in the car and leave. the uk health service warns of significant pressure in the coming weeks, as covid infections reach a new high. the staff that are at work will be caring for more patients, trying to do more to cover for their missing colleagues, working extra hours, starting early, finishing late. the pressure will be immense. and goodbye to a golden girl — the american actress and comedian, betty white, has died, just weeks before her one hundreth birthday. let's take you to those live pictures from athens — with fireworks over its most famous landmark, the acropolis. greece's health minister said earlier this week that music the earlier this week that music omicron variant has b! dominant the omicron variant has become the dominant bearing only a month after it is been released. there's been a curb on new year's festivities with many parts of the world but these fabulous fireworks still lighting up the sky above the acropolis as greece welcomes in 2022 with the hope of a better year ahead. a spectacular location for those fireworks i'm sure you will agree over the acropolis in greece as greece welcomes the new year. of course lots of places all the world the world have been putting on a show. — in the united arab emirates they tried to stand out by getting into the record books. this was ras al khaimah where they attempted a world record fireworks display. two record attempts in fact — for the most fireworks launched from drones which are airbourne. and for a second record — for the highest drone altitude firework display. the performance was planned to last 12—minutes, involving 15,000 fireworks. here in the uk — the prime minister has urged people to take a covid test before going to any celebrations — but with restrictions varying between the different nations of the uk, it's feared revellers from scotland and wales will cross into england to celebrate. our correspondent olivia richwald reports from carlisle in cumbria just eight miles from the the border with scotland. new year's eve in the border city. carlisle castle was once used to keep these gods out now it welcomes them as they arrive in the centre. earlier today many scots made the trip south. earlier today many scots made the tri south. , ., ., ., trip south. there is nothing to do in the south _ trip south. there is nothing to do in the south of _ trip south. there is nothing to do in the south of scotland. - trip south. there is nothing to do in the south of scotland. this - trip south. there is nothing to do in the south of scotland. this is i in the south of scotland. this is the nearest place for something to do. . �* , the nearest place for something to do. . �*, . the nearest place for something to do. ., , the nearest place for something to do. that's what new year's is all about. do. that's what new year's is all about and _ do. that's what new year's is all about. and they _ do. that's what new year's is all about. and they were _ do. that's what new year's is all about. and they were ready - do. that's what new year's is all about. and they were ready to l about. and they were ready to celebrate- _ about. and they were ready to celebrate. the _ about. and they were ready to celebrate. the new _ about. and they were ready to celebrate. the new year's - about. and they were ready to i celebrate. the new year's eve about. and they were ready to - celebrate. the new year's eve party was cancelled at this hotel before christmas to keep staff and customers say. tonight the restaurant is busy and the rooms fully booked, many by scots. probably half of these central came down isaac it's good to be busy. i think carlisle will complain a little bit but secretly will be quite happy. little bit but secretly will be quite happy-— little bit but secretly will be quite happy. little bit but secretly will be cuitehau . . . ., quite happy. scotland along with wales and northern _ quite happy. scotland along with wales and northern ireland - quite happy. scotland along withi wales and northern ireland have quite happy. scotland along with i wales and northern ireland have all introduced some covid restrictions over the festive period. and that makes border towns like carlisle even more appealing for a night out. there are a lot of both english and scottish people out enjoying themselves in carlisle to arrive. some of the scots admit they have come here on purpose to avoid restrictions back home. butjust walking up and down some of carla's busiest street people are telling us it is quieter than they would expect. the scottish government had asked people not to cross the border. ~ ., , ., _, ., border. where have you come from toda ? border. where have you come from today? glasgow — border. where have you come from today? glasgow. why _ border. where have you come from today? glasgow. why have - border. where have you come from today? glasgow. why have you - border. where have you come from i today? glasgow. why have you come border. where have you come from - today? glasgow. why have you come to carlisle? because _ today? glasgow. why have you come to carlisle? because there's _ today? glasgow. why have you come to carlisle? because there's no _ carlisle? because there's no restrictions. _ carlisle? because there's no restrictions. and _ carlisle? because there's no restrictions. and all- carlisle? because there's no restrictions. and all of - carlisle? because there's no restrictions. and all of our i carlisle? because there's no - restrictions. and all of our friends have _ restrictions. and all of our friends have covid — restrictions. and all of our friends have covid-— restrictions. and all of our friends have covid. and we passed by the fact that the _ have covid. and we passed by the fact that the government - have covid. and we passed by the fact that the government said - have covid. and we passed by the l fact that the government said don't go to england? ida. fact that the government said don't go to england?— go to england? no, not at all. it encourages— go to england? no, not at all. it encourages more. _ go to england? no, not at all. it encourages more. you - go to england? no, not at all. it encourages more. you get - go to england? no, not at all. it| encourages more. you get those go to england? no, not at all. it - encourages more. you get those six miles down — encourages more. you get those six miles down the _ encourages more. you get those six miles down the road, _ encourages more. you get those six miles down the road, it's _ encourages more. you get those six miles down the road, it's not - encourages more. you get those six miles down the road, it's not fair. i miles down the road, it's not fair. it's not fair. miles down the road, it's not fair. it's not fair-— miles down the road, it's not fair. it's not fair. two years of pandemic have been really _ it's not fair. two years of pandemic have been really tough _ it's not fair. two years of pandemic have been really tough and - it's not fair. two years of pandemic have been really tough and tonight| have been really tough and tonight marks the start of a new year with fresh hope. what your message for new year's?— new year's? law. one world, one life, love. — new year's? law. one world, one life, love. spread _ new year's? law. one world, one life, love. spread love. _ new year's? law. one world, one life, love. spread love. happy- new year's? law. one world, one | life, love. spread love. happy new yeah _ life, love. spread love. happy new ear. �* ., h life, love. spread love. happy new ear. ~ ., �*, ., . year. and that's one message which eve one year. and that's one message which everyone across _ year. and that's one message which everyone across the _ year. and that's one message which everyone across the uk _ year. and that's one message which everyone across the uk can - year. and that's one message which everyone across the uk can agree . year. and that's one message which i everyone across the uk can agree on. we'll bring you more on the new year's eve preparations in london later in the programme. the governor of the us state of colorado has pledged to help residents who've lost everything to rebuild their lives, after sudden wildfires destroyed 1,000 homes. tens of thousands of people were evacuated as the fires tore through suburban areas of boulder county on thursday. gary o'donoghue has this report. winds of more than 100 mph drove the flames across more than 1600 acres of suburban colorado, which would normally have snow on the ground at this time of year. the fires spread quickly through homes and businesses, leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. the emergency services did their best, but the sheer speed of the fire took everyone by surprise. coming down this road, the ditches and things and the trees, they're all up in flames. like, there's embers everywhere. packed myself, my cat and... just keep our fingers crossed. local officials declared a state of emergency, unlocking federal funds to help fight the blaze, and the governor spoke to president biden. this was a disaster in fast motion, all over the course of half a day, nearly all the damage, many families having minutes, minutes to get whatever they could — their pets, their kids — into the car and leave. the last 2a hours have been devastating. remarkably, no one died in the fires, and as dawn broke on friday, winds had significantly dropped and a forecast of snow should reduce the chances of any flare—ups — leaving the thousands of families to count the cost of a handful of hours that have devastated their lives. gary o'donoghue, bbc news. i spoke to the colorado state senator steve fenberg a little earlier — he told me how shocked he was at the speed that the fires are travelling. it really is an unheard—of and unprecedented situation. as you heard, the governor says, the devastation was a matter of hours. we are now getting a much better sense of what lies and what remains we think there are about 2000 homes within that region. upwards of 1000 could be burned to the ground. i was able to do a fly over early this morning and do a little bit of a tour of some of the impact areas and it is absolutely devastating. entire neighbourhoods, entire subdivisions gone. nothing left of them, really. it really is an unprecedented disaster. in colorado, we are used to wildfires, we are used to natural disasters. living in mother nature. this one is different, given the time of year that it is and given the fact that there really ripped through a suburban and an urban area, which is unusual. and what other conditions like right now for fighting these wildfires? some strong winds have been fanning the flames, haven't they? you know, you're right, but that is actually the strangest part of this. yesterday we had record winds, it was a warm, dry day, unseasonably warm and it has been dry for months. we have had very little moisture and that's what created the situation we saw yesterday. today, we woke up this morning to snow. it's cold outside, it feels like december. so, the fires are actually not entirely, but essentially out. they're not going to grow any more. they are still embers and still some structures that are going to continue to burn out, but there is no real risk of them growing or spreading to properties because of the temperature change and because of the moisture and the snow that is falling right now. that's great. the unfortunate part of that is power is out in large swathes of the area and that means that yesterday as you say, it's absolutely bizarre to have such a mild day yesterday, to have snow today. do you have any doubt in your mind off what you are seeing in this state that is connected to climate change? no. there is no doubt that this was exacerbated and made much more intense because of the impact of climate change. in fact, in colorado it's very normalfor us to have a 60 degrees day and the next day it's snowing. it may sound strange, but that's the climate we have windstorms occasionally, but we know from climate change that these storms are happening more frequently and are much more intense. that happened at the same time that we are experiencing extreme drought, and we have had very little rainfall, very little snowfall yet this year, so it really created a perfect storm. we may have had a fire in the fall, perhaps. october would have been very unusual, but it has happened. december 30, having a fire that spreads this fast because of such driving conditions is very unusual in this absolutely... because of the climate impacts. in the us presenters legal team has failed proceedings to stop the civil suit and six abuse case.— suit and six abuse case. accusing resents suit and six abuse case. accusing presents true _ suit and six abuse case. accusing presents true of _ suit and six abuse case. accusing presents true of sexually - suit and six abuse case. accusing i presents true of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager at the homes ofjeffrey epstein and maxwell for the prince andrews lawyers argued that she is not a us resident and that her civil legal action should be halted. prince andrew has consistently denied her allegations. coronavirus infections in the uk has reached a new record high — and pressure on hospitals continues to grow. covid—related absences in acute nhs trusts in england went up by more than 40% during christmas week. an average of more than 25 thousand 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. our health correspondent katharine da costa reports. most nhs staff will be glad to see the back of 2021. nearly two years into this pandemic, many are exhausted. a spike in covid cases is driving a rise in staff sickness. in england, london is worst affected with about 4% of staff in acute trusts absent for covid—related reasons in the week before christmas, up nearly 60% on the week before. many feel it's impacting on patient care. the staff that are at work will be caring for more patients, trying to do more to cover for their missing colleagues, working extra hours, starting early, finishing late. the pressure will be immense. in the latest infection survey from the ons, infections increased across the uk to their highest level on record in the week to christmas eve. in england, one in 25 had the virus. in scotland, wales and northern ireland, it was one in a0. infections doubled in a week in london. one in 15 tested positive. but there were big rises too in the north—west, yorkshire and the humber and west midlands. other regions weren't far behind. statisticians say infections are twice the level they were this time last winter in england because they're being fuelled by the more infectious omicron variant. across all age groups, we are seeing increases, but particularly driven by those young age groups, we've seen increases among school—age children fairly recently, particularly from nursery through to primary. but we are now seeing infections among older age groups as well, so young adults from the mid—20s to the mid—30s, but spreading right the way up to increases now in the over 70s, although they remain the lowest group to be infected. there's more encouraging news on boosters. new uk data suggests a booster shot is 88% effective at preventing people ending up in hospital due to omicron. after a huge push, all uk nations say they've hit the target of offering all adults a third dose by the end of the year. i would just say to people again, there's 1.5 million slots out i would just say to people again, there's1.5 million slots out there over the next few days. there's plenty of opportunities. there is mobile vaccination units, there's gps vaccinating, there's all sorts of ways to get vaccinated. just please come forward and help yourself, but also help reduce that burden on the nhs. and now, this. a second antiviral pill has been approved by the uk regulator. in trials, pfizer's paxlovid drug offered nearly 90% protection from severe illness and death among vulnerable adults. there's a glimmer of hope for the new year. vaccines and new treatments should help protect the most at risk from serious illness. but there are huge uncertainties. if there is a sharp rise in hospital admissions, health leaders say ministers will have to act fast. katharine da costa, bbc news. the legendary american actress and comedian, betty white, has died, just weeks before her hundredth birthday. her career spanned nine decades — from the earliest days of television in the nineteen—thirties, and her own shows in the fifties, to the latest toy story film just two years ago. betty white will probably be best remembered for her portrayal of rose nylund — in the sitcom the golden girls. it's believed she died at her home on friday morning. tributes have been pouring in. presdidentjoe biden tweeted... the hollywood actor ryan reynolds who starred in a film with betty white said... and will & grace star debra messing tweeted... deputy tv editor of variety, michael schneider, has been reflecting on her career. we don't use the term national treasure lightly but it definitely applies in the case of betty white. we've never known television without betty white, she was there at the dawn of tv. some of our favourite shows of the heroes two years golden girls, mary tyler moore, she was always present in our lives and that's what is said and really has our nation in mourning today. i think she had been living quietly at home during the pandemic. she has said in a recent interview that she felt lucky to be in such good health at her age, she was looking forward to her 100 birthday on the 17th of january. to her 100 birthday on the 17th of janua . , . �* , to her 100 birthday on the 17th of janua . , ., �*, ., to her 100 birthday on the 17th of janua. , ., �*, ., , to her100 birthday on the 17th of janua. , ., �*, ., , january. yes, that's what is so tra . ic january. yes, that's what is so tragic and _ january. yes, that's what is so tragic and bittersweet - january. yes, that's what is so tragic and bittersweet about i january. yes, that's what is so i tragic and bittersweet about this. she was just a few weeks away, they're already plenty of in magazines and newspapers including our own we were preparing for a big celebration of her 100th birthday. she got so close. that's it's kind of sad about theirs. but obviously her legend lives on. tell of sad about theirs. but obviously her legend lives on.— her legend lives on. tell us about more of the _ her legend lives on. tell us about more of the tributes _ her legend lives on. tell us about more of the tributes coming - her legend lives on. tell us about more of the tributes coming in. i saw a lovely one from rhino two ryan reynolds who said he managed to grow very old and somehow it not old enough. very old and somehow it not old enou:h. , , ., ., very old and somehow it not old enou.h_ , ., ., “ enough. yes, everyone who worked with betty white — enough. yes, everyone who worked with betty white or _ enough. yes, everyone who worked with betty white or came _ enough. yes, everyone who worked with betty white or came in - enough. yes, everyone who worked with betty white or came in contactj with betty white or came in contact with betty white or came in contact with her over the years had been paying tribute. even before today's news because people were starting to pay tribute to her 100th birthday. steve martin had a nice tribute yesterday before her passing we will continue to see those roll in. so many people worked with her, loved her and betty white continued to work up into a year or two ago. she was active way into her late 905. everyone has a betty white story. i read in an interview she was asked what she hoped her legacy would be and she said she wants good people to think kindly of her and maybe make them smile. what do you think her legacy will be? i make them smile. what do you think her legacy will be?— her legacy will be? i think that's art of her legacy will be? i think that's part of it- _ her legacy will be? i think that's part of it- in _ her legacy will be? i think that's part of it- in a — her legacy will be? i think that's part of it. in a country _ her legacy will be? i think that's part of it. in a country that - her legacy will be? i think that's part of it. in a country that feel| part of it. in a country that feel so divided these days one of the few things we can all agree on is that betty white made everything better. if you knew she was good to be in a film or tv show, even as a guest star on something she won emmy5 for guest starring on television shows, that's all great her presence was. i think everyone just had an extra 5mile think everyone just had an extra smile on the face when they saw that betty white was good to be involved in something. betty white was good to be involved in something-— in something. let's talk in a bit more detail— in something. let's talk in a bit more detail about _ in something. let's talk in a bit more detail about the - in something. let's talk in a bit more detail about the golden i in something. let's talk in a bit - more detail about the golden girls. of more detail about the golden girls. of course the show really brought her to such a huge widespread attention, perhaps the one that if people you say her name they will most associate her with her and their character of rosa mylan. she inhabited that role along with the other three actresses, the golden girls but why was that role so iconic? i girls but why was that role so iconic? ~ ., , ., , ., ., iconic? i think it was a combination of all four of— iconic? i think it was a combination of all four of those _ iconic? i think it was a combination of all four of those women - iconic? i think it was a combination of all four of those women were i of all four of those women were so iconic. betty white was the last of that four to pass. but it was not relationship between these four women. a sort of sweet naivety of rose, the character that betty white played, so opposite of the actual betty white. betty white herself had a sharp edge to her. she had a wicked sense of humour, she was always quick to the bunch. so opposite of rose but there was something that we really appreciated about that character, that naivety that she played so well on golden girls. that she played so well on golden uirls. , , , ., that she played so well on golden rirls. , , , ., ., ., , girls. deputy tv editor of variety ma . azine girls. deputy tv editor of variety magazine talking _ girls. deputy tv editor of variety magazine talking about - girls. deputy tv editor of variety magazine talking about betty - girls. deputy tv editor of variety i magazine talking about betty white who has died at the age of 99. less than two hours to go until new year's is marked in the uk. in london, the mayor, sadiq khan, has urged people to stay home — or to exercise caution if they do head out tonight. jean mackenzie is in trafalgar square — in central london — for us now. give us a sense of what it's like there. oi give us a sense of what it's like there. . ., , , give us a sense of what it's like there. , , , , . there. of course the big public celebrations _ there. of course the big public celebrations here _ there. of course the big public celebrations here in _ there. of course the big public celebrations here in london i there. of course the big public. celebrations here in london have been cancelled this evening so the fireworks that you normally have along the river thames, plans or celebration in trafalgar square but just a week ago the mayor of london decided that with covid cases where they were that was still too risky. but none of this and stop people coming up to central london tonight to celebrate the streets are busy. they are getting busier getting busier and busier the closer to midnight we gaveled up and were talking to people who come from all across the country to be in central london this evening. people were surprised to learn that there is no public celebration. because once again england is that there are no restrictions or socialising so people are free to see in the new yearin people are free to see in the new year in bars and clubs.— year in bars and clubs. have you come across _ year in bars and clubs. have you come across any _ year in bars and clubs. have you come across any people - year in bars and clubs. have you come across any people that - year in bars and clubs. have you i come across any people that have come across any people that have come across any distance from other uk nations to be in london specifically because of the restrictions in the other nations? it's interesting, there's been a lot of talk today that people perhaps travelling from scotland or wales where bars and nightclubs are closed are restricted we haven't spoken to them here in london but the interesting a thing is we've got people coming from the right the other end of england like liverpool, leads to be here this evening expecting there will be something happening in london and disappointed and surprised to learn that that's not the case. and surprised to learn that that's rrot the case-— and surprised to learn that that's not the case. , ., , , ., , , not the case. obviously the advisers --eole not the case. obviously the advisers eo - le to not the case. obviously the advisers people to people — not the case. obviously the advisers people to people to _ not the case. obviously the advisers people to people to try _ not the case. obviously the advisers people to people to try to _ not the case. obviously the advisers people to people to try to stay - not the case. obviously the advisers people to people to try to stay in . people to people to try to stay in well ventilated areas. you were mentioning earlier how mild it is as we've been noting around the uk. really miles at this time of year. do you think that's going to help people to follow that advice and encourage people to stay outside rather than perhaps go inside if they can? it rather than perhaps go inside if the can? , , ., they can? it is unseasonably warm here in london _ they can? it is unseasonably warm here in london this _ they can? it is unseasonably warm here in london this evening. - they can? it is unseasonably warm here in london this evening. this i they can? it is unseasonably warm | here in london this evening. this is not what it should feel like on the 315t not what it should feel like on the 31st of december. i think the hope certainly is that it will encourage more people to stick it out on the streets here this evening put up the streets here this evening put up the streets are busy and they might be more encouraged to stay here for midnight rather than to head indoors somewhere to keep warm. if they do go indoors they're being told please take a lateral flow test first and think about how ventilated that area is. of course cases of covid in london and across the uk are very high here. ok london and across the uk are very hiuh here. ., ~ , london and across the uk are very hiuh here. ., ~' ,, , . high here. ok thank you very much. i think we can — high here. ok thank you very much. i think we can show _ high here. ok thank you very much. i think we can show you _ high here. ok thank you very much. i think we can show you a _ high here. ok thank you very much. i think we can show you a shot - high here. ok thank you very much. i think we can show you a shot of - high here. ok thank you very much. i think we can show you a shot of the i think we can show you a shot of the london skyline as the city and indeed the uk gets ready to mark the arrival of 2022. the advice to people in england is to stay in well ventilated places or outside if they can, uses lateral flow test and of course the rule is different in england from the uk nations where there are tougher restrictions in place. you are watching bbc news. hello you are not imagining what it is exceptionally mild at this time and we will continue to remain in very mild airfor the and we will continue to remain in very mild air for the first few days of the new year. notjust very mild air for the first few days of the new year. not just the very mild air for the first few days of the new year. notjust the uk but many of our european neighbours have seen record temperatures for new year's eve. certainly records selling parts of poland, austria, germany and the netherlands. for new year's day once again we see records being rivalled or toppled for the day this cold front will push across the uk through new year's day. quite a skinny little weather front, not much temperature contrast across it. and because in such narrow band of rain it won't stick around in many areas for very long. perhaps an hour orso areas for very long. perhaps an hour or so of rain working its way from west to east across england and wales the showers for western scotland and northern ireland more persistent at first but look at the temperatures. again, quite a lot of sunshine for the day and widely highs in the mid teens. squally showers at the southeast of england through saturday evening put up into the small hours of sunday some heavier showers as we pick and from the west of wales and the midlands for the very mild night for the peas of the temperatures more typical of a daytime for this time of year or even perhaps lightly here. sunday some better weather again on the cards for england and wales and some blustery winds. we can see in ten showers working their way through. i think they drives and brightest weather for sunday will be for scotland and northern ireland for the up on monday we fall into a bit of a pincer movement in terms of our weather because the uk. we will see this weather front to the cell trying to push some rain in this area of low pressure to the north trying to turn things increasingly unsettled. between the two some breezy conditions but i think the best of any solid balls for a perhaps old midland, northern in the but to the very self and the north of the uk there could be some heavier and more persistent rain for the up a little cooler as well on monday but temperatures still slightly above average for the time of year for the slightly above average for the time of yearfor the time slightly above average for the time of year for the time of year. however, tuesday it looks like we are going to flit around and pick up are going to flit around and pick up a northerly wind. that will bring about a very dramatic change in the way things feel because we will also have to add on the effect of the wind—chill. temperatures in edinburghjust 4 degrees wind—chill. temperatures in edinburgh just 4 degrees on tuesday down to eight and monday some big contrast our in weather to come in the days ahead. this is bbc news, the headlines... countries around the world are seeing in the new year, with scaled back celebrations — as the omicron variant continues to drive up covid infections. this was the scene at the ancient acropolis in athens. president biden has approved a disaster declaration in colorado after entire neighbourhoods in two towns north of denver were engulfed by wildfires on thursday. thousands of residents fled and hundreds of homes were destroyed. coronavirus infections in the uk have reached a record high. estimates suggest one in 30 people tested positive before christmas. one study suggests the risk of hospitalisation with omicron is about one—third that of delta. and tributes have been paid to the golden girls actress betty white, who has died just weeks before her 100th birthday. now on bbc news — mel brooks talks to alan yentob about his life.