . �* , i, that out on our pharmacy teams, reall. �* ,~/ that out on our pharmacy teams, reall.“ that out on our pharmacy teams, reall. �* our really. and so your messages? our messaue really. and so your messages? our message is — really. and so your messages? our message is that _ really. and so your messages? our message is that we _ really. and so your messages? our message is that we are _ really. and so your messages? our message is that we are working - message is that we are working extremely, extremely hard, we are doing this with supplying medication, covid vaccines and we are also supplying lateral flow test, but we are just not getting the suppliant. earlier this week, about two days ago, we heard the 8 million would be headed into england before new year. we are waiting for those to trickle down to us and we are immensely grateful to hear that wales will be providing some lateral flow test to england, but the pharmacy teams on the ground that are bearing the brunt of having to tell people that they don't have any in, this is a real struggle. i learnt the hard way. i got a qr code from their website, turned up to the appointed pharmacy and they told me they were out of stock. i was a bit confused, but totally understood. are you seeing people are trying to test too often? is that reason are getting through so many. i test too often? is that reason are getting through so many.- getting through so many. i don't think it is necessarily _ getting through so many. i don't think it is necessarily a - getting through so many. i don't think it is necessarily a case - think it is necessarily a case of testing too often, we have just got to be mindful that through this period, people are seeing family and we didn't have the opportunity last year, obviously, they are quite rightly wanting to test before seeing family and friends at they have been asked to do so by the government. we are struggling to get the supplies into pharmacies. we are only able to order in one container full day which is a struggle when we having 70 people to come to us and doing the right thing, they are testing. doing the right thing, they are testinu. , i, , i, i, testing. they are trying to do the ri . ht testing. they are trying to do the right thing- _ testing. they are trying to do the right thing- in — testing. they are trying to do the right thing. in an _ testing. they are trying to do the right thing. in an ideal— testing. they are trying to do the right thing. in an idealworld, - testing. they are trying to do the | right thing. in an idealworld, how right thing. in an ideal world, how often should we be testing? is it about periodically, or because of an occasion or a place you're trying to visit? i, , , i, , i, i occasion or a place you're trying to visit? i, , , i, , i, visit? ideally, if it is a place or ou are visit? ideally, if it is a place or you are going _ visit? ideally, if it is a place or you are going to _ visit? ideally, if it is a place or you are going to a _ visit? ideally, if it is a place or you are going to a gathering, l visit? ideally, if it is a place or. you are going to a gathering, you should test before that and then every couple of days, really, is the ideal. i recognise that people have been going out a bit more in the past few days because we didn't get a christmas or new year last year, so i doubt that we can play in the public for this, they are doing what they have been asked to do and we reallyjust need those supplies to keep flowing into pharmacies so we can continue to support the public. it is not our only role, as i said, we are talking to people about covid vaccines, about their concerns, about their day—to—day medicines, we are providing delivery of medications well and there is just a vast array of support at your local pharmacy, just lateral flow tests. we really appreciate you talking to us and let's hope that the supply starts to improve. thank you very much. train passengers are being advised to alter their new year's eve plans due to strike action. cross country have cancelled trains across england and scotland and wales and very limited roots will be available. it was also announced that there will be no trains running to and from victorian london due to lack of staff until the 10th of january. it has orally arrived in new zealand, one of the first places is always to mark the new year with celebrations. —— already arrived. crowds were able to gather in the first time since august to see the fireworks. auckland harbour bridge and the sky tower were lit up. pretty, hey? we will, as is traditional on this day of the year be showing you all of the pictures and the fireworks and the pictures and the fireworks and the eliminations around the world, but that is auckland kicking things off for us with lights on the harbour. quite muted, we thought, really. let's hope the weather will be nicer to us in the new year, ben can tell us more. hi there, thank you. of course, it very much depends on what you think is nice. it is certainly unusualfor on what you think is nice. it is certainly unusual for this time of year. it doesn't feel anything like it should at the end of december. in fact, in lincolnshire, we have seen a temperature of 15.3 celsius, the warmest new year's eve on record and it will stay exceptionally mild as we head through tonight into the start of the new year. quite windy, but dry for many. the afternoon temperatures will be eight or 9 degrees in northern scotland, that is a little above average, but 14 or 7 degrees, that is a long way above average commitment will be breezy out there for western parts, patchy rain for northern ireland and scotland, sunny spells developing in the south and east. through this evening and tonight, if you are planning to celebrate around midnight, rain across northern ireland, likely to be in the south—west and north—west of england ljy south—west and north—west of england by that time, some rain could be heavy, but the temperatures will not fall far with nine to 13 degrees for most of us at midnight, but the winds becoming a feature with gusts through the night of 14 as spell of 50 mph and more around exposed western coast. 1st of january, it looks like this. low pressure in the north of the uk. all these isobars squeezing together shows it will be quite windy and a weather front rushing its way eastwards. some outbreaks of rain, not too widespread but could be heavy when they turn up. some showery rain into northern ireland and west of scotland again later and that could be on the heavy side. it will stay quite windy and it will stay extraordinarily mild. 12 degrees for stornoway, 15, 16, 17 further south. a subtle change for sunday. some longer spells of rain at times, but the wind direction shift slightly coming in from the west. we'll still be mild, very mild, butjust not quite as mild as it is right now with temperatures of nine to 14 degrees. a bigger change coming later in the week, it will stay unsettled, low pressure drifting across the uk as we go to monday and then as that shifts its way eastwards, it will open the door to cold northerly winds, that is going to feel quite different i think as we go into tuesday and wednesday, single digit temperatures for all of us are a time when we should be seeing this this time of the year and some wintry showers in the north as we head through the rest of the week. more weather later and that is all for now.