in the uk, on pbs, and around the globe. europe has a very low vaccination rate for covid and yet today spain, france, italy and germany became the latest european countries to suspend use of the oxford/astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine. the decision follows reports from norway that a small number of recipients developed blood clots. but the world health organization, the manufacturer, and many other governments insist that the vaccine is safe and that there's no evidence linking it to blood clots. the bbc�*s fergus walsh has more. a public display of confidence in the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine from northern ireland chief medical officer today. by contrast, you cannot have the jab in the irish republic, in france, germany and a growing list of eu countries which have temporarily suspended its use. this is a safe, effective vaccine as recommended by mhra, let's remember, this virus kills people, it kills people my age, younger people and older people. the benefit is strongly in favour of people getting this vaccine at this time. the eu vaccine roll out was already lagging well behind of that of the uk. france has said it will wait for a safety analysis from the european medicines agency due tomorrow before deciding whether to restart using the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. translation: the decision which has been taken is to suspend, _ as a precaution, vaccinating with the astrazeneca vaccine in the hope that we can resume quickly if the opinion of the european medicines agency allows. astrazeneca says more than 17 million people in the uk and european union have now had its vaccine and fewer than a0 cases of blood clots have been reported. it says the risks of having a clot are significantly lower than with those that have been vaccinated compared to the general population. we that have been vaccinated compared to the general population.— to the general population. we know blood clots are _ to the general population. we know blood clots are remarkably - to the general population. we know blood clots are remarkably common and we would expect them to happen in 1—2 people per 1000 per year. that is actually a very large number and much higher in these sorts of levels than we are talking about in this report. scientists in the uk are frankly baffled by the decisions made in the eu. there is concern that the pause in using the astrazeneca jab will cost lives because people won't be protected from covid, and that it would damage public confidence in a highly effective vaccine. fergus walsh, bbc news. that astrazeneca jab has not yet been approved here in america. but that hasn't stopped the biden administration from stockpiling it on the chance that it might be approved soon. and it's not giving those stockpiles away — the white house says it will focus on vaccinating americans before considering requests from other nations. which makes the us different from china and russia, which have both sent millions of vaccines to low—income countries, in what some are calling an act of "vaccine diplomacy." joining me now for more is ian bremmer, a political scientist and president of the eurasia group. thanks forjoining me. the us already has enough doses of the vaccine to cover all adults in america by the end of may and the entire american population byjuly so shouldn't it be giving away extra vaccines know if other countries needed? , , ., vaccines know if other countries needed? , ~ ., needed? yes, you know, spoke with the chief medical _ needed? yes, you know, spoke with the chief medical adviser _ needed? yes, you know, spoke with the chief medical adviser about - needed? yes, you know, spoke with the chief medical adviser about that i the chief medical adviser about that for the president, doctor faucci, and he said we are giving $2 billion through kovacs and 2 billion more if other countries do but we will not give vaccines out until every american is vaccinated. and you said russia and china and also india are also exporting dot these are poorer countries and they are not vaccinating all of their population first which says a lot. in part, it is because the united states so badly mishandled the health care side of coronavirus response, over 500,000 americans dead. you can understand the focus is going to be on the us domestic population but it reminds of worlds around the world that america first isn'tjust reminds of worlds around the world that america first isn't just a slogan, and even though biden is much more multilateral than president trump was, the reality is us policy has been exceptional list for a very long time and exception list the united states focuses on itself. �* , �* ., ., , itself. but isn't there a downside on the medical— itself. but isn't there a downside on the medical side _ itself. but isn't there a downside on the medical side from - itself. but isn't there a downside on the medical side from not - itself. but isn't there a downside - on the medical side from not getting people around the world vaccinated? it will mean americans can't travel, it could interrupt trade with other countries. americans are not safe if the virus and variance are spreading in other countries, are they? fit in other countries, are they? of course, that is true but i feel more optimistic about that for a couple of reasons. first of all, as you know, the united states and united kingdom are two of the countries that are being thankfully most effective in getting vaccines rolled out, and the world is in a vastly better place because of the vaccines, how many there are, how fast they are rolling out, than anyone could have dreamt three months ago. the united states will be at herd immunity at some point this summer, knock on wood. that means americans are going to start exporting because we will have jabbed all the americans that are going to take them. it isn'tjust like it is the usa versus china, it is europe, it is india, russia, the brazilians are starting to manufacture. this means that it will not become a cold war around vaccine export. by the time we get into late 2022, it will be a marketplace globally. 2022, it will be a marketplace aloball . ~ , ., globally. well countries that receive the _ globally. well countries that receive the china _ globally. well countries that receive the china vaccine, i globally. well countries that i receive the china vaccine, and i think china has played something like half a billion doses of the vaccine to a5 different countries around the world, do you think those countries will remember who was there for them early on, and it could make a material difference in relations with america and china? again, i would say not for long, precisely because it is going to become a global marketplace, with so many different sources. one place you might have been concerned, southeast asia, where the chinese were doing a lot of export, these are where the chinese exporter is very important, the south china sea, moving towards china with all the military power but the indians are also starting to export all of the countries in the region. that is really helpful. i don't think it'll just be about the united states versus china, it'll be a very multilateral and global effort. this will look very different in just a a few months. will look very different in 'ust a a few monthsfi will look very different in 'ust a a few menthefi will look very different in 'ust a a few months. . ., ., few months. ok, thanks for “oining us. as they wait for more vaccines italians are being hit with yet another strict lockdown. across much of italy, nonessential businesses, shops and schools closed again. our correspondent mark lowen has been to milan and has this report. for 95 years, this man's family have dressed the men of milan, his boutique passing down from his grandparents. but these 12 months have ruined him with losses of 75% and now closing for another lockdown, even europe's fashion capital is fraying. translation: i capital is fraying. translation: ., , capital is fraying. translation: ., �* capital is fraying. translation: ., ., translation: i hope we don't have to shut down completely _ translation: i hope we don't have to shut down completely like _ translation: i hope we don't have to shut down completely like so - translation: i hope we don't have to shut down completely like so many - shut down completely like so many others here. when i think about how this shop was my parents and grandparents live, it makes me want to live. i am only staying open for my children. if it was up to me, i'd have given up already. fie, my children. if it was up to me, i'd have given up already.— my children. if it was up to me, i'd have given up already. a third wave fuelled by the _ have given up already. a third wave fuelled by the british _ have given up already. a third wave fuelled by the british variant - have given up already. a third wave fuelled by the british variant has i fuelled by the british variant has closed shops, restaurants and schools in half of it to the's regions including in lombardy where europe's first wave exploded one year ago. europe's first wave exploded one yearago. forfamilies, it's like being stuck in time. for the covid generation it is like life stolen. we feel dreadful, it is back to square one after one year. it is incredible that government and schools haven't had a chance to think about and alternative. we look at israel, the us and the uk thinking, wow, things are working there. �* thinking, wow, things are working there-_ not _ thinking, wow, things are working there._ not really. - there. and here? not really. turbo-charging _ there. and here? not really. turbo-charging italy's - there. and here? not really. turbo-charging italy's slow. there. and here? not really. - turbo-charging italy's slow vaccine turbo—charging italy's slow vaccine roll—out, this drive—through centre opened today in milan. the government pledging to almost double dailyjabs now and tripled them by mid april. italy is finally in full vaccine mobilisation but there is frustration here it has taken weeks to get to this point. yes, there have been supply problems but only now are the drive—throughs starting and jabs in schools and theatres and gyms. in the race between vaccine and virus there is a feeling italy has let the latter win for too long. just hours after vaunting its vaccine increase, italy halted as oxford/astrazeneca jabs. as the pandemic drags on, it is taking the new poor with it, 3500 a day come to this hand—out, the price of survival in this, italy's financial capital. it's a disaster, says this woman, whose mother died of covid. neither my family or i can find work now. at least this stops me sleeping under the bridge. from the exhausted... to the bridge. from the exhausted... to the fearful. italians are desperate for a sign of hope. for a first western country engulfed by the virus, it has longed for path out has been pushed out again. and all too familiar picture for the italians have had such a tough year and now they've also found out easter is cancelled, no one can go anywhere over the easter weekend, such an important holiday for italians and we are thinking of them. the nominees for this year's much—delayed academy awards were finally announced this morning. it's been a strange year for hollywood. most movie theaters have been closed, so viewers watched the year's best films at home. and this year's ceremony will take place in la's cavernous union station out of covid concerns. joining me now for more from new york is tom brook. you have to educate me for the next 2.5 - you have to educate me for the next 2.5 — three minutes because i haven't seen any of them! usually i pride myself on seeing the oscar—nominated films and this year nothing! so, what is your favourite? well, there have been some great films but you had to work in a way to watch them and i would say there consensus is one of the best films as nomadland, a film starring francis mcdormand, about nomadic people in america was my quest, a film that will resonate with academy voters as well as audiences because it is a form of substance and given we are still in the midst of a pandemic it deals with lives that have been economically dislocated. it is a very skilful film. the director brings together real professional actors with real nomad puma, she put together something thatis puma, she put together something that is very impressive, the kind of film the academy will go for because it makes them look good, and academy voters are quite narcissistic and they want to look like they are connected with the fine art. i think we often kind _ connected with the fine art. i think we often kind of— connected with the fine art. i think we often kind of wonder _ connected with the fine art. i think we often kind of wonder whether l connected with the fine art. i think. we often kind of wonder whether the mood of the moment is having an impact on thejudges mood of the moment is having an impact on the judges choices. do you think this strange cocoa video with all of us in lockdown is going to be reflected in which films do well and which films do not? to reflected in which films do well and which films do not?— reflected in which films do well and which films do not? to some extent, es. which films do not? to some extent, yes- nomadland _ which films do not? to some extent, yes. nomadland because _ which films do not? to some extent, yes. nomadland because it— which films do not? to some extent, yes. nomadland because it deals - which films do not? to some extent, | yes. nomadland because it deals with real concerns and substance, that might influence academy voters. also a film like the trial of the chicago 7, based on the famous trial that occurred in the wake of the protests at the democratic convention in 1968 where you had protesters clashing with the police is something that will resonate given what has happened in this country over the last year. on the other hand, people might be looking for fantasy, they want escapism during these difficult times, and that of course will influence people as well. it sounds like the academy _ influence people as well. it sounds like the academy has _ influence people as well. it sounds like the academy has heard - influence people as well. it sounds like the academy has heard all- influence people as well. it sounds like the academy has heard all of. like the academy has heard all of those calls for more diversity. yes. i think this — those calls for more diversity. yes. i think this year _ those calls for more diversity. yes. i think this year it _ those calls for more diversity. yes. i think this year it is _ those calls for more diversity. yes. i think this year it is clear - those calls for more diversity. yes. i think this year it is clear the - i think this year it is clear the academy has finally woken up to the fact there are some very talented women and talented people of colour in the film industry. women did remarkably well. 76 nominations went to women this year. particularly notable was the best director category, chloe zhao, who i mentioned, she got a best director nomination, and so did emerald fennell, a british film—maker making her directorial debut. that is a record, to make nominations for women in the best director category. also for actors of colour a very good year. it is interesting there are 20 actors that can get nominations. 20 years ago you'd have found that all of those slots were occupied by whites, american or british people. i counted up the number of this year and there were only three white americans nominated which explains in a way or demonstrates how inclusion is becoming part of the norm, in a way. interesting, i like that statistic! thank you forjoining us from the streets of new york. glad you got a chance to see the films even if i haven't done so yet. in other news... the vatican has ruled that roman catholic priests cannot bless same—sex couples, and that any such blessings are invalid in the eyes of the church. the statement was approved by pope francis, who supports civil rights for homosexual partners but opposes gay marriage. conservative catholics had asked for a ruling after bishops in germany and the united states expressed approval for the pastoral blessings some priests had bestowed. the ugandan opposition politician and former presidential candidate bobi wine has been arrested in the capital kampala during a protest. he was leading rallies against the arrest and disappearance of his supporters that happened around the recent election. security forces fired tear—gas to disperse the crowd marching with the politicians. at least 50 protesters are now thought to have been killed in myanmar on sunday. it was the worst single day of brutality by the security forces since the coup last month. the military has imposed martial law in several areas of the country's biggest cities and protesters can now be tried in military courts. the bbc�*s south east asia correspondent jonathan head has more. we are reeling from looking at these images. and seeing the dreadful injuries people suffered and the numbers were so much higher than in previous episodes of violence. and also video of the security forces deliberately shooting people, completely uncaring and some of the dreadful treatment they administered to people, people who are dying, wounded, dragged off like animals. this is an army and police force showing total disregard for the lives and welfare of the people they are supposed to protect. and they seem to be revelling in taking on these huge neighbourhoods, large areas of the country which are rebelling against them as though they are fighting a war against an enemy, and we saw the casualties rise significantly over the weekend because they went in to two industrial neighbourhoods where the resistance to the military coup was well—organised and strong and it seemed as though the military saw this as a challenge decided to teach them a lesson. jonathan head reporting. you're watching bbc world news america. still to come on tonight's programme. it's been exactly ten years since anti—government protests plunged syria into civil conflict — we'll hear from some of those who've been displaced about the damage the war has done. the european union has started formal legal action against the uk because of the government's decision to delay the introduction of border checks on goods coming into northern ireland from great britain. our europe correspondent nick beake has more. the european union believes the united kingdom has broken international law, not once but twice in the past six months. you might remember there was a wrangle six months ago, which got pretty nasty and then got resolved. what is happening here as there were due to be some cheques coming in, as you say next month, which would have affected parcels, food or pets moving from the mainland of the united kingdom, from great britain, to northern ireland, and the british government has said that supermarkets and other people in northern ireland need time to adjust to the post—brexit reality. the eu says you can'tjust unilaterally decide to do this sort of thing because you're telling people in northern ireland to break international norms and rules and regulations. ten years ago today, protests began in syria, calling for the removal of the regime of president bashar al—assad. in the months that followed, a peaceful uprising gave way to vicious civil war that has involved multiple nations and displaced millions of people. among them is one syrian farmer who lost his wife and his sons to this war, and is now left to look after his 12 grandchildren. the bbc�*s aruna iyengar has more on his story. this man was a well—to—do farmer in syria's rural province. ten years after the civil war began he is penniless, homeless and living in a tentin penniless, homeless and living in a tent in northern id lib with the wives of his dead sons and 12 grandchildren. translation: i grandchildren. translation: ., ., ., ., translation: i am a farm and people know this here — translation: i am a farm and people know this here that _ translation: i am a farm and people know this here that i _ translation: i am a farm and people know this here that i used _ translation: i am a farm and people know this here that i used to _ translation: i am a farm and people know this here that i used to work- know this here that i used to work with 1800 acres and i used to be one of the leading farmers. i am a tough man. he of the leading farmers. i am a tough man. , of the leading farmers. i am a tough man. _ , .,, of the leading farmers. i am a tough man. , man. he says he lost 13 sons in the conflict, the _ man. he says he lost 13 sons in the conflict, the older _ man. he says he lost 13 sons in the conflict, the older is _ man. he says he lost 13 sons in the conflict, the older is aged - man. he says he lost 13 sons in the conflict, the older is aged 27, - man. he says he lost 13 sons in the conflict, the older is aged 27, the l conflict, the older is aged 27, the youngest 13. some were rebels opposed to the government of president bashar al—assad, who were killed in the fighting. his wife also died when a rocket hit their home as they were about to have their morning tea. his account is not uncommon. hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the fighting that began with protests that quickly turned violent in 2011. millions more have fled their homes for safer areas within syria or as refugees abroad. bashar al—assad survive the insurgency and he is helped by russia's military and the shi'ite militias to hold onto power and he is favourite to maintain power after a presidential election later this year. this man's tent is located in a large camp for internally displaced syrians. idlib was the last rebel bastion in the north—west of the country and syrian and russian forces pounded the area for one year from april 2019. during that assault, the man was elsewhere in —— with his family when a missile struck killing several family members. his grandchildren are all he has left now, providing some comfort to a man who has lost everything else. imagine going through all that and then looking after 12 grandchildren as well. amateur historians in france have made one of the biggest ever archaeological discoveries from the first world war. it's the site of a german tunnel on the western front near the city of reims. in may 1917, nearly 300 german soldiers were trapped inside the tunnel during a french offensive — they died agonising deaths by suffocation or suicide. only three survived. our correspondent, hugh schofield, has been taken to the place. these woods hide a terrible secret and pierre malinowski has found it. he's taking me along what was once a busy german line to the long lost entrance to the tunnel of death. but as we arrive it's clear something is wrong. there's been a visit by bounty hunters. they've tried to dig into the tunnel from above in search of stuff to sell. already the looters have been here and it's a great, great shame. it's very important that this place gets police protection as soon as possible because it's a very special place here. one of the last unexplored, untold secrets of the first world war. in the tunnel that stretches for 300 metres are the remains of more than 270 german soldiers who died in horrific circumstances. in may 1917, the french launched a doomed offensive to take these hills. the winterberg tunnel was part of the german defences at the crest. there was massive french shelling and on the 5th of may, guns targeted the two ends of the tunnel. a huge explosion here trapped the men inside and over the next few days as oxygen ran out, one by one, they died. many asked comrades to shoot them. the bodies will be with the skin, the hair, everything. uniform will be complete. and if inside, because the fresh air was broke, it will be crazy conservations, we will find maybe old documents, ring, everything, photos and they will find that. inside, it's the biggest reserve of human materials of the first world war. finding the tunnel took years of research by pierre's father but no one was interested, so last year pierre decided to act alone. risking criminal charges, he came one night with a digger and what he found proved that this was the site. he then covered the hole and alerted the authorities. in germany, some of those who could be in the tunnel have been identified. the big question now is what's to happen to their remains? i hope that some of the comrades that are in the tunnel will be back at the scene, pierre calls the police to urge action to stop the looters. from an amateur discovery, the winterberg tunnel is said to be an important place of memory. official decisions about its future are needed soon. what an extraordinary find! and, before we go, as we inch closer towards spring, the weather is getting warmer. people going outside — taking the dog for a walk. or whatever their preferred pet may be. one man in russia has started bringing his geese for a walk around the neighborhood, much to the surprise of many passersby. he said that the three fully—grown geese live with him in his apartment and that he's trained them to respond to commands. when he says sit, they sit. when he tells them to fly, their wings start flapping. when he tells them to bark? well, they probably look confused. they're not dogs. they are geese! but they need a will, too. this is world news america. thanks very much for watching. hello there! monday we had a mixture of weather around but for many of us there's quite a bit of cloud around. but we saw a bit of sunshine, for example here across the west midlands, however further east across the east midlands, across the west yorkshire area down towards london in the southeast we had some shower clouds and one of those showers passing through the london area and there's that line of shower clouds on a satellite picture. but the northwest has got some thicker cloud looking and this is our next weather system. there's going to be bringing more general rain as we go through the night and for some of us on into tuesday as well. let's dive into the forecast detail then, and wet weather working across scotland and northern ireland with the rain sinking southwards across northern england, north wales. across the midlands later in the night and eventually arriving across east anglia. perhaps the far southeast of england right towards the end of the night starting to pick up on some of that reign. starting to pick up on some of that rain. given the cloud it's going to be a relatively mild night, temperatures about seven to 10 celsius. and for tuesday these weather fronts will continue their journey southwards in eastwards, behind this cold front we are going to see the weather improve significantly. so scotland and northern ireland quickly will see the back of the rain and the sunshine will come out. further south england and wales cloudy with some rain still around for the morning, in fact the rain could still linger across parts of east anglia and the far southeast even into the afternoon. for most of us the weather will cheer up with sunny spells breaking through. temperature similar to those of the day but probably feeling a little bit fresher as the sunshine starts to come out later in the day. forwednesday, high pressure is in charge of the forecast for most of us. dry and fine, best of the sunshine england and wales, a weak weather front working and that's going to be bringing some thicker cloud with an odd patch of rain. no great amount from that, it will be mainly affecting the north of scotland. across the south of wales. 10—1a celsius, some of the highest temperatures across the south of wales. end of the week sees high pressure so to the west of the uk but we will start to get some of these colder north easterly winds blowing in across east anglia and across parts of southern england and that will really knock the temperatures down. 7—8 degrees through friday and saturday but factor in that risk northeasterly wind and it will feel even colder than that. across most of england, wales, northern ireland and scotland this is quite cloudy but dry, temperatures into double figures. this is bbc news. several major european countries suspend distribution of the astrazeneca jab in apparent fears over safety. that's despite eu health chiefs saying it is safe to use, and advice to carry on from the world health organization. it's a risky strategy for a continent that has not done a good job of rolling out the vaccines — and right now is in the midst of a third wave. more protestors gather in central london after an outcry over the police's handling of saturday's vigil for sarah everard. we'll speak to the shadow solicitor general live in the next 15 minutes. also in the programme... it's turning into the messiest of divorces. the eu begins legal action against the uk over an alleged breach of the brexit agreement. plus, the cautionary tale of the arctic walrus who went for a snooze on an iceberg — and woke up 1,000 miles from home.